Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimación de pérdidas de suelo por erosión hídrica en tres diferentes sistemas de manejo hortícola del sur de Uruguay

Los principales sistemas actuales de producción hortícolas del sur de Uruguay son poco sustentables debido a problemas de erosión hídrica, lo que determina la necesidad de generación de tecnologías adecuadas para su mitigación. La Ecuación Universal de Pérdida de Suelo es una herramienta que permite estimar las pérdidas de suelo, siendo adaptada y validada para sistemas agrícolas extensivos, forestales y pastoriles en Uruguay, pero no para sistemas hortícolas. A través de la versión revisada RUSLE (Renard et al., 1997), se estimaron las relaciones de pérdida de suelo y a partir de estas, el Factor C para tres manejos diferentes. Las mediciones se hicieron en tres predios hortícolas (rotación hortícola ganadera, rotación hortícola y hortícola convencional) durante los años 2008 y 2009. El objetivo de este trabajo es generar información local para estimar las pérdidas de suelo por erosión hídrica y posibles impactos del cambio climático a causa del aumento en la erosividad promedio de la lluvia, en sistemas hortícolas tradicionales y en los sistemas propuestos por el proyecto EULA-CIAS. Se estimaron reducciones de pérdidas de suelo de 30 %, lo que significó alcanzar niveles tolerables. Se propuso la inclusión de pasturas en la rotación como una práctica que, además de disminuir la pérdida de suelo en 60 % respecto de sistemas tradicionales, permitiría la adaptación y mitigación al cambio climático debido al aumento de la erosividad promedio de la lluvia.
Induction of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3γ Gene Expres- sion by the Extracellular Matrix Component from Fish Skin

The skin of the halibut (Reinhararditus hippoglossoides) has long been discarded as a waste product by the food industry in large quantities; hence, we examined the biological activity in the skin for utilization of the waste. In the present study, we determined induction of hepatocyte nuclear factor 3γ (HNF3γ), which is involved in liver function, using human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and extracellular matrix components extracted from the fish skin. Induction of the HNF3γ was detected by reporter plasmid constructed with the promoter region of the HNF3γ gene and luciferase or green fluorescent protein genes. The alkali extract containing proteoglycan showed HNF3γ induction, but the acid-extract enriched in collagen did not. Consequently, dermatan sulfate showed the strongest activity in HNF3γ induction. These observations suggested that fish skin has some significant biological activity, and indicates its possible function in the food and drug industry.
Spacing and pressure to characterise arrival sequencing

This paper presents an analysis of the sequencing of arrival flights at four European airports representative of different types of operation with more than 14000 aircraft pairs. The motivation is to better understand and characterise how sequencing is performed in dense and complex environments during peak periods. The analysis, purely data driven, focuses on the evolution of flight additional time, spacing deviation and sequence pressure. The main results are: (1) at 15 minutes from final, the average flight additional time varies from 4 to 6 minutes (depending on the terrain), with a variability between ±2.5 and ±4 minutes; (2) at 15 minutes from final, the spacing deviation varies from ±3min to ±4min, and converges toward zero at 2min to final; (3) the sequence pressure (number of flights sharing the same arrival slot if no sequencing) is low at terminal area entry, and then peaks at some distance/time from final before decreasing toward a target pressure of one flight per slot, closer to final. The pressure levels and their peak distribution over the terminal area differ notably among destinations, highlighting the effect of the sequencing technique. Future work will involve analyzing highpressure situations, in view of identifying the appropriate pressure characteristics, i.e. trade-off between the required minimum pressure and acceptable controller workload.
The variable step-size wavelet transform-domain LMS adaptive (cid:12)lter algorithm

In this paper, the Wavelet Transform-Domain Least-Mean-Squares (WT-DLMSs) adaptive algorithm with Variable Step-Size (VSS) is established. The step-size changes according to the largest decrease of mean square deviation. To keep computational complexity low, the Haar Wavelet Transform (HWT) is utilized as a transform. In addition, the mean square performance analysis of the VSS-WTDLMS is studied in the stationary and nonstationary environments, and the theoretical relations for transient and steady-state performances are established. The simulation results show that the proposed VSS-WTDLMS has a faster convergence rate and lower maladjustment, compared to conventional WTDLMS. The theoretical relations are veri(cid:12)ed by presenting various experimental results.
Determining the Seismic Vulnerability Index of RC Buildings Based on NL- Parametric Analysis. *Moustafa

