Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disturbances and biodiversity in forest ecosystems: A temperate zone perspective

In the temperate zone windstorms and bark beetle attacks represent the main natural forest disturbances; in steep mountain areas snow avalanches also may “destroy” forest stands completely. In the densely populated and intensively used temperate zone of Europe affected forest stands will be cleared and reforested immediately after such “catastrophes”. Therefore we have only little knowledge about the influence of such natural disturbances on both the stand development and the biodiversity of native forest ecosystems. And we do not have quantitative data on to which degree forest management changes the biodiversity compared to the natural disturbances. Since about two decades several permanent plot studies have been running in European forests affected by such natural disturbances, mainly with focus on plant species. Here we first outline the importance of disturbances for biodiversity in forest ecosystems and then discuss whether it is possible to combine both biodiversity protection and forest management. For that we use four recent case studies carried out in the two oldest national parks in Germany, three of them being long-term observations on permanent plots for up to two decades. Disturbances like wind throw, bark beetle outbreak and snow avalanche strongly influences the tree layer structure, creating micro-habitats for many plant, animal and fungi species, which naturally belong to the forest ecosystem. Such disturbances in future should be included into management schemes in forestry to improve biodiversity. We found evidence that it is really possible to combine timber utilization with biodiversity protection. As long as the management impact is reduced (e.g. single tree harvesting, using natural regeneration), species diversity of several taxonomic groups (in our study: vascular plants, soil living Carabidae, and soil living fungi) may not be different significantly from a pristine forest. Interconnecting resource use with biodiversity protection will be a main task for both foresters and conservationist in the decades to come – and it seems to be a possible option for a sustainable land use in many parts of the world. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/botor.v8i0. 5552 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 1-9
In vitro evaluation of Bixa orellana L. (Annatto) seeds as potential natural food preservative

This paper evaluates the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant effect of the ethanolic extract of annatto seeds (EEBS). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the EEBS was determinate through micro-dilution method in 7 bacteria and 5 fungi strains, all of which are ATCC. The EEBS shows a wide antimicrobial action spectrum for both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, as well as for fungi with MICs between 0.5 and 2048 μg/ml. The most sensitive bacteria to the EEBS effect were Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus plantarum; while, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes showed greater resistant against it. Yeast and moulds were more sensitive to EEBS than bacteria, with MICs ranging from 512 to 0.5 μg/ml, where Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the most resistant yeast against the extract and Penicillium chrysogenum the most sensitive. On the other hand, nisin (positive control) showed a strong inhibition of growth for Gram positive bacteria and lower capacity against Gram negative had no capacity against fungi. Besides the broad antimicrobial action, EEBS showed an anti-radical capacity at concentrations lower than MIC at the found values. These results demonstrate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of the EEBS, that can possibly make this extract a new alternative for natural food conservation. Key words: Bixa orellana, antimicrobial activity, free radicals scavenging capacity, food preservatives.
Two years of monitoring supergiant fast X-ray transients with Swift

We present results based on 2 yr of intense Swift monitoring of three supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs), IGR J16479-4514, XTE J1739-302 and IGR J17544-2619, which we started in 2007 October. Our out-of-outburst intensity-based X-ray (0.3-10 keV) spectroscopy yields absorbed power laws characterized by hard photon indices (Γ ~ 1-2). The broad-band (0.3-150 keV) spectra of these sources, obtained while they were undergoing new outbursts observed during the second year of monitoring, can be fitted well with models typically used to describe the X-ray emission from accreting neutron stars in high-mass X-ray binaries. We obtain an assessment of how long each source spends in each state using a systematic monitoring with a sensitive instrument. By considering our monitoring as a casual sampling of the X-ray light curves, we can infer that the time these sources spend in bright outbursts is between 3 and 5 per cent of the total. The most probable X-ray flux for these sources is ~(1-2) × 10 -11 erg cm -2 s -1 (2-10 keV, unabsorbed), corresponding to luminosities of the order of a few 10 33 to a few 10 34 erg s -1 (two orders of magnitude lower than the bright outbursts). In particular, the duty-cycle of inactivity is ~19, 39 and 55 per cent (~5 per cent uncertainty) for IGR J16479-4514, XTE J1739-302 and IGR J17544-2619, respectively. We present a complete list of BAT onboard detections, which further confirm the continued activity of these sources. This demonstrates that true quiescence is a rare state and that these transients accrete matter throughout their life at different rates. Variability in the X-ray flux is observed at all time-scales and intensity ranges we can probe. Superimposed on the day-to-day variability is intraday flaring, which involves flux variations up to one order of magnitude that can occur down to time-scales as short as ~1 ks, and which can be naturally explained by the accretion of single clumps composing the donor wind with masses M cl ~ (0.3-2) × 10 19 g. Thanks to the Swift observations, the general picture we obtain is that, despite individual differences, common X-ray characteristics of this class are now well defined, such as outburst lengths well in excess of hours, with a multiple peaked structure, and a high dynamic range (including bright outbursts), up to approximately four orders of magnitude.
The Risks and Benefits of School Integration for Participating Students: Evidence from a Randomized Desegregation Program

