Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scatter-hoarding corvids as seed dispersers for oaks and pines: A review of a widely distributed mutualism and its utility to habitat restoration

ABSTRACT Seed dispersal mutualisms with scatter-hoarders play a crucial role in population dynamics of temperate large-seeded trees. These behaviors shape seed dispersal patterns, which can be applied to conservation of populations, communities, and even ecosystems dominated by large-seeded trees. We draw on a growing body of literature to describe the ecological context and consequences of scatter-hoarding as a seed dispersal mechanism. We synthesize the quantitative literature on the interaction between members of the avian family Corvidae (crows, ravens, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers) and nut-bearing trees such as pines (Pinus spp.) and oaks (Quercus spp.) to examine unique aspects of avian scatter-hoarders as seed dispersers. During the scatter-hoarding process, seed selectivity, transportation distance, hoarding frequency, and cache placement affect seed dispersal effectiveness, a measure of the quantity and quality of dispersal. Case studies from around the world highlight the role of corvid seed dispersal in population dynamics of trees, and how the birds' scatter-hoarding behavior can be facilitated for the restoration of oak- and pine-dominated habitats. This mutualism, which provides many plant species with long-distance, high-quality seed dispersal, will likely become even more important for conservation of oak and pine ecosystems as suitable climates shift rapidly in the decades ahead. This ecosystem service provided by corvids could therefore serve as an efficient conservation tool.
Seasonal Levels of Meteorological Visibility at Port-Harcourt Nigeria and Possible Links to Aerosol Loading and Humidification.

Five-year daily data of meteorological visual range (visibility), for 2003-2007, for Port Harcourt (4 o 46 1 N; 7 o 00 1 E) in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is analyzed. The time series has slightly higher visibility range (VR) values for the wet season (average=12.3km) compared to the dry season (average=11.3km). The frequency representations for the two seasons show similar modes, with major ones at 10.5, 15.5, and 20.5km. In more than 80% of the daily VR observations, values of more than 12km are encountered for both seasons. The atmospheric extinction values derived from the visibility data are analytically related to the relative humidity (RH) data in such a manner that at RH 80% the extinction tends to rise moderately with RH. Considering the fact that RH 80% is encountered in the wet and the later part of the dry season, it is inferred that the RH<60% part of the correlation is attributable to the influence of mineral dust aerosols advected from the Sahara during the dry Harmattarn period and these particles essentially shows non-hygroscopic character. In the wet season (a period when dust is mostly removed by rain) and in the later part of the dry season, the humidity is generally higher, and marginal growth in extinction with RH as observed implies that moderately hygroscopic particles possibly from sea salt and industrial emissions are involved. Improved measurements of various aerosol parameters and laboratory determination of aerosol hygroscopic factors are essential for more precise apportionment of the aerosol factor in visibility variations at the site and in other places in the region.
When Shareholders are Creditors: Effects of the Simultaneous Holding of Equity and Debt by Institutional Investors

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of a new and increasingly important phenomenon: the simultaneous holding of both equity and debt claims of the same company by non-bank institutional investors ("dual holders"). The presence of dual holders offers a unique opportunity to assess the existence and magnitude of shareholder-creditor conflicts. We find that syndicated loans with dual holder participation have loan yield spreads that are 13-20 basis points lower than those without. The difference is even greater after controlling for the selection effect. Further investigation of dual holders' investment horizons and changes in borrowers' credit quality lends support to the hypothesis that incentive alignment between shareholders and creditors plays an important role in lowering loan yield spreads.
Surface radiant and energy flux densities inferred from satellite data for the BALTEX watershed

