Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research, part of a Special Feature on Local, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Biofuels Environmental and Social Impacts of Oil Palm Plantations and their Implications for Biofuel Production in Indonesia

This paper reviews the development of oil palm with linkages to biofuel in Indonesia and analyzes the associated environmental and socioeconomic impacts. We selected three plantation study sites in West Papua (Manokwari), West Kalimantan (Kubu Raya), and Papua (Boven Digoel) to assess the impacts. Research findings indicate that the development of oil palm in all three sites has caused deforestation, resulting in significant secondary external impacts such as water pollution, soil erosion, and air pollution. In terms of social impacts, many stakeholder groups, i.e., employees, out-growers, and investing households, report significant gains. However, we found these benefits were not evenly distributed. Other stakeholders, particularly traditional landowners, experienced restrictions on traditional land use rights and land losses. We observed increasing land scarcity, rising land prices, and conflicts over land in all sites. Three major trade-offs are associated with the development of oil palm plantations, including those related to biofuels: unevenly distributed economic benefits are generated at the cost of significant environmental losses; there are some winners but also many losers; and economic gains accrue at the expense of weak rule of law. To reduce the negative impacts and trade-offs of oil palm plantations and maximize their economic potential, government decision makers need to restrict the use of forested land for plantation development, enforce existing regulations on concession allocation and environmental management, improve monitoring of labor practices, recognize traditional land use rights, and make land transfer agreements involving customary land more transparent and legally binding.
FOR OTHERS ’ MONEY AS MUCH AS FOR MY OWN ? PLAYING THE ULTIMATUM GAME TASK IN BEHALF OF A THIRD-PARTY

Classical economical theory sees rejections of unfair offers by people playing the Ultimatum Game (UG) as “irrational”. Recent studies suggested that these are triggered by negative emotions, such as frustration (Sanfey et al., 2003; van’t Wout et al., 2006) and by the urge to punish those who made the offers (Fehr & Gachter, 2002). Another account postulates that rejections are instead “rational” according to the rules of social exchange reasoning, in that they will increase the chance of future players to receive fair offers (Zamir, 2001). We tested these two accounts by employing healthy participants in modifi ed version of the UG in which players knew that their putative rejections were not harming those who made offers. The analysis of skin conductance responses shows that this task was signifi cantly less emotionally arousing than the traditional UG game. However, unfair offers were rejected at a comparable rate in both the classical and modifi ed versions of the Ultimatum Game. In light of these results, theories holding rejections as triggered by emotional arousal and by the urge to punish who made the offers should be re-discussed; in fact, our data suggest that the emotional response might be triggered whenever one’s own interest is at stake, and is not the ultimate cause of this behavior. We believe instead that any offer leading to an unfair distribution of money within the group is suffi cient to trigger a rejection and, therefore, that psychological mechanisms which account for social exchanges dynamics might be better candidates for explaining this behavior.
Role of nematodes in decomposition processes: does within-trophic group diversity matter?

The importance of biodiversity for the functioning of ecosystems is still very unclear. Many hypotheses, mainly based on terrestrial studies, have been formulated, focussing on the plant diversity-productivity relationship. In this study, diversity-related and species-specific effects of bac- terivorous nematodes on the decomposition rate of cordgrass detritus Spartina anglica and on the associated microbial community were investigated using laboratory microcosm experiments. Four bacterivorous nematode species (Diplolaimelloides meyli, Diplolaimelloides oschei, Diplolaimella dievengatensis and Panagrolaimus paetzoldi) were added either separately or in combinations of 2 or 3 species to the microcosms. In contrast with previous reports, no stimulation of the decomposition process was observed in the presence of nematodes. Still, clear differences in process rates were found between nematode treatments. P. paetzoldi, reaching considerably higher densities than the other nematode species, suppressed bacterial activity and diversity, probably due to overgrazing. This was, however, not translated into slower decomposition. Within treatments exclusively contain- ing monhysterid nematode species (D. meyli, D. oschei and D. dievengatensis), differences in micro- bial activity and decomposition rates were found, but again no link was observed between activity and decomposition. Our data did not support any hypothesis predicting enhancement of process rates with an (initial) increase in numbers of nematode species, or redundancy among the studied species. Rather, we obtained support for an idiosyncratic diversity model, as differences in the effect of bac- terivore nematode species and species combinations could not be predicted at the start of the exper- iment. This could be explained by the inhibitory interactions between nematode species.
Influence of sucrose solution concentration and temperature on mass exchange during osmotic dehydration of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cubes

