Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Encapsulated Urea-Kaolinite Nanocomposite for Controlled Release Fertilizer Formulations

Urea controlled release fertilizer (CRF) was prepared via kaolinite intercalation followed by gum arabic encapsulation in an attempt to reduce its severe losses associated with dissolution, hydrolysis, and diffusion. Following the beneficiation, the nonkaolinite fraction decreased from 39.58% to 0.36% whereas the kaolinite fraction increased from 60.42% to 99.64%. The X-ray diffractions showed that kaolinite was a major phase with FCC Bravais crystal lattice with particle sizes ranging between 14.6 nm and 92.5 nm. The particle size varied with intercalation ratios with methanol intercalated kaolinite > DMSO-kaolinite > urea-kaolinite (KPDMU). Following intercalation, SEM analysis revealed a change of order from thick compact overlapping euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets to irregular booklets which later transformed to vermiform morphology and dispersed euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets. Besides, dispersed euhedral pseudohexagonal platelets were seen to coexist with blocky-vermicular booklets. In addition, a unique brain-form agglomeration which transformed into roundish particles mart was observed after encapsulation. The nanocomposites decomposed between 48 and 600°C. Release profiles showed that 100% of urea was released in 97 hours from KPDMU while 87% was released in 150 hours from the encapsulated nanocomposite. The findings established that it is possible to use Pugu kaolinite and gum arabic biopolymer to prepare urea CRF formulations.
Iowa State University From the SelectedWorks of Stephen J Dinsmore 2008 Evaluation of an Aerial Survey to Estimate Abundance of Wintering Ducks in Mississippi

Researchers have successfully designed aerial surveys that provided precise estimates of wintering populations of ducks over large physiographic regions, yet few conservation agencies have adopted these probability-based sampling designs for their surveys. We designed and evaluated an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), dabbling ducks (tribe Anatini) other than mallards, diving ducks (tribes Aythini, Mergini, and Oxyurini), and total ducks in western Mississippi, USA. We used design-based sampling of fixed width transects to estimate population indices (Î ), and we used model-based methods to correct population indices for visibility bias and estimate population abundance (N̂ ) for 14 surveys during winters 2002–2004. Correcting for bias increased estimates of mallards, other dabbling ducks, and diving ducks by an average of 40–48% among all surveys and contributed 48–61% of the estimated variance of N̂. However, mean-squared errors were consistently less for N̂ than Î. Estimates of N̂ met our goals for precision (CV 15%) in 7 of 14 surveys for mallards, 5 surveys for other dabbling ducks, no surveys for diving ducks, and 10 surveys for total ducks. Generally, we estimated more mallards and other dabbling ducks in midand late winter ( Jan–Feb) than early winter (Nov–Dec) and determined that population indices from the late 1980s were nearly 3 times greater than those from our study. We developed a method to display relative densities of ducks spatially as an additional application of survey data. Our study advanced methods of estimating abundance of wintering waterfowl, and we recommend this design for continued monitoring of wintering ducks in western Mississippi and similar physiographic regions. ( JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(6):1413–1419; 2008) DOI: 10.2193/2007-471
Seasonal and hydrological control of phytoplankton nutrient limitation in the lower Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina

Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton production was assessed monthly from 1987 through 1990 in the lower Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA, a well-mixed, mesotrophic system. Nutrient addition bioassays indicated that the lower estuary experienced a general state of nitrogen limitation, with especially pronounced limitation during summer months, a period of high phytoplankton productivity. Bioassays conducted during spring months showed significantly greater stimulation of algal productivity with the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus than that found with nitrogen addition alone. This CO-stimulation occurred during periods when surface-water dissolved inorganic nitrogen : dissolved inorganic phosphorus ratios were elevated above typical values of < 5. Seasonal patterns in ambient nutrient concentrations revealed nitrogen maxima associated with spring, fall, and winter runoff events, with summer minima Hydrologically driven nitrogen loading exerted a strong, yearround influence on primary production and nutrient limitation characteristics. High-flow events acted to oversaturate the upper estuarine nutrient filtering capacity, resulting in increased delivery of nitrogen to the lower estuarine environment. The phytoplankton community responded to increased flow and concomitant nutrient loadings by increasing production and b~omass levels, often very rapidly. In this regard, hydrologic factors influencing nitrogen loading (terrigenous runoff, point source inputs, and wet and dry atmospheric deposition) are key determinants of the trophic state of this estuary.
Association Between Objectively Sleep Pattern and Obesity in the Elderly

