Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the effect of different plant spacing on growth, biomass accumulation and initial establishment of Moringa oleifera multi-purpose tree

A field study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different plant spacing on growth, biomass accumulation and initial establishment of Moringa oleifera multi-purpose tree. This was a one factor experiment comprising of five different plant spacing carried out in randomised design (RCBD) in three blocks at the University of Zimbabwe, Crop Science Department. The main objective of this study was to determine the most ideal plant spacing for increased biomass accumulation. The net plot was 3 × 3 m. Leaf harvests were done periodically at three week intervals by harvesting three side branches and fresh and dry matter biomass was taken in grams per plant/plot. The results indicated that high plant populations/unit area with closer spacing, produced higher biomass yields, robust rooting and longer stems, but with smaller stem diameters. Whilst on the other hand, low plant populations resulted in higher individual plant growth as evidenced by the thicker stem diameters produced. Therefore for increased biomass and leaf production, it is recommended that closer plant spacing be used if the plant is intended for vegetable and forage utilization. However, if the plants are to be utilized for fuel, leaf processing, pod and seed production, wider plant spacing are recommended for increased individual plant growth.
Evaluation of hybrid purity with their parents in sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Monech) by using Rapd and SSR markers

Sorghum is one of the main staple food for the world’s poorest and most food insecure people across the semi-arid tropic. It is the second crop after maize in developing high yielding hybrids using cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility system (Arya et al., 2014). In this context, determination of genetic purity is an essential requirement for its commercial success of the hybrid. In present investigation, four sorghum hybrids were screened with RAPD and SSR markers for hybrid confirmation and purity testing. Five RAPD primers and eight SSR markers enabled to assess the purity of hybrid with their parents. Among RAPD, the primer OPA-4 produced maximum of 100% polymorphism while primer OPA-18 showed 71.43% polymorphism and found to be least polymorphic. Also, the PIC values of eight polymorphic SSR markers ranged from 0.44 to 0.77 with an average of 0.58. The microsatellite Sb6-84 was observed to be most informative with the PIC value of 0.77, which significantly determined genetic relatedness among hybrids and parental lines. Sb4-121 alone could confirm three hybrids by producing male parent specific allele. The genetic similarity retrieved on the basis of combined RAPD and SSR data using Dice coefficient was ranged from 0.31 to 0.87 with an average of 0.53. The dendrogram developed through UPGMA clustered the hybrids with their respective male parent revealed similarity among them being the true hybrids.
CHECK-LIST OF MOSSES OF EAST EUROPE AND NORTH ASIA СПИСОК МХОВ ВОСТОЧНОЙ ЕВРОПЫ И СЕВЕРНОЙ АЗИИ

Check-list of mosses of the East Europe and North Asia includes data on 1302 species, 8 subspecies and 42 varieties occurring in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tadjikistan. Territories of Ukraine and Russia are subdivided into 3 and 19 regions respectively. Each record for a country and region has a reference to the relevant publication. Резюме Список мхов Восточной Европы и Северной Азии включает сведения о 1302 видах, 8 подвидах и 42 разновидностях мхов, встречающихся в Литве, Латвии, Эстонии, Беларуси, Украине, Молдове, России, Грузии, Армении, Азербайджане, Казахстане, Туркменистане, Узбекистане, Киргизии, Таджикистане. Территории Украины и России подразделены дополнительно на 3 и 19 регионов соответственно. Все указания на нахождение вида в странах или регионах сопровождаются ссылками на соответствующие источники информации.
E ﬃ cacy of Guardian Cap Soft-Shell Padding on Head Impact Kinematics in American Football: Pilot Findings

