Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plankton dynamics and photosynthesis responses in a eutrophic lake in Patagonia (Argentina): influence of grazer abundance and UVR

A natural plankton population from the eutrophic lake Cacique Chiquichano, in the Argentine Patagonia, was monitored for one year to evaluate changes in photosynthetic parameters as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm), grazer abundance, and the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton community. Both physical (temperature, solar radiation) and biological (grazers, taxonomic composition, photosynthetic parameters) variables fluctuated throughout the study. Crustacean zooplankton showed alternating dominance between cladocerans (Daphnia spinulata) and copepods (Metacyclops mendocinus). The phytoplankton community underwent concomitant changes throughout the year, with cyanobacteria and diatoms alternately dominating. In addition, although copepod abundance was not significantly related to changes in phytoplankton, the presence of D. spinulata was significant during periods of more transparent water; these periods were dominated by diatoms. On the other hand, cyanobacteria dominated the phytoplankton assemblage when the penetration of solar radiation into the water column was lower. Photosynthetic inhibition due to UVR decreased during the diatom-dominated periods. In contrast, inhibition increased along with the proportion of cyanobacteria, likely as a result of acclimation to low irradiance during the lake’s phase of lower transparency. Moreover, the presence of D. spinulata was associated with the increased penetration of solar radiation into the water column, resulting in an indirect increment in the inhibition of cyanobacteria photosynthesis. The results suggest that both solar radiation and grazing abundance strongly influence the dynamics and photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton in Lake Cacique Chiquichano.
Determination of the Size Distribution of Polydisperse Nanoparticles with Single-Particle Mass Spectrometry: The Role of Ion Kinetic Energy

We develop a method to determine size and size distribution (30–150 nm) of polydisperse nanoparticles using a laser ablation/ ionization time-of-flight single-particle mass spectrometer that extends the work first described by Reents and Ge. We found a composition independent “power law” dependence between the total peak area and original particle volume that enables one to determine particle volume directly from a particles mass spectrum. This power-law relationship suggests that some ions ablated and ionized from a particle are selectively lost during transport from the laser ablation/ionization region to the detector. A numerical calculation of ion trajectories shows that ion loss is highly dependent on the initial kinetic energy of ions. We show that the size-dependent energetic ions formed by the laser-particle interaction lead to power-law relationship between the cube root of peak area and particle diameter. The results demonstrate that particle size distributions measured with the mass spectrometer are in good agreement with those measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer.
Top‐down and bottom‐up control of litter decomposers in streams

1. Detritivores preferentially consume certain aquatic hyphomycete species while rejecting others. Fungal identity may therefore be a crucial factor determining stream food-web structure and complexity and extend the impact of microbial diversity to effects up through the food web. 2. In this study, we examined if shredder feeding is affected by the identity of fungi on leaves (bottom-up effects) and if preferences of shredders for particular fungi affect the composition of fungal assemblages (top-down effects). Oak leaf discs were conditioned in microcosms with six individual fungal species previously reported as highly palatable (P), unpalatable/rejected (R) and intermediate (I). Additionally, three microcosms were inoculated with three mixtures of four fungal species, each consisting of a different subset of the six species. 3. Colonised discs were offered to three detritivores with different feeding strategies: Proasellus sp. (Isopoda), Echinogammarus meridionalis (Amphipoda) and Schizopelex festiva (Trichoptera). When offered leaves colonised by single fungal species, consumption rates by E. meridionalis and S. festiva were higher on I, followed by P and, finally, R species. Consumption rates by Proasellus sp. were sim- ilar across fungal treatments. Consumption rates by the three invertebrates were also similar across all fungal multispecies treatments, suggesting that invertebrate preferences for, or rejection of, a given fungal species may be masked when it grows in proximity to other fungi. Composition and structure of fungal communities were not significantly affected by the feeding of any of the three invertebrates. 4. Our results suggest that certain combinations of fungal and detritivore species result in unpredictable bottom-up and top-down effects in stream food webs.
ZERO POWER CONTROLE IN THE SINGLE AXIS CONTROLLED MAGNETIC BEARING

Abstract. This work is part of the development of an implantable Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) in which the pump rotor is suspended by a magnetic bearing. The magnetic bearing here utilized presents active control only in the rotor axial direction. In other directions, the rotor is retained by the attraction force generated by permanent magnets. During the operation of the VAD, a drag force acts in the rotor due to the pumping effect, forcing the rotor axially toward the fluid entrance duct. To react this force, a current circulates in the bearing actuators, resulting in power consumption and heat generation. In order to minimize thise problems, this work studies the application of a control technique known as “Zero Power Control (ZPC)” in the magnetic bearing. By the ZPC, the axial reference position of the rotor is automatically changed so that the load is counterbalanced only by forces generated by permanent magnets. Previous works concerning ZPC are revised, a method to apply the ZPC to the magnetic bearing is developed and finally, by tests, the developed ZPC algorithm is evaluated.
Is Nonlinear Drift Implied by the Short-End of the Term Structure?

