Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Title: Meta-Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Swine Operations – NPB #10-104 Investigator:

Global warming has been linked to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Swine operations are important sources of GHG, primarily methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has developed guidelines for estimating and reporting emissions of GHG. However, the methodology proposed by the IPCC is relatively crude. There is a need to improve the estimates of emissions. A statistical analysis (meta-analysis) on measured GHG emissions in existing studies as well as a literature review was performed to reveal possible bias in estimation of GHG emissions from swine operations and to explore causes of the variation in the reported GHG emissions from swine buildings, manure storage facilities and manure land applications. In total, 96 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that variation of the measured CH4 and N2O emission rates has not been adequately captured by the IPCC approaches. Larger differences between estimated and measured CH4 emission rates were observed in North American studies than in European studies. In North American studies, the IPCC approaches have a tendency to overestimate CH4 emissions, especially from lagoons at lower temperatures. For N2O emissions from swine operations, an overall underestimation of the IPCC approaches was observed in European studies but not in North American studies. The measured GHG emissions from swine operations were significantly affected by types of emission sources, swine categories (stage of production) and geographic regions. Farrowing swine emitted more CH4 and CO2 emissions as compared with other swine categories, while gestating swine had greater N2O emissions. Effects of different manure handling systems, bedding material, manure removal frequency, use of covers on manure storage facilities, temperature and diet crude protein (CP) content were investigated through meta-analysis. For N2O emissions from swine manure applications, the IPCC default emission factor is within the range of measured values. Factors that can affect the GHG emissions from manure land applications include: temperature, precipitation, soil properties, manure application methods, manure application time, and composition/treatment of manure, etc. The results provided a better understanding on causes of variation in GHG emissions from swine operations. It can help to quantify the emissions more accurately. The knowledge on causes of variation may also be useful for developing cost-effective mitigation strategies.
Foreign Direct Investment, Export Performance and Sustainable Development in Nigeria

This study sets out to examine the role of manufacturing sector Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the quest for export sector diversification in Nigeria for sustainable development. This objective was achieved by estimating the effects of manufacturing sector FDI on manufactured goods export from Nigeria using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimating technique. The study discovered that FDI inflows into the country’s manufacturing sector impacted negatively on manufactured exports in the short run. The short run result nevertheless gave way to a positive and significant influence of FDI on manufactured exports in the long run, indicating that this form of foreign capital is important for manufactured export promotion in Nigeria. The resulting long run positive FDI- spillovers on export performance in Nigeria is in tandem with the neoliberal theoretical viewpoint that developing countries can rely on FDI as ladder to sustainable development. The findings suggest that sustainable development can be enhanced in Nigeria by exploiting the channel of positive spillovers from sector specific FDI inflows. The study concludes that with appropriate policy stance, one important way of pursuing the long run goal of sustainable development is to route FDI inflows in the direction of the country’s manufacturing sector.
The Characteristics of Flight Delay in China

Flight delay is a global problem. With the development of air transport, flight delay is particularly serious in China. The definition of delay is an evolutionary process in China. This paper discusses the definition of delay from three aspects: the benchmark of delayed time, the benchmark of actual departure/arrival time and the coverage of delay statistics. An inappropriate definition of delay may lead to inconsistencies between statistical data and passenger perceptions before 2017. From a macro perspective, this paper uses first-hand data to reveal the law of on-time performance (OTP) at industry-level and finds that OTP of airports is always better than that of airlines. From a micro perspective, Route-level analysis shows that airline’s arrival OTP is better than that of departure OTP, but in terms of the average delayed time, the opposite is true. Further research on the distribution of delayed time shows that, whether arrival or departure flight, delays within 30 minutes rank the highest proportion. Finally, there is no necessary connection between delay and flight distance.
High-resolution FRET microscopy of cholera toxin B-subunit and GPI-anchored proteins in cell plasma membranes.

"Lipid rafts" enriched in glycosphingolipids (GSL), GPI-anchored proteins, and cholesterol have been proposed as functional microdomains in cell membranes. However, evidence supporting their existence has been indirect and controversial. In the past year, two studies used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy to probe for the presence of lipid rafts; rafts here would be defined as membrane domains containing clustered GPI-anchored proteins at the cell surface. The results of these studies, each based on a single protein, gave conflicting views of rafts. To address the source of this discrepancy, we have now used FRET to study three different GPI-anchored proteins and a GSL endogenous to several different cell types. FRET was detected between molecules of the GSL GM1 labeled with cholera toxin B-subunit and between antibody-labeled GPI-anchored proteins, showing these raft markers are in submicrometer proximity in the plasma membrane. However, in most cases FRET correlated with the surface density of the lipid raft marker, a result inconsistent with significant clustering in microdomains. We conclude that in the plasma membrane, lipid rafts either exist only as transiently stabilized structures or, if stable, comprise at most a minor fraction of the cell surface.
Nitrogen Mineralization in Soils Under Organic Farming and Conservation Tillage as Compared to Conventional Management

