Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil protection value of winter crops and reduced tillage on clay loams

Experiments to reduce soil physical degradation were carried out at Joniskelis Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture over the period 1998-2002. The soil of the experimental site is characterised as glacial lacustrine clay loam on silty clay (Gleyic Cambisol). The following was investigated: Factor A. Crop rotations with different proportions of winter and spring crops (1. Without winter crops; 2. Winter crops 25%; 3. Winter crops 50%; 4. Winter crops 75%; 5. Winter crops 100%), growing annual and perennial grasses, spring and winter wheat, triticale, and barley. Factor B. Soil tillage systems: 1. Conventional (primary soil tillage was performed by ploughing); 2. Sustainable (after grasses the soil was ploughed, after other preceding crops the soil was loosened without inverting the topsoil). Our experimental evidence suggests that increasing winter crops in the crop rotation reduced compaction of the topsoil from high to moderate, maintained up to 37.3% of higher productive moisture reserves, improved water to air ratio, and increased the crop rotation productivity up to 44.7%. The application of reduced primary tillage in a sustainable system had persistence of high soil compaction and 8.0% lower air-filled porosity at the bottom of the topsoil, but the whole topsoil reached physical maturity more evenly in the spring. The grain yield of cereals was 6.4% lower compared with the yield after conventional soil tillage. On these clay loam soils, spring cereals were more sensitive (poorer performance) to reduced soil tillage compared with winter cereals.
Sources of Contemporary Authority for Mayors: Pinning Down Modern Political Authority in Relation to Executives’ Role Orientation

Political leaders around the world face a general scepticism towards authority. In order to cope with this challenge, new political repertoires and forms of authority are called for. Yet, the sources of contemporary political authority remain underexplored. In this paper the comparative relevance of fourteen authority sources for mayors is studied. It presents the results of a mixed-method study that includes a representative survey of Dutch mayors as well as in-depth interviews and focus groups to relate mayors’ perceptions of available sources of authority to their role orientations. The results show that principle-based and capacity-based authority sources are particularly important for Dutch mayors and challenge the widely shared assumption that the selection procedure is an important source of authority for political leaders. At the same time, other aspects of the mayor’s statutory position, such as his institutional independence and formal responsibilities, have not lost their relevance. Further, our results indicate that the role orientations of mayors to some extent affect the authority sources that they rely upon.
High-precision relocation of seismic sequences above a dipping Moho: the case of the January–February 2014 seismic sequence on Cephalonia island (Greece)

Abstract. Detailed velocity structure and Moho mapping is of crucial importance for a high precision relocation of seismicity occurring out of, or marginal to, the geometry of seismological networks. Usually the seismographic networks do not cover the boundaries of converging plates such as the Hellenic arc. The crustal thinning from the plate boundary towards the back-arc area creates significant errors in accurately locating the earthquake, especially when distant seismic phases are included in the analysis. The case of the Cephalonia (Ionian Sea, Greece) sequence of January–February 2014 provided an excellent example where the hypocentral precision was greatly affected by the crustal thinning from the plate boundary at the Ionian sea towards the Aegean sea. This effect was examined in detail by testing various velocity models of the region in order to determine an optimal model. Our tests resulted in the adoption of a velocity model that resembles the crustal thinning of the region. Then, a relocation procedure was performed in the Cephalonia sequence for the time period of 26 January to 15 May 2014 by applying probabilistic non-linear location algorithms. The high-precision relocation resulted in an improved spatial distribution of the seismicity with respect to the preliminary locations and provided a reliable basis to examine seismotectonic implications of the Cephalonia sequence.
Modes of integrated collaborative ship design

The authors have developed a number of integrated collaborative design platforms within the shipbuilding industry. The platforms have addressed a range of integration and collaboration challenges from product data sharing and exchange, consistency management, change propagation, version management and design guidance. Solutions to these challenges are necessary when the design process is fragmented and distributed, to ensure that the right information gets to the right person at the right time to do the right work, i.e. the design process is co-ordinated. The platforms were developed within European Commission (EC) funded projects: VRShips, VIRTUE and SAFEDOR over eight years and demonstrated an evolution and refinement of the ideas, requirements and solutions to a point where the latest version of the platform is being used by industry and developed by an industrial user group. One of the factors contributing towards success was the development of approaches that visualise the solutions to these collaboration challenges. This paper discusses these solutions from a collaboration perspective.
Problem-based Learning and Theories of Teaching and Learning in Health Professional Education

