Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiologic and morphologic characters of soybean and Urochloa sp. intercropped under reduced rates of glyphosate

The intercropping between soybean and Urochloa spp. is an alternative for the use of the area, straw formation, and pasture. In coexistence, the use of herbicide underdoses for forage suppression is required to reduce its in­terference with soybean plants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of densities of Urochloa spp. in coexistence with soybean plants and treated or not with glyphosate underdoses. Two experiments with U. brizantha and U. ruziziensis under coexistence with RR (Roundup Ready ® ) soybean plants were assessed in a randomized block design with four replications. The absence and application of glyphosate underdoses (120 g a.e. ha -1 ) and five densities of each forage (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 plants per pot) in coexistence with soybean plants were tested in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme. The action of glyphosate on forages promoted a reduction in their com­petitive capacity with soybean plants. Glyphosate decreased the size, tillering, and dry matter accumulation of forages. When glyphosate was not applied, forages interfered negatively in soybean development, especially when in coexistence with U. ruziziensis . The increased forage density raises the degree of interference on soy­bean plants when forages are not treated with glyphosate.
Economic Growth Relations to Domestic and International Air Passenger Transport in Brazil

This study examined cointegration and causal relationships between economic growth and regular domestic and international passenger air transport in Brazil. Total passengers embarked and disembarked were used as a proxy for air transport activity and gross domestic product (GDP) as a proxy for economic development. The test spanned the period from 2000 to 2015 for domestic passenger traffic and from 1995 to 2015 for international traffic. The results confirm the hypothesis that there is cointegration between passenger traffic series and economic development, showing a bi-directional Granger causal relationship between domestic traffic and economic development and unidirectional influence by economic growth on international passenger air transport demand. Variance decomposition of the series showed that domestic air transport was far more important than international transport to promoting economic development in Brazil. Keywords—Air passenger transport, cointegration, economic growth, GDP, granger causality.
Interactive comment on “ Effect of volcanic aerosol on stratospheric NO 2 and N 2 O 5 from 2002 – 2014 as measured by Odin-OSIRIS and Envisat-MIPAS ” by Cristen

Following the large volcanic eruptions of Pinatubo in 1991 and El Chichón in 1982, decreases in stratospheric NO2 associated with enhanced aerosol were observed. The Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging 15 Spectrometer (OSIRIS) likewise measured widespread enhancements of stratospheric aerosol following seven volcanic eruptions between 2002 and 2014, although the magnitudes of these eruptions were all much smaller than the Pinatubo and El Chichón eruptions. In order to isolate and quantify the relationship between volcanic aerosol and NO2, NO2 anomalies were calculated using measurements from OSIRIS and the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). In the tropics, variability due to the quasi-biennial oscillation was subtracted from 20 the timeseriestime series. OSIRIS profile measurements indicate that the strongest relationships anticorrelations between NO2 and volcanic aerosol extinction were for the 5-km layer starting ~3-7 km above the mean tropopause at the given latitude. , where OSIRIS stratospheric NO2 partial columns for ~3-7 km above the tropopausein this layer were found to be smaller than baseline NO2 levels during these aerosol enhancements by up to ~60% with typical Pearson correlation coefficients of R ~ -0.7. MIPAS also observed decreases in NO2 partial columns during periods 25 of affected by volcanic aerosol, with percent differences of up to ~25% relative to baseline levels. An even stronger relationship anticorrelation was observed between OSIRIS aerosol optical depth and MIPAS N2O5 partial columns, with R ~ -0.9, although no link with MIPAS HNO3 was observed. The variation of OSIRIS NO2 with increasing aerosol was found to be quantitatively consistent with simulations from a photochemical box model in terms of both magnitude and degree of non-linearity toward larger aerosol extinction values, within estimated model uncertainty. 30 Formatted: Figure or Table Caption Formatted: Subscript
Effect of liquid-liquid transition on solidification and wettability of Sn-0.7Cu-xBi solder

The electrical resistivity-temperature curve (ρ-T ) of Sn-0.7Cu-xBi (wt.%) melts was measured, and anomalous changes were observed on the ρ-T curve at the temperature far above the corresponding liquidus. The results reveal that the melts have experienced a temperatureinduced liquid-liquid transition (LLT), and the transition is reversible after the first cycle heating. Based on the result of LLT, solidification experiments and spreadability testing were carried out on the Sn-0.7Cu-xBi alloy to investigate the effect of LLT on the solidification and wettability. The results show that the microstructure was refined, and the wettability was improved when the solder samples solidified from the melt experienced LLT. K e y w o r d s: Sn-0.7Cu-xBi solders, liquid-liquid transition, solidification, wettability
Design of a New Solar Thermal Collector with Ceramic Materials Integrated into the Building Facades