: Sport-related concussion prevention strategies in collision sports are a primary interest for sporting organizations and policy makers. After-market soft-shell padding purports to augment the protective capabilities of standard football helmets and to reduce head impact severity. We compared head impact kinematics [peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak rotational acceleration (PRA)] in athletes wearing Guardian Cap soft-shell padding to teammates without soft-shell pad-ding. Ten Division I college football players were enrolled [soft-shell padding (SHELL) included four defensive linemen and one tight end; non-soft-shell (CONTROL) included two o ﬀ ensive line-men, two defensive linemen, and one tight end]. Participants wore helmets equipped with the Head Impact Telemetry System to quantify PLA (g) and PRA (rad/s 2 ) during 14 practices. Two-way ANO-VAs were conducted to compare log-transformed PLA and PRA between groups across helmet location and gameplay characteristics. In total, 968 video-con ﬁ rmed head impacts between SHELL ( n = 421) and CONTROL ( n = 547) were analyzed. We observed a Group x Stance interaction for PRA (F 1,963 = 7.21; p = 0.007) indicating greater PRA by SHELL during 2-point stance and lower PRA during 3-or 4-point stances compared to CONTROL. There were no between-group main e ﬀ ects. Pro-tective soft-shell padding did not reduce head impact kinematic outcomes among college football athletes.
Remote Sensing of Environment

Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have provided an unprecedented opportunity for crop monitoring due to its high revisit frequency and wide spatial coverage. The dual-pol (VV-VH) Sentinel-1 SAR data are being utilized for the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as for other national projects, which are providing Sentinel derived information to support crop monitoring networks. Among the Earth observation products identi ﬁ ed for agriculture monitoring, indicators of vegetation status are deemed critical by end-user communities. In literature, several experiments usually utilize the backscatter intensities to characterize crops. In this study, we have jointly utilized the scattering information in terms of the degree of polarization and the eigenvalue spectrum to derive a new vegetation index from dual-pol (DpRVI) SAR data. We assess the utility of this index as an indicator of plant growth dynamics for canola, soybean, and wheat, over a test site in Canada. A temporal analysis of DpRVI with crop biophysical variables (viz., Plant Area Index (PAI), Vegetation Water Content (VWC), and dry biomass (DB)) at di ﬀ erent phenological stages con ﬁ rms its trend with plant growth dynamics. For each crop type, the DpRVI is compared with the cross and co-pol ratio ( σ VH0 / σ VV0 ) and dual-pol Radar Vegetation Index (RVI = 4 σ VH0 /( σ VV0 + σ VH0 )), Polarimetric Radar Vegetation Index (PRVI), and the Dual Polarization SAR Vegetation Index (DPSVI). Statistical analysis with biophysical variables shows that the DpRVI outperformed the other four vegetation indices, yielding signi ﬁ cant correlations for all three crops. Correlations between DpRVI and biophysical variables are highest for canola, with coe ﬃ cients of determination ( R 2 ) of 0.79 (PAI), 0.82 (VWC), and 0.75 (DB). DpRVI had a moderate correlation ( R 2 ≳ 0.6) with the biophysical parameters of wheat and soybean. Good retrieval accuracies of crop biophysical parameters are also observed for all three crops.
PO V ERTY ALLEVIATION AND SUST A INABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL CAPITAL

This paper reviews the literature on sustainable development and its focus on the role of natural capital to see what implications it has for poverty alleviation, based on a workshop aimed to see how ideas of sustainable development fit into the vision for development articulated by Stiglitz in his Prebish lecture at UNCTAD in 1998. It also examines the ideas for economic development outlined by Stiglitz to our own individual conclusions in terms of implications for sustainable development and natural capital management. The final section of the paper relate to the Stiglitz paper and the guiding principles of sustainable development.
Palaeocurrents and palaeo-environment of part of the Bearreraig Sandstone (Middle Jurassic) of Skye and Raasay, Inner Hebrides

Synopsis Part of the Middle Jurassic Bearreraig Sandstone in Skye (Strathaird) and Raasay consists of cross-bedded sandstones and sandy bioclastic limestones with marine fossils. The cross-bedding sets are mainly planar or subplanar, but sometimes trough. Palaeocurrent directions were bimodal (approximately N–S) in Strathaird, and unimodal (to N–NE) in Raasay. The beds were deposited as tidal sand waves migrating parallel to the coastline, and possibly influenced in direction by the major Camasunary, Screapadal and Applecross faults. The great lateral variation in facies, apparently fault-related, is in marked contrast to the earlier (Toarcian) and later (Bathonian, Great Estuarine Group) situations in the Hebrides Basin.
Using Demographic Data as Predictor Variables: a Questionable Choice

