Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Review of the Effect of Deficit Irrigation and Mulching on Yield and Water Productivity of Drip Irrigated Onion

: Water is the most important substrate of the photosynthesis process and its scarcity directly limits growth of plants hence agricultural production. In a water limiting scenario, water productivity is maximized whereas incomes are optimized. Water productivity and Onion yields therefore, needs to beassessed through integrated practice of drip irrigation, deficit irrigationanduse of mulches to determine the level of production at which income is optimized. Deficit irrigation involves exposing plants to certain levels of water stress during either a particular growth period or throughout the whole growth season. The optimum level of production can only be obtained by conducting an economic analysis of cost-benefit ratio of input and output.
A new decade for social changes

Ain Sefra is a semi-arid area located in south-western Algeria carried out by sand barring, which has made any development in the area impossible. Thus, to understand this phenomenon, it is useful to estimate the displacement of the quantity of sand and the directions of the effective winds during 30 years (1985-2015) to quantify the phenomenon of silting and categorize the danger. Using the method of Fryberger, anemometric (wind) data from meteorological stations were analyzed to examine the potential for sand drift potential (DP) at Ain Sefra between 1985 and 2015. The objective is to identify the hazard level by estimating the sand displacement and effective wind directions over 30 years (1985-2015). The resulting (potential displacement) DP and directional wind variability are estimated and discussed. The average annual sand DP is expected to be 222VU (vector units). These figures have led to the classification of the Ain Sefra location as a wind environment with intermediate energy levels (medium energy wind environment) (Fryberger and Dean 1979). It is determined that the drift potential is 76 with a migration coefficient of 0.3 and that the area has a medium classification. It is also shown that the complex system of wind erosion and its interrelationship with other components are in play. The sand drift potential environment varies greatly from location to location, and 80% of the resulting annual PDR occurs during the fall season from March to June. In addition, effective winds often blow from the southwest to the northeast at an angle of 234°. In addition, the sand can be in different directions, leading it to drift. We should also mention that the directional variability is also quite high.
Catechol Biosensor Design Based on Ferrocene-Derivatized 2,5-Dithienyl Pyrrole Copolymer with 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene

Novel conducting platforms based on co(polymerization) of 2,5-dithienyl pyrrole-ferrocene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene were employed for the first time in developing a catechol biosensor. The grafting of Fc moiety onto a hybrid thienyl pyrrole monomer for phenolics detection is proposed for the first time herein to enhance the efficiency of electrochemical reduction of quinone and, in turn, improve the stability of the biosensor in a ‘reagentless’ manner. Tyrosinase enzyme was immobilized by cross-linking onto the carbon nanotubes-enriched electrodeposited films, and catechol was determined with a low detection limit of 2.1 µM. Good operational stability (RSD 3.34 %) was observed during 20 consecutive measurements.
Education for Environmental Sustainability and the Emotions: Implications for Educational Practice

Increasing attention is being paid to the emotions in education and in communication about the climate crisis and other sustainability challenges. This has tended to focus on the relationship between emotions and environmental perceptions and behaviours. In this study, we understand emotions as evaluative feelings which meaningfully connect people and their environment. We draw on data from teachers, teacher educators, and young people (n = 223) to describe educationally-relevant emotions and identify the implications for educational practice. We argue that emotionally-responsive pedagogies are needed to identify responsibilities, develop coping potential, and improve future expectations. These pedagogies must act on the causes and consequences of environmental damage and develop teachers’ and students’ capabilities to take action and ultimately transform emotional appraisals. A more enabling policy environment is needed for teachers to adopt these approaches and empower them to take action relating to climate and ecological crises.
A New Self-Adaptive Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization with Different Distributions for Optimal Reactive Power Control in Power Networks

Teaching–learning-based optimization has the disadvantages of weak population diversity and the tendency to fall into local optima, especially for multimodal and high-dimensional problems such as the optimal reactive power dispatch problem. To overcome these shortcomings, first, in this study, a new enhanced TLBO is proposed through novel and effective θ-self-adaptive teaching and learning to optimize voltage and active loss management in power networks, which is called the optimal reactive power control problem with continuous and discontinuous control variables. Voltage and active loss management in any energy network can be optimized by finding the optimal control parameters, including generator voltage, shunt power compensators, and the tap positions of tap changers, among others. As a result, an efficient and powerful optimization algorithm is required to handle this challenging situation. The proposed algorithms utilized in this research were improved by introducing new mutation operators for multi-objective optimal reactive power control in popular standard IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 57-bus networks. The numerical simulation data reveal potential high-quality solutions with better performance and accuracy using the proposed optimization algorithms in comparison with the basic teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm and previously reported results.
Non-linear characteristic quantity extraction of ferroresonance overvoltage time series