The purpose of current work was to study the influence of osmotic solution concentration and temperature as process variables on mass transfer during osmotic dehydration of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). The experiments were performed using sucrose as osmotic agent, varying the concentration of the osmotic solution (30-50% (w/w)), temperature (30-50°C) and contact time (0-3 h). The results showed that the mass transfer in terms of weight reduction, solid gain and water loss were influenced by increasing solution sucrose content and temperature over processing time. Weight reduction, solid gain and water loss ranged from 0 up to 25.6%, 0 up to 2.68% and 0 up to 27.9% of the initial sample mass, respectively. The best condition was determined by using WL/SG ratio as sucrose concentration of 30% (w/w) at a temperature of 30°C.
TILLAGE AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IMPACT ON MAIZE

Tillage system and fertilizer-N management are needed to improve sustainable maize production. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of conventional tillage and no tillage systems, nitrogen rates and its application at various growth stages on maize production. Experiments were conducted at Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan, for two consecutive years (2004-2005) in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having four replications. Each experiment consisted of two tillage systems i.e. no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (60,120 and 180 kg ha -1 ) and nitrogen application at various growth stages. The combination of tillage systems and nitrogen levels were allotted to main plots while nitrogen application at various growth stages to sub plots. More grains ear -1 was observed in CT as compared to NT. The number of grains ear -1 remained at par when N level was increased from 60 to 120 kg N ha 1 but further increase in N level to 180 kg N ha -1 resulted in significant increase in grains ear -1 . Number of grains increased when N was applied in split doses as compared to the full (sole) application at sowing or knee high stage and were higher when applied in two splits than three split doses. Heavier grains were produced in CT as compared to NT and with split application of N as compared to sole. Conventional tillage also produced significantly higher grain yield as compared to no-tillage. Year as a source of variation had significant impact on thousand grain weight, grains ear -1 and heavier and more grains were produced during 2004. Significant interaction among tillage and N was observed for grains ear -1 , grain weight and grain yield. Conventional tillage produced higher grains ear 1 and heavier grains even with lower dose of 60 kg N ha -1 , while no till required 180 kg N ha -1 to deliver the same results. Grain yield was highly responsive to increase in N fertilizer up to 120 kg N ha -1 under conventional tillage system. Further increase up to 180 kg N ha -1 merely induced any increase in grain yield under CT. In case of no till grain yield decreased beyond 120 kg N ha -1 . Conventional tillage proved superior in terms of grains ear -1 , grain weight and grain yield as compared to no till. Grain yield increased up to 120 kg N ha -1 but grains ear -1 and grain weight were higher at the highest dose of 180 kg N ha -1 . Split application of N significantly increased all parameters
Effect of exotic tree plantations on plant diversity and biological soil fertility in the Congo savanna: with special reference to eucalypts

