Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soybean Seed Co-Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense: A New Biotechnological Tool to Improve Yield and Sustainability

Legume nodulation by rhizobia can supply crops with nitrogen and reduce environmental impacts caused by chemical fertilization. The soybean crop in Brazil is an impressive example of how biological N2 fixation can be employed with a plant species of high economic value. However, the development of more productive cultivars, along with the increasing global climatic changes demand agricultural practices to become more productive and yet more environmentally friendly. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are highly beneficial to agriculture worldwide, acting in plant nutrition, protection, and growth stimulation. Azospirillum is, certainly, the most employed PGPR in the world, but little is known about its interaction with rhizobia, when both are applied to legume seeds. We have evaluated the co-inoculation of bradyrhizobia and azospirilla on soybean seeds under different soil and climate conditions in Brazil. Our results demonstrated that co-inoculation is efficient and beneficial to the crop, and promotes yield increases without adding any chemical N fertilizers even in soils where established populations of soybean bradyrhizobia exist. The strategy of co-inoculation thus represents a new biotechnological tool to improve soybean yield without adding any chemical N fertilizers, thus contributing to current practices of sustainability in agriculture.
Economics in the Kingdom of Loathing: Analysis of Virtual Market Data

We analyze a unique data set from a massively-multiplayer online video game economy called The Kingdom of Loathing to assess the viability of these markets in conducting economic research. The data consist of every transaction in a market with over one million players over three years of real time. We find that 1) the game markets are efficient, 2) the complexity of the product determines information diffusion times, and 3) we can classify which and how players participate in trade.
The Relationship Between Self Efficacy and Readiness for Change: The Mediator Roles of Employee Empowerment

This study aimed to determine the effect of self-efficacy toward readiness for change, through employee empowerment of employees of PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) Surabaya. The variables used in this study are: Self-efficacy, employee empowerment and readiness for change. This study used a quantitative approach with survey method and supported by primary data from interviews and questionnaire. This study used primary data from 55 employees, where the data is retrieved by using a questionnaire distributed to permanent employees of PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) Surabaya. A data analysis technique that was used to answer the hypothesis in this study is the Partial Least Square (PLS). The results of this study demonstrated that there is significant influence on self-efficacy toward readiness for change and self-efficacy toward readiness for change through employee empowerment that is partial mediation. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016. v7n3s1p201
Determination of Soil Erodibility Index for Taiwan Mountainous Area

Rainfall in Taiwan mainly concentrates in the period of typhoons and torrential storms. In this period the soil severely erodes due to the frail geology, steep gradient and easily weathered parent rock. Currently, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is used to estimate soil erosion amount in Taiwan. Although it is regarded as the reference, its results are often inconsistent with the actual situation because the application conditions show great difference. Therefore, an alternative to the USLE is necessary for Taiwan. This study focused on 25 main basins in the mountainous area of Taiwan from which 69 experimental sites were established; 20 in the north, 11 in the center, 21 in the south and 17 in the east. The agency of Soil and Water Conservation Technical Specifications table, soil test in the experimental site and on-site measurements of erosion and redeposition were used to determine soil erodibility index (Km). The results shows that most Km obtained in the north areas were smaller than those from the specification, while Km in the rest of the areas varies without a regular pattern. It was concluded that the Southern areas were more susceptible to soil erosion because of the larger indexes.
Response of wheat genotype 'MSH-14' to different levels/ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus.

A wheat genotype MSH-14 was investigated for two co nsecutive years i.e. 2005-06 and 2006-07 for its response to different ratios of nitrogen (N) and ph osphorus (P). Four levels of N (0, 90, 120 and 180 kg ha -1 ) and eight levels of P 2O5 (0, 23, 30, 45, 60, 70, 90 and 135 kg ha -1 ) along with 60 kg K ha -1 in ten combinations were employed in different ratios i.e., (4:1, 4:2 and 4: 3). Results indicated that the agronomic parameters like plant height, number of grains/spike, spike length and 10 0-grain weight were influenced significantly by the application of N and P2O5. The maximum biological yield was recorded with 18 0 kg N and 90 kg P2O5 ha -1 , which was statistically at par to that produced by 120 kg N and 90 kg P 2O5 ha -1 . The yield trend at both years clearly indicated t hat application of N and P 2O5 at 4:3 ratio improved their utilization efficiency . Since the test genotype (MSH-14), produced maximum yield at 120 kg N and 90 kg P 2O5 ha -1 , hence it could be adopted as the most economical dose for obtaining the maximum yield of wheat under the agro-climatic conditions of Sindh.
SPECIES RICHNESS–PRODUCTIVITY PATTERNS DIFFER BETWEEN N‐, P‐, AND K‐LIMITED WETLANDS

