Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corn (Zea Mays L.) Plant Characteristics and Grain Yield Response to N Fertilization Programs in No-Tillage System

Problem statement: Nitrogen application timing and Nitrogen (N) rate are two important factors to influence corn production in No-Tillage (NT) system, but N recommendations may need to be revised due to insufficient rainfall in dryland rain-fed environment. Approach: This study was to determine the effects of two N application timing (planting and split application at planting and V6 corn growth stage) and five N rates (0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 kg N ha−1) on corn plant characteristics and grain yield under rain-fed and low corn yield environment. Plant characteristics included the measurement of plant height, ear height, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) and normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Results: Plant height and ear height at R1 stage, SPAD at R1 and NDVI at V8 and R1 increased significantly with increasing N rates, while N application timing had no effect on measured canopy characteristics. Grain yield increased from 2.2-3.8 Mg ha−1 as N rate changed from 0-180 kg ha−1. However, applying more than 90 kg N ha−1 did not significantly increase grain yields. The N application timing did not influence yield. Strong correlations were observed among corn plant characteristics and between plant NDVI at V8 and R1 stages and grain yields. Conclusion: These results indicate that N application timing was not important factor to affect corn plant characteristics and grain yield under rain-fed and low corn yield dryland conditions and we may not expect a significant grain yield increase with application exceeding 90 kg N ha-1 under these conditions. Plant NDVI at V8 and R1 stage could be a good indicator to predict corn grain yield.
ENRICHMENT OF ADULT ARTEMIA BIOMASS AND SQUID MANTLE MUSCLE, DOSIDICUS GIGAS, WITH DIFFERENT ASCORBIC ACID (L-ASCORBYL-2-MONOPHOSPHATE-NA/CA) CONCENTRATIONS

L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate-Na/Ca (AMP-Na/Ca) was used as a vitamin C source to investigate itsascorbic acid (L-AA) enrichment and retention in boosted Artemia biomass (AB) and squid mantlemuscle (SM). Different doses of AMP-Na/Ca (500, 1000, and 1500 AMP-Na/Ca mg/kg) were graduallydissolved into the culture tanks at time 0 (T0) and at each hour until Hour 6 ( T6). Samples of AB and SMwere taken for AMP-Na/Ca and L-AA analysis at T0, T1, T2, T3, T4,T5, T6, T12,andT24. There wereno signicant differences (P > 0.05) among the AB groups at T1.TheT6enrichment analysis for ABresulted in signicant differences (P < 0.05) in the AMP-Na/Ca content for the 1500 mg/kg treatment,in which the initial concentration (0.001 ± 0.002 mg/kg) increased by more than 16-fold. For all ABenrichment treatments, the AMP-Na/Ca content demonstrated a decrease (32–11%) for the T6, T12and T24analysis. The T1analysis for SM at the higher AMP-Na/Ca enrichment concentration registered30 mg/kg of L-AA and decreased (27.6%) at T6. This study demonstrated that AB and SM can be boostedwith AMP-Na/Ca.
Corporate Governance as A Moderator Between Strategic Management Accounting and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence

This study aims to shed light on the moderating role of corporate governance in the link between the strategic management accounting and firm performance, which suffers from paucity in prior works. The study sample consists of 139 Out of 185 Saudi public companies from twenty sectors listed in Saudi Stock Exchange by the end of 2017. The data used in this study was collected from Tadawul database for the period of 2013 to 2016 and from a mailed questionnaire survey. The study found that corporate governance index was 74.3% for listed companies in Saudi Stock Exchange. The results of the study indicate that corporate governance plays a moderating role in the link between strategic management accounting and firm performance. The adoption of strategic management accounting in company will improve corporate governance practices which in turn lead to enhance company performance. The theoretical and practical contributions of the study and recommendations for company managers are identified. Keywords: Corporate governance, Strategic management accounting, Firm performance, Saudi stock exchange.
Modelling, Simulation of Visco-Elastic PlasticBehaviour for Soft-Solids by CONE Indenters

