Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel method for identifying residual prestress force in simply supported concrete girder-bridges

Testing methods are required for estimating prestress losses in Prestressed Concrete (PC) girder-bridges. They mainly include destructive approaches which cause significant damages. Conversely, dynamic nondestructive methods are unsuitable. Given these findings, a novel method for identifying residual prestress force in simply supported PC girder-bridges was implemented. Following the vertical load application in a three-point bending, the method estimates the prestress force by measuring the vertical deflection at a quarter or, alternatively, at the midspan of the PC girder-bridge. The method also requires information regarding its flexural rigidity. Particularly, the initial tangent Young’s modulus must be evaluated by compression tests on cores drilled at its quarter and midspan cross-sections after three-point bending. In absence of the geometric and/or material properties, the flexural rigidity can be estimated according to free vibrations. Secondly, the method comprises a reference solution, or a finite element model of the PC girder-bridge, in which the prestress force is unknown. Thirdly, the measured deflection becomes a parameter of the prestress force identification process. Accurate identifications are obtained when the deflection, under a higher vertical load, was precisely measured and the flexural rigidity was determined using reference solution and initial tangent Young’s modulus. In this article, the novel method was simulated on a simply supported PC beam-bridge subjected to time-dependent prestress losses for ≈9.5 months in the laboratory.
Methodological overview and data‐merging approaches in the study of plant–frugivore interactions

Recording species interactions is one of the main challenges in ecological studies. Frugivory has received much attention for decades as a model for mutualisms among free-living species, and a variety of methods have been designed and developed for sampling and monitoring plant–frugivore interactions. The diversity of techniques poses an important challenge when comparing, combining or replicating results from different sources with different methodologies. With the emergence of modern techniques, such as molecular analysis or multimedia remote recorders, issues when combining data from different sources have become especially relevant. We provide an overview of all the techniques used for monitoring endozoochorous primary seed dispersal, focusing on a critical appraisal of the advantages and limitations, as well as the context-dependency nature, of the different methods. We propose five data merging approaches potentially useful to combine frugivory interactions data from different methodologies. Additionally, we provide two case studies where we combine empirical data from plant–animal interactions in Mediterranean shrublands using different methodologies. Data merging resulted in a net increase in the number of distinct pairwise interactions recorded and compensated biases inherent to different methods, resulting in a more robust estimation of network topological descriptors. These case studies clarify the context-dependent character of the merging approaches, highlight-ing the value of collecting detailed information on the sampling effort in terms of reliable results and reproducibility. Finally, we discuss the trends with different methodological approaches used in the last decades and future perspectives in this field.
Surface water–groundwater interactions of Xiluodu Reservoir based on the dynamic evolution of seepage, temperature, and hydrochemistry due to impoundment

Reservoir construction greatly affects the regional ecological environment, particularly surface water–groundwater interactions around the reservoir. Xiluodu Reservoir, a representative large‐scale reservoir in China, has had substantial impacts on surface water–groundwater interactions at the dam site since impoundment. This study analysed the dynamic characteristics of surface water–groundwater level, temperature, and hydrochemistry to determine the evolution of surface water–groundwater interaction before and after the impoundment. The levels of groundwater and some surface water rose by more than 100 m after impoundment and the water level of saturated limestone gradually stabilized, whereas basalt saturation in the affected area continued to expand. The groundwater temperature did not decrease significantly, whereas the hydrochemical types and ion contents of both surface water and groundwater experienced significant changes. Calculation of the saturation index indicated spatiotemporal changes in the saturation state of minerals. The replenishment source of each type of water and their mutual relationships were determined using cluster analysis and isotope characteristics. The results confirmed continuous, significant, and variable surface water–groundwater interactions at the dam site, which were partially reversed after impoundment. Changes in surface water–groundwater interactions were due to impoundment, the impact of which decreases with distance from the dam, as well as the unique geological conditions and artificial construction.
Oil Palm Fatal Yellowing (FY), a Disease with an Elusive Causal Agent

