Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of habitat fragmentation on bird communities of sand forests in southern Mozambique

We investigated the influence of forest fragment size and isolation on the bird assemblages in the species- and endemic-rich sand forests of the Maputaland Centre of Endemism, southern Mozambique. Point-centre surveys were conducted across 12 sand forest patches that varied in size and isolation. Patch size and isolation had little influence on bird species richness, but the number of individuals decreased significantly with increasing isolation. Furthermore, bird abundances were correlated to a combination of the size and isolation of patches. Many forest specialists, in particular large-bodied frugivores, were highly sensitive to reduced patch size and increased distances between patches. Further fragmentation of the landscape may therefore impair the ability of these forests to support viable populations of forest specialists.
Trust between peers on peer-to-peer online platforms

Auf peer-to-peer online Marktplatzen, konnen Nutzer gegenseitig Produkte untereinander austauschen. Eine dieser online Plattformen ist Airbnb, ein peer-to-peer Marktplatz, auf dem User anderen Usern ihre Zimmer, Wohnungen oder Hauser als Urlaubsunterkunfte gegen eine Buchungsgebuhr zu Verfugung stellen (Guttenberg, 2013). Viele der Buchungs- und Kaufentscheidungen in der virtuellen oder realen Welt werden von Vertrauen beeinflusst (Kim & Park, 2012). Theoretisch eingebettet und unterstutzt ist der Zusammenhang zwischen Vertrauen und der Kaufentscheidung durch die Theorie des vernunftigen Handelns (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980). Diese besagt, dass subjektive Normen wie Vertrauen und Einstellungen gegenuber einer Handlung, zu Handlungsintentionen und letzten Endes zu einer bestimmten Handlung fuhren. Die Bildung von Vertrauen, kann neben individuellen Faktoren, auch von interpersonellen Faktoren beeinflusst werden. Basierend auf der vorherigen Studien, konnen Peer Empfehlungen und ahnliche soziodemographische Daten zwischen Anbieter und Nutzer die Produktentscheidung und Vertrauensbildung verstarken (Smith et al., 2005). Die Studie ‘Trust between peers on peer-to-peer online platforms: The influence of interpersonal factors’ kombiniert diese Annahmen und untersucht wie Ahnlichkeit zwischen potentiellem Mieter und Vermieter im online Kontext, sowie dritten Peer Empfehlungen, mit Vertrauen und Kaufbereitschaft zusammenhangen. Mit einem 2 x 3 Within- Subject Design, werden in einem online Experiment den Probanden sechs ahnliche Wohnungen mit sechs fiktiven Anbietern angeboten. Diese Anbieter sind basierend auf den soziodemografischen Daten der Teilnehmer, diesen ahnlich oder unahnlich. Zusatzlich wird nach jedem der sechs Anbieter, das Vertrauen in den Anbieter und die Wahrscheinlichkeit fur eine Buchungsintention des Apartments erhoben. Die Haupthypothesen werden anhand einer ANOVA, ANCOVA und multiplen linearen Regression gepruft. Nach der Hypothesen Testung wird kann angenommen werden, dass ein hoheres Vertrauen zu einer hoheren Buchungswahrscheinlichkeit fuhrt (ηp² = .340). Weitere signifikanten Ergebnisse zeigen, dass seine hohere Ahnlichkeit mit einer Effektstarke von ηp² = . 044, sowie eine bessere Empfehlung mit einer Effektstarke von ηp² = . 010 zu einer hoheren Wahrscheinlichkeit der Kaufintention fuhren. Es wird diskutiert inwiefern diese Ergebnisse einen Einfluss auf online Kaufsysteme wie Produkt Empfehlungen haben konnen.
The Effects of Maternal Age on Outcome of Pregnancy in Healthy Elderly Primipara

