Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of Forest Trees to Rapidly Changing Climate

Climate change leads to global drought-induced stress and increased plant mortality. Tree species living in rapidly changing climate conditions are exposed to danger and must adapt to new climate conditions to survive. Trees respond to changes in the environment in numerous ways. Physiological modulation at the seed stage, germination strategy and further development are influenced by many different factors. We review forest abiotic threats (such as drought and heat), including biochemical responses of plants to stress, and biotic threats (pathogens and insects) related to global warming. We then discus the varied adaptations of tree species to changing climate conditions such as seed resistance to environmental stress, improved by an increase in temperature, affinity to specific fungal symbionts, a wide range of tolerance to abiotic environmental conditions in the offspring of populations occurring in continental climate, and germination strategies closely linked to the ecological niche of the species. The existing studies do not clearly indicate whether tree adaptations are shaped by epigenetics or phenology and do not define the role of phenotypic plasticity in tree development. We have created a juxtaposition of literature that is useful in identifying the factors that play key roles in these processes. We compare scientific evidence that species distribution and survival are possible due to phenotypic plasticity and thermal memory with studies that testify that trees’ phenology depends on phylogenesis, but this issue is still open. It is possible that studies in the near future will bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms through which trees adapt to stressful conditions, especially in the context of epigenetic memory in long-lived organisms, and allow us to minimize the harmful effects of climatic events by predicting tree species’ responses or by developing solutions such as assisted migration to mitigate the consequences of these phenomena.
Age Model and Oxygen Isotope Stratigraphy of Site ODP1202 in the Southern Okinawa Trough, Northwestern Pacific

The two sedimentary sequences drilled at Holes 1202B and 1202D were correlated based upon direct lithologic observation, shipboard logging of magnetic susceptibility, and bulk density to form a stacked record of 410 m in length. Calcareous nannofossil and planktic foraminiferal occurrences confine the bottom of the record to be younger than 85 ka, whereas the sediments in the interva~225-280 mbsf in Hole 1202D are apparently of turbidite origin. Eleven AMS carbon-14 datings of planktic foraminifera and scaphopod samples from Hole 1202B suggest that the upper 110 m has a continuous record dating back over the past 28 thousand years. An oxygen isotope stratigraphy based upon planktic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina dutertrei was established from the stacked sequence. The upper part of the δ^18 O profile can be well correlated to that from the central Okinawa Trough site DGKS9603 (Li et al. 2001) in both trend and absolute values whereas the lower part is considered to belong to marine oxygen isotope stage 4. The sedimentation rates have been always high at this site, ranging from 1.5 to 16 meters per thousand years.
QED Induced Near-Field Radiation

Planck‟s theory of BB radiation stands as one of the greatest achievements of science in that the dispersion of the EM emission of photons with wavelength (or frequency) was shown to depend solely on the temperature of the material. BB stands for blackbody and EM for electromagnetic. More fundamentally, Planck‟s theory also provided the basis for quantum mechanics (QM). At the macroscale, Planck‟s theory has served well in predicting radiative heat transfer provided the gap or separation between heat transfer surfaces is large compared to the wavelength of the emitted EM radiation. However, experimental data for nanoscale gaps between flat plates unambiguously show near–field enhancement of heat transfer above that given by Planck theory consistent with the QM enhancement of the near field by standing wave QED photons in the theory of QED induced radiation. QED stands for quantum electrodynamics. Analysis is presented showing QM conserves the heat in the Stefan-Boltzmann (S-B) equation by creating standing QED photons between gap surfaces that transfer heat at the speed of light making the far slower phonon polaritons at acoustic velocities inconsequential in near field radiative heat transfer.
A simple and reproducible method for quantification of human tear lipids with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Purpose The purpose was to select a simple and reproducible method for lipid measurements of human tears with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). Two sample preparation procedures were evaluated and compared: the Bligh and Dyer (BD) liquid-liquid extraction method with chloroform and methanol and protein precipitation with isopropanol (IPA). Methods Reproducibility and recovery efficiencies of 20 non-endogenous internal lipid standards were tested in 10-µl tear samples from healthy subjects. The lipid coverage and the simplicity of execution were also assessed. Lipid profiles of the tear extracts were acquired with UHPLC-MS, uhpland the lipids were identified using SimLipid software. Results Both methods were robust producing good lipid coverage and reproducibility and high recovery efficiencies. The two protocols identified a 69-feature tear lipidome that covered 11 lipid classes from six different lipid categories. The main differences in recovery were due to the intrinsic lipid selectivity of each solvent. Although both methods were similarly efficient in recovering O-acyl-ω-hydroxy fatty acid (OAHFAs) and non-polar lipids, polar lipids were more efficiently recovered with IPA precipitation, which, in turn, exhibited higher reproducibility. In addition, IPA precipitation is automatable and simpler than the BD approach. Conclusions IPA precipitation is an excellent procedure for extracting lipids from small tear volumes for quantitative large-scale, untargeted lipid profiling, which may be useful for identifying lipid biomarkers in tears from patients with different ocular surface pathologies, allowing personalized therapies to be designed.
Distribution of Distances between Elements in a Compact Set

