Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Size-specific movement of green sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis on urchin barrens in eastern Canada

Movement is likely a major factor contributing to the marked size partitioning of popu- lations in relation to depth and habitat, as observed for many coastal invertebrates. Here, 2 approaches were used to examine the relationship of movement to size for the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis on persistent urchin barrens in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, eastern Canada. The first approach involved quantifying the dispersal of tagged urchins from release points. Experiments were started by tagging all urchins in 1.0 m 2 plots with a fluorescent stain, then quantifying their abundance 9 or 40 d later in the release plots and at different distances from the release plots. The rate of dispersal of urchins from the plots varied greatly with size. In the initial plots, we recaptured 69% of 15 mm diameter urchins, after 9 d, and 25 and 0%, respectively, after 40 d. In 5 of 6 trials executed, movement was directional, albeit in different directions in the different trials. The second approach evaluated urchin movement relative to size by quantifying the numbers of different-sized urchins moving into 1.0 m 2 circular plots, from which the natural population of urchins had been removed 48 h earlier. Trials were made either with or without algae in the center of the plots. After 48 h most urchins which had moved into the plots were large (>15 mm diameter). The movement of urchins was size-dependent, as the presence of algal food affected the rates of movement of large urchins into the plots, but had no detectable effect on small ( 15 mm diameter showed increased movement, probably related to the search for food. This ontoge- netic change in movement likely affects growth rates and contributes to size partitioning of urchin populations in different subtidal habitats.
Initial Effects of the SB Natural Anticancer Drug on the Number of NK Cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes in Human Peripheral Blood

Most anticancer drugs produce cytotoxicites in cancer cells, but also generate effects in normal cells that create undesirable side effects, especially for immune functioning cells which have already been suppressed by cancer invasion or biological effects. The SB natural anticancer drug is a root extract of the Pulsatilla koreana plant that has been used in Korea as an effective anticancer agent for more than 20 different malignant tumors without triggering significant adverse reactions. We investigated the effects of the SB anticancer drug on human immune cells in cancer patients. 24 consecutive patients, with histologically proven cancers, received SB drug treatments and 20 control patients did not receive SB administrations. Both groups were immunologically tested before and after their SB treatments for 14 days and then weekly for the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th weeks thereafter. The total number of white blood cells with differential counts including monocytes and lymphocytes were checked. Immunoassay and flow cytometry were used to analyse CD4 and CD8 T cell percentages, total cell counts with their ratios, as well as CD16/56 natural killer cell percentages and cell counts. Total white blood cell counts normalized within 10 days after the SB drug administrations. The total lymphocyte counts were slightly increased, but remained within normal parameters. CD4 and CD8 T cells, as well as CD 16/56 NK cell percentages, became normal within 10 days; their total cell counts were initially increased (26.3%, 45.2%, and 16.7%, respectively) and then became normal. The SB drug was found to be effective cytoapoptotically and was also effective for immune cell recovery in cancer patients in their initial period of the SB drug treatment. These were patients who had already had a bone marrow suppression by cancer invasion and/or prior chemotherapy.
Temperature gradients in trailers and changes in broiler rectal and core body temperature during winter transportation in Saskatchewan

Temperature conditions inside commercial trailers transporting market-age broilers during four winter journeys were measured, and changes in the rectal and core body temperature of birds were quantified. Pre-selected modules were equipped with data loggers recording temperature every 72 s. Rectal temperatures were taken from eight birds in each of four modules immediately before and after each trip, and two or three birds, with temperature recording implants, were placed in each of two selected modules. Temperature heterogeneity was found among modules on all loads with average crate temperatures ranging from 10.9 to 30.7, 8.9 to 28.1, 2.5 to 26.1 and -0.7 to 16.5°C for transportation times of 191, 193, 178 and 18 min and ambient temperatures of -7.1, -27.1, -28.2 and -18.4°C, respectively. Wet birds, condensation and frost provided evidence for moisture accumulation during transportation. Body temperature recordings indicated the potential for the development of both hypothermia and hyperthermia, showing.
Can the physiological tolerance hypothesis explain herb richness patterns along an elevational gradient? A trait-based analysis

