Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Maize Production in Southern Africa: Synthesis of CIMMYT/DTMA Household Level Farming System Surveys in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe

We are very grateful for the financial support of the BMGF and HGDF that made all the studies and this synthesis possible. We are also very grateful for the leading national partners; namely, Manuvanga Kiakanua (Angola), Samson Katengezah and Julius Mangisoni (Malawi), Rafael Uaiene (Mozambique), Thomson Kalinda (Zambia), and Shamiso Chikobvu (Zimbabwe), for the indulgence and commitment they have shown in undertaking the national level surveys. We would like to appreciate the support we received from CIMMYT’s Southern Africa Regional Office staff while organizing and undertaking “Data Analysis and Report Writing” workshop to speed up finalization of the country level reports that ended up very successfully. This report has benefited from the valuable comments of different colleagues. We are particularly grateful to the comments and suggestions of Dr Menale Kassie and Dr Surabhi Mittal of Socioeconomic s program at CIMMYT. Their meticulous reviews have made the report much more readable. We also appreciate the contributions of Dr Hugo De Groote and Mrs Janin Trinidad who are coordinating the working paper publication in the Socio-Economics Program of CIMMYT. This report was finally edited and formatted by Mr Wandera Ojanji, Science Editor at CIMMYT Kenya. We thank him for his excellent work. This report is presented without a thorough peer review with the main purpose of making data and information rapidly available to research teams and partners in the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project and for use in developing future, peer-reviewed publications. Readers are invited to send comments directly to the corresponding author(s). The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions of CIMMYT, other partners, or donors. All errors and viewpoints in this report remain to be ours and are not shared with any individual or institution.
Paper : Embryonic Stem Cell and Osteogenic Differentiation

Embryonic stem cell, Bone tissue, Osteogenesis, Tissue engineering Bone tissue engineering has been one of the most promising areas of research, providing a potential clinical application to cure bone defects. Recently, various stem cells, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs), adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs), muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs), and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have received extensive attention in the field of bone tissue engineering due to their distinct biological capability to differentiate into osteogenic lineages. Application of these stem cells to bone tissue engineering requires their in vitro differentiation into bone forming cells, osteoblasts. For this purpose, efficient in vitro differentiation towards osteogenic lineage requires the development of well-defined and proficient protocols. This protocol would reduce the likelihood of spontaneous differentiation into divergent lineages and increase the available cell source for application to bone tissue engineering therapies. This review article critically examines the various experimental strategies used to direct the differentiation of ESC, BMMSC, UCB-MSC, ADSC, MDSC, and DPSC towards osteogenic lineages and their potential applications in tissue engineering, particularly in the regeneration of bone. Citation: Samanipour R, Salehi Rozveh H. Embryonic Stem Cell and Osteogenic Differentiation: A Review Study. Anatomical Sciences. 2016; 13(2):79-84.
Courage, Psychological Well-being, and Somatic Symptoms

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between courage, psychological well-being (PWB), and somatic symptoms in an adult population. Courage is the ability to pursue goals or a purpose despite risk or fear. While courage has been shown to be associated with decreased mental health symptoms, little is known about health outcomes associated with courage. The hypotheses of this study were that higher reported levels of courage would predict lower reported somatic symptoms, and that PWB would account for significant variance in the relationship between courage and somatic symptoms. Participants, mean age 38, were given online surveys at three time points. At time point one, 202 participants completed a demographic questionnaire and measures of courage, PWB, and somatic symptoms. There were 142 and 125 participants who completed a subjective somatic symptoms measure at two and six weeks after baseline, respectively. Mediation analyses were conducted through the PROCESS bootstrapping method. At time point one, courage did not predict somatic symptoms (B = -.039; p = .063), however a significant indirect effect of courage on somatic symptoms through PWB was found (B = -.074; CI: -.100 to -.050). At time point two, courage was found to significantly predict lower somatic symptoms (B = -.054; p = .048), and the indirect effects analysis was also supported (B = -.101; CI: -.156 to -.065). Time point three yielded similar results, as courage was shown to predict somatic symptoms (B = - .052; p = .031), and the indirect effects model was also supported (B = -.085; CI: -.122 to -.056). Residual change analyses were also conducted. At both two weeks (B = -.031, CI: -.065 to -.007) and six weeks (B = -.026, CI: -.050 to -.006), indirect effects models were supported. Implications for mental health practice with patients who somaticize are discussed.
Derivation of a BGK model for reacting gas mixtures

