Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Within-reef differences in diet and body condition of coral-feeding butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)

Given the highly stochastic nature of larval supply, coral reef fishes often settle in suboptimal habitats with limited access to prey or other resources. Variation in the availability and quality of resources among different reef habitats is likely to have significant effects on the physiological condition and subsequent fitness of resident fishes, if not their absolute abundance. This study compared the abundance, feeding and condition of 2 species of coral-feeding butterflyfishes (Chaetodon baronessa and C. lunulatus) across contrasting habitats with markedly different prey availability. Despite differences in prey availability, densities of C. baronessa and C. lunulatus were very similar between locations. However, there was significant spatial variation in their feeding and physiological condition. In front-reef locations, where coral prey was highly abundant, C. baronessa fed preferentially and almost exclusively on the coral Acropora hyacinthus. In contrast, in back-reef locations where coral prey was scarce and A. hyacinthus lacking, C. baronessa was much less selective and consumed a wider range of coral prey. C. lunulatus was less selective than C. baronessa, but the diet of C. lunulatus also differed significantly between habitats. C. lunulatus consumed mostly A. hyacinthus in front-reef locations but not in greater proportions than it was available. In back-reef locations, C. lunulatus preferentially consumed A. intermedia and Porites spp. The physiological condition of both C. baronessa and C. lunulatus was much worse in back-reef locations compared to front-reef locations, which may reflect differences in the quantity and/or quality of prey available in different habitats. This study suggests that small-scale (within-reef) differences in prey availability can have significant effects on the physiological condition and subsequent fitness of coral reef fishes.
Rhinosporidium seeberi proven as a fungus for the first time after a century since its discovery

The 18S rRNA gene sequencing of a pure microorganism isolated in pure culture from human rhinosporidiosis cases coded UMH.48 and preserved at 4oC, and, the fungal extracts of biopsy from new cases of nasal rhinosporidiosis were done. Both the sequences were compared for the presence any identical regions by BLAST tool. Astonishingly both the sequences showed 100% identity with each other. The sequences were further compared with the sequences present in NCBI database, followed by sequences of specific organisms like Mesomycetozoa sp and Synchytrium sp. Based on the morphological features, life cycle and BLAST analysis the organism UMH.48 was categorized as a Fungus. The sequences of UMH.48 and sequences from the fungus extracts from new tissue biopsies were deposited in Genbank with accession numbers JN807465 and JN807466 respectively. This paper reports the identity of 18S rRNA sequences between the pure, preserved, isolate with those obtained from biopsies of nasal rhinosporidiosis obtained from totally new cases. Our isolate has been tentatively identified as a lower aquatic fungus with 100% alignment with Colletotrichum truncatum and Glomerulla sps and lesser score similarity with Synchytrium minutum . Yet the absence of a perfect sexual phase or any asexual fungal spores, very rare microscopic morphology, life cycle and remarkable resemblance with members of lower aquatic fungi led us to surmise (also through personal communication with NCBI, Taxonomy expert) that the isolate is a Fungus (unknown) and not an Ascomycete .
Physics escape room as an educational tool

Escape rooms have flourished in the last decade. These are adventure games in which players work together to solve puzzles using hints, clues and a strategy to escape from a locked room. In many cases they use different phenomena related to physics. Hence the idea of using escape rooms in science centers or even in classroom activities. Escape rooms are designed for one single team of players, the method is more suitable for activities in a science centre. In our paper, we show that escape rooms’ puzzle solving methods could be used in physics classroom activities as well, taking into account that several teams have to work together in the same room/place. We have developed an educational escape game for physics of fluids, as this topic is left out from the Romanian high-school curriculum. We have tried out our game during the project week called “Şcoala altfel” (“school in a different way”) and in a physics camp for gifted students. We present the designed physics escape game and the results.Escape rooms have flourished in the last decade. These are adventure games in which players work together to solve puzzles using hints, clues and a strategy to escape from a locked room. In many cases they use different phenomena related to physics. Hence the idea of using escape rooms in science centers or even in classroom activities. Escape rooms are designed for one single team of players, the method is more suitable for activities in a science centre. In our paper, we show that escape rooms’ puzzle solving methods could be used in physics classroom activities as well, taking into account that several teams have to work together in the same room/place. We have developed an educational escape game for physics of fluids, as this topic is left out from the Romanian high-school curriculum. We have tried out our game during the project week called “Şcoala altfel” (“school in a different way”) and in a physics camp for gifted students. We present the designed physics escape game and the results.
Informing the Market: The Effect of Modern Information Technologies on Information Production

