Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of shoreline habitats in the Kalman Preserve, Emmet County, MI

Great lakes wetlands are important habitats for fish and other biota. They are important to the lifecycles of many floral and faunal species that are ultimately crucial to food webs in other ecosystems. The Kalman Preserve is owned by the Little Traverse Conservancy and contains wetland habitats on the shore of the Little Traverse Bay in Emmet County, MI. In 2006 a group of University of Michigan students found that the preserve, which includes cedar swamp, marsh, interdunal and shoreline sections, had a Floristic Quality Index value of 61.7, which indicates that the protected area holds an extremely rare level of pre-European characteristics. When they evaluated the interdunal and shoreline area alone, the value was considerably lower, which suggests degradation of this wetland habitat. We evaluated the same interdunal/shoreline subregion of the preserve using the Wetland Fish Index (WFIBasin) to assess its quality as a fish habitat. Our results suggest that the shoreline and inshore pond are facultative habitats. Evaluation of the bay and pond together yielded a higher index value than evaluation of the bay alone, and a lower index value than the pond alone. Our findings reinforce the importance of protecting the bay, pond, and surrounding area in maintaining the extremely rare quality of the preserve.
Effect of host plants on biochemical markers of oxidative stress within tissues of Pea aphid

The effect of some species of the Fabaceae family (the pea Pisum sativum L., broad bean Vicia faba L. and vetch V. sativa L.) on biochemical markers of oxidative stress within tissues of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Homoptera, Aphididae), has been studied. The highest concentration of superoxide anion radical (O 2 ─ ), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and lipid peroxidation products thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was recorded for morphs that fed on the broad bean. The opposite tendency was observed for the level of total thiols, that were the highest for insects reared on the pea. Among the studied aphid morphs, the highest concentration of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide was noted for the wingless females whereas TBARS content was the high- est within the winged migrant tissues. Different results were obtained for the total thiols, where apterae as well as migrants reared on the tested plants, had comparable content of these compounds. Our experiments indicate that oxidative stress may play an important role in interactions between the pea aphid and their host plants.
The effect of health sector industrial actions on TB and TB/HIV case finding in Ogun State, Nigeria: Is Public-Private Mix a viable solution?

Background: Though industrial disputes are a global phenomenon, there is a rising concern of its frequent occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: To assess the effect of industrial actions embarked upon by the health workers during the year 2014 on Tuberculosis (TB) notification in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective review of TB notification in 2013 and 2014 was conducted. Quarterly TB case notification, the proportions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) test, Co-trimoxazole (CPT) uptake and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) uptake in the years 2013 and 2014 were compared using the Epi-info software. Results: There was a decline in the proportion of TB cases reported by the public sector health services and an increase in the proportion of TB cases reported by the private health facilities during the period of industrial disputes in the public health sector (doctors and non-doctors) (p = 0.001). Compared to the year 2013, the proportion of presumptive TB cases tested for HIV declined significantly during the period of the strike actions by the non-doctors but not during the strike actions by doctors in 2014. There was no difference in the uptake of Co-trimoxazole (p = 0.456 and 0.511) and Anti-retroviral Therapy (p = 0.192 and 0.544) by TB/HIV co-infected patients during the strike actions by the doctors and the non-doctors respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the importance of Public-PrivateMix for TB case finding efforts in the developing countries, where there are incessant strike actions by health workers in the public sector.
The Persistence of Gender Earnings Inequality in Taiwan, 1978–1992

During the 1980s, Taiwan's industry and export mixes shifted toward higher-skill, technology-intensive products, and lower-skill, labor-intensive industries began moving abroad. Despite improvements in women's skills and educational attainment relative to men's, the mean gender earnings ratio between 1978 and 1992 remained at 65%. The authors analyze household survey data from Taiwan's Manpower Utilization Survey to examine why rapid structural change was not accompanied by a narrowing of the gender gap. The results strongly suggest that large losses experienced by women in unmeasured gender-specific factors—which could reflect the effects of labor market intermittency, growing gender differences in unobserved skills, or an increase in wage discrimination against women—offset their relative gains in education and experience. Further evidence provides no support for a widening gender gap in labor force commitment or in unobserved skills, suggesting that wage discrimination against female workers increased over time.
Measures and Relationships of Computer Usage, Computer Locus of Control, Computer Literacy, and End-User Satisfaction Among College of Business Seniors

Psychometric measures in the computing environment have been employed for many years. Many instruments have been proposed to help understand and attempt to predict user’s actions or inactions in the computing environment. This study moves toward a deeper awareness of computer users by investigating the correlation between four IT-related measures: computer usage, computer locus of control (Kay, 1990), computer literacy (Kay, 1990), and end-user satisfaction (Doll and Torkzadeh, 1988). Six hypotheses were proposed; all except one were supported. Reasons for the lack of findings on this hypothesis, along with a discussion of the five hypotheses that were supported are presented, as well as some interesting findings concerning the factor level scales of each measure.
The Cost of Shade: Cost-Effectiveness of Trees Versus Bus Shelters

