Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Animal feed potential and adaptability of some cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties in North West lowlands of Ethiopia

A study was conducted to evaluate animal feed performance of some cowpea varieties in Metekel, North West Ethiopia for three consecutive years, 2007 to 2009. Seven promising cowpea varieties, initially screened from 45 varieties between 2003 and 2006, were evaluated for performance in subhumid climate districts. The DM yield, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, dry organic matter of the varieties was in the range of 3.7 to 4.7 t/ha, 228 to 252 g/kg, 408 to 482 g/kg, 316 to 380 g/kg and 677 to 741 g/kg of DM, respectively. Except ash and neutral detergent fiber, the cowpea varieties were not significantly different in chemical composition and digestibility (p>0.05). The average grain yield for the seven cowpea varieties was 22.2 q/ha that significantly (p<0.05) varied among varieties. In general, animal feed potential differences between the cowpea varieties were not significant and all the varieties evaluated have a capacity to produce high yields of quality forage. Being an excellent protein source for both animals and humans, cowpea can positively impacts on food security of the society in the study area where the bulk of the diet is mainly starch. Further researches as to the inclusion level in farm animals’ diet and conservation techniques of these varieties should be conducted to fill the existing knowledge gap.
Social values of specialty forest products to rural communities

Rural communities have long been known for their cultural distinctiveness, independent spirits, and, unfortunately, comparatively high poverty rates. A look at the promotion of Specialty Forest Products (SFP) as a rural development strategy against the backdrop of larger social trends such as welfare reform and economic restructuring suggests the need to ask hard questions about the value of SFP to residents of rural communities. Field work in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and review of the literature highlight three categories of social values for SFP: livelihood, cultural, and recreational. Livelihood values are derived from both non-market and market uses. Cultural values include the continued ability to observe special practices and transfer knowledge from one generation to another. Recreational values combine the peace and pleasure of being outdoors with a practical and useful activity. These values are not mutually exclusive, however, and SFP may meet multiple needs for an individual at any given moment and over the course of a lifetime. In fact, the key social value of SFP is the flexibility and diversity of functions they can perform. SFP serve as a reserve or supplemental livelihood strategy for rural residents who knew how to use them and where to find them. Gathering is also an enduring way of marking the passage of the seasons. These values are qualitatively and quantitatively different from those that are captured in standard macroeconomic calculations and suggest a note of caution for rural development programs. The paper concludes with historic and contemporary examples of SFP values for rural residents.
MIDDLE TRIASSIC PLATFORM AND BASIN EVOLUTION OF THE SOUTHERN BAKONY MOUNTAINS (TRANSDANUBIAN RANGE, HUNGARY)

Middle Triassic history of the Southern Bakony Mts. is outlined on the base of horizontal and vertical facies changes of the formations. During the Pelsonian (Balatonicus Chron) the evolution of the basins and platforms was determined basically by synsedimentary tectonics. The Felsoors basin of the Balaton Highland opened due to the block-faulting of the Bithynian carbonate ramp (Megyehegy Dolomite). Above the drowning blocks „halfgraben” basins were formed (Felsoors Formation), while isolated platforms developed on the uplifted ones in the middle part of the Balaton Highland and on the Veszprem plateau (Tagyon Formation). Due to the relative sea-level fall in the early Illyrian, the platforms became subaerially exposed and karstified. As a consequence of the late Illyrian tectonic subsidence (manifested by neptunian dykes) the central platform of the Balaton Highland has been drowned (Camunum Subchron). On the contrary, the Anisian platform of the Veszprem plateau was totally flooded only during the latest Illyrian (Reitzi Subchron) due to eustatic sea-level rise. It was followed by a short highstand period (Secedensis Chron), characterised by the first progradation of the Budaors platform on the Veszprem plateau and highstand shedding in the basins and on the submarine high (Vaszoly Limestone) in the centre of the Balaton Highland basin. Due to the following rapid sea-level rise, carbonate sedimentation continued in eupelagic basin from the Fassanian (Buchenstein Formation). At the beginning of the late Longobardian highstand period (Regoledanus Chron) the Budaors platform intensively prograded from the Veszprem plateau to the southwest, causing highstand shedding in the Balaton Highland basin (Fured Limestone).
Extracellular vesicles—Mediators of opioid use disorder?

