Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Demography and Dynamics of an Expanding, Managed African Wild Dog Metapopulation

Long-term demographic data are central for the evaluation of endangered species recovery plans. We present the demography and dynamics of a managed African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) metapopulation in South Africa, based on life histories of 553 individually known animals collected between 1998 and 2006. This metapopulation, distributed across nine sites (and not including Kruger National Park), was established through reintroductions (n = 9 events) and maintained by periodic augmentation (n = 10 events) and translocation (n = 20 events). In total, 66 founders were used to establish subpopulations and mean founder group size was 9.6 animals. The metapopulation grew from 17 individuals in 1998 to a peak of 202 in 2005. Mean annual population density was 3.3 (S.E. 0.44) wild dogs/100 km2, approaching the upper limit of densities reported from unmanaged populations. Mean size of breeding packs was 11.0 (S.E. 0.76), comparable to pack sizes in Kruger National Park (Kruger), the only viable unmanaged population in South Africa. Fecundity was lower than in Kruger — particularly in the older age classes. Pup survival to adulthood was 45% — nearly three times the survival rate for pups in Kruger. Mean annual population growth rate (&lgr; = 1.08, S.E. 0.13) was higher than in unmanaged populations (range 1.000–1.038), with implications for population viability and management.
Opting out from European Union legislation: the differentiation of secondary law

ABSTRACT Differentiated integration in the European Union (EU) has been primarily discussed and analysed at the treaty level, whereas lack of systematic data has hampered the examination of secondary-law or legislative differentiation. We present a new data set of differentiation in EU legislation from 1958 to 2012, a descriptive analysis and a comparison of the patterns of primary- and secondary-law differentiation across time, member states and policies. We find that differentiation facilitating the accession of new members and constitutional differentiation accommodating the opposition against the integration of core state powers drive both primary- and secondary-law differentiation. In addition, we find complementarity between differentiation in treaty law and secondary legislation depending on the availability and salience of differentiation opportunities.
Working Paper No . 2017-08 Default Risk , Productivity , and the Environment : Theory and Evidence from U . S . Manufacturing

This paper develops a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous firms to analyze the effect of default risk on production-generated pollution emissions. The model analytically divides the effect of default risk into three distinct effects: the market-size, technology-upgrading, and selection effect. Conceptually, an increase in default risk raises equilibrium borrowing costs, thereby precluding investment in a technology upgrade among a subset of firms (technology-upgrading effect). As a consequence, the economy consists of more numerous (market-size effect) but less productive and more pollution-intensive firms (selection effect). Because the effects are confounding in nature, the effect of default risk on aggregate pollution emissions and emissions intensity is an empirical question. To answer this question, this paper estimates the model’s key parameters using a unique dataset with establishment-level credit scores and a composite measure of pollution emissions for a panel of manufacturing firms in the United States. Using a two-step procedure where default risk is estimated in the first stage, the results indicate that the estimated elasticity of emissions intensity and productivity with respect to default risk is 0.89 and −0.16, respectively. Next, I use the theoretical model to leverage the coefficient estimates to estimate the effect of economy-wide default risk on aggregate pollution emissions, demonstrating that default risk increases aggregate emissions and emissions intensity, primarily as a consequence of the technology-upgrading effect. Finally, this paper demonstrates that historical changes in economy-wide default risk can generate economically significant changes in pollution emissions. JEL Classifications: D50, L60, Q50
SPACING AND LAG EFFECTS IN RECOGNITION MEMORY: TIME VERSUS INTERVENING ITEMS

Spacing and lag effects both refer to abundant findings that memory is enhanced when repeated items are spaced. Several researchers have realized the difficulty of explaining these effects using only one theory, and, therefore posited varying dualprocess models. It is also unclear if there is a limit to the increase in memory performance due to increased lag. This study sought to understand how stimulus type influences spacing and lag effects, limits of the lag effect, and the importance of time and items in creating these effects. Experiment 1 found a unique spacing effect and lag effect. Experiment 2 found no spacing effect, yet a lag effect was found. Both time and items are important in generating spacing and lag effects.
Isolation and Subjective Welfare: Evidence from South Asia

Using detailed geographical and household survey data from Nepal, this article investigates the relationship between isolation and subjective welfare. We examine how distance to markets and proximity to large urban centers are associated with responses to questions about income and consumption adequacy. Results show that isolation is associated with a significant reduction in subjective assessments of income and consumption adequacy, even after controlling for consumption expenditures and other factors. The reduction in subjective welfare associated with isolation is much larger for households that are already relatively close to markets. These findings suggest that welfare assessments based on monetary income and consumption may seriously underestimate the subjective welfare cost of isolation.
Spurk development : Longitudinal findings The dual impact of gender and the influence of timing of parenthood on men ' s and women ' s career