Many taxa show their highest species richness at intermediate elevations, but the underlying reasons for this remain unclear. Here, we suggest that the physiological tolerance hypothesis can explain species richness patterns along elevational gradients, and we used functional diversity to test this hypothesis. We analyzed herb species richness, functional diversity, and environmental conditions along a 1300 m elevational gradient in a temperate forest, Beijing, China. We found that herb richness exhibited a “hump-shaped” relationship with elevation, with peak richness at approximately 1800 m. Functional diversity showed a significant unimodal relationship with elevation. The duration of high temperatures (≥ 300C: DHT) was the best predictor for herb richness and functional diversity along the gradient from 1020 to 1800 m, which suggest richness is limited by high temperature at low elevations. While along the gradient from 1800 to 2300 m, the duration of low temperatures (≤ 0°C: DLT) was the most powerful explanatory variable, which indicated at high elevations, richness reduced due to low temperature. Our analyses showed that the functional diversity of traits related to drought-tolerance (leaf mass per area, leaf area, and leaf hardiness) exhibited negative relationships with DHT, while functional diversity of traits related to freezing-tolerance (leaf thickness and hair density) exhibited negative relationships with DLT. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the richness-elevation relationship is consistent with the physiological tolerance hypothesis: at low elevations, richness is limited by high temperatures, and at high elevations, richness is reduced due to low temperatures. We concluded that our results provide trait-based support for the physiological tolerance hypothesis, suggesting that mid-elevations offer the most suitable environmental conditions, thus higher numbers of species are able to persist.
Stress, Serotonin Transporter Genotype, and Emotion Processing in Children

STRESS, SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER GENOTYPE, AND EMOTION PROCESSING IN CHILDREN. Amy L. Meadows, John Herrington, and Joan Kaufman. Child Study Center and Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Child maltreatment is a significant contributor to psychopathology, including depressive disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Multiple studies have demonstrated important changes in emotion processing and regulation in children exposed to early life stress, but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown. There is significant variability in outcome in children exposed to early life stress which may be moderated by genetic polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter. This study was designed as a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging project using dichotic listening to study emotion-processing pathways and interhemispheric transfer. Eighteen children were recruited in a two-by-two factorial design with maltreatment and serotonin genotype as factors. Main effects of genotype were seen in increased activation in the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to attended angry stimuli. No main effects of trauma (either as a categorical or continuous variable) were seen, and there was no interaction of trauma and genotype. Non-significant differences were found in the pattern of emotion processing between the maltreatment groups seen in the superior temporal gyrus. The results are consistent with a growing body of literature that has identified genotype as an important factor in neural pathways. The increased amygdala and OFC activity was seen in the controls as well as the traumatized children with the vulnerable genotype. An emerging question is how these differences lead to psychopathology in some instances and not others.
Heterogeneous reaction of HO 2 with airborne TiO 2 particles and its implication for climate change mitigation strategies

Abstract. One geoengineering mitigation strategy for global temperature rises resulting from the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases is to inject particles into the stratosphere to scatter solar radiation back to space, with TiO 2 particles emerging as a possible candidate. Uptake coefficients of HO 2 , γ (HO 2 ), onto sub-micrometre TiO 2 particles were measured at room temperature and different relative humidities (RHs) using an atmospheric pressure aerosol flow tube coupled to a sensitive HO 2 detector. Values of γ (HO 2 ) increased from 0.021 ± 0.001 to 0.036 ± 0.007 as the RH was increased from 11 to 66 %, and the increase in γ (HO 2 ) correlated with the number of monolayers of water surrounding the TiO 2 particles. The impact of the uptake of HO 2 onto TiO 2 particles on stratospheric concentrations of HO 2 and O 3 was simulated using the TOMCAT three-dimensional chemical transport model. The model showed that, when injecting the amount of TiO 2 required to achieve the same cooling effect as the Mt Pinatubo eruption, heterogeneous reactions between HO 2 and TiO 2 would have a negligible effect on stratospheric concentrations of HO 2 and O 3 .
Analyzing the turbulence in the Planetary Boundary Layer by the synergic use of remote sensing systems: Doppler wind lidar and aerosol elastic lidar

Abstract. The Planetary Boundary Layer ( PBL ) is the lowermost region of troposphere and endowed with turbulent characteristics, which can have mechanical or thermodynamic origins. Such behavior gives to this layer great importance, mainly in studies about pollutant dispersion and weather forecasting. However, the instruments usually applied in studies about turbulence in the PBL have limitations in spatial resolution (anemometer towers) or temporal resolution (aircrafts). In this study we propose the synergetic use of remote sensing systems (microwave radiometer [ MWR ], Doppler lidar [ DL ] and elastic lidar [ EL ]) to analyze the PBL behavior. Furthermore, we show how some meteorological variables such as air temperature, aerosol number density, vertical wind, relative humidity and net radiation might influence the PBL dynamic. The statistical moments of the high frequency distributions of the vertical velocity, derived from DL and of the backscattered coefficient derived from EL , are corrected by two methodologies, namely first lag and −2/3 correction. The corrected profiles present small differences when compare against the uncorrected profiles, showing low influence of noise and the viability of the proposed methodology. Two case studies were analyzed in detail, one corresponding to a well-defined PBL and another one corresponding to a situation with presence of a Saharan dust lofted aerosol layer and clouds. In both cases the results provided by the different instruments are complementary, thus the synergistic use of the different systems allow us performing a detailed monitoring of the PBL .
“Making the road while walking” : statecraft in contemporary times

