Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Breeding Season Survival of Female Lesser Scaup in the Northern Boreal Forest

One hypothesis advanced to explain the decline in lesser scaup ( Aythya affinis ) populations during the past 20 years is that adult female survival has decreased. However, no survival probability estimates exist for the boreal forest, the region where most scaup breed. We captured and radio-marked female lesser scaup (n = 42) near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, just before the breeding season in 1999 and 2000. Constant weekly survival probability was estimated using a Cormack-Jolly- Seber model (0.96). We extrapolate this rate to estimate survival probability for the nesting season (0.80, SE = 0.09), the period when females are at greatest risk of predation. Recent estimates of annual mortality (42%) suggest that about 50% of annual female mortality occurs during the breeding season, a result similar to recent conclusions from studies of prairie-nesting lesser scaup. Further, our survival estimate provides information required to produce preliminary models of population dynamics for boreal lesser scaup, a step that could greatly improve our understanding of decline in this species.
Climatology of the Iberia coastal low-level wind jet: weather research forecasting model high-resolution results

Coastal low-level jets (CLLJ) are a low-tropospheric wind feature driven by the pressure gradient produced by a sharp contrast between high temperatures over land and lower temperatures over the sea. This contrast between the cold ocean and the warm land in the summer is intensified by the impact of the coastal parallel winds on the ocean generating upwelling currents, sharpening the temperature gradient close to the coast and giving rise to strong baroclinic structures at the coast. During summertime, the Iberian Peninsula is often under the effect of the Azores High and of a thermal low pressure system inland, leading to a seasonal wind, in the west coast, called the Nortada (northerly wind). This study presents a regional climatology of the CLLJ off the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula, based on a 9 km resolution downscaling dataset, produced using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model, forced by 19 years of ERA-Interim reanalysis (1989–2007). The simulation results show that the jet hourly frequency of occurrence in the summer is above 30% and decreases to about 10% during spring and autumn. The monthly frequencies of occurrence can reach higher values, around 40% in summer months, and reveal large inter-annual variability in all three seasons. In the summer, at a daily base, the CLLJ is present in almost 70% of the days. The CLLJ wind direction is mostly from north-northeasterly and occurs more persistently in three areas where the interaction of the jet flow with local capes and headlands is more pronounced. The coastal jets in this area occur at heights between 300 and 400 m, and its speed has a mean around 15 m/s, reaching maximum speeds of 25 m/s.
Some Ethical Considerations About the Use of Biomarkers for the Classification of Adult Antisocial Individuals

Abstract It has been argued that a biomarker-informed classification system for antisocial individuals has the potential to overcome many obstacles in current conceptualizations of forensic and psychiatric constructs and promises better targeted treatments. However, some have expressed ethical worries about the social impact of the use of biological information for classification. Many have discussed the ethical and legal issues related to possibilities of using biomarkers for predicting antisocial behavior. We argue that prediction should not raise the most pressing ethical worries. Instead, issues connected with “biologization”, such as stigmatization and negative effects on self-image, need more consideration. However, we conclude that also in this respect there are no principled ethical objections against the use of biomarkers to guide classification and treatment of adult antisocial individuals.
Risk factors for postoperative bleeding after adult cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine predictors of postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery, in order to focus on preventive measures for high-risk populations. METHODS: From October 2001 to March 2002, 411 consecutive adult cardiac surgery patients were prospectively studied, with the exception of those submitted to heart transplantation. In order to determine risk factors for postoperative bleeding, 20 preoperative, 17 operative and six postoperative variables were analyzed using univariate methods and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Operative procedures included coronary artery bypass grafting in 227 (55.2%) patients, valvar operations in 198 (48.2%), aortic surgery in 25 (6.1%) and combined procedures in 60 (14.6%). Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 335 (81.5%) patients and anti-fibrinolysis agents in 148 (36%). The thirty-day mortality was 5.6% (23 patients). Mean 24-hour postoperative blood loss was 610 ± 500 ml (range 10-4900). Re-exploration for bleeding was required in 15 (3.7%) patients. Independent predictors of postoperative bleeding were emergency operations (p=0.049), postoperative metabolic acidosis (p=0.001), preoperative thrombocytopenia (p=0.034) and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (p=0.021). CCONCLUSIONS: When possible, preoperative stabilization and correction of coagulation disturbances should be achieved in patients requiring urgent or emergent surgery and in those with thrombocytopenias. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass should be minimized as long as this is practical. Postoperative metabolic acidosis must be actively corrected, especially the main determining cause.
Parental Influence on Students' Educational Choices in the United States and Germany: Different Ramifications—Same Effect?

