Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Nest Predator Assemblage for Songbirds in Mono Lake Basin Riparian Habitats

ABSTRACT. Because nest predation strongly limits avian fitness, ornithologists identify nest predators to inform ecological research and conservation. During 2002–2008, we used both video-monitoring of natural nests and direct observations of predation to identify nest predators of open-cup nesting riparian songbirds along tributaries of Mono Lake, California. Video cameras at 50 nests of 3 songbird species and direct observations of additional nests confirmed 10 distinct nest-predator species and suggested one additional species. Video-monitored nests experienced reduced predation rates, and video observations mainly captured nestling predation, even though predation rates were higher for nonvideo-monitored nests during the egg period. These findings suggest cameras may have missed some predators. By supplementing video records with field observations, we reduced the likelihood of excluding species from our predator list that substantially impact fitness due to camera-related biases. No single predator species emerged as predominantly important for shaping avian fitness. Nevertheless, we frequently observed garter snakes (Thamnophis sp.) depredating nestlings and Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) depredating eggs. Corvids and rodents were also identified as potentially frequent groups of nest predators. Video cameras recorded partial predation by 5 predator types, as well as several cases in which nests were visited by multiple predators. Finally, 6 of 7 predators that were video-recorded depredating artificial nests were species also documented depredating natural nests. These observations verify the relevance of artificial-nest data for further study of these predators.
EFFECT OF MICROWAVE RADIATION AND COLD STORAGE ON TRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM HERBST (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) AND SITOPHILUS ORYZAE L. (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

The combined impact of microwave radiation and cold storage on Tribolium castaneum Herbst and Sitophilus oryzae L. adults either continuously or intermittently was evaluated. The insects were exposed to 2 450 MHz at power level of 100 W for exposure time 10 min, continuously and intermittently. In all experiments, the highest rate of mortality was achieved for exposure time 10 min intermittently and 72 h cold storage duration. Intermittent exposures were generally more effective in killing insects of both species compared with those of continuous irradiation. Combinations of microwave radiation and cold storage were found highly compat- ible and synergistic. The synergistic interaction indicates that microwave radiation can be used with cold storage for management of T. castaneum and S. oryzae adult developmental stage. This treatment could provide an effective and friendly environmental treatment technique in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
Application of dendroclimatology in evaluation of climatic changes

Khaleghi M.R. (2018): Application of dendroclimatology in evaluation of climatic changes. J. For. Sci., 64: 139–147. The present study tends to describe the survey of climatic changes in the case of the Bojnourd region of North Khorasan, Iran. Climate change due to a fragile ecosystem in semi-arid and arid regions such as Iran is one of the most challenging climatological and hydrological problems. Dendrochronology, which uses tree rings to their exact year of formation to analyse temporal and spatial patterns of processes in the physical and cultural sciences, can be used to evaluate the effects of climate change. In this study, the effects of climate change were simulated using dendrochronology (tree rings) and an artificial neural network (ANN) for the period from 1800 to 2015. The present study was executed using the Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Meyer. Tree-ring width, temperature, and precipitation were the input parameters for the study, and climate change parameters were the outputs. After the training process, the model was verified. The verified network and tree rings were used to simulate climatic parameter changes during the past times. The results showed that the integration of dendroclimatology and an ANN renders a high degree of accuracy and efficiency in the simulation of climate change. The results showed that in the last two centuries, the climate of the study area changed from semiarid to arid, and its annual precipitation decreased significantly.
The formation and evolution of bulges as traced by globular cluster systems

Abstract Globular Clusters provide a unique method for tracing the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. As single stellar populations they are far easier to interpret than the multi-population complexity of galaxy field stars. The scaling properties of globular clusters provide important constraints on the hierarchical assembly history of galaxies. Here we briefly review recent progress using the Hubble Space Telescope for imaging and the Keck plus Gemini telescopes for spectroscopy. We argue that the red, or metal-rich, subpopulation of GCs is associated with the bulge/spheroid component of galaxies. As one of the oldest stellar systems available for study, we discuss how globular clusters can be used to constrain the formation of galaxy bulges, in particular the role of mergers vs secular evolution. We conclude that metal-rich GCs, and hence bulges, formed very early in the Universe with more recent mergers having a small effect at most.
Change of the X-ray Beam Angle may Influence Ankle Image of Weight-bearing Anteroposterior View: Trial to Evaluate Ankle Joint on Standing Whole-leg Radiograph