Ferroresonance is a common and complex phenomenon in power systems. Some types of ferroresonances are remarkably difficult to distinguish from others. This study adopts non-linear analysis methods to directly extract non-linear characteristic quantities from ferroresonance overvoltage time series (FOTS). Simulated and practical FOTS are investigated to validate the proposed method. Non-linear characteristic quantities, i.e. average grey value of reconstructed attractor and improved largest Lyapunov exponent of ferroresonance overvoltage, are extracted based on phase space reconstruction of voltage time series to identify different types of ferroresonance. Practical FOTS acquired from a transformer substation is used to validate the proposed method. Non-linear characteristic quantities obtained in this study can be applied to identify different types of ferroresonance. These characteristics allow further understanding of the non-linear ferroresonance phenomenon from another point of view and benefit the study of ferroresonance identification and suppression.
Soil Salinity Inversion Model of Oasis in Arid Area Based on UAV Multispectral Remote Sensing

Soil salinization severely restricts the development of global industry and agriculture and affects human beings. In the arid area of Northwest China, oasis saline-alkali land threatens the development of agriculture and food security. This paper develops and optimizes an inversion monitoring model for monitoring the soil salt content using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral remote sensing data. Using the multispectral remote sensing data in three research areas, the soil salt inversion models based on the support vector machine regression (SVR), random forest (RF), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), and extreme learning machine (ELM) were constructed. The results show that the four constructed models based on the spectral index can achieve good inversion accuracy, and the red edge band can effectively improve the soil salt inversion accuracy in saline-alkali land with vegetation cover. Based on the obtained results, for bare land, the best model for soil salt inversion is the ELM model, which reaches the determination coefficient (Rv2) of 0.707, the root mean square error RMSEv of 0.290, and the performance deviation ratio (RPD) of 1.852 on the test dataset. However, for agricultural land with vegetation cover, the best model for soil salinity inversion using the vegetation index is the BPNN model, which achieves Rv2 of 0.836, RMSEv of 0.027, and RPD of 2.100 on the test dataset. This study provides technical support for rapid monitoring and inversion of soil salinization and salinization control in irrigation areas.
The Role of Nuclear Forensics for Determining the Origin of Nuclear Materials Out of Regulatory Control and Nuclear Security

The international community recognizes the rise in theft and illicit trafficking of nuclear materials and radioactive sources—for malicious use and nuclear terrorism—as a serious threat. That is why a well-developed nuclear forensics capability is an integral part of a robust nuclear security program and a key element of nuclear security infrastructure. Both pre- and post-detonation nuclear forensics are vital for controlling theft and illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, as well as identifying and tracing their sources. Nuclear forensics analysis and interpretation processes for nuclear security is a systematic process that includes: (1) sample collection and categorization techniques and (2) detailed nuclear forensics analytical plans, which are a laboratory analysis of physical and chemical properties of the collected or seized nuclear and radioactive materials. Besides nuclear materials, the non-nuclear and biological materials present in seized nuclear materials can also provide important information about the source and origin of nuclear materials. Upon complete analysis of the seized materials, the data interpretation to trace the origin of the nuclear and radiological materials is one of the most critical steps to identifying the origin of the materials, which depends on the availability of similar data to compare. So, each country should have its own incident register system (IRS) and collaborate with the International Technical Working Group (ITWG), Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB), and IAEA for data sharing and interpretation.
Efficient Robust Adaptive Beamforming Algorithms for Sensor Arrays