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a growing health emergency in the United States leading to an epidemic of overdose deaths. OUD is recognized as an addictive brain disorder resulting in psychological, cognitive and behavioural dysfunction. These observed clinical dysfunctions are a result of cellular changes that occur in the brain. Derangements in inflammation, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity are observed in the brains of OUD patients. The mechanisms of these derangements are unclear; however, extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane bound particles containing protein, nucleotides and lipids are currently being investigated as agents that invoke these cellular changes. The primary function of EVs is to facilitate intercellular communication by transfer of cargo (protein, nucleotides and lipids) between cells; however, changes in this cargo have been observed in models of OUD suggesting that EVs may be agents promoting the observed cellular derangements. This review summarizes evidence that altered cargo of EVs, specifically protein and miRNA, in models of OUD promote impairments in neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells. These findings support the premise that opioids alter EVs to detrimentally affect neuro‐cellular function resulting in the observed addictive, psychological and neurocognitive deficits in OUD patients.
Developing market segmentation in tourism : insights from a Finnish rural tourism study

This dissertation explores options for improving the success of market segmentation research by testing different market segmentation methods and effects of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in tourism research. The purpose of this study is to increase the success of market segmentation research in the field of travel and tourism. The context of this study is rural tourism in Finland, which is regarded as an important source of revenue for many rural areas and a field where information on data-driven market segmentation is practically non-existent. This dissertation consists of four papers, all discussing the topic of market segmentation in tourism. The theoretical basis of this study lies within the discipline of marketing and relies on the assumption that markets are heterogeneous, and that through market research it is possible for businesses to diversify their offerings to suit the needs and wants of specific segments in a way that creates value both for the customer as well as the company. Market segmentation is one of the cornerstones of marketing the management paradigm and its usefulness has been demonstrated repeatedly both in the academic literature and by practitioners. This study adapts a postpositivistic research paradigm to study the possibilities for improving market segmentation theory and methodology. By means of a literature review and two surveys of Finnish rural tourism websites data is collected on the impact of ICTs on market segmentation in tourism as well as the needs and wants of Finnish rural tourists. This study provides evidence that the academic market segmentation literature does indeed identify segments that also exist in practice, thus bridging the gap between academic and practice, and contributes to the way market segmentation is conducted in travel and tourism.
Seismic soil–structure interaction in buildings on stiff clay with embedded basement stories

The increasingly popular performance-based design approach requires that soil-structure interaction (SSI) analysis become an integral part of the seismic evaluation. This is particularly important for structures with substantial embedment. The primary objectives of this study are twofold: (i) evaluate the SSI effects for buildings with a basement and (ii) evaluate the ability of two analytical methods to account for SSI effects in seismic design — an analytical solution for kinematic SSI and a nonlinear finite element model. Scaled model shaking table tests were performed on a model building with an embedded basement founded in a synthetic stiff clay deposit enclosed in a laminar soil container. The model structure used in this study comprised a simple single-degree-of-freedom structure with a modular box foundation designed to permit consideration of structures with different basement embedment depths. The experimental results showed that the ratio of effective period of the soil-structure system to that of the structure (T ˘ /T) decreased for the long-period structure and increased for the short-period structure, with increasing embedment. The results confirm the ability of the analytical techniques to predict with reasonable accuracy the SSI effects for buildings with embedded parts.
The 200-mb Climatological Vorticity Budget during 1986–1989 as Revealed by NMC Analyses

Abstract The primary objectives of this study are 1) a description of the solstice season 200-mb vorticity budgets during 1986–89 and 2) an evaluation of the usefulness of operational analysis products for diagnosing the seasonally averaged 200-mb vorticity balance, particularly the distribution and magnitude of the effective vorticity source term, that is, the Rossby wave source. With the use of the one-level vorticity balance diagnostic approach of Sardeshmukh and Hoskins, the January-February-March (JFM) and June-July-August (JJA) seasonal-mean 200-mb vorticity balances were analyzed. The NMC analyses of 1987 were compared with analyses from ECMWF. Overall agreement was generally satisfactory, in terms of providing consistent answers to the type of diagnostic questions being asked. Of particular importance was the reasonable good agreement between the effective vorticity source fields. The NMC 200-mb divergence fields over the deep tropics were also compared with the seasonal-mean outgoing longwave rad.
JOB RELEVANT INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT MANAGERIAL PERFORMANCE: THE ROLE OF AFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of affective organizational commitment on job-relevant information (JRI) on government managerial performance. The inconsistent results regarding the impact of JRI on government managerial performance lead to differences in perceptions of JRI functions. The inconsistency of the research results is possible due to phenomena that have yet to be caught in previous studies. Based on the goal-setting theory, this study captured the construct of affective organizational commitment. The research used a quantitative method using a survey of 56 Regional Government Organizations (RGO) with 180 respondents in Pasuruan Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The sampling method used judgment sampling, which obtained as many as 180 respondents. Testing the research hypothesis was carried out using SmartPLS 4.0. The study results show that job-relevant information encourages the government managerial performance of regional apparatus. The existence of affective organizational commitment impacts improving government managerial performance. Moreover, the findings of this study indicate that affective organizational commitment can strengthen JRI's influence on the government managerial performance of the local government apparatus. This research shows that the affective organizational commitment possessed by officials can encourage the influence of job-relevant information to improve the managerial performance of local government officials
Canadian Coastal Seas and Great Lakes Sea Surface Temperature Climatology and Recent Trends

