Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variations in tree growth provide limited evidence of species mixture effects in Interior West USA mixed‐conifer forests

In mixed stands, species complementarity (e.g. facilitation and competition reduction) may enhance forest tree productivity. Although positive mixture effects have been identified in forests world‐wide, the majority of studies have focused on two‐species interactions in managed systems with high functional diversity. We extended this line of research to examine mixture effects on tree productivity across landscape‐scale compositional and environmental gradients in the low functional diversity, fire‐suppressed, mixed‐conifer forests of the U.S. Interior West. We investigated mixture effects on the productivity of Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies concolor. Using region‐wide forest inventory data, we created individual‐tree generalized linear mixed models and examined the growth of these species across community gradients. We compared the relative influences of stand structure, age, competition and environmental stress on mixture effects using multi‐model inference. We analysed growth of neighbouring tree species to infer whether a mixture effect in a single species translated to the stand‐level. We found support for a positive mixture effect in P. menziesii, although our results were equivocal in light of a weaker but still plausible alternative model. Growth of P. menziesii neighbouring species in mixed stands declined or held constant depending on aridity, suggesting that a positive mixture effect in P. menziesii does not necessarily extend to the stand level. We found no evidence for mixture effects in P. ponderosa, A. concolor or their neighbouring species. Complementarity appears to have a limited influence on tree growth in the mixed‐conifer systems of the U.S. Interior West, reflecting limited functional diversity. Historical changes in stand structure following fire exclusion, particularly high stand densities, may limit the potential for positive species mixture effects. The limited species pool of Interior West forests increases the risk that, without careful management, what functional diversity exists could be lost to compositional changes resulting from stand dynamics or disturbance.
Exposure to high levels of magnesium disrupts bone mineralization in vitro and in vivo

Background The removal of permanent internal fixation devices by secondary surgery could be avoided if these devices were made of degradable magnesium and magnesium alloys. Before such implants can be used clinically, however, the biological effect of magnesium exposure on surrounding bone must be evaluated. Previous studies have focused on bone formation; few have examined the effects of magnesium on the bone quality that affect many biomechanical properties. Methods Using bone quality parameters, we analyzed in vivo changes in bone properties and biomechanics after exposure to locally high levels of magnesium. Results Local bone mineralization was significantly disrupted following exposure to a porous rod of pure magnesium. Normal crystal formation and crystallinity were inhibited and the mineral-to-matrix ratio decreased. These results were consistent with those of in vitro experiments, in which high levels of magnesium inhibited mineral deposition by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression. The same mineralization inhibition was observed around magnesium implants via micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) and von Kossa staining. Such reduced bone quality around degrading magnesium rods could negatively impact bone biomechanics. Conclusions This study showed that exposure to the local high magnesium levels that arise from rapidly degrading magnesium devices may significantly disrupt bone mineralization and negatively impact bone biomechanics.
Evaporation-driven turbulent convection in water pools

Abstract In this paper we study turbulent thermal convection driven by free-surface evaporation at the top and a uniformly heated wall at the bottom. More specifically, we report on direct numerical simulations over 1.25 decades of Rayleigh number, Ra. At the top of the cubic domain, a shear-free boundary condition acts as an approximation of a free surface, and different evaporation rates form the basis of a temperature gradient assigned as a non-zero Neumann boundary condition. The corresponding lower wall temperature is fixed and we assess the thermal mixing on the water side of the air–water interface. The set-up is considered a simplified model of the turbulent natural convection in the upper volumes of spent-fuel pools of nuclear power plants. Surface temperatures are investigated over a range of 40 K, resulting in a sixteenfold increase in evaporation rates. Our work allows, for the first time, analysis of the features and mean flow statistics of this particular thermal convection configuration. Results show that a shear-free surface increases heat transfer within the domain; however, the exponent in the diagnosed power-law relation between the Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers, $Nu = 0.178Ra^{0.301}$, is similar to that of classical turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection. Further, the free slip accelerates the fluid after impingement on the upper boundary, significantly affecting the structure of the large-scale circulation in the container. Analysis of the flow statistics then shows how the shear-free surface introduces inhomogeneities in thermal boundary layer heights. Overall, the investigated turbulent convection configuration shows unique traits, borrowing from both turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection and evaporative cooling.
Genetic and biomarker studies of human longevity

