Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erucic acid rapeseed: 1. Prospects of improvements

In the current context of boosting production of high erucic acid rapeseed, because of the wide range of its industrial applications, this literature review is designed to provide a general overview of available varieties, current knowledge of plant improvement and paths of developing research to increase competitiveness of varieties with high erucic acid content. A limited market dominated by a few companies, cropping burdens of high erucic acid rapeseed varieties among the majority “00” varieties and the still low erucic acid content in rapeseed, explains the reduced and uncompetitive varietal offers. To improve this situation, new varieties could be developed, thanks to the classical methods of selection and biotechnology.
Determining convex polygons from their covariograms

Knowing the (geometric) covariogram of a convex body is equivalent to knowing, for each direction u, the distribution of the lengths of the chords of that body which are parallel to u. We prove that the covariogram determines convex polygons, among all convex bodies, up to translation and reflection. This gives a partial answer to a problem posed by Matheron.
Comparison of Soybean Cultivars EnrichingCd and the Application Foregroundof the Low-Accumulating Cultivarin Production

Contaminated soil collected from an agricultural field was used to compare Cd enrichment among 20 soybean cultivars to explore their application foregrounds in safe production. The results showed that Cd concentration in beans of 20 soybean cultivars was from 0.23 mg kg-1 to 2.33 mg kg-1 when Cd concentration in soil was 1.98 mg kg-1. Cd enrichment factors of 19 cultivars were lower than 1. Cd translocation factors of all cultivars were lower than 1. As for background soil with 0.15 mg kg-1 Cd, the concentrations of Cd in beans of two soybean cultivars were higher than 0.10 mg kg-1 (an agricultural trade standard of non-pollution food for soybean of China, NY5310-2005). Thus, the use of a low-accumulation soybean cultivar in Cd-contaminated soil should be done carefully and with reserve.
Individual profiles and wine consumption patterns in Tenerife. A multinomial logit model.

The aim of this study is to analyze the decisions on the frequency of wine consumption to detect the individual characteristics of the potential consumer that influence the propensity towards each decision. Discrete choice models, and in particular, logit models have been seen as tools which are able to identify the way in which a specific combination of characteristics that define the residents of Tenerife conditions his decision on consumption frequency. In general, a regular consumption is not usual for women, which only do so occasionally. On the other hand, the ratio of occasional consumption probability to high frequency consumption probability falls as the age increases. In this sense, the identification of the combinations of individual characteristics associated with patterns of extreme consumption clearly indicates that women and young people are the two consumer segments which should be objects of specific marketing strategies. Any case, the design of such strategies requires investigating about individual preferences and goes beyond the scope of this paper.
Medium Voltage Multilevel Converters for a Multi-MW Wind Turbine Grid Connection

Abstract– Recent advances in the wind power technology have increased wind turbine power ratings to multi-MWs. This increase and recently introduced strict grid codes are spurring the utilization of full-scale medium voltage (MV) grid-side power electronics converters in wind turbines. In this study, for the grid connection of a hypothetical 6MW-3kV wind turbine, three-level (3L) configurations of NPC, FC, and HB VSCs are simulated for PF=0.9-1 and fc=650-1050Hz. The simulation results show their performance with respect to total harmonic distortion of current, switch utilization, switch losses, and loss distribution. Finally, these VSCs are compared with respect to the two most important criteria (power density and reliability) for the 6 MW wind turbine connected to a MV (>3kV) grid via a transformer.
Inhibitory Effects of Resveratrol and Piceid against Pathogens of Rice Plant, and Disease Resistance Assay of Transgenic Rice Plant Transformed with Stilbene Synthase Gene

