Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How old are you—Evaluation of age reading methods for the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus, Pallas 1814)

In the Baltic, the first observation of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus, Pallas 1814) was made in 1990. Within the past decade the species became invasive and spread rapidly throughout the Baltic Sea. Studies about the fishes potential impacts on resident species promote the need for an increasing knowledge of their basic stock structures such as growth rates, longevity and mortality, which all rely on accurate estimates of age. Former studies on the round goby have used several different age reading techniques. In this study, we compared three standard otolith preparation methods for ageing and present the best procedure for the invasive round goby. The results showed significant differences in age estimates of the same fish between the different preparation methods and between readers. The estimation of the first annulus, the first year, was the most problematic. The overall agreement was lowest when reading the whole otoliths while the best performance was achieved with sectioned and stained preparation method. Depending on method used the growth estimates also differed. The results question comparability between previous studies and highlight the importance of harmonised aging procedures for the round goby for obtaining correct estimates of population parameters such as growth rate, age at maturity, and longevity.
Teacher Quality Gaps by Disability and Socioeconomic Status: Evidence From Los Angeles

Although most students with disabilities (SWDs) receive instruction from general education teachers, little empirical work has investigated whether these students have suitable access to high-quality teachers. We explore the differences in teacher quality experienced by SWDs and students without disabilities (non-SWDs) in the Los Angeles Unified School District, examining how access varies within schools as well as across school-level disadvantage rates. We leverage several different indicators of teacher effectiveness for general education teachers who instruct both SWDs and non-SWDs. We find that SWDs are significantly more likely to have teachers with lower math value-added (–0.024 standard deviations) than their non-SWD peers, and we find emerging gaps in teacher evaluation scores and exposure to novice teachers. In general, these gaps do not vary by school-level disadvantage.
A diagnostic dashboard to evaluate country water security

While water security is widely regarded as an issue of global significance and concern, there is not yet a consensus on a methodology for evaluating it. The difficulty in operationalizing the concept comes from its various interpretations and characteristics at different spatial and temporal scales. In this paper, we generate a dashboard comprised of 52 indicators to facilitate a rapid assessment of a country’s water security and to focus the first step of a more comprehensive water security diagnostic assessment. We design the dashboard around a conceptualization of water security that builds upon existing framings and metrics. To illustrate its usefulness, we apply the dashboard to a case study of Pakistan and a regional cross-country comparative analysis. The dashboard provides a rapid view of the water security status, trends, strengths, and challenges for Pakistan. The cross-country comparative analysis tentatively identifies relationships between indicators such as water stress and the transboundary dependency ratio, with countries exhibiting high values in both variables being especially vulnerable to transboundary water risk. Overall, this dashboard (1) provides quantitative information on key water-related variables at the country level in a consistent manner and (2) helps to design and focus more in-depth water security diagnostic studies.
Bio-efficacy of Some Newer Insecticides against Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis (Guen) and their residues in/on brinjal fruits.

Bio-efficacy of six newer insecticides – emamectin benzoate (15 g a.i. ha-1), imidacloprid (20 g a.i. ha-1), indoxacarb (50 g a.i. ha-1), lambda – cyhalothrin (15 g a.i. ha-1) and spinosad (50 g a.i. ha-1) along with quinalphos (250 g a.i. ha-1) was evaluated against shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodesorbonalis Guen.) in brinjal (Solanummelongena Linn) at Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar during Rabi 2012-13. Spinosad treatment was significantly superior to others and at par with emamectin benzoate in reducing the shoot and fruit borer damage. Spinosad at 50 g a.i. ha-1 recorded the maximum fruit yield (280.42 q ha-1). It was followed by emamectin benzoate at15 g a.i. ha-1 (267.74 q ha-1) and indoxacarb at 50 g a.i. ha-1 (262.58 q ha-1). Lambda cyhalothrin 15 g a.i. ha-1 treatment recorded maximum cost: benefit ratio of 1: 4.23 closely followed by imidacloprid 20 g and quinalphos 250 g a.i. ha-1 with ICBR of 1: 3.71 and 1: 3.43, respectively.
Proattitudinal versus counterattitudinal messages: Message discrepancy, reactance, and the boomerang effect