Fatal yellowing disease (FY) is a bud rot-type disease that severely affects oil palm plantations in Latin America. Since 1974, when it was first reported in Brazil, this disorder has been responsible for severe economic losses in the oil palm industry; and, for nearly 50 years, several studies have tried to identify its causal agent, without success. The etiological studies regarding FY in oil palm explored either biotic and abiotic stress scenarios, in a single or combined manner. Most recently, the hypothesis in favor of one biotic cause has lost some grounds to the abiotic one, mainly due to new insights regarding deficient aeration in the soil, which reduces the potential for oxy-reduction, causing changes in the ionic composition of the soil solution. This review presents an overview of the history of this disease and the several efforts done to fulfill Koch’s postulates over the last 40 years, besides discussing recent studies that revisited this subject using some omics technics. We conclude by discussing further uses of omics via a multi-omics integration (MOI) strategy to help finally find out what is really behind the genesis of FY. Finding this elusive causal agent of FY out will allow either the development of a more efficient diagnostic tool and the advance in studies trying to find out the source of the genetic resistance hidden in the genome of the American oil palm.
Performance of Strawberry Varieties Developed for Perennial Matted-Row Production in Annual Plasticulture in a Cold Climate Region

Annual plasticulture production of strawberries promises superior weed control, fruit quality and yields. However, strawberry varieties adapted for perennial, matted-row production and local markets in cold climate regions have not been widely tested for adaptation to an annual production cycle. Productivity of seven short-day varieties developed for matted-row and/or annual production was examined in an annual plasticulture system in two consecutive trials in central NY (lat. 42.87° N, long. 76.99° W) harvested in 2013 and 2014. ‘Flavorfest’ demonstrated good performance in Trial 1 with high yield (390 g/plant) and large fruit size (13.9 g mean berry weight). ‘Jewel’ was shown to be well adapted to the annual plasticulture system with consistently high yields (330 and 390 g/plant) that equaled or surpassed other varieties and had moderate fruit size. ‘Chandler’ performed similarly to previous trials conducted in warmer regions with yield (340 g/plant) and fruit size (9.8 g mean berry weight) similar to ‘Jewel’. ‘Clancy’ yielded less but was consistent from year to year. The late season varieties Seneca and Ovation showed marked variability between years, possibly due to drastically different temperatures during flowering and fruit development in Trial 1 compared to Trial 2. High temperatures in Trial 1 likely caused higher early fruit yield, a compressed season and a precipitous decline in fruit size in the later season, thus reducing yield in the late season. Survival after a second dormant period was poor resulting in a small second harvest and reduced fruit size. Overall, the system demonstrated many of the expected benefits but may be more sensitive to weather conditions in the region. While many varieties developed for matted-row production may work well in an annual plasticulture system, not all varieties are equally adapted. Performance of each variety should be determined independently before large scale adoption by growers.
Impact of Evictions and Tourist Apartments on the Residential Rental Market in Spain

In recent decades, the analysis of residential rental prices in Spain has gained increasing attention. From a socio-economic viewpoint, the increase in long-term rentals compared to new home purchases by the new generations has led researchers to examine phenomena such as the growth of the tourism sector or foreclosures. This paper uses a panel data model to analyze the influence of the rate of foreclosure evictions and number of tourist apartments on residential rental prices in 50 provinces of Spain for the period 2015–2018. The results show that an increase in the number of tourist apartment vacancies increases residential rental prices, while an increase in the rate of foreclosure evictions causes residential rental prices to fall.
ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY USING ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES AND DIATOM DIVERSITY IN VADDARAGUDI LAKE OF MYSURU DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA.

During the present investigation water quality analysis by environmental variables and diatom diversity were studied for a period of two years from January 2015 to December 2016. Samples were collected monthly in three different sites of lake and environmental variables such as pH, water temperature, electric conductance, Total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total hardness, total alkalinity, carbon di-oxide, calcium and chloride etc. were examined along with the diatom diversity. During the study period, total 63 species of diatom were identified in which the most abundant taxa were Cocconeis placentula , Cyclotella meneghiniana , Nitzschia palea, Nitzschia frustulum and Fragilaria construens was found in large number followed by Achnanthidium minutissimum , Gomphonema sps. , Cymbella powainia , Cymbella bengalensis and Navicula sp. Diatom diversity observed more in summer followed by winter whereas least number of diatom were observed during monsoon. This study concluded that lake threatened ecologically due to various anthropogenic activities which lead to organic pollution and eutrophication status.
QUANTIFYING THE DIFFERENCE IN READING FLUENCY BETWEEN L1 AND L2 READERS OF ENGLISH

Abstract This study is a comparative examination of reading behavior of first-language (L1) Canadian and second-language (L2) Finnish and German readers of English. We measured eye-movement patterns during reading the same set of English sentences and administered tests of English vocabulary, spelling, and exposure to print. The core of our study is a novel method of statistical prediction used to generate hypothetical Finnish and German participants with maximum observed L1 scores in all component skills. We found that with L1-like component skills, hypothetical German readers can show the same reading speed as the L1 group. We hypothesize this advantage comes from the small linguistic distance to English. Conversely, hypothetical Finnish readers remain disadvantaged even with maximum component skills, likely due to a larger linguistic distance. We discuss theoretical and applied implications of our method for L2 acquisition research.
Area method compared with Transect method to measure shoreline movement

