Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional trait responses to sediment deposition reduce macrofauna-mediated ecosystem functioning in an estuarine mudflat

Abstract. Human activities, among which dredging and land use change in river basins, are altering estuarine ecosystems. These activities may result in changes in sedimentary processes, affecting biodiversity of sediment macrofauna. As macrofauna controls sediment chemistry and fluxes of energy and matter between water column and sediment, changes in the structure of macrobenthic communities could affect the functioning of an entire ecosystem. We assessed the impact of sediment deposition on intertidal macrobenthic communities and on rates of an important ecosystem function, i.e. sediment community oxygen consumption (SCOC). An experiment was performed with undisturbed sediment samples from the Scheldt river estuary (SW Netherlands). The samples were subjected to four sedimentation regimes: one control and three with a deposited sediment layer of 1, 2 or 5 cm. Oxygen consumption was measured during incubation at ambient temperature. Luminophores applied at the surface, and a seawater–bromide mixture, served as tracers for bioturbation and bio-irrigation, respectively. After incubation, the macrofauna was extracted, identified, and counted and then classified into functional groups based on motility and sediment reworking capacity. Total macrofaunal densities dropped already under the thinnest deposits. The most affected fauna were surficial and low-motility animals, occurring at high densities in the control. Their mortality resulted in a drop in SCOC, which decreased steadily with increasing deposit thickness, while bio-irrigation and bioturbation activity showed increases in the lower sediment deposition regimes but decreases in the more extreme treatments. The initial increased activity likely counteracted the effects of the drop in low-motility, surficial fauna densities, resulting in a steady rather than sudden fall in oxygen consumption. We conclude that the functional identity in terms of motility and sediment reworking can be crucial in our understanding of the regulation of ecosystem functioning and the impact of habitat alterations such as sediment deposition.
Climate Impacts From a Removal of Anthropogenic Aerosol Emissions

Limiting global warming to 1.5 or 2.0°C requires strong mitigation of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Concurrently, emissions of anthropogenic aerosols will decline, due to coemission with GHG, and measures to improve air quality. However, the combined climate effect of GHG and aerosol emissions over the industrial era is poorly constrained. Here we show the climate impacts from removing present‐day anthropogenic aerosol emissions and compare them to the impacts from moderate GHG‐dominated global warming. Removing aerosols induces a global mean surface heating of 0.5–1.1°C, and precipitation increase of 2.0–4.6%. Extreme weather indices also increase. We find a higher sensitivity of extreme events to aerosol reductions, per degree of surface warming, in particular over the major aerosol emission regions. Under near‐term warming, we find that regional climate change will depend strongly on the balance between aerosol and GHG forcing.
From Individual to Community: The “Framing” of 4-16 and the Display of Social Solidarity

On April 16, 2007, a lone gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. In this essay, we discuss what we personally experienced on 4-16 and what we did as faculty members of the sociology department in the first few weeks after 4-16. We place these events in the context of framing theory and the social construction of reality. We then offer insights regarding the surge in community spirit we witnessed immediately after the event. We discuss the well-documented relationship between tragedies and social solidarity. Although the surge in solidarity witnessed at Virginia Tech after the shootings often occurs after tragedies, we argue that social solidarity does not automatically follow tragedy. Instead, the tragedy must meet at least four specific conditions that allow individual interpretations of the event to blend with collective interpretations in a manner that produces a synergistic effect.
Effect of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) supplementation on performance, immunity and HSP70 gene expression in broiler chicken during hot-dry summer

