Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Average functional distinctness as a measure of the composition of assemblages

Indices are used to quantify change in the environment by reducing aspects of environmental complexity to numbers. Biodiversity indices are typically calculated using the numbers of species and their relative abundances. A recent advance has been the development of additional measures of diversity, such as phylogenetic diversity, based on relationships between organisms. The emerging paradigms of the importance of biodiversity to ecosystem services and the ecosystem approach to fishery management could be well served by the development of indicators of ecosystem functioning. We discuss how relatedness measures may be adapted to quantify aspects of community structure of relevance to ecosystem functioning, by combining information on species' occurrence, life history, and ecological traits. We present an index that reflects average functional distinctness within assemblages. We illustrate the approach using North Sea fish. Results reveal that average functional distinctness is not independent of taxonomic distinctness. This is expected, but the weakness of the relationship suggests that both indices may prove useful, because they are not constrained to convey the same information about samples. Both indices are shown to be weakly related to species richness, which was not expected. This is a consequence of differences in the frequencies of occurrence among species.
Video-based calibration of holographic optical traps Video-based calibration of holographic optical traps

Holographic optical tweezers give the possibility to dynamically generate multiple optical traps in arbitrary numbers and forms. This work investigates the implementation of the step response calibration method for a holographic optical tweezers system. The step response calibration is a promising method which requires the repeated subsequent generation and change of several trap positions for the calibration. It has not been undertaken yet using a holographic setup, despite the fact that using digital holography this necessary dynamic change is easier to achieve than with other setups used so far. We have implemented this method for multiple holographic traps calibration, and investigated new problems which arise due to the nature of the spatial light modulator included in the holographic setup. Some improvements to solve the drawbacks identified have been proposed and successfully implemented. Good results have been obtained for low trap stiffnesses between 0.5 to 3 pN/μm. The calibration of stronger traps was limited by the spatial light modulator response time.
Conditional Conservatism and its Effect on Earnings Quality and Stock Prices in Indian Capital Market

This study examines conditional conservatism in Indian capital markets and extent to which conditional conservatism affect earnings quality and stock prices. Conservatism principle has been traditionally used in financial reporting for long time it has been dominant accounting principles (Watts 2003). In recent years, the focus of standard setters such is IASB have been less conservative accounting standard. We used secondary data for companies listed in Bombay stock exchange from 2006 to 2012. We employed pooled panel data regression with standard error robust. We find enough evidence to support presence of conditional conservatism during 2006 to 2012 in Indian capital market. We also find that conservatism do not affect the quality of reported earnings, however it influence stock prices. Keywords: Conservatism, earnings quality, returns.
Seed banks are biodiversity reservoirs: species–area relationships above versus below ground

Soil seed banks offer plants the possibility to disperse through time. This has implications for population and community dynamics, as recognised by ecological and evolutionary theory. In contrast, the conservation and restoration literature often find seed banks to be depauperate, weedy and without much conservation value or restoration potential. One explanation for these contrasting views might lie in a systematic bias in the sampling of seed banks versus established plant communities. We use the species–area relationship as a tool to assess and compare the per-area species richness and spatial structuring of the diversity of the established plant community versus soil seed banks. To allow this direct comparison we extensively survey the species–area relationship of the vegetation and underlying seed bank of a grassland community across twelve sites spanning regional bioclimatic gradients. We also compile a global dataset of established vegetation and seed banks from published sources. We find that seed banks have consistently higher intercepts and slopes of the relationship, and hence higher diversity at any given spatial scale, than the vegetation both in the field and literature study. This is consistent across habitat types, climate gradients, and biomes. Similarity indices are commonly used to compare vegetation and seed bank, and we find that sampling effort (% of the vegetation area sampled for seed bank) was the strongest predictor of vegetation–seed bank similarity for both the Sorensen (R2 = 0.70) and the Raup–Crick (R2 = 0.25) index. Our study suggests that the perception that seed banks are intrinsically less diverse than established plant communities has been based more on inadequate sampling than on biological reality. Across a range of ecosystems and climatic settings, we find high diversity in seed banks relative to the established community, suggesting potentially important roles of seed banks in population dynamics and diversity maintenance.
evelopment and characterization of a packaged mechanically actuated icrotweezer system rock

