Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organic beef production = sustainable beef production? : an analysis of key sustainability criteria in the sector

Organic production of beef is viewed as one strategy to mitigate negative externalities deriving from beef production. This study seeks to characterize key attributes of production among organic and conventional beef producers in Skane, Sweden. The goal is to understand the extent to which their differentiation as organic or conventional is based on the practices which make them semantically different. Few previous studies have questioned the basis for the characterization and differentiation of the systems. This study is carried out through the lens of the quadruple bottom line, meaning that not only the triple bottom line values of environmental, economic and social sustainability but also animal welfare is considered. Previous studies have insufficiently treated these four pillars of sustainability separately and failed to address the combined effects of beef production on the environment, human health, animal welfare, and economic revenues for the producer. A cross-sectional approach with multiple cases chosen by purposeful sampling was used to enable the comparative approach this research. By comparing different meat production systems in Skane, it became clear that there is not a dichotomy between organic and conventional meat production systems. Instead, this research shows that there is a continuum, and that there is no strong basis for the development and application of policies based solely on the semantic distinction of meat production. This finding implicates that other bases for policies need to be considered to enable sustainable meat production in Sweden. By not only incorporating all three pillars of sustainability but going beyond by including animal welfare in a quadruple bottom line, policies with a true holistic approach are suggested.
Dublin City University Participation in the VTT Track at TRECVid 2017

Dublin City University participated in the video-to-text caption generation task in TRECVid and this paper describes the three approaches we took for our 4 submitted runs. The first approach is based on extracting regularly-spaced keyframes from a video, generating a text caption for each keyframe and then combining the keyframe captions into a single caption. The second approach is based on detecting image crops from those keyframes using saliency map to include as much of the attractive part of the image as possible, generating a caption for each crop in each keyframe, and combining the captions into one. The third approach is an end-to-end system, a true deep learning submission based on MS-COCO, an externally available set of training captions. The paper presents a description and the official results of each of the approaches.
Lightweight Medical BodyNets Invited Paper

Body area networks are becoming more and more popular in addressing health care application due to advances in sensing technologies and the fact the these networks lie within close proximity of the body. We have developed a general purpose wearable platform using lightweight embedded system to address various medical applications. This architecture is composed of tiny processors/microcontrollers equipped with non-invasive sensors. In addition, an on-body terminal enables the system to be reconfigurable and to communicate with medical enterprises. Since our architecture is made of software programmable blocks, it becomes a reconfigurable system. We introduce different levels of reconfiguration for body area networks and illustrate how reconfiguration can address several design challenges such as adaptability, reliability and power consumption. Finally, we formulate sampling rate assignment as a means of power reduction while meeting performance specification. Through our formulation, power dissipation can be minimized and at the same time, the desired accuracy of the system is achieved.
Effect of habitat structure and type of farming on European hare ( Lepus europaeus ) abundance

European hare ( Lepus europaeus ) is a typical species of farmland habitat that has been negatively affected by agricultural intensification and, for this reason, may be considered a good indicator of farmland habitat quality. We carried out an exploratory analysis of hare abundance in 26 lowland farms in Tuscany, Central-Italy, with similar basic features (large estates with the same game management) but that differ for crops, landscape structure and farming options (organic vs. conventional farming). We used multiple regression analysis with theoretic information approach and multi-model inference to evaluate the effect of habitat variables and type of farming on hare abundance. Habitat structure (variety of crops) was the most important factor positively affecting hare abundance. We did not find a benefit of organic farming on this species; on the contrary, the highest hare densities were registered in conventional farms. Our findings suggest that organic farming regulations may fail to provide a sufficient habitat heterogeneity and, consequently, do not enhance wildlife abundance in farmland habitat. Click here to access supplementary files
The role of television in the enhancement of farmers' agricultural knowledge

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of television as an educational tool to the enhancement of farmers’ knowledge. This study was a randomized subject, pretest-posttest design among farmers who were working and residing in Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad province, Iran. The subjects of the study included 161 farmers who were selected randomly from rural areas. After determining the educational goals of the study, a questionnaire was designed as pre and post test. Based on educational contents, one TV program was produced with emphasis on fighting against agricultural pests, and correct method of using agricultural poisons. Participants responded to the pre and post test before and after broadcasting the television program through the provincial broadcast center. Almost all farmers in this study were male (90.1%) and married (80%) with mean age of 41.65 ±14.69 years. The finding of the study showed that educational intervention through a TV program resulted in a significant knowledge enhancement from 3.73 to 6.26 (p<0.001). Mass media offer effective channels for communicating agricultural messages, which can increase knowledge and influence behavior of audience members.
The Brin–Thompson groups sV are of type F∞

