Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Use of GIS for Monitoring Visitor Effects and Enclosure Use of Captive Birds in a Mixed Species , Free-ranging Aviary at Lowry

Investigating the use of GIS for monitoring visitor effects and enclosure use of captive birds in a mixed species, free-ranging aviary at Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa FL. Mackenzie Blanchett Advisor: University of Guelph, 2017 Esther Finegan Visitor effects and enclosure use were examined in a mixed species free-ranging exhibit using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) within the Main Aviary at Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa FL. Scan sampling was used to track the location of 24 bird species (n = 98) within the aviary, visitor numbers, noise levels and weather conditions. Results revealed that birds responded to increasing visitors by moving further away from the path, decreasing range sizes and increasing use of ground vegetation cover. However, lack of interference with behaviour patterns suggests that the birds are not experiencing negative welfare consequences, and that instead these responses are coping mechanisms used to reduce the effects of increasing visitor numbers. It was determined that factors such as weather condition, habitat preference and territoriality further play a role in influencing the space selectivity of the birds. Overall, GIS was determined to be an effective tool for examining these effects.
Nonstationary Positive Definite Tapering On The Plane

A common problem in spatial statistics is to predict a random field f at some spatial location t 0 using observations f(t 1), …, f(tn ) at . Recent work by Kaufman et al. and Furrer et al. studies the use of tapering for reducing the computational burden associated with likelihood-based estimation and prediction in large spatial datasets. Unfortunately, highly irregular observation locations can present problems for stationary tapers. In particular, there can exist local neighborhoods with too few observations for sufficient accuracy, while others have too many for computational tractability. In this article, we show how to generate nonstationary covariance tapers T(s, t) such that the number of observations in {t: T(s, t) > 0} is approximately a constant function of s. This ensures that tapering neighborhoods do not have too many points to cause computational problems but simultaneously have enough local points for accurate prediction. We focus specifically on tapering in two dimensions where quasi-conformal theory can be used. Supplementary materials for the article are available online.
TEX template Voronoi , Delaunay and Block Structured Mesh Refinement for Solution of the Shallow Water Equations on the Sphere H

Alternative meshes of the sphere and adaptive mesh refinement could be immensely beneficial for weather and climate forecasts but it is not clear how mesh refinement should be achieved. A finite-volume model which solves the shallow-water equations on any mesh of the surface of the sphere is presented. The accuracy and cost effectiveness of four quasi-uniform meshes of the sphere are compared: a cubed-sphere, reduced latitude-longitude, hexagonal-icosahedral and triangular-icosahedral. On some standard shallow-water tests, the hexagonal-icosahedral mesh performs best and the reduced latitude-longitude mesh performs well only when the flow is aligned with the mesh. The inclusion of a refined mesh over a disc shaped region is achieved using either gradual Delaunay, gradual Voronoi or abrubt 2:1 block structured refinement. These refined regions can actually degrade global accuracy, presumably due to changes in wave dispersion where the mesh is highly non-uniform. However using gradual refinement to resolve a mountain in an otherwise coarse mesh can improve accuracy for the same cost. The model prognostic variables are height and momentum colocated at cell centres and (to remove grid-scale oscillations of the A-grid) the mass flux between cells is advanced from the old momentum using the momentum equation. Quadratic and upwind biased cubic differencing are used as explicit corrections to a fast implicit solution that uses linear differencing.
Research article EFFECTIVE EX SITU CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES BELOPERONE PLUMBAGINIFOLIA NEES: A MEDICINAL PLANT

Beloperone plumbaginifolia is a wild shrub, identified as an endangered medicinal species by the human exploitation for antidote properties. The establishment of ex situ conservation method, a simple and effective protocol was developed by us to conduct micropropagation abreast with genetic stability from regenerated clones by Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker. In in vitro tissue culture, high frequency bud break (45-65%) and multiple shoot (5±1 shoots/explants) was obtained from nodal explants inoculated in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) fortified with benzylaminopurine alone (2.0 -2.5mg/l) in the 15 th day. The kinetin hormone alone fortified, showed faster bud breaking (10 th day) in all the concentration of (0.5-2.5 mg/l) and 4±1 shoots per explants was achieved on 1.5 mg/l. Auxin hormone of Indole-3 butyric acid along with Kinetin in ratio of 3.5:0.5 mg/l was found effective on root formation. Finally in acclimatization process, 73.6% of survival rate was found among the plants in the field after 3 months. Evaluated the genetic stability by RAPD random primer (OPK-15) was specified low variation occurred between mother plant and in vitro propagated clones. Jaccard's coefficient of similarity varied from 0.53 to 0.93 indicated high level of genetic similarities between mother plant and in vitro regenerated plants.
A concentration of serum selenium in multiple sclerosis patients compare to healthy subject in Tehran

