Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seed bank and plant community composition, Mixed Prairie of Saskatchewan

Abstract Many range managers have suggested that clubmoss (Selaginella densa Rydb.) negatively alters the composition of seed banks and inhibits the establishment of plant species that decrease under improper grazing management. Alternatively it is possible that soil seed banks contain few seeds of decreaser species and composition of the seed bank is independent of clubmoss. The purpose of this study was to determine the composition and diversity of the soil seed bank in relation to the clubmoss cover and compositional characteristics of plant communities in the Northern Mixed Prairie of southwestern Saskatchewan. Cover of vascular plants was determined and soil seed bank samples were collected in 100 grazed plant communities. Soil seed bank samples were incubated in the laboratory with emerging seedlings being identified to species. Eight percent (SE ± 1.9) of emerging seedlings in the seed bank were decreasers, 73% (SE ± 2.8) were increasers, and 19% (SE ± 2.3) were invaders, indicating regeneration of decreaser species might be limited by low numbers of seeds in seed banks. Clubmoss cover was not correlated (P = 0.32 to 0.98) with species richness, species diversity, density of decreasers, density of increasers, density of invaders, and total seedling densities in the seed banks. Seed banks and plant communities shared few species as indicated by a low similarity index (x̄ = 0.31, SE ± 0.02). Species richness (x̄ = 3.6 species per 102 cm2, SE ± 0.18) and diversity (x̄ = 1.00, SE ± 0.05) of seed banks were poorly correlated with characteristics of the plant communities. Range condition score was positively correlated (r = 0.17, P = 0.09) with total seedling densities in the soil seed bank, indicating more seedlings can potentially develop from the seed bank with increasing range condition of plant communities. We reject the hypothesis that clubmoss negatively affects the composition of seed banks. Mechanically disturbing plant communities to control clubmoss is predicted to lead to plant communities that are dominated by increasers and/or invaders. Managing for production of seeds by desired species should be a priority in promoting establishment of desired species.
Is There Still a Heffalump in the Room? Examining Paradigms in Historical Entrepreneurship Research

This chapter considers the common traps that researchers in entrepreneurship fall into when applying philosophical assumptions. It begins by explaining the importance of considering how meta-theories impact on the construction of knowledge and presents four paradigms and associated philosophical assumptions based on Burrell and Morgan’s (1979) paradigms of social science. The chapter develops a review method and uses these paradigms to consider the assumptions made in historic approaches to entrepreneurship that draw from psychology from the 1960s to the 1990s. The review unpicks the assumptions from within a number of key approaches including; personality theory, interactionism and social constructionism. A number of conclusions are made from this review; focusing on the nature of the philosophical assumptions used in entrepreneurship research and the common traps that researchers fall into. The chapter concludes by arguing for diversity in underlying assumptions and calls for growth in ‘critical perspectives’ within the subject.
Talent, Past Consumption and/or Popularity - Are German Soccer Celebrities Rosen or Adler Stars?

Based on the competing theories of superstar formation proposed by Rosen (1981) and Adler (1985) it is controversial if firsthand observable talent or other factors like past consumption and popularity influence stardom. This article investigates the emergence of superstars in German soccer. We use data on market values and individual player performance and publicity data to differentiate between Rosen’s and Adler’s theory of superstar formation. Running quantile regression we find evidence that Adler’s theory applies to German soccer stars.
Modeling Technology Preparedness as an antecedent of Mathematic Pre-service Teachers’ Self Efficacy, Perceived Usefulness and Intention toward use of Information Technology in Nigeria

This study test a specified model of information technology (IT) preparedness as antecedent of pre-service teachers’ self efficacy, perceived usefulness, and intention toward IT use for teaching in Nigeria. Survey method was employed for prosecuting the study. The participants of the study comprise of 200 pre-service teachers studying Mathematics education in one of the Nigerian universities. The instrument used for data collection was adapted and subjected to validation and reliability check. A factor analysis revealed four constructs and their reliability indexes were . 73, . 87, . 90 and . 91 Cronbach alpha respectively. The data of the study was subjected to factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and finally fitting the specified model of the study with AMOS 20 statistical package. The finding showed that IT preparedness positively predicts pre-service teachers’ IT self-efficacy, perceived usefulness and in-turn predicts their intention towards use of IT for future classroom practice. Based on this finding, the study suggests among others the holistic deployment of IT resources among teacher educator for pre-service teacher training.
Quality evaluation of local apple varieties: physicochemical and antioxidant proprieties at harvest and after cold storage

