Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selection of rest structures and microsites by fishers in Oregon

Most previous studies of resting habitat for fishers (Pekania pennanti) in the Pacific coastal region of the western United States and Canada were focused on habitat conditions within rest sites (typically 0.5 ha), which include the rest structure (e.g., live tree, snag, log) at its center. Studies of selection for rest structures were sparse and compared characteristics of rest structures to those occurring within rest sites; none investigated selection by sampling resource availability throughout the study area. In addition, limited data were available on the use of rest microsites (e.g., mistletoe brooms, platform branches, cavities) by fishers, and no studies have quantified their availability. To better inform forest management activities designed to improve resting habitat for fishers, we documented use of rest structures and microsites throughout the year by 12 female and 7 male fishers on the west slope of the Cascade Range in southern Oregon, USA from 1995 to 2001, systematically sampled the availability of rest structures and microsites, and used logistic regression modeling to investigate selection of rest structures. Fishers primarily used live trees (65%), snags (14%), and logs (16%) for resting; in all 3 resulting models, the characteristic that best distinguished used from available rest structures was the presence of a suitable rest microsite: mistletoe broom or cavity in live trees, cavity in snags, and hollow end in logs. Only the snag and log models included covariates associated with tree size, likely reflecting the need for enclosed rest microsites (cavities, hollow ends) to be large enough to contain an adult fisher. We then used our availability data to model the ecological characteristics associated with mistletoe brooms in live trees, cavities in snags, and hollow ends in logs.Whether a tree was a hemlock (Tsuga spp.) had the greatest effect on the presence of suitable mistletoe broom microsites, but the most important characteristics of snags with cavities and logs with hollow ends were being in moderate stages of decay and relatively large in diameter at breast height (snags) or diameter 3m from the large end (logs). Forest structures containing suitable rest microsites for fishers were uncommon in our study and may represent a limited resource. Accordingly, we recommend that management of resting habitat for fishers be focused on retaining relatively large structures that already contain suitable rest microsites, rather than simply retaining the largest available structures. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Effects of Paving Technology, Pavement Materials, and Structures on the Fatigue Property of Double-Layer Pavements

Double-layer paving technology, which is a new technology for construction asphalt pavements, has received increasing research attention for several years. However, few studies have focused on the effect of asphalt pavement layer thickness and mixture-type combinations on the fatigue properties of a double-layer pavement. Therefore, the fatigue properties of the double-layer and traditionally paved asphalt pavements were studied in this work. The effects of two paving technologies, three mixture combinations, and two asphalt layer thickness combinations on the fatigue properties of asphalt pavements were studied through bending beam tests, and a fatigue equation of different asphalt pavements was established using the two-parameter Weibull distribution. Subsequently, the fatigue lives of different pavements were compared and analyzed under the same cyclic load. Results indicate that the flexural strength and fatigue life of the double-layer pavement increased by at least 10% and 54%, respectively, compared with those of a traditionally paved pavement structure. The goodness of fit of the equation established using the Weibull distribution exceeded 0.90. For the traditional paving technology, compared with the pavement structure combination of 4-cm AC-13 surface layer/6-cm AC-20 bottom layer, the fatigue life of a 3-cm AC-13 surface layer/7-cm AC-20 bottom layer can be increased by at least 8%, while the fatigue lives of other pavement structures are reduced significantly. The results also indicate that the fatigue life of the double-layer pavement structure with the 3-cm AC-13 surface layer/7-cm AC-20 bottom layer can be increased by at least 114% compared with that of the traditionally paved pavement structure (4-cm AC-13 surface layer/6-cm AC-20 bottom layer). Additionally, the fatigue lives of other pavement structures can be improved. To effectively improve the fatigue life of an asphalt pavement, a double-layer pavement structure with the 3-cm AC-13 surface layer/7-cm AC-20 bottom layer combination is recommended.
Lifetime Prevalence and Correlates of Female Condom Use for Anal Sex in a Geographically Diverse Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in the United States

