Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biogeosciences Non-microbial methane formation in oxic soils

Methane plays an important role as a radiatively and chemically active gas in our atmosphere. Until recently, sources of atmospheric methane in the biosphere have been attributed to strictly anaerobic microbial processes during degradation of organic matter. However, a large fraction of methane produced in the anoxic soil layers does not reach the atmosphere due to methanotrophic consumption in the overlaying oxic soil. Although methane fluxes from aerobic soils have been observed, an alternative source other than methanogenesis has not been identified thus far. Here we provide evidence for non-microbial methane formation in soils under oxic conditions. We found that soils release methane upon heating and other environmental factors like ultraviolet irradiation, and drying-rewetting cycles. We suggest that chemical formation of methane during degradation of soil organic matter may represent the missing soil source that is needed to fully understand the methane cycle in aerobic soils. Although the emission fluxes are relatively low when compared to those from wetlands, they may be important in warm and wet regions subjected to ultraviolet radiation. We suggest that this methane source is highly sensitive to global change.
Simulating climatic mass balance, seasonal snow development and associated freshwater runoff in the Kongsfjord basin, Svalbard (1980–2016)

ABSTRACT The Kongsfjord basin in northwest Svalbard is the site of a number of interdisciplinary studies concerned with the effect of fresh water from seasonal snow and glacier melt on the physical and biological environment. We use an energy-balance model coupled with a subsurface snow model to simulate the long-term climatic mass-balance evolution of the glaciers and the seasonal snow development of nonglacierized parts of the Kongsfjord basin. Runoff from both glacierized and nonglacierized parts of the basin is simulated to quantify the fresh water flux to the fjord. The model is calibrated with long-term mass-balance data measured at four glaciers, and with automatic weather station data. The simulated area-averaged climatic mass balance for the whole basin is positive (+0.23 m w.e. a−1) over the period 1980–2016; however, the trend for net mass balance is not statistically significant over the simulation period, despite the observed ongoing summer warming. Refreezing equals 0.24 m w.e. a−1, which is equivalent to 17% of the total mass gain from precipitation and moisture deposition. Total runoff comprises contributions from seasonal snow in the nonglacierized area (16%) and glacier discharge (84%). Model time series shows a significant increasing trend for annual glacier runoff (6.83 × 106 m3 a−1) over the simulation period.
Adapting a local indicator of spatial association to identify hot spots in traffic safety

Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Science Park 1/15, 3590 Diepenbeek, BELGIUM; E-mail: elke.moons@uhasselt.be Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Science Park 5/6, 3590 Diepenbeek, BELGIUM
Effect of Workforce Age on Quantitative and Qualitative Organizational Performance: Conceptual Framework and Case Study Evidence

Field studies linking workforce age to performance treat performance as one-dimensional and often focus on individual not organizational performance. To analyze the effects of workforce age on organizational performance, we suggest treating performance as multi-dimensional with at least two output dimensions: quantity and quality. We provide a novel conceptual framework that borrows insights from multiple disciplines to better understand ageing phenomena in organizations. In particular, we build on psychological and medical studies showing that individual age has different effects on different cognitive capabilities. As a result, we argue that workforce ageing may affect various performance dimensions, such as quantity and quality, in different, often opposite ways. In our empirical part we examine a unique dataset containing detailed court data over a time span of 19 years. We find that average workforce age is linked negatively to quantitative organizational performance but positively to qualitative organizational performance. Our findings suggest that future organizational studies should decompose performance at least along the quantity–quality dimension. Our theoretical framework helps to understand the different types of ageing effects and to derive itemized implications for changes in organizational performance. It also helps to reconcile contradictory findings of previous studies and to derive important managerial implications for task assignments, career policies and company strategies in view of upcoming demographic changes in many developed countries.
Future Changes in Biogenic Isoprene Emissions: How Might They Affect Regional and Global Atmospheric Chemistry?

Abstract Isoprene is emitted from vegetation to the atmosphere in significant quantities, and it plays an important role in the reactions that control tropospheric oxidant concentrations. As future climatic and land-cover changes occur, the spatial and temporal variations, as well as the magnitude of these biogenic isoprene emissions, are expected to change. This paper presents a study of the change in biogenic isoprene emissions that would result from both anthropogenic land-cover and climate-driven changes. Annual global isoprene emissions were estimated to be 522 Tg yr−1 under current climatological and land-cover conditions. When climate-driven land-cover changes are predicted, but climate does not change, total global emissions did not change significantly, although regional impacts were important. However, the use of future temperature and land-cover drivers to estimate isoprene emissions produced a global estimate of 889 Tg yr−1. Anthropogenic land-cover changes, such as urbanization and changes of.
Physical properties of Rhodic Hapludox (Oxisol) soil under different oat managements of integrated crop-livestock system.

