Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of experimental invasive communities on forest dynamics

Invasive species continue to alter the plant communities of the eastern United States. To better understand the mechanisms and characteristics associated with invasive success, it is helpful to study competition between congeneric species. In a greenhouse study, we investigated (1) the effect of forest soil type (i.e., collected beneath an invasive and native stand) on seedling growth of the invasive Acer platanoides (Norway maple) and native A. rubrum (red maple), and the (2) effects of full and partial interspecific competition on species growth. We hypothesized that A. rubrum would grow better in the native soil and with conspecific seedlings, but that A. platanoides would perform better in the invasive soil. We found A. rubrum seedling growth was negatively affected by soil from the invaded stand, as it had lower above-ground (32%) and below-ground (26%) biomass, and number of leaves (20%) than in the native soil. We found the root:shoot resource allocations of A. platanoides depended on soil type, as it had 14% greater root:shoot mass allocation in the native soil, which may indicate a mechanism based on optimal resource partitioning contributing to its ecological success. With a large ecological amplitude, A. rubrum may be a useful species for ecological restoration where A. platanoides has been present. However, the impacts of A. platanoides on soil functioning and plant interactions must be addressed before protocols for reintroducing native tree species can be refined.
Trace Element Geochemistry in North Pacific Red Clay Sediment Porewaters and Implications for Water‐Column Studies

Geochemical analyses of trace elements in the ocean water column have suggested that pelagic clay‐rich sediments are a major source of various elements to bottom‐waters. However, corresponding high‐quality measurements of trace element concentrations in porewaters of pelagic clay‐rich sediments are scarce, making it difficult to evaluate the contributions from benthic processes to global oceanic cycles of trace elements. To bridge this gap, we analyzed porewater and bulk sediment concentrations of vanadium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, arsenic, molybdenum, barium and uranium, as well as concentrations of the major oxidants nitrate, manganese, iron, and sulfate in the top 30 cm of cores collected along a transect from Hawaii to Alaska. The data show large increases in porewater concentrations of vanadium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, and arsenic within the top cm of the sediment, consistent with the release of these elements from remineralized organic matter. The sediments are a sink for sulfate, uranium, and molybdenum, even though conditions within the sampled top 30 cm remain aerobic. Porewater chromium concentrations generally increase with depth due to release from sediment particles. Extrapolated to the global aerial extent of pelagic clay sediment, the benthic fluxes in mol yr−1 are Ba 3.9 ± 3.6 × 109, Mn 3.4 ± 3.5 × 108, Co 2.6 ± 1.3 × 107, Ni 9.6 ± 8.6 × 108, Cu 4.6 ± 2.4 × 109, Cr 1.7 ± 1.1 × 108, As 6.1 ± 7.0 × 108, V 6.0 ± 2.5 × 109. With the exception of vanadium, calculated fluxes across the sediment–water interface are consistent with the variability in bottom‐water concentrations and ocean residence time of the studied elements.
Enrichment of sweat-derived extracellular vesicles of human and bacterial origin for biomarker identification

Sweat contains biomarkers for real-time non-invasive health monitoring, but only a few relevant analytes are currently used in clinical practice. In the present study, we investigated whether sweat-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be used as a source of potential protein biomarkers of human and bacterial origin. Methods: By using ExoView platform, electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and Western blotting we characterized EVs in the sweat of eight volunteers performing rigorous exercise. We compared the presence of EV markers as well as general protein composition of total sweat, EV-enriched sweat and sweat samples collected in alginate skin patches. Results: We identified 1209 unique human proteins in EV-enriched sweat, of which approximately 20% were present in every individual sample investigated. Sweat derived EVs shared 846 human proteins (70%) with total sweat, while 368 proteins (30%) were captured by medical grade alginate skin patch and such EVs contained the typical exosome marker CD63. The majority of identified proteins are known to be carried by EVs found in other biofluids, mostly urine. Besides human proteins, EV-enriched sweat samples contained 1594 proteins of bacterial origin. Bacterial protein profiles in EV-enriched sweat were characterized by high interindividual variability, that reflected differences in total sweat composition. Alginate-based sweat patch accumulated only 5% proteins of bacterial origin. Conclusion: We showed that sweat-derived EVs provide a rich source of potential biomarkers of human and bacterial origin. Use of commercially available alginate skin patches selectively enrich for human derived material with very little microbial material collected.
Automated monitoring of pollen quality in Douglas-fir using digital images: applications for handling and storage

