Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Landscape context explains changes in the functional diversity of regenerating forests better than climate or species richness

Aim: A rich literature on forest succession provides general expectations for the steps forests go through while reassembling after disturbance, yet we still have a surprisingly poor understanding of why the outcomes of forest recovery after logging (or other disturbances) vary so extensively. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that regional species pool, system productivity, climate and landscape structure are important drivers of forest reassembly outcomes. Location: Transect 1,500 km in length along the east coast of Australia. Time period: Survey of 50- to 60-year-old rain forest regrowth and primary forest conducted in 2012 and 2013. Major taxa studied: Rain forest plants. Methods: In this study, we compare species and functional diversity patterns in pairs of remnant and regrowth (‘secondary’) rain forests spread across a 1,500 km climate and productivity gradient along the east coast of Australia. Our controlled natural experiment was designed to test the importance of regional species pool, system productivity, climate and landscape structure as drivers of species and functional diversity in regenerating forests. Notably, our study design allowed us to hold soil type, general forest type and disturbance history relatively constant in order to test our hypotheses effectively. Results: Counter to expectations, few tested factors were strongly related to the recovery of species or functional diversity in regenerating Australian rain forests. The extent of local forest fragmentation was the only factor strongly related to differences between regrowth forests and primary forest remnants, and then only for functional diversity. We found no evidence that species diversity is a reasonable proxy for, or potential driver of, functional diversity patterns. Main conclusions: Our findings suggest that forest functional recovery over decades is influenced more by regional landscape context than distinct assembly processes operating across climate and productivity gradients.
The Real Estate Market and Financial Stability

This paper investigates the relationship between the real estate market (REM) and financial stability in Vietnam. Financial stability is measured using stock market volatility. The research is performed in Vietnam, a developing country whose stock and real estate markets are considered to be nascent, so the data series is very short. To solve this problem, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach, which generates more valid results than its counterparts, is adopted. Furthermore, the ARDL approach is appropriate for a model with non-stationary data series and especially allows the analysis of the impact between data series in the short run and the long run. The results reveal the positive relationship between the real estate market and stock market volatility. However, this correlation only exists in the short run, which is a difference between Vietnam and developed countries. The paper also obtains an unprecedented finding confirming that the global financial crisis exerted a negative impact on the REM in Vietnam in the short run and the long run. KeywordsFinancial development, Global financial crisis, Real estate market, Stock market volatility, Vietnam.
The role of organic acids on the uptake and relationship of phosphorus and zinc in corn (Zea mays L.) by application of 32P and 65Zn radioisotopes

ABSTRACT To investigate the effect of oxalic and citric acids on the uptake and relationship of phosphorus and zinc in corn (Zea mays L.), some greenhouse experiments were performed by individual and combined application of monopotassium phosphate [KH232PO4] and zinc sulfate [65ZnSO4.7H2O] fertilizers in microcosm. For this purpose after planting corn seeds, solutions of phosphorus (32P) and zinc (65Zn) (14 and 2 M) and organic acids treatments (1 and 10 mM) were injected in microcosms at suitable times. Then, plants were harvested, digested, extracted, and activity of 32P and 65Zn was measured in samples. Results revealed that the highest uptake of 32P in shoots was 18.8% and observed at 10 mM concentration of oxalic acid. But no effect on 65Zn uptake was seen and the highest uptake was observed in control (1.27%). The highest uptake of 32P and 65Zn in plant shoots and roots was observed at 10 mM concentration of oxalic and citric acids, respectively.
Tangible Interaction with Light: A Review

Light is an important means of information representation and feedback in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI), and light-emitting interaction elements are omni-present. We address here the interplay of light and tangible interaction with specifically designed objects. The goal of such designs is to support an embodied, emotional and engaged interaction experience integrated into the physical surroundings. The specific combination of tangible interaction and light as a medium is used in several approaches, but a systematic overview of this research area still does not exist. In order to understand the essence, process and result of tangible interaction with light, we conducted a systematic literature review of 169 studies of tangible interaction with light over the past 20 years. Our results provide a demographic overview of the research, but foremost analyze their concepts, purposes, conceptual frameworks, user contexts, interaction behaviors and problems addressed by tangible light. Three important findings were obtained: (1) Tangible interaction with light has been used for diverse purposes, contexts and interactions; (2) Tangible light has addressed problems: weak interaction, don’t know how to interact, interaction lacks innovation, collaborative interaction, remote tangible interaction, and emotional interaction; (3) Current research in this area can be classified as “wild theory” in conceptual research frameworks, which means it emphasizes very much on innovation. The most important contribution of this work is the systematic review in itself, but the findings of our work also give some indications on new ways and future trends for tangible interaction, when combined with light as a medium.
Vortex force maps for three-dimensional unsteady flows with application to a delta wing

