Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Participatory farmers' evaluation of maize varieties: a case study from Nebbi District, Uganda

A participatory action research was conducted between July 2004 and March 2005 in Nebbi district. The purpose was to analyze farmers’ evaluation criteria for selection of improved maize varieties. Twenty farmers were sampled and provided with six different improved maize seed varieties (Longe 1, Long 2 Hybrid, Longe 4, Longe 5, Pan 67 and SeedC0 407) to grow. Data were collected using individual interviews, participant observation and group discussions at three stages: before planting, from seed germination to harvest and post harvest. Farmers had diverse perceptions and complex combinations of criteria in selecting the maize varieties they grow. Large seed grain size, however, was found to be the prime physical trait that appeals to most farmers when selecting seeds whose genetic characteristics are apparently not yet known. There is a need for extension workers to focus on adaptation rather than adoption of new technologies by farmers.
Thought suppression in the context of the normative window model of prejudice

The following study presents a novel investigation of the moderating role of social norms in the suppression of stereotype-related thoughts and the subsequent rebound effect, hypothesizing that suppressing stereotyping thoughts regarding certain social groups leads to a greater rebound effect than suppressing stereotyping thoughts about other social groups. This experiment showed no evidence that social norms prescribing the way one should think about prejudice against a certain social group moderates the rebound effect. Participants in the suppression condition experienced the rebound effect, however the rebound effect was not significantly different across target social groups. While my results replicate past research in demonstrating the rebound effect across conditions, the results did not support my hypothesis as I did not find a significant difference in ease of thought suppression between social groups.
Heat or Eat? Extreme Weather Shocks and Food Security of SNAP Households in the U.S.

Extremely hot or cold weather could impose a financial burden for poor families as they face difficult decisions between whether to heat or cool their homes, or to feed their families. With severe budget constraints, they have to choose among necessities such as food, housing, health, transportation, and utilities with a relatively high opportunity cost. In this paper, I find that extreme weather worsens food security of SNAP households and reduces food-at-home spending. It also seems to negatively affect self-assessed health of household heads. The effects are larger for SNAP participating households than for eligible non-participating households.
Winter Cow Feeding Strategies

The majority of feeding costs occur in the winter months when grazing is limited and pastures are not productive. Thus, improved winter feeding strategies can greatly impact profitability of the cowEcalf producer. Despite this, producers have been slow to realize the benefits of improved winter feeding strategies because of lowEcost grains and coEproduct feeds in past years. LowEcost commodities are simply not in the equation for feeding cows in 2013. Producers will need to investigate and implement improved winter feeding methods to maximize profitability in the coming years.
Science Engagement and Literacy: A retrospective analysis for students in Canada and Australia

Given international concerns about students' pursuit (or more correctly, non-pursuit) of courses and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this study is about achieving a better understanding of factors related to high school students' engagement in science. The study builds on previous secondary analyses of Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) datasets for New Zealand and Australia. For the current study, we compared patterns of science engagement and science literacy for male and female students in Canada and Australia. The study's secondary analysis revealed that for all PISA measures included under the conceptual umbrella of engagement in science (i.e. interest, enjoyment, valuing, self-efficacy, self-concept and motivation), 15-year-old students in Australia lagged their Canadian counterparts to varying, albeit modest, degrees. Our retrospective analysis further shows, however, that gender equity in science engagement and science literacy is evident in both Canadian and Australian contexts. Additionally, and consistent with our previous findings for indigenous and non-indigenous students in New Zealand and Australia, we found that for male and female students in both countries, the factor most strongly associated with variations in engagement in science was the extent to which students participate in science activities outside of school. In contrast, and again for both Canadian and Australian students, the factors most strongly associated with science literacy were students' socioeconomic backgrounds, and the amount of formal time spent doing science. The implications of these results for science educators and researchers are discussed.
Deception Choice and Audit Design - The Importance of Being Earnest

We study deception choices and deception detection in a tax compliance experiment. We find large systematic differences in individual deception abilities. Tax payers are conscious about their own deception abilities. The empirical outcomes are in line with a theory suggesting that tax payers make their choices whether to underreport or report truthfully on the basis of their own deception ability. Tax payers with high deception ability are more likely to underreport. This selection effect is stronger if the fines for underreporting are higher. These results provide an (additional) reason why random audits are superior to audits based on discretionary choice.
Financial development, the choice of technology, and comparative advantage

In this general equilibrium model, banks and manufacturing firms engage in oligopolistic competition. A more advanced manufacturing technology has a higher fixed cost but a lower marginal cost of production. We show that manufacturing firms located in a country with a more efficient financial sector choose more advanced technologies and this country has a comparative advantage in the production of manufactured goods. Even though the foreign country has a less developed financial sector than the home country, the opening up of trade with the foreign country leads domestic manufacturing firms to adopt more advanced technologies. An increase in the level of efficiency in the financial sector of one country causes manufacturing firms in both countries to adopt more advanced technologies.
Advanced fluorescence microscopy for in vivo imaging of neuronal activity