Materials deforms in response to an externally applied stress. The deformation can be permanent or temporary. Permanent deformation stays after the removal of the applied stress, while temporary deformation disappears on the removal of the stress. Both temporary and permanent deformations can be functions of time or virtually independent of time. Processing and handling of intermediate or final products involving particulate materials dispersed in liquid media at high solids volume fraction means Soft-Solids, present major challenges in the chemical industry and in its allied sections, such as; Biochemical and Biotechnology apparently the drugs and Pharmaceuticals industries. In the development of new processes, manufactures are faced with growing diversity of equipment options and a limited technical basis for selection, of their complex flow behaviour and the influence of the wall boundary conditions. Pilot scale trials may be lengthy, expensive and has to rely on uncertain rules of modelling scale-up. Therefore the current strategy which is emerging world-wide is to employ computer simulation as a basis for optimising the design and operating parameters. Importantly, soft-solids exhibit complex bulk flow and interfacial properties; that leads to the requirement for accurate and reliable constitutive information to model their processing. To obtain useful experimental data, there is a need for a well characterised and reproducible material. The „BEST‟ material will undergo sufficient plastic flow so as to be capable of being formed. Therefore a model paste Plasticine for Simulation and Terracotta for Modelling has been tested by CONE indenter over a wide range of strain rates. It was found that the terracotta exhibits a linear elastic behaviour at low stress levels and power law creeping behaviour at higher levels of stress. All the loading and relaxation tests at various strain-rates give the same material properties. This means that the model works reasonably well. The analysis of loading and relaxation is simple robust and easily provides a value of E, and the flow curve, this is also true for CONE indentation of soft-solids. The primary aim of this project was to attempt for developing and evaluating codes of the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) which are specifically designed for paste system. The finite element method has been shown to be viable computational tool for modelling pastes and the effects of the friction. However the practicality of the data method is very much dependent upon the accurate modelling of the paste behaviour. The predicted results, in some cases, show a reasonable agreement with those obtained experimentally.
What determines the penumbral size and Evershed flow speed?

Abstract Using Hinode SP and G-band observations, we examined the relationship between magnetic field structure and penumbral length as well as Evershed flow speed. The latter two are positively correlated with magnetic inclination angle or horizontal field strength within 1.5 kilogauss, which is in agreement with recent magnetoconvective simulations of Evershed effect. This work thus provides direct observational evidence supporting the magnetoconvection nature of penumbral structure and Evershed flow in the presence of strong and inclined magnetic field.
Reassessing the core of hospitality management education: the continuing importance of training restaurants.

This paper addresses the role of training facilities within higher education hospitality departments. It identifies a range of historical and contemporary problems associated with these areas and reports on case study research undertaken with four UK institutions. The research identifies changes within the educational delivery provided by these institutions and suggests that training restaurants in these institutions still have an important role to play within the higher education experience.
Biology of Nomioides variegatus (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Abstract The nesting biology, life history and pollen foraging of the minute Nomioides variegatus (Olivier) is described and illustrated. All Nomioides biological studies are reviewed. Nesting and foraging were observed over two years in a sandy natural area in the Rhône River delta region of southern France. Nest and cell structure was obtained from soil blocks removed from the nesting area and examined in the laboratory. Females, which were on average only 4.2 mm long, nested solitarily in loose aggregations in areas free of vegetation. Cells were placed from 6 to 12 cm deep, each terminating a lateral burrow off the main burrow. Cell walls were lined with a water proof wax-like lining. The pollen-nectar provision was a flattened sphere. The posterior end of the egg was embedded on the dorsal surface of the provision. Larval and pupal development was rapid, proceeding to adults by August, the over-wintering stage. Pollen foraging patterns were analyzed from both pollen provisions and fecal material for different nests (3) and cells (8). Nomioides variegatus is polylectic, but individuals bees exhibited a high degree of foraging consistency for the provisioning of single cells. Eleven different pollen types representing 10 plant families were found. In 1996, Ecballium elaterium (Cucurbitaceae) was the dominant pollen present in all samples but it was absent in 1997. Tamarix gallica (Tamaricaeae) was the dominant pollen type in 1997 and absent in 1996. A third pollen, Centaurium (Gentianaceae) was present in both years and represented 70% of some samples.
THE IMPACT OF PHOTOPERIOD AND STOCKING DENSITY ON THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF NARROW-CLAWED CRAYFISH (ASTACUS LEPTODACTYLUS Esch.) LARVAE

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of various photoperiods and stocking densities on the growth and survival of narrow-clawed crayfish larvae. The four-week rearing period was carried out in 50 dm 3 tanks in a closed recirculating system. The tanks were stocked with larvae two weeks post hatch with an average body length of 11.2 0.9 mm (TL) and weight of 32.3 2.5 mg. There were three stocking densities (300, 600, and 1200 specimens m -2 ) and two photoperiods (groups L - 24-hour illumination and groups D - 24-hour darkness). The crayfish were fed ad libitum every 12 hours with granulated feed (45% protein, 6-12% lipid). The experiment indicated that photoperiod had a significant impact (P < 0.05) on the crayfish survival rate, while stocking density impacted growth. Crayfish survival was almost two times higher with 24-hour illumination than it was with 24-hour darkness at each of the stocking densities. The survival and the growth rate of crayfish decreased as the initial stocking density increased. The final biomass of the crayfish stocks reared in 24-hour darkness was similar for each of the stocking densities applied, but the biomass of stocks reared with 24-hour illumination increased along with the stocking densities used. This indicates that it is possible to apply initial densities even greater than 1200 specimens m -2 during crayfish rearing with 24-hour pond illumination. 1
GLUCOSE LOWERING EFFECT OF VISFATIN IN OBESE AND INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS

Background: Human obesity-related diabetes and the accompanying metabolic disorders have been specifically linked to increased visceral adipose tissue mass. Visfatin (pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor, PBEF) is a novel adipokine that appears to be preferentially produced by visceral adipose tissue that has insulin-mimetic actions. This study investigated if visfatin administration decreases blood glucose in both obese and insulin dependent diabetic mice. Methods: One hundred and twenty balb/c strain albino mice were divided into 4 groups. Animals in Group I and Group II were made obese by feeding high fat/high carbohydrate diet whereas Group III and Group IV were made insulin dependent diabetic by injecting streptozotocin. Group I and Group III served as controls whereas Group II and Group IV were administered visfatin injection intravenously as a single bolus dose. Blood samples were collected to measure the blood glucose and visfatin levels. Results: Visfatin levels were found increased in obese mice, while administration of recombinant-histidine soluble (mice) visfatin significantly decreased the blood glucose level in obese and insulin dependent diabetic mice (p<0.001). Conclusion: The glucose lowering effect of visfatin in insulin resistant and insulin dependent diabetic mice is observed.
High school students' misconceptions about colligative properties in chemistry

This study aimed at identifying students’ misconceptions about boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, and boiling and freezing temperature change (colligative properties) in high school chemistry. The study was carried out in Songea municipality in Tanzania and involved high school students taking chemistry as one of their subject combinations. A diagnostic test composed of four open-ended questions was used. The test was administered to 105 students from three high schools namely Songea boys, Songea girls and Msamala. Eleven different misconceptions were identified and showed to have implications for teaching colligative properties in high school chemistry. This suggests that a substantial review of teaching strategies and the way chemistry books are written is needed.
Micronucleus Test in Exfoliated Buccal Cells from Chromium Exposed Tannery Workers

Our aim wa s to investigate the adverse effects of occupational exposure to trivalent chromium in tannery workers and unexposed persons. Trivalent chromium used in tanning industry is an environmental contaminant that acts as a carcinogen towards humans and animals. The carcinogenic potential of metals is a major issue in defining human health risk from exposure. In the present investigation, 84 tannery workers and 52 control subjects with similar mean ages, smoking prevalences and alcohol consumption were enrolled for DNA damage analysis in buccal cells by Micronucleus assay (MN). Workers showed a significant increase in micronucleated cells when compared to controls with respect to their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, age and years of exposure. The current study suggests that chronic occupational exposure to Chromium during tanning could lead to increased levels of DNA damage. The res ults of the present investigation are in agreement with those obtained with the same Cr (III) compounds in mutagenicity assays in bacteria and carcinogenicity tests in rodents. A re-evaluation of the mechanisms of chromium carcinogenisis is proposed.
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN PRE-AND-POST-HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS IN SCT CENTER, SHARIATI HOSPITAL, TEHRAN, IRAN

Introduction : In Iran along with other countries, as transplant technology progresses and advances, the number of patients undergoing transplantation is rising steadily. In order to make Stem-Cell Transplantation (SCT) safer and more effective, psychological distress of patients must be taken in to account. Patients are facing challenges pre- and post-transplantation. This study attempts to measure and compare the levels of anxiety depression before and after SCT. Method and materials: The study includes 35 patients (21 male and 14 female; mean age 34.8, range 18-60 years, 10 Hodgkin's disease, 10 MM, 9 AML and 6 ALL) who met the inclusion criteria at the time of hospitalization were selected as candidates for SCT at Shariati Hospital-Tehran, Iran. Anxiety and depression were evaluated by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Questionnaires were filled out in two steps, once within 48 hours after hospitalization and the other one on the day of discharge . Results: Level of anxiety and depression decreased from 8.64±3.42 to 6.09±2.84 and from 7.20±3.49 to 6.00±3.7, respectively (both p-values <0.001). Nobody has severe anxiety/depression pre- or post-SCT and only one patient had moderate anxiety/ depression before SCT that reduced to mild level thereafter. Conclusion: The level of anxiety and depression in transplant patients has been reduced. The findings suggest that psychological distress (anxiety, depression) should be evaluated in patients at frequent intervals. Therapeutic treatment procedure, pharmaceutical and non pharmaceutical treatment should be carried out based on the results obtained from patients under study.
VOLCANIC ROCKS FROM THE SOUTHEAST GREENLAND MARGIN AT 63 ° N : COMPOSITION , PETROGENESIS , AND MANTLE SOURCES

Early Tertiary volcanic rocks recovered from the southeast Greenland margin represent the transition from continental tholeiitic flood basalt to voluminous oceanic magmatism. This magmatism accompanied continental breakup and resulted in the formation of seaward-dipping reflector sequences (SDRS) characteristic of volcanic rifted margins. The earliest, and most landward, lava flows (Hole 917A, Lower and Middle Series) comprise a pre-breakup continental sequence ranging in composition from olivine basalt to dacite. Evolution in crustal magma reservoirs, with a dwindling supply of primitive magma and an increasing role of crustal contamination, can account for the variations in magma composition. Changes in the inferred nature of the contaminant suggest that the site of magma storage may have moved to shallower levels in the crust during the prebreakup period. The subsequent eruption of picrite and olivine basalt magmas (Hole 917A, Upper Series) marked a dramatic change in the style of magmatism to one of unrestrained passage of primitive magma from the mantle to the surface during the final stages of breakup. The younger parts of the SDRS (Sites 915 and 918) are composed of compositionally uniform basalt (7.6 ± 0.8% MgO), suggesting that an effective magmatic filtering system was established, soon after breakup, in magma chambers associated with a spreading axis. An increase in degree of mantle melting (<5% to 10%–20%), accompanied by a decrease in depth of melt segregation, marked the transition from continental to oceanic volcanism. The continental volcanic rocks had a garnet lherzolite source, whereas the post-breakup magmas had a shallower, spinel lherzolite source. Most of the older basalts (Site 917, Lower to Upper Series) had a mantle source similar to that of normal mid-ocean-ridge basalt (N-MORB), although a group of flows with compositions similar to typical Icelandic basalt occurs high in the Lower Series. All the post-breakup basalt lava flows (Sites 915 and 918) had a depleted Icelandic mantle source. The head of the Iceland plume may have been zoned at the time of continental breakup with a core of Icelandic mantle surrounded by a carapace of anomalously hot NMORB-source mantle.
A new way to measure the departure from thermodynamic equilibrium in stellar atmospheres

A new way to measure the departure from thermodynamic equilibrium is proposed based on the departure factor which evaluates the deviation from a Boltzmann level distribution, used by Short and Hauschildt (2005) and others. The way is based on an explicit relationship describing the departure factor as a function of line to continuum source, dynamic temperature and line photon frequency, under three assumptions that the scattering can be neglected, the background continuum can be treated as a Planck function, and finally the complete redistribution can be true. It has the advantage that the departure can be very conveniently evaluated from the spectral analysis with only the radiative transfer involved. Some physical insights are recovered for some extreme cases. Some example calculations of the departure are presented for the quiet Sun, faint solar flare and strong solar flare for the generally used solar chromospheric lines: Hα, Hβ, CaII H, K and triplet. It is revealed that in the case of solar flares, the departure is less than thermodynamic equilibrium along the larger depth range than in the quiet sun due to chromospheric condensation. It becomes hard to distinguish the departures for the different lines of the same atom or ion. It is expected that this investigation can be constructive for studying stellar atmospheres in cases where the three assumptions are close to reality.
REACTION AND PERFORMANCE TIME OF TAEKWONDO TOP-ATHLETES DEMONSTRATING THE BALDUNG-CHAGI

The purpose of this study was to investigate two factors for success in taekwondo competition, the simple reaction time (RT) - beginning with an external signal and ending with a shoulder, hip or ankle movement – and the performance time (PT) – starting of the Baldung-chagi till hitting the target. Subjects were the top 9 athletes (6 ♂, 3 ♀) from the German National Team. Movements were recorded by 3 infrared cameras of LUKOtronic active marker Motion Capturing System. Seven markers were used, five on the subject (ankle, heel, hip, shoulder, wrist of the kicking side), one trigger marker at the floor, one at the hand-mitt. The average value for the ankle RT is 0.34 sec. , 0.26 sec. for hip RT, 0.23 sec. for shoulder RT and 0.31 sec, for PT. A high ankle RT variation, in the range of 0.26 to 0.54 sec, indicates that reducing this variation though training arrangements could improves the probability for success.
AMT Title : Revising short and longwave radiation archives in view of possible revisions of the WSG and WISG reference scales : Methods and implications Author ( s ) :

A large number of radiometers are traceable to the World Standard Group (WSG) for shortwave radiation and the 10 interim World Infra-red Standard Group (WISG) for longwave radiation, hosted by the Physikalisch Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos/World Radiation Centre (PMOD/WRC, Davos, Switzerland). The WSG and WISG have recently been found to overand underestimate radiation values, respectively (Fehlmann et al., 2012; Gröbner et al., 2014), although research is still ongoing. In view of a possible revision of the reference scales of both standard groups, this study discusses the methods involved, and the implications on existing archives of radiation time-series, such as the Baseline Surface 15 Radiation Network (BSRN). Based on PMOD/WRC calibration archives and BSRN data archives, the downward longwave radiation (DLR) time-series over the 2006 – 2015 periods were analysed at four stations (polar and mid-latitude locations). DLR was found to increase by up to 3.5 and 5.4 W m-2 for all-sky and clear-sky conditions,, respectively, after applying a WISG reference scale correction and a minor correction for the dependence of pyrgeometer sensitivity on atmospheric integrated water vapour content. Similar increases in DLR may be expected at other BSRN stations. Based on our analysis, a 20 number of recommendations are made for future studies.
The impact of regional integration on economic growth: empirical evidence from COMESA, EAC and SADC trade blocs

This study examines the impact of economic integration on growth by constructing an economic integration index based on average Most Favoured Nations (MFN) tariffs and the level of regional cooperation for COMESA, EAC and SADC. Applying system GMM estimation technique, the study confirms a positive relationship between economic integration and economic growth. Economic integration and trade, separately and jointly, have a positive and significant impact on growth. The study recommends among other policies, pursuance of nondiscriminatory trade liberalization concomitantly with preferential liberalization in both goods and services, for economic integration to have a significant and sustained positive impact on growth.