We prove that the Brin‐Thompson groups sV , also called higher-dimensional Thompson’s groups, are of type F1 for all s2 N. This result was previously shown for s 3, by considering the action of sV on a naturally associated space. Our key step is to replace this space by a subspace sX that is easier to analyze. Recall that a group is of type F1 if it admits a classifying space with finitely many cells in each dimension. Well-known examples of groups of type F1 include Thompson’s groups F, T , and V . Some generalizations of V were introduced by Brin [2004; 2005] and shown to be simple. We denote these groups sV , for s2 N, with 1VD V . These groups are usually termed higher-dimensional Thompson’s groups or Brin‐Thompson groups. All of the groups sV are known to be finitely presented [Hennig and Matucci 2012], and Kochloukova, Martinez-Perez, and Nucinkis [Kochloukova et al. 2013] showed that 2V and 3V are of type F1. We prove that this result extends to all dimensions. Main Theorem. The Brin‐Thompson group sV is of type F1 for all s.
Microstructure and strength of metals processed by severe plastic deformation

The microstructure of f.c. c. metals (Al, Cu, Ni) and alloys (Al-Mg) processed by severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods is studied by X-ray diffraction line profile analysis. It is shown that the crystallite size and the dislocation density saturate with increasing strain. Furthermore, the Mg addition promotes efficiently a reduction of the crystallite size and an increase of the dislocation density in Al during the SPD process. The yield strength correlates well with that calculated from the dislocation density using the Taylor equation, thereby indicating that the main strengthening mechanism in both pure metals and alloys is the interaction between dislocations.
Explaining the Rise of the UK Independence Party in the 2014 European Parliamentary Elections

This paper examines European Election Study data in order to determine the saliency and opinion of UKIP supporters, immediately following their first-place victory in the UK 2014 elections to the European Parliament. Our results suggests that these UKIP supporters were clearly were anti-EU, with a self-identified right-wing ideology.
Is Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine a Known Risk Factor for Latent Tuberculosis Infection?: A Cross-sectional Study on 180 New Immigrants from BCG-vaccinated Countries to Kuwait

The Bacelle Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has existed for 90 years and is the most widely used of all current national childhood immunization programmes. The impact of BCG vaccination on transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not clear or whether BCG confers lifelong immunity through sufficient protection against formation and diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recently questionable especially in tuberculosis endemic regions and vaccinated high risk individuals, which was discussed along the paper work following a new evidencebased criteria for LTBI diagnosis.
Monetary Policy Transmission in an Open Economy : New Data and Evidence from the United Kingdom 9

This paper constructs a new series of monetary policy surprises for the United Kingdom and estimates their effects on macroeconomic and financial variables, employing a high-frequency identification procedure. First, using local projections methods, we find that monetary policy has persistent effects on real interest rates and breakeven inflation. Second, employing our series of surprises as an instrument in a SVAR, we show that monetary policy affects economic activity, prices, the exchange rate, exports, and imports. Finally, we implement a test of overidentifying restrictions, which exploits the availability of the narrative series of monetary policy shocks computed by Cloyne and Huertgen (2014), and find no evidence that either set of shocks contains any ‘endogenous’ response to macroeconomic variables.
Evaluation of growth performance of Brahman cross calves to local environment of Bangladesh

The present study was conducted using growth performance data on 624 Brahman cross (25%) calves collected from three villages adjacent to Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Growth performance data of 289 Brahman cross (50%) calves were also collected from record sheet maintained at 12 Upazila Livestock Offices under the "Beef breed development project" of Department of Livestock Services to compare performance between 25% and 50% Brahman cross calves. Growth performance traits were considered birth weight, weight at three-, six-, nine-, twelve-month of age, average daily gain from birth to twelve-month of age. Calving difficulties (dystocia) and calf mortality were also included in the study area. The birth weight, weight at three-, six-, nine- and twelve-month average daily gain for 25% Brahman cross calves were 19.79±0.20, 52.72±1.31, 86.61±2.02, 129.90±3.08, 172.60±3.48 kg and 426.00±4.99g, respectively. The average birth weight (21.40±0.24 kg) and twelve-month weight (229.62±2.08 kg) of 50% Brahman cross calves were significantly higher (p<0.05) than 25% Brahman cross calves. Average daily gain was significantly higher (570.52±5.19g) in 50% Brahman cross than 25% Brahman cross calves (529.98±4.54g). Birth weight, three-, six-, nine-, twelve-month weight were positively correlated to each other. Strong correlations were found between birth weight and three-month weight (0.65), between six- and nine-month (0.65). There was no report of calving difficulties or abnormal calf birth, where the average calf mortality rate was 2.96 in the study areas. It indicates that 50% Brahman cross calves were well performed in these climatic condition. However, further study with larger sample sizes covering more different management systems would be required to draw a better conclusion in this regard. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2016, 2(2): 259-265
Contract sugarcane farming and farmers’ incomes in the Lake Victoria basin, Kenya

