Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of the Vertical Profile of Chlorophyll on Maize Canopy Reflectance: Remote Determination under Field Conditions

The chlorophyll (Chl) content of a crop canopy is a biophysical variable that quantitatively expresses the photosynthetic capacity of a vegetation stand and it is related to many important plant functions and parameters. Therefore, it is not surprising that many remote sensing studies have focused on the estimation of Chl content of vegetation canopies to asses the vitality of plants and to detect vegetation stress. However, there is little information regarding how the distribution of Chl within vegetation canopies defines the reflectance signatures measured remotely and the derived spectral indexes. The goal of this study was to determine how deep into a maize canopy, a spectral vegetation index, based on the red edge and NIR spectral bands, senses the Chl content of individual leaves. Reflectance was measured using a hand-held radiometer at both the leaf and canopy level in order to retrieve foliar and total canopy Chl content, respectively. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to find (i) how many maize leaves contribute significantly to total canopy Chl content, and (ii) how many leaves, from top to bottom, are sensed by a field radiometer and by the red edge chlorophyll index, CIred edge. Results showed that CIred edge senses the chlorophyll content of the top 7 to 8 leaves in the maize canopy and, thus, is able to accurately estimate total chlorophyll content in canopy.
Effect of the LCF Loading Cycle Characteristics on the Fatigue Life of Inconel 718 at High Temperature

A series of both stresscontrolled and straincontrolled low cycle fatigue tests were conducted on alloy Inconel 718 to investigate the impact of various parameters on the behaviour of the material. Namely, focus was placed on the influence of major parameters such as the cycle frequency, the strain/stress rate, the holding time at various stress levels, the stress relaxation and the fatigue stress ratio. A detailed characterisation of the fatigueinduced rupture surfaces was performed to analyse the role of the alloy microstructure on the mode of crack propagation. In order to account for the time dependent effect of the mechanical response of the alloy, the PortevinLe Châtelier effect and the oxidation behaviour of the material are discussed. Results are analysed, in terms of MansonCoffin plots, to discriminate the relative impact of the various tested parameters on the stress/strain response and the fatigue life of the material.
Partially latent class models for case–control studies of childhood pneumonia aetiology

In population studies on the aetiology of disease, one goal is the estimation of the fraction of cases that are attributable to each of several causes. For example, pneumonia is a clinical diagnosis of lung infection that may be caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or other pathogens. The study of pneumonia aetiology is challenging because directly sampling from the lung to identify the aetiologic pathogen is not standard clinical practice in most settings. Instead, measurements from multiple peripheral specimens are made. The paper introduces the statistical methodology designed for estimating the population aetiology distribution and the individual aetiology probabilities in the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health study of 9500 children for seven sites around the world. We formulate the scientific problem in statistical terms as estimating the mixing weights and latent class indicators under a partially latent class model (PLCM) that combines heterogeneous measurements with different error rates obtained from a case–control study. We introduce the PLCM as an extension of the latent class model. We also introduce graphical displays of the population data and inferred latent class frequencies. The methods are tested with simulated data, and then applied to Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health data. The paper closes with a brief description of extensions of the PLCM to the regression setting and to the case where conditional independence between the measures is relaxed.
Performance of a hydrostatic sampler for collecting samples at the water-sediment interface in lakes

The water-sediment interface plays a significant role in the determination of the trophic degree of a waterbody. Numerous redox reactions take place there, resulting in the release of contaminants from the sediments to the water column. The aim of the present work was to develop an equipment for collecting samples from the water-sediment interface. Such equipment was to have a simple design, low construction cost, no depth limitations, and high levels of personal safety and to be reliable in the collection of samples. The performance of the hydrostatic sampler thus developed was tested against samples collected either remotely with a corer or directly with syringes by autonomous divers. The hydrostatic sampler permits access to depths where the costs of the traditional diving methodology are expensive, and where working conditions are dangerous for the diver. The hydrostatic sampler provides an additional means of collecting samples from the water-sediment interface, which together with pore-water samples, facilitates the investigation and understanding of chemical mechanisms in lakes, for instance, those that control the P release from sediment to the water column.
R&D cooperation and R&D intensity: theory and micro-econometric evidence for german manufacturing industries

This paper develops a three stage oligopoly game for R&D cooperation, R&D expenditure and product market competition. In the first stage, firms decide whether or not to conduct R&D in cooperation with other firms. In the second stage the level of R&D investment is determined. Finally, firms compete in a Cournot? oligopoly product market. While earlier models on R&D cooperation only considered process innovation, the model presented here also takes product innovation into account. It is shown that the optimal R&D investment has virtually the same structure for both process and product innovation. The main hypothesis of our theoretical model are tested in the empirical part of this paper.
Biodiversity and nature-based tourism at forest reserves in Uganda

