Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Population dynamics of an endemic and threatened Yellow Catfish Horabagrus brachysoma (GÃ¼nther) from Periyar River, southern Western Ghats, India

Based on the annual length frequency data collected from three major fish landing centres along the River Periyar, draining the southern Western Ghats, the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) estimates of Horobagrus brachysoma were worked out as asymptotic length (La) = 422mm total length, growth co-efficient (K) = 0.55 yr-1 and growth performance index (A¸) = 4.99. The total mortality rate (Z) was estimated at 5.64 yr-1, natural mortality rate (M) at 1.04 yr-1, fishing mortality (F) at 4.60 yr-1, and exploitation rate (E) at 0.82 yr-1. Yield per recruit (expected lifetime yield per fish recruited in the stock at a specific age) analysis showed an excessive fishing effort. Using the analysis of probability of capture of each length class, the length at first capture (Lc) of H. brachysoma was estimated to be 110mm. An indication of both growth and recruitment fishing is provided by the dominance of year 1 class in the exploited population and the capture of immature individuals below first maturity. Management of H. brachysoma fishing should include setting of a minimum mesh size limit of 160â180 mm for gill nets as well as a closed season starting from the month of May till August aimed at protecting the spawning stock. This study on H. brachysoma, an endemic and threatened catfish of peninsular India, provides hard evidence that species targeted by artisanal fishermen, in small-scale tropical riverine fisheries, are vulnerable to overexploitation.
WRF SIMULATION OF TORNADO DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY IN TUZLA, ISTANBUL

A short lived tornado occurred in Tuzla, Istanbul on June 19, 2014. The tornado passed over the Marmara Sea by hitting Pendik and Tuzla and then moved forward to Kocaeli which is located in easternmost end of Marmara Sea. It damaged to ships and houses along the Marmara Sea shore. Many trees and lampposts fell over during the tornado. It was an extraordinary event for this region because Marmara is an inland sea. Thus, this rare tornado case was chosen for the study, and its development was simulated by using WRF mesoscale numerical weather prediction model, with different initial conditions. The simulations were compared with synoptic maps and radar and satellite images. In addition, observation data (wind speed, temperature, pressure and precipitation) which belongs to Pendik and Kocaeli observation stations of Turkish State Meteorological Service was used in order to determine the weather conditions for event day.
Effects of Self-Regulation Strategies Training on Secondary Students’ Attitude and Self-Reflection Toward Mathematics

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine whether practicing self-regulation strategies involved setting goals, selfevaluation and self-correction on formative tests improved students’ positive attitudes toward learning mathematics. The students’ attitudes toward mathematics were measured of the factors in their perceived confidence, motivation, usefulness of the subject, and perception about teacher’s attitude toward their learning. The study also aimed at exploring self-regulation characteristics of different performing groups of mathematics achievement so that appropriate instructional design can be introduced and imposed within the mathematics classroom. The study utilized a one-group pretest-posttest design for exploratory purposes. The selfregulation strategies were introduced to 46 tenth-grade secondary students. Their perceived motivation, confidence, anxiety, usefulness of the subject, and perception about teacher’s attitude were measured as the pretest measures before they were trained with setting goals, self-evaluation, and self-correction strategy training. These measures of the factors were compared at the end of the academic year. The study found that students’ perceived confidence, motivation, usefulness of the subject, and perception about teacher’s attitude toward student learning were significantly different after they underwent the training. The high-performing group of students was more confident, motivated, less anxious, and highly engaged in self-reflection as compared to their counterparts, low-performing group of students. In addition, students’ confidence, motivation, anxiety, and engagement in selfreflection were found significantly correlated with mathematics performance.
Interdependence and asymmetries: Latin American ADRs and developed markets

The ADRs market presented great growing importance in the last decades, specially for companies based on developing countries, such as those of Latin America. In this context, this research sought to detect and measure the interdependence phenomenon, comprising the returns and volatility spillovers and their asymmetries between the levels 2 and 3 ADRs of the main capital markets of Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico) and the developed ones (the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and France), regarding the last financial crisis scope. This phenomenon was investigated considering both the daily returns of their market stock indices, such as those of the ADRs indices created in this study, from June 2008 to May, 2015, via VAR-MGARCH multivaried skewness models, with diagonal VECH representation. The main conclusion was that the ADR indices presented greater interdependence with the developed countries, compared to the analyzed Latin American equity markets.
Contrasting specialist and generalist patterns facilitate foraging niche partitioning in sympatric populations of Pygoscelis penguins

