Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling of Best Management Practices in Agricultural Areas

Concern over water and pollutants influencing human health has been increasing in the last few decades. Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, especially, led to water quality degradation in watersheds; therefore, water quality in streams or rivers has been made subject to government regulations (e.g., the Clean Water Act). Typically, watersheds are composed of various land uses; agricultural areas were a possible major source of phosphorus in a watershed [1,2]. Approximately 50% of NPS is from agricultural areas, since 52% of total nitrogen, 47% of total phosphorus, and 46% of sediment in U.S. streams are from agricultural areas [3]. A high concentration of total nitrogen came from agricultural areas in the watershed, and fertilization during cropping in an agricultural area led to a high concentration of high nitrate and orthophosphate [4,5]. Pollutants from three watersheds were compared [5]: agricultural watershed (95% agriculture and 5% urban), mixed watershed (43% agriculture and 57% urban), and urban watershed (1% agriculture and 99% urban) (Figure 1). Nitrate and soluble phosphorus concentrations in a stream were higher in the agricultural watershed, the other nutrients’ concentrations (total suspended solids, turbidity, and pH) were higher in the urban watershed [5]. In addition, total phosphorus and ammonium concentrations did not display much difference by watershed types. They indicated that agricultural activity such as fertili‐ zation led to the higher nitrate and soluble phosphorus concentrations in the agricultural watershed; that the pollutant loads of nutrients and sediment were significantly variable by sites and land uses due to flow quantity; and that pollutant load quantification can be difficult since it varies by sites, land uses, season, and flow. Therefore, best management practices (BMPs) to reduce or manage pollutant loads in watershed have been studied in the last few decades [6–9]. In this chapter, recent research of BMPs in agricultural areas in various water‐
Imaging of Object at Multiple Depths with Single Exposure using Lightfield Concept

The lightfield camera is a computational camera that achieves imaging of object at multiple depths with single exposure. Instead of recording total intensity at each pixel as in usual camera, the lightfield camera system keeps track of directional distribution of light at each pixel. This information enables us to perform computational refocusing. The commercial product has been recently introduced by Lytro systems. We have studied working related to the computational photography and after this we have developed some code in matalab for recording the intensity pattern at detector and also developed code for image recovery. Finally we did experimental work and recorded the Light field and then applied image recovery algorithm. After this we got the photograph of an object at different depth from the single recoded pattern at a particular location.
Firm Acquisitions and Technology Strategy: Corporate versus Private Equity Investors

Over the last few years, worldwide mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have increased sharply both in terms of value and volume. This development has not only been driven by corporate acquirers but also to an increasing extent by private equity investors. In this paper, we analyze differences in acquisition motives for corporate and private equity investors. We pay particular attention to the importance of technological assets in M&A transactions and distinguish between the technological value of patents and their potential to block competitors in technology markets. Our empirical results for European firm acquisitions in the period from 1999 to 2003 show that both corporate and private equity investors pay a higher price for target firms with valuable patents. However, patents with a potential to block technology competitors seem to be only of interest to corporate investors, especially if these are closely related to the patent portfolio of the acquirer.
Chlorophyll fluorescence: A potential indicator for rapid assessment of water stress tolerance in Canola (Brassica napus L.)

An experiment was conducted to assess the differential morpho-physiological responses to simulated water stress of two canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars in hydroponic culture. Seeds of two canola cultivars (Cyclone and Dunkeld) were germinated and allowed to grow for three weeks. Three week-old canola plants were grown at 0 MPa (control) or -0.6 MPa (PEG 18.2%) in nutrient solution for further three weeks. Water stress strongly reduced the growth of both canola cultivars. However, cultivar Dunkeld proved to be more drought tolerant as it was higher almost in all growth attributes under water stress conditions, particularly in shoot and root biomass and leaf area. Furthermore, growth of Dunkeld was also higher than that in Cyclone. Leaf chlorophyll 'a', carotenoids and quantum yield of PSII was also reduced due to water deficit conditions, but all these were less affected in drought tolerant Dunkeld. Although leaf osmotic potential was lower in water stressed plants of both cultivars, water stress induced reduction in leaf osmotic potential was less in cv. Dunkeld. However, there was no relationship between growth and osmotic adjustment in canola cultivars examined in the present study. Water deficit caused a substantial decrease in photosynthetic rate in both canola cultivars but canola cultivars did not differ significantly in net CO2 assimilation rate under water stress conditions. Furthermore, parallels between A, and leaf chlorophyll 'a' or Fv/Fm of both cultivars can not be drawn under water stress conditions. Thus, the differential drought tolerance in canola cultivars was related to leaf area and root growth. There was no relationship between growth and osmotic adjustment in canola cultivars examined here. Overall, quantum yield of PSII and leaf chlorophyll 'a' can be referred as a potential selection criterion for drought tolerance in canola cultivars examined in the present study.
Grameen La Riba Model: A Strategy for Global Poverty Alleviation