ABSTRACT A boomerang effect involves the movement of a message recipient's belief, attitude, or behavior in a direction contrary to the advocated position in the message. There has been limited scholarly attention to the mechanism of belief boomerang. To better understand boomerang effects, we tested the effect of message discrepancy on belief boomerang and the mechanism underlying such an effect with a between-subjects factorial study (N = 458). Our results revealed that a counterattitudinal message resulted in belief boomerang, whereas a proattitudinal message resulted in persuasion. The relationship between discrepancy and belief boomerang was accounted for by a motivational (i.e., reactance) process. The results suggest the significance of examining the boomerang effect as an outcome distinct from a failure to persuade.
The Small-Sized Premium: Is It Really Relevant? Evidence from the European Equity Market

The valuation of a company reflects the expected return or equivalently, the cost of capital that investors demand in exchange for the risk assumed. Despite the ex-ante nature of the problem, the majority of empirical analysis has focused on factors explaining expected returns from an ex-post perspective. In this paper, we take a different approach and try to identify which factors are ex-ante included in discount rates, with particular attention to the so-called size premium. Starting from observed market capitalisations and company fundamentals, we obtain the implied cost of capital from the reverse engineering of a carefully designed fundamental valuation model. Panel data regressions are used to investigate the existence of a relation between the implied cost of capital and the firm’s size, including other control variables representative of the most cited asset pricing “anomalies”. Our sample comprises European non-financial stocks listed on primary markets, with half-yearly observations starting from the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. Contrary to common wisdom, we find that the firm’s size has no tangible impact to explain the implied cost of capital.
Comparative Effects of Mouthwash Containing Trachypermum ammi Oil with Chlorhexidine on Dental Plaque Induced Gingivitis

Background and objectives: The primary etiology for gingivitis is dental plaque resulting in gum inflammation. Beside mechanical procedures, chemical agents in mouthwash can help in removal of plaques. Oil of Trachyspermum ammi rich in thymol may provide beneficial effect in control of gingivitis; therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effect of mouthwash containing the oil with chlorhexidine to control dental plaque and inflammation of gingivae. Methods: Essential oil of the plant was analyzed using GC-MS and amount of thymol was assayed by GC method. Herbal mouthwash was prepared and applied in an open-label non-randomized study, adult female and male suffering of gingivitis (N=30) entered in two groups after oral prophylaxis. Examining for plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BI), and modified gingival index (MGI) were conducted after two weeks administration of the herbal mouthwash. Results: The herbal mouthwash was stable for two months with no physical change and microbial contamination ( 0.05). Conclusion: The effect of T. ammi oil in control of inflammation was comparable with chlorhexidine, while chlorhexidine reduced risks of PI, BI, and MGI higher than those receiving the herbal mouthwash.
Algorithmic properties of first-order modal logics of finite Kripke frames in restricted languages

We study the effect of restricting the number of individual variables, as well as the number and arity of predicate letters, in languages of first-order predicate modal logics of finite Kripke frames on the logics’ algorithmic properties. A finite frame is a frame with a finite set of possible worlds. The languages we consider have no constants, function symbols or the equality symbol. We show that most predicate modal logics of natural classes of finite Kripke frames are not recursively enumerable—more precisely, $\varPi ^0_1$-hard—in languages with three individual variables and a single monadic predicate letter. This applies to the logics of finite frames of the predicate extensions of the sublogics of propositional modal logics $\textbf{GL}$, $\textbf{Grz}$ and $\textbf{KTB}$—among them, $\textbf{K}$, $\textbf{T}$, $\textbf{D}$, $\textbf{KB}$, $\textbf{K4}$ and $\textbf{S4}$.
Phytosociological analysis of montanesubalpine dwarf willow shrub communities in the Julian Alps and on the Trnovski gozd plateau (NW and W Slovenia)

