Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Rotation and Manure Effects in an Iowa Farm Soil Health Assessment

63 Tillage, crop rotation, nutrient applications, and other land management practices influence soil health by modifying near-surface (0–15 cm) dynamic properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, and aggregate stability. The rate and magnitude by which those soil properties change are variable and site-specific, but generally bound by inherent soil characteristics. Since the 2000s, efforts to develop soil health assessment have been focused on the time required for changes to occur (i.e., days, years, decades) and the spatial scales at which those changes are detectable (i.e., row, field, watershed). Along with these temporal and spatial areas of emphasis, there is an interest in whether specific soil indicators change independently or with others. Soil treatment effects tend to be more pronounced as time increases, particularly if the contrasting treatments cover a wide disturbance continuum (Karlen et al., 2017). A series of 4-yr studies with various crop rotation and tillage practices across the United States and Canada found frequent within-year temporal fluctuations in soil properties and processes that must be recognized when comparing management effects (Krupinsky et al., 2006; Liebig et al., 2006; Mikha et al., 2006; Pikul et al., 2006). Comparing single practice effects, such as presence or absence of tillage, demonstrated varied responses across sites. For example, infiltration was more responsive to tillage than crop rotation (Pikul et al., 2006), while soil chemical properties showed a tillage effect at only half of the study sites (Mikha et al., 2006). The amount of soil disturbance or fallow had no consistent effects on soil biological properties when the results were grouped by location (Liebig et al., 2006). Another comparison of no-till systems with 10 crops over a 4-yr period showed few significant soil property changes, except for a particulate organic matter (POM) difference based on the amount of residue returned each year (Krupinsky et al., 2006). In contrast to studies that might evaluate the effect of a management change immediately or a few years after, agronomic evaluations of treatments that have been in place for numerous years or decades have successfully documented soil changes, particularly for samples collected at shallow sampling depths, such as 0 to 5 cm (Karlen et al., 1991, 2006, 2013; Veum et al., 2014). For example, following 26 yr of continuous corn, Measuring Rotation and Manure Effects in an Iowa Farm Soil Health Assessment
Tailored fuel injection within a Mach 12 shape transitioning scramjet

Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed for the Mach 12 Rectangular-to-Elliptical Shape-Transitioning scramjet. Present injector arrangements at the combustor entrance displayed low jet penetration, resulting in a oxygen-based combustion efficiency of 84.9%. It is proposed to convert three cowl-side injectors into one larger injector located further upstream. To support this, injector configurations were investigated computationally, taking injectors optimised for penetration at lower Mach numbers, and evaluating their performance at higher Mach number flight conditions. It was determined that reduced performance of these optimised injectors was encountered at scramjet flight conditions above their design point, with circular injectors at equal or greater injection angles displaying greater penetration and mixing capabilities.
Carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry in Brassica napus L. seedlings after supplementation with Ca 2+ and K + under irrigated and drought stress conditions

Exposure of plants to long periods of water scarcity, mainly in arid and semi-arid regions, is one of the major reasons for over 50% reduction in average yields. Proper management of Brassica napus to enhance its ability to survive under drought and high temperature stress at early growth stages, besides development of tolerant genotypes, could improve its production in the rainfed areas. In the present study, we report the interactive effects of Ca 2+ , K + and N supplementation and water availability on the fresh biomass, N and C content, as well as C/N ratio of crop plants. Exposure to water stress significantly reduced the fresh biomass, Nitrogen (N), Carbon (C) content and the C/N ratio. Ca 2+ and K + supplementation before drought positively affected fresh biomass by stimulating N uptake and C assimilation. However, the C/N ratio was reduced after supplementation with Ca 2+ and K + . The N supplementation before drought imposition, though enhanced the N uptake, but the excessive damage to cell membranes and electrons leakage from Electron Transport Chain (ETC) during photosynthesis resulted in a decrease in C assimilation. Consequently, there was a decrease in the C/N ratio in seedlings exposed to drought after supplementation with N. Key words : Drought, nutrients supplementation, carbon, nitrogen, C/N ratio.
Photosynthetic microorganisms as epibionts and euendoliths on biotic substrates in a thermal spring with ferric-iron deposits.

