Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoremediation potential of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) grown in different soil textures and cadmium concentrations.

This study investigated effect of soil textures and cadmium (Cd) concentrations on the growth, fibre yields and Cd absorption of kenaf. Screen-house experiment was conducted in the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria. Top soils were collected from Murtala Victoria Botanical Garden, Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria and UNAAB Teaching and Research Farm. Ten-litre plastic pots were filled with 10 kg soil. Experimental design was a 2 × 5 factorial in RCBD replicated three times. Two soil textures and five levels of Cd concentration (as Cadmium nitrate): 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 mgCd/kg soil. Growth and yield parameters were collected. Cd content of plants and soils were determined using AAS and analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and correlation. UNAAB soil had pH of 6.3 with sandy loam texture while Epe soil had pH and texture of 5.3 and sand respectively. Control had significantly (P<0.05) higher plant height, stem girth, bast and core yields while 6.0 mg/kg had the least in the two soils. The more the concentration of Cd applied, the higher was the absorption by kenaf in the two soils. Kenaf planted in Epe soil had better absorption than UNAAB soil. There was significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation between Cd applied and Cd absorbed by kenaf.
Characteristics and Outcome of Trauma Patients in a Mixed ICU: A Retrospective Review

Background: Trauma is a major public health challenge in Nigeria and many victims of trauma are brought to the hospital critically ill, thereby increasing the burden of critical illness in the country. Aim: To characterize the pattern of injuries, causes and outcome among trauma patients admitted into the general ICU of a tertiary care hospital in north-central Nigeria. Materials and Methods: All trauma admissions into the ICU of Jos University Teaching Hospital over a 14-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Information obtained included the patients’ demographics, diagnosis, aetiology, complications, interventions, outcome and length of stay in the ICU. Results: Trauma admission during the period was 396 which was 29.66% of total ICU admissions in the same period. The male:female ratio was 3:1 and the age range was 2 months to 75 years (median 25 years). 78.54% of trauma admissions were from the accident and emergency, 15.66% from the theatre and 5.80% from the ward. The most common cause of injury was burn 160 (40.40%), followed by road traffic crashes 152 (38.38%) and the least common cause of injury was gunshot 28 (7.07%). Mortality rate among trauma patients was 48.74% while mortality in the ICU within the same period was 34.08%. Burns accounted for 50.78% of deaths while head injury accounted for 33.68% of deaths. Mortality was higher in the age groups 16-30 years and greater than 45 years (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Trauma constitutes a significant cause of admission into our general ICU and mortality in these patients is higher than in the general population of ICU patients. Establishing trauma ICU would lead to streamlining of facilities which could improve outcome.
Enhanced Performance of Aqueous Sodium‐Ion Batteries Using Electrodes Based on the NaTi2(PO4)3/MWNTs–Na0.44MnO2 System

Sodium-ion batteries with good electrochemical performance are of great significance for grid-scale energy storage applications. Herein, an aqueous rechargeable Na-ion battery has been fabricated with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-containing NaTi2(PO4)3/MWNTs nanocomposites as the anode and Na0.44MnO2 nanorods as the cathode in a 1 M aqueous Na2SO4 electrolyte and the device was carefully studied. Owing to the open framework structures (containing large interstitial sites) that both NaTi2(PO4)3 and Na0.44MnO2 possess, the fast Na-ions will facilitate free transport. Benefiting from their unique structural features, the aqueous battery system exhibited an average charge and discharge voltage of approximately 1.1 V, a high energy density of 58.7 Wh kg−1 in terms of total electroactive materials, and could deliver a reversible capacity of approximately 50 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at 2 C rate; the corresponding coulombic efficiency was nearly constant at approximately 95 %. These results, together with the safety and cost perspectives of aqueous electrolytes indicated that the aqueous Na-ion battery may be a good candidate for safe, inexpensive, high-power energy storage systems.
Raypath interferometry vs. conventional statics: recent field data and model comparisons

Summary Raypath interferometry is a processing technique developed to apply near-surface corrections in areas where conventional statics methods have proved inadequate due to violations of the basic assumptions of conventional statics: surface-consistency and single discrete reflection arrivals. We generalize surface-consistency to ‘raypathconsistency’ and introduce the ‘surface function’ to replace the reflection arrival time. Together, these concepts form the basis for the method known as raypath interferometry. Raypath interferometry has been previously demonstrated on problematic seismic field data from the MacKenzie Delta, as well as converted-wave field data from Spring Coulee in Alberta. Here, we apply the technique to a recent multi-component field survey for which conventional solutions have also been obtained, in order to compare the results. We also demonstrate raypath interferometry on very noisy numerical model data with which conventional autostatics methods have difficulty. All three comparisons are instructive.
Evaluation of relative susceptibility of Callosobruchus chinensis Linn. on five different stored pulse seeds

The pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera : Bruchidae), is a worldwide insect pest that infests pulses in the fields and seeds in storage. An investigation has been conducted on the life history and ovipositional preference, nature of damage caused by Callosobruchus chinensis reared on five different pulses through two successive generations. Kidney bean preferred most for oviposition followed by cowpea, black gram, small pea and green gram but adult survival rate is low in kidney bean. The adults exhibited a marked preference for smooth, large surfaced and well-filled seeds for oviposition. The pulses selected for the investigation are initially infested by the insects, but degree of infestation varied among the pulses. Thus susceptibility varies in different pulses. The order of susceptibility as per susceptible index was cowpea > green gram > small pea > black gram. Whereas kindey bean found resistant. Damage caused by the beetle also varied and the order is cowpea > green gram > black gram > small pea > kidney bean. This is due to the varied responses of the insect to different host seeds for oviposition and their appropriateness for the successful completion of the life cycle.
Italy UNDERSTANDING MARKET PLASTICITY : THE DIALECTIC DYNAMICS BETWEEN STABILITY AND FLUIDITY ‘ Perspectives from FMM 12 ’ session

Purpose: Several researchers have pointed out that for marketing to develop as a discipline as well as to contribute to solving complex business and societal challenges, it should question the traditional neo-classical view of markets and develop a new theory of markets (Buzzell 1999, Venkatesh et al. 2006, Vargo & Lusch 2008, Ellis et al. 2010). Emerging conceptualizations acknowledge that markets are malleable, dynamic, subjective, and subject to multiple change efforts (e.g. Rosa et al. 1999, Kjellberg & Helgesson 2006, Depeyre & Dumez 2009, Storbacka & Nenonen 2011, Kjellberg et al. 2012). Borrowing a term used by Alderson (1957:277) we propose that markets are characterized by plasticity, i.e. having a “potentiality for being remolded and responding in a different way thereafter”. However, this plastic character of markets remains under-researched. This paper investigates the meaning and manifestations of market plasticity, drawing analogies from the physical, natural and social sciences. Methodology/approach: The topic is approached by conceptual development through a process of identifying, delineating, and differentiating (MacInnis 2011). Illustrative empirical examples are provided to exemplify plasticity of markets. Findings: Market plasticity can be conceived as a continuous interplay between fluidity and stability; with markets varying along a continuum ranging from high degrees of fluidity and flux to very stable, even rigid forms. Market entities such as actors, exchange objects, exchange relationships, norms and symbols embody both fluid and stable characteristics. These are manifested in the specific market practices performed, which consequently can move markets either towards increased fluidity or stability. As a result, markets change through dialectic dynamics between fluidity and stability. However, there are limits to market plasticity, i.e., under conditions of extreme fluidity it may become impossible to achieve resource integration through market exchange. Research implications: The study provides a definition of market plasticity and suggests it as a valuable construct to describe the characteristics and the transformation of markets. Additionally, the paper discusses the different manifestations of market plasticity and introduces a framework for categorizing them. Practical implications: Understanding of the plastic nature of markets and the dialectic dynamics between fluidity and stability helps commercial and non-commercial organizations to inform strategic decisions on how to shape and engage with markets. Originality/value: The article contributes to the discussion on how markets emerge, evolve and facilitate resource integration by introducing and discussing a new concept of market plasticity.
Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät

This paper contributes to the debate on the efficacy of IMF’s catalytic finance in preventing financial crises. Extending Morris and Shin (2006), we consider that the IMF’s intervention policy usually exerts a signaling effect on private creditors and that several interventions in sequence may be necessary to avert an impending crisis. Absent of the IMF’s signaling ability, our results state that repeated intervention is required to bail out a country, whereby additional assistance may induce moral hazard on the debtor side. Contrarily, if the IMF exerts a strong signaling effect, one single intervention suffices to avoid liquidity crises.
Using Data Mining Techniques Examination of the Middle School Students’ Attitude towards Mathematics in the Context of Some Variables