This paper studies the impact of a lottery-based desegregation program that allows minority students to transfer to seven school districts serving higher-income, predominantly-white families. While prior research has studied the impacts of such a program receiving students, this paper studies the effects on participating students. In the short run, students who receive an offer to transfer are more likely to be classified as requiring special education and their test scores increase in several subjects. In the medium run, college enrollment increases by 8 percentage points for these students.This is due to greater attendance at two-year colleges. There is no overall effect on the likelihood of voting. However, the offer to transfer significantly increases the likelihood of arrest. This is driven primarily by increases in arrests for non-violent offenses. Almost all of these effects - both the risks and the benefits - stem from impacts on male students. Male students have higher test scores, college enrollment rates, and are significantly more likely to vote, but they also experience nearly all of the effects on arrests.
WHEN MOLECULES AND MORPHOLOGY CLASH: REVISITING SPECIES TREE RECONSTRUCTION OF AMBYSTOMATID SALAMANDERS USING MULTIPLE NUCLEAR LOCI

OF THESIS WHEN MOLECULES AND MORPHOLOGY CLASH: REVISITING SPECIES TREE RECONSTRUCTION OF AMBYSTOMATID SALAMANDERS USING MULTIPLE NUCLEAR LOCI The analysis of diverse data sets can yield different phylogenetic estimates that challenge systematists to explain the source of discordance. The Ambystomatidae are a classic example of this phylogenetic conflict. Previous attempts to resolve the ambystomatid species tree using allozymic, morphological, and mitochondrial sequence data have yielded different estimates, making it unclear which data source best approximates ambystomatid phylogeny. We present the first multi-locus DNA sequencebased phylogenetic study of the Ambystomatidae. Because independent loci can contain discordant gene tree histories, concatenating unlinked loci into a single data matrix can lead to strongly supported and erroneous results. Therefore, we utilized a range of analyses, including coalescent-based methods of phylogenetic estimation that account for incomplete lineage sorting and concordance-based methods that estimate the proportion of sampled loci that support a particular clade. We repeated these analyses with the removal of individual loci to determine if any locus has a disproportionate effect on our phylogenetic results. Many deep and relatively shallow clades within Ambystoma were robustly resolved. Analyses that excluded loci produced overlapping posterior distributions, suggesting no disproportionate influence of any particular locus. Our estimates differ from previous hypotheses, although there was greater similarity with previous molecular estimates, relative to morphological estimates.
AKR Sources Positions - Interball 2 vs CLUSTER Observations

Interball-2 (Auroral Probe) Polrad triaxial spectropolarimeter was used to determine positions of AKR source footprints on the auroral oval. Our findings are consistent with AKR beams narrowly confined to a plane tangent to the source magnetic latitude circle and containing the local magnetic field vector, in agreement with Mutel et al. [2008]. Our approach is based on dynamic spectra data analysis on much longer time scale of two-minute moving averages, as compared to AKR microbursts tens of milliseconds long analyzed by Mutel et al. We show detailed AKR visibility maps for a given position of the spacecraft - that allow determination of both the azimuth and elevation of the AKR beam in question for every measured AKR source position. For long data runs of the order of one hour we see apparent motion of the AKR sources as measured by Polrad, following spacecraft motion along the orbit in such a way, that the spacecraft remains within the radiation beam obeying geometric constraints reported by Mutel et al.
PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND INITIAL FINDINGS OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STAGES OF CHANGE QUESTIONNAIRE AMONG TURKISH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to determine the concurrent validity and reliability of the Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire among Turkish 6 th to 8 th grade students, and (2) to examine 6 th to 8 th grade students’ stages of change for physical activity (PA) by sex. Participants (n=334) completed the Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire and One-Week Physical Activity Recall questionnaire. The Pearson chi-square distribution was used to evaluate concurrent validity, and the test-retest calculation was used for reliability. The chi-square findings revealed a significant difference in PA scores at different stages of change. The test-retest value was also calculated as acceptable. Regarding the second research question, results indicated a significant difference by sex in stages of change. Further analysis revealed that a lower percentage of girls were in the maintenance stage than boys. Girls had a problem maintaining PA behavior compared to boys. It can be stated that the Turkish Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire has indicated concurrent validity and reliability of evidence among Turkish 6 th to 8 th graders. Future intervention studies on girls’ PA behaviors should be structured using the stages of change levels, and more PA opportunities should be made available to them.
Geochemical evolution of basaltic tuyas in Iceland during the last deglaciation

