Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of carnivores prey base by scat analysis in Samburu community group ranches in Kenya

This study determined the prey base for four main carnivores found in Samburu community group ranches and grazing area, Lion ( Panthera leo ), Leopard ( Panthera pardus ), Wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ) and Hyaena ( Crocuta crocuta , and Hyaena hyaena ). A total of 96 scat samples including, 8 from Lion, 16 Leopards’, 2 Wild dogs’, and 70 Hyaenas’ were collected, identified and microscopically analyzed for prey hair characterisation. At least 50 different hairs from every scat sample were mounted on slides and microscopically characterized using details from reference hairs. Hairs from 18 depredated species both domestic and wild ungulates were recovered from the scat samples. Predated species were identified, as either domestic (Cow, Sheep, Goat, Donkey, and Camel) or wild ungulate prey (Grant’s gazelle, plain Zebra, Grevy’s Zebra, Impala, Waterbuck, Dikdik, Eland, lesser Kudu, greater Kudu, Baboon, rock Hyraxes, Elephant and Oryx). The carnivores showed a relatively high kill of wild ungulate prey compared to domestic prey. Camel was the most preferred domestic animal by both the Lion and the leopard, while wild Dog and Hyaena preferred cow and donkey respectively. Grevy’s zebra contributed highest to the lion’s diet while the Plain zebra was most preferred by the leopard. Both the hyaena and the Wild dog had a preference for the waterbuck. The Hyaena had the highest domestic depredation, while all the other big cats depredated more on wild ungulates Key words: Scat, group ranch, domestic, wild ungulate, prey, depredation.
Impact of varying metal ion- and carbohydrate concentrations on gene expression in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae is een grampositieve menselijke ziekteverwekker die jaarlijks verantwoordelijk is voor de dood van miljoenen mensen, voornamelijk kinderen, en veroorzaakt pneumokokken infecties zoals longontsteking, hersenvliesontsteking, middenoor ontsteking en sepsis. De bacterie leeft onder normale omstandigheden in de neusholte. Soms kan het zich, als de omstandigheden juist zijn, door het lichaam naar andere plekken verplaatsen en daar infecties veroorzaken. Om in deze zeer verschillende gastheer omgevingen te overleven en infecties te veroorzaken moet S. pneumoniae deze aanzienlijke variaties in omgevingsomstandigheden kunnen registreren en zich daaraan aan kunnen passen. Hieronder vallen de veranderingen in concentraties metaalionen in gastheer weefsel en de beschikbaarheid van verschillende koolstofbronnen. Er is weinig bekend over het mechanisme van interactie van deze humane pathogeen met de veranderende omgeving in het menselijk lichaam. Dit proefschrift beschrijft de gen gereguleerde respons van S. pneumoniae op de varierende metaal en koolhydraat beschikbaarheid. Wisselende metaal concentraties en verschillende koolhydraat bronnen zijn factoren waar hij mee geconfronteerd kan worden in verschillende plekken van het menselijk lichaam tijdens de infectie. Een aantal regulatoren die reageren op verschillende metaal (b.v. zink en koper) en koolhydraat bronnen (b.v. cellobiose) zijn gekarakteriseerd en hun regulonen zijn bestudeerd. De resultaten beschreven in dit proefschrift zullen helpen bij het beter begrijpen van de moleculaire biologie van S. pneumoniae en verschaffen meer inzicht in de respons van S. pneumoniae op veranderende omgevingscondities. Zink is een belangrijk, maar toxisch, zwaar metaal ion dat de expressie van een aantal (virulentie) genen in streptococci reguleert. Eerder hebben we de genoom-brede respons van S. pneumoniae op zink-stress geanalyseerd. In hoofdstuk 2 hebben we een analyse van het transcriptoom gedaan om genen te identificeren die differentieel tot expressie komen bij intracellulaire zink limitatie. Dit leidde tot een aantal genen die sterk omhoog gereguleerd zijn in de afwezigheid van extracellulaire zink. Hieronder vallen de genen die behoren tot het regulon van de zink-responsieve repressor AdcR, zoals adcBCA, coderend voor een zinkafhankelijk ABC-opname systeem, adcAII, coderend voor een zink-bindend lipoproteine, en ook virulentie genen behorend tot de Pht familie (PhtA, PhtB, PhtD en PhtE). Met transcriptoom analyse, lacZ-reporter studies, in vitro DNA-binding experimenten, en in silico operator voorspellingen, laten we zien dat AdcR direct de promoters van adcRCBA, adcAIIphtD, phtA, phtB en phtE onderdrukt in de aanwezigheid van zink.
Gnomoniopsis castanea is the main agent of chestnut nut rot in Switzerland

