Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation of adult body size of the tortoise Testudo hermanni in Greece: proximate and ultimate causes

AbstractSeventeen populations of T. hermanni in Greece differed substantially in mean adult body size, over arange of about one and a half times in length and three times in mass. Females were the larger sex in allpopulations; the degree of sexual size dimorphism did not vary with mean body size. The proximate causeof the variation of body size among populations was differences in the duration of growth, rather than eggor hatchling size or the growth rates of juveniles. The age at maturity (a) increased with body size in the 17populations, while the Bertalanffy growth constant (k) decreased with body size. The quantities aM andM/k (where M is the instantaneous mortality rate) were invariant with body size, suggesting that differencesbetween populations were adaptive rather than the result of short-term disturbance. Body size was greaterin cooler areas, and increased with both latitude and altitude. This pattern is opposite to that found inmost ectotherms (the reverse Bergmann’s rule), and to that which occurs between tortoise species. Severalhypotheses about the possible ultimate causes of variation of body size were rejected, including adaptationto long-term habitat disturbance (land use), character displacement, social factors, energetics, thermo-regulation, r-K selection, the length of the season available for incubation, or differences in juvenilemortality. The most likely ultimate cause of size variation between sites is differences in adult mortality,the correlation with environmental temperature being through the frequency of ﬁres. Key words: body size, geographic variation, growth, life history invariants, temperature, Testudo hermanni
Selection for Reduction of Beak-Inflicted Injuries Among Caged Hens,

Abstract The effectiveness of selection for hen-days without beak-inflicted injuries was studied. The base population was known to have a high incidence of beak-inflicted injuries when pullets' beaks were intact. Data from the foundation stock yielded nonsignificant family heritability estimates ranging from . 05 to . 17, depending on length of the test period (varying from 16 to 28 to 16 to 40 wk of age) and number of six-hen cages per family (one to three). Selection was practiced on sire family groups of either 30 or 36 pullets. Birds used for selection were housed six birds per cage and had intact beaks. The criterion of selection was mean hen-days without beak-inflicted injuries from 16 to 40 wk of age. Three selected and three unselected strains were involved. After two generations, mean hen-days without beak-inflicted injuries from 16 to 40 wk of age were 164.8 and 155.3 for selected and unselected stocks, respectively, yielding a realized family heritability of . 65 ± . 13 (SE). Selection did not appear to alter the relative frequency of beak-inflicted injuries by body regions affected; about 30% of all injuries involved the vent-cloacal area. Egg production traits were measured also. No differences were detected in Generation 1, but selected pullets had higher hen-housed rates of lay and egg mass in Generation 2. It is tentatively concluded that stocks having high levels of cannibalism when kept with intact beaks can benefit from selection against beak-inflicted injuries when evaluated by techniques similar to those used in the present study.
Apparent competition or apparent mutualism? An analysis of the influence of rose bush strip management on aphid population in wheat field

Abstract: Apparent competition, mediated by a shared predator, plays a key role in conservation biological control. Appropriate agroecosystems management may favour this type of indirect interaction. In that context, our aim was to test the effect of rose bush [Rosa rugosa (Thunb.)] strips on the building up of aphid populations and of their natural enemies in adjacent cereal habitats. Several aphid species are currently found on Rosa sp. including Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) for which it is a primary host. Aphid predators and parasitoids may build their populations on the aphid population present on Rosa sp. and later on migrate to wheat field during the cereal aphid infestation. Moreover, the flowers of the rose bushes may provide a source of nectar and pollen to these natural enemies. Our experiment was conducted in three rose margin wheat plots with a strip of rose bushes of R. rugosa and three control plots. Plots were compared during 2 years (2003 and 2004). Aphid, parasitoid and predator densities were recorded from May to the harvest of wheat on rose bushes and in wheat. In 2003, the aphid densities were moderate but in 2004, the population of aphid was very high. Even if predator and parasitoids arrived earlier in rose margin field than in control ones, the presence of rose bushes did not influence the aphid population within the field. Metopolophium dirhodum did not seem to migrate from the rose bushes to wheat. The level of parasitism was weak in rose bushes and the natural enemy population was not different in rose margin wheat and in control plots. The causes of the lack of efficiency of this type of management are discussed as well as the high aphid population in wheat in 2004.
An Emperical Analysis of Tax Revenue and Economic Growth in Nigeria from 1980 to 2015

The contribution of taxation to any economy globally is so much in terms of quantification and cannot be therefore be ignored as unimportant. It is a source of revenue or income to the government be it the Central, State or Local government in achieving their macro-economic objectives in the areas of fiscal and monetary policies. For Nigerian government to effectively carry out its primary function and other subsidiary functions, she requires adequate funding. Government responsibilities has continued to increase over time especially in developing countries like Nigeria due to the increasing nature and size of her population, and infrastructural deterioration. This study was therefore poised to empirically examine the tax revenue and economic growth in Nigeria from 1980 to 2015 by employing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the dependent variable and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Company Income Tax (CIT), and Customs and Excise Duties (CED) as the independent variables. The analysis of the study was carried out using the method of Multiple Regression Analysis. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method of econometrics was the main analytical technique that was employed using Econometric software (E-
Sutureless and rapid deployment implantation in bicuspid aortic valve: results from the sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement international registry.