The work presented here aims to demonstrate the technical, architectural, and energy viability of solar thermal collectors made with ceramic materials and their suitability for domestic hot water (DHW) and building heating systems in the Mediterranean climate. The proposal is for the design of a ceramic shell, formed by collector and non-collecting panels, which forms part of the building system itself, and is capable of responding to the basic requirements of a building envelope and harnessing solar energy. Ceramics considerably reduce the final cost of the collector system and offer the new system a variety of compositional and chromatic finishes, occupying the entire building surface and achieving a high degree of architectural integration, although less energy-efficient compared to a conventional metallic collector.
Deep Energy Retrofit Performance Metric Comparison: Eight California Case Studies

In this paper we will present the results of monitored annual energy use data from eight residential Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) case studies using a variety of performance metrics. For each home, the details of the retrofits were analyzed, diagnostic tests to characterize the home were performed and the homes were monitored for total and individual end-use energy consumption for approximately one year. Annual performance in site and source energy, as well as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO{sub 2}e) emissions were determined on a per house, per person and per square foot basis to examine the sensitivity to these different metrics. All eight DERs showed consistent success in achieving substantial site energy and CO{sub 2}e reductions, but some projects achieved very little, if any source energy reduction. This problem emerged in those homes that switched from natural gas to electricity for heating and hot water, resulting in energy consumption dominated by electricity use. This demonstrates the crucial importance of selecting an appropriate metric to be used in guiding retrofit decisions. Also, due to the dynamic nature of DERs, with changes in occupancy, size, layout, and comfort, several performance metrics might be necessary to understand a project’s success.
Technology alignment and business strategy: a performance measurement and Dynamic Capability perspective

Rapid changes in market structures and technology lead to misalignment between strategy and operations. Whist this phenomenon is most prevalent in technology-based manufacturing industries, utility organisations (e.g. electricity and telecoms) provide a useful context to explore the Performance measurement (PM) and technology alignment challenges from a Dynamic Capabilities Theory perspective where there is a progressive shift towards deregulated markets. The aim of this paper is twofold: first, to explore the role of Dynamic Capabilities Theory and PM approaches in improving the alignment between business strategy and technology strategy (Level 1 alignment); second, to explore the role of Dynamic Capabilities Theory and PM approaches in aligning technology strategy with operational technology routines and practices (Level 2 alignment). In the absence of overarching theory, an inductive approach draws upon Dynamic Capabilities theory. Four longitudinal case studies are used leading to the development of a conceptual framework and propositions for multilevel technology alignment. Data from 38 interviews and 8 separate focus groups, documentation and participant observations (over a three-year period) are used. The theory-building process shows the need to identify and develop PM-based technology alignment Dynamic Capabilities (PM-DCs) which help in improving and maintaining alignment between business strategy and technology strategy (Level 1 alignment) and between technology strategy and technology practices (Level 2 alignment). This approach requires critically reflective action-learning approaches to identify and nurture these PM-DCs.
Probing Internal Cloud Properties from Space

We present model results and measurements indicating the possibility to derive information on cloud properties (e.g. the photon path lengths inside clouds) from satellite remote sensing instruments with moderate spectral resolution. Using novel satellite sensors providing (moderate) spectral information it is possible to analyse spectral absorption features as well as the strength of the Ring effect (Raman scattering on air molecules). These quantities depend in particular on internal cloud properties like average the photon path length. Thus they offer new information on cloud properties. From a first systematic investigation of GOME observations for October and November 1998 we found several examples of clearly enhanced O2 and O4 absorptions compared to clear skies, most of them were located at the edge of extended cloud patches. Our observations show that only if internal cloud properties are considered, the measured quantities can be understood.
Synthesis and Application of Disperse Dyes Derived from 2-Aminothiophene Using Acetoacetanilide as the 1, 3-Dicarbonyl Compound

Disperse dyes derived from 2-aminothiophene diazo components was synthesized using via Gewald reaction, the intermediate were diazotized, coupled and the dyes were purified by re-crystallization. The melting points were found to span from 163°C209°C and spectroscopic assessment such asFT-IR spectroscopy and GC-MS were carried out to elucidate their structures. The vibrational frequency obtained for the synthesized dyes shows the characteristics absorption peaks due to stretching frequency of the NH-group in the region 3097-3365cm-1. An absorption peak in the region 2217.8, 2221.5, 2214.0, 2206.6cm-1 was observed for dye A, A1, B and B1 due to the presence of cyano group. The IR spectra of the prepared azo dye also showed an absorption peak in the region 1438.8-1599cm-1 ascribed to VN=N, while the observed vibrational frequency in the region 1602.8-1736.9 was due to VC=O.The disperse dye A, A1, B and B1 were applied at 2% depth on polyester and nylon 6,6 fabric and gave purple, deep purple and deep pink hues with brighter and deeper shades, tinctorial strength and excellent levelness on the fabric. All the dyes show good to excellent fastness to washing on polyester fabric and fair to very good fastness to washing on nylon 6,6 fabric respectively. The remarkable degree of levelness and brightness after washing indicate good penetration and excellent affinity of the dyes to the fabric. However, dye C and dye C1 gave yellowish to deep yellowish hues with excellent tinctorial strength and brightness on the nylon 6,6 fabric. However, the light fastness ratings of the dyed polyester and nylon 6,6 fabric shows moderate to very good light fastness.
Overexpression of OsMed16 inhibits rice growth and causes spontaneous cell death