Purpose :To investigate the pregnancy outcomes associated with delayed first childbearing Methods :We evaluated retrospectively the clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in primiparous mothers who delivered a fetus after more than 21 weeks of gestation in our hospital from January 2001 to December 2008. We enrolled only healthy primiparous mothers who have no underlying cardiovascular disease, hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy and overt or gestational diabetes to remove the confounding factors which influence the pregnancy outcomes. Finally, 235 mothers aged 35 years and above and 1571 mothers aged 20~34 years were included in the study and the control groups, respectively. Results :There were no differences in gestational age and birth weight between two groups. There was significantly higher incidence of cesarean section in the study group. (60.4% vs 39.4%, P= 0.000) The incidence of previous uterine operation history and placenta previa which were the indications of cesarean section were higher in the study group (3.0% vs 0.2%, P=0.000, 9.4% vs 5.2%, P=0.011). Antepartum and postpartum complications with the significantly higher incidence rates in study group were placenta previa and uterine myoma (6.0% vs 2.8%, P=0.010, 4.7% vs 1.2%, P=0.000) and wound complications (1.7% vs 0.3%, P=0.005), respectively. On the other hand, the neonatal outcomes and other antepartum/postpartum complications, such as the incidence of preterm labor, PROM and postpartum bleeding, of two groups were comparable (no significant differences were noted). Conclusion :Although incidence of placenta previa, cesarean section, uterine myoma and wound complication were higher in healthy old primiparous mothers, no differences were noted in neonatal outcomes compared to the young primiparous mothers. We conclude that elderly primiparous pregnancy in woman should not be considered as a high risk pregnancy on the basis of age alone.
Latitudinal dependence of static mesospheric E fields above thunderstorms

Electrostatic fields generated by thunderclouds can significantly heat and modify the lower ionospheric electrons at altitudes of 70–80 km. These fields can map to higher altitudes along the geomagnetic field lines and have been proposed as the mechanism for generation of whistler ducts. Previous 2‐D modeling of these fields have been limited to azimuthally symmetric cases which requires a vertical magnetic field. We have developed a 3‐D model of the electrostatic thundercloud fields which allows the consideration of effects of the geomagnetic field dip angle on the mapping of the fields to high altitudes. The results show stronger electric fields at altitudes of 70–110 km with an equatorward and eastward shift of tens of kilometers at lower geomagnetic latitudes. These stronger fields are mapped into the magnetosphere and may therefore be important for whistler duct generation. The fields also indicate a more significant contribution of the quiescent heating on VLF early/fast events.
Effect of sea turtle rehabilitation centres in Queensland, Australia, on people’s perceptions of conservation

Sea turtles are found worldwide, with all 7 species considered species of conserva- tion concern. The public has seen sea turtle rehabilitation centres as an important tool for conserv- ing sea turtle populations. However, educating the public regarding threats to sea turtles and how they can minimise these threats by making a change in their own lives may be more beneficial than rehabilitation alone, in terms of the ability to restore turtle numbers. In order to determine the educational role of rehabilitation centres, 245 surveys were distributed at several Australian- based rehabilitation centres. The survey was in 2 parts. The first part collected information about visitor's knowledge of threats, their willingness to pay for conservation, and socio-economic infor- mation. The second part determined what threats visitors had learned about, whether visitors would make a change to help support sea turtle conservation, and whether they would be willing to pay more for conservation following their visit. Overall, results showed that all visitors to the sea turtle rehabilitation centres were willing to make a change in their lives to help protect sea turtles. Additionally, the majority of visitors were willing to donate annually to sea turtle conservation. The extra revenue raised could be used for conservation purposes and further research to address the threats sea turtles face. Combining the opportunity for visitors to observe sea turtles up close and learn about threats and how they can be minimised at rehabilitation centres will assist in increasing population sizes and protecting them into the future.
FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS OF GRACILARIA VERRUCOSA (L) (HARVEY): AN ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT SEAWEED FROM CHILIKA LAKE, INDIA

