Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Debt Financing on the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kapsabet Town, Nandi County

: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered important in both developed and developing countries. They produce goods and services which help to increase economic growth and contribute significantly to employment creation. Although SMEs play a crucial role in economic development their operations are often crippled by lack of adequate financing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of debt financing on the growth of SMEs in Kapsabet town, Nandi County. The study was based on a descriptive survey design. The study targeted 2000 registered SMEs in Kapsabet Town. The target population comprised of 420 SMEs. Yamane’s formula was used to obtain a sample size of 80 respondents. The respondents were selected through purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. Questionnaires were used to collect data. The data was coded, quantified and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data was analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages and inferential statistics which included regression analysis. Data analysis was done with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Based on the study findings, the study concludes that debt financing impacted on the growth of SMEs in Kapsabet town. SME relied on trade credit to promote growth their SMEs. There was a positive relationship between trade credit and growth of SMEs in Kapsabet town. The study also concluded there was a positive relationship between microcredit and the SMEs’ growth. The study recommends that SMEs should establish good credit history with the lending institutions sothat they can continue accessing funding.
Tropospheric ozone decrease due to the Mount Pinatubo eruption: Reduced stratospheric influx

We quantify the relationship between Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 and tropospheric ozone abundances. The ozone reduction in the stratosphere and troposphere following the eruption is simulated by the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model and is in good agreement with the ozonesonde observations. Simulated anomalies in the global stratosphere‐troposphere flux of ozone following the eruption are well correlated with those in the tropospheric ozone column. Both are at their minimum in late 1992 to early 1993 (−70 Tgyr−1 in January 1993 for the flux and −1.9 Dobson Unit in November 1992 for tropospheric ozone) and recover after 1995. Therefore, this study identifies the reduced stratosphere‐to‐troposphere ozone flux as an important driver of the ozone decline in the troposphere following the eruption. A large fraction (67%) of the decrease in the flux is compensated by an increase in tropospheric photochemical ozone production. While both the strength of the residual circulation and the decrease in stratospheric ozone reduce the stratospheric ozone flux, the ozone reduction is identified as the dominant cause.
PGE and Os Isotopes as Tracers in Polymetallic Massive Sulfide Deposits from the Edmond and Kairei Hydrothermal Fields, Central Indian Ridge

The potential economic importance of precious metal mineralization in seafloor polymetallic sulfide deposits has aroused increasing attention and great interest. So far, the occurrences of gold and silver have been extensively investigated in a number of active vent fields located at global mid-ocean ridges. In contrast, however, there are only a few studies on the distribution of platinum group elements in submarine hydrothermal systems (Crocket, 1990; Cave et al., 2003; Pašava et al., 2004, 2007), which represent modern analogues for ancient volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. Although the Re-Os isotope system has been widely used as a tracer of ore-forming processes in land-based sulfide deposits, published data of osmium isotopic compositions are less common for modern seafloor hydrothermal systems (Ravizza et al., 1996; Brügmann et al., 1998). In this study, a suite of sulfide ore samples from the Edmond and Kairei vent fields were analyzed. We aim to understand the concentrations and distribution of PGEs as well as Os isotopic compositions in the Indian Ocean VMS deposits, and to determine factors controlling the enrichment or fractionation of precious metals during polymetallic sulfide precipitation.
Meteorology of the polar vortex: Spring 1997

The 1996–1997 northern hemisphere spring polar vortex was very strong, cold, and symmetric, somewhat similar to those found in the Antarctic spring vortex. The vortex did not form until late in December and was very symmetric from February into late April. The spring vortex was characterized by record low temperatures, record low ozone amounts as measured from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instruments, and a wide band of strong winds in the lower stratosphere. Spring wave activity was greatly reduced, with 100 hPa February–March eddy heat fluxes that were lower by a factor of 2 from any previously observed values over the last 18 years.
Predicting September sea ice: Ensemble skill of the SEARCH Sea Ice Outlook 2008–2013

Since 2008, the Study of Environmental Arctic Change Sea Ice Outlook has solicited predictions of September sea‐ice extent from the Arctic research community. Individuals and teams employ a variety of modeling, statistical, and heuristic approaches to make these predictions. Viewed as monthly ensembles each with one or two dozen individual predictions, they display a bimodal pattern of success. In years when observed ice extent is near its trend, the median predictions tend to be accurate. In years when the observed extent is anomalous, the median and most individual predictions are less accurate. Statistical analysis suggests that year‐to‐year variability, rather than methods, dominate the variation in ensemble prediction success. Furthermore, ensemble predictions do not improve as the season evolves. We consider the role of initial ice, atmosphere and ocean conditions, and summer storms and weather in contributing to the challenge of sea‐ice prediction.
Breaching of an ice dam at Qorlortossup tasia, south Greenland