Abstract Vector GIS represents shorelines as polylines that show the boundaries between land and water. This article compares two methods to measure how boundaries move among time points. The Area method converts the polylines at various time points into polygons of either land or water. The Area method measures temporal change as loss or gain of land areas. The Transect method requires subjective decisions to draw a baseline near the shorelines and then to draw transects that emanate from the baseline to intersect the shorelines. The Transect method measures temporal change as the distance between the intersection points along each transect as in the software packages AMBUR and DSAS. This article compares the conceptual foundations of the two methods. We illustrate how the Area method produces results for cases where the Transect method encounters practical difficulties. We list each method’s characteristics, so researchers can align the method with their research question.
Cereal Prices and Child Undernutrition in Ethiopia

Abstract This paper looks at how changing cereal prices affect child undernutrition in Ethiopia. It derives height for age (stunting) and weight for height (wasting) as indicators of child undernutrition from the two most recent years of the Living Standards Measurement Survey and utilises market prices for key cereals, teff, wheat, and maize in enumeration areas across all regions of the country. Using a panel data fixed effects model, the analysis finds that, contrary to previous studies, rising cereal prices are positively associated with improved child stunting rates for children between ages 6 months and 5 years. There is no evidence to suggest that cereal prices have a significantly greater impact on height for age for children that come from households who are net sellers of these crops. Cereal prices do not appear to be associated with wasting, which is a short-term negative health outcome.
Malaysia’s Agricultural Production Dropped and the Impact of Climate Change: Applying and Extending the Theory of Cobb Douglas Production

Under climate change, Malaysia's agricultural production showed decreasing in recent decades. This study tries to fill in the gaps to applying and extending the Cobb Douglas production function theory to examine the impact of climate change and economic factors on Malaysia's agricultural production. Using Engle-Granger (EG) test with 37 years of data from 1980 to 2016. The findings showed that the long-run estimated coefficients for rainfall, temperature, and interest rate were -0.338, -0.024, and -0.029, respectively. This indicates that each additional percent in rainfall, temperature, and interest rate will be affected the agricultural production, on average, to decrease by 0.338%, 0.024%, and 0.029%, respectively, holding others constant. Besides that, the long-run elasticity of real GDP per capita, employment, and Trend showed 0.509, 0.513, and 0.119, respectively. Increase 1% of real GDP per capita will lead to the agricultural production to increase about 0.509%, ceteris paribus. The elasticity of employment showed that each 10% increase in agricultural employment will increase the agricultural production on average 5.13%, ceteris paribus. Furthermore, the trend estimated coefficient showed that the agricultural production will have a constant growth rate which is 0.119% per year. All variables were statistically significant to explain the long-run agricultural production. The short-run rainfall, temperature, employment, and Trend were statistically significant to determine the short-run production growth. Therefore, advanced technology and the latest information on climate change are relevant to boost agricultural production growth. In addition, policymakers also suggested establishing lower interest rate loan facilities and no labor shortage in this industry.
Brand strategies development through sales promotion and endorsement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in West Java Indonesia

Not all business in the market get customer attentions as they deserve, especially for Small Medium Enterprise (SME). It sparks fierce competition between SME to stand out from rivals in the market. Sales promotion is known as one of the most effective method which influence sales volume, especially for SME’s market. The second strategy is having endorsement from a third-party. Previous studies have identified impact of monetary promotion through online and in-store strategy to build strong brand identity without, and so as endorsement. However, there is still inadequate understanding of branding development particularly what specific promotions and endorsement works better for SME, as previous research are mostly based on multinational or big firms which have different characteristics with SME. Therefore, this paper examine the impact of two types of promotions, which are: monetary (vs non-monetary) promotion and celebrity (vs.non-celebrity) endoresement into better customer perceptions about SMEs’ product and brand.
Moving Beyond Redemptive Magnitude: Examining Redemptive Forms and Themes in Young Adults’ Narratives of Difficult Life Experiences