Shade at bus stops can enhance the thermal comfort of waiting riders and can encourage new passengers, thereby reducing air pollution and traffic congestion. This study used computer simulation to compare the cost-effectiveness of shade provided by metal shelters versus trees at 64 bus stops in Tucson, Arizona. The 40-year projected total future and present values of costs were over 50% greater for shelters than for trees. When differences in the amount of shade provided over time were considered, a 20% cost savings was projected for trees. Expenses for irrigation and pruning accounted for about 95% of all projected tree costs. These findings suggest that trees can be a cost-effective substitute for shelters at bus stops in mid-latitude cities where shade is useful.
Various Row Invariants on Cohen-Macaulay Rings

AbstractWe define a numerical invariant  Ý Þs over Cohen-Macaulay local ring  , which is related to the presenting matrices ofthe  -th syzygy module (with or without free summands). We show that   Þ sa ¦ Þs and  Ý Þsa ¦Ý Þs for a Cohen-Macaulay local ring  of dimension  . Key words : Row Invariants, Cohen-Macaulay Local Ring, Maximal Cohen-Macaulay Module, Free Summands 1. Introduction 1 Throughout this paper, we assume that Þis is a Noetherian local ring, and all modules are unitary. It is proved [1] that there are certain restrictions on the entries of the maps in the minimal free resolutions of finitely generated modules of infinite projective dimension over Noetherian local rings. This fact provides not only a new way to understand some previously known results in commutative ring theory (see for instance Corollary 2.8 [1] , or Proposition 2.2 [1] ), but also new interesting invariants of local rings. These invariants have turned out to be quite useful; for example, the Auslander index of can be described as a column invariant when  is Gorenstein
Nordic forest professionals' values.

The present study analyses the values held by forest professionals in three Nordic countries: Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The data is from a large (n = 1113) internet survey that used cognitive mapping as a research tool, which is a novelty in value measurement. The questionnaire is based on the organisational value theory of Schein (1992), supplemented with relevant forest-related and environmental values. The forest-related main value factors were in the following order of importance: Expertise, Private forestry, Forest production, Nature conservation, and Tradition. The measurement included two kinds of cases: action values, referring to present decision-making, and ideal values, referring to decisions concerning future ideals. Most of the values’ scores were similar. Almost all values received higher scores of importance in the ideal cases compared to action cases, a fact that can probably be explained by constraints related to the professionals’ current working environment. Some international differences were also found: Sweden and Norway were closer to each other and both differed from Finland, where private forestry, forest production, and traditions are highly valued. Moreover, respondents working in industry were found to be slightly more production-oriented than other forest professionals. The study also revealed several weaknesses of the cognitive mapping method in measuring values.
Medium Optimization for Acid protease production from Aspergillus sps under Solid state fermentation and mathematical modelling of protease activity

Present study reports the production and optimization of process and nutritional parameters for extracellular acid protease from new isolate Aspergillus sps under solid state fermentation and modelling of protease activity for a set of process parameters. On the economic feasibility of fermentation, wheat rawa was selected as the main solid substrate for protease enzyme production. The optimal values of factors influencing the production were found to be moisture content 60% (v/w), incubation temperature 32±20C , inoculum level 10% (v/w), incubation period 5 days and pH 5.0. The nutritional variables such as fructose and chickpea meal enhanced the protease enzyme production. The cost of fermentation was reduced by the replacement of optimized carbon source (fructose) with vegetable waste, potato peel. Linear polynomial models were developed expressing the relationship between acid protease activity and various fermentation factors. This was the first report on the design of batch fermentation media for production and optimization of acid protease in Aspergillus sps on wheat rawa as basal medium. Key words: Aspergillus sps, acid protease, media optimization, economy, polynomial model.
Genetic diversity and structure of potamodromous Opsaridium microlepis (Günther) populations in the inlet rivers of Lake Malawi

