Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rethinking the Galapagos Islands as a Complex Social-Ecological System: Implications for Conservation and Management

The Galapagos Islands are among the most renowned natural sites in the world. Unlike other oceanic archipelagos, the ecological and evolutionary processes characteristic of Galapagos have been minimally affected by human activities, and the archipelago still retains most of its original, unique biodiversity. However, several recent reports suggest that the development model has turned unsustainable and that the unique values of the archipelago might be seriously at risk. In response to international concern, UNESCO added Galapagos to the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2007. Our goal was to provide new insights into the origins of the present-day crisis and suggest possible management alternatives. To this end, we re-examined the Galapagos situation from a broad systems perspective, conceptualizing the archipelago as a complex social-ecological system. Past, present, and possible future trends were explored using the resilience theory as a perspective for understanding the dynamics of the system. Four major historical periods were characterized and analyzed using Holling's adaptive cycle metaphor. The current Galapagos situation was characterized as a prolonged series of crisis events followed by renewal attempts that have not yet been completed. Three plausible future scenarios were identified, with tourism acting as the primary driver of change. The current tourism model reduces the system's resilience through its effects on the economy, population growth, resource consumption, invasive species arrival, and lifestyle of the island residents. Opportunities to reorganize and maintain a desirable state do exist. However, strong political and management decisions are urgently needed to avoid an irreversible shift to a socially and environmentally undesirable regime. Key measures to achieve a new sustainability paradigm for Galapagos include modifying traditional practices to produce a more adaptive resilience-based co-management model, adopting a more comprehensive approach to territorial planning, strengthening participative approaches and institutional networks, and promoting transdisciplinary research at the frontiers of social and biophysical sciences.
Multiple structural breaks in cointegrating regressions: a model selection approach

Abstract In this paper, we propose a new approach to model structural change in cointegrating regressions using penalized regression techniques. First, we consider a setting with known breakpoint candidates and show that a modified adaptive lasso estimator can consistently estimate structural breaks in the intercept and slope coefficient of a cointegrating regression. Second, we extend our approach to a diverging number of breakpoint candidates and provide simulation evidence that timing and magnitude of structural breaks are consistently estimated. Third, we use the adaptive lasso estimation to design new tests for cointegration in the presence of multiple structural breaks, derive the asymptotic distribution of our test statistics and show that the proposed tests have power against the null of no cointegration. Finally, we use our new methodology to study the effects of structural breaks on the long-run PPP relationship.
Nasal Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (MR-CoNS) Among Veterinarians and Veterinary Students #

The aim of this work was to determine the nasal carriage of methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) among veterinarians and veterinary students. In addition, species distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance genes and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) type of the isolates were also investigated. MR-CoNS were isolated from 43.8% (39/89) of veterinarians and 44.6% (37/83) of students. While all MR-CoNS isolates were susceptible to quinopristin-dalfopristine, 64.5% of the isolates showed multiresistance. MR-CoNS strains carried single or various combinations of resistance genes. SCCmec type IV and V were the most common in MR-CoNS strains from both veterinarians and students. This study shows that the rate of nasal carriage of multi-resistant MR-CoNS carriage among veterinarians and veterinary students is high.
Assessment of Three Mapping Techniques to Delineate Lakes and Ponds in a Canadian High Arctic Wetland Complex

