Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Risk and Return Profile of Asian Real Estate Stocks

Abstract This research examines the risk and return profile of Asian real estate stocks from an American investor’s point of view. Our results indicate that Asian real estate security markets have not produced high levels of compound returns relative to the US REIT and UK real estate stock markets since the 90’s. They have also experienced a higher level of volatility compared to their USA and UK counterparts. Asset allocations using meanvariance optimization are difficult to carry out, as many of the Asian property stock markets are not normally distributed. In addition, Asian real estate stocks have been able to provide diversification benefits in international investing that includes the US and UK security portfolios. However, the case for separate allocations to international real estate is weakened by the high correlations that are found in Asian markets between the real estate stock and broader market indexes.
Role of early post-settlement mortality in setting the upper depth limit of ascidians in Florida epifaunal communities

At 3 sites in Florida, USA, the con~munities of marine sessile invertebrates are dominated by oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the mid-intertidal zone, and by ascidians (several species) in the low intertidal and subtidal zones. Our experiments tested the hypotheses that the upper depth limit of ascidians is set by (1) predation by oysters on larvae, (2) larval zonation, and (3) early post-settlement mortality. Hypothesis 1 was tested by monitoring ascidian recruitment on the shells of dead and living oysters placed in both the oyster and ascidian zones. Because recruitment of all ascidian species was confined to oysters placed in the ascidian zone, w e concluded that the upper depth limit of these ascidians cannot be due solely to predation on larvae by oysters. Hypotheses 2 and 3 were tested by monitoring the recruitment of ascidians on settling plates fixed in the 2 zones, and on plates floating at 2 depths in the water column. In the 'fixed' experiments, recruitment of all ascidian specles was confined to the ascidian zone. In the 'floating' expenments, the number of recruits of Diplosoma glandulosum did not differ between shallow and deep plates, and recruitment of Styela plicata was confined to shallow plates. Thus, we concluded that early post-settlement mortality is a major factor setting the upper depth limit of these 2 species. We vertically transplanted 2 ascidians (S. plicata, Botryllus planus) and found that the survivorship of both was greater in the ascidian zone than in the oyster zone. Thus, further support was gained for the post-settlement mortality hypothesis.
Long term picoplankton dynamics in a warm-monomictic, tropical high altitude lake

Long term analyses of the microbial loop, centred on the picoplankton dynamics, were carried out over a five-year (1998 to 2002) period in Lake Alchichica (Puebla, Mexico), a high altitude tropical athalassohaline lake. The hydrodynamics of the lake followed a warm-monomictic pattern with mixing at a minimum temperature during the early dry season while the stratification was pronounced in the late dry season and throughout the rainy season; anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion lasted <9 months. The annual mean concentrations of chlorophyll-a were below 4 μg L-1 in 1998, 1999 and 2001, however, 6.1 and 5.2 μg L-1 in 2000 and 2002, respectively. Total picoplankton, TPP, displayed a temporal pattern that followed the mixing-stratification cycle. The highest TPP values (the whole water column ≥5×106 cells mL-1) were found during mixing and early stratification (January-March). The minimum numbers were present during late stratification (October-November). The maximum TPP numbers were observed within the layer 0-20 m, which corresponded to the epilimnion during the stratification period. Neither the thermocline nor the deep chlorophyll maximum showed an elevated TPP concentration. In the hypolimnion, TPP numbers were low (frequently <1×106 cells mL-1) apparently as a result of the long period of anoxia. Notwithstanding autotrophic picoplankton (APP) contributed even ≥30% of TPP (2001 to 2002); no significant correlation was found between TPP and chlorophyll-a.
Volatiles of the Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Sm. and Zingiber spectabile Griff.: Two Zingiberaceae Cultivated in the Amazon