The effect of organic farming and conservation tillage practice as compared to conventional management on nitrogen (N) mineralization was investigated in Lower Saxony, Germany. In a farming systems comparison, Ap horizons (0-30 cm) were sampled from two plots under long-term organic and one plot under conventional farming, in each of two different areas, with Cambisols in Pleistocene sands and Luvisols in loess, respectively. In a tillage investigation, topsoils (0-15 and 15-30 cm; Colluvic Luvisol in loess) were sampled from 3 plots with different tillage practices (conventional ploughing, reduced tillage, zero tillage). A long-term aerobic incubation experiment with intermittent leaching was carried out using the method of Stanford and Smith (1972) in the modification of Nordmeyer and Richter (1985). The fieldmoist topsoils were incubated at 35 °C for a total of 148 days. Mineralization parameters were estimated from the cumulative amounts of leached NO3-N and NH4-N via non-linear regression. Results showed that there were no significant differences in the amounts of N mineralized between plots under organic and conventional farming of the same soil type. However, significant differences in N mineralization rate were observed between soils of the two different parent materials. Regardless of farming system, total amounts of N mineralized from the sandy soils were 51.31-58.05 μg g while the corresponding figures for the loess were 80.3118. 8 μg g. In the tillage experiment, the amounts of N mineralized were almost identical in the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm increments of the conventionally ploughed soils. In contrast, they were significantly higher in 0-15 cm compared to 15-30 cm under reduced tillage, and even more so in the zero tillage soils. These differences were consistent with the organic C and total N contents in the corresponding depth increment. Apparently, reduced and zero tillage merely resulted in a redistribution of SOM and total N between the 0-15 and 15-30 cm increments, and consequently in different N mineralization, while mean contents over 0-30 cm were unchanged, compared to the conventional ploughing treatment.
Negative bias temperature instability in triple gate transistors

Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) in triple gate transistors was investigated for the first time. It is found that the threshold voltage shift caused by negative bias temperature stress in conventional configuration of triple gate transistors is worse than that in planar transistors. This is due to the larger trap state density of the [110] side surface of the active silicon and it is verified by comparing two types of triple gate transistors each of which has [110] side surface and (100) side surface. The <100>-direction channel is proposed as one of the structural options to reduce the degradation of NBTI in triple gate transistors.
Effect on sensory and microbial properties of yogurt fortified with Aloe vera

The main objective of present investigation was to study the effect of different levels of Aloe vera on sensory and microbial properties of yogurt. During the study cow milk yogurt fortified with Aloe vera was analyzed for sensory properties such as colour and appearance, flavour, body and texture, taste and overall acceptability. Microbial properties such as standard plate count, coliform count and yeast and mould. Yogurt was prepared by using different levels of Aloe vera (12, 14, 16 and 18 percent). The data were statistically analysed by using Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The yogurt prepared by adding 14% Aloe vera showed highest overall acceptability sensory score 8.31. The sensory and microbial quality of yogurt prepared by addition of 14% Aloe vera having score for colour and appearance 8.60, flavour 8.40, body and texture 8.00, taste 8.25 and overall acceptability 8.31. Microbial quality of standard plate count 53.75 x 10-6. While coliform count and yeast and mould count was nil.
The Relationship between Attachment to God, Reliance onGod, Hope, Patience, Solace and Mental Health of Students at Tehran University

The way individuals deal with stressful situations of lifeexerts considerable impact on their mental health.Reliance on God is a religious strategy applied by many Muslims to cope with such situations.In this strategy, individualswould ask a superior power for help to handle the incidencestheyhave no control over.Due to lack of studies on the relationshipbetween attachment to God, Reliance on God and mental health in Muslims' communities, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between these variables among students at Tehran University. Therefore, 324 students (194 female and 130 male students) studying BS at Tehran University, were selected through convenience sampling. In order to assess variables, measurement scales for life incidents resolution (Ghobari et al, 2001), attachment to God (Rowatt and Kirkpatrick, 2002) general health (GHQ-28) (Goldberg and Hiller, 1979) were employed. The results of through correlation coefficient and regression analysis, demonstrated that among nine predictor variables, coefficients of hope and Reliance onGod carried a positive relationship; while avoidant attachment and anxious attachment were negatively and significantly related to each other. Moreover, only the variable of attachment to God differed significantly for female and male students (p<0.01). Secure attachment was observed more in female students rather than in male ones.Mental health and secure attachment to God were significantly associated with each other. Thus, mental health can be significantly predicted by secure attachment to God.
Deep electrical structure of the northern Cascadia (British Columbia, Canada) subduction zone: Implications for the distribution of fluids

