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1. Roads are a prevalent, ever-increasing form of human disturbance on the landscape. In many places in western North America, energy development has brought human and road disturbance into seasonal winter range areas for migratory elk. 2. We sought to evaluate the predictions from the risk-disturbance hypothesis when studying elk response to roads during winter. Road proximity and crossing were used to evaluate these behaviours, which offered a rare comparison between two common measures of roads. We used integrated step selection analysis (iSSA) to evaluate four alternative hypotheses regarding the influence of roads on space-use behaviour across 175 elk-years of elk telemetry data, and we quantified both population-level and individual-level variations in responses. 3. We demonstrated, for the first time, how iSSA can be used to combine movement analysis in a refined approach to habitat selection. Elk responded to roads as they would natural predation risk. Elk selected areas farther from roads at all times of day with avoidance being greatest during twilight. In addition, elk sought cover and moved more when in the vicinity of roads. Road crossings were generally avoided, but this avoidance was weakest during daytime when elk were both moving and closer to roads. 4. Synthesis and applications. Energy development is transforming landscapes in western North America with the proliferation of roads, which we show is having substantial and multifaceted negative effects on elk movement and behaviour. These adverse effects can be mitigated by minimizing new road construction and by restricting traffic on roads as well as providing the protection of tree cover on elk winter ranges.

Background Anthropogenic linear features change the behavior and selection patterns of species, which must adapt to these ever-increasing features on the landscape. Roads are a well-studied linear feature that alter the survival, movement, and distribution of animals. Less understood are the effects of fences on wildlife, though they tend to be more ubiquitous across the landscape than roads. Even less understood are potential indirect effects when fences are found in tandem with roads along transportation corridors. Methods We assessed how the spatial configuration of fences and roads effect the movement (crossing effect) and distribution (proximity effect) of a partially migratory pronghorn population ( Antilocapra americana ) on the grasslands of southern Alberta, Canada. We used data from 55 collared pronghorn within a step-selection function framework to assess the influence of 4 linear features: (1) pasture fences, (2) roads not fenced, (3) roads fenced on one side, and (4) roads fenced on both sides on the selection pattern of migratory and resident animals. We examined whether steps along a movement pathway (i.e., crossing effect) were influenced by the type of linear feature animals attempted to cross and, whether these features affected the distribution of pronghorn (i.e., proximity effect) across the landscape. Results The top model for crossing effect for both movement tactics contained all 4 linear features and land cover. Regression coefficients were negative for all linear features, indicating that individuals were less likely to chose steps that crossed linear features. For the proximity effect, migrant animals avoided all linear features except roads fenced on both sides, where they selected areas closer to this feature. Resident animals, on the other hand, were found closer to pasture fences but further from roads without fences. Conclusions Our results indicate that both fences and roads are indirectly affecting pronghorn resource use spatially and behaviorally, whether each linear feature is found separately or in tandem. Modifying existing fences and roads to account for responses to these distinct linear features could facilitate more successful crossing opportunities and/or shifts in distribution. Allowing pronghorn to freely move across the landscape will maintain functional connectivity to ensure population persistence of this endemic ungulate.

Although the gender gap in math course-taking and performance has narrowed in recent decades, females continue to be underrepresented in math-intensive fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Career pathways encompass the ability to pursue a career as well as the motivation to employ that ability. Individual differences in cognitive capacity and motivation are also influenced by broader sociocultural factors. After reviewing research from the fields of psychology, sociology, economics, and education over the past 30 years, we summarize six explanations for US women's underrepresentation in math-intensive STEM fields: (a) cognitive ability, (b) relative cognitive strengths, (c) occupational interests or preferences, (d) lifestyle values or work-family balance preferences, (e) fieldspecific ability beliefs, and (f) gender-related stereotypes and biases. We then describe the potential biological and sociocultural explanations for observed gender differences on cognitive and motivational factors and demonstrate the developmental period(s) during which each factor becomes most relevant. We then propose evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice to improve STEM diversity and recommendations for future research directions.

Stabilised sandcrete (sand-cement) and latscrete (clay/mud-cement) blocks are the most commonly used materials for masonry building walling material in Port Harcourt metropolis. Despite the hot, humid tropical climate in this region, the interior thermal comfort benefits of selecting suitable walling materials for buildings are frequently overlooked. In addition to the interior thermal comfort in buildings, rising energy usage is also a cause for concern. The choice of material for wall building is influenced by cost, strength, and durability. However, interest in employing sustainable green architecture and thermally comfortable building materials has increased in recent years. Selecting appropriate wall materials that can be energy efficient and lower cooling load is necessary, since external walls play a significant role in thermal insulation. Therefore, the study evaluated indoor thermal comfort, comparing commonly used stabilised latscrete blocks as walling material in two model buildings. To evaluate the characteristics of the two walling materials, a series of tests were performed to determine the water absorption rate, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength, following the standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Readings of relative humidity and indoor temperature of the two buildings were respectively taken and recorded for a period of twelve months. The data were collated and analysed using the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), Heat Index (HI), and Effective Temperature Index (ETI). To compare the thermal comfort performance of the building models, the ASHRAE 55-2020 standard scale was used. Latscrete was found to be a better thermal comfort performer than sandcrete and was, therefore, recommended as an alternative local walling material for building in the study area.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials are increasingly used in automotive industrial fields to achieve lightweight. In order to study the influence of high temperature and high humidity on the bonding structure between different materials, this paper selects basalt fiber-reinforced resin composite materials (BFRP) and aluminum alloy (Al), and uses Araldite® 2012 and Araldite® 2014, two adhesives, to make single lap joints (SLJs). The aging test was carried out for 0 (unaged), 10, 20, and 30 days under the environment of 80 °C/95% relative humidity (RH) and 80 °C/pure water. In this work, simple Fickian law was used to simulate the hygroscopic change law of dumbbell specimens of two adhesives and BFRP in a pure water environment. It was discovered that Araldite® 2012 is most affected by moisture, but the time to reach the maximum water absorption in Araldite® 2014 was shorter than in Araldite® 2012. The failure strength of the joint was obtained through a quasi-static tensile experiment, and it was found that the Araldite® 2014 adhesive joint first increased and then decreased in a high temperature environment. The strength increased by 11.63% after 20 days of aging under an 80 °C/95%RH environment, and increased by 16.66% after 10 days of aging under an 80 °C/pure water environment, which indicates that post-curing reaction occurred. The strength of Araldite® 2012 joints showed a downward trend. After 30 days of aging, it reduced by 40.38% under an 80 °C/95%RH environment and 41.11% under an 80 °C/pure water environment. By observing the load-displacement curve, it was found that, as time increased, the slope of the curve decreased, indicating that the stiffness of the bonded joint decreased with time. The failure modes of the joints were analyzed by macroscopic images and microscopic SEM methods, and the results showed that the surface failure transitions from a mixed failure to a complete tear failure over time. The failure of the basalt fiber/resin interface was because the interaction between the epoxy resin in the adhesive and the epoxy resin in BFRP was greater than the force between the basalt fiber layer and the epoxy resin layer in the BFRP sheet.