Objective: Marine macroalgae or seaweeds are rich sources of several compounds with biological effects including antioxidant activities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible free radical scavenging potential of Gracilaria verrucosa, an economically important seaweed from Chilika Lake. Methods: The algal extracts were obtain with acetone and chloroform and their antioxidant activity was determined by evaluation of total antioxidant capacity by Phosphate Molybdenum method, scavenging of DPPH free radical, total phenol content by Folin–Ciocalteau Phenol reagent (FCP) method and scavenging of Metal chelating activity. Results: Strong antioxidant capacity of 9.82±1.64 and 12.13±1.63 mg catechol equivalent/gm dry weight (DW) was observed in both acetone and chloroform extracts of Gracilaria verrucosa respectively. The total phenol content was found out to be 2.011±0.035 and 1.31±0.028 % catechol equivalent/ gm DW respectively in acetone extract and chloroform extract. The DPPH scavenging potential of the organic extracts was found to be more active in comparison to the standard commercial Butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). The Metal chelating activity of the algal extracts was found to be concentration dependent that increases with the increase in concentration of the sample. Conclusion: From the result, it was concluded that both the extracts are successful in extracting the active antioxidant compounds from the alga species. The biological activities observed in this study conclude that Gracilaria verrucosa is a potential source of natural antioxidant and offers opportunities for further research aiming to isolate and identify the specific phenolic compounds responsible for their antioxidant activity.
Performance of knapsack sprayer: effect of technological parameters on nanoparticles spray distribution

Iraqi farmers are currently used knapsack sprayers in their applications with a low cost to control diseases in vegetables and trees. Laboratory and field tests were carried out to study performance of knapsack sprayer after its modification to determine the optimal spray deposit on the target at different settings to control the flowrate at the time of application. A knapsack sprayer of 16 liters capacity was modified using existing materials in markets and its performance evaluated. Tests were done with conical dual tip nozzle. White papers cards were utilized to measure droplet characteristics. All measurements were made at different nozzle heights of 50, 70, and 90 cm, different operating pressure were without pressure gauge, 15, 25, and 30 psi. The main results showed that droplet distribution was proportional to nozzle heights and operating pressures. Increasing nozzle heights and operating pressure cause an effect in droplet distribution and spray deposit. A high spray deposit was observed at nozzle height of 50 cm and operating pressure of 30 psi. Operating pressure has greater influence on droplet size than nozzle height. Increasing operating pressure from 15psi to 30psi led to decrease in droplet size of 13.62%.
Diverse Organizations and the Competition for Talent

We propose a theory of firm production that requires diverse inputs. We show that in a competitive labor market, firms differ in their skill composition. Organizations with higher total factor productivity (TFP) are larger and hire from a broader range of skills. Technological progress leads to an increase of all wages and results in downsizing. Quantifying productivity using our model shows that a constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function generates unbiased estimates of TFP but biased estimates of marginal product and elasticity of substitution across skills. Our model also generates estimates of the TFP distribution based on CEO compensation alone.
Banking crises and investments in innovation

This paper proposes a new channel to explain the medium- to long-term effects of banking crises on the real economy. It embeds a banking sector prone to runs in a stylized growth model to show that episodes of bank distress affect not only the volume, but also the composition of firm investment, by disproportionally decreasing investments in innovation. Thishypothesis is confirmed empirically employing industry-level data on R&D spending around 13 recent banking crises episodes. Using difference-in-difference identification strategies, I show that industries that depend more on external finance, in more bank-based economies, invest disproportionally less in R&D following systemic banking crises. These industries also have a lower share of R&D spending in total investment, suggesting a shift in the composition of investment that is specific to recessions following banking crises and not other business cycle recessions.
Relative Supply and Demand for Skills in Switzerland

Whereas Anglo-Saxon economies have recently experienced a widening wage distribution between skill groups, the Swiss wage structure has remained almost stable. This raises the question whether the Swiss labour market did not experience a decrease in the relative demand for low-skilled workers as the Anglo-Saxon economies or whether it was supply changes that kept the wage distribution between skill groups constant. I show that immigration policy played a negligible role and that the stable wage structure was made possible by adequate increases in the relative supply of skills that neutralised the increasing relative demand. From a policy perspective, my results are supportive of existing supply-side policies aiming to improve the skills of the workforce, like the expansion of higher education.
Germination and In Vitro Regeneration Response of Local Nigerian Tomato Cultivar using Different Explant Sources