Nuts of sweet chestnut have been an important food source for the alpine population in Switzerland since the Middle Ages and are still valued today for the preparation of traditional food commodities. Nut quality is reduced by insect damage and by various pathogenic fungi. In the last few years, producers and consumers perceived an increase of brown nut rot; while the nut rot agent Gnomoniopsis castanea was reported locally in southern Switzerland, its presence has not been investigated over large areas until now. This study assessed the incidence of brown nut rot and identified the causal agent present in Switzerland. Fully ripened nuts were collected from the main sweet chestnut growing areas of Switzerland. A filamentous fungus morphologically identified as G. castanea was isolated from 10 to 91% of the sampled nuts, despite only 3 to 21% of the sampled nuts showing brown rot symptoms. This fungus was isolated from symptomatic chestnuts as well as from apparently healthy chestnuts. Our results suggest a possible endophytic lifestyle in ripened nuts as well as in branches, leaves and unripe nuts as previously found. Species identity of 45 isolates was confirmed by EF-1alpha , beta-tubulin and ITS sequencing. Concatenation of β -tubulin and calmodulin sequences showed that several haplotypes were present at each sampling locality. No other nut rot pathogens could be isolated in this study, suggesting that G. castanea is the main causal agent of nut rot in Switzerland. The presence of this species is reported for the first time in a site in northern Switzerland. Further studies are needed to assess the influence of meteorological conditions and chestnut varieties on the incidence of G. castanea in order to provide prevention strategies for chestnut growers. Normal 0 21 false false false FR-CH X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
Fuzzy Logic and Investment Strategy

In this article we try to find a complementarity between efficiency theory and behavioural finance concerning investment strategy using a fuzzy logic. To accomplish this goal, we use daily data of 25 firms quoted on the Tunisian Stock Exchange from January 2001 to December 2008. We find that the fuzzy logic give as a best results with a degree of precision of 93.26%. So, despite the debate between efficiency theory an behavioural finance, we can assert that it exist a fuzzy complementarity between these two theories in decision making that is means a fuzzy complementarity between fundamental and behavioural data.
Responses of Bactrocera invadens (Diptera:Tephritidae) to Volatile Emissions of Fruits from Three Hosts

Bactrocera invadens is an invasive fruit fly species of Asian origin that was first detected in Kenya in 2003 and now has been reported in many parts of the African continent. The responses of B. invadens towards odour blends emitted from three host fruits, namely mango ( Mangifera indica ), marula ( Sclerocarya birrea ), and Indian almond ( Terminalia catappa ) growing in Nguruman and Embu in Kenya, were monitored in a dual choice olfactometer. Three mango varieties were tested (sensation, apple and kent), each at immature, mature unripe and ripe stages. Marula and Indian almond fruits were tested when mature, both when unripe and ripe. Results showed that, both male and female B. invadens were attracted equally to mature unripe and ripe mango fruits. However, in all cases attraction to immature fruits was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Two-way comparisons showed no significant difference between sensation and apple, but both attracted significantly more flies than kent. There were no significant different in attraction when M. indica , T. catappa and S. birrea were compared between each other. The results indicate that mature host fruits emit volatile constituents that are attractive to the fruit flies and if characterized may be useful in monitoring and managing B. invadens . Keywords: Bactrocera invadens , fruit hosts, attraction, 2-choice wind tunnel
Environmental efficiency of ports: a Data Envelopment Analysis approach