Abstract The volatiles of Etlingera elatior and Zingiber spectabile (Zingiberaceae), cultivated in the state of Pará were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major components identified in the oils of inflorescence and inflorescence axis of E. elatior were dodecanol (42.5%, 34.6%), dodecanal (14.5%, 21.5%) and α-pinene (22.2%, 6.3%), respectively. The inflorescence oil of Z. spectabilis was rich in β-phellandrene (45.3%), α-pinene (13.4%) and β-pinene (11.0%).
Subterranean Plants of Epiphegus

HAVING need of Epi>5hegus virginiana in late October, i900, I sought a piece of beech woods in Holbrook, Massachusetts, where I found the plant growing abundantly in rich, deep humus. It was past the flowering time of this species in the main, but the warm season that year was unusually protracted, and numerous short shoots were being produced from the swollen stem bases, upon which I found flowers and fruit in all stages of development. The flowers borne by these late branches are very small. They are all cleistogamous and invariably give rise to capsules filled with fertile seed. Occasionally these secondary shoots were observed to be flowering somewhat below the surface of the ground. This fact led to further exploration, and on turning up the mold I found many shoots that for one reason or another had never escaped from the soil. They were as productive of fruit and seed as the aerial branches. Finally, I brought to light a number of whole plants that had come to maturity below the surface. They were buried one or two inches deep, and were dwarf specimens, an inch or less in height. They bore several fruits containing good seed. A life-size figure of two of these plants is given herewith. Whether this variation is simply physiological and due to tardy germination or lack of nourishment, as seems probable, or is constitutional and inheritable, the case offers an interesting example of a phanerogam leading its existence, and indeed completing its entire cycle of life, underground. -R. G. LEAVITT, The Ames Botanical Laboratory, North Easton, Massachusetts.
Agronomic practices for production of ethanol from sweet sorghum.

(.)Several field studies were conducted in 1987 and 1988 to evaluate the influence of planting date, harvest date, N fertilizers and plant density on performance of sweet sorghum for ethanol production in the northern Corn Belt. (.)Early planting dates and late-maturing cultivars with high °B levels are recommended for sweet sorghum, when grown for ethanol in the upper Midwest
Survival and movement of the Congo forest mouse (Deomys ferrugineus): a comparison of primary rainforest and fallow land in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

The Congo forest mouse, Deomys ferrugineus, occurs readily in natural and human-altered habitats in the region of Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo). We studied survival and movement patterns of D. ferrugineus in both habitats. Capture-mark-recapture was used to study the effects of habitat on rodent life history both in primary rainforest and fallow land. Survival analyses taking into account trap-happiness effects were conducted using the program MARK. Abundance of D. ferrugineus was generally low within all our study grids, but it was lowest in fallow land compared to primary rainforest. Numbers of reproductively active females captured were not different between habitats but were larger during the rainy seasons. Daily movements of females, but not of males, were smaller in fallow land. Capture-markrecapture analyses showed recapture probabilities to vary highly between grids and years. Survival probability in the primary forest was higher than in fallow land with a difference of 0.084 over a period of four weeks. This is possibly linked to the higher abundance of the main food source (insects and termites); however, other explanations are discussed in the text.
α B Crystallin Translocation and Phosphorylation: Signal Transduction Pathways and Preconditioning in the Isolated Rat Heart

