Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insect and spider rarity in an oceanic island (Terceira, Azores): true rare and pseudo-rare species

Until now the mechanisms of how recent historical land-use (hereafter called “habitat”) changes in island ecosystems shape the distribution of individual insect species have been poorly understood in the field of conservation biology. In the present study we concentrate on the delicate equilibrium of the contribution of habitat island composition (i.e. habitat Correspondence/Reprint request: Dr. Paulo A. V. Borges, Universidade dos Acores, Dep. de Ciencias Agrarias CITAA, Terra-Cha, 9700-851 Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, Acores, Portugal. E-mail: pborges@mail.angra.uac.pt Paulo A. V. Borges et al. 2 resource availability) with respect to island insect distribution patterns. In this context we study in detail the distribution patterns of four functional groups (herbivorous sucking insects, herbivorous chewing insects, spiders and other arthropod predators) of endemic, native and exotic arthropod species in a well-studied island of the Azores archipelago (Terceira). Within the bigger context of a standardized sampling program both for epigean and canopy insects and spiders we want to find out which species are truly rare and which are pseudo-rare species in each target habitat. Two dimensions of rarity were measured: abundance and habitat specialization. Two domains of rarity were identified: “among habitats” and “geographic”. Some interesting patterns emerged. The high dispersal abilities of many insect and spider species together with the fact that many species from islands tend to be generalists imply that many species tend to be vagrants in several habitats and consequently are locally habitat pseudo-rarities. Two types of local pseudorare species were identified: “habitat (or land-use)” and “host plant” pseudorarities. Some species are rare in one habitat type whilst they are more common in another, often related habitat, or they are relatively rare in many habitats. This is a consequence of a “mass effect”, with many species demonstrating a “source-sink” dynamics. Truly regionally rare species are those that are habitat specialists and many of them are threatened endemic species or recently introduced exotic species. We suggest several hypotheses for the patterns found, based on the former larger distribution and disturbance regimes of the native Laurel forest. Insufficient spatial replication in sampling can lead to the conclusion that numerous species appear to be rare because they were sampled in marginal sites or in the edge of their distribution. Since habitat occurrence is a less reliable predictor of the rarity status, more attention should be given to the standardized sampling of many habitats before extracting conclusions about the threatened status of a particular insect or spider species. Our results provide clear evidence that without adequate spatial data on abundance and habitat requirements, rarity status for insects and spiders on islands and elsewhere cannot be appropriately assessed.
Embracing supply chain agility: an investigation in the electronics industry

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the antecedents of firm’s supply chain agility (SC agility) and how SC agility impacts on firm’s performance. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a comprehensive literature review, a conceptual model was proposed, in which the interrelated hypotheses were tested by structural equation modelling methodology using a dataset collected from 266 Chinese electronics firms. Findings – Initially, it was found that SC integration and external learning positively influenced SC agility. Second, the results indicated that firm’s performance is positively impacted by SC agility. Moreover, SC agility also fully mediated the effect of SC integration on firm’s performance and the effect of external learning on firm’s performance. Research limitations/implications – The generalizability of this research sample might be the major limitation of this study. Therefore, future research can adopt other industry sectors samples, such as automobile manufacturing, or other country samples t.
Influence of Automatic Identification System on Safety of Navigation at Sea

Detection of small crafts/targets, in particular, sailing yachts with the ship's radar is not always possible. Radar reflectors are used to improve their detection. The AIS (Automatic Identification System) transmits position, motion vector and identification signals of a vessel to other ships and VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) centers . This system significantly increases the possibility to detect small crafts. The paper presents results of comparative study of using information from the Automatic Identification System and from radar to determine the accuracy of tracking the position and motion vector of ships in the Gulf of Gdansk. Possibilities and limitations of the AIS are also presented.
Simulation of Flow and Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollutant Transport in a Tibetan Plateau Irrigation District

Flow and transport processes in soil and rock play a critical role in agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPS) loads. In this study, we investigated the ANPS load discharged into rivers from an irrigation district in the Tibetan Plateau and simulated ANPS load using a distributed model. Experiments were conducted for two years to measure soil water content and nitrogen concentrations in soil and the quality and quantity of subsurface lateral flow in the rock and at the drainage canal outlet during the highland barley growing period. A distributed model, in which the subsurface lateral flow in the rock was described using a stepwise method, was developed to simulate flow and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) transport processes. Sobol’s method was used to evaluate the sensitivity of simulated flow and transport processes to the model inputs. The results showed that with a 21.2% increase of rainfall and irrigation in the highland barley growing period, the average NH4+-N and NO3−-N concentrations in the soil layer decreased by 10.8% and 14.3%, respectively, due to increased deep seepage. Deep seepage of rainfall water accounted for 0–52.4% of total rainfall, whereas deep seepage of irrigation water accounted for 36.6–45.3% of total irrigation. NH4+-N and NO3−-N discharged into the drainage canal represented 19.9–30.4% and 19.4–26.7% of the deep seepage, respectively. The mean Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient value, which was close to 0.8, and the lowest values of root mean square errors, the fraction bias, and the fractional gross error indicated that the simulated flow rates and nitrogen concentrations using the proposed method were very accurate. The Sobol’s sensitivity analysis results demonstrated that subsurface lateral flow had the most important first-order and total-order effect on the simulated flow and NH4+-N and NO3−-N concentrations at the surface drainage outlet.
Recent "green" policies - contested environmental benefits and import distortions

