Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial pattern and process in forest stands within the Virginia piedmont

Abstract Question: Underlying ecological processes have often been inferred from the analysis of spatial patterns in ecosystems. Using an individual-based model, we evaluate whether basic assumptions of species' life-history, drought-susceptibility, and shade tolerance generate dynamics that replicate patterns between and within forest stands. Location: Virginia piedmont, USA. Method: Model verification examines the transition in forest composition and stand structure between mesic, intermediate and xeric sites. At each site, tree location, diameter, and status were recorded in square plots ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 ha. Model validation examines the simulated spatial pattern of individual trees at scales of 1–25 m within each forest site using a univariate Ripley's K function. Results: 7512 live and dead trees were surveyed across all sites. All sites exhibit a consistent, significant shift in pattern for live trees by size, progressing from a clumped understorey (trees ≥ 0.1 m in diameter) to a uniform overstorey (trees > 0.25 m). Simulation results reflect not only the general shift in pattern of trees at appropriate scales within sites, but also the general transition in species composition and stand structure between sites. Conclusions: This shift has been observed in other forest ecosystems and interpreted as a result of competition; however, this hypothesis has seldom been evaluated using simulation models. These results support the hypothesis that forest pattern in the Virginia piedmont results from competition involving species' life-history attributes driven by soil moisture availability between sites and light availability within sites. Nomenclature: Harlow et al. (1996). Abbreviations: ALB = Above-ground live biomass; BA = Basal area; CSR = Complete spatial randomness; DBH = Diameter at breast height; LAI = Leaf area index; MUSE = Multistrata spatially explicit model; PET = Potential evapo-transpiration.
Extinction of experience: the loss of human–nature interactions

Increasingly, people are becoming less likely to have direct contact with nature (natural environments and their associated wildlife) in their everyday lives. Over 20 years ago, Robert M Pyle termed this ongoing alienation the “extinction of experience”, but the phenomenon has continued to receive surprisingly limited attention. Here, we present current understanding of the extinction of experience, with particular emphasis on its causes and consequences, and suggest future research directions. Our review illustrates that the loss of interaction with nature not only diminishes a wide range of benefits relating to health and well-being, but also discourages positive emotions, attitudes, and behavior with regard to the environment, implying a cycle of disaffection toward nature. Such serious implications highlight the importance of reconnecting people with nature, as well as focusing research and public policy on addressing and improving awareness of the extinction of experience.
L'apport de lin dans la ration des vaches laitières: Effets sur la production, la composition du lait et des produits laitiers, les émissions de méthane et les performances de reproduction

La supplementation en lin des rations des vaches laitieres est une pratique qui se developpe, avec pour objectifs l'amelioration de la qualite nutritionnelle du lait et la diminution des rejets de methane. En effet, la recherche de laits moins riches en Acides Gras (AG) satures et avec un rapport plus faible entre acide linoleique et acide linolenique, incite a utiliser des aliments riches en acides gras polyinsatures (et en particulier en acide alpha-linolenique C18:3 n-3) pour corriger des rations insuffisamment riches en cet AGPI. Parmi les aliments des vaches laitieres, le lin est un aliment particulierement riche en C18:3 n-3. La diminution des rejets de gaz a effet de serre (dont le methane) est egalement une preoccupation actuelle des filieres animales. De nombreux essais de supplementation en lin, sous differentes formes, ont ete publies ces dernieres annees, et les donnees disponibles permettent de tirer des conclusions sur ces effets attendus. Le present article fait le point sur les disponibilites en lin et sur les differentes formes d'apport dans les rations. Les effets du lin sur la production laitiere, sur la composition du lait et des produits laitiers, la production de methane et la reproduction sont passes en revue. L'analyse des effets sur le lait s'appuie sur 41 essais zootechniques publies. La culture de lin oleagineux est peu importante en France. L'approvisionnement est fait dans des pays europeens et au Canada. Les varietes presentent des teneurs variables en acide alpha-linolenique. L'introduction de lin dans la ration diminue un peu la quantite de MS ingeree mais ne modifie en general pas la production laitiere (volumes et taux). La teneur du lait en AG satures diminue et le pourcentage en C18:1-trans est augmente, et ce d'autant plus que l'apport de lipides se fait sous forme non protegee (graines extrudees, huile) et avec des rations riches en amidon (pour les AG trans). La teneur en C18:2 n-6 n'est en moyenne pas modifiee, sauf par l'apport d'huile. La proportion en C18:3 n-3 du lait est multipliee en moyenne par 2 ou 3 pour les formes pratiques les plus efficaces (graines aplaties, farine), et peut atteindre jusqu'a 1,4% des AG du lait avec ce type de supplementations. Il n'apparait pas d'effet dose de lipides apportee pour le C18:2 n-6 et le C18:3 n-3, alors qu'il en existe un pour les C18:1-trans. Le beurre et les fromages ont la meme composition en AG que le lait dont ils proviennent. Les qualites organoleptiques de beurres et fromages ne sont pas modifiees par l'addition de lin dans la ration. Differents effets sont cites dans la bibliographie pour expliquer une augmentation potentielle de la fertilite, qui reste a confirmer. La production ruminale de methane est diminuee par l'ajout de lin dans la ration. En conclusion, l'ajout de lin a la ration des vaches laitieres a des effets analogues a ceux d'introduction d'herbe dans le regime fourrager, a l'exception d'une teneur en AG trans superieure.
Development of a paper-based microfluidic device for the quantification of ammonia in industrial wastewater

