Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal shifts in export of DOC and nutrients from burned and unburned peatland-rich catchments, Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract. Boreal peatlands are major catchment sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrients and thus strongly regulate the landscape carbon balance, aquatic food webs, and downstream water quality. Climate change is likely to influence catchment solute yield directly through climatic controls on run-off generation, but also indirectly through altered disturbance regimes. In this study we monitored water chemistry from early spring until fall at the outlets of a 321 km2 catchment that burned 3 years prior to the study and a 134 km2 undisturbed catchment. Both catchments were located in the discontinuous permafrost zone of boreal western Canada and had ∼ 60 % peatland cover. The two catchments had strong similarities in the timing of DOC and nutrient yields, but a few differences were consistent with anticipated effects of wildfire based on peatland porewater analysis. The 4-week spring period, particularly the rising limb of the spring freshet, was crucial for accurate characterization of the seasonal solute yield from both catchments. The spring period was responsible for ∼ 65 % of the seasonal DOC and nitrogen and for ∼ 85 % of the phosphorous yield. The rising limb of the spring freshet was associated with high phosphorous concentrations and DOC of distinctly high aromaticity and molecular weight. Shifts in stream DOC concentrations and aromaticity outside the early spring period were consistent with shifts in relative streamflow contribution from precipitation-like water in the spring to mineral soil groundwater in the summer, with consistent relative contributions from organic soil porewater. Radiocarbon content (14C) of DOC at the outlets was modern throughout May to September (fraction modern carbon, fM: 0.99–1.05) but likely reflected a mix of aged DOC, e.g. porewater DOC from permafrost (fM: 0.65–0.85) and non-permafrost peatlands (fM: 0.95–1.00), with modern bomb-influenced DOC, e.g. DOC leached from forest litter (fM: 1.05–1.10). The burned catchment had significantly increased total phosphorous (TP) yield and also had greater DOC yield during summer which was characterized by a greater contribution from aged DOC. Overall, however, our results suggest that DOC composition and yield from peatland-rich catchments in the discontinuous permafrost region likely is more sensitive to climate change through impacts on run-off generation rather than through altered fire regimes.
Potential mitigation of midwest grass-finished beef production emissions with soil carbon sequestration in the United States of America

Beef production can be environmentally detrimental due in large part to associated enteric methane (CH4) production, which contributes to climate change. However, beef production in well-managed grazing systems can aid in soil carbon sequestration (SCS), which is often ignored when assessing beef production impacts on climate change. To estimate the carbon footprint and climate change mitigation potential of upper Midwest grass-finished beef production systems, we conducted a partial life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing two grazing management strategies: 1) a non-irrigated, lightly-stocked (1.0 AU/ha), high-density (100,000 kg LW/ha) system (MOB) and 2) an irrigated, heavily-stocked (2.5 AU/ha), low-density (30,000 kg LW/ha) system (IRG). In each system, April-born steers were weaned in November, winter-backgrounded for 6 months and grazed until their endpoint the following November, with average slaughter age of 19 months and a 295 kg hot carcass weight. As the basis for the LCA, we used two years of data from Lake City Research Center, Lake City, MI. We included greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with enteric CH4, soil N2O and CH4 fluxes, alfalfa and mineral supplementation, and farm energy use. We also generated results from the LCA using the enteric emissions equations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We evaluated a range of potential rates of soil carbon (C) loss or gain of up to 3 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. Enteric CH4 had the largest impact on total emissions, but this varied by grazing system. Enteric CH4 composed 62 and 66% of emissions for IRG and MOB, respectively, on a land basis. Both MOB and IRG were net GHG sources when SCS was not considered. Our partial LCA indicated that when SCS potential was included, each grazing strategy could be an overall sink. Sensitivity analyses indicated that soil in the MOB and IRG systems would need to sequester 1 and 2 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 for a net zero GHG footprint, respectively. IPCC model estimates for enteric CH4 were similar to field estimates for the MOB system, but were higher for the IRG system, suggesting that 0.62 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 greater SCS would be needed to offset the animal emissions in this case. Key words: Grass-finishing beef, GHG emissions, Soil organic carbon sequestration Data of the article First received : 30 March 2016 | Last revision received : 28 November 2016 Accepted : 05 December 2016 | Published online : 23 December 2016 URN: nbn:de:hebis:34-2016111451469
Analyzing Long-run Relationship between Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Since the relation between energy consumption and economic growth is important to design effective energy policies that will promote economic growth, this study investigates the short run dynamics and causality among energy consumption, co2 emissions, oil prices and economic growth in Kingdom of Bahrain. To do so, annual data that covers the period from 1960 till 2015. Empirical work tests for unit root, co-integration relationship using Johansen (1988) approach and then estimate both long and short run dynamics using the vector error correction model (VECM). Results indicate that there is a long-run relationship between the suggested variables. Since economic growth has a predictive power to estimate the energy demand of Kingdom of Bahrain, it is recommended that the government of Bahrain and policy designers shed the light on energy efficiency strategies and carbon emissions reduction policy in the long run without impeding economic growth in order to move towards sustainability.
HANGZHOU PUBLIC BICYCLE: UNDERSTANDING EARLY ADOPTION AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE TO BIKESHARING IN HANGZHOU, CHINA