Predictive analytics methods in education are seeing widespread use and are producing increasingly accurate predictions of students’ outcomes. With the increased use of predictive analytics comes increasing concern about fairness for specific subgroups of the population. One approach that has been proposed to increase fairness is using demographic variables directly in models, as predictors. In this paper we explore issues of fairness in the use of demographic variables as predictors of long-term student outcomes, studying the arguments for and against this practice in the contexts where this literature has been published. We analyze arguments for the inclusion of demographic variables, specifically claims that this approach improves model performance and charges that excluding such variables amounts to a form of ‘color-blind’ racism. We also consider arguments against including demographic variables as predictors, including reduced actionability of predictions, risk of reinforcing bias, and limits of categorization. We then discuss how contextual factors of predictive models should influence case-specific decisions for the inclusion or exclusion of demographic variables and discuss the role of proxy variables. We conclude that, on balance, there are greater benefits to fairness if demographic variables are used to validate fairness rather than as predictors within models.
Cricket Protein Isolate Extraction: Effect of Ammonium Sulfate on Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Proteins

Crickets are known to be a promising alternative protein source. However, a negative consumer bias and an off-flavor have become obstacles to the use of these insects in the food industry. In this study, we extracted the protein from commercial cricket powder by employing alkaline extraction–acid precipitation and including ammonium sulfate. The physicochemical and functional properties of the proteins were determined. It was found that, upon including 60% ammonium sulfate, the cricket protein isolate (CPI) had the highest protein content (~94%, w/w). The circular dichroism results indicated that a higher amount of ammonium sulfate drastically changed the secondary structure of the CPI by decreasing its α-helix content and enhancing its surface hydrophobicity. The lowest solubility of CPI was observed at pH 5. The CPI also showed better foaming properties and oil-holding capacity (OHC) compared with the cricket powder. In conclusion, adding ammonium sulfate affected the physicochemical and functional properties of the CPI, allowing it to be used as an alternative protein in protein-enriched foods and beverages.
Skin Debris on the Face of the Turin Shroud: A SEM-EDX Analysis

Aim: We have studied the only found three skin debris (P1, P2 and P3) deposited on the Face area of our sample of the Turin Shroud. Methods: P1, P2 and P3 were explored by optical microscopy, by SEM and by EDX analysis. Results: All P1, P2 and P3 are true skin debris, as observed in optic and electronic microscopy; their elementary compositions show organic matter, plus a sulphur peak that corresponds to keratin. P1, P2 and P3 are constituted of layers of corneocytes; in P3, which is certainly a human skin debris, we can observe both the epidermis and some residual dermis.
How do Teachers Approach New Technologies: Geography Teachers' Attitudes towards Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

This study was aimed at understanding the extent to which GIS technology has been diffused throughout secondary school geography lessons in Turkey by focusing on geography teachers' attitudes towards GIS. A survey form was sent to geography teachers of around 200 private secondary schools in Turkey, 79 of which were responded to from 55 high schools located in 33 separate provinces. The study provided an understanding of teachers' knowledge, skills, and attitudes about GIS. As the study revealed, knowledge of GIS and its use in geography lessons by teachers was minimal. More than half of the teachers (66%) had no precise understanding of what GIS is and 82% of the teachers did not know how it could be used in geography lessons. The use of GIS among teachers in geography lessons was also found to be dramatic low. Around one seventh of the teachers (16%) said that they had used GIS software on a basic level before. Only seven of these teachers indicated that they had used GIS software in their geography lessons. Teachers' attitudes, however, were positive towards GIS. Most of the teachers (76%) thought that GIS is an effective teaching tool for geography lessons. Although some external barriers regarding lack of hardware, software, and data exist, the positive attitudes of teachers towards GIS is a significant factor which will contribute to integration of GIS into geography lessons in Turkey in the future. Keyword : GIS, geography education, secondary school, teachers' attitudes
TECOVASUCHUS CHATTERJEEI, A NEW AETOSAUR (ARCHOSAURIA: STAGONOLEPIDIDAE) FROM THE TECOVAS FORMATION (CARNIAN, UPPER TRIASSIC) OF TEXAS