Specialization is a common mechanism of niche differentiation that can lead to eco- logical co-existence among species. However, species with specialized habitat or dietary require- ments often exhibit a high degree of sensitivity to environmental change. Understanding patterns of specialization and niche segregation among Antarctic marine predators is of increased impor- tance because of recent climate-driven reductions in a key prey species, Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. We examined the stomach contents and stable isotope values of sympatric chinstrap Pygoscelis antarctica and gentoo P. papua penguins across 5 breeding seasons at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, Antarctica. Our goal was to examine foraging niche segregation and the degree of specialization between species during the chick-rearing period. Dietary and isotopic foraging niches indicated consistent niche partitioning with higher krill consumption and greater use of off- shore foraging habitats by chinstrap relative to gentoo penguins. While chinstrap penguin diets were dominated by krill with little variation, gentoo penguins exhibited broader dietary and iso- topic niches with a higher degree of variation. There was little evidence that shifts in the availabil- ity of adult krill influenced penguin diets or foraging niches during our study, though the contrast- ing foraging strategies identified provide insight into the differing population trends observed between penguin species. The narrower foraging niche observed in declining chinstrap penguin populations indicates that they are likely highly sensitive to declines in the abundance of Antarc- tic krill. In contrast, the generalist niche exhibited by recently expanding gentoo penguin popula- tions is likely better suited to the rapidly changing environmental conditions in the Antarctic Peninsula.
A Positive Psychology Intervention With Emerging Adults

This study assessed the impact of a positive psychology intervention in a sample of 40 young men (35%) and women (65%) aged 18-30 years. Participants were 1st and 4th year undergraduate University students, postgraduate students and working youths. The study examined the effects of a battery of interventions commonly used in positive psychology interventions, including a video and three exercises (i.e. expressing gratitude, best possible selves, goal setting) on character strengths, hope, gratitude and social relations. Intervention activities were carried out during a session that lasted an hour and a half, while a further half-hour evaluation session took place after a two-week interval. Marked positive changes were revealed with regards to youths’ well-being as a result of the intervention. In particular, elevated levels of hope, perceptions of social support and ability to handle social stress successfully, as well as levels of three out of six key character strengths, i.e. courage, humanity/love and transcendence were observed. Influences of demographic and socio-psychological characteristics of youths on the above variables; constellations of intricate relations between them; as well as certain developmental patterns were also highlighted. The repercussions of the above findings for the advancement of positive psychology knowledge and interventions are discussed.
Seismic Response Reduction of Structures Equipped with a Voided Biaxial Slab-Based Tuned Rolling Mass Damper

This paper proposes a novel tuned mass damper (TMD) embedded in hollow slabs of civil structures. The hollow slabs in this context, also referred to as “voided biaxial reinforced concrete slabs,” feature a large interior space of prefabricated voided modules that are necessary in the construction of this special structural system. In this regard, a tuned rolling mass damper system (“TRoMaDaS”) is newly proposed, in combination with hollow slabs, to act as an ensemble passive damping device mitigating structural responses. The main advantage of this TMD configuration lies in its capacity to maintain architectural integrity. To further investigate the potential application of the proposed TRoMaDaS in seismic response mitigation, theoretical and numerical studies, including deterministic and stochastic analyses, were performed. They were achieved by deterministic dynamic modeling using Lagrange’s equation and the statistical linearization method. Finally, the promising control efficacy obtained from the deterministic/stochastic analysis confirmed the potential application of this newly proposed control device.
'Best practice' human resource management : impact on employee performance in non-westernised countries

Recent research has argued that the use of ‘best practice’ HRM such as selection, training, team working, performance appraisal, communication and rewards, can enhance the organisational performance. Scholars have found that there were positive significant relationships between ‘best practice’ HRM and performance. However, the majority of the empirical works used financial measurements as performance measures. Moreover, the works were mainly based in manufacturing and automobile organisations in westernised countries, particularly the USA and UK. Therefore, an empirical work in public sector organisations, in non-westernised countries might put forward a new insight on employee performance. This study investigates the relationships between ‘best practice’ HRM used by Malaysia local government organisations and performance from the employee point of view. Using a self administered questionnaire survey of 453 frontline employees, supervisors and managers working in Malaysia local government organisations, this study found that the investments in ‘best practice’ HRM can considerably help organisations perform better. This paper supports the universalistic perspective of HRM. (Author's abstract)
Soil sulfur fractions dynamics and distribution in a tropical grass pasture amended with nitrogen and sulfur fertilizers

