Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost-Benefit Analysis of On-Farm Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Ghana

Climate change continues to hamper crop-based systems across sub-Sahara Africa. Adaptation strategies prove to be effective at improving production and enhancing livelihoods of farm households. This study employs Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to assess the perceived economic profitability of adopting various on-farm climate change adaptation strategies among farmers in Zabzugu and South Tongu districts in the north and south of Ghana. A simple random sampling approach was used to select 300 farmers who had previously benefited from climate change projects. Major strategies adopted in both districts were: changing of planting dates, planting early maturing varieties, row planting, seed refilling and planting drought tolerant varieties. Adoption intensity was high in Zabzugu district compared to the South Tongu District. Generally, the adoption of each strategy was perceived to be profitable since the estimated average benefits outweighed the average costs. However, the most profitable strategies were strip cropping, repeated sowing, refilling, zero tillage and row planting. Less profitable strategies included land rotation, mixed farming, early planting, tractor ploughing and “A-frame” contour farming. Among others, drought tolerant varieties of rice, maize and soybeans, as well as zero tillage, repeated sowing and strip cropping, should be promoted and farmers encouraged to adopt these practices for enhanced benefits.
University of Birmingham Impact of plasma viscosity on microcirculatory flow after traumatic haemorrhagic shock:

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Title of dissertation: DYNAMICS AND CONTROL OF AN ELASTIC ROD IN AIR AND WATER

Title of dissertation: DYNAMICS AND CONTROL OF AN ELASTIC ROD IN AIR AND WATER Travis Taylor Burch Master’s of Science, 2019 Dissertation directed by: Professor Derek Paley Department of Aerospace Engineering This thesis investigates the modeling and control of bio-inspired flexible structures for robotics applications. Many animals move through complicated natural environments and perform complex tasks by exploiting soft structures. Soft structures are highly versatile and are a growing area of interest in robotics because they can have decreased weight, size, and mechanical complexity relative to more traditional rigid robotics. This work uses planar discrete elastic rod (PDER) theory for modeling two types of flexible structures. First, a flexible airfoil is modeled using PDER theory, including the Improved Lighthill model (ILM) of hydrodynamic forces to study the propulsion thrust. The propulsion thrust generated by rigid and flexible foils are also measured experimentally and compared to the model. Second, a state-space description of a flexible pendulum with torque input is presented. Linear state-and output-feedback hybrid controllers stabilize the inverted flexible pendulum starting from the down equilibrium. DYNAMICS AND CONTROL OF AN ELASTIC ROD IN AIR AND WATER by Travis Taylor Burch Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s of Science 2019 Advisory Committee: Professor Derek Paley, Chair/Advisor Professor Alison Flatau Professor Oliver Bauchau c © Copyright by Travis Taylor Burch 2019
Retaining Malaysia's Blue Collar Workers in Competitive Manufacturing Industry

The roles of factory technicians who are responsible and accountable for advance equipment maintenance and uptime in the E&E factory has intensified enormously. Substantial researches on turnover issues focused on white collar workers instead of blue collar workers has instigated the need of the study. There is also needs to identify factors which influenced factory technician’s turnover because the training required to develop skillful and competent technicians is costly and lengthy. The hypothesis was tested and validated via quantitative statistical analysis which identified the influential factors and determined the connection between independent variables and turnover intention as dependent variable. Descriptive statistic, reliability test, mean comparison, and correlation test were utilized in the analysis. The results indicated that career growth, discriminatory treatment and further education are influential factors and have significant association with turnover intentions. The most influential and significant factor was career growth followed by discriminatory treatment, and further education was the least significant factor. The outcome of this research was used in developing retention plans and strategies to retain the factory technicians who play crucial role in manufacturing industry performance. Key-Words: Factory Technicians Turnover, Costly and Lengthy Training, Career Growth, Discriminatory Treatment, Further Education, Retention Plan and Strategy
On the Persistence of Political and Economic Institutions in Banking

