Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction between Macroinvertebrate Abundance and Habitat Use by Diving Ducks during Winter on Northeastern Lake Ontario

ABSTRACT Although numbers of buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) and long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) over-wintering on Lake Ontario have increased substantially over the past two decades, factors influencing habitat use and the potential for competition have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between prey availability and community structure of diving ducks during winter on northeastern Lake Ontario. Benthic and nektonic samples collected during fall, winter, and spring 2002–2004 indicated that macroinvertebrate numbers differed by location but generally did not decline throughout winter. Large accumulations of macroinvertebrates, apparently moved by wave action and currents, were documented in nearshore areas. Surveys showed that diving ducks congregated in mixed species flocks within areas of higher food abundance. Mixed species flocks were common in nearshore areas, likely because energy-dense foods (Amphipoda and Chironomidae) were abundant in the narrow zone of shallow water, close to shore. Although macroinvertebrate numbers likely affected habitat use by diving ducks, birds did not greatly reduce abundance of macroinvertebrates. It is unlikely that exploitative competition was occurring and interference competition appeared below threshold levels that would cause species to spatially segregate. Overall, our results suggest that food availability is not a limiting factor for buffleheads, common goldeneyes, or long-tailed ducks wintering on northeastern Lake Ontario.
The Efficacy of a Novel Microbial 6-Phytase Expressed in Aspergillus oryzae on the Performance and Phosphorus Utilization in Broiler Chickens

The efficacy and safety of a novel microbial 6-phytase expressed via the use of synthetic genes in Aspergillus oryzae was investigated from d 8 to 22 of age using 480 Ross PM3 broiler chickens. Five treatments were tested. A diet containing 5.6 g/kg of Phosphorus (P) was fed to the control treatment. Another diet containing 4.1 g/kg P was fed to another treatment as negative control. This diet was fed in 3 other treatments with the addition of phytase (500, 1000, or 2000 U/kg). Feed intake, body weight, tibia ash (%) and strength (N) and P and Ca utilization (% of intake) and excretion (g/kg DM) were measured. Enzyme safety was determined by genotoxicity and sub-chronic oral toxicity studies. Lower feed intake and higher weight gain was obtained with the treatment containing 2000 U/kg phytase compared to the two control treatments and the treatment containing 500 U/kg phytase, leading to a significant improvement in FCR with the 2000 U/kg phytase. Tibia strength and ash were improved with the latter and were dose-dependent described by an exponential function. Safety test using a concentrated preparation of the novel 6-phytase enzyme did not reveal any toxicological significant findings. The enzyme did not induce mutagenic activity in the Ames test and did not increase the frequency of micronucleated binucleated cells in the micronucleus assay. In conclusion, this novel microbial 6-phytase improved broiler performance and reduces the need for phosphate fortification of feed. In addition, it can be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) feed ingredient according to the safety test carried out.
Strong Convergence of Multi-step Iterations with Errors for a Family of Finite Non-Lipschitzian Mappings

In this paper, we established strong convergence theorems for a multi-step iterative scheme with errors for finite mappings of asymptotically nonexpansive in the intermediate sense in Banace spaces. Our results extend and improve the recent ones announced by Plubtieng andWangkeeree [ Strong convergence theorems for multi-step iterations with errors in Banach spaces, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 321 (2006) 10-23], Cho, Zhou and Guo [Weak and strong convergence theorems for three-step iterations with errors for asymptotically nonexpansive mappings, Computers Math. Applic. 47(4/5), 707-717, (2004)], and many others.
A neotropical forest bird can measure the slight changes in tropical photoperiod

