Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fertiliser credit and agroecological use of organic soil amendments in northern Ghana

Contemporary African agricultural policy embodies the African Green Revolution’s drive towards modernisation and commercialisation. Agroecologists have criticised this movement on ecological, social and political grounds. Northern Ghanaian fertiliser credit schemes provide a good example through which these critiques can be examined in a context where agricultural policy reflects the African Green Revolution’s ideals. This study aimed to determine the relationship of such credit schemes to farmers’ use of organic amendments, elucidate other factors related to organic amendment use, and comment on the relevance of this modernisation policy and its relationship to agroecology. A first research phase employed semi-structured key informant interviews. Qualitative data from these informed construction of a semi-structured questionnaire that was used in a survey of 205 farmers. Multistage sampling purposively identified five villages and selected farmers within who had joined government and donor-funded fertiliser credit schemes. The use of organic and inorganic amendments was compared to that of peers who had not taken part in such schemes. Quantitative data were used in binomial logistic regression, inferential and descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were content analysed. Credit group membership was associated with higher fertiliser application and yield, but had little influence on the extent of commercialisation. Farmers who applied organic amendments were 40% less likely to belong to a fertiliser credit scheme than not, indicating substitution between organic and inorganic fertilisers. Organic amendments were 40% more likely to be applied to compound farms than outfields and six times more likely to be applied by household heads than other household members. However, household heads also preferentially joined credit groups. This was part of an agroecological soil fertility management strategy. Household heads appreciated the soil moisture retention properties of organic amendments, and applied them to compound farms to reduce risk to their household food supply in a semi-arid environment. They simultaneously accessed fertiliser to enhance this household provisioning strategy. They appreciated the increased yields this achieved, yet complained that the repayment terms of credit schemes were unfair, fertiliser did not enhance yields in dry conditions and fertilisers were supplied late. Farmers’ use of credited fertiliser alongside their existing agroecological strategy is helpful to the extent that it raises yields, yet is problematic in that it conflicts with risk-reduction strategies based on organics. There is some potential for modernised and agroecological management paradigms to coexist. For fertiliser credit to play a role in this, schemes must use fairer repayment terms and involve a focus on simultaneous use of organic amendments. Keywords: Agroecology, compost, Ghana, fertiliser credit, Soil Fertility Management, maize
School Meals and Educational Outcomes in Rural Ethiopia

Abstract We investigate the relationship between providing school meals programmes and educational outcomes in Ethiopia. Using data from school catchment areas across rural Ethiopia, the paper examines the role played by programme modalities and their implementation. The results indicate that supplementing on-site school meals with take-home rations can be beneficial for concentration, reading, writing and arithmetic skills. The timing of the distribution of school meals is also found to play an important role.
With You and Me in Mind: Mentalization and Transactional Analysis

In their 2004 article, J. R. Allen, Bennett, and Kearns invited us to carry on their exploration of “thinking psychologically. ” In this article, the author does so by offering further reflections about mentalization, a quality that psychotherapists seek to develop in most of their patients. The article explores meanings of this term, sums up current hypotheses about the way it develops, and draws parallels with some transactional analysis concepts. Material from the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus (1942/1988) is used to illustrate the impact of impaired mentalizing.
Control of staphylococcus aureus growth by electromagnetic therapy

The present work aimed to study the biological effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field (ELFEMF) on the growth rate, morphology and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the Grampositive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus to determine any morphological and metabolic changes that might have been caused by ELFEMF. In order to compare cell viability, number of colonyforming units (CFU) and growth rate (optical density at 600nm) was determined. The results showed that a highly significant inhibition effect occurred when S.aureus was exposed to resonance of 0.8 Hz QAMW for a single exposure (120min). Moreover, exposed cells became more sensitive to the tested antibiotics compared to control. Significant ultra structural changes occurred as observed by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAPolymerase Chain Reaction (RAPDPCR) revealed genetic fingerprinting variation as observed in the electrophoresis patterns between exposed and unexposed cells of S.aureus.
An Ethnographic Inquiry on Internet CafÃ©s within the Context of Turkish Youth Culture

