Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Productivity impact of improved rice varieties’ adoption: case of smallholder rice farmers in Nigeria

ABSTRACT The use of agricultural technology, such as high-yielding seed varieties in developing countries where the primary source of livelihood is agriculture is vital in reducing poverty, hunger, and promoting food security. This study examined the productivity impact of improved rice varieties (IRV) among smallholder farmers in South West, Nigeria, using cross-sectional data obtained from a sample of 250 rice farming households. The propensity score matching (PSM) technique was used to evaluate the impact of IRV adoption on rice productivity. The results of the study indicated that educational attainment, experience in rice farming, extension contact, access to credit, and access to IRV seeds had a positive and statistically significant influence on the adoption of IRV. Moreover, adopters of IRV gain 452 kg more rice grains per hectare of rice farms. The paper concludes that strengthening extension services using new strategies like electronic and social media may be more effective than the conventional method of extension delivery. Also, having an effective credit scheme and making the improved seeds physically accessible to farmers will increase adoption of IRVs, and subsequently boost farm productivity.
Effects of dietary yeast cell wall on performance, egg quality and humoral immune response in laying hens.

Bu arastirma, yumurta tavugu rasyonlarina maya hucre duvari ilavesinin 26 hafta sureyle performans, yumurta kalitesi, bazi kan parametreleri ve humoral immun yanit uzerine etkilerini belirlemek amaciyla yapilmistir. Bu amacla 39 haftalik 225 adet Hyline kahverengi yumurta tavugu 1 kontrol ve 4 deneme grubuna ayrilmistir. Kontrol grubu rasyonuna ekmek mayasi Saccharomyces cerevisiae (InteMOS)’den elde edilen maya hucre duvari 1, 2, 3 ve 4 g/kg duzeylerinde ilave edilerek sirasiyla birinci, ikinci, ucuncu ve dorduncu deneme gruplari rasyonlari olusturulmustur. Rasyonlara maya hucre duvari ilavesi canli agirligi, yem tuketimini, yumurta verimini, yumurta agirligini, yemden yararlanmayi ve yumurta ic kalite ile dis kalite ozelliklerini etkilememistir. Maya hucre duvarinin 1 ve 2 g/kg duzeylerinde ilavesi ile yumurta kolesterol duzeyi (mg/g yumurta sarisi) azalmistir (P<0.05). Kan serumu kolesterol ve trigliserit duzeyleri rasyona 2, 3 ve 4 g/kg maya hucre duvari ilavesi ile azalmistir (P<0.01). Rasyona maya hucre duvari ilavesi SRBC’ye karsi antikor titresini artirmistir (P<0.01). Sonuc olarak rasyona 1 ve 2 g/kg duzeyinde maya hucre duvari ilavesi dusuk kolesterollu yumurta uretiminde ve humoral immun yanitin gelismesinde yararli olacagi kanisina varilmistir
Contracted Extravelar Segments of the Levator Veli Palatini Muscle: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Morphometric Study

Objectives: To provide detailed descriptions of contraction-induced morphometric changes in the extravelar segments of the levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle using 3-dimensional (3-D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design: Three-dimensional MRI data were acquired at rest and during “silent /i/” from 4 singers. During silent /i/, participants voluntarily sustained velar elevation while breathing orally for the entire scan time. Focusing on the extravelar segments, LVP length, angle of the muscle origin, and cross-sectional area (CSA), measurements were obtained and compared between tasks. Results: Three of the 4 participants exhibited the expected patterns of change following concentric contraction of the LVP muscle. Consistent changes from the resting to the contracted state included reductions in LVP length by 13.5% and angle of the muscle origin by 9.8%, as well as increases in CSAs by 22.1%, on average. Conclusions: This study presented high-resolution data of the LVP muscle behavior with the first in vivo 3-D measurements of the contracted LVP muscle, which can be useful for the validation of computational models that aim at describing biomechanical properties of the LVP muscle in future research. The active behavior of the extravelar LVP muscle also provides some insight on optimal LVP muscle geometry to consider during cleft palate repair.
Comparing Discourse and Policy Network Approaches: Evidence from Water Policy on Micropollutants

