Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do neck-collars affect the behaviour and condition of Black Swans (Cygnus atratus)?

Abstract Neck-collars are commonly used to identify geese and swans, but possible adverse effects of collars have been investigated in few species. We evaluated the effects of plastic neck-collars on the behaviour and condition of Black Swans (Cygnus atratus.) We fitted 67 individuals with rigid, plastic neck-collars between July and November 2007, and three months later compared the behaviour of a sample of 16 collared Swans with that of 16 uncollared birds. There were no differences between collared and uncollared Swans in the percentage time spent resting, swimming or preening. Collared Swans tended to spend less time upending and more time dabbling than uncollared Swans, but the overall proportion of time spent foraging was similar, and the difference in preferred foraging mode did not result in differences in body condition. We suggest that neck-collars are suitable for identification of Black Swans.
Life Expectancy, Causes of Death and Movements of the Grey-Headed Flying-Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) Inferred from Banding

This study was designed to generate information on demography and movements in large flying-foxes, information that is critical to management planning. Between 1989 and 2002, 2,244 wild grey-headed flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus, were harp-trapped, banded and released at sites across south-eastern Australia; 918 hand-reared orphans were also banded and released at four sites. Retraps of wild animals were few (n = 10) and are not discussed here. Recoveries (n = 86) from the public reporting dead wild flying-foxes (total 4.27%) and 38 hand-reared orphans (4.13%) are discussed. Recovery data were analysed via standard multiple regression; there was no difference between the sexes of wild P. poliocephalus in age at death or distance travelled, but hand-reared animals, on average, lived less than half as long as their wild counterparts (P < 0.001) and did not travel as far (P < 0.01). The average age of wild P. poliocephalus at death was 7.1 3.9 years ( ± SD, n = 86); the oldest flying-fox was 18 years of age. Generation length is estimated at 7.4 ± 3.76 years. Major causes of death of 86 wild P. poliocephalus were: hyperthermia (33.7%); electrocution (18.6%); entanglement in fruit-tree netting (5.8%); entanglement in barbed wire (4.7%); unknown (32.6%). 77% of recoveries of wild-banded P. poliocephalus were within 20 km of where they were banded; the longest movement recorded was 978 km. 1,632 wild black flying-foxes, P. alecto were trapped and banded; 27 were retrapped; seven were recovered dead (0.42%); from another 136 banded as hand-reared orphans, three were recovered (2.2%). Of 583 wild little red flying-foxes, P. scapulatus, trapped and banded, none were retrapped; one was recovered (0.2%). Data from P. alecto and P. scapulatus were too few for statistical analysis.
High hexokinase activity in tomato fruit perturbs carbon and energy metabolism and reduces fruit and seed size

Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum var MP-1) plants overexpressing Arabidopsis hexokinase 1 (AtHXK1) exhibited high hexokinase (HXK) activity in correlation with drastic phenotypic modifications in fruit. Transgenic fruit and seeds were reduced in size. Reduction in fruit size was due to decreased cell expansion, which could not be corrected by perfusion with sucrose (Suc). Neither could wild type (WT) fruit and seed size be obtained by grafting of transgenic flowers onto WT shoots. Starch and hexose contents were lower but organic and amino acids were higher in transgenic fruit. Lower respiratory rates measured in vitro accompanied by even lower ATP levels and ATP/ADP ratios indicated metabolic perturbations that may explain, in part, reduced fruit and seed size.
Immunohistology of Nasopharyngeal (Waldeyer's Ring Equivalent) Lymphoid Tissue in the Rat

Previously we have described the presence of Waldeyer's ring equivalent (WRE) lymphoid tissue in the rat, and pointed out the importance of such an experimental model for studying the immunological role of nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue. Here we extend this work with immunohistological data in terms of compartmentalization and distribution of the various lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells of this WRE lymphoid tissue in situ. WRE tissue consists of distinct T cell and B cell areas. B cell areas predominate; they are located directly under the mucosal epithelium and consist mainly of follicles. These follicles frequently contain a germinal center with IgD negative B cells interspersed with scattered CD4 (helper/inducer) T cells. Follicular dendritic cells are present in the germinal centers. T cell areas, on the other hand, are predominantly present at the abluminal side of the WRE in interfollicular areas. In these areas high endothelial venules and both CD4 and CD8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) T cell populations w.
Decomposition and Mineralization Effect of Various Sources of Pig Manure on Water Quality and Nutrients Availability for Agro-Fish System in Benin

