Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deer slow down litter decomposition by reducing litter quality in a temperate forest

In temperate forest ecosystems, the role of deer in litter decomposition, a key nutrient cycling process, remains debated. Deer may modify the decomposition process by affecting plant cover and thus modifying litter abundance. They can also alter litter quality through differential browsing and affect decomposer ability by changing soil abiotic properties and the nature of decomposer communities. We used two litterbag experiments in a quasi-experimental situation resulting from the introduction of Sitka black-tailed deer Odocoileus odocoileus sitkensis on forested islands of Haida Gwaii (Canada). We investigated the effects of deer on decomposition through their impacts on litter quality and on decomposer ability. After one year, the effect of deer on litter quality resulted in a lower rate of mass loss in litter from litterbags. This mass loss mainly reflected a 21 and 38 % lower rate of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) loss, respectively. Presence of deer resulted in lower decomposer ability for the rate of carbon loss, but not for nitrogen loss. The level of C loss after one year was 5% higher for litter decomposing on an island without deer. But the change in the rate of carbon loss explained by the effect of deer on decomposer ability was outweighed by the effect deer had on litter quality. Additional effects of deer on the decomposition process through feces deposition were significant but minor. These results question the role the large increase in deer populations observed in temperate forests at continental scales may play in broad scale patterns of C and N cycling.
Stand-alone Seawater Reverse Osmosis (RO) Desalination Powered by Photovoltaic (PV) and Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO)

A novel RO seawater desalination plant powered by PV and PRO (PVROPRO) is proposed and the feasibility of two stand-alone schemes, salinity-solar powered RO (SSRO) operation and salinity powered RO (SRO) operation, are investigated. First, the stand-alone feasibility of the plant is thermodynamically analysed. In doing so, on the basis of mathematical models describing RO, PRO and the PV array, the stand-alone feasibility is numerically investigated and the feasible operational windows for the two operation schemes, SSRO and SRO, are identified. In addition, the detrimental effects, concentration polarization (CP) and reverse salt permeation (RSP) in the mass transfer, on the operational windows are investigated. Finally, a case study of the proposed PVROPRO plant is developed based on the hourly solar data of Perth Australia in a year. The highest weekly production rate is found to be almost 20 times the rate in PVRO in the same week. Annual production is increased more than nine times compared to the stand-alone PVRO plant. Furthermore, it is found that, due to detrimental effects the weekly PW production rate is decreased in the range of 16-20% and the overall annual reduction is 18.07%.
Controls on spatial and temporal variability of streamflow 1 and hydrochemistry in a glacierized catchment 2 Running title : Controls on streamflow and hydrochemistry in a glacierized catchment 3

17 Understanding the hydrological and hydrochemical functioning of glacierized catchments 18 requires the knowledge of the different controlling factors and their mutual interplay. For this 19 purpose, the present study was carried out in two sub-catchments of the glacierized Sulden 20 River catchment (130 km2, Eastern Italian Alps) in 2014 and 2015, characterized by similar 21 size but contrasting geological setting. Samples were taken at different space and time scales 22 for analysis of stable isotopes in water, electrical conductivity, major, minor and trace 23 elements. 24 At the monthly sampling scale, complex spatial and temporal dynamics for different spatial 25 scales (0.05 – 130 km2) were found, such as contrasting electrical conductivity gradients in 26 both sub-catchments. At the daily scale, for the entire Sulden catchment the relationship 27 between discharge and electrical conductivity showed a monthly hysteretic pattern. 28 Hydrometric and geochemical dynamics were controlled by an interplay of meteorological 29 conditions, topography and geological heterogeneity. A principal component analysis 30 2 revealed that the largest variance (36.3 %) was explained by heavy metal concentrations (such 31 as Al, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb) during the melting period while the remaining variance (16.3 %) 32 resulted from the bedrock type in the upper Sulden sub-catchment (inferred from electrical 33 conductivity, Ca, K, As and Sr concentrations). Thus, high concentrations of As and Sr in 34 rock glacier outflow may more likely result from bedrock weathering. Furthermore, nivo35 meteorological indicators such as daily maximum air temperature and daily maximum global 36 solar radiation represented important meteorological controls, with significant snowmelt 37 contribution when exceeding 5 °C or 1000 W m -2 , respectively. These insights may help to 38 better understand and predict hydrochemical catchment responses linked to meteorological 39 and geological controls and to guide future classifications of glacierized catchments according 40 to their hydrochemical characteristics. 41 42
IL4‐R1 (5q31–q33) and FcεRI‐βca (11q13) markers and atopy: a case/control study in a Spanish population

