Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of appropriate seeding rate for oats/vetch mixtures grown under different drainage conditions of vertisols in the central highlands of Ethiopia

The study was conducted to determine the optimum seeding rate for oats/vetch mixtures on vertisols and to evaluate the effect of waterlogging problem on productivity of oats/vetch mixtures during the main cropping seasons of 2012 and 2013 in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted on a split-split plot design with three drainage methods (camber beds (CB), ridges and furrows (RF) and flat beds (FB)) as a main plot, four oats/vetch species mixtures (CI-8251/Vicia dasycarpa, CI-8251/Vicia villosa, CI-8251/Vicia sativa and CI-8251/Vicia atropurpurea) as a sub plot and four oats/vetch mixtures seeding rates (75/25, 105/35, 135/45 and 165/55kg/ha for oats/vetch, respectively) as a sub-sub plot treatments replicated three times. The result depicted that drainage methods had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on plant height and DM yield of oats/vetch mixtures. The DM yield produced from CB and RF were higher by 29.0 and 8.0%, respectively, over FB conditions, implying improved drainage methods have a tremendous contribution for oats/vetch mixtures to express their genetic potential due to reduced waterlogging stress when compared to FB conditions. On the other hand, CB showed 13.4 and 29.0% increments in plant height and DM yield respectively, compared to RF drainage conditions. The highest plant height and DM yield of oats/vetch mixtures were recorded from CB followed by RF and FB drainage conditions. On the other hand, relatively better mixtures DM yield was obtained from CI-8251/Vicia villosa followed by CI-8251/Vicia sativa and CI-8251/Vicia dasycarpa while CI8251/Vicia atropurpurea produced the lowest mixtures DM yield under different drainage conditions. Generally, mixtures of CI-8251/Vicia villosa produced better plant height and DM yield under different drainage conditions on vertisols implying that these mixtures had good compatibility and less sensitivity of Vicia villosa for waterlogging problems. The highest DM yield was obtained from seeding rate of 105/35 kg/ha followed by 135/45 kg/ha and 165/55 kg/ha while the lowest DM yield was recorded from the control (75/25 kg/ha) seeding rate. The DM yield of oats/vetch mixtures sown with seeding rates of 105/35, 135/45 and 165/55kg/ha had yield advantages of 7.6, 5.1 and 4.3%, respectively, when compared to the control (75/25 kg/ha) seeding rate. Therefore, seeding rate of 105/35 kg/ha is recommended for oats/vetch mixtures grown on vertisol conditions in the central highlands of Ethiopia.
The Sustainability of MNC-SMEs Alliances: A Corporate Federalist View

The goal of this study is to propose and to validate a corporate federalism model as applied to international alliances. In order to represent the unique characteristics of corporate federalism in international alliances, the proposed model will be used to evaluate the extent to which participating organizations fulfill the requirements of corporate federalism in strategic alliances. In order to validate the model, chief executive officers or strategic alliance coordinators of participating MNC and SMEs were asked to complete a survey. The survey was designed based on the proposed research model. Measurement items for each variable are adopted or modified based on existing studies. Respondents were asked to express their agreement with the items, based on a five-point Likert-type scale. The survey data has interrelationships that were evaluated using structural equation modeling to test the relationships among the variables included in the research model. The contribution of this research is twofold. This research extends previous studies by developing a customized model for corporate federalism as applied to strategic alliances. Second, based on the results of testing the proposed model, the current study provides a course of actions for the leaders of strategic alliances to successfully implement corporate federalism within knowledge-based networks.
Modelling polarized light from dust shells surrounding asymptotic giant branch stars

Winds of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are commonly assumed to be driven by radiative acceleration of dust grains. For M-type AGB stars, the nature of the wind-driving dust species has been a matter of intense debate. A proposed source of the radiation pressure triggering the outflows is photon scattering on Fe-free silicate grains. This wind-driving mechanism requires grain radii of about 0.1 - 1 micron in order to make the dust particles efficient at scattering radiation around the stellar flux maximum. Grain size is therefore an important parameter for understanding the physics behind the winds of M-type AGB stars. We seek to investigate the diagnostic potential of scattered polarized light for determining dust grain sizes. We have developed a new tool for computing synthetic images of scattered light in dust and gas shells around AGB stars, which can be applied to detailed models of dynamical atmospheres and dust-driven winds. We present maps of polarized light using dynamical models computed with the DARWIN code. The synthetic images clearly show that the intensity of the polarized light, the position of the inner edge of the dust shell, and the size of the dust grains near the inner edge are all changing with the luminosity phase. Non-spherical structures in the dust shells can also have an impact on the polarized light. We simulate this effect by combining different pulsation phases into a single 3D structure before computing synthetic images. An asymmetry of the circumstellar envelope can create a net polarization, which can be used as diagnostics for the grain size. The ratio between the size of the scattering particles and the observed wavelength determines at what wavelengths net polarization switches direction. If observed, this can be used to constrain average particle sizes.
Growth, Structural Change, and Poverty Reduction: Evidence from India