Background The Mediator complex transduces information from the DNA-bound transcription factors to the RNA polymerase II transcriptional machinery. Research on plant Mediator subunits was mainly performed in Arabidopsis, while very few of them have been functionally characterized in rice. Results Here the rice Mediator subunit 16, OsMed16, was studied. OsMed16 encoded a putative protein of 1301 amino acids, which is longer than the reported version. It was expressed in various rice organs, and localized in nucleus. Knockout of OsMed16 caused rice seedling lethality. Its overexpression led to rice growth retardation, low yield, and spontaneous cell death in leaf blade and leaf sheath. RNA sequencing suggested that overexpression of OsMed16 altered the expression of a large number of genes. Among them, the up-regulation of some defense-related genes was verified. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that OsMed16 can regulate the expression of a wealth of genes, and alterations in its expression have profound impact on plant growth, development and defense response in rice.
CONSUMER WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR TENNESSEE CERTIFIED BEEF

Abstract Although Tennessee has Advanced Master Beef Producer (AMBP) and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certifications for cattle producers, currently there is no state-certified beef labeling program. A choice experiment was administered to Tennessee consumers to determine their willingness to pay for Tennessee Certified Beef (TCB) and other attributes such as labels indicating producer participation in AMBP and BQA. Random parameter logit model results indicate consumers most valued TCB steak and no-hormones-administered ground beef. Consumers also valued many labels when appearing alongside the TCB label. The impact of providing participants label definitions prior to the choice experiment was examined.
Benchmarking Privacy Protection Systems on Android Devices

Mobile devices are ubiquitous in today’s digital world. While people enjoy the convenience brought by mobile devices, it has been proven that many mobile apps leak personal information without user consent or even awareness. at can occur due to many reasons, such as careless programming errors, intention of developers to collect private information, infection of innocent apps by malware, etc. us, the research community has proposed many methods and systems to detect privacy leakage and prevent such detected leakage on mobile devices. is is a to do note at margin While it is obviously essential to evaluate the accuracy and eectiveness of privacy protection systems, we are not aware of any automated system that can benchmark performance of privacy protection systems on Android devices. In this paper, we report PPAndroid-Benchmarker, the rst system of this kind, which can fairly benchmark any privacy protection systems dynamically (i.e., in run time) or statically. PPAndroid-Benchmarker has been released as an open-source tool and we believe that it will help the research community, developers and even end users to analyze, improve, and choose privacy protection systems on Android devices. We applied PPAndroid-Benchmarker in dynamic mode to 165 Android apps with some privacy protection features, selected from variant app markets and the research community, and showed eectiveness of the tool. We also illustrate two components of PPAndroid-Benchmarker on the design level, which are Automatic Test Apps Generator for benchmarking static analysis based tools and Recongurability Engine that allows any instance of PPAndroidBenchmarker to be recongured including but not limited to adding and removing information sources and sinks. Furthermore, we give some insights about current status of mobile privacy protection and prevention in app markets based upon our analysis.
A primer on Bayesian distributional regression

Abstract: Bayesian methods have become increasingly popular in the past two decades. With the constant rise of computational power, even very complex models can be estimated on virtually any modern computer. Moreover, interest has shifted from conditional mean models to probabilistic distributional models capturing location, scale, shape and other aspects of a response distribution, where covariate effects can have flexible forms, for example, linear, non-linear, spatial or random effects. This tutorial article discusses how to select models in the Bayesian distributional regression setting, how to monitor convergence of the Markov chains and how to use simulation-based inference also for quantities derived from the original model parametrization. We exemplify the workflow using daily weather data on (a) temperatures on Germany's highest mountain and (b) extreme values of precipitation for the whole of Germany.
Unpacking Professional Trust – Dimensions of Trust in Swedish Auditors’ Client Relations