Abstract By means of a phytosociological analysis of 72 relevés of montane-subalpine shrub communities with dominating Rhododendron hirsutum, Salix waldsteiniana, S. glabra and S. appendiculata from the Julian Alps and the the Trnovski Gozd Plateau and by comparing them with similar communities elsewhere in the Alps and the Dinaric Alps we described a new association Laserpitio peucedanoidis-Salicetum waldsteinianae, a new subassociation Rhododendretum hirsuti vaccinietosum myrtilli, two new subassociations of the association Dryado-Rhodothamnetum chamaecisti that had recently been described in the Dolomites (-caricetosum firmae, -salicetosum waldsteinianae), as well as a new association Heliospermo pusillae-Rhododendretum hirsuti. We classified the glabrous willow community in the study area into a new association Homogyno sylvestris- Salicetum glabrae and proposed a new name - Rhododendro hirsuti-Salicetum appendiculatae for the large-leaved willow community, which we subdivided into two geographical variants: var. geogr. Paederota lutea (Julian Alps, Trnovski Gozd Plateau) and var. geogr. Hypericum grisebachii (Liburnian Karst).
Short Selling: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Future Research

Abstract This systematic literature review critically analyzes studies on the determinants of short selling and the implications for information distribution, real economic decisions, financial reporting, and external auditing. We select and review studies within a research framework, identifying two of the most important areas in the literature: short sellers as important information intermediaries and short sellers’ influence on accounting, auditing, and other corporate decisions as the ‘spillover effect’ of the information distribution. Of the two, the former has a strong emphasis on financial markets, whereas the latter extends this traditional topic in finance to financial economics, corporate governance, and accounting. Our review highlights that, although short sellers use both private information and public information in selecting stocks for shorting, we know little about how they use private and non-financial information to influence managerial economic decisions and firms’ financial reporting decisions. In discussing potential future research, we emphasize that penetrating the information ‘black box’ and positioning research regarding the information that short sellers use and how they use it are necessary to advance the short-selling literature.
Studies on Morphology and Physical Attributes of Mango Varieties

Mango, popularly known as the “king of fruits”, is an important tropical fruit of the world. It is the major fruit crop of India, which covers an area of ha with an annual production of t (NHB,). Owing to its wide adaptability, mango is commercially produced in majority of the states. These include Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Orissa and Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh. The region wise popular varieties grown in different parts of the country comprise of „Alphonso‟ and „Kesar‟ in western India, „Banganpalli‟, „Totapuri‟ and „Neelum‟ in southern states, „Bombai‟, „Gulabkhas‟, „Malda‟, „Zardalu‟ and „Fazli‟ in eastern states and „Dashehari‟, „Langra‟ and „Chausa‟ in northern states.
Dietary sodium chloride effect in Nile tilapia fed with fish meal-free diets

Aim of study: To evaluate the effect of the dietary NaCl level for Nile tilapia fingerlings.Area of study: Palotina sector of Federal University of Paraná, in southern Brazil.Material and methods: An experiment was carried using 750 Nile tilapia fingerlings (4.61 ± 0.09 g) distributed in 30 1,000-L circular tanks in a completely randomized design with six treatments and five replicates. NaCl was added to extruded fish meal-free diets at 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 (g/kg). After the experimental period, fish were submitted to a 24 h-fast and weighed. All data were submitted to an analysis of variance and Tukey’s test followed by Levene’s test and regression test, using the Statistica 7.0® software package.Main results: Fish fed the NaCl-free diet presented better growth performance (p<0.05) compared to the other diets. Linear decrease effects on final weight (y = 50.1754 – 0.1672x, r2 = 0.6984), specific growth rate (y = 45.5418 – 0.1688x, r² = 0.6966), weight gain (y = 4.9465 – 0.008x; r² = 0.6886) and apparent feed conversion (y = 0.7113 + 0.0043x; r² = 0.7655) were noted. Efficiency and apparent protein retention were better in the NaCl-free diet (p<0.05). Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed for fillet fat and crude protein content. Increasing NaCl levels led to significant decreases (p<0.05) in Nile tilapia fingerling protein efficiency rates (y = 3.7804 - 0.0116x; r² = 0.6549). Research highlights: Thus, NaCl should not be included in fish meal-free diets for Nile tilapia fingerlings.
Composición botánica del matorral sarcocaule en Baja California Sur durante las estaciones húmeda y seca