To understand how actors make collective policy decisions, scholars use policy and discourse network approaches to analyze interdependencies among actors. While policy networks often build on survey data, discourse networks typically use media data to capture the beliefs or policy preferences shared by actors. One of the reasons for the variety of data sources is that discourse data can be more accessible to researchers than survey data (or vice versa). In order to make an informed decision on valid data sources, researchers need to understand how differences in data sources may affect results. As this remains largely unexplored, we analyze the differences and similarities between policy and discourse networks. We systematically compare policy networks with discourse networks in respect of the types of actors participating in them, the policy proposals actors advocate and their coalition structures. For the policy field of micropollutants in surface waters in Germany, we observe only small differences between the results obtained using the policy and discourse network approaches. We find that the discourse network approach particularly emphasizes certain actor types, i.e., expanders who seek to change the policy status quo. The policy network approach particularly reflects electoral interests, since preferences for policies targeting voters are less visible. Finally, different observation periods reveal some smaller differences in the coalition structures within the discourse network. Beyond these small differences, both approaches come to largely congruent results with regards to actor types, policy preferences and coalition structures. In our case, the use of discourse and policy network approaches lead to similar conclusions regarding the study of policy processes.
A Cautionary Note on Identification and Scaling Issues in Second-order Latent Growth Models

ABSTRACT The second-order latent growth models (2nd-order LGMs) have been recommended to analyze longitudinal data when latent constructs are measured by multiple indicators. However, identification and scaling issues in 2nd-order LGMs have not been well understood. Using both formulas and a numerical example, we show that under strong longitudinal factor invariance estimates of growth parameters in 2nd-order LGMs depend on how the latent factor is scaled. With the marker-variable identification method, estimates of growth parameters depend on the choice of marker variable and the constants applied to its loading and intercept. With the effect-coding identification method, three sets of constraints applied to loadings and intercepts lead to meaningful interpretation of growth trajectories. When the latent factor at the reference time point is standardized, estimates of growth parameters are unique. We suggest users explicitly state the identification and scaling method in interpreting estimated growth parameters when a 2nd-order LGM is applied.
Antihyperlipidemic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of fruits of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. in Triton X100 induced hyperlipidemi c rats

Summary The plant Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. is used in traditional medical practices of Africa and India to treat hepatic diseases. The present study is designed to evaluate the effect of K. africana fruit extract (KAFE) on lipid profiles in Triton X-100 induced hyperlipidemia in male wistar rats. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the fruits when tested for antihyperlipidemic potential, exhibited activity in albino rats when compared to standard drugs. The activity was assessed by studying the lipid profiles of serum and liver of the control and standard/extracttreated animals. The aqueous and alcoholic extract significantly increased (p < 0.0001) plasma High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and decreased plasma Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and Triglyceride (TG) levels as compared to hyperlipidemic control.
Zonda wind classification using machine learning algorithms

Zonda wind is a typical downslope windstorm over the eastern slopes of Central Andes, in Argentina, which produces extremely warm and dry conditions creating substantial socioeconomic impacts. To achieve the Zonda wind classification, objective methods based on supervised machine learning (ML) algorithms are used. ML training and supervision is based on the subjective Zonda wind classification assessing the total hourly data that correspond to Zonda wind observations for three surface stations longtime series. ML algorithms includes; the linear discriminant analysis (LD), linear support vector machine (SVM), k nearest neighbours (k‐NN), logistic regression (LR) and classification trees. Metrics obtained from the confusion matrix are used to compare the models' skills in class separation. Considering event‐based statistics, the obtained probability of detection values locate all models above 85% with a probability of false detection lower than 0.523% and a missing ratio below 15%. From an alarm‐based perspective, algorithms show values below 11.42% in false alarm rate, lower than 0.7% in missing alarm ratio and higher than 88.85% in correct alarm ratio. The false negative rate occurs mostly from August to December, where the onset time of the events presents greater difficulty in the classification than the offset, while the false alarm increases in June and October months. Models skills reveal that k‐NN, SVM and LR are better discriminators than LD and classification tree. The high efficiency of these models indicates that ML classification models could be used for the phenomenon diagnosis.
Investigation and optimization of parameters for hard turning of OHNS steel