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease which the exact etiology is still are far to be clear. Reasons for this autoimmune disease are unknown origin. The aim of present study was to evaluate serum levels of selenium in patient with MS compare to healthy subjects. A total of 46 subjects were enrolled in the study, Sera of 23 MS cases and 23 healthy normal cohorts as control group were obtained. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was employed for estimating serum selenium level. Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in MS than in control cohorts (60.87±13 compared with 85.74±12, P-value < 0.0001). Serum selenium levels may thus be a marker of MS; the decreasing levels of serum selenium may be host defense strategies of body.
Factors affecting British revisit intention to Crete, Greece: high vs. low spending tourists

Determinants (i.e., destination image, tourist motivation, and perceived quality), satisfaction, perceived value, complaints are related to the intention to revisit a tourist destination. These three determinants also relate to tourist satisfaction through the moderating role of tourist expenditure (TE) for future re-visitation. The sampling targets to test these assumptions were British tourists on holiday in Crete, Greece. We used a component-based approach using the partial least squares method to analyze the data. The results of this study show that destination image, tourist motivation, and perceived quality have a significant effect on satisfaction, which subsequently affects tourists' perceived value on a destination, which, in turn, influences the level of complaints and the decision to revisit a tourist destination in the context of British tourists to Crete. Therefore, the results urge tourist destination managers to anticipate tourist satisfaction, perceived value, and complaint when determining revisit for tourist destinations through destination image, tourist motivation, and perceived quality. Furthermore, this study examines the differences between low-TE and high-TE groups on relationships between three determinants and tourist satisfaction, revealing that the relationships between destination image and satisfaction, between tourist motivation and satisfaction, and between perceived quality and satisfaction are significantly different according to the low-TE and high-TE groups. Thus, tourist destination marketers should consider TE as a key factor in market segmentation.
Development and vigor of diploid and tetraploid Russian wildrye seedlings.

Poor seedling vigor limits the use of Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski] for complementary pasture. Tetraploid (2n=4x=28) plants of Russian wildrye have greater seedling vigor in greenhouse studies when compared to plants with the normal diploid chromosome complement (2n=2x=14). Objectives of this research were (i) to compare seedling emergence and development of diploid and tetraploid Russian wildrye in solid-seeded, single-row field plots and (ii) to document early seedling development and morphology in a controlled environment chamber. Seed mass averaged 2.70 mg seed(-1) for diploids and 4.66 mg seed(-1) for tetraploids. Initial seedling emergence averaged approximately 33% greater for tetraploids than diploids for both early and late field planting dates. Tiller number averaged only slightly, and generally not significantly, greater for diploids than tetraploids (maximum difference of 0.3 tillers plant(-1)) in solid-seeded rows in the field. Seedling height was consistently greater for tetraploids than diploids, a result of greater leaf length. Larger leaf size did not result in fewer leaves or in slower leaf development for tetraploids. Seedling emergence from a 63 mm depth in a controlled environment chamber averaged 46% for tetraploids and 10% for diploids at a 16/13 degrees C diurnal temperature regime and 11 and 6%, respectively, for tetraploids and diploids at a 23/18 degrees C temperature regime. Coleoptile length averaged 61 mm for tetraploids and 49 mm for diploids at the 16/13 degrees C temperature regime and 42 and 43 mm for tetraploids and diploids, respectively, at the 23/18 degrees C temperature regime. Tetraploid Russian wildrye provides a unique germplasm pool from which additional improvement in seedling vigor can be accomplished beyond the limits that are possible from continued selection in diploid germplasm.
Chase and Flight: New Product Diusion with Social Attraction and Repulsion

pattern where the elite starts disadopting once the product or practice has become too popular with the outsiders emulating it. We present a mathematical model of new product diusion featuring asymmetric attraction and repulsion between customer segments and provide an analytical and visual characterization of the chase-and-ight diusion dynamics. We identify potential equilibrium outcomes and specify conditions under which the product can achieve full market potential in both market segments. We also identify which early diusion trajectories are likely to lead to complete acceptance by both segments versus complete rejection by one segment. Finally, we provide insights into the eectiveness of several marketing policies to counter the repulsion eect. A number of accepted notions about optimal
Macroeconomic Impact of the Risk-Taking Channel: Evidence from SVAR with Nonnormal Residuals