This paper analyzes quantitatively whether a particular economic institution often underpinning political regime change – the influence of political connections in banking persists over structurally different political institutions. While theory suggests that economic institutions persist over political transitions if the benefits accruing to political elites remain, quantification of the enduring influence of politics in banking has thus far been limited. Using data covering the population of Indonesian banks and their changing political connections over the democratic transition, this paper finds that while the influence of political ties on bank behavior remains unchanged over the structural change in political institutions, how political power in banking is derived changes over time. Namely, democratization results in a shift from in political ties in banking from those with formal to informal political influence. While the political influence in banking is formerly concentrated more in officials with formal government positions, bank behavior is more influenced by elites with informal political positions after democratization. While an intent of political regime change may be to dismantle the influence of this underlying economic institution, these results suggest a model of captured democracy whereby the influence of political elites persists regardless of changes to political institutions. From a practical perspective it also suggests that changes in political influence will not dismantle the politics-banking channel, but rather result in banks shifting to less transparent ties. 1Cornell University, 310C Warren Hall, Ithaca, NY, USA, 14853. Email: sharon.poczter@cornell.edu; Phone: (607) 255-1810
A Study of Capital Structure of Indian Power Generation and Supply Firms: Unbalanced Panel Data

This paper reveals the determinants of capital structure of power generation and supply firms (PGSFs) in India for the period 1993-2004 using unbalanced panel data. We try for several estimation methods of panel data, random effects estimation technique is selected after using specification tests. The results are similar with earlier studies relating to traditional determinants of capital structure like tangibility, profitability, however signs of variables: size, growth opportunities, cost of borrowing, and liquidity in the firm effects and firm and time effects are correct but not significant. Among the macro-economic variables, inflation and bank development are significantly related with leverage of PGSFs. The findings from the unbalanced panel data model reveal presence of major theories of finance in the case of Indian PGSFs. Further study suggests, focus should be on designing pro-bank and stock market finance policies to overcome the problems faced by PGSFs. This study proposes to offer special treatment to individual and institutional taxpayers in tax rebate for increasing investment in the equity and bonds of PGSFs.
Identification of Ecto-parasites in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at fishery development Center Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal

This study was carried out at Fishery Development Center, Bhairahawa, Nepal between pre-monsoon and post monsoon. Altogether 60 live host fishes (30 pre and 30 post monsoon) were examined. Total 60 fish samples were divided in 3 groups, 20 were small (<18 cm), 20 were medium (18-28 cm) and 20 were larger (>28 cm) in size. During study period total 321 parasites were recorded from 28 fish samples. Among them two protozoans (Trichodina, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis), two monogeneans (Dactylogyrus, and Gyrodactylus) and two crustaceans (Argulus and Lernaea) were collected from skin, mucus, fins and gills. Prevalence, intensity and abundance of parasites were analyzed. Silver Carp were more susceptible to infection then Common Carp. The number of Dactylogyrus ssp. Was highest (57%) and Gyrodactylus spp. Was lowest (0.6%). Prevalence, intensity and abundance of fish parasites were found to be related to different length group of the host. The high prevalence (75%) was recorded from small fishes. However, highest mean intensity (21.87%) and abundance (8.8%) of parasites were recorded in large fishes. The highest prevalence (63.33%), mean intensity (20.41%) and abundance (9.73%) of parasites were recorded pre-monsoon.
Chapter 7 : The Southwest Weather and Climate Extremes of the Future 1 2 Coordinating Lead

1 Chapter 7: The Southwest Weather and Climate Extremes of the Future 1 2 Coordinating Lead Author: 3 Alexander Gershunov (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) 4 5 Lead Authors: 6 Balaji Rajagopalan (University of Colorado), Jonathan Overpeck (University of Arizona) 7 Kristen Guirguis (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Dan Cayan (Scripps institution of 8 Oceanography), Mimi Hughes (NOAA), Michael Dettinger (US Geological Survey), Chris 9 Castro (University of Arizona), Rachel Schwartz (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Michael 10 Anderson (California State Climate Office), Andrea Ray (NOAA), Joe Barsugli (University of 11 Colorado -CIRES), Tereza Cavazos (CICESE), and Michael Alexander (NOAA) 12 13 Review Editors: 14 Francina Dominguez (University of Arizona) 15 16
Leverage Cycles, Growth Shocks, and Sudden Stops in Capital Inflows

Using a quarterly panel of 98 advanced as well as emerging and developing countries from 1990 to 2017, this paper shows that domestic variables are significantly related to the probability of incurring sharp reversals in capital inflows controlling for global push factors. In particular, negative growth shocks combined with high levels of leverage in the domestic private sector are a significant determinant of sudden stops. This is in line with real business cycle models including an occasionally binding credit constraint and income trend shocks.
Most common coagulation disorders in recurrent pregnancy loss