The current study aimed at the effects of residual straw deposition from cultivation of white oat ('Avena sativa') on physical properties of a Rhodic Hapludox (Oxisol) soil during fall-winter (2009 and 2011) under an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS). The experiment was implemented at field condition in a factorial scheme on a randomized blocks design with three replications. Six white oat managements were evaluated: (1) grazing of 10 cm plant residue height from the soil; (2) grazing of 20 cm plant residue height from the soil; (3) cut for haymaking with 10 cm residue height from the soil; (4) cut for haymaking with 20 cm height from soil; (5) white oat growth without grazing or cut of subsequent summer growth in no-tillage system; (6) white oat growth without grazing or cut with subsequent summer growth in conventional tillage. After the white oat management, soybean and corn were grown in the summers of 2009 and 2010, respectively. The residual straw of white oat was quantified before the summer crop sowing. The macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity and soil bulk density were evaluated in layers of 0-10 and 11-20 cm deep after each growth. The results showed an increase in macroporosity. A decrease was also observed in microporosity and the soil bulk density in white oat management under conventional tillage. However, there was no difference in total porosity. There was an increase in macroporosity and soil total porosity in the white oat management under no tillage during the successive crops (white oat in the winter/summer growth) (2.5 years). The adoption of livestock-farming system by the farmers with white oat growth during fall-winter for grazing or cut for haymaking with 10 or 20 cm residue height from soil did not change the physical properties of the Rhodic Hapludox (Oxisol).
Intraday trading patterns in the equity warrants and equity options markets: Australian evidence

This paper extends the microstructure literature, by examining the previously undocumented intraday trading patterns in trading volume, price volatility, order depth and relative spreads for both the warrant and option market in Australia. Comparisons of intraday variations across these derivative securities allows for insight to be drawn into competing market microstructure theories and provides the opportunity to examine whether market design differences explain variations in observed intraday patterns. We find that intraday trading patterns documented in the warrant and option markets can be explained by their market designs, along with theories relating to time-varying information asymmetry and time-varying hedging trades around nontrading periods. This journal article is available in Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal: http://ro.uow. edu.au/aabfj/vol1/iss2/5 The Australasian Accounting Business & Finance Journal, May, 2007 Segara and Segara: Intraday Trading Patterns. Vol. 1, No.2. 42 Intraday trading patterns in the equity warrants and equity options markets: Australian evidence Lydia Segara School of Accounting, College of Business, University of Western Sydney Reuben Segara Faculty of Economics and Business, Discipline of Finance, The University of Sydney
Diet specialisation and foraging efficiency under fluctuating vole abundance: a comparison between generalist and specialist avian predators

Specialist species, using a narrow range of resources, are predicted to be more efficient when foraging on their preferred food than generalist species consuming a wider range of foods. We tested whether the foraging efficiency of the pallid harrier Circus macrourus, a vole specialist, and of sympatric Montagu's harriers C. pygargus, a closely related generalist, differed in relation to inter-annual variations in vole abundance over five years (including two peak- one intermediate and two low vole abundance years). We show that the hunting parameters of pallid harriers strongly varied with vole abundance (higher encounter rates, capture rates and proportion of successful strikes in high than intermediate and low vole abundance years, respectively), whereas Montagu's harriers showed stable capture rates and hunting success (proportion of strikes that were successful), irrespective of vole abundance. Encounter rates and capture rates were higher for pallid than for Montagu's harriers when voles were abundant, but lower when voles were scarce. The hunting success of pallid harriers was also lower than that of Montagu's harriers when voles were scarce, and when they had to target alternative preys, in particular birds. Overall, estimated biomass intake rate was 40% higher for pallid harriers than for Montagu's harriers when voles were abundant, but 50% lower when voles were scarce. Our results indicate that specialists predators, like pallid harriers, which evolve specific adaptations or breeding strategies, do better when their preferred prey is abundant, but may face a cost of specialisation, being not efficient enough when their preferred prey is scarce. These results have broader implications for understanding why specialist predators are, in general, more vulnerable than generalists, and for predicting how specialists can cope with rapid environmental changes affecting the abundance or predictability of their preferred resources.
Effect of land use change on ecosystem function of dung beetles: experimental evidence from Wallacea Region in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Shahabuddin (2011) Effect of land use change on ecosystem function of dung beetles: experimental evidence from Wallacea Region in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 12: 177-181. The deforestation of tropical forests and their subsequent conversion to humandominated land-use systems is one of the most significant causes of biodiversity loss. However clear understanding of the links between ecological functions and biodiversity is needed to evaluate and predict the true environmental consequences of human activities. Thisstudy provided experimental evidence comparing ecosystem function of dung beetles across a land use gradient ranging from natural tropical forest and agroforestry systems to open cultivated areas in Central Sulawesi. Therefore, standardized dung pats were exposed at each land-use type to assess dung removal and parasite suppression activity by dung beetles. The results showed that ecosystem function of dung beetles especially dung burial activity was remarkably disrupted by land use changes from natural forest to open agriculturalarea. Dung beetles presence enhanced about 53% of the total dung removed and reduced about 83% and 63% of fly population and species number respectively, indicating a pronounce contribution of dung beetles in our ecosystem.Key words: land use change, ecosystem function, dung beetles.
Small Group Incentives: A Review of the Literature

