Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Facilitation of forest landscape restoration on abandoned swidden fallows in Laos using mixed-species planting and biochar application

The cessation of swidden cultivation and the increasing trend of abandonment of swidden fallows have created an opportunity for forest landscape restoration. However, ways need to be found to improve the poor soil fertility at these sites with affordable materials and to generate short-term socio-economic benefits for small-scale swidden fallow holders. This study assessed the feasibility of using mixed-planting of eight native species and application of rice husk biochar as soil amendment measure at a site in Laos. The effect of biochar application was compared against addition of inorganic (NPK) fertilizer and the control. The establishment and growth of the planted seedlings was then monitored for four years. The addition of rice husk biochar and NPK fertilizer did not significantly (p = 0.578) improve the survival rate of planted seedlings, which ranged from 72% to 91% (depending on the species) compared to the control. No significant growth responses to the soil amendments were observed for most of the species during the first year after planting compared to the control. The biochar effect was, however, more evident at the fourth year for diameter (p < 0.01) and height (p < 0.01) of sapling for all species; particularly its effect was more vivid on the diameter of slow-growing species. The results indicate that the species tested in the mixedplanting showed marked growth variation while application of rice husk biochar boosted their growth. Thus, planting mixed-species in swidden fallows has potential to provide continuous supplies of wood from different species to diversify the livelihood of swidden field owners, while maintaining ecosystem services.
Independence, Low Balling, and Learning Effects

Independent auditors serve as gatekeepers of public securities markets, but ongoing competition among audit firms could harm auditors’ independence. For instance, a Green Paper of the European Union finds that especially audits of large and prestigious clients are hard-fought in terms of price competition. Major concerns are related to a pricing behavior called low balling. Here, the auditor sets the first period’s fee below the audit costs-incurring a loss for the initial audit- in order to win the client. However, as a quasimonopoly emerges for the incumbent auditor, he expects to offset this loss in the future. Mainly, this offset occurs due to reduced audit costs in subsequent periods. Recent management publications highlight that learning effects influence the cost behavior over time in two ways. On the one hand, cost reductions emerge from experience due to performing jobs repeatedly. Thus, learning is supposed to be an important strategic factor in lowautomation industries, like auditing. On the other hand, learning effects can be fostered by investments in learning, i.e., learning is manageable. Bundling non-audit services, like risk advisory- or performance measurement-related assurance services, with audits could be interpreted as audit-quality improving investments in learning about a client’s business. Accordingly, the goal of our paper is to analyze how learning effects according to the theory of learning curves affect competition on the audit market and thus the low-balling problem. Our analysis proceeds in several steps: In the first step, we model-endogenously identify conditions for the existence of price competition in audit markets. This step of analysis is important, because in most low-balling models competition is assumed to exist, although empirical evidence is mixed. In the second step, we analyze how different types of learning influence fee setting over time. Here, we assume auditors to have identical learning rates. This means competition in a given segment is considered, e.g., between Big-4 auditors or between National Majors. In the third step, we regard auditors with different learning abilities. Thus, auditors of different size -measured in number of clients- occur. In this step we capture the fact that empirically size is an important competition factor. Our results give hints to regulators under which conditions low balling might be a threat to auditor independence. Further, some recently introduced regulations, which aim at improving auditor independence, can be evaluated using the framework of our analysis.
Comparison of different surgical methods in endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy

Amac: Bu calismanin amaci, dakriyosistorinostomi cerrahisi sirasinda uygulanan uc farkli teknigin nuks ve sure acisindan karsilastirilmasidir. Yontem: Ocak 2011 - Nisan 2014 tarihleri arasinda nazolakrimal kanal tikanikligi nedeniyle endoskopik dakriyosistorinostomi cerrahisi uygulanan hastalarin cerrahi sureleri ve takip sonuclari karsilastirildi. Grup 1'deki hastalarin (n=15) lakrimal kesesi guj-cekic ile bulunup, etrafindaki kemik doku elmas tur ile genisletildi. Grup 2'deki hastalarin (n=11) lakrimal kesesi sadece elmas tur ile bulunup genisletildi. Grup 3'teki hastalarin (n=15) lakrimal keseleri guj-cekic yardimiyla bulundu ve Smith-Kerrison punch forceps ile genisletildi. Bulgular: Nuks acisindan Grup 1 ve Grup 2 arasinda anlamli farklilik yoktu. Buna karsilik Grup 3'teki nuks orani, Grup 1 ve Grup 2'ye kiyasla anlamli olarak daha yuksek bulundu. Ameliyat suresi her uc grupta da anlamli farklilik gosterdi ve Grup 2'de en yuksek, Grup 3'te ise en dusuk degerde idi. Sonuc: Bu calisma, dakriyosistorinostomi cerrahisi sirasinda lakrimal kesenin guj-cekic ile bulunup, etrafindaki kemik dokunun elmas tur ile genisletildigi yontemin cerrahi suresinin nispeten kisa olmasi yaninda dusuk nuks oranlariyla iyi bir yontem oldugu sonucuna ulasilmistir.
Occurrence of soft bottom macrofauna along the depth gradient in High Arctic, 79° N

