Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Rhizobium and Bacillus strains on the growth, symbiotic properties and nitrogen and phosphorus content of lablab bean (Lablab purpureus L.)

Two field experiments were carried out at two different locations viz :EL-Hudaiba and Shambat (Sudan) to study the effect of biofertilization with Rhizobium and BMP on the symbiotic properties and shoot nitrogen and phosphorus content of lablab bean. Randomized complete block design was adopted in the two experimental sites in a factorial combination of 5 Rhizobia x 3 BMP x 4 replications x 2 times of sampling. Four Rhizobium strains were used throughout this study, these are cowpea strain, ENRRI 16A, USDA 5019 and TAL 169. BMP in the form of phosphobacterin and phosphorin were used. Rhizobium and BMP inoculation individually significantly ((P#0.05) increased nodulation, shoot, root and nodule dry weight per plant and phosphorus and nitrogen content of the shoot. In all parameters tested, in the two locations, cowpea strain was superior to other strains followed by strain ENRRI 16A, TAL 169 and USDA 5019 respectively. Phosphobacterin overweighed phosphorin in the two locations for the tested parameters. Co- inoculation with Rhizobium and BMP compared to individual inoculation and uninoculated control significantly ((P#0.05) increased the parameters under investigation. cowpea strain and phosphobacterin co-inoculation was the best combination in the two locations. The study revealed the need for biological fertilizers with compatible effective strains to compensate the chemical fertilizers.
Upper ocean response of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System to Hurricane Mitch and coastal freshwater inputs: A study using Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ocean color data and a nested-grid ocean circulation model

[1] The passage of category-5 Hurricane Mitch through the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) in October 1998 was an extreme event with the potential to create unusual patterns of reef connectivity. The impact of this hurricane on the upper ocean of the MBRS is investigated using a triply nested grid ocean circulation modeling system. The model results are validated with contemporaneous ocean color data from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite and oceanographic measurements in the MBRS. The nested grid system is forced by 6-hourly National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) winds for the first 294 days prior to the arrival of the hurricane in the MBRS, and then by the combination of the NCEP/NCAR wind-forcing and an idealized vortex representative of Mitch for the following 20 days. The system is also forced by the monthly mean sea surface heat and freshwater fluxes and buoyancy forcing associated with major river discharges and storm-induced precipitation in the western Caribbean Sea. The simulated upper ocean circulation during Mitch is characterized by strong and divergent currents under the storm and intense near-inertial currents and sea surface temperature cooling behind the storm. The nested grid system also reproduces the buoyant estuarine plumes extending from the coast off Honduras as inferred from SeaWiFS satellite data and detected in field measurements at Gladden Spit in Belize shortly after the passage of Hurricane Mitch. The present model results suggest that populations of site-attached organisms associated with nearshore and offshore reef features that are dynamically isolated in normal conditions experienced greater potential for ecological connection under Mitch's extreme conditions.
Working Paper Series E-2010-02 How Important is the Fiscal Policy Cooperation in a Currency Union ?

By constructing a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model, which assumes a currency union consisting of two countries with nontradables, we verify the importance of fiscal policy cooperation. As shown in previous studies, we find that the role of fiscal policy is important in maximizing social welfare. However, we have a contrary result for fiscal policy cooperation. While the previous studies highlight that fiscal policy cooperation has a nontrivial effect in maximizing social welfare, we show that fiscal policy cooperation has no benefits regardless of the share of nontradables. Self-oriented fiscal policy can replicate social welfare under the cooperative setting.
Mixed model approaches for detecting influential observations in genetic data analysis

Influence diagnostics for detection of influential data points are widely used in statistical modeling to gauge out their impact on various aspect of the analysis. We proposed a method for detection of influential observations in mixed linear model using MINQUE (1) for estimation of variance components and linear unbiased prediction (LUP) for prediction of random effects. The method is based on the analogue of the Cook distance statistics for detection of influential observations affecting both the fixed and random components of a mixed linear model. The method is illustrated with both simulated and the real data sets based on an experimental model for genetic analysis.
Is Child Work Detrimental to the Educational Achievement of Children? Results from Young Lives Study in Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of child work on educational achievement as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). Identifying the causal effects of child work on education is made difficult because the choice of work and/or schooling is made simultaneously and may be determined by the same potentially unobserved factors. Therefore, both Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Instrumental Variable (IV) estimation methods were used to identify the effect of child work on educational achievement. We used dummy variables for drought, crop failure and pests and diseases, for increases in the prices of food, and for urban locality as instruments which are highly, though not directly, correlated with achievement in education. The results obtained showed that child work had a negative effect on child achievement in education. Numerically, an increase in the number of hours worked per day by one resulted in a reduction in the PPVT score of a child by 6.2 percent. Therefore, it is important to design mechanisms that enable households to withstand income shocks without resorting to child work. The Government of Ethiopia might need to consider implementing a programme that provides financial incentives to households to send their children to school regularly, thus potentially increasing their educational achievement. Key words: child work, educational achievement, PPVT, Young Lives, Ethiopia; Child labor- Ethiopia; Education- Ethiopia JEL Codes: J22, D63, I38 & C30
Characterization of Salmonella enterica Ituri isolated from diseased poultry in Nigeria