Many of the buildings and facilities were significantly damaged during 2015 Ranau earthquake in Malaysia. With this purpose, a school building which has been damaged during Ranau earthquake was selected as a target RC-building. To assess the seismic vulnerability of the RC structures, an improved seismic vulnerability index (SVI) methodology is formulated based on 8 modeled parameters that are designed according to earthquake resisting design concept (ERD). The parametric analysis is performed using nonlinear time history analysis (NL-THA) based on an array of ground motion records. The results indicated that there is a good correlation between the analytical modeling approach with the observed fragility features during in-situ field investigations (Post-damages). Fig. 1 Improved Seismic Vulnerability Index approach 1) PhD Student 1) Associate Professor 2) Professor The 2019 World Congress on Advances in Structural Engineering and Mechanics (ASEM19) Jeju Island, Korea, September 17 21, 2019
Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Liporrhopalum tentacularis Grandi, the pollinator fig wasp of Ficus montana Blume

Microsatellite markers for the pollinator fig wasp Liporrhopalum tentacularis were developed using genomic libraries enriched for di-, tri- and tetranucleotide repeats. A subset of 31 positive clones was sequenced and primers were designed. Eleven primer pairs produced polymorphic amplification products in L. tentacularis. Eight markers gave unambiguously scorable patterns and were further characterized on 29 individuals collected from different fruits of the dioecious host fig Ficus montana in Indonesia. Three to 19 alleles per locus were detected in this set of samples. The observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.10 and 0.55.
Bank of Uganda Working Exploring the Determinants of Interest Rate Spreads in the Uganda Banking System

2020 Working papers describe on-going research by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. The views expressed in the working paper series are those of the author(s) and do not in any way represent the official position of the Bank of Uganda. This paper should not therefore be reported as representing the views of the Bank of Uganda or its Abstract Interest rate spreads in Uganda have been persistently high over the last two decades. This paper aims to complement the literature by investigating the determinants of interest rate spreads in Uganda, following the period after the adoption of Inflation Targeting, using three different approaches: first, a cross country comparison with regional peers, second, a decomposition of interest rates spreads in Uganda and third, a panel data analysis using system generalized method of moments (GMM). A consistent result from each of our analytical approaches is that overhead costs are positively and significantly related with bank spreads. Other important variables in explaining bank spreads include profitability (return on assets), market structure (herfindahl index), non-performing loans, economic growth, the exchange rate and the real Treasury bill rate. The results have important implications for economic policy: singling out the need for a reduction in overhead costs which needs to complemented with increased bank competition. Other policy measures that could facilitate a lowering of spreads include: a reduction in domestic government borrowing and a lowering of the sector’s non-performing loans through better credit risk assessment.
Sympatric morphological and genetic differentiation of the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata (Bivalvia: Pterioida) in the northern Persian Gulf

The pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata, shows great variation in shell morphology throughout its distribution. This variation can be related to phenotypic plasticity, genetic variability or a combination of both. Using geometric morphometric and microsatellite DNA analyses, two morphologically distinct populations of the pearl oyster were studied in the northern Persian Gulf, i.e. from the Lavan and Hendourabi Islands. Ten landmarks were selected to define the shape of the left shell. In addition, concentration of Zn, Mg, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, Mn and Cr of the soft tissues were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Six microsatellite loci were used to assess the population genetic structure of the pearl oyster. There were morphometric differences between the populations suggesting the existence of two morphotypes. There was a significant difference between the two populations in concentrations of Fe, Mg, Zn, Cd, Mn and Cr indicating that the specimens from the Lavan Island experience a more stressful environment than those from the Hendourabi Island. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the proportion of the genetic variation attributed to differences among populations of the pearl oyster was highly significant for both FST and RST (FST = 0.066, RST = 0.265, P < 0.001). Our findings showed that stressful conditions resulting from heavy metals may have a direct influence on the separation of the populations in Lavan and Hendourabi despite the lack of a physical barrier.
Predicting deliberative outcomes