Nonlinear drift models of the short-rate are estimated using data on the short-end of the term structure, where the cross-sectional relation is obtained by an analytical approximation. We find that (i) nonlinear physical drift is not implied unless it is strongly affected by cross-sectional dimensions of the data; (ii) nonlinear risk-neutral drift that allows for fast mean-reversion for high rates is desirable to explain and predict observed patterns of yield spreads; and (iii) for higher-frequency data from which transitory shocks are removed, (ii) still remains valid although the nonlinearity is somewhat reduced.
A new species of Markuelia from the Middle Cambrian of Australia

We describe a new species of 'Markuelia' from the Middle Cambrian of Australia, a taxon based exclusively on embryonic specimens. The two likewise putatively embryonic specimens of the new species named 'Markuelia lauriei' sp. nov. have been discovered amongst material collected in 1986 in an area approximately 160 km south of Mt. Isa, Queensland, Australia. The specimens differ from the previously described species of 'Markuelia' not only in size (they are significantly smaller), but also in the presence of an abaxial row of four soft, slim, elongate, tubulous outgrowths dorsally in the anterior region with being more irregularly distributed all over the dorsal surface. The extremely fine preservation of the new specimens adds significantly to the known morphological variation within the taxon 'Markuelia'.
Comparative analysis for the detection of tuberculosis by conventional and flurosence microscopy

Total of 300 TB patients sample were collected from NIDCH (Indoor and Outdoor) for six months period where three different specimens (sputum, pus, BAL) were collected among different age group (male and female). In sputum sample, percentage of identified samples in Auramine-O stain was 41% whereas in Z-N stain 32%; in pus sample, Auramine stain is 22% and Z-N stain 15%; In BAL sample, Auramine stain is 12% and Z-N stain is 10%. Therefore, out of 300 samples, 25% of positive samples were identified by Auramine-O staining whereas 19% of positive samples were identified by Z-N stain. In all the cases Auramine-O is found better for identification of TB than Z-N. In sputum, male positive 10%, female positive 3.66%; in pus sample, male positive 5% and female positive 2.33%; in BAL sample, male positive 3% and female positive 1%. Age group of 26 to 45 years were found high rate of TB in male patients. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 03 July ’13 Page 315-319 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjms.v12i3. 11104
Towards a life‐history‐based management framework for the effects of flow on juvenile salmonids in streams and rivers

Salmonid fishes have complex life cycles involving major changes in habitat requirements at different stages in their life history. Effects of changes in flow and flow regime on salmonids are therefore highly stage-specific. Successful management requires consideration of stage-specific influences and integration of these effects over the entire life history to predict ultimate impacts on abundance and population viability. The state of science regarding stage-specific influences of flow regime on juvenile salmonids and their habitats, referring specifically to fundamental attributes of natural regimes and to characteristic alterations of these regimes associated with water management, is reviewed. It appears that a key consideration in integrating the stage-specific impacts of flow is the extent to which flow-related losses or gains early in ontogeny can be compensated by increased growth or survival later in juvenile life history. Further, fundamental interactions between flow and water temperature must be incorporated into the robust models ultimately required for science-based management. In the absence of such models and data, the current state of science may be sufficient to target specific aspects of flow regimes that are critical to multiple life-history stages, which can then serve as a basis for interim flow prescriptions and subsequent adaptive management.
Green without envy: how social capital alleviates tensions from a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program in Indonesia

Social capital increases participation and the success of conservation projects. However, research often overlooks social capital between program participants and nonparticipants. We examine social capital between participants and nonparticipants in villages across the Cidanau Watershed in West Java, Indonesia. Villages in this region have longstanding participation in a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme, and previous studies note they contain high levels of social capital. We find that working together, helping each other when someone is in need, and trusting your neighbors are part of the tradition and the history of these communities. Furthermore, we find that high levels of social capital persist between village members who do and do not participate in the PES scheme, despite perceived tensions and jealousy and elite capture in the PES scheme. The high levels of social capital mitigate the social impacts of the PES program. Specifically, participants report giving cash to jealous neighbors and/or providing nonparticipants with information about the PES scheme and encouraging their involvement. The informal actions that participants take to alleviate tension and jealousy mitigate the negative social impacts and perceptions of the PES. Thus, this research extends the literature on PES programs to consider participants and nonparticipants and it demonstrates how high levels of social capital can contribute to project stability by alleviating negative consequences and perceptions through informal mechanisms.
Source and path of magma for volcanoes in the subduction zone of northeastern Japan

