Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uptake, translocation and assimilation of nitrogen from 15N‐labelled ammonium and nitrate sources by intact ectomycorrhizal systems of Fagus sylvatica infected with Paxillus involutus

The uptake and assimilation of nitrogen from 15N-labelled ammonium and nitrate sources was followed in intact ectomycorrhizal systems containing Fagus sylvatica L. plants infected with the fungus Paxillus involutus (Mich. ex Pers.) Cohen & Couch. Plants were grown in flat perspex observation chambers containing non-sterile peat; the fungal mycelium growing from a host plant was allowed to cross a barrier and to colonize an area of peat from which roots had been excluded. Labelled ammonium chloride or sodium nitrate was fed to the mycelium, and the shoot, root and mycelial tissues analysed for total and 15N-labelled amino acid contents after a feeding period of 72 h. Both free and protein-incorporated amino acids were analysed. Labelled nitrogen was incorporated into a range of free amino acids, the principal sinks for assimilation being alanine, aspartate/asparagine and glutamate/glutamine. The spectrum of labelling in protein-incorporated amino acids was wider with significant incorporation into the above compounds but additional assimilation of nitrogen as glycine, valine, serine, leucine, isoleucine and arginine. In total 78% of the nitrogen assimilated was incorporated into proteinaceous material. Label was incorporated from both nitrogen sources but the levels of enrichment in most free and protein-bound amino acids were usually higher in systems supplied with ammonium than in those supplied with nitrate. The mean amount of nitrogen assimilated from nitrate was only 62% of that assimilated from ammonium. (Less)
Effects of Density and Mixture Proportions on Freeze–Thaw Durability of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is widely used for industrial and heavy-duty pavements. An economical and durable material for paving and other applications, RCC has a high strength and a high density. Although the strength of RCC has been thoroughly investigated, the freeze–thaw durability of RCC remains a topic of contention. RCC has often performed well in harsh field environments, but it frequently fails laboratory freeze–thaw durability testing. In this study, 24 specimens were fabricated for freeze–thaw durability testing with a gyratory compactor. The study variables were the degree of compaction, the amount of water, and the water-to-cement (w/c) ratio (and, hence, the amount of cement). The specimens replicated the concrete found in typical RCC pavement and dam construction. The RCC specimens were subjected to up to 300 cycles of rapid freezing and thawing and were tested for fundamental transverse frequency and mass loss. Because of the low aspect ratios of the specimens, fundamental transverse frequency testing was not reliable. Several specimens completed the 300 cycles with a mass loss of less than 10%. The freeze–thaw durability of RCC was found to be dependent primarily on the amount of cement paste and the w/c ratio and to a lesser extent on the degree of compaction.
Coping with the social costs of ‘transition’: Everyday life in post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, many Russian and Ukrainian households have experienced periods of economic marginalization. The role of this paper is to examine these social costs of transition, noting that official reporting underestimates the true scale of the problem, and the household responses to these costs. The discussions are based on both qualitative and quantitative research undertaken in numerous locations in Russia and Ukraine. One of the paper’s key arguments is that informal economic practices are crucial to many households and that a broad spectrum of coping tactics is employed. These tactics often reveal the unequal power relations that run through state—society and worker— employee relations and help detail the high levels of corruption that exist in post-Soviet societies. Furthermore, these tactics are entwined in the locations within which they take place and rely on high levels of social capital, ensuring that households would rather remain in their current location than migrate to cheaper regions. The paper concludes on a rather pessimistic note, arguing that, although Russian and Ukrainian households have ‘coped’ over the 20 years since the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the future poses new challenges. These include an ageing population, the increasing use of credit (default on which can lead to eviction) and the global recession, which leads to a decrease in opportunities in the informal sphere.
Deformation–Resistance Model for Geogrid-Reinforced Unpaved Road

Unpaved road sections experience degradation and accumulation of plastic deformation under repeated loading. Geogrid placed between subgrade and aggregate base course (ABC) can improve section performance through several mechanisms and lead to reduction in stresses and plastic deformation. An unpaved road design model that includes provisions for mobilization of subgrade bearing capacity under axisymmetric condition is proposed. The model incorporates base course property, mobilization of subgrade bearing capacity with rutting, degradation of base course stress attenuation with cyclic load, and the effect of reinforcement inclusion. An elastic layer method has been used to back-analyze the vertical stresses on subgrade with data from previous cyclic plate load tests performed in the laboratory. The degradation of unpaved sections was expressed as a reduction in base course–subgrade elastic modulus ratio (E1/E2) with an increasing number of cycles or a decrease in stress distribution angle of base course. The proposed model has been validated by data from a field study. Computed base course thickness matched well with the test results, but further verification of the method based on field testing is needed before it is accepted as a viable design tool.
Modeling the Impact of Key Events on Long-Term Transport Mode Choice Decisions

