Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Community dynamics of insular biotas in space and time

The various features determining species distributions remain enigmatic in ecology. This thesis deals with the spatial and temporal dynamics of land birds on the islands of the Dahlak archipelago, the Red Sea, and of mammals, birds and reptiles among the forest fragments of the archipelago-like east African coastal forest. The bird species richness on the islands of the Dahlak archipelago depended on area, isolation and extent of habitat. Similarly, species richness of the east African forest fragments was related to area, habitat diversity and isolation but the importance of each factor varied among taxa as well as among generalists and specialists. For example, area influenced species richness of most categories except specialist mammals and reptiles, habitat diversity was more important for forest specialists than generalists, and isolation was important only for birds. In both study areas, similarity in bird species composition decreased with increasing distances among isolates suggesting that dispersal from source pools and among isolates facilitate re-colonization. The nested community structure, i.e. species composition of species−poor communities are a subset of species−rich communities, of birds in the Dahlak archipelago depended on area and the distribution of a few habitats. Similarities in community patterns and cooccurrence patterns, at both community and species levels, were mainly related to habitat preferences and corresponding distributions of habitats as well as inter-island distances. Also, the distributional patterns suggest that predator-prey interactions can be a determinant of the spatial distribution of, at least, the prey. There was no evidence of competitive exclusion. The nested structure on the islands of the Dahlak archipelago remained fairly stable over a period of 35 years even in this arid region. The turnover dynamics were broadly predictable from the nested pattern but not always consistent with other expectations from nested community structure. Taken together my results show that mechanisms on varying spatial and temporal scales act on species distributions, and that the influence may vary among taxa mainly depending on dispersal ability. In the case of conservation, comprehensive strategies accounting for these variations are needed.
Douglas-fir beetle attack and tree mortality following wildfire

A major concern after wildfires is the buildup of bark beetle populations in fire injured trees, and subsequent attack and population buildup in adjacent unburned areas. To examine this concern, we documented fire injury and insect attacks in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) on the 2001 Green Knoll Fire, Wyoming to determine attack preferences, brood production, and emergence densities in different levels of fire-injured trees. Tree injuries of crown scorch, ground char, bole char, and basal girdling were recorded in mixed-severity burn areas. Douglas fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) attack densities and brood production were sampled on two sides of infested trees in the fall of 2002. Sampled trees were organized into different combinations of crown scorch and basal girdling. Cages (1x2 ft) were installed on a subsample of trees in each category in spring of 2003 to sample beetle emergence densities. Crown scorch, pre-fire vigor, dbh, and the interaction of crown scorch and basal girdling were significant variables in explaining whether a tree was attacked by Douglas fir beetle. The number of brood sampled in fall was significantly affected by the percent crown scorch but not the percent basal girdling; however, the emergence the following spring was not significantly correlated with either crown scorch or basal girdling. Further analyses of attack and tree injury correlations are planned.
Interactive comment on “Evaluation of the transferability of hydrological model parameters for simulations under changed climatic conditions” by S. Bastola et al

Response to General Comments: The idea of using climatic conditions, defined using annual precipitation, is based on some recent studies which show a link between model parameters and climatic conditions (e.g., Merz et al., 2011, Vaze et al., 2011). In this study, the distribution of model parameters of the HYMOD model, for two different sub-periods is shown in Figure 1 and provides empirical support for the argument that model parameters and climate conditions are linked.
Augmented Reality Visualization of Building Information Model THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By

ii Acknowledgments. iii Vita . iv List of Figures . viii List of Table . xi Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Motivations. 1 Building Information Modeling and its application . 1 Advantage of Augmented Reality . 3 Related Works . 3 BIM System . 3 Spatial Mapping . 4 Augmented Reality Technologies . 5 Objectives . 6 Chapter 2: 3D Modeling of Real World . 7 vi Representation of 3D Model . 7 Polygonal Modeling . 9 Basic Geometry . 9 Tessellation . 10 3D Scanning Techniques . 12 LiDAR Technique . 12 Structured Light Technique . 15 Time of Flight Camera technique . 17 From Point Cloud to Meshes . 18 Image-based Modeling . 20 Photometric Stereo . 20 Multi-view Stereo and Structure from Motion . 23 Chapter 3: Augmented Reality System . 26 System Components . 26 Display . 26 Input Device . 27 Tracking Device . 28 Image Registration Algorithm . 28 Marker-based Method . 28 vii Marker-less Method . 30 Pose Estimation . 33 Comparing with Virtual Reality System . 33 Chapter 4: Augmented Reality Visualization of BIM . 35 Basic Principles of Hololens . 36 Main Components. 36 Spatial Mapping and Understanding . 37 Building Information Model Generation. 37 Manage Building Information Model in Unity . 41 Model Registration and Visualization . 43 Main Sources of Errors . 47 Chapter 5: Conclusion and Future Work . 52 Conclusion . 52 Future Work . 52 References . 54
Scanned by CamScanner POTENTIAL ROLES FOR ELF3 IN FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER AND DEVELOPMENT