The objective of this paper is to develop and implement an Islamic micro-finance model, using the Grameen group financing methodology, which can be used as a tool for global poverty alleviation. We posit that the fundamentals of Shari'ah concerning: (i) equitable risk and return sharing between the lender (bank) and the borrower (client) and (ii) helping the poor especially, the 'poorest of the poor' to be self sustaining, provide the necessary foundation for an Islamic finance model that is better suited to help the poor increase their sustainable income and eventually escape poverty. Our model begins with providing carefully self-selected client groups with murabaha contracts before providing musharaka finance. The murabaha financing agreement includes fixed payments each period of repayment and therefore is easier to administer and can be used to screen out potentially problematic clients who are most likely to default. Those clients who are in groups with successful repayment of the murabaha finance will have a choice between murabaha and musharaka financing in future. Finally, we describe our implementation strategy and preparations for a pilot study in Colombo and Bibile, Sri Lanka.
Evaluating AUSRIVAS Predictive Model Performance for Detecting Simulated Eutrophication Effects on Invertebrate Assemblages

Abstract: Confidence in any bioassessment method is related to its ability to detect ecological improvement or impairment. We evaluated Australian River Assessment (AUSRIVAS)-style predictive models built using referencesite data sets from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Yukon Territory (YT; Canada), and the Laurentian Great Lakes (GL; North America) area. We evaluated model performance as ability to correctly assign reference condition with independent reference-site data. Evaluating model ability to detect human disturbance is generally more problematic because the actual condition of test sites is usually unknown. Independent reference-site data underwent simulated impairment by varying the proportions of sensitive, intermediate, and tolerant taxa to simulate degrees of eutrophication. Model performance was related to differences in data sets, such as number and distribution of invertebrate taxa. Sensitive taxa tended to have lower expected probabilities of occurrence than more-tolerant taxa, but the distribution of taxa grouped by tolerance categories also differed by data set. Thus, the models differed in ability to detect the simulated impairment. The ACT model performed best with respect to Type 1 error rates (0%) and the GL model the worst (38%). The YT model performed best (10% error) for detecting moderate impairment, and the ACT model detected all severely impaired sites. AUSRIVAS did not assign most mildly impaired sites to below-reference condition, but a reduction in observed/expected values for some of the mildly impaired sites was observed. Models did not detect mild impairment that simply changed taxon abundances because presence—absence data were used for models. However, in comparison with other models described in this special issue (that did use abundance data), the AUSRIVAS model performance was comparable or better for detecting the simulated moderate and severe impairments.
Who Benefits from Reducing the Cost of Formality? Quantile Regression Discontinuity Analysis

This paper studies the effects of increasing formality via tax reduction and simplification schemes on micro-firm performance. It uses the 1997 Brazilian SIMPLES program. We develop a simple theoretical model to show that SIMPLES has an impact only on a segment of the micro-firm population, for which the effect of formality on firm performance can be identified, and that can be analyzed along the single dimensional quantiles of the conditional firm revenues. To estimate the effect of formality, we use an econometric approach that compares eligible and non-eligible firms, born before and after SIMPLES in a local interval about the introduction of SIMPLES. We use an estimator that combines both quantile regression and the regression discontinuity identification strategy. The empirical results corroborate the positive effect of formality on micro-firms' performance and produce a clear characterization of who benefits from these programs.
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, DISPERSAL PATTERNS, AND BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE TAIWAN YUHINA: A JOINT-NESTING PASSERINE

Abstract We studied the breeding ecology of Taiwan Yuhinas (Yuhina brunneiceps) at the Highlands Experiment Farm at Meifeng, National Taiwan University, in 1995 and from 1997–2002. The Taiwan Yuhina is a joint-nesting, cooperatively breeding species endemic to Taiwan. Males had significantly longer wing chords and tail lengths than females, probably due to sexual selection. Males also had a longer residence time at Meifeng than their female mates, which could be explained by philopatry being greater in males. Alpha males had a significantly longer residence time at Meifeng than beta males, but this was not the case for females, because females did not remain in the same group as males did after their mates disappeared. The breeding season was approximately 6 months long and multiple brooding was common. Nest building took 3 days, egg laying occurred over 3–4 days, the average incubation period was 14 days, and the nestling period was 12 days. Breeding success did not decrease later in the breeding season. Maximum longevity was 12 years, and the estimate of average annual overwinter survival rate for adults at Meifeng was 74%.
Generational Sub-cultures: Generation Y a Sub-culture