We extend structured prediction to deliberative outcomes. Speciﬁcally, we learn parameterized games that can map any inputs to equilibria as the outcomes. Standard structured prediction models rely heavily on global scoring functions and are therefore unable to model individual player preferences or how they respond to others asymmetrically. Our games take as input, e.g., UN resolution to be voted on, and map such contexts to initial strategies, player utilities, and interactions. Players are then thought to repeatedly update their strategies in response to weighted aggregates of other players’ choices towards maximizing their individual utilities. The output from the game is a sample from the resulting (near) equilibrium mixed strategy proﬁle. We characterize conditions under which players’ strategies converge to an equilibrium in such games and when the game parameters can be provably recovered from observations. Empirically, we demonstrate on two real voting datasets that our games can recover interpretable strategic interactions, and predict strategies for players in new settings.
Provision of Work-Space Facility and Performance of Jua-Kali Demonstration and Training Empowerment Programmes in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study sought to establish the relationship between provision of workspace facility and performance of Jua-kali Demonstration and Training Empowerment Programmes (JDTEP) in Nairobi County, Kenya. Theory of constraints and system theory of organization anchored the study. Cross-sectional survey and correlational survey designs were utilized. The target population was 327 beneficiaries of JDTEP. A sample of 181 beneficiaries was chosen using Krejcie and Morgan table of sample determination and selected using simple random sampling. Using purposive sampling, 10 JDTEP implementors above supervisory level were selected for interview. Both structured questionnaire and informant interview guide were the data collection tools. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis and quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient of reliability (0.6668) indicated a moderate internal consistency of the questionnaire. Pearson`s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Regression Analysis analytical methods used. Fisher (F) test was used to test the hypotheses at α=0.05. For the research objective, r = 0.344, F (1,145) = 19,229 at p =0.0002<0.05, hence null hypothesis was not accepted as there was enough evidence to conclude that provision of work-space facility significantly influences performance of Jua-kali Demonstration and Training Empowerment Programmes (JDTEP). Government and other supporters of entrepreneurship were recommended to come up more innovation and market-oriented production centers for developing productivity and competitiveness of entrepreneurs.
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TO REDUCE ROOM TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS

Phase change materials (PCMs) are the materials that could store a large amount of energy in the form of latent heat at a constant temperature without any fluctuations or variations in the temperature. This property of the PCMs finds its usage in many fields conserving energy to a greater extent. The major application of the PCMs is in the building construction where it is used in several ways to maintain either a constant temperature in the interior of the building or to store a large amount of solar radiation as a latent heat energy in it. In this paper a building construction model is suggested and analyzed using Fluent 6.3 and the results were discussed. The main consideration was made on the regulation of inner temperature fluctuations along with the maximum energy of solar radiation that could be stored and retrieved later. A detailed literature survey of all the researches that were done previously using PCMs in buildings was done. KeywordsPhase change materials, Buildings, Fluent, Temperature fluctuations, Energy storage.
Modeling Spatial Correlation Structure in Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Multi-Environment Trials

Comparative multi-environment trials (METs) of sugarcane genotypes are frequently conducted using a randomized complete-block design (RCBD) within environments. However, blocking does not always ensure spatial variation control because of differential competition for resources among neighboring genotypes. Heterogeneity within trials may also cause between-trial heterocedasticity. This work aims to evaluate different linear mixed models (LMMs) that enable the analysis of spatial correlation and residual heterogeneity among trials for both tons of cane per hectare (TCH) and sucrose content (SC%) in three series of multi-environmental trials conducted to evaluate advanced sugarcane clones. A total of 16 sugarcane trials conducted at different sites and in different crop cycles (age) were analyzed. Individual (age×site combination) and multi-environment analyses were performed. For SC%, the classic RCBD analysis within trial was adequate. For TCH, the anisotropic autoregressive model of order 1 (AR1×AR1) was the best to compare genotype means in most trials, allowing gain in information equivalent, on average, to the addition of 1.6 replicates to the original design. In the case of multi-environment analysis, the AR1×AR1 within-trial with among-trial heteroscedasticity was the best model to compare variety means, both for TCH and SC%. The results showed how a more appropriate mixed model would help avoid commission of judgment errors in sugarcane variety recommendations.
An IE-FFT Algorithm to Analyze PEC Objects for MFIE Formulation

An IE-FFT algorithm is implemented and applied to the electromagnetic (EM) solution of perfect electric conducting (PEC) scattering problems. The solution of the method of moments (MoM), based on the magnetic field integral equation (MFIE), is obtained for PEC objects with closed surfaces. The IE-FFT algorithm uses a uniform Cartesian grid to apply a global fast Fourier transform (FFT), which leads to significantly reduce memory requirement and speed up CPU with an iterative solver. The IE-FFT algorithm utilizes two discretizations, one for the unknown induced surface current on the planar triangular patches of 3D arbitrary geometries and the other on a uniform Cartesian grid for interpolating the free-space Green’s function. The uniform interpolation of the Green’s functions allows for a global FFT for far-field interaction terms, and the near-field interaction terms should be adequately corrected. A 3D block-Toeplitz structure for the Lagrangian interpolation of the Green’s function is proposed. The MFIE formulation with the IE-FFT algorithm, without the help of a preconditioner, is converged in certain iterations with a generalized minimal residual (GMRES) method. The complexity of the IE-FFT is found to be approximately O N . and O N . logN for memory requirements and CPU time, respectively.
Laying performance of six pure lines of chickens and four commercial hybrids at the Agassiz Research Centre

