Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative study on local and newly introduced rice varieties in Ebonyi State of Nigeria based on selected agronomic characteristics.

The Choice of rice varieties by farmers and the rate at which farmers in Ebonyi state go for new rice varieties at the expense of indigenous varieties have become a source of worry to scientists. We assessed the agronomic characteris- tics of 15 selected indigenous and newly introduced hybrid rice varieties in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The Rice cultivars were grown under the same conditions and screened for morpho-agronomic traits. Significant variation (P<0.05) was detected among the 20 rice varieties for all the traits evaluated. The results showed that plant height ranged between 144.01 cm in "Mass (I)" and 76.00 cm in "Chinyeugo". Cv. "E4197" had the highest value of 38±0.02 cm for panicle length and "Chin- yereugo" had the highest value of 6.3g ± 0.03 for panicle weight. Leaf area showed the highest value of 63.8cm 2 ± 0.01 in "Mass (I)". Flowering time ranged from 138 ± 0.1days in "Mass (I)" to 68 ± 0.04 days in "Chinyereugo" while "Mass (II)" and "E4077" took the shortest period of 14 days after flowering to mature. Cv. "Co-operative" had high number of seeds per panicle (139 ± 0.19). "Chinyereugo" had the highest value of 25.9g ±1.4 for 1000-grains weight. The grain of "E4314" was the longest (8.00 mm ± 0.89) of the varieties studied. The grains of "Awilo" had a grain width of 2.62mm ± 0.04, while "E4197" had the highest value for grain width of 4.1 mm. Farmers should, therefore, be critical in accepting new varieties that may not be comparably outstanding in a holistic sense, in order to preserve the integrity of the all-cherished indigenous rice varieties .
Automated reflection picking and polarity assessment through attribute analysis: Theory and application to synthetic and real ground-penetrating radar data

ABSTRACTWe have developed a procedure to automatically detect, pick, and characterize reflections in either seismic or ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data sets. Accurate picking results are essential in many research and application fields and are mandatory to recover the underground stratigraphy and reflectivity and, therefore, to create a more constrained subsurface model. We use the cosine of the instantaneous phase to track events with lateral phase continuity and record them in terms of time-space positions, amplitude, and polarity. Moreover, we use the cosine phase to reconstruct the shape of the reflected wavelets by averaging it along the picked horizons, to recover the initial phase of each reflection and, therefore, their polarities. By comparing the polarities of the transmitted and reflected wavelets, we can recover the impedance contrasts in the subsurface and evaluate the properties of the materials. We applied the picking and polarity assessment algorithms to a synthetic data set. We invert.
Electroencephalographic changes during experimental pain induction in goats.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) studies were conducted during experimental pain induction in goats to fi nd the association between routine managemental stress and EEG patterns. Duplicate EEG records from 4 adult (age 8 12 months, 10 ± 2 kg body mass) female goats (crossbred Jamunapari and local), using bipolar scalp electrodes were obtained. Pain was induced in a conscious and locally anaesthetised state using a rubber tourniquet applied at the base of the tail and fastened. Xylocaine 2% was used as an injection in the epidural space to achieve local anaesthesia. EEG recordings were taken at 0, 2 and 5 min. after pain application and at the same time intervals after removal of the tourniquet. The EEG frequencies upon pain induction in conscious and epidural anaesthetized states recorded were 38.50 ± 1.96, 33.88 ± 1.42, 31.25 ± 1.39 and 41.88 ± 0.91, 35.63 ± 0.94, 31.50 ± 0.82 Hz at 0, 2 and 5 min of application of pain stimulus, respectively. The frequencies ranged from 26 to 46 Hz in conscious and 27 to 45 Hz in epidural anaesthetized states, whereas amplitudes were higher after 2 min of pain application in both states. With tourniquet removal, the frequency increased signifi cantly (P<0.05) after 2 min in a conscious state, whereas in an epidural anaesthetized state, it increased initially and then declined signifi cantly (P<0.05). The amplitudes and frequencies during pain induction and removal were found to be signifi cantly (P<0.05) different from each other and signifi cantly (P<0.05) higher than in the control (27.75 ± 1.13 Hz and 5.80 ± 0.21μV). Prominent behavioural changes were observed with pain induction. Hence EEG changes can be used as a tool to understand and quantify painful distress in goat.
Carbon addition and removal during the Late Palaeocene Thermal Maximum: basic theory with a preliminary treatment of the isotope record at ODP Site 1051, Blake Nose

