Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growthand yield response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea l.) to plant densities and phosphorus on an ultisol in southeastern Nigeria

An experiment on the optimum planting density and Phosphorus requirement of a local Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivar, 'Graffi' was carried out at the Crop Science Research Farm of the University of Calabar in the humid area of southeastern Nigeria, during the growing seasons of 2007 and 2008. Five Phosphorous rates 90, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg k O /ha) were applied to five plant densities of Groundnut (47619, 57128, 71428, 95238 and 142857 plants/ha) laid out in a RCB design in three replications. Parameters assessed were plant height, branches plant, dry biomass yield/ha, filled pods/plant and seed yield/ha. Results showed significant (P=0.05) effect of planting density on plant height, while phosphorus rates influenced the number of filled pods/plant and seed yield/ha. Tallest plants with mean height of 53.2 cm were in plots containing 142,853 plants/ha, while the highest mean number of 15.2 filled pods/plant and correspondingly highest mean seed yield of 1078.3 kg/ha were obtained by applying 40 kg P O /ha to 95,238 plants/ha. It was concluded that planting the crop at 95,238 plants/ha with application of 40kg P 0 /ha would enhance optimum productivity of groundnut in the humid areas of southeastern Nigeria. Keywords: Groundnut density, humid areas, phosphorous ultisol, yield.
Effects of Pillar Depth and Shielding on the Interaction of Crossing Multitunnels

AbstractAny new tunnel excavation may damage adjacent existing tunnels in congested cities. To evaluate the impact of new tunnel construction on nearby existing tunnels, a series of three-dimensional centrifuge model tests were conducted with numerical backanalyses using an advanced hypoplasticity constitutive model. The influences of the pillar depth-to-diameter ratio (P/D) on two-tunnel interaction and the effects of shielding on three-tunnel interaction were investigated. The maximum measured settlement of an existing tunnel caused by a new tunnel excavation at P/D of 0.5 underneath was approximately 50% larger than that when P/D was 2.0. This is attributed to a smaller mobilized shear modulus, resulting from a larger reduction in confining stress of soil acting on the invert of the existing tunnel in the former than in the latter. When the new tunnel was excavated underneath two perpendicularly crossing tunnels, the lower existing tunnel “shielded” the upper one from the influence of tunnel excavation.
Mineralogy and petrology of tuff units from a UE25a-1 drill site, Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Drill hole UE25a-1 has penetrated tuffs of Tertiary age which contain two major zeolitized horizons at depths below 380 m. These horizons are restricted to low-density, high-porosity nonwelded tuffs below the basal vitrophyre of the Topopah Springs Member of the Paintbrush Tuff (approximately 70 m above the current water table), and interfinger with more-densely-welded devitrified tuffs of granophyric mineralogy. Zeolites occur as glass pyroclast replacement, vug linings, and fracture fillings. Nonwelded units above the welded portion of the Topopah Springs Member are essentially unaltered, indicating that they have never been ground water-saturated for any significant length of time. Zeolite mineral assemblages appear to be characteristic of low temperature ( 10 wt % Na{sub 2}O + K{sub 2}O), occur as vug fillings at depths below 500 m. Presence of mordenite may indicate slightly elevated alteration temperatures, but more likely reflects enrichment of ground water in alkalis with depth. Mineralogical, compositional, and textural similarities of the zeolitized tuffs from UE25a-1 and J-13 are compatible with a single episode of crystallization. 16 figures.
Quadriplegia due to lead-contaminated opium--case report.

PURPOSE Utilization of lead-contaminated opium may lead to severe motor neuron impairment and quadriplegia. CASE REPORT Forty years oriented old male, opium addict, was admitted to the ICU, with headache, nausea and abdominal pain, and weakness in his lower and upper extremities without definitive diagnosis. The past medical and occupational history was negative. Laboratory investigation showed; anemia (Hb 7.7 g/dl), slightly elevated liver function tests, elevated total bilirubin, and ESR. Abdominal sonography and brain CT scan were normal. EMG and NCV results and neurologic examination were suggestive for Guillain-Barre. He underwent five sessions of plasmapheresis. Blood lead level was > 200 microg/dl. He received dimercaprol (BAL) and calcium disodium edetate (CaEDTA) for two five days session. Upon discharge from ICU all laboratory tests were normal and blood lead level was reduced, but he was quadriplegic. CONCLUSION The delayed treatment of lead poisoning may lead to irreversible motor neuron defect.
[Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in central serous chorioretinopathy and diffuse retinal epitheliopathy: a complementary study].