Abstract Despite the historical trend in all Western societies to increase educational participation irrespective of students' social origin, the correlation between parents' education and socio-economic status and the educational outcomes of their offspring remains a rather universal phenomenon. Although comparative studies have consistently found this association in various nations which differ in many ways in their educational systems, little is known about the mechanism behind this effect. Drawing on the assumption that career decision points are the major gateway for social background influences, we assume that similarities, as well as differences in the structure of the correlation between parents' socioeconomic background and students' school success, can be explained. Using two longitudinal data sets from the United States ( N =1425) and Germany ( N =1755) covering the school careers from Grade 7 to Grade 10, the analyses supported the hypothesis that (a) achievement information is the best predictor of career relevant decisions in both nations, (b) parents' background variables are independent additional predictors of career decision but not for actual learning progress, and (c) the assumed accumulation process of social background influences is more pronounced in the German than in the U.S. school system.
Energy Constraints on Incubating Common Eiders in the Canadian Arctic (East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut)

Common eider ducks have a circumpolar distribution. Several populations that occur in polar areas during the summer move to northern or temperate coastal areas during winter. All eider species have delayed reproductive maturity, low rates of recruitment, and high rates of adult survival (often 15 + years). These characteristics, coupled with their gregarious nature, render eider ducks highly vulnerable to the effects of hunting, lead poisoning, contaminants, and oil pollution. Even slight reductions in adult survival rates can cause populations to decline. Low annual rates of recruitment and successive years of reproductive failure can also affect populations and slow their recovery. Concern within the scientific community has recently generated several conservation policy documents. These include the Circumpolar Eider Conservation Strategy and Action Plan of the Circumpolar Seabird Working Group . , the Seaduck Joint Venture (revised North American Waterfowl Management Plan, 1999) and the Cooperative Research Strategy for Eider Ducks Breeding in Northern Canada of the Canadian Wildlife Service . All of these documents stress the need for research and monitoring of eider ducks. Information regarding the population dynamics of common eiders breeding in the Canadian Arctic is limited and out of date . The CWS East Bay project was established to research these issues. Research topics at the colony include predator-prey interactions, the influence of ice cover and snowmelt on nest initiation, levels of heavy metal contamination and internal parasite loads, population ecology (e.g. adult survival rates), and sources of annual variation in reproductive success. My individual project examines the costs of incubation among arctic common eiders: specifically, how variation in energy reserves and annual environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation) influence female incubation behaviour and reproductive success.
Calibration of Hunters' Impressions with Female Caribou Body Condition Indices to Predict Probability of Pregnancy

Aboriginal harvests of barren-ground caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) potentially offer a large sample for assessing body condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the probability that a certain amount of fat would be at designated anatomical sites when Denesoline hunters qualitatively report the condition of an animal. Hunters' impressions were used to evaluate the condition of adult female barren-ground caribou ( R. t. groenlandicus ) in late winter. A semi-objective body condition index (BCI) was developed using fat indices described by biologists as useful for measuring caribou body condition. Fat deposits from 217 adult female caribou harvested in late winter (41 in 2000 and 176 in 2001) were used to calibrate hunters' impressions with BCI estimates. Variation in hunters' impressions and BCI estimates indicated that adult female caribou were fatter in 2000 than in 2001. Multinomial log-linear models indicated that hunters' impressions were related to each of the variables that make up BCI. The probability of pregnancy was significantly related to both BCI and hunters' impressions in 2000 and in 2001. Both models indicated that fat adult female caribou had a greater probability of being pregnant than thin cows. Monitoring of barren-ground caribou body condition provides common ground for northern aboriginal communities and government biologists to collaboratively manage a wildlife resource.
The Pattern of Sexual Assault in People Presenting to a Gynaecological Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South- West Nigeria