For the Asia-Pacific region, this paper estimates the impact of "green" crisis-era measures on energy intensity of imports and the extent of discrimination of these policies against foreign suppliers. Testable predictions are derived from Eaton and Kortum (2002). The results are surprising: "Green" measures whose purpose of implementation was not driven by the environmental policy agenda are associated with an increase of sourcing from more - rather than less - energy intensive countries. "Green" measures mainly implemented to mitigate climate change are more effective or at least neutral in "greening" imports. While the environmental benefits are limited based on the study of the import channel, these policies may have import distortive effects: "Direct" foreign competitors loose import share when "green" measures are implemented while "indirect" competitors gain. "Direct" (compared to "indirect") competitors are defined as foreign suppliers with energy intensities similar to those of implementing countries, where energy intensity is used as a proxy for quality or technology.
A COMPARATIVE HISTOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE SWEAT GLAND OF CATTLE (B. INDICUS) AND YAK (P. POEPHAGUS)

Yak and cattle are the species of different habitats, but are of the same genus Bos. In order to adapt to different habitats some changes may occur in cellular organizations, sweat gland morphology being one of the part of this cellular organization. The skin samples were collected from six adult nondescript male cattle and yak from five different anatomical regions viz., neck, dewlap, abdomen, back and prepuce. Sweat glands appeared tubular consisting of a secretary coil which was embedded in the dermis in cattle. In yak, the glands were saccular in the neck and dewlap regions and tubular in other regions. The sweat gland number (1729±3.44) in cattle was almost three times higher (P<0.01) than yak (615.82±3.44). Highest number of sweat gland population was found in back (1563.24±5.44) and lowest in abdomen (900.26±5.44) in both the species. Descending order of sweat gland number was detected in dewlap, neck and prepuce respectively in both the species. In cattle the sweat gland diameter was significantly (32.78±0.38 μ μ μ μ μm) higher as compared to yak (27.68±0.38 im). The sweat gland number and nuclear diameter in cattle was more than yak. Acidophilic secretory granules of the glands were numerous in the supra-nuclear cytoplasm in case of cattle. These results suggest the hyper activity of sweat gland in controlling the thermo dynamics in cattle as compared to yak.
Electrical-Mechanical Dynamic Modelling and Testing of a Lightweight-Link Robot Manipulator

This paper presents the electrical-mechanical dynamic modelling and testing of a lightweight-link robot manipulator. Mechanical dynamic modelling of lightweight robot manipulators has received extensive attention with the consideration of link flexibility. However few efforts have been paid to the electrical-mechanical dynamic modelling of lightweight-link manipulators which will provide the essential insights to control the motion and vibration of lightweight robot manipulators. In this work, the sub-model of an actuator (a DC servo motor) dynamics and the sub-model of vibration dynamics of a driven lightweight-link are established separately. Then the two sub- models are integrated to form a comprehensive electrical-mechanical dynamic model. The proposed electrical- mechanical model is applied to a single lightweight link robot manipulator. The simulations and dynamics characterization are conducted to provide insights into the control and design of lightweight link robot manipulators. A real-time testing and control system is setup, and experimental testing is performed to validate the proposed electrical-mechanical modelling and dynamic characterization analyses.
Properties of the redback millisecond pulsar binary 3FGL J0212.1+5320

Linares et al. (2016) obtained quasi-simultaneous g', r' and i-band light curves and an absorption line radial velocity curve of the secondary star in the redback system 3FGL J0212.1+5320. The light curves showed two maxima and minima primarily due to the secondary star's ellipsoidal modulation, but with unequal maxima and minima. We fit these light curves and radial velocities with our X-ray binary model including either a dark solar-type star spot or a hot spot due to off-centre heating from an intrabinary shock, to account for the unequal maxima. Both models give a radial velocity semi-amplitude and rotational broadening that agree with the observations. The observed secondary star's effective temperature is best matched with the value obtained using the hot spot model, which gives a neutron star and secondary star mass of $M_{\rm 1}$=1.85$^{+0.32}_{-0.26}$ $M_{\odot}$and $M_{\rm 2}$=0.50$^{+0.22}_{-0.19}$ $M_{\odot}$, respectively.
Algorithms & experiments for the protein chain lattice fitting problem