INTRODUCTION In 2001, Mauget-Faysse et al. found a prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection of 56.3% in 16 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and diffuse retinal epitheliopathy (DRE). This prevalence was twice that of the French population. This complementary study aimed to verify these results. PATIENTS and method: Between 1996 and 2002, 78 patients living in the southeast of France with CSC/DRE were included in this study. H. pylori infection was assessed by the 13C-urea breath test. Diagnosis was confirmed by fundus biomicroscopy, fluorescein and ICG angiographies and retinal OCT scans (from 2002). Results were analyzed with the Chi2test. RESULTS Out of 78 patients, there were 60 males (76.9%) and 18 females (23.1%), with a mean age of 53 years (range, 29-80 years); 27 had CSC (34.6%) and 51 had DRE (65.4%). H. pylori infection was detected as positive in 31 patients (39.7%) and negative in 47 (60.3%). Men were detected positive in 43.3% of cases, compared to women detected positive in only 27.8%. The difference in prevalence of H. pylori between the study population (39.7%) and the overall population of 58,419,710 inhabitants of France in 1999 (25.4%) was found statistically highly significant (p = 0.0036). DISCUSSION and conclusion: These results may indicate a possible association between H. pylori infection and CSC/DRE manifestations. These data confirm the first results of the 2001 prospective pilot study and also show a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection in men than in women.
The performance of vegetation indices for operational monitoring of CORINE vegetation types

Vegetation monitoring has been performed using remotely sensed images to secure food production, prevent fires, and protect natural ecosystems. Recent satellite sensors, such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), provide frequent wide-scale coverage in multiple areas of the spectrum, allowing the estimation of a wide range of specialized vegetation indices (VIs), each offering several advantages. It is not, however, clear which VI performs better during operational monitoring of wide-scale vegetation patches, such as CORINE Land Cover (CLC) classes. The aim of this work was to investigate the performance of several VIs in operational monitoring of vegetation condition of CLC vegetation types, using Terra MODIS data. Comparison among the VIs within each CLC class was conducted using the sensitivity ratio, a statistical measure that has not been used to compare VIs and does not require calibration curves between each VI and a biophysical parameter. In addition, the VI’s sensitivity to factors such as the aspect, viewing angle, signal saturation, and partial cloud cover was estimated with correlation analysis in order to identify their operational monitoring ability. Results indicate the enhanced vegetation index as superior for monitoring vegetation condition among CLC types, but not always optimum in performance tests for operational monitoring.
Isothermal compressibility of hydrous ringwoodite and its relation to the mantle discontinuities

High pressure X‐ray diffraction experiments of hydrous ringwoodite, containing 2.8 ± 0.2 wt% H2O, have been carried out by using X‐rays from a synchrotron radiation source with a diamond anvil cell under hydrostatic pressure up to 6 GPa. The isothermal bulk modulus (K0) was determined to be 148 ± 1 GPa with the pressure derivative (K′0) fixed to 5 using the Birch‐Murnaghan equation of state. This value is almost 80% of that of anhydrous ringwoodite. The relations of the bulk modulus and zero pressure volumes (V0) with H2O content are estimated within the solid solution range. Combining the present results with recent seismological data, the nature of the 520 km and 660 km seismic discontinuities is discussed.
Examining the Spring Discontinuity in Daily Temperature Ranges

