Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of variable snowpacks on habitat use by mountain caribou

Mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in southeastern British Columbia subsist for most of the winter on arboreal hair lichen, mostly Bryoria spp. Foraging occurs mainly in old subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forests near treeline. Here, the lower limit of Bryoria in the canopy is dictated by snowpack depth because hair lichens die when buried in snow. Bryoria is often beyond the reach of caribou in early winter, prompting caribou to move downslope to where lichen occurs lower in the canopy and other foraging modes are possible. Snowpacks are normally deep enough by late winter that caribou can reach Bryoria where it is most abundant, at high elevations. Extending this to inter-annual comparisons, Bryoria should be less accessible during late winter of low-snow years following normal winters, or of normal to low-snow years after deep-snow winters. We hypothesized that when maximum snowpack in late winter is low relative to the deepest of the previous 5 years, mountain caribou will use lower elevations to facilitate foraging (“lichen-snow-caribou” or LSC hypothesis). We tested this with late-winter data from 13 subpopulations. In the dry climatic region generally and for minor snowfall differences in wet and very wet regions, caribou did not shift downslope or in fact were at higher elevations during relatively low-snow years, possibly reflecting the ease of locomotion. The LSC hypothesis was supported within wet and very wet regions when snowpacks were about 1 m or more lower than in recent years. Elevation declined by 300 m (median) to 600 m (25th percentile) for snowpack differences of at least 1.5 m. Greater use of lodgepole pine and western hemlock stands sometimes also occurred. Management strategies emphasizing subalpine fir stands near treeline should be re-examined to ensure protection of a broader range of winter habitats used by caribou under variable snowpack conditions.
EXPLORING THE SAFE HUMAN MINDSET OF PRODUCTION LEADERS OF A PLATINUM MINE

The aim of this research was to determine the safety mindset of managers, shift bosses, and miners as the production leaders in a South African platinum mine. The Safe Human Mindset Measuring Instrument (SHMI) was administered among a purposive selected sample of managers, shift bosses and miners (N=106). Results showed significant differences between managers and miners in terms of relationship credibility, climate, trust, caring support, ownership, physical work environment, and attitude to safety. Significant differences were also found between managers and shift bosses in terms of trust and caring support, and between shift bosses and miners in terms of ownership. Practical implications are discussed and recommendations are made. OPSOMMING Die doel van die navorsing was om die houding van bestuurders, skofbestuurders en mynwerkers as produksieleiers in ’n Suid-Afrikaanse platinummyn ten opsigte van menslike veiligheid te bepaal. Die Veilige Menslike Houdingsinstrument is onder ’n doelbewuste steekproef van bestuurders, skofbestuurders en mynwerkers afgeneem (N=106). Die resultate het getoon dat betekenisvolle verskille bestaan tussen bestuurders en mynwerkers in terme van betroubare verhoudinge, klimaat, vertroue, ondersteuning, fisiese werksomgewing, en houding ten opsigte van veiligheid. Betekenisvolle verskille is ook gevind tussen bestuurders en skofbestuurders in terme van vertroue en ondersteuning, en tussen skofbestuurders en mynwerkers in terme van eienaarskap. Praktiese implikasies word bespreek en aanbevelings gemaak. a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aa a a a
Informative advertisement of partial compatible products

Product design and advertisement strategy have been theoretically studied as separate firms decisions. In the present paper, we look at the link between advertisement and product design and we analyze how firms' advertising decisions influence the market effect of product design. We consider a model of informative advertisement where two firms produce a bundle of complementary products which are partially compatible. A product design with more compatible components is associated with a larger intensity of advertisement. Higher compatibility reduces competition between firms, which incentivizes them to give factual information about their bundle. Like Matutes and Regibeau (1988), industry profit and total welfare is maximized with full product compatibility. However, contrary to them, we obtain that consumer surplus is not monotone with the level of product compatibility and its maximum is attained with partial compatibility. Moreover, because consumer surplus not only depends on the equilibrium prices but also on the intensity of advertisement, we find that for intermediate equilibrium levels of advertising, consumers prefer fully compatible components rather than full incompatibility. As a result, a more compatible product design benefits all the agents in the economy.
Endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens strain EP103 was effective against Phytophthora capsici causing blight in chili pepper