Abstract. 28 years of satellite data were used to calculate sea surface temperature (SST) climatologies covering Canada's 3 surrounding oceans and the Great Lakes. Results show the imprint of major circulation features on the spatial distribution of the SST. Together with the Gulf Stream, the Labrador Current generates a strong spatial variability of SST on the east coast. Most of the Canadian Arctic, with the exception of Hudson Bay and the coastal Beaufort Sea region, is characterized by very small seasonal SST amplitude. Lake Erie is the water body having the largest seasonal SST amplitude, but for the oceanic regions, it is the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and the adjacent Scotian Shelf. A trend analysis showed that many regions are undergoing rapid warming of the sea surface. However, warming is not spatially uniform. The strongest warming was detected in Baffin Bay and appears to result from the decreasing ice cover. Lake Superior is also showing a strong warming trend. These results have important implications for fisheries management because SST affects many species. Regions with small yearly amplitudes and warming trends might act as future cool water oases for some species.
Prehospital Time Intervals in Thailand during COVID-19

Objective: To determine the effect of the coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the prehospital time intervals of emergency medical services (EMS) in Thailand. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the prehospital time intervals of EMS in Thailand; from January 1, 2019 to September 30, 2021 using data obtained from the national EMS database. Patients with incomplete medical records, prehospital time intervals <1 or >300 minutes, and those admitted between January 1 and March 31, 2020 were excluded. Data were compared between the following groups: Group 1, pre-COVID-19; Group 2, first- and second-wave of COVID-19; and Group 3, third-wave of COVID-19: Kruskal–Wallis, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and chi-square tests were used. Results: A total of 3,863,153 patients were enrolled into this study. The median total prehospital time was significantly longer in Group 2 when compared to Group 1, [25 (17,34) vs. 24 (17,33) minutes, p-value<0.001]; longer on-scene time, [4 (2,7) vs. 3 (2,6) minutes, p-value<0.001]; shorter transportation time, [10 (6,17) vs. 11 (6,18) minutes, p-value<0.001]. The median total prehospital time [27 (19,37) vs. 25 (17,34) minutes, p-value<0.001], response time [8 (5,14) vs. 7 (4,11) minutes, p-value<0.001], and transportation time were significantly longer in Group 3 than in Group 2 [11 (6,18) vs. 10 (6,17) minutes, p-value<0.001]. Conclusion: The EMS prehospital time intervals in Thailand during COVID-19 were significantly longer in both the non-trauma and trauma subgroups. Appropriate pre-hospital strategies and monitoring should be developed to manage future pandemics.
Study of a Transmission Problem with Friction Law and Increasing Continuous Terms in a Thin Layer

The aim of this paper is to establish the asymptotic analysis of nonlinear boundary value problems. The non-stationary motion is given by the elastic constructive law. The contact is described with a version of Tresca’s law of friction. A variational formulation of the model, in the form of a coupled system for the displacements and the nonlinear source terms, is derived. The existence of a unique weak solution of the model is established. We also give the problem in transpose form, and we demonstrate different estimates of the displacement and of the source term independently of the small parameter. The main corresponding convergence results are stated in the different theorems of the last section.
Relation between learning process and morphology of transport tube network in plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum

The question of whether a single-celled organism without a brain could have functions such as learning and memory has been the subject of much debate in recent years. The plasmodium of the true slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, is an ideal model organism for such a question. The plasmodium exhibits behaviors that resemble intelligence, including solving mazes, mimicking optimal rail transportation networks, predicting the weather, and solving traveling salesman problems. In addition, the plasmodium has recently been shown to have the simplest form of learning: habituation. In the experiments in which plasmodia were repeatedly allowed to cross bridges containing aversive chemicals, the habituation behavior has been confirmed. It has been shown that the habituation process involves chemicals that are stored internally. However, it is not clear how these chemicals result in change in the behavior of plasmodium during habituation learning. This study focused on the transport tube network formed in plasmodium during the above experiments. Then, the role of the network morphology in the habituation learning process was investigated. The results showed that the network morphology changes from tree to mesh type during habituation learning, and disrupting the learned network reduces habituation behavior. In addition, it was shown that the thickness oscillation frequency depends on the network morphology. The study found that in the plasmodium of P. polycephalum, a primitive organism without a brain, transport tube networks, instead of neuronal networks, play an important role in habituation learning and the resulting decision making.
Approximation models for the evaluation of TCP/AQM networks