Abstract The unsteady forces acting on a body depend strongly on the local flow structures such as vortices. A quantitative understanding of the contribution of these structures to the instantaneous overall force is of fundamental significance. In the present study, a three-dimensional (3-D) vortex force map (VFM) method, extended from a two-dimensional (2-D) one, is used to provide better insight into the complex 3-D flow dynamics. The VFM vectors are obtained from solutions of potential equations and used to build the 3-D VFMs where the critical regions and directions associated with significant positive or negative contributions to the forces are identified. Using the existing velocity/vorticity field near the body, these VFMs can be used to obtain the body forces. A decomposed form of the force formula is also derived to separate the correction term contributed from the uncaptured vortices (close to or far away from the body). The present method is applied to the starting flow of a delta wing at high angle of attack, where LEVs are enhanced and stabilized by an axial flow effect. The analogy between the normal force of a slender delta wing and that of a 2-D flat plate with a steadily growing span is demonstrated via the VFM analysis. We find, for this application, that the force evolution exhibits some similar behaviour to a 2-D airfoil starting flow and, surprisingly, the force contribution mainly comes from the conical vortex sheet rather than the central core. Moreover, a quantitative understanding of the influence of LEVs in different evolution regimes on the body force is demonstrated.
Evolution, epistasis, and the genotype-to-phenotype problem in Myxococcus xanthus.

The complex social behavior of M. xanthus makes it an excellent model system to study the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Under nutrient rich conditions, a swarm of M. xanthus cells coordinate their movement outward in search of prey. When starved, cells condense into multicellular structures called aggregates. Taken together, these two aspects of the M. xanthus life cycle display several sub-traits that are used to describe its phenotype. Furthermore, the genome of M. xanthus is large, encoding a predicted 7,314 genes, many of which have been linked to aspects of its multicellular phenotype. This work presented here addresses the genotype-to-phenotype (G2P) problem as it relates to the annotation of a biological process in a model system. The first project addresses G2P from a population genetics approach; we constructed a mutant strain library consisting of 180 single gene knockouts of the ABC transporter superfamily of genes to examine the distribution of mutant phenotypes among an entire group of genes. While the phenotype of only ~10% of mutants show extreme defects, more than three quarters of mutants are parsed into different categories of phenotypic deviation following our analyses. Our results demonstrate that strong mutant phenotypes are uncommon, but the majority of null mutants are phenotypically distinct from wild type in at least one trait. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of the M. xanthus phenome will help elucidate the biological function of many uncharacterized genes. The second part of this dissertation examines the evolution of M. xanthus as it has been studied as a model organism in different laboratories. Disrupting a gene, or mutating a single nucleotide, may have no discernable impact on the organism's phenotype by itself, but may still substantially affect the phenotypes of additional mutation through epistasis. This is an ongoing phenomena in M. xanthus; whole genome resequencing and phenotypic characterization of several inter-laboratory isolates of M. xanthus wild type DK1622 revealed genomic variation that has resulted in significant phenotypic variation. We demonstrate that the naturally occurring genetic variants among wild type isolates is sufficient to mask the effect of a targeted mutation in one isolate that is significant in another. These results are the first to indicate that isolates of wild type M. xanthus DK1622 have evolved to a functionally significant degree. Evolution, epistasis, and the genotype-to-phenotype problem in Myxococcus xanthus.
Endocrinologia reprodutiva da égua gestante

Several hormones are involved throughout pregnancy and it is a lot more complex than the progesterone predominance as believed. Likewise, the process of parturition is not an event attributed to an isolated hormonal trigger but a cascade of endocrinological alterations that act in a coordinated sequence. These circulating hormones in the pregnant mare are produced by fetal precursors, metabolized by the placenta and act mainly in maternal uterus. Although most hormones involved in pregnancy and parturition are common among mammalian species, some aspects of fetoplacental secretion of gonadotrophins, progesterone and steroids are unique in the mare. Thus, the concept of interrelationship between placenta, fetus and endometrium is fundamental in this species, aiming pregnancy maintenance, fetal development and triggering of parturition.
Wide-Swing Class AB Regulated Cascode Current Mirror

A micropower regulated cascode CMOS current mirror is presented, combining floating gate and quasi floating gate MOS transistors to achieve both wide swing and class AB operation, respectively. Measurement results for a 0.5 μm CMOS test chip prototype are included, showing that the current mirror can provide a THD at 100 kHz of −44 dB for a supply voltage of ±0.75 V and input current amplitudes 20 times larger than the bias current.
Hyperpigmented lichenoid mycosis fungoides as a new variant: clinical and histopathological evaluation