In vitro regeneration of plants is an important tool in both basic and applied studies as well as commercial applications. It can be of use in overcoming the constraints of tomato production. Assessment of seed sterilization procedures and in vitro regeneration of tomato cultivar was attempted using different explant sources. Seed sterilization procedures with and without ethanol treatment and varying duration of application were used while explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium only and MS media with varying concentrations of cytokinins and fixed concentration of auxin as Regeneration media (RM). Seeds sterilized with 10% (v/v) solution of sodium hypochlorite for 10 min with two to three drops of non-ionic surfactant (Tween 20) added without ethanol treatment and repeated for 5 min gave the highest germination percentage of 57.33% and percentage contamination of 11.11% compared to seeds sterilized with other disinfection procedures. MS media supplemented with 2 mg/l Kinetin and 0.1 mg/l NAA produced average shoot initiation values of 1.71, 1.57 and 1.57 and average root initiation values of 0.57, 0.00 and 2.85 for cotyledon, hypocotyl and leaf explants respectively. The study showed that the tomato cultivar could be amenable for crop improvement and micro propagation purposes. Key words: Seed sterilization, In vitro regeneration, explant, cultivar, organogenesis.
Genes of Virulence and Phylogenetic Group in Isolates of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) shares some virulence attributes with strains of E. coli that cause extraintestinal infections in humans. The APEC is considered a possible cause for a zoonosis. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of twelve genes that are associated with virulence in a group of APEC isolates, as well as to identify the phylogenetic groups to which they belong. According to the results, one of these isolates harbors 91.6% of the virulence genes and most of the isolates have 7 or 8 of such twelve genes. The genes feoB and iss had the highest prevalence, with 95.6%. Genes associated to the acquisition of iron were present in more than 60% of the APEC isolates, while those of the ibeA invasin and vat toxin were detected with the lowest prevalence. A great genetic diversity was observed on the APEC isolates, which suggest that bacterial systems for iron acquisition, and those related to bacterial resistance to the host’s defense mechanisms are fundamental virulence factors in these bacteria. On the other hand, the rest of the virulence genes provide valuable information for the development of vaccines against avian colibacillosis. It was also determined that a high percentage of APEC belongs to the phylogenetic group B1, from which mainly commensal and pathogenic E. coli strains derive.
EFFECT OF COMPOST AND SOME NATURAL STIMULANT TREATMENTS ON: II. CORMS PRODUCTION AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF (GLADIOLUS GRANDIFLORUS CV. PETER PEARS) PLANTS

Received: 17/2/2018 Accepted: 26/2/2018 ABSTRACT: Two field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of plant compost (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ton/fed) and six natural stimulants (green tea extract at 5 g/l, moringa leaves extract at 300 mg/l, garlic extract at 300 mg/l, licorice roots extract at 5 g/l, active dry yeast at 5 g/l and seaweeds extract at 3 cm/l) on corms production and chemical constituents of Gladiolus grandiflorus cv. Peter Pears. The obtained results indicated that corm diameter, number of cormels/plant, dry weight of cormels, as well as, chemical constituents including chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids and percentages of N, P and K in the corms were gradually increased by increasing the level of compost. Significant differences were detected among the four used treatments. So, the high level of compost resulted the highest values. All six treatments of natural stimulants significantly increased corm and cormels production and their content of chemical constituents in comparison of the control plants. The highest values were obtained due to the treatments of seaweeds extract at 3 cm/l. or active dry yeast at 5 g/l. The interaction between compost and natural stimulants was significant for all previous characters, except chlorophyll a in the first season.
Using humic acid in diets for dairy goats