Abstract The atmosphere and biosphere both change rapidly throughout midlatitude spring. Many weather variables are modified during this season, including the diurnal temperature range (DTR). The mean DTR trend displays a discontinuity at the onset of spring characterized by a rapid increase for several weeks, followed by an abrupt leveling off. The trend then remains essentially flat throughout the remainder of the warm season. These DTR changes reflect the interactive role many weather variables play with surface-layer processes. Thus, diagnosing the causes of these variations may provide background information for numerous global change analyses, as daily temperature data become increasingly available worldwide. The results of this study suggest that several factors (snow cover loss, more frequent southerly winds, and increased ceiling heights) are responsible for the initial rapid increase in the DTR. The second half of the discontinuity (subsequent leveling off) is connected with increased atmospheri.
Satellite Detection of Saharan Dust: Optimized Imaging during Nighttime

Abstract The data of the ECLATS experiment (at Niamey, 1980) are used to study the daily variations of the sensitivity of ground temperature to atmospheric dustiness. In the presence of dust, ground temperature is lower during daytime and higher than normal during nighttime. During night, the influence of dust on ground temperature prevails over other factors. The sensitivity of temperature to dustiness is evaluated and used jointly with ECLATS aircraft soundings to assess the impact of atmospheric dust on the radiance measured by the METEOSAT-I thermal infrared sensor. The results obtained demonstrate the ability of METEOSAT to detect dust clouds during nighttime. A method of optimized imaging is described and applied to a case study.
Object tracking: Appearance modeling and feature learning

OBJECT TRACKING: APPEARANCE MODELING AND FEATURE LEARNING by RAED ALMOMANI May 2015 Advisor: Prof. Ming Dong Major: Computer Science Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Object tracking in real scenes is an important problem in computer vision due to increasing usage of tracking systems day in and day out in various applications such as surveillance, security, monitoring and robotic vision. Object tracking is the process of locating objects of interest in every frame of video frames. Many systems have been proposed to address the tracking problem where the major challenges come from handling appearance variation during tracking caused by changing scale, pose, rotation, illumination and occlusion. In this dissertation, we address these challenges by introducing several novel tracking techniques. First, we developed a multiple object tracking system that deals specially with occlusion issues. The system depends on our improved KLT tracker for accurate and robust tracking during partial occlusion. In full occlusion, we applied a Kalman filter to predict the object’s new location and connect the trajectory parts. Many tracking methods depend on a rectangle or an ellipse mask to segment and track objects. Typically, using a larger or smaller mask will lead to loss of tracked objects. Second, we present an object tracking system (SegTrack) that deals with partial and full occlusions by employing improved segmentation methods: mixture of Gaussians and a silhouette segmentation algorithm. For re-identification, one or more feature vectors for each tracked object are used after target reappearing.
Esential oils extraction: a 24-hour steam distillation systematic methodology

Abstract Steam distillation is known to be the most prevalent method of essential oil extraction. Despite many studies on extraction methods, there is no report about the impact of distillation process duration on the yield and oil quality. A new 24-h steam distillation process for extraction of plant essential oils is presented. For improving the total yield, prolonged and continued isolation was used. A selection of plant species from Lamiaceae and Apiaceae families was subjected to direct steam distillation and essential oils were collected at different times (1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h). The analysis included either annual or perennial species monitored in terms of different harvesting time. From these studies, it is conclusively that there is no rule about appropriate extraction time, and different plants need different periods for the essential oils to achieve the desired quality or quantity of extract. Thus, extraction duration is directly dependent on what the study is conducted for.
Variability of snow density measurements in the Río Esera Valley, Pyrenees Mountains, Spain

An accurate assessment of snow depth and snow density is essential to determine that amount of water stored in the snowpack, i.e., snow water equivalent (SWE). The measurement of snow density is much more difficult and time consuming than snow depth. The variability in snow density is evaluated for a 5.4-km stretch of the Rio Esera headwaters in the Spanish Pyrenees Mountains. The traditional snow tube method is compared to the more labour-intensive but accurate snow pit method. The former method measures snow depth and extracts a snow core that is weighed. The latter method uses a wedge cutter to extract a 1-L snow sample to estimate density at 10-cm intervals through the snowpack. The variability in snowpack density is not systematic and can only be explained at lower elevation when the snowpack is known to be melting, as identify by an isothermal snowpack at zero degrees Celsius. This occurred during a mid-January survey. A late-April survey showed that these lower elevation sites were still more dense.
Antarctic climate change over the twenty first century

