Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vegetative and Yield Attributes of Okra and Naga Chilli as Affected by Foliar Sprays of Vermiwash on Acidic Soil

In view of concerns raised about economic and ecological consequences of agricultural chemicals, organic amendments, such as vermiwash, have been considered appropriate strategies for crop improvement. However, research work evaluating the efficacy of foliar sprays of vermiwash in vegetable crops on acidic soils is quite limited. The present investigation, therefore, was carried out to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of vermiwash (VW) on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under field conditions on acidic soil. We also evaluated the response of Naga chilli (Capsicum assamicum) to foliar spray of 20% concentration of vermiwash. Results revealed that the application of VW significantly improved the vegetative and yield attributes of both the test crops. In okra, 20% VW exhibited the largest increase in marketable weight among all the treatments. The plants of Naga chilli receiving foliar spray of 20% VW registered a 27.47% increase in shoot height and a 11.93% increase in chlorophyll content (SPAD) as compared with control. In regards to yield attributes of the Naga chilli, foliar spray of 20% VW resulted in a 23.07 % increase (significant at P = 0.05) in number of seeds per fruit and a 43.47% increase (significant at P = 0.05) in average fruit weight in comparison with control. We suggest that foliar spray of 20% concentration of vermiwash could considerably improve the growth and yield of okra and Naga chilli on acidic soil.
Behaviour finance and estimation risk in stochastic portfolio optimization

The objective of this article is twofold. The first is to incorporate mental accounting, loss-aversion, asymmetric risk-taking behaviour and probability weighting in a multi-period portfolio optimization for individual investors. While these behavioural biases have previously been identified in the literature, their overall impact during the determination of optimal asset allocation in a multi-period analysis is still missing. The second objective is to account for the estimation risk in the analysis. Considering 26 daily index stock data over the period from 1995 to 2007, we empirically evaluate our model (Behaviour Resample Adjusted Technique–BRATE) against the traditional Markowitz model.
Effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence: 2. Effects of aggregate size, sowing depth and initial water content under dry weather conditions

Abstract Rapid and uniform crop establishment is a prerequisite for efficient crop production and minimal environmental impact. Extensive experiments were carried out in shallow plastic boxes placed in the field directly on the ground for studies of the effects of seedbed properties on emergence of small-grain cereal crops in a cool, temperate climate. This paper presents studies of the seedbed as a protective layer against evaporation and the requirements for good emergence under dry weather conditions. Without rainfall after sowing, nearly complete emergence of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was obtained, when rapidly germinating seed was placed on a moderately compacted basal layer containing at least 5% (w/w) plant-available water and covered by a 4 cm deep surface layer consisting of aggregates < 5 mm. This applied even when initial water content in the surface layer was below the wilting point and potential evaporation was high. If the soil at 4 cm depth is drier or if a sufficiently fine seedbed cannot be obtained, then seedbed and sowing depth should be somewhat greater, and if the soil is wetter, then the depth may be smaller. There were only small differences in emergence between surface layers consisting of aggregates < 2 mm, 2–4 mm or 2–5 mm, or dominated by these aggregate fractions, but when the surface layer consisted of coarser aggregates, emergence was usually much lower. Determinations of water losses from the soil during the experimental period showed that the differences in emergence were caused by differences in efficiency of the seedbed to control evaporation. The results indicate that, in an initially wet soil, it is always possible to find a time and method for seedbed preparation and sowing that lead to good emergence of small-grain cereal crops, even with a lengthy period without rainfall after sowing.
Local versus International Crises and Bank Stability: does bank foreign expansion make a difference?

ABSTRACT We investigate the impact of global and local crises on bank stability in the MENA region and examine the effect of owning bank subsidiaries in other countries. We consider banks that experienced both types of crises during our sample period. Our findings highlight a negative impact of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 on bank stability but, on the whole, no negative impact of the local crisis. A deeper investigation shows that owning bank subsidiaries outside the home country is a source of increased fragility during normal times, yet a source of higher stability during the local crisis but not during the international crisis. Moreover, owning foreign subsidiaries in one or two world regions is insufficient to neutralize both types of crises, while being present in three or more regions is more stabilizing during a local crisis but also more destabilizing during an international crisis. Our findings contribute to the literature examining bank stability and have several policy implications.
Modelling bank lending in the euro area: a nonlinear approach