In this article, we propose a review of studies evaluating the distribution of distances between elements of a random set independently and uniformly distributed over a region of space in a normed R -vector space (for example, point events generated by a homogeneous Poisson process in a compact set). The distribution of distances between individuals is present in many situations when interaction depends on distance and concerns many disciplines, such as statistical physics, biology, ecology, geography, networking, etc. After reviewing the solutions proposed in the literature, we present a modern, general and unified resolution method using convolution of random vectors. We apply this method to typical compact sets: segments, rectangles, disks, spheres and hyperspheres. We show, for example, that in a hypersphere the distribution of distances has a typical shape and is polynomial for odd dimensions. We also present various applications of these results and we show, for example, that variance of distances in a hypersphere tends to zero when space dimension increases.
Running head : VALUE AND MEMORY 1 Value bias of verbal memory

A common finding is that items associated with higher reward value are subsequently remembered better than items associated with lower value. A confounding factor is that when a higher value stimuli is presented, this typically signals to participants that it is now a particularly important time to engage in the task. When this was controlled, Madan et al. (2012) still found a large value-bias of memory. Their value-learning procedure, however, explicitly pitted highagainst low-value words. Our novel value-learning procedure trained words one at a time, avoiding direct competition between words, but with no difference in words signalling participants to engage in the task. Results converged on null effects of value on subsequent free recall accuracy. Re-analyses attributed Madan et al.’s value-bias to competition between choice items that were paired during learning. Value may not bias memory if it does not signal task importance or induce inter-item competition.
Greening Trends of Southern China Confirmed by GRACE

As reported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the world has been greening over the last two decades, with the highest greening occurring in China and India. The increasing vegetation will increase plant tissue accumulation and water storage capacity, and all of these variations will cause mass change. In this study, we found that the mass change related to greening in Southern China could be confirmed by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations. The mean mass change rate detected by GRACE is 6.7 ± 0.8 mm/yr in equivalent water height during 2003–2016 in our study region. This is consistent with the sum of vegetation tissue, soil water and groundwater change calculated using multi-source data. The vegetation accumulation is approximately 3.8 ± 1.3 mm/yr, which is the major contribution to region mass change. We also found that the change of water storage capacity related to vegetation can be detected by GRACE.
Quantile Regression Analysis of Visitor Spending: An Example of Mainland Chinese Tourists in Hong Kong: Working Paper Series--09-06

A common approach to market segmentation based on visitor expenditures is to use the least-squares regression analysis to determine statistically significant variables upon which key market segments are identified for marketing purposes. This was done by Wang (2004) for survey data based on expenditures by Mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong. We use this same dataset to demonstrate the benefits of using the quantile regression analysis approach to better identify tourist spending patterns and market segments. The quantile regression measures tourist spending in different categories against a fixed range of dependent variable, which distinguished between lower, medium, and higher spenders. The results show that quantile regression is less susceptible to influence by outlier values and is better able to target finer tourist spending market segments.
Preparation of High Tap Density LiFePO4/C through Carbothermal Reduction Process Using Beta-Cyclodextrin as Carbon Source

As an economical and practical manufacturing process, the carbothermal reduction method is widely used for industrial production of LiFePO 4 . In this work, an LiFePO 4 /C cathode material with a high tap density of 1.3 g cm -3 was successfully synthesized through a novel carbothermal reduction process, which used FePO 4 as the precursor and beta-cyclodextrin as the carbon source. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanningelectron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectra. Their electrochemical performance was investigated with a galvanostatic charge/discharge system, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The SEM and TEM results indicate that LiFePO 4 /C microspheres with diameters of 5-10 µm aggregated by enormous nanoplates, and they were evenly coated with an amorphous carbon layer approximately 3 nm thick. The electrochemical results show that carbon coating could greatly optimize the electrochemical performance of LiFePO 4 owing to the improved electronic conductivity of the sample. Specifically, LiFePO 4 /C exhibited not only a discharge capacity of 144 mAh g -1 in the initial cycle at 0.1C (1C=170 mAh g -1 ), but also a superior rate capability an d excellent cycling performance.
Extremely Low Leakage Expression Systems Using Dual Transcriptional-Translational Control for Toxic Protein Production