The Agassiz Research Centre keeps six pure lines of high-producing but non-commercial layers. Egg production, body weight, feed consumption and efficiency, and several characteristics of the eggs were measured to 60 wk of age and compared with those of four commercial white- and brown-egg hybrids. Egg production from 20 to 60 wk was highest for the four commercial hybrids, with no difference between them, and was 6 to 11% lower for the pure line white-egg layers, and 7 to 13% lower for the pure line brown-egg layers. The pure line and hybrid white-egg layers had similar body weights, but the pure line brown-egg layers weighed more than the commercial brown-egg hybrid. Feed efficiency was similar for the four hybrids and was generally better for the hybrids than the pure lines, based largely on higher egg production rather than increased feed consumption. The difference between industrial hybrids and the pure lines studied can be attributed to the selection that has been applied as well as to heterosis. Ke.
Impact of Globalization on Green Growth: A Case of OECD Countries

Green growth is considered as healthy sign for any country in the world. With growing pollution and other health issues now it is considered as burning issue, either to save our natural resources or the cost should be paid in case of over or unrealistic consumption of resources. This study has been carried with real intension to investigate the role of fdi, R &D and trade openness on green economic growth of OECD countries. Developed economies are open for foreign direct investment, more liberal trade policies and ready to adopt technological innovations, all that causes to bring rapid environmental changes in these nations and continuously increasing level of heat in the atmosphere of these economies. No doubt these countries are attaining high speed of growth at high level of CO2 in the atmosphere. Therefore, this study is conducted to identify the factors that can affect green economic growth. Data is extracted from world development indicator from 1991-2018 where results depict that FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and trade openness has significant and positive relationship with the emission of CO2 in air and has certain association with green economic growth in short run as well as in the long run. Whereas research and development cost has significant but negative relation with green growth of the OECD countries. Policy makers should work on research and development if they are more focused on green growth of the countries.
Gendered Effects of Employment Protection on Earnings Mobility

This paper explores potential gendered effects of employment protection on earnings mobility, differentiating between upward and downward movements. We conduct a micro-macro mobility analysis for 23 European countries over the economic downturn period 2008–2014. The results confirm that, overall, the higher the protection for regular contracts, the lower the earnings mobility (either upwards or downwards) although the effect is stronger among women of high reproductive age. Nevertheless, protection for temporary employment seems to be only associated with reduced downward earnings mobility when considering transitions into and out of employment, with no gender differential effect.
RHIZOSPHERE COMPETENCE OF THREE ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI IN RELATION TO HOST PLANT AND INTER-SPECIFIC INTERACTION

Three commonly used entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in sugarcane ecosystem, namely Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Beauveria brongniartii (Saccardo) Petch and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin were assessed for their ability to sustain themselves in the rhizosphere in the presence or absence of competition with other fungi, either native or inoculated. In the first of two studies, the inoculated EPFs applied singly were recovered from rhizosphere of five dicots and five monocot crops from sterilized soil as well as unsterilized soil. In the second study, the efficacy of the EPF to survive in the rhizosphere of sugarcane with or without competition from either of the other two EPF or two nematophilic fungi or two antagonistic fungi or two soil saprophytes or sugarcane wilt pathogen Fusarium sp. in sterilized or unsterilized soil was estimated. Results of the first study indicated that in sterilized soil medium, the rhizosphere of okra (82.2%) was the most favourable for survival of EPF which was comparable with most monocots tested. Beauveria bassiana (75.0%) and M. anisopliae (79.0%) were more efficient than B. brongniartii (66.3%) regardless of plant species. The lowest spore harvest was from larvae trapped in rhizosphere of brinjal (3.88 x 107/larva) followed by that from cotton rhizosphere (5.55x 107/larva). In the second study, in sugarcane rhizosphere in sterilized medium, the mortality of the larvae caused by B. bassiana was synergized by M. anisopliae (96.7%) and significantly higher than all other treatments. In case of B. brongniartii, mortality rates were most affected by fungal antagonists and Fusarium sp. (50.0-53.3%) while M. anisopliae was affected by Trichoderma harzianum (53.3%). Sporulation of Beauveria spp. was consistently affected by Penicillium sp. /Aspergillus sp. while most species were competitive with M. anisopliae. In both the studies, only M. anisopliae spores could be recovered from unsterilized soil.