Recent evidence points to warmer and wetter conditions for Arctic regions. It is not clear how High Arctic environments, in particular extensive wetlands, will respond to these rapid changes. Sustainability studies of wetland complexes will require accurate mapping of water bodies (lakes, ponds, streams) over time. This information is critical to obtain reliable estimates of water inputs (e.g., snowmelt), outputs (e.g., evaporation), and storage, and to assess environmental change (e.g., pond desiccation, expansion, or both). Numerous tools and techniques are available to provide this information, though each approach has its benefits and limitations. In this study, we systematically explore the differences and similarities inherent in three different techniques used to delineate lakes and small ponds at an extensive wetland area near Creswell Bay, Somerset Island, Nunavut (72°43' N, 94°15' W). The mapping techniques compared are satellite mapping (extraction from a satellite-based land cover map), black-and-white aerial photography, and a topographic map sheet. Results indicate that while all three techniques could delineate large lake boundaries and their positions successfully, they differed in the number of ponds they delineated, as well as their boundaries and positions. A misrepresentation of water bodies can hinder hydrologic studies of Arctic water resources, and the results of this study emphasize the need to apply appropriate mapping techniques at different scales. The three mapping techniques are based on data from three different dates over several decades, so the different results also may indicate short- and long-term environmental change.
The Commoditization of Country Foods in Nunavik: A Comparative Assessment of its Development, Applications, and Significance

The article presents the historical roots of development policy vis-a-vis Canadian Inuit as it relates to the commoditization of country foods in the Canadian North, with particular reference to Nunavik. Although Inuit place an emphasis on sharing country foods, they have developed various mechanisms that allow them to be sold. Such sales are complicated for a number of reasons. Legislation at various levels of government either prohibits or severely restricts the commercial sale of country foods, particularly for an export market. Despite this, individual businesspeople, Makivik Corporation (the regional Inuit development agency), and the government-sponsored Hunter Support Program (HSP) have all, with varying degrees of success, started to commoditize country foods. The requirement to meet conservation measures and respect government processing standards has restricted the commercial development of these foods for export, which, in turn, has limited such development both by individuals and by Makivik Corporation. The HSP, which pays people to supply country foods that are then given away to beneficiaries under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, is the most accepted and successful form of commoditization. The reason for its success is twofold. First, regulations generally favour the development of a local market for country foods. Second, at an ethical level the HSP is tolerable to people because it both curbs the practice of selling country foods purely for individual self-interest and underscores sociality by replicating the Inuit tradition of sharing food with the community. Although Inuit are consumers of the commoditized country foods to some extent, the Inuit who produce those foods for sale insist that they do not sell them to other Inuit, but rather continue to share. They have made a teleological distinction between the sale of country foods to Inuit, which tradition inhibits, and the sale of country foods to institutions, which is acceptable. The latter removes country foods from the domestic sphere, thereby enabling Inuit to sell the foods without challenging the principle that they be shared.
INCORPORATING SYSTEMATIC RISK IN RECOVERY : THEORY AND EVIDENCE MODELING METHODOLOGY

This paper proposes a theoretical framework to account for systematic risk in recovery and to address the correlation between the firm’s underlying asset process and recovery. Under the proposed framework, the expected value in default under the risk neutral measure can be expressed as a linear function of the expected value under the physical measure. This allows for a simple mapping between expected recovery observed in the data and a measure that can be applied when using risk neutral valuation methods. When calibrating the model to parameters observed in the data, the risk neutral adjustment results in spreads that are 14% higher for a typical bond, and over 30% higher in some cases. When validating against market data, the evidence suggests that market spreads reflect systematic risk in recovery. We found that approximately 80% of our sample was estimated with a lower absolute error when using the risk neutral adjustment to compute model implied spreads. AUTHOR Amnon Levy amnon.levy@moodys.com Zhenya Hu © 2007 Moody’s KMV Company. All rights reserved. Credit Monitor, CreditEdge, CreditEdge Plus, CreditMark, DealAnalyzer, EDFCalc, Private Firm Model, Portfolio Preprocessor, GCorr, the Moody’s KMV logo, Moody’s KMV Financial Analyst, Moody’s KMV LossCalc, Moody’s KMV Portfolio Manager, Moody’s KMV Risk Advisor, Moody’s KMV RiskCalc, RiskAnalyst, Expected Default Frequency, and EDF are trademarks owned by of MIS Quality Management Corp. and used under license by Moody's KMV Company. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank to Navneet Arora, Sayan Chakraborty, Ashish Das, Andrew Kaplin, Qi Li, Yashan Wang, and Bin Zeng for helpful comments. In particular, we thank Greg Gupton for his insights. We would also like to thank seminar participants at Cornell University, INFORMS 2004 annual meeting, and Moody’s KMV. Published by: Moody’s KMV Company To contact Moody’s KMV, visit us online at www.moodyskmv. com. You can also contact Moody’s KMV through e-mail at info@mkmv.com, or call us by using the following phone numbers: NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA, NEW ZEALAND, AND AUSTRALIA: 1 866 321 MKMV (6568) or 415 874 6000 EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA, AND INDIA: 44 20 7280 8300 ASIA-PACIFIC: 852 3551 3000 JAPAN: 81 3 5408 4250
Mathematics in finance and economics: importance of teaching higher order mathematical thinking skills in finance

