Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dispersal increases the resilience of tropical savanna and forest distributions

Global change may induce changes in savanna and forest distributions, but the dynamics of these changes remain unclear. Classical biome theory suggests that climate is predictive of biome distributions, such that shifts will be continuous and reversible. This view, however, cannot explain a widely observed mismatch between climate and tree cover, which some argue results from fire-vegetation feedbacks maintaining savanna and forest as bistable states, such that, instead, shifts will be discontinuous and irreversible. This bistable model, however, cannot reproduce the spatial aggregation of biomes. Here, we suggest that both models are limited in that they ignore spatial processes, such as dispersal. We examine the contributions of dispersal to determining savanna and forest distributions using a reaction-diffusion model, comparing results qualitatively to empirical savanna and forest distributions in Africa. The diffusion model induces spatially aggregated distributions, separated by a stable savanna-forest boundary. The equilibrium position of that boundary depends not only on precipitation but also on the curvature of precipitation contours with some history dependence (although less than in the bistable model). This model predicts different dynamics in response to global change: the boundary continuously tracks climate, recovering following disturbances, unless remnant biome patches are too small.
Magnetization dynamics in all-optical pump-probe experiments: spin-wave modes and spin-current damping

In the field of spintronics, future development demands a new insight into the magnetization relaxation processes in the sub nanosecond regime. With the time resolution inherent, femtosecond laser pulses in all-optical pump-probe experiments can be used to study the basic time constants of ultrafast demagnetization, the magnetic precessional modes and the energy dissipation processes. This thesis investigates magnetization dynamics of thin nickel samples regarding coherent and incoherent relaxation processes. The intense 80fs laser pulse of an amplified Ti:Sapphire oscillator is used both to excite the sample and to monitor the magnetic relaxation using magneto-optical Kerr effect.Ultrafast demagnetization shortly after excitation by the pump pulse is investigated by varying the pump laser fluencies and the external magnetic field. Delayed remagnetization for highly excited samples on the timescales of few picoseconds is observed. This relaxation time describes the evolution of high energy spin waves to spin waves with lower k-vectors.Various magnetic modes are observed upon pump laser excitation depending on the thickness of the ferromagnet. The Kittel mode is present in all films. Standing spin wave modes up to the 3rd order are observed for samples thicker than the optical penetration depth of the pump laser. The dipole modes dominate the relaxation spectra for samples much thicker than the optical penetration depth. Frequency dispersion relations of these modes reveal the material constants (anisotropy constant, exchange constant). Gilbert damping parameter which describes magnetic energy dissipation is assigned to each mode.The energy dissipation processes in ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic double layers are investigated by means of extrinsic and spin-current induced damping. Two-magnon scattering increases the damping parameter for double layers with rough interface. The precession of the magnetization in the ferromagnetic layer pumps spins into the nonmagnetic layer and opens up a new energy dissipation channel. This additional Gilbert damping by spin currents is inversely proportional to the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer and observed only for the samples thinner than 10nm. The efficiency of the spin pumping is determined by the spin accumulation in the spin sink. Spin sink of 5nm dysprosium, palladium or chromium studied within the thesis induce a strong increase of the Gilbert damping parameter.
Building creative confidence through an interdisciplinary creativity course: Changes in creative challenges and creative personal identity

ABSTRACT Creative confidence can be reflected in our identities and behaviours. The study explored perception changes in creative challenges and creative personal identity among first-year-in-college students before and after taking an interdisciplinary creativity course. A total of 764 students reported significantly higher levels of creative personal identity and heightened awareness of creative challenges at the end of the semester. Self-doubt was the most frequently reported internal barrier, and time and money were the most common external blocks. The results also demonstrated a strong relationship between creative personal identity and internal obstacles. The study concluded that students exposed to creative learning experiences become more motivated to exert time and effort in cultivating creative capacity with elevated levels of confidence.
The Role of Syntactic Planning in Compositional Image Captioning

Image captioning has focused on generalizing to images drawn from the same distribution as the training set, and not to the more challenging problem of generalizing to different distributions of images. Recently, Nikolaus et al. (2019) introduced a dataset to assess compositional generalization in image captioning, where models are evaluated on their ability to describe images with unseen adjective–noun and noun–verb compositions. In this work, we investigate different methods to improve compositional generalization by planning the syntactic structure of a caption. Our experiments show that jointly modeling tokens and syntactic tags enhances generalization in both RNN- and Transformer-based models, while also improving performance on standard metrics.
Investigation of the turning process of the TC21 titanium alloy: Experimental analysis and 3D simulation