A wide apple germplasm is present in Italy in which numerous local genotypes of specific cultivation environment have to be still evaluated for fruit quality attributes. This is the case of a long-established fruit area located in central Italy (Tuscany) where several ancient apple varieties survive with the perspective to be re-introduced for their excellent quality. The objective of this work was to determine over a 2-year period the physicochemical traits, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and polyphenols (TP) content of three old local apple varieties: ‘Paganina’, ‘Paradisa’ and ‘Rosa’. These characteristics were also assessed after 90 and 150 days at 4 °C cold storage, in normal atmosphere refrigerated cellars. For comparison purpose, the commercial apple cultivar ‘Fuji’ was considered. In general, the old varieties showed valuable quality properties, particularly due to a greater antioxidant power of fruits, although a variability between the two crop seasons, characterized by different weather conditions, was observed. After a dry summer, ‘Rosa’ showed very high TAC and TP values (2-fold higher than other varieties) that, after longperiods of cold storage, markedly decreased. These losses were not so noticeable in the others, suggesting a tendency to maintain a major stability during storage. These findings could meet the preference of demanding consumers for healthier foods who appreciate fresh fruits with protective properties by free radicals scavenging activity. Moreover, farmers who are focused on nearby and niche markets could have interesting in these local varieties to promote their valorization.
Determining rheology from deformation data: The case of central Italy

The study of geodynamics relies on an understanding of the strength of the lithosphere. However, our knowledge of kilometer‐scale rheology has generally been obtained from centimeter‐sized laboratory samples or from microstructural studies of naturally deformed rocks. In this study, we present a method that allows rheological examination at a larger scale. Utilizing forward numerical modeling, we simulated lithospheric deformation as a function of heat flow and rheological parameters and computed several testable predictions including horizontal velocities, stress directions, and the tectonic regime. To select the best solutions, we compared the model predictions with experimental data. We applied this method in Italy and found that the rheology shows significant variations at small distances. The strength ranged from 0.6 ± 0.2 TN/m within the Apennines belt to 21 ± 6 TN/m in the external Adriatic thrust. These strength values correspond to an aseismic mantle in the upper plate and to a strong mantle within the Adriatic lithosphere. With respect to the internal thrust, we found that strike‐slip or transpressive, but not compressive, earthquakes can occur along the deeper portion of the thrust. The differences in the lithospheric strength are greater than our estimated uncertainties and occur across the Adriatic subduction margin. Using the proposed method, the lithospheric strength can be also determined when information at depth is scarce but sufficient surface data are available.
Primordial Magnetic Helicity Constraints from WMAP Nine-Year Data

If a primordial magnetic field in the universe has non-zero helicity, the violation of parity symmetry results in non-zero correlations between cosmic microwave background temperature and B-mode polarization. In this paper we derive approximations to the relevant microwave background power spectra arising from a helical magnetic field. Using the cross-power spectrum between temperature and B-mode polarization from the WMAP nine-year data, we set a 95\% confidence level upper limit on the helicity amplitude to be 10 nG$^2$ Gpc for helicity spectral index $n_H = -1.9$, for a cosmological magnetic field with effective field strength of 3 nG and a power-law index $n_B = -2.9$ near the scale-invariant value. Future microwave background polarization maps with greater sensitivity will be able to detect the helicity of an inflationary magnetic field well below the maximum value allowed by microwave background constraints on the magnetic field amplitude.
The strategic entrepreneurial thinking imperative

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that strategic entrepreneurial thinking is a unitary concept which should be viewed as a standalone construct. Design/Methodology/Approach: The concept strategic entrepreneurial thinking is modelled from an analysis of strategic thinking and entrepreneurial thinking from available literature. The strategic entrepreneurial mindset imperative is then emphasised and confirmed. Findings: This paper's finding is that there is no difference between strategic thinking and the entrepreneurial mindset. Instead, the composite strategic entrepreneurial mindset construct should be treated as a unitary construct. Practical implications : The importance for practitioners is that the paper integrates two constructs, strategic thinking and entrepreneurial thinking into a new concept, strategic entrepreneurial thinking. The paper shows how difficult it is to split this thinking and behaviour into separate strategic and entrepreneurial thought and action processes. Originality/Value: The paper explores the ''thinking'' aspect of the strategic entrepreneurial concept which prominent authors on the strategic entrepreneurship topic seem to have not focused on. The resultant strategic entrepreneurial mindset is modelled into a new stand alone concept on its own.
Herd behaviour in stock markets: an international perspective