Numerous studies have analyzed the productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness of ports. However, empirical studies on the environmental efficiency of ports have not yet been carried out, since all previous studies have not considered the undesirable outputs that ports generate, for instance, CO2 emissions. To fill the gap in the literature, the objective of this study is to estimate environmental efficiency of ports. More specifically, this paper intends to analyze environmental efficiency of ports in Korea and to estimate the potential CO2 emission reduction by ports in the country. The main methodology is a Slacks-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis (SBM-DEA) model. Data, on labor, capital, and energy used as major inputs of the port sector; on cargo tonnage and vessel tonnage handled as desirable outputs; and on CO2 emissions as an undesirable output, were collected and estimated. The SBM-DEA model was able to provide us with a more comprehensive efficiency of combining economic performance and environmental performance and was also able to capture slack values of input excess and undesirable output excess (CO2) as well as desirable output shortage. Using the model and the data, it was found that Korean ports are deemed to be economically inefficient, but environmentally efficient when considering economic and environmental performances simultaneously.
Soil fauna dynamics affected by decomposition of different legume combinations in alley cropping systems in So Lus, Maranho, Brazil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal composition of epigeous fauna during decomposition of different legume combinations in alley cropping systems. Two legume species with high quality waste Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena) and Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea), and two species of low quality waste Clitoria fairchildiana (Sombrero) and Acacia mangium (Acacia), were combined forming six treatments: Sombrero + Pigeon pea (S + PP); Leucaena + Pigeon pea (L + PP); Acacia + Leucaena (A + L); Sombrero + Leucaena (S + L); Acacia + Pigeon pea (A + PP) and control (without legumes). We used the litter bag method to evaluate waste quality. Each bag was filled with 20 g of leaves of the two combined legumes and distributed in the treatments and were withdrawn on the day of pruning and at 3, 6, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after legume pruning. Two pitfall traps were used to capture epiedaphic fauna in each treatment. Eight evaluations were done based on the date of legume pruning. The initial amount of N was higher in the L + PP treatment (29.31 gKg -1 ), which showed the highest decomposition constant, providing the fastest release of N in the soil; and presenting the lowest C/N ratio. The highest polyphenol content was found in A + L (4.84%). The soil fauna under different vegetation covers was composed mainly of Aranae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Formicidae, Coleoptera larvae, mites and Collembola; the latter two being the more abundant in all samples. The soil fauna group richness varied during the time of decomposition; the greatest diversity was recorded at 60 days after the legume pruning due to group homogeneity.
Transport theory of dense, strongly inhomogeneous fluids

The generalized Enskog‐like kinetic equation (GEKE) derived recently for inhomogeneous fluids [L. A. Pozhar and K. E. Gubbins, J. Chem. Phys. 94, 1367 (1991)] has been solved using the 13‐moments approximation method to obtain linearized Navier–Stokes equations and the associated zero‐frequency transport coefficients. Simplified transport coefficient expressions have been obtained for several special cases (simplified geometries, homogeneous fluid). For these cases it is shown that the main contributions to the transport coefficients can be related to those for dense homogeneous fluids calculated at ‘‘smoothed’’ number densities and pair correlation functions. The smoothing procedure has been derived rigorously and shown to be an intrinsic feature of the GEKE approach. These results have been established for an arbitrary dense inhomogeneous fluid with intermolecular interactions represented by a sum of hard‐core repulsive and soft attractive potentials in an arbitrary external potential field and/or near .
Kinetic Modeling of Mixed Culture Process of Anaerobic Co-digestionof Vegetable Wastes with Pistia stratiotes: A Scientific Attempt onBiomethanationy

As co-digestion of two wastes together lead to balanced environment for biomethanation an attempt has been made in the present study to co-digest vegetable waste (VW) and Pistia stratiotes (PS) to overcome the acidification problem during mono-digestion of VW. Optimization of important process parameters for anaerobic co-digestion was done based on Central Composite Design (CCD) based Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Thereafter, modeling of the anaerobic digestion was carried out using first order, modified Gompertz and unstructured segregated model to study the process behavior. First order and modified Gompertz models were found to fit with the observed methane profile with R2 of ~0.99. In case of unstructured segregated model important kinetic constants such as Khs, KSS, KVFA were derived from the model and the values were found to be 0.1 d-1, 2.3 g/L and 881.68 mg/L, respectively. Based on these kinetic parameters, simulated cumulative methane production was generated which matched well with the observed methane yield within the error band of ± 20%. This showed that the developed model could represent the overall process behaviour of this novel anaerobic co-digestion using mixed anaerobic culture as an inoculum.
A Survey of Temperature Measurements in Convective Clouds