The aim of this study was to determine (1) if there is a difference between Baby Boomers’, Generation X’s and Generation Y’s perceptions of organisational culture and if so, (2) to determine if generational sub-cultures are formed within an organisation as a result of these different perceptions. A qualitative research design was utilised that sampled employees (n = 455) within a large South African ICT company who completed the South African Culture Instrument (SACI). The data was statistically analysed to determine employees’ perceptions of organisational culture and to establish if generational sub-cultures exist within the organisation. This study indicates that generational sub-cultures can be identified within the organisation based on significantly different perceptions of five of the seven dimensions of organisational culture examined. Identifying generational sub-cultures within an organisation can lead to the development of an organisational talent management strategy for effectively attracting, managing and retaining generationally-diverse employees. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n21p147
Emerging Information Technologies to Provide Improved Decision Support for Surveillance, Prevention, and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases

Saul Lozano-Fuentes1, Christopher M. Barker2,3, Marlize Coleman1,4, Michael Coleman4, Bborie Park2, William K. Reisen2,3 and Lars Eisen1 1Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 2University of California, Davis, California 3Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 4Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool 1,2,3United States of America 4United Kingdom
Climate change presents increased potential for very large fires in the contiguous United States

Very large fires (VLFs) have important implications for communities, ecosystems, air quality and fire suppressionexpenditures.VLFsoverthecontiguousUShavebeenstronglylinkedwithmeteorologicalandclimatological variability. Building on prior modelling of VLFs (.5000 ha), an ensemble of 17 global climate models were statistically downscaled over the US for climate experiments covering the historic and mid-21st-century periods to estimate potential changes in VLF occurrence arising from anthropogenic climate change. Increased VLF potential was projected across most historically fire-prone regions, with the largest absolute increase in the intermountain West and Northern California. Complementary to modelled increases in VLF potential were changes in the seasonality of atmospheric conditions conducive to VLFs, including an earlier onset across the southern US and more symmetric seasonal extension in the northern regions. These projections provide insights into regional and seasonal distribution of VLF potential under a changing climate, and serve as a basis for future strategic and tactical fire management options.
Bipolar Neutrosophic Minimum Spanning Tree

The aim of this article is to introduce a matrix algorithm for finding minimum spanning tree (MST) in the environment of undirected bipolar neutrosophic connected graphs (UBNCG). Some weights are assigned to each edge in the form of bipolar neutrosophic number (BNN). The new algorithm is described by a flow chart and a numerical example by considering some hypothetical graph. By a comparison, the advantage of proposed matrix algorithm over some existing algorithms are also discussed.
NF-ÃÂºB Inhibitor IMD-0354 Targets Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stem Cells and Combined with Chemotherapy Reduces Multidrug Resistance

Most lung cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when prognosis is poor. Multidrug resistance and tumor recurrence have been major reasons for these patients to succumb to the disease. Recent evidence points to cancer stem cells as being responsible for multidrug resistance and tumor repopulation as a result of their increased drug efflux and other stem cell-like properties. Thus, recent efforts have focused on targeting these cancer stem cells. Here, we combined liposomal nanoparticles targeted with a legumain inhibitor as a safe vehicle for drug delivery to the tumor microenvironment with Doxorubicin, a common chemotherapeutic agent that targets bulk cancer cells, and IMD-0354, an inhibitor of NF-κB targeting cancer stem cells. IMD-0354 decreased side populations, ABC transporters, stem-like and apoptosis resistance genes, and colony formation of human non-small cell lung cancer cells. In addition, IMD-0354 also had a cytotoxic effect on non-cancer stem cells and increased their apoptosis. The targeted delivery method, used previously in syngeneic mouse models enhanced drug delivery under hypoxia, a hallmark of the tumor microenvironment, but not under normoxia. Further, such targeted delivery reduced in vivo tumor burden in an aggressive model of human non-small cell lung cancer xenografts. Targeting of both bulk tumor cells and cancer stem cells with IMD-0354 as an adjuvant for chemotherapy are likely to reduce multidrug resistance and tumor recurrence, and thereby significantly reduce patient death from non-small cell lung cancer.
Factors Influencing Adaptive Marine Governance in a Developing Country Context: a Case Study of Southern Kenya