Fiber is a basic raw material in the textile industry. The changes in spinning technology have in common the requirement of unique and often greater cotton fiber quality, especially strength, for processing. We used a Gossypium anomalum introgression line, 7235, characterized by good fiber quality properties, to identify molecular markers linked to fiber-strength QTLs. By the use of F(2) and F(3) populations derived from a cross between 7235 and TM-1, a genetic standard of Upland cotton, nine molecular markers, three SSRs and six RAPDs, were identified to be linked to two QTLs for fiber strength. One was a major QTL, QTL(FS1), detected both in Nanjing and Hainan, China, and the Texas College Station, USA. It was found to be associated with eight markers and explained more than 30% of the phenotypic variation. QTL(FS1) was mapped to chromosome 10. The major QTL in 7235 was identified to be transferred from an Acala 3080 cotton. The marker-assisted selection revealed that DNA markers linked to this QTL could be used in increasing the fiber strength of commercial cultivars.

Fundamental analysis is an approach for evaluating a firm for its investment-worthiness whereby the firm's financial statements are subject to detailed investigation to predict future stock price performance. In this paper, we propose an approach to combine financial statement data using Data Envelopment Analysis to determine a relative financial strength (RFS) indicator. Such an indicator captures a firm's fundamental strength or competitiveness in comparison to all other firms in the industry/market segment. By analysing the correlation of the RFS indicator with the historical stock price returns within the industry, a well-informed assessment can be made about considering the firm in an equity portfolio. We test the proposed indicator with firms from the technology sector, using various US industries and report correlation analyses. Our preliminary computations using RFS indicator-based stock selection within mean-variance portfolio optimization demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach.

The present article focuses on manufacturing of metal powder filled pultrusion profiles for electro-technical applications. Herein a set of test material has been reviewed, which was prepared with the aim to present an optimized composite structure with high metal powder content for magnetic slot wedge production, outperforming the products currently available by alternative technology – compression moulding.This article gives a short overview of incorporating fine metal powders as fillers into pultrusion process (including the technical challenges) and the experimental work done in the project. The selection and analysis of components have been briefly discussed along with the results of material tests conducted on prepared composite samples. Mechanical, dielectric and magnetic properties of the samples were studied at different filler loadings and compared to the properties of iron powder filled compressed laminates.Several application specific material properties were determined, including flexural strength according to ISO 178, volume and surface resistivity similarly to IEC 93, and relative permeability using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and various image processing software were used to analyse the composition and microstructure of the material samples. Material test results are presented at different iron powder loadings from 20 to 55 wt% and recommendations given for optimal materials selection.

Grain protein concentration (GPC) is an important quality factor in durum wheat [Triticum turgidum (L.) var. durum]. Due to the strong environmental influence on GPC, molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting GPC have the potential to be valuable in wheat breeding programs. Various quantitative traits in a population of 133 recombinant inbred chromosome lines were studied in replicated trials at three locations in North Dakota. Segregation for GPC, 1000-kernel weight, gluten strength, heading date, and plant height was observed. By relating phenotypic data to a linkage map obtained from the same population, three QTL affecting GPC, and one affecting yield were identified. The genotypic coefficients of determination for both traits were high.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Traders employ various methods to identify trades. Nearly all the traders, however, attribute their long‐term success not to some specific technique for identifying trades, but to wise money management. Regardless of the method used to trigger a trade, successful traders judge a position by only one standard once the trade has been taken: Is it working? If forward profitability is the criterion by which an existing trade is evaluated, then why not apply the same test to trade selection? To find out whether a relative strength strategy is working, first the strongest and weakest stocks are identified, and then the changes in each set are averaged and recorded as of the following day. While the specific stocks that rank among the strongest and weakest may vary daily, this method provides continuous accounts of the forward performance of relative strength leaders and laggards. This chapter introduces the Venturi effect, how the Venturi effect applies to trading and how it demonstrates the efficacy of the RSS. Since the performance spread and the relative strength spread both reflect feedback at work in the market, both are broadly in synch, and evidence of feedback provided by one is generally confirmed by the other. The performance spread, however, offers information more immediately relevant to trade management and by extension to trade selection, since it reveals whether relative‐strength strategies are working.