Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of basalt-radionuclide distribution coefficients: fiscal year 1980 annual report

The Basalt Waste Isolation Project (Rockwell Hanford Operations) is conducting a safety assessment of nuclear waste storage in a repository on the Hanford Site. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, in support of the assessment effort, is generating radionuclide distribution coefficient data between simulated groundwaters and basalts and their secondary mineral products under the range of physicochemical conditions expected in a repository in basalt. Experimental radionuclide distribution coefficients were determined for crushed Pomona, Flow E, and Umtanum basalts at 23/sup 0/, 60/sup 0/, 150/sup 0/, and 300/sup 0/C at both normal oxygen partial pressure (approx. 0.2 atm) and lower oxygen partial pressure (approx. 10/sup -7/ atm), using a static technique. Little or no changes in distribution coefficients were noted for selenium, uranium, technetium, neptunium, or plutonium over the oxygen partial pressure range noted above. Sodium dithionite and hydrazine are now under study as system additives to lower Eh to -0.3 to -0.5 V, the conditions expected to prevail in the closed repository in basalt. Temperature change effects on most radionuclide distribution coefficient (Kd) values over the 23/sup 0/ to 300/sup 0/C range were major with the exception of iodine and technetium, neither of which were appreciably sorbed at normal to approx. 10/sup -7/more » atm oxygen partial pressure. The effect of radionuclide concentration on the Kd value was shown graphically for cesium and strontium over a range of from 1 x 10/sup -10/ or 10/sup -12/ to 1 x 10/sup -4/M. Initial work was begun on Kd values obtained under controlled Eh and pH conditions to simulate specific oxygen partial pressure and pH conditions expected to occur in the repository environment. « less
Setting a morphological framework for the genus Verhoeffiella (Collembola, Entomobryidae) for describing new troglomorphic species from the Dinaric karst (Western Balkans)

Abstract. Recent research of cave Collembola in Dinaric karst resulted in discovery of high regional diversification of the genus Verhoeffiella Absolon, 1900. The most striking feature of Verhoeffiella species is the high number of troglomorphic traits, which makes this genus a good model for studying morphological diversification and adaptation in subterranean environments. We explore the expression of various morphological modifications assumed to be linked to subterranean life, through detailed descriptions of four new species and redescription of two species including the type species of the genus. Species delimitations are confirmed by single locus (cytochrome c oxidase I) tree-based (Poisson tree processes) and distance-based (automatic barcode gap discovery) species delimitation approaches, which gave identical results. Morphological changes classically considered as adaptive for cave life and new, potentially troglomorphic characters for Collembola are discussed. For several of these characters, high morphological diversity between species and large decoupling in the development of different traits within species are recorded. Such a decoupling is also illustrated in the finding of two cases of Verhoeffiella species pairs at different levels of troglomorphy living in syntopy. We further provide several new differential characters of specific and possibly generic or supra-generic importance and describe for the first time among Collembola an original ‘distal organ’ on Ant. IV.
Model selection with overdispersed distance sampling data

Distance sampling (DS) is a widely used framework for estimating animal abundance. DS models assume that observations of distances to animals are independent. Non‐independent observations introduce overdispersion, causing model selection criteria such as AIC or AICc to favour overly complex models, with adverse effects on accuracy and precision. We describe, and evaluate via simulation and with real data, estimators of an overdispersion factor ( c^ ), and associated adjusted model selection criteria (QAIC) for use with overdispersed DS data. In other contexts, a single value of c^ is calculated from the “global” model, that is the most highly parameterised model in the candidate set, and used to calculate QAIC for all models in the set; the resulting QAIC values, and associated ΔQAIC values and QAIC weights, are comparable across the entire set. Candidate models of the DS detection function include models with different general forms (e.g. half‐normal, hazard rate, uniform), so it may not be possible to identify a single global model. We therefore propose a two‐step model selection procedure by which QAIC is used to select among models with the same general form, and then a goodness‐of‐fit statistic is used to select among models with different forms. A drawback of this approach is that QAIC values are not comparable across all models in the candidate set. Relative to AIC, QAIC and the two‐step model selection procedure avoided overfitting and improved the accuracy and precision of densities estimated from simulated data. When applied to six real datasets, adjusted criteria and procedures selected either the same model as AIC or a model that yielded a more accurate density estimate in five cases, and a model that yielded a less accurate estimate in one case. Many DS surveys yield overdispersed data, including cue counting surveys of songbirds and cetaceans, surveys of social species including primates, and camera‐trapping surveys. Methods that adjust for overdispersion during the model selection stage of DS analyses therefore address a conspicuous gap in the DS analytical framework as applied to species of conservation concern.
The effects of strength training on intermuscularcoordination during maximal cycling