Titanium alloys are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their superior properties such as high strength and low density. As a new titanium alloy with higher strength and lower heat conductivity, titanium alloy TC21 is very difficult to cut and the cutting mechanism of this alloy needs to be investigated deeply. In the paper, to observe the cutting phenomenon in the turning process of TC21 alloy, a series of turning experiments have been performed to investigate the turning process of TC21 alloy. Further, the influence of some important turning parameters (cutting speed, feed speed, depth of cut and rake angle) on cutting force and chip morphology is well analyzed through the experiments. In addition, a 3D finite element model for turning was established using the software ABAQUS for helping to analyze the turning process of TC21. Through simulation, cutting force, chip formation and temperature distribution of TC21 alloy in the turning process have been achieved. At the same time, simulated cutting forces and chip morphology were compared with the results of experiment. The results of experiments showed that the chip of TC21 alloy in turning process is serrated and the rake angle of tool has the obvious effect on the chip morphology.
Long-Term Remote Monitoring of Ground Deformation Using Sentinel-1 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR): Applications and Insights into Geotechnical Engineering Practices

Development of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology and the dedicated suite of processing tools have aided the evolution of remote sensing techniques for various Earth Observation (EO) applications. Interferometric SAR (InSAR) is a relatively new geodetic technique which provides high-speed and reliable geographic, geologic, and hazards information allowing the prognosis of future environmental and urban planning. In this study, we explored the applicability of two differential interferometry techniques, conventional and advanced differential InSAR (A-DInSAR), for topographic mapping and long-term geotechnical monitoring by exploiting satellite data, particularly Sentinel-1 SAR data, which is publicly shared. We specifically used the open-source tools of SeNtinel Application Platform (SNAP) and Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS) for interferometric data processing to implement A-DInSAR. This study presents various applications, which include generation of a digital elevation model (DEM), mapping of seismically induced displacement and associated damages, and detection and long-term monitoring of tunneling-induced ground deformation and rainfall-induced landslide. Geometric and temporal decorrelations posed challenges and limitations in the successful implementation of Sentinel-1 SAR interferometry specifically in vegetated areas. The presented results proved the validity and reliability of the exploited SAR data and InSAR techniques for addressing geotechnical engineering related problems.
Land use legacy for a tropical myco-heterotroph: how spatial patterns of abundance, reproductive effort and success vary

Aims Human land use such as agriculture and logging can have cascading effects on the environment and severely influence forest ecosystems by altering structure, species composition and community processes. These activities may have long-term consequences, which impact forest recovery. We investigated the legacy of historical anthropogenic land use on the current reproductive effort (RE) and success of the understory, myco-heterotrophic orchid, Wullschlaegelia calcarata in Puerto Rico’s tropical rain forest after 80 years of forest recovery. Methods Our study site was the 16-ha Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. We used six 10 m × 500 m transect lines that spanned areas with differing levels of historic canopy coverage which are correlated with land use history. We recorded the abundance of W. calcarata plants and measured shoot height, number of flowers, fruit set for all plants and seed set from the most mature, undehisced fruit on a random subset of plants measured. We sought to determine whether or not there is a legacy of land use history on the RE and success of W. calcarata. Of the varying degrees of historic disturbance, we predicted that RE and success would be highest in minimally disturbed old-growth forest, and that soil type differences would be insufficient to affect RE or success. Important Findings We found 1607 plants of W. calcarata, and only one was detected in the most historically disturbed area of the forest. The orchids were most abundant in the two least historically disturbed sites. However, the prevailing trend in all measures of RE is in the opposite direction with greater RE in the forest plots with intermediate levels of historical disturbance. Furthermore, the best model (as a function of AICc and weights) to predict RE is a combination of soil type and cover class. Nevertheless, our measures of reproductive success (fruit and seed set) were best in the least historically disturbed sites and were not associated with soil type. Thus, the best sites for growth are not always the same as those for abundance and reproduction, and after >80 years of recovery, components of the rainforest community have not fully recovered.
Antiretroviral efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of phosphonoformate in the feline leukemia virus/cat model /

Oversize m aterials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are re­ produced by sectioning the original, beginning a t the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. These are also available as one exposure on a standard 35mm slide or as a 17" x 23" black and w hite photographic p rin t for an add itional charge.
Statistical Modeling and Forecast of the Corona-Virus Disease (Covid-19) in Burkina Faso