ABSTRACT Narrative redemption involves reframing negative autobiographical experiences such that they convey positive meaning. Redemption is intertwined with processes of narrative identity development and psychological well-being. In line with recent theoretical advances in the conceptualization and measurement of redemption, we examined how narrative identity themes (agency, communion, thematic coherence, and narrated growth) and psychological well-being related to two redemptive forms: 1) a return to baseline, or 2) emergence to a new state. Further, we examined whether individuals framed challenges and event resolutions with situational or identity themes. We tested this dual conceptualization of redemption (i.e., redemptive forms and themes) using narratives about difficult life experiences provided by a college sample (N = 221). Redemptive forms and themes were associated, such that identity resolutions were most prevalent for emergent redemption. Additionally, emergent redemption was associated with the highest expressions of agency, growth, and coherence. Regarding the relation between redemption and psychological well-being, emergent redemption was associated with the greatest endorsements of self-reported personal growth. We argue that more nuanced considerations of redemption could benefit understandings of narrative identity development and psychological well-being.
Teaching strategies in accounting ethics: a students’ assessment of preferred teaching styles

Abstract Accounting ethics training is pivotal for future accountants; hence, the rationale for its inclusion in the curriculum of accounting undergraduates. Different teaching methods which may either be passive or active are adopted in teaching accounting ethics. Students are not usually required to assess the most effective teaching methods that help them make better ethical decisions. This study assesses the students’ preferences of teaching methods that aid their ethical decision-making process. The opinions of a cohort comprising 245 accounting undergraduates enrolled in an accounting ethics class were examined after being taught an accounting ethics module using both active and passive teaching strategies. The students were required to rank their preferences of the various teaching methods adopted during the ethics instruction. The results revealed that active teaching strategies ranked better which implies that the students preferred the active teaching strategies to the passive ones. Educators should, therefore, ensure that active learning strategies are adopted in teaching ethics because they provide the best medium for communicating ethical instructions and enhancing ethical decision-making.
Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in northeastern Ethiopia

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health threat causing the highest morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia. However, there is shortage of information on the species and strains of mycobacteria that cause TB in Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to investigate the diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) isolated from TB patients in northeastern Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 384 smear positive pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB cases were recruited on the basis of clinical examination and ZiehlNeelsen staining for further investigation. Mycobacterial culturing, region of difference (RD) 9-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR), spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable-number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing were used for the identification the species and strains. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the expression of the results while proportions were compared using c2 test. Statistical significance was considered when p<0.05. Results: Smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 74.5% (286/384). The disease proportion was highest in age group of 18–37 years. Culture positivity was confirmed only in 29.2% (112/384). Speciation of the culture positive isolates using RD9 indicated that 77.7% (87/112) were M. tuberculosis. Further identification of the isolates using spoligotyping indicated 92.9% (104/112) interpretable spoligotyping patterns of which 20.2% (21/104) were grouped under 10 clustered patterns. Further grouping of the spoligotypes indicated that 86.5% (90/104) of the isolates as orphan types. Grouping of the isolates into the major lineages showed 52.9%, 27.9% and 19.2% of the isolates as Euroamerican, Indio-oceanic and East African Indian lineages, respectively. Typing of 69 isolates using 24-loci MIRU-VNTR typing gave interpretable results for 56 isolates each of them having distinct MIRU-VNTR profile and were considered as 56 different genotypes (strains). Conclusion: M. tuberculosis was identified as the main cause of TB in northeastern Ethiopia and its strains were highly diversified.
The Influence of Photo-selective Netting on Tree Physiology and Fruit Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Under Rain-fed Conditions

ABSTRACT Covering fig trees with color nets changed the quality of light that reach trees. This study was carried out to assess the effects of shade provided by blue and yellow protection nets on leaf attributes and fruit quality of fig trees under rain-fed conditions. The experiment lasted for three months and was a split-plot treatment arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. ‘Sabz’ and ‘Siah’ fig trees were covered with color nets or left uncovered (as the control group). The results showed that yellow nets reduced the net photosynthetic activity by 15.86 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1, but increased leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content in both cultivars. Leaf temperature decreased in both cultivars when covered with yellow nets. The shade provided by blue nets increased stomatal conductance in the leaves of ‘Sabz’ fig trees. When covered with yellow shade nets, ‘Sabz’ fig trees had the highest relative water content and the lowest ion leakage in both cultivars. The color nets reduced dry fruit diameter in ‘Sabz’ figs and reduced total soluble solids in both cultivars. Also, titratable acidity decreased in fruits as a result of using yellow nets on both cultivars. Yellow nets increased antioxidant activity and anthocyanin content in fruits of the ‘Siah’ cultivar significantly, as compared with the ‘Sabz’ cultivar. The photo-selective, light-dispersive shade nets proved to be interesting tools that can reduce drought stress on trees under rain-fed conditions.