Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenological shifts in hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) linking measurement and mechanism

An understanding of ecological and evolutionary responses to global environmental change requires both a robust measurement of the change that is occurring and a mechanistic framework for understanding the drivers of that change. Such a requirement provides a challenge because biological monitoring is often ad hoc, and mechanistic experiments are often performed under highly simplified conditions. This study integrates multiple datasets to evaluate our current knowledge of the measurement and mechanism of phenological shifts in a key pollinator taxon: the hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). First, two large, complementary and independent monitoring datasets are used to test for trends in phenology: an ad hoc national recording scheme containing >620,000 records, and a standardised monitoring scheme with consistent methods over 30 years. Results show that ad hoc and standardised recording data give quantitatively the same value for phenological advance in hoverflies (ca. 12 days°C-1 on average at the beginning of the flight period), supporting the value of biological recording for the measurement of global ecological change. While the end of the flight period appears static in ad hoc recording, the standardised dataset suggests a similar advance as in the beginning of the flight period. Second, an extensive traits dataset and a novel database of laboratory-derived developmental data on Syrphidae (153 published studies) are used to test for mechanistic patterns in phenological shifts. The only species trait that influenced phenology was voltinism, where species with more generations per year exhibit stronger phenological advances. We demonstrate considerable variation in the laboratory-derived sensitivity to temperature but this does not match field-derived measures of phenology. The results demonstrate that, as for many taxa, we have a strong understanding of the patterns of global ecological change but that we currently lack a detailed mechanistic understanding of those processes despite extensive research into the fundamental biology of some taxonomic groups.
Desalination of diluted seawater and bioelectricity generation by microbial desalination cell using sewage as substrate and source of microorganisms

Shortage of freshwater has led mankind to develop technologies to make seawater usable. The present day desalination technologies are uneconomical for developing countries as these are energy intensive. In the present study, a simple, economical, laboratory scale microbial desalination cell was set up and operated without the input of energy, by using sewage as a source of substrate and microorganisms. In addition to achieving desalination, it also resulted in production of power, though insignificant. On operating the MDC using 0.5% NaCl and diluted seawater separately, the reduction in Na + was 45% and 22.5% respectively and reduction in Cl was 53% and 7.9% respectively within the first 24 hrs of operation with no further decrease thereafter. The maximum potential difference recorded was 13.1 mV (0.026 mA) with 0.5% NaCl solution, at 24 hrs. Preliminary studies of the microbial community developing on the anodic surface using Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed the presence of slightly curved rod shaped bacteria with thread like appendages. In light of the numerous technical innovations in this area, the present study documents the use of simple basic environment friendly MDC using sewage as a substrate and source of microorganisms to drive the desalination process.
A Theory of Mind and Brain that Solves the 'Hard Problem' of Consciousness

We propose that the "mind" is an energetic, spatially extended, nonmaterial entity that is united with the brain and body. The mind is a separate entity having the character of a structured energy field, which can interact with physical processes including brain neurons. The nonmaterial mind is also the seat of conscious experience. The mind interacts directly with cortical neurons, probably via electrical interaction, resulting in both subjective phenomenal experience and causal influence on neurological processes. All cognitive faculties reside in the mind but ordinarily need the brain's neural activity for conscious awareness. When brain structures are damaged, mental faculties dependent on them are partially or totally impaired. The main evidence for this view are phenomena from near-death experience and various neurological phenomena, in particular phantom limbs. This theory solves the "hard problem" of how phenomenal experience can arise from physical brain activity: conscious experience depends on a second entity with physical attributes—the conscious mind—which interacts with the brain to produce phenomenal experience. Experiences of qualia, such as redness, are an effect in the mind resulting from electrical activity in specific regions of the brain. The unity of consciousness results from the unity of the mind's "field of consciousness": phenomenal states are unified in the mind as subject. Causal closure of the physical is maintained but the domain of "the physical" must necessarily be expanded. Mind is a fundamental entity, a new dimension of reality.
Impact of Agricultural Credit on MV Boro Rice Cultivation in Bangladesh