Long-period magnetotelluric data have been used to image the deep electrical structure of the Cascadia subduction zone in British Columbia, Canada. Zones of elevated electrical conductivity were found in both the forearc and backarc regions and are interpreted as a consequence of the fluid release from subducting slab. A shallow zone of high conductivity beneath Vancouver Island is likely due to fluids that are trapped above the subducting plate. East of this structure is a conductive (∼0.03 S/m) forearc mantle wedge that also exhibits low seismic velocities and may be serpentinized. A free fluid phase is required to account for this enhanced conductivity. Elevated conductivities are observed in the upper mantle throughout the backarc (∼0.01 S/m) and strongly support the hypothesis of a shallow, convecting asthenosphere. This enhanced upper mantle conductivity can be explained by either hydrogen ion diffusion in olivine minerals, or by a few percent partial melting (<4%).
Visual Training Aids for Accelerating the Learning of Intuition

Intuitive decision making (IDM) processes allow warfighters to synthesize great quantities of information at the speed required to act intelligently in highly complex, uncertain, and time-constrained tactical situations. A driver on combat patrol, for instance, does not have the time to consciously deliberate over the warning signs of an ambush, but must instead rely on the more immediate sense of intuition. Unfortunately, effective IDM only emerges through extensive experience, which for a warfighter operating in the real world can be both costly and life-threatening. This paper reports on the effectiveness of perceptual augmentation for accelerating the acquisition of the situation recognition capabilities essential to intuition and for improving IDM. In two human studies (n=24 and n=60) involving a naturalistic, rapid situation categorization task (cf. Smith et al., 2017), we evaluated visual training aids designed to implicitly a) direct focus to the salient features of the situation, b) broaden attention to non-redundant perceptual inputs, and c) surface information from working memory that would otherwise be less accessible to IDM processes. Effects are measured by comparing subjects receiving visual assistance to those not. Our findings suggest that it is possible to accelerate pattern learning by augmenting perception with stimuli that communicate information otherwise available only in working memory and by drawing attention to significant contextual cues. We also demonstrate that perceptual attention can be manipulated with subtle cues, apparently outside of conscious awareness—a capability that may prove essential in developing simulation-based implicit training methods that trigger the subconscious cognitive pathways hypothesized (Luu et al., 2010; Reber, 2013; Wan et al., 2011) to be associated with IDM. Finally, we find significant differences between intuitive and more deliberate subjects in how they allocate attentional resources (specifically eye gaze), raising the possibility that further study of the attentional behavior of rapid decision makers may lead to improved methods for cultivating effective IDM.
Pathogenicity of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from diseased sharp teeth catfish, Clarias gariepinus, with special reference to the lethality of its extracellular products

ARTICLE INFO A study was conducted to investigate the pathogenicity and the median lethal dose (LD50) of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from clinically diseased catfish against apparently healthy homologous fish to evaluate the lethality of extra-cellular products (ECPs) of the isolated strain in vivo. For pathogenicity experiment, five different concentrations of Aeromonas hydrophila strain BNS 01614 including 3× 10 8 , 1.5 × 10 8 , 1.5 × 10 7 , 1.5 × 10 6 and 1.5 × 10 5 CFU/fish used via intra peritoneal. The results revealed that pathogenicity of BNS 01614 was confirmed by the mortality of 30 % to 100 % of all tested fish within 4 to 12 days with LD50 1.5 × 10 7 CFU/fish. The Concentrated extracellular products (ECPs) of the selected bacterium were prepared and confirmed to be toxic in Clarias garipineus with LC50 of 20μg. Article history:
Effects of ascorbic acid against salt stress on the morphological and physiological parameters of Solanum melongena (L.)

The recent research was done to find out the role of ascorbic acid on morphological and physiological parameters of Solanum melongena during salt stress. The experiment was carried out in pots in which the effect of salt and ascorbic acid was measured on a range of morphological and physiological parameters. In this study, ascorbic acid was applied in two ways viz. as a foliar spray on leaves or through roots in the soil at two levels 100 ppm and 200 ppm to the plants grown under control, 60mM and 100mM NaCl. After sixty days of treatments it was determined that fresh and dry biomass was decreased considerably under salinity stress. Overall, it was observed that salt stress significantly down effect the morphological and physiological parameters. Decrease in the vegetative and reproductive parameters was improved with the application of ascorbic acid. The best result was obtained with the 200 ppm ascorbic acid which significantly improved the morphological and physiological parameters of plants in both control and salt stress treatments suggesting that ascorbic acid mitigate the negative effects of salt stress.
Evaluation of the destructive effect of khaya gum on Bacillus subtilis spores during tableting