Farrell, Mark Casey M.S., Purdue University, August 2015. Potential Roles for Elf3 in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Development. Major Professor: James A. Marrs. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a disease caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. It is characterized by craniofacial abnormalities, growth retardation, central nervous system defects, learning disabilities and a variety of other minor defects. Even though it affects 2-5% of individuals born every year, very little is known about the mechanisms that cause it. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) presents as an interesting and efficient model for studying this disease. This study provides some insight into the mechanisms underlying observed FASD phenotypes and, more specifically, the transcription factor elf3, which is downregulated in response to ethanol exposure during early embryonic development. Here we show a number of elf3 target genes that are downregulated during early development in response to ethanol exposure. We also give some insight into the expression pattern of elf3 in relation to zygotic genome activation. Translation blocking morpholino oligonucleotides were used to implicate Elf3 in epiboly movements during gastrulation and zebrafish tail development. Taken together these results help to strengthen the zebrafish as a model for FASD in addition to giving greater insight into both the expression pattern and role of Elf3 during development.
Accounting Standards, Goodwill Impairment and Earnings Management in Malaysia

This paper has two objectives. The first is to investigate whether the provision of MFRS 136 (that is equivalent to IAS 36) allows for an earnings management technique termed “big bath” in Bursa Malaysia and, whether the change in firms’ CEOs plays a role in goodwill impairment loss recognition. The second objective is to examine the application of goodwill impairment loss recognition under the provision of MFRS136 in Bursa Malaysia between 2011–2012, using a “Mann-Whitney U” test. Our findings suggest that companies utilize goodwill impairment to take a “bath” regarding earnings management. Moreover, we find that Malaysian companies struggle to understand the ambiguity of the Value in Use (VIU) method under the MFRS 136 as they tend to take extreme accounting treatment strategies. Finally, we find that the new CEOs in Malaysian companies are more conservative in accounting treatment than CEOs with long tenure.
Unpacking dynamic capability deployment: U.S. defense systems integrators’ response to 9/11 [Explorer le déploiement de capacités dynamiques : le cas de cinq firmes de défense américaines face aux événements du 11 septembre]

Le papier vise a developper une contribution a la fois theorique et methodologique au sein du courant des capacites dynamiques, qui s’interesse a la facon dont les entreprises modifient leurs ressources et capacites operationnelles pour repondre a des changements dans leur environnement. Les recherches comportent aujourd’hui un ensemble de propositions clefs mais buttent regulierement sur d’importants problemes : la realisation d’etudes empiriques approfondies, l’exploration non seulement du contenu mais egalement des processus a l’œuvre, la necessite de distinguer entre differents types de changement. Pretant attention a ces limites, nous proposons d’explorer le deploiement de capacites dynamiques au travers de trois briques : la reconnaissance que l’environnement a change (detecter et apprecier), la decision de deployer une capacite dynamique (analyser et decider) et la reorchestration effective d’actifs de l’entreprise (mettre en œuvre). Pour ce faire, nous presentons une etude de cas longitudinale et enchâssee des principaux integrateurs de systemes de defense americains entre 1998 et 2007, etudiant la facon dont ils ont chacun repondu aux evenements du 11 septembre. Des series de donnees relatives aux discours et a l’orchestration d’actifs interne et externe de cinq entreprises (Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon) ont ete collectees et organisees. Des outils de mesure sont proposes afin d’analyser, dans le temps et de maniere comparative entre les firmes, l’attention des dirigeants aux changements de l’environnement, les changements decides au niveau de la firme et la facon dont ces changements sont mis en œuvre a differents niveaux.
Compliance with goodwill-related mandatory disclosure requirements and the cost of equity capital

Theory suggests that increased levels of corporate disclosure lead to a decrease in cost of equity via the reduction of estimation risk. We examine compliance levels with International Financial Reporting Standard 3 Business Combinations and International Accounting Standard 36 Impairments of Assets mandated goodwill-related disclosure and their association with firms’ implied cost of equity capital (ICC). Using a sample of European firms for the period 2008–2011, we find a median compliance level of about 83% and significant differences in compliance levels across firms and time. Non-compliance relates mostly to proprietary information and information that reveals managers’ judgement and expectations. Overall, we find a statistically significant negative relationship between the ICC and compliance with mandated goodwill-related disclosure. Further, we split the sample between firms meeting (or not) market expectations about the recognition of a goodwill impairment loss in a given year to study whether variation in compliance levels mainly plays a confirmatory or a mediatory role. We find the latter: higher compliance levels matter only for the sub-sample of firms that do not meet market expectations regarding goodwill impairment. Finally, our results hold only in countries where enforcement is strong.
The Effects of Power Usage on Five Power Modes in South Africa Using Multivariate Techniques

