Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long‐term faunal changes in a regulated and an unregulated stream—Cow Green thirty years on

Cow Green dam is situated in Northern England on the River Tees in a region with high average wind speeds (24 km h−1), low average annual temperatures (circa 5°C) and average rainfall of 1800 mm. The River Tees was impounded by the Cow Green dam in 1970 and early studies revealed significant changes arising from flow regulation. This study compares macroinvertebrate communities in 2004 with those recorded in the first 5 years after impoundment in the Tees and in the unregulated Maize Beck. Nineteen of the 31 common taxa in the regulated sites declined in abundance by a factor of 5 or more. These included Hydra sp. , Ancylus fluviatilis, Naididae, Heptageniidae, Leuctridae and Brachycentrus subnubilus. Some taxa, Lymnaea peregra, Ephemerella ignita, Hydroptila sp. increased in numbers, and others Hydropsychidae and Gammarus pulex declined at sites nearest the dam but increased downstream. In Maize Beck there were fewer changes. The changes in faunal communities in the Tees were evident from multivariate analyses where the Tees sites sampled in 2004 were separated from those sampled in the period 1972–1975, as a result of abundance changes in common taxa and the appearance of taxa not previously recorded. Maize Beck in contrast was characterized by few changes in abundance and no new taxa and samples from all years grouped together. The results suggest that the Tees communities have changed since 1975 and are still possibly undergoing change, although without evidence from intervening years this cannot be proved. A narrower range of environmental conditions and increased flow stability have led to a dynamically fragile community (indicated by observed changes in community diversity and abundance) which is very susceptible to perturbations because it has developed in their absence. Periphyton and reservoir plankton play an important role in structuring the faunal composition by creating an environment where biotic interactions are more likely. Increased interaction between components of the faunal community may account for the observed changes since 1975 in the regulated sites in contrast to the situation in the unregulated Maize Beck where there has been little change in faunal community between the original study and the 2004 survey. An unregulated natural flow regime continues to dominate the Maize Beck environment and the variable and unpredictable conditions have resulted in a dynamically robust faunal community. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variable Lime Requirement Based on Differences in Organic Matter Content of Iso-acidic Soils

Understanding the factors affecting lime requirement (LR) is important for soil acidity management. Twenty samples with almost similar pH (4.51±0.05) but varying widely in organic matter (OM) and clay contents were selected for studying the importance of OM and clay content in determining the LR of acidic soils. Despite the iso-acidic nature of these soil samples, there were more than three-fold variations in the LR which ranged between 5.6 to 18 t ha. Interestingly, the highest values of buffering capacity index (BCI=1.49) and LR (18 t ha) was associated with the soil with highest OM content (4.89%). Similarly; the lowest BCI (0.55) and LR (5.6 t ha) was found in the soil having the lowest OM content (1.03%). OM content of soil was strongly correlated with BCI (r= 0.824**, p< 0.01) and LR (r= 0.862**, p< 0.01). Regression analysis also showed strong dependence of BCI (R=0.678) and LR (R=0.743) on soil OM content. Clay content did not correlate with BCI or LR of the soils. Results suggest that the LR of the soils even with similar pH may vary drastically based on differences in their OM content.
Linear and nonlinear solutions for one‐dimensional compaction flow in sedimentary basins

We consider the effects of assuming linearity in solving the moving boundary problem that describes one-dimensional groundwater flow in compacting sedimentary basins. The linear problem in which specific storage and hydraulic conductivity do not vary can be solved analytically. This solution should be applied to geological problems with caution because of the implications of assuming that specific storage is constant over the range of stresses typical of sedimentary basins. A nonlinear equation in which specific storage and hydraulic conductivity vary with effective stress describes compaction flow more realistically. This equation can be solved accurately by a numerical method. Solutions to the nonlinear equation show that the solution to the linear equation can significantly overpredict excess heads in compacting basins. Large excess heads develop by compaction in sediments of lesser conductivity and over a smaller conductivity interval than suggested by the linear solution. The nonlinear solutions predict that geopressured zones should develop in shaly basins undergoing rapid sedimentation but fail to explain the abrupt transition from hydrostatic to near-lithostatic pressures observed in these basins. The transition is better explained as the result of a facies change or a discontinuity in conductivity caused by diagenetic reactions than a decrease in hydraulic conductivity during compaction.
Internet Banking and the Marginal Internet User

