Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating Habitat Status, Human Population Pressure, and Protection Status into Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting

Priority setting is an essential component of biodiversity conservation. Existing methods to identify priority areas for conservation have focused almost entirely on biological factors. We suggest a new relative ranking method for identifying priority conservation areas that integrates both biological and social aspects. It is based on the following criteria: the habitat's status, human population pressure, human efforts to protect habitat, and number of endemic plant and vertebrate species. We used this method to rank 25 hotspots, 17 megadiverse countries, and the hotspots within each megadiverse country. We used consistent, comprehensive, georeferenced,andmultibanddatasetsandanalyticalremotesensingandgeographicinformationsystemtools to quantify habitat status, human population pressure, and protection status. The ranking suggests that the Philippines,AtlanticForest,MediterraneanBasin,CaribbeanIslands,Caucasus,andIndo-Burmaarethehottest hotspots and that China, the Philippines, and India are the hottest megadiverse countries. The great variation in terms of habitat, protected areas, and population pressure among the hotspots, the megadiverse countries, and the hotspots within the same country suggests the need for hotspot- and country-specific conservation policies.
Aphidicidial activity of seven essential oils against the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The aphidicidial activities of seven essential oils were investigated against Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under laboratory conditions. Applications of each tested essential oil significantly reduced the reproduction potential of the cabbage aphid and resulted in higher mortality. Quantity of applied essential oils also had an important effect on daily fecundity. In general, these seven applied essential oils can be considered as an important aphidicide to control aphid population, particularly J. excelsa, J. oxycedrus, L. nobilis and F. vulgare.
The impacts of grazing on plant diversity in Stipa breviflora desert grassland

Grassland plant diversity is a core issue in grazing ecology. We examined the effects of grazing intensity on plant diversity across four levels of organization (plant individual, species, functional group, and community) in Stipa breviflora desert grassland using a six⁃year sheep grazing experiment in Sonid Right Banner, Xilingol, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. Species richness was greater in the no⁃grazing plot than in the moderate⁃ and heavy⁃grazing plots. The differences were due to two functional groups, perennial forbs and annual forbs. The relative weight of each functional group was not affected by grazing intensity. At the community scale, grazing intensity did not significantly affect richness. However, the Simpson ecological dominance index, Shannon⁃Wiener diversity index, and Pielou evenness index of no⁃ grazing plot plant communities were greater than those of the moderate⁃grazing plot and significantly greater than those of the heavy⁃grazing plot (P<0.05). At the functional group scale, the diversity indices of perennial grasses and annual herbs had no significant responses to grazing. The diversity index of no⁃grazing plot plants was greater than those of moderate⁃ and heavy⁃grazing plots; the moderate⁃grazing plot diversity index was higher than that of the heavy⁃grazing plot. Stipa breviflora desert grassland communities were all unstable to some degree, but the moderate⁃grazing plot stability was greater than those
Effective parameters on the behavior of CFDST columns

*Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India; farajpourbonab@gmail.com Concrete Filled Double Skin Steel Tubular (CFDST) columns could be considered as a new type of concrete filled steel tubular (CFT) columns. These columns are composed of two steel tubes in the concentric configurations with concrete between them. In the current study, finite element method was used to analyze the effects of load application, type of material, and geometric parameters of the specimens. It was found that the results obtained from finite element analysis show good agreement with available experimental results. Findings of the current study clearly indicate the high ductility and strength of CFDST columns under axial loading. The results show the significant impact of yield stress of steel section, compressive strength of concrete, thickness and diameter variations on the strength and ductility of CFDST columns.
Molecular diversity of symbiotic algae at the latitudinal margins of their distribution: dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium in corals and sea anemones

To investigate the molecular diversity of symbiotic algae at the latitudinal limits of their distribution, the ribosomal RNA gene sequences (rDNA) of the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium in benthic Cnidaria (corals, sea anemones etc.) on Bermuda (32°N) and in the Mediterranean and NE Atlantic (35 to 53°N) were analysed. The algae in Bermudian Cnidaria were identified as Symbiodinium of Phylotypes A, B and C, as previously described for benthic Cnidaria in the Caribbean (12 to 27°N). The algae in every sample of sea anemones (Anemonia spp. and Cereus pedunculatus) in the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean were a previously undescribed group within Phylotype A, possibly endemic to this high latitude region.
Separating equilibrium in signaling games 1 1 Introduction

