Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of adaptive defence on top-down and bottom-up effects in systems with intraguild predation

Questions: How does adaptive prey defence alter the responses of a system with intraguild predation to the bottom-up effects of enrichment and the top-down effects of predator mortality? Is the cost of defence an important determinant of the answer to this first question? Is persistence and/or increase of the prey population following enrichment more likely when the prey have adaptive defence? Methods: General equilibrium analysis of a simple model of the three-species intraguild predation system is used to determine the signs of population responses to top-down and bottom-up perturbations. Simulations are used to explore systems with unstable dynamics. Key assumptions: The system consists of three species, and all consumer species have linear functional responses in the absence of flexible prey defence. Results: Adaptive defence allows the equilibrium prey abundance to increase with enrichment of the basal resource. Defence may allow prey persistence over all possible levels of enrichment when high levels of defence imply near-immunity from predation. Predicting the direction of change in prey abundance in response to top-down or bottom-up perturbations requires knowledge of the costs of prey defence. The direction of response of abundance to a perturbation often changes sign when the perturbation shifts the system from stable to cyclic dynamics. Given costly defence, intraguild predation systems and food chains exhibit qualitatively similar responses to top-down and bottom-up perturbations in stable systems.
The Pathogenesis of Sepsis and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Sepsis is defined as “a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a host’s dysfunctional response to infection”. Although the treatment of sepsis has developed rapidly in the past few years, sepsis incidence and mortality in clinical treatment is still climbing. Moreover, because of the diverse manifestations of sepsis, clinicians continue to face severe challenges in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with sepsis. Here, we review the recent development in our understanding regarding the cellular pathogenesis and the target of clinical diagnosis of sepsis, with the goal of enhancing the current understanding of sepsis. The present state of research on targeted therapeutic drugs is also elaborated upon to provide information for the treatment of sepsis.
Taxonomic Review of the Australian Drosophila setifemur Species Group , a New Name for the D . dispar Species Group ( Diptera : Drosophilidae )

Examination of the holotype and a paratype of Drosophila setifemur Malloch, 1924 in the Australian Museum has resulted in the discovery that it is not a synonym of D. sulfurigaster as had previously been assumed. Instead, D. setifemur is a senior synonym of the widespread eastern Australian species D. dispar Mather, 1955. The so-called Drosophila dispar species group is renamed the Drosophila setifemur species group and Drosophila unguicula is removed from it. An illustrated key to Australian drosophilids with spinescent fore-femora is provided. Mcevey, Shane F. , 2009. Taxonomic review of the Australian Drosophila setifemur species group, a new name for the D. dispar species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Records of the Australian Museum 61(1): 31–38. The genus Drosophila accommodates a great range of drosophilids, with numerous aggregations at various levels between genus and species (viz. subgenus, species group, subgroup, complex, etc.). A rapidly growing body of knowledge is allowing us to know with ever increasing certainty the true genetic relationship between species. But ultimately, even when the tree that relates every lab strain and every field-sampled specimen is known with a high level of confidence, there will remain the task of affixing the taxonomically valid names to each of those samples and to biological species. Drosophila currently has c. 1,600 described species; c. 350 are classified with D. melanogaster in the subgenus Sophophora, and another c. 730 species are treated as Drosophila s.str. Nearly all are attracted to fruit baits and can be established as cultures in the laboratory. The following synonymy involves Drosophila dispar Mather, 1955: 570 (a species in the dispar species group of the Drosophila subgenus Sophophora) and D. setifemur Malloch, 1924: 351 (a species incorrectly classified as synonymous with D. sulfurigaster (Duda, 1923: 48) in the nasuta subgroup, immigrans species group of Drosophila s.str. ). Removing D. setifemur from synonymy with D. sulfuri­ gaster and placing it in synonymy with D. dispar leads to a need to rename the Drosophila dispar species group (established by Mather,1955).
The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

Many developing countries are competing to attract foreign direct investment with a belief that it can be a tool for poverty reduction because it serves as supplements to domestic savings and it is often accompanied with technology and managerial skills which are indispensable in economic development. Foreign direct investment can contribute in significant ways to breaking of growth – poverty vicious circle and there lies Nigerian hope. The Nigeria government has opened several economic sectors to foreign investors and issued several investment incentives. Since the market oriented economic reforms took place in Nigeria emphasis has been given to attracting FDI. In this study, the relationship between FDI and poverty reduction is analyzed empirically. It is based on secondary data which was collected from the central Bank of Nigeria and the World Bank’s world development indicators. The period covered in the study is 1980-2012. The model was estimated using the Ordinary Least Square Estimation Approach. The results show that FDI has a positive but not significant impact on real per capita income and hence does have the potential of reducing poverty in the country. The insignificant impact on the Nigerian economy may be due to the under development of human capital, backward institutions, crowding out of domestic investment or other reasons which require further investigation, the fact that FDI does not have a significant impact on poverty reduction has an important implication for policy markers, especially trade and FDI policies must be checked in order to make FDI growth enhancing in Nigeria.
Dynamics of Elevated Vortices