Context: Sexual assault is a crime of violence that incorporates unwanted sexual behaviour, such as sexual coercion, uninvited kissing, fondling, touching and ultimately, rape. Individuals prone to sexual abuse are usually the young, poor, and vulnerable members of society, who are often subject to other forms of social vices, such as domestic violence. Aims: To ascertain the pattern of sexual assault in people presenting to a large gynaecological unit of a tertiary referral centre, in Nigeria. Settings and Design: Methods and Material: The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was undertaken over a 2-year period from January 2011 to December 2012. Statistical analysis used: SPSS. Results: The prevalence of sexual assault in this study was 1.64%. The majority (90.3%) of victims were single. At least a third (n=35) had secondary education. 62.65% of the patients delayed presentation until after 24hours, (n=52). The commonest reason for delay in presentation was of fear or embarrassment in 51.80% (n=43). The commonest place of assault was at the assailant’s home in 33.7% (n=28). Many cases of assault occurred at night. 63.65% of the victims wanted suspects to be prosecuted (n=53). 67.46% of the victims expressed the desire to take legal action (n=56). Only 51.80% of the respondents (n=43) were aware of a route of seeking re-dress. Conclusions: Victims of sexual assault delay their presentation to health facilities because of fear and embarrassment. A significant percentage of the victims do not know how to obtain medical help.
Renal function as a predicting model for plasma methotrexate concentration after high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy in pediatric malignancy

Introduction: Methotrexate (MTX) is the most generally administered antimetabolite in pediatric cancers. Renal excretion is the major route of elimination of MTX. However, renal toxicity and delayed MTX elimination is a particular concern and direct serum MTX concentration is a gold standard for renal toxicity monitoring. However, checking plasma MTX concentrations in most oncology institutions is not always possible especially in less developed countries. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to further assess the renal function after administration of high-dose MTX by parameters such as serum creatinine and Cr clearance rate. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive analytic study. The study was conducted on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and osteosarcoma receiving high doses MTX. Patients’ age was ranged from 5 to 16 years. Serum MTX concentration and serum Cr were measured at 24, 48 and 96 hours after receiving MTX and then Cr clearance calculated based on available formulas. All the statistical analyses were done by SPSS 20.0 statistical software Results: This study was performed on 4 patients with osteosarcoma, 3 patients with leukemia and one patient with lymphoma. MTX concentration reduced significantly during 96 hours (P<0.001). A significant correlation between Cr clearance at 48 hours and the average of serum MTX concentration (P=0.001) were observed. Furthermore there were significant correlations between Cr at 24 hours (P=0.003), 48 hours (P=0.009) and 96 hours (P=0.044), with the average of serum MTX concentration. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that serum Cr and Cr clearance can be used to estimate the average of serum MTX concentrations.
Evidence of Population Decline in Common Eiders Breeding in Western Greenland

In the Arctic, there is great concern for several eider populations, including the northern common eider ( Somateria mollissima borealis ) breeding in Canada and Greenland. In 1998-2001, extensive ground surveys were conducted on 937 potential nesting islands in West Greenland, covering most of the districts of Ilulissat, Uummannaq, and Upernavik (69°15' N to 74°05' N). On 216 islands within 106 eider colonies, 4097 ±468 active nests were identified. In 15 colonies where comparable and well-documented surveys were conducted approximately 40 years ago, the study shows a population decline of 81% (from 3361 to 624 nests). A rough comparison shows that of 51 eider colonies surveyed in 1920, 1960, or 1965, 71% either were gone or had declined in breeding numbers when resurveyed in 1998-2001. At the colony level, the 1998-2001 surveys revealed large year-to-year variations in nesting numbers. The reason for the overall decline is not clear. However, there is circumstantial evidence that harvest of common eiders in West Greenland is a key factor. The results urgently call for more cautious management of the northern common eider population.
A Tarzan yell for conservation: a new chameleon, Calumma tarzan sp. n., proposed as a flagship species for the creation of new nature reserves in Madagascar

We describe Calumma tarzan sp. n. , a morphologically distinct chameleon species of the Calumma furcifer species group from rainforest fragments in the Anosibe An’Ala region of central eastern Madagascar. Males and females of this species differ from all other species of the Calumma furcifer group by its rostral crests, which are fused anteriorly to form a spade-like ridge that slightly projects beyond the snout tip (less than 1 mm), by a unique stress colouration with a pattern of bright yellow and green, and by significant genetic divergence as assessed by an analysis of sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial ND4 gene. We suspect that Calumma tarzan might be restricted to a rather small and fragmented distribution range and we consider the IUCN conservation status of “Critically Endangered” as adequate for this species. Moreover, we propose Calumma tarzan as a flagship species for the establishment of new protected areas in central-eastern Madagascar and suggest that biological surveys be carried out in the largely unexplored forest fragments of the region.
Monthly and Annual Survival Rates of Cougar Kittens in Oregon