The aim of this study is to examine middle school students’ attitude towards mathematics in the context of their mathematic learning preferences using data mining which is data analysis methodology that has been successfully used in different areas including educational domains. ‘How do I actually learn? ’ questionnaire and attitude scale were applied to 702 middle school students studying in three different cities of Turkey. Demographic data (gender, grade level, parents’ education level, pre-school education) were also gathered. Data mining techniques such as decision tree was implemented. Furthermore web graph was used for visualization of relationship between mathematic learning preference and attitude towards mathematics. Constructed decision tree models with C5.0 algorithm revealed that all of variables used in this study are related to the attitude towards mathematics but the most effective attribute is found as grade level. Using web graph, it was found that the strongest relationship was between reflective learning preference and positive level attitude towards mathematics.
Paraoxonase Gene Expression in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Paraoxonase (PON) genes, expressed in the human intestine, are thought to prevent oxidative stress and modulate inflammation. We investigated the effect of IBD and steroids on PON gene. We hypothesized that PON gene expression is decreased in IBD patients and that steroid treatment would return it to normal.Methods: Pediatric patients diagnosed with IBD, were enrolled and matched to control subjects. For in vitro studies, human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and dexamethasone. PON genes expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR for both the biopsies and the Caco-2 cells.Results: PON gene expression was decreased in intestinal biopsies from medication naive IBD patients when compared to controls (p<0.05). Biopsies from IBD patients on steroids exhibited up regulation of PON gene expression (p<0.05). Caco-2 cells treated with H2O2 had decreased PON gene expression compared to controls (p<0.05). Dexamethasone increased PON gene expression in Caco-2 cells (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggests that decreased PON expression in IBD patients is a consequence of oxidative stress which plays a role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Further, steroids counteract the effect of oxidative stress by up regulating PON gene expression. PON genes may be targets for the management of intestinal diseases like IBD.
An Examination of the Factors that Impact the Likelihood of Arrest in Intimate Partner Violence Cases

Past studies of the police response to intimate partner violence have, for the most part, been limited by their use of a single department, departments in a single state, and/or the size and composition of their sample. In addition, there have been a number of important legal, victim, incident, and offender variables that have not been considered in the analyses, and the examination of the police response to intimate partner violence cases has not been compared to their response to other domestic and non-domestic incidents. In this study an examination is conducted of legal, organizational, incident, victim, and offender characteristics that impact the likelihood of arrest in intimate partner violence cases. Two datasets are used in the analyses. The first comprises 577,862 incidents of assault and intimidation from a calendar year 2000 NIBRS dataset that includes information from 2,819 police departments in 19 states. The second comprises 4,388 of the incidents taken from the larger dataset and for which a far more extensive list of variables was obtained by culling information from police reports. In this paper we present an overview of the key findings of the first phase of the project, which have been extensively reported elsewhere, and then, building on those findings, present in more detail an accounting of the organizational, incident, victim, and offender characteristics that impact the likelihood of arrest in intimate partner violence cases. The policy implications of our findings are discussed.
Common risk factors in the returns of non oil based stocks in Tehran Stock Exchange: The case of close economy

This study aims to test arbitrage pricing theory (APT) using monthly data from the non oil based companies in Iranian stock market that works on the sanctioned economy during 1991 to 2008. Tests were conducted using the principal component analysis, cross sectional regression and canonical correlation analysis. Overall, the findings document is a weak applicability of APT in this market. The evidences point to at least one factor but probably about two factors explained the cross-section of expected returns on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). Financial and economical sanctions have less effect on non oil industry in Iran.
Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) occurrence and movement patterns near Kaikoura, New Zealand

Dusky Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) Occurrence and Movement Patterns Near Kaikoura, New Zealand. (May 2009) Adrian Danielle Dahood, B.S.; B.S., University of Washington Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Bernd Würsig In Kaikoura, New Zealand dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) are economically and ecologically important. However, more information on key habitat requirements is needed to develop an effective management plan for them. I use systematic shore-based observations and tour operator gathered boat-based observations and review night-time foraging observations to explore dusky dolphin occurrence and movement patterns. I discuss possible influence of prey on these patterns. From January to December 2006, I conducted crepuscular observations from three clifftop stations. With these geospatial data I examined occurrence, mean speed, and linearity over seasonal, diel, and tidal temporal scales. From October 1995 to November 2006 tour guides recorded GPS locations for over 5,000 dusky dolphin groups, allowing me to examine seasonal occurrence patterns. For both datasets I quantified occurrence patterns relative to depth, distance from the Kaikoura Canyon, and distance from shore. I reviewed the three studies conducted on dusky night foraging behavior in Kaikoura. I explore the effects of seasonal and lunar-scale changes in night-time light levels on dusky dolphin foraging behavior.
Does Financial Development Necessarily Lead to Economic Growth? Evidence from China’s Cities, 2007–2014

Using data from 286 Chinese cities over the period 2007–2014, this paper investigates the impact of financial development on economic growth. Our results from traditional cross-sectional regressions, first-differenced GMM and system GMM regressions all show that financial development does not have any significant positive effects on economic growth, while some indicators of financial development show significant negative effects on growth. Our results are consistent with many existing studies that a state-ruled banking sector, such as that of China, hinders economic growth because of the distoring nature of the government. To examine the sensitivity of our results, different sets of control variables sets are experimented with. Our results are shown to be robust. Our finding shows that to let the financial sector play a more efficient and effective role in promoting real economic growth, China has to further reform its financial system.
Degradation of Graft Polymer and Blend Based on Cellulose and Poly(L-lactide)