This paper studies client trust in professionals, theoretically and empirically. The theoretical elaboration, founded on general sociological theories of trust, aims to distinguish different dimensions of trust – personal, impersonal, and process trust – and to explicate the stabilizing identities and control mechanisms on which they are based: persons, roles, programs and values. The empirical case study concerns what aspects of trust, and what expectations and controls, are most important for Swedish auditors when it comes to building and maintaining client trust. The analysis is based on data from a postal inquiry survey in 2003. It shows that practicing auditors experience the personal dimension of trust as primary, the processual as secondary, and the impersonal as tertiary. The study thus confirms the importance of personal trust between auditor and client, stabilized by the professional's individual character and conduct, but points also to the fact that the institutionalization of distrust in professional roles, programs and values is central for building personal as well as impersonal trust. The institutionalized roles, programs and values of the profession ensure that a minimum of trust from the market and the client is present before personal trust is established.
Co-Administration Effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid and L-Carnitine on Weight Gain and Biochemical Profile in Diet Induced Obese Rats

Obesity as a global health challenge motivates pharmaceutical industries to produce anti-obesity drugs. However, effectiveness of these agents is remained unclear. Because of popularity of dietary supplements, the aim of this study was tp investigate the effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and Lcarnitine (LC) on serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and weight changes in diet induced obese rats. 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: Normal fat diet (n=8), and High fat diet (HFD) (n=32). After eight weeks, the second group which was maintained on HFD until the end of study, was subdivided into four categories: a) 500 mg Corn Oil (as control group), b) 500 mg CLA, c) 200 mg LC, d) 500 mg CLA+ 200 mg LC.All doses are planned per kg body weights, which were administered by oral gavage for four weeks. Body weights were measured and recorded weekly by means of a digital scale. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for biochemical markers measurement. SPSS Version 16 was used for statistical analysis. At the end of 8 week, a significant difference in weight was observed between HFD and NFD group. After 12 weeks, LC significantly reduced weight gain by 4.2%. Trend of weight gain in CLA and CLA+LC groups was insignificantly decelerated. CLA+LC reduced triglyceride level significantly, but just CLA had significant influence on total cholesterol and insignificant decreasing effect on FBS. Our results showed that an obesogenic diet in a relative short time led to obesity and dyslipidemia which can be modified by LC and CLA to some extent. Keywords—Conjugated linoleic acid, high fat diet, L-carnitine, obesity.
beatLED: the social gaming partyshirt

This paper describes the development of a social game, BeatLED, using music, movement and luminescent textile. The game is based on a tool used in research on synchronization of movement and music, and social entrainment at the Institute of Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music (IPEM) at Ghent University. Players, divided into several teams, synchronize to music and receive a score in realtime, depending on how well they synchronize with the music and each other. While this paper concentrates on the game design and dynamics, an appropriate and original means of providing output to the end users was needed. To accommodate this output, a flexible, stretchable LED-display was developed at CMST (Ghent University), and embedded into textile. In this paper we analyze the characteristics a musical social game should have, as well as the overall merit of such a game. We discuss the various technologies involved, the game design and dynamics, a proof-of-concept implementation and the most prominent test results. We conclude that a real-world implementation of this game not only is feasible, but would also have several applications in multiple sectors, such as musicology research, team-building and health care.
Adaptation, Mitigation and Innovation: A Comprehensive Approach to Climate Policy

The ultimate question that most interests policy makers is how to reduce the climate change vulnerability of socio-economic systems in the most cost-effective manner. Extended literature has investigated the different dimensions of mitigation strategies, whereas much less can be found on adaptation. Even less can be found on the interactions between adaptation and mitigation. The increasing emphasis on adaptation raises a set of still unanswered questions concerning the design of an optimal mix of mitigation and adaptation measures. This paper presents an Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) that explicitly models the connections between mitigation, climate change impacts and adaptation. Compared to the few existing studies in the field, our framework provides a more detailed characterisation of adaptation processes. Adaptation activities have been distinguished from adaptive capacity building. We also provide an updated quantitative support for the calibration of adaptation costs and benefits. Using this framework, we explore issues such as the optimal timing of mitigation and adaptation, the trade-off between mitigation and adaptation, and the regional distribution of investments and residual damage.
A comparison between the observed and predicted amplitude of the 24 th solar cycle

In present work we compared the measured and predicted amplitudes of the 24 solar cycle. The modified minimum–maximum method, belonging to the precursor class of methods, was applied to the smoothed monthly sunspot number values (the “old” data set, used before the change introduced on July 1, 2015). The maximum of the 24 solar cycle occurred in April 2014 with an amplitude of R = 82 and this observed value is very close to our mean predicted value R = 83. The maximum was significantly weaker than in several previous cycles. Additionally, a curious solar activity minimum of 2008, between the solar cycles no. 23 and no. 24 was analysed, as well as the shape of the maximum profile. The maximum of the 24 solar cycle had a double-peak, the second one being higher than the first one. The obtained results represent a strong indication that the minimum–maximum method is a reliable tool for the solar cycle prediction, using data available already 3 years before the preceding minimum of solar activity.