[1] Here we present a new assessment of Antarctic climate change over the 21st century based on data from the models that were developed as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report (AR4). To provide more reliable estimates of future change, a weighting scheme was applied to the model output, which depends on a measure of their ability to reproduce the mean climate of the late 20th century. The results show a seasonal variation of increases in circumpolar westerlies around Antarctica, which show the largest increases of 27% in autumn. This seasonal cycle was found to be consistent with projected changes in the semi-annual oscillation (SAO). In summer and autumn the increases of the westerly wind component migrate sufficiently far south to be manifested as a reduction of the coastal easterlies. The surface warming averaged over the continent is projected to be 0.34°C dec−1 with an inter-model standard deviation of 0.10°C dec−1. More rapid warming occurs during the winter over regions of sea ice retreat, e.g., 0.51 ± 0.26°C dec−1 around East Antarctica. Projections of total sea-ice area show a decrease of 2.6 ± 0.73 × 106 km2 (33%). There is a projected increase of net precipitation averaged over the continent of 2.9 ± 1.2 mm a−1 dec−1. The weighting gives a larger increase of the autumn SAO peak, up to 30% larger for April. This is consistent with larger weighted autumn increases of circumpolar westerlies, more sea ice reduction and resulting larger skin temperature increases.
Review: mTOR at the crossroads of T cell proliferation and tolerance

Several events control the activation, proliferation, and the continued Ag responsiveness of naïve and memory T lymphocytes. Here we review the individual contributions of TCR, CD28, and IL-2-driven signaling to T cell proliferation and anergy avoidance. The role of mTOR as a rheostat capable of integrating extracellular, plasma membrane-associated, and intracellular signals with relevance to T cell priming and tolerance is discussed. The molecular events dictating T cell anergy in vivo have similarities
Geochronological evidence for pervasive Miocene weathering, Minas Gerais, Brazil

40Ar/39Ar laser incremental‐heating analyses of 22 individual grains of supergene cryptomelane from three weathering proﬁles, up to 400 km apart, in the Rio Doce valley and Barbacena regions at Minas Gerais, Brazil, show that the formation of weathering proﬁles in these regions is contemporaneous, suggesting a strong weathering event in the Middle to Late Miocene (10–8 Ma). The preservation of these Miocene samples at or near the present surface suggests that either erosion rates have been very low in the region since the Miocene or that a much thicker weathering mantle was present in the region originally. Assuming a constant thickness of weathering proﬁles in the region throughout the Tertiary, we may calculate weathering front propagation rates of 4–8 m Myr−1 during the past 10 Ma. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multivariate analyses of Cenozoic mammalian faunas from Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland

Mammalian faunal lists of Riversleigh fossil sites were compared using several techniques to assess the age relationships between 75 Riversleigh sites and the central Australian Ngama, Kutjamarpu and the Northern Territory Bullock Creek Local Faunas. Presence/absence data of the sites' mammalian faunas were compared in terms of faunal similarity using cluster analysis, ordination, seriation and cladistics (the latter method has not previously been used to compare such data). The analysis was repeated using only sites with eight mammal taxa or more. The analyses also tested and supported the Riversleigh System concept introduced by Archer et al. (1989). The analyses confirmed the placement of several sites previously assigned (Creaser 1997, Arena 2004) to a System based on their geology and topography. However, the analyses could not confirm the assignment of sites with less than eight taxa. Sites with eight mammal taxa or more were used as diagnostic sites for a preliminary description of the “Systems” or “Faunal Zones” (sensu Arena 2004).
The Correlation between Psychological Empowerment and Job Burnout in Midwives Working in the Labor Ward of Hospitals