In the southern coastal region of Congo near Pointe-Noire, savanna covers large areas on very poor sandy soils. These savannas have been used since 1978 for plantations of fast growing trees, mainly eucalypts, which are grown commercially. A particular feature of the Congolese plantations was their establishment on savanna with poor soil and vegetation. This document reports a study on the importance of the biological factors in fertility. The report is divided in three parts: (i) The effect of both savanna and forest on undergrowth colonisation, and the trends of understorey vegetation changes with age. (ii) The relationships between vegetation and fertility are closely linked to litter and soil organic matter quality and quantity these were studied in an age series of eucalypt hybrids and clones. (iii) The density of the main taxa of macrofauna and nematodes was assessed according to the age of plantation and logging. Nitrogen fixation ability related to the dramatic N shortage expected to occur in aging plantations was also studied. In the harsh environment like the Congolese savanna, silviculture is a land use that has numerous positive effects although there are many problems still to be addresed. The increase in soil organic matter accounts for many positive changes is a fragile process. All management practices likely to decrease inputs, such as the burning of harvest residues, the harvest of twigs and leaves for fuel, and the harvest of logs with the bark, are expected to counteract environmental improvements resulting from eucalyptus growth. The choice of species and hybrids beside their growth and wood qualities should take into account litter quality and decomposition rate. Further research is needed on the cumulative effect of silvicultural practices involved in short-rotation forestry and its relation with soil organic matter. (YS)
Ultrasound-guided technique for both radial and femoral artery catheterization : a meta-analysis

Background: Artery catheterization was a common procedure in clinic. Palpation was the traditional method for artery catheterization. Whether the use of ultrasound-guided technique can increase the success rate and reduce the complication of artery catheterization were not identified. We therefore perfomed this meta-analysis. Methods: We searched Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane library, a total of 10 RCTs met our inclusive criteria. The patients included radial or femoral artery catheterization through ultrasound guidance or palpation. We compared the first attempt success rate and the incidence of hematoma. Results: Ultrasound-guided technique provided higher the first attempt success rate during both radial and femoral artery catheterization than traditional palpation technique [RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09-1.67; P=0.005]. Ultrasound-guided technique also reduced the incidence of hematoma, especial during femoral artery catheterization [RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.24-0.65; P=0.0002]. Conclusion: Compared to traditional palpation technique, ultrasound-guided technique increased the first attempt success rate and reduced the incidence of hematoma during artery catheterization.
Urban Governance and the ‘European City’: Ideals and Realities in Dublin, Ireland

Throughout recent decades, a significant amount of attention has been given to the notion of the ‘European city’ within policy formation and academic enquiry. From one perspective, the ideal of the ‘European city’ is presented as a densely developed urban area with a focus on quality public transport and a more balanced social structure. More recently, however, the particular elements of the ‘European city’ associated with pedestrianized public space, urban design and image-making strategies have become central features of entrepreneurial urban policies throughout Europe. This article undertakes an examination of the notion of the ‘European city’ in urban change in Dublin since the 1990s. Specifically, the article illustrates the degree to which a wholly positive spin on the urban design and image-making elements of the ‘European city’ in Dublin has served as a thin veil for the desired transformation of Dublin according to neoliberal principles.
Hypoglycaemic and Antioxidant Activities of the Stem Bark of Morinda Lucida Benth in Streptozotocin – Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: This work was conducted in order to investigate the hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activity of the stem bark of Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae), which has traditionally been used in Ghana for the management of diabetes mellitus. Methods: The powdered stem bark was successively Soxhlet-extracted with petroleum ether and 70% v / v ethanol, respectively, and were then evaporated to dryness to produce crude petroleum ether (PML) and ethanolic (EML) extracts. The hypoglycaemic activity of PML and EML were determined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Five groups of six diabetic rats received oral administrations of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight of PML and EML once daily for 19 days. Glibenclamide (5 mg per kg body weight) was used as positive control while distilled deionised water (2 ml) acted as the diabetic control. Blood glucose levels were monitored initially for 6 hours and subsequently over the full 20 days. Results: All extracts exhibited statistically significant (P < 0.001) hypoglycaemic and substantial antioxidant activities throughout the study period. While EML demonstrated the strongest hypoglycaemic activity 6 hours after administration, PML exhibited the highest activity 24 hours after administration and throughout the rest of the study period. Again, both extracts showed antioxidant activities, however EML was more effective. Conclusion: The results of our investigation indicate that the stem bark of M. lucida possesses hypoglycaemic constituents that are well distributed in both petroleum ether and 70% v / v ethanol extracts. In addition, both extracts also showed considerable antioxidant activity. These results give credibility towards the traditional use of the stem bark of M. lucida as an antidiabetic agent.
Loneliness, stress, self esteem and depression among Malaysian adolescents