Abstract A review of the effects of small group incentives indicate that equally-divided small group incentives sustain high levels of productivity and employee satisfaction. Moreover, for groups of 2–12 members, their effects have been comparable to those reported for individual monetary incentives. Although some studies found that differentially-divided group incentives resulted in higher performance than individual incentives and equally-divided group rewards, they were perceived as less fair and satisfying, perhaps due to their competitive nature. Few studies have examined the effects of group incentives on social interactions or the performance of tasks that require interdependent contributions by group members. While results pertaining to the effectiveness of small group monetary incentives have been consistent, questions remain. Particularly important are studies of the relative effects of individual and group feedback when incentives are provided, the effects of group incentives when there are dis.
Graphene Oxide based Label Free Ultrasensitive Immunosensor for Lung Cancer Biomarker, hTERT

We report the fabrication of ultrasensitive Graphene Oxide (GO) based electrochemical immunosensor to detect human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a lung cancer biomarker. The immuno-electrode-has been fabricated by covalent immobilization of rabbit anti-hTERT antibodies (Ab) onto GO films on ITO coated glass. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies confirms the presence of diverse organic functional groups (-COOH, -CHO, -OH) of GO, and the binding (anti-hTERT) onto GO/ITO electrode. Interestingly, Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) also reveals clear visual surface modification of the GO film by anti-hTERT antibodies and hTERT antigen (Ag). The electrochemical Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) results show that the GO based immunosensor exhibits specificity and low detection upto 10 ag mL-1 (10×10-18 g mL-1) in wide detection range (10 ag mL-1-50 ng mL-1) for hTERT. The immunosensor showed ability to detect hTERT in spiked sputum samples upto 100 fg mL-1 in dynamic detection range of 100 fg mL-1-10 ng mL-1. The enhanced performance of Ab/GO/ITO is attributed to fast electron transfer and efficient loading of Ab on large surface area provided by GO network. The low level detection of hTERT warrants the realization of point-of-care device for early detection of lung/oral cancer through oral fluids
Kinetic Study of Decolorization of Methylene Blue with Sodium Sulphite in Aqueous Media: Influence of Transition Metal Ions

The kinetics of decolorization of methylene blue (MB+) with sodium sulphite in aqueous media was investigated over the temperature range 20-40°C. The kinetic studies were carried out as a function of different variables like concentration, pH, and temperature on rate of decolorization. The rate of the reaction was found to be [H+] dependent and first order in both [MB+] and reductant. The empirical rate law conforms to the equation: Where K1 is the protonation constant, and k2 and k3 are overall pseudo-second order rate constants for the decolorization of MB+ with 2 3 SO − . The rate was found to increase linearly with temperature. The rate of decolorization decreased after addition of Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II), but increased after addition of Fe(II) and Cu(II). The activation parameters (Ea, ΔG#, ΔH# and ΔS#) of the decolorization reaction of MB+ with 2 3 SO − in absence and in presence of Fe(II) and Cu(II) were calculated.
Finnish Inflation: a New Keynesian Perspective

This paper models quarterly Finnish inflation from the perspective of the New Keynesian Model (NKM) within the cointegrated VAR framework. The restrictions implied by the core equations of the NKM, and a small open economy variant thereof, are formally tested by the Johansen and Swensen (1999, 2004) method. The restrictions are rejected. Necessary conditions on cointegration, implied by the core equations, are also tested. I find that standard measures of marginal costs cannot, by themselves, explain the long-run trends in inflation. In addition, there is evidence of an IS relationship in the data, but it is not possible distinguish whether it describes forwardor backward-looking behavior. JEL Classification: C32, C52, E31, E52.
Determinants of Sustainable Food Consumption: A Meta-Analysis Using a Traditional and a Structura Equation Modelling Approach