In this paper, we study the behavioral finance as a theory that seeks to combine cognitive and psychological components with economic and financial aspects to explain irrationality of financial decisions. It is a paradigm where financial markets are studied using models that are less tight than those based on expected utility theory of Neumann Morgenstern and on arbitrage assumptions. Behavioral finance has two main parts: cognitive psychology and the limits to arbitrage. Cognitive refers to how people think. There is a large literature in psychology that claims people make asymmetric errors in thinking. Limits to arbitration refer to prediction data where forces of arbitrage circumstances will be effective or not. Our empirical validation focused on one of the cognitive components: herding. Indeed, we examined herd behaviour in an international context (the United States (DJU), Argentina (MERV), and France (CAC20)) using the model of Chang et al (2000). Our results led us to conclude that there is no herd behaviour.
Native terrestrial invertebrate fauna from the northern Antarctic Peninsula: new records, state of current knowledge and ecological preferences - Summary of a German federal study

The Antarctic terrestrial invertebrate fauna has been intensely studied during the last 120 years. However, due to their difficult accessibility, large regions of terrestrial Antarctica still remain to be investigated soil-zoologically. Some areas that have remained unstudied are now being increasingly visited by, i.e., Antarctic cruise-ship voyages. These sites are therefore becoming available for the expansion of Antarctic soil-zoological research. A study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency allowed the investigation of the edaphic fauna in ice-free areas along the routes of touristic cruise ships in the maritime Antarctic. A total of 13 localities around the northern Antarctic Peninsula were studied during the austral summers of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, many of which had never been investigated regarding their edaphic fauna. Soil-substrate samples were taken and the Nematoda, Collembola and Acari extracted and identified. More than 320,000 individuals and almost 100 species were recorded. Nematoda represented the most individual- and species-rich taxonomic group, followed by Collembola (abundances) and actinedid mites (species richness). The recorded fauna was typical for Maritime Antarctica. Although previous authors consider Antarctic species to have a low habitat specificity and broad tolerance for different habitat conditions, in the present study many individual species showed significant relationships to specific habitat parameters (i.e., vegetation, soil organic matter, soil moisture). While no new endemic species were identified among the microarthropods (Collembola and Acari), several nematode taxa were found that are probably new to science. Previous knowledge regarding the distribution, ecology (i.e, microhabitat preferences, nutrient resources or life cycles) and partly also the taxonomy of the recorded species are reviewed.
A pilot study: Facilitating cross-cultural understanding with project-based collaborative learning in an online environment

This study investigated three aspects: how project-based collaborative learning facilitates cross-cultural understanding; how students perceive project-based collaborative learning implementation in a collaborative cyber community (3C) online environment; and what types of communication among students are used. A qualitative case study approach was applied to explore these aspects using a variety of data sources. First, students’ reflections were evaluated to determine their level of cross-cultural understanding. Second, students’ messages on the discussion board were analysed to explore their cross-cultural learning process and types of communication. Third, interviews were conducted with the students and their instructor to investigate their experiences and perceptions with respect to project-based cross-cultural learning. Results of this study show that cross-cultural learning took place in the 3C online environment. Folk games, learning activities, were interesting, drew students’ attention, and stimulated their motivation. The students and the instructor positively perceived the 3C online environment as it created an authentic learning environment by connecting students from different cultures. Educational, technical, and communicative types of communication in the 3C environment were derived; however, only communication of the educational type could facilitate cross-cultural understanding. Based on the results, this study provides implications and suggestions for the teaching and research community in the field.
Economic comparison of honey mesquite control methods with special reference to the Texas Rolling Plains.

