Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of potential ecological Adaptation of the species Miscanthus giganteus in conditions of fly ash deposit.

Miscanthus giganteus is a large, perennial (up to 20 years) grass hybrid of M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus native to Japan. It is a sterile hybrid, therefore it propagates vegetative through its rhizomes and that it is a completely non-invasive species. For three years we have monitored a culture of Miscanthus Giganteus on an area of 300 m 2 , divided into three experimental groups: fertilization with 50 t*ha -1 sewage sludge; fertilization with 50 t*ha -1 manure; 100 kg*ha -1 N 15 P 15 K 15 . Only in the first year of vegetation was assured irrigation. In the first year of vegetation was observed that the species Miscanthus giganteus can adapt well to the conditions of fly ash dumps biotope in the case of organic fertilization with sewage sludge and with cattle manure. In the second and third years was observed that again organic fertilization with sewage sludge and with cattle manure have produced the higher vegetative mass, but we observed that inorganic fertilized plot have a good evolution, even in a slow rate. In conclusion we can affirmed that a culture of Miscanthus Giganteus grown in conditions of fly ash deposit improve the environment condition in an ecological way.
Fabrication of pure gold nanostructures by electron beam induced deposition with Au(CO)Cl precursor: deposition characteristics and primary beam scattering effects

In the search for a direct write, high-purity electron beam induced deposition (EBID) process, a new gold precursor that is commonly available is investigated. This precursor, Au(CO)Cl, can indeed be used to produce a high-purity golden nanostructure (>95 at% Au), at a wide variety of electron beam parameters. The use of a mass spectrometer to determine the components of the actual precursor vapour showed that the Au(CO)Cl density in the vapour is very low (estimated at <0.1%), while the main component is CO. This indicates that the electron decomposition cross-section of the actual precursor is roughly two orders of magnitude higher than for common EBID precursors. A remarkable observation is a skirt deposition at positions between 5 and 200 µm away from the beam impact point. This skirt cannot be attributed to secondary electrons of type II (SE2), but results from local scattering of the primary beam on its way through the precursor gas. The skirt deposition is quantified experimentally and by modelling and must be present in all EBID processes with any precursor, delivered through a local supply system with fluxes in the range 1016–1019 molecules cm−2 s−1. It is shown that the skirt effect can be minimized by increasing the applied beam energy and by reducing the gas path length.
Obesity in Asia: prevalence and issues in assessment methodologies

The dramatic changes in the lifestyle of many Asian communities, and the resultant changes in the food and nutrition issues facing the communities in the region have been documented by various investigators. Health authorities and researchers have given greater attention to the problem of overweight and obesity. Available data are lacking, but various estimates have indicated that the emerging problem of overweight amongst children cannot be ignored. Estimates of overweight by the World Health Organization (WHO) amongst preschool children in Asia in 1995 was around 2.9%. Data extracted from selected studies in individual Asian countries show much higher prevalences, ranging from 5% to 9% amongst several urban cities in Asia. In several other developing countries in the region, the prevalence is probably very low, with prevalences of less than 1%. There is thus considerable variation in this prevalence amongst the various countries. The problem of increasing overweight and obesity amongst adults in Asia has been highlighted for more than a decade. The database on the extent of the problem is far from being comprehensive, but various studies have pointed out the severity of the problem. Various reports in the 1990s have pointed out prevalences of overweight of over 20% and obesity of over 5% amongst urban population groups of the more developed countries in the region. It is also to be noted that there are also reports indicating that the most affluent societies in the region, such as Seoul and Tokyo, did not have the highest prevalence of overweight. There are also data on increasing prevalence of overweight among rural areas in the last 10 years. The situation for children is similar: there is considerable variation in the severity of the problem. In the Philippines National Surveys, for example, slightly lower prevalences have been reported. Countries in the region will continue to progress, accompanied by continued changes in lifestyle of communities. It is therefore of utmost importance to continue to monitor the nutritional status of communities. The lack of nationally representative data which is regularly updated is a major concern. The lack of data for certain age groups such as the adolescents and the elderly need to be addressed. One of the main obstacles in the formulation and effective implementation of intervention programs in developing countries is the lack of comprehensive data on the extent of the problems in many cases and the causes of such problems specific to the communities concerned. In addition to the lack of good data, other concerns too need to be addressed. These include methodological issues such as the need for harmonization of methods in assessment of nutritional status for the various groups, the appropriateness of criteria for cut-offs, growth reference to be used, and association of overweight and obesity with comorbidities.
The Use of Learner Autonomy in English as a Foreign Language Context among Saudi Undergraduates Enrolled in Preparatory Year Deanship at Najran University

