Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating abundance of the Endangered onager Equus hemionus onager in Qatruiyeh National Park, Iran

Abstract Historically, the onager or Persian wild ass Equus hemionus onager, endemic to Iran, was widespread on the arid and semi-arid central steppes but only two natural populations remain. We estimated the population density of the onager in Qatruiyeh National Park using line transect distance sampling. Transects were surveyed on three plains in the Park and the results compared with total counts conducted by the Department of Environment. Our estimate (109 onagers per 100 km2; 95% confidence interval 67–179) is similar to that obtained by the total counts (137 onagers per 100 km2). Distance sampling is therefore a promising method for estimating the abundance of the onager. Using the annual censuses performed by the Department of Environment over the last 13 years we estimated that the population has a growth rate of 0.09. During the same period the onager population in the Touran Protected Complex has experienced a severe decline. The high density of onagers within the National Park indicates the unsuitability of adjacent habitats, including Bahram-e-Goor Protected Area, for this species. Lack of sufficient security and poorly distributed water sources appear to be the main reasons discouraging onagers from entering the Bahram-e-Goor Protected Area. We recommend and describe management interventions that could potentially assist in maintaining the last surviving onager populations in Iran.
Transcriptional profiles of organellar metabolite transporters during induction of crassulacean acid metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum.

Metabolite transport across multiple organellar compartments is essential for the operation of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). To investigate potential circadian regulation of inter-organellar metabolite transport processes, we have identified eight full-length cDNAs encoding an organellar triose phosphate / Pi translocator (McTPT1), a phosphoenolpyruvate / Pi translocator (McPPT1), two glucose-6-phosphate / Pi translocators (McGPT1, 2), two plastidic Pi translocator-like proteins (McPTL1, 2), two adenylate transporters (McANT1, 2), a dicarboxylate transporter (McDCT2), and a partial cDNA encoding a second dicarboxylate transporter (McDCT1) in the model CAM plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. We next investigated day / night changes in steady-state transcript abundance of each of these transporters in plants performing either C3 photosynthesis or CAM induced by salinity or water-deficit stress. We observed that the expression of both isogenes of the glucose-6-phosphate / Pi translocator (McGPT1, 2) was enhanced by CAM induction, with McGPT2 transcripts exhibiting much more pronounced diurnal changes in transcript abundance than McGPT1. Transcripts for McTPT1, McPPT1, and McDCT1 also exhibited more pronounced diurnal changes in abundance in the CAM mode relative to the C3 mode. McGPT2 and McDCT1 transcripts exhibited sustained oscillations for at least 3 d under constant light and temperature conditions suggesting their expression is under circadian clock control. McTPT1 and McGPT2 transcripts were preferentially expressed in leaf tissues in either C3 or CAM modes. The leaf-specific and / or circadian controlled gene expression patterns are consistent with McTPT1, McGPT2 and McDCT1 playing CAM-specific metabolite transport roles.
The Interactions between Price Discovery, Liquidity and Algorithmic Trading for US-Canadian Cross-Listed Shares

This paper studies the interactions between price discovery, liquidity and algorithmic trading for a large sample of Canadian companies cross-listed on the New York Stock Exchange for the period January 2004 to January 2011. Using daily measures of price discovery, we model the interactions between price discovery, relative trading volume, bid-ask spread, and algorithmic trading activity using a structural vector autoregression to account for lagged and contemporaneous relations among the variables. We observe that over time, the U.S. market is gaining dominance in terms of price discovery. Improvements in liquidity increase a market's contribution to price discovery, while at the same time, an increase in price discovery leads to better liquidity. We find that algorithmic trading activity is negatively related to price discovery, which we attribute to the crowding out effect as high-frequency traders compete aggressively with each other for arbitrage opportunity.
Forests and rural development in the light of global change – a perspective of mountain forests

Mountain forests are facing substantial changes. The need to adapt forest management to climate change is overlaid by the consequences of demographic changes that alter the form of land use profoundly. The European policy is aware of the challenges and supports mountain regions by the Regulation for Rural Developments and other strategies. Regional efforts of the Forest Authorities account for the changing ownership structure in order to ensure sustainable forest management and the provision of the dependent ecosystem services.
Increased kinetic efficiency for silicic acid uptake as a driver of summer diatom blooms in the North Pacific subtropical gyre