Salmonella enterica Ituri is an uncommon serotype associated with poultry disease. One of the serotype isolated from a poultry disease in Nigeria was characterized by serotyping and screening for the presence of Salmonella genomic island 1(SGI1) as a possible factor responsible for its involvement in a poultry disease outbreak. Despite the similarities in the antibiotic sensitivities patterns of the Salmonella Ituri serotypes with some SGI1-bearing serotypes, it does not bear the SGI1. This is the first report of association of this Salmonella serotype with avian paratyphoidal disease.
Impact of the Antarctic Ozone Hole on the Vertical Coupling of the Stratosphere–Mesosphere–Lower Thermosphere System

AbstractThere is evidence that the strengthened stratospheric westerlies arising from the Antarctic ozone hole–induced cooling cause a polar mesospheric warming and a subsequent cooling in the lower thermosphere. While previous studies focus on the role of nonresolved (gravity) wave drag filtering, here the role of resolved (planetary) wave drag and radiative forcing on the Antarctic mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) is explored in detail. Using simulations with NCAR’s Community Earth System Model, version 1 (Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model) [CESM1(WACCM)], it is found that in late spring and early summer the anomalous polar mesospheric warming induced by easterly nonresolved wave drag is dampened by anomalous dynamical cooling induced by westerly resolved wave drag. This resolved wave drag is attributed to planetary-scale wave (k = 1–3) activity, which is generated in situ as a result of increased instability of the summer mesospheric easterly jet induced by the ozone hole. On the other ha.
Effect of Individual Factor on Entrepreneurship Intention among Undergraduate Students in Bhutan

The study explored the effects of age; field of study, academic performance, and past job experience of undergraduate students under Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) on their entrepreneurial intention. Today, youth entrepreneurship is regarded as a career option. It is, therefore, important for the policymakers, educators, and the public to understand individual factors that influence to become entrepreneurs. This study collected data from 384 undergraduate students (sample size determined using Yamane formula) within the age group of 18-34 from four colleges under RUB using self-administrative structured questionnaires. To ensure representativeness in each selected college, it devised multi-stage proportionate sampling technique. This study conducted Chi-square test of independence to examine the influence of individual factors on their entrepreneurial intentions. The result showed that the academic course the student assumed and their past job experiences, especially in business has a relationship with their entrepreneurial career plan after graduation. Likewise, student's age influences their entrepreneurship intention. However, the result showed no relationship between academic performance and their entrepreneurial intentions after their graduation. Therefore, findings suggest the need for entrepreneurship education in the university curriculum.
Harmonic Vibrational Excitations in Disordered Solids and the “Boson Peak”

We consider a system of coupled classical harmonic oscillators with spatially fluctuating nearest-neighbor force constants on a simple cubic lattice. The model is solved both by numerical diagonalization and by applying the single-bond coherent potential approximation. The results for the density of states $g(\ensuremath{\omega})$ are in excellent agreement with each other. If the system is near the borderline of stability a low-frequency peak appears in the quantity $g(\ensuremath{\omega})/{\ensuremath{\omega}}^{2}$ as a precursor of the instability. We argue that this peak is the analogon of the ``boson peak,'' observed in structural glasses and other disordered solids. By means of the level distance statistics we show that the peak is not associated with localized states.
Santa Claus rally and Nigerian stock market return: An illusion or reality?

The paper investigates the existence of Santa Claus rally on the Nigerian stock market return using regression technique with the errors modelled by GARCH (1, 1). The authors employ generalized error distributions for the errors of regression model. Some descriptive statistics and residual diagnostic tests such as autocorrelation test; ARCH-LM test among others confirmed that the errors of the return exhibit heteroscedasticity. The significance of the regression coefficients are evaluated by p-values and the highest returns has been observed in January. The empirical findings of this study do not justify the Santa Claus rally instead January effect on the Nigerian stock market returns. Moreover, they observed that the assumptions of intergeneration and tax-selling hypotheses and the effect of window dressing hold for the Nigerian Stock Market.
SCREEN OUT ANAEMIA AMONG ADOLESCENT BOYS AS WELL