In spite of the relevance of current studies on the importance of organic fertilizers such as animal manure in improving the health of ecosystems, little is known about the biochemical mechanisms affecting the availability of nutrients released from the organic fertilizer in water. A litter bag study during 6 weeks was carried out in pots containing 25 liters of water with 15 g of pig dejections as organic fertilizers. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of dejections of pigs nourished with: recommended diet composition T1, partially improved diet with Azolla filiculoides T2, improved diet with Azolla filiculoides T3, improved diet with cereal bran T4. A control treatment without dejection (T0) was considered in the study for comparison purpose. Four pigs per type of diet were considered leading to 16 white landrace pigs of six months age followed for dejection collections. Strong release of nutrients for better yield for agro-fish system was obtained in the manure T1 with (10.85 ± 0.00) mg/L; ( 0.011 ± 0.00) mg/L; (2.13 ± 0.07) mg/L and K+ (10.76 ± 0.57) mg/L; Ca2+ (2.92 ± 0.11) mg/L and Mg2+ (2.53 ± 0.00) mg/L followed by manure T3 and T4 with high N content. The relatively low ratio C/N (14.25) for T1 and (15.84) for T3 induced more nutrients releasing. This study showed an important N loss probably due to microorganism activities which fluctuate nutrient availability. Also significant correlations were noted between the nutrient dynamics in water and physicochemical parameters showing the effect of abiotic factors on organic matter decomposition and mineralization which depend on microbial activities in water and pig manure composition.
EagleEye: wearable camera-based person identification in crowded urban spaces

We present EagleEye, an AR-based system that identifies missing person (or people) in large, crowded urban spaces. Designing EagleEye involves critical technical challenges for both accuracy and latency. Firstly, despite recent advances in Deep Neural Network (DNN)-based face identification, we observe that state-of-the-art models fail to accurately identify Low-Resolution (LR) faces. Accordingly, we design a novel Identity Clarification Network to recover missing details in the LR faces, which enhances true positives by 78% with only 14% false positives. Furthermore, designing EagleEye involves unique challenges compared to recent continuous mobile vision systems in that it requires running a series of complex DNNs multiple times on a high-resolution image. To tackle the challenge, we develop Content-Adaptive Parallel Execution to optimize complex multi-DNN face identification pipeline execution latency using heterogeneous processors on mobile and cloud. Our results show that EagleEye achieves 9.07X faster latency compared to naive execution, with only 108 KBytes of data offloaded.
Optimization of Citric Acid Production from Glucose by Yarrowia lipolytica

Citric acid (CA) is mainly produced in a biotechnological process using Aspergillus niger. In this process, large amounts of wastes have to be removed. Since the use of Yarrowia lipolytica for CA production is an environmental compatible alternative method, the CA production was optimized in regard to growth temperature and pH as well as substrate and product inhibition. The highest value of the maximum specific growth rate at pH 6.5 was found to be μmax = 0.192 h–1, whereas the largest amount of CA of 24.91 g/L as well as the highest selectivity of the bioprocess (89.9 % CA) and the maximum yield (0.22 gCA/gGlucose) were obtained at pH 6.0. During the growth phase, the temperature optimum was found to be in the range of 30–34 °C (μmax = 0.132 h–1). Nevertheless, the highest concentration of CA during the production phase was obtained at 30 °C (41 g/L CA, 93.1 % CA, 0.55 gCA/gglucose). In studying the substrate inhibition of the process, a clear tendency of decrease in the maximum specific growth rate was detected when the initial glucose concentration was increased from 50 g/L (μmax = 0.17 h–1) to 200 g/L (μmax = 0.055 h–1). The addition of 120 g/L CA to the culture broth at the start of the production phase reduced the production of CA from 32.1 g/L to 7.4 g/L.
Sturgeons and Paddlefishes: Threatened Fishes in Need of Conservation

: A review of endangered and threatened chondrostean (sturgeon and paddlefish) species is given. It is shown that at least three species from the territory of the former Soviet Union are the most endangered. Among them is the large Amu-Dar shovelnose Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni, which seems to be the last survivor of the most primitive group among sturgeons, still living in the region where it originated. These facts call for quick conservation efforts. Because of the present economic crisis in Russia, there is no hope that such effort can be made by Russian scientists alone. Saving sturgeons should be a goal of the international community. Resumen: Se presenta una revision de especies condrosteas (esturion y pez espatula) en peligro y amenazadas. Se muestra que por lo menos tres especies del territorio de la ex Union Sovietica son las mas comprometidas. Entre ellas se encuentra el gran Amu-Dar Pseudoscaphirhyncus kaufmanni, que parece ser el ultimo sobreviviente del grupo mas primitivo de esturiones, que aun vive en la region donde fue originado. Estos hechos claman un pronto esfuerzo conservacionista. Debido a la crisis economica actual en Rusia, no hay esperanzas de que tales esfuerzos puedan ser realizados solo par cientificos rusos. La salvacion de los esturiones deberia ser un objetivo de la comunidad internacional.
Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot immunobinding assay (DIBA) for the detection of Ganoderma infecting palms