Background Benefits of sutureless and rapid deployment (SURD) bioprostheses in bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are controversial. The aim of this study is to report the outcomes of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for BAV from the Sutureless and Rapid-Deployment Aortic Valve Replacement International Registry (SURD-IR). Methods Of the 4,636 patients who received primary isolated SURD-AVR between 2007 and 2018, 191 (4.1%) BAV patients underwent AVR with SURD valve. Results Overall 30-day mortality was 1.6%. The Intuity valve was implanted in 53.9% of cases, whereas the Perceval was implanted in 46.1%. Rate of stroke for isolated AVR was 4.2%. No case of endocarditis, thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, valve dislocation or structural valve deterioration was reported in the early phase. Rate of pacemaker implantation and moderate-severe aortic regurgitation (AR) were 7.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Conclusions BAV is not considered a contraindication for the implantation of SURD valves. However, detailed information of aortic root geometry as well as the knowledge of some technical considerations are mandatory for a good outcome.
Sequential Flowering of Thistles (Cynareae, Asteraceae) in Southern Australia

Flowering patterns of four and seven species of thistles were examined in Wagga Wagga, N.S. W. and Canberra, A.C. T. respectively, during the 1982-83 and 1983-84 flowering seasons. Flowering patterns at each location were sequential, consistent and differed significantly among species. The progression of anthesis among the species was as follows: Carduus pycnocephalus, Silybum marianum, Onopordum acanthium, O. illyricum, Centaurea calcitrapa, Carthamus lanatus and Cirsium vulgare. Early-flowering species typically had brief flowering periods whereas later species flowered for con- siderably longer periods. Seed (achene) dormancy patterns and optimum temperatures for germination of the first and last species of the sequences were analysed. Seeds of C. pycnocephalus exhibited pro- nounced innate dormancy for at least 2 months after seed maturation and germinated poorly at high temperatures. In contrast, some seeds of C. vulgare were able to germinate soon after seed maturation and over a wide range of temperatures. Early-flowering species probably benefit from pronounced dormancy by avoiding precocious seed germination during wet springs, while high temperatures prob- ably restrict germination after rare rainfall during the long and dry summers of Mediterranean-like southern Australia. Such dormancy is unnecessary for late-flowering species in this environment as their seeds are produced coincidentally with the onset of more reliable autumn rains.
ADHD, Willpower, and Interest: A Positive Approach

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically presents with challenges of attention, impulsivity, self-regulation, memory, and sometimes, physical restlessness. Many practitioners, as well as the general public, often treat ADHD as a “disorder” that needs to be “cured,” and precious few researchers and practitioners look to understand and work with the ADHD nervous system rather than trying to align it to the “norm. ” This paper will examine ADHD from a positive focus: that it is a nervous system that works extremely well as long as certain criteria are met. It will examine what ADHD is, where its unique challenges lie, and present a model of ADHD where the brain of the individual requires more interest-driven stimulation than a neurotypical brain in order to operate at its best. Positive psychology will be proposed as an essential component in any work with individuals with ADHD. Then, using the scientific debate around willpower failure (a common ADHD challenge), four differing theories of why willpower may fail will be examined and explored from the positive ADHD perspective of interest level, rather than as a dysfunction. This exploration may offer a new understanding of willpower that could greatly benefit people with ADHD, and potentially the non-ADHD population as well.
New Status of the Genus Ectateus Koch, 1956 with Taxonomic Notes on the Ectateus Generic Group (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Platynotina)

Abstract. Basing on the newly described (Ectateus ursynowiensis Kamiński sp. nov.) and the type species a new taxonomical hypothesis of the genus Ectateus is proposed. Due to the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature following changes are made: designation of the lectotype for E. modestus (Fairmaire, 1887) and replacement name for the genus Cosmogaster Koch, 1956.
Impact of Energy Consumption on Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Approach of Time Series Econometric Model