The benefits of nature-based tourism to biodiversity conservation are often presumed but rarely quantified. The relative value placed on attributes of nature parks is unknown, as is the contribution of biodiversity to tourists' willingness to visit a particular protected area. We surveyed tourists and foreign residents in Uganda to determine how preferences for particular protected areas are formed. We evaluated tourists' demand for elevated biodiversity levels (increased numbers of bird species seen), relative to other protected areas attributes. As the number of bird species increased, tourists demonstrated increased willingness to visit a protected area, independently of all other factors. We used these results to evaluate a revenue-maximizing park management strategy, and consider how revenues from nature-based tourism compare with those from local agricultural land-uses.
ANALISIS PENALARAN PROPORSIONAL SISWA DENGAN GAYA BELAJAR AUDITORI DALAM MENYELESAIKAN SOAL PERBANDINGAN PADA SISWA SMP KELAS VII

Dalam pelajaran matematika terdapat banyak konsep yang mengharuskan siswa untuk menggunakan penalaran proporsionalnya. Penalaran proporsional dapat menjadi petunjuk tinggi rendahnya penguasaan matematika siswa pada pokok bahasan yang melibatkan masalah perbandingan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisis penalaran proporsional siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori di kelas VII SMP Negeri 6 Kota Jambi dalam menyelesaikan soal perbandingan sub materi perbandingan senilai dan mengetahui kesalahan-kesalahan siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori dalam menyelesaikan soal tes penalaran proporsional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori belum menggunakan penalaran proporsionalnya dalam menyelesaikan soal. Siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori belum memenuhi ketiga indikator penalaran proporsional. Dari hasil penelitian dapat dilihat bahwa pada indikator pertama enam siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori atau 100% siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori dominan bisa menemukan kuantitas yang ingin dibandingkan. Pada indikator kedua dari enam siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori lima diantaranya menggunakan kuantitas tersebut hanya untuk mencari nilai satuan saja, bukan untuk menemukan intensif hubungan atau rasio dari dua kuantitas dimana anak menggunakan proporsi-proporsi dari kuantitas yang ada, hanya satu orang atau 16,6% dari siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori yang menggunakan semua kuantitas untuk menemukan intensif hubungan. Pada indikator ketiga enam anak auditori dominan tidak menggunakan perkalian silang untuk menyelesaikan soal yang melekat pada situasi perbandingan hanya satu orang atau 16,6% siswa dengan gaya belajar auditori yang menggunakan perkalian silang pada situasi perbandingan. Dari penelitian yang dilakukan anak auditori memiliki kesalahan berupa kesalahan konseptual dan kesalahan prosedural. Kata Kunci : penalaran proporsional siswa, siswa auditori, penyelesaikan soal matematika.
Responses of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Coloured Polyethylene Films in Storage of Musa Chips

Problems associated with synthetic pesticides have necessitated the search for an alternative pest control method. The effect of six coloured polyethylene films on Tribolium castaneum infestation on stored chips was studied in the Laboratory, from February to May, 2012. Three Musa spp (Agbagba, Obino’l ewai and cooking banana) were used. Dried chips (20 g) of each Musa spp were weighed into six different coloured perforated polyethylene bags (blue, red, yellow, green, black, and transparent) after further drying to constant moisture content in the oven. Ten adult beetles, comprising 5 males and 5 females were introduced into each bag tightly closed using rubber band. The experiment was a 6 × 3 factorial (6 colours polyethylene films by 3 Musa spp) laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results showed that there were significant differences amongst the three Musa species on the survival, progeny production and damage caused by T. castaneum. Survival counts of adult T. castaneum on chips stored in various coloured polyethylene bags within the period of 21 days did not differ significantly from one another. Generally all the coloured films reduced the abundance of T. castaneum on chips more than the colourless (transparent) films. Red coloured polybags significantly reduced beetles infestations and retained the highest weight of chips up to three months after infestation. Damage on chips stored in red coloured bags was significantly lower than those of yellow, green and transparent colours but did not differ with those of blue and black. Chips stored in transparent bags had the highest number of beetles and sustained the highest damage than other coloured polybags.
Meese and Rogoff's Puzzle Revisited