Tuyas are subglacial volcanoes that preserve a unique history of the interplay between glaciation and hot spot volcanism in Iceland during the last deglaciation. Geochemical signatures in eruptive units of tuyas provide insight into the influence of deglaciation on mantle processes. We measured major and trace element concentrations and helium isotopes in samples from eruptive units of thirteen tuyas in Iceland, which have recently been determined from cosmogenic 3He surface exposure dating to have formed during the last deglaciation. All tuyas display temporal variations in geochemistry between eruptive units. Geochemical analyses of eruptive units reveal that individual tuyas are subject to crustal-level processes and source variation during emplacement. The geochemical signatures of eruptive units suggest that the degree of partial melting did not change significantly during tuya formation. Helium isotopic signatures suggest the geographic location of tuyas is an important factor for recording local mantle heterogeneity during emplacement.
Price of anarchy for reliability-based traffic assignment and network design

This paper proposes reliability-based system-optimal traffic assignment under supply uncertainty based on the concept of the total system travel time budget, and defines the price of anarchy (PoA) for the corresponding user equilibrium (UE) traffic assignment. An analytical formula for a set of the upper bounds of the PoA for the equilibrium assignment to the networks with polynomial link travel time functions is derived. These bounds are proved to be independent of the network topology and demands. The formula for the minimum upper bound is also derived and can be reduced to the upper bound formula for traditional UE traffic assignment as a special case. The PoA for the traditional UE network design problem (NDP) with polynomial link travel time functions is defined, and proved to be bounded by the upper bound of that for traditional UE traffic assignment of the same instance, before any link expansion. The PoA for the reliability-based UE (RUE) NDP with polynomial link travel time functions is also proved to be bounded by the set of upper bounds of that for RUE traffic assignment of the same instance, before any link expansion.
Some generalizations of full normality

This paper deals with two hierarchies of generalizations of full normality: m-full normality and almost-m-full normality, m any cardinal number _2. The notions of 2-full normality and Mo-full normality were introduced in 1955 by A. J. Goldman [8] in connection with some questions pertaining to Cech fundamental groups. The concept of almost-2-full normality was introduced in 1952 by H. J. Cohen [2] in answering a question of Dieudonne [4, ? 12.11I] concerning uniformities for normal spaces. The words "almost-2fully normal" are of the author's own invention; Cohen himself gave the concept no name. The idea of generalizing these concepts to arbitrary cardinal numbers was given to the author by M. Henriksen. The first section of this paper contains a brief review of the terminology employed in the sequel. 2 is devoted, for the most part, to establishing the relations existing between m-fully normal spaces and more well-known types of spaces (e.g. spaces X for which all neighborhoods of the diagonal in X XX form a uniformity for X, collectionwise normal spaces, etc.). The results of this section are due largely to Cohen. 3 is devoted to proving that every linearly ordered space is Ko-fully normal. This is, perhaps, the most remarkable result of the paper. It is shown incidentally that, for any ordinal a, the linearly ordered space W(? i+1) is Ka-fully normal but not almost-Na+ifully normal. 4 deals with subspaces and products of m-fully normal spaces. The main result, similar to [4, Theoreme 21, is that every closed subspace of an m-fully normal (resp. almost-m-fully normal) space is itself m-fully normal (resp. almost-m-fully normal), and if each open subspace is m-fully normal (resp. almost-m-fully normal), then every subspace is m-fully normal (resp. almost-m-fully normal). Finally, in ? 5, some additional properties of m-fully normal spaces are established. In particular, the questions of topological completeness and separation of arbitrary subsets by means of open sets are investigated. The main result of this section is that every almost-sofully normal space is countably paracompact. 1. Terminology. Let a and (B be collections of subsets of a set X. The collection a is said to be a covering of X if U { A: A C at } = X. The collection 63 is said to be a refinement of G, if U {B: BE } =U {A: A E } and each member of (6 is a subset of some member of a. Thus a refinement of a covering
Building Social Capital through Distance Education in Asia