This paper presents the successful design, modeling, fabrication, packaging, and characterization of a mechanically actuated micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) microtweezer. This complete and modular MEMS system has minimal manufacturing complexity and can be augmented to any standard micromanipulator or positioning system. The microtweezer is mechanically actuated and hence has minimal impact on the surrounding microenvironment, a key consideration for micromanipulation. The microtweezer components are fabricated utilizing standard electroplating based processes. The
Longitudinal Cavity Mode Referenced Spline Tuning for Widely Tunable MG-Y Branch Semiconductor Laser

This paper presents a novel method for wavelength-continuous tuning of a MG-Y-Branch Laser that possesses an intrinsic self-calibration capability. The method utilizes the measured characteristic output power pattern caused by the internal longitudinal cavity modes of the laser device to calibrate a set of cubical spline curves. The spline curves are then used to generate the tuning currents for the two reflector sections and the phase section of the laser from an intermediate tuning control parameter. A calibration function maps the desired laser wavelength to the intermediate tuning parameter, thus enabling continuous tuning with high accuracy.
Drought Risk Vulnerability Parameters among Wheat Farmers in Mashhad County, Iran

Identification and analysis of farmers’ vulnerability associated with their risk aversion degree is one of the necessary requirements for planning and reducing impacts of drought in Iran. So, this study was investigated three risk vulnerability parameters (economic, social and technical) among wheat farmers categorized in accordance with their risk aversion degree in the Mashhad County (Iran) between drought years of 2009-2011. Vulnerability parameters were determined by Delphi technique. For measuring vulnerability and risk aversion degree, formula of Me-Bar and Valdes and method of Safety First Rule were applied respectively. Findings revealed that in social vulnerability indicators; education level, collaboratively farming activities and dependency on government and in technical vulnerability; irrigation method, cultivation method and type of cultivation; risk averse farmers have had the highest vulnerability level under drought conditions. While respecting economic vulnerability, risk neutral farmers (in insuring for crops, sale prices of crops and the type of land ownership), have had the highest vulnerability level.
Post common envelope binaries from SDSS. XIII. Mass dependencies of the orbital period distribution

Context. Post-common-envelope binaries (PCEBs) consisting of a white dwarf (WD) and a main-sequence secondary star are ideal systems to constrain models of common-envelope (CE) evolution. Until very recently, observed samples of PCEBs have been too small to fully explore this potential, however the recently identified large and relatively homogenous sample of PCEBs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has significantly changed this situation. Aims. We here analyze the orbital period distributions of PCEBs containing He- and C/O-core WDs separately and investigate whether the orbital period of PCEBs is related to the masses of their stellar components. Methods. We performed standard statistical tests to compare the orbital period distributions and to determine the confidence levels of possible relations. Results. The orbital periods of PCEBs containing He-core WDs are significantly shorter than those of PCEBs containing C/O-core WDs. While the He-core PCEB orbital period distribution has a median value of Porb ~ 0.28 d, the median orbital period for PCEBs containing C/O-core WDs is Porb ~ 0.57 d. We also find that systems containing more massive secondaries have longer post-CE orbital periods, in contradiction to recent predictions. Conclusions. Our observational results provide new constraints on theories of CE evolution. However we suggest future binary population models to take selection effects into account that still affect the current observed PCEB sample.
Unemployment insurance and informality in developing countries

ABSTRACT: We analyze whether the introduction of unemployment insurance (UI hereafter)benefits in developing countries would reduce the effort made by unemployed to secure a new job in the formal sector. We show that one shot UI benefits unambiguously increase the effort to secure a new job in the formal sector. The relative strength of income/substitution effects only determine how leisure and informal activities are affected. Consequently, our (partial equilibrium) analysis reveals that short term UI benefits in developing countries do not reduce incentives to securea new formal job and therefore cannot be interpreted as a subsidy to the informalsector.
The still valid fluid mosaic model for molecular organization of biomembranes: accumulating data confirm it