Contemporary studies have become interested in determining transformative effects of information and communication technologies on youngstersâ social and cultural identity developments. Internet cafA©s are techno-social spaces where people access to digital media and interact with global cultural flows. Such interactions are profound because they fundamentally challenge diverse locality and traditional values. In this paper, we reports the findings of ethnographic research study as a part graduate thesis project about Internet cafA©s in Turkey. Our purpose was to find out how Internet cafA©s are being used by Turkish youth and how these sites affect their social, cultural, and educational experiences. We conducted intensive observations in three Internet cafA©s and semi-structured interviews with four college students. The results show that Internet cafA©s are being used mostly by male youngsters mostly for entertainment and communication purposes. Internet cafA© usage are closely related to the emergence of techno-consumerist youth culture or lifestyle. This suggests that technology is more than a simple and neutral instrument that constitutes complex social and cultural dimensions which may involve profound alterations for people lives.
FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF FAST DISINTEGRATING TABLETS OF CINITAPRIDE HYDROGEN TARTARATE BY USING DIRECT COMPRESSION TECHNIQUE

Objective: In the present study, efforts were taken to develop fast disintegrating tablets of Cinitapride hydrogen tartrate, is a gastro-prokinetic agent and antiulcer agent with an objective to achieve rapid disintegration, and further improving the bioavailability of the drug. Also, to resolve the swallowing problems (Dysphasia) in pediatric, geriatric patients by rapid disintegration in saliva and improve the patient compliance. Methods: Fast disintegrating tablets were prepared by direct compression method using superdisintegrants like crospovidone (CP), croscarmellose sodium (CCS), sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and combination of super-disintegrants in different concentrations. The prepared formulations were evaluated for the pre-compression parameters like bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s compressibility, Hausner’s ratio and angle of repose. The prepared batches of fast disintegrating tablets of Cinitapride hydrogen tartarate were evaluated for hardness, weight variation, thickness, friability, drug content, disintegration time, wetting time, water absorption ratio, and in vitro dissolution profile. Results: Bulk density and tapped density were found in the range of 0.412–0.432 g/cc and 0.507–0.528 g/cc respectively. In all formulations, tablet weight and thickness were within mean±9.5% and mean±5% respectively. Wetting time values lie between 19.76 to 39.53 sec. Water absorption ratio ranged from 57.30 to 78.82 %. The in vitro disintegration time for all the 12 formulations varied from 17.43 to 38.61 seconds. Formulation F8 which contained crosspovidone have recorded drug release 96.94±0.47% at the end of 30 min. Conclusion: The formulation containing crospovidone (F8) showed better performance in terms of disintegration time and drug release when compared to other formulations.
WiFiPoz -- an accurate indoor positioning system

iv Acknowledgement . vi Table of Figures. xi Table of Tables . xiii List of abbreviations . xiv Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 Background and Motivation . 1 1.2 Objectives of this Thesis . 3 1.3 Thesis Outline . 3 1.4 Contribution of this Thesis. 4 Chapter 2: Literature Review . 5 2.1 Overview of RF Positioning Systems . 5 2.2 Major advantages and Disadvantages of RF Based Indoor Positioning Systems . 6 2.2.1 The Indoor Environment . 6 2.2.2 Multipath Problem . 6 2.3 Categorization of Indoor Positioning Systems . 7 2.3. 1 Classification of Indoor Positioning Systems According to RF Sensors . 7 2.3. 1.1 Wi-Fi based Position Systems . 8 2.3. 1.2 Global Positioning System (GPS) . 8 2.3. 1.3 GSM based Systems: The Global System for Mobile Communication . 9 2.3. 1.4 Bluetooth Based Systems . 10 2.3. 1.5 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) . 10 2.3. 2 Classification of Positioning Systems according to Measurement Methods (deterministic techniques) . 11 2.3. 2.1 Received Signal Strength Indicator . 11 2.3. 2.2 Time of Arrival (ToA) and Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) . 11 2.3. 2.3 Angle of Arrival (AoA) . 12 2.3. 3 Classification of Indoor Positioning system Based on Positioning Algorithm 13
THE iLOFT PROJECT: A TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED COLLABORATIVE DESIGN WORKSPACE AS RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