Upon evaluating the ankle joint structures by using standing whole-leg anteroposterior (AP) radiographs, the angle at which the X-ray beam is projected to the ankle joint, may distort the image. The accuracy and validity of the measurement of the ankle joint structure was investigated using weight-bearing AP radiographs obtained at several angles of X-ray beam projection for the clinical availability. Three weight-bearing AP view radiographs of each limb were acquired upon projecting the X-ray beam cranially, and at 0°, 5°, and 10° to the ankle joint. The tibial anterior surface angle (TAS angle), tibial medial malleolus angle (TMM angle), and tibial bimalleolus angle (TBM angle) were measured on each weight-bearing AP view of the ankle joint. The measurements of the TAS, TMM, and TBM angles were then statistically compared. The TAS angle did not change as the projected angle increased. No significant differences were observed between the groups. The TMM angle decreased gradually as the projected angle increased. A significant difference was observed between 0° and 10°. The TBM angle increased gradually as the projected angle increased. A significant difference was observed in the TBM angle between 0° and 5° as well as between 0° and 10°. The TAS angle, which indicates varus/valgus deformity of the ankle joint, can assessed with the projected angle of 10°.
Personality and test takingmotivation

The ability test is an instrument frequently used in personnel assessment, but the motivation of the subjects for test-taking (TTM) is hypothesized so that it can affect its validity. Previous research on this topic has shown that it is related to some personal variables, such as abilities, performance factors, race and so on. However, personality was not studied as an explanatory factor of the TTM. In this research the relation of TTM with personality and motivational distortion was observed. Personality was conceptualized using the five-factor model. We hypothesized that Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness and Conscientiousness would be correlated with negative and positive attitudes to test-taking. Concerning to the relation between TTM and motivational distortion, we hypothesized that positive attitudes for test-taking will be correlated with motivational distortion. Two samples of subjects were used. Sample A is composed of 145 students (unemployed) and Sample B has 187 subjects, all in employment, the majority in clerical jobs. The results show that personality factors are related to TTM in the way hypothesized. Furthermore, the labor situation of the subjects has no effects over TTM and the motivational distortion does not appear related to TTM. In the discussion comments are made on the implications of these findings for personnel assessment.
Financial Distress and Firm Exit: Determinants of Involuntary Exits, Voluntary Liquidations and Restructuring Exits

This paper provides new insights on the determinants of firm exit after distress. Using nested logit models and a sample of 6118 distress-related exits from Belgium, we analyze the impacts of available and potential slack and the relative efficiency of voluntary liquidation, compared to acquisition and merger, on the type of exit. It appears essential to examine the type of exit outcome as a two-stage process. The first stage considers the fundamental distinction between voluntary and involuntary exit, the latter being the least favorable and most avoided exit strategy. In this situation, high levels of available and potential slack resources, as reflected by large cash holdings, strong group relations and low current leverage, increase the probability of voluntary exit. High slack allows distressed firms to avoid bankruptcy and decide on their exit process. In the second stage, and provided that exit is voluntary, voluntary liquidation is compared to restructuring exit (acquisition, merger or split). In this stage, a higher relative efficiency of voluntary liquidation compared to a restructuring exit, as indicated by absence of group relations, small firm size, high secured debt level and large cash holdings, increase the likelihood of voluntary liquidation and reduce the probability of a restructuring exit.
Synthesis of Shape Amphiphiles Based on Functional Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane End-Capped Poly(l-Lactide) with Diverse Head Surface Chemistry

This paper reports a facile, modular, and efficient approach to the synthesis of shape amphiphiles with a hydrophobic polymer chain as the tail and a polar, compact, functional polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) nanoparticle as the headgroup. A poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) chain was grown from monohydroxyl-functionalized heptavinyl POSS (VPOSS−OH) with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity by stannous octoate-mediated ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide. To impart tunable polarity and functionality to the headgroup, various functional groups, such as carboxylic acids, hydroxyl groups, and sugars, were attached to the POSS cage in high efficiency by thiol−ene “click” chemistry, which provides a straightforward and effective approach to synthesize shape amphiphiles with diverse head surface chemistry. The polymers have been fully characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and size exclusion chromatography. These functional POSS can serve as vers.
Deep Network for the Integrated 3D Sensing of Multiple People in Natural Images

We present MubyNet -- a feed-forward, multitask, bottom up system for the integrated localization, as well as 3d pose and shape estimation, of multiple people in monocular images. The challenge is the formal modeling of the problem that intrinsically requires discrete and continuous computation, e.g. grouping people vs. predicting 3d pose. The model identifies human body structures (joints and limbs) in images, groups them based on 2d and 3d information fused using learned scoring functions, and optimally aggregates such responses into partial or complete 3d human skeleton hypotheses under kinematic tree constraints, but without knowing in advance the number of people in the scene and their visibility relations. We design a multi-task deep neural network with differentiable stages where the person grouping problem is formulated as an integer program based on learned body part scores parameterized by both 2d and 3d information. This avoids suboptimality resulting from separate 2d and 3d reasoning, with grouping performed based on the combined representation. The final stage of 3d pose and shape prediction is based on a learned attention process where information from different human body parts is optimally integrated. State-of-the-art results are obtained in large scale datasets like Human3.6M and Panoptic, and qualitatively by reconstructing the 3d shape and pose of multiple people, under occlusion, in difficult monocular images.
Evaluation of animal logging in the mixed broadleaved mountain forest: Economic and environmental impacts