The identifying restrictions of an earlier VAR model are validated to assess the macroeconomic impact of the risk-taking channel of monetary policy in the U.S. Structural shocks are obtained by exploiting the nonnormality of residuals. The data is found to object to the previously imposed recursive ordering, but a different recursive ordering is supported. Based on the resulting impulse responses, there is no strong and significant evidence of the risk-taking channel during the sample period. This finding is in contrast with both the predictions of the underlying theoretical model and previous empirical
The Archaeological Analysis of Plantation Society: Replacing Status and Caste with Economics and Power

In recent investigations of plantation society, Otto and Moore use a model that incorporates status and caste. I argue that these concepts are too vague for plantation studies and must be replaced with a more relevant formulation that includes economics and power. A reconsideration of the data presented by Moore indicates that these last concepts have greater strength in the archaeological analysis of plantation society.
Efficacy of guaco mouthwashes (Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata) on the disinfection of toothbrushes

Guaco Mikania glomerata Spreng. and M. laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, Asteraceae, has antimicrobial activity and may be helpful in reducing the incidence of oral diseases. This double-blinded randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of guaco mouthwashes on the disinfection of toothbrushes used by preschool children, tested positive for mutans streptococci (MS), as well as the quantification of its coumarin contents by high performance liquid chromatography. Ethanol extracts were obtained by percolation. The mouthwashes were prepared with 2.5% g/mL M. glomerata and M. laevigata ethanol extracts, standardized for their coumarin content (% mg/mg). Antimicrobial effect of the mouthwashes and extracts were assessed in vitro against Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175TM), using 2.4 to 500 µg/mL to calculate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). For the in vivo study, 24 patients were randomly assigned to a 4-stage changeover system with a one-week interval between each stage. All solutions were used in all stages by a different group of children. After brushing without toothpaste, toothbrushes (n=96) were sprayed with water and solutions of M. glomerata (2.5%), M. laevigata (2.5%) and chlorhexidine (0.12%). Microbiological analysis was carried out after 4 h and 30 days, respectively. MIC values were 400, 125 and 14 µg/mL, respectively, for both crude ethanol extracts, mouthwashes of M. glomerata and M. laevigata. Statistical analysis showed that all solutions decreased contamination of toothbrushes by mutans streptococci (chlorhexidine 50.7±17.7%; M. glomerata 37.3±23.7% and M. laevigata 28.7±25.1% of inhibition). Treatment with chlorhexidine and M. glomerata were statistically similar (p>0.05). M. glomerata mouthwash could be useful in herbal strategy programs against mutans streptococci and the marker coumarin may be not related to the activity observed.
The Tempered Ordered Probit (TOP) Model with an Application to Monetary Policy

We propose a Tempered Ordered Probit (TOP) model. Our contribution lies not only in explicitly accounting for an excessive number of observations in a given choice category - as is the case in the standard literature on in? ated models; rather, we introduce a new econometric model which nests the recently developed Middle In? ated Ordered Probit (MIOP) models of Bagozzi and Mukherjee (2012) and Brooks, Harris, and Spencer (2012) as a special case, and further, can be used as a speci? cation test of the MIOP, where the implicit test is described as being one of symmetry versus asymmetry. In our application, which exploits a panel data-set containing the votes of Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members, we show that the TOP model a¤ords the econometrician considerable ? exibility with respect to modelling the impact of di¤erent forms of uncertainty on interest rate decisions. Our ? ndings, we argue, reveal MPC members? asymmetric attitudes towards uncertainty and the changeability of interest rates.
Information and Efficiency: Goal Arrival in Soccer Betting

In an efficient market news is incorporated into prices rapidly and completely. Attempts to test for this in financial markets have been undermined by the possibility of information leakage unobserved by the econometrician. An alternative is to switch to laboratory conditions, at the price of some artificiality. Potentially, sports betting markets offer a superior way forward: assets have terminal values and news can break remarkably cleanly, as when a goal is scored in soccer. We exploit this context to test for efficiency, applying a novel identification strategy to high-frequency data. On our evidence, prices update swiftly and fully.
A review of the soil science research legacy of the triumvirate of cotton CRC