For the past two years, the authors have been working to address the challenges of collecting data on design teams by creating a family of workspaces that design teams can utilize while researchers study their activity. A first iteration in this endeavor was the Design Observatory[1], which provided a space in which researchers could structured experiments with design teams. The latest of these spaces, the iLoft, is designed to attract designers to a suite of advanced collaboration and information technologies they can use in their regular work, and thereby provide greater opportunity to study their activity during design.
Human Embryonic Blood Vessels: What Do They Tell Us About Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis?

The first functioning system during embryonic development is the cardiovascular system; the development of other organs and systems is in strict dependence to the emergence and development of blood vessels. Although the interest in the structure and functioning of the vascular system has existed since antiquity, there are still gaps in knowledge of the vascular system development issues. The process of blood vessel formation plays an important role during prenatal development; in the postnatal life, with few exceptions, this process is, normally, poorly expressed. Usually, an augmentation of postnatal vasculogenesis and angiogenesis is associated with pathological situations: healing wounds, certain degenerative diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis) or malignant growth and metastasis. In this context, it becomes imperative to understand the mechanisms and factors involved in tumor angiogenesis. Mainly, tumor angiogenesis repeats at least in some aspects embryonic stages of vascular development. Most studies related to embryonic vascular system development were performed on embryos from other species, and / or cell cultures. Detailed morphogenesis studies, demonstrated the existence of differences between the primitive circulatory system in fish and mammals. In 2004, Ginis and collaborators have conducted a comparative study on cultures of human embryonic versus mice endothelial cells. The authors demonstrated the existence of species-specific differences that are related not only to quantitative aspects, but also to the existence of different signaling pathways. Even when using the same signaling pathways in cells from different species, different members of the same family were involved. Studies on human embryonic tissues, from the points of view stated above, are very rare and controversial; for example, the morphogenesis of embryonic vessels and, the temporal sequence for the onset of smooth muscle actin expression are very well studied and characterized in birds and mice, but not in humans.
Filtrage adaptatif non-linéaire utilisant une entrée cyclostationnaire

This paper studies input signals for a discrete-time nonlinear Volterra adaptive filtering for a specific application : the jammer. The originality consists in using a cyclostationary reference to excite as less as possible the modes of an unknown nonlinear system. This new approach leads to a minimal Volterra model, because all non exciting terms of the model are rejected.
Antagonistic effects of three species of Trichoderma sp. on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , the causal agent of canola stem rot

Stem rot of canola (Brassica napus ) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most serious of plant diseases. From 30 Trichoderma isolates, three different species T. harzianum-8, T. atroviride PTCC5220 and T. longibrachiatum PTCC5140, were selected on the basis of their high level of chitinase and/or glucanase activity, along with their rapid growth rate in vitro. These showed high growth inhibition of two phytopathogenic isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (S1and S2), with T. atroviride the greatest effect, reducing growth by 85-93%. They showed coil formation and penetration structures against the hyphae of the pathogenic isolates. T. atroviride PTCC5220 can be used for assessment of field biocontrol against S. sclerotiorum.
The Proposal of the Alternately Evolving Genetic Algorithm and its Application