Although economic responses to honey mesquite control varied considerably within and among resource regions in Texas, aerial applications of herbicides generally produced higher annual rates of return on the investment than did mechanical alternatives. Statewide, aerial applications of 2,4,5-T produced the greatest annual rates of return, averaging 15.7% for deep range sites and 11.0% for shallow range sites for projected livestock responses when cattle prices were estimated to average %0.97/kg (%44.00/cwt, 1978 dollars). Statewide, annual rates of return from aerial application of herbicides for honey mesquite control on shallow sites (statewide) varied from -8.3% to ll and professor, Department of Range Science, Texas AM Fisher et al. 1970; Scifres 1973; Scifres et al. 1977; Wiedemann et al. 1977) but there is relatively little published information concerning the economic efficiency of these methods. Some workers have evaluated treatment costs (Boykin 1960; Wiedemann and Cross 1975) but did not consider benefits of brush control because of the lack of production response data amenable to economic analysis. As Dahl et al. (1978) indicated, some of the past research on livestock production responses to honey mesquite control resulted in conservative livestock response estimates because stocking rates were not adjusted following treatment. For example, Robison et al. (1970) reported an average 9%/ha increase (20.3 kg/ ha to 22.1 kg/ ha) in weaned calf production on the Rolling Plains if stocking rates were not adjusted following aerial spraying with 2,4,5-T [2,4trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid]. Robison et al. (1970) reviewed research indicating that weaning weights were increased by about 15 kg/calf, and that steer gains were increased by about 14 kg (summer grazing) following honey mesquite control (Fisher et al. 1959; Robison et al. 1969). In a subsequent study, Cross and Fisher (1975) reported an average weaning weight increase of about 11.3 kg/ calf as well as an increased stocking rate from 1 AU / 11.1 ha to 1 AU/9.8 ha which jointly increased production by 19%/ha. Moreover, based on conversion of forage standing crop to carrying capacity of steers and averaged across differing site conditions, Dahl et al. (1978) reported a predicted increase in beef production (kg/ha) of nearly 30% following aerial spraying on the Rolling
Abundance and diversity of sulphate-reducing bacterioplankton in Lake Suigetsu, a meromictic lake in Fukui, Japan

The depth distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the water column of a meromictic lake, Lake Suigetsu, Fukui, Japan was investigated using quantitative competitive PCR targeting the gene coding for portions of the a-subunit of dissimilatory sulphite reductase (dsrA). The total bacterial cell density (DAPI count) was 5� 13� 10 6 cells mL � 1 in the water column of the lake with maximum abundance occurring at the oxic-anoxic interface layer. SRB were not detected in oxic surface water using competitive PCR. SRB were found in the anoxic waters below the oxy- cline ranging from 10 4 to 10 5 cells mL � 1 , accounting for 0.3-8.9% of the total bacteria. The SRB cell densities were higher than previously estimated using the most-probable-number (MPN) method. Sequencing of the cloned PCR prod- uct of dsrA showed the existence of different SRB groups in the anoxic water. The majority of the dsrA sequences were associated with the Desulfosarcina-Desulfococcus-Desulfonema group and members of the Desulfobulbaceae family. Other dsrA clones belonged to the Desulfomicrobium and Desulfovibrio species as well as to a deeply branched group in the dsrA tree with no representatives from previously isolated SRB groups. These SRB species appear to be impor- tant for the sulphur and carbon cycle in the anoxic waters of Lake Suigetsu.
Discount Learnability Evaluation

Learnability evaluation has traditionally required expensive and time-consuming techniques. Practitioners have refrained from performing extended learnability evaluation due to its prohibitive costs. We propose a discount method for evaluation of an interactive system's learnability. Our method is based on automated logging of user actions, detection of user mental chunks, and observation of chunk size as it grows over time with experience. We introduce a model for chunk detection, and present experimental results validating the use of chunk size as an indicator of learnability.
Sincronía internacional de los precios de la vivienda

While the synchronization of business cycles has been much studied in the literature, housing prices’ synchronization has not. In this paper we study the determinants of the housing prices’ synchronicity for a variety of advanced and emerging countries. In order to do so, we rely on Kalemli-Ozcan et al. (2009)’s definition of synchronicity and on the housing prices indexes provided by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and other sources. In particular, we study the relationship of the housing prices’ synchronicity and banking integration. Our finding show that, after controlling by macroeconomic and idiosyncratic factors, banking integration positively and significantly affects the synchronicity of housing prices. We also find that this effect is lost during the global financial crisis for the synchronicity between advanced countries, but it remains significant for the synchronicity between advanced and emerging economies.
The Evolution Force of Genome Reduction in Carnivorous Plants

The introns are widely present in the genome of eukaryotes and the distribution of intron varies greatly among different organisms or different genes. Generally, introns loss is an important way for uneven distribution of intron during genome evolution. In this study, two closely related carnivorous plants (Genlisea aurea and Utricularia gibba) were chosen, their genome were relatively integrity and high quality, especially, the large difference in genome size between them. We detected intron loss events, then investigated the relationship between the genome size, intron density, intron loss and the mutation rate in the carnivorous plants. Finally, a total of 752 and 124 intron loss positions were identified in G. aurea and U. gibba, respectively. In carnivorous plants, we found that the region around lost site had high mutation rate, the genes of intron loss had high mutation rate. Besides, for the species with more intron losses, the genome size was smaller and the mutation rate was higher. Thus, we propose that the mutation rate was positively correlated with intron losses, but negatively correlated with intron number and genome size. These could be explained by the selection to minimize mutational hazards.