In natural movement tasks individual muscles are seldom required to generate force in isolation and instead most functional movements arise from the cooperation of several muscles acting together – intermuscular coordination. Contemporary studies of movement coordination are often undertaken using the ecological dynamics theoretical framework and Newell’s model of constraints. Ecological dynamics examines human performance from a person-environment scale of analysis considering how people interact with a specific task and the performance environment, and the role these constraints play in the emergent coordination patterns. Pedalling is an ideal task to study intermuscular coordination since it is a natural movement task that can be accurately manipulated. Sprint cyclists often undertake gym-based strength training to increase muscle strength and size. Therefore, the aim of this programme of research was to understand how cyclists adapt their intermuscular coordination patterns during maximal cycling owing to changing organismic constraints (muscle size, strength and fatigue) caused by the gym-based strength training using the theoretical framework of ecological dynamics. In accordance with the theoretical framework of ecological dynamics and Newell’s model of constraints this programme of research highlighted the influence of the constraints acting on the cyclists’ coordination patterns that emerge. Different movement and coordination patterns were observed for maximal cycling when the task constraints were changed from sprinting on a fixed ergometer in the laboratory to a track bicycle in the velodrome. This finding implies it is important to undertake biomechanical analyses of movement organisation in elite sports practice in a representative environment. Also, following a gym-based strength training intervention the cyclists’ crank power increased, but there were no changes in joint moments, power or muscle activation which suggested that the cyclists might adopt individual coordination strategies following the change in their organismic constraints after the strength training intervention.
Direct and Indirect Influence of HRM Practices on Employee Performance and Turnover Intention

This study attempted to narrow the dearth in the literature with regard to the influence of human resource management (HRM) practices on employees. The study, using a sample of clerical front liners in service-based cooperatives in West Malaysia revealed that HRM practices (training and development, performance appraisal, communication and participation, and rewards) had a significant direct positive and indirect positive relationship with employee performance. The indirect relationship was mediated by affective organisational commitment. In contrast, HRM practices only had an indirect relationship with turnover intention, mediated by affective organisational commitment. Affective supervisory commitment did not mediate the relationship between HRM practices and employee performance nor the relationship between HRM practices and turnover intention. The results suggested that HRM practices can enhance employee performance directly as well as indirectly, through fostering affective organisational commitment. In addition, HRM practices can reduce turnover intention only indirectly through enhancing affective organisational commitment.
Combined use of millet glume-derived compost and mineral fertilizer enhances soil microbial biomass and pearl millet yields in a low-input millet cropping system in Niger

ABSTRACT A two-year field experiment was conducted in Niger to explore the effects of integrated use of millet glume-derived compost (MGD-Compost) and NP fertilizer on soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), nitrogen (Nmic) and millet yields. Three compost rates (3000 kg ha−1, 1500 kg ha−1 and 0 kg ha−1) and three NP fertilizer rates (100%, 50% and 0% of recommended NP fertilizer) were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Combined application of compost and NP fertilizer induced a synergistic effect on Cmic and Nmic. Compost application increased millet grain yield from 59% to 91% compared to control. Combined application of compost and NP fertilizer increased millet grain yields from 57% to 70% in 2013 and from 36% to 82% in 2014 compared to sole application of mineral fertilizer. Agronomic efficiency (AE) of nitrogen values increased by 3.7 and 2.3 times than those of sole NP fertilizer application in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Phosphorus AE was 1.6 times higher than that of the sole application of NP fertilizer. These findings indicate that integrated application of MGD-Compost and NP fertilizer enhances soil microbial biomass content and increases millet grain yield in a low-input cropping system.
Stand Density Management: an Alternative Approach and Its Application to Douglas-fir Plantations

A method of viewing stand density as it relates to volume production and tree size is developed in the form of a simple density management diagram applicable to plantations of coastal Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga rnenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, on all sites. Three prominent points in stand development, crown closure, imminent competition-mortality and the maximum sizedensity relationship are defined in terms of tree size and stand density, and their implication for stand dynamics is discussed. A relative density index is presented as a basis for quantifying tree growth and stand yield as a function of density. The trade-off between maximizing individual tree size or stand yield is considered; this recurring dilemma for forest managers can be rationalized on the basis of the density management diagram. FOREST SCl. 25:518-532. ADDITIONAL
Futures Price and Trading Volume: Evidence From Malaysia

