Isolation and Identification of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) Producing Bacteria from Organic Soil: Investigating Its Efficacy on Plant Growth

Indole acetic acid (IAA) production is a major property of rhizosphere bacteria that stimulates and facilitates plant growth. The present work deals with the isolation, characterization, and identification of indole acetic acid-producing bacteria from the rhizospheric soil. Out of four organisms isolated from serial dilution, Sample-2 confirmed thick bands of IAA production by TLC analysis. 16s rRNA analysis showed the isolated organism was found to be Pseudomonas fluorescence with a similarity of 88%. The isolated organism treat plants showed increased shoot and root length in plant growth analysis. In conclusion, the isolated IAA-producing bacteria can be used as efficient biofertilizer inoculants to promote plant growth.

Factors influencing real estate graduates soft skill gap in Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the soft skill gap of graduate employees, as well as the factors influencing the skill gaps of real estate graduates in the employment of real estate firms in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were employed for the study. Close-ended questionnaire served on real estate employers in the two major property markets of Nigeria: Lagos and Abuja. From a total of 343 questionnaires administered, 172 (59.7%) questionnaires were retrieved. While data from the graduate employees were obtained via a web-based survey sent out to a total of 558 graduates, 119 (21.33%) responses were received. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed in the data analysis.FindingsThe findings showed that employers had high expectations for soft skillsets relating to responsibility, administrative, listening and communication skills. These have respective mean scores of 6.38, 6.33, 6.31 and 6.31 on a seven point scale. However, the results revealed significant skill gaps with skills such as logical thinking, business negotiation, responsibility and marketing. Further, the analysis revealed that factors influencing the skill gap, in decreasing order of influence, are training/professional mentors/remuneration, personal preferences/industry characteristics and curriculum/faculties.Practical implicationsReal estate graduate soft skills are investigated to uncover areas of emphasis and skill gaps. These outcomes could serve as important feedbacks for stakeholders towards improving real estate teaching and curriculum. The findings could also assist real estate graduates to know employers areas of emphasis in relation to graduate employability skills.Originality/valueExtant studies have reiterated and evaluated the soft skills gaps based on the perceptions of employers, faculties and institutions of higher learning. However, there is the need to investigate the perception of graduate employees, being the recipient and major stakeholders in the training process.

Design and Engineering of Resilience for Networked Computer Systems

In this chapter, the authors introduce and describe the notion of resilience for networked computer systems. Central to our viewpoint is that such systems need to be designed and engineered to have resilience as a major property. This is in contrast to systems found in nature that may already have resilience, in some cases through a process of evolution. The networked systems on which the authors focus will generally be built using Internet technologies, which the authors briefly introduce. Engineered systems also require attention to their people and organizational aspects to produce a resilient outcome. Therefore, the material we present here is intended to combine the technological, organizational, and people aspects of resilient systems design and operation, with reference to utility networks—specifically to an electricity distribution case study. While the field of engineered resilience is advancing quickly and involves multiple systems, much of what is in this chapter still remains in the research phase, and has yet to be widely adopted in practice.

Short-term variability and mass loss in Be stars VI. Frequency groups in γ Cas detected by TESS

In photometry of γ Cas (B0.5 IVe) from the SMEI and BRITE-Constellation satellites, indications of low-order non-radial pulsation have recently been found, which would establish an important commonality with the class of classical Be stars at large. New photometry with the TESS satellite has detected three frequency groups near 1.0 (g1), 2.4 (g2), and 5.1 (g3) d−1, respectively. Some individual frequencies are nearly harmonics or combination frequencies but not exactly so. Frequency groups are known from roughly three quarters of all classical Be stars and also from pulsations of β Cep, SPB, and γ Dor stars and, therefore, firmly establish γ Cas as a non-radial pulsator. The total power in each frequency group is variable. An isolated feature exists at 7.57 d−1 and, together with the strongest peaks in the second and third groups ordered by increasing frequency (g2 and g3), is the only one detected in all three TESS sectors. The former long-term 0.82 d−1 variability would fall into g1 and has not returned at a significant level, questioning its attribution to rotational modulation. Low-frequency stochastic variability is a dominant feature of the TESS light curve, possibly caused by internal gravity waves excited at the core-envelope interface. These are known to be efficient at transporting angular momentum outward, and may also drive the oscillations that constitute g1 and g2. The hard X-ray flux of γ Cas is the only remaining major property that distinguishes this star from the class of classical Be stars.