Using Heckman’s sample selection methodology to analyse individual use of Internet banking we find a negatively significant Inverse Mills ratio. This is consistent with other studies. We go on to argue that this indicates that the probability of using Internet banking declines with the marginality of the Internet user. We further link this marginality to low cost Internet access and thence trust in this access. The inverse Mills ratio squared is also significant, thus both questioning the assumption of a bivariate normal distribution between the error terms from the selection and Internet banking equations, and also suggesting that there is a nonlinear relationship between Internet user marginality and the probability of using it for Internet banking.
EdgeBraille: Braille-based text input for touch devices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issue of tailored text input methods for visually impaired and blind users that are needed on touchscreen devices to support their accessibility. Previous approaches still have issues related to the necessity of searching for characters, slow entry speeds or cumbersome handling. Design/methodology/approach – The authors developed a new Braille-based text input method named EdgeBraille, which allows entering six-point Braille characters by swiping one finger along the edges of the touchscreen in an arbitrary sequence. The approach was compared with the current standard method of a talking keyboard, first in a short-term lab study (14 participants) and then during two weeks of daily training (seven participants). Findings – Overall EdgeBraille was perceived well by the users and possesses favourable handling characteristics. In terms of user performance (words per minute and error rate) the authors found no significant differences between the two methods.
Evaluation and development of digital competence in future primary school teachers at the University of Murcia

RESUMEN This paper presents the findings of a study carried out in the academic year 2014-2015 at the faculty of Education of the University of Murcia with first year degree students in Primary Education studying Research and ICT. The study started with the application of the DIGCOM questionnaire to analyze the digital competences of 134 students. The questionnaire served as an initial task to help students reflect on their digital competences. The subject was developed around tasks which adopted a transversal approach and used the nature of the contents itself to direct and improve students’ digital competencies. Finally, the initial questionnaire was reformulated and run in order to ascertain the students’ self-perception of their improvement in these competencies through the tasks they had performed. Below we present the tasks carried out, the organization of each subject and the most relevant data regarding the self-perception of digital competencies of the future primary school teachers enrolled at the University of Murcia. The data reveal, on the one hand, that the students participating consider themselves to be competent in the most basic aspects of digital competencies and, on the other, their perception that the work done in the subject has helped them quite a lot in improving their competencies.
Factors Affecting Nitrogen Availability and Variability in Cornfields