Based on a database of 16 empirical studies, this MASEM study aims to provide an overview of existing antecedents of sustainable food consumption within an integrative framework based on the TPB. Among the antecedents, Personal Norm, Attitude and Subjective Norm displayed strongest effects on Intention, followed by Beliefs, Perceived Behavioral Control and Ethical Concern, which were also within the scope of medium to large. As for the correlations of Behavior, Personal Norm, Attitude and Subjective Norm showed strongest effects, and the effects of Intention, Beliefs and Perceived Behavioral Control were also within the scope of medium to large. Results of the MASEM study indicate that both TPB and extended TPB models have statistically acceptable power in explaining the intention and behavior of sustainable food consumption, while a slight increase was made to the amount of explained variance of intention by adding Personal Norm to TPB. The results of our meta-analyses give readers an understanding of the magnitude and significance of relationships between antecedents and intention in the sustainable food consumption domain.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Universities: A Study of Top 10 World Universities’ Websites

There is a growing interest in social responsibility of the corporations among academicians and practitioners. Companies now are not only expected to be responsible to their shareholders but to society in general. Universities, as the centers of knowledge generation and sharing, play a very important role in solving world’s problems by ensuring a sustainable tomorrow. However, it is questionable whether world leading universities are concerned about CSR and if they do, to what extent they are committed to their social responsibilities. This research elaborates on this issue by exploring the website content and annual reports of the world top 10 universities. The findings of this research show that world leading universities are committed to their social responsibility and they provide sufficient information on most of the core areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
On the Ability of Functional Size Measurement Methods to Size Complex Software Applications

The most popular Functional Size Measurement methods, namely IFPUG Function Point Analysis and the COSMIC method, adopt a concept of “functionality” that is based mainly on the data involved in functions and data movements. Neither of the mentioned methods takes directly into consideration the amount of data processing involved in a process. Functional size measures are often used as a basis for estimating the effort required for software development, and it is known that development effort does depend on the amount of data processing code to be written. Thus, it is interesting to investigate to what extent the most popular functional size measures represent the functional processing features of requirements and, consequently, the amount of data processing code to be written. To this end, we consider a few applications that provide similar functionality, but require different amounts of data processing. These applications are then measured via both functional size measurement methods and traditional size measures (such as Lines of Code). A comparison of the obtained measures shows that differences among the applications are best represented by differences in Lines of Code. It is likely that the actual size of an application that requires substantial amounts of data processing is not fully represented by functional size measures. In summary, the paper shows that not taking into account data processing dramatically limits the expressiveness of the size measures. Practitioners that use size measures for effort estimation should complement functional size measures with measures that quantify data processing, to get precise effort estimates. Keywordsfunctional size measurement; Function Point Analysis; IFPUG Function Points;COSMIC method.
HOW ROBUST IS THE RING STAIN FOR EVAPORATING SUSPENSION DROPLETS

The ring stain is commonly seen when droplets containing particles, such as coffee, are left to dry on a surface: a pinned contact line leads to outward radial flow, which is enhanced by the diverging evaporative flux at the contact line. As shown by Deegan et al. (1997) particles are swept outwards in this flow and create a ring which grows according to a simple power law with time. The final dried width and height of the ring should also be given by power laws of concentration, with both exponent equal to 0.5 provided all particles are in the ring, and the packing factor and ring profile are constant. We use suspensions of polystyrene particles in water with sizes ranging from 200 to 500 nm and initial concentrations c0 from 0.009% to 1% deposited on glass substrates to investigate these scaling predictions. We vary the drying rate from 0.5 to 5 nl/s using humidity and reduced pressure, use a range of substrates to vary the initial contact angle between 5 ‐ and 35 ‐ , and invert the droplets to change the direction of gravity. We find that for all but the very lowest pressures, the ring height follows the predicted power law, with exponent equal to 0.50 § 0.04 and the ring width having an exponent of 0.33 § 0.05. The discrepancy between the measured and predicted width exponent is accounted for by an observed variation of droplet radius with concentration, and the presence of particles in the center of the droplet. In addition, for low pressures (fast evaporation) the scaling laws no longer hold: the ring is much narrower and there is significant deposition in the center of the droplet, possibly due to reduced particle-enhanced pinning.