Badraghi A. , Erler J., Hosseini S.A. O. , Lang R. (2018): Evaluation of animal logging in the mixed broadleaved mountain forest: Economic and environmental impacts. J. For. Sci., 64: 251–259. This investigation assessed the economic and environmental impacts of small-scale wood logging by mules in the mixed broadleaved mountain forest. To develop a time prediction model, all measurements of time are replaced by their decadic logarithms. Unit cost was calculated by two methods: (i) as usual, division of the system cost by average productivity per hour, (ii) on the basis of the developed logarithmic models. To investigate the residual damage a 100% inventory method was employed in preand post-hauling, alongside the mule trail. A core sampling technique of bulk density was used for determining the degree of soil compaction, and soil disturbed widths were measured at a 5-m interval in the mule hauling direction. In this research, computed unit cost was 17.2 EUR·m–3 and estimated unit cost by the logarithmic model was 16.2 EUR·m–3. This result highlights the time consumption which estimated by the developed model was at a close ratio with real time (average at 95%). In terms of environmental impact, the results indicated that 5.7% of regenerations and 0% of trees were damaged. Also we found that the increased bulk density was not significant (P = 0.903) and only about 0.2% of the total area was disturbed.
Co-building brand equity and customer equity through marketing capabilities: impact on competitive advantage

This research aims to analyse the potential overlap of brand and customer management decisions in terms of their outcomes. We work with a sample of 201 service companies. We combine survey and accounting data. Our research analyses empirically the relationship between brand equity and customer equity and connect them with marketing capabilities and competitive advantages under the same framework. According to our results, brand equity and customer equity are related assets that are built upon the same marketing capabilities; these assets - together with industry level factors - strongly affect competitive advantage formation. Particularly, brand equity mainly allows companies to increase their prices. In turn, customer equity leads to a higher loyalty of the customer base of firms. Our results indicate that brand equity and customer equity need to be jointly managed, in order to correctly evaluate how brand equity and customer equity contribute to profitability.
Fish herbivory leads to shifts in seagrass Posidonia oceanica investments in sexual reproduction

Although the dominant ecological paradigm considers herbivory to play an insignificant role in seagrass ecosystems, past herbivore densities were high enough to result in significant reduc- tion of seagrass growth. To study the long-term impact of sustained and intense herbivory on sea- grass meadows, we compared morphological, population and reproductive (flowering) parameters of Posidonia oceanica meadows inside a Marine Protected Area (MPA; where herbivore fish popula- tions are very high) with unprotected meadows. In addition, we evaluated short-term seagrass responses by manipulating herbivore access to seagrass plots with caging experiments conducted inside the MPA. The density and individual sizes of the herbivorous fish Sarpa salpa were greater in the MPA, with a biomass 10 times higher than in unprotected areas. Fish bite marks on leaves were 50% more abundant inside the MPA. Shoot surface, rhizome sugar content and flower density were 80, 20 and 70% lower in the MPA, respectively, but shoot density was 30% higher in protected meadows than in unprotected meadows. The caging (fish exclusion) experiment generally corrobo- rated these results, although the caging period was probably too short to produce changes in shoot density. P. oceanica responded to severe biomass removal by herbivores (80% of the photosynthetic biomass) and consequent reductions in carbon storage in the rhizome by reducing sexual reproduc- tion (flowering intensity) and by gradually increasing clonal growth (increasing shoot density). This plasticity suggests an evolutionary adaptive mechanism to deal with historically high herbivore num- bers and is evidence of the importance of herbivory as a controlling process in the structuring and functioning of seagrass meadows in the past.
Models, explanation, and the pitfalls of empirical testing

