Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species asynchrony stabilises productivity under extreme drought across Northern China grasslands

Biodiversity can stabilise productivity through different mechanisms, such as asynchronous species responses to environmental variability and species stability. Global changes, like intensified drought, could negatively affect species richness, species asynchrony and species stability, but it is unclear how changes in these mechanisms will affect the stability of above‐ground primary productivity (ANPP) across ecosystems. We studied the effects of a 4‐year extreme drought on ANPP stability and the underlying mechanisms (species richness, species asynchrony and species stability) across six grasslands in Northern China. We also assessed the relative importance of these mechanisms in determining ANPP stability under extreme drought. We found that extreme drought decreased ANPP stability, species richness, species asynchrony and species stability across the six grasslands. However, structural equation modelling revealed that species asynchrony, not species richness or species stability, was the most important mechanism promoting stability of ANPP, regardless of drought across the six grasslands. Synthesis. Our results suggest that species asynchrony, not species richness and species stability, consistently buffers ecosystem stability against extreme drought across and within grasslands spanning a broad precipitation gradient. Thus, species asynchrony may be a more general mechanism for promoting stability of ANPP in grasslands in the face of intensified drought.
First-in-Humans Application of 161Tb: A Feasibility Study Using 161Tb-DOTATOC

Visual Abstract 161Tb has decay properties similar to those of 177Lu but, additionally, emits a substantial number of conversion and Auger electrons. The aim of this study was to apply 161Tb in a clinical setting and to investigate the feasibility of visualizing the physiologic and tumor biodistributions of 161Tb-DOTATOC. Methods: 161Tb was shipped from Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland, to Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Bad Berka, Germany, where it was used for the radiolabeling of DOTATOC. In 2 separate studies, 596 and 1,300 MBq of 161Tb-DOTATOC were administered to a 35-y-old male patient with a metastatic, well-differentiated, nonfunctional malignant paraganglioma and a 70-y-old male patient with a metastatic, functional neuroendocrine neoplasm of the pancreatic tail, respectively. Whole-body planar γ-scintigraphy images were acquired over a period of several days for dosimetry calculations. SPECT/CT images were reconstructed using a recently established protocol and visually analyzed. Patients were observed for adverse events after the application of 161Tb-DOTATOC. Results: The radiolabeling of DOTATOC with 161Tb was readily achieved with a high radiochemical purity suitable for patient application. Planar images and dosimetry provided the expected time-dependent biodistribution of 161Tb-DOTATOC in the liver, kidneys, spleen, and urinary bladder. SPECT/CT images were of high quality and visualized even small metastases in bones and liver. The application of 161Tb-DOTATOC was well tolerated, and no related adverse events were reported. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of imaging even small metastases after the injection of relatively low activities of 161Tb-DOTATOC using γ-scintigraphy and SPECT/CT. On the basis of this essential first step in translating 161Tb to clinics, further efforts will be directed toward the application of 161Tb for therapeutic purposes.
Investment Behaviour of Individual Investors of Pakistan Stock Market with Moderating Role of Financial Literacy

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of investors’ behaviour in the Pakistan stock market with the moderating role of financial literacy. The study also explains the mediating mechanism between the attitude of investment, religiosity, social influence and investment behaviour in stocks. This study used quantitative method to test the hypotheses. The data was collected by using survey approach and self-administrative questionnaire. The data was collected from 250 stock investors through convenience sampling. This study utilized Partial Least Squares structural equation modelling method (PLS-SEM) to test modelled hypothesis and used the Smart PLS version 2.0 to conduct the analysis. This study found that social influence and religiosity influence investment intention while religiosity doesn’t affect investment behaviour. This study also indicates that relationship of investment intention and investment behaviour of individual investors in stock market was significantly moderated by financial literacy. Moreover, results indicate that intentions to investment significantly mediate between the religiosity and investment in stock. Similarly, intentions to investment significantly mediate between social influence and investment in stock. However, intention to investment doesn’t significantly mediate between attitude toward investment and investment behaviour in stock. This study extends the existing literature, specifically in a Pakistan context and helps the policymaker to develop policies to increase investment in the stock market.
Difference in the Proportions of Deleterious Variations Within and Between Populations Influences the Estimation of FST