Background: Adolescence – a period of transition between childhood and adulthood is a significant period of human growth and maturation. Adolescents represent about a fifth of India’s population. Many studies in recent times have highlighted the high prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls in India; however, there is limited published literature on prevalence of anaemia among adolescent boys. Aims: To find out the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent (10-19 years) boys and girls in the urban slum of Meerut and to study socio-demographic and other determinants in relation to anaemia. Material and Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was conducted in urban slum, Multan nagar, catchment area of UHTC, Department of Community Medicine, Subharti Medical College, Meerut. A total of 406 (216 females and 190 males) adolescents were included in this study. Haemoglobin estimation was done using Direct Cyanmethaemoglobin method. Statistical analysis were done using Microsoft excel 2007 and Epi info version 3.5. 3.
Abundance and distribution of Portunidae larval phases (Crustacea: Brachyura) in the estuarine and coastal region of the Patos Lagoon, southern Brazil

The abundance and distribution of larval phases of the Portunidae found in the estuary of the Patos Lagoon and the coastal region were studied during two years (1995 and 1999). A conical net (165 cm long, 60 cm mouth, and 330 µm mesh) equipped with a flowmeter was towed for three minutes at 2 knots at six stations within the estuary and four stations in the coastal region. Samplings were carried out on the surface and near the bottom. At each sampling location, the salinity and temperature were also recorded. In 1995, the zoeae of Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 and Achelous spinicarpus Stimpson, 1871 were caught, resulting in a total abundance of 121.98 ind.100 m-3 (90.95 ind.100 m-3 on the surface and 31.03 ind.100 m-3 near the bottom). A total of 452.27 ind.100 m-3 were caught in the megalopa phase (13.49 ind.100 m-3 on the surface and 438.78 ind.100 m-3 near the bottom). In 1999, only zoeae of C. sapidus were caught, resulting in a total abundance of 419.78 ind.100 m-3 (386.98 ind.100 m-3 on the surface and 32.8 ind.100 m-3 near the bottom). Megalopae of these three species were caught, resulting in a total abundance of 179.91 ind.100 m-3 (25.38 ind.100 m-3 on surface and 154.53 ind.100 m-3 near the bottom). Summer was the season with the highest abundance of larvae in both years. During spring and summer, spawning was observed in the estuarine region of the Patos Lagoon.
Quality of Life and Satisfaction among Patients Who Use Hearing Aids

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is a very common condition, especially among the elderly. A large number of people that have disabling hearing loss may benefit from hearing aids. AIM: The purpose of this study was to measure quality of life and satisfaction among patients who use hearing aids. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 100 patients who came in contact with an audiology center in Athens took part. Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used. Alongside with the questionnaires, demographic and relevant to their hearing aid information were collected. Student's t-test, Pearson correlation and Linear regression analysis with the sequential process of integration/abstraction to find independent factors associated with the various scales that generated dependency coefficients (b) and their standard errors (SE), were used. RESULTS: Patient's perception of disability affects use of hearing aid and patients' satisfaction. More specifically patients who used hearing aid more and perceived its benefits showed higher scores in the physical health of SF-12. Age was found to correlate statistically with patients' satisfaction from the hearing aid and decreases as age increases. Also greater subjective perception of disability caused by hearing loss means increased usage of a hearing aid and life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Using a hearing aid improves physical aspects of quality of life of patients with hearing loss. The total duration of wearing a hearing aid and the degree of hearing loss play an important role in the use made by the patient.
The Effect of Three Kinds of Reading Strategies on EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension and Gender Difference Using Think-aloud Protocol

Reading comprehension strategy instruction is a powerful tool in teaching context. The present study examines the effect of teaching three kinds of reading strategies on L2 learners’ reading comprehension ability as well as identifying the gender role in this intervention. This quasi experimental study was carried out on 100 Iranian EFL students who were chosen on the basis of a convenient sampling procedure. These participants were divided into two groups of experimental and control. 50 students (experimental group) were taught to use three reading comprehension strategies while reading English texts over 16 sessions, whereas the other 50 students (control group) were taught reading comprehension traditionally. The results of the study revealed significant effect of reading strategies application on L2 learners’ reading comprehension ability. It also showed that not only male learners employ reading strategies more than their female counterparts, but also male learners had higher reading comprehension performance in comparison to their female counterparts. Thus, it seems that training of reading strategy raised students' awareness towards these strategies and could encourage some learners to use them; which in turn could improve the students' reading comprehension skill.
THE RELIABILITY OF QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS OF COMPANIES IN MALAYSIA