In this paper we derive a new relaxation model for reacting gas mixtures. We prove that this model satisfies the fundamental properties (equilibrium states, conservation laws, H-theorem, .). We also consider the slow reaction regime. In this case a rigorous Chapman-Enskog procedure is performed and Navier-Stokes equations are derived.
Options to accelerate ozone recovery: ozone and climate benefits

Abstract. Hypothetical reductions in future emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and N2O are evaluated in terms of effects on equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine (EESC), globally-averaged total column ozone, and radiative forcing through 2100. Due to the established success of the Montreal Protocol, these actions can have only a fraction of the impact on ozone depletion that regulations already in force have had. If all anthropogenic ODS and N2O emissions were halted beginning in 2011, ozone is calculated to be higher by about 1–2% during the period 2030–2100 compared to a case of no additional restrictions. Direct radiative forcing by 2100 would be about 0.23 W/m2 lower from the elimination of anthropogenic N2O emissions and about 0.005 W/m2 lower from the destruction of the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) bank. Due to the potential impact of N2O on future ozone levels, we provide an approach to incorporate it into the EESC formulation, which is used extensively in ozone depletion analyses. The ability of EESC to describe total ozone changes arising from additional ODS and N2O controls is also quantified.
Vertical profiles of sediment methanogenic potential and communities in two plateau freshwater lakes

Abstract. Microbial methanogenesis in sediment plays a crucial role in CH4 emission from freshwater lake ecosystems. However, knowledge of the layer-depth-related changes of methanogen community structure and activities in freshwater lake sediment is still limited. The present study was conducted to characterize the methanogenesis potential in different sediment-layer depths and the vertical distribution of microbial communities in two freshwater lakes of different trophic status on the Yunnan Plateau (China). Incubation experiments and inhibitor studies were carried out to determine the methanogenesis potential and pathways. 16S rRNA and mcrA genes were used to investigate the abundance and structure of methanogen and archaeal communities, respectively. Hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was mainly responsible for methane production in sediments of both freshwater lakes. The layer-depth-related changes of methanogenesis potential and the abundance and community structure of methanogens were observed in both Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake. Archaeal 16S rRNA and mcrA genes displayed a similar abundance change pattern in both lakes, and the relative abundance of methanogens decreased with increasing sediment-layer depth. Archaeal communities differed considerably in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake, but methanogen communities showed a slight difference between these two lakes. However, methanogen communities illustrated a remarkable layer-depth-related change. Order Methanomicrobiales was the dominant methanogen group in all sediments, while Methanobacteriales showed a high proportion only in upper layer sediments. The trophic status of the lake might have a notable influence on the depth-related change pattern of methanogenesis activity, while the methanogen community structure was mainly influenced by sediment depth.
Where is the Meat/d? Pragmatismus und Praxistheorien als reziprokes Ergänzungsverhältnis

Die Praxistheorie oder der practice turn ist einer der intellektuellen EyeCatcher der vergangenen zehn Jahre sozialwissenschaftlicher Theoriediskussion. Die von dem Philosophen Theodore Schatzki initiierte und von einer Reihe sozialwissenschaftlicher Autorinnen aufgegriffene und sozialtheoretisch angereicherte Theoriefigur der »Praxis« scheint sich als zusammenfassende Klammer um ein Feld von Theoriepositionen und empirischen Forschungsweisen zu legen, die sich in der Abgrenzung von bestimmten anderen Positionen (weitgehend) einig wissen, zugleich aber durch eine Vielzahl unterschiedlich tiefer Gräben voneinander getrennt zu sein scheinen. Ethnomethodologinnen und Distinktionstheoretiker, Vertreterinnen der Cultural Studies oder der Science Studies haben durchaus sehr unterschiedliche und auch in ihren sozialtheoretischen Grundannahmen differierende Ansätze entwickelt, die nun unter dem Rubrum der Praxis ihren gemeinsamen Bezugspunkt im Feld der Sozialtheorien finden sollen. Das macht es, wie Hilmar Schäfer (2013: 16) zutreffend feststellt, »schwierig, eine übergreifende Definition von Praxistheorie aufzustellen«. 2
Bare Soil Carbon Dioxide Fluxes with Time and Depth Determined by High-Resolution Gradient-Based Measurements and Surface Chambers