Background: Conservation and breeding programs for forest species require efficient pollen quality monitoring strategies to maximize collection, storage and pollination efforts. Question: Can the ImageJ image analysis software be implemented to efficiently monitor pollen viability and germinability for quality testing? Studied species: Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Methods: Tetrazolium staining and germination on 10 % Brewback media was used to test Douglas-fir pollen quality. Two macros for automated counting were developed with ImageJ free software using digitized microscopic images, and were tested to evaluate provenances, germination in different media, dehydration/rehydration and freeze-storage treatments, and finally to compare pollen quality between mature trees and GA-induced strobili from juvenile trees. Results: Automated monitoring of pollen quality was feasible because the software suitably distinguishes viable from non-viable pollen grains due to differential tetrazolium staining that translates into pixel density, whereas germinability was assayed based on pollen size and circularity. This tool was used to guide the selection of appropriate pollen handling conditions and compare pollen production in adult and GA-induced juvenile trees. Pollen flash-freezing and storage at -80 °C showed recovery between 74 and 98 % of its initial germinability after rehydration; however, viability detected by tetrazolium is reduced, suggesting that handling and storage affect the reliability of the test. Conclusions: The flexibility of the Fiji software allowed the development of an efficient and accurate macro for monitoring P. menziesii pollen quality, reducing invested time and effort involved, which supports future research on its conservation physiology and its successful application for germplasm production.
Building Toward a Consistent Program Evaluation: A Qualitative Study of Community Reaction to Development Programs in Limón, Costa Rica

Building Toward a Consistent Program Evaluation: A Qualitative Study of Community Reaction to Development Programs in Limón, Costa Rica. (August 2011) Caleb Jonathan Shane, B.S., College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Co-Chairs of Advisory Committee: Dr. Glen Shinn Dr. Gary Briers Environmental education has been a prominent approach to achieve sustainable development and counteract the megatrend of environmental degradation. In Costa Rica, environmental education has been adopted as an essential tool for protecting and improving the natural environment. The people of Costa Rica have emphasized an awareness of environmental issues and an ability to actively engage in environmental education and sustainable development programs. International development organizations have invested in development programs to establish or improve sustainable development. In order to understand whether international development organizations are achieving their stated mission and goals for implementing development programs, donors and funding agencies usually require that the sponsored programs be evaluated. Unfortunately, there is a growing concern that the current practice of development evaluation limits the reporting of impacts to be fundamentally inconsistent which has created incentives for evaluations to include positive bias instead of serving the purpose to improve organizational decision-making.
Figural creativity of dyslexic and non-dyslexic in indonesia children sample

Children who have difficulties in writing and reading are called dyslexia. This disorder is caused by neurobiologis disorder that bring a problem in language cognitive domain, however some research states that dyslexic children often have better other cognitive domain abilities than children in general, for instance, intelligence level, talent, and etcetera. That is why the researcher compares figural creativity level of dyslexic children and non-dyslexic children. Figural creativity is applied because dyslexic children undergone problem in language thus they do not use verbal creativity. This study employed ex post facto research design and the subject were 8 students that consisted of 4 dyslexic children and 4 non-dyslexic children. Caloured Progressive Matric test was used to measure creativity level. The result shows that there is no differences between creativity level of dyslexic students and non-dyslexic students. It can be seen when children have similar average intelligence, they have the same average level of creativity. It also supported by creativity theories which states that creativity is formed by individual cognitive factor.
Tree-level imputation techniques to estimate current plot-level attributes in the Pacific Northwest using paneled inventory data