Abstract A new aetosaur, Tecovasuchus chatterjeei gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Triassic (middle or upper Carnian) Tecovas Formation of Texas is described, based primarily on osteoderms from several individuals. The diagnosis is based on a unique suite of osteoderm characters: very wide dorsal paramedian osteoderms; a low, keel-shaped dorsal boss on the dorsal paramedians that does not reach the posterior margin of the osteoderm; a strut on the ventral surface of the dorsal paramedians; ornamentation on the dorsal paramedians with both deep pits and fainter radiating grooves; a unique strongly thickened and beveled posterior edge on the dorsal paramedians; a prominent raised anterior bar on both the dorsal paramedian and lateral osteoderms; lateral osteoderms with dorsoventrally flattened, posteriorly excavated horns, reduced, tongue-like dorsal flanges, and larger, plate-like ventrolateral flanges. The low number of diagnostic criteria for identifying aetosaur osteoderms results in mandatory splitting at the generic level. Some specimens of Tecovasuchus have been misidentified previously as Paratypothorax, suggesting that shoehorning osteoderms into previously recognized taxa may conceal greater taxonomic diversity among aetosaurs than has generally been appreciated. Specimens with multiple osteoderms assignable to a single individual are important in naming and characterizing new aetosaur taxa, and at least one complete osteoderm is usually necessary when assigning specimens to pre-existing taxa.
Assessment of the LMDZ model to the dynamic and thermodynamic properties of cyclogenesis in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and on the West African coast

The study's primary objective is to evaluate the LMDZ model's capacity to simulate the cyclogenesis process, interannual variability of cyclone activity, and associated processes in the tropical Atlantic, focusing on the West African coasts to the central tropical Atlantic region. Two main approaches are used. Firstly, the model's ability to capture the interannual variability in Atlantic cyclogenesis activity is examined through seasonal mean. These seasonal average conditions were identified based on ERAI, along with years characterized by strong and low cyclonic activities. Secondly, a more descriptive approach is undertaken, involving the spatiotemporal monitoring of the Hurricane Karl, which originated near the Cape Verdean coasts on September 16th, 2004, until its dissipation. Horizontal sections of the tropospheric layers most sensitive to the cyclonic phenomenon are used to comprehensively track its progress. The results show a significant variability of cyclonic activity in the tropical Atlantic at different time scales, indicating that the period from July to September and the region along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) are favorable for tropical cyclogenesis. It also revealed that the years of high cyclonic activity are mainly characterized by low sea level pressure, strong 850 hPa relative vorticity, high 700 hPa relative humidity, and strong 200 hPa divergence anomalies, whereas the opposite is observed during the low activity years. The LMDZ model performs well in reproducing cyclonic parameters from the surface to the upper troposphere with mean absolute errors being less important from the surface (11%) to the high troposphere (17%). At the synoptic scale, the model accurately replicates hurricane characteristics, including intensity categories, spatial distribution, and trajectories. However, it falls short in accurately representing the genesis phase, such as tropical depression.
PLASTIC DEFORMATION OF QUARTZ IN NATURE

Quartz grains occurring in naturally deformed rocks, irrespective of mode of origin, exhibit a wide variety of deformation features, including undulatory extinction, deformation lamellae, fracturing, and marginal granulation. X-ray studies of individual grains show that most of the quartz has deformed plastically by bend gliding. One of the three crystallographic a axes is always the major axis of bending, but no unique glide direction or glide plane has been established. The optical features and the details of the X-ray patterns may be explained and correlated by a theory involving dislocations and polygonizalion, whereby the bent crystal is transformed into a number of elongate, relatively perfect crystallites inclined to one another at small angles and separated by regions of atomic misfit. Undulatory extinction is explained as the optical expression of the results of bend gliding and polygonization. Deformed crystals show a significant decrease in the frequency of Dauphine twinning; this is also attributed to the bending process.
Factors Contributing to Resistance in the use of Information and Communications Technology: A Snapshot on Engineering Graphics and Design Teachers