Adaptive governance can be conceptualized as distinct phases of: 1) understanding environmental change; 2) using this understanding to inform decision making; and 3) acting on decisions in a manner that sustains resilience of desirable system states. Using this analytical framework, we explore governance in practice in two case studies in Kenya, that reflect the "messiness" of contemporary coastal governance in many developing country contexts. Findings suggest that adaptive marine governance is unlikely to be a smooth process of learning, knowledge sharing, and responding. There are institutional, sociocultural, and political factors, past and present, that influence each phase of both local and state decision making. New local institutions related to fisher associations and Beach Management Units influence learning and knowledge sharing in ways contrary to those expected of institutions that enable collaborative fisheries management. Similarly, state decision making is relatively uninformed by the diverse knowledge systems available in the coastal zone, despite the rhetoric of participation. Historical relations and modes of working continue to play a significant role in mediating the potential for adaptive governance in the future. The case studies are illustrative and point to a number of institutional and political issues that would need to be addressed in processes of governance reform towards more adaptive management in developing country contexts.
Phase diagram of QCD at finite temperature and chemical potential from lattice simulations with dynamical Wilson quarks

We present the first results for lattice QCD at finite temperature T and chemical potential {mu} with four flavors of Wilson quarks. The calculations are performed using the imaginary chemical potential method at {kappa}=0,0.001,0.15,0.165,0.17 and 0.25, where {kappa} is the hopping parameter, related to the bare quark mass m and lattice spacing a by {kappa}=1/(2ma+8). Such a method allows us to do large scale Monte Carlo simulations at imaginary chemical potential {mu}=i{mu}{sub I}. By analytic continuation of the data with {mu}{sub I}<{pi}T/3 to real values of the chemical potential, we expect at each {kappa} set-membership sign [0,{kappa}{sub chiral}], a phase transition line on the ({mu},T) plane, in a region relevant to the search for quark-gluon plasma in heavy-ion collision experiments. The transition is first order at small or large quark mass, and becomes a crossover at intermediate quark mass.
Effective Tax Rates Under IP Tax Planning

Tax planning with intangibles has become one of the most popular and most vividly debated topics in international taxation. We incorporate various intellectual property (IP) tax planning models into forward-looking measures of effective tax rates, namely the disposal of intangibles to low-tax subsidiaries, intra-group licensing arrangements, and intra-group contract R&D. In doing so, we draw upon the methodology put forward by Devereux and Griffith and amend this model by considering a research & development (R&D) investment which is carried out by a parent company, whereby the resulting intangible is exploited by a foreign subsidiary. We point out analytically under which conditions IP tax planning achieves the objective of reducing the effective average tax rate of the group. We find that the disposal of intangibles to low-tax subsidiaries does not achieve this tax planning objective, if the true value of the asset is subject to tax upon the disposal. We show to what extent the parent must understate the value of the intangible in order to reduce the group’s tax burden. We furthermore point out that contract R&D may generally achieve a significant lower effective tax burden. We present cost of capital and effect average tax rates to illustrate these findings.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKLOAD AND NEUROMUSCULAR ACTIVITY IN THE BENCH PRESS EXERCISE

Objective: To investigate the relationship between strength and electromyographic (EMG) signal in different intensities in the bench press exercise. Methods: Eleven healthy resistance trained men (22.8 ± 3.5) participated into the present study. Maximal isometric strength was determined in the bench press exercise using a load cell. Muscle activation was assessed using surface elec- tromyography (EMG) signals from the muscles pectoralis major, anterior deltoid and posterior deltoid at intensities ranging to 60-90% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), in the bench press exercise. This procedure allowed the analysis of the strength/EMG relationship. Results: In all muscles assessed, there were significant differences in the normalized muscle activation between the intensities of 60 and 70% of the MVC, as well as between 70 and 80% (P<0.05), while there were no differences between 80 and 90% of MVC. In addition, there were significant correlations between strength and EMG signals for the muscles pectoralis major (r=0.43, P=0.04), anterior deltoid (r=0.52, P=0.01), and posterior deltoid (r=0.32, P=0.046). Conclusions: These results suggest that levels of muscle activation near to maximal are obtained at the intensity of 80 of MVC and no additional motor unit recruitment are achieved at 90% of MVC.
3D Body & Medical Scanners’ Technologies: Methodology and Spatial Discriminations

Medical practitioners have traditionally measured the body’s size and shape by hand to assess health status and guide treatment. Now, 3D body-surface scanners are transforming the ability to accurately measure a person’s body size, shape, and skin-surface area (Treleaven & Wells, 2007) (Boehnen & Flynn, 2005). In recent years, technological advances have enabled diagnostic studies to expose more detailed information about the body’s internal constitution. MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-rays have revolutionized the capability to study physiology and anatomy in vivo and to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of a multitude of disease states. External measurements of the body are more than necessary. Medical professionals commonly use size and shape to production of prostheses, assess nutritional condition, developmental normality, to analyze the requirements of drug, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy dosages. With the capability to visualize significant structures in great detail, 3D image methods are a valuable resource for the analysis and surgical treatment of many pathologies.