To study the energy and water cycle at different spatial and temporal scales, the satellite data analysis scheme SESAT (Strahlungs- und Energieflusse aus SATellitendaten) has been developed for passive remotely sensed data, like NOAA-AVHRR, ERS-1/2 ATSR, Envisat AATSR and MSG SEVIRI data. SESAT consists of several modules to compute cloud properties (types as well as geometrical, optical and microphysical properties), land surface properties (radiometrical and bio-geophysical properties), surface radiant and energy flux densities. SESAT could be applied to different data sets, especially for the BALTEX watershed, to infer surface radiant flux densities and also, as a first estimation, surface energy flux densities with sufficient accuracy. Most of the parameters needed for this computation can be derived from meteorological satellite data. Comparisons of net radiation, inferred from satellite data and measured at the surface, do show sufficient accuracy, but for energy flux densities more observations at the ground will have to be carried out to quantify the achievable accuracy.
The new basic vocabulary of Italian: problems and methods

In this contribution we will introduce some of the methodological and scientific innovations introduced in the project for the new basic vocabulary of Italian. A brief overview of previous versions of the basic vocabulary and of its main characteristics will be specified and a presentation of the key methodological innovations in the new project, developed about thirty years later will follow. We will present some of the central choices, features and problems encountered in corpus building and processing, and present some of the most significant linguistic aspects that the new version of the basic vocabulary will bear.
and Initiation of Immune Responses In Vivo Release α Cytomegalovirus Sensing for IFN- MyD88-Dependent and -Independent Murine

Antiviral immunity requires early and late mechanisms in which IFN- (cid:1) and IL-12 play major roles. However, the initial events leading to their production remain largely unclear. Given the crucial role of TLR in innate recognition, we investigated their role in antiviral immunity in vivo. Upon murine CMV (MCMV) infection, both MyD88 (cid:2) / (cid:2) and TLR9 (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice were more susceptible and presented increased viral loads compared with C57BL/6, TLR2 (cid:2) / (cid:2) , TLR3 (cid:2) / (cid:2) , or TLR4 (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice. However, in terms of resistance to infection, IFN- (cid:1) production and in many other parameters of early inﬂammatory responses, the MyD88 (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice showed a more defective response than TLR9 (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice. In the absence of the TLR9/MyD88 signaling pathway, cytokine production was dramatically impaired with a complete abolition of bioactive IL-12p70 serum release contrasting with a high ﬂexibility for IFN- (cid:1) release, which is initially (36 h) plasmacytoid dendritic cell- and MyD88-dependent, and subsequently (44 h) PDC-, MyD88-independent and, most likely, TLR-independent. NK cells from MCMV-infected MyD88 (cid:2) / (cid:2) and TLR9 (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice displayed a severely impaired IFN- (cid:3) production, yet retained enhanced cytotoxic activity. In addition, dendritic cell activation and critical inﬂammatory cell trafﬁcking toward the liver were still effective. In the long term, except for isotype switching to MCMV-speciﬁc IgG1, the establishment of Ab responses was not signiﬁcantly altered. Thus, our results demonstrate a critical requirement of TLR9 in the process of MCMV sensing to assure rapid antiviral responses, coordinated with other TLR-dependent and -inde-pendent events that are sufﬁcient to establish adaptive immunity. The Journal of Immunology, 2005, 175: 6723–6732.
Complexity in de Sitter space

We consider the holographic complexity conjectures for de-Sitter invariant states in a quantum field theory on de Sitter space, dual to asymptotically anti-de Sitter geometries with de Sitter boundaries. The bulk holographic duals include solutions with or without a horizon. If we compute the complexity from the spatial volume, we find results consistent with general expectations, but the conjectured bound on the growth rate is not saturated. If we compute complexity from the action of the Wheeler–de Witt patch, we find qualitative differences from the volume calculation, with states of smaller energy having larger complexity than those of larger energy, even though the latter have bulk horizons.
Polarization management : an efficient polarization rotator splitter on silicon-on-insulator platform

v List of Tables . ix List of Figures . x List of abbreviations . xii Acknowledgments . xiii Chapter One: Introduction . 1 1.1. Optical Communication . 2 1.2. Photonic Integrated Circuits with Different Platforms . 4 1.3. Silicon Photonics Platforms for PICs . 5 Chapter Two: Polarization Management . 7 2.
Fabrication of TiO 2 Nanotube Thin Films and Their Gas Sensing Properties