Estimating the extent of genetic differentiation between populations is an important measure in population genetics, ecology and evolutionary biology. Fixation index or FST is an important measure, which is routinely used to quantify this. Previous studies have shown that FST estimated for selectively constrained regions was significantly lower than that estimated for neutral regions. By deriving the theoretical relationship between FST at neutral and constrained sites we show that an excess in the fraction of deleterious variations segregating within populations compared to that segregates between populations is the cause for the reduction in FST estimated at constrained sites. Using whole genome data, our results revealed that the magnitude of reduction in FST estimates obtained for selectively constrained regions was much higher for distantly related populations compared to those estimated for closely related pairs. For example, the reduction was 47% for comparison between Europeans-Africans, 30% for European-Asian comparison, 16% for the Northern-Southern European pair and only 4% for the comparison involving two Southern European (Italian and Spanish) populations. Since deleterious variants are purged over time due to purifying selection, their contribution to the among-population diversity at constrained sites decreases with the increase in the divergence between populations. However, within-population diversity remains the same for all pairs compared and therefore FST estimated at constrained sites for distantly related populations are much smaller than those estimated for closely related populations. Our results suggest that the level of population divergence should be considered when comparing constrained site FST estimates from different pairs of populations.
Excavating the genealogies of struggles and of the migrant mob

I want to thank my interlocutors Kate Coddington, Maribel Casas-Cortes, Anne McNevin and Stephan Scheel for their generous comments and for their attentive reading of The Making of Migration. Their critical insights and questions touch upon the main epistemic and political stakes that the book grapple with. Their suggestions, questions and remarks are an incitement to push forward some research pathways that The Making of Migration only partially addresses, and to open up new avenues. Maribel Casas-Cortes has nicely captured the main stake of the book speaking about the ‘amplification and problematizing of migration as a potential condition and struggle of and for anyone under any induced vulnerability’. I engage here with the comments that my interlocutors raised by focusing my response along three conceptual threads: choked subjects; genealogy of struggles; migrants’ irreducibility to population.
Investigation of Elastic Properties of the Single-Crystal Nickel-Base Superalloy CMSX-4 in the Temperature Interval between Room Temperature and 1300 °C

The elastic properties of the single-crystal nickel-base superalloy CMSX-4 used as a blade material in gas turbines were investigated by the sonic resonance method in the temperature interval between room temperature and 1300 °C. Elastic constants at such high temperatures are needed to model the mechanical behavior of blade material during manufacturing (hot isostatic pressing) as well as during technical accidents which may happen in service (overheating). High reliability of the results was achieved using specimens of different crystallographic orientations, exciting various vibration modes as well as precise measurement of the material density and thermal expansion required for modeling the resonance frequencies by finite element method. Combining the results measured in this work and literature data the elastic constants of the γ- and γ′-phases were predicted. This prediction was supported by measurement of the temperature dependence of the γ′-fraction. All data obtained in this work are given in numerical or analytical forms and can be easily used for different scientific and engineering calculations.
Towards a Collection of Security and Privacy Patterns

Security and privacy (SP)-related challenges constitute a significant barrier to the wider adoption of Internet of Things (IoT)/Industrial IoT (IIoT) devices and the associated novel applications and services. In this context, patterns, which are constructs encoding re-usable solutions to common problems and building blocks to architectures, can be an asset in alleviating said barrier. More specifically, patterns can be used to encode dependencies between SP properties of individual smart objects and corresponding properties of orchestrations (compositions) involving them, facilitating the design of IoT solutions that are secure and privacy-aware by design. Motivated by the above, this work presents a survey and taxonomy of SP patterns towards the creation of a usable pattern collection. The aim is to enable decomposition of higher-level properties to more specific ones, matching them to relevant patterns, while also creating a comprehensive overview of security- and privacy-related properties and sub-properties that are of interest in IoT/IIoT environments. To this end, the identified patterns are organized using a hierarchical taxonomy that allows their classification based on provided property, context, and generality, while also showing the relationships between them. The two high-level properties, Security and Privacy, are decomposed to a first layer of lower-level sub-properties such as confidentiality and anonymity. The lower layers of the taxonomy, then, include implementation-level enablers. The coverage that these patterns offer in terms of the considered properties, data states (data in transit, at rest, and in process), and platform connectivity cases (within the same IoT platform and across different IoT platforms) is also highlighted. Furthermore, pointers to extensions of the pattern collection to include additional patterns and properties, including Dependability and Interoperability, are given. Finally, to showcase the use of the presented pattern collection, a practical application is detailed, involving the pattern-driven composition of IoT/IIoT orchestrations with SP property guarantees.
Remediation of Vanadium (V) and Chromium (III) Ions from Aqueous Media by Modified Nanocellulose Obtained from Coconut Coir