The aim of this thesis was to identify novel lifespan regulating loci that influence human longevity and population mortality. To this end, we performed two genome-wide association studies, one of long-lived individuals from the family-based Leiden Longevity Study (LLS) and an extended one of long-lived individuals from multiple cohorts of European descent. Using the latter, we identified two genome-wide significant loci, the TOMM40/APOE/APOC1 locus and an intergenic locus on chromosome 5q33.3. In addition, our gene set analysis with the LLS data showed that genetic variation in genes involved in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling and telomere maintenance pathways is associated with human longevity. Since our genetic studies identified a limited number of longevity loci, we additionally examined whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) could be used as a biomarker of healthy aging. We showed that LTL meets three of the four criteria for a biomarker of healthy aging in the LLS, i.e., LTL changes with chronological age and is associated with health, in this case immune-related parameters, and prospective mortality. To identify novel longevity loci, future research may benefit from a better definition of the healthy aging phenotype, combining study designs, and the use of novel methods and technologies, such as next-generation sequencing.
Low-protein diets with balanced amino acids reduce nitrogen excretion and foot pad dermatitis without affecting the growth performance and meat quality of free-range yellow broilers

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of crude protein (CP) levels on growth performance, carcase quality, meat quality, immune indices, litter and faeces quality, as well as welfare quality, in free-range yellow broilers using balanced amino acid technology. In total, 600 one-d-old Suqin yellow broilers were raised for 21 d. On d 22, 540 birds with similar BW (390 ± 7 g SD) were randomly selected and placed into 9 pens (3 groups with 3 replicates per group and 60 birds each replicate) and then reared to 56 d of age. The birds were fed a diet containing CP 19% (control), 18% or 17% (measured value: 18.878%, 17.881%, 17.052%, respectively), in three groups for 35 d. The results revealed that decreasing dietary CP levels from 19% to 17% had no impact on broiler growth performance, carcase quality and meat quality (p > .05). The relative immune organ weights also showed no change to the lowering of dietary CP levels (p > .05), whereas serum albumin was significantly influenced by decreasing dietary CP levels (p = .042). Furthermore, nitrogen content in litter and faeces, as well as the footpad dermatitis score for welfare indices, were decreased with decreased dietary CP levels (p = .009, p = .014, p = .045, respectively). The results of this study suggest that low-protein diets with balanced amino acids reduce nitrogen excretion and footpad dermatitis without effecting the performance, carcase quality, and meat quality of free-range yellow broilers.
Endocrine and Non-Endocrine Consequences in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal abnormality in reproductive age of women. The features of PCOS include increased androgen production and disordered gonadotropin secretion leading to menstrual irregularity and infertility. In addition, 40-80% of women with this condition are reported to be overweight or obese. In our study of 50 cases with closely matched age groups, we evaluated hormonal levels and non-endocrine factors like serum lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), obesity and age. Alteration in hormones in different age groups (20-30, 31-40 and 41-50 years) was detected with changes in LPO and SOD levels comparatively. Similarly, obesity is an indicative of higher BMI values. These altered endocrine, oxidative stress and elevated BMI indicators are associated with this pathological condition. Among preventive measures/strategies, such cases are suggested to undergo regular exercises and promoting healthy lifestyles, based on diet on long term basis as effective therapies or to have metabolic surgery to restore fertility.
Analysis of Equity Valuation Models and Target Price Accuracy: An Evidence From Analyst Reports in Indonesia

This study examines whether investment analysts (sell-side) in Indonesia tend to prefer cash-flow-based valuation models over the accrual-based valuation model, how the accuracy of valuation models are used, and whether the use of both valuation models simultaneously for generating target prices can improve accuracy. The researchers conducted a comprehensive content analysis of 99 equity research reports for most companies listed in the LQ-45 index. The results show that in the accrual-based valuation model, in particular, the ratio of stock price to income (P/E) was the most popular valuation model that appeared in equity reports in all sectors. However, from the perspective of the valuation model as the producer of the target price (dominant valuation), discounted cash flow (DCF) was the most popular valuation model used. It was also found that the cash-flow-based valuation model gave the highest accuracy. In addition, the researchers also found significant results in the Chi-square test which showed the use of both valuation models simultaneously could improve the valuation results more precisely by the analysts. This was in line with the intuition that the accrual concept adds value to the relevance of the information to cash flow.
Detouring Skip Graph: Efficient Routing via Detour Routes on Skip Graph Topology

Skip graph is a distributed data structure that provides a scalable structured overlay network by routing in logarithmic time for resource location and dynamic node addition/deletion. However, most of the routing paths are quite longer than the shortest paths because each node in the network knows only its neighbors, rather than the global topology. In general, long routing paths lead to the high latency and the low fault tolerance. Herein, we propose Detouring Skip Graph, which performs more efficient routing through the use of detour routes. It does not require construction of extra links or modification of its topology; thereby, it shortens the paths without additional costs while maintaining the advantages of Skip Graph. Our evaluation experiments show that the proposed method tends to shorten the paths considerably, and in particular, that the average path length is approximately 20%–30% shorter than that of Skip Graph.
Understanding employees’ knowledge hiding behaviour: the moderating role of market culture