This paper examines the longand short-run dynamic causality between the futures price and trading volume in the Malaysian equity market. The data of futures price, trading volume and spot price are in daily frequency, spanning from 2006 to 2009. By using ARDL cointegration and VECM causality tests, the findings revealed the existence of long-run relationship between futures price, volume and spot prices. In addition, there exists a short-run bidirectional causality relationship running between futures return-trading volume and futures return-spot return. Thus, the stock index futures market in Malaysia is not informational efficient.
Study of genetic variability in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] hybrids for grain yield and quality parameters

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. ) is an important millet crop of semi-arid regions in India and Africa. To study the genetic variability present among the newly effected fifty four hybrids an experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replication. Yield parameters viz., days to fifty per cent flowering, plant height, number of productive tillers, ear head length, ear head girth, test weight, single head grain weight, single plant yield and quality traits such as crude protein, crude fibre, beta carotene, iron and zinc were studied. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was greater than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied which shows the little influence of environment. High phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic variability (GCV) was obtained for plant height, single plant yield, single head grain weight, crude fibre, beta carotene content, iron and zinc. Highest heritability (h2) conjunction with genetic advance (GA) was observed for all the characters studied and moderate for number of productive tillers per plant and earhead girth Therefore, the presence of high variability among the genotypes can be utilized for nutritional enrichment in future millet breeding programs.
Within-generation and transgenerational plasticity of mate choice in oceanic stickleback under climate change

Plasticity, both within and across generations, can shape sexual traits involved in mate choice and reproductive success, and thus direct measures of fitness. Especially, transgenerational plasticity (TGP), where parental environment influences offspring plasticity in future environments, could compensate for otherwise negative effects of environmental change on offspring sexual traits. We conducted a mate choice experiment using stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) with different thermal histories (ambient 17°C or elevated 21°C) within and across generations under simulated ocean warming using outdoor mesocosms. Parentage analysis of egg clutches revealed that maternal developmental temperature and reproductive (mesocosm) environment affected egg size, with females that developed at 17°C laying smaller eggs in 21°C mesocosms, likely owing to metabolic costs at elevated temperature. Paternal developmental temperature interacted with the reproductive environment to influence mating success, particularly under simulated ocean warming, with males that developed at 21°C showing lower overall mating success compared with 17°C males, but higher mating success in 21°C mesocosms. Furthermore, mating success of males was influenced by the interaction between F1 developmental temperature and F0 parent acclimation temperature, demonstrating the potential role of both TGP and within-generation plasticity in shaping traits involved in sexual selection and mate choice, potentially facilitating rapid responses to environmental change. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change’.
Compendium of methods for the determination of toxic organic compounds in ambient air, June 1988

This Compendium was prepared to provide regional, state, and local environmental regulatory agencies, as well as other interested parties, with specific guidance on the determination of selected toxic organic compounds in ambient air. The decision was made to begin preparation of a Compendium that would provide specific sampling and analysis procedures, in a standardized format, for selected toxic organic compounds. The current Compendium consists of fourteen procedures considered to be of primary importance in current toxic organic monitoring efforts.
Pedometric mapping of key topsoil and subsoil attributes using proximal and remote sensing in midwest Brazil

The Midwest region in Brazil has the largest and most recent agricultural frontier in the country, where there is no currently detailed soil information to support the agricultural intensification. Producing large-extent digital soil maps demands a huge volume of data and high computing capacity. This paper proposed mapping surface and subsurface key soil attributes with 30 m-resolution in a large extent of Midwest Brazil. These soil maps at multiple depth increments will provide adequate information to guide land use throughout the region. The study area comprises about 851,000 km2 in the Cerrado biome (savannah) across Brazilian Midwest. We used soil data from 7908 sites of the Brazilian Soil Spectral Library and 231 of the Free Brazilian Repository for Open Soil Data. We selected nine key soil attributes for mapping and aggregated them into three depth intervals: 0–20, 20–60 and 60–100 cm. A total of 33 soil predictors were prepared using Google Earth Engine (GEE), such as climate and geologic features with 1 kmresolution, terrain attributes and two new covariates with 30 m-resolution, based on satellite measurements of the topsoil reflectance and the seasonal variability in vegetation spectra. The scorpan model was adopted for mapping of soil variables using random forest regression (RF). We used the model-based optimization by tuning RF hyperparameters and calculated the scaled permutation importance of covariates in R software. Our results were promising, with a satisfactory model performance for physical and chemical attributes at all depth intervals. Elevation, climate and topsoil reflectance were the most important covariates in predicting sand, clay and silt. In general, climatic variables, elevation and vegetation reflectance provided to be the most important covariates for predicting soil chemical attributes, while for organic matter it was a combination of climatic dynamics and reflectance bands from vegetation and topsoil. The multiple depth maps showed that soil attributes largely varied across the study area, from clayey to sandy, suggesting that less than 44% of the studied soils had good natural fertility. We concluded that key soil attributes from multiple depth increments can be mapped using Earth observations data and machine learning methods with good performance.
Characterization and biomedical application of phytosynthesized gold nanoparticles from Datura stramonium seed extract