An experiment was conducted on broiler chicks (n=120), reared in cages on a standard diet up to 14th day of age and thereafter up to 42nd day (14-42d) on test diets with or without MOS. The 14th day old chicks were randomly distributed into three dietary treatment groups viz., T1 (control diet), T2 (control diet with MOS @ 0.3%) and T3 (control diet with MOS @ 0.5%). Each dietary treatment comprised of four replicates of eight birds each. Experiment was carried out during hot-dry summer. It was found that production indices improved (P<0.001) significantly during all phases. Cellular and humoral immunity at 28th day of age improved significantly (P<0.05) due to MOS supplementation. The percentage of hemoglobin, protein, AST and ALT increased significantly (P<0.001) in MOS supplemented group at 28th as well as 42nd day of age. While H:L ratio, serum corticosterone and cholesterol levels decreased significantly (P<0.001) in MOS supplemented groups. Supplementation of MOS at the both levels caused significant (P<0.001) down regulation of HSP70 expression in jejunum tissues during 28th and 42nd day. Based on this study it was concluded that supplementation of 0.3% MOS in broiler diets significantly improved their performance and welfare during heat stressed conditions.
Natural gas consumption and economic growth: cointegration, causality and forecast error variance decomposition tests for Pakistan

This paper examines the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth in Pakistan using a multivariate model by including capital and labor as the control variables for the periods of 1972-2009. The results of the ARDL bounds testing indicate the presence of cointegration among the variables. The estimated long-run impact of gas consumption (0.49) on economic growth is greater than other factor inputs suggesting that energy is a critical driver of production and growth in Pakistan. Furthermore, the results of causality test and variance decomposition analysis suggest a unidirectional causality running from natural gas consumption to economic growth. Gas being the primary source of energy in Pakistan, the implications of this study is that natural gas conservation policies could harm growth and, therefore, requires the policy makers to improve the energy supply efficiency as well as formulate appropriate policy to attract investment and establish public-private partnership initiatives.
Status of seabird nesting populations on Arrecife Alacranes, Gulf of Mexico

MORALES-VERA, T.E. , RUZ-ROSADO, F.D. , VELARDE, E. , & KEITH, E.O. 2017. Status of seabird nesting populations on Arrecife Alacranes, Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ornithology 45: 175–185. Arrecife Alacranes is the largest coral atoll of the Campeche Bank, situated in the southern end of the Gulf of Mexico and encompassing 60 ha. It has five coral islands: Isla Chica, Isla Blanca (or Isla Pájaros), Isla Pérez, Isla Desertora (or Isla Muertos), and Isla Desterrada, some with significant seabird nesting colonies. Trans-Gulf migrating birds use Arrecife Alacranes for resting. Fisheries, tourism, and oil-drilling activities have been a threat to the reef’s biodiversity. However, the protection recently granted by the Mexican Government, on 6 June 1994, designating the area a National Park, has reduced human disturbance. Before this survey, the impact of this designation on seabird colonies was unknown. The last seabird survey, in 1986, had determined that the archipelago is home to the largest colony of Masked Boobies Sula dactylatra in the Atlantic region and the only known nesting site of Red-footed Boobies Sula sula in the Gulf of Mexico. Herein, we report on totals of abundance, which ranged from 140 000 to 13 nests, and on the nesting phenology of nine seabird species: Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus, Brown Noddy Anous stolidus, Masked Booby, Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla, Cabot’s Tern Thalasseus acuflavidus, Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens, Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus, Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, and Red-footed Booby. We observed a significant increase in nesting populations of most species, except Magnificent Frigatebirds and Masked Boobies. However, some aspects of the breeding biology of these seabirds may have been influenced by introduced species. Among the population of Red-footed Boobies, which had only 13 nests, we observed three color morphs, thus leading to uncertainty about their geographic affinities. Despite the increased protection, which includes the presence of park rangers, human activity and related factors, such as increased fisheries pressure, damages to the atoll, risk posed by rising sea levels, and oil drilling, continue to threaten this important seabird nesting area.
Performance and Carcass Quality of Forage-Fed Steers as an Alternative to Concentrate-Based Beef Production