Abstract In July 2003 an ice-dammed lake was suddenly drained in an outburst flood at Qorlortorssup tasia in south Greenland, the site of a projected hydropower station. The lake developed during the first decades of the 20th century as a result of the recession of the ice cap in this area. It used to drain over a shallow rock spillway towards Sermeq kangigdleq, the adjacent outlet glacier to the north. In order to assess the hazard potential and the additional water contribution from the enlarged catchment, the glacial lake and its surroundings were investigated. Based on the analysis of available historical data, field investigations and model results, the history of lake generation and the sudden outbreak were reconstructed. With the lake formation the ice dam lost its connection to the ice cap. The flood was initiated after the ice surface became low enough for the lake water to overflow the glacier towards Qorlortorssup tasia basin, creating a gully through the glacier which drained approximately 55 × 106 m3 of water over a period of 8-10 days. Thanks to the stability of the dam and the downstream damping of the flood, there was no serious threat to a farm that is situated close to the planned power-station site. In the future, we expect much smaller floods, as a result of partial closure of the gully by ice movement or snowdrift in the winter. The new drainage pattern into Qorlortorssup tasia basin, however, will be a permanent situation. The amount of this new water contribution can only be roughly estimated since the exact size of the drainage basin is not well known.
Effects of slope position, aspect and cropping system on soil nutrient variability in hilly areas

Human activities and topography are main factors affecting soil nutrient variation. However, the relationships between these factors are both site- and scale-specific. In hilly areas of south-western China, the dominant cropping systems are rice, vegetables, oranges, Chinese red pepper and maize–sweet potato intercropping. In the present study, slope position (valley, low slope, flat slope, middle slope, upper slope, ridge) and aspect (north, east, south, west) were derived to investigate the relationships among cropping system, terrain, and soil nutrients at county scale. Crops were mainly planted at middle or flat slope positions. Rice and orange plants were evenly distributed across the aspects whereas vegetables were mostly planted on the northern aspect. Red pepper and maize–sweet potato plants were mainly grown on the western and southern aspects. Rice sites had higher contents of organic matter and available nitrogen (N) and lower contents of available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K). For dryland cropping systems, vegetable sites had higher contents of organic matter, available N, and available P. Red pepper sites had higher contents of available K. Contents of organic matter and available N were generally higher at lower landscape positions. Contents of available K were higher at lower and flat slope positions. Contents of available P were higher at higher landscape positions. Contents of organic matter and available N were higher on the northern and eastern, and lower on the western aspects. Contents of available P were higher on the western and lower on the northern aspects. No significant differences were found for available K across the aspects. Classification tree algorithms indicated that relative importance of the variables on soil nutrient variation was in the order: (i) cropping system, (ii) slope position, and (iii) aspect.
EARTHQUAKE-INDUCED FLOW SLIDES OF FILLS AND INFINITE SLOPES

Earthquake induced flow slides of saturated or partially saturated sloping ground have taken place in man-made earth structures during past earthquakes. Two series of dynamic centrifuge model tests (1:50 scale) were conducted to simulate the behavior of embankment fills and infinite slopes resting on a stiff sloping base. Conditions that yield earthquake-induced flow slide were investigated. The test parameters included soil density, slope angle, level of phreatic water and shaking intensity. The test results showed that downward deformation increased with decreasing soil density, increasing phreatic water elevation and shaking intensity, and that there existed a threshold soil density below which flow slides occurred. Undrained monotonic loading torsional simple shear tests were also conducted. Conditions inducing very large deformation or flow slide that were obtained by the undrained shear tests were consistent with those observed in the model tests.
The sardine run : investigating sardine and predator distribution in relation to environmental conditions using GIS and remotely sensed products.

The sardine run is a spectacular but poorly understood natural phenomenon. This research aims to broaden scientific knowledge pertaining to sardine, Sardinops sagax, distribution, both in relation to their predators and environmental conditions. Sardine distribution was closely related to sea temperature. Sardines were sighted every year along the Lower Wild Coast, where continental shelf conditions were cooled by the Port Alfred upwelling cell. To the north of Mbashe River, shelf conditions were dominated by the warm Agulhas Current, and sardine distribution varied annually in close relation with sea temperature conditions. Along this coastline sardine abundance always peaked between Waterfall Bluff and Port St Johns with favourable conditions caused by the westward inflection of the coastline and the shelf bathymetry. Topographically-induced upwelling was concluded to be the cause of cooler sea temperatures and elevated chl a concentrations. Although chl a concentration appeared to be associated with east coast sardine distribution, the uncertainty with regards data accuracy hindered their usefulness as a predictor of suitable biological conditions for sardine. Sardine northward movement along the KZN coastline was impeded adjacent to the Durban Eddy, where they were forced shorewards by the warm conditions. This coincided with the peak in beach seine catches. The Cape Gannet, Morus capensis, was very closely associated with sardine along the entire east coast. Their abundance declined substantially adjacent to the Durban Eddy. Prevailing atmospheric conditions affected gannet behaviour: they travelled more frequently during strong alongshore winds and foraged more upon cessation of such winds. Gannets were closely associated with feeding dolphins at both coarse and fine scales, and responded to changes in dolphin behaviour. Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis, abundance and group size peaked between Waterfall Bluff and Port St Johns. Along this stretch of coastline they travelled more slowly, and in pods more perpendicular to the bathymetry of the region. Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus, abundance increased during the sardine run with the influx of a migrant stock which reached the KZN Mid South Coast. Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, and sardine distributions did not appear to be related.
25 ( OH ) D 3 levels , incidence and recurrence of different clinical forms of BPPV