The fabrication process and the growth mechanism of titanium/titania nanotubes prepared by anodization process is reviewed, and their applications in the fields of dye sensitized solar cells, photocatalysts, electrochromic devices, gas sensors, and biomaterials are presented. The anodization of Ti thin films on different substrates and the growth process of anodic titanium oxide are described using the current-time curves. Special attention is paid on the influences of the initial film smoothness on the resulted nanoporous morphologies. The “threshold barrier layer thickness model” is used to discuss the growth mechanism. As a case study for gas sensing, anodized highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays and nanoporous thin films that show porous surface with an average diameter of 25 nm and interpore distance of 40 nm were prepared. Gas sensors based on such nanotube arrays and nanoporous thin films were fabricated, and their sensing properties were investigated. Excellent H2 gas sensing properties were obtained for sensors prepared from these highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays, which present stable response even at a low operating temperature of 90◦C. Based on our experimental results, “H-induced O2− desorption” mechanism was used for explaining the hydrogen gas sensing mechanism.
Role of entomopathogenic fungi in bioremediation of copper in soils of Populus deltoides

The present investigation was carried under field conditions to study the role of entomopathogenic fungi in bioremediation of copper in soils of Populus deltoides in Department of Environmental Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during the period 2013-2014. The experiment comprised of eleven treatments viz., T1 (No copper), T2 (100 ppm Cu), T3 (200 ppm Cu), T4 (100 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x105 condia/ml), T5 (100 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x106 condia/ml), T6 (200 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x105 condia/ml), T7 (200 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x106 condia/ml), T8 (100 ppm Cu + B. bassiana, 1 x 105 condia/ml), T9 (100 ppm Cu + B. bassiana, 1x106 condia/ml), T10 (200 ppm Cu + B. bassiana (1x105 condia/ml), T11 (200 ppm Cu + B. bassiana,1x106 condia/ml). Entomopathogenic fungi reduced the copper levels in soil to some extent. Highest percent reduction (21.89%) was at T11, Highest percent reduction (35.09) of 100 ppm copper was recorded with M. anisopliae, 1x106 condia/ml, whereas, B. bassiana (1x106 condia/ml) recorded highest percent reduction (34.05) of 200 ppm copper. There was decrease in protein content of white grub (B. coriacea) with treatments and increase in copper content. Percent corrected mortality was highest (65.13) at T5. The species was capable of tolerating high concentrations of copper and could be good candidate for planting in copper contaminated soils.
Preliminary study to determine extent of linkage disequilibrium and estimates of autozygosity in Brazilian Gyr dairy cattle

Genotypes of 25 artificial insemination sires were used to study the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and the correspondence between pedigree and SNP-based estimators of inbreeding in Brazilian Gyr dairy cattle. Overall, 24,020 SNPs had minor allele frequencies (MAF) greater than 5 % and were used to calculate two measures of LD (r² and D’) for all pairs of markers in each autosome. LD was also used to estimate the effective population size (Ne) at different prior generations. Individual inbreeding coefficients (F) were estimated using either pedigree information (Fped, pedigree traced back up to 9 generations) or marker information. Marker-based estimates of F were derived based on the excess homozygosity (Fhet) in SNP markers and the estimated proportion of the genome located in runs of homozygosity (Froh). The mean LD between adjacent markers averaged across all autosomes was approximately 0.20 and 0.75, measured using r² and D’. Useful LD was identified between markers separated by up to 100 kb when screening this sample of Gyr dairy cattle. The effective population size showed a consistent trend of decay along time, falling below 56 in the last three generations. Weaker correspondence between individual inbreeding estimates based on runs of homozygosity and pedigree was verified in the present study (estimated correlations between Fped and Froh varied from 0.32 to 0.42). It appears to be feasible to apply genomic selection to Gyr cattle in Brazil, but further studies on the extent of linkage disequilibrium using a larger sample of this population are needed.
An assessment of how students' mastery of drawing skills in secondary schools affects performance in Biology in Bungoma West District, Kenya