Ammonia is a toxic pollutant increasingly found in urban and industrial wastewater and unprotected surface water. Industry discharges and fertilizer run-off release ammonia into sewers and streams, overloading wastewater treatment plants and causing fish deaths in surface water such as rivers, sea and lakes. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the microfluidic paper-based device (μPAD) for the quantification of ammonia in wastewater. The μPAD fabricated had an oval-shaped pattern which was designed using CorelDraw software. The hydrophilic zones were created by printing a chromatographic paper with a Xerox wax printer (Xerox colorqube 8570). The modified version of the colorimetric method using Nessler reagent was combined with microfluidic technologies to create a low-cost monitoring system for detection of ammonia in wastewater. The method allows for ammonia determination in the range of 0–5 ppm (mg/L) with a limit of detection of 3.34 ppm. This study indicated that a μPAD was successfully used to quantify the concentration of ammonia in wastewater. Keywords: ammonia microfluidic device quantification
The Relation between Gist and Item Memory Over a Month

Memory requires both individuation of specific episodes as well as extraction of gist across related experiences. This study developed a spatial memory paradigm to track changes in item memory (memory for specific locations) and gist memory (estimate of the center of the locations) across a period of a month, and to measure the relation between these two forms of memory. We found that item memories decayed compared to gist memory after a month, yet there was a positive relationship between the two forms of memory that persisted. Moreover, item memories were biased towards gist memory only after a month. These findings together indicate that gist memory, initially extracted from item memories, gradually develops into a stable representation that can guide item memory retrieval over longer durations.
Integrated nitrogen management in rice (Oryza sativa) wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during 1996 97 and 1997 98 to evaluate the effect of 4 organic sources of nutrients along with 4 levels of N to rice (Oryza sativa L.) and 4 levels of fertilizer N to wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori Paol.) on the productivity and nutrient removal in rice wheat system. Grain yields of rice obtained at 40 kg Ntha with green manuring of Sesbania was similar to that obtained with application of 120 kg Nlha under cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ] fodder, wheat straw incorporation and the control, indicating a saving of 80 kg Ntha. Application of 120 kg Ntha to wheat grown in Sesbania green manured rice plots yielded about 0.6 tonnetha more wheat grain than that only 2 with 120 kg Ntha. However, integrated use of Sesbania green manure along with 120 kg Ntha gave 6.8 tonneslha of rice grain and subsequent application of 120 kg Nlha to succeeding wheat crop yielded 4.7 tonnestha of wheat grain, thus giving total production of 11.5 tonnestha from rice wheat sequence. At this production level and fertilizer use, rice removed 155.7, 27.7 and 172.4 kg N, P and Wha and respective values for wheat were 126.2, 24.3 and 140.0 kgtha, making a total removal of 646.3 kg nutrients (MPK)/ha/annum from rice wheat system.
Effects of different levels of flooding and additional application of two nutrients on boro rice (Binadhan-8) in saline soil

A field experiment was conducted at Kalikapur village of Kaliganj upazila under Satkhira district in order to observe the effects of flooding duration and additional application of K and S on transplanted boro rice cv. Binadhan-8 during January - May 2013. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design where the main plots comprised of five flooding levels viz. continuous flooding (W 1 ), flooding for 10 days (W 2 ), flooding for 20 days (W 3 ), flooding for 30 days (W 4 ), flooding for 40 days (W 5 ), and the sub-plots of four additional (over the recommended dose) nutrients rates viz. S 43 + K 25 (T 1 ), K 38 (T 2 ), S 32 + K 38 (T 3 ), and K 50 (T 4 ), with three replications. The duration of flooding showed significant positive effect on the yield and yield components of boro rice cv. Binadhan-8. The highest values for plant height (106.8 cm), panicle length (28.4 cm), number of plants hill -1 (15.3), grain yield (4.8 t ha -1 ) and straw yield (6.5 t ha -1 ) were recorded in continuous flooding (W 1 ) while these values were decreased with the decrease in the duration of flooding from 40 days to 10 days. Additional application of K and S also significantly influenced all of the parameters. Results revealed that the highest values for plant height (102.8 cm), panicle length (26.6 cm), plants hill -1 (15.4), 1000-grain weight (23.9 g), grain yield (4.8 t ha -1 ) and straw yield (6.1t ha -1 ) were obtained from T 3 where S and K were applied @ 32 and 38 Kg ha -1 in addition to the recommended fertilizer rate. The interaction of flooding and nutrients significantly manipulated the yield and yield attributes. Due to interaction of flooding and nutrients, the highest growth and yield was observed in continuous flooding with S 32 + K 38 (W 1 T 3 ). The results indicated that the flooding with fresh water and use of additional nutrients (K and S) had a remarkable effect in growing boro rice cv. Binadhan-8 in saline soils of Bangladesh. Res. Agric. , Livest. Fish.2(3): 439-443, December 2015
Genetic diversity and variability analysis in oat (Avena sativa L.)

