cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232174.v2
title: Analysis of the trade-off theory: Comparing growth and reproduction of American buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) at York University

description: On October 17 and October 24, 2014, 3 students (Cait Carew, Lilach Halevi, and Nitharsija Srikanthan) located a woodlot on the East end of York University, Keele campus. The first day was marked by periods of overcast skies with temperatures of 11degrees Celsius and the second day with clear skies and temperatures near 15degrees Celsius during sampling hours (between 3:00-5:00pm). Observations of leaf morphology, bark, and berries identified the tree of interest as American buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula. Using a block sampling method, a transect tape was placed along the forest edge with the 0 mark aligned with the base of the first tree sample. Trees that fell along the transect tape were only observed if their diameter at breast height (dbh in cm) was greater than, or equal to 13cm. Height intervals were used to roughly estimate tree height, 1=less than 3m; 2=between 3.4-6m; and 3 greater than 6m. Height estimates were made by using known height of a student and assuming how many times bigger the tree was in comparison. Three random branches were sampled from each tree (branches defined as terminal outgrowths of approximately 40cm in length from the point of divergence from the point of attachment to the tip). The berries on each of the branches were counted, and three berries were removed, at random, from each of the three branches in order to measure the diameter using a small, millimetre measuring tape (total of nine berries per tree). The total number of berries was averaged to get the number of berries per branch and the diameter of the nine berries was used to find the average berry diameter of each individual tree. Three random leaves were also removed from each branch and the length and width were recorded. These values were used to calculate the approximate surface area of the leaf using the equation for area of a rhombus (A=[(l*w)/2]), since the leaves were elliptical and this was the easiest method of approximation. The approximate leaf area was averaged for each individual tree. The entire process was repeated for each tree which fell along the transect tape, as long as the dbh was greater than or equal to 13cm until 50 samples were obtained. Statistical analyses of berry diameter in relation to leaf area; of berry diameter in relation to tree height; and of leaf area in relation to tree height were used to identify result significance and possible correlations between tree traits.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232166
title: BIOL2050 LAB 5-Maple trees of perimeter and non-perimeter woodlot

description: The block experiment was conducted from 2:50 to 3:50 at Danby Woods where located at south of Chimneystack Rd. and west of Keele St. of York University Keele campus on October 17, and 24. The temperature was around 6 degree Celsius on October 17 with moderate breeze and heavy clouds, and was around 15 degree Celsius on October 24 with a clear blue sky. The purpose of this experiment is to study how abundance of canopy is affected by the relative location of woodlot and whether other abiotic factors can influence abundance of canopy. 10 randomly selected adult maple trees for perimeter and 10 adult trees for non-perimeter of woodlot was measured for its tree height, the percentage of canopy exposure to sun, percentage of leaf abundance, and leaf colour by observation. In addition, experimenters also measured dbh by transect, pH of soil by PH meter (litmus paper), and soil moisture level by hand touch. This experiment was repeated one week after, so total 40 adult maple trees were measured, the 20 for perimeter and the other 20 for non-perimeter. However, the first experiment was conducted in the southern part of woodlot, and the second experiment was conducted in the western part of woodlot. Both experiments were collaborated with Naz Naji, Kristine Gulli, and Winnie Zhao.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232173.v1
title: Squirrel Abundance

description: The lab was conducted by myself and 3 peers: Hassan, Enrique and Brad. The experiment investigated the differences in squirrel abundance in urban and woodland areas of York University. The objective of the experiment was to answer the biological question regarding the differences in abundance of the squirrels in the two areas and the reasons why they differed. It was hypothesized that there would be a greater abundance of squirrels in woodland areas as opposed to urban areas because of greater food, decreased stress (due to people) and increased space for shelter. The hypothesis was based on the predictions that food supply would be vital for squirrel survival with winter approaching. Therefore there would be a greater presence of squirrels in the woodland areas with many acorn baring trees and bushes present. The experiment took place over the duration of 2 labs, with approximately 45 minutes designated to the woodland and urban area per lab. We started in Vari Hall (urban) area and followed Campus Walk towards the west end of Steacies Building where we ended at the east side of the Lumbers- Farquharson tunnel. Using Google maps to mark these designated areas, observations were made for the urban area. For the woodlot area, data was collected from the woodlot located south of the Chimneystack road at the end of campus. We started walking from the centre and in towards the woodlot and then looped around the west side. Squirrels were observed for and recorded. The variables that were investigated were: density of people present, the number of squirrels, color, activity, competition, resources and size. The density of people was a visual approximation using a scale from 0-2, where 0 was no human density, 1 was a medium amount of people, and 2 was a high amount of human density. This variable was investigated to test whether stress caused by abundance of people affected the abundance of squirrels. The number of squirrels were then counted during time of observation in the designated area. Any squirrels present in the area were counted and noted for. The colour of the squirrels counted were also noted for based on the most abundant colour seen on the squirrel. The activity of the squirrel was observed to see whether it was standing, eating or running. Competition measured other mammals such as birds, groundhogs and chipmunks that were present during the time of observation. If the animal used the same resources as the squirrels, it was considered competition and noted as active. If there were animals that present but did not compete for the same resources as the squirrels, it was denoted as present or absent if no animals were seen. Resources was noted as present or absent based on if there were acorn baring trees and bushes with berries. It also took into account various bushes and trees where squirrels would climb and shelter themselves. The size of the squirrels were visually observed based on how big they were and were scaled from 1-5, where 1 was a small squirrel and 5 was a large squirrel.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232164
title: (SC/BIOL2050) Squirrel abundance related to human disturbance