The Forest Inventory and Analysis program (FIA) of the US Forest Service conducts a nationwide annual inventory. One panel (20% or 10% of all plots in the eastern and western United States, respectively) is measured each year. The precision of the estimates for any given year from one panel is low, and the moving average (MA), which is considered to be the default estimator, can result in biased estimates of current conditions. An alternative to the MA is sought, and studies comparing different alternatives to the MA approach for estimating current forest attributes in the Pacific Northwest are lacking. Paneled data from national forests in Oregon and Washington were used to explore nearest neighbor (NN) imputation methods to project all panels to a common point in time. When using the most recent ground measurements of the panels measured in prior years as ancillary data, tree-level NN imputation outperformed the MA estimator in estimating basal area/ha, stems/ha, volume/ha, and biomass/ha in terms of bias and root mean square error (RMSE) and plot-level NN imputation in terms of RMSE. When basal area/ha, stems/ha, volume/ha, and biomass/ha were summarized by three species groups, tree-level NN imputation outperformed plot-level NN imputation in terms of both bias and RMSE. Tree-level NN imputation outperformed the MA in terms of bias and RMSE for estimating basal area/ha, stems/ha, volume/ha, and biomass/ha for species group 'pine' and provided comparable results in terms of bias and RMSE for species groups 'Douglas-fir' and 'other. '
Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of Takin (Budorcas taxicolor)

Takin ( Budorcas taxicolor ) is a large rare animal endemic to Asian continent. It belongs to Bovidae in Artiodactyla and mainly distributes in China and some locations of Burma, India, Nepal and Bhutan. Takin is currently threatened seriously by habitat loss, fragmentation and human activities. In order to develop adequate conservation and scientific management strategies for effectively protecting this endangered species, it is important to understand population genetic structure, evolutionary history and genetic diversity of takin. Based on mtDNA D-Loop 330 base pairs analysis, we investigated the population genetic structure, molecular phylogeography, and genetic diversity of 40 takins sampled from Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province, southern Gansu Province, Min Mountains and Qionglai Mountains in Sichuan Province, and Gong Mountains in Yunnan Province.According to sample distribution, they can be divided into three geographic units, i.e., Qingling, Sichuan and Yunnan. The results indicated that there were only 4 haplotypes in takin samples without sharing haplotype among three geographic units. The average divergence within the 4 haplotypes was 1.66%. Furthermore, the AMOVA(Analysis of Molecular Variance) analysis and phylogenetic trees also indicated that there was a significant genetic subdivision ( P 0.000 1)and relatively lower gene flow among geographic units. There was an obvious molecular phylogeographic pattern in takin samples. We suggested that the distribution pattern resulted from long-term geographical barriers and the considerable climatic fluctuation in Pleistocene. Thus, we also suggested that the four haplotypes (Qingling, Sichuan 1, Sichuan 2, and Yunnan) may be considered as 4 different management units and need to be conserved.
Understanding farmers’ adaptation to climate change: A protection motivation theory application

Abstract This study examines the psychological determinants influencing farmers’ intentions to adapt to climate change through the lens of Protection Motivation Theory. This study uses cross-sectional data comprising 302 farmers in East Java, Indonesia, analyzed using a structural equation (SEM) model. The findings indicate that perceived risk and adaptation assessment positively impact perceived climate variability but negatively impact maladaptation. Meanwhile, perceived risk and adaptation assessment directly correlate with higher intention for adaptation. Intriguingly, adaptation assessment and perceived risk indirectly impact adaptation intention via perceived climate variability, although this influence is negative. Likewise, maladaptation emerged as a mediator variable, exerting a counteractive indirect impact on adaptation assessment. These findings suggest that farmers with a robust understanding of climate change are more inclined to adapt. Conversely, greater maladaptation diminishes the adaptation intention. This study recommends continuous implementation of adaptation strategies, coupled with more accessibility to climate information and extensions facilitated by governmental bodies. This multifaceted approach will raise awareness regarding climate change impacts, hence improving their adaptive practices.
Estimation of Aboveground Biomass in an Alpine Meadow on the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