State construction is messy and complex, brimming with contradictions, fraught with conflict and unpredictability. This article identifies a few hurdles likely to be encountered in the simultaneous making and walking of this road. In order to do so, it examines the structure and behaviour of the state, the concept of political settlements, and the “good governance” agenda. The article outlines some implications for public policy that relate to issues of governance, and explores the possibility of working with clientelism and patronage as enablers and contributors to growth, rather than seeing them as pathologies that need to be “corrected” by administrative reforms. Successful delivery of socially inclusive and empowering developmental programmes and projects in the proposed framework hinges on the comprehension and negotiation of social change and transformation in novel and realistic ways.
Assessment of precipitation climatology in an ensemble of CORDEX-East Asia regional climate simulations

An ensemble of regional climate simulations from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment in East Asia (CORDEX-East Asia) was analysed to evaluate the ability of 5 regional climate models (RCMs) and their ensemble mean in reproducing the key features of present-day precipitation (1989−2008). We emphasised (1) an extreme rainfall event, (2) seasonal climatology, (3) annual cycles and inter-annual variability and (4) the monsoon characteristics. We highlighted 4 sub-monsoon regions, viz. South Asian Summer Monsoon (SAS), the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EAS), the Western North Pacific Tropical Monsoon (WNP) and the AustralianMaritime Continent Monsoon (AUSMC). We found that the RCMs showed a reasonable performance to capture the extreme rainfall event in 1998. The RCMs simulated the seasonal mean, annual cycle and inter-annual variability acceptably. However, individual models exhibited significant biases in some sub-regions and seasons. Moreover, most of the RCMs significantly improved their performance in capturing precipitation climatology and monsoon characteristics over the Korean Peninsula, the Korea Strait and southern Japan. Based upon this performance study, we conclude that the present set of RCMs from CORDEX can be used to provide useful information on climate projections over East Asia.
Dietary effect of Mulberry leaf (Morus alba) meal on growth performance and serum cholesterol level of broiler chickens

To investigate the effect of dietary mulberry leaf meal on body weight, feed conversion efficiency and blood cholesterol level, 240 day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were divided into 6 treatments, each with 4 replications (10 birds/ per replicate) and offered manually prepared diets supplemented with 2.5, 3.5, 4.5% mulberry leaf meal (MLM), MLM Extract and 0.5% for a period of six weeks. Average body weight (g) gain increased (P> 0.05) at 2.5 or 4.5% supplementation of MLM and with MLM extract compared to control and antibiotic group. Feed conversion ratio was better at 4.5% supplementation (1.67) and on addition of MLM extract (1.63) compare to control (1.79). Total cholesterol, HDLcholesterol and triglyceride of broiler chicks in different dietary treatments of during experimental periods were non-significant at day 10 to 15 but total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased significantly (P>0.05) at d 15 to 22 compared to control and antibiotic group. Significant (P<0.05) reduction of total cholesterol and triglyceride with supplementation of mulberry leaf meal at 2.5, 3.5, 4.5% MLM, MLM extract were also observed at d 22 to 42 compared to control and antibiotic group. The result suggests that inclusion of mulberry leaf meal (both 3.5% powder and extract) may be used to formulate low-cost broiler grower diet in order to produce low-cholesterol broiler meat. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/sja.v12i2. 21920 SAARC J. Agri. , 12(2): 79-89 (2014)
Green turtles on the Island of Cavalos (Guinea-Bissau): abundance, nest success and experimental nest protection

5 Introduction: . 5 Methodology: . 8 Study site: . 8 Field Methodology . 8 Beach surveys: . 8 Nest predation: . 11 Data analysis: . 12 Beach surveys . 12 Map production: . 13 Nest predation: . 13 Results: . 14 Nesting activity on the islands:. 14 Predation rates: . 20 Logistic Regression: . 21 Discussion: . 22 Nesting intensity throughout the islands: . 22 Feral pigs: . 24 Nest predation: . 24 CHAPTER 2: How do nile monitors attack sea turtle nests and what can we do about it? A study on nest protection techniques. 27 Abstract: . 27 Introduction: . 27 Methodology: . 29 . 27 Introduction: . 27 Methodology: . 29 Study site: . 29
Chemical composition of the periderm in relation to in situ water absorption rates of oak, beech and spruce fine roots