South Africa contends with the lack of access to secure affordable energy. This affects the country’s ability to provide reliable power to consumers. This paper investigates the source of energy ‘power mode’ such as electricity, gas, paraffin, solar and other (firewood and cow dung) and the effects of power usage in cooking, heating and lighting at household consumption level using three multivariate techniques, namely; Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), discriminant analysis and factor analysis. These methods are used to determine the mostly used source of energy and usage based on the nine Provinces in South Africa. According to all the three techniques, electricity and paraffin were the most used type of energy source. However, electricity usage was ahead of paraffin. Rationalization and use of the power of the optimum of these powers are required. MANOVA was the preferred method in terms of ease of use and interpretation of the results.
An Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Adoption of Activity Based Costing (ABC) in the Financial Sector in Jamaica

Financial institutions are increasingly operating in a highly competitively environment and therefore cost management has become an imperative. This paper investigates the factors influencing the adoption of activity-based costing (ABC) methodology within the financial sector in Jamaica. Quantitative analysis was done using the generalized linear logistic regression model. The results show that there are three main factors that are statistically significant in the decision to implement an ABC system, these are: companies perception of the ability of ABC to assist in cost control, the proportion of overhead to total cost and finally, the action of competitors, that is, whether a competitor adopts the ABC methodology
Development of Time-Resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in Femtosecond Range

A promising design for achieving the ultimate spatial and temporal resolution is proposed. With modulation of the time delay between two femtosecond laser pulses repeatedly illuminating a scanning tunneling microscope junction, the induced component of the tunneling current is detected as a function of the delay time. With this method, a high signal-to-noise ratio, stable measurement free from fluctuation of laser intensity, and removal of the thermal expansion effect can be achieved. Using the photovoltage effect of GaAs, the high performance of the newly developed system is demonstrated in the femtosecond range.
Effects of leaf maturity and wind stress on the nutrition of the generalist caterpillar Lymantria dispar feeding on poplar

The growth rates of insect herbivores commonly decrease when they feed on mature leaves due to the combined effects of several nutritional and physiological mechanisms. Environmental stresses during leaf development may also decrease herbivore performance. The present study tests two main hypotheses to help clarify the importance of these factors for the nutrition and growth of an insect herbivore: (i) decreases in nutrient levels, consumption rates and nutrient assimilation efficiencies impact negatively on herbivores feeding on mature leaves and (ii) wind stress has a negative impact on herbivores feeding on mature leaves. The results show that mature poplar (Populus alba × Populus tremula) leaves have decreased levels of protein and increased levels of fibre, and that growth rates of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) are decreased on mature leaves in association with decreased consumption rates. However, in contrast to the first hypothesis, protein and carbohydrate are assimilated efficiently (74–82% and 84–87%, respectively) from immature and mature poplar leaves. The larvae are able to chew mature leaves as efficiently as immature leaves, potentially maximizing nutrient extraction. By contrast to the second hypothesis, wind‐stressed leaves have no significant detrimental effects on nutrient assimilation efficiencies, and the lower growth rates of L. dispar larvae feeding on mature wind‐stressed leaves can be explained by lower consumption rates. Therefore, the availability of nutrients to herbivores feeding on mature tree leaves is not necessarily impacted by lower assimilation efficiencies, even when leaves develop under wind stress. These results help explain some of the large variation between the nutritional qualities of trees for forest Lepidoptera.
ERP systems introduction and internal auditing legitimacy : an institutional analysis

In this paper, the authors examine how the internal audit function (IAF) maintains its legitimacy when enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are introduced. This work centers on an in-depth case study of a multinational bank and finds that ERP systems impose an institutional logic of control based on interlinked assumptions. These assumptions motivate changes in the practice and structure of the IAF to become an integrated and comprehensive function to maintain its legitimacy.
A QUALITATIVE STUDY ABOUT THE ROLE OF BRAND USER STEREOTYPES ON ADVERTISING EFFICIENCY