In this paper, we present and discuss a statistical modeling framework for the coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic in Burkina Faso. We give a detailed analysis of well-known models, the ARIMA and the Exponential Smoothing model. The main purpose is to provide a prediction of the cumulative number of confirmed cases to help authorities to take better decision. We made prediction of the cumulative number of cases from 4th may to 2nd June.
Multiple sources of signal amplification within the B-cell Ras/MAPK pathway

The Ras-Map kinase (MAPK) cascade underlies functional decisions in a wide range of cell types and organisms. In B cells, positive feedback-driven Ras activation is the proposed source of the digital (all-or-none) MAPK responses following antigen stimulation. However, an inability to measure endogenous Ras activity in living cells has hampered our ability to test this model directly. Here we leverage biosensors of endogenous Ras and ERK activity to revisit this question. We find that BCR ligation drives switch-like Ras activation and that lower BCR signaling output is required for the maintenance versus the initiation of Ras activation. Surprisingly, digital ERK responses persist in the absence of positive feedback-mediated Ras activation, and digital ERK is observed at a threshold level of Ras activation. These data suggest an independent analog-to-digital switch downstream of Ras activation, and reveals that multiple sources of signal amplification exist within the Ras-ERK module of the BCR pathway.
Mapping the online presence of small local sporting clubs

The contribution of local (“grassroots”) sporting clubs to their economies amounts to billions of dollars. These clubs typically rely on volunteers who use Internet platforms (such as websites and social media) to support their roles. Use of the Internet can assist these volunteers by facilitating improved information access, communication, and efficiency. Little is known about how local sporting clubs use this important information systems' function. This study extends Burgess' (2016) web presence pyramid model to examine factors leading to differences in Internet use by athletics and cricket clubs in the United Kingdom and Australia. The findings suggest that higher adoption levels of websites set up by clubs and social media and more sophisticated Internet usage are apparent in “upper” level (or well‐resourced) local clubs than in “lower” level clubs, but with some important variations (such as interventions by sport governing bodies) that may assist smaller clubs to adopt online platforms. Guidance on using the extended model in other contexts is offered, as is advice for clubs and sporting associations looking to improve their use of Internet platforms.
MULTIPLE COMPARISONS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH: 
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTIONS

One of the most common but rarely discussed problems in Russian biomedical research is a problem of multiple comparisons. When a researcher performs pairwise comparisons of means in several groups the number of tested ststistical hypotheses increases leading to inflation of the alpha-error. In international scientific literature this issue is well-described and several solutions are offered. The aim of this article is to describe the problem of alpha error inflation and present methods for solving the problem of multiple comparisons. The methods suggested in this paper can be applied at the stages of research planning, data analysis and interpretation of the results. Bonferroni, Sidak, Holm-Bonferroni, Holm-Sidak and the Benjamin-Hochberg methods are described in details. We also present user-friendly examples for manual calculations as well as a description of implementation of the suggested solutions using SPSS software.
Examining the Impact of Austerity on Community Sport Development Workers and Their Professional Environment

Abstract In recent years, austerity measures in the UK have placed increasing emphasis on third sector organisations to address gaps in Central Government provision. Reflecting upon community sport services during this period, this paper presents the findings of a qualitative study of the everyday working practices of a group of community sport development workers (CSDWs) in the South of England, outlining how they adopted innovative and entrepreneurial practices as a response to fiscal constraint. We argue that, amidst an intensification of neoliberalism and new public management, the UK community sport development sector has become increasingly fragmented which, in turn, has presented a series of challenges that militate against the (re)establishment of community-based ideals. The paper concludes that there is potential to apply these findings globally to nations where austerity policies have been the primary response to the financial crisis and/or where a similar approach to community sport development exists.
Impact of Social Media on Work Performance at a Technopark in India

The aim of this research is to study the impact of social media on work performance in creating value at work. According to social capital theories, social media facilitate knowledge transfer. Limited earlier studies show that social capital and knowledge transfer help promote work performance. The components of social capital—shared vision, network ties, and trust—represent its cognitive, structural, and relational aspects. The study model is analysed through structural equation modelling using primary data from IT professionals at a leading techno park in South India. The influence of social media on work performance, linked through components of social capital and knowledge transfer, is empirically tested in this research. It provides insights for managers on benefits of social media usage in organizations.
USE OF RITA® TEMPORARY IMMERSION SYSTEM TO OBTAIN MICROTUBERS OF SEVERAL MASHUA (Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pavón) MORPHOTYPES