ABSTRACT The current study examined the degree of relationships between loneliness, stress and selfesteem with depression among adolescents. The respondents were 1407 secondary school adolescents aged between 13 to 17 years old from selected states in Malaysia. Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire. Adolescent depression was measured by Children Depression Inventory (CDI) (Kovacs, 1985) while stress was measured by Perceive Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983). Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, Peplau, & Cutrona, 1980) measured loneliness and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) measured self-esteem. The findings of the study showed that loneliness, stress and self-esteem have moderate significant relationships with depression and stress emerged as the strongest predictor of adolescent depression.
Understanding the Calorie Labeling Paradox in Chain Restaurants: Why Menu Calorie Labeling Alone May Not Affect Average Calories Ordered

Menu calorie labeling is now required nationwide for chain restaurants in the United States; however, a number of studies have found that calorie labeling does not reduce average calories ordered. This research examines how different food value orientations are associated with divergent consumer responses to restaurants providing calorie information on menus and menu boards. Results from two pilot studies and two experiments, including a restaurant field experiment, indicate that calorie labeling is effective in decreasing the number of calories ordered by health value–oriented consumers. However, for quantity value and taste value–oriented consumers, menu calorie labeling may result in an increase in calories ordered. These influences counterbalance one another, leading to an overall nonsignificant effect of calorie labeling on calories ordered in restaurant settings. These findings offer a compelling explanation for the many studies showing nonsignificant effects of menu calorie labeling and inform ongoing policy debates regarding chain restaurants nationally implementing menu calorie labeling. The conceptual contributions and implications of these findings for public policy and consumer well-being are discussed.
Microbial Quality and Antibacterial Activity of Herbal Medicines

Use of herbal medicine faces constraint particularly imparting knowledge in identifying whether a product is microbiologically fit for health or not. There has been relatively less research on microbial quality of the herbal medicines in Nepal. In this context, this research has focused on microbial quality of different herbal medicines. A total of twenty one herbal medicines were collected from different sales outlet of Kathmandu. The microbial load in herbal medicine was determined by aerobic plate count method and bacterial isolates were identified based on morphological, cultural and biochemical tests. Out of twenty one herbal medicines analyzed, all were found free from pathogenic bacteria and indicator organism of fecal contamination. However , Bacillus spp. were isolated from ten herbal medicines. The microbial load on Nutrient Agar was found within the range of 1.20x10 3 - 6.06x10 5 cfu/ ml (or g). Altogether six different Bacillus spp were identified and the most predominant was Bacillus subtilis. In vitro antibacterial activity of the herbal medicines, from which microorganisms were not detected, were determined against six test bacteria by cup plate method. Out of eleven different herbal medicines, five showed the zone of inhibition against all test bacteria and at least two test bacteria were inhibited by each of the herbal medicines. The highest zone of inhibition was 30 mm shown by Chitrakaharitaki Churna of concentration 100mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 2 (2012) 191-196 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/njst.v13i2. 7735
Millimeter dust emission compared with other mass estimates in N11 molecular clouds in the LMC