Modern information technologies have fundamentally changed how information is disseminated in financial markets. Using the staggered implementation of the EDGAR system from 1993 to 1996 as a shock to information dissemination technologies, we find evidence that internet dissemination of corporate disclosures increases information production by corporate outsiders. Trades by individual investors, especially those with access to the internet, become more informative about future stock returns following the EDGAR implementation. The amount and accuracy of information produced by sell-side analysts increase after the implementation. These results suggest that greater and broader information dissemination facilitated by modern information technologies improves information production. (JEL G12, G14) Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
The case for index-fund investing

Authors Christopher B. Philips, CFA Francis M. Kinniry Jr., CFA Todd Schlanger Executive summary. Indexing refers to an investment methodology that attempts to track a specific market index (either broadly or narrowly focused) as closely as possible after accounting for all expenses incurred to implement the strategy. As a result of this objective, investors should expect an index fund to underperform its targeted benchmark by the amount of its expenses. This objective differs substantially from that of traditional investment managers, whose objective is to outperform their targeted benchmark even after accounting for all expenses. Indeed, an oft-cited benefit of actively managed investments is the opportunity for outperformance.
Spatial preferences and behavioural patterns of lambs during fattening in straw enriched pens

sUMMAry The study analyses spatial preferences and behavioural patterns of lambs during fattening in straw enriched pens. Lambs were allocated in three replicates with 12 lambs each and housed in 6x6 m pens partially divided in two equal areas with and without straw bedding. Each pen was video-recorded continuously from 8 am to 8 pm on days 1, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The use of different pen areas and the behaviour of the lambs were evaluated and analysed. The use of the space was significantly higher (p<0.05) for the straw area, where there was also more resting and affiliative interactions (p<0.05). In the areas without straw, animals walked more, remained standing longer periods (p<0.05) and had more stereotypic and aggressive behaviour (p<0.05). The study demonstrated that, when given the choice between two areas with similar resources, lambs prefer straw bedding. Straw is suggested to promote affiliation improving the adaptation to the feedlot. This could be useful to convince system managers that the availability of straw is beneficial to lamb welfare.
CANDELS: THE EVOLUTION OF GALAXY REST-FRAME ULTRAVIOLET COLORS FROM z = 8 TO 4

We study the evolution of galaxy rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) colors in the epoch 4 ≲ z ≲ 8. We use new wide-field near-infrared data in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey-South field from the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey, Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) 2009, and Early Release Science programs to select galaxies via photometric redshift measurements. Our sample consists of 2812 candidate galaxies at z ≳ 3.5, including 113 at z ≃ 7–8. We fit the observed spectral energy distribution to a suite of synthetic stellar population models and measure the value of the UV spectral slope (β) from the best-fit model spectrum. We run simulations to show that this measurement technique results in a smaller scatter on β than other methods, as well as a reduced number of galaxies with catastrophically incorrect β measurements (i.e., Δβ > 1). We find that the median value of β evolves significantly from −1.82+0.00− 0.04 at z = 4 to −2.37+0.26− 0.06 at z = 7. Additionally, we find that faint galaxies at z = 7 have β = −2.68+0.39− 0.24 (∼ −2.4 after correcting for observational bias); this is redder than previous claims in the literature and does not require “exotic” stellar populations (e.g., very low metallicities or top-heavy initial mass functions) to explain their colors. This evolution can be explained by an increase in dust extinction, from low amounts at z = 7 to AV ∼ 0.5 mag at z = 4. The timescale for this increase is consistent with low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars forming the bulk of the dust. We find no significant (<2σ) correlation between β and MUV when measuring MUV at a consistent rest-frame wavelength of 1500 Å. This is particularly true at bright magnitudes, though our results do show evidence for a weak correlation at faint magnitudes when galaxies in the HUDF are considered separately, hinting that dynamic range in sample luminosities may play a role. We do find a strong correlation between β and the stellar mass at all redshifts, in that more massive galaxies exhibit redder colors. The most massive galaxies in our sample have similarly red colors at each redshift, implying that dust can build up quickly in massive galaxies and that feedback is likely removing dust from low-mass galaxies at z ⩾ 7. Thus, the stellar-mass—metallicity relation, previously observed up to z ∼ 3, may extend out to z = 7–8.
The effect of water-based plyometric training on vertical stiffness and athletic performance

Since higher vertical stiffness is related to superior athletic performance, training has traditionally been aimed at augmenting this variable to enhance neuromuscular output. However, research has linked elevated stiffness with increased injury risk, therefore, this study examined the effect of a novel training intervention on vertical stiffness and athletic performance. Vertical stiffness, jump performance and athletic performance were assessed in two randomly allocated groups, prior to, and following, an eight-week period. One group was exposed to a training intervention involving aqua-based plyometrics (n = 11) over the 8 weeks while the other acted as a control group (n = 9). The training intervention involved hopping, jumping and bounding in water at a depth of 1.2m whilst control participants performed their normal training. There were no significant changes in vertical stiffness in either group. Countermovement jump height and peak power significantly increased within the aqua plyometric group (p < 0.05). Athletic performance markers improved in the aqua plyometric group as measured using an agility and a 5-bound test exhibiting superior values at the post-test (p < 0.05). The results suggest that an aqua plyometric training program can enhance athletic performance without elevating stiffness. The increase in athletic performance is likely due to a reduction in ground reaction forces created by the buoyancy of the water, causing a shorter amortization phase and a more rapid application of concentric force. The findings from this study can inform exercise professionals and medical staff regarding the ability to enhance neuromuscular performance without elevating vertical stiffness. This has implications for improving athletic performance while concurrently minimising injury risk.
Equatorial plasma bubbles in the ionosphere over Eritrea: occurrence and drift speed