We evaluated whether the kind of nutrient limitation (N, P, or K) may affect species richness–productivity patterns and subsequently may explain variation in species richness and in richness of threatened species. We present a data set from previous studies in wetlands in Poland, Belgium, and The Netherlands and examine species richness–productivity patterns for vascular plants in all 150 sites together as well as for N-, P-, and K-limited sites separately. The kind of nutrient limitation was assessed by N:P, N:K, and K:P ratios in the vegetation. Critical values for these ratios were derived from a literature review of fertilization experiments. The kind of nutrient limitation influenced species richness–productivity patterns in our 150 sites through large differences in productivity. P (co)-limitation occurred only at low productivity, K (co)-limitation up to intermediate productivity, and N limitation along the entire productivity gradient. There was a decreasing trend in species richness with increasing productivity for K (co)-limited sites, whereas for both the N-limited sites and P (co)-limited sites a sort of “filled hump-shaped curve” was observed. The species richness–productivity relationship for threatened species was restricted to a much narrower productivity range than that for all species. Richness of threatened species was higher in P (co)-limited sites than in N-limited sites, suggesting that increased P availabilities in wetlands may be particularly important in causing disappearance of threatened species in western Europe. The role of nutrient limitation in species richness–productivity relationships not only reveals mechanisms that may explain variation in species richness and occurrence of threatened species, but it also may be important for nature management practice.
Community structure of macroinvertebrates, bryophytes and fish in boreal streams : patterns from local to regional scales, with conservation implications

Esitetään Jyväskylän yliopiston matemaattis-luonnontieteellisen tiedekunnan suostumuksella julkisesti tarkastettavaksi yliopiston Ambiotica-rakennuksen salissa (YAA303) toukokuun 24. päivänä 2003 kello 12. Academic dissertation to be publicly discussed, by permission of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science of the University of Jyväskylä, in the Building Ambiotica, Auditorium YAA303, on May 24, 2003 at 12 o'clock noon.
Humoral Immune Response of Chickens Following Vaccination with different Newcastle Disease Vaccines

In spite of numerous vaccines and different vaccination schedules used in the control of Newcastle disease (ND), prevention and control remain a challenge. This study evaluated three different ND vaccines. A total of one hundred and twenty, day-old brown pullets obtained from a commercial hatchery in Ibadan, Nigeria were used for the experiment. The birds were randomly assigned into 4 groups in which groups A, B and C were vaccinated on days 1, 21 and 42 of age, while group D served as unvaccinated group (control). Hitchner B1 (HB1), Clone-30 and F-Strains were used as the primers for the 3 vaccinated groups respectively. Blood samples were collected from all birds in each group on vaccination day and assayed for NDV antibody by Haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. Twenty five chickens from each group were challenged with virulent Newcastle disease virus (Kudu 113 strain) at 3 rd week after the last vaccination. The mean antibody titres of the chickens from the vaccinated groups at 3 rd week post primary vaccination showed no significant difference. However, a significant difference existed following secondary vaccination with La Sota and Komarov strains at 3 rd and 6 th weeks of age. A good immune response and clinical resistance were observed in group of chickens vaccinated with Hitchner B1 and Clone-30 as primers than those vaccinated using F-strain. Therefore, Hitchner B1 or Clone-30 is better primer for vaccinating chickens against Newcastle disease. Keywords: Chickens, Vaccination, antibody, Newcastle disease, Challenge virus
The Comovement in Commodity Prices: Sources and Implications

We present a simple macroeconomic model with a continuum of primary commodities used in the production of the final good, such that the real prices of commodities have a factor structure. One factor captures the combined contribution of all aggregate shocks which have no direct effects on commodity markets other than through general equilibrium effects on output, while other factors represent direct commodity shocks. Thus, the factor structure provides a decomposition of underlying structural shocks. The theory also provides guidance on how empirical factors can be rotated to identify the structural factors. We apply factor analysis and the identification conditions implied by the model to a cross-section of real non-energy commodity prices. The theoretical restrictions implied by the model are consistent with the data and thus yield a structural interpretation of the common factors in commodity prices. The analysis suggests that commodity-related shocks have generally played a limited role in global business cycle fluctuations.
Impact of UPFC-based damping controller on dynamic stability of Iraqi power network