Soft bottom fauna have been sampled along the Spitsbergen fjord depression entering shelf, slope and Greenland Sea Ocean Basin at 200, 300, 500, 1500, 2000 and 3000 m depths. From 19 samples covering 1.9 m 2 , 4295 individuals of 194 macrofauna species have been sorted. Density decreased markedly from over 6000 ind/m 2 in shelf stations to some 600 ind/m 2 below 1500 m depth. Only two taxa (Chaetozone group and Lumbrineris sp. A) occurred in more than 75% of samples, 55 taxa (28% of the total) were represented by single specimens only. The highest number of species per sample (65 taxa in 0.1 m 2 ) was noted at 525 depth. There were 14 eurybathic species and the same number of taxa were found exclusively below 2000 m depth, while 117 species were found only shallower than 300 m depth.
COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY OF SHRUBLANDS IN CENTRAL NUEVO LEON, MEXICO

The aim of this study was to carry out a comparative analysis at the plant community level of the five most common types of shrublands (semithorn shrubland, microphyllous desert shrubland, rosetophyllous desert shrubland, piedmont scrub, and tamaulipan thornscrub) in the state of Nuevo Leon (northeastern Mexico). Twenty-five sampling sites (100 m 2 each one) were established in each shrubland type (25 in total) to evaluate the vegetation structure. At each sampling site, we estimated the plant density (N ha -1 ), plant coverage (m 2 ha -1 ), specific richness ( S ), and alpha diversity index ( H’ ). One way-analysis of variance was used to compare plant attributes between the plant communities. In the studied five plant communities, a total of 85 vascular plant species were registered, belonging to approximately 65 genera and 28 families. The most representative families were Cactaceae (18 species), Fabaceae (16 species), Asteraceae (six species), and Agavaceae (five species). Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences between the shrublands in terms of the studied plant attributes. The microphyllous desert shrubland showed the lowest plant density (1,868 N ha -1 ) and plant coverage (2,637 m 2 ha -1 ) and the piedmont scrub the highest (4,512 N ha -1 and 17,931 m 2 ha -1 , respectively). With respect to specific richness and the alpha diversity index, the lowest values ( S = 3.72 and H’ = 0.91, respectively) were presented by the microphyllous desert shrubland, whereas the semithorn shrubland exhibited the highest values ( S = 11.56 and H’ = 2.15). This study provides valuable information about the composition, structure and diversity of shrublands in the state of Nuevo Leon.
Water use characteristics of cacao and Gliricidia trees in an agroforest in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Water use characteristics of cacao (Theobroma cacao) and Gliricidia sepium shade trees were studied in an agroforest on Sulawesi, Indonesia. The objectives were: (1) to identify environmental and tree structural factors controlling water use, (2) to analyse the effect of shade tree cover on cacao water use and (3) to estimate stand level transpiration. Sap flux density was measured in up to 18 trees per species and described with a Jarvis‐type model. Model parameters suggested a 49% higher maximum sap flux density in cacao than in Gliricidia and species differences in the response to vapour pressure deficit and radiation. Tree water use was positively related to tree diameter in both species, but this relationship tended to differ between species. In cacao trees maximal tree water use increased with decreasing canopy gap fraction above the trees (R2adj = 0·39, p = 0·04). This was paralleled by an increase of cacao stem diameter and leaf area with decreasing gap fraction. Maximum water use rate per unit crown area of cacao was 13% higher than that of Gliricidia. At the stand level the average transpiration rate was estimated at 1·5 mm day−1 per unit ground area, 70% of which was contributed to by cacao. We conclude that, in the given stand, species differed substantially in water use characteristics, while estimated stand transpiration is in line with findings from other studies for cacao stands. Shade trees may enhance stand transpiration through own water use and additionally by increasing water use rates of cacao trees. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oviposition preference hierarchy in Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae): influence of female age and experience