description: People included in this experiment were, in alphabetic order, Angela joseph, Brad Wismayer, Enrique Sapena Ventura and Hasam Hamam. Variables were measured in an urban nucleus, with high human disturbance, and in woodlots, which had almost none human disturbance, for 45 minutes each, from 3PM to 4:30PM each time. It was repeated two times in two consecutives fridays. First Friday it was raining, second Friday it was sunny. Urban nucleus included the proximities of the laboratory, Vari hall, and the roundabouts. Woodlots were chosen as the place in where we did our first experiments. Every variable was measured with observation and a map, that would tell which quadrat was the squirrel in. It's hypothesized that disturbance affects squirrel distribution, in a fashion that where high disturbance it's observated, no squirrel will be seen, due to stress; while we expect more squirrels in mildly disturbed urban areas, due to access to plenty of food resources and absence of predators. Last prediction is that, near urban nucleus, little quantity of squirrels is going to be found in wild areas, due to that they can access to more food resources in the mildly disturbed urban nucleus.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232174.v1
title: Analysis of the trade-off theory: Comparing growth and reproduction of American buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) at York University

description: On October 17 and October 24, 2014, 3 students (Cait Carew, Lilach Halevi, and Nitharsija Srikanthan) located a woodlot on the East end of York University, Keele campus. The first day was marked by periods of overcast skies with temperatures of 11degrees Celsius and the second day with clear skies and temperatures near 15degrees Celsius during sampling hours (between 3:00-5:00pm). Observations of leaf morphology, bark, and berries identified the tree of interest as American buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula. Using a block sampling method, a transect tape was placed along the forest edge with the 0 mark aligned with the base of the first tree sample. Trees that fell along the transect tape were only observed if their diameter at breast height (dbh in cm) was greater than, or equal to 13cm. Height intervals were used to roughly estimate tree height, 1=less than 3m; 2=between 3.4-6m; and 3 greater than 6m. Height estimates were made by using known height of a student and assuming how many times bigger the tree was in comparison. Three random branches were sampled from each tree (branches defined as terminal outgrowths of approximately 40cm in length from the point of divergence from the point of attachment to the tip). The berries on each of the branches were counted, and three berries were removed, at random, from each of the three branches in order to measure the diameter using a small, millimetre measuring tape (total of nine berries per tree). The total number of berries was averaged to get the number of berries per branch and the diameter of the nine berries was used to find the average berry diameter of each individual tree. Three random leaves were also removed from each branch and the length and width were recorded. These values were used to calculate the approximate surface area of the leaf using the equation for area of a rhombus (A=[(l*w)/2]), since the leaves were elliptical and this was the easiest method of approximation. The approximate leaf area was averaged for each individual tree. The entire process was repeated for each tree which fell along the transect tape, as long as the dbh was greater than or equal to 13cm until 50 samples were obtained. Statistical analyses of berry diameter in relation to leaf area; of berry diameter in relation to tree height; and of leaf area in relation to tree height were used to identify result significance and possible correlations between tree traits.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232166.v1
title: BIOL2050 LAB 5-Maple trees of perimeter and non-perimeter woodlot

description: The block experiment was conducted from 2:50 to 3:50 at Danby Woods where located at south of Chimneystack Rd. and west of Keele St. of York University Keele campus on October 17, and 24. The temperature was around 6 degree Celsius on October 17 with moderate breeze and heavy clouds, and was around 15 degree Celsius on October 24 with a clear blue sky. The purpose of this experiment is to study how abundance of canopy is affected by the relative location of woodlot and whether other abiotic factors can influence abundance of canopy. 10 randomly selected adult maple trees for perimeter and 10 adult trees for non-perimeter of woodlot was measured for its tree height, the percentage of canopy exposure to sun, percentage of leaf abundance, and leaf colour by observation. In addition, experimenters also measured dbh by transect, pH of soil by PH meter (litmus paper), and soil moisture level by hand touch. This experiment was repeated one week after, so total 40 adult maple trees were measured, the 20 for perimeter and the other 20 for non-perimeter. However, the first experiment was conducted in the southern part of woodlot, and the second experiment was conducted in the western part of woodlot. Both experiments were collaborated with Naz Naji, Kristine Gulli, and Winnie Zhao.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232164.v1
title: (SC/BIOL2050) Squirrel abundance related to human disturbance