This paper addresses the importance of teaching mathematics in business and finance schools of tertiary institutions of Australia. The paper explores the nature of thinking and reasoning required for advancement financial or economic studies involves the use of higher order thinking and creativity skills (HOTS) for teaching in mathematics classes. The paper demonstrates how various skills required in finance are related to the mathematical way of thinking and reasoning. The 2007 global crisis has focused attention on financial thinking generally and mathematics teaching of finance in particular for the lack of skills by finance personnel. This could be addressed through student learning and teaching by reshaping business schools to include well designed financial mathematics courses that are compulsory, in degree programs. The mathematical reasoning patterns, thinking, explanations, simplifications required in transfer of knowledge to students is effectively taught if experts in the field are explicating or presenting proofs. The essence of the conceptual development of models and their assumptions and solutions requires training beyond those of the nonmathematics personnel, mainly due to their lack of years of time spent on such mathematically work. If the methodology described is adhered to our future business and finance students could be afforded a better educational experience in mathematical thinking and reasoning as well as higher order thinking and creative skills in their courses and degree programs.
Novel temperature-responsive water-soluble copolymers based on 2-hydroxyethylacrylate and vinyl butyl ether and their interactions with poly(carboxylic acids)

Novel water-soluble amphiphilic copolymers have been synthesized by free radical copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethylacrylate with vinyl butyl ether. In water these copolymers exhibit lower critical solution temperature, which depends on the content of hydrophobic vinyl butyl ether units. The interaction between these copolymers and poly(acrylic acid) or poly(methacrylic acid) in aqueous solutions results in formation of interpolymer complexes stabilized by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. An increase in hydrophobicity of the copolymers leads to the enhancement of their complex formation ability with respect to poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid). Poly(methacrylic acid) forms stronger complexes with the copolymers when compared with poly(acrylic acid). The complexes exhibit dual sensitivity to pH- and temperature and this property may be easily adjusted regulating the strength of interaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 195–204, 2006
Practical Guidelines for Evaluating Sampling Designs in Survey Studies.

AUTHOR Fan, Xitao; Wang, Lin TITLE Practical Guidelines for Evaluating Sampling Designs in Survey Studies. PUB DATE 1999-11-00 NOTE 25p. ; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association (14th, Orlando, FL, November 3-6, 1999). PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Evaluation Methods; *Research Design; Research Methodology; *Sampling; *Surveys
Comparative Study of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate after Aminoglycoside and Aminocyclitol Treatment in Goats (Capra hircus)

The aim of the present study was to follow up the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in healthy female goats during and after 5-day parenteral treatment with amikacin (10 mg/kg), tobramycin (5 mg/kg), apramycin (20 mg/kg), gentamicin (4 mg/kg), kanamycin (10 mg/kg) and spectinomycin (20 mg/kg). Gentamicin and tobramycin caused an initial increase followed by a significant decrease of ESR on the 5th day for gentamicin and the 10th day for tobramycin, respectively, followed by recovery after the treatment. Reversely, amikacin and especially spectinomycin produced an increase of ESR without recovery several days post treatment. Kanamycin caused decrease of ESR on the 5th day without recovery in the subsequent days. Only apramycin did not give rise to increasing of ESR. In conclusion the aminoglycosides, especially tobramycin and gentamicin, caused more severe alterations of ESR than the aminocyclitols.
Effect of Different Level of Psyllium Supplementation to Horse Diet on in vitro Fermentation Parameters and Methane Emission