Mycosis fungoides (MF) comprise less than 1% of the total number of non-Hodgkin lymphomas; however, it is the most common cutaneous lymphoma. It usually has an indolent course and good prognosis when identified in its early stages [1]. Classic mycosis fungoides presents with 3 stages: patch (atrophic or nonatrophic), plaque, and tumor. Often, the first stage goes on for many years and might present with nonspecific dermatitis or poikeloderma like, which usually consists of patches and is often found on the lower trunk and buttocks [2]. In addition from the classic patch/plaque type of MF, several variants have been described in the literature, such as follicular, hypopigmented, and ichthyosiform MF [3]. Also, MF may present with numerous forms that might look like benign skin conditions, these may include eczema, folliculitis, pigmented purpuric dermatoses, psoriasis,vitiligo, pityriasis lichenoides chronica, and pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. Therefore, clinicopathologic correlation is mandatory to reach a proper diagnosis in the early stages of the disease [4]. Up to the best of our knowledge, there have been a total of nine published reports since 1996, those reports are of 16 patients (9 males and 7 females) in which MF was presented entirely or predominantly by hyperpigmented patches or plaques [5-14]. Their ages ranged from 19-69 yr with a mean age of 44 years (Table 1). They were of Fitzpatrick skin type III and IV. ABSTRACT
Estimating the benefits of plasticity in ectotherm heat tolerance under natural thermal variability

Summary Plasticity is a near-ubiquitous feature of the thermal physiology of ectothermic organisms. Understanding the significance of plasticity in evolutionary and ecological contexts requires determining whether observed plasticity is beneficial, and, if so, to what extent plasticity can compensate for environmental change (i.e. is plasticity ‘complete’ or ‘incomplete’). Using site-specific daily temperature records spanning several decades, we test the ‘beneficial acclimation hypothesis’ by calculating the number of days predicted to exceed the heat tolerance limits of 103 terrestrial ectotherm populations when incorporating observed taxon-specific plasticity and when plasticity is ignored. We find that heat tolerance plasticity can reduce the predicted number of overheating events, although the effects are clade specific with plasticity providing greater benefits to amphibians than to reptiles or arthropods. Despite these benefits, heat tolerance plasticity is incomplete; as temperatures rise, plasticity cannot prevent an increase in the risk of overheating. Specifically, we find that a one degree increase in mean maximum temperature leads to approximately one additional day of predicted overheating during the warmest months of the year, on average. We conducted a broad-scale analysis of the degree to which plasticity in heat tolerance reduces the probability that ectotherms experience temperatures beyond their physiological heat limits. Our results indicate that plasticity in heat tolerance benefits ectotherms, but, consistent with previous studies, those benefits are inadequate to provide complete compensation for global climate change.
Biology and Management of Box Blight Caused by Cylindrocladium Buxicola

BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF BOX BLIGHT CAUSED BY CYLINDROCLADIUM BUXICOLA Sarah Elizabeth Healy Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Professor Tom Hsiang A new fungus, Cylindrocladium buxicola, which causes disease on boxwood was recently observed in Ontario. The fungus, isolated from samples from a nursery in Southern Ontario, was positively identified by DNA sequence comparisons as the cause of box blight. Whole boxwood plants required wounding for successful infection, however detached leaves did not. The ‘Green Series’ boxwood cultivar ‘Green Mountain’ was found to be the least susceptible to C. buxicola compared to other cultivars. Survival of C. buxicola in Southern Ontario was low after the winter, but was higher throughout the fall. Whole genome sequencing of two C. buxicola isolates revealed the presence of the MAT1-1 gene within a German isolate and MAT1-2 in an Ontario isolate, implying the possibility for sexual reproduction. All other 50 isolates tested were MAT1-2. The preventative use of fungicides to control box blight in nurseries, rather than curative use, is likely to provide a better management option for disease.
Activator Turnover and Proteolysis In Transcriptional Activation