We examine the relationship between growth in labor productivity and poverty reduction through the lens of changes in the structure of output and employment. Combining state-level data from India on poverty with state-level data on output and employment for 11 production sectors over 1987–2009, we find that the movement of workers from lower to higher productivity sector is an important channel through which increases in aggregate productivity translate into poverty reduction. We also find that the importance of this channel of productivity growth, termed structural change by recent literature, varies across states. Exploratory analysis reveals that indicators of financial development, business regulations that promote competition and flexible labor regulations are associated with larger reallocations of labor from lower to higher productivity sectors. Overall, our findings are consistent with the view that a better investment climate is not only good for business, it is also an important means for making growth more pro-poor in a labor abundant country.
Effect of Manual Force on Lumbar Side Bending Range of Motion

Objective: We evaluated the immediate changes in intervertebral motion after application of lumbar manual force. Methods: Fifteen male volunteers (aged 26–43 years) with no history of significant low back pain were recruited to participate as a study group (manual traction). Control group (without manual traction) consisted of fifteen male volunteers who are matched with age (age 21-45 years). Consenting volunteers were referred for three radiographs (neutral position, right side bending position prior to manual force and right side bending position after manual force). The L3/4 segment was chosen for manual force, which was performed by a single examiner. Frontal angular rotation of each lumbar spine segment and total lumbar spinal motion were measured radio graphically before and after manual force by a single investigator (radiologist). Within-group differences were assessed with the paired t test. Results: Analysis of the pre-and post-manual force radiographs showed a significant average increase at the L3/4 segment from 4.9° to 6.4° and an improvement in the total range of motion from 17.8° to 19.5° in the study group. No significant increase was found at the L1/2, L2/3, or L4/5 segments in the study group. In the control group, there were no significant changes in all measurements. Conclusion: These results suggest that manual force targeting the L3/4 segment results in an immediate increase in the angular motion of the L3/4 segment and improvement in total motion of the lumbar spine.
Dibutyltin Dichloride Retards Leydig Cell Developmental Regeneration in Adult Rat Testis

Dibutyltin dichloride (DBTCl), widely used as plastic stabilizer, can cause comprehensive toxicity. The present study aims to investigate the effects of DBTCl on rat Leydig cell developmental regeneration and characterize the related mechanism. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and gavaged with saline (control) or 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day of DBTCl consecutively for 10 days. At the end of the DBTCl treatment, all rats received a single intraperitoneal injection (i.p.,) of 75 mg/kg ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) to eliminate all the adult Leydig cells and to induce Leydig cell developmental regeneration. Leydig cell developmental regeneration was evaluated by measuring the levels of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone on days 7, 35, and 56 post-EDS. Leydig cell gene and protein expression levels, as well as cell morphology and cell counts were also carried out on day 56 post-EDS. The present study found that DBTCl significantly reduced serum testosterone levels on days 35 and 56 post-EDS, but increased serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on day 56 at ≥ 5 mg/kg/day. The mRNA and protein levels of Leydig (Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd17b3, and Hsd11b1) and Sertoli cells (Fshr, Amh, and Sox9) were significantly downregulated in the DBTCl-treated testes compared to the control. Immunohistochemical staining showed that DBTCl-treatment caused fewer regenerated Leydig cells and impaired Sertoli cell development and function in the testis on day 56 post-EDS. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that DBTCl retards rat Leydig cell developmental regeneration by downregulating steroidogenesis-related enzymes at the gene and protein levels, inhibiting Leydig cell proliferation and impairing Sertoli cell function and development.
Plasmonic nanogap enhanced phase-change devices with dual electrical-optical functionality

Using plasmonics, photonics, and electronics, a nonvolatile memory cell operated both electrically and optically is demonstrated. Modern-day computers rely on electrical signaling for the processing and storage of data, which is bandwidth-limited and power hungry. This fact has long been realized in the communications field, where optical signaling is the norm. However, exploiting optical signaling in computing will require new on-chip devices that work seamlessly in both electrical and optical domains, without the need for repeated electrical-to-optical conversion. Phase-change devices can, in principle, provide such dual electrical-optical operation, but assimilating both functionalities into a single device has so far proved elusive owing to conflicting requirements of size-limited electrical switching and diffraction-limited optical response. Here, we combine plasmonics, photonics, and electronics to deliver an integrated phase-change memory cell that can be electrically or optically switched between binary or multilevel states. Crucially, this device can also be simultaneously read out both optically and electrically, offering a new strategy for merging computing and communications technologies.
ECONOMIC RETURNS TO SCHOOLING IN A LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRY: EVIDENCE FOR INDONESIA