Brain function emerges from the coordinated activity, over time, of large neuronal populations placed in different brain regions. Understanding the relationships of these specific areas and disentangling the contributions of individual neurons to overall function remain central goals for neuroscience. In this scenario, fluorescence microscopy has been proved as the tool of choice for in vivo recording of brain activity. Optical advances combined with genetically encoded indicators allow a large flexibility in terms of spatiotemporal resolution and field of view while keeping invasiveness in living animals to a minimum. Here we describe the latest advancements in the field of linear and nonlinear optical microscopy with special attention to the exploration of brain functionality of model animals. The present review aims to guide the reader through the main optical systems in the field toward future directions for in vivo microscopy applications.
Direct Isolation of Metagenomic DNA from Environmental Water Samples

www.EpiBio. com 7 Introduction The construction of metagenomic libraries using a fosmid cloning system is rapidly becoming the method of choice for exploring environmental microbial communities that are unculturable or difficult to culture. Fosmid cloning systems typically use sheared DNA that results in an unbiased library with better sequence coverage compared to libraries prepared by partial restriction enzyme digests. Critical to the construction of metagenomic fosmid libraries are: i) the isolation of sufficient amounts of high molecular weight DNA; and ii) generation of ~40 kb fragments by mechanical shearing followed by size selection using pulse-field gel electrophoresis. This process, however, may take up to 3 days and results in significant sample loss.
HuBLE: The Hudson Bay Lithospheric Experiment

We have carried out a broadband seismological study of the Hudson Bay region of northern Canada with the view to understanding better the reasons for the Bay’s existence, and the nature of the tectonic processes that shaped the Canadian shield during Precambrian times. Our 2007–2011 seismograph network consisted of up to 12 CMG-3T Guralp instruments with a combination of Taurus and DCM data loggers recording data at 20Hz in both remote (solar powered) and community (mains powered) locations. Our work was carried out in conjunction with the Geological Survey of Canada who provided significant logistical and financial support beyond the scope of the original (2007-2009) NERC-funded proposal. Data quality from the HuBLE network was excellent, with percentage recovery good except during the long Canadian winters when stations powered down. A number of publications have resulted from analysis of the new dataset showing that: (i) the lithosphere in the region has retained a ∼1.8Ga fossil fabric, providing strong evidence that modern-day-style plate tectonics was in operation by Paleoproterozoic times (the Trans Hudson Orogen). (ii) Crustal formation of the Canadian Shield likely evolved from one characterised by a hot ductile regime during the Paleoarchean, to one more closely resembling modern-day-style plate tectonics by the Paleoproterozoic. (iii) Crustal stretching (not a mantle down-welling, eclogitised lower-crust, or incomplete glacial rebound) is likely responsible for the presence of the Bay. (iv) There is no evidence for thinning or thickening of the mantle transition zone, with the implication that the mantle beneath Hudson Bay is neither characterized by a cold downwelling (potentially responsible for the formation of the Bay), or elevated temperatures due to the thermally insulating effects of the thick Canadian lithosphere.
Effects of the Directionality and the Order of Presentation Within the Session on the Physical Demands of Small-Sided Games in Youth Soccer

Background: Theexternalloadassociatedwithdiﬀerentformatsof SSGshasbeenwellstudied,howeveritisnecessarytoknowthe eﬀect of little-analyzed variables such as directionality or order in the training session. Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the physical demands of soccer small-sided games (SSGs) performed under diﬀerent formats of the oﬀensive game (with or without directionality) and timing regimens (beginning or end of a training session). Methods: Youth players (n = 10; age, 13.5 ± 0.5 years) were measured for total distance (TD), acceleration (ACC) and deceleration distance (DEC), and distances covered at diﬀerent speeds during 5vs5 SSGs with diﬀerent formats: (i) without directionality of the attack, where each team tried to maintain the possession of the ball (MAI); (ii) with goalkeeper (1GK), where the directionality of the attack was centered on scoring a goal; (iii) with free-directionality (2GKF), allowing the teams to attack any of the two goals defendedbygoalkeepersand;(iv)withassigned-directionality(2GKD),whereteamsdefendedagoalwiththerespectivegoalkeeper and attacked the opponent in the opposite side of the pitch. All SSGs formats were performed at the beginning and after a regular training session. Results: Theanalysisof varianceandStudent’s t -testrevealedthatMAIincreasesTD,ACC,DEC,anddistancecoveredat8.1-18.0km/h comparedto2GKD.Moreover,greaterdistanceatlow-speedandlowerdistanceathigh-speedwasobservedattheendof thetraining session. Conclusions: The SSGs emphasizing ball possession (MAI) can increase the physical demand of youth soccer players compared to other SSGs formats. In spite of reduced physical performance during SSGs with directionality towards the end of the training session, these conditioning games can be used to improve players’ soccer-speciﬁc endurance.
Synthetic aperture source localization

