Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE DUE TO STRONG WINDS IN FOREST AREAS IN THE PANTANAL, BRAZIL

The Pantanal climate presents marked seasonality and eventually strong winds occur, especially in the beginning of the rainy season, which may last from September or October until April. A phytosociological study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a strong wind on the composition and structure of two forest formations in Pantanal wetland, a semideciduous forest (19o 15' 32"S and 55o 45' 23.7"W) and a forested savanna - "cerradao" (19o 17' 21"S and 55o 45' 8.9"W), with trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) > 5 cm. After the strong wind, a reduction of 6% of the basal area and volume in the semideciduous forest was observed, mainly due to the uprooting of Xylopia aromatica trees. In the forested savanna, the basal area and volume reduction was even higher; an estimated 10%, representing 69 uprooted trees per hectare, mainly of Copaifera martii trees. In both areas it was observed that the uprooted trees presented an average height and diameter bigger than the trees that remained intact. Usually, the trees that were uprooted presented higher wood density and the species that had broken branches had a lower density.
Mobile Banking Adoption: Examining the Role of Personality Traits

A number of studies have been conducted on the salient factors that influence consumers’ intention to adopt mobile banking services. However, none of these studies has explored the impact of personality traits on consumers’ intention to adopt mobile banking services. This study investigates the impact of personality traits on users’ intention to adopt mobile banking. Data gathered from 482 mobile banking users in Ghana via a convenience sampling technique using a questionnaire survey were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results show that agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to new experience significantly impact users’ intention to adopt mobile banking through perceptions of usefulness and ease of use, with agreeableness showing the strongest total effect, followed by conscientiousness. The results also reveal that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are salient predictors of users’ intention to adopt mobile banking. The study underscores the need for service providers to focus on designing effective marketing strategies that recognize different user personality traits so as to improve adoption.
Edinburgh Research Explorer "Planned benefits" can be misleading in digital transformation projects. Insights from a case study of Human Resource Information Systems implementation in healthcare.

Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) are being implemented in many organizations but, like other technology projects, translating their potential benefits into meaningful improvements can be challenging. So-called “planned benefits” approaches are designed to aid this translation, but little is known about their success in HRIS projects. This study examined how a planned benefits approach was manifested in a national-scale HRIS implementation program. The results point to the importance of reviewing the benefits plan at regular intervals, to ensure the project can adapt to changing circumstances, and considering benefits at the level of individual modules and user groups, as well as for the organization as a whole. Adequate data preparation, training, effective communication, and process analysis were identified as key actions necessary for successful HRIS implementation and benefit realization.
A prospective study of causes of death in rural Gadchiroli, an underdeveloped district of India (2011-2013)

Background Reliable information on causes of death to understand health priorities is rare from rural underdeveloped regions of India but is needed to direct health care response. This prompted us to study causes of death in a rural region of Gadchiroli, one of the most underdeveloped districts of India. Methods Data on causes of death were collected from 86 villages between April 2011 and March 2013 using verbal autopsies. Two physicians independently assigned cause of death using the tenth revision of the International Classification of Disease and disagreement was resolved by a third physician. Results There were 1599 deaths over 188,308 person years of observation. The crude death rate was 8.5 (95% confidence interval (CI)=8.1-8.9). The five leading causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system (20.8%), with stroke being the leading cause (14.3%), infections and parasitic disorders (18.4%), injuries and other external causes of mortality (10%), peri-natal diseases (6.5%) and diseases of the respiratory system (6.4%). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 38.5%, infections and perinatal diseases for 28.3% and external causes including injuries for 10% of all deaths. Conclusions Epidemiological transition with a shift in causes of deaths from communicable to NCDs has occurred even in a rural underdeveloped district like Gadchiroli. Public health system in rural India which focuses on infections and maternal and child health will now need to be strengthened urgently to face the triple challenge of communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as injuries.
Effects of domestication on parr maturity, growth, and vulnerability to predation in Atlantic salmon

Domestication can change fitness-related traits. We investigated domestication-induced changes in fitness-related traits in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) under naturally enriched laboratory conditions with and without threat of predation. Selection in two strains for rapid growth for three and five generations resulted in two and three times larger sizes of under-yearling parr relative to their wild ancestor. An initially larger size and ability to outgrow prey size more rapidly resulted in lower size-selective predation mortality for domesticated individuals. Growth under threat of predation was only reduced for wild individuals, suggesting that domestication co-selects for predator-related stress resistance. Size-adjusted male parr maturation probability was 34% in the wild strain, but significantly reduced to 10% and 7% after three and five generations of domestication, respectively. Together, freshwater-stage-specific survival for individuals with a domesticated background relative to individuals with.
Quantitative Evaluation of Public Open Space per Inhabitant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of the City of Jeddah