ABSTRACT The effective utilisation of organisational knowledge may promote organisational success as knowledge is one of an organisation’s most important assets. However, existing literature tends to focus on understanding knowledge sharing behaviour within organisational contexts, where knowledge hiding, a related but distinct phenomenon, has been relatively under-researched. The current study integrates social exchange theory and the theory of interpersonal behaviour to systematically examine knowledge hiding behaviour in knowledge-based companies in Malaysia. A survey with 207 participants was conducted to test the direct effects of nine predictors and the moderating role of market culture on the effects on knowledge hiding dimensions (evasive hiding, playing dumb, and rationalised hiding). Overall, the findings showed that the effects differed across the three dimensions of the phenomenon. Knowledge complexity was found to have significant positive influences on all dimensions, while perceived reciprocal benefits, cognition-based trust, and task-relatedness did not affect knowledge hiding. The other predictors (perceived loss of knowledge power, perceived losing face, perceived organisational incentives, affective-based trust, and self-efficacy) had different impacts on different dimensions of knowledge hiding. Market culture played an important moderating role in employees’ decisions about hiding knowledge. Theoretical and managerial implications and future research directions were formulated based on these findings.
Effect of Wearing Face Masks on the Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Breathing Zone

ABSTRACT The use of face masks is among the measures taken to prevent person-to-person transmission of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Lately, concern was expressed about the possibility that carbon dioxide could build up in the mask over time, causing medical issues related to the respiratory system. In this study, the carbon dioxide concentration in the breathing zone was measured while wearing a surgical mask, a KN95 and a cloth mask. For the surgical mask, the concentration was determined under different conditions (office work, slow walking, and fast walking). Measurements were made using a modified indoor air quality meter equipped with a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensor. Detected carbon dioxide concentrations ranged from 2150 ± 192 to 2875 ± 323 ppm. The concentrations of carbon dioxide while not wearing a face mask varied from 500 – 900 ppm. Doing office work and standing still on the treadmill each resulted in carbon dioxide concentrations of around 2200 ppm. A small increase could be observed when walking at a speed of 3 km h-1 (leisurely walking pace). Walking at a speed of 5 km h-1, which corresponds to medium activity with breathing through the mouth, resulted in an average carbon dioxide concentration of 2875 ppm. No differences were observed among the three types of face masks tested. According to the literature, these concentrations have no toxicological effect. Concentrations in the detected range can cause undesirable symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, and loss of concentration.
The Nature of Partisan Conflict in Public Opinion: Asymmetric or Symmetric?

What are the dynamics of partisan conflict in the mass public in the United States? Has this conflict been driven by Republicans moving to the right across a wide range of issues, or have Democrats contributed to this as well? Have these changes been symmetric, occurring for both sides, or asymmetric, occurring for just one side? Understanding how the partisan gaps have widened may shed light on potential prospects for reversing extreme political conflict in public opinion. This paper examines this question with an analysis of opinion trend data over the last 40 years. It includes an original analysis of these trends among racial and ethnic groups. We find that symmetric partisan changes have only occurred among whites. Overall partisan differences have been less for Blacks and Hispanics than for whites.
Coaches’ perceived pitfalls in delivering psychological skills training to high-level youth athletes in fencing and football

The current study examined how two high-level coaches in fencing and football perceived the challenges that emerged during a three-month coach education programme aimed at them delivering psychological skills training to athletes. We used action research as the study design and collected data using observations, six semi-structured interviews, and one focus group. We analysed the data using a thematic content analysis. Our findings showed that the coaches struggled with role clarity. The psychological impact was that coaches struggled with identifying the borders between delivering psychological skills training as a part of their coaching and when to refer athletes to sport psychology experts. The coaches also suggested that gaining more knowledge in sport psychology allowed them to analyse the athletes. However, the coaches viewed this as a potential area for abusing trust in the coach-athlete relationship. We suggest that coach education programmes should include content on ethical dilemmas to safeguard against potential abuse of the coach-athlete relationship.
Once a pond in time: employing palaeoecology to inform farmland pond restoration

