Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Earth's Obliquity Oscillations Can Influence Climate Change by Driving Global Volcanic Activity

Spectral and wavelet analysis reveal the chain of close phase and coherence relationships at the obliquity frequency in variations of the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis (obliquity), frequency of large volcanic eruptions (Ef) along the Pacific Ring of Fire, and climate characteristics, represented by the relative content of oxygen-18 (δ18O) in the calcite of fossil benthic foraminifers (prominent LR04 stack), Antarctic and Greenland ice core data. The links revealed show that powerful 41,000-year rhythms in the Plio-Pleistocene climate variations can be caused by geophysical and geochemical effects of global volcanic activity which is induced by the forced obliquity oscillations.
Cross-Functional Integration and New Product Performance: An Empirical Analysis and Findings

Follow this and additional works at: http://ecommons.udayton. edu/mgt_fac_pub Part of the Advertising and Promotion Management Commons, Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Business and Corporate Communications Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, Marketing Commons, Nonprofit Administration and Management Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Public Relations and Advertising Commons, Sales and Merchandising Commons, and the Social Media Commons
Screening of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes against Grain Discoloration Disease

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important crop of the world both in terms of area (433.38 m ha) and production (481.54 m t) (Anon., 2016). One out of every three people depends on rice for more than half of their daily diet. Rice is most important staple food in Asia, where 60 per cent world population lives and accounts between 35 -60 per cent of the caloric intake of three billion Asians. In India rice is grown in 43.86 m ha, the production level was 104.80 mt and the productivity of 2404 kg/ ha (Anon., 2016). In Karnataka, rice is also extensively cultivated both in kharif and rabi seasons. Total area under rice in Karnataka is 1.42 mha with a production of 3.6 mt accounting for a productivity of 2.62 t per ha (Anon., 2016). This low productivity is attributed due to abiotic and biotic stresses leading to heavy crop losses. Rice crop is prone to attack by several diseases to a much larger extent than any other cereal crops. Rice crop suffers from many diseases like blast, sheath blight, sheath rot, bacterial blight, false smut, grain discoloration, udabatta and tungro. Throughout the world these diseases have drawn much attention and consequently, these diseases have been intensively studied. However, other diseases on which sufficient stress in not yet devoted are generally International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 07 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
IMPACT OF THREONINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWING JAPANESE QUAIL PERFORMANCE.

This study was carried out to investigate the impacts of threonine(Thr) supplementation on growing Japanese quail performance. A total number of the experimental birds was 405 at 7 days of age. Japanese quails were divided into nine treatment groups (45 birds in each). Each treatment group contained three replicates ( 15 birds in each). Threonine supplementation levels to basal diet were (0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35 and 0.40% to form 9 experimental diet groups. The results showed that 1Growth performance: No significant difference among dietary treatments in LBW and LBWG values during all periods (7-21, 22-42 and 7-42 days of age), FI during the period from 7-42 days of age and FC during the periods (21-42 and 7-42 days of age) were observed. Significant effects on FI during the periods (7-21 and 21-42 days of age) and FC during the period from 7-21 days of age were observed. Quails fed (basal diet +0.20% threonine supplementation (diet 5) had better FC value during the period from 7-42 days of age. 2Slaughter parameters: Feeding different levels of threonine supplementation insignificantly affected slaughter parameters of Japanese quails, expect, breast perimenter length (cm). Quails fed basal diet + 0.40% threonine supplementation (diet 9) had higher breast perimenter length (cm). 3Economical efficiency: Quails fed basal diet + 0.05% threonine supplementation (diet 2) gave the best economical and relative efficiency values being 2.779 and 111.56 %, respectively followed by quails fed basal diet + 0.2% threonine supplementation (diet 5) (2.776 and 111.44% respectively) when compared with control diet or other dietary treatments. 4Chemical analysis (moisture, Cp and amino acids)% of breast Japanese quail meat: It shows no significant effect on moisture, protein and amino acids % of quails meats. However, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40% supplemented Thr showed the highest protein % (as dry matter) were 82.55, 81.95 and 80.10 % Also, moisture % decreased as dietary threonine increased up to 0.35% Thr supplemented. Overall, as
Simulating cotton yield response to deficit irrigation with the FAO AquaCrop model

