47,360 research outputs found
Biodiversity: oil-palm replanting raises ecology issues
No full textMore than one-third of the area on which oil palm is grown in Malaysia, some 1.4 million hectares (http://faostat.fao.org), has already passed peak yields and is due to be replanted. Replanting, which represents a new phase for the industry, must be carefully thought through and implemented to avoid repeating the disastrous effects of the initial clearance of primary forest on biodiversity and the environment.The productive life of an oil-palm crop is 25–30 years and, because the boom in oil-palm cultivation began in the mid-1980s, large areas of ageing oil palm in southeast Asia now need replacing. However, the long-term nature of the crop has allowed biological complexity to build up around it over time.There is therefore a risk that the replanting phase — just like the initial clearance for planting — will disrupt natural habitats by indiscriminate removal of vegetation and heavy disturbance of soil and hydrological systems.We suggest that large-scale replanting operations should be carried out carefully with a view to minimizing such adverse effects on the environment
The impact of oil palm expansion on environmental change: putting conservation research in context
No full textNon
Biodiversity technologies: tools as change agents
No full textA meeting on Biodiversity Technologies was held by the Biodiversity Institute, Oxford on the 27–28 of September 2012 at the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. The symposium brought together 36 speakers from North America, Australia and across Europe, presenting the latest research on emerging technologies in biodiversity science and conservation. Here we present a perspective on the general trends emerging from the symposium. <br/
[Letter from Arthur S. Rosichan to J. L. Zuber - August 11, 1944]
No full textLetter from Arthur S. Rosichan to J. L. Zuber: August 11, 1944. Subject of the letter is the author moving to Houston to work for the Jewish Community Council
Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη′
No full textFirst evidence of the B 0 → J / ψ ω decay is found and the B s 0 → J / ψ η and B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb -1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to that of the B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0 decay:frac(B (B 0 → J / ψ ω), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 0.89 ± 0.19 (stat) - 0.13 + 0.07 (syst),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 14.0 ± 1.2 (stat) - 1.5 + 1.1 (syst) - 1.0 + 1.1 (frac(f d, f s)),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 12.7 ± 1.1 (stat) - 1.3 + 0.5 (syst) - 0.9 + 1.0 (frac(f d, f s)), where the last uncertainty is due to the knowledge of f d / f s, the ratio of b-quark hadronization factors that accounts for the different production rate of B 0 and B s 0 mesons. The ratio of the branching fractions of B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ and B s 0 → J / ψ η decays is measured to befrac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B s 0 → J / ψ η)) = 0.90 ± 0.09 (stat) - 0.02 + 0.06 (syst)
Precision measurements of B[psi(3686) -> pi(+)pi(-)J/psi] and B[J/psi -> l(+)l(-)]
No full text<p>Based on (106.41 +/- 0.86) x 10(6) psi(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the branching fractions of psi(3686) -> pi(+)pi(-)J/psi, J/psi -> e(+)e(-), and J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-) are measured. We obtain B[psi(3686) -> pi(+)pi(-)J/psi] = (34.98 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.45)%, B[J/psi -> e(+)e(-)] = (5.983 +/- 0.007 +/- 0.037)%, and B[J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-)] = (5.973 +/- 0.0007 +/- 0.038)%. The measurement of B[psi(3686) -> pi(+)pi(-)J/psi] confirms the CLEO-c measurement, and is apparently larger than the others. The measured J/psi leptonic decay branching fractions agree with previous experiments within one standard deviation. These results lead to B[J/psi -> l(+)l(-)] = (5.978 +/- 0.005 +/- 0.040)% by averaging over the e(+)e(-) and mu(+)mu(-) channels and a ratio of B[J/psi -> e(+)e(-)]/B[J/psi -> mu(+)mu(-)] = 1.0017 +/- 0.0017 +/- 0.0033, which tests e- mu universality at the four tenths of a percent level. All the measurements presented in this paper are the most precise in the world to date.</p>
The economic and fiscal impacts of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey, a macroeconomic analysis