Agronomy Journa l • Volume 110 , I s sue 5 • 2018 As the leading producer of corn, the United States harvested 36.4 million ha in 2015, representing about 31% of worldwide production (FAS-USDA, 2017). A significant portion (83%) of this corn was planted across an area of the US Midwest known as the Corn Belt. Nitrogen is usually the largest fertilization expense in corn production in the Corn Belt and, compared with other nutrients, has the greatest effect on yield and profitability. Unfortunately, N fertilizer also presents the largest risk to the environment, compared with other fertilizers, because of its high water solubility and easy transformation into nitrous oxide (N2O)—one of the primary greenhouse gases. Consequently, careful management of N fertilizer is extremely important to ensure environmental quality and profitable corn production. Managing N fertilizer in corn production for both profitability and environmental quality is extremely difficult for farmers. For example, many factors outside the farmers’ control can greatly affect the profits from using N fertilizers and the environmental footprint associated with that use. Some of these factors include extreme rainfall events, environmental regulation changes, ongoing sustainability and water quality concerns, and large corn and N fertilizer price fluctuations (Darnhofer et al., 2010; Schaap et al., 2011). These factors also partially explain why N use efficiency (NUE) in corn production remains low—typically 30 to 50%—and has not improved much in the past 20 yr (Cassman et al., 2002; Lassaletta et al., 2014). Furthermore, this low NUE occurs despite much research that is focused on matching fertilizer applications to crop requirements and efforts to improve N fertilizer recommendations. As a result, inefficient and ill-advised N use in corn could partially contribute to a major nonpoint source of environmental N contamination (Chen et al., 2010; Küstermann et al., 2010). To help farmers and crop advisors develop and implement better nutrient management strategies, the 4Rs of Nutrient Stewardship (International Plant Nutrition Institute [IPNI], 2012) is being promoted. The 4Rs concept emphasizes the importance of the Right source (fertilizer type/form matches crop need), Right rate (fertilizer amount matches crop need), Right time (nutrient availability coincides with crop need), and Right place (fertilizer applications are located for optimal crop use) in Factors Affecting Nitrogen Availability and Variability in Cornfields
Age but Not Diagnosis Is the Main Predictor of Plasma Amyloid β-Protein Levels

Background Plasma amyloid β-protein Aβ42 levels are increased in patients with familial Alzheimer disease (AD) mutations, and high levels reportedly identify individuals at risk to develop AD. Objectives To determine whether there are characteristic changes in plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in sporadic AD, and to examine the relationship of plasma Aβ measures with clinical, demographic, and genetic variables in a prospectively characterized outpatient clinic population. Patients A total of 371 outpatients with sporadic AD (n = 146), mild cognitive impairment (n = 37), or Parkinson disease (n = 96) and nondemented control cases (n = 92). Methods We collected plasma samples and determined Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the use of the capture antibody BNT77 (anti–Aβ11-28) and the detector antibodies horseradish peroxidase–linked BA27 (anti-Aβ40) and BC05 (anti-Aβ42). Results Mean Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels increased significantly with age in each diagnostic group. When covaried for age, mean plasma levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 did not differ significantly among the 4 diagnostic groups. Within the mild cognitive impairment and AD groups, Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels did not correlate with duration of memory impairment or with cognitive test scores. The Aβ measures were not influenced by family history of AD, apolipoprotein E genotype, or current medication use of cholinesterase inhibitors, vitamin E, statins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or estrogen. Conclusions Plasma Aβ measures increase with age, but, in contrast to reports on familial AD, plasma Aβ measures were neither sensitive nor specific for the clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or sporadic AD.
Adaptive Suboptimal Regulation of Input Constrained Plants With Bounded Disturbances

Abstract This paper deals with adaptive regulation of a discrete-time linear time-invariant plant with arbitrary bounded disturbances whose control input is constrained to lie within certain limits. The adaptive control algorithm exploits the standard control strategy and the gradient projection type estimation procedure using the modified dead zone. The sufficient conditions guaranteeing the global asymptotical stability and simultaneously the suboptimality of the closed-loop systems are derived. Numerical examples and simulations are presented to support the theoretical results.
The immunosuppressive effects of continuous CpG ODNs stimulation in chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) have been widely used as a novel vaccine adjuvant inmammals due to its immune protection, long effectiveness and safety. In the present study, thelong-term immune effects as well as immunosuppression of CpG ODNs was evaluated by comparing the immune parameters of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis after continuous or interval feeding with CpG ODNs-supplement diet for 21 days (designated as CC and CI group, respectively). In the CI group, the mRNA transcripts of EsTolls (EsToll1 and EsToll2) and EsMyD88 (adaptor molecule) in hepatopancreas maintained at a significantly higher level (p < 0.05) compared with the CC group after 7 days and 14 days feeding, while there was no significant difference between them at the 21st day. Moreover, after a significant increase at 7th day, the expression level of EsLITAF mRNA [Lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] in CC group decreased at 14th-21st day, while that in CI group kept increasing at 14th day, followed by a decrease at 21st day. The TNF-α in plasma of CC group was abnormally increased at the 21st day (p < 0.05) in CC group compared with the significant raise at 7th-14th in CI group. Moreover, the phagocytic activity and reactive oxygens (ROS) level of hemocytes in continuous CpG ODNs feeding crabs were significantly lower than those in interval feeding crabs. These results indicated that long-term and continuous CpG ODNs stimulation could reduce the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, hemocyte phagocytosis and ROS generation, displaying immunosuppressive effects on the immune system of crabs.
A Preliminary Study of the Relationship between the h-Index and Excess Citations / Étude préliminaire de la relation entre l’indice de Hirsch (indice-h) et les citations excédentaires