Anahtar Kelimeler: Gaz üretimi; in vitro sindirim tekniği; metan; Psilyum Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of psyllium addition to horse diets on methane emissions and digestion parameters by in vitro digestion technique using horse feces as inoculum. The effect of 0 (control group), 5, 10, 20 and 40 g/kg DM (Dry matter) (treatment groups) psyllium (Psyllium Husk, Solgar, UK) supplementations to horse diet were determined on in vitro total gas and methane production, metabolisable energy (ME), organic matter digestion (OMD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and pH value. In vitro digestibility technique was performed with using glass syringes of 100 ml volumes (Model Fortuna, Germany) at 39.0±0.2°C for 24 hour incubation. In the study, in vitro total gas production was linearly decreased in treatment groups (up to 130 ml/g DM) compared to control group (181 ml/g DM) (P<0.001). Inclusion of psyllium to horse ration decreased methane production up to 35% (P≤0.01). The ME, OMD and SCFA levels of horse diet affected by the psyllium supplementation (P<0.01). Addition of psyllium at the levels of 5, 10, 20 and 40 g/kg DM did not have an effect on NH3-N and pH (P>0.05). Consequently, it was demonstrated that psyllium, which use commonly in constipated horses because of laxative efficacy, reduced methane emission as another positive effect in horses. Although psyllium reduced methane emission, it had adverse effects on in vitro digestibility of horse ration. However, it was considered that further investigations are necessary to understand the effects deeply by doing the in vitro or in vivo digestion trials with lower doses or psyllium is not suitable to use in healthy horses for a long time.
Dietary Characteristics of Eastern James Bay Cree Women

Food use and nutrient intake were studies with Cree women of Wemindji and Eastmain, Quebec. During summer 1994 and winter 1995, 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires were collected from 219 women of three age groups (20-40; 41-60; >60 years). While reported energy intakes were somewhat low, 94% of the women exceeded 2/3 of the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for protein, and 80% exceeded 2/3 of the RNI for iron. However, 44% of the women reported calcium intakes of less than 1/2 the RNI. Mean total fat intake reported by young and middle adults was greater than 30% of total energy. Primary sources of fat were market food, indicating that education efforts targeting fat intake should emphasize market food choices. Species and amounts of traditional food consumed varied by season. The percentage of elders who consumed traditional food was significantly higher ( p <0.001, Chi² = 29, Mantel-Haenzel) than those of traditional food users in the middle and young age groups. Dietary data for the James Bay Cree, which were lacking prior to this research, are important resources for those working in health and wellness with this population group and other aboriginal groups that use traditional food. Key words: Eastern James Bay Cree, nutrient intake, food use, traditional food, Subarctic, indigenous people
Composition of twenty Green Frog populations ( Pelophylax ) across Bavaria , Germany