The Food and Agriculture Organization has reflected the importance of predicting yield response to water by developing the AquaCrop model. During three growing seasons (2007-2009), a field experiment was conducted in the South-East of Damascus (Syria) to assess the response of drip irrigated cotton grown under full (FI) and deficit irrigation (80, 65, 50% of FI). Input data and comparisons between simulated and observed canopy cover (CC), biomass production at harvesting, final seed cotton yield, and soil water content using data sets of the 2007 season, were used for model calibration. The calibrated model was validated using data sets of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, getting accurate simulation results for CC [root mean square error (RMSE) = 6.5%] and actual evapotranspiration- ETa (RMSE = 25 mm, index of agreement = 0.99). The predicted seed cotton yields were within 6% of measurements. The model predictions of soil water content in the 0.60 m profile were close in the general trend to the measurements. In spite of the good prediction of ETa and seed cotton yield for each treatment, there is an apparent tendency for AquaCrop to over-estimate water use efficiency (WUE) under water-deficit conditions. Therefore, in cases of limited input data, the AquaCrop could be a promising model for estimating crop productivity under deficit irrigation conditions.
Land management modulates the environmental controls on global earthworm communities

Aim Soils and their biological communities face increasing pressure from multiple global drivers, including land management and climate change. In soils, earthworms play key roles in ecosystem functioning, but the environmental controls on their global communities are not fully understood. Here, an earthworm dataset was compiled to investigate the effects of environmental variables and land management on global earthworm communities. Location 40° S–65° N. Time period 1962 to 2016. Major taxa studied Earthworms. Methods A dataset of 899 earthworm community observations, together with environmental variables, was compiled across 169 globally distributed sites. Sites included natural forest and grassland or managed arable, pasture and plantation ecosystems. Total, anecic, endogeic and epigeic abundances and total species richness were compared in natural and managed ecosystems to quantify the effects of land management across climates. A hierarchical model was used to test the importance of environmental controls in predicting the relationship between total earthworm species richness and abundance at a global scale. Results Land management prompted little change in total earthworm abundance at the global scale, but reduced species richness and shifted community composition. Endogeic earthworms were more abundant in managed ecosystems, while anecic and epigeic earthworms showed variable responses across ecosystem types. Global relationships between total earthworm species richness and abundance were explained by climate, soil pH and land management. Main conclusions Land management modulates the effects of environmental controls on global earthworm communities, through direct disturbance and indirect changes in edaphic conditions.
A machine learning approach to identifying objective biomarkers of anxiety and stress

Anxiety and stress-related disorders are highly prevalent and debilitating conditions that impose an enormous burden on society. Sensitive measurements that can enable early diagnosis could mitigate suffering and potentially prevent onset of these conditions. Self-reports, however, are intrusive and vulnerable to biases that can conceal the true internal state. Physiological responses, on the other hand, manifest spontaneously and can be monitored continuously, providing potential objective biomarkers for anxiety and stress. Recent studies have shown that algorithms trained on physiological measurements can predict stress states with high accuracy. Whether these predictive algorithms generalize to untested situations and participants, however, remains unclear. Further, whether biomarkers of momentary stress indicate trait anxiety – a vulnerability foreshadowing development of anxiety and mood disorders – remains unknown. To address these gaps, we monitored skin conductance, heart rate, heart rate variability and EEG in 39 participants experiencing physical and social stress and compared these measures to non-stressful periods of talking, rest, and playing a simple video game. Self-report measures were obtained periodically throughout the experiment. A support vector machine trained on physiological measurements identified stress conditions with ~96% accuracy. A decision tree that optimally combined physiological and self-report measures identified individuals with high trait anxiety with ~84% accuracy. Individuals with high trait anxiety also displayed high baseline state anxiety but a muted physiological response to acute stressors. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential for using machine learning tools to identify objective biomarkers useful for diagnosing and monitoring mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Properties from the Extract and Fractions of Annona senegalensis Pers (Annonaceae) Stem Bark Grown in Nigeria

Aim: This study was carried out to assess the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of the extract and fractions of Annona senegalensis stem bark through in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Study Design: The study followed a completely randomized design (CRD) of groups of treatments and control samples for all the tests. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicines, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, between January and September 2016. Methodology: Phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant activities using different models (reducing power, DPPH free radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, Hydroxyl radical scavenging, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, FRAP scavenging and superoxide radical scavenging assays) were carried out. In vivo antioxidant activity was determined from the assays of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and total protein while hepatoprotective activity was evaluated against CCI4 induced liver damage and elevated serum marker enzymes. Results: The results showed that the extract and fractions of stem bark of A. senegalensis had appreciable amounts of total flavonoids (845.67±93.62 mg/g) and total phenols (866.67±8.41), and exhibited good antioxidant activities at higher concentrations. Doses of the extract and fractions administered at 400 mg/kg protected the CCI4–induced lipid peroxidation and significantly (P = .05) reduced the elevated serum marker enzymes - aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP), and bilirubin level on a dose and solvent dependent fashion. At 200 and 400 mg/kg extract, the serum AST was reduced (by 40.34% and 45.66% respectively) as much as the MeOH fraction (43.88%) and control (43.44%), whereas EtOAc fractions gave significantly the best reduction (52.49%). The ethyl acetate fraction gave the best activity among all the fractions. Conclusion: The results showed that the stem bark is a potential source of natural antioxidants and hepatoprotective agents, and justifies its use in traditional herbal practice.
The Role of Presentation and Response Format in Understanding, Preconceptions and Alternative Concepts in Algebra Problems.