Public open spaces are essential for residents’ social interactions and recreational activities, improving well-being as well as offering economic and environmental benefits. Saudi Arabia is aiming to enhance the quality of life in all its cities through different national programs and projects. One of the key performance indicators is increasing public open space per capita from 3.47 to 3.9 m2 by 2020. This study measured the current public open space per inhabitant in Jeddah using a geographic information system (GIS) to identify the types of public open spaces that make up the per capita value in the city. Jeddah is located in a rapidly developing country, and it is a replanned city where the current status of public open spaces falls short of users’ expectations and does not meet international standards. This study suggests that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and municipalities should adopt a systematic approach to tackling the spatial distribution of open spaces in Saudi cities. In addition, there is a need for the proactive involvement of planners, landscape architects, and designers in the planning process.
A Molecular Phylogeny and Generic Classification of Asphodelaceae Subfamily Alooideae: A Final Resolution of the Prickly Issue of Polyphyly in the Alooids?

Abstract Phylogenetic analysis of plastid (rbcLa, matK, trnH-psbA and the trnL intron) and nuclear (ITS1) sequence datasets in a wide sampling of species of Asphodelaceae: Alooideae provides a generally well-resolved phylogeny. Among traditionally accepted genera only Astroloba and Gasteria are supported as monophyletic. Species of Haworthia are distributed among three clades corresponding to the current subgenera. Aloe s. l. (including Chortolirion) segregates into six, well-supported clades corresponding respectively to sections Dracoaloe (= Aloidendron), Kumara + Haemanthifoliae, Macrifoliae, Aristatae, Serrulatae, and the remainder of the genus. The first three clades are retrieved as early branching lineages, whereas A. sects. Aristatae and Serrulatae are strongly supported as members of a clade including Astroloba + Haworthia subg. Robustipedunculatae. We examine possible options for recircumscribing the genera of Alooideae as reciprocally monophyletic entities. Although morphological and molecular data are consistent with expansion of Aloe to include all members of Alooideae, we accept and implement an alternative option maintaining historical usage in the group as far as possible. Astroloba and Gasteria are retained as currently circumscribed; Haworthia is restricted to H. subg. Haworthia; the genus Tulista is accepted for members of H. subg. Robustipedunculatae, with the new combination T. minima; and H. subg. Hexangulares is treated as the genus Haworthiopsis with the new combinations H. koelmaniorum, H. pungens, and H. tessellata. The genus Aloe is restricted to the clade comprising the ‘true aloes’, with Aloidendron, Aloiampelos, and Kumara accepted as segregates, the latter broadened to include A. haemanthifolia as K. haemanthifolia. Aloe aristata is segregated in the monotypic genus Aristaloe as A. aristata and Aloe sect. Serrulatae is treated as the new genus Gonialoe with the species G. dinteri, G. sladeniana, and G. variegata.
Performance Indicators of Basic Infrastructure of Kotaku Program (The City without Slums)

Wotgali Village is a slum area. The aim of the current research is to find out the performance of slum base infrastructure using Lakip (Government Agency Accountability Report) of Kotaku (City without Slums) Program. The first step was performed by identifying the initial settlement (base line), then some treatments on the facilities and infrastructure (finish line), performance evaluation stages of the preparation, planning, implementation, and sustainability stages. The research used qualitative and quantitative approach. Qualitative measurement began with a numerical assessment of the results on the level of regional slum. In addition, quantitative data used the Lakip simulation using results of the Kotaku program stage performance. Results of the initial condition reach value of 32%. It is categorized as slight slums with an average sectoral slum of 36.68%. Basic infrastructure development which has final technical reached 24% and is included in slight slum with an average sectoral of 27.50%. The performance of LAKIP Kotaku was in preparation phase 90.46% (very good performance), planning stage was 89.93% (very good performance), implementation stage was 90.25% (very good performance), sustainability stage was 85.21% (better performance). Thus, the achievement of Kotaku program is 85.19% with a range of value of 80-90. The value is included as better performance result. Results of the analysis can be concluded that level of slum can be reduced to 19% (not slum) by creating some improvements to basic facilities and infrastructure. In the following year, involving Lakip Performance, the planning stage can be enhanced through community participation and active involvement.
LEARNING FROM THE POSITIVE TO REDUCE RURAL POVERTY AND INCREASE SOCIAL JUSTICE: INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY This paper argues that opportunities for reducing poverty, improving social justice, and influencing policy and institutional changes are being missed as a result of not learning enough from situations where positive changes in development indicators have already taken place. After a review of research on monitoring and evaluation (M&E), positive deviance and studies of ‘success' stories, three case studies of positive change are presented. These are the spread of bamboo tubewell irrigation in Bihar, changes in agricultural research and extension policy in Nepal, and the spread of groups and group-based organizations/federations in Nepal. General lessons include: (1) effective institutional innovation is always new and social arena specific, (2) many opportunistic social entrepreneurs are always present in arenas of positive social change, and (3) there is always purposive selection of what to observe, what to measure and what to publicize. Practical implications include: (1) strengthening social science research on understanding change in agricultural and natural resources systems, (2) selecting people for research and development intervention situations based not only on technical competence but also a track record of interest in social justice development principles, and (3) strengthening a broader concepts reflection and learning within current research and development interventions chan is currently practiced. While learning from the positive is a simple idea, it is always challenging to implement as it inevitably questions the histories, past explanations and perceptions of some scientists and development planners, especially those who promote a mainstream, formulaic approach to the design and promotion of best policies and best practices, and a simplistic, non-political/cultural approach to the transfer and scaling out and up of technology and institutional models.
The ryegrass endophyte in a cool-moist environment