Many state-of-the-art methods in source localization require large numbers of sensors and perform poorly or require additional sensors when emitters of interest transmit highly correlated waveforms. We present a new source localization technique which employs a cross correlation measure of the time difference of arrival (TDOA) for signals recorded at two separate platforms, at least one of which is in motion. This data is backprojected through a process of synthetic aperture source localization (SASL) to form an image of the locations of the emitters in a region of interest (ROI) This method has the advantage of not requiring any a priori knowledge of the number of emitters in the scene. Nor does it rest on an ability to identify regions of the data which come from individual emitters, though if this capability is present it may improve image quality. We demonstrate that this method is capable of localizing emitters which transmit highly correlated waveforms, though complications arise when several such emitters are present in the scene. We discuss these complications and strategies to mitigate them.
A Model for the Formation of Eskers

We develop a mathematical model for esker formation by the continuous deposition of sediments near the mouth of water‐filled subglacial tunnels. We assume a retreating ice sheet margin and prescribe meltwater and sediment supply to a channelized subglacial drainage system. The hydrodynamic model for the subglacial channel has its cross section governed by wall melting, creep closure, and sediment deposition. Sediment‐carrying capacity typically increases downstream, before decreasing rapidly near the margin, suggesting that most deposition occurs there. This can lead to “choking” near the margin, which is offset by enhanced melting to keep the channel open. The model shows that the deposition rate varies roughly quadratically with sediment supply and inversely with water flux. For given sediment supply, the model suggests esker formation is most prevalent in smaller channels. Larger ice sheet melt rates likely produce more closely spaced eskers, but with smaller cross sections.
ON THE CONCEPTS OF ELECTRICAL DAMPING AND STIFFNESS IN THE DESIGN OF A PIEZOELECTRIC BENDING BEAM ENERGY HARVESTER

This paper presents and demonstrates a simple analytical design procedure for a piezoelectric energy harvester that determines the beam geometry and load impedance for a maximum vibration to electricity conversion. The proposed design procedure is established based on the notions of the electrical damping and stiffness which are accurately re-defined herein via the frequency domain analysis of the piezoelectric model. Embedding the electrical damping and stiffness in the mechanical model of the beam decouples the electrical and mechanical dynamics which significantly facilitates the design procedure. Therefore, the procedure includes two independent steps: matching the load with the capacitance of the piezoelectric beam; and matching resonant frequency of the beam with the vibration frequency of the source. Validity of the design procedure is numerically and experimentally verified by using a test setup for piezoelectric bending beam generators.
The Impacts of Environmental Performance and Propensity Disclosure on Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from Unbalanced Panel Data of Heavy-pollution Industries in China

Purpose: Environmental performance and propensity disclosure is important for stakeholders to estimate firms’ incentives in environmental management practices. The purpose of this article is to explore the impacts of environmental performance and propensity disclosure on financial performance using unbalanced panel data of eight heavy-pollution industries in China. Design/methodology/approach: Environmental performance and propensity exhibits mutual causality relationship with Tobin’s Q value using unit root and co-integration test of panel data. Using panel data analysis, we take the impacts of environmental performance and propensity disclosure on financial performance from 2008 to 2012. Findings: Environmental performance has a significantly negative impact on Tobin’s Q value at the significance levels of 1%, while environmental propensity has a significantly positive effect on Tobin’s Q value at the significance levels of 5%. Firm size, financial leverage and return of assets have significantly positive impacts on financial performance at the significance levels of 1%. Meanwhile the effect of corporate environmental performance and propensity on financial performance has a significantly periodic difference from 2008 to 2012. Research limitations/implications: Those results are helpful for environmental regulators to evaluate the implementing effect of voluntary environmental policy and for firms’ managers to increase market expectation and improve financial performance.
Determination of the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of pear extracts.