Studies were carried out to determine the genetic diversity and structure of endangered Opsaridium microlepis (Mpasa) populations in the affluent rivers of Lake Malawi; Linthipe, Bua, Dwangwa and North Rukuru. A total of 200 DNA samples of O. microlepis from four river populations were analyzed at 20 microsatellite loci. The primers’ discriminating power was high (mean PIC, 0.76) yielding a total of 295 alleles with a range of 10-22 and an average of 15 alleles per locus. All the populations were not in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium probably due to outbreeding that leads to heterozygosity excess. This observation was further supported by heterozygosity excess exhibited by 100% of the population-locus combinations (mean F IS , -0.30) and lack of evidence for genetic bottleneck. The populations exhibited high genetic diversity as evidenced by high mean Shannon information Index (I=1.64) and high observed heterozygosity (H o = 0.98). Genetic relationships among the populations appear to be less influenced by geographical distance (Mantel’s statistics Z, 0.18; p = 0.6369) implying that the populations do not fit into the isolation by distance model. Nevertheless, the populations are highly differentiated (F ST = 0.17; AMOVA among populations = 16%). This is supported by inter-deme migration of less than one individual per generation ( Nm =0.91) as determined by Slatkin’ private allele method. Therefore, these populations are probably still large and distinct requiring separate monitoring and management due to inferred restricted gene flow and considerable population differentiation. Keywords: Mpasa, Lake Malawi, population structure, genetic diversity, microsatellites, threatened species, conservation.
Top surface imaging lithography processes for I-line resists using liquid-phase silylation

In this paper, liquid-phase silylation process for Top Surface Imaging Lithography systems incorporating e-beam exposure has been experimentally investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, SIM spectrometry and SEM cross-sectionals. The impact of different silylating agents on Shipley SPR505A resist system is presented for both the UV exposed and e-beam crosslinked regions of the resist. Results show that an e-beam dose of 50/spl mu/C/cm/sup 2/ at 30keV is sufficient to crosslink the resist and prevent silylation. The silylation contrast using HMCTS was found to be the highest (11:1) in comparison with other two agents. It was found that the silicon incorporation in SPR505A resist follows Case II diffusion mechanisms.
On the endpoint regularity of discrete maximal operators

Given a discrete function $f:\Z^d \to \R$ we consider the maximal operator $$Mf(\vec{n}) = \sup_{r\geq0} \frac{1}{N(r)} \sum_{\vec{m} \in \bar{\Omega}_r} \big|f(\vec{n} + \vec{m})\big|,$$ where $\big\{\bar{\Omega}_r\big\}_{r \geq 0}$ are dilations of a convex set $\Omega$ (open, bounded and with Lipschitz boudary) containing the origin and $N(r)$ is the number of lattice points inside $\bar{\Omega}_r$. We prove here that the operator $f \mapsto \nabla M f$ is bounded and continuous from $l^1(\Z^d)$ to $l^1(\Z^d)$. We also prove the same result for the non-centered version of this discrete maximal operator.
Image seedling analysis to evaluate tomato seed physiological potential

Computerized seedling image analysis are one of the most recently techniques to detect differences of vigor between seed lots. The aim of this study was verify the hability of computerized seedling image analysis by SVIS® to detect differences of vigor between tomato seed lots as information provided by traditionally vigor tests. Ten lots of tomato seeds, cultivar Santa Clara, were stored for 12 months in controlled environment at 20 ± 1 oC and 45-50% of relative humidity of the air. The moisture content of the seeds was monitored and the physiological potential tested at 0, 6 and 12 months after storage, with germination test, first count of germination, traditional accelerated ageing and with saturated salt solution, electrical conductivity, seedling emergence and with seed vigor imaging system (SVIS®). A completely randomized experimental design was used with four replications. The parameters obtained by the computerized seedling analysis (seedling length and indexes of vigor and seedling growth) with software SVIS® are efficient to detect differences between tomato seed lots of high and low vigor.
Purchasing Power Parity: Further Evidence from Japanese Municipal Data

This paper empirically analyzes Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) among Japanese municipalities from 1990 to 2003. Using panel unit root tests including one that considers cross-sectional dependency in the data (Moon and Perron 2004), we find evidence in favor of PPP, confirming the stationarity of relative prices in Japan and thus the long-run comovement of municipal prices. Furthermore, the half-life of a shock is found to be about two years, which is faster than that of the international PPP. As in the European and US studies, short-term deviations from PPP can be explained by income differentials and distance between cities. JEL classification: E300, F300
Lead-dependent infective endocarditis and pocket infection – similarities and differences