Genetic diversity, variability and clustering pattern were studied in seventy five germplasm lines of oat for yield and contributing traits using D2 analysis. Clustering pattern grouped the germplasm lines into nine different clusters. Cluster IV consisted of 21 lines, cluster I & II had 20 lines each, cluster V had 9 lines. Highest intra cluster distance was observed for cluster IV followed by cluster II, I and V. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster VI & IX, followed by cluster IV & IX, cluster III & IX suggesting diversity among lines of these clusters. Cluster IV is characterized by lines having prominent traits like high green fodder yield, high grain yield, and tall plants, long and broad leaves. Contribution towards genetic divergence was more from days to 50% flowering, grain yield, leaf-stem ratio and green fodder yield, so the direct selection for these traits would be helpful.
Application of logistic model to estimate eggplant yield and dry matter under different levels of salinity and water deficit in greenhouse and outdoor conditions

Eggplant is an important product in greenhouse cultivation in the world. However, much of its production is done on the farm. Few studies have been conducted on modelling of its growth and yield. Considering the simplicity of the logistic models, only the temperature and dry matter data during the growing season are needed to calibrate them. Hence, we evaluated the performance of the logistic model in growth and yield prediction of eggplant in greenhouse and farm conditions. Eggplants were planted in 2012 and 2013 under different treatments of irrigation and salinity with a complete randomized block statistical design. Irrigation frequency treatments consisted of: daily (I1), weekly, (I2) and every 2 weeks of irrigation (I3). Each pot was irrigated to field capacity level. Four levels of salinity treatments are as follows: electrical conductivities (EC) of 0.8 (J1); 2.5 (J2); 5.0 (J3) and 7.0 (J4) dS∙m-1. The amount of plant dry matter was measured during the growing season (DM) and the amount of product (Y) at the end of the growing season. The logistic model was calibrated with the first-year data and validated with the second-year data. Logistic equation coefficients and harvest index were estimated as a function of the depth and electrical conductivity of irrigation water. The results showed that the accuracy of the logistic model for estimating DM during the growing season was good and predicted the product at the end of the growing season with acceptable accuracy. Also, the model’s agreement with the measured DM and Y was good. Keywords: crop modelling greenhouse logistic model salinity
Ethical Community Stakeholder Engagement in the Global Environment

Given the importance of and challenges in stakeholder engagement in the global context, this study examines the perceptions of local community members on the stakeholder engagement strategies of multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in Peru as well as the relationship outcomes of such engagement. A survey with 300 local community members in Cajamarca, Peru was conducted. Results indicated that among the different engagement strategies, symmetrical/ethical communication is the most critical whereas mediated communication is the least effective in increasing the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement for both stakeholders and organizations. In the process of stakeholder engagement, uncertainty reduction plays a more important role than anxiety reduction in increasing perceived control mutuality and trust. Appropriate stakeholder engagement strategies and stakeholders’ anxiety and uncertainty management significantly predicted organization-stakeholder relational outcomes.
Robustness to Noisy Synaptic Weights in Spiking Neural Networks

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are promising neural network models to achieve power-efficient and event-based computing on neuromorphic hardware. SNNs inherently contain noise and are robust to noisy inputs as well as noise related to the discrete 1-bit spike. In this paper, we find that SNNs are more robust to Gaussian noise in synaptic weights than artificial neural networks (ANNs) under some conditions. This finding will enhance our understanding of the neural dynamics in SNNs and of the advantages of SNNs compared with ANNs. Our results imply the possibility of using high-performance cutting-edge materials with intrinsic noise as an information storage medium in SNNs.
Effect of foliar application of chemicals on physico and chemical characters of variety Allahabad Sufeda of Guava during winter