This paper explores the current practices of learner autonomy among Saudi undergraduates at Preparatory Year, Najran University. The Short List questionnaire developed by Dixon (2011) was administered to measure the use of autonomous learning in English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Quantitative data were gathered from 208 male students in level one. The results of the data analysis showed that the participants experience a low level of learner autonomy (LA) in English language. While the LA dimensions of linguistic confidence, social comparison, and locus of control are considered a weakness for the participants, they had medium averages in information literacy, metacognition, and self-reliance dimensions. Therefore, the study suggests the need for pedagogical treatments like the strategy use instruction to develop LA in the Saudi EFL context.
Near–infrared spectroscopy for objectifying cerebral effects of needle and laserneedle acupuncture

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been successfully used in this study to objectify cerebral alterations in oxyhemoglobin and desoxyhemoglobin, due to manual needle acupuncture and laserneedle acupuncture, in 88 healthy volunteers mean age 25.7±4.0 ( x¯ ±SD) years (19–38 years). Results from Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, Korean and Chinese hand acupuncture, ear acupuncture, combinations of the different acupuncture methods and placebo needling are presented. NIRS seems to be able to shed some light upon the functioning of the different acupuncture methods.
Measuring Producers' Risk Preferences: A Global Risk‐Attitude Construct

In applied agricultural economic research various risk-attitude elicitation techniques are used. Here, we investigate whether risk-attitude measures rooted in the expected utility framework are related to measures rooted in the multi-item scale framework. Using a second-order factor analytical model, and data obtained from personal computer-guided interviews with 373 farmers, we investigate whether the common variance among the (latent) risk-attitude measures can be accounted for by a global risk-attitude construct. We find that the different risk-attitude measures are related, and that the global risk-attitude construct is significantly related to farmers' intention to use futures contracts. Our research suggests that farmers' risk attitude is a higher-order characteristic that cannot be effectively extracted by a single measure. Copyright 2001, Oxford University Press.
© 2010 Jared T. Freiburg THE TIMING, COMPOSITION, AND SOURCE OF SUBSURFACE DIAGENETIC WATERS RESPONSIBLE FOR SULFIDE AND CARBONATE MINERALIZATION IN SOLUTION CAVITIES OF THE ORDOVICIAN GALENA GROUP LIMESTONE, NORTH AURORA, ILLINOIS, USA BY JARED THOMAS FREIBURG