Abstract The late Palaeocene Thermal Maximum (LPTM) was a brief interval at c. 55 Ma characterized by a −2.5 to −3‰ shift in the δ13C of global carbon reservoirs. The geochemical perturbation probably represents a massive input of 12C-rich carbon to the exogenic carbon cycle. Largely unresolved issues concerning this carbon injection during the LPTM are the rates of carbon input and removal. Simple expressions are developed here to describe a δ13C excursion in the exogenic carbon cycle after carbon input. A change in global δ13C (dδEx/dt) can be explained to a first approximation by a set of parameters: the initial mass and isotopic composition of the global carbon cycle (MEx(o), δEx(o)), and the fluxes and isotopic compositions of external carbon inputs, outputs and injected carbon (FIn, δIn, FOut, δOut, FAdd, δAdd). In general, for a given exogenic carbon cycle, a large FAdd or low δAdd results in a larger δ13C excursion. Likewise, for a given negative δ13C excursion, a large MEx or low δEx requires a greater input of 12C. Differences in FIn, δIn, FOut and δOut cause changes in the response of δEx over time. For a negative δ13C excursion of given magnitude, a greater FIn requires a greater input of 12C and lessens the time for δEx to return to initial conditions. A decrease in δOut (caused by an increase in the relative output of organic matter and carbonate) has a similar effect. Variable dMAdd/dt produces transients in δEx that are related to the source function but modified by carbon removal. In theory, a well-dated and representative global δ13C excursion could be used to derive the carbon inputs and ouputs. Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1051 has an expanded early Palaeogene section, and recent work at this location has provided a well-dated δ13C record across the LPTM. This δ13C record contains transient variations of apparently global nature. These observed transients are best explained by a pulsed injection of CH4 into an exogenic carbon cycle with a greater carbon throughput or enhanced burial of organic matter after carbon addition.
Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. Population Effects on the Mean Brightness of the Red Clump Stars

We present an empirical test indicating that the mean I-band magnitude of the red clump stars, used as the standard candle in the recent distance determinations to the Magellanic Clouds and other objects, is age independent for intermediate age (2-10 Gyr) stars. Fifteen star clusters of age ~1.5-12 Gyr from the LMC and SMC (ESO121SC03, SL663, NGC2155, NGC2121, SL388, SL862, NGC121, L1, KRON3, NGC416, L113, NGC339, L11, NGC419, NGC411) were observed and their color-magnitude diagrams are presented. The mean I-band brightness of the red clump in these clusters is constant and its mean extinction-free magnitude is: I_0=17.88+/-0.05 mag and I_0=18.31+/-0.07 mag at the mean metallicity of -0.8 dex and -1.2 dex for the LMC and SMC clusters, respectively. For older objects (> 10 Gyr) the brightness of the red clump, which converts into the red part of the horizontal branch, fades by about 0.3-0.4 mag, setting an important limitation on the red clump stars method of distance determination. The red clump distance moduli to the Magellanic Clouds from the new independent data set are: m-M=18.18+/-0.06 mag and m-M=18.65+/-0.08 mag for the LMC and SMC, respectively, in very good agreement with previous determinations. Weak dependence of the mean I-band brightness of the red clump on metallicity and its independence of age for intermediate age population (2-10 Gyr) of stars as well as the most precise calibration as compared to other standard candle candidates makes the red clump stars method one of the most accurate steps in the distance scale ladder.
PROJECT DURATION PREDICTION MODELS USING TIME- COST RELATIONSHIP FOR PUBLIC BUILDING PROJECTS IN NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Uyo Adequate prediction of construction time and cost is of great importance in contract administration because it forms the basis for budgeting, planning, monitoring and even litigation purposes. The aim of the research was to develop models for predicting project durations of building projects that were executed under traditional; and design and build procurement arrangements based on time-cost relationships. The objectives include establishing the cost and time performance of selected projects executed under traditional; and design and build procurement methods. Research instruments used in this study include questionnaire, review of relevant literature and interviews with the construction clients, consultants and contractors. Statistical techniques used for data analysis are simple percentage, TTest and Regression analysis. The analysis revealed that many of the projects experienced cost and time overruns. The result of T –test paired two samples for means shows that there is no significant difference in cost performance of projects executed with traditional and projects executed with design and build procurement method. P-value 0.01 < 0.05 indicates that there is significant difference in time performance of projects executed with traditional procurement method and projects executed with design and build procurement method . Results show that the time saving potential of design and build procurement method did not translate to cost saving. Construction cost accounts for 38% of time overruns of Building projects executed with traditional procurement method while it accounts for 26% of variation in construction time of building projects executed with design and build procurement method.It was concluded that there is a significant difference in time performance of project executed under traditional and design and build procurement system. Based on the analysis and findings, it is recommended that project stakeholders should use multivariate approaches for estimating contract durations rather than relying on cost and past experience.
Pressure pain mappings

