Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Getting the measure of ecosystem services: a social–ecological approach

Despite growing interest and investment in ecosystem services across global science and policy arenas, it remains unclear how ecosystem services – and particularly changes in those services – should be measured. The social and ecological factors, and their interactions, that create and alter ecosystem services are inherently complex. Measuring and managing ecosystem services requires a sophisticated systems-based approach that accounts for how these services are generated by interconnected social–ecological systems (SES), how different services interact with each other, and how changes in the total bundle of services influence human well-being (HWB). Furthermore, there is a need to understand how changes in HWB feedback and affect the generation of ecosystem services. Here, we outline an SES-based approach for measuring ecosystem services and explore its value for setting policy targets, developing indicators, and establishing monitoring and assessment programs.
Development and the African Diaspora: Place and the Politics of Home

There has been much recent celebration of the success of African 'civil society' in forging global connections through an ever-growing diaspora. Against the background of such celebrations, this innovative book sheds light on the diasporic networks - 'home associations' - whose economic contributions are being used to develop home. Despite these networks being part of the flow of migrants' resources back to Africa that now outweighs official development assistance, the relationship between the flow of capital and social and political change are still poorly understood. Looking in particular at Cameroon and Tanzania, the authors examine the networks of migrants that have been created by making 'home associations' international. They argue that claims in favour of enlarging 'civil society' in Africa must be placed in the broader context of the political economy of migration and wider debates concerning ethnicity and belonging. They demonstrate both that diasporic development is distinct from mainstream development, and that it is an uneven historical process in which some 'homes' are better placed to take advantage of global connections than others. In doing so, the book engages critically with the current enthusiasm among policy-makers for treating the African diaspora as an untapped resource for combating poverty. Its focus on diasporic networks, rather than private remittances, reveals the particular successes and challenges diasporas face in acting as a group, not least in mobilising members of the diaspora to fulfill obligations to home.
Study on electron emission by a spherical object: dynamics of trapped particles

In this paper, the dynamics of electrons emitted by a spherical object when the total charge of the system is constant is studied in detail. In particular, the condition for which the total electron charge presents damped oscillations is deduced rigorously by considering a perturbation with respect to the steady-state solution. The results obtained can be of utility in simulating the expansion of a spherical plasma by separating the ion and electron time scales.
Convection and Easterly Waves Observed in the Eastern Pacific ITCZ During EPIC2001

During September 2001, the East Pacific Investigation of Climate Processes in the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere System (EPIC2001) intensive field campaign focused on studies of deep convection in the Mexican warm-pool region of the E. Pacific ITCZ near 10°N 95°W. Major observational platforms deployed during the field phase included the NOAA R/V Ronald H. Brown (RHB), NSF R/V Horizon, NOAA P-3 and NCAR C-130 aircraft. This study utilizes C-band Doppler radar and rawinsonde observations collected aboard the RHB to describe the structure of ITCZ convection and rainfall as a function of 3-5 day easterly wave passages.
Physiological Plant Ecology: Ecophysiology and Stress Physiology of Functional Groups

Plant ecophysiology is the science of the vital processes of plants in interaction with the environment. This advanced text offers insights into the laws governing the carbon, nitrogen, mineral and water balance, development, vital capacity and adaptability of plants. An extensive chapter deals with the effects of natural and anthropogenic stress factors. The book focuses on the ways the different plant species and functional types react in various locations and in all climatic zones.
Comparative Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Ecology Of Ponds With Varying Management Practices

Man-made ponds are among the important entity of wetland ecosystem with high utilization potential and managed differently. The present study is to envisage the comparative analysis on the ecological nature of ponds with varying utilization and management. Similar eco-climatic conditions are present at the ponds location and ponds differ from each other in utilization. In one pond migratory birds inhabits and the other has no migratory birds’ inhabitation and both the pond water is used for irrigation. Seasonality of physical and chemical nature of surface water and plant species biodiversity in the ponds at dry condition were analyzed their interrelationship to the context of ponds utilization was discussed. Key-words: Wildlife reserve pond, Perungudi, Madurai, Vettangudi, Southern India
Thermal–Hydraulic Performance Analysis of a Convergent Double Pipe Heat Exchanger

The present investigation proposes an innovative convergent double pipe heat exchanger (C-DPHE). A two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric heat transfer model with counterflow is employed to analyze the thermal and hydraulic performance of this configuration numerically. The impact of convergence in the flow direction, using a wide range of contraction ratio (Cr), is explored. The effect of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers on the flow and heat transfer is addressed, as well. The model results were validated with available data from the literature, and an excellent agreement has been confirmed. In general, the findings of the present study indicate that increasing the contraction ratio increases heat transfer and pressure drop in the C-DPHE. Moreover, this configuration has a prominent and sustainable performance, compared to a conventional double pipe heat exchanger (DPHE), with an enhancement in heat transfer rate up to 32% and performance factor (PF) higher than one. Another appealing merit for the C-DPHE is that it is quite effective and functional at low Reynolds and high Prandtl numbers, respectively, since no high-operating pumping power is required. Further, the optimal operating conditions can be established utilizing the comprehensive information provided in this work.
Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Fungal Disease Emergence and Spread