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la composición florística del matorral sarcocaule del desierto sonorense en un área de 800 ha dentro de una propiedad ejidal ubicada en los límites de la ciudad de La Paz, Baja California Sur. El muestreo se realizó durante la época de lluvias (septiembre-noviembre de 2018) y a finales de la épocade sequía (mayo-agosto de 2019), por medio de 20 cuadrantes de 5 m × 5 m. Se identificaron 29 especies de 1 634 individuos, entre las dos temporadas y se consideraron las variables de altura y diámetro de copa de cada ejemplar por especie, para determinar abundancia (Ar), dominancia (Dr), frecuencia (Fr), índice de valor de importancia (IVI) y los índices de Shannon para la diversidad de especies (H´) e índice de Margalef para la riqueza de especies (S´). Durante la época de lluvias, se observó a Jatropha cinerea como dominante Dr=7.15 % y con mayor IVI (10.7 %); Turnera diffusa fue la más abundante con Ar=3.2. En cambio, para la temporada seca, fue Prosopis articulata la especie dominante Dr=9.29 y con mayor IVI (12.51 %); Mammillaria armillata fue la más abundante, con Ar=4.56. Los índices de (H’) y (S’) durante la época de lluvias fueron 3.36 y 8.09, respectivamente, con diferencia entre ellos (p≤0.05) al compararlos con los de la temporada seca (2.88 y 4.88, respectivamente), debido a la ausencia de taxones y disminución del número de individuos, en relación con la época húmeda.
Effect of changes in management practices and animal performance on ammonia emissions from Canadian beef production in 1981 as compared with 2011

Abstract: The present study compared ammonia (NH3) emissions from Canadian beef production in 1981–2011. Temporal and regional differences in cattle categories, feed types and management systems, average daily gains, carcass weights, and manure handling practices were considered. A scenario-based sensitivity analysis in 2011 estimated the impact of substituting corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) for grain in feedlot diets. On average, 22% of the total nitrogen (N) intake was lost as ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) in both years. Manure emission sources were consistent across years, averaging 12%, 40%, 28%, and 21% for grazing, confinement, storage, and land spreading, respectively. Emissions per animal in 1981 and 2011 were 16.0 and 18.4 kg NH3 animal-1 yr-1, respectively. On an intensity basis, kilogram of NH3 emitted per kilogram of beef decreased 20%, from 0.17 in 1981 to 0.14 in 2011. This reduction was attributed to increases in reproductive efficiency, average daily gain and carcass weight, and improved breeding herd productivity. In 2011, substituting DDGS for grain in feedlot diets increased total NH3 emissions and losses per animal. Although addition of by-products from the bioethanol industry can lower diet costs, it will be at the expense of an increase in NH3 emissions.
Do Trade Liberalisation and Financial Development Affect Macroeconomic Volatility? Evidence from Africa

The study investigates the effect of financial development and trade liberalisation on macroeconomic volatility in Africa between 1980 and 2017. The study employed panel data, de jure and de facto measures of financial openness and three estimation techniques (pooled Ordinary least square method [OLS], fixed effect and dynamic general method of moment [GMM]) to analyse the data. Results show that increased financial openness also leads to increased income volatility for the de jure measure of financial openness while for the de facto measure increased financial openness reduces income volatility. Results also show that financial openness leads to subtle volatility of output growth in Africa. The results contradict the argument that more financial openness leads to lower volatility in consumption in Africa. Furthermore, investment volatility responded to the measures of financial openness in different ways. The study conclude policymakers should focus more on policies that will foster financial system development as it has shown to be very effective in reducing macroeconomic volatility in Africa.
Computer-Assisted Translation Tools: An Evaluation of Their Usability among Arab Translators