Endophytic bacterial strains from root tissue of strawberry were screened for their efficacy in growth improvement and control of Phytophthora blight disease of chili pepper plant under greenhouse condition. Plants treated with the strain EP103, identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, showed growth improvement in terms of fresh weight and root length compared to the untreated control and other endophytic strains. When challenged with Phytophthora capsici, there was significant reduction of disease in EP103 treated plants with an efficacy of 78.7%. There was no direct inhibition of the target pathogen by EP103 when tested under in vitro antibiosis assay. Analysis of differential expression of selected marker genes for induced systemic resistance (ISR) in plants treated with EP103 and challenged with P. capsici showed upregulation of PR1 and PR10 pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. PCR analysis showed that EP103 produced secondary metabolites such as pyoluteorin, pyrrolnitrin, hydrogen cyanide and orfamide A. This study indicated the potential of endophytic P. fluorescens strain EP103 as an efficient biocontrol agent against P. capsici in chili pepper plant.
Leaf litter and the small‐scale distribution of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the boreal forest

Management practices favoring conifers at the expense of deciduous tree species, and the eradication of deciduous trees, especially aspen Populus tremula, from managed forests have resulted in population declines in several species in Fennoscandia. In addition to species depending on decaying wood of deciduous trees, earlier evidence suggests that leaf litter, especially that of aspen, is favored by many carabid species. We ran a four-year experiment in order to compare carabid assemblages of unchanged forest floor with artificially created leaf-litter plots in central Finland. A total of 18 plots (5 m in diameter) were established in three forest stands without aspen a few kilometers apart. Each stand had 3 litter plots (litter added) and 3 control plots, Pre-treatment samples were compared with those collected alter litter addition. The litter addition affected the carabid-assemblage structure by increasing the catches of some species and decreasing the catch of one species. The number of carabid species was similar in control and litter plots. The litter effect was smaller than variation among forest stands and year-lo-year fluctuations. There was a strong temporal constancy among the plots: ‘rich’ plots remained ‘rich’ from year to year and similarly, ‘poor’ plots remained ‘poor’. The significant influence of leaf litter on carabid abundance can be attributable to both abiotic factors (microenvironmental conditions, especially humidity and temperature), and biotic ones (changes in niche structure, improved food supply). Leal litter seems to have an effect on carabid distribution patterns, and deciduous trees scattered among conifers are likely to be of importance on carabid fauna in boreal forests.
Two more, bright, z > 6 quasars from VST ATLAS and WISE

Recently, Carnall et al. discovered two bright high-redshift quasars using the combination of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) Survey Telescope (VST) ATLAS and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) surveys. The technique involved using the 3D colour plane i–z : z–W1 : W1–W2 with the WISE W1 (3.4 micron) and W2 (4.5 micron) bands taking the place of the usual NIR J band to help decrease stellar dwarf contamination. Here, we report on our continued search for 5.7 6 quasars, VST-ATLAS J158.6938−14.4211 at z = 6.07 and J332.8017−32.1036 at z = 6.32 with magnitudes of z_AB = 19.4 and 19.7 mag, respectively. J158.6938−14.4211 was confirmed by Keck LRIS observations and J332.8017−32.1036 was confirmed by ESO NTT EFOSC-2 observations. Here, we present VLT X-shooter visible and NIR spectra for the four ATLAS quasars. We have further independently rediscovered two z > 5.7 quasars previously found by the VIKING/KiDS and PanSTARRS surveys. This means that in ATLAS we have now discovered a total of six quasars in our target 5.7 < z < 6.4 redshift range. Making approximate corrections for incompleteness, we find that our quasar space density agrees with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey results of Jiang et al. at M_1450 A ≈ −27. Preliminary virial mass estimates based on the C iv and Mg ii emission lines give black hole masses in the range M_BH ≈ 1–6 × 10^9 M_⊙ for the four ATLAS quasars.
The Role of Inflation Target Adjustment in Stabilization Policy