A brief review of errors associated with aircraft measurements of temperature in cumulus clouds is presented. This analysis forms the basis for the introduction of a compilation of in-cloud temperature measurements that the authors deem reliable. The measurements are mostly from radiometric thermometers, along with some carefully selected measurements taken with immersion thermometers. The data were collected in cumuli and cumulonimbi in Russia, the United States, and the central Pacific. An estimate of the in-cloud temperature measurement uncertainty is on the order of 0.5°C. The results suggest that the average temperature excess in cumulus clouds, when averaged over the cloud lifetime, is about 0.2°–0.3°C; this value may be biased to an unknown extent, however, by latencies inherent in identification and aircraft sampling of candidate clouds. The maximum temperature excess in growing cumulus congestus is about 2.5°–4°C. In the weak-echo regions of large thunderstorms, the temperature excess is at least 6°–8°C. The average and maximum temperature excesses in cumulus congestus over land are about 0.5°–1°C greater than over the ocean. Measurements of the spatial and vertical distributions of in-cloud temperature excess are presented. Some measurements that pertain to the structure of in-cloud temperature are also discussed.
Estrogenic/Antiestrogenic Activities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Monohydroxylated Derivatives by Yeast Two-Hybrid Assay

Estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 63 monohydroxylated PAHs (OHPAHs) having 2 to 6 rings were evaluated by yeast two-hybrid assay expressing human estrogen receptor α . R elative effective potencies of estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities were calculated as the inverse values of the relative concentration of the test compound that gave the same activities of E2 and 4-hydroxytamoxifen, respectively. PAHs did not show any estrogenic/antiestrogenic activity, but several OHPAHs having 3 to 5 rings showed activities. Especially, OHPAHs having 4 rings such as 3-, 4- and 10-hydroxybenz[a]anthracenes (3-, 4- and 10OHBaAs) and 2-hydroxychrysene (2-OHCh) showed strongly estrogenic activity. Several other OHPAHs having 4 rings such as 2- and 3-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrenes (2-, 3- OHBcPhs), 2-OHBaA and 3-OHCh showed strongly antiestrogenic activity. The length-to-breadth (L/B) ratios of the rectangular van der Walls planes surrounding the ring molecules of estrogenic OHPAHs were in the narro wr angefrom 1.599 to 1.734. The distances between the oxygen atom of the phenol group and farthest hydrogen atom (O-H distance) of the estrogenic OHPAHs ranged from 10.825 A to 11.738 A. The L/B ratios and O-H distances of antiestrogenic OHPAHs were in the wider ranges from 1.277 to 1.734 and from 8.47 A to 11.681 A, respectively. The partial charges (atomic unit) of the phenol group of both estrogenic and antiestrogenic OHPAHs were in the range from −0.250 atmic unit (au) to −0.253 au. The similarity of these values to those of E2 and diethylstilbestrol suggested that the compositions of estrogenic OHPAHs were similar to them and that the compositional conditions of estrogenic OHPAHs were much smaller than those of antiestrogenic OHPAHs. These results raise the possibility of predicting the estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities of OHPAHs from their structural characteristics, although using only the abov et hree parameters might not be enough for accurate estimations.
Estimating Consumption function under Permanent Income Hypothesis: A comparison between Nigeria and South Africa