Technology has become an essential part of the translation profession. Nowadays, computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools are extensively used by translators to enhance their productivity while maintaining high-quality translation services. CAT tools have gained popularity given that they provide a useful environment to facilitate and manage translation projects. Yet, little research has been conducted to investigate the usability of these tools, especially among Arab translators. In this study, we evaluate the usability of CAT tool from the translators’ perspective. The software usability measurement inventory (SUMI) survey is used to evaluate the system based on its efficiency, affect, usefulness, control, and learnability attributes. In total, 42 participants completed the online survey. Results indicated that the global usability of these tools is above the average. Results for all usability subscales were also above average wherein the highest scores were obtained for affect and efficiency, and the lowest scores were attributed to helpfulness and learnability. The findings suggest that CAT tool developers need to work further on the enhancement of the tool’s helpfulness and learnability to improve the translator’s experience and satisfaction levels. Further improvements are still required to increase the Arabic language support to meet the needs of Arab translators.
The effect of dietary fish oil replacement with soybean oil on growth and health of dusky kob, Argyrosomus japonicus (Pisces: Sciaenidae)

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . vi CHAPTER 1 . 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 Aquaculture in the world . 1 Aquaculture and aquafeeds in South Africa . 3 Dusky kob, Argyrosomus japonicus, and a review of its culture . 6 Lipids in fish nutrition. 8 Fish nutrition, fish oil and alternative feed ingredients . 10 Aim and objectives . 13 CHAPTER 2 . 14 GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF JUVENILE DUSKY KOB, ARGYROSOMUS JAPONICUS, FED DIETS WITH FISH OIL REPLACEMENT BY SOYBEAN OIL . 14 Introduction . 14 Material and methods . 16 Results . 24 Discussion . 35 Conclusion . 41 CHAPTER 3 . 42 THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FISH OIL REPLACEMENT BY SOYBEAN OIL ON THE HEALTH OF DUSKY KOB, ARGYROSOMUS JAPONICUS . 42 Introduction . 42 Material and methods . 47 Results . 51 Discussion . 69 Conclusion . 80 CHAPTER 4 . 81 GENERAL DISCUSSION . 81 REFERENCES . 86
Nowcasting and Validating Earth's Electric Field Response to Extreme Space Weather Events Using Magnetotelluric Data: Application to the September 2017 Geomagnetic Storm and Comparison to Observed and Modeled Fields in Scotland

In the United Kingdom, geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) are calculated from thin‐sheet electrical conductivity models. In the absence of conductivity models, time derivatives of magnetic fields are sometimes used as proxies for GIC‐related electric fields. An alternative approach, favored in the United States, is to calculate storm time electric fields from time‐independent impedance tensors computed from an array of magnetotelluric (MT) sites and storm time magnetic fields recorded at geomagnetic observatories or assumed from line current models. A paucity of direct measurements of storm time electric fields has restricted validation of these different techniques for nowcasting electric fields and GICs. Here, we present unique storm time electric field data from seven MT sites in Scotland that recorded before, during, and after the September 2017 magnetic storm. By Fourier transforming electric field spectra computed using different techniques back to the time domain, we are able to make direct comparisons with these measured storm time electric field time series. This enables us to test the validity of different approaches to nowcasting electric fields. Our preferred technique involves frequency domain multiplication of magnetic field spectra from a regional site with a local impedance tensor that has been corrected for horizontal magnetic field gradients present between the local site and the regional site using perturbation tensors derived from geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS). Scatter plots of scaling factors between measured and nowcasted electric fields demonstrate the importance of coupling between the polarization of the storm time magnetic source field and Earth's direction‐dependent deep electrical conductivity structure.
Management of Meloidogyne incognita race 1 through the use of entomopathogenic nematodes in tomato.

Entomopathogenic nematodes; Steinernema asiaticum (Anis), Steinernema glaseri (Steiner), Heterorhabditis indica (Poinar) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) were investigated for their effect on Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) in tomato. They were applied at different levels before and at the same time with the application of root-knot nematodes. Suppression of M. incognita varied with application rates of S. asiaticum, S. glaseri, H. indica and H. bacteriophora in tomato. The high application rates of S. asiaticum, S. glaseri, H. indica and H. bacteriophora applied both at the same time and before reduced M. incognita egg production. The low rates of S. asiaticum, S. glaseri, H. indica and H. bacteriophora were not as effective as high application rates. The findings of this study suggested that entomopathogenic nematodes could be used for the management of root-knot nematodes.