A field grazing experiment studying the impact of the ryegrass endophyte (Acremonium lolii) in a cool moist environment, was carried out at AgResearch regional station in Gore Southland. Four types of pasture were established, high (+E) and low (-E) endophyte ryegrass were sown with (+C) or without (-C) clover. The endophyte had no significant effect on the establishment of the pastures, neither did it affect total pasture production nor pasture composition. The presence of clover in pastures had a greater impact (30%) on animal production than did the presence of endophyte (6%). Mean daily weight gains over 3 years for lambs were 187,183,145 and 132 g/day for -E+C,+E+C, -E and +E respectively. Lambs grazing endophytic pasw genemlly had higher levels of dags. However, ryegrass staggers occurred only in the year with below average summer rainfall. Not all the conditions necessary to induce ryegrass staggers are therefore required to expose livestock to other deleterious effects of endophyte. A detailed study into the environmental requirements for the production of endophyte related toxins is required. The findings reported here significantly differ from findings in summer dry areas.
The molecular biology of leaf senescence

Senescence is a complex, highly regulated, developmental phase in the life of a leaf that results in the co-ordinated degradation of macromolecules and the subsequent mobilization of components to other parts of the plant. The application of molecular biology techniques to the study of leaf senescence has, in the last few years, enabled the isolation and characterization of a large range of cDNA clones representing genes that show increased expression in senescing leaves. The analysis of these genes and identification of the function of the encoded proteins will allow a picture of the complex processes that take place during senescence to be assembled. To date, genes encoding degradative enzymes such as proteases and nucleases, enzymes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and enzymes involved in nitrogen mobilization have all been identified as senescenceenhanced genes. A variety of other genes of no obvious senescence-related function have also been identified; their role in senescence may be less predictable and, possibly, more interesting. The combined action of several internal and external signals may be involved in the induction of senescence. Analysis of the regulatory mechanisms controlling the expression of senescence-induced genes will allow the signalling pathways that are involved in the regulation of senescence to be elucidated. Experiments with transgenic plants and mutants are already shedding light on the role played by cytokinins and ethylene in regulating senescence in leaves.
Periodic market-places and periodic marketing

tacts and trading opportunities, or they may be peasant farmers who wish to transform a small ’windfall’ crop surplus into cash (for some target purchase, for savings against a known future commitment, to discharge a debt, etc.). For others the primary motivation may be non-economic, despite the fact that they may be involved in the purchase and/or sale of goods (or services). Piault (1971, 288-91) argues that for the Mawri of Niger, visits to the market-place provide a regular opportunity to reaflirm the identity of a spatially dispersed social entity. This is a slightly difFerent objective from those Mossi whose declared reason for attendance at certain market-places in the vicinity of Nobere in Upper Volta was ’to have fun’ (Skinner, 1962, 258; cf. the Tiv ’beer drinks’: Bohannan and Bohannan, 1968, 195). Attendance at a. particular market-place can also serve a political objective. Traditional power relationships amongst the Mawri
Product Market Competition and Ownership Structure in Business Groups: Evidence from the Korean Chaebols

This paper analyzes the effect of product market competition on controlling family’s voting rights and cash flow rights for member firms in business groups. Our results show that member firms in a competitive market have higher direct ownerships by controlling families and lower ownership by affiliates than those in a non-competitive market, thus leading to lower discrepancy between the cash flow right and the control right of the controlling families. This means that product market competition forces the firms to choose an ownership structure that decreases the conflict of interests between the controlling family and minority shareholders. On the other hand, the disciplinary effect of product market competition on ownership structure is mainly observed in older member firms, nonlisted member firms, or member firms with lower market shares in their own industry. JEL Classification Code: G30; G32 Byun, Lee, and Park are at Korea University Business School, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 136-701, Korea. E-mail: byunhs@korea.ac. kr (H. S. Byun), leejihye@korea.ac. kr (J. H. Lee), kspark@korea.ac. kr (K. S. Park)
Ovarian self-incompatibility in Narcissus papyraceus (Amaryllidaceae) is the result of a pre-zygotic response

