Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aboveground Macroinvertebrate Diversity and Abundance in Sand Sagebrush Prairie Managed With the Use of Pyric Herbivory

Abstract Through pyric herbivory (i.e., fire-induced grazing patterns), native grasslands were historically a spatially heterogeneous environment. It is hypothesized that the mosaic of habitats created by pyric herbivory supports a more diverse invertebrate community compared to modern range management. Patch-burn management, a pyric herbivory technique, is an application of prescribed fire and grazing whereby the timing and location of the burned and grazed patches is varied, creating a diversity of habitat conditions. Although disturbance in sandsage (Artemisia filifolium Torr.) prairie historically included fire and grazing, fire disturbance has been nearly eradicated from this ecosystem in western Oklahoma. We compared patch-burn management to traditional management (i.e., moderate grazing with no fire) in sandsage prairie to evaluate the impact of these two management regimes on aboveground invertebrates. We sampled invertebrates at 44 points in each of 3 mo (May, June, and July) with the use of Dietrick vacuum sampling. Diversity, total abundance, and abundance of seven invertebrate orders (Araneae, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera) were similar between patch-burn and traditional pastures. When examined on a patch level, five invertebrate orders were also similar between their respective time since burn patch and the traditional patches. Araneae and Coleoptera abundance were higher in traditional patches, and Hemiptera abundance was higher in current-year burn patches. Our results suggest a heterogeneity-based management scheme based on pyric herbivory does not negatively impact the overall invertebrate community and may benefit a wider variety of invertebrates by providing areas of varying levels of disturbance. In comparison, homogeneous landscapes such as those created by traditional management may only benefit segments of the invertebrate community that have habitat associations with moderately disturbed or undisturbed areas. Therefore, a disturbance regime involving the interaction of fire and grazing may be valuable for maintaining biodiversity and productivity within sandsage prairie ecosystems.
Multiscale change-point segmentation: beyond step functions

Modern multiscale type segmentation methods are known to detect multiple change-points with high statistical accuracy, while allowing for fast computation. Underpinning theory has been developed mainly for models that assume the signal as a piecewise constant function. In this paper this will be extended to certain function classes beyond such step functions in a nonparametric regression setting, revealing certain multiscale segmentation methods as robust to deviation from such piecewise constant functions. Our main finding is the adaptation over such function classes for a universal thresholding, which includes bounded variation functions, and (piecewise) H\"{o}lder functions of smoothness order $ 0 < \alpha \le1$ as special cases. From this we derive statistical guarantees on feature detection in terms of jumps and modes. Another key finding is that these multiscale segmentation methods perform nearly (up to a log-factor) as well as the oracle piecewise constant segmentation estimator (with known jump locations), and the best piecewise constant approximants of the (unknown) true signal. Theoretical findings are examined by various numerical simulations.
GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING TYPE OF LEFT-TURN PHASING

At the present time, there is no uniform method of application of left-turn signal phasing throughout the United States. Different jurisdictions use different approaches to determine which type of left-turn phasing--permissive, exclusive, or exclusive/permissive--should be used. Guidelines for selecting the appropriate type of left-turn signal phasing are presented. The guidelines are based on the effect of different types of phasing on left-turn delay, through delay, and safe intersection operation. The effect of different types of left-turn phasing on left-turn and through delay was determined from observing six arterial-arterial intersections. Time-lapse photography was used to observe volume, number of vehicles stopping, total delay, average delay per stopped vehicle, and average delay for all approach vehicles for each turning movement. The guidelines presented select the type of left-turn phasing based on left-turn volume, opposing volume, number of opposing lanes, cycle length, approach speed, sight distance restrictions, and accident history.
Comparison of oxidant and antioxidant status of Çoruh trout (Salmo coruhensis), Anatolian trout (Salmo rizeensis) and rainbow trout (Oncorynchus mykiss) spermatozoa.