It was essential to find a rapid and accurate way to get information of single species and community aboveground biomass of the grassland,which can provide technical support for the reasonable management of meadow. Based on the traditionally harvesting method which was usually used to measure aboveground biomass of the grassland and the single species' population characteristics,our research established biomass estimation models of different plants using the ecological characters such as the height,the coverage and the density,the whole research was accomplished in the alpine meadows at Maqu County Gansu,China which is located in the east of the Tibet Plateau. Some species such as Kobresia graminifolia,Elymus nutans,Allium sikkimense,their best biomass estimation models were the power function equation. As for the other species their best biomass estimation models were the linear equation except Saussurea hieracioides whose best model was the quadratic term equation. All of the estimation models provided good statistics,and the results showed that the correlation coefficients of species biomass between the estimated value and the measured value were greater than 0. 9 while most species biomass' average relative errors were less than 10%. As for the community total biomass,the correlation coefficient between the estimated value and the measured value was 0. 965; the average relative error was 5. 672% with the relative error of most quadrate was less than 10%. Finally,we concluded that these estimated models were accurate,and could efficiently evaluate the aboveground biomass of the alpine meadows on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
Controls on global greening, phenology and the enhanced seasonal CO2 amplitude: integrating decadal satellite observations and global ecosystem models

Satelliten-Beobachtungen seit den 1980er Jahren zeigen weltweit ein Ergrunen der Vegetation sowie einen zeitigeren Beginn der Vegetationsperiode. Als mogliche Ursachen dieser Veranderungen werden u.a. der CO2-Anstieg in der Atmosphare, die Klimaanderungen, Waldbrande oder Landnutzungswandel in Betracht gezogen. Jedoch ist die relative Bedeutung dieser Einflussfaktoren unbekannt. Das Ergrunen der nordlichen Okosysteme ist gleichzeitig eine mogliche Ursache fur den Anstieg der Amplitude des Jahresganges von CO2 in der nordlichen Atmosphare seit den 1960er Jahren. Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es, ein besseres Verstandnis der Ursachen und Wirkungen von Veranderungen der Phanologie und des Vegetationsgruns in den letzten Jahrzehnten zu schaffen. Dabei sollen insbesondere Satellitendaten genutzt werden um globale Okosystemmodelle zu verbessern. Es wurde ein neues Phanologiemodul in das dynamische globale Vegetationsmodell LPJmL implementiert und anhand von Satellitendaten parametrisiert um die saisonale bis dekadische Variabilitat der Vegetation besser zu simulieren. Das neue Phanologiemodul berucksichtigt insbesondere die Rolle von Wasserverfugbarkeit fur die Blattentwicklung. Die Bedeutung der Einflussfaktoren fur Phanologie und das Ergrunen variiert raumlich und zeitlich. Jedoch sind weltweit Wasserverfugbarkeit und Temperatur ko-dominante Faktoren fur die Saisonalitat, Jahr-zu-Jahr-Variabilitat und fur Trends der Vegetationsaktivitat. Abschliesend wird die Rolle des Ergrunens auf den Anstieg der saisonalen CO2-Amplitude in der Atmosphare bewertet. Das Ergrunen der nordlichen Okosysteme fuhrt zusammen mit der Klimaerwarmung zu einem Anstieg der Photosynthese. Dies ist die Hautursache fur den Anstieg der saisonalen Amplitude von CO2 in der Atmosphare in nordlichen Breiten. Die Dissertation demonstriert den Nutzen von Satellitenbeobachtungen fur das Verstandnis von Vegetationsdynamik, Trends im Kohlenstoffkreislauf und fur die Verbesserung globaler Okosystemmodelle.
Remanent magnetization and coercivity of rocks under hydrostatic pressure up to 1.4 GPa