Some growth regulating chemicals like urea (2, 3 & 4%), K2SO4 (1, 2 & 3%) and ethephon (200, 300 & 400 ppm) were sprayed on 10-years-old guava trees of cv. Allahabad Sufeda at walnut stage of the fruit size. The fruit size was increased with all the chemicals and their concentrations. The K2SO4 and urea had positive, while ethephon had negative effect on fruit yield. The fruit yield was maximum (73.3 kg/tree) with K2SO4 at 3% and minimum (44.3 kg/tree) with ethephon 400 ppm treatments. The fruit pressure was minimum (3.68kg/cm2) with ethephon 400 ppm. The organoleptic rating, out of nine points was the highest (7.0) with K2SO4 at 3%. The TSS was more with K2SO4, followed by ethephon. Similarly K2SO4 at 2% concentration recorded highest amount of ascorbic acid.
A note on relative perturbations for positive definite matrices

We study the perturbation of a positive matrix A to a positive matrix B, in terms of the generalized eigenvalues of the pair (A,B). We give an estimate for the relative change in the eigenvalues, as well as bounds on the angles between the perturbed and unperturbed eigenvectors. This class includes componentwise, or more generally ’localized’, relative perturbations of Laplacians. We show that the estimate is optimal up to a constant, even for the class of Laplacians.
Optimizing Non-linear Granular Layer Coefficients of a Flexible Pavement for Mechanistic-Empirical Method

In recent years, mechanistic-empirical (M-E) design methods are preferred in the design of flexible pavements instead of empirical methods using equations based on the road performance tests. However, the calibration of transfer equations that convert mechanical responses to pavement life and the definition of layer materials used in M-E methods have great importance for M-E methods. In this study, mechanical analyses of a cross-section designed with the AASHTO-93 method were performed, and service life values were calculated with different empirical transfer equations. The obtained M-E design results were compared with the results calculated with the AASHTO-93 method, and transfer equations compatible with the AASHTO-93 method were determined. Among the transfer equations examined, it was found that the rutting equation of the Asphalt Institute gave the most consistent results with the AASHTO-93 method. In the mechanical analysis of the selected cross-section, granular base and sub-base layers were defined as non-linear elastic reflecting the actual in-situ conditions. K-Ɵ model was preferred for non-linear elastic layer definition, and K 1 and K 2 parameters of this model were optimized.
Micropensions: Helping the Poor Save for Old Age∗

Micropensions provide a new mechanism to smooth lifecyle income for poor workers in developing countries. Using a field experiment involving a population of belowpoverty-line households in Uttar Pradesh, India, I test hypotheses about key features of the micropension: the minimum withdrawal age, government match rate, lump sum withdrawal options. Most households reported interest in the micropension, and their annual willingness to contribute (WTC) was about 30 percent of expected annual old age consumption. I find that households value the commitment features of the product: either the inability to access the assets until a particular age, or a feature that discourages early withdrawal. I also find that households responded to a government match (50 or 100 percent) by increasing their WTC by 15 percent. Most covariates, including financial literacy, predict micropension demand in the expected direction. ∗I thank Olivia S. Mitchell for helpful discussions at each step of this project. I also thank Amanda Chuan, Sarthak Gaurav, Aditi Sen and Jeremy Tobacman for helpful comments. I owe a great deal to Shahid Vaziralli and Shardul Oza at the Centre for Microfinance for conducting the fieldwork for this project. I gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Yale Savings and Payments Research Fund at Innovations for Poverty Action (sponsored by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) and funding from the Wharton Risk Center’s Russell Ackoff Doctoral Fellowship. This project was also supported by Grant Number P30AG012836 from the National Institute On Aging. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute On Aging or the National Institutes of Health. Opinions and errors are solely mine and not of the institutions providing funding for this study or with which I am affiliated. †The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Locust Walk, 3000 SH-DH, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: amukh@wharton.upenn. edu. MICROPENSIONS 1
Contractual Governance in the Absence of Law: Bylaws of Norwegian Firms in the Early 20th Century

We analyse a sample of 85 bylaws adopted by Norwegian corporations prior to the existence of corporate law in Norway. At that time, Norway had a free-contracting regime, granting individuals the right to freely found limited-liability companies and write their governance structures as they saw fit. All firms appoint a Board of Directors, which at the time, was more akin to a management board, but in a quarter of firms a co-existing Board of Representatives is established. Bylaws provisions display considerable heterogeneity, among others, in the extent to which firms allocate decision powers between the Board of Directors, the Board of Representatives, and the General Meeting. We find that the likelihood of delegating authority to the Board of Directors increases with the likelihood of having small owners. Furthermore, firms most likely to have dispersed ownership are more likely to mandate a Board of Representatives and allocate authority to it, at the expense of both the Board of Directors and the General Meeting.