Geologists have long recognized the important role of continental-scale fluid flow as a mechanism for diagenesis, including the dissolution of rock and the deposition of Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) minerals in sedimentary basins. Tens-of-centimeter scale calcite crystals concentrically zoned with sulfide minerals and growing within meter-scale solution cavities were recently discovered on the flank of the Michigan Basin in the North Aurora mine (Kane County, NE Illinois). These mineral deposits are a reflection of the temporal changes in chemical composition and the source of paleo-fluids migrating through the midcontinent. Meter-scale solution cavities were created by dissolution along northwest-southeast trending fractures in the Wise Lake Formation limestone of the Ordovician Galena Group. On the basis of plane-light and cathodoluminescent petrography and scanning electron microscopy, a series of repeating diagenetic events are identified within the cavities consisting of dissolution followed by marcasite, pyrite, and calcite precipitation. The repetition of these diagenetic events and the paragenetic ordering of mineralization, in conjunction with changes in isotopic (Sr/Sr) and elemental concentrations (Ca, Na, Sr, Fe, Mg, and Mn) in calcite growth zones, suggest changes in the fluid chemistry and the source of the subsurface diagenetic waters that were responsible for dissolution and mineralization. The oldest, innermost calcite cement zone within the cavity has a chemical composition (Sr/Sr 0.71015±0.00002 standard SRM976, high Mg and high Fe) that best reflects deep basinal brine that may have previously interacted with K-feldspar rich rocks such a those near the Cambrian-Precambrian unconformity. Later, and younger calcite cements have successively lower isotopic and elemental values (Sr/Sr 0.709800.70898±0.00002, low Mg, low Fe), suggesting a weakening of deep basinal brine upwelling and mixing with formation waters. Comparison of the paragenesis of North Aurora with those from other regional MVT deposits indicates a related succession of diagenetic events, thus supporting possible involvement of a similar diagenetic fluid during dissolution and mineralization. However, the paragenesis at North Aurora most resembles the paragenesis of the Upper Mississippi Valley Zn-Pb district deposits, which are thought to be sourced from fluids expelled out of the Illinois Basin.
WHEN BLACK PLUS WHITE EQUALS GRAY: THE NATURE OF VARIATION IN THE VARIABLE SEEDEATER COMPLEX (EMBERIZINAE: SPOROPHILA)

The degree of relationship between the Variable (Sporophila aurita) and Wing-barred (S. americana) Seedeaters has been debated for over 80 years. The discovery of a zone of hybridization between the former and the Gray Seedeater (S. intermedia), not previously considered to be closely related because of its gray rather than black-and-white adult 0" plumage, prompted me to reexamine this question. M y working hypothesis of a close relationship between all of these forms was supported by their very similar morphology and almost perfectly complementar y distributions, the recognition of another zone of limited overlap and hybridization, and by heretofore unappreciated variation within S. intermedia itself. I conclude that S. intermedia is in effect a member of an enlarged Variable Seedeater complex, a monophyletic unit best recognized at the superspecies level. Patterns of morphological differentiation and distribution lead me to propose the recognition of four allospecies: S. corvina ( = "aurita"), Variable Seedeater; S. intermedia, Gray Seedeater; S. murallae, Caqueta Seedeater; and S. americana, Wing-barred Seedeater. Quantitative analysis of the variation within S. i. intermedia indicates that the subspecies agustini is not recognizable; likewise, synonynuzation of S. c. chocoana, suggested in a previous study, is supported. A tentative hypothesis for the historical zoogeography of the group is proposed. Accepted 5 June 1996.
Gender and Mathematics Education in Pakistan: A situation analysis

This paper reports from a situation analysis of gender issues in mathematics education in Pakistan. It was undertaken at the initiation of a large scale project which aimed to understand how curriculum change in mathematics and science education may be implemented in ways that contribute to poverty alleviation and promote gender equity in disadvantaged rural settings. The paper posits that issues of access, achievement and quality of mathematics education are integrally linked with questions of equity, in this case gender equity. It identifies several questions and arenas for further research and makes recommendations for policy and practice in mathematics education.
BRONCHODILATORY AND ANTICHOLINERGIC EFFECTS OF CARUM CARVI ON ISOLATED GUINEA PIG TRACHEAL CHAINS