This article investigates the possible nonlinearities in the response of bank lending to monetary policy shocks in the euro area. The credit market is modelled over the period 1985 to 2005 by means of an Asymmetric Vector Error Correction Model (AVECM) involving four endogenous variables (loans to the private sector, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), lending rate and consumer price index) and one exogenous variable (money market rate). The main features of the model are the existence of two cointegrating equations representing the long-run credit demand and supply and the possibility for loading and lagged term coefficients to assume different values depending on the monetary policy regime (easing or tightening). The main result of this article is that the effect on credit, GDP and prices of a monetary policy tightening is larger than the effect of a monetary policy easing. This finding supports the existence of an asymmetric broad credit channel in the euro area.
Conditional confidence intervals for the equity premium and other rates

Almost all of the published estimates of the equity premium and of other rates, are point estimates. The original point of this article is to compute 95% confidence intervals for these parameters conditional on a theoretical dividend model. The monthly samples are considered to have a break after 1981, as deemed in the literature and this turns out to be appropriate. The main result is that these confidence intervals include all estimates of the parameters in the literature, making all of them probable. Moreover and contrary to the opinions held in the literature, the unexpected capital gains after 1981 were not due to an unexpected fall in discount rates but due to an unexpected fall in the difference between the discount rate and the growth rate.
Host manipulation revisited: no evidence for a causal link between altered photophobia and increased trophic transmission of amphipods infected with acanthocephalans

Summary 1.Many parasites with complex life cycles critically rely on trophic transmission to pass from an intermediate host to a final host. Parasite-induced behavioural alterations in intermediate hosts are often supposed to be adaptive through increasing the susceptibility of intermediate hosts to predation by final hosts. However, the evidence is so far only correlational, and direct evidence for a causal link between one single behavioural alteration and increased trophic transmission is still missing. 2.Here, we addressed, for the first time, the relationship between increased vulnerability to fish predation and altered photophobia in an amphipod, Gammarus pulex, infected with a fish acanthocephalan, Pomphorhynchus tereticollis. 3.In microcosms, naturally-infected amphipods were significantly more vulnerable to fish predation than uninfected ones at two different light intensities. However, although variation in illumination significantly affected the extent of difference in photophobia between infected and uninfected individuals, it had no effect on predation bias towards infected amphipods. 4.In addition, although an injection of a mixture of serotonin and fluoxetine in uninfected amphipods mimicked the parasite-induced decreased photophobia, injected individuals were not more vulnerable to fish predation that uninfected ones injected with a control solution. 5.Overall, our results indicate that the decreased photophobia in infected intermediate hosts does not play in itself a causal role in the trophic transmission of the parasite to its final host. The actual role a parasite-induced behavioural alteration plays in trophic transmission should be carefully assessed before an adaptive interpretation is given.
The Impact of Squawfish on Salmonid Populations: A Review

Abstract Examination of the available literature on the effects of squawfish (Ptychocheilus spp.) predation and competition on salmonid populations indicates that: (1) squawfish may prey extensively on young salmon in lakes, but there is little evidence that this predation has much impact on the number of returning adults; (2) squawfish do not appear to be significant predators of salmon and trout in streams except under highly localized, seasonal or unusual circumstances; and (3) there is little evidence to indicate that squawfish compete strongly with salmonids. Areas of research are suggested that would clarify the role of squawfish in regulating salmonid populations and elucidate their position in the aquatic ecosystems of western North America.
Promoting market discipline through interest rates: does financial liberalization matter?

This article explores whether financial liberalization promotes market discipline in Indian banking in the form of lower deposit interest rates. Using annual data on banks from 1993 to 2004, the findings reveal that, after controlling for a myriad of factors, financial liberalization is influential in promoting market discipline by lowering deposit rates, particularly for state-owned and old private bank groups. More importantly, under financial liberalization, banks that are well-capitalized and have low levels of sticky loans pay lower deposit rates. The policy implication of the analysis is that promoting greater financial liberalization can have important ramifications in promoting market discipline.
Bio-ethanol Fermentation by the Bioconversion of Sugar from Dates by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains ASN-3 and HA-4

1 Abstract: The essence of bioconversion of sugar containing materials by the use of screened microbial source is the significant need of today. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the common and the cheapest source of bioconversion of substrate to th e higher yield of bioethanol under the controlled optimization parameters. In the present study Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains ASN-3 and HA-4 were activated and finally used for ethanol fermentation from Dates. The results revealed that both strains are actively involved in fermentation process but it is concluded that strain HA-4 resulted higher cellular mass when inoculated in Malt Yeast extract Peptone Glucose medium supplemented with fructose and yeast nitrogen base and higher yield of ethanol was also observed when the activated strain were inoculated in dates syrup as substrate at 120 rpm, having pH 4.5 at 30°C at 600 nm after 72 h post incubation.
Effects of smectite clay on biofilm formation by microorganisms