Rust-coloured shells of the aquatic gastropod Ventrosia ventrosa, a new record for eastern Greece, indicating presence of iron (EDAX analysis) were studied for detection of iron-encrusted photosynthetic epibionts in a Greek brackish-water thermal spring (38 °C). Microscopic analyses (LM, SEM) revealed the presence of a biofilm consisted of mostly facultative micro-epibionts, i.e. a) 5 periphytic taxa of coccal and filamentous cyanobacteria, including a taxonomically and ecologically interesting morphospecies, Xenococcus cf. pyriformis, dominated exclusively on the shell surface, and b) pennate diatoms with higher species richness (18 periphytic taxa of the genera Amphora, Brachysira, Cymbella, Diatoma, Encyonema, Navicula, Nitzschia, Pleurosigma, Synedra, Ulnaria; 5 taxa as new records for Greece), most of them emerging only after acid treatment of whole gastropod shells. The abundant diatoms thriving directly or nearby the iron-coatings (Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta and Achnanthes brevipes sensu lato) exhibited different modes of attachment ('adnate' and 'pendunculate', respectively). Two euendolithic cyanobacteria (Hyella sp. and Leptolyngbya terebrans; the former with special taxonomic interest) were also found perforating the delicate gastropod shells, with no distinct differentiation in the extent of infestation between live and dead gastropod shells. Moreover, the possible impact of these encrusted photosynthetic assemblages on V. ventrosa was investigated; statistical analysis showed that a) there is no 'drag effect', induced by the epibionts, influencing the gastropod growth (i.e. shell length), b) shell size enlargement provides a favourable space and promotes the intense fouling by both micro-epibionts and macro-epibionts (egg-capsules), and c) the detachment prevention of egg-capsules is attributed to the biofilm development.
Passengers’ Perceived Service Quality of City Buses in Taipei: Scale Development and Measurement

Abstract To understand fully passengers’ perceptions and expectations of the bus service quality in Taipei, business managers and governmental agencies must seek a proper scale that can reflect passengers’ opinions accurately. This study develops and tests a service quality scale designed for a city bus transit system in Taipei. Churchill’s paradigm and a focus group interview were combined into a multistage scale development procedure. Based on the procedure, Taipei city buses were selected as the example, for which a service quality scale was developed. The final scale contains four dimensions and 20 items. These four dimensions are ‘interaction with passengers’, ‘tangible service equipment’, ‘convenience of service’ and ‘operating management support’. Finally, the results of scale development and the managerial applications of the service quality scale for the city transit system are discussed.
Multidrug resistant Salmonella sp isolated from chicken

Antibiotic resistance has been a major problem in combatting Salmonella in poultry, this research was designed to determine the antibiotic resistance level of Salmonella isolated from freshly dead chicken. A total of 107 freshly dead chicken were collected from 23 different farms, birds were necropsied, liver and trachea were collected, Salmonella were recovered from the samples using peptone water, Rappaport-Vassiliadis R10 Broth and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Pure culture were identified using cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. The pure isolates were subjected to antibiotic test using disc diffusion method. Sixteen isolates of Salmonella were recovered, 3 of which were from the trachea while 13 were recovered from the liver. All of the Salmonella isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin 100% while Nitrofuratoin was least resisted with only 37.5% of the Salmonella isolates showing resistance. The antibiotic resistant pattern often observed in this study were AMP, AUG, TLY with 75% (12); AMP, AUG, TLY, CPR, ENR, 50% (8); while 6.3% (1) was resistant to all of the antibiotics tested. This result showed that there is an emergence of multi-resistance Salmonella in poultry, therefore it is important to carry out sensitivity test before administration of antibiotics in order to control poultry salmonellosis.
Structural Features of the Middle America Trench Slope off Southern Mexico, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 66