Two species of green frogs exist in the state of Bavaria (Germany), the Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) and the Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae). The Edible Frog (Pelophylax esculentus) is a hybridogenetic hybrid originally resulting from Marsh Frogs mating with Pool Frogs and therefore sometimes not considered a true species. Its distribution covers large parts of Bavaria, occurring either together with P. lessonae in P. lessonae-P. esculentus-systems (LE-system) or with P. ridibundus in P. ridibundus-P. esculentus-systems (RE-system). In order to obtain more precise data on their distribution and population structure, we examined 20 green frog populations in Bavaria, focusing on the possible existence of pure hybrid populations, the occurrence of allochthonous species of green frogs, and the distribution of P. lessonae, the most threatened species of green frogs. A total of 200 frogs were sampled, from which 173 could be reliably identified on the basis of their morphology. Species were identified via morphometric measurements and serum albumin PCR. Potentially triploid specimens were identified on the basis of their increased erythrocyte size. Sequencing of mitochondrial ND2 haplo types allowed identification of allochthonous frogs in three study sites. P. esculentus was the most common green frog species at the study sites, representing 47% of the sample size. Four potentially triploid individuals were detected; however, pure triploid hybrid populations could not be confirmed. Allochthonous frogs were identified in three RE-systems. Pelophylax ridibundus made up 38% of the reliably identified frogs. The percentage of P. lessonae was only 15% of the sampled frogs, possibly due to the decline of suitable habitats and the introduction of allochthonous P. ridibundus. In all three taxa, male frogs always dominated in the sex ratio. Out of the 200 observed frogs, 58 were female (29%), 109 were male (54%) and 33 were subadult (17%). This study showed that in 86.5% it was possible to distinguish between the three species by means of morphometric measurements. However, serum albumin PCR did not always correctly identify specimens.
Isolation of flavonoids from Anemopaegma arvense (Vell) Stellf. ex de Souza and their antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum

Anemopaegma arvense pertence a familia Bignoniaceae, sendo conhecida popularmente como Catuaba. Para avaliacao de sua atividade citotoxica e antimicrobiana, a fracao cromatografica F3 e os flavonoides 1 (quercetina 3-O-α-L-ramnopiranosil-(1→6)-β-D-glucopiranosideo) (rutina) e flavonoide 2 (quercetina 3-O-α-L-ramnopiranosil-(1→6)-β-D-galactopiranosideo) foram isolados das folhas de A. arvense. A fracao 3 e os flavonoides nao apresentaram atividade antibacteriana. Nenhuma atividade citotoxica foi observada para a fracao F3 e para os flavonoides, quando avaliados contra as celulas tumorais em teste. Entretanto, e considerando a atividade antifungica, o flavonoide 1 apresentou valor de concentracao inibitoria minima (CIM) de 0,5 mg/mL, enquanto o flavonoide 2, CIM de 0,25 mg/mL contra as cepas selvagem e mutante de Trichophyton rubrum, demonstrando, pela primeira vez, que os flavonoides isolados possuem atividade antifungica, o que valida a mesma atividade para A. arvense.
Elevation Puts Moral Values Into Action

Moral elevation has been shown to increase helping behavior. However, this might be due to a threatened moral self-image because people engage in a social comparison with a moral exemplar and conclude that their own moral integrity is inferior. Alternatively, feelings of elevation might provide a motivational impetus to act on one’s moral values. We provided participants with an opportunity to engage in self-affirmation, which was followed by an induction of moral elevation or a neutral control mood. Compared to the neutral mood, participants experiencing moral elevation showed higher levels of helping behavior following self-affirmation. This effect was especially pronounced in participants experiencing moral elevation who reminded themselves of previous prosocial behavior; they showed more helping than participants experiencing moral elevation who had not engaged in self-affirmation. Thus, rather than posing a threat to moral self-worth, feelings of elevation can provide the motivational trigger to act on affirmed moral values.
Other-Regarding Reference Points: A Matter of Perspective

We combine empathetic and reference-dependent preferences to a more comprehensive model of decision-making. Empathy can refer to other people's basic needs (exogenous reference points) as well as others' ambitions in the form of social comparisons. Empathy with others' ambitions results in inequality aversion (Fehr and Schmidt, 1999, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 114, pp. 817-868). Here our model also implies that the Fehr-Schmidt parameters are positively correlated. In addition our model accommodates social value orientations, showing that a "competitive" orientation implies sensitivity to own ambitions. For linear public goods games, we furthermore provide an explanation for "hump-shaped" preferences which assumes sensitivity to others' needs.