This paper describes the first phase of a study of the impact of key events on long-term transport mode choice decisions. The suggested complexity of transport mode choice is modeled with a Bayesian decision network. An Internet-based questionnaire was designed to measure the various conditional probability tables and the conditional utility tables of the Bayesian decision network. Seven key events were implemented in the questionnaire: change in residential location, change in household composition, change in work location, change in study location, change in car availability, change in availability of public transport pass, and change in household income. Data from 554 respondents were used to illustrate how the tables can be constructed on the basis of event history data.
Derivation of Origin–Destination Distributions from Traffic Counts

Origin–destination (O-D) traffic flows are an essential element in several freeway and network traffic models. In general, it is impossible to identify a unique O-D matrix from volume counts alone. Several methods for deriving O-D data exist, and they vary in complexity, cost, and analysis time. O-D matrices were generated with five methods that were applied to the same set of volume data. The resulting O-D matrices were used as the only variable input component in traffic simulation with INTEGRATION. Traffic simulation output was used to assess the implications of the O-D distribution. The O-D data produced by the deterministic method were clearly different from those of the other four methods. The proportionate and QueensOD (with default seed) output were somewhat dissimilar. All other combinations were similar, and the proportionate and FREQ O-D output were statistically identical. The simulation output with the proportionate-method O-D data met the 10/75 speed criterion at all five of the cross-section locations [it was within 10 mph (16 km/h) of field speed for 75% of the time periods]. Pearson's correlation of speeds at five locations indicated that all O-D methods except the deterministic one have a strong correlation with each other. A similar outcome was obtained with t-tests of the total travel time output.
A knife in the back: use of prey-specific attack tactics by araneophagic jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae)

Three species of Portia (Portia africana from Kenya, Portia fimbriata from Australia and Portia labiata from the Philippines) were tested with flies Drosophila immigrans and Musca domestica and with web-building spiders Badumna longinquus and Pholcus phalangioides. Badumna longinquus has powerful chelicerae, but not especially long legs, whereas Ph. phalangioides has exceptionally long legs, but only small, weak chelicerae. Typically, Portia sighted flies, walked directly towards them and attacked without adjusting orientation. However, Portia’s attacks on the spiders were aimed primarily at the cephalothorax instead of the legs or abdomen. Portia usually targeted the posterior-dorsal region of B. longinquus’ cephalothorax by attacking this species from above and behind. When the prey was Ph. phalangioides, attack orientation was defined primarily by opportunistic gaps between this species’ long legs (gaps through which Portia could contact the pholcid’s body without contacting one of the pholcid’s legs). Portia’s attack strategy appears to be an adjustment to the different types of risk posed by different types of prey.
Evaluation of the stem bark of Pistacia integerrima Stew ex Brandis for its antimicrobial and phytotoxic activities

The antimicrobial and phytotoxic activities of the crude methanolic extract and its subsequent solvent fractions of Pistacia integerrima bark were investigated. The outstanding activity was shown by the ethyl acetate fraction followed by aqueous fraction against Staphylococcus aureus having zone of inhibition 19 and 15 mm respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction was also effective againsn, hoteus vulgaris having zone of inhibition 15 mm. The outstanding minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was observed against Staphylococcus aureus by ethyl acetate (0.31 mg/ml) and Salmonella typhi by hexane fraction (0.37 mg/ml). The crude methanolic extract and subsequent solvent fractions were also tested against two fungal strains, that is, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger no outstanding antifungal activity was found. All the fractions are good herbicidal and weedicidal at high concentration, however the considerable activity was shown by ethyl acetate (90% growth inhibition) followed by chloroform (70% growth inhibition) and methanol (60% growth inhibition) at a concentration of 500 ppm. The ability of crude methanol extract and its subsequent solvent fractions, specially the ethyl acetate fraction, to inhibit the growth of microorganism and plant Lemna minor L as an indication of its antimicrobial and phytotoxic potential. This provides a baseline for isolation and identification of new antimicrobial and phytotoxic compounds to the world of medicine.
Colpomenia durvillei (Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyceae): its distribution and relationships with other elongate species of the genus