This study examines the reliability of corporate quarterly reports of Malaysian companies by analyzing the reporting of exceptional items. The quarterly reports are likely to be unreliable if companies tend to defer the reporting of exceptional items to the final quarter. In examining the quarterly reports of 114 companies listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, this study provides evidence that a majority of companies defer the reporting of exceptional items to the fourth quarter. It is also observed that a majority of companies made negative adjustments during the fourth quarter. Therefore, the quarterly reports are likely to be unreliable, and there are reasons to believe that companies manage their quarterly earnings. In addition, this study provides evidence that non-profitable companies defer the reporting of exceptional items to the fourth quarter more than the profitable ones. However, there is no evidence of association between the deferment of the recognition of exceptional items and the size, growth, and leverage of a company. JEL classification: G34, M41 Key words: Quarterly financial reporting, Reliability, Earnings management
Private Vs Public Sector Bank Credits And Economic Growth Nexus In Nigeria: Where Does Efficacy Rest?

Demetriades and Hussien (1996), Levine and Zervous (1998) as well as Crowley (2008) argue that bank credits allocated to the private sector of an economy are more productive than those allocated to the public sector because they are disbursed under more stringent credit conditions. This study basically, attempts to evaluate the comparative efficacies of bank credits allocated to the private and public sectors of Nigeria’s economy in relation to economic growth. The Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF), Johansen’s cointegration, error correction model and the standard pair-wise Granger Causality tests were employed in processing data sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria’s Statistical Bulletin over the period 1981 to 2011. The results reveal a significant long run relationship between credits allocated to the public and private sectors of the economy and Nigeria’s gross domestic product. The Granger Causality tests indicate significant bi-directional causality only between credits to private and government sectors. Significant unidirectional causalities are observed between gross domestic product and credits to both private and public sectors with causality flowing from GDP to those economic sectors. The study concludes that irrespective of the prevailing long run relationship between Nigeria’s economic growth and bank credits to the private and public sectors of the economy;(i) Nigerian banks largely play demand-following roles, (ii) None of the bank credits to the government and private sectors is efficient as they two largely fail to promote the economy. Measures including creation of more capital market debt products, which will enable the government source more long term development funds and reduce pressure on operating banks, as well as replication of this study in other economic settings to facilitate understanding of country specifics are recommended for implementation. Keywords : Public Sector Credit, Private Sector Credit, Economic Growth, Efficacy.
Diagenesis of Miocene pelitic sedimentary rocks in the Sava Depression (Croatia)

Abstract Miocene pelitic sedimentary rocks from six wells in the Sava Depression (sub-basin in the south-western part of the Pannonian Basin System) were investigated in order to determine the degrees of diagenetic alteration. Qualitative and semiquantitative mineral compositions of samples and the content of smectite in illite-smectite (I-S) were determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Vitrinite reflectance and thermal alteration index (TAI) were measured in order to estimate the palaeotemperatures. Carbonate minerals, clay minerals and quartz are the main constituents of the pelitic sediments. Feldspars (albite), pyrite, opal-CT and hematite are present as minor constituents in some rocks. The mineral composition of the rocks, apart from previously known differences caused by various depositional environments and clastic material provenance, is dependent on the degree of diagenetic processes. At elevated temperatures and large burial depths the minerals formed by alteration processes or precipitated at the surface; smectite, kaolinite and calcite were gradually replaced by minerals formed by diagenetic processes, i.e. by illite-smectite, illite, chlorite, Ca-excess dolomite/ankerite and albite. Based on XRD data for smectite, I-S and illite, three stages of diagenetic development have been established. The early stage was characteristic of samples at depths <1.8 km containing smectite, I-S of the random R0 type and detrital illite. The middle stage begins with the appearance of the ordered R1 type of I-S at the depths >1.8 km and temperature above 80℃. At depths >4.6 km with corresponding temperatures >190℃, the late stage began, characterized by the presence of R>1 I-S with <10% smectite.
A Survey of Recent Articles in the Field of Recommendation Diversification

Today, with the explosive growth of the internet applications and in the current age of information overload, recommender systems are steadily becoming more important in filtering relevant information and items for users and also in keeping customers and gaining more benefits. Based on the assumption that users with similar preferences in history would also have similar interests in the future, collaborative filtering algorithms have shown significant successes and become one of the most pervasive branches in the study of personalized recommendation. However, while most research focused on improving the accuracy of recommender systems, other important aspects of recommendation quality, such as the diversity of recommendations, have often been overlooked. The ability of recommending a diverse set of items is very important for user satisfaction, because it gives users a richer set of items to choose from and increases the chance of discovering new items. With the development of electronic markets and arrival of diverse and new goods, addressing the diversity factor has become very important and received a lot of attentions in recommender systems literature. But there is a big vacancy in the classification of the works done in this area which is necessary in order to clarify and streamline the directions for future research. Therefore, in this paper, the existing approaches and some of the authentic papers published in recent two or three years are introduced.