Bu calismada, dogadaki Coruh alabaligi (Salmo coruhensis), Anadolu alabaligi (Salmo rizeensis) ve gokkusagi alabaligi (Oncorynchus mykiss) spermatozoanin oksidan ve antioksidan durumu uzerindeki etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Baliklar Uzungol’den elde edilmistir. Uc alabalik turunun spermatozasinda enzimatik antioksidan aktiviteleri (superoksit dismutaz, katalaz, glutatyon peroksidaz), glutatyon ve lipid peroksidasyonu (malondialdehit) belirlenmistir. Sonuclar katalaz (23.36±0.36 K/g.protein), glutatyon (0.57±1.24 μmol/g.hucre), glutatyon peroksidaz (74.00±1.5 U/g.protein) ve malondialdehit seviyelerinin (6.55±2.01 nmol/g hucre) Anadolu alabaliginin (S. rizeensis) spermatozoasinda daha yuksek oldugunu gostermistir. Sonuc olarak, turler arasindaki farkliliklar antioksidan ve malondialdehit seviyelerinde degisikliklere neden olmustur.
Competitiveness and environmental standards : some exploratory results

Contrary to common perceptions, higher environmental standards in industrial countries have not tended to lower their international competitiveness, the author contends. There has been little systematic relationship between higher environmental standards and competitiveness in environmentally sensitive goods (those that incurred the highest pollution abatement and control costs in the U.S. in 1988). Among the author's findings about what determines trade flows in environmentally sensitive goods: (a) environmental spending has been a small share of total spending -- so it is unlikely on its own to have caused shifts in comparative advantage in most industries; (b) differences in environmental spending among industrial countries seem to have been minor; (c) environmental spending has been concentrated in a few basic industries under heavy pressure to structure the international division of labor; (d) energy use and environmental spending are closely linked; and (e) positive adjustment and increased comparative advantage in environmentally sensitive goods were more pronounced in countries where environmental policies encouraged investment rather than current spending. The costs of environmental standards depend not only on physical characteristics but also on the policies chosen. The reductions industrial countries have achieved in the main pollutants differ greatly across countries. In the United States, which has some of the highest private environmental spending (as a share of GDP), investments have been a declining share of spending. The United States also has some of the lowest reductions in abatement, which may mean that it has succeeded less than other countries in internalizing environmental costs. Compliance with higher environmental standards is not a zero-sum game. Higher environmental standards to reduce the social cost of pollution is a new source of permanent structural change. Countries that adjust early and invest in environmental protection technology can maintain and even create comparative advantage in environmentally sensitive industries. Private costs incurred to reduce the social cost of pollution may, apart from the social benefit of lower pollution, also bring private benefits. Adjustment can mean shifting to producing less pollution-intensive goods. Pressures toward this end are likely to increase as environmental awareness becomes more common. Instead of lobbying for protection, industries struggling with environmental spending should lobby for better environmental policies -- that is, policies and standards that encourage efficient abatement. Demands for protection because of differences in environmental spending are likely to be counterproductive and to retard adjustment toward a new way of competing. Ecodumping duties could do little for the environment but much harm to the trading system.
Notes on habitat affinities of the Hotson's Jerboa Allactaga hotsoni Thomas, 1920 (Rodentia: Dipodidae) from Isfahan province, Iran

We could recorded Hotson’s Jerboa in Isfahan Province where is located in the central part of Iran. Totally five specimens of Allactaga hotsoni were captured in Isfahan province, which had not previously recorded in that province. Previously this species was reported fro,m the south of the Iran, Baluchistan province and later from Yazd and Khorasan Razavi provinces. Morphological and cranial measurement had showed no significant differences between these specimens and those reported by the other investigators. Investigation of habitat association of A. hotsoni in this new locality had been showed that bare soil percent cover and the presence of Hamada salicornica mostly affect its habitat use.
A dynamic link speed mechanism for energy saving in interconnection networks