An investigation was conducted at Mithapukur and Razarhat upazila under Rangpur and Kurigram districts, respectively to know the requirements, utilization pattern and repayment system of credit and its effect on modern rice cultivation. A total number of 120 rice growers who obtained credit from Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RKUB) and Grameen Bank (GB) were interviewed. Another 60 farmers who did not take credit from other sources were also studied. The findings disclosed that the client farmers of RKUB and GB used about 78 and 72 percent credit, respectively for Boro rice production and the rest was used for consumption purpose. The cost of credit of RKUB and GB was Tk. 463 and Tk. 20, respectively. The RKUB farmers had to pay Tk. 252 as entertainment cost. The GB credit users borne 1.13 times higher production cost compared to RKUB users for Boro rice cultivation. Loan users achieved 1.21 times higher rice yield compared to loan non-users. The analysis of resources use efficiency revealed that both credit users and non-users rice growers had failed to use inputs efficiently, either the production inputs were overused or underused. Unavailability of credit and weekly instalment system of repaying loan were the main constraints faced by 38 percent RKUB and 53 percent GB credit users. Small farmers were found to avoid cumbersome procedure of obtaining loan from the institutional sources and they felt better to borrow loan from NGOs.
Comparative Morphometrics in Ranid Frogs (Subgenus Nenirana): Are Apomorphic Elongation and a Blunt Snout Responses to Small-bore Burrow Dwelling in Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates areolatus)?

Abstract The subgenus Nenirana of North American ranid frogs encompasses Pickerel Frogs (Lithobates palustris), Crawfish Frogs (L. areolatus), Gopher Frogs (L. capito), and Dusky Gopher Frogs (L. sevosus). All four species inhabit caves, crevices, stump holes, and/or burrows when not in breeding wetlands. Crawfish Frogs obligately inhabit crayfish burrows as their primary retreat sites, and in this study we examine whether the deep, small-bore crayfish burrows used by Crawfish Frogs have influenced Crawfish Frog morphology. Specimens of all four species of Nenirana were radiographed and snout–urostyle length, maximum headwidth, head length, femur length, and tibiofibula length were measured from films. Our results suggest that if Crawfish Frog morphology is a response to life in burrows, it is due in part to having the size characteristic of being the largest member of the clade and in part through the shape characteristic of generally exhibiting an intermediate morphology between Pickerel Frogs and the two Gopher Frog species. Not all shape metrics, however, are intermediate; among Nenirana, Crawfish Frogs have the longest hindlimbs and the relatively bluntest snouts. Further, Crawfish Frogs exhibit positive allometry in headwidth, a reversal of the ancestral pattern exhibited by Pickerel Frogs. None of the morphological features of Crawfish Frogs fit neatly into known or predicted functional/morphological cause-and-effect relationships associated with burrow occupancy. It may be that the ranid body plan is generalized enough to permit Crawfish Frogs to inhabit, despite being unable to dig, deep small-bore burrows without undergoing major morphological changes.
Science Project-based Learning Integrated with Local Potential to Promote Student’s Environmental Literacy Skills

The learning process of science requires teaching which gives students the opportunity to be active in direct experience learning and thinking about the problems in real-life. However, science learning method that is widely used so far only conventionally, so it has not accommodated students in providing direct experience and solutions to real life problems. In order to realize the science learning that allows students to build their own understanding of real life problems, suitable learning model is needed and one of which is project-based learning. This research was conducted to know the effectiveness of science project-based learning which is integrated with natural potential of Baruppu’ in Junior High School students’ environmental literacy skills. Sample consisted of 50 students in grade VII of SMPN 1 Baruppu’. Quasi-experimental with Non-equivalent Control-Group Design was used to know the effectiveness of learning model in student’s environmental literacy skills: cognitive skill and environmental affect components. The study design consists of two groups: 26 students of class VIIA as experimental group and 24 students of class VIIB as control group. Data collected consisted of scores that measured cognitive skill and scores from environmental affect survey. Data analysed utilizing an independent samples t-test to determine any differences in environmental literacy skills between experimental and control groups after treatment. The result showed that the science project-based learning which is integrated with natural potential of Baruppu’ was effective to promoted student’s environmental literacy skills.
Constructing Multi‐Country Rational Expectations Models

This article considers some of the technical issues involved in using the global vector autoregression (GVAR) approach to construct a multi-country rational expectations (RE) model and illustrates them with a new Keynesian model for 33 countries estimated with quarterly data over the period 1980–2011. The issues considered are: the measurement of steady states; the determination of exchange rates and the specification of the short-run country-specific models; the identification and estimation of the model subject to the theoretical constraints required for a determinate rational expectations solution; the solution of a large RE model; the structure and estimation of the covariance matrix and the simulation of shocks. The model used as an illustration shows that global demand and supply shocks are the most important drivers of output, inflation and interest rates in the long run. By contrast, monetary or exchange rate shocks have only a short-run impact in the evolution of the world economy. The article also shows the importance of international connections, directly as well as indirectly through spillover effects. Overall, ignoring global inter-connections as country-specific models do, could give rise to misleading conclusions.
EXTRACTION OF PECTIN FROM ORANGE PEEL AND LEMON PEEL