Abstract Theoretical hydrodynamic models for the behavior of vortices with axially varying rotation rates are presented. The flows are inviscid, axisymmetric, and incompressible. Two flow classes are considered: (i) radially unbounded solid body–type vortices and (ii) vortex cores of finite radius embedded within radially decaying vortex profiles. For radially unbounded solid body–type vortices with axially varying rotation rates, the von Karman–Bodewadt similarity principle is applicable and leads to exact nonlinear solutions of the Euler equations. A vortex overlying nonrotating fluid, a vortex overlying a vortex of different strength, and more generally, a vortex with N horizontal layers of different rotation rate are considered. These vortices cannot exist in a steady state because continuity of pressure across the horizontal interface between the vortex layers demands that a secondary (meridional) circulation be generated. These similarity solutions are characterized by radial and azimuthal velocity .
Price Distortions in High-Frequency Markets

We study the effect of frequent trading opportunities and categorization on pricing of a risky asset. Frequent opportunities to trade lead to large distortions in prices if some agents forecast future prices using a simplified model of the world that fails to distinguish between some states. In the limit as the period length vanishes, these distortions take a particular form: the price must be the same in any two states that a positive mass of agents categorize together. Price distortions therefore tend to be large when different agents categorize states in different ways. We characterize the limiting prices in terms of rational expectations prices associated with a coarsened process. Similar results hold if, instead of using a simplified model of the world, some agents overestimate the likelihood of small probability events, as in prospect theory. In this case a set aside may be better than a flat or percentage subsidy. JEL Code: D83, D84, D53
Natural variation in the contribution of microbial density to inducible immune dynamics

Immune responses evolve to balance the benefits of microbial killing against the costs of autoimmunity and energetic resource use. Models that explore the evolution of optimal immune responses generally include a term for constitutive immunity, or the level of immunological investment prior to microbial exposure, and for inducible immunity, or investment in immune function after microbial challenge. However, studies rarely consider the functional form of inducible immune responses with respect to microbial density, despite the theoretical dependence of immune system evolution on microbe-versus immune-mediated damage to the host. In this study, we analyze antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression from seven wild-caught flour beetle populations (Tribolium spp.) during acute infection with the virulent bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Photorhabdus luminescens (P.lum) to demonstrate that inducible immune responses mediated by the humoral IMD pathway exhibit natural variation in both microbe density-dependent and independent temporal dynamics. Beetle populations that exhibited greater AMP expression sensitivity to Bt density were also more likely to die from infection, while populations that exhibited higher microbe density-independent AMP expression were more likely to survive P. luminescens infection. Reduction in pathway signaling efficiency through RNAi-mediated knockdown of the imd gene reduced the magnitude of both microbe-independent and dependent responses and reduced host resistance to Bt growth, but had no net effect on host survival. This study provides a framework for understanding natural variation in the flexibility of investment in inducible immune responses and should inform theory on the contribution of non-equilibrium host-microbe dynamics to immune system evolution.
Rethinking the Crime Reducing Effect of Education? Mechanisms and Evidence from Regional Divides

We estimate the contemporaneous effect of education on adolescent crime by exploiting the variation in crime rates between different cohorts and at different ages that followed a reform that raised the school-leaving age in Italy. A 1 percentage-point increase of the enrollment rate reduces adolescent crime by 1.3 per cent in the North of Italy but increases it by 3.9 per cent in the South. The crime-reducing effect depends mainly on incapacitation (i.e. adolescents stay in school instead of on the street); the crime-increasing effect is consistent with a channel of criminal capital accumulation, operating through social interactions and organized-crime networks.
EFFECT OF ASCORBIC, HUMIC AND NICOTINIC ACIDS ON CERTAIN BIOCHEMICL CONSTITUENTS IN FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of ascorbic (AsA), humic (HA) and nicotinic (NA) acid on certain biochemical constituents that influence seed quality of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Results indicated that presoaking or presoaking plus spraying in by AsA, HA and NA increased flavonoids, alkaloids, trigonelline, protein, total carbohydrates and oil percentage in seeds. With all tested metabolic inducers (MI), the enhancing effect was more pronounced at its higher adopted level and when it was applied as a combined presoaking plus a foliar spray treatment. Total alkaloid percentage was highest in response to HA at 3000 mg/l whereas trigonelline percentage recorded highest value in response to AsA at 200 mg/l. On the other hand, total phenols percentage was generally decreased with exogenous application of all MI, and the reduction was more evident at the higher level of either AsA, HA or NA. Based on the obtained results, it could be concluded that metabolism of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) could be modulated toward the accumulation of beneficial components by exogenous application of AsA, HA, and NA.
MINDFULL COMPASSION TRAINING ON ELITE SOCCER: EFFECTS, ROLES AND ASSOCIATIONS ON FLOW, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND THOUGHT SUPPRESSION