ABSTRACT This work focusses on turning of hardened material which has rockwell hardness of C scale ranging from 45 to 70. Oil Hardened Non-Shrinking Die Steel (OHNS) finds its application in manufacturing of punches and cutters for milling due to its hardness and better machining. This work focuses on maximizing the material removal rate (MRR) and minimizing machining time and surface roughness. Turning was done using a carbide insert out using a computer numerical control machine. The experiments were done according to L’9 array and the output characteristics were analyzed. The percentage of contribution of input parameters when compared with output parameters were analyzed using analysis of variance. Grey relational analysis was used for optimizing the output characteristics. After optimisationa confirmation experiment was carried out for validation of results.
Population genetic structure of the endangered limpet Cymbula nigra in a temperate Northern hemisphere region: influence of palaeoclimatic events?

Cymbula nigra (da Costa L, 1771) is the largest limpet in Europe and it is at present considered an endangered species. Nevertheless, its biology is poorly understood and there is a lack of knowledge about population genetic structure. A total of 61 C. nigra specimens were sampled and studied for a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. The low genetic diversity, the absence of geographic structure, the significant values reported by measures to test for a recent population expansion and a star-shaped phylogeny pattern are here interpreted as forming a hypothesis concerning the influence of palaeoclimatic events in the genetic pool of limpets, considering also the information available on different limpet species.
Odonata in Streams on Mount Edough, Algeria, and in Kroumiria, Tunisia

A survey of Odonata in streams on Mount Edough, Algeria, and in Kroumiria, Tunisia, indicated strong faunistic similarities between these two areas, characterized by the presence of lotic dragonfly species with protracted larval development such as Aeshna cyanea, Boyeria irene and Onychogomphus uncatus. Climatic oscillations and marine transgressions have isolated these mountains and their North African populations in the past geological times, which have led to distinct adaptations and stenotopy in various zoological and botanical groups. These mountain forests are also a refuge for aestivating Odonata with postponed reproductive maturation like Lestes numidicus, a species new for Tunisia, Lestes barbarus, Sympecma fusca, Aeshna mixta, Sympetrum meridionale and S. striolatum. In the light of increasing human encroachment, urgent conservation efforts are needed to ensure the perpetuity of these unique habitats in North Africa and their biota.
Characterization of Xylanase of Fungi Isolated from Janggyeong Panjeon in Haeinsa Temple

This study was carried out to investigate occurence of microbiales density and characteristics of xylanase produced by those in Janggyeong Panjeon. Cladosporium cladosporioides H1, Penicillium citreonigrum H3, Penicillilum toxicarium H4, Aspergillus versicolor H6, Acremonium alternarium H7 isolated from Janggyeong Panjeon produced xylanase, which had different production rates and specialized activities in an acidic condition. Cladosporium cladosporioides H1, Aspergillus versicolor H6, and Acremonium alternatum H7 produced xylanase at a faster rate than other fungi. A xylanase of Cladosporium cladosporioides H1 and Penicillilum toxicarium H4 showed a high thermostability in an acidic condition. As results, this study may lead to the development of a strategy for preservation of organic cultural heritages.
Rhizosphere microbial communities of Puccinella angustata thriving in pristine diesel-contaminated Arctic soils