El crecimiento de la potencia de procesamiento de los sistemas de computacion paralelos requiere redes de interconexion de mayor nivel de complejidad y un mayor rendimiento, por lo que consumen mas energia. Mayor cantidad de energia consumida conduce a muchos problemas relacionados con los costos, la infraestructura y la estabilidad del sistema de refrigeracion. Los enlaces de la red contribuyen en una proporcion sustancial al consumo total de energia de dichas redes. Varias propuestas se han ido acercando a una mejor administracion de la energia de los enlaces. En esta tesis, aprovechamos ciertas caracteristicas integradas en la tecnologia actual de los enlaces para ajustar dinamicamente la velocidad de los mismos en funcion del trafico. De esta manera, la red de interconexion consume menos energia cuando el trafico es ligero. Tambien proponemos una politica de enrutamiento que tiene en cuenta la velocidad del enlace que favorece las conexiones de alta velocidad en el proceso de enrutamiento de paquetes para aumentar el rendimiento de la red cuando se despliega el mecanismo de ahorro de energia. Los resultados de la evaluacion muestran que las redes que usan el mecanismo de ahorro de energia aqui propuesto, reducen el consumo de energia a expensas de un aumento en el promedio de latencia de paquetes. Sin embargo, con la propuesta de politica de enrutamiento que tiene en cuenta la velocidad del enlace, nuestro mecanismo incurre en un menor aumento en el promedio de la latencia de paquetes mientras se logra un ahorro de energia similar, en comparacion con otros enfoques convencionales de la literatura.
Maccullochella ikei, an Endangered Species of Freshwater Cod (Pisces: Percichthyidae) from the Clarence River System, NSW and M. peelii mariensis, a New Subspecies from the Mary River System, Qld

The eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei, from the Clarence River system, NSW, is described and M. peelii mariensis is described as a new subspecies from the Mary River system, Qld. The Murray cod, M. p. peelii and the trout cod, M. macquariensis, are indigenous to the Murray-Darling River system. Using electrophoretic data for 19 presumed loci, the coefficient of genetic identity between M. p. peelii and M. ikei was 0.72 and the banding-patterns of the muscle general protein, liver esterases and five other enzymes, were species-specific. A high proportion of abnormal and inviable hybrid larvae in a cross-breeding experiment indicate that post-zygotic isolating mechanisms have evolved between M. p. peelii and M. ikei. The coefficient of genetic identity between M. p. peelii and M. p. mariensis was 0.85 and banding patterns of muscle general protein were diagnostic. Canonical variates analysis using 18 morphological and nine meristic characters, clearly separated both spccies and the subspecies. Maccullochella ikei is distinguished from M. p. peelii by having longer pelvic fins, larger orbit length, and larger and morphologically distinct sagittalotoliths. Maccullochella p. mariensis differs from M. p. pee/ii by the combination of a deeper and shorter caudal peduncle, longer pelvic fins, larger sagittal otoliths and lesser extension of the first anal pterygiophore towards the first caudal vertebra, and from M. ikei by the combination of a deeper caudal peduncle, greater postorbital head length, smaller orbit, larger interorbital width, fewer scale rows below the lateral line, shorter fifth-sixth dorsal spine and lesser extension of the first anal pterygiophore. Although each species has distinctive colouration and mottling, there is some intra-specific variation. Maccullochella macquariensis is distinct from the other species by having a straight head profile, jaws of similar length, 14 precaudal vertebrae and distinctive colouration. There was a dramatic reduction in the distribution and abundance of cod in the eastern drainage during the early 1900s and cod were probably extinct in the Richmond and Brisbane River systems by the end of the 1930s. Maccullochella ikei and M. p. mariensis are each represented by one, small population. Possible causes of the decline, and the management strategies taken to conserve the endangered M. ikei are discussed.
Stable Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Corals from the Gulf of Guinea as Indicators of Periods of Extreme Precipitation Conditions in the Sub-Sahara