The genus Ganoderma has a worldwide distribution causing root and stem rot of many plantation crops. A limiting factor in controlling the BSR disease is the lack of reliable diagnostic method(s) for early diagnosis. In this study, we developed polyclonal antiserum for Ganoderma mycelial and extracellular protein, and evaluated its efficacy with different plant samples collected from artificially inoculated coconut seedlings and Ganoderma infected field palms. We also tested the cross-reactivity with the soil-borne and saprophytic fungus collected from different parts of coconut palm. The antisera developed against the crude mycelial protein (CMP) and extracellular protein (ECP) showed a 1:1000 titre value for the detection of Ganoderma. The CMP antisera developed showed more cross-reaction when compared to ECP antisera of Ganoderma. In the DIBA test, at a 1:10 dilution of antigen, 1:1000 dilution of CMP and ECP antisera, 1:5000 dilution of secondary antibody gave clear distinctions in colour development between healthy and diseased samples. In the DIBA test, ECP antisera detected positive control (ECP of Ganoderma MTP and CRS-1 isolate), artificially inoculated roots, infected field roots, infected basal trunk and additionally lesions gave positive reactions which were not found in the CMP antisera tested. Therefore, both ELISA and DIBA tests may be useful for screening a large number of samples and help in the detection of infection at the earliest stage of disease development and this will certainly help to adopt suitable management strategies against Ganoderma disease in palm crops in advance.
Variabilité génétique et morphologique de cinq populations de l'écrevisse européenne Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet 1858) (Crustacea, Decapoda)

Genetic and morphometric variability was compared for five populations of the European crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. The good agreement of results leads to a pattern of differentiation consistent with the geographical distribution of the samples. The analysis of enzymatic polymorphism, using electrophoretic techniques on starch gel, shows a very small heterozygosity level. The genetic distance, established from allelic frequencies of 18 loci, distinguishes the populations of Haute-Saone and Ireland from a southern population group (Herault, Gard, Haute-Corse). The examination of eight meristic and morphometric variables and the calculation of the coefficients of racial likeness also point out this highly distinctive southern group. The results of the discriminant analysis show that four of these variables could be used in a more complete study of the populations of Austropotamobius pallipes.
Molecular and Serological Evidence for the Presence of Novel Phleboviruses in Sandflies from Northern Algeria

During summer 2007, a total of 785 phlebotomine flies were trapped in northern Algeria, identified morphologically, organised as monospecific pools and tested for the presence of phlebovirus RNA using degenerate primers. Three pools were positive, and the corresponding PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Viral sequences corresponding to two phleboviruses distinct from each other were detected in sandflies circulating in two close locations (140 km apart) in Northern Algeria. The 3 sequences were aligned with homologous polymerase sequences retrieved from the Genbank database, in order to examine their phylogenetic relationships. One viral sequence (from Phlebotomus papatasi) was closely related to but distinct from a sequence obtained from Phlebotomus ariasi sandflies trapped in Algeria in 2006. The two other viral sequences (from Phlebotomus longicuspis) were genetically distantly related to sequences corresponding to virus members of the Sandfly fever Naples virus species and although falling within the same group, this clearly represents a second distinct novel lineage. These results are indicative of a high genetic heterogeneity within sandflies trapped in a relatively small geographic area. Seroprevalence studies conducted on sera from populations living in the same areas indicated that humans can be infected by these viruses.
Rule breaking and livelihood options in marine protected areas

SUMMARY Two main drivers of global trends in noncompliance of marine protected areas regulations are food and income security. Declines in fish stocks have resulted in greater concerns for food security, especially in developing and coastal areas, and calls for environmental conservation are growing. Planning of marine protected areas has traditionally been based on biological and ecological data, only recently focusing on the human communities that are significantly dependent on coastal resources. The hypothesis that marine resource use is determined by socioeconomic factors (such as food security and income) and livelihood options was tested in two communities on the island of Rodrigues (Western Indian Ocean). As livelihood development can be a response to fisher displacement by protected areas, willingness towards alternative livelihood options and the differences in this between fisher demographic groups were also examined. Using semi-structured interviews, 72 fishers were surveyed on topics such as fishery and marine protected area (MPA) regulation noncompliance, current livelihoods and willingness to consider alternative livelihoods. Fishers believed Rodrigues fisheries suffer from high levels of noncompliance, owing mainly to a lack of livelihood alternatives and depleted stocks. Rodriguan fishers had low mobility, both within the fishery (for example gear types used and target species) and in movement to occupations outside the fishery. The fishers were generally willing to consider alternate livelihoods. Age was significantly correlated with overall willingness to consider alternative work, while gender and village were found to have a significant relationship with types of work that an individual was willing to consider. Policy makers and marine resource managers need to identify drivers of noncompliant behaviour and examine livelihood preferences at different scales (individual, within and between communities) prior to users being affected by MPA created displacement to more effectively address marine conservation and food security goals. The findings offer new empirical evidence to strengthen support for arguments that could be made by policy makers to demand more balanced consideration of the effects of MPAs on socioeconomic factors along with environmental considerations in communities highly dependent on access to the marine areas that will be affected by MPAs.
Characterizing and Identifying Composite Refactorings: Concepts, Heuristics and Patterns