The distribution of bedding tilts, penetrative fabrics, and discrete structures in Leg 66 cores correlates distinct tectonic environments and basement types landward of the Middle America Trench. The lower slope, underlain by a zone of landward-dipping reflectors, is characterized by zones of inconsistent bedding dip, stratal disruption, and scaly mudstone, with deformation most active close to the trench. The upper slope, principally underlain by continental crust, exhibits none of these features and is characterized by mesoscopic folding, with local development of spaced foliation and veins. A transition zone between the continental crust and the zone of landward dipping reflectors includes structural features common to both but is distinguished by predominantly oblique-slip faults, whereas all other sites exhibit mainly dip-slip faults. Stratal disruption and scaly mudstone, characteristics of many alleged uplifted subduction complexes, are concentrated within the lower slope environment in sediment interpreted as trench and lowermost trench slope deposits. Bedding has been disrupted very early in some intervals of partially consolidated mud and unconsolidated sand, and sand has remained unconsolidated even where intercalated in stratally disrupted intervals with mud that has dewatered and lithified sufficiently to form scaly mudstone.
Evaluating a new MCQ Generation methodology (CAREGen) in the UK Electricity Distribution Industry

A recent survey demonstrated an increased usage of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) within a UK company. The report recommended a wider application of MCQs for knowledge assessments. Specifically, several contexts for Formative and Summative assessment were identified as suitable for MCQs, alongside the existing widespread use of MCQs for knowledge Refresher assessments. This result has led to increased interest in the process of MCQ-Creation, and in the evaluation measures used to compare the performance of MCQs created by different MCQ-Creation teams who each use their own MCQ-Creation methodology. This article proposes some new context-specific efficacy measures for comparing the performance of MCQs and illustrates their application using a case study which combines features of both formative and refresher assessment contexts. The recommendation is that different assessment contexts should use different evaluation measures. An additional observation is that the different evaluative requirements of summative and refresher assessments are more likely to be understood by MCQ designers if they were to attend MCQ-Creation workshops. These training events would allow them to better understand the different features of evaluation measures that can be applied to measure performance variations between alternative MCQCreation methodologies.
Long Term Impact of Financial System on Import Demand for Turkey

Calismada finansal sistemin uzun donemde ithalat talebi uzerindeki etkisini gormek amaciyla, finansal sistem bilesenleri ithalat talebi fonksiyonu icerisine yerlestirilmistir. Bununla birlikte elestiriler dogrultusunda ithalat talep fonksiyonu icerisinde gayri safi yurt ici hasila yerine ulusal nakit akisi degiskeni kullanilmistir. Calismada finansal sisteme ait bir degiskenin uzun donemde ithalat talebi uzerindeki etkilerini gormek amaciyla uzun donem yapisal VAR metodolojisi kullanilmistir. Kullanilan veriler "Guclu Ekonomiye Gecis Programi"nin uygulanmaya basladigi tarihten itibaren gunumuze sekiz yillik donemi kapsamaktadir. Calisma sonucunda ulusal nakit akisinin ithalat talebi uzerinde pozitif bir etkisinin bulundugu, goreceli fiyatlarin ise ithalat talebini beklendigi gibi uzun donemde pozitif etkiledigi gorulmustur. Finansal sisteme ait degiskenlerden bazilarinin ise ithalat talebi uzerinde anlamli etkilerinin oldugu sonucuna ulasilmistir. Sonuclar politika yapicilarinin politika kararlarinda bu etkilesimi dikkate almalari gerektigini gostermektedir.
Multi–drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk, chicken meat, beef and egg in Bangladesh

