Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses of Zebu, Jersey, and Zebu X Jersey crossbred heifers to rising temperature, with particular reference to sweating

Zebu, Jersey, and Zebu x Jersey crossbred heifers were subjected to a rising temperature regime over the range 65 to 105°F. Sweating rates, respiration rates, skin temperatures, and rectal temperatures were measured. All breeds showed similar responses in skin temperature and rectal temperature to increase in air temperature. The increase in skin temperature was approximately linear with rise in air temperature. Rectal temperature did not commence to rise until an air temperature of 90°F and a skin temperature of 98° was reached. Breed differences in sweating and respiratory rates with increase in air and skin temperature were observed. The Jersey heifers showed an early and almost linear increase in sweating rate with rise in air and skin temperature, whereas the sweating rate of the Zebu heifers did not increase until air temperature had risen to at least 85°F and skin temperature to 95°. Two crossbreds began to increase their sweating rates at temperatures intermediate between those recorded for Zebus arid Jerseys. The remaining two behaved similarly to Jerseys. All three breeds showed similar maximum sweating rates in response to this rising temperature regime. The respiratory rate of' the Jerseys was higher than that of the Zebus at all temperatures, and particularly at high temperatures. Crossbreds respired at rates comparable to the Jerseys until an air temperature of 90°F and a skin temperature of 97°F were exceeded, when their respiration rates became intermediate between the other two breeds. The significance of these differences is discussed.
How do locally infrequent species influence numerical classification? A simulation study

Phytosociological databases are important data sources for a broad scale of ecological investigations. Vegetation samples are traditionally managed and published in tabular format, allowing for handling of the vegetation data in various combinations. Such tables usually comprise releves originated from the same locality, vegetation type and collected by the same investigator. Nevertheless, these releves are usually affected by the same bias. In this paper, we demonstrate the importance of the effects acting at the level of the table (i.e., ‘locally’), using the example of species removals from groups of releves. We examine the effect of the removal of infrequent species on community classification in relation with several data set properties using simulated plot data sampled from simulated coenoclines. A data set comprised groups of releves (‘tables’), within which releves are sampled from the same point of the coenocline. Classifications obtained after the removal or permutation of infrequent species occurrences from these tables, after the removal of rare species from randomised tables and without any treatment were compared to a reference classification based on gradient positions of the releves. The results show that the removal of locally infrequent species helps to recognise the gradient pattern incorporated in the tabular arrangement of releves if the arrangement of releves among tables is in accordance with their gradient position. In cases when the grouping of releves is irrelevant regarding the real underlying pattern, the species removal is disadvantageous. Testing between-table heterogeneity within a data set is an especially successful way of examination of biological relevance of the arrangement of releves. We conclude that influence of table-level effects is mainly dependent on the pattern which is in accordance with the grouping of plots.
A review of the pharmacology and toxicology of Astragalus

Some Astragalus species are used as forage for livestock and wild animals. Many species are used in folk medicine for their hepatoprotective, antioxidative, immunostimulant, and antiviral properties, whereas others are toxic, and in many cases the toxic principles can pass to humans through milk and meat. Three groups of chemicals have been described as pharmacologically active principles: polysaccharides, saponins and phenolics. In addition, three kinds of toxic principles have been reported: indolizidine alkaloids, aliphatic nitro compounds and selenium. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discrimination of black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) chick-a-dee calls produced across seasons

While black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) primarily produce fee-bee songs in spring, they produce chick-a-dee calls year-round with call production peaking in the fall. This call serves multiple functions, including food location, flock communication, and predator alarm. As seasons change, the meaning of the call may also change. For instance, flock communication could be more important in the fall than in the spring, and food type and availability change according to season. To determine if the chick-a-dee call varies acoustically across seasons in a predictable manner, we conducted an operant go/no-go discrimination task that examined black-capped chickadees’ ability to categorize calls produced in two different seasons: fall and spring. We found that birds trained to respond to vocalizations produced in either fall or spring learned to discriminate at the same rate as birds trained to respond to pseudorandomized stimuli, suggesting that none of the groups demonstrated category learning, relying instead on rote memorization. These results suggest that while chickadees can be trained to discriminate between chick-a-dee calls produced in different seasons, they do not discriminate these calls or perceive these calls as being members of natural, preexisting, perceptual categories, based on an underlying perceptual similarity.
Proximate composition of commercially important fish species in southern Gulf of Lake Tana, Ethiopia