In this work, comparing the characteristics of two different pectins and to see which one is more suitable for industrial applications. Pectin, which is a family of complex polysaccharides that contains 1, 4-linked x and β galactosyluronic acid residues was extracted using alcohol precipitation method from peels of lemon and sweet orange after which it was characterized using both qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine and compare the colour equivalent weight methoxyl content, each content solubility in cold and hot alkali, pH as well as sugar and organic acid. The result showed that the colours of the pectin from orange and lemon sources were the different i.e. Pale yellow and white respectively. They were all soluble in hot and cold alkali and water, the moisture content, the methoxyl content and the ash were all higher in the pectin extracted from peels of orange with 70, 5.75, 35% and lemon with 50, 4.46, and 31% respectively. However, the equivalent weight of the pectin extracted from peels of lemon was higher with 200 mg/mol. The overall results showed that the pectin from these sources were suitable for industrial use.
Abundances of disk and bulge giants from high-resolution optical spectra

Context. Observations of the Galactic bulge suggest that the disk formed through secular evolution rather than gas dissipation and/or mergers, as previously believed. This would imply very similar chemistry in the disk and bulge. Some elements, such as the α-elements, are well studied in the bulge, but others like the neutron-capture elements are much less well explored. Stellar mass and metallicity are factors that affect the neutron-capture process. Due to this, the enrichment of the ISM and the abundance of neutron-capture elements vary with time, making them suitable probes for Galactic chemical evolution. Aims. In this work, we make a differential comparison of neutron-capture element abundances determined in the local disk(s) and the bulge, focusing on minimising possible systematic effects in the analysis, with the aim of finding possible differences/similarities between the populations. Methods. Abundances are determined for Zr, La, Ce, and Eu in 45 bulge giants and 291 local disk giants, from high-resolution optical spectra. The abundances are determined by fitting synthetic spectra using the SME-code. The disk sample is separated into thin- and thick-disk components using a combination of abundances and kinematics. Results. We find flat Zr, La, and Ce trends in the bulge, with a ~0.1 dex higher La abundance compared with the disk, possibly indicating a higher s-process contribution for La in the bulge. [Eu/Fe] decreases with increasing [Fe/H], with a plateau at around [Fe/H] ~−0.4, pointing at similar enrichment to α-elements in all populations. Conclusions. We find that the r-process dominated the neutron-capture production at early times both in the disks and bulge. Further, [La/Eu] ratios for the bulge are systematically higher than for the thick disk, pointing to either a) a different amount of SN II or b) a different contribution of the s-process in the two populations. Considering [(La+Ce)/Zr], the bulge and the thick disk follow each other closely, suggesting a similar ratio of high-to-low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars.
A Longitudinal View of Peer-Friendship Relations and their Association with Parental Attachment Bonds

A sample of adolescent boys and girls, 13, 15, and 18 years of age, was interviewed in order to describe the changing emotional relationships with friends during the adolescent years, and the influence of family relationships on relationships with friends. At age 13, the Parental Bonding Instrument, which evaluates recalled attachment history, was completed, as were questionnaires on intimacy to a best friend and peer-group attachment. The latter two instruments were completed again, when the boys and girls became 15 and 18. The results showed higher levels of best-friend intimacy and peer attachment in girls, and an increase in both measures of relational proximity in boys as adolescence progressed. Significant associations between family and peer relations were found showing that adolescents who reported high levels of family affection at age 13 were likely to report healthier peer relationships at ages 13,15, and 18.
Xenogenic Implantation of Equine Synovial Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Leads to Articular Cartilage Regeneration

Horses are widely used as large animal preclinical models for cartilage repair studies, and hence, there is an interest in using equine synovial fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SFMSCs) in research and clinical applications. Since, we have previously reported that similar to bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMMSCs), SFMSCs may also exhibit donor-to-donor variations in their stem cell properties; the current study was carried out as a proof-of-concept study, to compare the in vivo potential of equine BMMSCs and SFMSCs in articular cartilage repair. MSCs from these two sources were isolated from the same equine donor. In vitro analyses confirmed a significant increase in COMP expression in SFMSCs at day 14. The cells were then encapsulated in neutral agarose scaffold constructs and were implanted into two mm diameter full-thickness articular cartilage defect in trochlear grooves of the rat femur. MSCs were fluorescently labeled, and one week after treatment, the knee joints were evaluated for the presence of MSCs to the injured site and at 12 weeks were evaluated macroscopically, histologically, and then by immunofluorescence for healing of the defect. The macroscopic and histological evaluations showed better healing of the articular cartilage in the MSCs' treated knee than in the control. Interestingly, SFMSC-treated knees showed a significantly higher Col II expression, suggesting the presence of hyaline cartilage in the healed defect. Data suggests that equine SFMSCs may be a viable option for treating osteochondral defects; however, their stem cell properties require prior testing before application.
Chapter 11 Genetic Factors and Suicidal Behavior