Although problem-based learning (PBL) has been linked to several theories of teaching and learning, how these theories are applied remains unclear. The objective of this paper is to explore how theories of teaching and learning relate to and can inform problem-based learning within health professional education programs. We conducted a scoping review on current theories of teaching and learning and considered their relevancy to the problem-based learning approach. The findings suggest that no single theory of teaching and learning can fully represent the complexity of learning in PBL. Recognizing the complexity of the PBL environment and the fluidity between theories of teaching and learning, we proposed eight principles from across 11 theories of teaching and learning that can inform how PBL is operationalised in university-based health professional education: 1) Adult learners are independent and self-directed; 2) Adult learners are goal oriented and internally motivated; 3) Learning is most effective when it is applicable to practice; 4) Cognitive processes support learning; 5) Learning is active and requires active engagement; 6) Interaction between learners supports learning; 7) Activation of prior knowledge and experience supports learning; and 8) Elaboration and reflection supports learning. These eight principles provide the foundation for curriculum design recommendations relevant to PBL within university-based education programs. Specifically, our findings suggest that active engagement and interactions should be encouraged, that students should be prompted to activate their prior knowledge and experiences, and that elaboration and reflection on learning is critical. The small group format of PBL can facilitate this engagement if students question each other, consider alternative perspectives, and are actively involved in setting learning objectives. Further research is needed to develop the empirical basis for these principles and examine if PBL is an effective approach for implementing these principles.
“I” Value Freedom, but “We” Value Relationships: Self-Construal Priming Mirrors Cultural Differences in Judgment

The distinction between relatively independent versus interdependent self-construals has been strongly associated with several important cultural differences in social behavior. The current studies examined the causal role of self-construal by investigating whether priming independent or interdependent self-construals within a culture could result in differences in psychological worldview that mirror those traditionally found between cultures. In Experiment 1, European-American participants primed with interdependence displayed shifts toward more collectivist social values and judgments that were mediated by corresponding shifts in self-construal. In Experiment 2, this effect was extended by priming students from the United States and Hong Kong with primes that were consistent and inconsistent with their predominant cultural worldview. Students who received the inconsistent primes were more strongly affected than those who received the consistent primes, and thus shifted self-construal, and corresponding values, to a greater degree.
Interactions between ectomycorrhizal associations and bacteria

Boreal forest podzol soils have vertically stratified horizons with different physico-chemical characteristics and high microbial diversity. Ectomycorrhizal fungi play key roles in accessing nutrients from both organic and mineral substrates. The role of associated bacteria in these processes is still poorly understood. The aim of the studies described in this thesis was to improve understanding of the distribution, diversity and community structure of fungi and bacteria on roots and in soil and their responses to environmental perturbations such as N-fertilisation. In two microcosm studies a single-root tip microbiome method was used to sample bacteria associated with different ectomycorrhizal roots at defined time-points, using high throughput sequencing of both fungi and bacteria The first study revealed highly dynamic patterns of assembly of bacterial communities associated with ectomycorrhizal roots at different time points in organic soil. Bacterial community structure differed between roots colonised by different species of ectomycorrhizal fungi from different genera. The second study extended these results to include both organic and mineral horizons, demonstrating significant differences between fungal and bacterial communities colonising soil from different horizons. Responses of both fungi and bacteria to short-term N additions were context dependent, influenced by both soil horizon and the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungi colonising the roots. Bacterial communities associated with roots colonised by pairs of closely related fungal species within the same fungal genera were also shown to be statistically distinct. Field studies of fungi and bacteria in a forest fertilised with 150 kg N ha⁻¹ 15 months previously, revealed 1017 unique fungal OTUs, (877 in the soil, 652 in the roots). N increased fungal diversity slightly in the O horizon soil but decreased it in the roots, particularly in the B horizon. Fungal community structure varied significantly between horizons and within each soil horizon the community structure of fungi colonising ectomycorrhizal roots was significantly different from that associated with the soil, suggesting that analyses of both soil and roots are necessary for accurate monitoring of environmental perturbations. 10925 unique bacterial OTUs were distinguished in total (8560 in the soil, 5512 in the roots). Bacteria displayed similar trends to the fungi but were less strongly influenced by N. These studies pave the way for more detailed functional studies of specific combinations of fungi and bacteria.
Local approximation of DSGE models around the risky steady state