Over the past 20 years, China has experienced a steady decline in bicycle use. To address this trend, China's central and local government for urban transportation created the Public Transit Priority to encourage public transport initiatives. As part of this effort, the Hangzhou government launched “Hangzhou Public Bicycle” in 2008. This service allows members to access a shared fleet of bicycles. As of March 2011, it operated 60,600 bicycles with 2,416 fixed stations in eight core districts. To understand factors leading to bikesharing adoption and barriers to adoption,the authors conducted an intercept survey in Hangzhou between January and March 2010. Two separate questionnaires were issued to bikesharing members and non-members to identify key differences and similarities between these groups. In total, 806 surveys were completed, including 666 members and 140 non-members. The authors found that bikesharing is capturing modal share from bus transit, walking, autos, and taxis. Approximately 30% of members had incorporated bikesharing into their most common commute. Members indicated that they most frequently used a bikesharing station closest to either home (40%) or work (40%). These modal shifts suggest that bikesharing acts as both a competitor and a complement to existing public transit.Members exhibited a higher rate of auto ownership in comparison to non-members, suggesting that bikesharing is attractive to car owners. Recommendations for improving bikesharing in Hangzhou include: adding stations and real-time bike/parking availability technologies, improving bike maintenance and locking mechanisms, and extending operational hours.
A global data set of soil hydraulic properties and sub-grid variability of soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves, link to model result files in NetCDF format

Abstract. Agroecosystem models, regional and global climate models, and numerical weather prediction models require adequate parameterization of soil hydraulic properties. These properties are fundamental for describing and predicting water and energy exchange processes at the transition zone between solid earth and atmosphere, and regulate evapotranspiration, infiltration and runoff generation. Hydraulic parameters describing the soil water retention (WRC) and hydraulic conductivity (HCC) curves are typically derived from soil texture via pedotransfer functions (PTFs). Resampling of those parameters for specific model grids is typically performed by different aggregation approaches such a spatial averaging and the use of dominant textural properties or soil classes. These aggregation approaches introduce uncertainty, bias and parameter inconsistencies throughout spatial scales due to nonlinear relationships between hydraulic parameters and soil texture. Therefore, we present a method to scale hydraulic parameters to individual model grids and provide a global data set that overcomes the mentioned problems. The approach is based on Miller–Miller scaling in the relaxed form by Warrick, that fits the parameters of the WRC through all sub-grid WRCs to provide an effective parameterization for the grid cell at model resolution; at the same time it preserves the information of sub-grid variability of the water retention curve by deriving local scaling parameters. Based on the Mualem–van Genuchten approach we also derive the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity from the water retention functions, thereby assuming that the local parameters are also valid for this function. In addition, via the Warrick scaling parameter λ, information on global sub-grid scaling variance is given that enables modellers to improve dynamical downscaling of (regional) climate models or to perturb hydraulic parameters for model ensemble output generation. The present analysis is based on the ROSETTA PTF of Schaap et al. (2001) applied to the SoilGrids1km data set of Hengl et al. (2014). The example data set is provided at a global resolution of 0.25° at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.870605 .
PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF GERMINATED RICE (Oryza sativa L.) UNDER SALT STRESS KEYWORDS: SALT STRESS I RICE/ GERMINATION/ PROTEOMICS