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination has reached Arctic soils, Puccinellia angustata thrives in such habitats. Hydrocarbon removal during phytoremediation treatments strongly depends on the catabolic activities of root associated microorganisms. This research compared the rhizospheric microorganisms from P. angustata established at Arctic soils under different degrees of contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons to determine if this plant species has phytoremediation potential. The abundance, diversity, and activity of soil bacterial communities were investigated by means of plate and microscopic counts, strains isolation, 16S rRNA gene DGGE fingerprinting, functional gene PCR detection, microcosm hydrocarbon mineralization assays, and TPH quantification. This study was divided in three experimental stages. In the first stage a comparison of samples vegetated by five different plant species as well as four bulk samples, showed that P. angustata had greater enrichment of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria than samples vegetated by other plant species. In the second stage, a comparison between the rhizosphere of P. angustata and bulk samples collected at pristine (Pr), hydrocarbon-contaminated but non-bioremediated (NBr) and hydrocarbon-contaminated and bioremediated (Br) Arctic soils, revealed that the presence of P. angustata enhanced the abundance and the activity of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms in two soils (Pr and NBr) but not at Br since this soil was subjected to fertilizations as bioremediation process. In the third stage, via growth chamber experiments, in which high Arctic summer conditions were simulated, P. angustata (with and without nitrogen fertilization) was assessed for phytoremediation of a soil artificially contaminated with diesel (10,000 mg Kg-1). Puccinellia showed tolerance to fresh diesel contamination and enhanced hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria that significantly increased the TPH removal. Also, the rhizosphere of P. angusatata had high bacterial diversity, encompassing members from Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes and Proteobacteria phyla. These findings indicate that P. angustata stimulates soil microflora responsible for biodegradation of hydrocarbons therefore it has potential for phytoremediating contaminated Arctic soils.Abbreviation: PCR (polymerase chain reaction), DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis), TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons). %%%%La contamination par hydrocarbures petroliers a touche les sols arctiques ; Puccinellia angustata se developpe dans ces habitats. L'elimination de l'hydrocarbure pendant les traitements de phytoremediation depend fortement des activites cataboliques des microorganismes associes a la racine. Cette recherche a compare les microorganismes rhizospheriques de P. angustata etablis dans les sols arctiques a differents niveaux de contamination par hydrocarbures petroliers pour determiner si cette espece de plante a du potentiel pour la phytoremediation. L'abondance, la diversite, et l'activite des communautes…
Uptake, translocation and accumulation of nickel and cobalt in Berkheya coddii, a 'metal crop' from South Africa.

Hyperaccumulator plants have the ability to efficiently concentrate metallic elements, e.g. nickel, from low-grade sources into their living biomass. Although the majority of nickel hyperaccumulator plant species restrict cobalt uptake, some species are able to co-accumulate cobalt when growing in ultramafic soils. The asteraceous perennial herb Berkheya coddii from South Africa is one of the most promising agromining crops known globally. It may accumulate nickel in excess of 30 000 μg g-1 in dry leaves, while co-accumulating up to 600 μg g-1 cobalt. This study aimed to elucidate the interactions between nickel and cobalt for uptake by and translocation into B. coddii through a pot experiment including various cobalt/nickel treatment combinations in soil, after which uptake and localisation were recorded. Cobalt in the substrate limits nickel uptake by B. coddii plants and is mainly retained in the basal leaves in contrast to Ni that is rapidly transferred to the top of the plant. B. coddii was more tolerant to high Ni concentration, whether in the substrate or internally but remains a promising crop which could be used, with suitable agronomic measures and practices, for cobalt agromining in areas with high soil cobalt but low soil nickel. A yield of 77 kg ha-1 nickel and 16.5 kg ha-1 cobalt may be attainable under optimum conditions.
Mineral nutrient uptake and removal by canola, Indian mustard, and Linola in two contrasting environments, and implications for carbon cycle effects on soil acidification