The prevalent adoption of ICT in education has compelled even EGD teachers to integrate ICT in teaching and learning of EGD. However, not every teacher understands the importance of using technology in EGD lessons, even though it offers a lot of benefits for both teachers and learners. Many scholars have attributed this resistance of teachers to many factors, such as gender, age, and attitudes as well as the fact that teachers do not perceive technology as important as they believe that traditional methods are still bearing fruit. In an attempt to understand the actual reasons behind teachers’ resistance to ICT integration in EGD lessons, this study followed a qualitative approach, and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Purposive sampling was used to identify 11 EGD teachers to take part in this study. Furthermore, the study employed the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework, which puts emphasis on the acceptance and adoption of technology. This framework assisted in pinpointing factors contributing to ICT resistance and how teachers can accept technology for the purpose of teaching and learning. The findings show that factors such as age, lack of proper skills to use technology, lack of exposure to technology at the tertiary level, attitude, and shortage of resources in schools are contributing to teachers’ resistance to using technology. The study recommends that the department of education should train teachers and provide schools with relevant ICT resources.
Diagenesis of Plio-Pleistocene sediments of the Colorado River delta, Southern California

ABSTRACT Interbedded mudrocks and fine-grained sandstones from three wells in the Plio-Pleistocene Colorado River delta in the Imperial Valley, southern California, were examined by X-ray powder-diffraction methods, chemical analyses, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the extent and course of low-temperature metamorphic reactions. This sequence was compared to Tertiary rocks from the U.S. Gulf Coast in an effort to explore the kinetics of low-temperature reactions in natural systems. Mineralogical changes observed are 1) the progressive transformation of mixed-layer illite-smectite to pure illite over the temperature range 70°C to 210°C; 2) the apparent appearance of chlorite as a diagenetic mineral at 180°C to 194°C coincident with the onset of R (symbol) 3 ordering in the illite-smectites; 3) the loss of kaolinite above approximately 210°C; and 4) a progressive decrease in the amount of detrital potassium feldspar over the same temperature interval that brackets the illitization reaction. Comparison of bulk chemical analyses with analyses of the Comparison of Tertiary sequences with this Plio-Pleistocene sequence indicates that kinetics significantly influence the appearance of clay mineral assemblages at temperatures below approximately 175°C. At temperatures above 175°C, temperature, rather than time, appears to govern the reactions.
Effect of Food Restriction on Food Grinding in Brandt’s Voles

Simple Summary Food grinding is a behavior that occurs in rodents, supposedly affected by a variety of circumstances. It is yet unclear how these elements affect food grinding. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiota and food grinding, as well as the impact of varying food supplies on this behavior. Our research showed that food restriction may change the abundance of the gut microbiota and its metabolites as well as reduce the amount of ground food to a larger extent than its effect on food consumption. Therefore, the inhibition of food grinding in Brandt’s voles may be attributed in part to differences in the abundance of gut microbiome and their metabolite, short-chain fatty acids, which is induced by food restriction. This study suggests that reducing the food supply could effectively inhibit food grinding during laboratory rodent feeding. Abstract Food grinding is supposed to be influenced by multiple factors. However, how those factors affecting this behavior remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of food restriction on food grinding in Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), as well as the potential role of the gut microbiota in this process, through a comparison of the variations between voles with different food supplies. Food restriction reduced the relative amount of ground food to a greater extent than it lowered the relative food consumption, and altered the abundance of Staphylococcus, Aerococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Un--s-Clostridiaceae bacterium GM1. Fecal acetate content for the 7.5 g-food supply group was lower than that for the 15 g-food supply group. Our study indicated that food restriction could effectively inhibit food grinding. Further, Un--s-Clostridiaceae bacterium GM1 abundance, Aerococcus abundance, and acetate content were strongly related to food grinding. Variations in gut microbial abundance and short-chain fatty acid content induced by food restriction likely promote the inhibition of food grinding. These results could potentially provide guidance for reducing food waste during laboratory rodent maintenance.