The purpose of this study is to provide an update of the empirical evidence on the private return to schooling in Indonesia using sample data from Indonesian Family Life Survey 4 (IFLS 4). The augmented Mincerian model is utilised to quantify the private return to schooling. The main result obtained indicates that the return to schooling in Indonesia is relatively low compare to other Asian and Less Developed Countries. It is also found that return to schooling for females are significantly different from those of males.
Vowel weakening in Afro-Yungueño: Linguistic and social considerations El debilitamiento vocálico en el español afroyungueño: Consideraciones lingüísticas y sociales

Abstract: Unstressed vowel weakening, a phenomenon ranging from partial devoicing to elision has been reported for Spanish dialects in the central Plateau region of Mexico (Boyd-Bowman 1952; Canellada & Zamora Vicente 1960; Lope Blanch 1972), and for the Andean regions of Bolivia (Gordon 1980), Peru (Delforge 2006, 2008a,b, 2009) and Ecuador (Lipski 1990). The present study provides a linguistic and social account of unstressed vowel weakening for a variety of Spanish spoken in the Andes: Afro-Yungueno (ay). *** Resumo: La reduccion de las vocales atonas es un fenomeno linguistico que caracteriza el espanol del altiplano mexicano (Boyd-Bowman 1952; Canellada & Zamora- Vicente 1960; Lope Blanch 1972) y de las regiones andinas de Bolivia (Gordon 1980), Peru (Delforge 2006, 2008a,b, 2009) y Ecuador (Lipski 1990). El presente trabajo prove un analisis linguistico y social de dicho fenomeno en una variedad del espanol hablado en los Andes: el espanol afroyungueno.
Accuracy of the Smoking Questionnaire

Summary The smoking questionnaire (SQ), a multidimensional questionnaire covering the major dimensions of cigarette smoking, was developed to address the heterogeneity in the assessment of smoking exposure. It consists of eight questions and can be completed within a few minutes. Test-retest reliability of the SQ and concurrent validity with the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2011 questionnaire were examined in a clinical study conducted in adult US current menthol cigarette smokers. The SQ and the BRFSS were self-administrated twice before and after randomization with a 6-day interval. The inter-temporal analyses included current smokers aged 22 to 66 years who completed the SQ at both timepoints. The percent agreement of items and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the comparisons between the two timepoints and between the SQ and the BRFSS questionnaire. To evaluate the feasibility of the SQ and to capture subjects’ opinions about the SQ, a meta-questionnaire was administrated. High test-retest reliability levels (percent agreement of > 70 to 100% between the two timepoints) were found for SQ smoking behavior items, in particular for items related to current smoking status, 100-cigarettes lifetime, regular smoking, age of initiation and preferred brand. Moderate (55% agreement) to high test-retest reliability (84% agreement) was found for daily consumption of manufactured cigarettes. The comparison between the SQ and the BRFSS 2011 showed a high concurrent validity (98 to 100% agreement). The SQ was completed on average in 3 to 4 min and was assessed as easy to use. The findings demonstrate that the SQ is reliable in smokers and a practical tool to assess smoking exposure in clinical studies.
Multi-scale Uncertainty Propagation in Dynamical Systems Final Report FA 9550-10-1-0143

Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 222024302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From To) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER
A NECESSARY MOMENT CONDITION FOR THE FRACTIONAL FUNCTIONAL CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREM

We discuss the moment condition for the fractional functional central limit theorem (FCLT) for partial sums of xt = Δ−dut, where $d\, \in \,\left({ - {1 \over 2}\,,\,{1 \over 2}} \right)$ is the fractional integration parameter and ut is weakly dependent. The classical condition is existence of q ≥ 2 and $q\, > \,\left( {d\, + \,{1 \over 2}} \right)^{ - 1} $ moments of the innovation sequence. When d is close to $ - {1 \over 2}$ this moment condition is very strong. Our main result is to show that when $d\, \in \,\left({ - \,{1 \over 2},\,0} \right)$ and under some relatively weak conditions on ut, the existence of $q\, \ge \,\left({d\, + \,{1 \over 2}} \right)^{ - 1} $ moments is in fact necessary for the FCLT for fractionally integrated processes and that $q\, > \,\left( {d\, + \,{1 \over 2}} \right)^{ - 1} $ moments are necessary for more general fractional processes. Davidson and de Jong (2000, Econometric Theory 16, 643–666) presented a fractional FCLT where only q > 2 finite moments are assumed. As a corollary to our main theorem we show that their moment condition is not sufficient and hence that their result is incorrect.
COMPOSITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS OF ASPHALT FOR DURABILITY IMPROVEMENT