Abstract Cougar (Puma concolor) kittens are a substantial proportion of resident cougar populations and their survival has important implications for population dynamics of the species. To better understand effects of age and sex on cougar kitten survival, we estimated age specific (mo.) survival rates of cougar kittens (n = 72) radiocollared during three studies conducted in Oregon from 1989–2011. Cougar kittens were entered into the dataset based on age (mo.) at capture and fates were determined at monthly intervals. We analyzed survival in Program MARK using known-fate models of radiocollared individuals. We tested for effects of sex and linear, log-linear, and quadratic effects of age. Our best model indicated survival rates of cougar kittens were similar between sexes and increased in a linear manner with age. Annual survival estimates of cougar kittens were 0.66 (95% CI = 0.42–0.84). Our second ranked model was the null model, that indicated constant survival over time and between sexes with an annual survival rate of 0.78 (95% CI = 0.62–0.88). All other models in our candidate model set were not considered further because they ranked below the null model and contained non-informative parameters where the estimated effect broadly overlapped zero. Fates of littermates were dependent due to high levels of mortality at nursery sites which likely reduced the potential importance of sex on survival rates. We expect patterns of increased kitten survival with age and lack of differences between sexes to be consistent across the geographic range of cougars.
Preparation of PMMA/hBN composite coatings for metal surface protection

Polyacrylics have been widely used in coatings. However, their application is limited by low corrosion resistance. One way to enhance their properties is the addition of fillers with adequate properties. In this study, composite materials of PMMA and hBN were developed and deposited on steel by dip-coating. The influence of the amount of hBN in the PMMA coating regarding corrosion resistance was investigated. The surface and cross-section of the coatings were characterized by SEM, the porosity was investigated by systematic manual point count and the adhesion was classified according to the tape test standard. The produced coatings were submersed in NaCl and HCl solutions to analyze corrosion resistance. The results showed that the PMMA/hBN composite coatings improved the corrosion resistance in comparison with pure PMMA. Additionally, the coatings are crack free and well bonded to the metallic substrate.
Workfare Schemes as a Tool For Preventing the Further Impoverishment of the Rural Poor

Abstract This article examines workfare schemes in rural Hungary and their contribution to relieving rural poverty. It does so on the basis of an analysis of European Union statistics and a series of semi-structured interviews which were conducted in 2013-2015 as part of a larger project investigating the contemporary state of rural Hungary. The paper comprises four sections: following a short description of the methodology, regional disparities and deprivation in rural areas are introduced with the help of a typology on deprivation and Eurostat data, thus providing evidence for European comparison. Following this, the main findings of our extensive qualitative research into workfare policies in rural Hungary are introduced and discussed on the basis of related legislation4. The article finds that workfare schemes in the rural sector are unique to Central and Eastern Europe, and are especially favoured in Hungary; it also discovers that economists are correct in assessing that said workfare schemes create few new jobs. Nevertheless, they are ‘better than nothing’, and have become embedded in rural society, where they are appreciated by beneficiaries and local officials alike. They necessarily make a paternalistic distinction between the deserving and undeserving poor, and the more commercially-oriented schemes raise issues of market distortion.
Prosocial People Take Better Care of Their Own Future Well-Being

There is neuroscientific evidence that people consider future versions of themselves as other people. As a result, intertemporal choice should refer to the interaction between multiple selves. We combine this notion of multiple selves in delay discounting with the approach for other-regarding preferences known as Social Value Orientation. The Social Value Orientation is a psychologically richer framework that generalizes the economic assumption of narrow self-interest. People are assumed to vary in their motivations toward resource allocation between them and the others. When making such allocation decisions they may still be individualistic, but can also be competitive, prosocial, or even altruistic. We apply an experimental measure of impatience to a sample of 437 undergraduates, measure their Social Value Orientation, and collect selected demographic variables: gender, age, handedness, parenthood, religiousness, and current emotional state. We find prosocial participants to be more patient. Those who care for the others in the present also take better care of themselves in the future. We also find a participant’s age and handedness to matter for his or her Social Value Orientation.
Change in Teacher Efficacy and Student Self-and Task-Related Beliefs in Mathematics During the Transition to Junior High School

In a longitudinal study of 1,329 students and the teachers they had for mathematics before and after the transition to junior high school, the relation between students' beliefs in mathematics and their teachers' sense of efficacy is examined. Using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance, we found that the rate of change within the school year in students' expectancies, perceived performance, and perceived task difficulty in math differed at Years I and 2, depending on teacher efficacy before and after the transition. Students who moved from highto lowefficacy math teachers during the transition ended the junior high year with the lowest expectancies and perceived performance (even lower than students who had low efficacy teachers both years) and the highest perceptions of task difficulty. The differences in preand posttransition teachers' views of their efficacy had a stronger relationship to low-achieving than to highachieving students' beliefs in mathematics.