Soil CO2 production rates and fluxes vary with time and depth. The shallow near-surface soil layer is important for myriad soil processes, yet knowledge of dynamic CO2 concentrations and fluxes in this complex zone is limited. We used a concentration gradient method (CGM) to determine CO2 production and effluxes with depth in shallow layers of a bare soil. The CO2concentration was continuously measured at 13 depths in the 0to 200-mm soil layer. For an 11-d period, 2% of the soil CO2 was produced below a depth of 175 mm, 8% was produced in the 50to 175-mm soil layer, and 90% was produced in the 0to 50-mm soil layer. Soil CO2concentration showed similar diurnal patterns with temperature in deeper soil layers and out-of-phase diurnal patterns in surface soil layers. Soil CO2 flux from most of the soil layers can be described by an exponential function of soil temperature, with temperature sensitivity (Q10) ranging from 1.40 to 2.00 (1.62 ± 0.17). The temperature-normalized CO2 fluxes are related to soil water content with a positive linear relationship in surface soil layers and a negative relationship in deep soil layers. The CO2 fluxes from CGM and chamber methods had good agreement at multiple time scales, which showed that the CGM method was able to estimate near-surface soil CO2 fluxes and production. The contrasting patterns between surface and deep layers of soil CO2 concentration and fluxes suggest the necessity of intensive CO2concentration measurements in the surface soil layer for accurate determination of soil-atmosphere CO2 flux when using the CGM. Disciplines Agriculture | Hydrology | Soil Science Comments This article is published as Xiao, Xinhua, X. Kuang, T. J. Sauer, J. L. Heitman, and R. Horton. "Bare soil carbon dioxide fluxes with time and depth determined by high-resolution gradient-based measurements and surface chambers. " Soil Science Society of America Journal 79, no. 4 (2015): 1073-1083. doi: 10.2136/ sssaj2015.02.0079. Rights Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. This article is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/428
Corporate governance structure and its relationship with audit fee-evidence from Malaysian public listed companies

This study investigates the relationship between the firms’ internal corporate governance mechanisms with audit fee in Malaysia. Different to other study conducted previously, this study also looks at the objectives of the study from the perspective of the newly introduced Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG 2007) which was introduced in October 2007. The data consisted of a sample of 300 companies in Bursa Malaysia from pre-MCCG 2007 (year 2006) to post-MCCG 2007 (year 2008) (900 firm-years). Ordinary least square (OLS) regression method was utilized to analyze audit fee hypotheses developed. It was found that in general MCCG 2007 influenced the determinants of audit fee through the restructuring of corporate governance monitoring tools such as audit committee and internal audit function. Future research is recommended to study the impact of MCCG 2007 in a more specific manner such as to incorporate qualitative data and use longer time frame.
Coaches’ perceptions of long-term potential are biased by maturational variation

Talent identification and development programs seek to recognise and promote athletes with long-term potential in a particular sport. Coaches involved in these programs are often required to make inclusion or exclusion decisions based on their perceptions of an athlete’s long-term potential. However, biological maturity can influence physical capabilities of adolescent athletes and may bias coaches’ perceptions of long-term potential. This study explored the relationship between coaches’ perceptions of long-term potential and variations in athlete’s biological maturity. Talented adolescent male Australian footballers (n = 264) from nine different teams were recruited to provide basic anthropometric information for estimates of biological maturity. Coaches from each team were recruited to provide a rating of their own player’s long-term potential. Coaches perceived late maturing athletes to have a significantly lower long-term potential than their average (χ2 = 9.42, p < 0.01) and early (χ2 = 5.86, p = 0.04) maturing counterparts. Of the late maturing athletes, 72% were predicted to go no further than adolescent competition. No concurrent bias was evident between the average or early maturing athletes. The findings of this study demonstrate coaches' perceptions of long-term potential can be biased by maturational variation in adolescent athletes. Such perceptual bias may impact on coaches selection decisions and result in talented but late maturing athletes missing selection into development pathways.
The heat equation on manifolds as a gradient flow in the Wasserstein space

Nous etudions les flux gradients dans l'espace des mesures de probabilite sur une variete Riemannienne pas necessairement compacte. Dans ce but nous munissons l'espace de Wasserstein avec une sorte de structure Riemannienne. Si la courbure de Ricci de la variete est bornee inferieurement nous demontrons qu'il existe un flux gradient contractif pour l'entropie relative. Il est construit explicitement en utilisant une approximation variationelle discrete. De plus ses trajectoires Coincident avec les solutions a l'equation de la chaleur.
STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN RECENTLY WIDOWED RURAL BLACK WOMEN NCEBAZAKHEZ.SOMHLABA