A DSGE model takes the mathematical form of a system of nonlinear stochastic equations. Except in a very few cases, there is no analytical solution and economists are left using numerical methods in order to obtain approximated solutions. Global approximation methods are available when the state space is not too large, while the most usual approach is local approximation around the deterministic steady state. The perturbation approach introduced in economics by Judd (1996) derives a Taylor expansion of the solution from a Taylor expansion of the original problem, but first order approximation is nothing but linearization that has been used in the RBC literature since its inception. Second order approximations are discussed in several papers: Sims (2000); Collard and Juillard (2001); Kim et al. (2003); Schmitt-Grohe and Uribe (2004). Second order approximations have two merits. In most cases, but not in all, they provide a more accurate approximation of the solution, but, more importantly, they break away from certainty equivalence, that is an inescapable characteristic of linear model. This is crucial to address issues related to attitudes toward risk. There is of course no reason, except size of model, to consider only ? rst or second order approximations. Higher order approximation as also sometimes used: Jin and Judd (2002); Juillard and Kamenik (2004).
The Potency of Aedes species in transmitting dengue fever virus with evaluating the susceptibility of vector larval stages to some insecticides.

The present study was planned to use the technique of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the virus of dengue fever in mosquito females of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. caspius (Pallas). The results indicated that all samples tested for virus of dengue were found negative (-) except one sample of Ae. aegypti which was positive(+). On the other hand, susceptibility levels of mosquito larvae of field strains of Ae. aegypti, which is the vector of dengue fever, to some insecticides currently in use in Jeddah governorate were determined. The LC50 values (concentration which kills 50% of mosquito larvae) were taken in consideration. Mosquito larvae of Ae. aegypti proved to be more susceptible to Bactilarvae (0.012 ppm) than Safroten (0.020 ppm), Temephos (0.032ppm), Solfac (.039 ppm) and Icon (0.047ppm), respectively.
Influence of pulping conditions on eucalyptus kraft pulp yield, quality, and bleachability

This study evaluated the effect of cooking temperature and residual alkali on kraft pulp yield, bleachability, and quality. We cooked Eucalyptus grandis wood chips to kappa number 16-17 using high and low residual alkali (14-18 g/L and 3-4 g/L) and high and low temperatures (170°C and 160°C). We then quantified process yield and evaluated pulp quality through measurement of strength properties, carbohy- drate composition, hexenuronic acid content, alkali-leachable lignin content, and residual lignin nature. After oxygen delignifying the pulps and bleaching them to full brightness with the sequences D(EOP)DD and D(EOP)(ZE)D, we determined their bleachability and brightness stability. Low temperature and low residual alkali during pulping resulted in the highest screened yield (54.2%) and viscosity (64.6 mPas). Pulps cooked at low residual alkali showed about 1.7%-2.1% higher yield, 20%-30% higher viscosity, and higher strength properties (except for tear index) than those cooked at high residual alkali both at 160°C and 170°C. Lower temperature and/or residual alkali during pulping favored pulp refining. Pulps produced at high residual alka- li showed slightly lower oxygen delignification efficiency (2%-3%), but significantly higher (10%-15%) bleach- ability, as measured by active chlorine consumption, regardless of cooking temperature. Pulps cooked at high residual alkali showed higher initial brightness (6-8% ISO) for a fixed kappa, which carried on across oxygen delignification and ECF bleaching processes. Oxygen delignification filtrates of pulps cooked at low residual alkali contain substantially more COD and color than those cooked at high residual alkali because the former pulps are richer in alkali-leachable lignin. Pulping conditions did not affect pulp brightness stabil- ity. Pulps produced at high residual alkali showed lower contents of xylans and of hexenuronic acids and higher quantities of lignin containing carboxyl and aliphatic hydroxyl groups. Pulps cooked at 160°C pre- sented higher xylan and hexenuronic acid content in relation to those cooked at 170°C.
Did population collapse influence individual fecundity of Northwest Atlantic cod