Many tropical birds breed seasonally, but it is largely unknown which environmental cues they use to time reproduction. Changes in tropical photoperiod have been regarded as too small to be used as a proximate environmental cue. This hypothesis, however, has never been rigorously tested. Here, we report on experimental evidence that photoperiodic changes characteristic of tropical latitudes stimulate reproductive activity in a neotropical bird from the forest understory. In the central Republic of Panam (9 degrees N), photoperiod varies annually between 12 hours (December) and 13 hours (June). Free–living spotted antbirds (Hylophylax n. naevioides) had regressed gonads in December, but increased gonads ahead of the rainy (the breeding) season in May. Captive spotted antbirds exposed to a ‘long’ photoperiod of 13 hours increased gonadal size eight–fold and song activity six–fold over that of control birds remaining on a simulated ‘short’ photoperiod of 12 hours of daylight. Moreover, even a photoperiod of 12 hours 17 minutes was sufficient to stimulate gonadal growth in photostimulated birds over that of controls. The dramatic changes in gonadal development were not accompanied by similar changes in hormone titres such as luteinizing hormone and testosterone as expected from temperate zone birds. We propose a more general role of the tropical photoperiod in the regulation of seasonal events in tropical organisms, or in temperate zone species migrating to the tropics.
Inferring earthquake ground motion fields with Bayesian Networks

Bayesian Networks (BNs) have the ability to perform inference on uncertain variables given evidence on observed quantities, which makes them relevant mathematical tools for the updating of ground-motion fields based on strong-motion records or macroseismic observations. Therefore the present article investigates the use of BN models of spatially correlated Gaussian random fields as an accurate and scalable method for the generation of ground-motion maps. The proposed BN model is based on continuous Gaussian variables, as opposed to discrete variables as in previous formulations, and it is built to account for cross-correlated ground-motion parameters as well as macroseismic observations. This approach is validated with respect to the analytical solution (i.e., conditional multivariate normal distributions) and it is also compared to the USGS ShakeMap method, thus demonstrating a better ability to model jointly the inter- and intra-event error terms of ground-motion models. The scalability of the approach, i.e. its capacity to be applied to large grids, is ensured by a grid sub-division strategy, which appears to be computationally efficient and accurate within an error rate of a fraction of percent. Finally, the BN implementation is demonstrated on a real-world example (the Mw 6.2 Kumamoto, Japan, 2016 foreshock), where vector-valued shake-maps of cross-correlated intensity measures are generated, along with the integration of macroseismic observations.
Storm‐induced upwelling of high pCO2 waters onto the continental shelf of the western Arctic Ocean and implications for carbonate mineral saturation states

The carbon system of the western Arctic Ocean is undergoing a rapid transition as sea ice extent and thickness decline. These processes are dynamically forcing the region, with unknown consequences for CO2 fluxes and carbonate mineral saturation states, particularly in the coastal regions where sensitive ecosystems are already under threat from multiple stressors. In October 2011, persistent wind‐driven upwelling occurred in open water along the continental shelf of the Beaufort Sea in the western Arctic Ocean. During this time, cold (<−1.2°C), salty (>32.4) halocline water—supersaturated with respect to atmospheric CO2 (pCO2 > 550 μatm) and undersaturated in aragonite (Ωaragonite < 1.0) was transported onto the Beaufort shelf. A single 10‐day event led to the outgassing of 0.18–0.54 Tg‐C and caused aragonite undersaturations throughout the water column over the shelf. If we assume a conservative estimate of four such upwelling events each year, then the annual flux to the atmosphere would be 0.72–2.16 Tg‐C, which is approximately the total annual sink of CO2 in the Beaufort Sea from primary production. Although a natural process, these upwelling events have likely been exacerbated in recent years by declining sea ice cover and changing atmospheric conditions in the region, and could have significant impacts on regional carbon budgets. As sea ice retreat continues and storms increase in frequency and intensity, further outgassing events and the expansion of waters that are undersaturated in carbonate minerals over the shelf are probable.
Determination of Polyphenols Content in Carob Pulp from Wild and Domesticated Moroccan Trees