The effectiveness of distance education can be evaluated at the institutional level in terms of retention, and certification. At the student level, effectiveness can be evaluated in terms of skills mastered, increased salary awarded and new employment secured, as well as achieving other long-term goals. However at the societal level, the effectiveness of distance education should be measured in economic terms such as social capital. In rich developed regions, education can lead to increased social capital, community development and long-term achievements, but in poor undeveloped regions, the same education leads to social capital that can be socially divisive with increased inequalities. This Paper looks at how distance education can be structured so that social capital can be increased in poor undeveloped regions particularly in Asia - leading to reductions in social inequality. Distance education has had roots in correspondence education in rural areas for about one hundred years, and more recently with rural penetration of the internet for about twenty years, although in some areas of Asia there is still no internet communication. With the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2008, this is an opportune time to re-evaluate the effectiveness of distance education, and see how it may be structured better to ensure the building of social capital. A transactional distance model is used based on social constructionism theory of knowledge being in relations and interactions, rather than positivist in the world, or cognitivist in the mind. The transactional distance model is well supported by other critical thinking models and by the theory of transactional distance. It is concluded that distance education often short-cuts structure - notably in skills training programmes, but also in general education, in regions throughout Asia - and that structure in the form of disjunctive reasoning and problem solving skills needs more attention. It is also noted that better instruments are needed to measure in context the long-term effects from distance education on social capital and lifelong learning.
Games as Actors - Interaction, Play, Design, and Actor Network Theory

When interacting with computer games, users are forced to follow the rules of the game in return for the excitement, joy, fun, or other pursued experiences. In this paper, we investigate how games achieve these experiences in the perspective of Actor Network Theory (ANT). Based on a qualitative data from a study of board games, computer games, and exergames, we conclude that games are actors that produce experiences by exercising power over the user’s abilities, for example their cognitive functions. Games are designed to take advantage of the characteristics of the human players, and by doing so they create in humans what in modern play theory is known as a “state of play”.
Resource Use Efficiency of Broiler Enterprises in Cross River State, South Eastern Nigeria

2 Abstract: A study was conducted to estimate broiler production functions based on data obtained from broiler enterprises around the Calabar municipality of Cross River State, South Eastern Nigeria. The data were analyzed using the mean difference model as well as the ordinary least square's regression methods to estimate linear, double log, exponential and semi-log functions. The linear model provided the lead equations for the first four and second four weeks, while the double log model provided the lead equation for the entire eight weeks of rearing broilers. The study showed that the mean feed intake per bird, body mass gain and mortality rate of birds in the surveyed area differed (P<0.05) significantly between the first and second four weeks of the rearing periods. The models revealed that 97, 92, and 98% of the total variations in broiler mass gain were selected explanatory variables during the study periods. In addition, feed intake and floor space affected (P<0.05) mass gain positively, while mortality rate had a negative effect. The marginal value product (MVP) was more than the cost of 1kg of feed during the study period. It wa s concluded, that broilers production in the Calabar municipality required more feed and floor space to optimize mass gain, while the evident higher marginal value product compared to feed cost was indicative of irrational use of feed resource by farmers.
Evaluation of Boric Acid Sugar Baits Sprayed on Plants against the Salt Marsh Mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Summary A Toxic Sugar Bait (TSB, active ingredient 1% boric acid) was evaluated against Aedes taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the laboratory and the field at St. Augustine, Florida. The laboratory component was comprised of plants located in known Ae. taeniorhynchus resting areas, i.e., black mangrove (Avecennia germinans L.) and yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria Ait.). The results indicated that TSB sprayed on black mangrove and yaupon holly cuttings at 48 h resulted in significant mortality of resting Ae. taeniorhynchus, compared with the mortality of mosquitoes in the control group under the laboratory conditions. Also, the field studies indicated a significant reduction in mosquito populations after TSB was applied on plants.
INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOVEMENT VARIABILITY, SKILL ACQUISITION AND ADAPTABILITY

Facilitating adaptability is a role attributed to movement variability. The aim of this investigation was to track changes in movement variability during the learning of a novel task where adaptability was expected to be present. A contextual interference design was implemented with sample entropy and vector coding used to quantify joint and coordination variability respectively. Those exposed to high contextual interference performed significantly better and were more adaptable. Significant decreases in coordination variability were found during the learning process for all participants. The more adaptable group also exhibited higher coordination variability at key points providing some support for previous hypotheses on the interaction between, skill acquisition and adaptability. Results have implications for practitioners working in skill acquisition.