The destructive effect of khaya gum used as a binding agent in a paracetamol formulation on Bacillus subtilis spores during tableting has been investigated, in comparison with the effects of two standard binders—polyvinylpyrrolidone and gelatin. The destructive effect of khaya gum was generally similar to those of the standard binders. Significant ( p < 0.001 in each case) inverse linear relationships of log % survival of the B. subtilis spores with compression pressure and with concentration of binder, were established. The effect of the binding agent was significantly dependent ( p < 0.001 in each case) on both compression pressure and the binder concentration. However, there was no significant interaction ( p > 0.05) between the destructive effects of compression pressure and binder concentration. The results suggest that khaya gum and the standard binders would be useful in the destruction of microorganisms during tableting. Copyright© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of tubal ligation among American women.

OBJECTIVE To examine 2 possible negative effects for women who have had a tubal ligation using a nationally representative sample. STUDY DESIGN Our research used bivariate statistics to profile women with tubal ligations as compared to those without tubal ligations and logistic regression models to examine the relationship between having a tubal ligation and 2 measures that indicate sexual dissatisfaction. RESULTS We found that women who have had a tubal ligation are more likely than women who have not had a tubal ligation to report (1) stress interfering with sex and (2) seeing a physician regarding sexual problems, controlling for relevant variables. CONCLUSION Women, their physicians and the public in general should have more detailed information regarding the effects of sterilization so that more informed decisions can be made about contraception and surgical sterilization procedures.
Decomposition of Productivity Growth : The Case of Malaysian Manufacturing Sector , 1983-2000

This paper examines productivity growth of Malaysian manufacturing industries from 1983 to 2000. Unlike previous studies, this research uses data from two sources; Malaysian Input-Output Tables and Malaysian Industrial Manufacturing Survey to estimate productivity growth. The focus of the analysis is on the decomposition of overall TFP growth into three effects; technical change effect, inter-industry structure effect and final demand effect. The results show the final output is the largest contributor to growth in overall TFP. On the other hand, there was a substantially small contribution from technical change and particularly inter-industry structure effects. When extending the decomposition of final demand effect into price and real share effects, the results found that there was a remarkable influence of change in relative prices to the value of output share produced.
A Different Kind of Home: The Impact of Residential Colleges on Student Learning and Development

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of residential colleges on student learning and development. Residential colleges are living-learning programs that have a few common characteristics: a commitment to multidisciplinarity; multigenerational organization (an assumption that students from all classifications—first-year through graduate students—strengthen the learning environment); live-in faculty leadership; and mission-centric spaces that speak to the holistic nature of the learning philosophy” (Penven, Stephens, Shushok, & Keith, 2013, p. 116). Two research questions guided this study: 1. What is the impact of residential colleges on student learning? 2. What is the impact of residential colleges on student development? This study utilized a phenomenological design. The researcher interviewed 15 students at a large public university on the central East Coast of the United States. Three themes emerged: impact of structure, belonging and identity, and the impact of multigenerational and interdisciplinary living. These three themes connected to one meta-theme, community. Implications of this study include students’ desire to belong, positive outcomes of student-faculty interactions, and the importance of self-governance.
The epidemiology of endocrine tumours.

The epidemiological study of disease aims to increase our understanding of the aetiology, patterns of occurrence and natural history of clinical conditions by reference to populations and defined sub-populations. One of the potential gains from such an approach is the possibility of drawing inferences regarding the contributions of genetic and specific environmental factors in causation. On a more immediately practical level, the determination of prevalence of disease in defined populations is important for the planning of specialist facilities and the prediction of direct and indirect costs of treatment. Tumours of endocrine glands, although rare in the context of the overall burden of oncological disease, have provided important insights into the mechanisms of sporadic and familial tumour formation, important examples being the primary role of constitutively activated cell membrane G protein-linked mechanisms in determining proliferation in pituitary somatotroph adenomas (Spada et al. 1990), and the recent elucidation of the molecular basis of the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes (Ponder 1994, Chandrasekharappa et al. 1997). However, it is often difficult to obtain an epidemiological perspective for endocrine tumours, either because of asymptomatic disease which results in incomplete case ascertainment or the rarity of individual tumours (Table 1). The reported incidence of parathyroid adenoma is a classical example of the dependence of incidence data on diagnostic facilities and local policies for routine serum calcium measurements. These problems are magnified by the fact that clinical care of endocrine tumours may occur in a variety of settings (including endocrinology,