Research on mindfulness and self-compassion has suggested that these closely related constructs are also strongly related to flow, psychological distress, experiential avoidance and thought suppression. Despite the potential of this approach, literature in respect to the relation and role of these constructs in the sport context is scarce, particularly in soccer. The current study explored relations among self-compassion, mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and psychological distress (including anxiety), thought suppression and flow state, through the implementation of Mindfulness-Based Soccer Program (MBPSoccerP) for elite athletes. This study also analyzed the influence of baseline psychological flexibility, self-compassion and mindfulness facets on psychological distress, anxiety, flow and thought suppression measures at post-intervention. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used and involved a pre-/post-pilot study and paired t-tests, pearsons correlations and hieraquical regression analyses were conducted to determine the common and unique variance in sport context predicted by these constructs and to compare their relative predictive strength in a nonclinical sample of elite soccer players -Portuguese 2o league (n=57; Mage = 25.79 years, SD = 3.3) Results: Findings showed self-compassion, mindfulness and psychological flexibility were negative associated with psychological distress (including anxiety) and thought suppression; and positively related to flow. In support, self-compassion, mindfulness and experiential avoidance explained variance beyond psychological distress (including anxiety), thought suppression and flow. Conclusions: Results suggest that mindfulness, self-compassion and psychological flexibility development may be beneficial in cultivating positive sport experience and flow state and less psychological distress and thought suppression.
The Value of Investment Research: How Do Company Visits Affect the Performance of Professional Investors?

We test a sample of 205 Canadian and 938 US equity funds during the period 2008 through 2011. Specifically, we look at whether manager characteristics and actions have any bearing on the performance, management fees and systematic risk of the funds with a special focus on the impact of company visits. We find that company visits consistently positively and significantly affect performance, portfolio turnover and fees leading us to conclude that in the case of the US sample, company visits have a value added effect while we are inconclusive on its effects on the Canadian sample. Other findings using the three stage least square methodology show that for the Canadian sample, investment experience and employee equity ownership positively affect the fund’s beta and team size has a positive impact on fees while company visits have a positive impact only in the system with the Sharpe ratio as the performance measure. The US results show that investment experience has a positive and significant impact on the fund’s beta while a negative impact on both portfolio turnover and fees. Finally, employee equity ownership also has a positive impact on systematic risk while team size has a positive impact on fees.
Development of a Web-Based Monitoring System for Power Tilt-in-Space Wheelchairs: Formative Evaluation

Background In order to prevent pressure ulcers, wheelchair users are advised to regularly change position to redistribute or eliminate pressure between the buttocks region and the seat of the wheelchair. A power tilt-in-space wheelchair (allowing simultaneous pivoting of the seat and the backrest of the wheelchair toward the back or front) meets many clinical purposes, including pressure management, increased postural control, and pain management. However, there is a significant gap between the use of tilt as recommended by clinicians and its actual usage. A Web-based electronic health (eHealth) intervention, including a goal setting, monitoring, reminder, and feedback system of the use of power tilt-in-space wheelchairs was developed. The intervention incorporates behavior change principles to promote optimal use of tilt and to improve clinical postprocurement follow-up. Objective This study aimed to conduct a formative evaluation of the intervention prototype to pinpoint the functionalities needed by end users, namely, power wheelchair users and clinicians. Methods On the basis of an evaluation framework for Web-based eHealth interventions, semistructured interviews were conducted with power wheelchair users and clinicians. A content analysis was performed with a mix of emerging and a priori concepts. Results A total of 5 users of power tilt-in-space wheelchairs and 5 clinicians who had experience in the field of mobility aids aged 23 to 55 years were recruited. Participants found the Web interface and the physical components easy to use. They also appreciated the reminder feature that encourages the use of the tilt-in-space and the customization of performance goals. Participants requested improvements to the visual design and learnability of the Web interface, the customization of reminders, feedback about specific tilt parameters, and the bidirectionality of the interaction between the user and the clinician. They thought the current version of the intervention prototype could promote optimal use of the tilt and improve clinical postprocurement follow-up. Conclusions On the basis of the needs identified by power wheelchair users and clinicians regarding the prototype of a power tilt-in-space wheelchair monitoring system, 3 main directions were defined for future development of the intervention. Further research with new wheelchair users, manual tilt-in-space wheelchairs, various age groups, and family caregivers is recommended to continue the formative evaluation of the prototype.
Interactive comment on “Exploration of the influence of environmental conditions on secondary organic aerosol formation and organic species properties using explicit simulations: development of the VBS-GECKO parameterization” by Victor Lannuque et al