Empirical evidence from multiple sources show the Earth has been warming since the late 19th century. More recently, evidence for this warming trend is strongly supported by satellite data since the late 1970s from the cryosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and land that confirms increasing temperature trends and their consequences (e.g., reduced Arctic sea ice, rising sea level, ice sheet mass loss, etc.). At the same time, satellite observations of the Sun show remarkably stable solar cycles since the late 1970s, when direct observations of the Sun's total solar irradiance began. Numerical simulation models, driven in part by assimilated satellite data, suggest that future-warming trends will lead to not only a warmer planet, but also a wetter and drier climate depending upon location in a fashion consistent with large-scale atmospheric processes. Continued global warming poses new opportunities for the emergence and spread of fungal disease, as climate systems change at regional and global scales, and as animal and plant species move into new niches. Our contribution to this proceedings is organized thus: First, we review empirical evidence for a warming Earth. Second, we show the Sun is not responsible for the observed warming. Third, we review numerical simulation modeling results that project these trends into the future, describing the projected abiotic environment of our planet in the next 40 to 50 years. Fourth, we illustrate how Rift Valley fever outbreaks have been linked to climate, enabling a better understanding of the dynamics of these diseases, and how this has led to the development of an operational predictive outbreak model for this disease in Africa. Fifth, We project how this experience may be applicable to predicting outbreaks of fungal pathogens in a warming world. Lastly, we describe an example of changing species ranges due to climate change, resulting from recent warming in the Andes and associated glacier melt that has enabled amphibians to colonize higher elevation lakes, only to be followed shortly by the emergence of fungal disease in the new habitats.
Seafood Import Demand and Its Impact on Caribbean Fisheries Production

The present study employs a cointegration method and error correction model to analyze the long-run relationship and short-run adjustment of aggregated seafood import demand function for selected Caribbean countries. The results show that there exists a long-term equilibrium relationship between Caribbean seafood import and related factors. Import demand elasticity is 1.72. Exchange rate has negative an effect on seafood imports, a one percent increase in exchange rate causes 1.55 percent decrease in seafood imports. Income has positive effect on seafood imports; a one percent income increase causes seafood imports to increase 0.22 percent. Tourist arrivals have positive effects on seafood imports, a one percent increase in tourist revenue cause 1.17 percent increase in seafood imports. Seafood imports have a significant negative effect on domestic fisheries production. The study suggests an outward shift of world seafood supply in the Caribbean region. The shift causes import price to decrease, and domestic seafood production to decrease as well. A tariff policy and a supply expansion both reduce imports, and enhance domestic production and producers’ surplus. However, tariff policy reduces consumer surplus, while supply expansion increase consumer surplus.
Gold Nanoparticles-Based Multipedal DNA Walker for Ratiometric Detection of Circulating Tumor Cell.

Sensitive and accurate quantification of circulating tumor cell (CTC) can provide new insights for early diagnosis and prognosis of cancers. Herein, we have developed a multipedal DNA walker for ultrasensitive detection of CTC for the first time. Generally, a number of walker strands are simply modified on gold nanoparticle (AuNPs). The integrated aptamer sequence can specially interact with the transmembrane receptor protein of CTC and facilitate the enrichment of AuNPs on the surface of cells. After a low speed centrif-ugation, the complex of CTC and AuNPs could be precipitated and the supernate represents decreased UV-vis absorbance response of AuNPs. On the other hand, since multiple walker strands are modified on a single AuNP, hybridization with several tracks on the electrode occurs simultaneously for the following nicking endonuclease-catalyzed cleaving. Experimental results verify that the rate of multipedal walking is much faster. In addition, TCEP-mediated electrochemical amplification is employed to further enhance the electrochemical signal. By comparing the variations of electrochemical and UV-vis absorbance responses, ultrahigh sensitivity for CTC assay is achieved. The limit of detection is down to 1 cell/mL. The results of selectivity confirmation and blood sample test are also satisfactory. This AuNPs-based multipedal DNA walker offers a speedy analysis of CTC and shows great potential use for early clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
Steady-state creep in the mantle

