Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short term effects of thinning on soil organic carbon fractions, soil properties, and forest floor in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations

Forest management impacts on the soil carbon pool and soil properties. This study analyzed the changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, soil properties, and forest floor in a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation after two years of thinning in Eastern China. The experiment consisted of three thinning treatments: unthinned, moderate thinned (stand stem density reduced by approximately 21%), and heavy thinned (stand stem density reduced by approximately 36%) stands. Concentrations of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC), light fraction carbon (LFOC), and total SOC in the topsoil (0 to 20 cm) increased in the heavy thinned stands, and no significant effect for heavy fraction carbon (HFOC) was detectable in the soil profile. Some soil properties were also altered after thinning, which included a decrease in soil bulk density (BD), and an increase in soil temperature (ST), soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and pH. The change of these soil properties mainly occurred in the topsoil layers (0 to 20 cm) in the heavy thinned treatment. The SOC and soil labile carbon fractions were positively correlated with ST, TN, AN, AP, and AK. Moreover, the increase of SOC fractions and the availability of soil nutrients maybe due to the increased input from an abundant well-decomposed forest floor after thinning. These results suggest that a 36% of thinning operations had a marked impact on the soil labile carbon pool and soil fertility in the topsoil in a Chinese fir plantation during a short-time period. Thus, changes to soil carbon stability and soil fertility should be considered when developing forest management plans. Key words: Thinning, soil organic carbon fraction, soil nutrient, soil carbon stability.
Liquidity Requirements and the Interbank Loan Market: An Experimental Investigation

We develop a stylized interbank market environment and use it to evaluate with experimental methods the effects of liquidity requirements. Baseline and liquidity-regulated regimes are analyzed in a simple shock environment, which features a single idiosyncratic shock, and in a compound shock environment, in which the idiosyncratic shock is followed by a randomly occurring second-stage shock. Interbank trading of the illiquid asset follows each shock. In the simple shock environment, we find that liquidity regulations reduce the incidence of bankruptcies, but at a large loss of investment efficiency. In the compound shock environment, liquidity regulations not only impose a loss of investment efficiency but also fail to reduce bankruptcies.
Coffee husk mulch on soil erosion and runoff: experiences under rainfall simulation experiment

Abstract. The high erosion rates found in the agriculture land make valuable the use of mulches to control the soil and water losses. Coffee husk (Coffea canephora var. robusta) can be one of those mulches. This paper evaluates how to apply the mulch in order to obtain the best effectiveness. An experimental factorial design 4 × 3 × 2 with two replicates was designed in a greenhouse with a total number of 48 cases. All the samples were deposited in trays of 0.51 m2 and applied a simulated rain of 122 mm h−1 during 21 min. The factors examined were the following: four soil classes; three treatments – buried (B), surface (S) and non-residue (C) – and the presence (WC) or absence (WOC) of the soil surface crusting. The coffee husk residue (S and B treatments) reduced runoff by 10.2 and 46% respectively, soil losses by 78.3 and 88.7% and sediment concentration by 77 and 84.4%. The infiltration rate increased on average by 104 and 167%, and time to runoff by 1.58 and 2.07 min respectively. Coffee husk is an efficient mulch to reduce the soil and water losses, although it could not completely cushion the influence of crust.
Folk Moral Relativism

It has often been suggested that people's ordinary understanding of morality involves a belief in objective moral truths and a rejection of moral relativism. The results of six studies call this claim into question. Participants did offer apparently objectivist moral intuitions when considering individuals from their own culture, but they offered increasingly relativist intuitions considering individuals from increasingly different cultures or ways of life. The authors hypothesize that people do not have a fixed commitment to moral objectivism but instead tend to adopt different views depending on the degree to which they consider radically different perspectives on moral questions.
Acute toxicity study of cosmos caudatus on Biochemical Parameters in Male Rats

Cosmos caudatus or ‘ulam raja’ is a local plant with antioxidant properties and has the potential to treat free radicals-associated diseases. However, its toxic effects need to be elucidated. Acute toxicity study was carried out in male rats. Rats aged 3 months, weighing 150-200 g were divided into 4 groups, i.e. rats being fed on distilled water (control), Cosmos caudatus extract dose 50 mg/kg (CC50), Cosmos caudatus 500 mg/kg (CC500) and Cosmos caudatus 2000 mg/kg (CC2000), respectively. A single treatment was given to the respective groups and the animals were sacrificed after 7 days. Biochemical parameters before and after treatment were measured. Liver enzymes, i.e. alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT), were found to be increased post treatment in CC500 and CC2000 groups. Creatinine levels were lower in CC500 and CC2000 groups post treatment compared with control group while albumin levels were lower in CC2000 group than all the other groups. In conclusion, Cosmos caudatus may cause acute hepatotoxicity at high doses.
Colours, star formation rates and environments of star-forming and quiescent galaxies at the cosmic noon