This study investigated the impact of gender, the gender-related self-concept (agency and communion), and the timing of parenthood on objective career success of 1,015 highly educated professionals. Hypotheses derived from a dual-impact model of gender and career-related processes were tested in a 5-wave longitudinal study over a time span of 10 years starting with participants’ career entry. In line with our hypotheses we found that the communal component of the gender self-concept had an impact on parenthood, and the agentic component influenced work hours and objective career success (salary, status) of both women and men. Parenthood had a negative direct influence on women’s work hours and a negative indirect influence on women’s objective career success. Women who had their first child around career entry were relatively least successful over the observation period. Men’s career success was independent of parenthood. Sixty-five percent of variance in women’s career success and 33% of variance in men’s career success was explained by the factors analyzed here. Mothers with partners working full time reduced their work hours more than mothers with partners not working full time. A test for a possible reverse influence of career success on the decision to become a parent revealed no effect for men and equivocal effects for women. We conclude that the transition to parenthood still is a crucial factor for women’s career development both from an external gender perspective (expectations, gender roles) and from an internal perspective (gender-related self-concept).
Constraints on fluid flow processes in the Hellenic Accretionary Complex (eastern Mediterranean Sea) from numerical modeling

The dynamics of accretionary convergent margins are severely influenced by intense deformation and fluid expulsion. To quantify the fluid pressure and fluid flow velocities in the Hellenic subduction system, we set up 2‐D hydrogeological numerical models following two seismic reflection lines across the Mediterranean Ridge. These profiles bracket the along‐strike variation in wedge geometry: moderate compression and a >4 km thick underthrust sequence in the west versus enhanced compression and <1 km of downgoing sediment in the center. Input parameters were obtained from preexisting geophysical data, drill cores, and new geotechnical laboratory experiments. A permeability‐porosity relationship was determined by a sensitivity analysis, indicating that porosity and intrinsic permeability are small. This hampers the expulsion of fluids and leads to the build up of fluid overpressure in the deeper portion of the wedge and in the underthrust sediment. The loci of maximum fluid pressure are mainly controlled by the compactional fluid source, which generally decreases toward the backstop. However, pore pressure is still high at the decollement level at distances <100 km from the deformation front, either by the incorporation of low permeability evaporites or additional compaction of the wedge sediments in the two profiles. In the west, however, formation of a wide accretionary complex is facilitated by high pore pressure zones. When compared to other large accretionary complexes such as Nankai or Barbados, our results not only show broad similarities but also that near‐lithostatic pore pressures may be easier to maintain in the Hellenic Arc because of accentuated collision, some underthrust evaporates, and a thicker underthrust sequence.
Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of crow species of district Mansehra , Pakistan

Crows are passerine birds of genus corvus in family Corvidae. Current study was carried out o n three species of crow, jungle crow ( Corvus macrorhynchos), house crow ( C. splendens) and jackdaw (C. monedula) present in district Mansehra, Pakistan. Crows wer e trapped for blood sampling. The total genomic DNA was isolated from t he blood of each species. The RAPD -PCR analysis of isolated DNA was performed for genetic diversity estimation. All the amplification profiles were observed and genetic distances were e stimated. Results of RAPD analysis revealed high level of genetic polymorphism among the three sp cies. The average genetic distance estimates ranged from 50-90%. Phylogenetic relation ship was elaborated through dendrogram which supports the genetics distances. The dendrogr am showed that house crow and jungle crow share much genetic affinities to each other than to jackdaw. The results also revealed the RAPD markers as effective for such types of studies wher e an overall picture of genome is required.
Hosts’ Perception of Impacts of Community Development Schemes and Tourism Projects In Southeast Nigeria