Drawing on social cognitive theory and self congruity theory, this study examines the role of brand user stereotypes (in advertisements) on developing favorable intentions toward the ad (and thus toward the brand). Moderating effects of product involvement level within this relationship was also explored. Using qualitative methodology, five focus groups were conducted. Results support that brand user stereotypes in ads operate on advertising efficiency through the self-congruity theory. However, regardless of involvement level, consumers prefer to see a reflection of their ideal selves’ rather than actual selves through the stereotypes.Also, this is also one among few studies that emphasized brand user stereotypes should be consistent with not only the ideal selves of consumers but also the social gender role perceptions of them in creating advertising efficiency.
Real-Time Inverse Optimal Neural Control for Image Based Visual Servoing with Nonholonomic Mobile Robots

We present an inverse optimal neural controller for a nonholonomic mobile robot with parameter uncertainties and unknown external disturbances. The neural controller is based on a discrete-time recurrent high order neural network (RHONN) trained with an extended Kalman filter. The reference velocities for the neural controller are obtained with a visual sensor. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is tested by simulations and real-time experiments.
Reproducing LGN cells behavior using a simple mathematical model

Introduction The study of detailed neural networks has been an important innovation to be able to study, otherwise hard to observe, neural behavior. Simulation software such as NEURON is capable of using complex conductance equations during simulations but they become a problem in simulations of large networks and often researchers must cut down the number of cells they simulate. This project aimed to create a mathematical model that would reproduce the spike patterns of the cells of the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) in the NEURON simulation software. Instead of using conductance equations, as has already been done [2], we created a new model as an expansion of the Izhikevich equation [1] which has been previously made to reproduce general spiking patterns with a simple mathematical equation. We also introduced noise to our model. In addition, we used the model to create a network of LGN cells. We tested the efficiency of the simplified mathematical model by testing the execution time of simulations for diverse quantities of neurons. We also tested for compatibility between the spiking frequency and the stimulation amplitude of the conductance and the mathematical model. Adjustments were made to the original Izhikevich code to derive the quickest possible model.
Extensive games with time structures

We introduce personal time-structures and common time-structures to extensive games. These structures restrict the class of extensive games of Kuhn [8]. We show that if a player has perfect recall, then the game is personally time-structured for him. In the other direction, there are many personally time-structured games that do not satisfy perfect recall. The only known condition on memory that is required by a personally time-structured game is that no player is absent-minded. Common time-structures, on the other hand, are not related to the perfect recall condition at all. An extensive game may have perfect recall and yet no common time-structure, and conversly, a game may have a common time-structure, and no player has perfect recall. Common time-structures are used to extend backward induction results to games with imperfect recall.
On the difference between stiff and soft membranes: Capillary Waves

One problem of non-crystalline condensed matter (soft matter) is creating the right equilibrium between elasticity and viscosity, referred to as viscoelasticity. Manifestations of that can be found in everyday live, where the viscoelasticity in a tire needs to be balanced so it is still flexible and can dissipate shock-energy, yet hard enough for energy-saving operation. Similarly, the cartilage in joints needs to absorb shocks while operating at low- level friction with high elasticity. Two such examples with a biological applicability are stiff membranes, which allow for the sliding of joints and therefore maintain their function over the lifetime of the corresponding individual (decades) and the softening of cell membranes, for example for antimicrobial effects by dissolution in the case of bacteria (seconds). While the first should allow for low- friction operation at high elasticity, in the second scenario energy dissipated into the membrane eventually leads to membrane destruction. Here we address the intrinsic difference between these two types of membranes, differing in stiffness and displaying different relaxation behavior on the nanosecond time scale. The harder membranes show additional elastic modes, capillary waves, that indicate the high degree of elasticity necessary for instance in cartilage or red blood cells. The energy of these modes is in the order of 1 micro-eV. As model systems we chose a hard phospholipidmembrane of SoyPC lipids and a D2O/C10E4/decane microemulsion system representing soft surfactant membranes. Our results help to explain properties observed for many membranes in nature, where hard membranes lubricate joints or stay intact as red blood particles in tiniest capillaries, both with extremely long lifetimes. Contrarily, softened membranes can be destroyed easily under little shear stress within seconds.
Cigarette Smoking: A Causal Factor for Alzheimers Disease?

Jason J Woods1, Kristy L Martin1, Elvis Freeman-Acquah3, Mickeeley Smith1, Philip M Hansbro1, Jay C Horvat1, Daniel M Johnstone2 and Elizabeth A Milward1* 1School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Australia 2The Bosch Institute and Discipline of Physiology, University of Sydney, Australia 3Institute of Genetics and Cytology, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, China *Corresponding author: Elizabeth A Milward, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Australia, Tel: 61249215000; E-mail: liz.milward@newcastle.edu. au