This article presents a study of the average number of excess citations of papers in the <i>h</i>-core, denoted as <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i> and the ratio between the <i>e</i>-area and the <i>h</i>-area, denoted as <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i><sup>2</sup>. Real-world citation data from different countries are studied. It is found that at the country level, a small set of publications generate a disproportionately large amount of citations. Although different countries have different <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i><sup>2</sup> values in different fields, average <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i><sup>2</sup> values are all above 1. The <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i> values vary widely between fields, reflecting the general citation density in these fields. For cumulative data <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i><sup>2</sup> and <i>e</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>h</i> values each converge quickly. Neither a shifted Zipf nor an exponential model could fit the data.
Echtzeit Ray Tracing und Interaktive Globale Beleuchtungssimulation (Realtime Ray Tracing and Interactive Global Illumination)

Zusammenfassung Interaktive 3D-Graphik basiert heutzutage fast ausschließlich auf dem Rasterisierungsverfahren, welches aber in Hinblick auf Bildqualität zunehmend an seine Grenzen stößt. Eine Alternative zur Rasterisierung ist das Ray Tracing, welches zwar allgemein für bessere Bildqualität bekannt ist, aufgrund hoher Rechenanforderungen aber bisher im Allgemeinen als unvereinbar mit interaktiver Performanz galt. Im Rahmen der Dissertation werden mehrere neue Verfahren vorgestellt, die es erstmalig ermöglichen, auch auf Standard-PCs und PC Clustern Echtzeit Ray Tracing zu realisieren, und dies insbesondere auch für die interaktive globale Beleuchtungssimulation zu verwenden. Summary Interactive 3D Graphics today is almost entirely dominated by triangle rasterization, which however becomes increasingly problematic with respect to therewith achievable image quality. An alternative to triangle rasterization is ray tracing, which is generally known for its superior image quality, but due to its high computational demands is usually perceived to be incompatible with interactivity. This thesis presents several new techniques that finally allow for achieving realtime ray tracing performance on PCs and PC clusters. In particular, this also finally allows for computing global illumination at interactive rates.
Evidence for rainfall‐triggered earthquake activity

Fluids are known to be of major importance for the earthquake generation because pore pressure variations alter the strength of faults. Thus they can initiate earthquakes if the crust is close enough to its critical state. Based on the observations of the isolated seismicity below the densely monitored Mt. Hochstaufen, SE Germany, we are now able to demonstrate that the crust can be so close‐to‐failure that even tiny pressure variations associated with precipitation can trigger earthquakes in a few kilometer depth. We find that the recorded seismicity is highly correlated with the calculated spatiotemporal pore pressure changes due to diffusing rain water and in good agreement with the response of faults described by the rate‐state friction law.
Traditional vs Modern Teaching Methods. Advantages and Disadvantages