The relationship between stress and coping strategies in bereavement was examined in 70 recently widowed rural black women (mean age 36.53 years). Correlations were sought between coping strategies (as measured by the Coping Strategy Indicator) and anxiety (as measured by the S-scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression (as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory), social support (as measured by the Social Support Scale) and biographical variables. Of the participants, 88.57% were at least mildly depressed, while 78.57% experienced anxiety of above average intensity. Depression scores were significantly higher for those who were unemployed than for those who had paid work. Those with an education of Standard 6 or below made significantly more use of social support-seeking strategies than those with high school and tertiary education. Those whose husbands had died suddenly made more use of problem-solving strategies, while those whose husbands had died of chronic illness made more use of social support-seeking coping strategies. Significant positive correlations were found between an avoidant coping strategy and both depression and anxiety. A significant positive correlation was found between a social support-seeking coping strategy and perceived social support. Significant negative correlations were found between both problem-solving and social support-seeking coping strategies and anxiety as well as depression scores. An avoidant coping strategy emerged as a significant positive predictor of both anxiety and depression, while problem-solving and social support-seeking coping strategies emerged as significant negative predictors of depression. A problem-solving coping strategy alone emerged as a significant negative predictor of anxiety. These findings point to the need for interventions aimed at more effective use of problemsolving and social support-seeking coping strategies, rather than avoidance, if the widowed are to effectively deal with their conjugal loss. Another implication of these findings is the importance of helping those who are undergoing bereavement to continuously re-define their social support structures for continued sustenance of social and emotional support. iii Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
A refined view of vertical mass transport by cumulus convection

The purpose of this letter is to show that the traditional view of transport by shallow cumulus clouds needs important refinement. On the basis of a straightforward geometrical analysis of Large Eddy Simulation results of shallow cumulus clouds, we conclude (1) that the upward mass transport by clouds is strongly dominated by regions close to the edge of clouds rather than by the core region of clouds and (2) that the downward mass transport is dominated by processes just outside the cloud. The latter finding contradicts the accepted view of a uniformly descending dry environment. We therefore advocate a refined view which distinguishes between the near‐cloud environment and the distant environment. The near‐cloud environment is characterized by coherent descending motions, whereas the distant environment is rather quiescent and plays no significant role in vertical transport.
The Quality of Performance Measurement Systems at the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture

The goal of this study is to assess the quality of the PMS at the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture by analyzing whether the PMS meets certain requirements. The requirements applicable to the PMS could be split into two categories: system requirements and measure requirements. The research particularly focuses on the system requirements, such as balance, the cause-effect model, linkage to strategy, and multidimensionality. The authors use the archival research strategy in order to uncover the origins of the design of the current PMS and to describe the current state of affairs regarding PM in the public sector in Estonia. Secondary data, documentation publicly available from the web portals of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia, is the main source of information. Content analysis is used to carry out the study of the current PMS of the ministry. Based on the analysis made we can conclude that although the measurables are not distributed homogeneously among the categories, all the defined categories are covered. The PMS at the Ministry of Agriculture demonstrated a relatively good level of compliance with the requirements applicable to a modern PMS. However, the following recommendations are offered based on the results of the research:  split measurables in such a way that they would only represent a single area of performance,  review measurables that cannot be assigned to any of the defined categories,  consider improving the cause-effect model by separating inputs and outputs represented by actions.
Suppression of the asymmetric competition mode in the relativistic Ku-band coaxial transit-time oscillator

A relativistic Ku-band coaxial transit-time oscillator has been proposed in our previous work. In the experiments, we find that the asymmetric competition mode in the device limits the microwave power with the increase of the input electric power. For solving such a problem, the methods for analysis and suppression of the asymmetric competition mode in the device are investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the structure and the material of the collector, the concentricity, and the electron emission uniformity play an important part in the suppression of the asymmetric competition mode in the relativistic Ku-band transit-time oscillator. In the subsequent experiments, the asymmetric mode was suppressed effectively. At a low guiding magnetic field of 0.7 T, a microwave pulse with power of 1 GW, frequency of 14.3 GHz close to the simulation one, and efficiency of 20% was generated.
Lab oratory mesocosm studies on the response and potential effects of marine diatom Nitzschia sp. to Ocean acidification

Present study was carried out to know the response and effects of Ocean acidification in the growth of diatom Nitzschia sp. and its biochemical constituent’s viz. protein, lipid and carbohydrate. Ocean acidification is one of the most well-known ocean perturbations. Diatoms are non calcifiers they were able to survive and grow without their cell wall (frustules) was being disrupted by the acidified medium. Increase in photosynthetic activity and growth rate have been observed with increase in CO2 activity. Biochemical profile of diatom showed high protein (4.8 μg/ml), high lipid (14%) whereas lower carbohydrate content (0.68 μg/ml) in acidified medium when compared with control group. Thus, atmospheric CO2 increase could potentially promote phytoplankton productivity and diatoms grown in the acidified cultures were capable of compensating the pH change and they survived showing high productive results.