We have investigated the role of smectite clay particles in biofilm formation by several different species of bacteria ( Pseudomonas syringae, Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis ). We observed that the presence of clay particles enhances the formation of biofilms and, after 24 h, the bacterial populations in the clay mixtures were greater than the respective populations in media without clay. Smectite-bearing clay slurries uniformly develop bacteria–clay aggregates with a substantial biofilm component within 24 h, while the exclusively bacterial suspensions do not develop any observable biofilm component. The biofilm–clay aggregates vary in size from tens of micrometers to several millimeters. Biofilm formation was evaluated by phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence staining. Biofilm promotion by smectite clays may indicate the importance of transport of bacteria by aerosol dust particles.
Clinico-Hematological Profile of Malaria Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in most countries of the tropics and sub tropics. Malarial parasitemia causes wideranging hematological alterations and may lead to life threatening complications if not diagnosed and treated in time. Alterations in the hematological parameters are also thought to have the capacity to act as an adjuvant tool in strengthening the suspicion of malaria, thereby prompting a more meticulous search for malaria parasites. Therefore the aim of the present study was to assess malaria parasitemia and its association with clinico-hematological parameters. Methods: The present study was observational and analytical and of two years. 59 diagnosed cases of malaria on peripheral blood smear were included in the study and clinical presentation and hematological parameters were studied in them. Observations: 58 (98.3%) were infected with Plasmodium vivax (PV) and only one case was of Plasmodium falciparum (PF). 52 (88.14%) had a parasite index (PI) of <2%. 76.3% of cases were presented with fever with chills and rigors. 49 (83%) had thrombocytopenia and 36 (61.0%) cases had anemia. Leucocytosis was observed only in 8 (13.5%) cases and leucopenia in 10 (17%) cases. Elevated ESR was observed in 78% of malaria cases. Conclusion: Plasmodium vivax was predominant species in our region. As majority of the cases had fever and thrombocytopenia, in every case of fever with thrombocytopenia malaria should be considered in differential diagnosis in malaria endemic regions. Hematological investigations are helpful in detecting early complications, to monitor and treat them effectively
Transmission dynamics, serial interval and epidemiology of COVID-19 diseases in Hong Kong under different control measures

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in Wuhan, China in late December 2019, and subsequently became a pandemic. Hong Kong had implemented a series of control measures since January 2020, including enhanced surveillance, isolation and quarantine, border control and social distancing. Hong Kong recorded its first case on 23 January 2020, who was a visitor from Wuhan. We analysed the surveillance data of COVID-19 to understand the transmission dynamics and epidemiology in Hong Kong. Methods: We constructed the epidemic curve of daily COVID-19 incidence from 23 January to 6 April 2020 and estimated the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) with the R package EpiEstim, with serial interval computed from local data. We described the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases. We computed weekly incidence by age and residential district to understand the spatial and temporal transmission of the disease. Results: COVID-19 disease in Hong Kong was characterised with local cases and clusters detected after two waves of importations, first in late January (week 4 to 6) and the second one in early March (week 9 to 10). The Rt increased to approximately 2 95% credible interval (CI): 0.3-3.3) and approximately 1 (95%CI: 0.2-1.7), respectively, following these importations; it decreased to below 1 afterwards from weeks 11 to 13, which coincided with the implementation, modification and intensification of different control measures. Compared to local cases, imported cases were younger (mean age: 52 years among local cases vs 35 years among imported cases), had a lower proportion of underlying disease (9% vs 5%) and severe outcome (13% vs 5%). Cases were recorded in all districts but the incidence was highest in those in the Hong Kong Island region. Conclusions: Stringent and sustained public health measures at population level could contain the COVID-19 disease at a relatively low level.
Structural, thermal, and rheological properties of Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Amaranthus caudatus starches