Recurrent Pregnancy loss (RPL) represents a major health problem, with approximately 15-20 % of all clinically recognized pregnancies resulting in pregnancy unhappy end. Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) defined as 3 consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks it affects approximately 1% to 2% of women. Recurrent pregnancy loss exacts a devastating emotional toll on patients' lives. Each pregnancy loss brings with it a profound sense of loss and frustration. In this review we briefly address most common coagulation disorders in recurrent pregnancy loss.
Antifeedants in Tropical Pest Management

Use of plant derivatives for insect pest control was common in the tropics before the advent of synthetic pesticides. Plants such as neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, chinaberry, Melia azedarach L. , and Warburgia spp. , have been known for insect repellent and antifeedant properties in addition to other plants possessing insecticidal and growth regulating properties. Practical usefulness of antifeedants derived from plants for management of insect pests in selected field crops and stored grains is discussed. These products would, however, require some definitions of quality control and standardization of biological properties for large-scale use. RésuméL’utilisation d’extraits de plantes pour le contrôle des ravageurs était une pratique commune avant l’usage des pesticides synthétiques. En plus d’autres plantes qui possèdent une activité insecticide et régulatrice de la croissance, des plantes comme le Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, chinaberry Melia azedarach L. , Warburgia spp, sont connues depuis longtemps pour leurs activités repellente et inhibitrice de la nutrition sur les insectes. L’utilité pratique de dérivés de plantes à travers l’activité inhibitrice sur la nutrition des insectes est discutée pour le contrôle de certains ravageurs en champs et dans les stocks. Ces produits nécessitent cependant, la définition de contrôles de qualité et la standardisation de leurs propriétés biologiques pour leurs usages à large échelle.
POLLEN FLORA OF PAKISTAN-LI -CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Pollen morphology of 74 species belonging to 23 genera of the family Caryophyllaceae from Pakistan has been examined by light and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains are usually radially symmetrical, apolar rarely isopolar, pantoporate rarely 3-10 colpate, spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal to sub-prolate occasionally prolate. Sexine thicker or thinner than nexine. Tectum spinulose-punctuate or scabrate-punctate often reticulate or reticulate-scabrate. On the basis of apertural type three distinct pollen types viz., Silene indica-type, Spergula arvensis-type and Stellaria media-type are recognized.
Effects of deforestation and implantation of pastures on the termite fauna in the Brazilian cerrado region

The Brazilian cerrado has been a victim of an intense expansion process of the agricultural frontier which results in problems for the conservation of its animal species. Regarding the termites, this change has provoked local extinctions of several populations and transformation of some species into pests of economic interest. Aiming to study the effects of deforestation and implantation of pastures on the termite fauna, an investigation was performed in 4 areas, two of them covered by natural vegetation and two of them by pastures. The results show that during the process of change, there was a huge reduction in termite species richness and equitability, besides a selection in favor of the litter - or grass - eater species and against the ones which eat wood or humus. The results of this study point to the need for a braver policy for conservation of the cerrado environment.
Do CEOs Deserve Their Raises? Evidence from Stock Returns after Subjective Performance Reviews

This paper studies the information content of CEO subjective performance reviews. We propose a novel proxy of positive reviews based on evidence of real CEO contracts: salary raises. It shows that performance review outcomes predict long-term stock returns. A long–short portfolio strategy that invests in firms with CEO salary increases earns abnormal returns of 2%–4% annually. Positive subjective reviews also predict more announcements of new product developments and greater abnormal returns around these announcements, suggesting that they indeed indicate successful long-term strategy.
GSJ: Volume 8, Issue 8, August 2020, Online: ISSN 2320-9186

The poor rate of success for artificial insemination (AI) can be attributed to many intrinsic and non-intrinsic causes like the individual animal’s semen quality, the minimum standard set for semen quality prior to acceptance for freezing and post-thawed semen, the freezing and thawing protocol and the number of spermatozoa per straw for insemination. And even though, a wide variety of evaluation methods and/or tools are used to investigate the quality of bull semen, it is still difficult to determine to which extent subfertile sperm contributes to the inability of achieving conception. However, analysis of semen for an individual bull based on different parameters provides better information to predict its fertility. For this reason; now a days semen production centers are moving away from subjective semen assessment which is largely uncorrelated to field fertility to objective semen analyses that incorporate computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry. A multiparametric approach to semen analysis using CASA, flow cytometry and preferably in combination; can make possible the semen production centers to produce high quality semen. In this paper I reviewed these two advanced semen evaluation methods (CASA and flow cytometery) for their GSJ: Volume 8, Issue 8, August 2020 ISSN 2320-9186 2303 GSJ© 2020 www.globalscientificjournal. com multiparameteric semen quality evaluation approach (sperm motility, kinematics, viability, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial activity, DNA integrity) and the possible factors and/or limitations affecting the results of the technologies when they are used for analysis of
Environmental degradation, food limitation and reproductive output: juvenile survival in lesser snow geese