In view of the shortcomings of the usual genetic algorithm when solving multi-objective combinatorial optimization problems, the paper proposes an alternately evolving genetic algorithm. It adopts alternate strategy and optimizes multiple objectives one by one circularly. The solving results of the Sudoku puzzle indicate that this strategy can make the excellent patterns of different objectives all grow rapidly, and the results’ comparison verify its feasibility and excellence in the general convergence. The sensitivity of the algorithm’s parameter is also analyzed.
FORAGING BEHAVIOUR OF THE CHINSTRAP PENGUIN PYGOSCELIS ANTARCTICA AT ARDLEY ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

SUMMARY WILSON, R.P. & PETERS, G. 1999. Foraging behaviour of the Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarctica at Ardley Island, Antarctica. Marine Ornithology 27: 85–95. The foraging behaviour of 20 Chinstrap Penguins Pygoscelis antarctica breeding at Ardley Island, King George Island, Antarctica was studied during the austral summers of 1991/2 and 1995/6 using stomach temperature loggers (to determine feeding patterns), depth recorders and multiple channel loggers. The multiple channel loggers recorded dive depth, swim speed and swim heading which could be integrated using vectors to determine the foraging tracks. Half the birds left the island to forage between 02h00 and 10h00. Mean time at sea was 10.6 h. Birds generally executed a looping type course with most individuals foraging within 20 km of the island. Maximum foraging range was 33.5 km. Maximum dive depth was 100.7 m although 80% of all dives had depth maxima less than 30 m. The following dive parameters were positively related to maximum depth reached during the dive: total dive duration, descent duration, duration at the bottom of the dive, ascent duration, descent angle, ascent angle, rate of change of depth during descent and rate of change of depth during ascent. Swim speed was unrelated to maximum dive depth and had mean values of 2.6, 2.5 and 2.2 m/s for the descent, bottom and ascent phases of the dive. The sequence of maximum depths reached in a dive series was not random, tending to be concentrated at a particular depth, irrespective of whether the penguins were feeding at that depth or not. Generally, sequential dives to a specific depth were abruptly terminated by a single dive to another depth which was characteristic in having no bottom phase and unusually steep descent and ascent angles. The maximum depth reached during this dive was then adhered to in the next dive sequence. There were peaks in feeding activity between 06h00 and 09h00 and 14h00 and 22h00. Although foraging effort and relative success decreased around midnight when light intensity was lowest, birds did dive up to 22 m at this time, considerably deeper than sympatric Adelie P. adeliae or Gentoo P. papua Penguins. These findings indicate that, in accordance with their small body size, Chinstrap Penguins forage inshore close to the surface during the chick-rearing phase. Apparent short-comings in the volume of water searched compared to sympatric congeners can be made good by intense diving activity during the period at sea, with no inter-bout rests, higher swim speeds and an apparent ability to be able to forage at lower light intensities which enables Chinstrap Penguins to forage better under twilight conditions.
Openness and inflation: evidence from time series data

Bu calisma, 1947–2007 donemini kapsayan yillik veriler kullanilarak Pakistan’da dis ticaret alaninda disa aciklik ile enflasyon arasindaki iliski ampirik olarak incelenmistir. Ampirik analiz sonuclari, Pakistan’da disa aciklik ile enflasyon arasinda pozitif bir iliski oldugunu gostermektedir. Sonuclar, enflasyonu belirleyen diger degiskenlerden ve duyarlilik analizlerinden etkilenmemektedir. Esnek kambiyo rejimi ve gelisme duzeyindeki artis yurtici enflasyonu artirmaktadir. Diger kontrol degiskenleri olan para arzi, mali acik, doviz kurunun deger yitirmesi, dis enflasyon, ticaret haddi, dis borc ve demokrasi enflasyonu beklenen yonde anlamli bir sekilde etkilemektedir.
Optical properties of titanium oxide nano layers