An all-sky imager was installed in Asmara, Eritrea (15.4° N, 38.9° E, 7° N dip) and used to monitor the OI 630-nm nightglow. Nine months of data were studied between September 2001 and May 2002, a time including the recent maximum in the solar activity cycle. Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) were recorded on 63% of nights with adequate viewing conditions. The station location within view of the equatorial ionization anomaly and with a magnetic declination near zero makes it an excellent test case for comparison with satellite studies of the seasonal variation of EPBs with longitude. The imager was accompanied by two Cornell GPS scintillation monitors, and the amplitude scintillation data are compared to the all-sky data. GPS scintillations indicate the beginning of EPBs, but die out sooner in the post-midnight period than the larger scale EPBs. Both phenomena exhibit clear occurrence maxima around the equinoxes. Ionospheric zonal drift speeds have been deduced from EPB and GPS scintillation pattern movement. Average near-midnight EPB drift speeds are between 100 and 120 m/s most months, with the GPS scintillation speeds being about the same. A winter drift speed maximum is evident in both EPB and GPS scintillation monthly means.
The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Abstract Vitamin D has received attention for its potential to disrupt cancer processes. However, its effect in the treatment of prostate cancer is controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with prostate cancer. In the present study, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to September 2017 for trials that evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on prostate specific antigen (PSA) response, mortality, and its possible side effects in participants with prostate cancer. The DerSimonian and Laird inverse-weighted random-effects model was used to pool the effect estimates. Twenty-two studies (16 before-after and 6 randomized controlled trials) were found and included in the meta-analysis. The analysis of controlled clinical trials revealed that PSA change from baseline [weighted mean difference (WMD)=–1.66 ng/ml, 95% CI: –0.69, 0.36, p=0.543)], PSA response proportion (RP=1.18, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.45, p=0.104) and mortality rate (risk ratio (RR)=1.05, 95% CI: 0.81–1.36; p=0.713) were not significantly different between vitamin D supplementation and placebo groups. Single arm trials revealed that vitamin D supplementation had a modest effect on PSA response proportion: 19% of those enrolled had at least a 50% reduction in PSA by the end of treatment (95% CI: 7% to 31%; p=0.002). Although before-after studies showed that vitamin D increases the PSA response proportion, it does not seem that patients with prostate cancer benefit from high dose vitamin D supplementation and it should not be recommended for the treatment.
Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions in India: A Stochastic Distance Function Approach

We examine the efficiency–outreach debate in the context of Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs). We employ the stochastic distance function approach for 75 MFIs during 2004–2011. We find that there are significant inefficiency effects but efficiency is improving over time. Among the determinants of inefficiency, average loan balance per borrower and number of women borrowers appear to improve efficiency. This suggests that the efficiency–outreach debate is more nuanced than that presented in the literature and depends on the way outreach is defined. Profitability, size and leverage seem to increase efficiency, whereas age of the MFI is associated with higher inefficiency. JEL Classification: G21, C51, C33 Disclaimer: The views expressed in the research article are solely of the authors and not of the organizations to which they belong. All the errors, omissions etc. if any, are the responsibility of the authors.
Enhancing the Power Generation and COD Removal of Microbial Fuel Cell with ZrP-modified Proton Exchange Membrane

An experimental system consisting of a dual chamber microbial fuel cell was constructed using simulated molasses wastewater as the anode substrate, carbon felt as the electrodes, Nafion membrane or modified Nafion membrane as proton exchange membrane. Zirconium phosphate and α-zirconium phosphate were used to modify the Nafion membrane. By testing and analysis the output voltage and the COD removal rate of the microbial fuel cell, the effects of the zirconium phosphate and α-zirconium phosphate on the performance of MFC were studied. Experimental results show that the power generation and water purification capacity of the MFC were improved significantly by modifying the proton exchange membrane with zirconium phosphate and α-zirconium phosphate, Moreover, α-zirconium phosphate modified exchange membrane has better effect. The steady output voltage of the microbial fuel cell with α-zirconium phosphate is 0.0125V, COD removal is 79.25%. The performance of microbial fuel cell was improved significantly by using zirconium phosphate modified exchange membrane.
Ovine iPSCs Are Resistant to Reprogramming after Nuclear Transfer