DYNAMICS AND ASYMMETRIC RENT ADJUSTMENTS IN THE OFFICE MARKET IN WARSAW

Dynamics of rent, vacancy, supply and demand on the office market of emerging commercial real estate markets have long been under-researched. The paper fills the gap in economic literature by investigating the growing office market in Warsaw. In particular, we evaluate whether the influence of demand and supply shocks differ depending on the current market conditions. Using Error Correction Model approach, we investigated the rent adjustments on the office market in Warsaw, which is the major property market in Central and Eastern Europe. We replaced variables of the basic model with asymmetric variables to check for asymmetric adjustments in the office market. The study period covers data from 2005:1Q to 2016:1Q. The empirical results suggest that demand shock had a stronger impact on rent when the market vacancy rate was below the average for the period considered. Additionally, the demand shock had a stronger impact on rent when the rent was above the equilibrium level.

Is Meteorological Evidence Relevant Enough in Legal Disputes? A Romanian Case Study.

The increasing frequency and intensity of climate and weather extremes due to ongoing climate changes can cause major property and infrastructure damage. Mainly representing unforeseen and unavoidable hazards, some environmental and business laws broadly assimilate them as force majeure situations, excepting parties affected by their impact from prior commitments. The present study, debating on the way law courts should broadly address the force majeure clause when objective and accurate evidence is being provided, describes the terms of a legal dispute between the owners of two neighboring buildings which have seriously been damaged by a severe thunderstorm developing over the Bucharest-Otopeni town area, on the 22nd July 2014. Consistent meteorological evidence (weather reports and forecasts, aerological diagrams, radar and satellite images, air-pressure distribution maps, synoptic messages etc.) have been presented to the law court to document, in an unbiased manner, on the extraordinary, external, unforeseen and unavoidable weather event representing the cause of a civil legal dispute. The extent to which the law court may take all these into consideration under the provisions of the force majeure clause is still to be explored.

Ferdinand von Richthofen’s loess research in China

Ferdinand von Richthofen (1833–1905), a great German geographer and geologist, was well known for his loess research in China. Here we reexamine the background of Richthofen’s loess research and review his contributions and limitations according to the existing literature. An important historical background of Richthofen’s loess research was that foreigners have been authorized to travel in the interior of China since the 1860s as a result of the Treaties of Tientsin. Richthofen made seven comprehensive scientific explorations in China in 1868–1872, whereas loess research was just one of his topics. He experienced dust weather on the Loess Plateau, where he had direct and deep impressions of the transport of dust, which should have helped him develop the hypothesis of the Aeolian origin of loess. Apart from the Aeolian hypothesis, his other achievements include the differentiation of the regenerated loess from the original loess, the discovery of the loess near Nanjing, the identification of the desiccated lakes as sources of dust storms, and the identification of “vertical cleavage” as a major property of loess.

Research of influence of ways of preparation of a surface on quality of a gas-thermal covering