The work of this paper is a hopeful attempt to rectify poor damping issue of the Iraqi National Super Grid System (INSGS). Without proper damping control these oscillations drive the system toward instability following severe disturbances. In this paper, a Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)-based damping controller was proposed to improve the dynamic stability of the INSGS. The system with UPFC installed in different sectors was represented by the linearized Phillips-Heffron generator model. The excitation phase angle was used as input control signal to the UPFC. PI controller was applied to the design of the damping controller. The power system with the UPFC was tested in different sectors under different loading conditions and disturbances using the MATLAB Simulink program. Simulation results demonstrated that the UPFC can work successfully with INSGS in damping low-frequency oscillations and improving the dynamic stability and voltage profiles. In addition, the proposed approach provided higher performance when compared to a conventional PSS.
Free Vibration and Buckling Analyses of Functionally Graded Nanocomposite Plates Reinforced by Carbon Nanotube

This paper describes the application of refined plate theory to investigate free vibration and buckling analyses of functionally graded nanocomposite plates reinforced by aggregated carbon nanotube (CNT). The refined shear deformation plate theory (RSDT) uses four independent unknowns and accounts for a quadratic variation of the transverse shear strains across the thickness, satisfying the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factors. The motion equations are derived from Hamilton’s energy principle and Navier’s method is applied to solve this equation. The material properties of the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composites (FG-CNTRCs) are assumed to vary along the thickness and estimated with the Mori–Tanaka approach. Effects on the natural frequency and critical buckling load of the FG-CNTRC plates by CNT volume fraction, CNT distribution, CNT cluster distribution, and geometric dimensions of the plate are investigated. Effects of loading conditions on the critical buckling load are also examined.
Ni-Based Ohmic Contacts to n-Type 4H-SiC: The Formation Mechanism and Thermal Stability

The fabrication of low-resistance and thermal stable ohmic contacts is important for realization of reliable SiC devices. For the n-type SiC, Ni-based metallization is most commonly used for Schottky and ohmic contacts. Many experimental studies have been performed in order to understand the mechanism of ohmic contact formation and different models were proposed to explain the Schottky to ohmic transition for Ni/SiC contacts. In the present review, we summarize the last key results on the matter and post open questions concerning the unclear issues of ohmic contacts to n-type SiC. Analysis of the literature data and our own experimental observations have led to the conclusion that the annealing at high temperature leads to the preferential orientation of silicide at the heterointerface (0001)SiC//(013)-Ni2Si. Moreover, we may conclude that only δ-Ni2Si grains play a key role in determining electrical transport properties at the contact/SiC interface. Finally, we show that the diffusion barriers with free diffusion path microstructure can improve thermal stability of metal-SiC ohmic contacts for high-temperature electronics.
Effect of Gypsum Placement on the Physical Chemical Properties of a Saline Sandy Loam Soil

Reclamation of salt affected soils using gypsum (Ca2SO4.2H2O) as a low cost material is one of the means to reverse a degraded land while improving its fertility for agricultural use and generate income to the farmers living in such lands. A study was therefore undertaken outside the glasshouse of the International Centre for Eremology, University of Ghent, at the end of July 1994. The main objective was to evaluate the effect of gypsum and placement methods on the physical chemical properties of a saline soil during reclamation process by leaching under natural rainfall. Soil samples were collected from a provisionally stored dredged material in a big well near the Peakshaving plant of Distrigaz in the southern part of inner harbour of Zeebrugge located at 51 18′18″N and 3 14′47″E. The experiment involved six treatments with four replications in a randomised complete block design. Results showed that incorporating gypsum full depth (20 cm) without weekly mixing was superior compared with the other placement methods for the improvement of most of the studied parameters. Furthermore, these results also showed that Naexch, ECe, SAR, ESP and AWC were significantly (P≤0.05) improved. Although gypsum application caused gradual decline in Ks, it however did not reverse it completely, probably due to heavy storm leading to compaction, and/or inequilibrium between Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in the soil material.
La Paz School. From a Ghetto to a Magnet School

This article presents the transformation process of San Juan, a ghetto school, into La Paz, a magnet school. This transformation has been made possible by implementing the communicative methodology of research (CMR) based on the participation of everyone involved in the research process, together with the administration and the researchers. The article explains how the change has been made as well as the political measures that have been developed. Finally, a reflection considering the political improvements arising from the experience is given.
Scenario, Importance and Prospects of Seed Spices: A Review

Arid and semiarid parts of the India are known as Seed Spices Bowl (Rajasthan and Gujarat) and contribute more than 80% of total seed spices production. Total 109 spices are listed by ISO and 63 spices are grown in India and out of which 20 are being classified as seed spices.
Invasive ornamental fish: a potential threat to aquatic biodiversity in peninsular India