Recently, community development schemes and tourism projects at rural communities have not been sustainable due to their perceived impacts by members of the host communities. This study conducted ethnographic investigations in five selected Igbo communities in Southeast Nigeria, to examine hosts’ perception of impacts of community development schemes and tourism projects. The study which lasted between 2011 and 2014 was able to find out some of these perceived impacts coupled with the consequences of hosts’ perceptions. The result has the potentialities of addressing these problems to maximize the gains of these project initiatives to the development of rural communities. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016. v7n5p361
An efficient protein extraction method for proteomic analysis of black pepper ( Piper nigrum L . ) and generation of protein map using nano LC-LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Information on black pepper proteins can accelerate the basic understanding of crop response to various biotic, abiotic stresses as well as the crop improvement programmes. Here, we present the protocols for total leaf protein extraction from this non model, recalcitrant plant species P. nigrum after evaluating 5 different standard methods. The efficiency and suitability of the methods were evaluated using important parameters such as protein quantity and quality, solubility in IEF compatible buffer and streak free results, number of spots in 2DE gel. Modified lysis buffer and phenol method were found to be applicable methods for protein extraction from black pepper. Among two applicable methods, the phenol protocol is time-consuming, demanding the toxic phenol. Hence, we propose the modified lysis buffer method as superior, rapid method with no polyphenol contamination for total leaf protein extraction. This is a very first report which evaluated different methods and optimized the standards for the analysis of black pepper leaf proteome. Successful identification of randomly selected spots by nano LC-LTQ Orbitrap proves its compatibility to high throughput MS analysis which leads to the generation of leaf protein map, the first of its kind.
New Catalytic Materials for the Direct Epoxidation of Propylene by Molecular Oxygen

The direct vapor‐phase production of propylene oxide (PO) from propylene and molecular oxygen without the use of a co‐reactant remains a challenging problem in industrial catalysis, in spite of several decades of research. Herein, the discovery of a new class of silica‐supported multimetallic RuO2–CuOx–NaCl catalysts for the direct synthesis of PO from propylene and molecular oxygen is reported. This trimetallic catalyst exhibits durability and delivers PO selectivities of 40–50 % at propylene conversions of 10–20 % within 240‐270 °C and at atmospheric pressure. The best performing catalysts are characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and are determined to be composed of nanocrystalline domains of the three phases of RuO2, CuOx, and NaCl.
Model selection for Gaussian processes utilizing sensitivity of posterior predictive distribution

We propose two novel methods for simplifying Gaussian process (GP) models by examining the predictions of a full model in the vicinity of the training points and thereby ordering the covariates based on their predictive relevance. Our results on synthetic and real world data sets demonstrate improved variable selection compared to automatic relevance determination (ARD) in terms of consistency and predictive performance. We expect our proposed methods to be useful in interpreting and understanding complex Gaussian process models.
Genetic basis of Physiological Traits and Grain Yield in Maize under Normal and High Temperature

High temperature is a big reason of reducing global cereal productivity especially in maize. To cope with this threat, breeding for heat resilient maize hybrids is important to sustain high yield. Six heat tolerant inbred lines were crossed in diallel fashion to develop F1 generations. Data of five agro-physiological traits viz., leaf temperature, cell membrane thermostability, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and grain yield per plant were measured for inbred lines and F1 crosses including reciprocals under normal and high temperature environment. Scaling tests proved the fitness of data to additive-dominance model for all traits under both temperature regimes. Dominance ratio and graphical expression of data showed significant role of nonadditive gene action for all traits under both environments. High broad sense heritability for these traits showed importance of high genetic variance than environmental variance for inheritance of these traits. Heterosis breeding is an efficient strategy due to over-dominant nature of gene action for all traits under both temperatures. Moderate to high narrow sense heritability suggested that direct selection of studied physiological traits for yield improvement under high temperature can be fruitful. Inbred lines NCIL-10-5, NCIL-20-4 and NCIL-30-5 showed maximum dominant genes for grain yield under both temperatures. These parental lines can be used for development of heat resilient maize hybrids, having potential of high yield under unfavourable environment. © 2018 Friends Science Publishers
Variation in Color and Color Change in Island and Mainland Boas (Boa constrictor)

Abstract Physiological color change and geographic variation in coloration are well documented in several squamate lineages, having presumably evolved for cryptic, sexual signaling, and thermoregulatory functions. Only 11 snake species have demonstrated physiological color change, although anecdotal reports suggest it may be present in additional species. We describe color variation and physiological color change in island and mainland populations of Boa constrictor using full-spectrum reflectance spectrometry. We employed principal components analysis (PCA) summarizing the spectrometry data into two axes that describe the brightness (PC1) and chroma or relative intensity of particular wavelengths (PC2). Boas from island and mainland localities exhibited physiological color change, and this change occurred on a diel cycle. Boas from both locations were lighter at night and darker during the day. The magnitude of the color change differed between our two PC axes. Although change in brightness was similar for boas on the islands and the mainland, the change in chroma was greater in boas from the mainland. Color also varied seasonally; boas were lighter in color and reflected more long-wavelength light during the wet season than during the dry season in Belize. We suggest that a fundamental hormone cycle (melatonin/melanophore stimulating hormone, MSH) present in a wide variety of vertebrates, underlies the physiological color change in snakes. If this is true, color change may be more widespread than previously realized, and the perceptual bias of the human vision system may have caused researchers to discount its presence in snakes.
Water Quality of Agricultural Drainage Systems in the Czech Republic — Options for Its Improvement