Background: Rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma are atopic diseases with a high prevalence in the Canary Islands (Spain). Given that the most prevalent allergen is the house‐dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, early detection of genetically susceptible subjects would allow the application of preventive measures. The objective was to investigate the possible association of IL4‐R1 (chromosome 5q31–q33) and FcεRI‐βca (chromosome 11q13) markers with the atopic disease in our population.
Culinary-gastronomic tourism – a search for local food experiences

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to focus on travellers’ perceptions of culinary-gastronomic sensations as experiences and how these relate to the locality. The aim of the study is to explore the factors that contribute to travellers’ culinary-gastronomic dining experiences with an emphasis on the local food markets. Design/methodology/approach – One-hundred and fifty-eight prospective travelers at an annual fair in Helsinki completed a self-administered survey questionnaire. On the questionnaire, the respondents were asked to rate the importance of 17 items related to eating and food experiences when deciding on a destination for their next leisure trip. Findings – The findings reveal a frequency distribution of the sample characteristics and travel behavior, the respondents’ use of food and eating experiences as evaluative criteria when choosing travel destinations and latent factors of food and eating experiences. Based on an explorative factor analysis using a varimax abstraction method, the s.
Steady Simulation of T-groove and Spiral Groove Dry Gas Seals

Received: 1 March 2019 Accepted: 7 July 2019 Dry gas seal (DGS) is a novel sealing method with broad prospects in various shaft sealing applications. it is vital for the design of dry gas seals to achieve flow field information by numerical method, including the influences of the Parameters of DGS on sealing performance. Based on FLUENT, this paper explores the three-dimensional (3D) flow fields of the DGS of spiral groove and T-groove at different rotation speeds, outer radius pressures and gas film thicknesses, and obtains the numerical features (e.g. pressure distribution) of the DGS under different working conditions. The results show that the rotation speed of the DGS has a promoting effect on the hydrodynamic effect, while the outer radius pressure and gas film thickness both suppress the hydrodynamic effect. The research findings provide an important reference for the design and manufacturing of fluid machines like pumps and stirring reactors.
Prejudice 1 Worldview Conflict and Prejudice

People are motivated to protect their worldviews. One way to protect one’ worldviews is through prejudice towards worldview-dissimilar groups and individuals. The traditional hypothesis predicts that people with more traditional and conservative worldviews will be more likely to protect their worldviews with prejudice than people with more liberal and progressive worldviews, whereas the worldview conflict hypothesis predicts that people with both traditional and liberal worldviews will be protect their worldviews through prejudice. We review evidence across both political and religious domains, as well as evidence using disgust sensitivity, Big Five personality traits, and cognitive ability as measures of individual differences historically associated with prejudice. We discuss four core findings that are consistent with the worldview conflict hypothesis: (1) The link between worldview conflict and prejudice is consistent across worldviews. (2) The link between worldview conflict and prejudice is found across various expressions of prejudice. (3) The link between worldview conflict and prejudice is found in multiple countries. (4) Openness, low disgust sensitivity, and cognitive ability traits and individual differences historically associated with less prejudice may in fact also show evidence of worldview conflict. We discuss how worldview conflict may be rooted in value dissimilarity, identity, and uncertainty management, as well as potential routes for reducing worldview
Chemical Quality of the Leading Bottled Water Brands Distributed in Gorgan, Iran

a Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Environmental Health research Center, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. b Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. c Department of Environmental Health and Engineering,TarbiatModares University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. d Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. e Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) AIS

Social media platforms bear the promise of enhancing interactions in collaborative learning. Yet, relatively little is known about how short-message feeds, a key feature in many social media platforms, affect collaborative learning. We report the results of a field experiment in which we manipulated the social media platform that 53 teams of four students used for a collaborative learning task over three weeks. We find that students provided with short-message feeds achieved significantly better learning outcomes than students without. While learner engagement was similar in both conditions, learner communication was more focused on the task in the condition with short-message feeds. The short-message feed led learners to curtail social communication and uncertainty statements, which mediated the effect of the short-message feeds on learning outcomes. Our study provides new insights into the effect of short-message feeds on collaborative learning and communication.
High-Dose Inhaled Fluticasone Does Not Replace Oral Prednisolone in Children With Mild to Moderate Acute Asthma