Long-term changes in pre-fledging gosling survival, in relation to food availability, were investigated in a population of lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) at La Perouse Bay, Manitoba. Both colony size and the density of birds using brood-rearing areas increased over the duration of the study (the former from 2000 to 8-9000 pairs). Annual mean size of broods using traditional brood-rearing areas (as a proportion of initial brood size) declined significantly between 1979 and 1991, from 0.9-1.0 to 0.6-0.8. Mean proportion of marked goslings in a brood that survived from hatch to ringing (5-6 weeks of age) declined from approximately 65% prior to 1980 to 35-40% in recent years
License to Fire? Unemployment Insurance and the Moral Cost of Layoffs

Expanding unemployment insurance (UI) not only reduces the burden for the unemployed but also the moral cost of layoffs to firms and their managers. Using staggered expansions of UI across US states, we show that expanding UI leads to larger layoffs in firms experiencing negative economic shocks. The effects are stronger in weakly governed and financially unconstrained firms, where managers have greater discretion to avoid moral cost. This study presents moral cost as a novel microeconomic channel through which UI affects layoff decisions, which can compromise its effectiveness as a social insurance program and an automatic stabilizer.
BASED RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS IN INDIA

Lu is a potential radionuclide for the development of a wide variety of radiotherapeutic agents owing to its suitable nuclear decay characteristics, comparatively longer half-life and easy production using medium flux research reactors. Radiopharmaceuticals Division (RPhD), BARC has done pioneering work in the field of production of high specific activity Lu and development of Lu based agents for targeted radiotherapy and palliative care. Two of the agents, namely Lu-EDTMP and Lu-DOTA-TATE developed in RPhD, BARC are presently undergoing evaluation in human patients at different nuclear medicine centers across the country. More than 250 patients suffering from various kinds of cancers have been benefitted from these therapies.
Explaining Dark Matter Without New Physics?

In a multi-fold universe, gravity emerges from entanglement through the multi-fold mechanisms. As a result, gravity-like effects appear in between entangled particles or regions. When applied to astrophysics, these effects are analogous to additional matter within or around galaxies. This way, we recover behaviors that match expected and observed effects when dark matter would be present or missing. No New Physics is introduced in terms of new particles beyond the Standard Model or modifying long range gravity: only the modeling of gravity as emerging from entanglement, in a multi-fold universe.
Social Protection Amidst Social Upheaval: Examining the Impact of a Multi-Faceted Program for Ultra-Poor Households in Yemen

Social protection programs are needed more than ever during periods of social upheaval, but are also likely to be even harder to implement successfully. Furthermore, social upheaval makes measuring the impact of such policies all the more difficult. We study the impact of a multi-faceted social protection program, often referred to as a “graduation” model program, in Yemen during a period of civil unrest. We are unable to measure outcomes for four years, thus much remains unknown about what transpired in the intermediary time. After four years we find positive impacts on asset accumulation and savings behavior, albeit substantially less than the amount the household originally received.
Determination of weed competition critical period in red beet

The field experiment was conducted at the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture from 2000-2002 to determine the critical period of weed competition in red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) hybrid 'Pablo' crop. Weeding was delayed until 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks after red beet germination (WAG) and was carried out during the first 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 WAG. Weed competition during the first 10 to 12 WAG reduced the marketable yield of red beet by 100%. Competition in the first 8 WAG reduced yield by 92.2%. Competition in the first 2 WAG had no adverse effect on yield; there was only an 8.3% reduction of red beet yield. A period of weeding for 4 WAG provided a yield similar to that achieved with 6 weeks of weeding. It is concluded that the first 4 WAG are the most critical for weed competition in red beet crop at a 5% yield loss level. Weeds emerging later do not appear to be detrimental to red beet growth and marketable yield.