The article proposes a model in which Diffusion Approximation is used to analyse the TCP/AQM transmission mechanism in a multi-node computer network. In order to prevent trafﬁc congestion, routers implement AQM (Active Queue Management) algorithms. We investigate the inﬂuence of using RED-based AQM mechanisms and the fractional controller PI γ on the transport layer. Additionally, we examine the cases in which the TCP and the UDP ﬂows occur and analyse their mutual inﬂuence. Both transport protocols used are independent and work simultaneously. We compare our solution with the Fluid Flow approximation, demonstrating the advantages of Diffusion Approximation.
Physical Embodiment versus Novelty – which influences interactions with Embodied Conversational Agents more?

With the increasing presence of embodied conversational agents (ECAs) in our daily lives, it is crucial to understand how the degree of their physical embodiment influences user engagement and perception. Previous research has explored this relationship, revealing a tendency for higher embodiment levels to result in better engagement and performance. However, the potential impact of novelty in the ECA experience has yet to be thoroughly investigated, despite being acknowledged in prior studies. To address this research gap, we conducted an experiment where participants interacted with three distinct Social Plantroid embodiment levels and provided ratings of their perception and preference, while engagement was estimated from the volunteers’ facial expressions. Our findings indicate weak to moderate correlations between participants’ experience with robots, engagement, and their perceived characteristics of the ECAs, suggesting that both novelty and physical embodiment play a role in shaping interactions with ECAs.
International Acquisitions and Labor Productivity in Serbian Cement Industry

This paper investigates the impact of international acquisitions on the productivity of acquired companies in the cement industry of the Republic of Serbia. We analyze the productivity of companies in the cement industry during the twenty-year period from 2000 to 2019. Acquisitions in the cement industry are one of the first international acquisitions realized in the Republic of Serbia. The multinational companies that took over the cement plants are from Switzerland, France and Greece. The paper analyzes the effects of international acquisitions on the productivity of acquired companies in the short and long term. The research results show that the productivity of all acquired companies improved both in the short term and in the long term after the acquisitions, with the largest productivity improvements being achieved in the short term. In addition, the research results show that Lafarge Serbia recorded the largest improvement in labor productivity, which, compared to other companies, optimized the number of employees and increased production volume.
The Sticking of N2 on W(100) Surface: An Improvement in the Description of the Adsorption Dynamics Further Reconciling Theory and Experiment

The adsorption of nitrogen molecules on a (100) tungsten surface has been studied using a new potential energy surface in which long-range interactions are suitably characterized and represented by the Improved Lennard–Jones function. The new potential energy surface is used to carry out molecular dynamics simulations by adopting a semiclassical collisional method that explicitly includes the interaction with the surface phonons. The results of the sticking probability, evaluated as a function of the collision energy, are in good agreement with those obtained in the experiments and improve the already good comparison recently obtained with calculations performed using interactions from the Density Functional Theory method and corrected for long-range van der Waals contributions. The dependence of trapping probability on the surface temperature for a well-defined collision energy has also been investigated.
Challenges of satellite rainfall estimation over mountainous and arid parts of east Africa

Different satellite rainfall products are used in different applications over different parts of the world. These products are particularly important over many parts of Africa, where they are used to augment the very sparse rain-gauge network. However, the quality of the different satellite products varies from one product to another and from one climatic region to another. The climate over eastern Africa varies from wet coastal and mountainous regions to dry arid regions. Significant variations could be observed within short distances. The different climates will pose different challenges to satellite rainfall retrieval over this region. This study explores the effect of mountainous and arid climates on four different satellite rainfall-estimation (RFE) algorithms. The mountainous climate is located over the Ethiopian highlands, while the arid region covers parts of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. One infrared-only product, African rainfall climatology (ARC), one passive-microwave-only product (the Climate Prediction Center morphing technique, CMORPH) and two products (the RFE algorithm and the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM-3B42)), which combine both infrared and passive-microwave estimates, are used for this investigation. All the products exhibit moderate underestimation of rainfall over the highlands of Ethiopia, while the overestimation over the dry region is found to be very high. The underestimation over the mountainous region is ascribed to the warm orographic rain process, while the overestimation over the dry region may be because of sub-cloud evaporation. Local calibration of satellite algorithms and merging of satellite estimates with all locally available rain-gauge observations are some of the approaches that could be employed to alleviate these problems.