The aim of the study was to determine the proximate composition of each sex of Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus and Labeobarbus intermedius fish species from the southern Gulf of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. The fish samples were collected during the dry season of 2014 from the three fish landing sites, i.e., Bata, Micheal and Giorgis, where local fishermen sell their catches. Species were identified via morphological examination and color. Sexes were identified by observing genital papilla and gonads after dissection. After measuring weight and length of young fish species, fish weighing 201-310 g were selected for the study. A total of 72 fish, eight and four fish per species and sexes were selected, respectively, for each site. The sample size was determined using “resource equation" method. Only edible fillet was labeled and transferred to plastic bags according to species and sex. Then the sample was transported for proximate analysis to Addis Ababa Food Science and Nutrition laboratory using icebox at about 4 °C. Fish sample composites were prepared by taking the fish samples from the three fish landing sites for each sex and species. Samples were thawed at room temperature and oven-dried at 60 °C for 72 h, then ground into a fine powder. Proximate composition was determined following the procedure of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Nutrient content significantly varied among fish species; more protein was recorded from O. niloticus and fat from L. intermedius. Also, fat, ash and gross energy content were different between sexes; female fish contained significantly more fat and gross energy than males. In conclusion, consumers are advised to consume these species to obtain required nutrients.
Critical Evaluation of the 'Matura' Test: CEFR Alignment Project for the Austrian National Examination in English (B2 Level)

This study attempted to evaluate the usefulness a CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) alignment project ‘Matura’ listening test with respects of the item analysis, validity (i.e., content validity) and reliability (i.e., internal consistency reliability, scoring reliably). 93 students randomly selected from six secondary-school of different school-levels across three different regions in Austria completed the listening test. SPSS was employed for the statistical analysis. Facility value, discrimination index together with other descriptive statistics were reported for the item analysis. Content validity by a panel of expert judgments as well as the reliability of the listening test was further examined. Findings showed that: 1) the test paper was of average to high difficulty with its peak score locating around the mid-point, which allow higher education institutions to set an appropriate cut-score for decision making. Relatively widespread test scores further indicated its potential to efficiently discriminate learners of varied listening proficiency; 2) the majority of items in the listening test performed well and were qualitatively reasonably good. However, we did identify several problematic items with possible causes related to construct-irrelevance, too many possible answers, mismatch sign-posted words, fast audio speed, testing simply the background knowledge, and the heavy cognitive load required for “Not Given” option; 3) regarding validity and validity issues, construct-under representation and the less authentic listening materials were then spotted by careful content analysis. Though the statistical output reported relatively high reliability, results should be interpreted with caution. Based on findings, general evaluation of the test as well as implications for further improvement were revealed. Keywords: test evaluation, usefulness, content validity, reliability, Common European Framework of Reference, listening comprehension, item analysis DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-11-01 Publication date: April 30 th 2020
Classifying settlement types from multi-scale spatial patterns of building footprints

Urban settlements and urbanised populations continue to grow rapidly and much of this transition is occurring in less developed countries. Remote sensing techniques are now often applied to monitor urbanisation and changes in settlement patterns. In particular, increasing availability of very high resolution imagery (<1 m spatial resolution) and computing power is enabling complete sets of settlement data in the form of building footprints to be extracted from imagery. These settlement data provide information on the changes occurring in cities, particularly in countries which may lack other data on urbanisation. While spatially detailed, extracted building footprints typically lack other information that identify building types or can be used to differentiate intra-urban land uses or neighbourhood types. This work demonstrates an approach to classifying settlement types through multi-scale spatial patterns of urban morphology visible in building footprint data extracted from very high resolution imagery. The work uses a Gaussian mixture modelling approach to select and hierarchically merge components into clusters. The results are maps classifying settlement types on a high spatial resolution (100 m) grid. The approach is applied in Kaduna, Nigeria; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Maputo, Mozambique and demonstrates the potential of computational methods to take advantage of large spatial datasets and extract meaningful information to support monitoring of urban areas. The model-based approach produces a hierarchy of potential clustering solutions, and we suggest that this can be used in partnership with local knowledge of the context when creating settlement typologies.
Impact of field‐realistic doses of glyphosate and nutritional stress on mosquito life history traits and susceptibility to malaria parasite infection

Abstract Glyphosate is the world's most widely used herbicide. The commercial success of this molecule is due to its nonselectivity and its action, which would supposedly target specific biosynthetic pathways found mainly in plants. Multiple studies have however provided evidence for high sensitivity of many nontarget species to glyphosate and/or to formulations (glyphosate mixed with surfactants). This herbicide, found at significant levels in aquatic systems through surface runoffs, impacts life history traits and immune parameters of several aquatic invertebrates' species, including disease‐vector mosquitoes. Mosquitoes, from hatching to emergence, are exposed to aquatic chemical contaminants. In this study, we first compared the toxicity of pure glyphosate to the toxicity of glyphosate‐based formulations for the main vector of avian malaria in Europe, Culex pipiens mosquito. Then we evaluated, for the first time, how field‐realistic dose of glyphosate interacts with larval nutritional stress to alter mosquito life history traits and susceptibility to avian malaria parasite infection. Our results show that exposure of larvae to field‐realistic doses of glyphosate, pure or in formulation, did not affect larval survival rate, adult size, and female fecundity. One of our two experimental blocks showed, however, that exposure to glyphosate decreased development time and reduced mosquito infection probability by malaria parasite. Interestingly, the effect on malaria infection was lost when the larvae were also subjected to a nutritional stress, probably due to a lower ingestion of glyphosate.
LOW-METHOXYL PECTIN PREPARED BY PECTINESTERASE FROM Aspergillus japonicus