Key words: traditional, modern, methodology, advantage, disadvantage ABSTRACT Which methods of teaching have our teachers used,and we grew up with? Which methods do we use nowdays? Has something changed? Can we, today, talk about "those traditional" and "these modern" approaches of teaching? What, in fact, we can name as "traditional" and "modern"? Is there a border where we can distinguish or separate one from another? All these questions show the big imporatnce of knowing the terms : methodology, traditional, modern.Traditional method of teaching is "teacher-dominated interaction". Teaching is deeply teacher centred and teachers are the source of the knowledge, while learners are passive receivers that must memorize things.Modern method is "student centred" method based on "help learning to happen"-role, communication, interaction, helping students to explore method.These days, especially at private schools, we have great possibilities in what a teacher can do with the students, in terms of teaching methodsand usage of all optional aids in the classroom.With this freedom in teaching we also have an enormous number of ideas to use.Since the time we spent with our students is very precious,teachers' crucial task should be:comparing, analysing and evaluating the methods they use to motivate the students and to make learning as effective as possible. A teacher must be aware of all advantages and disadvantages in using all types of methodologies. There is no one best or worst method, or one method simply the best for everything and everybody.The central factor in the choice of methods is the learner's need and character. A teacher must be a good pedagog to see and understand all the students' individual abilities. Some methods work for one person well, but the same one might not work for another person at all.Understanding the student help you choose the way of teaching
Ruthenium-106 Plaque Radiotherapy for Retinal Vasoproliferative Tumors

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of radiation with Ruthenium-106 (Ru-106) plaques in the control of retinal vasoproliferative tumors Methods: This study is a retrospective, interventional nonrandomized case series. Seven eyes of seven patients (four males and three females) with retinal vasoproliferative tumors were enrolled. The eyes were treated by Ru-106 plaques with mean apex dose of 39 Gy (range, 38-43 Gy) in lowdose (LD) group (four cases) and 79 Gy (range, 76-81 Gy) in high-dose (HD) group (three cases). Mean (±SD) follow-up duration was 18 (±8) months (range, six to 31 months) Main outcome measures were tumor thickness reduction and clinical and visual improvement. Results: Mean (±SD) preoperative logMAR visual acuity improved from 0.92 (±0.49) to 0.85 (±0.71) at the last follow-up (P=0.50). Significant exudative retinal detachments, which were presented before brachytherapy in five patients (71.4%), completely reabsorbed following brachytherapy. Radiation retinopathy was seen in three patients during the follow-up period. Tractional rhegmatogenous retinal detachment developed in one patient of LD group which was managed with pars plana vitrectomy and silicon oil tamponade. Conclusion: Brachytherapy with high-dose Ru-106 plaques is an effective treatment modality for retinal vasoproliferative tumors in terms of functional and anatomic results. Further investigations with enough sample sizes are suggested to identify the optimal apex dose.
Identification of humpback whale breeding and calving habitat in the Great Barrier Reef

During the winter months, from June to September, humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae breed and calve in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) after migrating north from Antarctic waters. Clearly defined wintering areas for breeding and calving comparable to those identified in other parts of the world have not yet been identified for humpback whales in the GBR Marine Park (GBRMP), mainly because of its large size, which prohibits broad-scale surveys. To identify important wintering areas in the GBRMP, we developed a predictive spatial habitat model using the Maxent modelling method and presence-only sighting data from nondedicated aerial surveys. The model was further validated using a small independent satellite tag data set of 12 whales migrating north into the GBR. The model identified restricted ranges in water depth (30 to 58 m, highest probability 49 m) and sea surface temperature (21 to 23°C, highest probability 21.8°C) and identified 2 core areas of higher probability of whale occurrence in the GBRMP, which correspond well with the movements of satellite tagged whales. We propose that one of the identified core areas is a potentially important wintering area for humpback whales and the other a migration route. With an estimated increase in port and coastal development and shipping activity in the GBRMP and a rapidly increasing population of whales recovering from whaling off the east Australian coast, the rate of human interactions with whales is likely to increase. Identifying important areas for breeding and calving is essential for the future management of human interactions with breeding humpback whales.