Though the behavior of the exchange rate among major currencies has been tracked through structural models, Meese and Rogoff, among others, in their seminal work argue that a random walk model is superior to all competing structural models based on out-of-sample predictability power. This paper tries to shed light on Meese and Rogoff’s puzzle by investigating the exchange rate behavior among G-7 currencies through extending their data from 1973 to 1981 up to 2005 and by inclusion of omitted variables. I compare Frankel-Bilson, Hooper and Morton, Overshooting, and an augmented model with the inclusion of omitted variables, with a random walk model. Based on root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), in sharp contrast to the findings of Meese and Rogoff, the results of this paper support the failure of a random walk model compared with structural models. The results not only help us understand the role of fundamentals in explaining the exchange rate behavior, but also lent support to the belief that exchange rates are predictable.
The effects of lean organizational practices on employees' attitudes and workers' health: evidence from France

Work organization has deeply changed during the last decade, in particular with the introduction of a new type of management production system in the industrial and service sectors – the lean production system. Few studies have considered the social outcomes of work organization forms. Using the high-performance work system (HPWS) theoretical framework, we first analyze the influence of these specific lean work organization practices and then study the effect of a lean practices bundle on job satisfaction, employees' intent to stay and health at work. The quantitative analysis that we carried out on a French national database (n = 24,486) gives ambiguous results. Our study highlights negative consequences of several lean work organization practices (delegation of responsibilities, problem-solving demand, standardization, job rotation) on job satisfaction, employees' intention to stay and health at work. However, quality management is positively linked to health at work. Lean work organization practices, as a bundle, have a deleterious effect on attitudes and health at work. To our knowledge, quantitative research has rarely been performed on the effects of a lean practices bundle on attitudes and health at work. Our study shows the contrasting effects and the risks associated with the development of lean production, which leads us to suggest some practical implications.
Risk management in agile methods: a study of DSDM in practice

Businesses are increasingly operating in extremely turbulent environments necessitating the need to respond and adapt to change more quickly and improve overall time to market. From an Information Systems Development perspective this has triggered a new wave of development, the most notable of these being agile methods. A principle objective of agile methods is to reduce well-known risks associated with common ISD project failures. While there is extensive academic literature on risk management and its growing importance in ISD, literature in relation to risk management in agile ISD projects is still in infancy. The purpose of this research was to ascertain the extent to which risk management practices are incorporated into agile development projects. The methodology deployed for this research involved a case study of a change management consultancy firm dedicated to the use of the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM).
Adoption of Sustainable Forest Management Practices in Bolivian Timber Concessions: A Quantitative Assessment

SUMMARY Bolivia implemented an extensive reform of their forestry sector during the 1990s. Starting five years later, we evaluated the degree of adoption of sustainable forest management practices (SFM) by timber concessionaires in Bolivia and investigated the factors influencing their adoption. Data were obtained from surveys that quantified the level of adoption of 11 SFM practices in 23 concessions. The study revealed that concessionaires adopted some practices more than others. It found that regulation plays a critical role in promoting adoption. Adoption of SFM practices was also more frequent among operators that had been in the forestry business for a longer time, had larger concessions, harvested and processed larger volumes, utilized a wider set of species, were located closer to markets, had received more technical assistance, had trained their employees, and had made other investments. The owners' perception that SFM practices contributed to ecological sustainability was also an important factor in their decision to adopt these practices.
Project Manager’s Competencies in Czech Lottery IndustryEnterprise

The presented paper analyses competencies of project manager of the enterprises operating on Czech lottery market. The contribution of the paper consists of two parts. The first part focuses on the basic terminology issues and anchors concepts such as project manager and competencies. The second part is dedicated to the analyzing and evaluation of the competencies of ideal project manager of the enterprises operating on Czech lottery market and subsequent presentation and verification. For the analyzing and evaluation of the competencies of ideal project manager, the questionnaire of the scale type with the grade valuation 1-6 was applied within the frame of 20 enterprises operating on the lottery market in Czech Republic. The respondents were from the AG CZ, Ltd. and the competitors of this enterprise. Analyzed data were after the evaluation worked up into the form of graphs. The final output of this paper is the definition of the competencies of ideal project manager operating on Czech lottery market. The paper arose thanks to the project supportted by The Ministry of Education, Slovakia (Project KEGA No. 001DTI-4/2015, proposal of behavior strategies in the difficult social situations in the management of secondary school using the innovative predictive software tools) in cooperation of Dubnický Technological Institut in Dubnica nad Vahom with AG CZ, Ltd. and The Institute of Technological and Business in Ceske Budějovice.
Effect of Grain Priming with Salicylic Acid on Germination Speed, Seedling Characters, Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Activity and Forage Yield of Teosinte

2 Abstract: Three experiments (laboratory, field and pots) were conducted at Giza Agric. Res. Station, ARC, Egypt, during the two successive summer seasons 2012 and 2013. Seed of teosinte variety (local) were primed in five concentrations of salicylic acid (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 g L ) for 24 hours, as well as control with non 1 priming. The aims of this study was to determine the best level of salicylic acid of pre-sowing treatment for teosinte seeds to improve germination performance, germination speed, seedling characters, anti-oxidant enzyme activity and forage yield. A completely randomized design (CRD) at laboratory experiment, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) at field experiment and a split plot design at pot experiment with four replications were used. The results showed that seed priming with 0.6 g L salicylic acid gave the highest germination 1
Efficiency and profitability of European banks: how important is operational efficiency?