SUMMARY - The creep equations for steady-state flow of olivine at high pressure and temperature are compared in an attempt to elucidate the rheological behaviour of the mantle. Results are presented in terms of applied deformation maps and curves of effective viscosity v depth. In the upper mantle, the transition stress between dislocation and diffusion creep is between 10 to 102 bar (as orders of magnitude) for grain sizes from 0.01 to 1 cm. The asthenosphere under continents is deeper, and has higher viscosity, than under oceans. Predominance of one creep mechanism above the others depends on grain size, strain rate, and volume fraction of melt; the rheological response can be different for different geodynamic processes. In the lower mantle, on the other hand, dislocation creep is predominant at all realistic grain sizes and strain rates. If the effective viscosity has to be only slightly higher than in the upper mantle, as some interpretations of glacioisostatic rebound suggest, then the activation volume cannot be larger than 11 cm3 mole^1.
Delaunay Triangulation Based Surface Reconstruction : a short survey

Surface reconstruction consists in computing a model that approximates a surface which is known only through a finite sampling. This document is a short survey on surface reconstruction methods based on Delaunay triangulation. It has been rewritten from a longer survey written by Frederic Cazals and Joachim Giesen . This short survey is meant to be be one of the chapter of the State of the Art Report Survey on Acquisition and Reconstruction which is one of the deliverables of the European network of excellence AIM@Shape.
Forest succession in the Upper Rio Negro of Colombia and Venezuela

Woody vegetation from 23 forest stands along the Upper Rio Negro of Venezuela and Colombia was sampled in 1982 to examine the hypothesis that the Amazon forest has been largely undisturbed since the Pleistocene, to quantify vegetation development during different stages of succession following agricultural development, and to determine the time required for a successional stand to become a mature forest. The ubiquitousness of charcoal in the tierra firme forest indicated the presence of fire associated with extreme dry periods and human disturbances. Changes in species composition, vegetation structure, and woody biomass were studied on 19 abandoned farms and four mature forest stands. Living and dead biomass for the tress and their components was determined by regression equations developed from measurements of harvested trees. The rate of recovery of floristic composition, structure, and biomass following disturbance is relatively slow. Aboveground dead biomass remained high 14 years after the forest was disturbed by the agricultural practices. The lowest dead biomass is reached 20 years after abandonment, and the largest values are found in mature forests. Data analysis of 80-year-old stands showed that the species composition approached that of a mature forest. Approximately 140 to 200 years was required for an abandonedmore » farm to attain the basal area and biomass values comparable to those of a mature forest. The results of this study indicate that recovery is five to seven times longer in the Upper Rio Negro than it is in other tropical areas in South America. « less
Subsurface subsidence prediction model and its potential applications for longwall mining operations

This paper summarizes the development of an enhanced influence function method to predict longwall mining induced subsurface subsidence.This model takes the stratifications of the overburden,particularly the massive hard rock(i.e.,limestone and sandstone) layers,into consideration.A new deformation term,total strain or void intensity,has been introduced and can be determined from the predicted subsurface movements.This term reflects the volumetric expansion of overburden rock under the influence of mine subsidence.A case study has demonstrated the applicability of the enhanced subsurface subsidence prediction model.
Caracterisation de l'endommagement des propergols solides composites

Les propergols solides composites sont des elastomeres fortement charges utilises comme combustibles solides dans les moteurs fusees. Ces materiaux, endommagea¬bles, presentent un comportement viscoelastique non lineaire. Les phenomenes physiques d'endommagement entrainent une dissipation d'energie. Nous avons caracterise la degradation du materiau en cherchant a evaluer cette energie dissipee. Pour differents types d'essais traction uniaxiale, cisaillement simple, cisaillement pur et traction equibiaxiale et de nombreuses conditions experimentales, nous avons montre que la densite d'energie dissipee dans les phenomenes d'endommagement pouvait representer l'etat d'avancement vers la ruine. A rupture, pour un type de sollicitation dans des conditions experimentales donnees, la densite d'energie dissipee en endommagement atteint une valeur critique, independante du chemin de chargement. Nous avons propose une loi de dommage et un critere de rupture multiaxial. Le dommage est essentiellement lie a la deformation du materiau. Pour le propergol etudie, les phenomenes physiques d'endommagement se resument a de la decohesion entre les charges et la matrice.
THE EFFECT OF ACCELEROMETER EPOCH ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OUTPUT MEASURES