In this program of studies we have characterized in detail the translocation (assessed by Triton-insolubility) and phosphorylation (using serine-45 or -59 phosphospecific antibodies) of alphaB crystallin during myocardial ischemia [both with or without ischemic preconditioning (IPC)]. Pharmacological activators and inhibitors allowed us to characterize the signaling pathways involved in alphaB crystallin phosphorylation during ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning alone caused 30% of the heart's alphaB crystallin pool to translocate, providing a significant translocation 'head-start' in protected tissue. This enhanced translocation is coupled with increased (3-fold) alphaB crystallin phosphorylation at both serine residues. The possible role of alphaB crystallin in the protection afforded by ischemic preconditioning is supported by the signal transduction data; which showed preconditioning-induced alphaB crystallin phosphorylation can be blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibition (using genistein) and by p38 MAP kinase or PKC inhibition (using SB203580 or bisindolylmaleimide, respectively). The activation of both p38 MAP kinase and PKC are recognized requirements for the induction of preconditioning and their inhibition is known to block protection. Western immunoblotting analysis after isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, confirmed the observations made with the phosphospecific antibodies; but also showed that 27+/-4% of total cardiac crystallin was phosphorylated after 30 min of ischemia. AlphaB crystallin exists as large polymeric aggregates in cardiac tissue under basal conditions (approximately 1 MDa as determined by gel filtration chromatography). We induced phosphorylation of alphaB crystallin during aerobic perfusion by the administration of phenylephrine. However this treatment did not alter the molecular aggregate size of alphaB crystallin. It appears that alphaB crystallin molecular aggregate size is not simply regulated by phosphorylation. AlphaB crystallin may have a role to play in the myocardial protection induced by ischemic preconditioning, as both translocation and phosphorylation are both accelerated and enhanced by ischemic preconditioning.
Food Conditioning and Prey Selection by Young Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

We tested how diet conditioning influences prey species selection by age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in laboratory experiments. We conditioned yellow perch to diets of different ratios of Daphnia pulex and Diaptomus sicilis and then offered them an experimental 1:1 test mixture of each prey. The influence of conditioning on prey selection was found not to be random, and prey were consumed neither in proportion to the 1:1 test mix nor to the ratio of prey in the conditioning diet. Young yellow perch switched to novel prey and did not specialize on the most frequently encountered prey in conditioning diets. However, when yellow perch were conditioned and tested on the 1:1 Diaptomus to Daphnia mix, these fish selected Diaptomus until they reached 35–40 mm total length when they switched to the larger bodied Daphnia. We hypothesize that young yellow perch may switch to novel prey because nutritional advantages associated with diet breadth may outweigh the advantage of feeding on familiar prey.
Do humour and threat work well together?

Using humour to communicate threatening information in advertising has often been observed in practice, but seldom been tested in research. Integrating the humour and threat persuasion literature, the current research tested the effects of humorous threat persuasion and need for cognition (NFC) as a measure of one’s processing motivation and capacity. A significant three-way interaction between humour, threat level and NFC emerged where low-NFC participants responded more positively to the no-humour condition than the humour condition with low threat, and more positively to the humour condition than the no-humour condition in the high-threat advertisement. The opposite was observed for high-NFC participants. Implications for both theory and practice are provided.
Food selection (size and flavor) during development of echinoderm larvae

Summary Food preferences (flavor and size) by two echinoderm plutei, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula, were studied in two experiments. These included selection between polystyrene spheres (flavored and non-flavored) of different sizes in short-term (15 min) feeding experiments and selection among food algae of varying sizes in long-term (24 h) feeding experiments. Clearance and ingestion rates change during larval ontogenesis and are dependent on the size and the quality of available particles. In general, clearance rates were higher for larvae fed on a mixture of three sizes of polystyrene spheres or algae than for those fed separate foods. Young larvae (4- and 6-arm stage) had a higher clearance rate with larger-sized spheres (18.5 μm) and larger-sized alga Prorocentrum micans (26.0 μm). For older larvae (8-arm stage with rudiment), the preference was divided between medium- and larger-sized particles. Retention capability of small-sized spheres (2.9 μm) and algae (Isochrysis galbana), compared.
Sulphate‐reducing bacteria induce low‐temperature Ca‐dolomite and high Mg‐calcite formation