We examined the influence of population collapse on individual potential fecundity and total population egg production (TEP) of three northwest Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations: northern cod (Divisions 2J3KL), southern Grand Bank cod (NAFO Divisions 3NO), and southern Newfoundland cod (Subdivision 3Ps). Fecundity at length increased in conjunction with population collapse for two (3NO, 3Ps) of the three populations. Subsequent moderate population recovery between the 1990s and 2000s in 3Ps was accompanied by a decrease in fecundity at length. A large decrease in fecundity at length for 3NO during the same time period, despite little or no population recovery, coupled with the fact that there was no obvious difference in fish condition between the two time periods, suggested that density-independent factors could be contributing to the changes in fecundity. Use of pre-collapse fecundity–length relationships to estimate TEP in the post-collapse period resulted in underestimation of TEP by as much as 30% in 3NO and 46% in 3Ps, whereas in 2J3KL, TEP was overestimated by as much as 18%. Although the results do not fully support the hypothesis of an inverse relationship between population size and fecundity, they do demonstrate the variable nature of cod fecundity which, if not accounted for, can lead to erroneous perceptions of stock reproductive potential.
Statin-induced autoimmune necrotizing myositis

Myositides comprise a large group of disorders involving limb muscle weakness. In differential diagnosis we have to consider idiopathic myositides, myositides associated with other diseases, and those induced by external factors, e.g. drug-induced. Statins are commonly used drugs, but many patients experience a broad spectrum of adverse effects including symptoms from skeletal muscle. Physicians should pay special attention to patients reporting muscle weakness lasting longer than 12 weeks, despite statin withdrawal, as well as other symptoms: dysphagia, disturbed grip function, elevated creatinine kinase (CK) levels and abnormal electromyography. The reported case deals with the problem of differential diagnosis of drug-induced muscle injury, polymyositis with a recently reported myopathy – statin-induced autoimmune necrotizing myositis, related to anti-HMGCR antibodies.
Pre-service student-teacher self-efficacy beliefs: An insight Into the making of teachers

Pre-service teacher education programs play an important role in the development of beginning teacher' self-efficacy and identity. Research suggests that this development is influenced by the 'apprenticeship of learning'. However, there remains limited research about the self-efficacy beliefs and identity construction of beginning pre-service teachers entering teacher training, and the impact of the education programs on the development of these attributes. This paper reports on the first phase of a longitudinal study that investigates beginning pre-service teachers' views of what it is to be a teacher. In 2010, the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (Tschannen- Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001) was administered twice (start and end of the year) to beginning pre-service teachers enrolled in three programs: the Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education; the Graduate Diploma of Education - Primary; and the Graduate Diploma of Education - Secondary. Identity data in the form of text and visual representations of the teachers were also collected. This paper focuses on the results from the self-efficacy scale, highlighting the similarities and more notable contrasts in individual perceived ratings of teacher self-efficacy. Implications for further research are shared.
Reconsidering the Dimensions of Expertise: From Linear Stages towards Dual Processing.

This paper explores the developing concept of expertise, taking the Dreyfus and Dreyfus staged model as its starting point. It analyses criticism of the Dreyfus model and considers more recent attempts to resolve the tensions implicit within it. The authors go on to suggest ways some of the later modifications can be improved. The traditional notion of intuition is revisited and thereafter a new and novel way of visualising expertise is presented as a dualprocessing relationship between chains of practice and the underlying networks of understanding. These chain and net knowledge structures have been revealed through the analysis of concept maps produced by numerous cohorts of students and teachers. It is argued that a visualisation of the dynamic relationship between the dimensions of expertise provides an emerging theoretical framework for a more general reappraisal of teaching in higher education. This reconsideration of expertise may be the catalyst for dialogue about educational practice within disciplines (between lecturers and between lecturers and students), and between lecturers and educational developers. This dialogue will strengthen disciplinary communities of practice and place the agenda for pedagogic change within the context of the academic disciplines.
Teacher Quality and Teacher Mobility

There is growing concern among policy makers over the quality of the teacher workforce in general, and the distribution of effective teachers across schools. The impact of teacher attrition on overall teacher quality will depend on the effectiveness of teachers who leave the profession. Likewise, teacher turnover may alleviate or worsen inequities in the distribution of teachers, depending on which teachers change schools or leave teaching and who replaces them. Using matched student–teacher panel data from the state of Florida, we examine teacher mobility across the distribution of effectiveness (as measured by teacher value added). We find that top-quartile and bottom-quartile teachers exit at a higher rate than do average-quality teachers. Additionally, as the share of peer teachers with more experience, advanced degrees, or professional certification increases, the likelihood of moving within-district decreases. We also find some evidence of assortative matching among teachers—more productive reading/language arts teachers are more likely to stay in teaching if they have more productive peer teachers.