Sensor array processing techniques have been an important research area in recent years. By using a sensor array of a certain configuration, we can improve the parameter estimation accuracy from the observation data in the presence of interference and noise. In this thesis, we focus on sensor array processing techniques that use antenna arrays for beamforming, which is the key task in wireless communications, radar and sonar systems. Firstly, we propose a low-complexity robust adaptive beamforming (RAB) technique which estimates the steering vector using a Low-Complexity Shrinkage-Based Mismatch Estimation (LOCSME) algorithm. The proposed LOCSME algorithm estimates the covariance matrix of the input data and the interference-plus-noise covariance (INC) matrix by using the Oracle Approximating Shrinkage (OAS) method. Secondly, we present cost-effective low-rank techniques for designing robust adaptive beamforming (RAB) algorithms. The proposed algorithms are based on the exploitation of the cross-correlation between the array observation data and the output of the beamformer. Thirdly, we propose distributed beamforming techniques that are based on wireless relay systems. Algorithms that combine relay selections and SINR maximization or Minimum Mean-Square- Error (MMSE) consensus are developed, assuming the relay systems are under total relay transmit power constraint. Lastly, we look into the research area of robust distributed beamforming (RDB) and develop a novel RDB approach based on the exploitation of the cross-correlation between the received data at the relays and the destination and a subspace projection method to estimate the channel errors, namely, the cross-correlation and subspace projection (CCSP) RDB technique, which efficiently maximizes the output SINR and minimizes the channel errors. Simulation results show that the proposed techniques outperform existing techniques in various performance metrics.
A Systematic Review of the Effects of Bisphenol Analogs on Embryonic Development and Cytoskeletal Organization of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos

Recent research has raised concerns about widespread exposure to chemicals that resemble bisphenol A (BPA) structurally or functionally. Because of the strict regulations governing production and use, various bisphenol analogs to replace BPA have increased. Some analogs have been reported to have disruptive physiological and endocrine effects. This study focuses on the impact of bisphenol A analogs on zebrafish embryos. The effect of bisphenol analogs is a major concern, prompting researchers to conduct numerous related studies. Regrettably, previous research has not focused on embryonic health. A systematic search strategy based on the RepOrting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) guidelines was used. Three central journal repositories were used: Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Thirteen articles were discovered through search efforts and will be thoroughly examined. Bisphenol analogs were unearthed to have similar adverse effects on embryonic health as bisphenol-A. This study clarified how bisphenol A analogs affect embryonic development and cytoskeletal organization in the zebrafish model by disrupting the endocrine, cardiovascular, nervous, reproductive, and other systems. To thoroughly investigate these issues, more research on each source, metabolic pathway, exposure mechanisms, and effects on organisms is required.
Effect of Different Solutions on the Colour Stability of Nanoparticles or Fibre Reinforced PMMA

This study aimed to evaluate the colour stability of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base reinforced with ZrO2 nanoparticles, E-glass fibres, and TiO2 nanoparticles at various concentrations over 180-day storage in Steradent™ (STD) denture cleaner or coffee (CF). A total of 130 disc-shaped specimens were fabricated at various filler concentrations and divided into four main groups to measure the colour changes. Groups Z, T, and E consisted of PMMA reinforced with ZrO2 nanoparticles, TiO2 nanoparticles, or E-glass fibre, respectively, while Group C consisted of PMMA specimens without filler served as the control group (n = 10). The three reinforced groups were further subdivided according to the filler content (n = 10) added to the PMMA (1.5%, 3.0%, 5.0%, and 7.0% wt.%). Half of the specimens were stored in STD, while the other half was stored in CF for 180 days. A Minolta Chroma Meter was used to measure the colour changes (ΔE) at 7, 30, 90 and then 180 days. The results were assessed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) along with Bonferroni post hoc tests at a p ≤ 0.05 significance level. Significant different colour changes (ΔΕ) were observed between all tested groups and across different time points. TiO2-reinforced PMMA in STD/CF showed the lowest colour stability, while the E-glass fibre-reinforced PMMA in STD/CF showed the highest colour stability. Furthermore, coffee appeared to have the greatest impact on the colour change in comparison to the SteradentTM. The results indicated that the filler type and concentration, type of solution, and length of storage all affected the colour stability of the tested specimens.
Restoration of ecologically valuable grassland on sites degraded by invasive Solidago: lessons from a 6‐year experiment