The study examined the impact of energy consumption on economic growth over a period of 1980 to 2017. The specific objectives are to: investigate to what extent does components of energy consumption effect Economic Growth in Nigeria and ascertain if there is long-term relationship between components of energy consumption and Economic Growth in Nigeria. The Expost-facto research method was the research design. The methods of data analysis were Augmented DickeyFuller Unit Root test statistic, Engle-Granger Co-integration test, error-correction mechanism, Heteroscedasticity White Test, Ramsey Reset and Durbin-watson test. The study concluded that there is impact of energy consumption on Economics growth in Nigeria. The empirical result shows that the coefficient of petroleum oil has 78% positive significant effect on Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP), Liquidified natural gas (GAS) has 44% positive significant effect on Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) and the electricity (ELECT) has 20% positive insignificant effect on Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP). The RGDP has no long-run relationship with PETRO, GAS, and ELECT. Hence, the energy consumption has no long-run relationship with economic growth. This study therefore recommends that companies in charge of oil refining and transportation should increase petroleum supply around the country by connecting the major towns with petroleum pipelines. Nigeria Government should formulate policy that encourages crude oil drilling International Journal of Academic Research economics and management sciences Vol. 8 , No. 2, 2019, E-ISSN: 2226-3624 © 2019 HRMARS 67 companies to use sophisticated technology that will not cause crude oil spillage in the oil drilling environment.
DigiGlo: Exploring the Palm as an Input and Display Mechanism through Digital Gloves

The shape and function of the human hand are intimately linked to our interaction with the physical world and sets us apart from our evolutionary ancestors. In the digital age, our hands still represent our main form of interaction. We use our hands to operate keyboards, mice, trackpads, and game controllers. This modality, however, separates content display and interaction. In this paper, we present Digital Gloves (DigiGlo), a system designed to evaluate the benefits of a unified hand display and interaction system. We explore this symbiosis in the context of gaming where users control games using hand gestures while the content is displayed on their bare hand. Building on established learning principles, we explore different hand gestures and other specially tailored interactions, through three carefully designed activities and two user studies. From these we show that this is an idea that has the potential to bring more intuitive, enjoyable, and effective gaming and learning experiences, and offer recommendations regarding how to better design such systems.
Modes of transmission and stability of Rice yellow mottle virus

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is the most important rice virus in Africa. We examined RYMV transmission via soil and water contaminated with RYMV-infected rice plants and by serial cutting with RYMV-contaminated scissors. Transmission of RYMV via dried rice straw kept at 27°C was also examined. The results showed the virus could be transmitted via soil and water, and by scissors. Rice straw that was RYMV-infected was not infective if it was dried and was kept longer than 42 days. By insect transmis- sion experiments and ELISA, long-horned grasshoppers (Conocephalus spp.) were found to be a possible vector of RYMV in Uganda.
Host Specificity Studies on Gynaikothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) Associated with Leaf Galls of Cultivated Ficus (Rosales: Moraceae) Trees

Abstract Host specificity tests on Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal) and Gynaikothrips uzeli (Zimmerman) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) have shown that under experimental conditions, G. ficorum will induce leaf galls on both Ficus benjamina L. and Ficus microcarpa L. f. (Rosales: Moraceae), but G. uzeli will induce galls only on F. benjamina. A further interesting aspect of the results is that gall induction by G. uzeli on F. benjamina appears to have been suppressed in the presence of F. microcarpa plants in the same cage. Liothrips takahashii (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), an inquiline in the galls of these Gynaikothrips, is reported for the first time from Australia, mainland China, Malaysia, Costa Rica, and western USA.
Tissue-Specific Protein Expression in Human Cells, Tissues and Organs

An important part of understanding human biology is the study of tissue-speci fi c expression both at the gene and protein level. In this study, the analysis of tissue speci fi c protein expression was performed based on tissue micro array data available on the public Human Protein Atlas database (www.proteinatlas.org). An analysis of human proteins, corresponding to approximately one third of the protein-encoding genes, was carried out in 65 human tissues and cell types. The spatial distribution and relative abundance of 6,678 human proteins, were analyzed in different cell populations from various organs and tissues in the human body using unsupervised methods, such as hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis, as well as with supervised methods (Breiman, 2001). Well-known markers, such as neuromodulin for the central nervous system, keratin 20 for gastrointestinal tract and CD45 for hematopoietic cells, were identi fi ed as tissue-speci fi c. Proteins expressed in a tissue-speci fi c manner were identi fi ed for cells in all of the investigated tissues, including the central nervous system, hematopoietic system, squamous epithelium, mesenchymal cells and cells from the gastrointestinal tract. Several proteins not yet associated with tissue-speci fi city were identi fi ed, providing starting points for further studies to explore tissue-speci fi c functions. This includes proteins with no known function, such as ZNF509 expressed in CNS and C1orf201 expressed in the gastro-intestinal tract. In general, the majority of the gene products are expressed in a ubiquitous manner and few proteins are detected exclusively in cells from a particular tissue class, as exempli fi ed by less than 1% of the analyzed proteins found only in the brain.
Relationships Among Survival and Linear Type Traits in Jerseys