Using a network approach we provide a characterization of a separating equilibrium for standard signaling games where the sender’s payoff function is quasi-linear. Given a strategy of the sender, we construct a network where the node set and the length between two nodes are the set of the sender’s type and the difference of signaling costs, respectively. Construction of a separating equilibrium is then equivalent to constructing the length between two nodes in the network under the condition that the response of the receiver is a node potential. We show that, when the set of the sender’s type is finite, the collection of separating signaling functions forms a lower bounded lattice. We describe an algorithm to compute separating equilibrium strategies. When the set of the sender’s type is a real interval, shortest path lengths are antisymmetric and a node potential is unique up to a constant. A strategy of the sender in a separating equilibrium is characterized by some differential equation with a unique solution. Our results can be readily applied to a broad range of economic situations, such as the standard job market signaling model of Spence (a model not captured by earlier papers) and principal-agent models with production. JEL Codes. C72, D82.
and Per traininghypertrophy response to short-term resistance Aerobic exercise does not compromise muscle

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , March 15, 2014; 116 (6): 611-620. J Appl Physiol Tommy R. Lundberg, Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalo and Per A. Tesch to resistance training in men Exercise-induced AMPK activation does not interfere with muscle hypertrophy in response [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , May 15, 2014; 306 (10): E1155-E1162. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab Riki Ogasawara, Koji Sato, Kenji Matsutani, Koichi Nakazato and Satoshi Fujita protein synthesis in rat skeletal muscle The order of concurrent endurance and resistance exercise modifies mTOR signaling and [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , June 1, 2014; 2 (6): . PHY2 Akimoto, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yuichi Hirano and Aaron P. Russell Michihiro Kon, Nao Ohiwa, Akiko Honda, Takeo Matsubayashi, Tatsuaki Ikeda, Takayuki Effects of systemic hypoxia on human muscular adaptations to resistance exercise training [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , March , 2015; 218 (6): 899-906. J Exp Biol Jerry F. Husak, Allison R. Keith and Beth N. Wittry Making Olympic lizards: the effects of specialised exercise training on performance [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , April 22, 2015; 3 (4): . PHY2 Jamie K. Pugh, Steve H. Faulkner, Andrew P. Jackson, James A. King and Myra A. Nimmo untrained skeletal muscle intensity interval exercise in − Acute molecular responses to concurrent resistance and high
The effect of mate removal on dawn singing behaviour in male pied bush chats

To determine the influence of pairing status on dawn singing behaviour in pied bush chats Saxicola caprata, we con- ducted mate removal experiments across eight territories. The experiment was divided into three stages: pre-removal (pairs were present on their respective territories), removal (females were experimentally removed), and returned (females were released into the focal pairs' territories). Dawn bout length, song rate, song complexity, percentage performance time, song perch height, and distance of singing location to territory boundary were measured for each male during each experimental stage. We did not find an effect of mate removal on any dawn song characteristics of male pied bush chats suggesting that the presence or absence of a mate does not influence male dawn singing behaviour. Our findings further suggest that males use dawn chorus to mediate social relationships with neighbouring males to proclaim an established territory (Current Zoology 57 (1): 72-76, 2011).
Mitochondrial Biology in Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis

Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis (sIBM) is an inflammatory muscle disease that strikes individuals at random and accounts for approximately 1/3 of all idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. It is characterized by progressive weakness of distal and proximal muscles and is the most common muscle disorder in individuals over 50 years of age. Currently, there is no known cause, cure, or enduring treatment for sIBM, although a number of theories as to its cause have been proposed. One theory proposes that activation of the inflammatory/ immune response is the primary trigger resulting in muscle degeneration and protein abnormalities, while an alternative theory suggests that sIBM is a degenerative muscle disease with abnormal pathogenic protein accumulation, in particular Abeta, being a primary cause that triggers an inflammatory/ immune response. Mitochondrial abnormalities have been observed in skeletal muscle from patients diagnosed with the disease, however the role of the mitochondria in disease pathology is still unclear. The aim of this dissertation was to evaluate: 1) the role of the mitochondria in the development of sIBM and 2) the role of amyloid beta on mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. A better understanding of the role of the mitochondria in the development of sIBM may help to identify novel prevention and/ or treatment strategies.
Light Element Abundances and Multiple Populations in M53

We present results from a study of 94 red giant stars in the globular cluster M53. We use low-resolution spectra to measure the strength of CN and CH features at ∼3800 and 4300 Å, respectively. The strengths of these features are used to classify stars into a CN-enhanced and CN-normal population and to measure C and N abundances in all 94 stars. We find the red giant branch stars to be evenly split between the two populations identified, and observe the presence of CN-enhanced stars on the asymptotic giant branch. In addition, we identify five CH star candidates based on the strength of their CN and CH band features, and the presence of a P-branch in their CH band. We compare our identification of multiple populations to those based on the Na–O anticorrelation and pseudo-color indices in Hubble Space Telescope UV photometry, and find general agreement between all three methods. Our large sample size also allows us to study the radial distribution of each population, and we find that the CN-enhanced population is more centrally concentrated. We use our C and N measurements to compare the evolutionary changes in these elements as a function of magnitude between the two populations, and show that both populations experience similar evolutionary changes to the surface abundances of C and N. Finally, we calculate C+N+O abundances for each population and compare them to similar measurements made in M10; we find that in both clusters, CN-enhanced stars have a slightly enhanced C+N+O (Δ(C+N+O) ∼ 0.2 dex).
The Effect of PETTLEP Imagery in a Pre- Shot Routine on Full Swing Golf Shot Accuracy: A Single Subject Design