Research indicates that students have great difficulty solving certain algebra word problems. These solutions, moreover, appear to be due to some situational factors characteristic of algebra problems, e.g., presentation and response format. This study investigates students' preconceptions, post facto alternative concepts based on key features of the presentation, and response modes in algebra problems. Sixteen problems were constructed and administered among college and secondary school students. Based on the reading of the literature and analysis of responses, two types of errors were identified: reversal and qualitative errors. By cross-checking these errors with the presentation and response format, and by integrating the performance results of the algebra problems, the causes and types of errors were identified as being either pedagogical (formal) or intuitive. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/NB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
Silver Nanosphere SERS Probes for Sensitive Identification of Pathogens

The identification and timely detection of pathogenic bacteria is critical to ensuring safe food, health, and water. Although surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) methods have been used for pathogen characterization and single molecule sensing, the challenge of detecting pathogens in very low numbers using an optimal substrate that is sensitive and reproducible is still a challenge. In this report, we have developed and explored a novel SERS active substrate of 60−80 nm diameter through the assembly of Ag nanocrystals (AgNCs) into Ag nanospheres (AgNSs). A finite difference time domain (FDTD) analysis of the electromagnetic field produced by these structures and the enhancement factor calculations indicated that an enhancement of 108 was possible using the 633 or 785 nm excitation. The exact enhancement factors (EF) through the experimental results were calculated to be 2.47 × 107, which is close to that obtained through the FDTD analysis. Preliminary characterization of the SERS substrate was demonst.
Separable codes for read-out of mouse primary visual cortex across attentional states

Attentional modulation of neuronal activity in sensory cortex could alter perception by enhancing the local representation of attended stimuli or its behavioral read-out downstream. We tested these hypotheses using a task in which mice are cued on interleaved trials to attend visual or auditory targets. Neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) that encode task stimuli have larger visually-evoked responses when attention is directed toward vision. To determine whether the attention-dependent changes in V1 reflect changes in representation or read-out, we decoded task stimuli and choices from population activity. Surprisingly, both visual and auditory choices can be decoded from V1, but decoding takes advantage of unique activity patterns across modalities. Furthermore, decoding of choices, but not stimuli, is impaired when attention is directed toward the opposite modality. The specific effect on choice suggests behavioral improvements with attention are largely due to targeted read-out of the most informative V1 neurons.
Organizational Learning and Green Innovation: Does Environmental Proactivity Matter?

Emerging economies face the challenge of striking a balance between development and the environment. To adapt to the changes, organizations must develop dynamic capabilities for green innovation and corporate sustainability. Based on a resource-based view integrated with contingency and stakeholder theories, this study examines how strategic contingency makes differences in the transformation between learning and performance resources through innovation efforts. Oriented toward external and internal stakeholders, respectively, learning resources comprise absorptive capacity and transformative capability, innovation efforts include green product innovation and green process innovation, and performance resources contain green image and competitive advantage. Depicting their mediating relationships moderated by environmental proactivity, the research model is supported by survey observations collected from over 300 organizations in China. Environmentally proactive organizations are found to have more balanced dynamic capability development than those that are more reactive. To optimize green innovation, therefore, organizations need to embrace an ecological strategy and engage employees in learning.
A Survey of the Impact of Death-Related Costs on Health-Care Expenditure and Demographics and Health Costs in Italy. ENEPRI Policy Briefs No. 5, 19 December 2007

This Policy Brief summarises two papers prepared for the AHEAD project (WP7) focusing on the impact of death costs on health-care spending. The papers reviewed the empirical literature on health economics, presenting the main results obtained by studies on the interaction among age, proximity to death and health-care expenditure. Besides, they provide estimates of health expenditure by ‘distance from birth’ (i.e. age) and by ‘distance from death’ (i.e. the health expenditure incurred in the last period of life) in different parts of Italy. Specifically, a distinction is drawn between ‘old age costs’ – healthcare expenditure due to the ageing of the population – and ‘death costs’ – healthcare expenditure due to the event of dying. Using the methodology proposed by Bartolacci et al. (2001), the authors estimate hospital costs prior to death in four regions (Tuscany, Lombardy, Abruzzi and Apulia). The results are then compared with previous estimates of healthcare expenditure by age and prior to death available for Italy. We compare the results with those of some other OECD countries as well.
Economics of Water Yam (Dioscorea alata) Production in South Eastern Nigeria