Refactoring consists of a transformation applied to improve the program internal structure, for instance, by contributing to remove code smells. Developers often apply multiple interrelated refactorings called composite refactoring. Even though composite refactoring is a common practice, an investigation from different points of view on how composite refactoring manifests in practice is missing. Previous empirical studies also neglect how different kinds of composite refactorings affect the removal, prevalence or introduction of smells. To address these matters, we provide a conceptual framework and two heuristics to respectively characterize and identify composite refactorings within and across commits. Then, we mined the commit history of 48 GitHub software projects. We identified and analyzed 24,911 composite refactorings involving 104,505 single refactorings. Amongst several findings, we observed that most composite refactorings occur in the same commit and have the same refactoring type. We found that several refactorings are semantically related to each other, which occur in different parts of the system but are still related to the same task. Our study is the first to reveal that many smells are introduced in a program due to “incomplete” composite refactorings. Our study is also the first to reveal 111 patterns of composite refactorings that frequently introduce or remove certain smell types. These patterns can be used as guidelines for developers to improve their refactoring practices as well as for designers of recommender systems.
How Electoral Institutions Shape the Efficiency and Equity of Distributive Policy

How does the aggregation of voters affect the trade-off between the efficient production of collective goods and the equitable distribution of costs? We find that district elections amplify the local interests of previously underrepresented groups, but also threaten the collective provision of goods with concentrated costs and diffuse benefits. To do so, we leverage the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 as a conditionally exogenous institutional reform, compelling over one hundred cities in California to switch from multi-member (‘at-large’) to single-member (‘district’) elections for city council. Using panel data, we find that district representation causes a substantial decrease in the permitting of multifamily housing, the type of housing residents are most likely to oppose in their neighborhood. However, the reform also causes the housing that is permitted to be more affordable and future development to be more equitably spread throughout the city.
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT (2003-2010)

Poverty is an endemic issue ravaging Africa as a continent. In Nigeria, poverty has been described as pervasive owing to the fact that as from 1981, the nation has witnessed a persistent increase in poverty level. This persistent rise in the nation’s poverty level prompted the introduction of poverty alleviation programmes as from 1986. Though the nation has implemented not fewer than eight of such programmes, available data reveals that over 50% of the nation’s population is still categorized as being poor. Countries like China and Vietnam whose poverty level was higher than that of Nigeria for about two decades ago have their poverty level between 5% and 20% as at today. It is being argued that corruption which has been seen as a way of life in Nigeria is largely responsible for the continuous poverty situation. This paper is anchored on the social exclusion theory and the feedback theoretical frameworks. The paper brings to the fore the synergy between official corruption, the efforts of the government and those of the citizenry in order to have a society free of poverty. We have attempted to evaluate the impact of corruption on the nation’s poverty situation. Precisely, the paper tries to establish the extent to which official corruption has contributed in worsening the nation’s poverty situation. In doing so, we employed historical analysis supported by empirical evidence. The paper has been able to establish that official corruption has negatively affected the operations of poverty reduction efforts in the country. Corruption has not only robbed the nation of finances that should have been used for development that will benefit all citizens including the poor; but in some cases led to hijacking of funds meant for the poor by the privileged class thereby denying the poor the opportunity to grow out of poverty. It is the position of this paper that one of the feasible options that can bring an end to official corruption in the country so as attain the needed level of economic development which is capable of reducing and possibly eradicating poverty in the country is capital punishment (death penalty) since all other options implemented so far have not been successful.
THE KNEE PROSTHESIS SIMULATOR CONTROL

This paper is a thorough analysis on the phenomenon of wear of the total knee prosthesis (TKP) due to biomechanical cyclic stress on the tibial insert of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The focus is on the evolution of the phenomenon, from adhesive wear pits followed by delaminating and even breaking the insert. The paper presents a control system for a knee prosthesis simulator (KPS) with 5 degrees of freedom which maintains a constant force of vertical pressure on the tibial component. Some theoretical considerations, the mathematical modelling of the non–conform contact between the femoral condyle and the tibial tray , the experimental results, as well as a possibility to predict the fatigue wear of the insert of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) based on FEM simulations of common activities are presented here.