We analyse the star formation rates (SFRs), colours and dust extinctions of galaxies in massive (10^(12.5) – 10^(13.5)M⊙) haloes at z ∼ 2 in high-resolution, cosmological zoom-in simulations as part of the Feedback In Realistic Environments (FIRE) project. The simulations do not model feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) but reproduce well the observed relations between stellar and halo mass and between stellar mass and SFR. About half (a third) of the simulated massive galaxies (massive central galaxies) at z ∼ 2 have broad-band colours classifying them as ‘quiescent’, and the fraction of quiescent centrals is steeply decreasing towards higher redshift, in agreement with observations. The progenitors of z ∼ 2 quiescent central galaxies are, on average, more massive, have lower specific SFRs and reside in more massive haloes than the progenitors of similarly massive star-forming centrals. The simulations further predict a morphological mix of galaxies that includes disc-dominated, irregular and early-type galaxies. However, our simulations do not reproduce the reddest of the quiescent galaxies observed at z ∼ 2. We also do not find evidence for a colour bimodality, but are limited by our modest sample size. In our simulations, the star formation activity of central galaxies of moderate mass (M_(star) ∼ 10^(10) – 10^(11)M⊙) is affected by a combination of two distinct physical processes. Outflows powered by stellar feedback result in a short-lived (<100 Myr), but almost complete, suppression of star formation activity after which many galaxies quickly recover and continue to form stars at normal rates. In addition, galaxies residing in slowly growing haloes tend to experience a moderate reduction of their SFRs (‘cosmological starvation’). The relative importance of these processes and AGN feedback is uncertain and will be explored in future work.
The Effect of E-mailing on Vocabulary Retention of Iranian Lower Intermediate EFL Learners

Technologies have been enhancing education all the time and new technologies have always been utilized firstly by education, especially with the emergence of computer related information technology (Devedzic, 2000). E-learning provides faster and greater access to information for education (Hamilton et al., 2001). Online training also creates a personalized learning experience and reduces costs. In addition, e-learning is ideal for global corporations with people in multiple time zones, there is no need to coordinate travel and delivery schedules. Electronic mail (e-mail) is an asynchronous medium, which allows participants to control their own timetables and fit learning around their other commitments. The present study aimed to examine the effect of e-mailing on vocabulary retention of Iranian EFL learners. Forty participants were assigned into experimental and control groups. The participants received English words as well as definitions and example sentences either on paper or through e-mail messages in a spaced and scheduled pattern of delivery three times a week throughout 10 sessions. Students' statues in retention of vocabulary were compared at the end of the study. The obtained results showed that the use of e-mail technology can enhance the retention of vocabulary. This study also provides pedagogical implications for utilizing e-mail as an effective and flexible learning tool.
Stress assignment rules in Korean English

Kim, Jong-mi. 2005. Stress assignment rules in Korean English. Studies in Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology 11.2. 247-258. Although literature on second language pronunciation has thus far focused only on the difficulties of acquiring the target sound by adult learners, we argue that some target phonology rules are apparently as easy to acquire as instantaneous. We compared the F0 slope of stress assignment rules in English as spoken by 25 native speakers and by 46 Korean learners. The learners had an average of 10-minute instruction with less than a week of practice period. The stimulus words, sentences, and paragraph contrast the compound stress rule and nuclear stress rule in compound nouns and noun phrases such as the 'White House' and 'a white house. ' We measured the F0 values of the speech data and normalized them by the average pitch of individual speakers. The result indicates that both the native speakers and the learners had an F0 drop (p < .01) for the compound nouns but an F0 rise (p < .01) for noun phrases. We also observed that the learners showed a more characteristic (p < .05) F0 slope than the native speakers did. We thus conclude that Korean learners easily learn stress assignment in English, which is realized as pitch. (Kangwon National University)
Anticompetitive (financial) leverage: revisiting the strategic use of debt

Capital structure and financial policies can raise anticompetitive concerns to the extent that they induce rival firms to compete less aggressively. In contrast to common ownership, anticompetitive concerns triggered by financial leverage being ratcheted up in parallel across rival firms can be the result of legitimate prudent underwriting standards that mechanically steer managers to adopt a softer competitive stance in order to secure debt refinancing. By the same token, increasing leverage in parallel can be opportunistically deployed by rival firms to coordinate and sustain a tacitly collusive agreement. A close scrutiny of the existing theoretical and empirical literature is supportive of this antitrust theory of harm. JEL classification: D21; G32; L13; L41
Risky Business: Political Instability and Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment in the Arab World