Background: Previous studies on the relationship between sleep patterns and obesity in the elderly are limited and have conflicting results. Moreover, few studies have measured sleep patterns objectively. In this study, we investigated objective sleep patterns and their relationship with obesity in the elderly in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 88 elderly (≥60 years old) who were members of health homes of zone 5 in Tehran, Iran, were included by simple random sampling method in 2014. Sleep patterns were objectively assessed using waist actigraphy for a mean of 4.3 ± 1.7 days). Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured by standard methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Data entry and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21. Results: Mean actigraphy-assessed sleep duration, sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed spent sleeping), and sleep latency (time required to fall asleep) were 427 ± 62 min, 71.3 ± 18%, and 14.2 ± 3.8 min, respectively. A negative relationship was found between BMI and sleep duration (r = −0.2, p = 0.03), BMI and sleep efficiency (r = −0.3, p=0.01), and WC and sleep efficiency (r = −0.2, p = 0.04). Also, a positive association was observed between BMI and sleep latency (r = 0.4, p = 0.006). Conclusions: In the elderly, actigraphy-assessed sleep duration was associated with obesity and the sleep efficiency was poor in obese participants. It seems that sleep patterns and BMI are correlated with each other. However, there is a need for prospective studies to affirm causal relationships between these constructs.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION AGREEMENTS AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF WORLD TRADE: STATISTICAL INDICATORS AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

The growth in intra-regional trade has been one of the dominant features of the world economy in the last decades. Statistical indicators which are commonly used in order to measure this phenomenon are inadequate to evaluate its dynamics, as well as to compare different regions. This paper reviews the analytical limitations of available statistical tools, and proposes some new indicators, experimenting their application to data concerning the four main regional integration areas (ASEAN, EU, MERCOSUR and NAFTA) in the period 1990-2000. In particular, a "trade introversion index" is proposed, which seems able to surmount all the main shortcomings of traditional measures of intra-regional trade intensity, and can be interpreted as an indicator of "revealed trade preferences" among the region's members. Trade introversion indices can be complemented with indicators of relative trade openness, which are based on the trade-to-GDP ratio and reflect the internal and external trade-creating effects of regional integration. Combining measures of intra-regional trade intensity and relative openness allows to build an index of "infra-regional trade propensity", which can be related to the logic of gravity models of international trade flows. All the four regions considered in this paper experienced a moderate upward trend in trade introversion in the nineties. The level of the index for MERCOSUR was much higher than for the other regions. ASEAN was the region with the highest degree of relative trade openness, whilst both MERCOSUR and NAFTA were well below the world average. The combination of these different factors explains why ASEAN and MERCOSUR were the regions with the highest intraregional trade propensity.
Variability of Extreme Precipitation Events in Tijuana, Mexico During ENSO Years

We investigated the variability of 1 d precipitation extremes (top 10%) in Tijuana (Mexico) during 1950-2000. Interannual rainfall variability is associated with El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which explains 30% of rainfall and 36% of 1 d extreme precipitation variance. Interannual precipitation exhibits a large change, with a relatively dry period and less variability dur- ing 1950-1976, followed by a relatively wet period and more variability during 1976-2000. All extremely wet years (>1 SD) and the largest frequency of 1 d extremes occurred after 1976-1977, with 6 out of 8 extremely wet years characterized by El Nino episodes and 2 by neutral conditions. However, more than half of the 1 d extremes during 1950-2000 occurred in non-ENSO years, providing evidence for the fact that neutral conditions contribute significantly to extreme climatic variability in the region. Extreme events that occur in neutral (strong El Nino) conditions are associ- ated with a 'pineapple express' and a 'neutral Pacific/North America (PNA)' (negative tropical/north- ern hemisphere (TNH)) teleconnection pattern that links an anomalous tropical convective forcing west (east) of the date line with a strong subtropical jet over the study area. The neutral PNA is a vari- ant of the typical ±PNA teleconnection pattern; it is shifted northwestward of the +PNA (typical of El Nino) and southeastward of the -PNA (typical of La Nina) and is characterized by a strong ridge over the Gulf of Alaska and a deep low over California. We believe that the trough in the jet, typical of extreme events during neutral and strong El Nino years, is further intensified by thermal interaction with regional anomalies of a warm California Current off Baja California, low-level moisture advec- tion from the subtropical warm sea-surface region, and intense convective activity over the study area.
Trust-based social capital, economic growth and property rights: explaining the relationship