Background: Job Burnout (JB) is a multifactorial psycho-cognitive syndrome that leads to physical and psychological problems and declines the efficiency and productivity. Psychological Empowerment (PE) indicates that an individual feels motivated and competent to fulfill work expectations actively. This study assessed the correlation between PE and JB in midwives. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on 282 midwives working in labor wards of hospitals in Isfahan (Iran). Convenience sampling was used. Psychological Empowerment Questionnaire (PEQ) with four domains (meaning, competence, autonomy, and impact) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) with three domains (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) were used. Partial correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: None of the demographic variables had a significant association with PE and JB. There were no significant correlations between the total scores of PE and three domains of JB. However, personal accomplishment was positively correlated with the domains of meaning and competence (r = 0.16, p = 0.02; r = 0.27, p < 0.001, respectively). Autonomy was the only significant predictive variable for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, respectively (β =0.17, t235=2.34, p = 0.020, β =0.09, t249=1.29, p = 0.020); also, competency was the only significant predictive variable for personal accomplishment (β = 0.29, t263=4.20, p < 0.001). The domains of PE were significant predictors of variance of JB in personal accomplishment domain (R2 = 0.10, F6=4.85, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Meaning and competence could be promoted through attendance in continuous training programs to increase personal accomplishment. In addition, it is suggested to promote midwives' authority to decline their emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.
Sediment mixing and stratigraphic disorder revealed by the age-structure of Tellina shells in Great Barrier Reef sediment

Radiocarbon-calibrated amino acid racemization ages of 250 individually dated Tellina shells from two sediment cores are used to quantify molluscan time averaging with increasing burial depth in the shallow-water carbonate lagoon of Rib Reef, central Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The top 20 cm of sediment contain a distinct, essentially modern assemblage with a median age of only 5 yr. Sediment between 20 and 125 cm are age-homogeneous and significantly older than the surface sediment (median age 189 yr). Shell age distributions within layers indicate that the top 125 cm of lagoonal sediment is thoroughly mixed on a subcentennial scale. Shell size is an important correlate of shell half-life and an important determinant of the inferred age of sedimentary layers. These results illustrate the importance of bioturbation in these environments, indicate that age estimates in this depositional setting are sensitive to specimen choice, and document a size-dependent bias in death assemblage formation.
Paragenese a faible variance dans les metapelites de la serie de Filali (Rif interne marocain); description, interpretation et consequence geodynamique

The metamorphic series of Filali and the Beni Bousera massif represent the most metamorphic unit in the inner part of the Moroccan Rif. The Filali series is composed of micaschists, gneisses, migmatites and granulites wrapped around the ultramafic body of the Beni Bousera. The foliation is broadly coherent all over the massif although differences in lineation and fold axis have been found between the granulites and the micaschists-gneisses. Metamorphic grade increases continuously towards the ultramafic body; however, seven metamorphic zones which account for this increase can be defined: - chlorite zone: muscovite and chlorite underline the S1 schistosity refolded by S2. Small garnet is wrapped by or cut across S2; - chloritoid zone: chloritoid displays the same textures as chlorite and muscovite, underlining S1 and S2 schistosity. Chlorite reacts out to biotite; - staurolite+andalusite zone: staurolite, andalusite, cordierite and garnet have pre-, syn- and post- kinematic features with respect to S2. Garnet reacts out to muscovite, biotite and plagioclase; - staurolite+andalusite+kyanite zone: same textural relationships as in the previous zone. Kyanite is an additional phase, often displaying epitaxial textures with staurolite and andalusite; - andalusite+kyanite+sillimanite zone: fibrolitic sillimanite generally associated with biotite crystallizes from staurolite. However, sillimanite is also directly formed from andalusite and kyanite. As in the previous zone garnet reacts out to biotite, muscovite and plagioclase; - sillimanite+k-feldspar zone: muscovite reacts out to k-feldspar. Modes of biotite and sillimanite increase; - migmatites zone are composed by biotite, sillimanite, garnet, cordierite quartz and feldspars. Garnets do not display the reaction textures seen in the previous zones; - granulites are composed of a primary paragenesis with kyanite+k-feldspar+garnet+ or -biotite+plagioclase+rutile, partially obliterated by a secondary paragenesis with cordierite, sillimanite and spinel.