Salt stress caused a dramatic decline of rice production. Proteome study of salt tolerance mechanism supplied a span-new viewpoint and valuable clue to rice tolerant improvement projects. Aim of this study was to identify the salt tolerant capacity and stress response proteins of seven Thai rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars at germination stage. To achieve these goals, seven Thai rice varieties: Pathumthani, Phitsanulok2, RD29, RD3 l, RD41, RD47, and Riceberry were germinated under 200mM NaCl for 4 days. Based on germination rate, Pathumthani, Phitsanulok2 and RD3 l cultivars were categorized as tolerant, while RD29, RD41 and Riceberry were moderately tolerant and RD47 as susceptible. GeLCMS/MS analysis of total proteins prepared from 7 rice seeds grown under salt stress identified 1339 proteins, 51 of which were expressed only in salt tolerant cultivars including Pathumthani, Phitsanulok02 and RD3 l. These proteins were distributed on cell membrane, cytoplasm, peroxisome, plastid, mitochondrion and nucleus. They played role in development, protein modification, signal transduction, stress response, transport and transcription. Proteome mechanism during the process of seed germination under salt stress was proposed.
Ultraviolet and X-ray variability of active galactic nuclei with Swift

ACF, AML and DJKB acknowledge support from the ERC Advanced Grant FEEDBACK 340442. WNA acknowledges support from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2013-2017) under grant agreement n.312789, StrongGravity. DB acknowledges an STFC studentship. This work made use of data supplied by the UK Swift Science Data Centre at the University of Leicester.
Full-Wave Analysis of Periodic Baffle System in Beamforming Applications

Mixed boundary-value problem for periodic baffles in acoustic medium is solved with help of the method developed earlier in electrostatics. The nice feature of the method is that the resulting matrices are relatively easy for computations and that the results satisfy exactly the energy conservation law. Illustrative numerical examples present the wave-beam steering (in the far-field) in a baffle system that may be considered as a model of one-dimensional ultrasonic transducer array.
Multimodel attribution of the Southern Hemisphere Hadley cell widening: Major role of ozone depletion

It has been suggested that the Hadley cell has been widening during the past three decades in both hemispheres, but attribution of its cause(s) remains challenging. By applying an optimal fingerprinting technique to 7 modern reanalyses and 49 coupled climate models participating in the CMIP3 and CMIP5, here we detect an influence of human‐induced stratospheric ozone depletion on the observed expansion of the Hadley cell in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) summer. The detected signal is found to be separable from other external forcings that include greenhouse gases (GHGs), confirming a dominant role of stratospheric ozone in the SH summer climate change. Our results are largely insensitive to observational and model uncertainties, providing additional evidence for a human contribution to the atmospheric circulation changes.
The high-risk HPV infection and urinary system tumor

Abstract HPV is classified into high-risk and low-risk types depending on its probability of leading to tumorigenesis. Many studies have shown that HPV infection, especially the infection caused by the high-risk type, is always related to prostate cancer, bladder cancer, penile cancer, testicular cancer, and other urinary system tumors. However, previous studies differed in sexual openness and racial genetic susceptibility of the study object, sample size, and experimental methods. Hence, the correlation between high-risk HPV infection and urinary system tumors remains controversial. The early open reading frame of the HPV genome is composed of E1–E7, among which E6 and E7 are the key transfer proteins. The combination of these proteins with oncogene and anti-oncogene may be one of the mechanisms leading to tumorigenesis.
On the Use of Reanalysis Data for Downscaling