More than forty years passed since Singer and Nicolson launched the fluid mosaic model related to molecular organization and dynamics of cell membranes, applicable to endomembranes as well. During this period of time, that will reach half a century soon, accumulating data all confirm, but not infirm the brilliant idea of such a model. Sometimes, the results developed the model in a very impacting manner, as was the case with the introduction of the membrane microdomain concept (mainly lipid rafts organization). From a didactical point of view, membrane microdomain organization suggests the mosaic’s “bricks” are even more complex than mere proteins or protein aggregates (the initial ones determining the parents of the model to design it). Current times, with high resolution equipments and techniques allowing live cell investigation, have opened new approaches resulting in enhancement of our understanding about biomembranes organization, dynamics and functioning. This paper will analyze some of the most recent data about membrane molecular organization and dynamics of biomembrane components, as well as interpretation of these data to see if they could modify the concept related to the fluid mosaic model. In a text assessment specific to papers in soft sciences, I will show the anticipatory and wise presentation of the fluid mosaic model by Singer and Nicolson, which has made it as a still valid one.
Transthoracic Ultrasonography: Advantages and Limitations in the Assessment of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer (LC) represents the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with most of the cases being still diagnosed in advanced stages. Recently published data estimates an increase of LC deaths worldwide from 1.6 million in 2012 to 3 million in 2035. In this context, ultrasonography (US) aspires to become the method of choice that can offer essential information concerning subpleural LC. Therefore, it is an urgent need for an objective evaluation of the role of US and US-guided biopsies as an accurate diagnosis method, as until now large studies to assess this have been seldom performed. Our main aim was to perform a review over the use of US and US-guided biopsy in the assessment of LC, and our second aim was to illustrate how US is a valuable tool in the approach of patients with LC. We also compared the advantages and disadvantages of different types of biopsy needles. Other non-invasive applications of US (contrast-enhanced US and elastography) and their usefulness for LC were also evaluated. Though transthoracic US is today underused for lung cancer diagnosis, it offers multiple advantages that seem extremely useful for the efficient management of such tumours.
Correlation between centre offsets and gas velocity dispersion of galaxy clusters in cosmological simulations

The gas is the dominant component of baryonic matter in most galaxy groups and clusters. The spatial offsets of gas centre from the halo centre could be an indicator of the dynamical state of cluster. Knowledge of such offsets is important for estimate the uncertainties when using clusters as cosmological probes. In this paper, we study the centre offsets $r_{\rm off}$ between the gas and that of all the matter within halo systems in $\Lambda$CDM cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. We focus on two kinds of centre offsets: one is the three-dimensional PB offsets between the gravitational potential minimum of the entire halo and the barycentre of the ICM, and the other is the two-dimensional PX offsets between the potential minimum of the halo and the iterative centroid of the projected synthetic X-ray emission of the halo. Halos at higher redshifts tend to have larger values of rescaled offsets $r_{\rm off}/r_{200}$ and larger gas velocity dispersion $\sigma_{v}^{\rm gas}/\sigma_{200}$. For both types of offsets, we find that the correlation between the rescaled centre offsets $r_{\rm off}/r_{200}$ and the rescaled 3D gas velocity dispersion, $\sigma_v^{\rm gas}/\sigma_{200}$ can be approximately described by a quadratic function as $r_{{\rm off}}/r_{200} \propto (\sigma_{v}^{\rm gas}/\sigma_{200} - k_2)^{2}$. A Bayesian analysis with MCMC method is employed to estimate the model parameters. Dependence of the correlation relation on redshifts and the gas mass fraction are also investigated.
The OCO‐2 oxygen A‐band response to liquid marine cloud properties from CALIPSO and MODIS

Spectra of reflected sunlight in the oxygen A‐band contain information about cloud properties such as cloud top pressure, optical depth, and pressure thickness. Here we show, for the first time, that high‐spectral‐resolution A‐band Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 (OCO‐2) spectra respond largely as simulated to the optical properties of water clouds over ocean during November 2015 (N = 184,318) using input cloud properties from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on Aqua and the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization on Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO). In A‐band continuum channels the standard deviation of simulated minus observed radiance is ±37%. Selecting horizontally homogeneous clouds to mitigate three‐dimensional cloud effects and collocation error with the other satellites, the standard deviation of the residuals is reduced to ±18%. Using a look‐up table developed from simulations, OCO‐2's estimated cloud top pressure for low clouds (Ptop > 680 hPa) has a standard deviation of ±61 hPa relative to CALIPSO retrievals, and bias is dependent on assumed cloud pressure thickness, with our smallest value being −5 hPa. Versus MODIS optical depth, the standard deviation is ±9.0 and the bias is −2.0, although these shrink for clouds of τ < 30. These values include collocation error between the different satellites, meaning that they place an upper bound on the OCO‐2 retrieval uncertainty. The theoretical precision limit from OCO‐2's instrumental uncertainty is shown to be ±2.4 hPa in above‐cloud path and ±0.2% in optical depth for a two‐channel retrieval. Options for retrieving cloud optical depth, cloud top pressure, and pressure thickness are discussed in the context of a formal OCO‐2 cloud property retrieval.
Is current system of direct payments suitable for farmers in Slovakia?