The effects of diets containing different levels of humic acid (HA) were determined on several blood and milk parameters in dairy goats. Eighteen Saanen goats (2 years old, 52 kg body weight) were fed three diets containing: 0 g HA/kg body weight (T 1 ), 1 g HA/kg – (T 2 ) or 3 g HA/kg – (T 3 ) in a 3x3 latin square experimental design. Each period consisted of 21 days preliminary period and 7 days collection phase. Blood and milk samples were collected at the end of the sample collection periods. The total DM intake values were 1.73, 1.74 and 1.79 (kg/d) for goats fed T 1, T 2 and T 3, respectively. Goats fed the T 3 diet had higher (P<0.05) milk yields than goats fed the T1 diet (milk yield=2.45 and 2.11 kg/d, respectively), and this yield was similar to that of diet T 2 (2.37 kg/d). However, the addition of HA did not improve the milk fat, solids non-fat, protein, or lactose content of milk. HA administration to goats significantly reduced the total cholesterol of blood (P<0.05; 3.21, 2.61 and 2.64 mmol l -1 for T 1 , T 2 and T 3 , respectively), and the LDL cholesterol levels of blood serum that were determined as 0.60, 0.39 and 0.42 mmol l -1 , respectively (P<0.05). Further investigation will be required to elucidate the effects of humic acid on goat performance.
Policy instruments to avoid output collapse: an optimal control model for India

This paper identifies the key policy instruments to be monitored in order to avoid output collapse in the short run for developing countries that come under the IMF-supported adjustment programmes. Changes in exchange rate and aggregate domestic credit are the standard instruments in a Fund-supported policy package used to target balance of payments (BOP) improvement and inflation reduction. Within a small macroeconometric policy-oriented model of India, this paper carries out optimal control exercises to obtain optimal policies for desired targets. The analysis thus carried out indicates that demand contraction based on domestic credit restriction leads to improvement in the BOP and reduction in inflation rather than increased output. This paper suggests using instruments such as credit flow to the private sector on the monetary side, and public spending on basic infrastructure on the fiscal side, so as to make adjustment programmes growth-oriented even in the short term.
Attachment Changes Post-Conversion in Committed Converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Attachment Changes Post-Conversion in Committed Converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Laurie Page Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Religious conversion has been described as a “spiritual transformation” where converts experience an “intimate ‘union’. [with] divine presence” (Sandage & Shults, 2007). To better understand motivators of conversion, several studies have examined how attachment patterns affect the likelihood, and speed of religious conversion (e.g., Granqvist & Hagekull, 1999; Granqvist & Kirkpatrick, 2004; Kirkpatrck, 1998; Kirkpatrick & Shaver, 1990; Schnitker, Porter, Emmons, & Barrett, 2012). Converts’ changes in personality, self-definition, and meaningfulness following conversion have been noted (Halama and Lacna , 2011; Paloutzian, Richardson, & Rambo, 1999). However, little, if any research has been conducted examining changes in attachment patterns of converts that occur following conversion. The current study, a follow-up to Hansen, Page, Fischer, and Williams (2014), examined the post-conversion attachment changes for 39 committed converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (ranging in time since baptism from 2 months to 35 years). Interviews were conducted previously (see Hansen, et al., 2014) in a semi-structured format by two undergraduate researchers (ranging from 30-60 minutes in length) and then transcribed by a third undergraduate research assistant. Two additional research assistants listened to the recordings and edited the transcriptions (Hansen, et al., 2014). Beginning with a theory-driven conceptual framework in the analysis, a qualitative hermeneutic interpretive method (see Jackson & Patton,1992; Kvale & Brinkmann, 2009) was used in the current study to explore the converts’ transcripts. The converts were not asked specific questions regarding their relationships at the time of the interview. However, the converts spontaneously revealed various attachments patterns in the way that they spoke of themselves, their family, and their friends in their narratives. Three overarching themes were drawn from the analysis. The converts (a) demonstrated evidence of attachment patterns in their narratives; (b) experienced a spiritual conversion or an experience of having a new or closer relationship with God beyond a projection of their parental attachment style; and (c) experienced a spiritual restructuring of their attachment patterns. In other words, they described feeling that their closer relationship with God dramatically changed the way they viewed themselves and how they interacted in relationships with others. The findings of this study have implications for understanding the impact of spirituality on attachment patterns.