The paper focuses on the development of the VBS-GECKO only. However, some observation/simulation comparisons for a few plume conditions were already performed in the past using the GECKO-A modeling tool (e.g. Lee-Taylor et al., 2011, 2015; Hodzic et al., 2013). Furthermore, the VBS-GECKO has been implemented in the chemistrytransport model CHIMERE and results compared with both in-situ measurements and other model outputs. Results show that the use of the VBS-GECKO parameterization slightly improves the performances of the model on OA concentrations compared to the current parameterization in CHIMERE. Detailed results will be included in a companion paper, to be submitted in ACPD (Lannuque et al., 2018).
New Δ8,9-pregnene steroids isolated from the extremophile fungus Exophiala oligosperma

Abstract Three pregnene steroids, two of them new, were isolated from ethyl-acetate partition of liquid-cultivation of the extremophyle fungus Exophiala oligosperma, found in a pH 1.5 hydrochloric acid aqueous solution. Spectroscopic studies using NMR and HRMS, allowed the identification of the molecular structures of both Δ8,9-pregnenes, still not described in the literature. Graphical Abstract
Effect of Different Substrates with Organic and Inorganic Fertilization under Closed System Condition on Lettuce Production

Growing medium and fertilization are the most effective methods for controlling and improving the vegetative growth characteristics, head quality, yield and nutritional value of lettuce. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the effect of different growing media when using organic or inorganic fertilization that associated with closed system on lettuce production in soilless culture system. Planting was conducted on Ashape system under unheated plastic greenhouse conditions. Experimental treatments included two nutrient solutions (mineral nutrient and compost tea) and seven substrates i.e. Peat moss, Perlite, Coir, Rice straw, Compost, Peat moss + Perlite (1:1 v:v) and Coir + Perlite (1:1 v:v). Results revealed that mineral fertilizer had better mean values for all measured vegetative growth parameters, total yield, NPK and chlorophyll content compared with organic fertilizer. The best vegetative growth characters in terms of leaf length, width, and area, number of leaves, head firmness, surround and weight, total yield, NPK and chlorophyll contents were occurred 100 % in coir or peat. The most favorable beneficial interaction treatments regarding the previous growth characters were produced in plants which planted in coir or peat moss with mineral fertilizers. The results indicated that lettuce plants on the peat moss substrate with organic solution grew healthier, but the heads were small and the yield was decreased compared with the inorganic solution. The study revealed that, differences in nutrient fertilizers and growing substrates were significant and their influences have affected the growth and yield of lettuce when cultivated under controlled environment. This study showed that mineral fertilizer had better mean values for all measured growth parameters. While, peat moss and coir substrates proved to be the best growing for lettuce. This growing media enable the roots to develop better. Thus paving the way for plants to absorb more nutrients than the plants grown in other different substrates.
Phospholipid‐induced silk fibroin hydrogels and their potential as cell carriers for tissue regeneration

Silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels can be obtained via self‐assembly, but this process takes several days or weeks, being unfeasible to produce cell carrier hydrogels. In this work, a phospholipid, namely, 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phospho‐(1′‐rac‐glycerol) sodium salt (DMPG), was used to induce and accelerate the gelation process of SF solutions. Due to the amphipathic nature and negative charge of DMPG, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the phospholipids and SF chains will occur, inducing the structural transition of SF chains to the beta sheet and consequently a rapid gel formation is observed (less than 50 min). Moreover, the gelation time can be controlled by varying the lipid concentration. To assess the potential of the hydrogels as cell carriers, several mammalian cell lines, including L929, NIH/3T3, SaOS‐2, and CaSki, were encapsulated into the hydrogel. The silk‐based hydrogels supported the normal growth of fibroblasts, corroborating their cytocompatibility. Interestingly, an inhibition in the growth of cancer‐derived cell lines was observed. Therefore, DMPG‐induced SF hydrogels can be successfully used as a 3D platform for in situ cell encapsulation, opening promising opportunities in biomedical applications, such as in cell therapies and tissue regeneration.