<p><strong>Background. </strong>The Temporary Immersion System (TIS) is an effective strategy to obtain quality mashua microtubers through the <em>in vitro</em> propagation of seedlings in a small space and in a short period of time. <strong>Objective. </strong>Obtain microtubers of 27 mashua morphotypes (<em>Tropaeolum tuberosum</em>)<em> </em>using the TIS-RITA<sup>®</sup>. <strong>Methodology. </strong> The seedlings were previously propagated in MS (Murashige & Skoog) solid medium, supplemented with 3% sucrose, at 5.6 pH and 0.7% agar. After fifteen days of cultivation in this medium, the seedlings were transferred to a MS liquid. For the tuberization process, seedlings with an average size of 10 cm were transferred to TIS-RITA® systems for ten weeks, under conditions of complete darkness, at 19 ± 2 ° C, an immersion frequency of 2 minutes every 3 hours in a MS liquid medium supplemented with 8% sucrose and 2 mg.L<sup>-1</sup> benzylamino purine (BAP). <strong>Results. </strong>The best results of microtubers were obtained with different morphotypes, which are respect to i/size, MAC 06A (1.9 cm) and MAC 056 (1.8 cm); ii / fresh weight, MAC 06A (0.2g) and MAC 092 (0.18 g); iii / quantity, MAC 08A (51 units) and MAC 048 (56 units). <strong>Implications</strong>. TIS-RITA<sup>®</sup> can be used to obtain quality and virus-free seeds of a wide variety of commercially important crops. <strong>Conclusion</strong>. The SIT-RITA® based on the intermittent contact of the explants cultivating medium, is an efficient system to obtain mashua microtubers. </p>
Extending the Scope of Health Visiting and School Nursing Practice Within a 0–19 Service

In 2018, an employing organisation in the north of England introduced an initiative for health visitors and school nurses (SCPHN) to work in the other field of practice. The aim of this study was to explore SCPHN professionals’ and managers’ views about the introduction, benefits and challenges of extended SCPHN practice. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with health visitors, school nurses, practice teachers, mentors and managers undertaking or supporting this initiative (n=18) and one focus group with eight SCPHNs working in the 0–19 service. These were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Workplace learning was challenging. Support from colleagues, mentors and practice teachers was crucial. Additional skills and knowledge were valued. SCPHNs gained confidence in working with children and families across the 0–19 age range. Additional skills enabled SCPHNs to deliver a more streamlined service to families with children aged 0–19 but concerns about workforce capacity and changing professional roles remain.
The Development of Integration in Marsupial and Placental Limbs

Abstract The morphological interdependence of traits, or their integration, is commonly thought to influence their evolution. As such, study of morphological integration and the factors responsible for its generation form an important branch of the field of morphological evolution. However, most research to date on post-cranial morphological integration has focused on adult patterns of integration. This study investigates patterns of correlation (i.e., morphological integration) among skeletal elements of the fore- and hind limbs of developing marsupial and placental mammals. The goals of this study are to establish how patterns of limb integration vary over development in marsupials and placentals, and identify factors that are likely responsible for their generation. Our results indicate that although the overall pattern of correlation among limb elements is consistent with adult integration throughout mammalian development, correlations vary at the level of the individual element and stage. As a result, the relative integration among fore- and hind limb elements varies dynamically between stages during development in both marsupial and placental mammals. Therefore, adult integration studies of the limbs may not be indicative of developmental integration. Results are also consistent with integration during early limb development being more heavily influenced by genetic and developmental factors, and later by function. Additionally, results are generally consistent with a constraint on marsupial forelimb evolution caused by the functional requirements of the crawl to the teat that operates by limiting morphological variation before and at the time of birth, and not after.
Security and Renewal in Australian Public Housing: Historical Representations and Current Problems

ABSTRACT The current imperative to renew public housing buildings and estates in NSW and other Australian states challenges the usual view of public housing as a secure tenure. An historical examination of representations about security in public housing shows, however, that this association lacks a deep legal basis. The paper then examines the extent to which the different types of current renewal activities may be legally contested in the name of security. Concluding that current laws close off contestation of renewal decisions and termination proceedings, the paper calls for legal and policy reforms to renew the security of public housing.