Accelerometers are used to assess the total activity and time spent at varying intensities of activity. The timesampling interval (epoch) used in most field studies is 60 s, as use of epochs lower than this result in limited recording time. The short-burst nature of children’s activity can lead to inaccuracies when using long epochs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of accelerometer epoch on activity measures. Twenty-five 7–11-year-old children (height133.17.1 cm, body mass32.06.8 kg) wore two RT3 accelerometers for 6 h. Activity was recorded at 60-s and 1-s epochs. Output measures were total activity and minutes spent in light (3 metabolic equivalents, METs), moderate (3–6 METs), vigorous (6–9 METs), hard (9–12 METs), and very hard (12 METs) intensity activities. Relative to the 1-s epoch, the 60-s epoch overestimated the time in moderate activity (60-s epoch40.017.1 min, 1-s epoch30.66.7 min) and vigorous activity (60-s epoch11.6 0.9 min, 1-s epoch8.40.4 min), but underestimated the time in very hard activity (60-s epoch3.70.9 min, 1-s epoch12.41.0 min). Total activity and time recorded in light and hard activity did not differ by epoch setting. In conclusion, a 1-s epoch is recommended when assessing vigorous activity. This is particularly important when assessing the relationship between bone health and activity as bone mass is increased by short periods of intense activity.
Language and identities in a postcolony : southern African perspectives

The book's chapters address issues that are important not only in Southern Africa but also in other parts of the world. Although the focus and much of the data on language and identity are Southern African, most of the writers deal with their material in such a way as to locate it within theoretical debates and/or illuminate it with insights from related research in other parts of the world. The collection belongs to the constructivist paradigm and is one of the few works within this line of research. The issue of language and identity examines how language can become symbolic of the individual or group's identity. This aspect of language is explored from a variety of angles exhibiting different methods of investigation, and this « smorgasbord of methods provides ample inspiration for further studies in the field.
Modelos de relación cliente-proveedor en el sector del automóvil: su aplicación en Cataluña

The exintence of different criteria and terminologies to analyze the buyer-supplier relationship and the lack of agreement on the way to do this analysis, has leaded to develop a model for determining in an objective way the kind of relationship between a buyer and its respective suppliers. The model identifies the key variables for the automotive sector and establishes a methodology of analysis. The model is apply for studying the relationship between the two automotive companies that have assembly plants in Catalonia, Nissan Motor Iberica S. A. y Seat S. A. , and their suppliers. The application's aim is to establish the types of relationship buyer-suppliers existing and if these are similar or not.
United Nations Statistical Commission and Economic Commission for Europe Conference of European Statisticians European Commission Statistical Office of the European Communities (eurostat) Joint Ece/eurostat Work Session on Statistical Data Confidentiality Microdata Disclosure by Resampling – Empiric

A problem which statistical offices and research institutes are faced with by releasing micro-data is the preservation of confidentiality. Traditional methods to avoid disclosure often destroy the structure of data, i.d. , information loss is more or less high. In this paper I discuss an alternative technique of creating scientific-use-files, which reproduce the characteristics of the original data quite well. It is based on an idea of Fienberg (1997 und 1994) [4], [5] to estimate and resample from the empirical multivariate cumulative distribution function of the data to get synthetic data. The procedure creates datasets-the resample-which have the same charateristics as the original survey data. In this paper I present some applications of this method with (a) simulated data and (b) innovation survey data, the Mannheim Innovation Panel (MIP), and compare resampling with a traditional method of disclosure control, disturbance with multiplicative error, concerning confidentiality on the one hand and the usage of the disturbed data for different kinds of analyses on the other hand. Univariate and multivariate distributions can be better reproduced by resampling. Linear regression results can be reproduced quite well with perturbed data as well as with resamples. Anonymized data with multiplicative perturbed values better protect against re-identification as resampling.
Some Aspects of Physical Weather Related Slope Processes

It is well-recognized that pore water has an important role on the stability of slopes. In this project the principal objective has been to examine the influence of weather on the ground water regime in a quick clay deposit in Roesgrenda, Mid-Norway, where slides have occurred frequently since 1995. A goal of the project has been to relate stability and slide activity to the ground water regime. Observations of the ground water regime at the Roesgrenda site show little fluctuations with time. The seasonal variation in pore water pressure has been related to snow loading of the deposit and has had a negligible influence on stability and slide activity. Precipitation and melt water infiltration affect only the ground water regime and stability in the crust layer above the quick clay and cause only surface slide activity. Frost has had a negligible influence on pore water pressure and stability in the deposit.Failure in quick clay develops slowly over periods of months, and weather controls only the rate of deformation only the failure process has started. In contrast, materials such as mica-rich sand studied in Sikkim Himalaya fail in periods with a high rate of precipitation.Seasonal snow is especially sensitive to weather processes as the material has temperatures close to the melting point where the physical and mechanical properties change rapidly. Avalanches are primarily released as a consequence of high rate of snow accumulation on a snow pack with weak layers or as a consequence of creep due to methamorpism. Retaining structures on slopes with deep snow cover are also exposed to loading from weather related snow creep processes where temperature plays a critical role.Comparison of observed failure and flow processes in the soil and snow structures described above indicates similarities in behaviour for seemingly different materials.