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major problem resulting in loss of work ability for the individuals and are an economical burden for society. While methods like magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound are adequate for visualizing bones and muscles, these methods do not provide any information of the changes in deep structure sensitivity to pain. A new method aiming at directly measure and visualize pain spatial changes can be a way to localize painful areas. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) is the minimum required mechanical pressure at which a person feels a sensation of pain from a certain location. This provides a semi-objective measurement of pain providing a quantifiable value of pain sensitivity. By covering the surface of a muscle using a high number of measurement locations it becomes possible to generate a PPT map visualizing the pain topography of the muscle. The presented studies (I-II) cover the development of methods to generate the PPT maps as well as a way to cluster the PPT measurements to investigate possible distinct areas of sensitivity within the same muscle. Further, healthy men and women have been mapped to investigate differences in PPT and topography between genders in the low back and neck-shoulder region (III). Further, delayed muscle onset soreness was induced in the shoulder region among healthy volunteers to assess spatial changes in presence of soreness (IV). PPT maps showed a lowering of PPT in presence of pain/soreness in line with anatomical (sub-divisions of the trapezius muscle) and clinical findings (upper trapezius being more sensitive). Finally, two groups of cleaners (V) were investigated with respect to sickness leave (one with reported sickness leave and one without). The PPT maps showed a clear difference in general PPT levels between cleaners with sickness leave compared with without sickness leave The developed methods in the low back and neck-shoulder region have proved to be effective in visualizing pain topographic information (I-V). Further studies using PPT mapping are warranted in patient populations. These methods can be used as a way to assess the effectiveness of treatment or prevention of MSD.
Application of a New Multicomponent Gas Adsorption Model to Coal Gas Adsorption Systems