Current system of direct payments in Slovakia can be described as per hectare payment. It is based on the logical assumption that the more land farmers cultivates, the more support they need. However, it seems like this principle works differently among EU member states. Historically, Slovakia is a country with the largest farms in EU 28. This extreme big physical farm size is here connected with the lowest output among EU 28 and simultaneously Slovak farms display also lowest efficiency. Paper examine generally accepted assumption that the more hectares farms utilize, the more subsidies they should receive, to help achieve more output. Research is based on the mutual pair combined correlation analysis, which examined relationship between utilized agricultural area, total output and total subsidies. Surprisingly just the relationship between total subsidies and total output was proved to be positive and in a moderate manner. Relation of total subsidies and utilised agricultural area, respectively total output and utilised agricultural area show the inverse relationship. In spite of the development in most European countries, Slovak outcomes indicates that the more subsidies farmers receive, the less output they achieve. This paradox can be caused by the actual Common Agricultural Policy system of subsidies remuneration which is not necessary suitable for whole EU 28 on the same level.
The symmetry of optical field in photonic crystal fibre with trigonal symmetry

Some photographs of intensity of optical field of a photonic crystal fibre are presented in the contribution. Presented photographs document that the symmetry of photonic crystal creating the cladding of fibre is manifested in the symmetry of distribution of the optical field intensity. In case when more modes are excited in the fibre the symmetry of the generated field can be different as the symmetry of the eventual modes. How the symmetry may be changed is illustrated by amodel example.
Perception, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies of Irrigated Paddy Farmer Community to Face Climate Change

Climate change has a real impact on the condition of agriculture in developing countries, including Indonesia. Irrigated paddy farmers are the ones really feeling the impact of climate change. Therefore, we need to understand the perceptions, mitigation and adaptation strategies of irrigated paddy farmer community to face climate change. The study is conducted in Indramayu and Tasikmalaya Regency in West Java by using descriptive survey method, regression analysis and path analysis through Structural Equation Modelling approach with Lisrel TM 8.5. The results showes that: (1) changes to climate variability affects the productivity of rice; (2) perception of irrigated paddy farmer community on climate change and its affects are influenced by internal and external factors; and (3) adaptation strategy are influenced by internal and external factors, whereas no mitigation strategy. Therefore, mitigation and adaptation strategies with site specific location are very necessary improving climate information services, increasing empowerment of farmers through field schools, and providing the provision of facilities that are practical and adaptive to climate.
Protist 18S rRNA gene Sequence Analysis Reveals Multiple Sources of Organic Matter Contributing to Turbidity Maxima of the Columbia River Estuary

The Columbia River estuary is traditionally considered a detritus-based ecosystem fueled in summer by organic matter (OM) from expired freshwater diatoms. Since Estuarine Turbidity Maxima (ETM) are sites of accumulation and transformation of this phytoplankton-derived OM, to further characterize the ETM protist assemblage, we collected in August 2007 bottom waters throughout an ETM event, as well as surface water during the peak of bottom turbidity, and performed biogeochemical, microscopic and molecular (18S rRNA gene clone libraries) analyses. These data confirmed that the majority of the particulate OM in ETMs is derived from chlorophyll a-poor particulate organic carbon tagged by DNA too damaged to be detected by molecular analysis.
Heterogeneous Beliefs and Destabilization of Financial Markets

I develop a five-type heterogeneous agent model that provides a framework to empirically investigate the financial market described by De Long et al. (1990a,b). I show that it is feasible to construct a heterogeneous agent model where arbitrageurs can engage in momentum trading and noise traders leave the market due to short-sale constraints. The empirical results provide evidence that supports the theoretical framework by De Long et al. (1990a,b) in various respects. The analysis includes both simulation and estimation and the results show that arbitrageurs who are herding can have either a dampening or a destabilizing effect on asset prices. I find that a higher fraction of arbitrageurs that engage in momentum trading results in a higher price deviation from fundamental value. Similarly, a higher fraction of noise trader demand increases the misspricing and is associated with a more unstable market.
Neuroradiology of Non-Alzheimer's Disease Dementias

Dementia is an increasingly prevalent disease of the ageing population. Although Alzheimer’s disease is still the most common cause of dementia, there is emerging clinical interest in other, less common, causes of dementia that can affect patients at a younger age. Early diagnosis of these non-Alzheimer’s disease dementias is now possible with the aid of neuroimaging, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as newer modalities such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, and single-photon emission computed tomography. The imaging features of some of the more common nonAlzheimer’s disease dementias will be discussed in this review in order to help clinicians and radiologists better diagnose these conditions.