Staphylococcal infection is one of the most common food-borne diseases in the world. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is an emerging problem of food safety. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus in milk, chicken meat, egg and beef; and to determine the multi-drug resistance (MDR) profile of S. aureus in Mymensingh and Gazipur districts, Bangladesh. A total of 189 samples of milk (n=108), chicken meat (n=51), egg (n=20) and beef (n=10) were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural University dairy farm, American dairy farm, Gazipur and different dairy farms of municipal area and retail shops during July 2016 to June 2018. S. aureus were isolated and identified by conventional methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done through disc diffusion test using 10 commonly used antibiotics. The overall prevalence of S. aureus in all food samples was 43.39%. A total of 39 (76.47%) chicken meat, 25 (23.15%) milk, 11(55%) egg and 07 (70%) beef samples were S. aureus positive through conventional method. Among 82 culture positive samples only 39 samples (47.56%) were confirmed by PCR. Antibiogram study showed that S. aureus isolated from chicken meat were mostly resistant to oxytetracycline (71.79%); and highly sensitive to amikacin (100%) and neomycin (100%). S. aureus isolated from milk samples were highly sensitive to neomycin (100%), and resistant to amikacin (56%). Only 28.57% isolates of S. aureus originated from beef samples were resistant to oxytetracycline and 100 % isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, azithromycin, doxycycline. Similarly, S. aureus isolated from egg samples were resistant to erythromycin (81.82%) and 100% sensitive to amikacin. Out of 41.46% MDR isolates 12%, 53.85%, 90.91% and 0% of the S. aureus originated from milk, chicken meat, egg and beef respectively. The higher prevalence of S. aureus in chicken meat, beef, egg and milk indicates unhygienic production, marketing and processing of these foods. Presence of MDR S. aureus in these foods might pose serious public health threats. Rational use of antibiotics with higher sensitivity should be prescribed in managing poultry diseases to reduce re-emerging MDR in Bangladesh.Res. Agric. , Livest. Fish.5(2): 175-183, August 2018
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The causality between TFP (Total Factor Productivity) and economic growth will be analyzed in this paper. The analysis is covering the years between 1987 and 2007. Firstly, TFP values are calculated for every year then the TFP values are regressed with annual Economic Growth rates by the least square method. Statistics show a significant linear relation between TFP and Economic Growth Rate.
Role of ultrasound in early prediction of severity of dengue infection

Background: Dengue has become a major international health problem in recent years. As per the World Health Organization, dengue has shown a 30-fold increase globally over the past five decades, and approximately, 50-100 million new infections are estimated to occur annually in more than 100 endemic countries. Objective: To evaluate the sonographic findings in children with dengue fever (DF) and to determine its role in predicting the severity of the disease. Methods: One hundred and twenty dengue serology-positive cases in the age group of 2 months to 18 years were studied. These children were divided into two groups - mild (dengue hemorrhagic fever [DHF] I-II without shock) and severe dengue (DHF III-IV with shock). Sonographic variables of these cases were studied and compared by applying appropriate statistical analysis. Results: Out of 120 cases, gallbladder wall thickness (83.3%) and pericholecystic edema (81.6%) were the most common sonographical findings. When sonographic variables of mild and severe groups compared, significant statistical difference was noted in variables such as ascites, pleural effusion, and perinephric edema with p=0.0015, p=0.0058, p<0.000, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasound can be used as an adjunct modality in patients with suspected DF to detect early signs suggestive of the disease and also useful tool to predict severity of the disease.
Effect of Mechanical Injury and Low Temperature Storage on the Accumulation of Glycoalkaloids in the Tubers of 7 Varieties of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) grown in Oman

Tubers from 7 potato varieties were analyzed for their rates of glycoalkaloid accumulation in response to stresses of three types of mechanical injury and low temperature storage. Mechanical injuries were found to greatly stimulate glycoalkaloid accumulation in both peel and flesh of tubers. The extent of glycoalkaloid accumulation appears to depend on variety, type of mechanical injury, and storage period. Most of the injury-stimulated glycoalkaloid accumulation occurred within 7 and 14 days after treatment. Cutting the tubers resulted in the highest content of glycoalkaloids both in flesh and peel up to levels that exceeded the upper safety limit of 200 mg/kg FW. Injury stimulated α-solanine accumulation in stored potato tubers is more than α-chaconine, resulting in a decrease in the α-chaconine: α-solanine ratio. When tubers were stored at low temperature, the rate of glycoalkaloid accumulation was found to be independent of the glycoalkaloid level at harvest. The greatest increase in total glycoalkaloid content of the seven varieties was found after two weeks of storage at both 4 oC and 10 oC. Further storage at these temperatures resulted in a decrease in the rate of glycoalkaloid accumulation in most of them. At 10 oC glycoalkaloid content tended to increase more rapidly than at 4 oC. The α-solanine content of the tubers showed an increase following low temperature storage.
Analysis of the Impact of Oil Revenue on the Nigerian Economy