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) share similar characteristics with ESCs of indefinite in vitro growth, and may therefore serve as a useful tool for the targeted genetic modification of farm animals via nuclear transfer (NT). Since derivation of stable ESC lines from farm animals has not been possible, it is important to determine whether iPSCs can be used as substitutes to ESCs for generating genetically modified cloned farm animals. We generated ovine iPSCs by conventional retroviral transduction using the four Yamanaka factors. These cells were bFGFand Activin A-dependent, showed persistent expression of the transgenes, acquired chromosomal abnormalities and failed to activate endogenous NANOG. Nonetheless, iPSCs could differentiate into the three somatic germ layers in vitro. Since cloning of farm animals is best achieved with diploid cells (G1/G0), we synchronized the iPSCs in G1 prior to NT. Despite the cell cycle synchronization, preimplantation development of iPS-NT embryos was lower than with somatic cells (2% vs 10% blastocysts, p< 0.01). Furthermore, analysis of the blastocysts produced demonstrated persistent expression of the transgenes, aberrant expression of endogenous SOX2, and a failure to activate NANOG consistently. In contrast, gene expression in blastocysts produced with the parental foetal fibroblasts was similar to those generated by in-vitro fertilization. Taken together, our data suggest that the persistent expression of the exogenous factors and the acquisition of chromosomal abnormalities are incompatible with normal development of NT embryos produced with iPSCs.
Sensitivity of Antarctic Circumpolar Current Transport and Eddy Activity to Wind Patterns in the Southern Ocean

AbstractThe Southern Hemisphere westerly winds have intensified in recent decades associated with a positive trend in the southern annular mode (SAM). However, the response of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) transport and eddy field to wind forcing remains a topic of debate. This study uses global eddy-permitting ocean circulation models driven with both idealized and realistic wind forcing to explore the response to interannual wind strengthening. The response of the barotropic and baroclinic transports and eddy field of the ACC is found to depend on the spatial pattern of the changes in wind forcing. In isolation, an enhancement of the westerlies over the ACC belt leads to an increase of both barotropic and baroclinic transport within the ACC envelope, with lagged enhancement of the eddy kinetic energy (EKE). In contrast, an increase in wind forcing near Antarctica drives a largely barotropic change in transport along closed f/H contours (“free mode”), with little change in eddy activity. Under .
The Political Economy of Transparency: What Makes Disclosure Policies Effective?

Regulatory transparency - mandatory disclosure of information by private or public institutions with a regulatory intent - has become an important frontier of government innovation. This paper assesses the effectiveness of such transparency systems by examining the design and impact of financial disclosure, nutritional labeling, workplace hazard communication, and five other diverse systems in the United States. We argue that transparency policies are effective only when the information they produce becomes "embedded" in the everyday decision-making routines of information users and information disclosers. This double-sided embeddedness is the most important condition for transparency systems' effectiveness. Based on detailed case analyses, we evaluate the user and discloser embeddedness of the eight major transparency policies. We then draw on a comprehensive inventory of prior studies of regulatory effectiveness to assess whether predictions about effectiveness based on characteristics of embeddedness are consistent with those evaluations.
Elucidation of the role of the minC gene in filament formation by Listeria monocytogenes under stress conditions

Aim: The study was conducted to understand structural changes in cell morphology of stress tolerant Listeria monocytogenes strains after exposure to the different food related stresses and to investigate the involvement of the minC gene in filament formation under stress as a putative mechanism. Methods: Morphological changes in L. monocytogenes were studied under the stresses of high salt concentration (12.5%), extreme pH (4.5 and 9.0) and low temperature (4°C). The structural changes were recorded employing light and electron microscopy. The expression of the minC gene under stress was studied by qPCR. Results: Long filament formations were observed under salt stress, while, no structural changes could be observed for isolates grown in extreme pH and low temperature stresses. Scanning electron microscopic studies showed 3-10 times elongation of cells under stress which got reverted to normal size after removal of stress. Interestingly, it was noted that with the increase in stress, rod shaped cells became elongated. Six to 11 fold expression of the minC gene was observed under high salt stress. Conclusion: The results suggested that the filament formation could be one of the mechanisms by bacteria to tolerate high salt stress. It also supported the hypothesis that the minC gene over-expression could be the factor behind filamentous morphology.
A Functional Analysis of Hedges in Teacher Talk

Teacher talk considerably contributes to teacher-student interaction and the application of hedges in teacher talk can lead to their negotiation of meaning as well as be the samples for students to learn a second language. It is intended to approach hedges from the perspective of three metafunctions under the framework of systemic-functional grammar and reveal how and why hedges can figure in the teacher-student interaction in the classroom context. The registerial characteristics of hedges imply the pedagogical importance concerning teachers’ roles and students’ language proficiency.