Abstract Objectives To examine the use of the female condom (FC) for anal sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Methods: An online survey among 3,837 MSM. Results: 5.2% had used the FC for anal sex. Use was higher among those who had used the FC for vaginal sex (OR = 14.39, p < .001), those with multiple partners, (OR = 2.68, p = .004), and those who were HIV-positive (OR = 2.07, p < .001) or on PrEP (OR = 2.66, p < .001). Conclusions: FC use for anal sex was associated with the risk of HIV infection/transmission and may be a risk reduction strategy used by MSM in the United States.
Preliminary Risk Assessment of a Novel Antifungal Defensin Peptide from Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Risk assessment of an antifungal peptide is a prerequisite before using the corresponding gene to produce broad-spectrum, fungal-resistant GM crops. In this study, a new, antifungal defensin peptide (Ca-AFP) isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was evaluated for biological activity, stability, and range of toxicity to determine risks in using the gene for transgenic crop production. The biological function of Ca-AFP was found to be highly stable in extreme pH (range from 2 to 10) and temperature (up to 100°C) conditions. The peptide also showed unaltered efficiency in a wide range of temperatures (from 15° to 42°C) indicating a wide functional temperature. Despite extreme stability, it was non-toxic to non-target organisms (e.g., bacteria and insect cell lines). When the viability of human cell lines together with erythrocytes were tested, the peptide was also found to be non-toxic. Only one B-cell epitope was determined with this amino acid sequence. Immunological tests with mice failed to develop any antibody, indicating the non-immunogenic nature of the peptide, and thus, the negligible possibility of it being an allergen. All these preliminary assessments suggest that Ca-AFP is a noble peptide worthy of exploring its efficiency in transgenic crops to combat fungal pathogens.
Diversity, Disagreement, and Expression across Liberal, Conservative, and Mixed Groups

ABSTRACT The notion that a healthy democracy requires a public who discusses politics is based on the assumption that discussions expose people to perspective that differ from their own. That people generally prefer to avoid political disagreements, however, suggests that people may withhold their opinions during such encounters. This work couples survey responses and a content analysis of sixty political discussions from a nationally representative sample to investigate the relationships among political opinion expression, diversity, and disagreement and how those variables function across liberal, conservative, and politically heterogeneous groups. Findings challenge the extent to which disagreement dampens political opinion expression and whether ideologically mixed groups expose people to more diverse views than those that are politically homogeneous.
The medium-size noncoding RNA transcriptome of Ostreococcus tauri, the smallest living eukaryote, reveals a large family of small nucleolar RNAs displaying multiple genomic expression strategies

Abstract The small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), essential for ribosome biogenesis, constitute a major family of medium-size noncoding RNAs (mncRNAs) in all eukaryotes. We present here, for the first time in a marine unicellular alga, the characterization of the snoRNAs family in Ostreococcus tauri, the smallest photosynthetic eukaryote. Using a transcriptomic approach, we identified 131 O. tauri snoRNAs (Ot–snoRNA) distributed in three classes: the C/D snoRNAs, the H/ACA snoRNAs and the MRP RNA. Their genomic organization revealed a unique combination of both the intronic organization of animals and the polycistronic organization of plants. Remarkably, clustered genes produced Ot–snoRNAs with unusual structures never previously described in plants. Their abundances, based on quantification of reads and northern blots, showed extreme differences in Ot–snoRNA accumulation, mainly determined by their differential stability. Most of these Ot–snoRNAs were predicted to target rRNAs or snRNAs. Seventeen others were orphan Ot–snoRNAs that would not target rRNA. These were specific to O. tauri or Mamiellophyceae and could have functions unrelated to ribosome biogenesis. Overall, these data reveal an ‘evolutionary response’ adapted to the extreme compactness of the O. tauri genome that accommodates the essential Ot–snoRNAs, developing multiple strategies to optimize their coordinated expression with a minimal cost on regulatory circuits.
The Effect of Salt Reduction, Culture and Process Modifications on the Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Cheddar-type Cheeses

The World Health Organization has identified hypertension as one of the leading causes of death in the world, and consumers are subsequently seeking ways to decrease their daily salt dietary intake. This trend is increasing demand for low-salt foods. This thesis contributes to the literature on low-salt cheese production by investigating how salt reduction affects cheese quality. Salt is one of the key ingredients used in cheese manufacturing to perform several functions, including antimicrobial functions, moisture control, formation of texture and structure, management of pH and acidity, and flavour enhancement. Thus, the objective of this study was to produce cheese using a low amount of salt and investigate the effects of salt reduction on the cheese’s microbiological, textural, sensory and physicochemical properties, and salt release.
The Use of Teaching Media in Arabic Language Teaching During Covid-19 Pandemic