Abstract The taxonomic distinctiveness and distribution of the brown alga Colpomenia durvillei are debatable; the species was first described from central Chile. We analyzed mitochondrial cox3 and plastid rbcL sequences from specimens collected in central Chile and Sonora, Mexico, in combination with morphological observations of specimens collected in Chile, Peru, and Mexico. Compared with other elongate species of the genus, C. durvillei is distinguished by erect, elongate thalli arising from a wide colpomenioid base, up to eight layers of cortical and medullary cells, and plurilocular sporangia with many layers (up to 18 locules). In all phylogenetic analyses of cox3 and rbcL sequences, all elongate species of the genus formed a clade, in which C. durvillei was consistently distinct from congeners. Colpomenia bullosa was closely related to C. durvillei in our cox3 analyses, and the clade containing these two species was closely related to Colpomenia phaeodactyla. This is the first report to confirm C. durvillei by molecular data and also the first report on the occurrence of the species in Sonora, Mexico. It had previously been misidentified as a variant of C. phaeodactyla on the Pacific coast of South America, and the name C. durvillei was misapplied to C. bullosa in New Zealand.
A Chromosome Phylogeny of the Droseraceae by Using CMA-DAPI Fluorescent Banding

Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. , Dionaea muscipula Ellis, 20 species of Drosera L. and Drosophyllum lusitanicum Link. were investigated for a metaphase chromosome analysis by using the sequentially fluorescent CMA and DAPI staining methods. Aldrovanda vesiculosa and the Drosera species showed numerous small-sized chromosomes and some middle-sized chromosomes with no primary constriction. Dionaea muscipula had the middle-sized chromosomes with the localized centromeres and CMA-negative and DAPI-positive pericentric bands. Drosophyllum lusitanicum displayed quite large-sized chromosomes with well-defined localized-centromeres. Computer-aided measurements of metaphase chromosomes stained with CMA and DAPI showed that Aldrovanda vesiculosa and the Drosera species displayed the common features such as localization of CMA-positive and DAPI-negative satellites and non-staining region.
Impact of a Designed Nursing Intervention Protocol about Preoperative Liver transplantation Care on Patients' Outcomes at A University Hospital in Egypt

Background: Literature review cited that, Liver transplantation is now considered as the gold standard for treatment of patients with end-stage liver diseases and early liver tumors in cirrhotic livers. Patient education is vital to the safety and success of a transplant. Aim: the aim is to assess the impact of a designed nursing intervention protocol about preoperative liver transplantation care on patient’s outcomes as indicated by: patients` knowledge & practice mean scores, and complications developed. To fulfill the aim of this study, the following hypothesis was formulated: patients undergoing liver transplantation who will be exposed to the designed nursing intervention protocol about preoperative liver transplantation care will show better outcomes. Material and Methods: A convenient sample of 14 adult male and female patients admitted to Liver Transplant Unit at El Manial University Hospital were included, three of them were died with an attrition rate of 21.4%. Four tools were formulated to collect data pertinent to the study. 1- Sociodemographic and medical data sheet; 2- Pre/Post knowledge assessment questionnaire sheet, 3- Observational checklists, & 4- Complications assessment sheet. Structured interview, reviewing medical records, direct observation and physical examination were utilized for data collection. Results: a significant statistical difference was found in relation to the total and subtotal mean knowledge and practice scores during different assessment periods with P values (0.00 for both); as well, 45.5 % of patients developed respiratory complications (pleural effusion) compared to 53.8 % of their correspondence who developed respiratory complications (pleural effusion, chest infection, and others), in addition, 9.1% of the studied subjects developed rejection, and ascites as compared to (1.9 %, 5.7%) of their correspondence over the last consecutive three years respectively. Conclusion: Liver transplantation patients showed a positive improvement in their knowledge and practice in relation to breathing, coughing, & using respirometer exercises and range of motion. Replication of this study on a larger sample selected from different geographical areas is highly recommended. Key wards: liver transplantation, designed nursing intervention protocol, preoperative liver transplantation care, knowledge, complications, and patient`s outcome.
Factors Influencing Self- Efficiency of Rural Women in Malard County

The main purpose of this descriptive-correlational research was to determine the factors underpinning rural women's self-efficiency in Malard County, Iran. The statistical population consisted of all rural women in Malard County (N = 23636). The sample size was determined using Cochran's formula (n=613) and they were selected by the stratified random sampling method. Data for the study were gathered with a structured questionnaire whose content validity was determined based on inputs by experts in the field and a review of the relevant literature. Cronbach's alpha test was used to assess the reliability of the questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using SPSS v.18. The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a positive and significant correlation of educational and extension factors, participation in family decision-making, social factors, spatial dynamics, economic factors, self-esteem factors, and the capacity to deal with shocks and stresses with self- efficiency of rural women. There was also a negative and significant relationship between age and self-efficiency of rural women. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that economic factor (R2 = 0.437), educational and extension factor (R2 = 0.507), self-esteem factor (R2 = 0.539), and social factor (R2 = 0.545) were the most important factors contributing to the dependent variable (rural women self-efficiency), respectively.
Gender Dimensions of Transport in Developing Countries