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to attest whether generalized trust variable is the best proxy for social capital in explaining the latter’s effect on economic growth in a panel setting. Via a specially formulated theoretical framework, the authors also test whether the growth-effect of social capital is direct or indirect, and if it is indirect, can property rights be the link between social capital and growth. Design/methodology/approach - The authors begin with testing the robustness of generalized trust variable in explaining the effect of social capital on growth and property rights. The authors then propose a number of trust-alternative variables that are shown to contain an element of trust based on theoretical arguments drawn from previous studies, to proxy for social capital and re-estimate its effect on growth and property rights. In this study, the authors use panel estimation technique, hitherto has been limited in social capital studies, which are capable of reducing omitted variable bias and time-invariant heterogeneity compared to the commonly used cross-sectional estimation. Findings - First, the authors find that generalized trust data obtained by the World Value Survey (WVS) are unable to yield sufficiently robust results in panel estimation due to missing observations problem. Using the proposed trust-alternative variables, the estimation results improve significantly and the authors are able to show that social capital is a deep determinant of growth and it is affecting growth via property rights channel. The findings also give supporting evidence to the primacy of informal rules and constraints as proposed by North (2005) over the political prominence theory by Acemoglu Research limitations/implications - Generalized trust data obtained from the WVS, frequently used in majority of social capital studies to measure social capital, yield highly non-robust results in panel estimation due to missing observations problem. Future studies in social capital intending to use panel estimation therefore need to find trust-alternative variables to proxy for social capital, and this paper has proposed four such variables. Originality/value - The use of panel estimation technique extends the evidence of social capital significance to economic growth and property rights, since the previous social capital studies rely heavily on cross-sectional estimation technique. Due to the availability of annual observations of the trust-alternative variables, this paper is able to find better results as compared to estimation using generalized trust data.
Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2012. A contribution to the application of European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part 2. Introduction trends and pathways

More than 60 marine non-indigenous species (NIS) have been removed from previous lists and 84 species have been added, bringing the total to 986 alien species in the Mediterranean [775 in the eastern Mediterranean (EMED), 249 in the central Mediterranean (CMED), 190 in the Adriatic Sea (ADRIA) and 308 in the western Mediterranean (WMED)]. There were 48 new entries since 2011 which can be interpreted as approximately one new entry every two weeks. The number of alien species continues to increase, by 2-3 species per year for macrophytes, molluscs and polychaetes, 3-4 species per year for crustaceans, and 6 species per year for fish. The dominant group among alien species is molluscs (with 215 species), followed by crustaceans (159) and polychaetes (132). Macrophytes are the leading group of NIS in the ADRIA and the WMED, reaching 26-30% of all aliens, whereas in the EMED they barely constitute 10% of the introductions. In the EMED, molluscs are the most species-rich group, followed by crustaceans, fish and polychaetes. More than half (54%) of the marine alien species in the Mediterranean were probably introduced by corridors (mainly Suez). Shipping is blamed directly for the introduction of only 12 species, whereas it is assumed to be the most likely pathway of introduction (via ballasts or fouling) of another 300 species. For approximately 100 species shipping is a probable pathway along with the Suez Canal and/or aquaculture. Approximately 20 species have been introduced with certainty via aquaculture, while >50 species (mostly macroalgae), occurring in the vicinity of oyster farms, are assumed to be introduced accidentally as contaminants of imported species. A total of 18 species are assumed to have been introduced by the aquarium trade. Lessepsian species decline westwards, while the reverse pattern is evident for ship-mediated species and for those introduced with aquaculture. There is an increasing trend in new introductions via the Suez Canal and via shipping.
INDUSTRIAL ENERGY USE, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PRICE SIGNALS: THE CASE OF SWEDISH PROCESS INDUSTRY

The objectives of the paper are to: (a) derive and discuss indicators of industrial companies’ decision-making and management practices on energy use; and (b) investigate whether these practices can help explain variations in energy intensities across these companies. The data were collected through telephone interviews with 101 large industrial firms in Sweden. The indicators display a significant overall increase in firms’ awareness of energy efficiency issues over time, including the attention devoted to these issues at the top management level. Still, our econometric results show that energy prices constitute the most important determinant of inter-firm differences in energy intensities. Higher energy prices over the time-period, have induced the implementation of energy-relevant management and practices, and led to more systematic decision-making processes. Finally, firms for which so-called ‘hidden’ costs, e.g., the costs of production disruptions, are a large concern, will be more energy intense than others.
Market efficiency in agricultural futures markets

Market efficiency and unbiasedness are tested in four agricultural commodity futures markets - live cattle, hogs, corn, and soybean meal - using cointegration and error correction models with GQARCH-in-mean processes. Results indicate each market is unbiased in the long run, although cattle, hogs and corn futures markets exhibit short-run inefficiencies and pricing biases. Models for cattle and corn outperform futures prices in out-of-sample forecasting. Results also suggest short-run time-varying risk premiums in cattle and hog futures markets.
Television Product Placement Strategy in Thailand and the UK