The assumption that the source of magma for volcanoes in subduction zones is located in the mantle immediately above the top of the subducting slab, at approximately 100 km depth and straight beneath the volcanoes is incorrect in northeastern Japan. The combination of evidence from velocity tomography in the mantle wedge above the slab and mapping of earthquake size distribution within it strongly points to a source of fluids at the top of the slab at 140 to 150 km depth, from where material rises along an inclined path to the volcanoes.
Determining the Signal-to-Noise Ratio and Optimal Photomultiplier Gain Setting in the GenePix 4000B

Introduction An important criterion for comparing the performance of array scanners is the quality of the images produced. One objective measure for evaluating image quality is the Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR). The ability to distinguish a signal from the background image or the noise improves as the SNR increases. In addition to quantifying the quality of the scanned images, the SNR is used to define the detection limit and the optimal photomultiplier gain setting of a scanner.
Temporal-spatial patterns of food caching in two sympatric shrike species

To study the temporal-spatial patterns of food caching in two sympatric shrike species (Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor and Red-backed Shrike L. collurio) in the north-western region of the Iberian Peninsula, I sampled cached prey. Northern Shrikes cached food mainly during the non-breeding period, and Red-backed Shrikes during the breeding period, depending on prey availability and energy requirement. Rate of food cached by Red-backed Shrikes increased as number of nestlings increased. Most prey cached by Northern Shrikes was used within 9 days. Red-backed Shrikes usually utilized their caches within 24 hr, mainly at dawn and dusk. Northern Shrikes used 62% of cached prey, and Red-backed Shrikes 88%. At least 6% of the prey cached by Red-backed Shrikes was kleptoparasitized, chiefly by wasps. Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) and blackthorn (Prunus sp.) shrubs with cylindrical, thin and long thorns were preferred for caching, whereas rose (Rosa sp.) and bramble (Rubus sp.) shrubs with laterally flattened, wide and short thorns were avoided by both species. Red-backed Shrikes scattered their caches. The distance between the nest and the prey cached by the Red-backed Shrike depended on the availability of suitable thorny shrubs in the territory, with a tendency to cache close to the nest. Shrikes chose the upper and inner parts of the shrubs for caching, presumably to hide the food from kleptoparasites. I found an association between prey color and color of cache-shrub, suggesting that cryptic coloration influenced choice of cache site.
Rapid transitions in the Atlantic thermohaline circulation triggered by global warming and meltwater during the last deglaciation

In a series of sensitivity experiments, using a three‐dimensional ocean general circulation model, rapid climate shifts during the last deglaciation are interpreted in terms of gradual temperature changes and freshwater perturbations, which impact on the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC). We show that increasing global temperature leads to a rapid intensification of the THC. The transition to an interglacial THC mode is preconditioned by a decrease of the subsurface temperatures due to an increase in ventilation of the subsurface water in the northern North Atlantic, which enhances the merdional transport of salt to the northern high latitudes and gradually erodes the halocline. This process enables the remaining temperature inversion to overcome the salinity stratification in the northern North Atlantic, which causes a kick start of vigorous convection and a rapid intensification of the Atlantic THC. As a result of the abrupt THC amplification and the deglacial warming and sea ice retreat in the Southern Ocean, enhanced transport of relatively salty surface and intermediate‐depth waters from the Indian Ocean provides an additional source of salt to the North Atlantic, which changes the stability behavior of the THC with respect to freshwater perturbations. A warming‐induced transition from a weak glacial THC to a stronger THC state, with different North Atlantic freshwater hysteresis characteristics, provides a concept that might explain the sequence of events, characterizing the last glacial termination as recorded in proxy data.
Isolation and Identification of Four Novel Biocontrol Bacillus Strains against Wheat Sharp Eyespot and their Growth-promoting Effect on Wheat Seedling