ABSTRACT: Degradable polymers were prepared by blending and graft polymerization of cellulose and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA). Thecellulose/poly(L-lactide) blends and cellulose-graft-poly(L-lactide) polymers were characterized by FTIR, NMR, DSC, and TGA. Wide-angle X-ray powder diffraction (WAXD) and degradation tests [by alkaline, phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS), and enzyme so-lution] showed changes in the crystalline structure as a result of degradation. The results indicated that blending and graft polymer-ization could affect crystallization of the polymers and promote the degradability. The polymers with low degree of crystallinityshowed higher degradability. In contrast, enzyme, alkaline, and PBS degradated material decreased rate of polymers degradation. Inaddition, high levels of PLLA resulted in a decrease in degradation. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2257–2264, 2013 KEYWORDS: biopolymers and renewable polymers; grafting; blends; degradationReceived 22 January 2013; accepted 21 April 2013; Published online 16 May 2013DOI: 10.1002/app.39451INTRODUCTION
Water Mass Structure of Warm and Cold Anticyclonic Eddies in the Western Boundary Region of the Subarctic North Pacific

Vertical profile data of temperature and salinity from various sources were analyzed together with satellite altimeter data to investigate the water mass characteristics of warm and cold anticyclonic eddies in the western boundaryregionof the subarctic North Pacific.A densedistributionof anticyclonic eddieswith warm and saline core water occurred near the Kuroshio Extension, and the distribution extends northward‐ northeastward into the western subarctic gyre along the Japan and Kuril‐Kamchatka trenches. Eddies with cold and fresh core water are found mainly around the Oyashio southward intrusions and farther north near the Kuril Islands. Based on the heat content anomaly integrated over 50‐200 dbar, 85% of the anticyclonic eddies within the study area (358‐508N, 1408‐1558E) have a warm and saline core and 15% have a cold and fresh core. Warm and saline eddies around the Japan and Kuril‐Kamchatka trenches have a double-core structure, with a cold and freshwater mass located below the warm core. The northward propagation of these eddies along the trench line results in a large northward heat (salinity) transport in the upper 400 dbar (250 dbar) and a negative salinity transport below 350 dbar. The lower core water is colder and fresher on isopycnal surfaces at around 26.70sucompared with the climatology.Given that the 26.70su isopycnal surface does not outcrop in the open North Pacific, an alignment process is suggested to occur between the warm and saline and the cold and fresh anticyclonic eddies in the upper and intermediate layers, respectively.
Building Teacher Education on What We Know about Teacher Development.

Based on an analysis of the nature of theory that is relevant to teachers, this paper presents an approach to teacher education, the realistic approach, and reports on its use in two countries. The paper uses the concepts of episteme and phronesis to introduce a new way of looking at theory that is relevant for teacher development. Section 1 examines the traditional approach to teacher education. Section 2 describes the causes of the transfer problem in teacher education and how it blockades teacher development. Section 3 focuses on the new paradigm, noting that ideas developed in the paper are derived mainly from theories on mathematics learning and teaching. Section 4 presents realistic mathematics education as an example. Section 5 describes realistic teacher education. Section 6 examines theory. Section 7 discusses the promotion of reflection. Section 8 describes the introduction of the realistic approach into teacher education at Queen's University in Canada and Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Section 9 concludes by discussing how the realistic approach can narrow the gap between theory and practice, noting that certain issues need special attention. It examines the demands that the principles discussed in this paper put on teacher educators. (Contains approximately 69 references.) (SM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Building teacher education on what we know about teacher development
Effect of Sintering on Hydroxyapatite/Sodium Alginate Properties

In the present work, a precipitation method was used to prepare a nanocomposite powders consisting of hydroxyapatite and sodium alginate by varying the composition of sodium alginate. The characterization of powder are analyzed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM is used to identify the morphology and agglomeration of powder while, XRD analysis is used to identify the phase of samples with an increase in the composition of sodium alginate up to 10%. Green samples were prepared and sintered at temperature 1000˚C and 1100˚C and the sintered samples are studied based on their phase stability, density and Vickers hardness . The result indicates that there is no secondary phase change happen in this XRD result. The density of HA/SA are increasing relative to hardness for composition ratio 99.5/0.5%. The maximum density were attained by 99.5/0.5% (HA/SA) at 2.12g/cm 3 and 2.16g/cm 3 for 1000˚C and 1100˚C respectively while, the maximum hardness were also attained by 99.5/0.5% for temperature 1000°C and 1100°C at 0.53GPa and 0.62GPa respectively. FESEM images of pure hydroxyapatite are fully disbursed in sodium alginate and the particles size are in agglomerate conditions.