Oil revenue is indeed an important component of economic growth of the recipient nations. Therefore, most of the oil-rich nations invest the revenue from the oil sector into the non-oil sectors for strategic reasons. However, over the past five decades there has been a blur in the practicality to fulfilling this purpose in the context of Nigerian economy. So far, there is high inconsistency on the utulisation of such oil revenue in Nigeria. Using a multivariate regression analysis, this study aims at critically analysing the impact of oil revenue on the Nigerian economy. Findings indicate a high insignificance in establishing the flow of oil revenue into the key economic sectors in Nigeria.
A Conceptual Framework for the Association between Relationship Conflicts and Employees’ Intention to Leave

The main objective of this research paper to conceptualize a model to test the association between relationship conflicts and employees’ intention to leave with the support of past theories and research findings. This research paper contains the definitions for variables related to relationship conflicts and employees’ intention to leave from the organization and also it explains models which explain the interconnections among two variables. The conceptualization of this research includes a logically developed model that leads to identify the relationships between the independent variable and dependent variable. The proposed model suggested that there is an association between relationship conflicts and employees’ intention to leave.
Measuring the Effect of the Zero Lower Bound on Monetary Policy

The Zero Lower Bound (ZLB) on interest rates is often regarded as an important constraint on monetary policy. To assess how the ZLB affected the Fed's ability to conduct policy, we estimate the effects of Fed communication on yields of different maturities in the pre-ZLB and ZLB periods. Before the ZLB period, communication affects both short- and long-dated yields. In contrast, during the ZLB period, the reaction of yields to communication is concentrated in longer-dated yields. Our findings support the view that the ZLB did not put such a critical constraint on monetary policy, as the Fed retained some ability to affect long-term yields through communication.
Neoliberalism, embedded neoliberalism and neocorporatism: Towards transnational capitalism in Central-Eastern Europe

This article analyses the key features and origins of three variants of transnational capitalism emerging in Central-Eastern Europe: a neoliberal type in the Baltic states, an embedded neoliberal type in the Visegrád states, and a neocorporatist type in Slovenia. These regimes are characterised by their institutions and performances in marketisation, industrial transformation, social inclusion, and macroeconomic stability. Explanations for regime diversity are developed at two levels. First, it is argued that the legacies of the past, and their perceptions as either threats or assets to these countries' future, have had deep impact on regime types. Legacies and initial choices were no less crucial for the degree of democratic inclusion, and the different patterns of protest and patience on the paths towards the new regimes. Second, the article demonstrates the importance of transnational influences in industrial transformation and social inclusion.
Phosphorus analysis in soil under herbaceous perennial leguminous cover by nuclear magnetic spectroscopy

Abstract – The availability and the reserves of organic phosphorus are controlled by its mineralization rate andare also influenced by changes in soil management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence ofsoil covering with different leguminous plant on soil organic P by 31 P-NMR spectroscopy. Alkaline soil extractswere obtained from two depths (0–5 and 5–10 cm) of an Ultisol cultivated with herbaceous perennial leguminousplants ( Arachis pintoi , Pueraria phaseoloides , Macroptilium atropurpureum ). In an adjacent area, samples ofthe same soil cover with a secondary tropical forest and grass ( Panicum maximum ) were also collected. Theleguminous management was divided into with removal and without removal of shoot parts after cut on soilsurface. Phosphate monoesters are the dominant P species in all soil samples and P diesters accumulated on thesuperficial layer of secondary forest soil. The P amount of this fraction is higher for the legume covered soil whencompared with the grass covered soil. The permanence of leguminous plants on the topsoil after the cut promotedan increase in P diester/P monoester ratios. These findings can be accounted for an enhancement of P availabilityto plants in soils cultivated with leguminous plants.Index terms: cultivation, deforestation, cover crops.