Imagery has been shown to be an effective tool for enhancing performance in a variety of sports, specifically in golf. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a PETTLEP imagery intervention, implemented into a pre-shot routine, on a full swing golf shot. A single subjects design was used with three conditions: imagery before pre-shot routine, imagery after pre-shot routine, and withdrawal from intervention. A control condition was included for comparison with illuminate the possible effects of practice. Participants were nine undergraduate volunteers with an average age of 19.3 years and an average golf score of 82.1. Three sets of data were recorded: total score, balls in A1 (the closest area), and balls in A5 (outside of the grid). When comparing control means: the intervention phase (M = 29.15) decreased in total score from baseline (M = 33.85), and withdrawal (M = 33.8). All imagery participants improved from baseline (M = 42.25) to intervention (M= 48.1), to withdrawal (M= 47.75). There was no apparent difference in imagery time, before or after the pre-shot routine. Implications from this study may benefit golfers and sport psychology consultants working with golfers.
The role of major mergers in the size growth of intermediate-mass spheroids

We study of the role of major mergers (mass ratios >1:4) in driving size growth in high-redshift (1 10^10.7 MSun SGs at z<1, then major mergers are also likely to play an important role in the size growth of at least some massive SGs in this mass range.
Quantum states without time-reversal symmetry: wavefront dislocations in a non-integrable Aharonov-Bohm billiard

The authors display complex wavefunctions psi j for the jth eigenstate of a particle moving freely in a domain D (whose reflecting boundary gives classically chaotic motion) threaded by a single line of magnetic flux whose strength (in quantum units) is alpha . The wavefronts (phase contours of psi j) show the expected dislocation singularities both away from the flux line (where their strength is +or-1) and at the flux line (where the strength is the integer closest to alpha ). psi 5 shows two dislocations away from the flux line for all alpha , and the birth of a dislocation at the flux line as alpha passes the value 1/2. psi 50 shows 43 dislocations, in reasonable agreement with a semiclassical theory based on regarding psi N as a complex Gaussian random function, which predicts N dislocations in the asymptotic limit N to infinity .
Parallel Control of Shunt Active Power Filters in Capacity Proportion Frequency Allocation Mode

A parallel control strategy in capacity proportion frequency allocation mode for shunt active power filters (APFs) is proposed to overcome some of the difficulties in high power applications. To improve the compensation accuracy and overall system stability, an improved selective harmonic current control based on multiple synchronous rotating reference coordinates is presented in a single APF unit, which approximately implements zero steady-state error compensation. The combined decoupling strategy is proposed and theoretically analyzed to simplify selective harmonic current control. Improved selective harmonic current control forms the basis for multi-APF parallel operation. Therefore, a parallel control strategy is proposed to realize a proper optimization so that the APFs with a larger capacity compensate more harmonic current and the ones with a smaller capacity compensate less harmonic current, which is very practical for accurate harmonic current compensation and stable grid operation in high power applications. This is verified by experimental results. The total harmonic distortion (THD) is reduced from 29% to 2.7% for a typical uncontrolled rectifier load with a resistor and an inductor in a laboratory platform.
Population estimation of kites and crows by roost c ount method in Lahore, Pakistan

Birds of prey had a large home range and inhabit ar eas which are far away from human access so it is d ifficult to estimate their population. Kites ( Milvus migrans ) and crows ( Corvus splendens ) often gather in large communal roosts during migr ation at a site for food and breeding. The present study was d one to estimate their population by Roost Count Met hod. Four sites were visited and population of kites and crows was estim ated. It was found that 356 kites and 224 crows wer e present on an average at any roost. The soaring kites in the high skies and crows in the forenoon and afternoon sessions were more or less absent. In addition, these birds were less common on huge Garbage sites. Shockingly, it seems that like vultures, black kites and crows are on their way to elimination in Lahore.
Axial fan noise: Towards sound prediction based on numerical unsteady flow data ‐ a case study

Objective of this work is to evaluate modern numerical methods for predicting flow induced fan noise. A generic fan assembly is investigated consisting of a low pressure axial impeller (diameter 0.3 m, hub to tip ratio of 0.45) including an optional turbulence generator. The flow field is simulated with different state of the art unsteady computational fluid dynamic methods. All results are compared with each other and with hot wire flow velocity and surface pressure measurements. From the numerical data, the relevant dipole sound sources, i.e. the unsteady forces on the fan blades are derived. Eventually both, a free field formulation in the time domain (acoustical analogy by FFOWCS WILLIAMS and HAWKINGS), and a boundary element formulation in the frequency domain (SYSNOISE®) are employed to predict the radiated sound field based on the numerical source data. The acoustical results are compared and contrasted with measurements.
Where Do New Firms Locate? The Effects of Agglomeration on the Formation and Scale of Operations of New Firms in Punjab