How and under what circumstances can adjusting the inflation target serve as a stabilization-policy tool and contribute to welfare improvement? We answer these questions quantitatively with a standard New Keynesian model that includes cost-push type shocks which create a trade-off between inflation and output gap stabilization. We show that this trade-off leads to a non-trivial welfare cost under a standard Taylor rule, even with optimized policy coefficients. We then propose an additional policy tool of an inflation target rule and find that the optimal target needs to be adjusted in a persistent manner and in the opposite direction to the realization of a cost-push shock. The inflation target rule, combined with a Taylor rule, significantly reduces fluctuations in inflation originating from the cost-push shocks and mitigates the policy trade-off, resulting in a similar level of welfare to that associated with the Ramsey optimal policy. The welfare implications of the inflation target rule are more pronounced under a flatter Phillips curve.
Macroeconomic Variables and Stock Market Returns: Panel Analysis from Selected ASEAN Countries

This paper aims to examine the effect of macroeconomic variables namely inflation, money supply (MS), and exchange rate (ER) on both conventional and Islamic stock market returns in the three selected ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia) by utilizing monthly data over the period of January 2005 to December 2015. Applying the panel least square regression techniques, the results show that both stock market returns are significantly affected by the ER and inflation rate. MS is found to be insignificant. The findings of this paper also conclude that inflation poses a greater effect and inversely related to the stock market returns. In this case, there is a need for amendment in monetary policy to ensure that inflation rate is set at a low level, since the results would be able to bring an impact to boost the capital market in the selected ASEAN countries
An Empirical Investigation of Fama-French-Carhart Multifactor Model: UK Evidence

The study employs Fama-French-Carhart Multifactor Model to investigate the significance of Firm Size, Book-to-Market ratio and Momentum in explaining variations in returns of stocks listed on the UK equity market using monthly stock data of 100 randomly selected UK stocks from January 1996 to December 2013 collected from DataStream 5.0. The empirical results from the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis of the test of the multifactor model found firm size insignificant for three of the six portfolios formed; the value factor (book-to-market ratio) significant for all the six portfolios while the momentum factor is significant for the three portfolios with big market capitalization stocks. Overall, the empirical results indicate the presence of value effect among small-cap and big-cap stocks and momentum effect among big-cap stocks in the London Stock Exchange. Firm size is not found to be a reliable significant factor in explaining stock returns in the equity market.
Physical Function and Aging

A decline in cardiopulmonary fitness begins to accelerate after 45 years of age more so in people who are disproportionately large, sedentary, and/or smokers. The elderly shy away from exercise, often because they are misinformed and fail to understand that a life without the benefit of strength training leaves the aging individual weak, dependent, and at increased risk for chronic disease. Seniors may also be dealing with balance and stability issues. When balance is a problem, elderly people may not be stable enough on their feet to generate force; strength training will help. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health from 1974 to 2006, involving 20,318 men and women across 32 years, it was shown that strength decline was influenced by lifestyle and associated with risk of diseases and dependent living [7]. No surprises there across all those years! But let’s peel the onion and look at what aggressive, ongoing scientific investigation has revealed about the restorative impact of strength training on collapsing alveoli, mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of bone density and muscle mass, aging blood vessels and the muscles they feed.
A user-centred model of presence