Resvestrol has been known to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth in vitro, and can be accumulated in plant to concentrations necessary to inhibit microbial pathogens. Hence, stilbene synthase gene has been used to transform to synthesize resveratrol in heterologous plant species to enhance resistance against pathogens. In the present study, we investigated the antimicrobial activities of resveratrol and piceid to bacterial and fungal pathogens, which causing severe damages to rice plants. In addition, disease resistance was compared between transgenic rice varieties, Iksan 515 and Iksan 526 transformed with stlibene synthase gene and non-transgenic rice varieties, Dongjin and Nampyeong. Minimum inhibitory concentration of resveratrol for Burkolderia glumae was 437.5 , and the mycelial growth of Biplaris oryzae was slightly inhibited at concentration of 10 . However, other bacterial and fungal pathogens are not inhibited by resveratrol and piceid. The expression of the stilbene synthase gene in Iksan 515 and Iksan 526 did not significantly enhanced resistance against bacterial grain rot, bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight, and leaf blight. This study is the first report on the effect of resveratrol and piceid against pathogens of rice plant, and changes of disease resistance of transgenic rice plants transformed with stilbene synthase gene.
Intelligent System of M-Vision Based on Optimized SIFT

This paper proposes the recognition of bank notes through a mobile intelligent vision system under Android and this, based on an approach of artificial vision of images using the SIFT algorithm under OPENCV whose principle is to detect the remarkable points of this image and compare it with the image saved in the local database on a handheld device. Finally, the system informs the user of the result by a sound indicating the value of the currency detected. The SIFT algorithm proposed can achieve a higher percentage of identification in a reduced time compared to results achieved by classic SIFT.
Resilience and Resistance of Sagebrush Ecosystems: Implications for State and Transition Models and Management Treatments

Abstract In sagebrush ecosystems invasion of annual exotics and expansion of piñon (Pinus monophylla Torr. and Frem.) and juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook., J. osteosperma [Torr.] Little) are altering fire regimes and resulting in large-scale ecosystem transformations. Management treatments aim to increase resilience to disturbance and enhance resistance to invasive species by reducing woody fuels and increasing native perennial herbaceous species. We used Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project data to test predictions on effects of fire vs. mechanical treatments on resilience and resistance for three site types exhibiting cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) invasion and/or piñon and juniper expansion: 1) warm and dry Wyoming big sagebrush (WY shrub); 2) warm and moist Wyoming big sagebrush (WY PJ); and 3) cool and moist mountain big sagebrush (Mtn PJ). Warm and dry (mesic/aridic) WY shrub sites had lower resilience to fire (less shrub recruitment and native perennial herbaceous response) than cooler and moister (frigid/xeric) WY PJ and Mtn PJ sites. Warm (mesic) WY Shrub and WY PJ sites had lower resistance to annual exotics than cool (frigid to cool frigid) Mtn PJ sites. In WY shrub, fire and sagebrush mowing had similar effects on shrub cover and, thus, on perennial native herbaceous and exotic cover. In WY PJ and Mtn PJ, effects were greater for fire than cut-and-leave treatments and with high tree cover in general because most woody vegetation was removed increasing resources for other functional groups. In WY shrub, about 20% pretreatment perennial native herb cover was necessary to prevent increases in exotics after treatment. Cooler and moister WY PJ and especially Mtn PJ were more resistant to annual exotics, but perennial native herb cover was still required for site recovery. We use our results to develop state and transition models that illustrate how resilience and resistance influence vegetation dynamics and management options.
Lobbying Behavior and Protection

Incorporating insights from behavioral economics into standard political economy models explains certain puzzling features of trade policy. In particular, we use the lobbying framework of Grossman and Helpman (1994) and assume that agents’ welfare functions exhibit loss aversion and reference dependence. The policy implications of the augmented model differ in three important ways. One, there is a region of compensating protec tion, where a decline in the world price leads to an offsetting increase in protecti on, such that a constant domestic price is maintained. Two, protection following a single negative price shock will be persistent. Three, even if all sector s lobby for protection, there will still be a deviation from free trade in equilibrium. This augmented model is more consistent with the structure of protec tion, and to show that, we present a case study of U.S. protection in the steel industry.
Increasing solar heating of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas, 1979–2005: Attribution and role in the ice‐albedo feedback