Schuh S, Dick PT, Stephens D, et al. Pediatrics. 2006;118:644–650 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY. To evaluate whether there is a significant difference in the degree of impairment in forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) in children with mild-to-moderate acute asthma treated with either inhaled fluticasone or oral prednisolone. STUDY POPULATION. Sixty-nine children aged 5 to 17 years with a previous history of wheezing who presented to a tertiary care pediatric emergency department (ED) with acute asthma and an FEV1 between 50% and 79% predicted. METHODS. This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trial randomly assigned patients to receive either 2 mg of fluticasone via metered-dose inhaler (MDI) in the ED along with 500 μg of fluticasone via Diskus twice daily for 5 days (n = 35) or 2 mg/kg oral prednisolone in the ED along with 1 mg/kg prednisolone once daily for 5 days (n = 34). All children received scheduled, nebulized albuterol and ipratropium bromide in the ED and were given scheduled salmeterol and rescue albuterol on ED discharge. FEV1 was measured at baseline, 4 hours, and 48 hours. RESULTS. At 4 hours, the patients in the prednisolone group had a significantly greater increase in FEV1 (29.8% ± 15.5%) compared with those in the fluticasone group (19.1% ± 12.7%; P = .001). By 48 hours, the difference in FEV1 between the groups was no longer statistically significant. In addition, the number of unscheduled asthma visits by 48 hours after ED discharge was significantly greater in the fluticasone group (4 of 32) than the prednisolone group (0 of 34). CONCLUSIONS. Children with mild-to-moderate acute asthma improve faster on oral prednisolone than inhaled fluticasone. REVIEWER COMMENTS. Systemic corticosteroids are both historically and currently the mainstay treatment for acute asthma, given their ability to reduce hospitalizations, decrease relapses, regain asthma control, and improve lung function. However, the risks associated with the frequent use of oral corticosteroids have led researchers to search for an alternative treatment for acute asthma. Although previous studies have shown oral corticosteroids to be superior to inhaled steroids in severe acute asthma, the question remains as to whether inhaled corticosteroids could be used in mild and moderate asthma exacerbations. This study addressed this question and determined that oral corticosteroids are superior to inhaled steroids, even for mild exacerbations of asthma, in regard to relapse rate and time to FEV1 improvement. These findings support the current use of oral steroids for treatment of mild-to-moderate acute asthma.
Audit Quality And Earnings Management: Informative And Opportunist Perspective

Thisstudy is aimed to examine the effect of audit quality on earnings management in informative and opportunist perspective. Samples are 615 firm-year of manufacture companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange 2013-2017. Audit quality is measured by big 4 affiliation. Earnings management is measured by discretionary accruals. Analysis method uses logistics regression. Result shows that high audit quality increases informative earnings management and reduces opportunist earnings management. This result consistent to auditor’s role to mitigates asymmetric information between managers and shareholders.
The biophysics, ecology, and biogeochemistry of functionally diverse, vertically and horizontally heterogeneous ecosystems: the Ecosystem Demography model, version 2.2 – Part 2: Model evaluation for tropical South America

Abstract. The Ecosystem Demography model version 2.2 (ED-2.2) is a terrestrial biosphere model that simulates the biophysical, ecological, and biogeochemical dynamics of vertically and horizontally heterogeneous terrestrial ecosystems. In a companion paper (Longo et al., 2019a), we described how the model solves the energy, water, and carbon cycles, and verified the high degree of conservation of these properties in long-term simulations that include long-term (multi-decadal) vegetation dynamics. Here, we present a detailed assessment of the model's ability to represent multiple processes associated with the biophysical and biogeochemical cycles in Amazon forests. We use multiple measurements from eddy covariance towers, forest inventory plots, and regional remote-sensing products to assess the model's ability to represent biophysical, physiological, and ecological processes at multiple timescales, ranging from subdaily to century long. The ED-2.2 model accurately describes the vertical distribution of light, water fluxes, and the storage of water, energy, and carbon in the canopy air space, the regional distribution of biomass in tropical South America, and the variability of biomass as a function of environmental drivers. In addition, ED-2.2 qualitatively captures several emergent properties of the ecosystem found in observations, specifically observed relationships between aboveground biomass, mortality rates, and wood density; however, the slopes of these relationships were not accurately captured. We also identified several limitations, including the model's tendency to overestimate the magnitude and seasonality of heterotrophic respiration and to overestimate growth rates in a nutrient-poor tropical site. The evaluation presented here highlights the potential of incorporating structural and functional heterogeneity within biomes in Earth system models (ESMs) and to realistically represent their impacts on energy, water, and carbon cycles. We also identify several priorities for further model development.
Value Creation in IoT