Which foreign direct investments are most affected by political instability? Analysis of quarterly greenfield investment flows into countries in the Middle East and North Africa from 2003 to 2012 shows that adverse political shocks are associated with significantly reduced investment inflows in the non-resource tradable sectors. By contrast, investments in natural resource sectors and non-tradable activities appear insensitive to such shocks. Consistent with these patterns, the significant reduction in investment inflows in Arab Spring affected economies was starkest in the non-resource manufacturing sector. Political instability is thus associated with increased reliance on non-tradables and aggravated resource dependence. Conversely, how intensified political instability affects aggregate foreign direct investment is critically contingent on the initial sector composition of these flows.
Sovereign Risk In The Euro Zone And Monetary Policy

We analyze monetary policy in a currency union with sovereign risk by using a three-country model including a two-country currency union and introduce an ad hoc assumption that one of the two countries is exposed to sovereign risk. In our model, if expected fiscal revenue is less than current public debt, one country can default whereas the other country cannot default. In a canonical setting that analyzes optimal monetary policy, the optimal monetary policy is consistent with the Taylor rule. However, the Taylor rule is not optimal and persistently causes defaults in our model. In contrast, an interest rate peg, namely government bonds swaps, terminates defaults after one period and is optimal in our model.
Experimental investigation on PM2.5 particle emission during polishing of granite

Particle emission during manufacturing processes, whether chemical, physical or mechanical can represent a serious danger for environment and for occupational safety. Especially machining processes, particle emission could have an important impact on shop floor air quality and might jeopardise workers’ health. It is therefore important to find ways of reducing the particle emission at the source of manufacturing processes. To do so, there is a need to know the size, the quantity and the distribution of particles produced by processes currently used in industry. In this study, investigations are done to compare the particle emission (PM2.5) when polishing two granites (black and white). The black granite contained low Si concentration (about 10% Si) and the white granite contained high Si concentration (about 50% Si). Particle emission was monitored using the DustTrak II equipment with 2.5 μm impactor. The particle grain size was evaluated using X-ray diffraction techniques. Machining conditions leading to the generation of finer particles were identified.
Examining the Influence of Team Work Factors on Team Performance for Software Development in Telecommunication Industry

A number of projects have failed in software industry due to exceeding budget and schedule. The main reason for most project failure is poor performance of their development team, in which the team performance is affected by a number of factors. The main objective of this study is to identify the factors that have significant effect on the performance of the software development team. A set of questionnaire has been distributed to a sample of software developers in telecommunication industries in Iraq and Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) using stratified sampling technique. The analysis of the data was carried out using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationship between the identified factors and the performance on software development team. The results prove that coordination of expertise; communication and mutual support positively affect the performance of software development team.
Weather and Climate Patterns in Canada’s Prairie Grasslands

The underlying uniqueness of Canada’s prairie grasslands is its aridity. The dominant air mass of this region is continental in nature and is associated with a relatively low amount of precipitation and high potential evaporation during the summer. Drought in this region is frequent, lasting one to two months on average, and presents a significant barrier to ecological capacity and agriculture. Severe droughts are associated with a stalled anticyclonic system that directs advected moist air around the region. Canada’s prairie grasslands receive on average of between 300 and 550 mm of precipitation, most of which is received as rain in spring and summer. Over the last century, changes to the climate have resulted in a general warming trend that is projected to increase further as a result of an enhanced greenhouse gas effect. Native grassland plant diversity and insect populations may shift as a result of expected climate changes. Resume. Les prairies canadiennes doivent leur caractere unique a leur aridite. La masse d’air dominante dans cette region est continentale, et se caracterise par un degre relativement faible de precipitations et une evaporativite elevee en ete. Les secheresses sont frequentes dans cette region; elles durent en moyenne de un a deux mois et reduisent sensiblement la capacite limite du paysage et le rendement agricole. Les secheresses graves sont causees par un systeme anticyclonique stable qui empeche les courants d’air humide de penetrer dans la region. Les prairies canadiennes recoivent en moyenne de 300 a 550 mm de precipitations, la plupart sous forme de pluie au printemps et en ete. Au cours du dernier siecle, le changement climatique a provoque un rechauffement general qui devrait s’intensifier sous l’effet de l’augmentation des concentrations de gaz a effet de serre. La diversite des especes vegetales indigenes et les populations d’insectes pourraient evoluer sous l’effet des changements climatiques attendus.
Gender Disparity in Second Language Learning: Reality or Illusion?