Abstract In this article, we describe a novel method for the modification of nanocellulose (MNC) produced from coconut coir (a bio-waste) by acetylization applied to the removal of vanadium (V) and chromium (III) metal ions from an aqueous phase in a batch study. The structure of the MNC formed was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. The adsorptive capacity of MNC was enhanced upon modification, achieving 93.6% removal for V V and 84.6% for Cr III at pH 5 within 30 min. The sorption data followed the Langmuir isotherm model (Q max V V; 32.88 and Cr III; 114 mg g−1) with the fast adsorption rate following the pseudo-first-order model (k 1 V V; 0.06 and Cr III 0.073 min−1, respectively). Thus, the MNC from coconut coir very much displayed the desired potential as a sorbent for the removal of these toxic pollutants from wastewater. The sorbent has a promising capability owing to its high sorption capacity which can be used at the industrial scale.
Planar Offset Short Applicable to the Calibration of a Free-Space Material Measurement System in W-Band

The electrical properties of materials and their dependence on frequency and temperature are indispensable in designing electromagnetic devices and systems in various areas of engineering and science for both basic and applied researches. A free-space transmission/reflection method measuring the free-space scattering parameters of a material under test (MUT) located at the middle of transmit/receive antennas in a free space is suitable for non-destructively testing the MUT without prior machining or physical contact in high-frequency range. This paper describes a planar offset short applicable to the calibration of a quasi-optic based free-space material measurement system in the millimeter-wave frequency range. The measurement results of the dimensional and electrical properties for the three fabricated planar offset shorts with the phase difference of 120° between the reflection coefficients of the planar shorts in the W-band (75–110 GHz) are
Hemicellulose and hexenuronic acid removal selectivity to give boosting effect to ECF bleaching

Varies wood structure need difference way of treatment to get the appropriate quality of wood pulp. In pulp industry, wood chips should be cooked and bleached in order to have a good quality of pulp suitable for paper industry. A modified pulp cooking such as Continuous Isothermal Cooking and Super Batch Cooking followed by ECF bleaching is a good alternative for the achievement the necessary standard quality. Effort to achieve better quality in higher yield has so many times been done. Enzyme treatment using xylanase using Ecopuylp TX-200 is a good alternative that could be done in the ECF bleaching stage. Two kinds of unbleached wood pulp from Eucalyptus camaldulensis from AA Thailand, Acacia mangium from RAPP Indonesia is used in this experiment. The bleaching results are analysed for yield, viscosity, hexenuronic acid content, and brightness. The results give an indication that wood structure has a close correlation with the accessibility of enzyme and chemistries in giving peeling effect of lignin from lignin carbohydrate complex (LCC) to get high brightness of pulp with minimum fibre losses. The presence of Na2CO3 in the cooking liquor to gather with the xylanase has positive effect in the cleavage of hemicellulose and lignin through hydrogen bond at – OCH3.
The Influence of Expenditure Behaviour Towards Homeownership

Homeownership becomes the dream of all households. It requires proper planning on the buyer's income and expenses. The different level of household expenditure often influences the allocation of money for house purchasing. Hence, various types of household expenditures have been studied to see how far they may affect the current income and homeownership. A mixed-method was adapted to completing the study. A study sample was obtained through the questionnaire survey among respondents residing within Klang Valley region. The analysis was conducted using the correlation technique. The results show that all categories of expenditure are significant and have a high impact on the status of homeownership.
Evolution of wing length and melanin‐based coloration in insular populations of a cosmopolitan raptor

Insular populations face different conditions than those living on continents, thus, resulting in the evolution of typical insular phenotypes, like smaller body sizes or reduced colourations. However, the generality of the so‐called “island rule” has been questioned, and intraspecific analyses on the effects of insularity on cosmopolitan species are lacking. Here, we tested the predictions of the island rule in the cosmopolitan common barn owl group.
Building local capacity to adapt to climate change