Pectinesterase was purified from the culture medium of Aspergillus japonicus completely free from pectin depolymerizing enzymes. The purified enzyme was able to convert high-methoxyl pectin into low-methoxyl pectin capable of forming strong gels with calcium ion. The maximum gel strength of enzyme-demethylated pectin was obtained at methoxyl content of 6.3%, calcium concentration of 41.8 mg/g of pectin and pH 3.5. The low-methoxyl pectin, however, formed weaker gels at low concentrations of calcium ion and low pH. DEAE-cellulose column chromatography indicated that the enzyme-demethylated pectin was homogeneous with respect to methoxyl groups of the molecules. It was suggested that this homogeneity may be probably responsible for high gel strength of the low-methoxyl pectin.
What determines pine naturalization: species traits, climate suitability or forestry use?

Species attributes, biogeographic features and human factors have all been shown to discriminate between invasive and non‐invasive plant species. However, the relative importance of these factors, their generality in determining invasion outcomes across different regions and their ability to discriminate success and failure at different stages of the invasion process have not been established.
Inheritance of an Incompletely Dominant Character in Common Wheat Simulating Triticum sphaerococcum 1

MANY investigators have reported the appearance in common wheat (Triticum aesti-uum L.) of speltoid types simulating Triticum spelta L. Generally these are due to the loss of the incompletely dominant gene Q on chromosome 5A (formerly chromosome IX) by aneuploidy (7) or by irradiation (3). Compactoid types ascribed to the action of the same gene, Q, but having some similarity to T. compactum Host were obtained in the same irradiation experiments from common wheat by Mac Key (3). Earlier, Unrau (9) located the gene governing compactum on chromosome 2D (formerly chromosme XX). This paper reports the occurrence of a mutation in common wheat simulating a lesser-known wheat species, T. sphaerococcum Perc. , and the inheritance of this mutant character.
Generic placement in Lobelia and revised taxonomy for New Zealand species previously in Hypsela and Isotoma (Lobeliaceae)

Abstract A taxonomic revision is presented for New Zealand plants previously included in Hypsela and Isotoma, with four species recognised. The new names and combinations formally made here are all placed in Lobelia. A single dispersal event from Australia to the South Island of New Zealand is inferred to have preceded a radiation into four New Zealand species. Importantly, the four New Zealand species differ from their Australian progenitors by the capsule that is now indehiscent due to loss of the apical valves. The first species to diverge from this lineage was L. ionantha (the new name for Hypsela rivalis), a mid‐elevation species that occupies sites east of the Alpine Fault. A new North Island endem ic L. carens is distinguished from L. ionantha by its usually hairy stems, leaves, and flower parts, and smaller flowers that lack purple‐violet markings. The two newly named South Island species that occur west of the Alpine Fault evidently evolved from a common ancestral species that is inferred to have more narrow leaves, smaller flowers, and a reduced zone of adnation for the epipetalous stamens. One species, L. fatiscens, the name for a species previously identified as the Australian Isotoma fluviatilis, primarily occupies coastal sites, and only tetraploid plants with 2n = 28 are known. The other species, L. fugax, is a newly described upland species endemic to the ephemeral and shallow margins of cirque lakes within Kahurangi National Park in North‐West Nelson. The diploid (2n = 14) L. fugax is like a diminutive version of L. fatiscens, which must have diverged from the common ancestral species before the chrom osome doubling that occurred in the evolution of L. fatiscens. The conservation status of these endemic New Zealand species is evaluated.
Pandemics, tourism and global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19