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) fruit pulp from 12 wild and 8 domesticated trees from 15 Moroccan localities were investigated for their polyphenols contents: total polyphenols content (53.22 - 118.04 mg and 57.46 - 183.31 mg), total flavonoids (1.41 - 4.83 mg and 1.62 - 7.46 mg) and condensed tannins (1.47 - 7.36 mg and 1.85 - 6.66 mg) in one carob fresh pulp for wild and domesticated trees, respectively. Fruit pulp from trees in the same region shows variable contents in polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins.
Natural convection in enclosure with discrete isothermal heating from below

Natural convection in two-dimensional rectangular enclosure is studied numerically using a finite element method. In the present study, top wall is considered adiabatic, two vertical walls are maintained at constant low temperature, the bottom wall is maintained at constant high temperature and the non-heated parts of the bottom wall are considered adiabatic. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the capabilities of this numerical methodology for handling such problems. The pressure-velocity form of the Navier-Stokes equations and energy equation are used to represent the mass, momentum, and energy conservations of the fluid medium in the enclosure. The finite element formulations of the dimensionless governing equations with the associated boundary conditions are solved by a nonlinear coupled solution algorithm using six-noded triangular element discretization scheme for all the field variables. The Grashof number is varied from 10 3 to 10 6 and Prandtl number is taken as 0.71. This study has reported the effect of various aspect ratios, ranging from 0.5 to 1, and inclination angles of the enclosure from 0° to 30° on the thermo-fluid characteristics. Results are presented in the form of streamline and isotherm plots as well as the variation of the Nusselt number at the heat source surface under different conditions. Keywords : Natural convection, rectangular enclosure, aspect ratio, finite element method, Nusselt number. DOI: 10.3329/jname.v4i1. 912 Journal of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering 4(2007) 1-13
Dutch nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes towards older people - A longitudinal cohort study

Background: Due to changing demographics in the population, the majority of current nursing students will work mostlywith older people after graduation. It is known that most nursing student have little knowledge and interests in workingwith older people. There is a growing need for motivated nurses to provide care for older people as the quality of care isinfluenced by their attitudes. The objective of this study is to investigate Dutch nursing students’ knowledge of andattitudes toward older people and their willingness to work with older people and how this knowledge and attitudeschanges after three years education. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study with follow-up among 113 first-year Dutch nursing students pursuing a Bachelor’sdegree was conducted. Data for this study was collected with three instruments. Knowledge of the first-year students wasassessed with Palmore’s Facts on Aging Quiz. Students’ attitudes were measured with the Aging Semantic Differentialscale and Kogan’s Attitudes toward Older People scale. The same measurements were also obtained three years later whenthey were fourth-year nursing students. The first data collection started in 2005. The follow-up period took place between2008 and 2009. Results: The results show that the nursing students have a moderate knowledge level about older people: first-yearstudents answered less than half of the questions correctly and after three years, almost half of the questions were answeredproperly. The attitude of the students toward older people on the ASD changed from slightly negative to neutral after threeyears of education. The attitude of nursing students on the OP changed from moderately neutral to slightly positive. Fewfirst and fourth-year students (2.7% and 3.7%) were interested in working with older people after their nursing education.Most students (72.8%) indicated that working with older people would be as satisfying as working with younger people. Conclusion: Nursing students are not well prepared for working with predominately older people. Education should focuson increasing positive working experiences with older people. Revision and improvement in the curricula might be neededto enhance the knowledge and attitudes of the Dutch nursing students.
Peri-Urban Livelihood and Adaptive Capacity: Urban Development in Dar Es Salaam

This research focuses on the interactions between urban development and global environmental change processes as crucial for reducing the impacts of climate change. Together with the challenges of rapid urban growth, environmental change impacts will undermine efforts to achieve sustainable development. Peri-urban refers to the area where urban and rural features and processes meet, intertwine and interact, usually located between city and countryside. Peri-urban growth patterns are shaping most of the urban development in sub-Saharan Africa, raising concerns regarding vulnerability to global environmental change in unplanned settlements. To date, there has been little exploration of the implications of peri-urban patterns for social vulnerability and adaptation options. The study discussed in this paper, conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, illustrates the livelihood strategies and environmental management practices used by peri-urban dwellers, while underlining challenges and opportunities for adaptive capacity. According to a few scholars, the acknowledgement of such hybridity leads to a reconsideration of the dominant strategies for addressing environmental issues in peri-urban areas. Assuming the transition to urban is the best solution, those strategies emphasize the role of infrastructure and services provisioning. Moreover, a criticism of dominant approaches arises through analysis of the recent trend toward ecological security in global cities‘ environmental management.
In search of essentiality: Mollicute-specific genes shared by twelve genomes