The characteristic of Arabic Language which is unique and different compared to other foreign languages, has become certain issue for academic society, especially with this actual condition of COVID-19, it gives impact to both teachers and students. In university level, more specifically, in order to maintain teaching – learning process to be held, various kind of media are used to support the teaching and learning activities. This research aims for exploring and describing Arabic language teaching – learning online activities in IAIN Palangka Raya using qualitative method and case study. Data collecting methods used in this research are observations, interview and documentation. Research result shows that Arabic language teaching – learning online activities in IAIN Palangka Raya adopting online technology with platforms which based on social media and e-learning application. Those platforms are categorized into three: 1) WhatsApp Group, used for intensive communications between teacher and students related to teaching – learning activities; 2) Google Classroom, used for collecting assignments; and 3) Zoom Cloud Meeting, used for audio-visual media for learning topics which need significant explanation. These medias are used after consideration on ease of accessibility, hardware compatibility, communication features, process and cost needed to use them. The findings of this research describe that Arabic language teaching – learning online activities in IAIN Palangka Raya collaborate those three aforementioned applications so that creativity, innovation and motivation are growing even during Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Depressional wetland classification and ecosystem service predictive models for the Integrative Landscape Modeling partnership

Depressional wetlands in the Great Plains are experiencing watershed alterations that impact the provisioning of important ecosystem services, which are unmonitored on a large scale (Smith et al. 2011). The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) determines the effects of conservation programs on ecosystem service provisioning across the nation (Tomer et al. 2014). CEAP–Wetlands has focused on the effects of conservation programs and land use on ecosystem service provisioning in areas dominated by different wetland types. The High Plains region (HPR) primarily contains playa wetlands. The dominant land uses are native grassland, cropland, and conservation program land (Brinson and Eckels 2011). Predictive models were developed from CEAP–Wetlands data and can be used to estimate services by identifying playa wetlands and measuring variables required to populate the models (Duriancik et al. 2008). We developed a sampling manual that can be used to remotely classify playa function and ecosystem service provisioning. The manual and models can be used to monitor ecosystem services and inform USDA conservation decisions. Playas are depressional recharge wetlands that exist within western portions of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, western and central Nebraska, the eastern plains of Colorado and New Mexico, and southeast Wyoming (Smith 2003) (figure 1). Playas exist within closed watersheds and receive water only through precipitation and overland flow (Bolen et al. 1989). Playa hydrology is similar among basins, allowing application of CEAP–Wetlands models to estimate service provisioning (Smith et al. 2015). Playas provide ecosystem services including habitat provisioning, floodwater storage, and carbon (C) sequestration (Smith et al. 2011). When cultivation occurs in …
Optic Disc Detection Using Combined Approach of Level Set Method and Morphological operations

— Optic disk (OD) is the most vital landmark of the eye. It is the vertical oval (or circle) in the back of the eye where retinal nerve fibers combine to form the optic nerve. In retinal image analysis, localization and segmentation of OD is of immense importance as it helps in diagnosing various eye abnormities like Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Maculopathy and Glaucoma. In this paper, optic disc detection method has been proposed, which uses morphological operations along with the Level Set Evolution. The technique discussed in this paper was evaluated using 184 fundus images obtained from the publically available database DIARETDB1 and DIARETDB0 and showed an average accuracy of 99.45% and 99.19%, respectively for the localizing the Optic disc. Also, the proposed method has overcome the problem of detecting a very low visible OD of various sizes by proper contour initialization.
Leader-member exchange and turnover intention among collegiate student-athletes: the mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating role of psychological contract breach in competitive team sport environments

ABSTRACT Research question In the extant literature, little is known about how athletes’ perception of leader-member exchange with their coach affects their negative consequences (e.g. turnover intention). Therefore, this study examined the relationship between leader-member exchange and turnover intention among collegiate student-athletes. Moreover, the current study investigated the mediating effect of psychological empowerment and the moderating effect of psychological contract breach. Research methods A total of 220 student-athletes were recruited from four major universities in South Korea. CFA and SEM analyses were conducted using Amos 20.0. Also, frequency analysis, reliability analysis, correlation, and regression analysis were employed using SPSS 20.0. Results and findings This study found a negative influence of leader-member exchange on student-athletes’ turnover intention and significant mediating effects of two dimensions of psychological empowerment (i.e. meaning and self-determination) on the relationship. Furthermore, the results suggested that psychological contract breach negatively moderated the relationships between leader-member exchange and three dimensions of psychological empowerment (i.e. meaning, competence, and impact). However, psychological contract breach did not moderate the relationship between leader-member exchange and turnover intention. Implications This study confirms the significant association between the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and student-athletes’ intention to leave. Moreover, student-athletes’ psychological sense of gaining power and control, or psychological empowerment may enhance their self-esteem in the team and reduce their intention to quit. In addition, coaches and collegiate athletics administrators should pay attention to the psychological contracts between student-athletes and their team as it may weaken the role of leader-member exchange in strengthening their psychological states.
Landscape change and vegetation history in the city of Lisbon during Roman times and the Early Medieval Period