This paper studies the performance and carcass quality of Parda de Montaña cattle under different management systems to find alternatives to concentrate feed indoor beef production. Treatments were: i) Control, with 8 bulls (216±34.3 kg initial weight; 282±45.6 days) fed concentrate and straw ad libitum during winter housing period until reaching 500 kg; ii) G-supp, with 8 steers (204±31.2 kg initial weight; 271±47.5 days) fed a total mixed ration (TMR) (50% alfalfa hay, 10% straw, 40% corn) ad libitum during winter housing period (from mid-April steers rotationally grazed on a mountain meadow supplemented with 1.8 kg dry matter corn/d until reaching 500 kg); iii) TMR, with 8 steers (200±42.5 kg initial weight; 261±39.0 days) managed as G-supp steers until mid-July, when they were housed and fed TMR ad libitum until reaching 500 kg.Control bulls had 45% greater weight gain than TMR and G-supp steers during housing period (P<0.001). In the finishing period, TMR had 31% greater weight gain than steers finished on pasture (P<0.01). At slaughter, Controls were 97-127 days younger than others (P<0.001). Steers finished on TMR had worse conformed carcasses, greater fat and fewer edible meat proportions than G-supp and Control (P<0.01). Total cost of TMR and G-supp was greater than Control, with a similar income for G-supp and Control. TMR steers were paid less because of their worse carcass quality. Hence, finishing of steers on pasture with a supplement can be a feasible alternative to fattening bulls on concentrates, depending on the relative availability and price of feedstuff.
Rivalries and Racisms: ‘Closed’ and ‘Open’ Islamophobic Dispositions Amongst Football Supporters

Racism in football has been the topic of much academic discussion. However, the issue of Islamophobic racism has received very little attention. This article looks at Middlesbrough FC and Newcastle United FC fan discussions around the ‘Mido affair’ in August 2007 to consider the issue and uses this evidence to discuss the effectiveness of the football Faith Summit's policy suggestions to combat Islamophobia in football. The unfolding argument is that Middlesbrough FC and Newcastle United FC both use ‘open’ and ‘closed’ Islamophobic positions opportunistically to express their feelings of rivalry toward each other and the emergent policy suggestions are that the football authorities should seek to work with football fans, rather than potentially punish them, in order to reduce anti-Muslim sentiment in spectator football.
The performance of individual investors in structured financial products

This paper is the first to measure individual investors’ realized risk-adjusted performance in structured financial products, which represent one of the key financial innovations in recent times. Based on a large database of trades and portfolio holdings for 10,652 retail investors in discount and bonus certificates and common stocks, we find that (1) investors typically realize negative alphas in structured financial products, even when transaction costs are ignored. (2) Their underperformance increases with product complexity, which results from the higher implicit price premiums charged by the issuing banks for the more complex products and from the investors’ poor selection of products that have complex payoff specifications. (3) Investors also make poor choices when selecting the underlying assets for their structured product investments. This is merely a reflection of the poor stock selection abilities which also leads to a significant underperformance for their equity portfolios. (4) Certificate and stock investors are prone to the disposition effect. Overall, these findings suggest that retail investors may require some form of protection to avoid incurring these losses.
ASSESSING COMPETITIVE FITNESS OF IRRADIATED PAINTED APPLE MOTH TEIA ANARTOIDES (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE)

The Australian painted apple moth (Teia anartoides) has been the target of an eradication programme in Auckland. For the first time in New Zealand, the sterile insect technique has been deployed, using males moths irradiated as pupae at 100 Gy. Sterilisation of males has a fitness cost, which was assessed in terms of longevity and competitive fitness. Irradiation at 100 Gy had no effect on longevity of male painted apple moths. However, when released in separate groups in the flight tunnel, irradiated males were less likely to reach calling females than untreated males (P<0.001). When single irradiated (100 Gy) males and untreated males were released together as a pair, irradiated males also showed lower arrival to females (P<0.005). However, once the males successfully located the females, there were no significant differences between the controls and the irradiated males in the total time spent for mate location, mounting attempts and mating duration.
Experiments on the stability, structure, and dynamics of flows in one- and two- sided lid-driven cavities