This study seeks to design algorithms that may be used to determine if a given lattice is a good approximation to a given rigid protein structure. Ideal lattice models discovered using our techniques may then be used in algorithms for protein folding and inverse protein folding. In this study we develop methods based on dynamic programming and branch and bound in an effort to identify “ideal” lattice models. To further our understanding of the concepts behind the methods we have utilized a simple cubic lattice for our analysis. The algorithms may be adapted to work on any lattice. We describe two algorithms. One for aligning the protein backbone to the lattice as a walk. This algorithm runs in polynomial time. The second algorithm for aligning a protein backbone as a path to the lattice. Both the algorithms seek to minimize the CRMS deviation of the alignment. The second problem was recently shown to be NP-Complete, hence it is highly unlikely that an efficient algorithm exists. The first algorithm gives a lower bound on the optimal solution to the second problem, and can be used in a branch and bound procedure. Further, we perform an empirical evaluation of our algorithm on proteins from the Protein Data Bank (PDB).
Dissolution Enhancement of Raltegravir by Hot Melt Extrusion Technique

The objective of the study to develop an amorphous solid dispersion for poorly soluble raltegravir by hot melt extrusion (HME) technique. A novel solubility improving agent plasdone s630 was utilized. The HME raltegravir was formulated into tablet by direct compression method. The prepared tablets were assessed for all pre and post-compression parameters. The drug- excipients interaction was examined by FTIR and DSC. All formulas displayed complying with pharmacopoeial measures. The study reveals that formula prepared by utilizing drug and plasdone S630 at 1:1.5 proportion and span 20 at concentration about 30mg (trail-6) has given highest dissolution rate than contrasted with various formulas of raltegravir. Keywords: Hot melt extrusion, Raltegravir, Plasdone S630.
Euler Buckling of Individual SiGe/Si Microtubes

We present a new technique to investigate the mechanical stability of freestanding rolled-up SiGe/Si microtubes based on nanorobotic manipulation. By applying this technique, the microtubes can be cut and subsequently picked up from the original substrate to examine their mechanical properties in free space or to assemble them into micro-/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). Individual SiGe/Si microtubes show typical Euler buckling when the compressive load is larger than the critical load. The experiments show that SiGe/Si microtubes rolled-up by 1.6 turns have similar mechanical stability to ideal seamless tubes, though the former ones contain seams on the walls.
The Emergence of a Tool-Using Skill in Infancy.

The use of a spoon for eating is one of the first tool-using skills acquired by most infants. The article provides a description and analysis of how the skill is built during the second year of life. A number of behavior categories were identified and measures were developed from a pilot study on a group of infants aged 10-58 months. Two groups of infants, aged 11 and 17 months, respectively, when the study began, were observed at monthly intervals over a 6-month period. Videotapes of mealtimes were subjected to detailed analysis that included extracting data on the following: hand use, grip pattern, visual monitoring, movements involved in the action, activities of the contralateral hand, spoon trajectory, temporal structure of the action, and so on. The emergence of competence was examined through comparisons within and between the groups. The acquisition of a tool-using skill is discussed in terms of the emergence of strategies to solve particular problems and the increasing consistency and reliability with which these are deployed. The term skill refers to expertness, to a facility in doing something. Skills are practiced abilities that show deftness, dexterity, and confidence in performance; they are goal-directed actions. The essential features of skill become apparent through a few examples. Consider a craftsman or craftswoman at the workbench using tools to fashion an object, a person engaged in a ball game such as tennis, a surgeon performing an operation, and you the reader eating your dinner with the customary cutlery. A property common to each of these situations is that the person performing the action has to match the demands of the task to his or her capacities, and this is done by applying a method, as often as not called a strategy, of performance. For example, the craftsman or craftswoman shaping wood into a particular form does so by manipulating tools that he or she has selected for the purpose. Through the tools the operator exerts forces and by so doing forms the object. Tennis, surgery, and dining are in certain important respects similar to each other, and in common with all skills they entail both knowing what and knowing how. The strategies that a performer employs are not usually concerned with single responses to stimuli but with programs of action that project forward from the situation in which they are initiated to a future goal. In his insightful analysis of skill, Bartlett (1958) pointed out that there is a continuous flow of signals, which arise outside the performer and which are interpreted into actions. These actions in turn lead to further signals and so to further action. Skill thus implies a transaction between the performer and the environment, and to understand skilled performance it is necessary to understand the nature of the organism-environment interaction with regard to the specific context and the goal in question. Skills are always jointly determined by the organism, the task, and the precise environment in which the actions take place. The environment supports the action. This implies that
On the use of vertically averaged models to simulate CO2 migration in a layered saline aquifer