The specific HPLC analytical procedure was developed and validated for the determination of phenolic compounds in pear samples of different popular cultivars “Conference,” “Concordia,” “Grabova,” and “Patten. ” HPLC mobile phase consisted of 0.05% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in water and 100% (v/v) acetonitrile. The HPLC method was used to identify and confirm the specificity of 8 analytes: chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetin rutinoside, quercitrin, quercitrin malonyl glucoside, and isorhamnetin glucoside. Repeatability % RSD did not exceed 3.87%, and intermediate precision did not exceed 4.63%. The total content of phenolic compounds varied from mg/g (cv. “Concordia”) to mg/g (cv. “Patten”). Chlorogenic acid was the major component in all the tested pear cultivars. The highest amount of chlorogenic acid ( mg/g) was found in pear samples of the cultivar “Grabova,” and the highest amount of flavonol compounds ( mg/g) was found in pear samples of the cultivar “Concordia. ”
Millennial‐Scale Climate Variability and Dinoflagellate‐Cyst‐Based Seasonality Changes Over the Last ~150 kyrs at “Shackleton Site” U1385

During the last glacial period, climate conditions in the North Atlantic region were determined by the alternation of relatively warm interstadials and relatively cool stadials, with superimposed rapid warming (Dansgaard‐Oeschger) and cooling (Heinrich) events. So far little is known about the impact of these rapid climate shifts on the seasonal variations in sea surface temperature (SST) within the North Atlantic region. Here, we present a high‐resolution seasonal SST record for the past 152 kyrs derived from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program “Shackleton” Site U1385, offshore Portugal. Assemblage counts of dinoflagellates cysts (dinocysts) in combination with a modern analog technique (MAT), and regression analyses were used for the reconstructions. We compare our records with previously published SST records from the same location obtained from the application of MAT on planktonic foraminifera. Our dinocyst‐based reconstructions confirm the impression of the Greenland stadials and interstadials offshore the Portuguese margin and indicate increased seasonal contrast of temperature during the cold periods of the glacial cycle (average 9.0 °C, maximum 12.2 °C) with respect to present day (5.1 °C), due to strong winter cooling by up to 8.3 °C. Our seasonal temperature reconstructions are in line with previously published data, which showed increased seasonality due to strong winter cooling during the Younger Dryas and the Last Glacial Maximum over the European continent and North Atlantic region. In addition, we show that over longer time scales, increased seasonal contrasts of temperature remained characteristic of the colder phases of the glacial cycle.
Task design in a school-based professional development programme

In this paper we report on two principles of task design arising from our study of a school-based mathematics teacher professional development programme in Shanghai, China. The two principles are: a) developing a ‘hypothetical learning structure’ for the topic; and b) developing tasks within a web-like structure of knowledge connections. This paper provides an example of each and connects the literature review with the described research design.
Formulation and Stability Analysis of Rapidly Convergent Iteration Schemes for the 2‐D Linearized BGK Equation

Various HN rapidly convergent schemes are proposed to speed up the slow convergence of the iterative solution of 2‐D linearized Bhatnagar‐Gross‐Krook (BGK) kinetic equation containing up to the first moments of the distribution function. The formulation of the 2‐D HN acceleration schemes is provided in a generalized manner, followed by a formal 2‐D Fourier‐mode stability analysis to determine the most efficient HN approach. The H0 method is the most efficient when the kinetic equation contains only the zeroth moment of the distribution function, while when it contains the zeroth and the first moments the most efficient approach is the H1. Although the analysis and the conclusions are restricted to the continuous form of the equations, they are indicative for the associated discrete equations.
Girao H, Wong LJC, Taylor RW, Grazina M. Disclosing the functional changes of two genetic alterations in a patient with Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia: Report of the novel mtDNA m.7486G>A

Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) is characterized by ptosis and ophthalmoplegia and is usually caused by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions or mt-tRNA mutations. The aim of the present work was to clarify the genetic defect in a patient presenting with CPEO and elucidate the underlying pathogenic mechanism. This 62-year-old female first developed ptosis of the right eye at the age of 12 and subsequently the left eye at 45 years, and was found to have external ophthalmoplegia at the age of 55 years. Histopathological abnormalities were detected in the patient’s muscle, including ragged-red fibres, a mosaic pattern of COX-deficient muscle fibres and combined deficiency of respiratory chain complexes I and IV. Genetic investigation revealed the “common deletion” in the patient’s muscle and fibroblasts. Moreover, a novel, heteroplasmic mt-tRNA variant (m.7486G>A) in the anticodon loop was detected in muscle homogenate (50%), fibroblasts (11%) and blood (4%). Single-fibre analysis showed segregation with COX-deficient fibres for both genetic alterations. Assembly defects of mtDNA-encoded complexes were demonstrated in fibroblasts. Functional analyses showed significant bioenergetic dysfunction, reduction in respiration rate and ATP production and mitochondrial depolarization. Multilamellar bodies were detected by electron microscopy, suggesting disturbance in autophagy. In conclusion, we report a CPEO patient with two possible genetic origins, both segregating with biochemical and histochemical defect. The “common mtDNA deletion” is the most likely cause, yet the potential pathogenic effect of a novel mt-tRNA variant cannot be fully excluded. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/).