CO and dust emission at millimeter wavelengths are independent tracers of cold interstellar matter, which have seldom been compared on the scale of GMCs in other galaxies. In this study, and for the first time in the Large Magellanic Cloud, we compute the molecular cloud masses from the mm emission of the dust and compare them with the masses derived from their CO luminosity and virial theorem. We present CO (J=1-0,2-1) and 1.2 mm continuum observations of the N11 star forming region in the LMC obtained with the SEST telescope and the SIMBA bolometer, respectively. We use the CO data to identify individual molecular clouds and measure their physical properties. The correlations between the properties of the N11 clouds are in agreement with those found in earlier studies in the LMC that sample a larger set of clouds and a larger range of cloud masses. For the N11 molecular clouds, we compare the masses estimated from the CO luminosity (Xco\Lco), the virial theorem (Mvir) and the millimeter dust luminosity (L_d). The measured ratios Lco/Mvir and L_d/Mvir constrain the Xco and K_d (dust emissivity at 1.2 mm per unit gas mass) parameters as a function of the virial parameter a_vir. The comparison between the different mass estimates yields a Xco-factor of 8.8x10^20 cm-2/(K km s-1) x a_vir and a K_d parameter of 1.5x10^-3 cm2/g x a_vir. We compare our N11 results with a similar analysis for molecular clouds in the Gould's Belt. We do not find in N11 a large discrepancy between the dust mm and virial masses as reported in earlier studies of molecular clouds in the SMC. The ratio between L_d and Mvir in N11 is half of that measured for Gould's Belt clouds, which can be accounted for by a factor of two lower gas-to-dust mass ratio, as the difference in gas metallicities. If the two samples have similar a_vir values, this result implies that their dust far-IR properties are also similar.
Electronic tags and genetics explore variation in migrating steelhead kelts (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Ninilchik River, Alaska

Acoustic and archival tags examined freshwater and marine migrations of postspawn steelhead kelts (Oncorhyn- chus mykiss) in the Ninilchik River, Alaska, USA. Postspawn steelhead were captured at a weir in 2002-2005. Scale anal- ysis indicated multiple migratory life histories and spawning behaviors. Acoustic tags were implanted in 99 kelts (2002- 2003), and an array of acoustic receivers calculated the average speed of outmigration, timing of saltwater entry, and dura- tion of residency in the vicinity of the river mouth. Ocean migration data were recovered from two archival tags implanted in kelts in 2004 (one male and one female). Archival tags documented seasonal differences in maximum depth and behav- ior with both fish spending 97% of time at sea <6 m depth (day and night). All study fish were double tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags implanted in the body cavity. Less than 4% of PIT tags were retained in postspawn steel- head. Molecular genetics demonstrated no significant differences in genetic population structure across years or among spawning life history types, suggesting a genetically panmictic population with highly diverse life history characteristics in the Ninilchik River. Resume´ : Des etiquettes acoustiques et des etiquettes aarchivage nous ont permis de suivre les migrations en eau douce et en mer de becards de la truite arc-en-ciel anadrome (Oncorhynchus mykiss) apres la fraie dans la riviere Ninilchik, Alaska, E ´ . -U. Les truites arc-en-ciel apres la fraie ont etecapturees aun deversoir en 2002-2005. Une analyse hierar- chique revele l'existence de multiples cycles biologiques migratoires et comportements reproducteurs. Nous avons muni 99 becards d'etiquettes acoustiques (2002-2003) et un reseau de recepteurs acoustiques a permis de calculer la vitesse de migration vers la mer, le calendrier de l'entree en eau salee et la dureed e residence dans les environs de l'embouchure de la riviere. Les donnees de migration en mer ont eteobtenues de deux etiquettes a archivage fixees ades becards en 2004 (un male et une femelle). Les etiquettes aarchivage ont relevedes differences saisonnieres dans la profondeur maximale et le comportement; les deux poissons ont passe ´ 97 % de leur temps en mer aune profondeur <6 m (jour et nuit). Tous les poissons utilises dans l'etude portaient aussi une etiquette PIT (transpondeur integrepassif) implantee dans la cavite ´ corporelle. Moins de 4 % des etiquette PIT ont eteretenues chez les becards apres la fraie. Une analyse genetique molecu- laire ne montre aucune difference significative de structure genetique de la population, ni d'une anneeal'autre, ni en fonc- tion des types de cycle biologique reproducteur, ce qui laisse croire al'existence dans la Ninilchik d'une population genetiquement panmictique possedant des caracteristiques hautement diversifiees de cycle biologique. (Traduit par la Redaction)