Geologic and flow characteristics such as permeability and porosity, capillary pressure, geologic structure, and thickness all influence and affect CO2 plume distribution to varying degrees. These parameters do not necessarily act independently. Depending on the variations in these parameters one may dominate the shape and size of the plume [4]. In this master thesis, we consider the long-term fate and migration of a large CO2 plume that takes place in a heterogeneous (two-layer) sloping saline aquifer. We consider a vertical equilibrium (VE) mathematical model to study the effect of two different permeability layers on the shape, speed and migrated distance of the CO2 plume. The layer-permeability-ratio is k2/k1, where k2 k1 and k2, k1 are the permeabilities in the upper and lower layer of the aquifer, respectively. We also study the effect the thickness ratio of the lower permeability(h = 1 2 H, h = 1 4 H, h = 1 8 H), where H is the thickness of the aquifer. We attain these goals by comparing the simulation results of Eclipse and VE simulators, where both simulate the movement of CO2 plume in homogeneous and layered aquifers. A VE model has been built considering one-dimensional flow in the x-direction, due to the big difference in scale length between vertical and horizontal directions. We model a 2D vertical section in Eclipse simulator, taking the vertically averaged of this section ends up with a 1D results that can compared with the VE solution. Our results shows that the variations in the vertical permeability layers may have a dramatic effects on the CO2 plume shape. Relatively lower permeability layer reduces the velocity of CO2 through it, and an increase of CO2 saturation occurs below this layer. At early time, the build up in saturation increases, and the lateral growth of the CO2 immediately below this layer increases. At later time, the saturation decreases and the vertical flow of the CO2 in this layer increases. The k2/k1 ratio and thickness of the lower peri ii meability layer determines the plume shape and distance migrated. In some of our simulations, the results show two connected/disconnected plumes.
The biological activities of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease as soil quality indicators: a review

Soil is a fundamental resource and it is crucial to manage its quality in order to enhance agricultural productivity and environmental quality. Soil enzymes catalyze several biochemical reactions which result in the transformation of organic matter, and the release of inorganic nutrients for plant growth and nutrient cycling. Soil enzyme activities are useful biological soil quality indicators since they are operationally practical, very sensitive, integrative, easy to measure and more responsive to soil tillage and structure than other soil variables. There are several enzymes in soil, but those involved in hydrolases and the degradation of main litter components are used most often for evaluating soil quality. This paper reviews the roles of soil enzymes such as β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease, as well as the implications of their activities for soil quality.
Isolated Open-Ring Defected Ground Structure to Reduce Mutual Coupling Between Circular Microstrips: Characterization and Experimental Verification

A recently developed technique to design and model isolated Defected Ground Structure (DGS) has been examined to control coupling between two adjacent elements in a microstrip array. This is the only technique that can handle isolated DGS and in here, this is explored for the flrst time in microstrip antenna domain. An X-band design is presented. A set of prototypes are used to obtain measured data which are employed to verify the technique experimentally for microstrip array.
Model of Optimal Forest Management Unit Area for a Sustainable Forest Resource Administration

Deforestation is one of the most crucial problems in Indonesia. It creates a number of environmental problems, e.g., landslides, loss of biological diversity, and decrease of carbon sequestration which are impacting human lives. There are a number of underlying causes, often stemmed from the emphasis on a particular forest management objective. Despite numerous forest policies and regulations established by the government, deforestation continues to happen. Quite often, the policies and regulations remain "paper tiger", which means ineffectual on the ground. One of the contributing factors to deforestation is the lack of custodian for the management of the forests. The regulation, such as law No. 41/1999, stipulates that all state forests must be managed under a FMU (forest management unit) as the custodians. The objective of this research is to develop an optimal model for FMU. Using the LGP (linear goal programming), this research attempts to develop an optimum model for conservation areas. It assumes that the existing zoning approach implemented by the government in conservation areas is inappropriate. The optimum zoning model is expected to improve forest management and restore the forest function as a life supporting system and biological diversity conservation.
On the Vertex Separation of Cactus Graphs

This paper is part of a work in progress whose goal is to construct a fast, practical algorithm for the vertex separation (VS) of cactus graphs. We prove a \main theorem for cacti", a necessary and sufficient condition for the VS of a cactus graph being k. Further, we investigate the ensuing ramifications that prevent the construction of an algorithm based on that theorem only.