Regulated gene expression is crucial for maintenance of cellular homeostasis and adaptation to new environments. Therefore, both transcription (the first process in gene expression) and proteolysis (the termination of a protein’s existence) are tightly regulated. There is growing evidence that the proteasome, which hydrolyses many proteins in several cellular pathways, regulates transcription. Much of the initial indication that proteasomes are important regulators of transcription was derived from observations that many transcription activators are unstable even during conditions of robust transcription. However, recent attention to the proteasomal regulation of transcription has focused on non-proteolytic functions of the proteasome whereas the importance of proteolysis itself is often dismissed. In my thesis I tested if it was even possible for a proteolytic role to exist in the activation of transcription. If the proteasome is necessary to directly activate transcription several predictions arise. Two of these predictions are (1) transcription activators should dynamically disassociate with their target promoters during transcription, and (2) inhibiting the proteasome inhibits transcription. To study the dynamics of activators, I focused on a known ubiquitylated activator, Gal4, in which a role for the proteasome but not proteolysis has been proposed. If Gal4 were to stably associate with its target promoter during transcription, then a role for Gal4 proteolysis as part of transcriptional activation could be clearly ruled out. I have improved upon an in vitro competition assay to study the association of Gal4 with its target promoter. This technique clearly demonstrates that Gal4 maintains a dynamic association with its targets even under conditions of activation, which is consistent with a potential important role of proteolytic regulation of the activator during transcription. Similarly, I have also developed a new strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has greater sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors such as MG132. This new strain is the product of genetically inactivating two of the three proteolytic subunits of the proteasome. The remaining proteolytic center is preferentially targeted by proteasome inhibitors resulting in rapid and acute inhibition of yeast proteasomes. This yeast strain will be a valuable tool for many researchers studying ubiquitin and proteolysis. Using this yeast strain to study the induction of gene expression I show that transcriptional induction of certain genes is indeed sensitive to proteasome inhibition, including a gene where there was prior ambiguity regarding the effects of proteasome inhibition. Furthermore, this tool is able to reveal a greater number of genes with significant changes in gene expression under genome-wide transcriptional profiling. Together my data reveal that previous claims that proteolytic function of the proteasome is dispensable for transcriptional activation were incorrect as my data demonstrate an important role for proteasome-mediated proteolysis in transcription.
The effect of work experience and rigidity on the escalation of commitments in investment decisions

Escalation of commitment is a form of cognitive bias that has characteristics where decision-makers tend to increase their commitment to an unfavorable investment. This study aims to prove the demographic factors of decision-makers such as work experience and rigid thinking as determinants of escalation of commitment. This research applies a 2 x 2 factorial experimental research design with a case study as an instrument of investment decision making. The participants of this experiment were regular undergraduate students as a proxy for inexperienced decision-makers and non-regular undergraduate students (executive class) as experienced proxy for decision-makers. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique with the adequacy criteria for General Point Average (GPA) above 3.00 and have attended and passed the Financial Management course and Theory of Decision Making course. This research uses two-ways ANOVA with a significance level of 5%. Using total 64 respondents, the results showed that work experience and rigid thinking have a significant effect on the escalation of commitment. This study also proves that the interaction between work experience and the rigidity of the decision-making mindset does not affect the level escalation of commitment.
Compact Rectifier Circuit Design for Harvesting GSM/900 Ambient Energy

In this paper, a compact rectifier, capable of harvesting ambient radio frequency (RF) power is proposed. The total size of the rectifier is 45.4 mm × 7.8 mm × 1.6 mm, designed on FR-4 substrate using a single-stage voltage multiplier at 900 MHz. GSM/900 is among the favorable RF Energy Harvesting (RFEH) energy sources that span over a wide range with minimal path loss and high input power. The proposed RFEH rectifier achieves measured and simulated RF-to-dc (RF to direct current) power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 43.6% and 44.3% for 0 dBm input power, respectively. Additionally, the rectifier attained 3.1 V DC output voltage across 2 kΩ load terminal for 14 dBm and is capable of sensing low input power at −20 dBm. The work presents a compact rectifier to harvest RF energy at 900 MHz, making it a good candidate for low powered wireless communication systems as compares to the other state of the art rectifier.
The genomic architecture of a rapid Island radiation: mapping chromosomal rearrangements and recombination rate variation in Laupala

Speciation depends on the (local) reduction of recombination between the genomes of partially isolated, diverging populations. Chromosomal rearrangements and generic molecular mechanisms in the genome affect the recombination rate thereby constraining the efficacy of (linked) selection. This can have profound impacts on trait divergence, in particular on complex phenotypes associated with speciation by sexual selection. Because of the obligate co-evolution of traits and preferences in sexual communication signals, it may be expected that these co-adapted gene complexes reside in regions of low recombination, because of the increased potential for linked selection. Here we test this hypothesis in Laupala, a genus of crickets distributed across the Hawaiian archipelago that underwent recent and rapid speciation. We generate three dense linkage maps from interspecies crosses and use the linkage information to anchor a substantial portion of a de novo genome assembly to chromosomes. Local recombination rates were then estimated as a function of the genetic and physical distance of anchored markers. These data provide important genomic resources for Orthopteran model systems in molecular biology. In line with expectations based on the species’ recent divergence and successful interbreeding in the lab, the linkage maps are highly collinear and show no evidence for large scale chromosomal rearrangements. Contrary to our expectations, a genomic region where a male song QTL peak co-localizes with a female preference QTL peak was not associated with particularly low recombination rates. This study shows that trait-preference co-evolution in sexual selection is not necessarily constrained by local recombination rates.