Performance in Biology in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) has been poor in the recent years. This has been attributed to many factors, among which is the poor mastery of drawing skills by the students. The purpose of this paper is to assess the drawing skills mastered by Biology secondary school students and to determine the impact of mastery of biological drawing skills on performance in Biology. The paper is based on a study conducted in Bungoma West District in Kenya. A descriptive survey research design was used in the study, in which 15% of the schools in the District were selected using stratified random sampling to ensure equal representation of girls and boys. Thirty-three percent of the target population, Form Three students, was selected using simple random sampling technique. In mixed schools, the subjects were obtained using stratified sampling technique to ensure gender equality. The teachers for the study were obtained using purposive sampling technique. Three instruments were used to collect data: the teacher's questionnaire (TQ), Student's questionnaire (SQ) and students' test (ST). The data obtained from the study was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics using the computer software, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results indicated that on average, over 68% of the respondents lacked biological drawing skills and that. It was further revealed that mastery of drawing skills had a significant effect on performance in Biology in secondary schools. The findings would be useful to curriculum developers in developing instructional materials to assist teachers and students on how best to present biological drawings and interpretation of biological photographs and drawings. They would also form a basis for further research not only in practical biology but also in other disciplines with an aim of improving the quality of teaching.
Model selection on tourism forecasting: A comparison between Bayesian model averaging and Lasso

This study tries to tackle the tourism forecasting problem using online search queries. This recent-developed methodology is subject to several criticisms, one of which is how to choose satisfying search queries to be built in the forecasting model. This study compares two popular candidates, which are the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) approach and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selector Operator (Lasso) approach. Evidence shows that the two approaches produce similar forecasting performance but different query selection results. Key words: Tourism forecasting, query selection, Bayesian model averaging, Lasso, Baidu query data.
Interdecadal Changes in Heavy Rainfall in China during the Northern Summer

1 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 2 Laboratory for Atmosphere, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA 3 Science system and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD, USA 4 Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster, Institute of Resources Science, Beijing Normal University, China * Corresponding author address: Prof. Chang-Hoi Ho, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; E-mail: hoch@cpl.snu. ac.kr Using ground observations of daily rainfall over China during summer (June August) for the period 1961 95, we examined interdecadal changes in the distribution of rainy events as a function of the rain rate and assessed their contributions to the total summer rainfall. We found that central China was wetter, and northern and southern China were drier in the decades following 1979 as compared to the earlier decades. The interdecadal changes in the Chinese summer rainfall are closely linked to those in large-scale circulations: the southward displacement of a westerly wind at the levels of 200 and 850 hPa over East Asia and an enhanced 850 hPa northerly wind over central-eastern China. The corresponding 850 hPa relative vorticity increased (decreased) over central (northern and southern) China where the summer rainfall has increased (decreased) during the later decades. Interestingly, the change in the total number of rainy events was found to be negligible during the entire period of data collection. Across the overall region (mostly eastern China), a large amount of interdecadal changes is accounted for by less than 20% of the total number of rainy events in the heavy-to-extremely-heavy categories (≥~25 mm day 1 − ). The possible causes-associated with large-scale circulations-and the implications of the present results are discussed. (
An Electricity Flow Optimization Problem for Effective Operation of Storage Devices in Microgrid

An electrical energy storage device has been expected to alleviate negative effects of the integration of renewable energy resources into electricity supply systems; however, the appropriate storage technology along with the control characteristics as a component in the electricity supply system has not been clarified yet. As one of approaches, an effective control of electricity flow and an operation of storage devices have been developing. This paper formulates an electricity flow optimization problem in reducing transmission loss to analyze the fluctuation of it followed by the adjustment of the amount of electricity stored in storage devices. Keywords—electrical energy storage device; microgrid; renewable energy resource; transmission loss; transportation problem.
A single session of active video game play promotes post-exercise hypotension in hypertensive middle-aged subjects