Abstract Daughters of 330 Jersey sires were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between survival measures and type traits. Survival measures included survival through first lactation, survival to 20 mo after first calving, and length of productive life. Type traits included final score and 13 linear traits. Genetic correlations were estimated by REML from survival of registered cows with type appraisals, from survival of registered cows in herds that did not appraise for type (type data from registered paternal half sisters in appraised herds), and from survival of grade cows in herds that did not appraise for type (type data from registered paternal half sisters in appraised herds). First lactation milk yield (linear and quadratic) was included as covariate. Genetic correlations between survival traits and final score were positive (.21 to .78). Genetic correlations between the survival measures and body traits, rear legs, and foot angle were small or inconsistent across sources of survival data, except for rump angle (less slope tended to be associated with increased survival). Genetic correlations between udder traits and survival were positive (averaged .51) except for udder cleft. Continued selection for improved udder characteristics in Jerseys appears justified.
Uveíte por tuberculose em um centro de referência no Sudeste do Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of tuberculous uveitis (TBU) at a referral center in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 16 consecutive patients (>15 years of age) who underwent diagnostic evaluation of uveitis between January of 2001 and July of 2004 at the Minas Gerais State Referral Center were selected for study. Demographic and clinical data, as well as data related to screening for toxoplasmosis, syphilis, and rheumatologic diseases, together with the results of tuberculin skin testing and HIV testing, were collected. RESULTS: Of the16 patients evaluated, 11 (69%) were found to have TBU. A history of contact with pulmonary tuberculosis was reported by 8 (72%) of the 11 patients with TBU and by 1 (20%) of the 5 with non-TBU. Although the odds ratio for this association was 10.67 (95% CI: 0.59-398.66), the p value was borderline significant (p = 0.078). There was no difference between the patients with TBU and those with non-TBU in terms of the status of ocular inflammation or the tuberculin skin testing results. All of the patients were HIV negative and were monitored for two years. CONCLUSION: In this study, a history of contact with pulmonary tuberculosis proved to be useful in diagnosing TBU.
Diet of the Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus at the Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay, and implications for local fisheries

Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus were harvested to extirpation on the Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay, on the south-east coast of South Africa, between the 17th and early 20th centuries. Seals returned to Robberg in small numbers during the early 1990s and their numbers subsequently increased. We studied the diet of this increasing population using faecal (scat) sampling to determine: the species composition and size of prey in the diet of Cape fur seals at Robberg; to explore temporal variation in the diet; and to investigate the potential for competition between seals and the fisheries around Plettenberg Bay. Of the 445 scats collected, 90% contained hard prey remains and 15 teleost prey species were represented in the 3 127 otoliths that could be identified. The seals’ most important prey species in terms of numerical abundance, frequency of occurrence and mass in the diet, were anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, sardine Sardinops sagax, horse mackerel Trachurus capensis, sand tongue-fish Cynoglossus capensis and shallow-water hake Merluccius capensis (in decreasing order of importance for numerical abundance). The proportion of anchovy in the diet increased during the study period (2003–2008), whereas the proportion of sardine decreased. The estimated average annual consumption of sardine by seals was higher than the average annual catch made by purse-seine fisheries in this area, suggesting resource competition between seals and purse-seiners, especially in the light of continuing growth of seal numbers in the area. However, direct competition between seals and linefisheries appeared to be minimal. Scat sampling of Cape fur seals holds potential to serve a useful and cost effective indicator of temporal changes in sardine abundance.
Elevated Temperature Ripening of Reduced Fat Cheddar Made with or Without Lacticin 3147-Producing Starter Culture

Abstract The study evaluated the effects of elevated ripening temperature (7 or 12°C) and starter type on the quality of experimentally produced, reduced fat Cheddar cheeses with a moisture content in the nonfat substances of ∼55% (wt/wt). In one treatment, the population of nonstarter lactic acid bacteria in the cheese was markedly reduced at both ripening temperatures through the use of a single-strain culture that both produced and was immune to the broadspectrum bacteriocin lacticin 3147. Elevation of the ripening temperature resulted in significantly higher primary and secondary proteolysis and higher flavor and aroma scores at ripening times ≤150 d. The culture type affected the levels of secondary proteolysis but generally had no significant effect on flavor or texture scores. Cheeses ripened at 12°C were significantly softer than those ripened at 7°C from 60 d onward. Mean texture scores were not significantly influenced by ripening temperature; however, at >150 d, texture scores tended to decrease in cheeses ripened at 12°C to an extent depending on the type of starter culture used. Differences in the rate of growth and the final population of nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (from 10 3 to 10 7 ) in the cheeses had no significant effect on proteolysis or flavor and aroma or body and texture.