Stable oxygen isotopic analyses of scleractinian coral skeletons from the Gulf of Guinea in the eastern Atlantic reveal that the corals from this region can be used to identify periods of severe drought and above average precipitation in sub-Sahara Africa. Data presented in this paper show an inverse correlation between precipitation in the Sahel and the δ 18 O values of a coral skeletons of the species Siderastrea spp. collected from the island of Principe in the Gulf of Guinea. This is opposite to the correlation expected, as previous work has suggested that higher sea surface temperatures occur in the Gulf of Guinea during periods of low rainfall in the Sahel. Such an association would lead to a positive correlation between Sahel precipitation and skeletal δ 18 O. The explanation for the observed inverse correlation is that the salinity of the Gulf of Guinea is strongly influenced by the outflow from the Niger and Congo rivers. These periods of high freshwater input also correlate with periods of higher rainfall in the sub-Sahara and therefore affect the δ 18 O values of the coral skeleton. The correlation between δ 18 O values of the coral skeleton and temperature in the northern subtropical Atlantic Ocean (r= -0.34), the magnitude of the dipole (r=-0.45). and the latitudinal position of the intertropical convergence zone (r= -0.37) illustrate that the δ 18 O values in the coral skeleton reflect climate dynamics of the region that affect the precipitation patterns in sub-Sahara Africa.
Diets of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma in the Doto area, northern Japan : ontogenetic and seasonal variations

Seasonal, ontogenetic and bathymetric variations of diet were examined for walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma based on a total of 6666 fish collected off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido Island, northern Japan (Doto area) during 1989 to 2000. Walleye pollock depended exclu- sively (>99%) on pelagic prey and showed a clear ontogenetic dietary shift: smaller fish depended mainly upon mesozooplankton such as Neocalanus cristatus and Euphausia pacifica, and larger fish preyed upon pollock (cannibalism), myctophids Diaphus theta and firefly squid Watasenia scintillans. Seasonal variation was also evident. Smaller pollock depended mainly upon N. cristatus during spring then shifted gradually to E. pacifica during other seasons. For larger pollock, major prey shifted from pollock (cannibalism) during spring to micronekton during other seasons. Bathymetric variation was less pronounced, with cannibalism and Themisto spp. being more important in the shallow area (≤150 m). Feeding intensity, measured as stomach content index, was generally higher during spring and summer than autumn and winter, but showed incidentally high values during win- ter, suggesting sporadic but intense feeding opportunities. Fish condition fell during winter and then recovered rapidly during May and June. Recovery coincided with superabundance of N. cristatus during blooming, so that this species is essential for the recovery of pollock from wintering and spawning.
Isothermal Crystallization Properties of Rbd-Palm Oil as Measured by Dsc and Oscillatory Rheometry

In this research, the crystallization properties of refined bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm oil under isothermal conditions were investigated. A good quality of RBD palm oil (showed by IV, FFA content, PV, and AV with the values of 52.14, 0.06%, 1.39 meq/kg, and 0.88, respectively) was used in this research. In general, RBD palm oil demonstrat­ ed a two­step crystallization process at the isothermal crystallization temperatures/ of 18oC, 20oC and 22oC. From differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement of RBD palm oil, the melting heats/showed decrement values (33.84 J/g, 26.83 J/g and 22.47 J/g) but the peaks of the corresponding endotherm/ showed increment values (33.52oC, 34.72oC and 36.44oC) when both were correlated to the increased values of iso­ thermal crystallization temperatures/ (18oC, 20oC, and 22oC, respectively). From rheometry analysis of RBD palm oil (at the isothermal crystallization temperature of 18oC), the rheograms gave the values of the phase shift angle ( ), storage modulus () and complex modulus () at the end of crystallization process as follows: 24o,11.36 kPa, and 39 kPa. The overlay of andgavewith the value of 49.6 Pa at the isothermal time of 11.7 minute.
Evaluating the factors influencing the friction behavior of paperboard during the deep drawing process

Deep drawing of paperboard with rigid tools and immediate compression has only a small presence in the market for secondary packaging solutions due to a lack of understanding of the physical relations that occur during the forming process. As with other processes that deal with interactions between two solids in contact, the control of the factors that affect friction is important due to friction’s impact on runnability and process reliability. A new friction measurement device was developed to evaluate the factors influencing the friction behavior of paperboard such as under the specific conditions of the deep drawing process, which differ from the standard friction testing methods. The tribocharging of the contacting surfaces, generated during sliding friction, was determined to be a major influence on the dynamic coefficient of friction between paperboard and metal. The same effect could be examined during the deep drawing process. With increased contact temperature due to the heating of the tools, the coefficient of friction decreased significantly, but it remained constant after reaching a certain charging state after several repetitions. Consequently, to avoid ruptures of the wall during the forming process, tools that are in contact with the paperboard should be heated.
Histopathological Effects of Andrographis paniculata Leaf Extract against Culex quinquefasciatus Larva