description: People included in this experiment were, in alphabetic order, Angela joseph, Brad Wismayer, Enrique Sapena Ventura and Hasam Hamam. Variables were measured in an urban nucleus, with high human disturbance, and in woodlots, which had almost none human disturbance, for 45 minutes each, from 3PM to 4:30PM each time. It was repeated two times in two consecutives fridays. First Friday it was raining, second Friday it was sunny. Urban nucleus included the proximities of the laboratory, Vari hall, and the roundabouts. Woodlots were chosen as the place in where we did our first experiments. Every variable was measured with observation and a map, that would tell which quadrat was the squirrel in. It's hypothesized that disturbance affects squirrel distribution, in a fashion that where high disturbance it's observated, no squirrel will be seen, due to stress; while we expect more squirrels in mildly disturbed urban areas, due to access to plenty of food resources and absence of predators. Last prediction is that, near urban nucleus, little quantity of squirrels is going to be found in wild areas, due to that they can access to more food resources in the mildly disturbed urban nucleus.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232160
title: Data from Sklar and Dietrich, Geology, 2001

description: This data set was used to make Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the paper. Measurements include rock tensile strength, bedrock erosion rate, sediment loading, and grain size.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232125
title: Effect of Shade on Abundance and Diversity of Plant Species in a Grassland

description: Data was collected on October 17th, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. and October 24th, 2014 at 2:45 p.m. at the grassland located between Chimneystack Road, York Boulevard and Keele Street, at the East end of York University, Toronto, ON. On October 17th, 2014 it was raining and cloudy, and the temperature was 17°C; on October 24th, 2014 it was sunny, and the temperature was 16°C. The purpose to collect this data was to determine the effect of shade on the abundance and diversity of species in a grassland by comparing number of individuals, number of different species, percent plant coverage and percent grass coverage of the center of grassland (no shade) and the edge of the grassland/woodlot (shade). It is predicted that there will be greater diversity and abundance of plants in the center of the grassland compared to the edge because only shade tolerant species would be able to thrive on the edge in the shade. On each day, a 1m x 1m quadrat was placed at the edge of grassland/woodlot and another quadrat was placed in the center of the grassland, 15 meters away from the quadrat at the edge, measured by using a transect tape. In each quadrat, number of individual plants were counted and recorded as a number; number of different plant species were counted and recorded- without the use of a species guide; percent plant coverage was estimated by seeing what proportion of the quadrat the plants occupy; and percent grass coverage was estimated by seeing what proportion of the quadrat is occupied by grass. This data was counted as a pair, and the next pair data was obtained by repeating this method 1 m away from the first pair. This was repeated for a total number of 20 pairs on each day, and 40 pairs in total over the two days. This experiment was carried out by Rajbir Ghuman, Alexander Karakatsanis, Arlene Tran and Jenna Teixeira.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232160.v1
title: Data from Sklar and Dietrich, Geology, 2001

description: This data set was used to make Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the paper. Measurements include rock tensile strength, bedrock erosion rate, sediment loading, and grain size.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232125.v2
title: Effect of Shade on Abundance and Diversity of Plant Species in a Grassland

description: Data was collected on October 17th, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. and October 24th, 2014 at 2:45 p.m. at the grassland located between Chimneystack Road, York Boulevard and Keele Street, at the East end of York University, Toronto, ON. On October 17th, 2014 it was raining and cloudy, and the temperature was 17°C; on October 24th, 2014 it was sunny, and the temperature was 16°C. The purpose to collect this data was to determine the effect of shade on the abundance and diversity of species in a grassland by comparing number of individuals, number of different species, percent plant coverage and percent grass coverage of the center of grassland (no shade) and the edge of the grassland/woodlot (shade). It is predicted that there will be greater diversity and abundance of plants in the center of the grassland compared to the edge because only shade tolerant species would be able to thrive on the edge in the shade. On each day, a 1m x 1m quadrat was placed at the edge of grassland/woodlot and another quadrat was placed in the center of the grassland, 15 meters away from the quadrat at the edge, measured by using a transect tape. In each quadrat, number of individual plants were counted and recorded as a number; number of different plant species were counted and recorded- without the use of a species guide; percent plant coverage was estimated by seeing what proportion of the quadrat the plants occupy; and percent grass coverage was estimated by seeing what proportion of the quadrat is occupied by grass. This data was counted as a pair, and the next pair data was obtained by repeating this method 1 m away from the first pair. This was repeated for a total number of 20 pairs on each day, and 40 pairs in total over the two days. This experiment was carried out by Rajbir Ghuman, Alexander Karakatsanis, Arlene Tran and Jenna Teixeira.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232125.v1
title: Effect of Shade on Abundance and Diversity of Plant Species in a Grassland