Expression systems for highly toxic protein genes must be conditional and suppress leakage expression to almost zero because even faint leakage expression may kill host cells, inhibit host growth, and cause loss of plasmids containing the toxic protein genes. The most widely used conditional expression systems are controlled only at the transcriptional level, and complete suppression of leakage expression is challenging. Recent progress on translational control has enabled construction of dual transcriptional-translational control systems in which leakage expression is strongly suppressed. This review summarizes the principles, features, and practical examples of dual transcriptional-translational control systems in bacteria, and provides future perspectives on these systems.
Formative Transcendence of Flipped Learning in Mathematics Students of Secondary Education

Educational technology is achieving great potential in the formative processes of today’s society. Flipped learning is considered as a pedagogical innovation derived from the technological influence in learning spaces. The general objective of the research is to analyze the effectiveness of flipped learning on a traditional teaching and learning approach in the subject of Mathematics. To achieve this objective, an experimental design of a descriptive and correlational type has been followed through a quantitative research method. Two study groups have been set up. In the control group, the contents have been imparted from a traditional perspective, and in the experimental group, innovation has been applied through the use of flipped learning. The sample of participants has been chosen by means of intentional sampling and reached the figure of 60 students in the 4th year of Secondary Education at an educational center in Ceuta (Spain). A questionnaire has been used for data collection. The results reflect that the application of flipped learning has obtained better assessment in established attitudinal and mathematical indicators. It is concluded that with the use of flipped learning, motivation and skills are increased in the analysis and representation of graphs.
On the Husimi Version of the Classical Limit of Quantum Correlation Functions

We extend the Husimi (coherent state) based version of linearized semiclassical theories for the calculation of correlation functions to the case of survival probabilities. This is a case that could be dealt with before only by use of the Wigner version of linearized semiclassical theory. Numerical comparisons of the Husimi and the Wigner case with full quantum results as well as with full semiclassical ones will be given for the revival dynamics in a Morse oscillator with and without coupling to an additional harmonic degree of freedom.
Growth, Plant Water Relations, and Forage Quality in Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de wit and Acacia saligna (Labill.) in Response to Salinity Stress

The effect of salinity on growth performance, physiological responses and chemical composition were studied on two species Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de wit and Acacia saligna (Labill.) seedlings. Five saline concentrations mixture of sodium and calcium chloride (v/v, 1:1): control (Distilled Water), 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 ppm were used in watering plants for 3 months. The results showed a marked variation among species in response to salinity. L. leucocephala was able to withstand the highest level of salinity compared to A. saligna in all studied parameters except relative water content. All morphological characteristics of the two species decreased markedly under salinity, except the shoot/root ratio that showed a trend of increase. The leaf water potential was more negative with an increase in relative water content under salinity compared with the control. The crude protein and nitrogen content concentration were low at 6000 ppm and while increased at 8000 ppm in L. Leucocephala compared to A. saligna. The results showed that growing both species provide great benefits to the agricultural sector especially in the arid and semiarid areas were these species can provide forage with high quality all year around when grown under irrigation with saline or regular water. Thus, it is recommended to utilize such species to be grown for forages under saline conditions for their productivity and quality
GREEN FORMULAE FOR CONE DIFFERENTIAL OPERATORS

Green formulae for elliptic cone differential operators are established. This is achieved by an accurate description of the maximal domain of an elliptic cone differential operator and its formal adjoint; thereby utilizing the concept of a discrete asymptotic type. From this description, the singular coefficients replacing the boundary traces in classical Green formulas are deduced.
In Vitro Apoptotic Activity of Endophytic Fungal Lectin Isolated from Endophyte, Aspergillus flavus of Viscum album on Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (MCF-7)

Copyright: © 2016 Sadananda TS, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. In Vitro Apoptotic Activity of Endophytic Fungal Lectin Isolated from Endophyte, Aspergillus flavus of Viscum album on Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (MCF-7)
Plant succession in a forest on the Lower Northeast Slope of Serra Geral, Rio Grande do Sul, and Holocene palaeoenvironments, Southern Brazil