The paper draws a comparison between female and male students’ language learning capabilities in the backdrop of age-old idea that males are better than females in language learning on the one hand, and some recent study findings indicating females’ superiority over males on the other. To this end, 43 female and 80 male higher secondary students’ 468 answer scripts of their regular English exams were collected. For the traditional question pattern, the collected data could measure only “remembering” and “understanding” of the examinees. Therefore, the students were compared only on the basis of these two lowest levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. The participants were of same age, studying at the same level (Grade 11), and were taught by the same teacher. The study finds that if other variables remain the same, there is no essential difference between male and female regarding learning English as a second language.
Fibroplasia in oral surgical wounds submitted to topical

Studies have demonstrated that propolis is an effective substance for wound healing, however there is little evidence regarding its efficacy in the mechanisms of fibroplasias. The present investigation determined whether an ethanolic extract of propolis applied topically accelerates the healing process of oral surgical wounds. Forty-eight hamsters were distributed into the groups: I (n=16) received 30% ethanolic extract of propolis; Group II (n=16) received 0.01% dexamethasone; and Group III (n=16) received pure orabase cream. A localized incision was then made on the dorsum of the tongue and these wounds were submitted to the topical administration of the substances used in each group. Twelve animals were sacrificed at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days postoperative, for histopathological analysis was used Masson’s trichrome staining. Significant differences in fibroplasia were found among the groups on Days 7 and 14 (p=0.001), andthe group I achieved the highest collagen deposition (p=0.040). Under the present conditions, the poropolis can accelerates the healing process of oral wounds in hamsters.
Home Range and Population Density of Fishers in Eastern Ontario

Abstract Fishers (Martes pennanti) were almost extirpated in Ontario, Canada, south of the French and Mattawa rivers by the 1940s but have recolonized much of their former range over the past several decades. We assessed the effect of the current harvest quota on a fisher population in eastern Ontario by estimating home range size and population density from a sample of radiocollared animals. Mean (± SD) adult home ranges (based on annual 95% min. convex polygons) were consistently smaller than those reported in the literature (M: 11 ± 4.4 km2; F: 2.1 ± 0.8 km2), with up to 71% overlap of adjacent intrasexual home ranges. This yielded an estimated adult fisher population density of 32.7/100 km2 of suitable habitat, as defined by the habitat composition within observed home ranges. We further estimated that between 2003 and 2005, trappers harvested 17.8–42.3% of the pretrapping population. These results suggest that although current fisher population density is high in our study area compared to reported densities in other areas, harvest rate is also high and an increase in quota is unwarranted.
MONETARY POLICY CONDITIONS IN SPAIN BEFORE AND AFTER THE CHANGEOVER TO THE EURO: A TAYLOR RULE BASED ASSESSMENT

This paper analyzes monetary policy conditions in Spain before and after the changeover to the Euro as the single European currency. We use forward-looking Taylor-type rules to describe the Banco de Espana's pre-Euro monetary policy and find that it was clearly inflation stabilizing. Compared to this we find that the monetary policy stance of the European Central Bank (ECB) since 1999 which was appropriate for the euro area as a whole was too expansionary for Spain's economy. The resulting cheap credit conditions for real estate must be seen as an important explanation for Spain's housing boom.
Business Model Innovation: Toward a Process Perspective Business Model Innovation: Toward a Process Perspective Business Model Innovation: Toward a Process Perspective Business Model Innovation: Toward a Process Perspective Business Model Innovation: Toward a Process Perspective Oxford Handbooks Onl

Abstract Business model innovation matters to managers, entrepreneurs, and academic researchers because it represents an often underutilized source of value and, as such, could translate into sustainable performance advantage. Yet, despite the importance of the topic and the increasing attention it has received from researchers, relatively little is known about the process of business model innovation. To address this gap, this chapter draws on the design literature to derive a generalizable and normative model of the business model innovation process. This contribution links creativity at the individual and firm levels with innovation at the business model level of analysis and thus acknowledges explicitlt the multilevel nature of innovation. Business model innovation matters to managers, entrepreneurs, and academic researchers because it represents an often underutilized source of value and, as such, could translate into sustainable performance advantage. Yet, despite the importance of the topic and the increasing attention it has received from researchers, relatively little is known about the process of business model innovation. To address this gap, this chapter draws on the design literature to derive a generalizable and normative model of the business model innovation process. This contribution links creativity at the individual and firm levels with innovation at the business model level of analysis and thus acknowledges explicitly the multilevel nature of innovation.
Mainstreaming disaster mitigation: Challenges to organisational learning in NGOs

This paper discusses the implications for organisational learning of recent research on NGO activity in natural disaster mitigation and preparedness. It identifies several institutional and other barriers to NGO learning. However, personal networks in NGOs are often strong, and determined and well-placed individuals can push significant innovations through. Greater emphasis on this human factor may be the key to mainstreaming disaster mitigation and other new or marginal approaches to development.