a County General Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Vukovar, Croatia b University of Osijek, Medical Faculty, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Osijek, Croatia c Clinical Hospital Center, Department of Neurology, Osijek, Croatia d University of Osijek, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Osijek, Croatia e County General Hospital, Department of Laboratory Diagnostic, Vukovar, Croatia
The Influence of Logjams on Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) Concentrations on the Lower Roanoke River, a Large Sand‐Bed River

This study examines the relation between logjams and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) on the alluvial sand‐bed lower Roanoke River. Disparate data sets from previous bank erosion, fisheries, and large wood studies were used to compare the distribution of largemouth bass with logjam frequency. Logjams are related to the frequency of bank mass wasting increasing from near an upstream dam to the middle reach of the study segment and then decreasing as the river approaches sea level. The highest concentration of largemouth bass and logjams was in the middle reach (110 fish per hour and 21 jams per km). Another measure of largemouth bass distribution, fish biomass density (g h−1), had a similar trend with logjams and was a better predictor of fish distribution versus logjams (R2 = 0.6 and 0.8 and p = 0.08 and 0.02 for fish per hour and g h−1 versus logjam, respectively). We theorize that the preference for adult bass to congregate near logjams indicates the use of the jams as feeding areas. The results of a principal component analysis indicate that fish biomass concentration is much more related to logjam frequency than channel geometry (width, depth, and bank height), bed grain size, bank erosion, or turbidity. The results of this research support recent studies on in‐channel wood and fisheries: Logjams appear to be important for maintaining, or increasing, both largemouth bass numbers and total biomass of fish in large eastern North American rivers. Persistent logjams, important as habitat, exist where relatively undisturbed river reaches allow for bank erosion inputs of wood and available anchoring locations. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Analyzing Pedestrian Characteristics Using the Seoul Floating Population Survey: Focusing on 5 Urban Communities in Seoul

Abstract This paper analyzes and compares the pedestrian characteristics of 5 urban communities with 2012 Seoul floating population survey data. First of all, differences in total pedestrian volumes and time distribution of the volumes are compared across the 5 urban communities and the effects of pedestrian road properties are investigated. Then, we conduct a regression analysis to find factors influencing pedestrian volume according to the type of urban community and day of week. As results, the urban community had the greatest volume and the volume increased significantly at lunch time. Center bus lane, bus stop, and crosswalk lead to more trips in the urban community, while opposite patterns occurred in the other communities. Less slopes and commercial region areas caused more trips in all communities. Regression analysis results showed that a variety of variables including demographic indices, land use type and pedestrian road properties differently affect pedestrian volumes in individual urban communities. The research can be used as basic data to establish polices for pedestrian environment improvement. 본 연구는 서울시 유동인구조사자료를 토대로 5개 생활권역의 보행특성을 비교․분석하였다. 우선 권역별로 총 보행량, 시간대별 보행량, 조사지점 속성에 따른 보행량의 차이를 분석하고 , 다중선형회귀분석을 통해 평일과 주말 보행량에 영향을 미치는 요인을 규명하였다 . 분석결과, 대부분의 권역에서 중앙선, 버스정류장, 횡단보도가 있는 경우 유동인구가 증가하였으나 , 도심권에서는 반대의 현상이 나타났다 . 모든 권역에서 상업지역은 보행의 유발요인인 반면, 경사로는 보행의 방해요인인 것으로 나타났다 . 회귀분석 결과에 의하면 다양한 통행특성지표 , 토지이용지표, 사회적지표 및 조사지점 속성이 유동인구에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다 . 유동인구와 상관성을 보이는 변수는 권역에 따라 다소 상이하였으며 , 영향을 미치는 정도도 다름을 확인할 수 있었다 . 본 연구는 보행량을 종속변수로 하여 영향요인을 규명한 것으로 향후 보행환경 개선을 위한 정책수립시 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것이다 .
High-altitude palaeosurfaces in the Bolivian Andes: evidence for late Cenozoic surface uplift