Over the past few decades the Arctic sea ice cover has decreased in areal extent. This has altered the solar radiation forcing on the Arctic atmosphere‐ice‐ocean system by decreasing the surface albedo and allowing more solar heating of the upper ocean. This study addresses how the amount of solar energy absorbed in areas of open water in the Arctic Basin has varied spatially and temporally over the past few decades. A synthetic approach was taken, combining satellite‐derived ice concentrations, incident irradiances determined from reanalysis products, and field observations of ocean albedo over the Arctic Ocean and the adjacent seas. Results indicate an increase in the solar energy deposited in the upper ocean over the past few decades in 89% of the region studied. The largest increases in total yearly solar heat input, as much as 4% per year, occurred in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent areas.
Load-Bearing Actuator with Permanent Magnet for Transport of Raili

A new solution for transporting long ferromagnetic bodies is presented, based on a system of permanent magnets whose attractive force at the moment of releasing the load is reduced by pulse magnetic field produced by appropriately arranged coils. The continuous mathematical model of the device is solved numerically. Its operation characteristics illustrated by an example are evaluated and discussed. Streszczenie. W artykule przedstawiono metode transportu dlugich obiektow ferromagnetycznych. W rozwiązaniu wykorzystane zostalo zjawisko oslabiania sily z jaką magnesy trwale przyciągają obciązenie, poprzez wytworzenie impulsowego pola magnetycznego, wytworzonego przez odpowiednio ustawione cewki. Zastosowano model matematyczny urządzenia o dziedzinie ciąglej, ktory poddano analizie numerycznej. Przedstawiono i omowiono wynikowe charakterystyki pracy. (Silownik nośny z magnesami trwalymi to transportu szyn).
Title Low temperature oxidation of Fe-included single-walled carbon nanohorns in water by ozone injection to enhance porous and magnetic properties

This short communication reveals that the magnetic and porous properties of Fe-included single-walled carbon nanohorns (Fe-SWCNHs) can be improved via oxidation in water by injection of ozone at room temperature. Fe in Fe-SWCNHs is converted to ferrimagnetic Fe3O4 without producing paramagnetic Fe2O3 by this method. The specific surface area on the basis of the specimen mass can be doubled by this treatment together with significant increase of micro and meso pore volumes. Their magnetic susceptibility which is a determinant factor to magnetically drive the products in fluid can be increased by this ozone oxidation. The enhancement effects on the porous and magnetic properties of Fe-SWCNHs should be preferable to develop catalyst support or adsorption media which can be magnetically handled. The method proposed here is extremely safe and environmentally benign.
A SKELETON FOR PRODUCTIVE MINING & PREDICTION IN M-COMMERCE ENVIRONMENT

The main aim of this project is to facilitate mining and prediction of mobile users’ commerce behaviors based on Personal Mobile Commerce Pattern Mine (PMCP-Mine) and Mobile Commerce Behavior Predictor (MCBP). The MCE framework consists of three major components: 1) Similarity Inference Model (SIM) for measuring the similarities among shops and goods, which are two main mobile commerce entities considered in this paper; 2) Personal Mobile Commerce Pattern Mine (PMCP-Mine) algorithm for efficient discovery of mobile users’ Personal Mobile Commerce Patterns (PMCPs); and 3) Mobile Commerce Behavior Predictor (MCBP) for prediction of possible mobile user behaviors. Finally it facilitates mining and prediction of mobile users’ commerce behaviors in order to recommend stores and items.
Real-Time Parallel Optical Sampling