A new multicomponent adsorption model is proposed for application to coal gas adsorption systems. The model is derived by combining the vacancy solution and Dubinin-Polanyi theories. Applications of the new adsorption model include the modeling of multicomponent adsorption processes associated with primary and enhanced coalbed methane recovery (ECBM). In the new model, the adsorbed phase in the single-component (pure) adsorption system is treated as a binary mixture of a singlecomponent gas with a hypothetical “vacancy” species, which also occupies adsorption space. The adsorption system is modeled as equilibrium between the gaseous phase and the adsorbed-phase vacancy solution. The Dubinin-Astakhov (D-A) equation is used to generate activity coefficients, as a function of the degree of porefilling, for the pure component gas in the binary (adsorbate+vacancy) adsorbed-phase mixture. The Wilson equation is chosen to fit pure component (D-A-derived) activity coefficient curves by optimizing the binary interaction coefficients. These binary interaction coefficients are then used to predict multicomponent adsorption equilibrium, although only the case of binary adsorption is modeled here. The adsorbed phase mixture for binary gas adsorption is treated as a ternary mixture of the two pure component adsorbates and the hypothetical vacancy species. Binary gas adsorption equilibrium is described by equilibrium between the gaseous components and the components in the adsorbed phase solution. Adsorbed-phase activity coefficients are calculated from the Wilson equation, with the binary interaction coefficients obtained from pure component adsorption data. Thus, only pure component adsorption data are required to make binary and multicomponent adsorption predictions with the new model. Two binary (CH4+CO2) gas adsorption experimental data sets with coal as the adsorbent and one binary (CH4+C2H6) gas adsorption data set with activated carbon as the adsorbent are used to test the predictions of the new model. In most cases the new model is able to predict binary gas adsorption accurately. The poor fit of the Wilson equation to the D-A-derived activity coefficients for some pure component data suggests that some improvement in model predictions could be made with the choice of a different activity coefficient equation. A unique feature of the current model is the ability to predict multicomponent gas adsorption at different temperatures from the pure component adsorption data collected at a single temperature. The temperature independence of pure component “characteristic” curves, as demonstrated in Dubinin-Polanyi theory, allows pure component adsorption to be predicted for a range of temperatures. These pure component data can then be used in modeling binary or multicomponent adsorption data at various temperatures. This is demonstrated for one experimental binary gas adsorption data set.
A's for Everyone: The Effect of Student Consumerism in the Post-Secondary Classroom

With millennial students as the primary population in many higher education institutions today, many instructors experiencing a paradigm shift of behaviors they are observing in their classroom. Many educators are observing today’s students failing to take personal responsibility for their educational endeavors and in turn viewing their educational experiences as a services-for-payment relationship rather than an exploration of knowledge. With this shift and the ever present consumerism type behaviors now being observed, the role of instructor has changed and many are seeking tools to effectively manage their students and classroom. Keywords: Student Consumerism, Classroom Management, Disengaged Students, Teaching Tools Student Consumerism is a collection of different types of beliefs and behaviors such
China's historical record when searching for tropical cyclones corresponding to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) shifts over the past 2 kyr

Abstract. The northwestern Pacific Ocean and South China Sea are where tropical cyclones occur most frequently. Many climatologists also study the formation of Pacific Ocean warm pools and typhoons in this region. This study collected data of paleotyphoons found in China's official historical records over the past 2000 years that contained known typhoon activity reports. The collected data are then subjected to statistical analyses focusing on typhoon activity in coastal regions of southeastern China to garner a better understanding of the long-term evolution of moving paths and occurrence frequency, especially regarding those typhoons making landfall in mainland China. We analyzed the data with the year and month of each typhoon event, as well as the number of events in a 10-year period. The result shows that (1) north–southward migration of typhoon paths corresponds to the north–southward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA) and (2) paleotyphoons made landfall in mainland China 1 month earlier during the MWP than during the LIA. This implies a northward shift in ITCZ during the MWP. Typhoons tend to make landfall in Japan during El Niño-like periods and strike the southern coastal regions of China during La Niña-like stages. According to paleotyphoon records over the last 2000 years, typhoons made landfall in southeastern China frequently around 490–510, 700–850, and after 1500 CE The number of typhoons striking Guangdong Province peaked during the coldest period in 1660–1680 CE; however, after 1700 CE, landfall has migrated farther north. The track of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean is affected by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which shows a nearly 30-year and a 60-year cycle during the LIA.
The impact of anticyclonic mesoscale structures on microbial food webs in the Mediterranean Sea