AbstractIn this study, a worldwide overview on the expected sensitivity of downscaling studies to reanalysis choice is provided. To this end, the similarity of middle-tropospheric variables—which are important for the development of both dynamical and statistical downscaling schemes—from 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data on a daily time scale is assessed. For estimating the distributional similarity, two comparable scores are used: the two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic and the probability density function (PDF) score. In addition, the similarity of the day-to-day sequences is evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. As the most important results demonstrated, the PDF score is found to be inappropriate if the underlying data follow a mixed distribution. By providing global similarity maps for each variable under study, regions where reanalysis data should not assumed to be “perfect” are detected. In contrast .
Luminescence properties of the solvothermally synthesized blue light emitting Mn doped Cu2O nanoparticles

The Cu2O nanoparticles having average crystallite diameters ∼8–16 nm were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. The Mn was doped in the Cu2O sample of crystallite size ∼8 nm. The effects of the size and doping concentration on the crystal structures of the nanoparticles were investigated. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies clearly showed that the Mn was incorporated into the Cu2O lattice as Mn2+ due to the substitution of the Cu+ ions by Mn2+ ions. The quantum confinement effects were observed in the nanoparticles. The multiple emissions from the Cu2O were quenched in the Mn doped nanoparticles and only blue light emitting Cu2O nanoparticles were obtained due to the transition T42→A61 of Mn. The effects of the doping concentration and the particle size on the relaxations dynamics of the Cu2O nanoparticles were mainly investigated using photoluminescence decay.
Yield components and grain quality of winter barley cultivars grown on pseudogley.

Four two? row winter barley cultivars Premium, Jagod inac, Record and Crystal were evaluated for grain yield components and grain quality. Parallel trials were conducted over a three? year period (2008? 2011) at an experimental fi eld of the Secondary School of Agriculture in Kraljevo. Data were subjected to a two? factor an alysis of variance. The significance of differences between individual means was assessed using the LSD test. The cultivars showed significant differences in yield, stem length, grain weight per spike and germination energy, whereas no significant differences were observed in protein content. Yield, grain weight per spike and germination energy were significantly affected by growing conditions (year), as well as by genotype x year interaction. Barley cvs. Premium, Jagodinac and Crystal gave a significantly lower grain weight per spike in the first year of the study, and a tendency to increase grain weight in the second and third years, as compared to Record.
An Investigation of Student Performance, Student Satisfaction , and Learner Characteristics in Online Versus Face-to-Face Classes--RESEARCH

It is necessary to address literacy throughout the curriculum, and writing is an effective tool for achieving it. This study sought to compare the academic performance of undergraduate students (n = 121) who sought teacher certification at elementary level (pre-kindergarten – 6 grade) and secondary level (7 grade – 12 grade). This study used a causal-comparative, quasi-experimental research design to compare the academic performance between these two groups in five university courses that were common among all education majors and contained a strong writing component. Data were collected in the form of final grades earned after completion of each of the five courses and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U analyses. Data analyses revealed two statistically significant findings between the two groups in both of the two sophomore-level English courses, and mean ranks showed that the academic performance of preservice elementary teachers was stronger. Effect sizes for these two findings suggested a low and moderate practical significance, which suggests a need for additional analyses. The article provides recommendations for teacher preparation programs to study the preparedness of preservice teachers with regard to writing efficacy and writing pedagogy, and to ensure that respective curricula are addressing these areas adequately.
PHYLOGENY AND COMPARATIVE ECOLOGY OF STIFF-TAILED DUCKS (ANATIDAE: OXYURINI)