In this thesis work, we explore how the theoretical foundations of value creation in offline markets and e-businesses apply to the context of Internet of Things. Specifically, we present the results from a multiple case study together with Telenor Connexion and five multinational companies in its network interested in implementing IoT in their own businesses. The analysis of collected data in this study and our literature review of strategic management and value creation indicate that the previous theories of value creation cannot fully explain the value creating potential of IoT. Furthermore, based on the rich database obtained from interviews at the case companies, together with data obtained through personal observations at events and conferences regarding IoT, we propose a new model for value creation in IoT. The model focuses on the perspective of Mobile Network Operators from a customer-centric approach, which contains global coverage, partner networks, proof of concept and best practice as the primary value creation drivers in IoT. These primary value creation drivers are tightly coupled with the customer needs identified during the analysis of the data gathered from interviews at the case companies as well as to the interpreted problems organizations wishing to implement IoT are facing. Furthermore, we identify the managerial implications this study presents to Mobile Network Operators striving to maximize value creation in the field of IoT, as well as businesses interested in implementing IoT. We offer the Value Creation Model in IoT for Mobile Network Operators as a unit of analysis for future research on value creation in IoT.
Ecological Risk Assessment of Urban Streams
Using Fish Biomarkers of DNA Damage
and Physiological Responses

Ecological risk assessment was carried out in two urban streams, viz. Gap Stream (GS) and Miho Stream (MS), in the Geum River Watershed during July 2013-October 2014. The techniques used in this study included multi-level fish biomarkers of DNA damage based on single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) coupled with the study of physiological responses based on 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in fish species. Biomarker values of tail DNA (tDNA), tail length (TL), and tail extent moment (TEM) in impacted zone (Iz) were 2.0-3.6-fold greater than in controls (Cz). Nucleus image analysis showed that the nucleus had circular particle forms in the Cz as compared with a longitudinal oval form with broken particles from the nucleus in the Iz. Physiological response analysis of EROD and AchE activities indicated that their levels were higher in the Iz than in the Cz. Such DNA damages and greater physiological responses in the Iz were attributed to chemical contaminants discharged from the wastewater disposal plants and industrial complex. This combination of DNA damage and physiological responses approach can be used as a key tool for early-warning detection of chemical contaminants and concomitant risks to the ecological health of urban streams.
Resolution improvement of data-independent beamformers

Beamforming microphone antenna has been widely used to locate sound sources and build acoustic model. The particularities of this technique are the use of a relatively few number of microphones and the simple signal processing. So, this technique is fast and easy to be carried out. But its main inconvenience is the poor resolution at low frequencies. Other approaches using experimental data have been proposed to increase the resolution, for example, minimum variance method, and high-resolution methods. However these methods are often delicate to put in use in acoustic engineering or they are often reproached for lack of robustness. Whereas, the most used methods nowadays are those by which the determination of the steering vector is data-independent. Among those methods we consider the conventional beamforming processing (Bartlet processor), the techniques of reduction of diagonal load of the microphone cross-spectral matrix, the method of using a Statistically Optimal Array Processing (SOAP) completed by the techniques of postprocessing deconvolution.
The efficacy of two isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschin) Sorokin (Deuteromyco-tina: Hyphomycetes) against the adults of the black maize beetle Heteronychus licas Klug (Coleoptera: Scarabidae) under laboratory conditions

The efficacies of two isolates of M. anisopliae were evaluated against black maize beetle Heteronychus licas in the laboratory at 15 and 28oC and relative humidity of 55 - 70% at the University of Zimbabwe in 2000. The beetles were exposed to the fungus that was suspended either in oil and in water at concentrations ranging from 1.4x104 - 1.4x108 conidia/ml. Mortality was observed in all concentrations and mortality increased with increase in conidia concentration. Fungal infection reduced feeding activity in beetles with most deaths occurring on the soil surface. Conidia concentration, isolate, type of medium, the interaction between temperature and medium and the interaction between isolate and medium had marked effects on beetle mortality (p < 0.05). The oil formulations were in general more effective than the water formulations. The most potent treatment at 15oC was the oil suspension of isolate IMI098376 (LC50 = 4.47x104 conidia/ml) with an LT50 at the lowest concentration (1.4x104conidia/ml) of 13.3 weeks and earliest mortality at highest and lowest concentration occurring in 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. At 28oC the most potent treatment was the oil formulation of IMI098376 (LC50 = 3.10x104conidia/ml) with an LT50 at the lowest concentration of 13.3 weeks and the earliest mortality at highest and lowest concentration occurring in 4 and 5 weeks, respectively. Field trails using the oil formulations are recommended. Key words: Formulation, media, mortality, potent, efficacy, lethal concentration, biocontrol.