Alien fish find their way into newer habitats and ecosystems opportunistically. Once in a new habitat, these species try to occupy empty niches and compete with native species. An alien species becomes invasive wherever it has a competetive advantage over native species. Ecology of aquatic invasive alien species is rather poorly understood as most attention has been on invertebrates as that which spread through ballast water. Invasive alien species of fish that have taken advantage of the aquarium trade are emerging as the most important threats to fragile aquatic habitats. Regulations to this trade are rather weak and there is a general lack of data on the ecological impact of alien fish species despite the fact that a third of the world’s worst aquatic invasive species are aquarium or ornamental species.
Impression about Healthcare Services at Medical Hospitals in Dhamar City, Yemen

Health systems consist of all the people and actions whose primary purpose is to improve health. It is therefore urgent to assess current performance and to judge how health systems can reach their potential. This cross sectional study was conducted in Dhamar city, Yemen to assess the impression about level of the healthcare services. About 240 subjects agreed to participate in this study but analysis was carried out on 194 subjects who provided complete data on the variables of interest to this study. Participates satisfaction was measured using a semi-structured worker/patient judgments questionnaire. Participates were asked to supply the following information about themselves: age, sex, marital status, occupation, level of education, types of the hospital; employment, and monthly income. The overall level of satisfaction was assessed on a three point scale: 1= poor, 2= fair, 3= good. The results of the current study found that private hospitals have higher overall healthcare quality than public hospitals. This study indicated that patient of private hospitals are more satisfied and feel more trust in healthcare service provider than public hospitals. The result of the present study provided insights to both health care providers and hospital managers to improve service quality and patient satisfaction in the hospital environment in Yemen.
Insights from an iBleep trial: Understanding the implications

Purpose Recently concern has been raised about junior doctor work load and pattern, and consideration given to how this can be improved by clinical communication systems. Method North Shore Hospital (NSH) management initiated a trial of a web-to-smart mobile communication system called the iBleep, to try to improve their junior doctors’ working conditions. Findings Both technical aspects of iBleep function and iBleep user opinions were studied to determine whether the communication system worked in this regard. Based on results from clinician surveys and interviews, however, the majority of NSH junior doctors and nurses did not like the iBleep for technical and workflow related reasons. Clinician comments suggest the reasons for these outcomes are due to a combination of implementation and organizational factors related to North Shore Hospital, and sociotechnical factors related to communications technology usage relevant to any acute care hospital. Conclusion The iBleep implementation was rolled back. Communication between nurses and doctors after hours about patient care is complex and requires further research.
Fixed-term employment, work organization and job satisfaction: Evidence from German individual-level data

The present paper examines the joint effect of fixed-term employment and work organization on job satisfaction using individual-level data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). Specifically, we analyze whether workers who are heterogeneous in terms of the type of working contract (fixed-term vs. permanent) do also differ with regard to job satisfaction, when they perform under comparable work organizational conditions. Such information would be quite valuable for employers, because they can learn about the responsiveness of heterogeneous workers to innovative work organizational practices. For this purpose, we at first estimate a linear fixed effects model, thereby controlling for unobserved time-constant characteristics. In a second step, we account for potential remaining endogeneity by combining the fixed effects approach with a two-stage estimation strategy. Our empirical results show that in terms of job satisfaction fixed-term workers and their permanent counterparts respond differently to a number of organizational practices including task diversity, employee involvement, social relations at work, general working conditions, and career prospects. The results may be used by employers to improve their concept of diversity management and specifically the job design of heterogeneous workers.
The lack of star formation gradients in galaxy groups up to z ~ 1.6

In the local Universe, galaxy properties show a strong dependence on environment. In cluster cores, early-type galaxies dominate, whereas star-forming galaxies are more and more common in the outskirts. At higher redshifts and in somewhat less dense environments (e.g. galaxy groups), the situation is less clear. One open issue is that of whether and how the star formation rate (SFR) of galaxies in groups depends on the distance from the centre of mass. To shed light on this topic, we have built a sample of X-ray selected galaxy groups at 0 1010.3M* in order to have a high spectroscopic completeness. As we use only spectroscopic redshifts, our results are not affected by uncertainties due to projection effects. We use several SFR indicators to link the star formation (SF) activity to the galaxy environment. Taking advantage of the extremely deep mid-infrared Spitzer MIPS and far-infrared Herschel1 PACS observations, we have an accurate, broad-band measure of the SFR for the bulk of the star-forming galaxies. We use multi-wavelength Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) fitting techniques to estimate the stellar. © 2013 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.