The decreasing trend in acceptability, yield and income realized from water yam (Dioscorea alata) production in South Eastern Nigeria informed this study. It specifically examined respondents enterprise profitability, the socio-economic determinants of output, production system and constraints to production. Multi-stage and random sampling procedure were used in selecting 120 respondents from three of the five states in the region. Pre-tested questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection while descriptive statistics, enterprise budgeting and multiple regression were used for data analysis. Findings showed that majority (67%) of the respondents were males, 75% were married with mean household size of 5 persons and mean educational attainment of 8 years. Farming systems adopted by the farmers included mixed and continuous cropping, and farm sizes of less than one hectare. Output was significantly and positively determined by educational level, gender, farm size, cost of inputs, number of extension visits and amount of credit obtained. The enterprise was profitable judging by the positive values of gross margin, net farm income, mean net farm income and net return on investment of N1,893,114, N1,705,965, N14,216.38 and 0.39 respectively. Production was majorly constrained by high cost of labour, low acceptability and demand of product, lack of improved varieties as well as poor technical know-how. Research institutes should focus efforts on upgrading the yield and quality of the variety while government provides enabling incentives to the extension agencies and farmers, to enhance their outputs and ensure improvement in product supply and acceptability.
Workplace values and beliefs: an empirical study of ideology, high commitment management and unionisation

This study is unique in that it examines both managers' and workers' values and beliefs about employment relationships. It found that managers consider the employment relationship in their own workplaces unitarist rather than pluralist, but have mixed ideologies when considering society as a whole. Workers are strongly pluralist when considering society as a whole, but their workplace ideology is somewhat unitarist. A modest union impact on workers' perspectives is found, but little evidence to suggest union's effect commitment to the employing organization. Workers' commitment is to personal careers first and the organization second, while managers put the organization ahead of personal careers. Correlations exist between unitary views of the employment relationship, increased High Commitment Management (HCM) practices, and high levels of commitment. The purpose and contribution of this study is that it reports an assessment of the relation between workplace attitudes and beliefs and the efficacy and influence of management and union initiatives designed to impact them.
Sexual antagonism leads to a mosaic of X–autosome conflict

Males and females have different optimal values for some traits, such as body size. When the same genes control these traits in both sexes, selection pushes in opposite directions in males and females. Alleles at autosomal loci spend equal amounts of time in males and females, suggesting that the sexually antagonistic selective forces may approximately balance between the opposing optima. Frank and Crespi noted that alleles on the X chromosome spend twice as much time in diploid females as in haploid males. That distinction between the sexes may tend to favor X-linked genes that push more strongly toward the female optimum than the male optimum. The female bias of X-linked genes conflicts with the intermediate optimum of autosomal genes, potentially creating an X-autosome conflict. Patten has recently argued that explicit genetic assumptions about dominance and the relative magnitude of allelic effects may lead X-linked genes to favor the male rather than the female optimum, contradicting Frank and Crespi. This article combines the insights of those prior analyses into a new, more general theory. We find some parameter combinations for X-linked loci that favor a female bias and other parameter combinations that favor a male bias. We conclude that the X likely contains a mosaic pattern of loci that conflict with autosomes over sexually antagonistic traits. The overall tendency for a female or male bias on the X depends on prior assumptions about the distribution of key parameters across X-linked loci. Those parameters include the dominance coefficient and the way in which ploidy influences the magnitude of allelic effects.
Root adaptation and ion selectivity affects the nutritional value of salt-stressed hydroponically grown baby-leaf Nasturtium officinale and Lactuca sativa

The response of watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.) to salinity has been scarcely addressed in literature despite its growing importance in the baby-leaf market and its wide cultivation in salt-affected agricultural regions. This work evaluates the effect of salinity (2.5, 5 and 10 dS m-1) on productive and quality features of watercress compared with another crop widely cultivated for the baby-leaf sector (lettuce, Lactuca sativa). In watercress, a linear relationship (R2=0.75) was observed between yield decrease and Cl– accumulation in leaves, whereas yield was not affected by salinity in lettuce. NaCl application increased Na+ accumulation at the expense of Ca2+ uptake in the leaf tissues of both crops, but also of K+ in watercress. Health-related features were improved by salinity (e.g. increased phenolics and reduced nitrates), especially in watercress, with limited sensorial quality evaluation effects.