An investigation was performed to determine whether a laboratory procedure could be established that could provide a means to distinguish the durability (aging) qualities of asphalts when both their chemical and physical characteristics are considered. The investigation was also aimed at developing the means for predicting the effects on viscosity or an aging index of the interblending of various sources of asphalt. The investigation compared the effects on viscosity and aging indexes among asphalts, asphalt blends, and asphalt-additive blends. The research indicated that (a) asphalts can be blended to achieve practically any desired viscosity or aging index or combination of both, (b) Gilsonite in small quantities can be added to asphalt to achieve a desired viscosity without a subsequent loss of durability, (c) the chemical reactivity ratio can predict which base stock asphalts will age the fastest, and (d) the second acidaffin fraction appears to be the most important fraction for the improvement of durability (aging) and is available in commercial products or in selected asphalts for blending.
Short-Term Forecasting of Nigeria Inflation Rates Using Seasonal ARIMA Model

This paper considers the analyses and forecasting of the monthly All-items (Year-on-Year change) Inflation Rates in Nigeria. The data used for this study are monthly All-items Inflation rates from 2000 to 2015 collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Analyses reveal that the Inflation rates of Nigeria are seasonal and follow a seasonal ARIMA Model, (0, 1, 0) x (0, 1, 1) 12 . The model is shown to be adequate and the forecast obtained from it are shown to agree closely with the original observations.
Adoption of Modern Agricultural Production Technologies by Farm Households in Ghana: What Factors Influence their Decisions?

Low adoption of modern agricultural production technologies amongst farmers in Ghana has been identified as one of the main reasons for the low agricultural productivity in the country. This paper examines the factors that influence farm householdsâ€™ modern agricultural production technology adoption decisions in Ghana. Household questionnaires were administered to 300 farmers the Bawku West District of Ghana; and the logit model was estimated to ascertain the factors. The results showed that farm size, expected benefits from technology adoption, access to credit and extension services are the factors that significantly influence technology adoption decisions of farm households in the study area. It is concluded that farm householdsâ€™ agricultural technology adoption decisions depends on their socio-economic circumstances and institutional effectiveness. We recommend that policies should be formulated to take advantage of the factors that positively influence farmersâ€™ adoption of modern agricultural production technologies and to mitigate the negative ones. Key words: Agriculture, Farmers, Household, Logit Model, Ghana, Technology Adoption
A general approach to goodness of fit for U processes

Goodness of fit procedures are essential tools for assessing model adequacy in statistics. In this work, we present a general theory and approach to goodness of fit techniques based on U-processes for the accelerated failure time (AFT) model. Many of the examples will focus on U-statistics of order 2. While many authors have proposed goodness of fit tests for U-statistics of order one, less has been developed for higher order U-statistics. In this paper, we propose goodness of fit tests for U-statistics of order 2 by using theoretical results from Nolan and Pollard (1987) and Nolan and Pollard (1988). We propose a resampling approach which is a generalization of that proposed in Lin et al. (1996). Simulation studies are used to illustrate the proposed methods.
Meat quality in “in door” and “out door” production systems of poultry and swine

The meat quality can be influenced by many interacting factors before and after the slaughter. Currently more sustainable production systems are targeted in general, whether or not they have any effect on meat quality. The sustainability is a condition of agroecology and necessarily im- plies on the animal and plant association and succession. A condition for sustainability is to minimize or even eliminate the use of inputs from processes of chemical synthesis. In the case of pigs and poultry, this is feasible by adopting production systems that allows nutria- ents recycle directly on the soil at levels that do not involve pollution. Although we have the understanding that the general principles of sustainability to be observed are universal, the solution is not simple. For each situation a vi- able alternative must be sought, depending on the social, economic, ecological and cultural realities. In tropical and subtropical climates the production of pigs and poultry outdoors can be an appropriate option. This also leads to nutria- ents recycle and promotes a better energy bal- ance of the system. Among the alternatives that can be taken to introduce differentiating factors in meat production as food is the type of pro- duction system, due to its direct impact on the meat quality. These systems have a direct in- fluence through the consumed food, by the conditions of animal wellbeing, physical activity and the environment provided. The performance and meat quality depend on the interaction of genotypes, rearing conditions, pre-slaughter handling and processing of the meat and the carcass. The influence of the rearing system on the animal performance, on the carcass and finally on the meat is the result of the interactive effects among facilities, feeding level and ge-notype used in the production systems. The production of poultry and pigs more extensively tend to get a final product with its own or- ga-noleptic characteristics, changing the meat de-fault color and content, place of fat deposi- tion and the fatty acid profile deposited on the carcass.