Most semi‐natural grasslands are threatened by invasive alien plants, which have also overgrown abandoned fields. We conducted a 6‐year experiment testing different methods of eliminating invasive Solidago species and adding seed to restore valuable species‐rich grassland. Three removal treatments (herbicide spraying, rototilling, turf stripping) and two seed addition methods (direct sowing of a fast‐growing grass species mixture, spreading of fresh hay collected from a semi‐natural meadow) were examined alongside control treatments (no removal, no seed addition). The experimental plots were mowed twice a year, and the vegetation composition, biomass production, hay chemical composition, and fodder quality were assessed. Mowing twice a year significantly reduced Solidago cover. Although significant differences were observed in the invaders' cover between the removal treatments and between the seed addition methods early in the study, the differences lessened over time, especially for the removal treatments. By the end of the 6‐year study period, the Solidago cover was reduced to 25% of the initial complete coverage. Spreading fresh hay greatly reduced Solidago biomass and yielded the highest characteristic species cover. Herbicide treatment was no more efficient than the more environmentally friendly methods over the study period. The results suggest that fresh hay is good method of seed addition for restoring old fields overgrown by invasive Solidago. With mowing of the restored area twice a year for several years, Solidago removal by turf striping (scalping) followed by the spreading of fresh hay is recommended for grassland restoration given its environmental impact, cost, and hay quality.
A study on the abundance of infection with Sarcocystis in goats slaughtered in the Tabriz slaughterhouse

Sarcocystis is a mandatory intracellular parasite that is common between humans and animals, which causes huge losses in the livestock and meat industries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in goats slaughtered in Tabriz slaughterhouse. For this purpose, the carcasses of 240 slaughtered goats were examined for the presence of macrocysts by eye observation and then by microscopic by dob-smear and digestive methods. Based on the results, 2.5% of the studied carcasses were diagnosed with macrocytic observation. In the microscopic examination by dob-smear and digestion methods, 35.83% and 100% respectively of the cases were positively diagnosed. There is a significant relationship between contamination and the studied method (p<0.05), which has higher validity digestion than the dob-smear and macroscopic method. There was also a statistically significant difference between the contamination rate among different muscles (p<0.05). As well, the highest microcyst contamination was observed in diaphragm muscles and the lowest microcyst contamination was observed in the heart muscle. This study showed the necessity of microscopic observation of the Sarcocystis contamination in the goat carcasses.
Enhance Tax Administration to Informal Traders in Tanzania through Digital Technology- The User Requirements Definition

Studies on mobile technology have so far focused on the usage of digital technology to enhance business operations. However, in Tanzania, little is known on the user requirements for a technological solution that connects informal practitioners and regulatory framework. Therefore, this study focuses on a digital tool to enhance the tax administration of informal practitioners. The user requirement considered set-up of informal traders, the canon of tax, activity theory, and the technological acceptancy model. This qualitative study, collected data through focus group discussions, interviews, document reviews, site visits and studio work. The study confirmed that digital tools should enhance activities, and the qualities that attract informal traders to use. The study resulted in an early-stage prototype, also, the lesson on establishing user requirements that connect informal practitioners and regulatory framework was learned. This paper contributes to the inclusion of informal practitioners in digital technology and taxation in developing economy like some of African Countries.
Perovskite/silicon-based heterojunction tandem solar cells with 14.8% conversion efficiency via adopting ultrathin Au contact

A rising candidate for upgrading the performance of an established narrow-bandgap solar technology without adding much cost is to construct the tandem solar cells from a crystalline silicon bottom cell and a high open-circuit voltage top cell. Here, we present a four-terminal tandem solar cell architecture consisting of a self-filtered planar architecture perovskite top cell and a silicon heterojunction bottom cell. A transparent ultrathin gold electrode has been used in perovskite solar cells to achieve a semi-transparent device. The transparent ultrathin gold contact could provide a better electrical conductivity and optical reflectance-scattering to maintain the performance of the top cell compared with the traditional metal oxide contact. The four-terminal tandem solar cell yields an efficiency of 14.8%, with contributions of the top (8.98%) and the bottom cell (5.82%), respectively. We also point out that in terms of optical losses, the intermediate contact of self-filtered tandem architecture is the uppermost problem, which has been addressed in this communication, and the results show that reducing the parasitic light absorption and improving the long wavelength range transmittance without scarifying the electrical properties of the intermediate hole contact layer are the key issues towards further improving the efficiency of this architecture device.
Material Resources and Well-being — Evidence from an Ethiopian Housing Lottery

Do better material conditions improve well-being and mental health? Or does any positive relationship merely reflect that well-being promotes economic success? We compare winners and losers from a large Ethiopian housing lottery in a preregistered analysis. Winners gain access to better housing, experience a substantial increase in wealth, and report higher levels of overall life satisfaction and lower levels of financial distress. However, we find no average effects of winning on psychological distress. Our results suggest that not all aspects of well-being and mental health are equally sensitive to economic conditions.