We examined Si limitation of silica production as a factor contributing to summer‐bloom dynamics in the North Pacific subtropical gyre (NPSG). Substrate limitation of Si uptake was pervasive, but in most samples the degree of Si limitation was not severe enough to induce growth limitation as observed in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. These results revise previous interpretations, because the difference in the degree of kinetic limitation between gyres appears to be driven by differences in both substrate and kinetic efficiency. In the NPSG, diatom bloom assemblages tended to show more efficient Si‐uptake kinetics and higher Si‐uptake rates than did nonbloom assemblages. A bloom dominated by Mastogloia woodiana exhibited the most efficient Si‐uptake kinetics observed in the ocean to date. Enhanced kinetic efficiency for Si uptake was previously hypothesized to facilitate bloom development, but we suggest the efficient kinetics indirectly affects blooms because [Si(OH)4] does not appear to limit growth or division rates. Rather, efficient kinetics allows further depletion of the prevailing low [Si(OH)4] without inducing secondary growth limitation by Si, thereby maximizing biomass yield. Si‐uptake limitation was not detected in the lower euphotic zone despite similar [Si(OH)4] as in well‐lit waters, which suggests transition to light limitation of Si uptake with depth. These results suggest that enhanced silica production in the M. woodiana bloom was driven by a synergy between diatom species composition, where M. woodiana was highly efficient at Si uptake, and high irradiance, which lead to enhanced diatom division rates in the upper euphotic zone.
Lessons From an Oops at Consumer Reports®: Consumers Follow Experts; Ignore Invalid Information

In 2007 Consumer Reports released, and two weeks later retracted, a flawed report on the safety of infant carseats. Analyzing data from 5,471 online auctions for carseats ending before, during and after the information was considered valid I find that (1) consumers responded to the new information, and –more interestingly- that (2) they promptly ceased to do so once it was retracted. This first finding, thanks to the random nature of the flawed ratings, demonstrates that expert advice has a causal effect on consumer demand. The second finding suggests that people’s inability to willfully ignore information is not as extreme as the experimental evidence in the psychological literature would suggest.
Occurrence of Fungal Pathogens Associated with Grapevine Nurseries and the Decline of Young Vines in Spain

The occurrence of fungal grapevine trunk pathogens associated with grapevine nurseries and the decline of young vines in Spain was determined in extensive surveys conducted in nurseries and vineyards with young plants. The presence of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, Cylindrocarpon spp. , Botryosphaeria obtusa and Botryosphaeria spp. was detected in all the surveys that were carried out. This study provides evidence for the presence of these pathogens in Spanish grapevine nurseries. Cylindrocarpon spp. , B. obtusa and Botryosphaeria spp. , were isolated very early in the planting material production process, nevertheless, P. aleophilum and P. chlamydospora were not detected until the rootstock–scion combinations were planted in the field to develop shoots and roots during summer. The occurrence of trunk disease pathogens in symptomatic young vineyards was also high, suggesting that infected plant material might have been used. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and P. aleophilum were the main species associated with the decline of young vines, followed by Botryosphaeria spp. , Cylindrocarpon spp. and B. obtusa. This research confirmed the importance of fungal grapevine trunk pathogens associated with the decline of young vineyards in Spain and suggested the connection between the presence of these fungi in the nurseries and the disease in the fields.
The Beta Neutral Model with Leverage Effect

We present a beta neutral model that includes the leverage effect to allow hedge fund managers to target a near-zero beta for market neutral strategies. For this purpose, we derive a metric of correlation with leverage effect to identify the fine relation between the market beta and volatility changes. An empirical test based on the most popular market neutral strategies is run from 2000 to 2015 with exhaustive data sets including 600 American stocks and 600 European stocks from the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Euro Stoxx 600. Our findings confirm the ability of the beta neutral model to withdraw an important part of the bias from the market neutral strategies.
FDI and Good Governance Dimension of Sustainability: Empirical Evidence from Croatia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to answer the question of whether a foreign direct investment (FDI) contributes to the sustainable development in Croatia by analyzing the relationship between the fourth dimension of sustainable development, good governance, and the FDI. The aim of this study is to explore the causal relationship between the FDI and the components that make up good governance dimension in Croatia by using the Granger causality test. Methodology – The study uses econometric techniques such as unit root test and Granger causality test and employs the quarterly time series data from 2000(1) to 2013(4) in order to investigate the causal relationship between the FDI and good governance in Croatia. Findings – Research results indicated one bi-directional causality relationship and three one-way causality relationships in short-run. FDI and Rule of Law are found to have bi-directional causality relationship. Furthermore, FDI cause Political Stability. Findings also support one-way causality running from Regulatory Quality and Control of Corruption to FDI. Contribution – Research results point to the conclusion that, in the case of Croatia, FDI affected the good governance dimension of sustainable development and FDI can be considered as an asset that contributes to the sustainable development as the ultimate goal of development of each country.
Preventing Plant Blindness