Purpose. to determine whether an active video game session promoted post-exercise hypotension, similar to walking. Methods. Fifteen hypertensive subjects (49.0 ± 1.6 years) of both genders performed five randomized sessions, lasting 60 minutes: 1) active video game; 2) sedentary video game; 3) walking on a treadmill with moderate intensity; 4) walking on a treadmill with similar intensity to the active video game; and 5) control without exercise. Blood pressure and cardiac autonomic modulation measurements were taken at rest and every 10 minutes post exercise for 60 minutes. Results. the active video game promoted a reduction in systolic blood pressure (-14.4 ± 3.0 mmHg, p < 0.0001) similar to walking on a treadmill with moderate intensity (-16.9 ± 3.3 mmHg, p < 0.0001), whereas the control group without exercise did not demonstrate a blood pressure reduction. the sedentary video game also demonstrated a reduction in systolic blood pressure (-10.0 ± 3.1 mmHg, p = 0.0039), statistically similar to the active video game and walking on a treadmill with similar intensity to the active video game (8.7 ± 2.9 mmHg, p = 0.0034). regarding the diastolic component, the active video game (-7.6 ± 1.5 mmHg, p < 0.0001), walking on a treadmill with moderate intensity (-8.3 ± 2.9 mmHg, p = 0.0042), and the sedentary video game (-7.5 ± 2.7 mmHg, p = 0.0098) produced similar reductions in diastolic blood pressure. the active video game was a procedure that promoted a sympathetic-vagal balance reduction from pre-exercise to 60 minutes post exercise (4.2 ± 0.8 to 2.3 ± 0.5, p = 0.0486). Conclusions. Active video game play promoted a similar reduction in blood pressure compared to traditional walking exercise with the advantage of promoting reduction in the sympathetic inflow to the heart.
Preparation of Curcuminoid Powder from Turmeric Root (Curcuma longa Linn) for Food Ingredient Use

The tumeric (Curcuma longa Linn) Chan variety possessed higher curcuminoid than the DangSiam variety. The result showed that the extracting solvent could significantly alter the curcuminoid as well as the total polyphenol content of the turmeric extract. Recommended conditions for curcuminoid extract from turmeric were: ethanol, solid:liquid ratio 1:50, at 70°C for 2 hr. Preparation of curcuminoid powder from turmeric extract was performed by entrapment of the natural turmeric compound “curcuminoid” with a polysaccharide, carboxymethyl cellulose, as a complex formation and mixed with maltodextrin, prior to drying. The curcuminoid content in the powder affected the product’s qualities such as color, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties. Sensory evaluation of the products, in the form of turmeric tea, revealed that powder containing a level of curcuminoid of 411.28∝g/g had the highest acceptance score. It also exhibited high water solubility (15g/100 ml). The total phenolic content and antioxidant capability of the product with the highest acceptance score was 13.27 as mg GAE/g and 14.46 as mg BHAE/g, respectively. The powder had a total plate count of yeast and mold <10 cfu/g and no pathogenic microorganisms were found. Storage of the powder in an aluminum foil bag at room temperature for four months only slightly changed the curcuminoid content, indicating the high stability of the product. Hence, curcuminoid powder could be used as a food ingredient for various health-drink products.
TOTAL FERTILITY RATE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: NEW EVIDENCE FROM BRUNEI

The demographic transition from high fertility rate to low fertility rate has a strong impact on the economic development process. It has played the central role to shape the economy and society in any country. The centrality of the demographic role in the economic development has been neglected. Thus, this paper chose Brunei as a case study to examine the relationship between economic development and total fertility rates. The empirical findings of the present study show that there is a long-run relationship between Brunei's growth and its growth and there is also the long run causality from growth to fertility in the country. On the other hand, the results show that in the short run there has been no short-run causality between two variables. As a conclusion, these findings provide empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that economic development act as the "driving force" behind the demographic transition in Brunei.