The aim of this study was to estimate the consumption function of Nigeria and South Africa under the Permanent Income Hypothesis using a time series data on final household consumption expenditure, real GDP and real interest rate from 1980 to 2013. The study estimated parameter MPC long run time series employing Cagan’s adaptive expectation model. The result shows exist of a long run relationship between consumption and income for the two countries. Data for Nigeria suggested that the behavior of consumers in Nigeria is forward looking in the sense that their consumption behavior is based on expected future income while in case of South Africa, the study showed that past consumption has effect on current consumption as posited by Duesenberry in the Relative income hypothesis in South Africa. Moreso, it was revealed that the behavior of consumers in South African is also forward-looking although not as much as Nigerians. The policy implication of these findings is that the impact of government policy of tax reductions will be greater on consumption if such a policy is perceived by consumers as permanent. Thus, a tax cuts aimed at the bottom of the income distribution are likely to be more expansionary than tax cuts aimed at the top.
INNOVATION COMMUNICATION OF SUBMERGENCE TOLERANT RICE VARIETY AND EFFECT OF FARMER'S EXTERNAL FACTORS ON INNOVATION DIFFUSION

Indonesia still in struggle to fulfil staple food needs, primarily to increase rice production. Huge potential could come from inundated land and by utilizing submergence tolerant rice varieties (SRV). However, its utilization was still low because of not optimized innovation communication especially for SRV and hampered by various external factors such as government policies, production input availability, markets absorption and culturee. Government policies determine the continuity of communications among various institutions and other stakeholders such as extension institutional, seed producers and traders. The results of the research showed that the communicator, innovation and government policies are determinants of the rate of innovation diffusion, while communication channels and family profile are not. Extension workers and fellow farmers as communicator (source = S) are very important, so that by increasing their capacities and budget to carry out their roles would improve the diffusion of innovation. The innovations, as message (M), which are introduced must have traits required and desired by farmers, so it will guarrante the high rate of adoption. Communication media and modes as communication channel (R). Improving the ability of farmers as receiver (R) must be continued so that there will be improvements in farmers’ insight in receiving agricultural development messages such as SRV. Government policies in agricultural extension needed to be modified in order that farmers could get benefit from it as much as possible.
Genotype × environment interactions and oil content stability analysis of peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L . ) in Northern Cameroon

High oil content of peanut is a crucial trait for the processing industry, especially in developing countries where most peanuts are for a major source of cooking oil. Twelve peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties were evaluated at three northern Cameroon locations for two consecutive seasons in order to estimate variability and stability of performance for seed oil content. A randomized complete block design replicated thrice was applied in each location and year. Oil content was studied for genotype by environment interaction (GEI) using four stability parameters and, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis (AMMI). Analysis of variance showed significant differences (p<0.05) between genotypes, locations and GEI, accounted respectively for 60.00, 19.20 and 20.80% of the total variation. Highest oil contents were recorded from genotypes Blanc, Ad-Mapienta and Gobo-55-437, while lines NW-Red Esimbi and Ouest-A2 gave the lowest oil percentages. IPCA1 of AMMI was significant and captured the largest portion of variation (67.2%) of the total GEI. Stability analysis identified the high oil content genotypes Blanc and Campana as the best lines for multilocation trials. These varieties could be released . for cultivation and used in breeding programs and development of mapping population to identify quantitative trait loci governing oil content.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cytokine

Inflammatory bowel disease, known as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is an unexplained disease characterized by chronic inflammation that repeats a cycle of relapse, improvement, and complications. The cause of inflammatory bowel disease is not clearly known, but it is predicted that a complex of various factors precipitate its occurrence. In particular, inflammatory mediators, such as cytokine, induce an increase in cell-mediated inflammatory responses. Focal tissue damage then occurs in the intestinal mucosa because of the weakening of the immune-modulating functions of cotton. Immune and inflammatory responses do not decrease appropriately but continue until they lead to chronic inflammation. Current research has focused on the cytokine genes, which have important roles in these inflammatory responses. Cytokine is a glycoprotein that is produced mostly in activated immune cells. It connects the activation, multiplication, and differentiation between immune cells, which causes focal tissue damage and inflammatory response. Moreover, butyrate, which originates in dietary fiber and plays an important role in the structure and function of the intestinal area, shows control functions in the intestinal immune system by decreasing the proinflammatory cytokine and increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine. Therefore, this research investigated the molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of butyrate to comprehend the cytokine controlling abilities of butyrate in the immune cells. Butyrate is expected to have potential in new treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease.