Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initial report of glufosinate and paraquat multiple resistance that evolved in a biotype of goosegrass (Eleusine indica) in Malaysia

Field and glasshouse studies have confirmed the presence of a glufosinate- and paraquat-resistant goosegrass biotype that has infested a bitter gourd field in Air Kuning, Perak, Malaysia. Glufosinate and paraquat had been applied at least six times per year to the affected fields (originally a rubber plantation) for more than four consecutive years. Paraquat had been used since 1970 for weed control in the rubber plantation. An on-site field trial revealed that the control of the goosegrass plants, measuring 20–35 cm in height, ranged from 20 to 35% 3 weeks after being treated with each herbicide at twice the recommended rate. Dose–response tests were conducted in the glasshouse, using seedlings at the three-to-four-leaf stage that had been obtained from the plants that had received repeated exposure to these herbicides and a biotype with no history of any herbicide resistance. The comparison of the GR50 (the herbicide rate that is required to reduce the shoot fresh weight by 50%) of the seedlings indicated that the resistant biotype of goosegrass is 3.4-fold and 3.6-fold more resistant than the susceptible biotype following treatment with glufosinate and paraquat, respectively. This study has demonstrated the world's first field-evolved instance of multiple resistance in goosegrass to two non-selective herbicides, glufosinate and paraquat.
Changing patterns of African Migration: A Comparative Analysis

The objective of this paper - using quantitative data of MAFE – is to provide an overview of the changing patterns of African migration in the MAFE countries. Three broad topics are addressed: (1) trend in departures and returns, (2) profiles of migrants, and (3) migration routes. The paper is by nature mainly descriptive, and has not the ambition of identifying determinants of migration as such. However, by describing major changes over the last 30 years, this paper suggests possible links with changing political, economic and policy contexts in both origin and destination countries.
Meanders of an Atypical Research Work on Helicobacter pylori in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Influence of HIV and other Factors and Study of some Interesting Cases

During the 3rd Euro case reports in Valencia, Spain, a strange medical case taking place in the DRC has been presented. Indeed, while the Congolese population is, until now, convinced of the existence of massive criminal poisonings, throughout the national area, originating from the East region of the country, we incredibly observed and demonstrated that actually, the phenomenon is a silent, surprising and unexpected Helicobacter pylori epidemic with numerous extra-digestive pathologies. The present subject will deal with picturesque meanders by which our research work passed, lengthening it to more than twenty years before getting appropriate results. The presentation will start by a brief summary of the DRC Helicobacter pylori phenomenon described in Valencia and hypothesis raised for better knowledge of Helicobacter pylori infection, at the international level. In a second time, it will focus on the influence and consequences of some followed factors in our study: HIV infection, political situation in DRC, lack of equipment and financial means, population ignorance, traditional practitioners’ cupidity, deficiency of south-North collaboration, and so on. Afterwards, two interesting incredible extra-digestive DRC Helicobacter pylori cases observed in our study will be discussed. Finally a brief conclusion will present some useful propositions drawn from the experience of this DRC Helicobacter pylori research work.
How Do College Students Solve Logarithm Questions

The purpose of the study was to investigate college students’ work with logarithm questions. Qualitative descriptive research is chosen to reach the research goal. The participants of the study were fourteen Indonesian students who were enrolled at different universities in Ankara, Turkey. They worked to solve ten logarithm questions which were classified according to the contents. After analysing their written responses, interviews were conducted to obtain further explanation about their strategies and common mistakes. The study found that participants’ works in dealing with logarithm questions comprised of (a) processing base, (b) holding the rule, (c) separating, (d) jumping, and (e) conditioning. Therewith, several participants made common mistake because of misconception about logarithm, arithmetical problems, and misuse of algebra concept. Implication of the finding of the study for teaching and learning logarithm were presented.
Niche conservatism and species richness patterns of squamate reptiles in eastern and southern Africa

Niche conservatism has been proposed as a mechanism influencing large-scale patterns of taxonomic richness. We document the species richness patterns of five monophyletic squamate reptile groups (gekkonids, cordylids-scincids, lacertids, chameleons and alethinophidian snakes) in eastern and southern Africa, and explore if observed patterns reflect niche conservatism processes. We quantified richness and its relationships with current climatic conditions by gridding species' range maps at 110 × 110 km. Also, dated phylogenies and palaeoclimatic reconstructions, coupled with evidence from the fossil record, were used to approximate the areas and climate characteristics in which each group originated and/or radiated. Mean species richness and geographically corrected confidence intervals in current climate types were calculated for each group in order to establish their climatic preferences. On average, the species richness of older groups (gekkonids, cordylids-scincids and lacertids) was lower in equatorial climates and higher in arid and temperate conditions, whereas more recent groups (chameleons and alethinophidian snakes) were richer in equatorial and temperate climates and less rich in arid conditions. Across all groups, higher richness was associated with climatic characteristics similar to those prevailing at the time in which each group originated/radiated. The congruence of the current climates where reptile groups are richer and the past climates amidst which those groups originated is consistent with an explanation for their diversity gradients based on niche conservatism.
Influence of sea ice treatment in a regional climate model on boundary layer values in the Fram Strait region

Abstract The influence of two simple descriptions for the sea ice distribution on boundary layer values is investigated by comparing model results from the regional climate model REMO with measured data in the Fram Strait in April 1999. One method for determining the sea ice distribution in REMO is to diagnose the sea ice cover from the prescribed surface temperature and allow each grid cell to be either completely free of ice or completely covered by ice (REMO-original). The other one is to employ a partial sea ice concentration in each REMO grid cell with the input data derived from satellite data (REMO-partial). Surface fluxes are average values of the ice and water partial fluxes. There is a clearly better agreement between measured and simulated surface and boundary layer temperatures and humidities when using REMO-partial compared to REMO-original. The closed ice cover in REMO-original leads to downward sensible heat fluxes over ice, whereas the ice cover with leads and polynyas in REMO-partial lead.
Differential suburban development in the prague urban region

Abstract. Numerous authors have asserted that suburbanization contributes to many problems in both suburban and inner city localities. Research of suburban development demonstrates variations in spatial patterns, the intensity of spatial processes, and the social and economic status of new suburbanites. While some forms of suburban development could cause serious problems throughout the urban region, other forms could be perceived as processes improving the quality of life in suburbia. This paper seeks to investigate different types of suburban development in the Prague urban region over the past fifteen years of transformation. The focus of my interest is residential suburbanization, which is one of the most significant spatial processes today in the settlement systems of post‐socialist countries. The theoretical part of the contribution deals with the differentiation of spatial processes changing the suburban zone. Here I discuss the concepts of several processes of suburban development and their distinctive impact on both suburban and inner city localities. The empirical part of the contribution is based on an analysis of migration flows in the various localities of the Prague urban region in the period 1995 to 2003. I attempt to describe the magnitude and spatial patterns of suburbanization and the composition of migrants to suburbia. The paper concludes with a discussion about the possible future development of suburbanization in the Prague urban region.
Physico-chemical studies of Lipids and Nutrient contents of Channa striatus and

This study was carried out to determine the lipids isolated from Channa striatus and Channa marulius and to analyze the nutrient contents of both fish. The specific gravity, refractive index and viscosity co-efficients were (0.93 ± 0.03 and 0.91± 0.03 at 30C), (1.76 ± 0.21 and 1.34 ± 0.22 at 30C) and (438.43 ± 2.5 and 411.34 ± 1.2) for C. striatus and C. marulius, respectively. Besides, the lipids of both fish showed significant results in case of chemical characterization. On the contrary, C. striatus and C. marulius contained expected amount of carbohydrate, protein, lipid and cholesterol. The percentages of moisture, dry matter and ash were found in fair amounts. Furthermore, the minerals of C. striatus such as calcium and magnesium contents were higher but iron and zinc contents were lower than C. marulius. But, the percentages of lead, mercury and chromium of both fish were precisely in traces amounts. The fatty acids in C. striatus and C. marulius were identified respectively; lauric acid (2.73 and 5.55 %), palmitic acid (17.79 and 27.74 %), oleic acid (36.81and 31.35 %), linoleic acid (3.45 and 2.49 %) and stearic acid (25.79 and 21.81%)
The Realities Of Maintenance And Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) Allocation In Basic Education System: Unheard Voices Of Public School Teachers

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences, coping mechanisms and insights of 17 teachers regarding the MOOE allocation in basic education system. The data were gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussion which were subjected to thematic analysis. The result revealed the proper implementation/utilization of MOOE fund by the principal. However, concerns on teacher‘s trust on the MOOE transparency and non-involvement of teachers in financial planning were also observed and experienced. Coping mechanisms of the participants included openness and acceptance, indifference, and resourcefulness and creativity. The participants‘ insights based on their experiences were: MOOE is fund provision for schools‘ maintenance and operation, teachers to be centrally involved in the MOOE allocation, and there are varied sentiments on the integrity of MOOE spending. The study implies that creating an environment of trust in the school may result to satisfactory performance of teachers and students. Furthermore, transparency and openness of the School Head may encourage teacher‘s participation and commitment to school improvement.
A Preliminary Assessment of the Change Recipients' Perceptions of the "4+4+4 Reform Initiative": Has Anything Changed?

The purpose of the present study was to assess change recipients' perceptions of 4+4+4 reform initiative put in effect in Turkish education system and to explore if anything has changed within the one-year interval. This research is a qualitative longitudinal case study conducted in 2013 and 2014 in a large city in Southeastern Turkey. Pragmatist paradigm has been the guiding research philosophy. The study group consisted of 106 teachers, 64 school administrators, and 4 educational supervisors. The study group was chosen via purposive sampling technique. Data were gathered through structured interview protocol consisting of four open-ended questions. Findings indicated that the favorable and unfavorable aspects of the reform regarded as positive were mostly remained unchanged in the one-year interval. Some of the problems remained the same. Finally, it was revealed that the participants' expectations about the future of the system varied in terms of potential effects of the reform initiative. Based on the findings, suggestions for the implementers and policy makers were offered.
The Correlations of the Equity Markets in Asia and the Impact of Capital Flow Management Measures

This paper examines the international transmission of volatility in the stock markets of countries in emerging Asian economies (EAEs). The time period of the study is from before the Asian financial crisis until after the global financial crisis. Over two decades the degree of volatility interdependence of equity markets among Asian economies has been increasing. There has been stronger financial integration during calm periods, which could intensify the contagion effects across markets during turbulent times. The equity markets of the EAEs exhibit stronger correlations during the global financial crisis, confirming the existence of contagion and the intensification of systemic risk. The introduction of capital flow management (CFM) measures is associated with a reduction in the volatility dependence within the region. JEL Classification: E42, E44, F32, G12, G15, ADBI Working Paper 766 P. Chantapacdepong
Are debris discs self-stirred?

This paper aims to consider the evidence that debris disks are self-stirred by the formation of Pluto-size objects. A semi-analytical model for the dust produced during self-stirring is developed and applied to the statistics for A stars. We show that there is no significant statistical difference between fractional excesses of A-stars . 50Myr old, and therefore focus on reproducing the broad trends, the “rise and fall” of the fraction of stars with excesses that the pre-stirred model of Wyatt et al. (2007b) does not predict. Using a population model, we find that the statistics and trends can be reproduced with a self-stirring model of planetesimal belts with radius distribution N(r) / r 0.8 between 15–120AU, with width dr = r=2. Disks must have this 15AU minimum radius in order to show a peak in disk fraction, rather than a monotonic decline. However, the marginal significance of the peak in the observations means that models with smaller minimum radii also formally fit the data. Populations of extended disks with fixed inner and/or outer radii fail to fit the statistics, due mainly to the slow 70�m evolution as stirring moves further out in the disk. This conclusion, that debris disks are narrow belts rather than extended disks, is independent of the significance of 24�m trends for young A-stars. Although the rise and fall is naturally explained by self-stirring, we show that the statistics can also be reproduced with a model in which disks are stirred by secular perturbations from a nearby eccentric planet. Detailed imaging, which can reveal warps, sharp edges, and offsets in individual systems is the best way to characterise the stirring
Population structure of fish fauna in the estuarine area of Caeté River, Bragança, Pará, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v20i0.4469

This study describes the relative size and age structure of the sciaenids Macrodon ancylodon, Stellifer rastrifer and Stellifer naso , the ariid Cathorops spixii and the aspredinid Aspredo aspredo in the estuary of the Caete River. Four bimonthly samples were collected with trawl and gill nets during August, October and December 1996 and February 1997 in three different areas: (A) main river channel, (B) bay, and (C) coastal areas. Total length and weight of 16,298 individuals of all these species were recorded. Monthly frequency distributions were plotted. Cohorts were identified by dividing the distribution into separate normal distributions; asymptotic length (L ∞ ) and K were estimated for these stocks by FISAT program. Biomass averages (g/m 2 ) were estimated using the swept area method. Average biomass of Macrodon ancylodon was 0.29g/m 2 , total length ranged from 3cm to 41cm; length frequencies identified five cohorts; L ∞ = 45.50cm and K = 0.491 year -1 . For Stellifer rastrifer , average biomass was 0.31 g/m 2 ; total lengths ranged from 1 to 17cm; L ∞ = 22.5cm and K = 0.31 year -1 . For Stellifer naso , average biomass was 0.03 g/m 2 ; L ∞ = 26.3cm and K = 0.321 year -1 , total lengths ranged from 2 to 25cm. For Cathorops spixii , average biomass was 0.55 g/m 2 ; L ∞ = 33.3cm and K = 0,36 year -1 ; density was much higher in the river habitats. Aspredo aspredo presented a biomass of 0.06 g/m 2 ; abundance was higher in the river; total lengths ranged from 2 to 36cm; L ∞ = 42.5cm and K = 0.35 year -1 . Despite the different biological strategies of each species with respect to spatial distribution and relative abundance, they all utilize the estuarine habitat as nursery grounds in the early phases of their life cycles.
Determination of water requirement and effect of its variations on some quantitative and qualitative traits of sugar beet product

To determine sugar beet water requirement and the effect of changing the quantity of applied water on some production components, a study was carried out in Ekbatan Agricultural Research Station of Hamedān, Iran in four years (1994-1997) during which optimum water requirement, root and sugar yield, water use efficiency on the basis of root yield, sugar percentage and water use efficiency on the basis of sugar yield under no water and nutrients limitation conditions were measured and compared by water balance method for four growth periods of 130, 134, 152 and 162 days. At the same time, the water requirement of reference crop poa was measured by lysimeter in order to study the pattern of the variations of sugar beet crop coefficient. It was found that the amount of applied water for sugar beet was 8427, 7328, 10256 and 9026 m 3 . ha -1 in the four studied years, respectively with the average amount of 8759 m 3 . ha -1 . Average four-year maximum crop coefficient was 1.04 at mid-growing season and the minimum one was 0.42 at early-growing season. The highest root yield, sugar yield and sugar percentage was obtained from 162-day growth period (116.8 t.ha -1 , 20.36 t.ha -1 and 17.43%, respectively). The lowest ones were obtained from 130-day growth period (52.21 t.ha 1 , 8.5 t.ha -1 and 16.26%, respectively). Results revealed that in 130-day growth period, root yield decreased and meanwhile, water use efficiency on the basis root yield and sugar yield was decreased to 7.1 and 1.2 kg.m -3 applied water, respectively. In the longer growth period, water use efficiency on the basis of root yield and sugar yield was 11.4 and 2 kg.m -3 applied water, respectively.
CARBAPENEM RESISTANCE IN GRAM-NEGATIVE BACILLI ISOLATES IN AN IRANIAN 1000-BED TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Objective: Carbapenems are beta-lactamase antibiotics, presently considered as most potent agents for treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli. The aim of this study was to determine resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonniae as prevalent nosocomial agents to commonly used antibiotics including carbapenems such as imipenem and meropenem. Methodology: A total of 202 gram-negative bacilli including K.pneumoniae, P aeruginosa and A.baumannii isolated from hospitalized patients in Milad hospital of Tehran were subject for susceptibility testing. Susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion and MIC methods as recommended by Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Results: All isolates of K. pneumonia were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem. Resistance in non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFGB) was prevalent. P.aeruginosa isolates exhibited 7.5% and 40.2% resistance to imipenem and meropenem respectively. The majority isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii were multi-drug resistant and resistance of this organism to imipenem and meropenem was 27.7% and 38.5% respectively. Conclusions: Our study revealed that in spite of resistance of K.pneumoniae to commonly used antibiotics, all isolates were susceptible to imipenem and meropeem. More than 80% isolates of A . bammanni were resistant to commonly used antibiotics. About 40.2% isolates of P.aeruginosa and (38.5%) isolates of A.baumannii were resistant to meropenem respectively.
Islamic Finance at Crossroads

After more than 40 years of practice, the Islamic finance industry is riddled with products that have a camouflage of Islamic form, but lack Shari'ah validity of purpose. The increasing tendency to mimic conventional finance, had the industry converging to its conventional counterpart. It is therefore seriously threatened with increasing cynicism and popular decline in interest. The paper looks into the essence of Reba prohibition from an economic perspective, using a concise classification of transactions, and how popular monetary theory looks on a positive rate of interest with disfavor. It evaluates Shari'ah scholars approach to the validation of contracts as well as the attitude of monetary authorities towards the Shari'ah content of Islamic finance transactions. It reviews the macroeconomic advantages of Islamic finance within an Islamic macroeconomic environment. Then it tries to explain why managers of Islamic banking and finance institutions, IBFI, mimic conventional products despite such advantages. The paper surveys the literature that measures the extent of conversion as well as provides an alternative explanation. The study finds that IBFI violate the true paradigm of Islamic finance, because its advantages are all external and impossible to internalize. It lists several pieces of empirical evidence on increasing convergence. The paper concludes by drawing a plan composed of regulatory actions, research agenda as well as a series of dialogues with stakeholders.
Band structure and giant Stark effect in two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides

We present a comprehensive study of the electronic structures of 192 configurations of 39 stable, layered, transition-metal dichalcogenides using density-functional theory. We show detailed investigations of their monolayer, bilayer, and trilayer structures’ valence-band maxima, conduction-band minima, and band gap responses to transverse electric fields. We also report the critical fields where semiconductor-to-metal phase transitions occur. Our results show that band gap engineering by applying electric fields can be an effective strategy to modulate the electronic properties of transition-metal dichalcogenides for next-generation device applications.
WWW.com: A Brief Intervention to Bolster a 5th Grader's Regrouping Skills in Math

Thi s study examined the effica cy of a brief math intervention using cognitive behaviour instruction (CBI) supplemented by a mnemonic cue system for a 5th grade student with math computation and flue ncy diffic ulties. Regrouping operations in addition and subtraction were the targeted skills. Curriculum-based measurements were conducted at the end of each session to monitor the student’s response to the intervention. Pre- and post-assessment with alternate forms of Key Math-Revised were also conducted. As compared to baseline performance, there was a 48% improvement in computing regrouping problems. The re was a greater effe ct on accuracy in computing addition than on subtraction problems requiring regrouping, based on the post-intervention assessment. The r esults are discussed in relation to previous intervention research incorporating CBI approaches aimed at promoting students’ cognitive, metacognitive, and selfregulatory skills for profic ient computation. ISSN 1918-5227 Pages 1- 16