We designed an Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM) acquisition system based on permanent magnets and sized to accommodate an amagnetic hydrostatic pressure cell. This pressure cell fits in a superconducting rock magnetometer, allowing for the measurement of remanent magnetization of pressurized samples. With this system, we determined the coercivity of remanence (Bcr) at different hydrostatic pressures up to 1.4 GPa for rock and dispersed mineral samples with various magnetic mineralogy and domain state. IRM and Bcr are nearly identical before compression and after decompression, indicating no permanent changes in the magnetic properties during pressure cycling. Hydrostatic pressure up to 1.4 GPa does not significantly increases IRM under pressure except for multidomain pyrrhotite and magnetite which show an increase of about 40%. Relative increase of Bcr under pressure is mild, except for a near single domain titanomagnetite where Bcr doubles.
Effects of peanut cropping practices and canopy cover conditions on runoff and sediment yield

ABSTRACT: Runoff and sediment yields were measured from eight field plots (40 m2) over a three year period to determine the effect of peanut cropping practices and canopy cover conditions on runoff and sediment loss. Plots were located on a Tifton loamy sand, and were exposed to four 30 min simulated rainfall sequences (I =63.5 mm h−1) four to eight times per growing season. Runoff and sediment losses were measured from four soil cover conditions: continuous fallow, bare bedded single row peanuts (Arachis hypogea L), and twin row peanuts (2 and 4 peanut rows per 2 m wide bed). Percent Cover (PC) and leaf area index (LAI) increased to a maximum then leveled off as plants matured or were harvested. PC for single and twin row peanuts was related to days since planting (DSP) (r =0.96 for single row peanuts and r =0.98 for twin row peanuts). LAI values for single and twin row peanuts were related to PC (r =0.98 for single row peanuts and r =0.94 for twin row peanuts). Single and twin row peanut plots had as much as eight times less runoff and as much as 63 times less sediment loss than continuous fallow or bare bedded plots. Twin row peanut plots had as much as three times less runoff and sediment loss than single row peanut plots. Sequence-based erodibility values calculated from continuous fallow plots (KFC) and bare bedded plots (KBB) ranged from 4–24 (3 yr mean =11.3, s.d. = 5.3) and 2–36 kg ha h MJ ha−1 mm−1 (3 yr mean =12.9, s.d. =11.6), respectively. Soil loss ratios (SLR) ranged from 0.01–2.61. SLRs decreased to a low far cropstage 3 when percent canopy cover was greatest (DSP = 81–107), then increased as peanut plants matured or were harvested Results show how management practices, such as twin row peanuts, can maximize peanut canopy development early in the growing season and minimize the time in which bare soil is vulnerable to a runoff producing rainstorm, thus reducing runoff and soil loss and conserving valuable natural resources.
Aquatic Carbon Export and Dynamics in Mountain Headwater Streams of the Western U.S.

Mountain headwater streams actively cycle carbon, receiving it from terrestrial landscapes and exporting it through downstream transport and gas exchange with the atmosphere. Although their importance is now widely recognized, aquatic carbon fluxes in headwater streams remain poorly characterized. In this study, aquatic carbon fluxes were measured in 15 mountain headwater streams and were used in a geostatistical analysis to determine how landscape characteristics influence aquatic carbon fluxes. In‐stream sensors were used to measure fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) (a surrogate for dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) at a subset of sites to characterize dynamic responses to hydroclimatic events. Wetlands have a positive influence on aquatic carbon fluxes, whereas perennial snow/ice has the opposite effect, reflecting differences in soil organic matter content in these landscapes. Mean annual temperature (MAT) has a complex influence on DOC, with peak DOC exports in basins with MAT of 0–2°C. Precipitation has a strong positive influence on aquatic carbon fluxes, and declining snowpacks in the western United States may reduce future aquatic carbon exports. fDOM (and by implication DOC) and HCO3‐ ${{\text{HCO}}_{3}}^{\mbox{-}}$ showed strong dynamic responses to snowmelt and rain events, with fDOM increasing and HCO3‐ ${{\text{HCO}}_{3}}^{\mbox{-}}$ decreasing during events. Combining results from this study with those from a companion study on CO2 exchange yielded total aquatic carbon fluxes of 7.2–15.7 g C m−2 yr−1 (median = 12.22), similar to those from forests and peatlands. Given net ecosystem production (NEP) of similar magnitude, NEP calculations that do not account for losses via the aquatic pathway can substantially overestimate terrestrial carbon sequestration.