Carum carvi (CC) is a grassy plant which is believed to have several therapeutic effects, including anti-asthmatic properties. We have therefore studied the bronchodilatory and anticholinergic effects of this plant. The bronchodilatory effects of the aqueous extract (AE), macerated extract (ME), essential oil (EO), and 4/lM theophylline (T) in comparison with saline (S) were examined by their relaxant effects on precontracted [by 10 /lM methacholine (M)] isolated tracheal chains of guinea pigs (n=1O). The anticholinergic effects of AE, ME, EO, and 5 nM atropine (A) were tested by comparing the cumulative Log concentration-response curves (LCRCs) of M­ induced contraction of tracheal chains and the effective concentration of M causing 50% of maximum response (ECso) in the presence of AE, ME, EO, and A with that of S. Although the bronchodilatory effects of AE, ME, and EO were lower than that ofT (p<0.00l for all cases), they were significantly higher than the effect of S (p< 0.05 for AE, p<O.Ol for ME, and p<0.005 for EO). There were also clear non­ parallel right-ward shifts in LCRCs obtained in the presence of AE, ME, and EO, but a parallel shift in the presence of A compared to the curve obtained in the presence of S. The slope of LCRCs obtained in the presence of AE, ME, and EO were significantly lower than that of S (p<O.OI for AE, p<0.05 for ME, and p<O.OOl for EO). The ECso obtained in the presence of AE (p<0.005), ME (p=O.005), EO (p<0.02), and A (p<0.001) were significantly higher than that of S. However, the ECso values obtained in the presence of AE, ME, EO and dose ratio (DR-I) produced by ME were not significantly different from that of A. The LCRCs obtained in the presence of EO on incubated tracheal chains with l/lM propranolol and I /lM chlorpheniramine also showed a clear non-parallel right­ ward shift comparing with that of S. However, the slope of this curve was * Corresponding author. 345 Volume 12 Number 4 Winter 1377 February 1999 D ow nl oa de d fr om m jir i.i um s. ac . ir a t 3 :2 6 IR S T o n M on da y M ar ch 1 6t h 20 20 Effect of Carum carvi on Guinea Pig Trachea significantly higher than that of non-incubated experiments (p<O.05). The results of this study indicated that the bronchodilatory effect of Carum carvi is mainly due to the non-competitive antagonistic property of this plant at muscarinic receptors. The � stimulatory effect and/or anti-histaminic effect of EO might be contributed to its non-competitive property. The variation between anticholinergic behaviours of different extracts is probably due to the variation of methods used, leading to extraction of different substances or destruction of some substances due to high temperature. MJIRI, Vol. 12, No.4, 345-351,1999
Role of polymeric surfactant in the synthesis of cobalt molybdate nanospheres for hybrid capacitor applications

The role of Pluronic F127, a triblock copolymer, i.e. poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) PEO–PPO–PEO, adsorbed on cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4), and its influence on the physico-chemical properties have been investigated. As a surfactant, Pluronic F127 is able to alter the surface properties of CoMoO4 during synthesis. Through a facile synthesis at 300 °C, F127 adsorbs at the interface and self-assembles into a micellar aggregate, resulting in the formation of CoMoO4 nanospheres. A cluster of nano-particles with an average size of 250 nm is obtained when F127 is added to CoMoO4, while rod-shaped particles (1 μm) are obtained in the absence of F127. The surfactant-assisted CoMoO4 is associated with enhanced pore accessibility and electronic conductivity, having a dual role in potential applications. The objective of this study is to test the as-synthesized CoMoO4 with regard to application in energy storage by tuning the surface properties. The hybrid capacitor (F127 added to CoMoO4 vs. activated carbon) showed an excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of 79 F g−1 and an energy density of 38 W h kg−1 in 2 M NaOH electrolyte, which was much higher than that for pure CoMoO4 (23 F g−1). The long-term cycling stability of the modified CoMoO4 was tested and it was found to retain almost 80% of its initial capacity after 2000 cycles. The results obtained suggest that F127-modified CoMoO4 would be a suitable candidate for fabricating a cost-effective energy storage device.
School violence in Lesotho : the perceptions, experiences and observations of a group of learners

School violence is a subject of great public and media interest that has stimulated a comprehensive body of research. Academic consideration of the subject began in the USA and Scandinavia in the mid-1960s and early 1970s but little evidence could be found of publications on the subject in the small landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho. To address this hiatus in school violence literature, I report on an investigation into a group of Lesotho secondary school learners' perceptions, experiences, and observations of school violence. The research instrument was an adapted version of a violence and trauma questionnaire for adolescents. The first important result from this study was to confirm that verbal and physical abuse amongst learners was prevalent in some schools in Lesotho. Secondly, qualitative and quantitative data revealed that learners often suffered verbal and physical humiliation at the hands of their educators. Thirdly, the data indicated that two major violence risk factors, namely, use of drugs and weapon carrying, were relatively common amongst educators and learners in Lesotho. This study also showed that school violence in Lesotho was a manifestation of gender inequality and violence. Some comments and recommendations are made. Keywords : aggression; gender inequality; learners; Lesotho; school violence South African Journal of Education Vol. 27 (4) 2007: pp. 673-690
Preference in Presentation or Impression Management: A Comparison Study between Chairmen’s Statements of the Most and Least Profitable Australian Companies