Mollicutes are cell wall-less bacteria with a genome characterized by its small size. Chromosomal rearrangements help these organisms evade host immune surveillance and hence cause disease. Our goal was to determine genes shared by Mollicutes genomes using the bidirectional best hit methodology. The twelve studied Mollicutes share 210 genes, most of which (> 60%) fall into the following COG categories: translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis; DNA replication, recombination and repair; nucleotide transport and metabolism and energy production and conversion. Thirty Mollicute-specific genes were identified, 22 of them previously described as essential genes in Mycoplasma genitalium.
The photophysics of perovskite solar cells

Solution-processed hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells, a newcomer to the photovoltaic arena, have taken the field by storm with their extraordinary power conversion efficiencies exceeding 17%. In this paper, the photophysics and the latest findings on the carrier dynamics and charge transfer mechanisms in this new class of photovoltaic material will be examined and distilled. Some open photophysics questions will also be discussed.
Weather dependent effects of nest ectoparasites on their bird hosts

This study reports the relationships between rainfall and ambient temperature with the abundances and prevalences of three species of ectoparasitic arthropods (viz, mites, blowfly larvae, fleas) in pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca nests in three different breeding seasons. In addition to its effects on the growth of nestling pied flycatchers, weather conditions were found to determine patterns of abundance and prevalence of ectoparasites. Nest ectoparasites had detrimental effects on the fitness (nestling growth and survival until fledgling) of their hosts, although the effects and the identity of harmful ectoparasites varied across the years. Among the three species of nest ectoparasites, mites had the most consistent harmful effects on nestling growth. Fleas were detrimental in the more cold and rainy year, while blowflies caused nestling mortality in the warmer year. Different host-parasite interactions were present each year, most likely due to the effects or weather on the activity and timing of development of parasite populations.
Etioclinical profile and outcome of acute bacterial meningitis in post neo natal U-5 children: a study from tertiary care center of coastal Odisha, India

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) continues to remain an important cause of morbidity, mortality and handicap in children despite availability of wide range of antimicrobials. The microorganisms vary according to age, socio economic condition and geographical area along with other factors. Methods: A prospective study was conducted over 2.5 years from October 2012 to April 2015 in the department of pediatrics, SVP Institute of Pediatrics, SCB Medical College, Cuttak, Odisha, India. Total 104 subjects were included after taking meticulous inclusion criteria. Results: Out of 104 cases, majority (70.2%) were infants. 60.6% were male with M:F ratio 1.5:1. Fever was the commonest symptom in 69.2% followed by convulsion 61.5%, vomiting 36.5%, altered sensorium 33.7%. On examination 69.2% children were febrile, having bulging fontanelle in 34.6%, pneumonia 31.7%, positive meningeal sign 29.8%, cranial nerve palsies 14.4%, papilledema 12.5% and hemiplegia 11.5% cases. GCS were poor ( 100/cumm). In 82 cases (78.8%) etiological agents were identified consisting of H. influenzae in 46.4%, S. pneumoniae in 36.6%, E. coli in 8.6% and others in 8.4%. CT scan of brain revealed brain edema in 29.4% followed by subdural effusion 19.6%, hydrocephalus 17.6% and infarction in 5.9%. 63.5% children were recovered completely. Mortality was 16.3% with sequelae in 20.2% cases. Conclusions: Hib and Pneumococci were two most common organisms causing ABM in U-5 children with high mortality and sequelae which can be prevented by early diagnosis, optimum lab diagnostic facility and mass vaccination. There is urgent need to include Pneumococcal vaccine in NIP for substantial reduction of infant mortality.
The spatial scale of ozone depletion events derived from an autonomous surface ozone network in coastal Antarctica