В работе освещены исследования качества газотермического покрытия и методы подготовки поверхности, непосредственно влияющие на него. Также опытным путем исследована и выявлена зависимость методов подготовки поверхности на качество газотермического покрытия. Упрочнение поверхностного слоя конструкционного материала газотермическими методами напыления является разновидностью поверхностного упрочнения деталей и позволяет решать многие важнейшие технические задачи, хотя сама по себе разработка и реализация таких технологических методов упрочнения представляет собой исключительно сложную проблему науки и производства. Работающие на производстве отечественные и зарубежные установки имеют право на реализацию, однако целесообразность применения любого технологического процесса определяется не его оригинальностью, а прежде всего качеством получаемой продукции и экономическими показателями. При выборе технологического оборудования наиболее важную роль играют не только его производительность и стоимость, но и надежность напылительного оборудования, возможность его сервисного обслуживания, наличие и доступность на рынке используемых материалов покрытия: газов, порошков. В ряду современных способов поверхностной обработки материалов газотермическое напыление занимает особое место. Важнейшим свойством, определяющим возможность применения видов газотермического напыления, особенно при ремонте изношенных деталей, является прочность сцепления. На прочность сцепления оказывает влияние характер распиливаемого металла. Так, покрытия из легкоплавких металлов, легко сцепляются с поверхностью любых металлов и не требуют особо тщательной подготовки. Это свойство широко используют, нанося на деталь первым слоем цинк толщиной 0,05–0,1 мм, а затем уже слои из любых металлов. Покрытия из стали, меди и бронзы требуют особо тщательной подготовки. Низкоуглеродистая сталь при распылении обладает лучшей сцепляемостью чем высокоуглеродистая.Металл, на который наносятся слои, играет существенную роль. Так, например, покрытия, нанесенные, на чугунные поверхности, вследствие пористости чугуна обладают большей сцепляемостью, чем покрытия, нанесенные на стальные детали. Объектом исследования является качество газотермического покрытия и методы подготовки поверхности, непосредственно влияющие на него. Цель работы – выявить и исследовать зависимость методов подготовки поверхности на качество газотермического покрытия.В результате, была доказана прямая зависимость параметра шероховатости поверхности от прочности сцепления при проведенных исследований на примере детали типа «втулка», а именно – с увеличением параметров шероховатости поверхности возрастает и прочность сцепления покрытия. In work researches of quality of a gas-thermal covering and methods of preparation of a surface which are directly influencing him are covered. The dependence of methods of preparation of a surface on quality of a gas-thermal covering is also by practical consideration studied and revealed. Hardening of a blanket of constructional material by gas-thermal methods of dusting is a kind of superficial hardening of details and allows to solve many major technical problems though development in itself and realization of such technological methods of hardening represents exclusively complex problem of science and production. The domestic and foreign installations working at a factory have the right for realization, however the expediency of application of any technological process is defined not by his originality, and first of all quality of the received production and economic indicators. At the choice of processing equipment the most important role is played not only by its productivity and cost, but also reliability of the napylitelny equipment, a possibility of his service existence and availability in the market of the used covering materials: gases, powders. Among modern ways of surface treatment of materials gasthermal dusting holds a specific place. The major property defining a possibility of application of types of gas-thermal dusting, especially at repair of worn-out details is coupling durability. The character of the sawn metal exerts impact on durability of coupling. So, coverings from fusible metals, are easily linked to the surface of any metals and don't demand especially thorough training. This property is widely used, applying on a detail with the first layer zinc 0.05–0.1 mm thick, and then layers from any metals. Coverings from steel, copper and bronze demand especially thorough training. Low-carbon steel at dispersion has the best stickiness what vysokokuglerodisty. Metal on which layers are applied plays a sushchestkvenny role. So, for example, the coverings put on pig-iron surfaces, owing to porosity of cast iron obkladat bigger stickiness, than the coverings applied on steel details. Object of a research is the quality of a gas-thermal covering and methods of preparation of a surface which are directly influencing him. The work purpose – to reveal and investigate dependence of methods of preparation of a surface on quality of a gasthermal covering. As a result, the direct dependence of parameter of roughness of a surface on coupling durability at the conducted researches on the example of a detail like «plug» has been proved, and parameters of roughness of a surface, nominal with increase, also durability of coupling of a covering increases.

The End of Suburbia?

This chapter focuses on White Flint, a 400-acre obsolete commercial strip on Montgomery County's most congested roadway, and some of the important lessons it offers with respect to successful planning politics. The most recent of Montgomery's efforts in planning for mixed-use, transit-oriented activity centers, White Flint was envisioned as the best place to create a model for a new generation of land use policy. The chapter discusses the plan for White Flint, the key issues that needed to be resolved before it could move forward, and the project planners' new approach to zoning. White Flint illustrates the value of careful economic analysis; engagement of major property owners and community groups in making plans; and willingness to abandon old ideas in favor of new ones that fit the circumstances at hand. The case of White Flint also highlights the problems of bureaucratic and political resistance to new ways of financing infrastructure.

Soil water repellency changes with depth and relationship to physical properties within wettable and repellent soil profiles

This study explored the effect of soil water repellency (SWR) on soil hydrophysical properties with depth. Soils were sampled from two distinctly wettable and water repellent soil profiles at depth increments from 0-60 cm. The soils were selected because they appeared to either wet readily (wettable) or remain dry (water repellent) under field conditions. Basic soil properties (MWD, SOM, θv) were compared to hydrophysical properties (Ks, Sw, Se, Sww, Swh, WDPT, RIc, RImand WRCT) that characterise or are affected by water repellency. Our results showed both soil and depth affected basic and hydrophysical properties of the soils (p <0.001). Soil organic matter (SOM) was the major property responsible for water repellency at the selected depths (0-60). Water repellency changes affected moisture distribution and resulted in the upper layer (0-40 cm) of the repellent soil to be considerably drier compared to the wettable soil. The water repellent soil also had greater MWDdryand Ks over the entire 0-60 cm depth compared to the wettable soil. Various measures of sorptivity, Sw, Se, Sww, Swh, were greater through the wettable than water repellent soil profile, which was also reflected in field and dry WDPT measurements. However, the wettable soil had subcritical water repellency, so the range of data was used to compare indices of water repellency. WRCT and RImhad less variation compared to WDPT and RIc. Estimating water repellency using WRCT and RIm indicated that these indices can detect the degree of SWR and are able to better classify SWR degree of the subcritical-repellent soil from the wettable soil.