Natural resistance of wheat plant to sharp eyespot disease is inadequate and new strategies are urgent desired to control this serious soil-borne disease. Biological control is an alternative and attractive approach to effectively reduce the utilization of chemicals in agriculture. In this study, four biocontrol bacterial strains exhibited strong antagonistic activities against Rhizoctonia cerealis were isolated from rhizosphere soil of infected wheat via a dual culture method. The strains of TA28, TA31, Z-5 and Z-7 were identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus tequilensis, respectively, according to morphological, physiological and biochemical characterizations and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The feasible mechanism of impeding mycelial growth for these Bacillus strains was irregularly swollen-tipped and increasing compartment in hypha. The antifungal spectrum indicated that these four strains conferred significant antagonistic effects against many soil-borne pathogenic fungi, including Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium aphanidermatum and Phytophthora sojae. In addition, the bacterium suspension of each strain could actively promote wheat seedling growth. Therefore, the present work provides some new insights on potential candidates for biological control of wheat sharp eyespot and other common soil-borne plant diseases. © 2019 Friends Science Publishers Keyword: Antagonistic experiment; Bacillus sp; Biological control; Wheat sharp eyespot
Student-Centered Teaching Practices in Korean Elementary Mathematics Classrooms.

The current mathematics education reform requires substantial changes toward studentcentered instruction. In contrast to the widespread awareness of the reform agenda, there is a concern that many teachers do not quite grasp the vision of the reform. This study explored the breakdown that may occur between teachers’ adoption of reform objectives and their successful incorporation of reform ideals by comparing and contrasting two reform-oriented Korean classrooms. Given that the two classes established similar social participation patterns but different mathematical culture, this study highlights the importance of sociomathematical norms in the analysis of reform-oriented practices and discusses implications for reform at the classroom level.
Solar cells: Operating principles, technology, and system applications

Solar cell theory, materials, fabrication, design, modules, and systems are discussed. The solar source of light energy is described and quantified, along with a review of semiconductor properties and the generation, recombination, and the basic equations of photovoltaic device physics. Particular attention is given to p-n junction diodes, including efficiency limits, losses, and measurements. Si solar cell technology is described for the production of solar-quality crystals and wafers, and design, improvements, and device structures are examined. Consideration is given to alternate semiconductor materials and applications in concentrating systems, storage, and the design and construction of standalone systems and systems for residential and centralized power generation. Bibtex entry for this abstract Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences ) Find Similar Abstracts: Use: Authors Title
TQM and labour productivity in Jordanian industrial companies

Reports on research to determine the degree of application of total quality management (TQM) philosophy and practices in industrial corporations in Jordan. Uses primary and secondary empirical data to examine the link between TQM and labour productivity. Survey responses were classified into two groups: high‐TQM implementation and low‐TQM implementation. Found that mean labour productivity measurements for high‐TQM companies were significantly higher than for low‐TQM companies over the period 1993‐1998. Also, mean growth rates of labour productivity measurements for companies with high‐level TQM were higher than for those with low‐level TQM during this period. Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between TQM and labour productivity.
Diel feeding intensity and daily ration in the anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the northwest Mediterranean Sea during the spawning period

The first evaluation is presented of the daily ration and daily stomach fullness pattern in the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus under natural conditions in the western Mediterranean Sea. The results indicated a pattern of daytime feeding, wlth mlnimum stomach fullness values between 03:45 and 05.40 h and maximum values between 17:06 and 18:13 h. The daily ration of food ingested was 3.9% of individual weight (34.1 cal g-'), appreciably lower than the value reported for this same species in the Black Sea but in good agreement with estimates for other species of the genus Engra ulis.
Shirts Today, Skins Tomorrow

While theoretical models of conflict often treat actors as unitary, most self-determination groups are fragmented into a number of competing internal factions. This article presents a framework for understanding the “dual contests” that self-determination groups engage in—the first with their host state and the second between co-ethnic factions within groups. Using a new data set of the number of factions within a sample of self-determination groups from 1960 to 2008, the authors find that competition between co-ethnic factions is a key determinant of their conflict behavior. More competing factions are associated with higher instances of violence against the state as well as more factional fighting and attacks on co-ethnic civilians. More factions using violence increases the chances that other factions will do so, and the entry of a new faction prompts violence from existing factions in a within-group contest for political relevance. These findings have implications for both theory and policy.
HUMAN CAPITAL

We develop a two-country, two-sector model of trade where the only difference between the two countries is their distribution of human capital endowments. We show that even if the two countries have identical aggregate human capital endowments the pattern of trade depends on the properties of the two human capital distributions. We also show that the two distributions of endowments also completely determine the effects of trade on income inequality. Then, we prove that there are long-term gains from trade if the marginal utility of income is constant or as long as losers from trade are compensated by winners. Finally, we look at a simple majority voting model. It turns out depending on the distribution of human capital, autarky and free trade with and without compensation may be the outcome of majority voting. JEL Code: F1.