To probe the spatial extent of tropospheric ozone depletion events during Antarctic spring, a network of 10 autonomous ozone monitors was established around the Dronning Maud Land sector of Antarctica for a full calendar year. Together with manned stations in the area, the network covered a ~1200 km stretch of coast, as well as a transect ~300 km inland and to ~2000 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Here we present results from the spring period (August to October 2008). While some ozone depletion events were evident at only a single site, implying localised ozone destruction, others were evident across the network. The fact that, on occasions, ozone depletion events were observed at all coastal sites simultaneously, suggests the depleted air mass had a scale of at least 1200 km. As the ozone-poor air was advected from the Weddell Sea sea ice zone, the data imply that large areas over the Weddell Sea sea ice zone are significantly depleted in ozone on occasions during Antarctic spring.
Sexual preventative health in US sexual minority women: a review

Despite growing interest and research in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) health topics over the last 20 years, relatively little is known about sexual minority women. This review seeks to explore sexual practices, use of preventative measures including barrier methods during sexual activity, sexually transmitted infection rates, and use of screening healthcare services by sexual minority women. Additionally, the role healthcare providers can take in filling this knowledge gap and providing appropriate services is reviewed. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, WinstonSalem, NC Department of Family Practice, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa
COMPARISON OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF Escherichia coli STRAINS ISOLATED FROM DIARRHEIC OR HEALTHY CATS IN ITUVERAVA, SP, BRAZIL. / Comparação da resistência antibacteriana entre cepas de Escherichia coli isoladas de gatos diarreicos ou saudáveis...

O numero de animais de estimacao tem aumentado substancialmente na sociedade moderna e uma atencao cada vez maior tem sido devotada ao bem estar destes animais. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a ocorrencia de resistencia antimicrobiana em cepas de Escherichia coli da microbiota intestinal de gatos. De Janeiro a dezembro de 2009, 190 cepas de Escherichia coli isoladas de gatos diarreicos (n=19) e gatos saudaveis (n=21) foram examinadas para a deteccao de resistencia a 20 agentes antimicrobianos. As resistencias predominantemente observadas foram para a cefalotina (42,1%), tetraciclina (20,0%) e ampicilina (15,8%) entre as cepas isoladas de gatos diarreicos e para tetraciclina (30,5%), cotrimoxazole (17,9%) e ampicilina (20,0%) entre as cepas isoladas de gatos saudaveis. A resistencia a tres ou mais agente antimicrobianos foi encontrada em 8,4% e 17,8% das cepas isoladas de gatos diarreicos e saudaveis respectivamente. E obvio que as linhagens de E. coli provenientes dos gatos podem atuar como um reservatorio de genes de resistencia. Assim, para permitir o uso correto dos antimicrobianose fundamental uma constante atualizacao do nivel de resistencia apresentado pelos antimicrobianos utilizados em medicina veterinaria. SUMMARY Pet animal numbers have substantially increased in modern society and attention is increasingly devoted to pet welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli strains of cat’s intestinal microbiota. From January to December of 2009, 190 E. coli isolates from diarrheic (n=19) and healthy (n=21) cats from Ituverava, were examined for resistance to 20 antimicrobial agents. The predominantly observed resistance was to cephalothin (42,1%), tetracycline (20,0%), and ampicillin (15,8%) among the isolates from diarrheic cats and to tetracycline (30,5%), cotrimoxazole (17,9%), and ampicillin (20.0%) among the isolates from healthy cats. Multidrug-resistance to three or more antimicrobial agents was found among 8.4% and 17,8% of the isolates from diarrheic and healthy cats, respectively. It is obvious that the E. coli strains from cats may act as a reservoir of resistance genes. To support the development of antimicrobial usage policies, regular updates on the status of resistance to antimicrobials used in veterinary medicine are needed.