Worldwide, artificial agricultural drainage systems create the optimal conditions for crop planting and soil cultivation by removing of excess water from the root zone and providing better trafficability for farm machinery. Although they are benefitial for agricultural produc‐ tion, the extensively used drainage systems considerably affect the hydrological and hydro‐ chemical regimes of catchments in both positive and in negative ways. The runoff characteristics are some of the most affected catchment parameters: differences in runoff volumes and temporal variations of flow rates in the water courses, the lowered groundwater levels and changes in the surface energy balance have frequently been found [1-4]. Problems such as altered hydrological patterns and impaired drainage water quality in agricultural catchments have often been mentioned. Water quality from agricultural drainage systems (both tiles and ditches) has been discussed by the studies which draw attention to the reduced quality of drainage waters caused by elevated concentrations of nutrients (N, P, C) and/or pesticides. The results of direct monitoring of drainage groups or very small drained catch‐ ments [5-11] together with various model approaches have proven that the contribution of agricultural drainage to water pollution in larger areas may be significant [12-15]. In principle, land drainage increases the aeration of the soil profile and thus promotes the mineralization of soil organic matter and reduces denitrification in previously waterlogged soils. Further, the systems are often connected to soil preferential flow paths and so contribute to a rapid movement of water and soluble or particle-bound contaminats to related water bodies [6,10,11,13].
Testing for a monotone density using Lk-distances between the empirical distribution function and its concave majorant

We prove asymptotic normality for Lk-functionals ∫ |Fn−Fn|g(t) dt, where Fn is the empirical distribution function of a sample from a decreasing density and Fn is the least concave majorant of Fn. From this we derive two test statistics for the null hypothesis that a probability density is monotone. These tests are compared with existing proposals such as the supremum distance between Fn and Fn. †EURANDOM, P.O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands, kulikov@eurandom.nl ‡Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4 2628 CD Delft, the Netherlands, h.p.lopuhaa@its.tudelft. nl i
Movements of Yearling Chinook Salmon during the First Summer in Marine Waters of Hood Canal, Washington

Abstract Migration is a fundamental component of the life history and ecology of many species, but the extent and duration of specific migrations can vary depending on species and environment. Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha are characterized by a spectrum of life history types with different migration patterns and spatial distributions. The objective of this study was to quantify the movements of yearling Chinook salmon smolts during their initial summer in Hood Canal, a long, narrow fjord in western Puget Sound, Washington. Fifty-eight yearling hatchery-reared smolts were tagged with acoustic transmitters and tracked during May–August 2008 with a network of 50 receivers placed throughout Hood Canal. A total of 41 fish were detected during the study period; of these, 18 fish were still being detected in Hood Canal after 100 d. Fish initially congregated near the release site and gradually dispersed during summer; individual movement rates ranged between 0.44 and 1.52 body lengths/s. Fish movement.
Receiver architecture of the thousand-element array (THEA)

As part of the development of a new international radio- telescope SKA (Square Kilometer Array), an outdoor phased- array prototype, the THousand Element Array (THEA), is being developed at NFRA. THEA is a phased array with 1024 active elements distributed on a regular grid over a surface of approximately 16 m2. The array is organized into 16 units denoted as tiles. THEA operates in the frequency band from 750 to 1500 MHz. On a tile the signals from 64 antenna elements are converted into two independent RF beams. Two times 16 beams can be made simultaneously with full sensitivity by the real-time digital beam former of the THEA system. At the output of each tile the analog RF signal from a beam is converted into a 2 X 12-bit digital quadrature representation by a receiver system. A double super-heterodyne architecture is used to mix the signal band of interest to an intermediate frequency of 210 MHz. The IF-signal is shifted to baseband by means of a partly digitally implemented I/Q mixer scheme. After a quadrature mixer stage, the I and Q signals are digitized by means of 12 bit A/D converters at 40 MS/s. Implementing a part of the mixing scheme digitally offers the flexibility to use different I/Q architectures, e.g. Hartley and Weaver mixer setups. This way the effect of RFI in different mixing architectures can be analyzed. After the digital processing, the samples are multiplexed, serialized and transported over fibers to the central adaptive digital beam former unit where the signals from all tiles are combined giving 32 beams. This paper focuses on the design choices and the final implementation of the THEA system. In particular, the receiver architecture is addressed. A digital solution is presented, which enables switching between Hartley and a Weaver based mixer scheme.