description: Data was collected on October 17th, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. and October 24th, 2014 at 2:45 p.m. at the grassland located between Chimneystack Road, York Boulevard and Keele Street, at the East end of York University, Toronto, ON. On October 17th, 2014 it was raining and cloudy, and the temperature was 17°C; on October 24th, 2014 it was sunny, and the temperature was 16°C. The purpose to collect this data was to determine the effect of shade on the abundance and diversity of species in a grassland by comparing number of individuals, number of different species, percent plant coverage and percent grass coverage of the center of grassland (no shade) and the edge of the grassland/woodlot (shade). It is predicted that there will be greater diversity and abundance of plants in the center of the grassland compared to the edge because only shade tolerant species would be able to thrive on the edge in the shade. On each day, a 1m x 1m quadrat was placed at the edge of grassland/woodlot and another quadrat was placed in the center of the grassland, 15 meters away from the quadrat at the edge, measured by using a transect tape. In each quadrat, number of individual plants were counted and recorded as a number; number of different plant species were counted and recorded- without the use of a species guide; percent plant coverage was estimated by seeing what proportion of the quadrat the plants occupy; and percent grass coverage was estimated by seeing what proportion of the quadrat is occupied by grass. This data was counted as a pair, and the next pair data was obtained by repeating this method 1 m away from the first pair. This was repeated for a total number of 20 pairs on each day, and 40 pairs in total over the two days. This experiment was carried out by Rajbir Ghuman, Alexander Karakatsanis, Arlene Tran and Jenna Teixeira.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232119
title: Modeling and forecasting persistent financial durations

description: This article introduces the Markov-Switching Multifractal Duration (MSMD) model by adapting the MSM stochastic volatility model of Calvet and Fisher (2004) to the duration setting. Although the MSMD process is exponential β-mixing as we show in the article, it is capable of generating highly persistent autocorrelation. We study, analytically and by simulation, how this feature of durations generated by the MSMD process propagates to counts and realized volatility. We employ a quasi-maximum likelihood estimator of the MSMD parameters based on the Whittle approximation and establish its strong consistency and asymptotic normality for general MSMD specifications. We show that the Whittle estimation is a computationally simple and fast alternative to maximum likelihood. Finally, we compare the performance of the MSMD model with competing short- and long-memory duration models in an out-of-sample forecasting exercise based on price durations of three major foreign exchange futures contracts. The results of the comparison show that the MSMD and the Long Memory Stochastic Duration model perform similarly and are superior to the short-memory Autoregressive Conditional Duration models.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232116
title: Rules relating hepatotoxicity with structural attributes of drugs

description: The relationship between molecular structures of drugs and their hepatotoxicity was studied by characterizing their structure in a new way and using formal concept analysis, a mathematical technique to condense knowledge into particular rules, which does not imply linearly assumptions as many conventional statistical techniques. The structural characterization was based on molecular descriptors and molecular frameworks, further decomposed into structural elements, rings, and bridges. The methodology was applied to drugs in the liver toxicity knowledge base database with the potential to cause drug-induced liver injury. Numbers of atoms and bonds along with the aromatic ratio were suitable descriptors for such drugs. The higher the number of rings and asymmetric structural elements in their terminal ring systems, the higher is the probability of hepatotoxicity. Rules were found which may help to design drugs which are unlikely to be hepatotoxic.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1232119.v1
title: Modeling and Forecasting Persistent Financial Durations

description: This paper introduces the Markov-Switching Multifractal Duration (MSMD) model by adapting the MSM stochastic volatility model of Calvet and Fisher (2004) to the duration setting. Although the MSMD process is exponential β-mixing as we show in the paper, it is capable of generating highly persistent autocorrelation. We study analytically and by simulation how this feature of durations generated by the MSMD process propagates to counts and realized volatility. We employ a quasi-maximum likelihood estimator of the MSMD parameters based on the Whittle approximation and establish its strong consistency and asymptotic normality for general MSMD specifications. We show that the Whittle estimation is a computationally simple and fast alternative to maximum likelihood. Finally, we compare the performance of the MSMD model with competing short- and long-memory duration models in an out-of-sample forecasting exercise based on price durations of three major foreign exchange futures contracts. The results of the comparison show that the MSMD and the Long Memory Stochastic Duration model perform similarly and are superior to the short-memory Autoregressive Conditional Duration models.