In this study, we demonstrate that sulphate‐reducing bacteria induce anoxic low‐temperature Ca‐dolomite formation both in situ in Lagoa Vermelha and Brejo do Espinho, two neighbouring, dolomite‐precipitating hypersaline lagoons in Brazil, and in laboratory culture experiments. The metabolic activity of sulphate‐reducing bacteria facilitates dolomite formation under anoxic conditions, as demonstrated with experiments using dialysis bags. Overall changes in the chemical conditions of the medium exclusively, without the presence of bacteria, did not result in carbonate precipitation. Only pure cultures of metabolizing sulphate‐reducing bacteria induced Ca‐dolomite and high Mg‐calcite precipitates, indicating that the carbonate nucleation takes place in the locally changed microenvironment around the sulphate‐reducing bacterial cells. Not all pure strains, however, produced Ca‐dolomite under similar conditions, suggesting that the bacterial metabolism, activity and the rate of mineral precipitation have an influence on the type of carbonate formed.
Bisphenols and Male Reproductive Health: From Toxicological Models to Therapeutic Hypotheses

Bisphenols, and in particular bisphenol A (BPA), have been widely used for the production of plastic manufacts in the last 50 years. Currently, BPA is present in a variety of daily use polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, and dietary ingestion is considered the main route of human exposure. Accordingly, BPA is the chemical pollutant with the widest exposure in humans, involving nearly 90% of general population, according to recent studies. Concerns about BPA effects on human health date back to 1930s, when severe impact on male sexual development was suggested. Now, the acknowledged biological effects of BPA are various. In regard to human fertility, BPA has been shown to disrupt hormone signaling even at low concentrations. Results from human epidemiological studies have reported BPA interference with follicle stimulating hormone, inhibin B, estradiol, testosterone levels, and sexual function in male subjects. Moreover, recent studies have reported an association between BPA levels and reduced sperm concentration, motility, normal morphology, sperm DNA damage, and altered epigenetic pattern, resulting in trans-generational legacy of BPA effects. In this review, the recognized effects of BPA on male reproductive health are described, from the most recent issues on experimental models to epidemiological data. In addition, the very recent interest about the use of nutraceutical remedies to counteract BPA effects are discussed.
Characterization; Genome Sizes and Morphology of Sex Chromosomes in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).

A dioecious plant, Cannabis sativa has two sex chromosomes (X and Y). The genome sizes of the diploid female and male plants were determined to be 1636 and 1683 Mbp, respectively, by flow cytometry. By the karyotype analysis, the X and Y chromosomes were found to be submetacentric and subtelocentric, respectively. The Y chromosome had the largest long arm with a satellite in the terminal of its short arm. Conspicuous condensation was specifically observed in the long arm and satellite of the Y chromosome during the prometaphase to metaphase stages. These results indicate that the Y chromosome, especially in its long arm, specifically differentiates in Cannabis sativa and might contribute to the sex determination.
Are bufonid toads specialized ant-feeders? A case test from the Argentinian flooding pampa