This paper discusses the implications for international brand communications management of a qualitative cross-national research study on television product placement in the United Kingdom and Thailand. The study involved secondary research into the respective media environments and depth interviews with leading agency practitioners in each country. The research suggests that, while television product placement practice may be superficially similar in Asia and the UK, there are important differences arising from the very different regulatory, media and consumer environments. As a consequence, detailed local knowledge is essential for successful product placement strategy which crosses cultural borders. The paper explains key differences in regulation and practice and explores implications for brand communications practice and research.
EVIDENCE FOR AN INTERMEDIATE-MASS BLACK HOLE IN NGC 5408 X-1

We report the discovery with XMM-Newton of correlated spectral and timing behavior in the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5408 X-1. An ≈100 ks pointing with XMM/Newton obtained in 2008 January reveals a strong 10 mHz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the >1 keV flux, as well as flat-topped, band-limited noise breaking to a power law. The energy spectrum is again dominated by two components, a 0.16 keV thermal disk and a power law with an index of ≈2.5. These new measurements, combined with results from our previous 2006 January pointing in which we first detected QPOs, show for the first time in a ULX a pattern of spectral and temporal correlations strongly analogous to that seen in Galactic black hole (BH) sources, but at much higher X-ray luminosity and longer characteristic timescales. We find that the QPO frequency is proportional to the inferred disk flux, while the QPO and broadband noise amplitude (rms) are inversely proportional to the disk flux. Assuming that QPO frequency scales inversely with the BH mass at a given power-law spectral index we derive mass estimates using the observed QPO frequency–spectral index relations from five stellar-mass BH systems with dynamical mass constraints. The results from all sources are consistent with a mass range for NGC 5408 X-1 from 1000 to 9000 M☉. We argue that these are conservative limits, and a more likely range is from 2000 to 5000 M☉. Moreover, the recent relation from Gierlinski et al. that relates the BH mass to the strength of variability at high frequencies (above the break in the power spectrum) is also indicative of such a high mass for NGC 5408 X-1. Importantly, none of the above estimates appears consistent with a BH mass less than ≈1000 M☉ for NGC 5408 X-1. We argue that these new findings strongly support the conclusion that NGC 5408 X-1 harbors an intermediate-mass BH.
The influence of nutrients content in pasture on amino acids content of cows milk.

The chemical composition of milk and its relation to grazing is emphasized in lowinput breeding systems where generally lower milk production use to be achieved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the milk composition of Czech Pied and Holstein cows during 6-months grazing period in comparison to winter silage-based breeding on three sub-mountain farms. The individual 24-hours milk yields and concentrations of fat, protein and somatic cell counts (SCC) were measured monthly in a total of 671 Czech Pied and 114 Holstein cows during 6-years period. Cows belonged to two Czech Pied herds, offered 7-hours (Farm 1, F1) or 20-hours (Farm 2, F2) daily grazing allowance, and to a mixed Czech Pied and Holstein herd (Farm 3, F3) offered 20-hours pasture acces. The data of each herd were evaluated separately allowing to the season (grazing, housing) and the breed. A significant enhancement of fat yields was found during grazing season in all three herds and in both the breeds. The higher protein yields in grazing seasons were found in F2, F3, whereas no difference to housing season was found in F1. These results indicate the positive effect of longterm acces to pasture on the fat and protein milk yields without significant enhancement of SCC on the surveyed farms. This project by MSM 6007665806 was supported.
Variation in morphology, gait characteristics and speed of locomotion in two populations of lizards

Locomotor behaviour varies between two subspecies of the Spanish wall lizard Podarcis hispanica. One subspecies inhabits the Columbretes islands, the other lives on the Spanish mainland. Size standardized voluntary speeds (as measured in unrestrained laboratory conditions) are lower in the island population (P. h. atrata) than in the mainland population (P. h. hispanica). Maximal running performance (when chased) is much higher in the mainland population than in the island population. High speed video recordings show that subspecies diVer in gait characteristics: individuals from the mainland modulate running velocity primarily by modifying stride length, individuals from the island primarily by altering stride frequency. P. h. hispanica’s strategy for modulating speed probably allows this mainland subspecies to attain higher maximal speeds than the island subspecies P. h. atrata. Theoretical considerations suggest that at high speeds, P. h. hispanica’s running style is energetically more favourable, but this hypothesis awaits experimental verification. We suggest that the diVerences in locomotion eYciency between the subspecies result from diVerences in predation pressure between the mainland and the island. The mainland study site has a higher predator diversity and oVers less hiding opportunities to the lizards.