Editor: Randy Moore, Biology Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, Phone: (502) 852-6490, E-mail: randy.moore@louisville.edu Managing Editor: Christine Chantry Associate Editor: Kris Collum Publisher: Wayne W. Carley Editorial Staff: Kay Acevedo, Carmen Altamirano, Cheryl Merrill ABT Produiction Office: 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, #19, Reston, VA 20190-5202, Phone: (703) 471-1134, Fax: (703) 435-5582, E-mail: NABTer@aol.com, Web site: www.nabt. org
What Drives US Immigration Policy? Evidence from Congressional Roll Call Votes

Immigration is today one of the most hotly debated policy issues in the United States. Despite marked divergence of opinion even within political parties, several important reforms have been introduced in the post 1965 era. The purpose of this paper is to carry out a systematic analysis of the drivers of the voting behavior of US representatives on immigration policy in the period 1970-2006, and in particular to assess the role of economic factors at the district level. Our findings suggest that representatives from more skilled labor abundant districts are more likely to support an open immigration policy towards the unskilled, whereas the opposite is true for representatives from more unskilled labor abundant districts. This evidence is robust to the introduction of an array of additional economic and non-economic characteristics of the districts, and suggests that a simple factor analysis model can go a long way in explaining the voting behavior on immigration policy.
Mechanical properties of the rostrum of the whale Mesoplodon densirostris, a remarkably dense bony tissue

The rostrum of the toothed whale Mesoplodon densirostris is notable for the density of its bone. We examined the mechanical, fractographic, and chemical properties of the rostral material for two purposes: 1) to determine the properties of bone of an extreme density, and to compare these properties with other similar, and also more ordinary, bone; 2) to determine whether the mechanical properties could give any clues as to the function of the very dense rostral bone. The bone was found to be the most highly mineralized, stiffest, and hardest bone known. It was very weak in bending. The salient properties of the bone, and those of two others which are given for comparison are: The specific mechanical properties as such are very poor and it is difficult to envisage a particular mechanical function for the rostrum. Being weak, it is unlikely that it would be useful in intra- or interspecific fighting. It is possible that the high density has a significance in the emission of sonar signals.
Corporate Governance, Digital Platforms and Network Theory: Information and Risk-Return Sharing of Connected Stakeholders

Digital platforms are a technology-enabled transactional tool that facilitates connections between stakeholders. Their characteristics are consistent with network theory applications where stakeholders are the nodes rotating around the platform. Platforms may be considered a new virtual stakeholder that, consistently with network theory, connects conventional partners (shareholders, managers, employees, lenders, clients, suppliers, etc.), representing a bridging node and edge in multilayer networks. Stakeholders are nodes that interact around the bridging (hub) node, sharing information, and co-creating value within a sustainable digital ecosystem. Shared information is fueled in real-time by big data and reduces asymmetries and risk, redesigning information systems. Corporate governance and managerial implications emerge as a critical, still under-explored issue.
Indicators of development as sexually selected traits: the developmental stress hypothesis in context

The developmental stress hypothesis proposes that the honesty of bird song as a signal may be maintained by costs incurred during development. That is, song complexity or other features of song may be honest indicators of male quality because they reflect an individual's developmental history. Over the last decade much evidence in support of this hypothesis has accrued. Experimentally imposing stressors on songbirds early in development results in impaired development of song and the brain regions controlling song. We review the evidence in support of the developmental stress hypothesis and indicate where information is still lacking. Further, we propose that the developmental stress hypothesis may be specific example of a general process whereby indicators of developmental stability become sexually selected traits. In this light, birdsong and fluctuating asymmetry may have evolved through similar evolutionary processes. Finally, we highlight that a wide range of physiological systems may be simultaneously affected by stress early in life, thus resulting in correlations between sexual ornamentation, such as song and other cognitive and physiological traits. Such traits may indicate different aspects of development. First, traits may signal how well an individual coped with stressors, and could predict indirect genetic benefits to a female. Second, traits may signal the quality of the developmental environment, and could predict direct benefits to a female via developmentally correlated traits. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Can Technological Innovation Help China Take on Its Climate Responsibility? A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