Field studies of the oilseed crops canola, Indian mustard, and linseed/Linola were conducted over 2 seasons at 2 contrasting sites in the cropping regions of central and southern NSW to determine the uptake of mineral nutrients and quantities removed in seed. The sites were in the Junee region where production of these oilseeds is common, and at Condobolin, which is regarded as marginal for production of the crops. The 2 rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser applied were either none or rates that growers in the Condobolin and Junee regions would apply to achieve high seed yields after a cereal crop in the rotation when soil mineral N is low. Concentrations of total N, the major cations (K, Ca, Mg, Na) and major anions (P, S, Cl), and the micronutrients Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu were determined in shoots harvested at flowering and maturity. Nitrate and sulfate were also measured, and estimates were made of excess cation concentrations in the plant material. The ranges of concentrations of excess cations in shoots of the oilseeds at flowering were 83–206 cmolc/kg and 43–121 cmolc/kg for straw at maturity. Linola had lower concentrations of excess cations in vegetative material (83–108 and 43–82 cmolc/kg at flowering and maturity, respectively) than canola or Indian mustard. Concentrations of excess cations in seed of the crops were lower than for vegetative material, and ranged from 30 to 49 cmolc/kg. Nitrogen fertiliser had relatively little effect on concentrations of mineral nutrients or excess cations in either shoots at flowering and maturity, or in seed. However, N fertiliser increased the growth and seed yields of the crops, and thus the amounts of mineral nutrients and excess cations in shoots and seed. The results are discussed in the context of the depletion of soil nutrients due to their removal in harvested seed of the N-fertilised crops. The contribution of excess cation removal in seed to soil acidification is also discussed. It is estimated that the quantity of lime required to neutralise the acidity resulting from removal of 1 t seed is 22.4 kg for canola, 17.0 for Indian mustard, and 20.8 for linseed/Linola. Estimates of the relative contributions of seed removal and N fertiliser to soil acidification are presented.
The emergence period of sea trout fry in a Lake District stream correlates with the North Atlantic Oscillation

The date of fry emergence over 30 years in a sea trout nursery stream, predicted by an individual-based model, correlated significantly (r=0·660, P<0·001) with an index of the North Atlantic Oscillation. Water temperature is the main driving variable in the model and stream temperature also correlated significantly (r=0·662, P<0·001) with the index, providing a probable causal link. Therefore, the inter-annual variations in emergence may not be unique to this one stream, but may be typical of other trout streams with similar climatic conditions.
Receptivity of inviscid modes in supersonic boundary layers due to scattering of free-stream sound by localised wall roughness

The present paper investigates the receptivity of inviscid first and second modes in super/hypersonic boundary layers due to the interaction between a weak free-stream acoustic wave and a small isolated surface roughness element. The large-Reynolds-number asymptotic analysis reveals the detailed processes of the excitation. The distortion of the acoustic signature by the curved wall contributes to the leading-order receptivity, producing an eigenmode of $O({\mathcal{E}}h)$ amplitude, where ${\mathcal{E}}\ll 1$ is the magnitude of the acoustic wave and $h\ll 1$ the roughness height normalised by the local boundary-layer thickness $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$. The interactions between the roughness-induced mean-flow distortion and the acoustic signature contribute to the second-order receptivity, which is of $O({\mathcal{E}}hR^{-1/3})$ with $R\gg 1$ being the Reynolds number based on $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$. Interestingly, the leading-order receptivity is equivalent to a canonic receptivity problem, the excitation by time-periodic blowing and suction through a local slot on the wall, and the effective periodic outflux velocity forced from the underneath Stokes layer can be determined explicitly in terms of the roughness shape function. This equivalence holds when $h=O(R^{-1/3})$, for which the roughness-induced mean-flow distortion becomes nonlinear. A systematic parametric study is carried out for the excitation of the first and second modes by both fast and slow free-stream acoustic waves, and the dependence of the receptivity efficiency on the relevant parameters is provided. Interestingly, the second-order receptivity could become dominant (e.g. in the case of slow acoustic waves with low frequencies and small incident angles), but the present mathematical theory remains valid. In order to check the accuracy of the asymptotic predictions, we have carried out direct numerical simulations (DNS) and also extended the existing finite-Reynolds-number theory to the supersonic regime. The asymptotic solutions agree with the results given by the finite-Reynolds-number calculations and DNS when $R$ is sufficiently large (typically $R=O(10^{5})$). An improved large-Reynolds-number approach is developed by replacing the non-penetration boundary condition by an unsteady outflux, which accounts for the $O(R^{-1/2})$ viscous correction by the Stokes layer. With this modification, the accuracy of the receptivity calculation at moderate Reynolds numbers (approximately a few thousands) is improved remarkably.