This paper analyses different theoretical views of Presence, and proposes a new model highlighting the role that users should play in such a model. We expect to contribute to the discussion of what the model should be, and how it could be tested. We believe with this proposal the tasks of choosing variables and to interpret them could be made simpler. One relevant aspect of this proposal is the fact that it is independent from specific media, as it is centred on the user.
GENDER EFFECT ON BRAND CREDIBILITY AND PURCHASE RELATION: DOES BC VARY AMONG DIFFERENT BRANDS

Given the potential utility of brand credibility for marketers, the present research conceptualizes and investigates the relationships between brand credibility and high-technology products purchase intention. Moreover, it is aimed in the study that if different brands can have different brand credibility or not and to study the relationship between brand credibility and high-tech product purchase intention can be moderated by gender. In order to measure statement’s explanatory power of the variables, Confirmatory Factor Analysis was applied. In order to examine the differences between brand’s credibilities Anova test was used. Also, for investigating linear effects linear regression and for investigating moderation effects of demographic variables, hierarchical regression was used. The results suggest that brand credibility influence the purchase intention for high-tech products. Also, SONY is perceived as more credible according to some other brands. In addition gender is likely to moderate the relationship between brand credibility and purchase intention. Theoretical and practical contributions and implications are discussed.
Effect of feeding linseed oil on growth performance and nutrients utilization efficiency in broiler chicks

A total of 300 day-old commercial broiler chicks were procured and randomly distributed into five treatments, each treatment had four replicates with ten chicks in each replicate. Growth trial of 6 weeks was conducted in a complete randomized design comprising five dietary treatment groups. The control group (T1) was offered maizesoybean meal based diet with sunflower oil. While, T2, T3, T4 and T5 were fed with linseed oil replacing sunflower oil of control group @ 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. The body weight gain (g) and feed intake in different treatment groups during overall period of growth did not differed significantly (P<0.05) than the control group T1. Feed conversion ratio during overall periods was not affected due to replacement of sunflower oil with linseed oil up to 100%. The results showed that the mean value of Energy efficiency ratio and Protein efficiency ratio of different dietary treatments having linseed oil did not differ significantly upto 100% replacement with linseed oil with the control group. Protein efficiency ratio, Dry matter metabolizability percent and nitrogen retention values did not vary due to replacing of sunflower oil with linseed oil at various levels. Also gross energy metabolizability did not differed significantly in all dietary treatments upto 100% replacement with linseed oil.
The Competitiveness of Nations: Economic Growth in the ECE Region

Why do some countries grow much faster, and have much better trade performance, than other countries? What are the crucial factors behind such differences, and what can governments do in order to improve the relative position of their economies? This paper outlines a synthetic framework, based on Schumpeterian logic, for analysing such questions. Four different aspects of competitiveness are identified; technology, costs, capacity and demand. The framework is applied to a sample of 49 countries between 1993 and 2001.
MAMA MODEL APPROACH : ITS IMPLICATION TO COMMITMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR

The aims of this study is to find the existence of MAMA (Motivation, Ability, and Moral Awareness) model to the commitment and Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). The subject of the research is the five stars hotels at Nusa Dua Bali. Respondents of this study are the operational employees at the hotels who have Hindu religion with 198 samples. The method of collecting data was simple random sampling method with proportional allocation. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis technique was utilized to analyze the data in this research. This research has found that MAMA model (Motivation, Ability, and Moral Awareness) influences OCB. Furthermore this research has found a theory that the main variable which is causing the appearance of organizational citizenship behavior is MAMA (motivation, ability, and moral awareness) as an intrinsic behavior, and commitment or organizational citizenship behavior function of MAMA, and commitment or to be formulated as OCB f. (MAMA) Info Article History Article: Received April 2015 Approved June 2015 Published September 2015
ADSORPTION BEHAVIOR OF NAPHTHALENE ONTO ORGANOCLAY IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