Titanium oxide thin films on glass substrates were prepared by resistance evaporation method under UHV conditions, with different 13, 30 and 58 nm thicknesses in room temperature. Their optical properties were measured by spectrophotometer in the spectral range of 300-1100 nm. The optical functions were obtained from the Kramers-Kronig analysis of the reflectivity curves. Band-gap energy (Eg) was also estimated for these films.
Pay Inequality in Turkey in the Neo-Liberal Era, 1980-2001

This paper examines pay inequality in Turkish manufacturing annually from 1980 to 2001. Using the between-group component of Theil's T statistic, we decompose the evolution of inequality by geographic region, province, sub-sector and by East-West distinction both for private and public sectors. The decompositions show that while inequality remains approximately the same between regions, it increases in the late 1980s in the private sector between provinces, between East and West, and as well as between manufacturing sub-sectors.
Correlation between Spiritual Leadership and Occupational Conflict

Abstract Introduction: Nurses as the largest group among the healthcare staff sustain continual environmental pressures and changes. Hence, the incidence of conflict among nurses is something normal due to extensive interactions with various people. Managers can make the organizational activity more effective and efficient by the use of innovative leadership styles based on internal motivation and appropriate management of conflict. This study determined the correlation between spiritual leadership and occupational conflict of nurses employed at selected academic hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2017. Methods: 287 nurses employed at various wards of academic hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, were enrolled in this descriptive-correlational study using convenient sampling method. The data were collected using two questionnaires; “Spiritual Leadership” and “Occupational Conflict” and analyzed with SPSS.18. Results: 261 nurses completed questionnaires and resend them. The findings showed that the maximum score obtained by nurses about their head nurse’s spiritual leadership style belonged to “altruistic love” (14.46 out of 25). In addition, the highest score about their occupational conflict belonged to “interclass conflict” (10.98 out of 16). Generally, there was a significant correlation between spiritual leadership and occupational conflict (P<0.001, r=0.522). Conclusions: The findings on the correlation between the nurses’ perspectives about spiritual leadership and occupational conflict indicated that the application of innovative styles such as spiritual leadership to reduce nurses’ occupational conflict in the Iranian healthcare system demands more investigations. It can serve as the managers’ guide in choosing the most effective leadership style to diminish occupational conflict among nurses and reach the highest levels of outcomes in the organization.
Weighted Complex Network Analysis of Shanghai Rail Transit System

With increasing passenger flows and construction scale, Shanghai rail transit system (RTS) has entered a new era of networking operation. In addition, the structure and properties of the RTS network have great implications for urban traffic planning, design, and management. Thus, it is necessary to acquire their network properties and impacts. In this paper, the Shanghai RTS, as well as passenger flows, will be investigated by using complex network theory. Both the topological and dynamic properties of the RTS network are analyzed and the largest connected cluster is introduced to assess the reliability and robustness of the RTS network. Simulation results show that the distribution of nodes strength exhibits a power-law behavior and Shanghai RTS network shows a strong weighted rich-club effect. This study also indicates that the intentional attacks are more detrimental to the RTS network than to the random weighted network, but the random attacks can cause slightly more damage to the random weighted network than to the RTS network. Our results provide a richer view of complex weighted networks in real world and possibilities of risk analysis and policy decisions for the RTS operation department.
TRIANGULAR SLOT CIRCULAR PATCH ANTENNA FOR CIRCULAR POLARIZATION RECONFIGURABILITY

This paper proposes a reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna with polarization states being switched between left hand circular polarization (LHCP) and right hand circular polarization (RHCP). The CP mode has been excited by perturbation element which is a triangular slot in the circular patch. Two PIN diodes are symmetrically placed on each side of triangular slot to alter the current direction around the patch, which determines the polarization state. By changing the state of the PIN diode, the antenna has been made to switch between twp states of circular polarization. This polarization reconfigurable patch antenna covers IEEE 802.11 outdoor band and has good agile polarization performance with nearly 48MHz CP bandwidth and minimum axial ratio near to 1dB. The minimum axial ratio frequency for LHCP and RHCP are same as 5.80GHz.