Introduction: Infectious complications in patients with implanted pacemakers are divided into infections of the generator pocket (PI) and lead-dependent infective endocarditis (LDIE). Aim of the research: Identification of risk factors for developing different types of infections and evaluation of the extent of infectious complications. Material and methods: We compared two groups of patients with infectious complications, who underwent transvenous lead extraction (TLE) in the Reference Centre between March 2006 and July 2013. The groups consisted of 414 patients with LDIE and 205 with PI. We analysed risk factors, clinical manifestations, inflammatory markers, microbiology, and echocardiography results. Results: The coexistence of LDIE and PI was observed in 62.1% patients. There were no significant differences in the presence of host-dependent risk factors. Patients with LDIE significantly more frequently had abrasion of leads (35.1.% vs. 21.0%; p = 0.0001) connected with other procedural risk factors: a larger number of the leads (2.2 vs. 2.0; p = 0.004) lead loops (24.6% vs. 13.2%; p = 0.001), and longer time interval from the last procedure prior to TLE (28.7 vs. 22.6 months; p = 0.005). Fever and pulmonary infections, higher level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, vegetation presence, and higher pulmonary systolic pressure were also revealed in patients with LDIE. Positive blood and leads culture were observed in 34.5% and 46.4% patients with LDIE. Conclusions: The frequent coexistence of LDIE and PI confirms their common pathogenesis, but the phenomenon of abrasion suggests also another mechanism for the development of LDIE. Intensity of clinical syndromes, high inflammatory parameters, echocardiography, and microbiology findings are helpful in assessment of the extensity of the infection.
Soil carbon alterations of selected forest types as an environmental feedback to climate change

The soil organic carbon (SOC) and its various fractions vary significantly under different forest categories and understanding these variations is important for assessing the carbon balance and dynamics of these systems. These factors or indicators can depict the extent of vulnerability of forest systems as potential sources or sinks of carbon(C). The study was conducted in four typical forest types in the Chinnar wild life sanctuary of Idukki district, Kerala, India, a part of the high ranges of Southern Western Ghats. The results showed that there were obvious variations in the content and stock of SOC among the forest categories. Maximum SOC content was observed in Shola Forest (SF) site whereas the minimum in Riparian Forest (RF). The prominence of subsoil layer (10-30cm) as a better C sink was recognized for the entire forest types, irrespective of its category. Variations in the labile and non labile C counterparts were significant among the categories and similar variational trends were observed between the Particulate organic carbon(POC) and water stable aggregates (WSA) proportion for various forest systems. The various soil carbon fractions indicate different aspects of soil carbon dynamics and sequestration, with the more active (labile) carbon component reacting more sensitively to landuse changes as observed in thorny forest (TF) site. The proportion of carbon labile, micro aggregation and potential carbon mineralization (PCM) were comparatively high in TF site making it a vulnerable soil carbon pool. Significant positive correlations were observed between the soil carbon sink indicators like SOC, POC, and macro aggregation. The soil carbon source indicators like PCM and micro-aggregation showed significant negative correlation with the sink indicators. The study thus highlights the role of selected parameters or factors as potential indicators of soil carbon pool vulnerability in forest ecosystems. Understanding the mechanisms and factors of SOC dynamics in forest soils is important in their role as natural sinks for C sequestration in the climate change perspective.
Modelling the hydrologic role of glaciers within a Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP): a case study in the Rio Santa watershed (Peru)

Abstract. For the past 30 years, a process of glacier retreat has been observed in the Andes, raising alarm among regional water resources managers. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model of the role of Andean glaciers in the hydrology of their associated watersheds, which is appropriate for application at a river basin scale, with an eye towards creating an analytical tool that can be used to assess the water management implications of possible future glacier retreat. While the paper delves deeply into our formulation of a glacier module within a water resources management modelling system, the widely subscribed Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP), the originality of our work lies less in the domain of glaciology and more in how we apply an existing reduced form representation of glacier evolution within a model of the climate-glacier-hydrology-water management continuum. Key insights gained pertain to appropriate ways to deploy these reduced form representations in a relatively data poor environment and to effectively integrate them into a modelling framework that places glaciers within a wider water management context. The study area is the Rio Santa watershed in Peru which contains many of the expansive glaciers of the singular Cordillera Blanca. The specific objectives of this study included: (i) adequately simulating both monitored glacier retreat and observed river flows from the last forty years using historical climate time series as model input; (ii) quantifying the proportion of river flow in the Rio Santa produced from melting glaciers during this period; (iii) estimating the historical contribution of groundwater accretions to river flows; and (vi) reproducing a reasonable simulation of recent hydropower operations in the Rio Santa system. In pursuit objective (i), a split sample calibration-validation of the model was conducted by comparing the simulated glacier area to Landsat images taken in 1987 and 1998 and observed and simulated river flow at 16 control points in the Rio Santa watershed. At the global scale of the watershed, the glacier retreat is correctly simulated for the period 1970/1999 with a calculated retreat equals to −23% when the observed retreat is of −24%. Having established that the model can respond to these scientific objectives, the ultimate goal of the study was to demonstrate how this integrated modelling system can be used as a decision support tool to assist in planning water management adaptation to climate change. This sort of integrated assessment is required to adapt water resources management in the Andes to a~range of future climatic conditions, improving the resilience of developing Andean economies such Peru's in the face of a major drive of global change.