The abundance and activity of the major members of the heterotrophic microbial community - from viruses to ciliates - were studied along a longitudinal transect across the Mediterranean Sea in the summer of 2008. The Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a west to the east gradient of deepening of DCM (deep chlorophyll maximum) and increasing oligotrophy reflected in gradients of heterotrophic microbial biomass and production. However, within this longitudinal trend, hydrological mesoscale features exist and likely influence microbial dynamics. We show here the importance of mesoscale structures by a description of the structure and function of the microbial food web through an investigation of 3 geographically distant eddies within a longitudinal transect. Three selected sites each located in the center of an anticyclonic eddy were intensively investigated: in the Algero-Provencal Basin (St. A), the Ionian Basin (St. B), and the Levantine Basin (St. C). The 3 geographically distant eddies showed the lowest values of the different heterotrophic compartments of the microbial food web, and except for viruses in site C, all stocks were higher in the neighboring stations outside the eddies. During our study the 3 eddies showed equilibrium between GCP (Gross Community Production) and DCR (Dark Community Respiration); moreover, the west-east (W-E) gradient was evident in terms of heterotrophic biomass but not in terms of production. Means of integrated PPp values were higher at site B (~190 mg C m−2 d−1) and about 15% lower at sites A and C (~160 mg C m−2 d−1). Net community production fluxes were similar at all three stations exhibiting equilibrium between gross community production and dark community respiration.
Valorisation socio‐économique et pérennité du Pentadesma butyracea Sabine en galeries forestières au Bénin

Pentadesma butyracea est un arbre a buts multiples dont le principal produit est le beurre. Les femmes sont les principales actrices de cette filiere dans la region de Bassila (Benin). Elles extraient des amandes du Pentadesma un beurre que les populations substituent au beurre de karite en cas de deficit de ce dernier ou pour certains traitements therapeutiques (maladies, accouchement, etc.). Outre l‘utilisation du beurre dans l‘alimentation, l‘espece Pentadesma offre plusieurs autres produits tels que des produits de pharmacopee, du bois d‘œuvre, du bois de chauffe, etc. La valeur d‘usage socio‐economique du Pentadesma butyracea se revele importante dans la region de Bassila. Malheureusement, son potentiel de production est en diminution d‘une generation a une autre. Il importe de valoriser le Pentadesma butyracea avec des mesures telles que la protection de la regeneration des plants et des tiges d‘avenir, la mise au point de methodes de culture de l‘espece, l‘amelioration de la technique de transformation des amandes et l‘organisation de la filiere en vue de la conservation des cours d‘eau et des galeries forestieres.
The Antarctic palaeo record and its role in improving predictions of future Antarctic Ice Sheet change

This paper reviews the ways in which the palaeo record of Antarctic Ice Sheet change can be used to improve understanding of contemporary ice sheet behaviour, and thus enhance predictions of future sea‐level change. The main areas where the palaeo ice sheet record can contribute are understanding long‐term ice sheet trajectory; providing data against which ice sheet models can be tested; to identify and understand the range and types of natural ice sheet behaviour; to balance the global water budget; to correct contemporary glaciological measurements of mass change; and to understand the relationship between polar ecosystems and the ice sheet. I review each in turn and argue that research priorities include understanding past West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse and its timing; a focus on the palaeo record of rapid retreat events and how these unfolded in the geological past; improving the number and range of ice sheet reconstructions, particularly through the Holocene; continuing to investigate the potential for using sediments and landforms to parameterise basal conditions in ice sheet models; and understanding past East Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics, particularly the evidence for partial deglaciation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reinterpretation of the precursory seismic b-value anomaly from fracture mechanics

SUMMARY A new model is presented which can explain the major temporal fluctuations in seismic b-value in terms of the underlying physical processes of time-varying applied stress and crack growth under conditions of constant strain rate. The model predicts two minima in the b-value, separated by a temporary maximum of inflexion point; a corollary being that a single broad maximum would be expected in scattering attenuation. These fluctuations in b-value are consistent with reported ‘intermediate-term’ and ‘short-term’ earthquake precursors separated by a period of seismic quiescence. We present preliminary results from controlled laboratory experiments and report recent field observations both of which are consistent with the predicted form, and in particular exhibit the distinctive, second short-term anomaly which reaches a value bc= 0.5 during the critical phase.