Abstract Low relief palaeosurfaces are widely preserved in the Cordillera Oríental of the Bolivian Andes at altitudes between 2000 m and 4000 m in a region up to 100 km wide and 600 km long. Remnants of these nearly horizontal or gently undulating erosion surfaces, from 5 to 2000 km2 in area, cut across folded Palaeozoic to Cenozoic bedrock. They appear to be erosional pediments formed between 12 and 3 Ma along broad, low gradient, valleys, which are generally undeformed. In detail, the morphology of surface remnants can be used to construct two distinct palaeodrainage basins. Very little of the material eroded during surface cutting appears to have remained within the Cordillera Oriental and must have been carried into a foreland basin, now preserved in the Subandean fold and thrust belt. The palaeovalleys are generally parallel to the dominant north-south structural grain, forming a tortuous low gradient drainage system which flowed into the foreland basin in an east-west distance of < 150 km. Reconstructions of the drainage systems suggest that they have been uplifted c. 2 km since their formation. These estimates are consistent with plausible models of uplift of the Cordillera Oriental as a consequence of intense deformation in the Subandean fold and thrust belt since c. 10 Ma. However, only since 3 Ma have the surfaces been deeply dissected by drainage cutting more directly across the structural grain. The timing of deep dissection may be partly related to a climate change to wetter and colder conditions.
IN VITRO FLOWERING IN ROSA INDICA L.

A protocol for In vitro flowering in Rosa indica L. from nodal explants by the addition of silver nitrate was established. Multiple shoot formation of up to 5 shoots were obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/1 IAA and 1 mg/1 BA. Regenerated shoots cultured on MS medium containing various concentrations of BA, IAA, and sucrose did not flower. The multiple shoots obtained showed gradual yellowing of leaves which was rectified by the addition of different concentrations of silver nitrate. Addition of silver nitrate in the regeneration medium along with three week interval subculture period induced in vitro flowering in Rosa indica L. The 3-week intervals for two consecutive subcultures on this MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IAA, 1 mg/l BA and 50 mg/l silver nitrate under photoperiod 16/8 (light/dark cycle) were efficient for flower induction. Shoots readily rooted on 1/4 MS medium devoid of growth regulators. Rooted plantlets were hardened and established in pots at 100% survival.
Methane emission from mud volcanoes in eastern Azerbaijan

Methane (CH4) flux to the atmosphere was measured from gas vents and, for the first time, from soil microseepage at four quiescent mud volcanoes and one “everlasting fire” in eastern Azerbaijan. Mud volcanoes show different activity of venting craters, gryphons, and bubbling pools, with CH4 fluxes ranging from less than one to hundreds of tons per year. Microseepage CH4 flux is generally on the order of hundreds of milligrams per square meter per day, even far away from the active centers. The CH4 flux near the everlasting fires (on the order of 105 mg·m−2·d−1) represents the highest natural CH4 emission from soil ever measured. The specific CH4 flux to the atmosphere, between 102 and 103 t·km−2·yr−1, was similar to specific flux from other mud volcanoes in Europe. At least 1400 tons of CH4 per year are released from the investigated areas. It is conservatively estimated that all onshore mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan, during quiescent activity, may still emit ∼0.3–0.9 × 106 t of CH4 per year into the atmosphere. The new data fill a significant gap in the worldwide data set and confirm the importance of geologic sources of greenhouse CH4, although they are not yet considered in the climate-study budgets of atmospheric CH4 sources and sinks.
Source apportionment of fine particulate matter during autumn haze episodes in Shanghai, China

Understanding the origin of fine particulate matter is essential to proposing proper strategies for heavy haze mitigation in Shanghai, China. In this study we used the Particulate Matter Source Apportionment Technology in Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions to quantify the impacts of emissions on the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its important components in Shanghai during heavy haze episodes in late autumn (6–22 November 2010). The factors considered here are regions of Shanghai and its surrounding areas, long‐range regional transport, and different local emission categories. The results indicate that industrial process is the dominant local contributor to total PM2.5 mass in the whole city except that at the urban center vehicle emission contributes slightly more. In addition, industrial process and vehicle emission are the major local contributors for nitrate in Shanghai, although at urban core the contribution from vehicle emission is remarkably larger. Generally, both local contribution and regional transport contribution could dominate a severe haze event in late autumn. However, the dominant contributor could either be local emission or regional transport, usually depending on the meteorological conditions. Therefore, particular attentions should be paid to the emission control in the upwind adjacent provinces, as well as in local areas, for developing effective strategies to reduce PM2.5 pollution in Shanghai.