Real-time parallel optical sampling shows great promise for overcoming the bandwidth limitation of fiber optical communication systems caused by the analog-to-digital converters in electronic sampling oscilloscopes. The basic concept of parallel optical sampling is to split the signal into multiple branches where the branches are delayed with equidistant sampling times. The signal branches are then sampled in the optical domain with a pulse of a few picoseconds and the branches are then detected in a standard fashion. The signal can then be reconstructed and transmission impairments can be compensated for using digital signal processing. In this project, real-time parallel optical sampling with one sample per symbol synchronously sampled has been demonstrated for 25 Gbaud and 50 Gbaud QPSK signals. Since the bandwidth of the analog-to-digital converters used was 16 GHz, the sampling of 50 Gbaud QPSK signals that has been demonstrated is far beyond the capacity for traditional detection. The bit error rate performance at 10^-3 for a back-to-back configuration was found to have a 2.8 dB penalty from the theoretical limit for 25 Gbaud QPSK signals and 2.6 dB penalty for 50 Gbaud QPSK signals. This penalty was most likely due to optical pulse imperfections such as amplitude noise. At 50 Gbaud the OSNR required for a bit error rate of 10^-3 was roughly 15.4 dB.
Activity Choice, Labor Allocation, and Forest Use in Malawi

This article examines the determinants of activity choice affecting forest use among low-income households in Malawi. Data from three villages are used to estimate a system of household labor share equations for maize production, forest employment, and non-forest employment. A system estimation approach is used to identify factors influencing the competing and synergistic livelihood strategies which households undertake at the forest margin. Results from constrained maximum likelihood estimation indicate heightened incentives to degrade forests when returns to forest use are high. Factors reducing forest pressure include favorable returns to non-forest employment, secondary education of the household head, and wealth. (JEL J22, Q12)
AFRARCHAEA GRIMALDII, A NEW SPECIES OF ARCHAEIDAE (ARANEAE) IN CRETACEOUS BURMESE AMBER

Abstract Afrarchaea grimaldii new species (Archaeidae, Archaeinae) from 88–95 Ma (Cenomanian–Turonian) Upper Cretaceous amber (Burmite) from Myanmar (Burma) is described. This is the first spider to be described from this deposit and is the oldest known Archaeidae sensu stricto extending the known range of the family by approximately 50 Ma from the previously oldest recorded specimens in Baltic and Bitterfeld ambers, and provides further evidence that spiders were not severely affected by the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event. It represents the oldest fossil record of an araneophagic spider. This species could be used to argue for both the theory of mobilistic biogeography and ousted relicts to explain the zoogeography of the genus, but until new data become available, supports neither reliably.
Valoració dels estudiants universitaris sobre la incorporació de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona a l’Espai Europeu d’Educació Superior

Els canvis de metodologia docent que ha comportat el Proces de Bolonya impliquen variacions en l’avaluacio continuada, augment dels treballs en grup, reduccio de les classes magistrals i un nombre mes elevat de practiques. Les valoracions dels estudiants en relacio amb la introduccio dels canvis metodologics del Proces de Bolonya son positives i negatives alhora. Els estudiants veuen amb bons ulls aquests canvis metodologics, perque poden significar millores en els aprenentatges que adquireixin, pero consideren que, tal com s’estan duent a terme en aquesta universitat, rapidament, sense recursos i amb poca reflexio previa, comporten finalment efectes negatius per a ells. Davant l’alta carrega de treball que han comportat aquests canvis, els estudiants es converteixen en actors estrategics, ates que duen a terme accions superficials o profundes segons les tasques que els demanen els professors. Els canvis en la metodologia docent poden produir efectes positius en el proces d’aprenentatge dels estudiants (pertinenca, seguretat i necessitats fisiologiques), pero fins que els factors de manteniment no arribin a un cert llindar de qualitat, els efectes positius no es visualitzaran.
The Relationships among Work Support, Organizational Commitment, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior of Part-time Employees in the Restaurant Industry

Part-time employees’ work behaviors are the most pressing issue in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this study is to explore the structural relationship among perceived work support, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behavior in regard to part-time employees in the restaurant industry. Data analysis contained descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling. The findings proved that part-time employees are willing to show positive behaviors (e.g., organizational commitment and citizenship behavior) and are satisfied with their job when they perceive that they are receiving positive supervisor and organizational supports. Based on the findings, restaurant operators could consider paying more attention to, and showing more concern for, part-time employees in order to enhance their positive work behaviors and job satisfaction.
A Second-Order Sliding Mode Controller Design for Spacecraft Tracking Control