Several causes have been considered to explain the specialized ant-feeder habits of the bufonids. We analysed the diet and availability of prey items for sympatric Bufo arenarum, Bufo dorbignyi and Odontophrynus americanus living in a grassland of the flooding pampa, Argentina. Frogs and insects were captured once a month with pitfall traps during the 2-year sampling. The frogs were measured and the stomach content was analysed. Odontophrynus americanus ingests Lepidoptera larvae, Coleoptera, Diptera and Homoptera; while both Bufo species not only feed on ants, but also prefer them. Whereas the two Bufo species show high niche overlap, the niche overlapping between both Bufo and Odontophrynus americanus was low. There are significant differences among body size of both Odontophrynus americanus and Bufo arenarum when compared with B. dorbignyi ; while there are no differences in body size of O. americanus and B. arenarum. Gape is larger in Odontophrynus americanus than in Bufo dorbignyi and B. arenarum, but it is similar in the two Bufo species. The mean prey size is larger for Odontophrynus americanus, followed by Bufo arenarum and B. dorbignyi. These results would confirm that the bufonids have ant-feeder habits, perhaps due to their small edentate gape that would constitute a morphological constraint that could explain their mirmecophagic habits.
Minimally Interrupted Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants vs. Bridging Therapy and Uninterrupted Vitamin K Antagonists During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Objectives: Although the latest international guidelines recommend the use of uninterrupted non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, it does not reflect current clinical practice, as most centers still use a minimally interrupted NOAC strategy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of minimally interrupted NOAC compared with bridging therapy and uninterrupted vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for nonvalvular AF ablation. Patients and Methods: A total of 4520 patients who underwent AF ablation between January 2010 and December 2018 were included in the analysis. According to their periprocedural anticoagulation strategies, patients were divided into three groups: Bridging heparin group (n = 1848); Uninterrupted VKA group (n = 796) and Minimally interrupted NOAC group (Total n = 1876; dabigatran: n = 865; rivaroxaban, n = 1011). A combined complication endpoint (CCE) as composed of any bleeding complications and thromboembolic events was analyzed. Results: Rates of thromboembolisms were similar among the three groups (0.22% for Bridging heparin group, 0.25% for Uninterrupted VKA group, and 0.11% for Minimally interrupted NOAC group, p = 0.626). There was a significant difference among the three groups for the incidence of overall bleeding events (8.50% for Bridging heparin group, 4.52% for Uninterrupted VKA group, and 2.67% for Minimally interrupted NOAC group, p < 0.001). A significant difference of CCE rates was shown in the Minimally interrupted NOAC group as compared with the Uninterrupted VKA group (2.77 vs. 4.77%, p = 0.008) and the Bridging heparin group (2.77 vs. 8.71%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in CCE rates among the different NOACs (dabigatran 2.89% vs. rivaroxaban 2.67%, p = 0.773). Conclusions: In patients undergoing AF ablation, minimally interrupted NOACs during the periprocedural period appears safer and equally effective when compared to the bridging heparin and uninterrupted VKA therapy.
Separation of the protease enzymes of Bacillus licheniformis from the fermentation medium by crossflow ultrafiltration

The separation from fermentation medium of extracellular serine alkaline protease (SAP) enzyme produced by Bacillus licheniformis was investigated using a crossflow ultrafiltration system. SAP was separated from the high molecular weight neutral protease (NP) and amylase (AMY) enzymes and from the low molecular weight organic acids and amino acids in a crossflow ultrafiltration system with 30 000 Da and 10 000 Da MWCO polysulfone membranes, respectively. The effects of transmembrane pressure (TMP), recirculation velocity (v), and initial enzyme concentration (CE) on the permeate flux, on the activities of SAP, NP and AMY enzymes, and on the recovery of SAP were investigated. High permeate flux was obtained at high recirculation velocity and TMP, but at low initial enzyme concentration. SAP enzyme recovery and activity measured in the system also showed alterations with hydrodynamic conditions. The best operation conditions for the separation of SAP from NP and AMY were TMP = 20 kPa, v = 0.50 ms−1 and CE = 0.28 gdm−3. The separation of SAP from the organic and amino acids was best performed at TMP = 100 kPa, v = 0.33 ms−1 and CE = 0.40 gdm−3. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Natural History, Courtship, Feeding Behaviour and Parasites of Theridion evexum (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Summary Theridion evexum constructs webs in the understory of wet middle-elevation forests in Costa Rica. The spiders construct retreats by curling a leaf and produce a mesh in front of the opening. Long, more or less vertical viscid lines extend from the mesh, and are attached to other leaves. The spiders feed on a large variety of prey (e.g. flies, beetles, earwigs, centipedes), indicating that both flying and walking arthropods are trapped in their webs. The wrapping threads have large viscid globules that rapidly disperse on the prey’s surface, forming a thin film. Adult males guard subadult females in their retreats, possibly waiting for them to moult and copulate. As part of courtship, the male places his pedipalps several times on the female’s mouthparts, then one pedipalp on her mouthparts and the other on her epigynum before insertion. Eggs were parasitised by Baeus (Scelionidae) and juveniles and subadults by Zatypota petronae (Ichneumonidae). Eggs were eaten by Argyrodes sp. (Theridiidae), and Solenopsis ants stole prey accumulated in the retreats and attacked spiderlings and older juveniles.