Two-sided lid-driven cavities with three different cross-sectional aspect ratios (Γ = 1.47, Γ = 1 and Γ = 0.76) and a large span-wise aspect ratio (Λ ≈ 11) are investigated experimentally. The one-sided driving with one of the walls at rest is given particular attention. Four different modes have been numerically predicted for the one-sided driving. The numerical calculations have been obtained for cuboidal cavities. Due to the experimental realization by cylinders, the moving walls of the cavity are slightly curved in the experimental setup. Quantitative experimental data of the quasi-two-dimensional basic flow show a good agreement in comparison to numerically computed data despite the slightly differing boundary conditions. Four modes are found for one-sided driving. Photographs and PIV measurements are presented. Critical parameters for the instability of the quasi-two-dimensional basic flow have been detected and compared to numerical data. The flow structures of the modes agree with the corresponding numerical predictions. One of the modes has been observed experimentally for the first time.
Palaeoecology of the Upper Tournaisian (Mississippian) crinoidal limestones from South Belgium

1. Introduction The Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) and particularly the Tournaisian is known as the golden age of crinoids (Kammer & Ausich, 2006). In suitable settings, the crinoids lived in vast meadows that formed the carbonate rock through the accumulation of their skeletal elements and named regional encrinites (sensu Ausich, 1997). Tournaisian encrinites are wide developed all over the world with renown examples from Ireland (Waters & Sevastopulo, 1984), N America (Ausich, 1999a,b), S China (Chen & Yao, 1993), Iran (Webster et al., 2003), etc. The expansion of crinoids during the Tournaisian is interpreted as a recovery phase following the Late Devonian extinctions, as it induced a rapid re-colonisation of the ecological niches by crinoids and then a rapid evolution (McGhee, 1996). The autoecology of crinoids is relatively well understood (Ausich & Bottjer, 1982, 2007; Ausich & Simms, 1999; Ausich et al., 1999a) in contrast to their synecology (i.e. interactions with the environment and with other organisms) despite their ability to shape their environment. In South Belgium, Tournaisian encrinites are abundant and locally called “Petit Granit” where quarried as cut stones for building and carving purposes. Several units were – and still are – intensively quarried for these purposes: the Hastiere Formation (Fm), Landelies Fm, Ourthe Fm, Flemalle Membre (Mbr) and Soignies Mbr. The most valuable and renowned are the encrinites of the Ourthe Fm in the Condroz area (cen
Grandparent Support for Mothers of Children with and without Physical Disabilities

Grandparents’ support to families of children with disabilities is generally associated with improved parental well-being. Little research addresses the question of quantitative differences in grandparent support to families of children with and without disabilities. This article examines such differences. Data was collected on 50 mothers of children with spina bifida and 43 mothers of children without disabilities and results showed how mothers rated perceived maternal and paternal grandparent support. No differences were found between mothers of children with and without disabilities. These results confirm previous findings that grandparent support appears to be no more frequent in families of children with disabilities than in other families. These findings are discussed with reference to sampling limitations and implications for further research.
SCREENING OF FECAL SAMPLES FROM ASYMPTOMATIC CHILDREN, FOR NOROVIRUS DETECTION, USING A THIRD GENERATION ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY COMMERCIAL KIT

Norovirus is the leading cause of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Recently, third generation Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) commercial kits have been developed, and controversial results have been obtained by different studies regarding the sensitivity and specificity of these assays. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test 60 fecal samples, previously tested as positive by RT-PCR for caliciviruses (40 norovirus-positive and 20 sapovirus-positive samples), for qualitative determination of genogroup I and II noroviruses by a commercial EIA kit (RIDASCREEN® Norovirus (C1401) 3rd Generation, R-Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany). The samples were obtained from 30 children aged less than five years, mostly asymptomatic, who attend a day-care center in Goiânia, Goias, Brazil. The results conferred a positivity rate for NoV of 35% and a specificity rate of 100% for the EIA, when compared to the RT-PCR. The test also failed to detect samples that were positive for GI.1 and GI.4 norovirus. The presumably lower viral load of asymptomatic children might be related to the poor sensitivity. Our results reinforce the notion that screening of samples by molecular assays, especially of samples that might have a low number of viral particles such as those obtained from asymptomatic patients, should not be replaced by the use of EIA kits.
Detection of Anomalies in Water Networks by Functional Data Analysis