For spacecraft attitude tracking system, there exists the chattering phenomenon. In this paper, the spacecraft motion is decomposed into three-channel subsystems, and a second-order sliding mode control is proposed. This method has been proved to have good convergence and robustness. Combined with the proposed sliding surface, the three-channel controllers are designed. The control performance is confirmed by the simulation results, the approaching process is improved effectively, and a smooth transition is achieved without overshoot and buffeting.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELLING OF SOLID - FLUID INTERACTION AS A DESIGN TOOL IN SCREW COMPRESSORS

In order to reduce internal leakage in screw compressors, efforts are continually being made to produce them with smaller clearances. However, since their rotors deform due to the high pressure loads under which they operate, a reliable estimate of the interaction between rotor deflection and fluid flow is needed to maximise the compressor performance while avoiding contact with the casing. A 3-D numerical grid comprising both solid and fluid domains, applied to a commercial computer code for simultaneous calculation of the fluid flow and compressor structure, is presented here. This demonstrates the effects on compressor torque, volume flow, efficiency and specific power due to the change in working clearances caused by rotor deformation.
Binge drinking and sports participation in college: Patterns among athletes and former athletes

This study draws on a nationally representative sample to examine the relationship between participation in organized sport and alcohol use. We build on prior studies by re-examining the relationship between participation in organized sport and binge drinking and how this varies by both race and gender. We expand upon previous research by analyzing the long-term effects of involvement in organized athletics among both current and former sport participants and how this compares to patterns of binge drinking among the general college student population. To do so, our analysis compares rates of binge drinking among current college athletes, former athletes, and college students who were never involved in interscholastic sport. We find that: (1) organized sports participation is associated with binge drinking; (2) that this relationship holds across racial and gendered lines; (3) that the effects of exposure extend beyond time of involvement. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible explanations for the relationship between binge drinking and athletics, and the long-lasting effect of participation in organized sport.
Larvicidal Activities of N-(2-Hydroxyl) Propyl-3-Trimethyl AmmoniumChitosan Chloride (HTCC) and Silver Nanoparticles against TwoMosquito Species, Aedes and Culex: A Comparative Study

This paper mainly focuses on using biopolymer as a potential larvicide. This work initially starts with extracting chitosan from the shrimp waste by a chemical method and it was characterized further. Chitosan is a natural carbohydrate biopolymer derived by deacetylation (DA) of chitin that is nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. But usually chitosan will not completely dissolved in water at normal conditions. Therefore, to increase the solubility and reaction rate, quaternized derivative of chitosan, N-(2-hydroxyl) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), is obtained and characterized. It highly dissolves in water and has more positive charge (quaternary ammonium groups) compared with chitosan. Next the larvicidal activity of the obtained HTCC against two mosquito species, Aedes and Culex, is evaluated. Next part of the work continues with synthesizing silver nanoparticles from the plant Euphorbia Antiquorum and characterized by UV Spec, FTIR, and SEM; then the larvicidal activity is examined similar to HTCC and the results obtained are compared with each other; Though both, silver nanoparticles and HTCC, show similar larvicidal activity, this study suggests HTCC is a better larvicidal agent having in mind the drastic effects of silver nanoparticles on aquatic ecosystem; Nanoparticles in aquatic systems are responsible for agglomeration and aggregation, dissolution, redox reactions and transformation into new solid phases, whereas chitosan and chitosan derivatives are completely degradable, biocompatible, and nontoxic to plants, animals, or human.
“We don’t want it changed, do we?” - Gender and Sexuality in Role Playing Games

Video games in virtual worlds serve as reference points in negotiations of socially efficacious meanings. Therefore they entail the potential either to reproduce and affirm or to challenge traditional concepts of identity. This article presents findings of an in-depth content analysis of three role playing games with a male avatar belonging to the Gothic-series that was published between 2001 and 2006. Focal points of the examination were issues of gender and sexuality, how they are incorporated in narrative, interactions and rules of the game series, and how they are being discussed on fan sites and player forums.