Pollen and NPP analysis performed on the sedimentary deposits accumulated in the inter-tidal banks of the Tagus Estuary allow for the reconstruction of vegetation history and landscape changes that occurred in Lisbon from the 1st to the 6th century cal AD. The high chronological resolution of this investigation makes it possible to identify changes in human activities that took place during the Roman period and reveals the extent of land use in the 2nd century cal AD. However, the most considerable landscape transformation of this 600-year period dates back to the late 5th century cal AD, when significant deforestation and increasing human activity, particularly pasturing, spread throughout the territory. This feature bears witness to the outcome of a deep socioeconomic transformation following the disintegration of the Roman administration and sheds light on a poorly known period in this part of Iberia.
Assessments of Nipa Forest Using Landsat Imagery Enhanced with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photography

Nipa palms are exposed by the transformation of land use and land cover changes (LULCC) due to changes to aquaculture and orchards. Modern remote sensing for environmental monitoring of LULCC has been made easier by the use of high spatial resolution images, innovative image processing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The expense of highresolution satellite imagery has resulted in investigators moving to open sources (e.g., Landsat), therefore, the interpretation of images at a medium resolution can be classified simply as LULCC classes and are constrained by the detection of small-scale disturbances. This research applied Landsat imagery with very high-resolution imagery from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In order to be useful for real-world applications, the accuracy of remote sensing data must be validated using proven ground-based methods. UAVs equipped with multispectral sensors were flown over the Nipa palms at the Prasae River, Rayong Province, Thailand. The main advantage of UAV-based remote sensing is that it reduces costs and immediate availability of highresolution data. The UAV imagery was expensed as “drone truthing data” to train image classification algorithms. These results show that UAV data can be used effectively to support and categorize similar land-cover/use classes (aquaculture vs. mangrove forest vs. nipa forest) with consistently high identification of over 87.6% on the generated thematic map, where the mangrove forest detection rate was as high as 86%. For that reason, UAVs are engaged successively in management and conservation tasks, which can be used for regional or local scale studies to compare the achieved accuracy to a general regional land cover map. This approach can be used for the variability of plants to rectify land-cover classification. Therefore, UAV images are a very useful tool to fill the gap between remote sensing information and expensive ground field campaigns.
Holocene precipitation changes in northeastern China from CCSM3 transient climate simulations

To date, climate records have mainly shown three different trends of Holocene precipitation evolution in northeastern (NE) China, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we use model results from Holocene transient climate simulations conducted by the Community Climate System Model version 3 to investigate the evolution of precipitation in NE China and the associated mechanisms. The model results indicate that precipitation changes within NE China show obvious spatial discrepancies. In particular, the annual precipitation maximum occurs in the early Holocene for the western subregion, while it occurs in the mid-late Holocene for the eastern subregion. These results show two different trends of Holocene precipitation within NE China capturing the large-scale precipitation changes appearing in climate records. These spatial features are closely related to the gradual weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon during the Holocene and are mainly attributed to the combined effects of orbital forcing and the ice sheet. Changes in orbital parameters play a major role in the decreased precipitation in the western subregion, while changes in the ice sheet contribute more to the increased precipitation in the eastern subregion. The observed model-data discrepancy partly relates to the low horizontal resolution employed and the physical processes and parameterizations of the model used.
Dynamic Task Allocation Method of Swarm Robots Based on Optimal Mass Transport Theory

It is difficult for swarm robots to allocate tasks efficiently by self-organization in a dynamic unknown environment. The computational cost of swarm robots will be significantly increased for large-scale tasks, and the unbalanced task allocation of robots will also lead to a decrease in system efficiency. To address these issues, we propose a dynamic task allocation method of swarm robots based on optimal mass transport theory. The problem of large-scale tasks is solved by grouping swarm robots to complete regional tasks. The task reallocation mechanism realizes the balanced task allocation of individual robots. This paper solves the symmetric assignment between robot and task and between the robot groups and the regional tasks. Our simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can make the swarm robots self-organize to allocate large-scale dynamic tasks effectively. The tasks can also be balanced allocated to each robot in the swarm of robots.