The adsorption properties of naphthalene, as a representative Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), from its aqueous solution onto organoclay are evaluated and are compared with adsoprtion properties of napthalene on sediments. The organoclay is a representative of Reactive Core Mat (RCM) while the sediments are collected from an actual Superfund site interest at Neponset River, Milton, MA. The adsorption experiments are conducted in batch series using a saturated napthalene solution with concentration of 34 ppm. Adsorption kinetic tests are conducted to measure equilibrium time and to define the appropriate adsorption kinetics models. Once the equilibrium time is determined, isotherm experiments are conducted and the results are used to define the best adsorption isotherm model. Linear and Freundlich isotherms show close correlation and are considered a good fit for naphthalene sorption on organoclay with a Kd value of 9000 L/kg. The kinetics of naphthalene adsorption on organoclay result in pseudo second order as the best fit model; although pseudo first order models also appear to have acceptable correlation factor. Comparison of napthalene adsorption on organoclay versus sediment shows that sediments results in a higher partitioning coefficient. This is attributed to the significantly
Adjustment for proxy number and coherence in a large‐scale temperature reconstruction

Proxy records may display fluctuations in climate variability that are artifacts of changing replication and interseries correlation of constituent time‐series and also from methodological considerations. These biases obscure the understanding of past climatic variability, including estimation of extremes, differentiation between natural and anthropogenic forcing, and climate model validation. Herein, we evaluate as a case‐study, the Esper et al. (2002) extra‐tropical millennial‐length temperature reconstruction that shows increasing variability back in time. We provide adjustments considering biases at both the site and hemispheric scales. The variance adjusted record shows greatest differences before 1200 when sample replication is quite low. A reduced amplitude of peak warmth during Medieval Times by about 0.4°C (0.2°C) at annual (40‐year) timescales slightly re‐draws the longer‐term evolution of past temperatures. Many other regional and large‐scale reconstructions appear to contain variance‐related biases.
Racial bias and the validity of the Implicit Association Test

Implicit associations and biases are carried without awareness of conscious direction. In this paper, I develop a model to study giving behaviours under conditions of implicit bias. I test this model by implementing a novel laboratory experiment.a Dictator Game with sorting to study both these giving behaviours, as well as a subject.s willingness to be exposed to a giving environment. In doing so, I adapt the Implicit Association Test (IAT), commonplace in other social sciences, for use in economics experiments. I then compare IAT score to dictator giving and sorting as a necessary test of its validity. I find that the presence of sorting environments identify a reluctance to share and negatively predict giving. However, despite the IAT.s evergrowing popularity, it fails to predict even simple economic behaviours such as dictator giving. These results are indicative that implicit bias fails to overcome selfish interests and thus the IAT lacks external validity. Keywords: Implicit Association Test, implicit bias, race, prosocial behaviour
Globular clusters and supermassive black holes in galaxies: further analysis and a larger sample

We explore several correlations between various large-scale galaxy properties, particularly total globular cluster population (N_GCS), the central black hole mass (M_BH), velocity dispersion (nominally sigma_e), and bulge mass (M_dyn). Our data sample of 49 galaxies, for which both N_GC and M_BH are known, is larger than used in previous discussions of these two parameters and we employ the same sample to explore all pairs of correlations. Further, within this galaxy sample we investigate the scatter in each quantity, with emphasis on the range of published values for sigma_e and effective radius (R_e). We find that these two quantities in particular are difficult to measure consistently and caution that precise intercomparison of galaxy properties involving R_e and sigma_e is particularly difficult. Using both chi^2 and Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) fitting techniques, we show that quoted observational uncertainties for all parameters are too small to represent the true scatter in the data. We find that the correlation between M_dyn and N_GC is stronger than either the M_BH-sigma_e or M_BH-N_GC relations. We suggest that this is because both the galaxy bulge population ans N_GC were fundamentally established at an early epoch during the same series of star-forming events. By contrast, although the seed for M_BH was likely formed at a similar epoch, its growth over time is less similar from galaxy to galaxy and thus less predictable.