Soil sulfur (S) partitioning among the various pools and changes in tropical pasture ecosystems remain poorly understood. Our study aimed to investigate the dynamics and distribution of soil S fractions in an 8-year-old signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) pasture fertilized with nitrogen (N) and S. A factorial combination of two N rates (0 and 600kg N ha–1 y–1 ,a s NH4NO3) and two S rates (0 and 60kg S ha–1 y–1, as gypsum) were applied to signal grass pastures during 2 y. Cattle grazing was controlled during the experimental period. Organic S was the major S pool found in the tropical pasture soil, and represented 97% to 99% of total S content. Among the organic S fractions, residual S was the most abundant (42% to 67% of total S), followed by ester-bonded S (19% to 42%), and C-bonded S (11% to 19%). Plant-available inorganic SO4-S concentrations were very low, even for the treatments receiving S fertilizers. Low inorganic SO4-S stocks suggest that S losses may play a major role in S dynamics of sandy tropical soils. Nitrogen and S additions affected forage yield, S plant uptake, and organic S fractions in the soil. Among the various soil fractions, residual S showed the greatest changes in response to N and S fertilization. Soil organic S increased in plots fertilized with S following the residual S fraction increment (16.6% to 34.8%). Soils cultivated without N and S fertilization showed a decrease in all soil organic S fractions.
Host specialization and species richness of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a New Guinea rain forest

Frugivorous dacine fruit flies were studied in a lowland tropical rain forest in Papua New Guinea to determine their host specificity, abundance, and the number of species attacking various plant species. Plant species hosted 0–3 fruit fly species at median (1–3 quartile) densities of 1 (0–17) fruit flies per 100 fruits. Fruit flies were mostly specialized to a single plant family (83% species) and within each family to a single genus (88% species), while most of the species (66%) were able to feed on >1 congeneric plant species. Only 30 from the 53 studied plant species were colonized by fruit flies. The plant–fruit fly food web, including these 30 plant species and the total of 29 fruit fly species feeding on them, was divided into 14 compartments, each including 1–8 plant species hosting mutually disjunct assemblages of fruit flies. This structure minimizes indirect interactions among plant species via shared herbivores. The local species pool was estimated at 152±32 (±SE) fruit fly species. Forty per cent of all taxonomically described species known from Papua New Guinea were reared or trapped in our study area. Such a high proportion indicates low beta-diversity of fruit flies. Steiner traps were highly efficient in sampling the lure-responsive fruit fly species as they re-collected 84% of all species trapped in the same area 5 y before. Fruit fly monitoring by these traps is a cheap, simple and efficient method for the study of spatial and temporal changes in rain-forest communities.
From Watchdog to Watchman: Do Independent Directors Monitor a CEO of Their Own Age?

We examine the impact of the social attachment through age similarity between the independent directors and the CEO on earnings management. Using changes in independent director composition due to director death and retirement for identification, we find that firms with the presence of the independent directors who have the same age of the CEO are more likely to manage earnings, and this positive impact decreases as the age gap widens, but is intensified if the independent directors share other characteristics with the CEO, including gender, education level, nationality and executive experience, and if the independent directors sit on audit or nomination committees. Overall, our results that suggest the social attachment due to age similarity with the CEO weakens the intensity of board monitoring.
Atmospheric abundance and global emissions of perfluorocarbons CF4, C2F6 and C3F8 since 1800 inferred from ice core, firn, air archive and in situ measurements

Abstract. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are very potent and long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, released predominantly during aluminium production and semiconductor manufacture. They have been targeted for emission controls under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Here we present the first continuous records of the atmospheric abundance of CF4 (PFC-14), C2F6 (PFC-116) and C3F8 (PFC-218) from 1800 to 2014. The records are derived from high-precision measurements of PFCs in air extracted from polar firn or ice at six sites (DE08, DE08-2, DSSW20K, EDML, NEEM and South Pole) and air archive tanks and atmospheric air sampled from both hemispheres. We take account of the age characteristics of the firn and ice core air samples and demonstrate excellent consistency between the ice core, firn and atmospheric measurements. We present an inversion for global emissions from 1900 to 2014. We also formulate the inversion to directly infer emission factors for PFC emissions due to aluminium production prior to the 1980s. We show that 19th century atmospheric levels, before significant anthropogenic influence, were stable at 34.1 ± 0.3 ppt for CF4 and below detection limits of 0.002 and 0.01 ppt for C2F6 and C3F8, respectively. We find a significant peak in CF4 and C2F6 emissions around 1940, most likely due to the high demand for aluminium during World War II, for example for construction of aircraft, but these emissions were nevertheless much lower than in recent years. The PFC emission factors for aluminium production in the early 20th century were significantly higher than today but have decreased since then due to improvements and better control of the smelting process. Mitigation efforts have led to decreases in emissions from peaks in 1980 (CF4) or early-to-mid-2000s (C2F6 and C3F8) despite the continued increase in global aluminium production; however, these decreases in emissions appear to have recently halted. We see a temporary reduction of around 15 % in CF4 emissions in 2009, presumably associated with the impact of the global financial crisis on aluminium and semiconductor production.
Bias and data assimilation