Formal models constitute an essential part of contemporary political science and International Relations. Their recent history is tightly tied to the developments of Rational Choice Theory, which is considered to be the only deductive theory in the social sciences. This unique character, especially its manifestation through mathematical symbolisms, has caused profound schisms and criticisms in the discipline. Formal models have constantly been accused of being built on unrealistic assumptions of human behaviour and social structure, rendering as a result either trivial predictions or no empirical prediction at all. Nevertheless these criticisms frequently ignore essential elements of the concept of explanation and how it is applicable to formal modelling. In this paper, I provide an approach to mathematical modelling that considers the challenges of designing and performing empirical tests of predictions generated by formal models. Rather than disqualifying or falsifying models, empirical tests are paramount to the tailoring of more grounded explanations of political phenomena and should be seen as a tool to enhance modelling. In this sense, I scrutinise two examples of formal modelling in IR, and derive lessons for the empirical testing of models in the discipline. Os modelos formais constituem uma parte essencial da ciência política contemporânea e das Relações Internacionais. Sua história recente está fortemente ligada aos desenvolvimentos da teoria da escolha racional, que é considerada a única teoria dedutiva nas ciências sociais. Este caráter único, especialmente sua manifestação por meio de simbolismos matemáticos, causou profundas divisões e críticas na disciplina. Os modelos formais têm sido constantemente acusados de serem construídos com base em suposições irrealistas do comportamento humano e da estrutura social, resultando em previsões triviais ou nenhuma previsão empírica. No entanto, essas críticas frequentemente ignoram elementos essenciais do conceito de explicação e como o mesmo é aplicável à modelagem formal. Neste artigo, forneço uma abordagem à modelagem matemática que considera os desafios de conceber e executar testes empíricos de previsões geradas por modelos formais. Em vez de desqualificar ou falsificar modelos, os testes empíricos são fundamentais para a adaptação de explicações mais fundamentadas dos fenômenos políticos e devem ser vistos como uma ferramenta para aprimorar a modelagem. Nesse sentido, analiso dois exemplos de modelagem formal em RI e extraio lições para o teste empírico de modelos na disciplina. Palavras-chave: modelos formais, teoria da escolha racional, teste empírico, explicação
The Risk Markup of Intermittent Renewable Supply in German Electricity Forward Markets

Renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power currently make up a large share of the total German electricity supply as a result of the German energy transition. This paper presents an empirical analysis of how power shocks resulting from intermittent renewables affect the forecast error of the forward premium in German electricity markets. We extend the existing literature by investigating determinants of forward premiums, focusing on both wind and solar power. We find positive monthly wind shock effects on forecast errors, ie, a specific risk markup on forward prices. These findings underline the need to introduce wind power futures at the European Energy Exchange (EEX) in order to reduce the risk markup for participants in forward markets. No daily wind shock or solar shock effects are found. One explanation for this could be the almost perfect approximations of the expected spot price. This is in line with the EEX’s strategy, which does not create wind power futures for contracts with maturities of days. The wind shock effect on monthly peak-load premium is larger than that on base-load premiums. This is likely due to higher differences in marginal costs on the right-hand side of the merit order curve.
From mitigation to creativity: the agency of museums and science centres and the means to govern climate change

Climate change as a complex, scientific, cultural, ideological, and transnational issue poses a new set of challenges for museums and science centres as places to inform, and as information sources in debates and decision processes. In this paper, I draw on quantitative and qualitative research from the Australian Research Council funded Linkage project, Hot Science, Global Citizens: the agency of the museum sector in climate change interventions , to interrogate the potentialities for institutions to operate meaningfully and in new ways in complex media ecologies and dense mediations of political, social, scientific discourses, and expertize. In developing the concepts liquid governmentalities and liquid museums , I pose new leverage points for institutions to operate within these pluralistic and complex governmental assemblages from one of the production of science statements to reform behaviour, to systems of open peer review and as places for facilitating complex reflexivity and creative dispositions for the future in the present.
Hygroscopicity of Inorganic Aerosols: Size and Relative Humidity Effects on the Growth Factor

The hygroscopic properties of inorganic salt particles, including (NH4)2SO4, NaCl, Na2SO4 and NaNO3, are investigated using a self-assembled hygroscopic tandem differential mobility analyzer (H-TDMA) system. The iso-GF (growth factor) curves are derived to illustrate the effects of the initial particle size (D0) and relative humidity (RH) on the GFs. For those salt particles of 100 nm, the GFs measured agreed well with their theoretical Kohler curves. In the size range of 20–200 nm, the GFs of (NH4)2SO4, NaCl and Na2SO4 particles all continuously decrease with D0 increasing below the deliquescence RH (DRH). However, when RH is higher than the DRH, the GFs of those salts aerosols increase with D0 throughout the investigated size range. Similar increase trend of GFs with D0 is also observed for NaNO3 aerosols though they do not exhibit the abrupt deliquescence behavior. From iso-GF curves, it can be clearly observed that the GFs of (NH4)2SO4, NaCl and Na2SO4 particles all increase with the RH while the values decrease with D0 below DRH. And above DRH, the GFs are more sensitive to D0 for particles smaller than 60 nm, while the GFs are more sensitive to RH for particles larger than 80 nm. For NaNO3 aerosols, the iso-GF curves indicate the size-effect becomes more prominent on their hygroscopicity as the RH increases. The iso-GF curves provide a lucid and explicit insight into the hygroscopic growth of salts particles. Through iso-GF curves, we can clearly elucidate the major factor that affects the ultimate particle diameter at ambient atmosphere.