Most previous research on efficiency in banking takes a regulatory perspective. In contrast, this paper investigates the empirical relation between efficiency and profitability in five large economies of the European Union during the period 1998-2005 and discusses the results from the perspective of corporate bank strategy. Methodologically the existing literature is expanded by the use of DEA super-efficiency values to regress profitability, the incorporation of risk by calculative costs of capital, and a model specification built on the modern understanding of banks as centers of value creation. The results of the conducted static and dynamic regression analyses show that profitable banks operate with higher technical efficiency than their competitors. Furthermore, the strategic environment and in this regard the structure and concentration of the national financial sector have a considerable impact on a bank's financial performance. Both issues proved to be statistically and economically significant. Thus, the results support the appropriateness of the generic strategy of cost leadership for the European banking market. Banks following this strategic position were able to achieve higher excess returns during the analyzed period.
The Impact of an Educational Program on Nurses Practice Related to Care of Patients with Chest Tube

Background: Chest tube is a widely applied therapeutic postsurgical intervention in respiratory and cardiothoracic care. Chest tube can be a life saving intervention for patients presenting with pneumothoraces, effusions and hemothoraces. It is however associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aim of this study: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of an educational program on nurses' practice related to care of patients with chest tube. Methodology: A quasi-experimental design was used in the current study. The study was carried out on a convenient sample of 30 nurses working in intensive cardiothoracic unit, cardiothoracic care unit, and general surgical unit at Ismailia University Hospital. Data were obtained through; Nurses chest tube performance observation checklist. The educational program was designed based on an extensive revision of the related materials, recent medical textbooks, studies and literature. Results: of this study indicated that all studied nurses (100.0%) had statistically significant unsatisfactory level of practice pre-program implementation. The statistically significant level of improvement in nurses' practice was very high immediately after the program implementation and there was decline in the studied nurses' total practice scores throughout the first follow –up and second follow up after program implementation but it showed significant improvement than pre-test (P<0.0001***, P=1.0, P=0.031* respectively). Conclusions: The study concluded that there was statistically significant improvement immediately after program implementation and throughout the follow up phases regarding nurses' practice related to care of patients with chest tube. Recommendations: The study recommended that regular continuous educational program should be designed to give information about chest tube for enhancing and reinforcement of nurses' practice to achieve high quality care.
OCCURRENCE OF CATONYX CUVIERI (LUND, 1839) (TARDIGRADA, SCELIDOTHERIINAE) IN LATE PLEISTOCENE-HOLOCENE OF BRAZIL

In the Brazilian intertropical region, fossils of megafauna occur in tanks and caves. The occurrence of four taxa has been described for a tank in the locality of Fazenda Charco, Sergipe State, and these are: Eremotherium laurillardi (Lund, 1842) (Megatheriidae), Stegomastodon waringi (Holand, 1920) (Gomphotheriidae), Palaeolama major Liais, 1872 (Camelidae) and Toxodontinae (Toxodontidae). With the collection of new material and the review of already existing material from this locality, it was possible to determine the presence of an additional representative of megafauna, namely a sloth of medium size, Catonyx cuvieri. The giant mammal species of the Brazilian intertropical region are generally attributed to the Late Pleistocene, but the occurrence of fauna found in this region could have extended to the beginning of the Holocene.
What Drives Interest Rate Spreads in Uganda's Banking Sector?

This paper investigated the driving factors behind the persistently high interest rate spreads in Uganda for the 1995 to 2010 period. The main approach used was the test for cointegration where the Engle and Granger (1987) two-step procedure was applied to test for the long-run relationship. The error correction model was applied for short run relationship with the error correction term to determine the speed of adjustment between the short-run and the long-run. The variables that were investigated in this study included, the bank rate, treasury bill rate, real GDP, M2/GDP and the ratio of non-performing loans to private sector credit. The empirical results show that the bank rate, treasury bill rate, and non performing loans were significant and positively affect the interest rate spread, M2/GDP and real GDP were significant and negatively influence interest rate spread both in the short-run and long-run.