The restoration of highly terrestrialized farmland ponds that combines the removal of woody vegetation and pond sediment greatly enhances aquatic biodiversity. Nonetheless, questions remain regarding the historical precedent of pond restoration, and particularly if post‐restoration aquatic macrophyte communities resemble pre‐terrestrialization assemblages. We used a paleoecological approach to address these questions for a typical, recently restored farmland pond in Norfolk, eastern England. Plant and animal remains in pond sediment cores were used to infer decadal‐centennial scale changes to pond communities and to identify past pond management events. We then evaluated the resemblance of restored and historical assemblages by comparisons with contemporary post‐restoration vegetation data. Based on changes in the abundance of terrestrial leaf remains and other indicators (increases followed by declines of aquatic organisms), the study pond appears to have a long history (going back to the early‐1800s) of canopy management (at least three inferred management events), but after the mid‐1970s, steady and substantial increases in terrestrial indicators suggest cessation of management resulting in uninterrupted terrestrialization. Aquatic macrophyte communities arising after restoration showed some similarities with historical assemblages, but also contained apparently new species. This study demonstrates how paleolimnological methods can improve understanding of pond ecological histories to better inform restoration targets and practices.
Thin crème brûlée rheological structure for the Eastern California Shear Zone

Since the occurrence of the 1992 CE Mw 7.3 Landers and 1999 Mw 7.1 Hector Mine earthquakes in the Mojave Desert (California, USA), postseismic deformation following both earthquakes has been intensively studied, and models with a strong crust overlying a low-viscosity mantle asthenosphere have been favored. However, we recently found that the near-field postseismic transients after the two earthquakes have lasted longer than previously thought, which requires a revision of the postseismic modeling. Our new modeling results based on the revised postseismic transients show that: (1) the effective viscosity of the lower crust beneath the Mojave region at the decadal time scale is ∼2 × 1020 Pa·s (transient viscosity ∼2 × 1019 Pa·s), i.e., only ∼5 times that of the underlying mantle asthenosphere, and (2) the transient viscosity of the upper mantle exhibits a time-dependent increase, providing fresh geodetic evidence for frequency-dependent rheology (e.g., Andrade or extended Burgers rheology). The inferred transient rheology for the first year agrees well with that obtained for the July 2019 Mw 6.4 and Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquakes ∼180 km north of the two Mojave events. Our modeling results support a thin crème brûlée model for the Eastern California Shear Zone (part of the Pacific-North America plate boundary) in which both the lower crust and the upper mantle exhibit ductility at decadal time scales.
Offspring growth and mobility in response to variation in parental care: a comparison between populations

Life history theory emphasizes the importance of trade-offs in how time and energy are allocated to the competing demands of growth, fecundity, and survival. However, avian studies have historically emphasized the importance of resource acquisition over resource allocation to explain geographic variation in fecundity, parental care, and offspring development. We compared the brood sizes and nestling mass and feather growth trajectories between orange-crowned warblers Oreothlypis celata breeding in Alaska versus California, and used 24-h video recordings to study the relationship between parental care and growth rates. Per-offspring provisioning rates were highest in the smallest broods, and food delivery was positively correlated with nestling growth over the 24-h period only in Alaska. Females in Alaska spent more time brooding, and juveniles there showed faster feather growth and earlier mobility compared with those in California. We also found differences in the energetic and nutritional content of insect larvae that could facilitate the observed differences in nestling growth relative to food provisioning. Our results point to the potential importance of food quality and parental provisioning of warmth, in addition to food, for explaining avian growth patterns. We highlight the need to quantify multiple dimensions of parental care and of offspring growth and development, and to better understand the relationships between feather growth, nestling period length, and fledgling mobility.
"Autism is me": an investigation of how autistic individuals make sense of autism and stigma

Abstract There are many different perspectives for understanding autism. These perspectives may each convey different levels of stigma for autistic individuals. This qualitative study aimed to understand how autistic individuals make sense of their own autism and experience the stigma attached to autism. The study used critical grounded theory tools. Participants (N = 20) discussed autism as central to their identity, and integral to who they are. While participants thought of autism as value neutral, they expressed how society confers negative meanings onto autism, and thus, them. The findings also indicate that different understandings of autism confer different levels of stigma. Participants expressed constant exposure to stigma and managed this stigma in different ways. Such methods included reframing to more positive understandings of autism, the reclamation of language, and using concealment and disclosure strategically. The implications of these findings are discussed further in the article. Points of interest Autistic research participants consider their autism to be value neutral – akin to any other feature like race or hair colour. Participants feel that society sees their autism as being a bad trait to have. Participants struggled with the tension in how they see themselves, versus how they believe society sees them. Participants are caught between disclosing that they are autistic and concealing it, but feel they are treated negatively either way. Participants use the word “autistic” to reclaim autism from stigma, and to reframe peoples understandings of autism to be less negative.