This paper examines the effectiveness of China’s indigenous R&D investment and technological innovation to curb its carbon emissions. The mechanism of endogenous technical change (TC) is incorporated an intertemporal computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. R&D investments and knowledge creations are modeled as the endogenous behaviors of private firms. The accumulated stocks of knowledge are applied in the production process to affect the rate and bias of TC. Simulation results show that: 1) While China’s indigenous R&D efforts play a significant role to curb carbon emissions, sole dependence on R&D may be far from sufficient to achieve China’s pledged Copenhagen climate target with complementary policies being required to reinforce existing climate actions; 2) Innovation policies including public R&D subsidy and stringent patenting system can help strengthen economy-wide R&D investment and further reduce emissions, but this complementary effect is still minor and insufficient to meet the stipulated emission cuts target; 3) Carbon taxation can create significant carbon-saving benefits and fulfill climate target, but this achievement is at the cost of economic losses. The induced technical improvement, however, can partially mitigate the deadweight loss incurred by carbon tax distortion.
Behind and Beyond the (Headcount) Employment Rate

This paper argues that we need more general statistical indices to analyse European labour markets. First, the paper discusses some normative aspects implicit in the current definition of the employment rate, which is a fundamental policy target in the new Europe 2020 strategy. Second, it proposes a class of generalised indices based on work intensity, as approximated by the total annual hours of work relative to a benchmark value. Third, it derives household-level employment indices within a consistent framework. These indices provide a more nuanced picture of the European labour markets, which better reflects the diversity in the use of part-time and fixed-term jobs as well as other factors affecting the distribution of work across and within households.
Market Power and Entrepreneurship Decline: The Case for Australia

It has been suggested that the increasing market power of large firms is behind the entrepreneurship decline in several advanced economies. With a focus on Australia, this paper studies whether this has been the case. It uses an index, extracted from Hirschman-Herfindahl and firm population of industries, to rank industries based on their supposed market power. Using this index, the impact of market power on firm entry is estimated through the application of parametric and semi-parametric methods. The results suggest that changes to market power are unlikely to be the reason behind the observed decline in entrepreneurship. The decline seems to have a secular nature or to be driven by factors other than change in market power.
A survey of assisted reproductive technology births and imprinting disorders

BACKGROUND: Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process in which allele-specific gene expression is dependent on the parental inheritance. Although only a minority of human genes are imprinted, those that have been identified to date have been preferentially implicated in prenatal growth and neurodevelopment. Mutations or epimutations in imprinted genes or imprinting control centres are associated with imprinting disorders such as Angelman syndrome (AS) and Beckwith‐Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). Recently, an increased frequency of assisted reproductive technology (ART) conceptions has been reported in children with BWS and AS. However, the risk of imprinting disorders in ART children is unknown. METHODS: We undertook a survey of 2492 children born after ART in the Republic of Ireland and Central England with the aim of detecting cases (both clinically diagnosed and previously unrecognized) of BWS and AS in this cohort. The response rate to an initial questionnaire was 61%, corresponding to data for 1524 children. After evaluation of the questionnaire, 70 children were invited for a detailed clinical assessment, and 47 accepted (response rate of 67%). RESULTS: In this entire cohort, we detected one case of BWS and no cases of AS. We did not find evidence that there exists a significant group of ART children with unrecognized milder forms of AS or BWS. CONCLUSIONS: Although previous studies have suggested an increased relative risk of BWS and AS after ART, our findings suggest that the absolute risk of imprinting disorders in children conceived by ART is small (<1%). Precise risk estimates of risk are difficult to define because of the rarity of the conditions and incomplete response rates to the questionnaire and clinical examination invitations. Hence further investigations are indicated to (i) refine the absolute and relative risks of imprinting disorders after ART and (ii) ensure that changes in ART protocols are not associated with increased frequencies of epigenetic changes and imprinting disorders in children born after ART.
The effect of riboflavin and biotin in the prevention of dermatitis and perosis in turkey poults.

Abstract THE various reports in the literature are in fairly good agreement on the amount of riboflavin needed by the turkey poult for maximum growth. On the other hand, there is wide disagreement concerning some of the deficiency symptoms in poults resulting from a lack of this vitamin. The results obtained by Heuser (1935) using a riboflavin deficient diet composed largely of practical ingredients, showed that a lack of riboflavin resulted principally in reduced growth. No evidence of dermatitis was mentioned. Lepkovsky and Jukes (1936) reported that turkey poults fed either a diet composed of natural ingredients low in riboflavin or a purified riboflavin-deficient diet failed to grow, suffered high mortality, and developed dermatitis. They found that a supplement of a purified riboflavin concentrate prevented the above symptoms. Jukes (1938) confirmed the findings of Lepkovsky and Jukes (1936), and found that a whey adsorbate rich in riboflavin gave good growth and .