The influence of two factors, age and previous experience, on the oviposition hierarchy preference of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) females was studied. Two populations were analyzed: one reared in laboratory during 17 years and the other captured in nature. In the first experiment the oviposition preference for four fruits, papaya, orange, banana and apple was tested at the beginning of oviposition period and 20 days past. The results showed that the wild females as much the laboratory ones had an oviposition preference hierarchy at the beginning of peak period of oviposition. However this hierarchic preference disappeared in a later phase of life. In the second experiment the females were previously exposed to fruits of different hierarchic positions and afterwards their choice was tested in respect to the oviposition preference for those fruits. The results showed that there was an influence of the previous experience on the posterior choice of fruits to oviposition when the females were exposed to fruits of lower hierarchic position.
Towards rigorous analysis of open source software

This paper discusses the (often hidden) potential of Open Source Software development to resort to, benet from and cross-fertilize formal engineering methods, whose role is indisputable in the production of trustworthy software components. A strategy addressing the incorporation of formal verication methods in the Open Source Software lifecycle, in a somewhat less conventional way | that of assisting the re-engineering process of running code | is proposed.
The frequency of occurrence of quasi-monochromatic inertia-gravity waves in the lower stratosphere from MST radar observations

[1] The frequency of occurrence of quasi-monochromatic oscillations with periods near the inertial period is examined using hourly mean wind observations from the MST radars at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, spanning 6 years and 4 years, respectively. Power spectral analyses show that the energy levels near the inertial frequency during summer are nearly constant with altitude from about 12 km up to the highest altitude available, about 20 km, while energy levels at lower frequencies decrease with altitude. This decrease leads to a relative enhancement of energy near the inertial frequency. During winter the relative enhancement near the inertial frequency is much smaller. Results from least squares curve fitting used to find the percent of wind variance explained (PEV) by a single wave over data blocks 72 hours long and 2 km deep indicate that a quasi-monochromatic oscillation is present when PEV > 25%. During summer in the stratosphere over 50% of the cases have PEV > 25%. The best fit waveform has mean period near 21 hours and vertical wavelength near 3 km. The wind vectors exhibit anticyclonic rotation in time and with height, consistent with upward propagating gravity waves. The mean ratio of the intrinsic to the inertial frequency is about 1.3 in this data set, and the associated mean horizontal wavelength of these waves is slightly over 1000 km.
The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey: correlation with the ROSAT-ESO flux-limited X-ray galaxy cluster survey

The ROSAT-European Southern Observatory (ESO) flux-limited X-ray (REFLEX) galaxy cluster survey and the Two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS), respectively, comprise the largest, homogeneous X-ray selected cluster catalogue and completed galaxy redshift survey. In this work, we combine these two outstanding data sets in order to study the effect of the large-scale cluster environment, as traced by X-ray luminosity, on the properties of the cluster member galaxies. We measure the L-X-sigma(r) relation from the correlated data set and find it to be consistent with recent results found in the literature. Using a sample of 19 clusters with L-X >= 0.36 x 10(44) erg s(-1) in the 0.1-2.4 keV band, and 49 clusters with lower X-ray luminosity, we find that the fraction of early spectral type (eta <= -1.4), passively evolving galaxies is significantly higher in the high-L-X sample within R-200. We extend the investigation to include composite b(J) cluster luminosity functions, and find that the characteristic magnitude of the Schechter-function fit to the early-type luminosity function is fainter for the high-L-X sample compared to the low-L-X sample (Delta M* = 0.58 +/- 0.14). This seems to be driven by a deficit of such galaxies with Mb(J) similar to -21. In contrast, we find no significant differences between the luminosity functions of star-forming, late-type galaxies. We believe these results are consistent with a scenario in which the high-L-X clusters are more dynamically evolved systems than the low-L-X clusters.
Preliminary Study on Consumer Attitude towards FinTech Products and Services in Malaysia

“FinTech” or a compound term of Financial Technology refers as a newly emerged industry that utilizes IT-centered technologies which aims to boost the efficiency of the financial ecosystem. Since its inception, FinTech has successfully established its presence in the global financial industry due to the benefits and advantages of the system. However, the research studies that highlight the importance of FinTech are scarce. Specifically, the study pertaining to the consumers’ attitude towards FinTech products and services in the context of Malaysia remains unexplored by most of the studies. This preliminary study proposed the extension of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to identify the potential factors that influence consumers’ intention to adopt FinTech products and services in Malaysia. This study reviewed the factors, namely the usefulness, ease of use, competitive advantage, perceived risk, and perceived cost that can potentially influence the attitude of customers towards the product and services of FinTech. This study also proposes the potential mediating effect of attitude towards using FinTech products and the intention to adopt FinTech. This study attempts to create new knowledge geared towards the behavior to utilize FinTech products in Malaysia.
Technology Transfer and Knowledge Management in Technological Innovation Center: A Case Study in Brazil