The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent of impression management in corporate annual reports in an Australian context. To contribute to this topic, a research question is investigated: do the most profitable Australian companies, assessed by percentage change in profit before tax, organise the chairmen’s statements of their corporate annual reports and disclose information in a way that is significantly different from those least profitable companies? In terms of the methodology, this research has selected the top 50 most and least profitable companies in ASX 500 as at 30th June 2009 respectively. For reference and comparison purposes, another 50 companies were selected randomly from the rest of the population. Content analysis was applied. The results of this study were indicative that chairmen’s letters from profitable and non-profitable Australian companies do demonstrate significantly different presentational preferences.
FORUM EURO-MEDITERRANÉEN DES INSTITUTS ÉCONOMIQUES EURO-MEDITERRANEAN FORUM OF ECONOMIC INSTITUTES

Freer trade may lead to a loss of tax revenue as tariffs and other trade taxes are reduced. For countries with significant fiscal imbalances, any loss of revenue would be an important consideration. Trade liberalization can also interact with the domestic tax system and the macroeconomic environment, with implications for economic growth, revenue, and the overall budget. It is therefore important to take all the major interactions and feedbacks into account while considering fiscal impacts of trade reforms. This paper discusses the potential fiscal impacts of the Euro-Mediterranean agreements, and in particular, focuses on the EU-Turkey customs union as a case study. 1 Université Libre de Bruxelles, CESifo, ERF, EcoMod. 2 Université Libre de Bruxelles, EcoMod 3 Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, and Bocconi University, Milan 4 Erasmus University Rotterdam, EcoMod 5 University of Tunis 6 Bilkent University, Ankara
Profiling Student Smokers: A Behavioral Approach

The aim of the present study is to construct a coherent profile of student smokers in Greece, based on their behavioral and demographic characteristics. In this context, we collected data by administrating an anonymous self-completed questionnaire, which was answered by students of University and Technological Educational Institute (T.E.I.) of Patras. The final sample consists of 1,190 student smokers. For the purposes of the present study, principal component analysis was utilized to explore and detect the demographic and behavioral profiles of Greek student smokers. The factor solution identified 5 demographic factors and 14 behavioral factors. All factors were labeled, interpreted and discussed in the light of existing knowledge in order to understand better the consumer behavior of student smokers.
LCDiXRay: a user-friendly program for powder diffraction indexing of columnar liquid crystals

The formulation of a standard computerized procedure for the indexing of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of columnar liquid crystals, with the determination of all structural information extracted from a properly indexed PXRD spectrum and the attribution of the columnar mesophase symmetry, is presented. In particular, the proposed program notably accelerates the identification of columnar mesophases together with the in situ determination of their structural parameters such as mesophase type, space group, cell parameters, cross-section area, intermolecular stacking distance between consecutive discoids and, in the case of ordered mesophases, the estimation of the number of molecules constituting each discoid.
Optimising the storage and extraction of chlorophyll samples

The effect of different methodological steps on the analysis of chlorophylla (chla) was tested with algae cultures and Baltic Sea water. Selected experiments were tested with ANOVAs for significant differences between treatments. The results of the experiments led to the following recommendations: the sample volume should be low so that filtration takes no longer than 10 min. Extracts rather than filters should be stored if storage of the samples at −20 ◦ C is required. However, quickfreezing in liquid nitrogen is recommended. The extraction efficiency was much better in 96% ethanol than in 90% acetone – extraction in the latter solvent requires the filters to be homogenised. The extraction time has no significant influence within a range of 3 to 24 hours if the recommended 96% ethanol is used.