Ovarian self-incompatibility, including pre- and post-zygotic reactions, is a complex mechanism for which we still lack many details relating to its function and significance. The joint presence of ovarian self-incompatibility with style polymorphism is a rare combination that is found in the genus Narcissus. Usually, style polymorphic species have heteromorphic (diallelic and linked to style length locus) incompatibility, which prevents fertilization between individuals of the same morph, thereby helping to maintain equal proportions of floral morphs in populations. However, when present, self-incompatibility in Narcissus is not linked to style polymorphism and cross-fertilization within each morph is possible. Hence, self-incompatibility in Narcissus is of particular interest when attempting to unravel the nature of the rejection reaction and aiming to assess possible cryptic differences in the fertilization process in intra- and inter-morph crosses, which might ultimately explain the wide variation of morph-ratio in the field. We examined the breeding system of Narcissus papyraceus, a style-dimorphic species that has biased morph ratios in most of its populations. We studied pollen-tube growth in the pistil and ovule fate after experimentally controlled hand pollinations. The growth of pollen tubes in self- and intra- and inter-morph crosses was similar up to the point of micropyle penetration in both morphs but, subsequently, a pre-zygotic failure appeared to affect male and female gametophytes in selfed pistils. A high proportion of ovules from self-pollinated flowers showed signs of collapse and self-pollen tubes were blocked or behaved abnormally before entering the embryo sac. Self-incompatibility was stronger in the long-styled morph than in the short-styled morph. We did not find any conclusive sign of differential functioning between intra- and inter-morph cross-pollinations in any morph. These results enable us to rule out the possible effects of pollen–pistil interactions in N. papyraceus as a cause of morph-ratio biases and confirm the exceptional nature of the self-incompatibility mechanism in this polymorphic species. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 177, 629–643.
Root nitrogen transformation and mineral composition in selected forage legumes

Summary A study was conducted at Debre Zeit, Ethiopia to examine the differences in mineral composition, root N contents and their rates of transformation in the soil of different species of four genera of forage legumes, Trifolium steudneri (ILCA D/Z), Trifolium steudneri (Shola), Vicia dasycarpa (ILCA 6795), Vicia benghalensis, Lablab purpureus cv. Rongai, Lablab purpureus cv. Highworth, Medicago scutellata cv. Snail and Medicago truncatula cv. Barrel. M. truncatula cv. Barrel had higher N and P values than M. scutellata in both roots and tops. Root N contents of the legumes ranged from 2·43% for Vicia to 0·87% for Lablab. These differences were also reflected in the rates of organic root N transformation in soil as determined in laboratory incubation studies. The P concentration in the tops of the legumes ranged from 0·32% in Vicia to 0·14% in Medicago spp. The observed P concentration in the Medicago species suggests a low internal P requirement. Potassium concentrations in the Trifolium species were much higher than the average for all legumes. The results suggest that the Vicia species used in this study could contribute a considerable amount of N to subsequent crops even when the tops are not returned to the soil. Also, the Medicago species are more likely to thrive better under low soil P conditions than the other legumes.
Desenvolvimento do porta-enxerto de tangerineira 'Cleópatra'

Perdas por percolacao e lixiviacao sao evidentes em substratos para producao de mudas citricas, notadamente na primeira fase, antes da repicagem dos porta-enxertos. Assim, o trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do polimero hidroabsorvente e do lithothamnium sobre o desenvolvimento da tangerineira 'Cleopatra' ate a repicagem. A semeadura foi realizada em tubetes (50 mL) contendo substrato comercial, acrescido dos tratamentos: 2 doses de lithothamnium (0 e 5 g L-1) e 5 doses do polimero (0; 15; 30; 45 e 60 g L-1). Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, com 4 repeticoes e sete plantas por parcela. Para avaliar o desenvolvimento das mudas, as seguintes caracteristicas foram determinadas: comprimento da parte aerea e do sistema radicular (cm), numero de folhas por planta e materia seca da parte aerea e das raizes (mg). A incorporacao do polimero hidroabsorvente ao substrato favoreceu o desenvolvimento de porta-enxertos de tangerineira 'Cleopatra' na fase inicial de producao. A dose de polimero utilizada nao deve ultrapassar 50 g L-1 para evitar o excesso de umidade no substrato e a deficiencia de aeracao do sistema radicular. A adicao do lithothamnium ao substrato de cultivo proporcionou o melhor desenvolvimento das mudas.