Objective: This paper reports on one of the findings of a study to establish the relationship between contract sugarcane farming, poverty and environmental management in the Lake Victoria basin. Methodology: A social survey design was adopted. Primary data were collected using questionnaires from 37, 40 and 40 household heads representing sugarcane farmers from Lurambi, Koyonzo and Chemelil respectively. Data on farmer incomes were obtained from individual farmer payment statements. Descriptive statistics focussing on frequency distributions and step-wise backward regression were used to derive income models as platforms for future decision-making in sugarcane agri-business. Results: Results from Lurambi, Koyonzo and Chemelil showed that on average farmers retained only 32, 31 and 34% respectively of the gross income from contract sugarcane farming. Although net income was influenced differently by conventional input costs, yield appears to be a key determinant of gross income across the sites. Net income was significantly depressed by company-driven deductions for which farmers had no control. Such skewed sharing of income, where the sugar companies retain at least 60% of the gross income raises sustainability concerns that need to be addressed through a participatory approach involving all key stakeholders. Implications: To profit from contract sugarcane farming, farmers need to at least double their current mean yields per unit area, assuming that available land devoted to sugarcane excluding land for subsistence farming is at least 5 acres. Where this option is not possible, farmers should be encouraged to diversify their livelihoods to other cash crops through sustainable intensive systems. A more pro-active extension service involving the farmers, companies and ministry of agriculture will be required.
The Role of Banks in Small and Medium Enterprises Financing: A Case Study from Kosovo

In this study we investigate the impact of firm and entrepreneurship characteristics in small and medium enterprises (SME-s) investment finance through debt (bank loan). Data are gathered from interviews based on a self-organized questionnaire with 150 SME-s in Kosovo. Based on the econometric model of linear regression, key factors are identified which influence the investment growth financed by debt. The results indicate that there is mutual correlation among the firm’s age, size, business plan, sector, number of owners, sources of financing and the investment growth financed from banks in Kosovo. Therefore, findings in this work suggest that the access to external sources of financing through bank loan is an important factor that influences the investment growth. The paper provides some important conclusions and implications for policymakers and entrepreneurs.
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SUGARCANE SPITTLEBUG, MAHANARVA FIMBRIOLATA, IN SUGARCANE FIELDS

SUGARCANE spittlebug, Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), is one of the most important pests of sugarcane in the Central-Southern region of Brazil. Information on its spatial distribution in sugarcane fields is important for the development of sampling plans, aimed at their application in integrated management programs. We studied the spatial distribution of M. fimbriolata in 10 mechanically harvested green cane fields in Catanduva, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. In each field of 1.41 ha, 150 samples were collected within a rectangular grid measuring 10 × 10.5 m, between 27 December 2007 and 1 November 2008. The Morisita index was significantly > 1 for eight fields, indicating that, in each of these fields, M. fimbriolata has an aggregated spatial distribution and this pattern was not affected by the infestation level. In two fields, M. fimbriolata occurred at random. Geostatistical analysis allowed the construction of contour maps through kriging interpolation using the spatial dependence expressed in the semivariograms for five fields. For the other three fields where M. fimbriolata has aggregated spatial distribution, it was not possible to construct population maps using kriging interpolation because the distance between sampling points was too large to detect spatial dependence. For the cases where the maps could be constructed, the ranges varied from 23 to 55 m and, using this information, we estimated that it was necessary to sample 6 points/ha to adequately estimate the insect population.
Small-Scale Challenges to the ΛCDM Paradigm

The dark energy plus cold dark matter (ΛCDM) cosmological model has been a demonstrably successful framework for predicting and explaining the large-scale structure of the Universe and its evolution with time. Yet on length scales smaller than ∼1 Mpc and mass scales smaller than ∼1011M⊙, the theory faces a number of challenges. For example, the observed cores of many dark matter–dominated galaxies are both less dense and less cuspy than naively predicted in ΛCDM. The number of small galaxies and dwarf satellites in the Local Group is also far below the predicted count of low-mass dark matter halos and subhalos within similar volumes. These issues underlie the most well-documented problems with ΛCDM: cusp/core, missing satellites, and too-big-to-fail. The key question is whether a better understanding of baryon physics, dark matter physics, or both is required to meet these challenges. Other anomalies, including the observed planar and orbital configurations of Local Group satellites and the tight baryonic.
A Two-Part Fractional Regression Model for the Capital Structure Decisions of Micro, Small, Medium and Large Firms