The formation of new firms is an important determinant of economic development and the industrial organization literature highlights agglomeration as one of the main factors affecting the formation and scale of operations of new firms. This paper is one of the first to use developing country data to estimate the impact of localization (the benefits accruing to firms that choose to locate in a specific region within a specific industry) and urbanization (the benefits accruing to firms located close to each other regardless of the type of industry to which they belong) on new firms' formation and scale of operations. Our findings reveal that agglomeration measured through density of employment has a significant impact on the formation of new firms and on their scale of operations in Punjab.
Prey Selectivity of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon during Early Marine Migration in British Columbia

Abstract Mortality of salmon during early marine life has long been thought to be a critical factor in limiting overall abundance. One of the key hypotheses proposed to explain the long-term productivity decline of Canada's iconic Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, is deficient habitat conditions experienced during early marine life. Our study is a first step towards testing this hypothesis, with an aim of understanding food availability and prey choice of juvenile salmon early in their coastal migration. We investigated zooplankton density, diet composition, and foraging selectivity of juvenile Fraser Sockeye Salmon during the 2009 and 2010 migrations and determined whether the timing of their migration was related to feeding success. Sockeye Salmon diets showed high prey diversity and a preference for euphausiid, amphipod, decapod, terrestrial insect, fish, egg, and cumacean prey. Calanoid copepods, the most abundant available prey, were not strongly selected in either year. Zooplankton den.
Religiosity And Moral Competence: A Study Of Malaysia's Accounting Students

In the earliest part of the twenty-first century, the world was rocked by several financial scandals; from Enron to WorldCom; Tyco to Parmalat; Arthur Andersen to Shell, and more recently, the global financial crisis; these scandals directed the world’s attention towards the seemingly ever-growing moral malaise amongst accountants and business people. In order to address this alarming increase in unethical and immoral behaviours among accountants and business people in Malaysia, the government mandated the teaching of Islamic and Moral studies at all levels of education. The underlying assumption was that an increased level of religiosity would translate into higher levels of moral competency. This paper sought to assess the effectiveness of Malaysia's educational policy of mandatory Islamic studies in developing the moral competencies of the country's future Muslim accountants. This was achieved by determining whether a positive relationship existed between the religiosity and moral competencies of Muslim accounting students enrolled at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The results revealed that although a small and positive correlation existed between the students' religiosity and moral competencies, a knowledge gap existed preventing them from being able to fully apply Islamic principles in an accounting context
Simultaneous declines in summer survival of three shorebird species signals a flyway at risk

Summary 1. There is increasing concern about the world’s animal migrations. With many land-use and climatological changes occurring simultaneously, pinning down the causes of large-scale conservation problems requires sophisticated and data-intensive approaches. 2. Declining shorebird numbers along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, in combination with data on habitat loss along the Yellow Sea (where these birds refuel during long-distance migrations), indicate a flyway under threat. 3. If habitat loss at staging areas indeed leads to flyway-wide bird losses, we would predict that: (i) decreases in survival only occur during the season that birds use the Yellow Sea, and (ii) decreases in survival occur in migrants that share a reliance on the vanishing intertidal flats along the Yellow Sea, even if ecologically distinct and using different breeding grounds. 4. Monitored from 2006–2013, we analysed seasonal apparent survival patterns of three shorebird species with non-overlapping Arctic breeding areas and considerable differences in foraging ecology, but a shared use of both north-west Australian non-breeding grounds and the Yellow Sea coasts to refuel during northward and southward migrations (red knot Calidris canutus piersmai, great knot Calidris tenuirostris, bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica menzbieri). Distinguishing two three-month non-breeding periods and a six-month migration and breeding period, and analysing survival of the three species and the three seasons in a single model, we statistically evaluated differences at both the species and season levels. 5. Whereas apparent survival remained high in north-west Australia, during the time away from the non-breeding grounds survival in all three species began to decline in 2011, having lost 20 percentage points by 2012. By 2012 annual apparent survival had become as low as 0� 71 in bar-tailed godwits, 0� 68 in great knots and 0� 67 in red knots. In a separate analysis for red knots, no mortality occurred during the migration from Australia to China. In the summers of low summer survival, weather conditions were benign in the Arctic breeding areas. 6. We argue that rapid seashore habitat loss in the Yellow Sea is the most likely explanation of reduced summer survival, with dire (but uncertain) forecasts for the future of these flyway populations. This interpretation is consistent with recent findings of declining shorebird numbers at seemingly intact southern non-breeding sites.