No full textThis report estimates the macroeconomic and fiscal impacts of Hurricane Sandy on the economy of New Jersey using the R/ECON™ forecasting model of the state’s economy. The model consists of more than 250 quarterly time-series equations and 30 employment sectors.The analysis takes into account both the economic losses resulting from the hurricane and the offsetting positive economic impacts associated with recovery and reconstruction spending in the months and years following the storm.However, the estimates of impacts depend upon the restoration expenditures actually being made. If the funds for these restoration and recovery expenditures are not made available, the offsetting positive impacts to the economy will not occur and the New Jersey economy will be significantly damaged. See Section 3 for estimates of the negative impacts if restoration expenditures are not made.This report was published as Issue Paper Number 34, January 2013, in Rutgers Regional Report
Data from: Positive effects of liana cutting on seedlings are reduced during El Niño-induced drought
No full textLianaCanopyDynamicsFinalLiana density and canopy openness after liana cutting. Metadata included as sheet in excel file.SeedlingGrowthFirstCutFinalSeedling growth from 2011 to 2014. Metadata included as sheet in excel file.SeedlingGrowthSecondCutFinalSeedling growth from 2014 to 2017. Metadata included as sheet in excel file.SeedlingSurvivalFinalSeedling survival following liana cutting in 2014. Metadata included as sheet in excel file.TreeSaplingGrowthFinalTree and sapling growth following 2014 liana cutting. Metadata included as sheet in excel file.,1. Liana cutting is a management practice currently applied to encourage seedling regeneration and tree growth in some logged tropical forests. However, there is limited empirical evidence of its effects on forest demographic rates in Southeast Asia. 2. We used 22 four-hectare plots in the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment (a reduced impact logging site) enrichment line planted with 16 dipterocarp species to assess the effects of complete liana cutting on tree growth and survival. We compared plots where lianas were only cut along planting lines (standard enrichment line planting) with those with one (2014) or two rounds (2011 and 2014) of complete liana cutting. 3. We found increased seedling growth following the first complete liana cut in 2011 relative to the enrichment line planting, consistent with previous studies. The response after three years to the cutting in 2014 depended on whether lianas had been previously cut or not: in twice-cut plots, seedling growth was not significantly different from the standard enrichment planting controls, whereas growth in plots with only one complete cut in 2014 was significantly slower. Seedling survival decreased through time for both once- and twice-cut liana treatments but remained stable in controls. 4. Sapling growth after the 2014 liana cutting showed a similar pattern to seedling growth, while tree growth following the 2014 liana cutting was significantly lower than controls regardless of whether lianas were cut twice (2011 and 2014) or once (2014). 5. Differences in response between the two rounds of liana cutting were likely due to changes in precipitation - 2011 was followed by consistent rainfall while 2014 was followed by two severe droughts within 2 years. 6. Synthesis and applications. Our results generally support the widely-reported positive effects of liana cutting on tree growth and survival. However, reduced growth and survival after the 2015/16 El Niño suggests that drought may temporarily undermine the benefits of liana cutting in logged tropical forests. Managers of similar areas in SE Asia should consider halting liana cutting during El Niño events. In other tropical areas, seedling survival should be monitored to assess to what extent results from SE Asia are transferable.</span
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
Mind world of J. L. Borges
No full textV diplomskem delu predstavljam izjemnega avtorja J. L. Borgesa. Obravnavam njegovo življenje in opus. Osredotočim se na njegov idejni svet in z zgodbami izpod njegovega peresa razgrinjam tesno povezanost, predvsem s Schopenhauerjem, ter razmišljam o glavnih temah in motivih in navezavi le teh s filozofijo.In my degree paper I am writing about amazing author J. L. Borges. This thesis deals with author\u27s life and his work. I am focusing on his mind world and with help of his short stories I am looking for close connection between Borges and Schopenhauer. I am thinking about main topics and motives and also about their connection with philosophy
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