On a mesure, in situ, avec des sondes miniaturisees de flux de seve, pendant 11 jours consecutifs, l'absorption d'eau par les extremites des racines de sujets adultes de chene, hetre et epicea. Celle-ci a ete ensuite mise en relation avec le contenu en suberine du periderme des petites racines. Toutes ces petites racines presentaient un periderme bien developpe, sans racines primaires blanches. Les differentes especes se classent pour le prelevement d'eau moyen dans l'ordre decroissant suivant : hetre, epicea, chene. Les racines de chene contenaient deux fois plus de suberine et comportaient un periderme plus epais que le hetre. Leur prelevement d'eau etait en moyenne plus faible (201 contre 508 g m -2 de surface racinaire et par jour). Cependant, l'epicea, avec un contenu de suberine 2 a 7 fois inferieur, presentait un taux de prelevement plus faible (346 g m 2 et par jour) que le hetre qui a pourtant plus de suberine. Nous en concluons que la relation entre la composition chimique du periderme et l'absorption d'eau n'est que faible pour les trois especes. D'autres facteurs, tels que la resistance hydraulique a l'interface sol/racines, ou l'importance des gradients de potentiels hydriques, pourraient jouer un role plus important pour la regulation du prelevement d'eau.
Securing Cloud Data Storage

Innovations are necessary to ride the inevitable tide of change. Most of enterprises are striving to reduce their computing cost through the means of virtualization. This demand of reducing the computing cost has led to the innovation of Cloud Computing. One fundamental aspect of this new computing is that data is being centralized or outsourced into the cloud. From the data owners perspective, including both individuals and IT enterprises, storing data remotely in a cloud in a flexible on-demand manner brings appealing benefits: relief of the burden of storage management, universal data access with independent geographical locations, and avoidance of capital expenditure on hardware, software, personnel maintenance, and so on although the infrastructures under the cloud are much more powerful and reliable than personal computing devices, they still face a broad range of both internal and external threats to data integrity. Outsourcing data into the cloud is economically attractive for the cost and complexity of long-term large scale data storage, it does not offer any guarantee on data integrity and availability. We propose a distributed scheme to ensure users that their data are indeed stored appropriately and kept intact all the time in the cloud. We are using erasure correcting code in the file distribution preparation to provide redundancies. We are relaying on challenge response protocol along with pre-computed tokens to verify the storage correctness of user's data & to effectively locate the malfunctioning server when data corruption has been detected. Our scheme maintains the same level of storage correctness assurance even if users modify, delete or append their data files in the cloud. Keywords - Cloud computing, Distributed data storage, Data security, Pervasive Computing, Virtualization.
Particle size-resolved source apportionment of primary and secondary organic tracer compounds at urban and rural locations in Spain

Abstract. Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) was fractionated in six aerodynamic sizes, > 7.2, 7.2–3, 3–1.5, 1.5–1, 1–0.5 and PM > 0.5 μm). Thus, markers of photochemically synthesized organic compounds or combustion sources, either biomass burning or traffic emissions, were predominantly observed in the fraction Important seasonal differences were observed at the rural site. In the PM > 0.5 μm fractions the differences involved predominantly soil-sourced compounds in the warm period and mixed combustion sources, photochemical products and vegetation emissions in the cold. Multivariate curve resolution/alternating least squares showed that these organic aerosols essentially originated from six source components. Four of them reflected primary emissions related to either natural products, e.g., vegetation emissions and upwhirled soil dust, or anthropogenic contributions, e.g., combustion products and compounds related to urban lifestyle activities like vehicular exhaust and tobacco smoking. Two secondary organic aerosol components were identified. They accumulated in the smallest ( 0.5 μm) and involved strong or mild photochemical transformations of vegetation precursor molecules, respectively. Toxicologically relevant information was also disclosed with the present approach. Thus, the strong predominance of biomass burning residues at the rural site during the cold period involved atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that were 3 times higher than at the urban sites and benzo[a]pyrene concentrations above legal recommendations.
Regional differences in productivity growth in The Netherlands: an industry-level growth accounting

It is well known that the productivity growth in Europe is slowing down, against an increasing growth rate in the US. The Netherlands is one of countries in Europe with the lowest growth rates of productivity. This paper presents the results of a growth accounting exercise applied to regional industry data of The Netherlands between 1995-2002. We find that low productivity growth in The Netherlands is particularly situated in the economic core regions of the west and south and is caused by slow growth of MFP. Compared to the more peripheral regions, MFP-growth is lower in all industries, except social and non-market services. The high level of traffic congestion and relatively low labour effort in the core regions can explain part of this slow MFP-growth.