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the knowledge management in the process of technology transfer in a technological innovation center, known in Brazil as NIT. The used methodology included a qualitative approach. It was a case study of a Nucleus which is in a State University located in the south of Bahia state, Brazil. The results showed that this specific Nucleus presents a fine infrastructure regarding the legal regulation, based on the Federal Law of Innovation no 10.973 and on the State of Bahia Innovation Law. Some barriers related to knowledge management were detected preventing an effective process of technology transfer.
Implicit and incidental second language learning: experiments in the processing of natural and partly artificial input

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Effect of chitosan membrane surface modification via plasma induced polymerization on the adhesion of osteoblast-like cells

The surface of solvent cast chitosan membranes was modified using a two-step procedure. Oxygen plasma treatment was used at the first activation step followed by vinyl monomer graft polymerization. Two monomers were used in order to compare the influence of different functional groups on cell adhesion and proliferation; acrylic acid (AA) was used to introduce carboxyl groups and vinyl sulfonic acid (VSA) was used as a source of sulfonic groups. The surface chemistry/energy changes were characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), and contact angle measurements. Additionally, alterations in the surface morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XPS analyses confirmed the polymer grafting on the surface; an S2s peak appears in the VSA survey spectrum and an O–CO peak emerges in the C1s high resolution spectrum after AA grafting. Moreover, contact angle measurements showed an increment in the values of the surface energy polar and Lewis base components for all treated samples, confirming the introduction of additional polar groups by the modification processes. FTIR-ATR spectra showed no significant difference between treated and original materials. These results confirmed that only the very top (a few angstroms) surface layer, but not the bulk of the material, was modified. The effect of modification on the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells was studied on a preliminary basis. Direct contact tests were performed using a human osteosarcoma cell line (SaOs-2). Cell morphology (optical microscopy and SEM) and cell viability (MTS test) were evaluated for untreated and surface modified membranes. The results revealed that both plasma treatment, and the presence of sulfonic groups on the surface of chitosan membranes, improve SaOs-2 adhesion and proliferation when compared to untreated or AA-grafted membranes. This effect was strongly related to the polar and Lewis basic components of the total surface energy.
Virtual Learning System Usage in Higher Education – A Study at Two South African Institutions

In higher education institutions various VLSs have been formally adopted to support online teaching and learning. However, there has been little research on patterns of VLS use among educators. The purpose of the research was to provide a descriptive analysis of VLS feature usage, and associated challenges at two South African higher education institutions. A case study research strategy was adopted, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis. Survey findings revealed four clusters of VLS feature usage, namely, communication, management, content and pedagogic. Analysis showed that the ‘content cluster’ was used more than the other clusters. The average usage of the ‘pedagogic cluster’ for Durban University of Technology (DUT) was significantly greater than that of University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), which tentatively indicates that staff development seems to be an important aspect of VLS usage. There was no significant difference in the usage of the ‘communication’ and ‘management’ clusters between the two institutions, DUT and UKZN. The study contributes to the body of system utilisation research by confirming an uneven pattern of VLS feature usage among educators, whilst providing fresh insights into the challenges associated with the usage of two different VLSs in two different universities.
The effects of ICT on affective factors and teaching practices in the EFL and ESL classroom

The 21 century EFL/ESL teachers have the possibility of using information and communication technologies in their teaching. Increased accessibility to online tools for students’ and better equipped facilities makes it possible for teachers to fully integrate ICT as a part of their practice making it a great aid to learning and teaching. Technology is already a part of students’ everyday life and using it in teaching has proven to have positive effects on language acquisition. These positive effects are proven to be partly from the possibilities provided when ICT is successfully integrated into teaching and partly because of the effects it has on students’ affective factors, such as motivation, engagement and attitude towards the subject. The development of technology such as Web 2.0 has made it possible for students and teachers to not only search for information but also create an online environment to support the particular needs of students and teachers. This paper will explore the effects ICT has on teaching as well as what factors are necessary for ICT so be successfully integrated based on previous research. HT14-1160-006-LGEN1G Pia Kohlmyr
Homogenization of elastic plate equation∗

We are interested in general homogenization theory for fourth-order elliptic equation describing the Kirchhoﬀ model for pure bending of a thin solid symmetric plate under a transverse load. Such theory is well-developed for second-order elliptic problems, while some results for general elliptic equations were established by Zhikov, Kozlov, Oleinik and Ngoan (1979). We push forward an approach of Antoni´c and Balenovi´c (1999, 2000) by proving a number of properties of H-convergence for stationary plate equation.