All data assimilation systems are affected by biases, caused by problems with the data, by approximations in the observation operators used to simulate the data, by limitations of the assimilating model, or by the assimilation methodology itself. A clear symptom of bias in the assimilation is the presence of systematic features in the analysis increments, such as large persistent mean values or regularly recurring spatial structures. Bias can also be detected by monitoring statistics of observed‐minus‐background residuals for different instruments. Bias‐aware assimilation methods are designed to estimate and correct systematic errors jointly with the model state variables. Such methods require attribution of a bias to a particular source, and its characterization in terms of some well‐defined set of parameters. They can be formulated either in a variational or sequential estimation framework by augmenting the system state with the bias parameters. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
Nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana em solo de Cerrado com aplicação de fertilizante nitrogenado

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen doses and soil depths on soil microbial biomass nitrogen (NSMB) in a sandy textured Oxisol, cultivated with barley. The experiment was established in June, 2004, in an area which had been cultivated with millet for three years and subsequently with soya beans for two seasons. The treatments were four doses of nitrogen (30, 60, 90 e 120 kg ha-1) and a control without any dose. Soil samples were collected in four depths: 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm, comprising three replicates and three sampling periods: tillering, flowering and right after the harvest. The NSMB and NSMB:Ntotal decreased according to depth. Higher doses of nitrogen did not increase the NSMB. The Ntotal was not altered with the application of nitrogen, but it decreased with depth. There were negative correlations between the NSMB and soil pH for all the doses, except for the treatment without nitrogen. There were also positive correlations between the NSMB:Ntotal and NSMB, but not between NSMB:Ntotal and Ntotal.
Testing of Power Abilities in High Level Soccer Players: Quantitive and Qualitive Assessment Methods

: The aim of the study was to evaluate power in high level soccer players by means of Wingate cycling test and performance analysis for vertical jumps. Thirty-two male professional soccer players (mean age 25.29±5.4 years, height 180.22±6.63 cm, weight 73.8±7.07 kg) underwent Wingate test and jump tests with the use of force plate with ongoing analysis of four types of jumps (countermovement jumps, squat jumps, single leg jumps on the right and left legs, CMJs with arms swing). We found: (i) high-level soccer players’ norms are PP>13 W/kg, AP 30 /kg>11W/kg; (ii) 34.5% of studied athletes demonstrated high level of power; AP 30 /kg>11W/kg showed only 13.79%; 10.34% showed significant power decrement by 30 th second of Wingate-test ( ∆Р 15 /kg– Р 30 /kg>4W/kg); (iii) countermovement jump height was 35.94±4.2 cm, height of the jump with additional arms swing was 44.72±5.04 cm; (iv) motor disbalance of antagonist muscle work of lower extremities; (v) parameter of average power in Wingate test correlated with height (r=.476, P<0.01), flying time (r=.463, P<0.01), maximum force for take-off (r=.393, P<0.05) in countermovement jump with arms swing. Anaerobic Wingate test and performance analysis for vertical jumps allow estimation of athletes’ fitness weak aspects and undertaking appropriate timely amendments to trainings.
Attraction of Apple Maggot Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Synthetic Fruit Volatile Compounds and Food Attractants in Michigan Apple Orchards

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), is a serious pest of apples in the United States, requiring reliable monitoring and control programs. Various synthetic apple volatile lures with and without protein hydrolysate, ammonium acetate, or ammonium carbonate were evaluated from 1998-2000 for their attractiveness to R. pomonella adults with red sticky-sphere (9 cm diam.) monitoring traps. A blend consisting of butyl butanoate (10%), propyl hexanoate (4%), butyl hexanoate (37%), hexyl butanoate (44%), and pentyl hexanoate (5%) was the most effective lure tested for attracting both sexes of R. pomonella adults during all three field seasons. The addition of protein hydrolysate or ammonium compounds to spheres baited with a commercial attractant (BioLure) consisting of plastic dispensers containing butyl hexanoate, did not significantly increase apple maggot fly captures. Spheres baited with the blend or with butyl hexanoate in polyethylene vials and spheres baited with BioLure dispensers were highly selective in capturing R. pomonella flies relative to non-target insects. However, spheres baited with ammonium compounds with or without synthetic apple lures were non-selective with respect to apple maggot captures. Protein hydrolysate alone was ineffective for monitoring R. pomonella flies. We provide further evidence that baiting red-sticky sphere traps with the volatile blend without ammonium bait additives creates a highly effective and selective device for capturing apple maggot flies. The blend could be an important addition to current monitoring and control programs for apple maggot flies in Michigan orchards and other important apple growing regions.