Andrographis paniculata leaf aqueous extract over 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 24 h were determined to contain the highest amount of total phenolic compound and was used to evaluate mosquito larvicidal properties against Culex quinquefasciatus at varies concentrations (3.125, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 ppm) by determining the median and 90 % lethal concentration, LC50 and LC90, respectively, within 24 h and by histological analysis. The results revealed that the total phenolic compound measurement in each time extraction were 7.97, 8.68, 7.16, 6.70, and 5.78 mg/g GAE, respectively. The one hour aqueous extract of A. paniculata leaf expressed the 24-h LC50 and LC90 values in C. quinquefasciatus which were 15.93 and 28.23 ppm, respectively. Dose dependent lesions were observed. Under histological analysis, midgut lesions, i.e., separation of the epithelial cells from the basement membrane, elongation protruding into the lumen, disruption of the brush border, and the appearance of several vesicles and cytoplasm masses were observed in this study. The present study reveals that the aqueous extract of this leaf has a suitable property for a larvicidal natural product, and may replace harmful chemical pesticides.
Critical ranges for leaf nitrogen and potassium levels in coffee fertigated at the production phase

With the aim of establishing critical ranges for the leaf nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) levels in fertigated coffee crops under production, an experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Sector for Coffee Cultivation of the Department of Agriculture at the Federal University of Lavras, in Brazil. Treatments consisted of five levels of fertilizer applied through fertigation: 30%, 80%, 130%, 180% and 230% of the recommended amounts of N and K for rainfed coffee grown in Minas Gerais. A randomised block design with four replications was used. Critical ranges for nutrient concentrations in the leaves were established from the results of growth characteristics (plant height and stem diameter), leaf analyses and productivity. The results obtained were: a) nitrogen (g kg-1): 32.39 to 32.40 for January/February; 33.60 to 33.61 for March/April; 27.39 to 27.42 for May/June; 24.23 to 24.24 for July/August; 26.06 to 26.09 for September/October and 26.50 to 26.51 for November/December; b ) potassium (g kg-1): 20.08 to 20.14 for January/February; 17.89 to 17.91 for March/April; 15.93 to 15.96 for May/June; 15.29 to 15.35 for July/August; 16.61 to 16.64 for September/October and 20.58 to 20.64 for November/December.
Growth challenges of food processing small-sized enterprises

Small-sized food processing enterprises are a vital part of the manufacturing sector of Bulgaria. From their startup, all through the transition period and financial crises, until today, these enterprises have originated, grown, and struggled through many challenges. The purpose of the study is to identify, describe, and analyze the growth challenges and their impact on small-sized enterprises in food processing that have opened and are operating in Bulgaria. Two cases of small, family-run, microenterprizes, from the food processing subsector enterprises, located in the Severoiztochen (North-Eastern) region of Bulgaria were selected for a comparative case study. The biggest challenge for the growth of a small enterprise is the integration of many responsibilities. In small food processing companies, they do not have a different workforce for marketing, operations management, human resources, financial management, and networking. It is done by the same people who started it. The need for finding a proper balance and playing many roles at once makes it very difficult. This requires constant learning, insight, and flexibility. The difficulties cannot be categorized as ‘more or less critical’. Rather they can be grouped into two subcategories: ‘potentially manageable’ and ‘potentially unmanageable’. Growth challenges are correlated and will be considered in their complexities. Case companies are impacted by challenges, both positive and negative. The positive takeaway is that they have been valuable vehicles of managerial learning along the pathway to growth; and the negative is that they have contributed seriously to stalling the rate of growth. Small-sized food processing enterprises, to a large extent, replicate the patterns in other sectors. However, some growth challenges they face are unique; such as those related to food safety. Failure to provide safe food products could translate into discontinuation of the business.