Structural, thermal, and rheological properties of starches from 13 Amaranthus hypochondriacus lines and 8 Amaranthus caudatus lines were evaluated and related using principal component analysis. Amylopectin chains with DP 6–12, DP 13–18, DP 19–24, and DP 25–30 ranged from 43.60 to 55.72%, 31.59 to 34.49%, 10.14 to 16.37%, and 2.56 to 5.53%, respectively, for A. hypochondriacus and 50.67 to 57.53%, 29.30 to 32.02%, 10.04 to 13.09%, and 2.75 to 4.2%, respectively for A. caudatus. A. hypochondriacus showed higher proportion of granules <1 µm (14.76–35.64%) than A. caudatus (0.16–6.92%). A. hypochondriacus and A. caudatus starches showed the granules of size 1–10 µm between 57.09 to 77.48% and 88.67 to 99.66%, respectively. The transition temperatures (To, Tp, and Tc) were negatively correlated with amylopectin short chains (DP 6–12). The pasting properties (PV, BV, FV, and SB) were positively correlated with DP 6–12 and negatively with DP 13–24. Starches with higher proportion of granules of 1–10 µm showed higher amount of DP 6–12, crystallinity, and paste viscosities. Starches with higher proportion of 11–30 µm had high DP 13–30 and gelatinization transition temperatures. The results reflected that the change in structure from liquid-like to solid-like was dependent upon chain length, starch with higher DP 6–10 showed higher Tcrossover (temperature at which G′ became higher than G″ during heating) and those with higher DP 13–24 showed lower Tcrossover.
Weed management in wide- and narrow-row glyphosate resistant soybean.

Field experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 at East Lansing, MI, to evaluate weed management programs in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] planted in 30 in, and 7.5 in, rows. Efficacy of glyphosate applied alone, with ammonium sulfate (AMS), flumiclorac, or imazethapyr was compared with preemergence and postemergence weed management programs used in nontransgenic soybean. Glyphosate provided consistent weed control in wide- and narrow-row soybean in both years. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus) control decreased when flumiclorac was tank mixed with glyphosate compared with glyphosate alone in wide-row soybean. Weed control was usually greater in narrow- than in wide-row soybean for treatments without glyphosate. Soybean yield with most herbicide treatments equaled the weed-free control in narrow-rows, and gross margins for soybean planted in narrow-rows were greater than wide-rows. Yield in wide-row soybeans was reduced compared with the weed-free control with all treatments except glyphosate, glyphosate + AMS, or glyphosate + imazethapyr. Glyphosate and glyphosate + AMS had the greatest gross margins for both years.
High Fidelity Simulation with Peer Debriefing: Influence of Student Observation and Participation Roles on Student Perception of Confidence with Learning and Feedback

High fidelity simulation (HFS) has been used successfully to prepare students in a range of health professions for the acute care setting. HFS consists of three phases, with debriefing identified as most important. Instructor-led debriefing has been the most documented form of providing feedback. This pilot study looked at the relationship between the use of peer debriefing in HFS on graduate occupational therapy students’ perceived level of confidence with giving and receiving performance related feedback. Students in an entry-level Master of Occupational Therapy program engaged in both an observational role and an active participation role in HFS followed by peer debriefing. Students completed a Likert scale preand post-survey to determine perceived confidence and competence with learning modalities (active participation vs. observation) and with giving and receiving feedback during HFS. Results indicate that students perceived benefit from both active participation and observation during HFS experiences. A separate analysis determined the relationship between the students’ perceived confidence with learning modalities and the order of the student roles (observer and doer). Initially, there appeared to be a benefit to the doer role. However, after experiencing both roles, student responses indicated all students perceived value in multimodal learning. The current study presents useful information regarding student perceptions related to learning and feedback within an HFS experience.
The Conditional Risk and Return Trade-Off on Currency Portfolios

If asset price risk-return relations vary over time based upon changing economic states, standard unconditional models may "wash out" state dependence and fail to identify that additional risk is contingently compensated with higher return. We address this matter by considering conditional risk-return relations for currency portfolios. Doing so within a data rich environment, we also develop broad based measures of investor risk. In general we find that agents require positive compensation for risks in some times and for some investment strategies. Our results identify that relations between currency returns and risk vary over time. Also we find that there are positive risk-return relations on momentum and value currency portfolios during the financial crisis. Furthermore, the risk-return relation on the momentum portfolio is counter-cyclical.
Nest site selection by Hen Harriers in Scotland

The aim of this study was to examine nest site selection by Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus at two spatial scales in Scotland and to assess whether breeding success was influenced by choice of nest site. At the landscape scale, we compared availability and utilization of habitats in 610 km2 of Argyll, and at the local scale, we compared vegetation and topography at 52 harrier nests and random points within three areas of heather moorland covering a total area of 462 km2. At both scales, harriers showed a clear preference for nesting in heather. Within heather moorland, harriers nested in taller heather (average height 46cm) and nearer streams than expected by chance. More nests were on northwest-facing slopes than expected by chance. We found no evidence that breeding success was influenced by habitat or topography. Heather moorland is declining in the uplands due to overgrazing and afforestation. The association of harriers with heather suggests that their future may become increasingly dependent on moorland.