Women in most developing countries have limited access to transport services and technology. This lack of transport imposes severe constraints on their access to health, education, and other social facilities and services, making them and their children more vulnerable to serious injury or death as a result of childbirth or another medical emergency. Understanding and responding to women's transport needs are essential for reducing poverty, as reflected in the United Nations statement of the Millennium Development Goals. Many governments and development agencies have learned much from extensive field research and case studies about women's and men's substantially different patterns of mobility needs. In recent years, the World Bank has integrated these gender concerns and needs into its policies and has encouraged borrowing countries to address the concerns of women in their national, regional, and local projects and programs. The World Bank has developed corresponding guidance for the transport sector and encourages its application as appropriate in all the transport investments that it supports. This paper summarizes examples of good practice and illustrates its application in Ethiopia. However, the World Bank's Transport Sector is concerned that the outcomes for women of the interventions that it supports often continue to fall short of expectations. This paper describes the steps that are being taken to improve the effective meeting of gender needs. The paper also highlights the value of participating in a broad network of development specialist groups to share experience of effective good practices and to strengthen the scope for matching specific cultural and institutional conditions.
Low Income, Public Transit, and Mobility

A fundamental justification for transit subsidies in the United States is to provide a basic level of mobility to all persons, especially the transportation disadvantaged: those who are either unwilling or unable to drive or who do not have access to a car. Yet even among the disadvantaged, most travel is by private vehicle. This paper examines the role of transit in the daily travel patterns of low-income households. Public transit is used for only a small portion of travel, and those who use transit regularly have the lowest level of mobility among all population segments. Attitudinal data indicate dissatisfaction with public transit, suggesting that current trends are likely to continue. Retaining existing markets by improving service frequency and quality in high-demand markets, exploring more effective ways of providing transit in low-demand markets, and expanding transit to serve off-peak and off-direction commutes would make transit a more attractive option for everyone.
Molecular phylogenetics and diversification within one of the most geographically variable bird species complexes Pachycephala pectoralis/melanura

The golden-mangrove whistler complex Pachycephala pectoralis/melanura is, with 66 named populations, described as the most complex avian example of geographic variation in the World. It represents a well-known example of niche differentiation where one species P. pectoralis is found on faunistically rich larger islands (and mainland) and the other P. melanura is confined to adjacent, faunistically poor islets. Except for a comparison of some Solomon Island populations, the relationships among these taxa have not been tested using molecular data. Here we combine a dense taxon sampling (22 populations of 12 named taxa distributed east of New Guinea and in Australia), with molecular data (two nuclear and two mitochondrial markers) to unravel more of the evolutionary history behind the golden whistler complex. In particular we examine relationships between Pachycephala melanura, and the very similar-looking P. citreogaster (Bismarcks Islands) and P. pectoralis (Australia). We demonstrate that a well-supported group of golden whistlers inhabit the Bismarck Islands and that several small islets in the immediate vicinity are inhabited by another monophyletic group consisting of P. melanura, mangrove golden whistler.
Systems Thinking for Knowledge Transfer in Organic and Mechanistic Organizations

Research units in state government transportation agencies exist within traditionally hierarchical, or mechanistic, organizations. They manage and conduct research studies and ensure the successful transfer of knowledge through both inter- and intraorganizational relationships and through knowledge transfer activities. These activities may entail the transfer of knowledge at the local, state, federal or international level. Improving knowledge transfer ultimately improves organizational performance. Use of Burns and Stalkers' dualism—mechanistic versus organic management systems—to describe government organizations aids in the recognition of the current condition and in the identification of the characteristics of an environment that will be more conducive to efficient knowledge transfer. This information will help decision makers within these organizations to select the appropriate organizational structure, or processes, to enhance knowledge transfer. The increasing amount of information and growing organizational complexity require a systems thinking approach to identifying opportunities for improvement within these organizations. This paper describes how systems thinking can aid in exploring knowledge transfer within organic and mechanistic state government organizations and offers contributions to the body of knowledge concerning government entities and intentional knowledge transfer.