Abstract The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is challenging the world. With no vaccine and limited medical capacity to treat the disease, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) are the main strategy to contain the pandemic. Unprecedented global travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders are causing the most severe disruption of the global economy since World War II. With international travel bans affecting over 90% of the world population and wide-spread restrictions on public gatherings and community mobility, tourism largely ceased in March 2020. Early evidence on impacts on air travel, cruises, and accommodations have been devastating. While highly uncertain, early projections from UNWTO for 2020 suggest international arrivals could decline by 20 to 30% relative to 2019. Tourism is especially susceptible to measures to counteract pandemics because of restricted mobility and social distancing. The paper compares the impacts of COVID-19 to previous epidemic/pandemics and other types of global crises and explores how the pandemic may change society, the economy, and tourism. It discusses why COVID-19 is an analogue to the ongoing climate crisis, and why there is a need to question the volume growth tourism model advocated by UNWTO, ICAO, CLIA, WTTC and other tourism organizations.
Aquatic hazard assessment of the toxic fraction from the effluent of a petrochemical plant

Effluent hazard assessment guidelines were applied to determine the environmental safety of discharged chloroether fractions from a chemical plant effluent. The chloroether fraction was identified as a mixture of pentachloroethers (2,5,6-trichlorohexyl 1′,3′-dichloroisopropyl ether [PCE 1,3] and 2,5,6-trichlorohexyl 2′,3′-dichloropropyl ether [PCE 2,3]), tetrachloropropyl ethers (TCPE; a mixture of l,3,1′,3′-tetrachloroisopropyl ether, 1,3-dichloroisopropyl 2′3′-dichloropropyl ether, and 2,3,2′,3′-tetrachloropropyl ether), 1,2,5,6 tetrachlorohexane (TCH), and related components. The fractions were identified in a toxicity identification evaluation (TIE). The chloroether mixture was acutely toxic between 1.5 and 20 mg/L and had no observed effect concentrations (NOEC) for chronic toxicity from 1 to 3.2 mg/L. Individual chloroether components showed acute toxicity (LC50) from 1.5 to 56 mg/L. Acute toxicity predictions from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) structure-activity relationships (SAR) were within a factor of four. Acute to chronic ratios for specific chloroether components were between 3 and 14. Sediment studies showed moderate sorption of TCPE with a log Koc between 2.7 and 2.9. The log Kow was 3.2 for TCPE, and the bioconcentration potential (logBCF) for the mixture was 0.26 mg/L and effects on Gammarus feeding at 0.44 mg/L of the mixture.
Ocular effects of a relatively selective α2 agonist (UK-14, 304-18) in cats, rabbits and monkeys

UK-14, 304-18 (UK), a relatively selective α2- agonist, was examined for its effects on intraocular pressure (TOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in rabbits, cats and monkeys and on noradrenergic function in the cat nictitating membrane (CNM) preparation. Topical, unilateral administration of UK (0.0005-0.5 mg) produced dose-dependent decreases in IOP and pupil size in normal, unanesthetized rabbits, cats and monkeys. The ocular hypotensive effect of UK in the ipsilateral eye was delayed relative to the contralateral eye in all three species; UK produced an initial transient ocular hypertension in rabbits which was abolished by surgical transaction of three major extraocular muscles. Mean arterial blood pressure in rabbits was not affected by 0.005 mg UK topically. The ocular hypotensive and miotic effects of UK were attenuated in superior cervical ganglionectomized (SX) cats and rabbits. Intra-arterially administered UK (0.33, 1.0, 3.3 and 10 µg) produced dose-related systemic hypotension and inhibition of cont.
Gaps promote plant diversity in beech forests (Luzulo-Fagetum), North Vosges, France

Windstorms are major disturbance factors in temperate forests of Western Europe. With climatic changes those events are likely to become more frequent. The study of their impacts on plant communities is essential. Therefore our objective was to evaluate the differences of the plant community after the 1999 windstorm that blew down approximately 968 000 ha across France. This study took place in the North Vosges ( 36 800 ha destroyed). The differences in species diversity, resource requirements and functional plant traits were analysed, with floristic surveys, between undisturbed forest ( 10 plots) and gaps ranging from 250 m(2) and 1.8 ha ( 65 plots). The results showed a higher plant diversity in the gaps. This increase was mainly due to the presence of more light-requiring forest species and more species with high dispersal abilities (anemochorous or long-term persistent seedbank species). On the contrary, species with greater competitive abilities increased their cover and decreased the diversity. The other resource requirements were not modified in the gaps. This short-term study showed that functional traits and their interactions play a major role to determine the species composition in gaps, especially compared to the species requirements for the resources, except light.
When the local is national – A new high-water mark for nationalization in the 2018 United States state legislative elections

ABSTRACT The November 2018 state legislative elections continued the recent trend towards increased (dynamic) nationalization. Control of 87 state legislative chambers and many governor’s offices was determined by elections that took place in a highly nationalized environment in which voter choices were strongly shaped by support for or opposition to the national parties in general and President Donald Trump in particular. Nationalization reached a new peak in its influence on state legislative elections in 2018, while cross-state variation in the extent of nationalization was associated with legislative polarization and the quality of the state-legislative-information environment.