A cladistic analysis of the stiff-tailed ducks (Anatidae: Oxyurini) was con- ducted using 92 morphological characters. The analysis produced one minimum-length, completely dichotomous phylogenetic tree of high consistency (consistency index for infor- mative characters, 0.74). Monophyly of the tribe was supported by 17 unambiguous syna- pomorphies. Within the tribe, Heteronetta (1 species) is the sister-group of other members; within the latter clade (supported by 2 1 unambiguous synapomorphies), Nomonyx (1 species) is the sister-group of Oxyura (6 species) + Biziura (I species). The latter clade is supported by 10 unambiguous synapomorphies. Monophyly of Oxyuru proper is supported by three unambiguous synapomorphies. All branches in the shortest tree except that uniting Oxyuva, exclusive of jumaicensis, were conserved in a majority-rule consensus tree of 1000 boot- strapped replicates. Biziuru and (to a lesser extent) Heteronetta were highly autapomorphic. Modest evolutionary patterns in body mass, reproductive parameters, and sexual dimorphism are evident, with the most marked, correlated changes occurring in Heteronetta and (es- pecially) Biziura. The implications of these evolutionary trends for reproductive ecology and biogeographic patterns are discussed, and a phylogenetic classification of the tribe is presented. Received 27 April 1994, accepted 10 Nov. 1994. The stiff-tailed ducks (Anatidae: Oxyurini) include some of the most distinctive species of waterfowl; among its members are the only obligate nest-parasite (Black-headed Duck; Heteronetta atricapilla) and the spe- cies showing the greatest sexual size dimorphism (Musk Duck; Biziuru lobz Johnsgard 1962, 1978; Weller 1968; Livezey 1986). Members of the Oxyurini are foot-propelled diving birds (Townsend 1909, Brooks 1945, Tome and Wrubleski 1988) and range in diving ability from the largely surface-feeding Black-headed Duck to the highly specialized Musk Duck (Raikow 1970, 1973; Livezey 1986). Stiff-tailed ducks generally inhabit freshwater lakes and marshes, typically construct over-water nests, and occur in most major land areas worldwide (Delacour 1959; Weller 1964a-d; Johnsgard 1978). Since the reclassification of the White-backed Duck (Dendrocygninae: Thalassornis leuconotus) on behavioral and morphological grounds (Johnsgard 1967; Raikow 1971; Livezey 1986, 1995), systematic contro- versies concerning the stiff-tailed ducks have focused on the tribal posi- tion of the Black-headed Duck, currently considered to be a comparatively primitive member of the Oxyurini (e.g., Salvadori 1895; Phillips 1925, 1926; Peters 1931; Boetticher 1942, 1952; Delacour and Mayr 1945; Ver-
An Empirical Comparison of Convertible Bond Valuation Models

"This paper empirically compares three convertible bond valuation models. We use an innovative approach where all model parameters are estimated by the Marquardt algorithm using a subsample of convertible bond prices. The model parameters are then used for out-of-sample forecasts of convertible bond prices. The mean absolute deviation is 1.86% for the Ayache-Forsyth-Vetzal model, 1.94% for the Tsiveriotis-Fernandes model, and 3.73% for the Brennan-Schwartz model. For this and other measures of fit, the Ayache-Forsyth-Vetzal and Tsiveriotis-Fernandes models outperform the Brennan-Schwartz model. " Copyright (c) 2010 Financial Management Association International.
Perceptual bi-stability in auditory streaming: How much do stimulus features matter?

The auditory two-tone streaming paradigm has been used extensively to study the mechanisms that underlie the decomposition of the auditory input into coherent sound sequences. Using longer tone sequences than usual in the literature, we show that listeners hold their first percept of the sound sequence for a relatively long period, after which perception switches between two or more alternative sound organizations, each held on average for a much shorter duration. The first percept also differs from subsequent ones in that stimulus parameters influence its quality and duration to a far greater degree than the subsequent ones. We propose an account of auditory streaming in terms of rivalry between competing temporal associations based on two sets of processes. The formation of associations (discovery of alternative interpretations) mainly affects the first percept by determining which sound group is discovered first and how long it takes for alternative groups to be established. In contrast, subsequent percepts arise from stochastic switching between the alternatives, the dynamics of which are determined by competitive interactions between the set of coexisting interpretations.