ABSTRACT Local governments in cities around the world will not be able to cope with climate change impacts until they enhance their capacity to adapt. Past efforts to build local capacity, however, have often been unsuccessful. Building municipal capacity to formulate and implement climate adaptation plans will, in our view, require a new approach. Special attention will need to be paid to (1) contingent financial arrangements; (2) widespread and continuous stakeholder engagement; and (3) a commitment to experimental problem-solving. Most important, to respond to the scientific and technical uncertainties surrounding climate risks, local governments will have to enhance their ‘adaptive governance’ capabilities. Key policy insights Building local capacity to adapt to climate change is likely to require moving beyond traditional forms of financial and technical assistance so that the uncertainties and complexities of climate change can be addressed. We suggest a new three-pronged approach to municipal capacity building. The first element of this new approach will require structuring financial investments in a more adaptable (i.e. contingent) fashion. The second will involve widespread and continuous stakeholder engagement, both for coalition building and for public learning. The third encourages an experimental approach to problem-solving so that communities can learn-by-doing.
Flavonoids as Antidiabetic Agents

Flavonoids are polyphenol compounds that exert many potential health benefits, including diabetes type-II, which is the third most common disease that causes death, right after cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The excessively high level of blood glucose has been believed to trigger type II diabetes. The aim of this review is to describe the flavonoid's ability as an alternative treatment for diabetes type-II patients. This paper addresses several aspects in which flavonoids may impart a pivotal role in starch digestion, such as the interaction of flavonoids with enzymes involved in starch hydrolysis, the role of flavonoids in inhibiting glucose absorption, as well as the interaction of flavonoids with starch to form a complex resistant to hydrolysis. Further studies, however, are suggested to extensively carry out, particularly the ones dealing with the intervention study using human volunteers to reveal the role of flavonoids in the real applications. The data on human intervention studies are still rare and can further be exploited using meta-analysis to have firmer results. Flavonoids in the food matrix are more realistic to perform to reveal the effect of interaction with other compounds, which may affect the mechanism of flavonoids interaction or their bioavailability.
On the Possible Use of Fractal Theory in Rainfall Applications

The rainfall data used in hydrological calculations are seldom sufficient to correctly represent the extreme variability of rainfall in time and space. Regarding for example traditional sewer design, the errors may be negligible, but the successively more complex hydrological models used today are much more sensitive to inadequate input data. The problem can be solved either by extensive data collection or by developing methods for extracting more information from limited data. An approach based on fractal theory has been shown to provide a suitable framework for this purpose. In this paper we apply two fractal-related analyzing methods to a two-year series of one-minute rainfall observations. The results indicate that the series exhibit statistical properties that are independent of scale, i.e., scale invariant. A possibility emerging from these findings is to make a shift from the scale defined by the available data to the scale needed for the hydrological problem in question, a prospect of tremendous practical importance.
Polymeric microparticles prepared by spray-drying a drug-containing, aqueous colloidal acrylic polymer dispersion, Eudragit RS30D

Des microparticules de polymere ont ete preparees par nebulisation d'une dispersion colloidale aqueuse de polymere acrylique (Eudragit RS30D) renfermant le principe actif Le principe actifa ete soit dissous (maleate de chlorpheniramine), soit disperse (ibuprofene, naproxene) dans la phase aqueuse des dispersions de polymere. Dans des conditions optimales de nebulisation, a l'interieur des gouttelettes nebulisees les particules colloidales de polymere entrent en coalescence et forment des microparticules. Les etudes sur les microparticules portent sur le rendement, la liberation du principe actif la taille et la morphologies des particules. Des microparticules spheriques avec des charges en principe actif de 10 a 15% ont ete obtenues avec une taille moyenne de 5 a 20 μm. Le rendement a diminue avev une augmentation de la charge et du taux de plastifiant par suite de phenomenes de collage et d'agglomeration. Le maleate de chlorpheniramine et l'ibuprofene se conduisent comme des plastifiants vis-a-vis du polymere. Bien que l'ibuprofene ait ete lui-meme disperse dans la dispersion de polymere, il se trouvait l'etat dissous dans les microparticules, comme l'ont revele les etudes de diffraction de rayons X. La liberation du principe actif a partir des microparticules a ete retardee et fonction de sa solubilite et de sa charge. Les microparticules ont ete incorporees dans des pellets ou des comprimes a desagregation rapide. Les comprimes se sont desagreges rapidement en microparticules, et la liberation du principe actif n'a pas ete modifiee par la compression. Avec les pellets, la liberation a ete retardee car les pellets renfermant de la cellulose microcristalline ne se sont pas desagreges sous forme de microparticules.