In this paper we examine the following two hypotheses which traditional theories of capital structure are relatively silent about: (i) the determinants of financial leverage decisions are different for micro, small, medium and large firms; and (ii) the factors that determine whether or not a firm issues debt are different from those that determine how much debt it issues. Using a binary choice model to explain the probability of a firm raising debt and a fractional regression model to explain the relative amount of debt issued, we find strong support for both hypotheses. Confirming recent empirical evidence, we find also that, although larger firms are more likely to use debt, conditional on having some debt firm size is negatively related to the proportion of debt used by firms.
Historical Patterns of Inequality and Productivity around Financial Crises

To understand the determinants of financial crises, previous research focused on developments closely related to financial markets. In contrast, this paper considers changes originating in the real economy as drivers of financial instability. Based on long-run historical data for advanced economies, I find that rising top income inequality and low productivity growth are robust predictors of crises – even outperforming well known early-warning indicators such as credit growth. Moreover, if crises are preceded by such developments, output declines more during the subsequent recession. In addition, I show that asset booms explain the relation between income inequality and financial crises in the data.
Construct Validity Evidence for the Student Aspirations Survey.

The influence of students' affective development-especially student aspirations -upon academic and life achievement is gaining significant attention in the literature. However, psychometrically sound instruments that measure student aspirations and students perceptions ofschool climate characteristics that influence aspirations are not available for use by educators attempting to guide school reform efforts. The Student Aspirations Survey was administered to 1,160 students in two rural middle and two rural high schools. Responses were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis, and results suggest that evidence ofconstruct validity is considerable for student responses to the aspirations scales and very limited for student responses to the school climate scales (possibly due to the very high factor correlations). A small to moderate method effect may be present among student responses to the aspirations scales. Suggestions for improvement of score interpretation are provided.
Exploring the Human Term Placenta as a Novel Source for Stem Cells and their Application in the Clinic

The human placenta is a fetomaternal organ, consisting of both fetal (amnion and chorion) and maternal (decidua) tissues (Parolini et al., 2008). This complex organ begins to develop within a few days after fertilisation and is fundamental to the development and survival of the fetus throughout gestation. The placenta also acts as the lung, kidney and digestive system for the growing fetus and protects the fetus from infection throughout development (Parolini et al., 2008).
SCREENING OF MUNGBEAN (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) GENOTYPES UNDER NUTRIENT STRESS IN SOIL

A pot experiment was conducted at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur during kharif season of 2010 to investigate the genetic divergence of some mungbean genotypes under nutrient stress condition using Mahalanobis’ statistic (D 2 ) and principal component analysis. Analysis of variance showed significant difference for all the characters. Results of multivariate analysis revealed that 200 mungbean genotypes formed five clusters at nutrient stress condition where cluster II had the maximum genotypes (83) followed by cluster I (65), cluster III (30), cluster IV (9) and then cluster V (13). The highest intra-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV containing lowest 9 genotype and cluster V containing 13 genotypes. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and III and lowest was observed between cluster V and Cluster I. Cluster III had the highest cluster mean for total dry matter, root dry mass, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight and seed yield. Considering cluster distance and other agronomic performance the genotypes IPSA 1, IPSA 12, IPSA 5 and others genotypes from cluster III may be considered for better performance under nutrient stress condition. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 41(2): 377-386, June 2016
Corrosion-induced cover spalling and anchorage capacity

The aim of this study is to enhance our understanding of anchorage capacity in reinforced concrete structures with corrosion-induced cover spalling. Our objectives were to study the influence of corrosion-induced cover spalling on bond strength, and to validate an existing one-dimensional (1D) analysis for anchorage capacity in such cases. Thus, earlier developed bond and corrosion models suited for detailed three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analysis were first combined with a new computation scheme to simulate corrosion-induced cover spalling. The 1D and 3D FE analyses were validated through two types of experiments, i.e. eccentric pull-out tests and beam tests, as well as a comparison with an existing empirical model. The application of 3D FE analysis showed that the corrosion of stirrups advances the emergence of cracking and spalling, while bond strength is only slightly influenced by the corrosion of stirrups after cover spalling if yielding of stirrups has not taken place. Moreover, it was shown that stresses in the stirrups due to corrosion in adjacent bars rapidly diminished within a short distance from the main bar, and that the corrosion of stirrups influenced the shear capacity more prominently than the induced stresses in stirrups due to the corrosion of main bars.