The study of plant succession provides information on vegetation dynamics of a region and, therefore, improves our understanding of the natural trends of present ecosystems. With this objective, plant succession based on palynology of a sediment profile in a swamp forest was studied on the Lower Northeast Slope of Serra Geral, Rio Grande do Sul. Samples were treated with HCl, HF, KOH and acetolysis; slides were mounted in glycerol-jelly. For each sample a minimum of 500 grains of pollen + pteridophyte and bryophyte spores was counted and other palynomorphs were counted in parallel. Tilia and Tilia Graph software were used to construct percentage and concentration diagrams, with three 14C datings. The results show a local water reservoir in the beginning of the Holocene (± 9800 yrs. BP), creating a herbaceous plant marsh by hydrosere. The initial colonization of the marsh by trees occurred about 8800 yrs. BP, with tropical species from the Coastal Plain migrating in an east-west direction. Afterwards, there was a dry phase between 7000-5000 yrs. BP. The second appearance of regional tree species began at about 5000 yrs. BP, resulting in the present forest and in the west-east migration of tropical species from interior lowlands, like this one, to re-colonize the coast after the last marine regression.
Is Sexual Assault a Problem in Greek Prisons? Initial Evidence from a Greek Male Prison

This study aimed to explore the problem of inmate sexual victimization in a Greek male prison. A total of 400 individuals were approached in the largest Greek male prison and 50 individuals participated. The questionnaire examined sociodemographic, offence-related information, sexual victimization during incarceration, experiences of witnessing the sexual coercion of other inmates, and history of sexual victimization. Thirteen (26.0%) participants reported sexual victimization by an inmate, including either “only non-penetrative” or “only penetrative ones” or “both penetrative and non-penetrative” ones. The victimized participants also performed worse in child sexual victimization and self-esteem scores as compared with the non-victimized ones. Vulnerable groups identified in the current study could receive further attention in future studies and policy initiatives. Large-scale surveys could be designed to extend our knowledge on this neglected area of research.
Improvisation-performance link and the moderating effects: A case of Malaysia technology-based companies

This research aims to examine the relationship between organisational improvisation and firm performance as well as to identify the effect of environmental turbulence on improvisation performance relationship.Given the lack of studies on these relationships in the previous literature, there is significant contribution to the theories as well as for managerial practices. 128 responses from top management of technology-based companies in Malaysia were used as a sample in this study. The finding of the direct association between organisational improvisation and firm performance implies that improvisation provide the enhancement of firm performance as a whole.In testing moderating effects on the improvisation–performance link, the strength and type of relationship between improvisation and firm performance did change when moderated by environmental turbulence.The research findings identified both technological and competitive turbulence moderate the relationship between organisational improvisation and firm performance. Technological turbulence shows a negative moderating effect; meanwhile the competitive turbulence demonstrates a positive moderating effect on the improvisation–performance link.
Estimating Structural Changes in the Vertical Price Relationships in U.S. Beef and Pork Markets

This paper examines structural breaks in the vertical price relationships in U.S. beef/cattle and pork/hog sectors using monthly data of the past 40 years. A major methodological issue addressed is how to estimate price relationships when data contain intermittent structural breaks with unknown break dates. The adopted procedures endogenously search for structural break dates while explicitly accounting for this search in statistical inferences. Four breaks for the beef/cattle price relationship and three breaks for the pork/hog price relationship are identified. The estimation results further confirm the importance of allowing for structural breaks in the analysis of vertical price relationships.
Magnetic and Golden Yogurts. Food as a Potential Nanomedicine Carrier

Yogurt is one of the most emblematic and popular fermented foods. It is produced by the fermentation of milk lactose by bacteria such as Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Magnetic (MNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were incorporated into the exopolysaccharides (EPSs) of these bacteria. The functionalized bacteria were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A large number of MNPs and AuNPs were bound to the bacterial EPS. Interestingly, the nanoparticles’ (NPs) presence did not affect the bacteria’s capacity to ferment milk and to produce magnetic and golden yogurts. Magnetic and golden yogurts represent the perfect combination of emblematic food and nanoparticles and have a range of potential biomedical applications: use in iron-deficiency anemia, diagnosis and hyperthermia treatment of appropriate digestive diseases, and interest in glamour cuisine.
Review of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and its Impact on Firm Value

This paper examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and firm value by reviewing existing literature and suggesting future research ideas. I review the prior research both to provide information on the current state of the literature on CSR disclosure and to identify gaps in current literature. My review covers two broad areas. First, I review the current relationship between environmental disclosure and firm performance. Second, I discuss research on the current relationship between CSR and firm performance. Each section concludes with suggestions for future research.