A functional data analysis (FDA) based methodology for detecting anomalous flows in urban water networks is introduced. Primary hydraulic variables are recorded in real-time by telecontrol systems, so they are functional data (FD). In the first stage, the data are validated (false data are detected) and reconstructed, since there could be not only false data, but also missing and noisy data. FDA tools are used such as tolerance bands for FD and smoothing for dense and sparse FD. In the second stage, functional outlier detection tools are used in two phases. In Phase I, the data are cleared of anomalies to ensure that data are representative of the in-control system. The objective of Phase II is system monitoring. A new functional outlier detection method is also proposed based on archetypal analysis. The methodology is applied and illustrated with real data. A simulated study is also carried out to assess the performance of the outlier detection techniques, including our proposal. The results are very promising.
Acreage response of rice: A case study in Malaysia

This paper serves as preliminary study to investigate the relative impacts of various factors on acreage response of rice in Malaysia. The findings provide mixed signals which are different from other rice production countries. Hence, future studies are deemed essential to probe the issues with justifications by looking at the connection of Malaysian paddy production and economic theory, as well as implications to policymakers.
Mapping Student Information Literacy Activity against Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Skills

This paper introduces a model of information literacy which maps the activities that students undertake against Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive skills. Firstly, the paper summarises the authors’ underpinning research in this area. Secondly the paper proposes a model of information literacy and compares this with existing models of information literacy. Thirdly, each stage in the proposed model is articulated in more detail and the required cognitive skills for each stage are identified. Finally, the paper examines the implications of the model on how, and by whom, information literacy is delivered and supported in an academic context.
The Challenge of Attracting Pollinators While Evading Floral Herbivores: Patterns of Fragrance Emission in Cirsium arvense and Cirsium repandum (Asteraceae)

By increasing floral apparency to promote fertilization, plants risk attracting herbivores with the same signals that they use to lure pollinators. We hypothesized that fragrance is emitted in patterns that correspond to pollinators, with high emissions during periods of pollinator activity and low emissions otherwise, especially during periods of peak floral herbivore activity. Using a combination of analytical chemistry and field observations, we examined both the diel and ontogenetic patterns of fragrance in two Cirsium species, in relation to visitation patterns of pollinators and florivores. Emission rates were highest at reproductive maturity, when insect visitation by both pollinators and florivores was also highest. In Cirsium arvense, the diel pattern of fragrance emission matched patterns of pollinator activity and was lowest when florivores were active. In contrast, scent in Cirsium repandum peaked at midday rather than with insect activity; neither species had a diel pattern that followed ambient temperature. Fragrance emission from C. repandum was 25 times lower than from staminate C. arvense and may not be essential for pollinator attraction, at least from a distance. The scent dynamics we observed in C. arvense are consistent with the hypothesis that fragrance emissions correspond with pollinator activity and are low when florivores are active.
FACTORS INFLUENCING USERS SATISFACTION ON E-LEARNING SYSTEMS

User satisfaction has held a central role in an organization as one of the measurements for the success of service delivery. The objectives of this study are to evaluate user satisfaction and examine the association between user satisfaction and the qualities in the e-learning systems of Multionational Company. A theoretical framework is developed, through the integration of e-learning satisfaction (ELS) theory and global satisfaction theory. The analysis was organized from a set of data which involve 190 responses from end-users. The main finding confirms some degree of a positive association between user satisfaction and the qualities in the e-learning system.