Approximately 1 million people worldwide die by suicide each year. With a prevalence rate of 0.0145% and suicide accounting for 1.5% of death by all causes, it is the 10th leading cause of mortality worldwide (Hawton and van Heeringen 2009). Suicide is complex, multifactorial behavioral phenotype. Suicide is also familial: a family history of suicide increases risk of suicide attempts and completed suicide. In this chapter, we will examine the family, twin, and adoption studies that establish the existence of both genetic and environmental bases of suicidal behavior. We will then review the major candidate gene findings. Lastly, we will discuss recent developments in genetic studies of suicide and comment on future experiments that may help resolve the challenges that are hindering genetic research into the pathophysiology of suicide.
Biochemical and Molecular Changes in Downy Mildew-infected Sunflower Triggered by Resistance Inducers

In the present study, the mechanism of resistance to Plasmopara halstedii, the downy mildew pathogen of sunflower, triggered by three resistance-inducing chemicals, benzo (1,2,3) thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH), DL-β-amino butyric acid (BABA) and 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA), was investigated in susceptible, completely resistant and partially resistant sunflower genotypes. By applying P. halstedii-specific primers, no detectable pathogen marker transcript accumulation was found in the infected but completely resistant sunflower hypocotyls; however, pretreatments with either of the three resistance inducers decreased the transcript accumulation in both the infected susceptible and the partially resistant lines. Benzothiadiazole pretreatment before inoculation considerably enhanced enzyme activities in the infected susceptible and the completely resistant genotypes but not in partially resistant plants. Pretreatment with resistance inducers before inoculation increased glutathione S-transferase, defensin and catalase transcript levels in the susceptible but decreased in the partially resistant plants. Our results indicate that the resistance-inducing chemicals can improve resistance in all of the sunflower genotypes to downy mildew and increase enzyme activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, as well as accumulation of mRNAs of glutathione S-transferase, defensin and catalase. However, it is important to emphasize that activation of these defence-related proteins did not correlate with the degree of resistance, but rather with the amount of necrotic tissues.
Prevalence of The Main Infectious Causes of Abortion in Dairy Cattle in Algeria

Abstract Introduction: Abortion in cattle is a major source of economic losses for the agriculture sector. It can be due to infectious or non-infectious factors. Among infectious factors, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi can be involved. The present work investigated the prevalence of the main infectious agents of abortion in Algerian cattle. Material and Methods: Altogether 278 non-aborting and 82 aborting cows were analysed. Results: The prevalence ranged from 0% for Tritrichomonas foetus to 15% for Neospora caninum. Additionally, a case-control study was performed to find the association between the presence of the pathogens and the occurrence of abortion in cows. The odds ratios were significant for Neospora caninum, bovine herpes virus 4, BVD virus, Brucella abortus, Salmonella Dublin, Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo, and Coxiella burnetii. Conclusions: The pathogens enumerated here could be major causes of abortion among Algerian cattle.
The effect of substantial holdings on capital structure and dividend policy

This paper analyses size and dispersion in a firm’s substantial holders and its impact on capital structure and dividend policy. In an agency relationship, substantial holders have the potential to influence decision-making by management. Prior evidence has demonstrated an association between the presence of a substantial holder and corporate policies of management. Recently, the size and dispersion of a firm’s substantial holders has been shown to affect firm value (Konijn, Kraeussl and Lucas, 2011). This paper extends the literature on substantial holders by examining whether this impact on a firm’s monitoring environment also affects capital structure and dividend policy of management.
The Effect of Big Data and Analytics on Firm Performance: An Econometric Analysis Considering Industry Characteristics

Abstract The emergence of big data has stimulated enormous investments into business analytics solutions, but large-scale and reliable empirical evidence about the business value of big data and analytics (BDA) remains scarce. This article presents the results of an econometric study that analyzes the direction, sign, and magnitude of the relationship between BDA and firm performance based on objective measurements of BDA assets. Using a unique panel data set that contains detailed information about BDA solutions owned by 814 companies during the time frame from 2008 to 2014, on the one hand, and their financial performance, on the other hand, we estimate the relationship between BDA assets and firm productivity and find that live BDA assets are associated with an average of 3–7 percent improvement in firm productivity. Yet we also find substantial differences in returns from BDA when we consider the industry in which a firm operates. While firms in information technology-intensive or highly competitive industries are clearly able to extract value from BDA assets, we did not detect measurable productivity improvement for firms outside these industry groups. Taken together, our findings provide robust empirical evidence for the business value of BDA, but also highlight important boundary conditions.