Abstract. For nearly two decades (1994–2012) a series of three consecutive Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) dealing with cotton production provided the impetus and financial support for a substantial body of soil science research in eastern and northern Australia. Focusing on the most commonly utilised soil for irrigated crop production, the Vertosol, CRC-affiliated soil researchers undertook detailed soil inventories of cotton-growing valleys in New South Wales, and tackled a range of applied soil research questions that faced the entire Australian cotton industry. Across the broad categories of soil mapping and characterisation, soil physical condition, salinity and sodicity, soil chemical fertility, and soil carbon and biota, some 120 CRC-affiliated research papers were published in peer-reviewed journals during the years of the CRC. Findings from this body of research were fed back to the industry through conferences, extension workshops and materials, and to a lesser extent, the peer-reviewed publications. In certain cases, underpinning basic research was carried out concurrently with the more applied research, meaning that the cotton CRC were effectively supporting advances in the discipline of soil science, as well as in sustainable cotton production. A feature of the soil research portfolio over the span of the three cotton CRC was that priorities shifted according to the interplay of three factors; the natural maturation of research topics and the concomitant evolution of cotton farming systems, the rising importance of environmental implications of agricultural land use, and the emergence of carbon as a national research priority. Furthermore, the commitment of the CRC to education resulted in the involvement of undergraduate and postgraduate university students in all aspects of the soil research effort. A legacy of the triumvirate of cotton CRC is a wide-ranging body of both applied and basic knowledge regarding the physical, chemical and biological attributes of Australian Vertosols used for irrigated agriculture.
Peer Support Among Individuals with Severe Mental Illness

This article reviews the history and potential effectiveness of peer support among persons with severe mental illness. Following a historical overview, we describe the three primary forms of peer support that have been developed to date by and for this population, and examine the existing empirical evidence of the feasibility, effectiveness, and utilization of each of these approaches in contributing to the recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabiliies. These three forms are (1) naturally occumng mutual support groups, (2) consumer-run senices, and (3) the employment of consumers as providers within clinical and rehabilitative settings. Existing studies of mutual support groups suggest that they may improve symptoms, promote larger social networkr, and enhance quality of life. This research is largely from uncontrolled studies, however, and will need to be evaluated further using prospective, controlled designs. Consumer-run services and the use of consumers as providers promise to broaden the access of individuals with psychiatric disabilities to peer support, but research on these more recent developments is only preliminary and largely limited to demonstrations of their feasibility. We discuss issues entailed in participating in peer support for this population, and then close with a discussion of the implications for future policy, research, and practice.
Assessment as learning: blurring the boundaries of assessment and learning for theory, policy and practice

This paper explores assessment and learning in a way that blurs their boundaries. The notion of assessment as learning (AaL) is offered as an aspect of formative assessment (assessment for learning). It considers how pupils self-regulate their own learning, and in so doing make complex decisions about how they use feedback and engage with the learning priorities of the classroom. Discussion is framed from a sociocultural stance, yet challenges some of the perspectives that have widely become accepted. It offers three new views to help explore the concept of AaL: understanding feedback; understanding the learning gap; and exploring vocabularies of assessment. Pragmatically, the ideas examined suggest that teachers may need to consider less about focused and directive feedback, but more about how learners interpret and understand feedback from their self-regulatory and self-productive identities and how vocabularies for assessment can be more collaboratively shared in learning contexts.
Evaluation of Crop-Livestock Integration Systems among Farm Families at Adopted Villages of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services

This study evaluated the level of access to knowledge, farm assets and inputs utilization in crop-livestock integration systems (CLIS) among rural farm families at NAERLS adopted villages. A total of 120 farm families were interviewed through structured questionnaire. Forty farm families were randomly chosen from two adopted villages each in South West, North Central and North West zones of NAERLS. The data obtained were analysed by frequency counts, percentages, means and standard error of the means. The results showed, among others, that 95.8% of farmers interviewed were aware of CLIS. Mixed cropping (70%) was majorly practiced. Cereals were cultivated at higher rates (88.3%) in all the agro-ecological zones. Poultry ranked highest (54.2%) among all the livestock being kept by the farmers. Farmers at NAERLS adopted villages practiced CLIS at subsistent level based on their indigenous knowledge and technology. The existing practices of CLIS by farmers at NAERLS adopted villages should be packaged into a model that can encourage profitability and sustainability of integration of crops and livestock.
Micro-structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of injection-molded glass fiber/nanoclay/polypropylene composites

Hybrid composites of PP/NC/GF were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Molded specimens were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and TEM, together with characterization of thermal and mechanical properties. XRD results revealed that the interaction between NC particles and the PP matrix results in intercalation of the polymer chains, which increases the clay interlayer distance. TEM results revealed NC particle intercalation. TGA results showed that the incorporation of clay into the GF composite improves the thermal stability of the material. The initial thermal decomposition temperatures also shifted to higher values. Incorporation of GF into PP lowers the tensile strength of the binary composite, indicating poor fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion; however, introducing NC increased the strength of the ternary composites. Tensile modulus was enhanced with the incorporation of GF and further increased with an introduction of NC. Flexural strength and flexural modulus are both enhanced with an increase in fiber loading. The addition of clay nanoparticles further improved these properties.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Effect of dimensionality on Lotka-Volterra predator-prey dynamics : individual based simulation results

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