This study describes characterization and some biological evaluation of gold nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous seed extract of Datura stramonium. The phytosynthesized AuNPs was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and evaluated for antifungal, antioxidant, thrombolytic and anticoagulant activities. The AuNPs were nearly spherical, and agglomerated in nature with size ranges of 75.1-156.5 nm. Gold was the most occurring metal noted on EDX analysis, while the AuNPs showed face-centred crystalline pattern. The UV-visible spectrum of the AuNPs synthesized displayed clear peak at 536 nm. The FTIR peaks at 3423.76, 2920.32, 2360.95 and 1635.69 cm−1 attributed to the involvement of proteins in the AuNPs biofabrication and capping. The AuNPs showed potent antifungal activity through inhibitions of mycelia by 57.9, 60.7, 64.5, 69.6 and 80.6 % against Fusarium solani, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus at 250 μg/ml respectively. The AuNPs synthesized showed scavenging properties of 28.9, 37.3, 42.5 and 52.4 % at 250, 500, 750 and 1000 μg/ml against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Furthermore, the synthesized AuNPs also showed free radical scavenging properties against nitric oxide at 250 (52.20 %), 500 (55.73 %), 750 (56.71 %) and 1000 (59.51 %) μg/ml respectively using sodium nitroprusside as positive control. Blood coagulation was prevented by the AuNPs at 250 (54 %), 500 (55 %), 750 (56 %) and 1000 (59 %) μg/ml. Also, AuNPs showed thrombolytic potential by causing lysis of blood clot thus, showing potential for biomedical applications. An in-expensive and environmental-friendly synthesis of AuNPs from Datura stramonium seed has been presented for various nano-biotechnological applications.
Do diets vary over large spatial or temporal ranges? A test using interannual and interpopulation data on Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) diets

Animal diets may vary spatially or temporally as resource availability vary. Diets of species with extensive geographic ranges often span multiple habitats, thus their diets may vary accordingly. Temporal diet variation is rarely explored because most diet studies are short term; this is problematic for long-lived species where individuals may persist as prey availability changes. We analyzed diet variation in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin (Schoepf, 1793)), which inhabits nearly 70 000 km of United States Atlantic coastline, spanning 16.5°N latitude and 27.4°W longitude and four Köppen climatic zones, and Bermuda. We explored spatially or temporally Diamondback Terrapin diet variation, including populations from Atlantic salt marshes, an Everglades mangrove swamp, the Texas Gulf Coast, and a Caribbean golf course pond. We found remarkably high levels of similarity, indicating that although diets vary according to local prey availability, they are broadly similar at lower taxonomic resolution. Even short-term studies may be sufficient to accurately characterize diets of Diamondback Terrapins. These results are surprising given the geographic range sampled in this study and indicate that Diamondback Terrapin diets are conservative, reflecting local prey availability. Such diets apparently allow Diamondback Terrapins to exploit their extensive range and may allow Diamondback terrapin populations to persist as local prey species wax and wane.
Analysis of automated monitoring for results-based agri-environmental schemes

Results-based agri-environmental policies on the one side, and automation through technology, for instance in monitoring, on the other side, are two favored ways of the European Commission for a more effective and more cost-efficient Common Agricultural Policy. But how well do these two aspects go together? This thesis analyses transaction cost scenarios of current on-thespot controls and automated controls in a case example in a species rich grassland scheme in Baden-Wurttemberg (FAKT B3). Drones were identified in a literature review as a viable option for this application. Interviews with authority officials and a drone service provider were conducted to estimate the transaction costs of the different scenarios. The findings were then analyzed in a sensitivity analysis and discussed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show that cost efficiency improvements are possible, however only in scenarios with low costs for drone flights or higher automation degrees, for now. Projections for future developments imply that automation gets financially more attractive. The biggest hurdle for greater cost savings is the fact, that many monitoring tasks of the FAKT B3 scheme are currently combined with other agri-environmental schemes. Therefore, there is a need for better harmonization, if automatic monitoring technologies are to be implemented, between schemes to benefit from economies of scope.