Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Harmonia axyridis invasions: Deducing evolutionary causes and consequences

I consider evolutionary approaches to deducing factors that have made the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis such a successful invader, and the contribution that studies of this species in its native range can make. Work aiming to demonstrate which (pre)adaptations have made the species so successful often fails to compare these putative characters with those of other ladybirds. This has led to a tendency for “argument by design”‐type claims on characters widely shared by non‐invasive coccinellids. There is good evidence from genetic studies that evolutionary change occurred in invasive populations, contributing to their success. There is some evidence for subsequent evolutionary change after the establishment of invasive H. axyridis, primarily in the native organisms with which the ladybird interacts. I show here that there appears to have been little adaptation in H. axyridis, over about 20 generations, to the alkaloids of one North American native intraguild prey, the ladybird Coleomegilla maculata. Studies of H. axyridis in its native range are important, as they provide a snapshot of the ancestral ladybird, unobscured by subsequent evolutionary change related to its invasiveness. They provide baseline data about phenomena such as interactions with natural enemies and intraguild predation, and they also can provide pointers as to how H. axyridis might further adapt in the regions it has colonized. Harmonia axyridis represents an ideal opportunity for greater international co‐operation between scientists studying this species in its native range in Asia and scientists studying it in Europe, America and Africa, where it is an invasive exotic.
Seed priming as a promising technique to improve growth, chlorophyll, photosynthesis and nutrient contents in cucumber seedlings

Seed priming is a technique to improve seed germination, seedlings growth, uniformity and yield. The present study was designed to, investigate the physiological mechanism of seed priming with GA3 and KNO3 on cucumber seedlings growth, chlorophyll, photosynthesis and nutrients uptake. The cucumber seeds were treated as; CK; control, T1; GA3 100 ppm, T2; GA3 200 ppm, T3; KNO3 1%, T4; KNO3 5%, before seed sowing. The results showed that seed priming with GA3 and KNO3 significantly increased the plant height, fresh and dry weight and strong seedling index. Moreover, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a+b, carotenoid contents, net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr) and intercellular CO2 concentration in seed priming seedlings. In addition, seed priming significantly enhanced leaf macro and micro nutrient contents. Additionally, among various treatments GA3 200 ppm and KNO3 5% are found best. These results suggested that seed priming with GA3 and KNO3 synergistically promoted the chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis and nutrients uptake in cucumber seedlings, thus leading to improve plant growth.
HOW TRUST, RISK TOWARD ATTITUDE WHEN SHOPPING RETAIL ONLINE

This study aims to analyze the relationship between trust and risk of shopping decisions at online retail. This study uses a sampling quota sampling technique with a survey method with a total sample of 100 respondents from the city of Jakarta with the criteria of respondents aged over 18 years and have purchased products online. The results of the study stated that trust influences consumer attitudes. While the risk was not influence on consumer attitudes in shopping online. the results of this study can be a reference for further research.
The Inoculation of Probiotics In Vivo Is a Challenge: Strategies to Improve Their Survival, to Avoid Unpleasant Changes, or to Enhance Their Performances in Beverages

The inoculation of probiotics in beverages (probiotication) requires special technologies, as probiotic microorganisms can experience stress during food processing (acid, cold, drying, starvation, oxidative, and osmotic stresses) and gastrointestinal transit. Survival to harsh conditions is an essential prerequisite for probiotic bacteria before reaching the target site where they can exert their health promoting effects, but several probiotics show a poor resistance to technological processes, limiting their use to a restricted number of food products. Therefore, this paper offers a short overview of the ways to improve bacterial resistance: by inducing a phenotypic modification (adaptation) or by surrounding bacteria through a physical protection (microencapsulation). A second topic briefly addressed is genetic manipulation, while the last section addresses the control of metabolism by attenuation through physical treatments to design new kinds of food.
The Critical Role of the Institution‐Led Market in the Technological Catch‐Up of Emerging Market Enterprises: Evidence from Chinese Enterprises

Innovation scholars have, in the past, applied the concept of ‘windows of opportunity’ to study latecomer firms’ catch‐up. Previous research treats this concept as three separate aspects, i.e., technological, institutional and market. The role of government was seen as being concerned only with institutional windows of opportunity. However, governments in emerging markets exert influence not only through traditional means of institutional support but, also, via market‐driven mechanisms. The former refers to state procurement, resource provision, legislation, and administrative control, whereas the latter is concerned with demand creation, resource allocation, and the regulation of market orders. This multifaceted nature of government in promoting economic growth, guiding technological development, and influencing enterprise behavior remains under‐researched. Yet, it plays a crucial role in the catch‐up of emerging market enterprises. Therefore, based on innovation studies literature and an institution‐based view of international business, the present research proposes a new construct, termed the institution‐led market, with the aim to encapsulate the complex role of government in the catch‐up of emerging market enterprises. The institution‐led market is defined as a unique type of market that is well‐timed and strategically created by the government and supported by institutional policies and resources. A large database of 259 Chinese firms in 37 industries was created and analyzed using a hierarchical logistic model to empirically test the relationship between the institution‐led market and technological catch‐up of emerging market enterprises. We demonstrate that the institution‐led market positively affects the catch‐up of emerging market enterprises; furthermore, it significantly moderates the effect of technological discontinuity on the catch‐up. Finally, the theoretical contributions and managerial implications of the present research are discussed.
The Impact of Elevation Sidelobe Contamination on Radar Data Quality for Operational Interpretation

To fulfill the evolving observational needs of the National Weather Service (NWS), future weather radar systems will have to meet demanding requirements. Designing such systems will likely involve trade-offs between system cost and operational performance. A potential cost driver for future weather radars that could cause significant data-quality impacts on forecasters is the required angular resolution and sidelobe performance, which are mainly dictated by the antenna radiation pattern. Typical antenna radiation patterns can be characterized by the width of the main lobe and their sidelobe levels, which are traditionally measured across the azimuthal and elevation dimensions. In this work, we study the impact of increasing sidelobe levels on NWS forecasters’ data interpretation during warning operations. The resulting impact model can be used by decision-makers to better understand the cost–benefit trade-offs inherent in any radar system design.
Facilitating the self-determination of undergraduate women in physics: the role of external validation

ABSTRACT Background: The representation of women in physics majors is persistently low despite ongoing calls for reforms to improve gender equality. This article builds upon prior research by applying the sociocognitive construct of self-determination in analysing women’s experiences leading to their choice of physics study, along with factors affecting their behavioural persistence and physics identity. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine variables affecting women’s physics identities and persistence in pursuing their physics degrees. Factors were explored that impacted the self-determination of women in physics, that is, how their personal resources and socialisation facilitated regulatory behaviours to be successful in the major. Sample: Six women physics majors were recruited from a research university in the Northeast U.S., where all had participated in undergraduate physics research. Design and Methods: This qualitative cross-case study focused on undergraduate women to analyse factors that influenced their experiences in the major. Data collection focused on motivation and support, challenges they encountered, and how they overcame them. By examining these factors, common themes were identified regarding their recruitment and retention in physics, specifically in terms of social integration and external validation. Interview transcripts were analysed using a phenomenological approach to generate a set of integrated themes providing a theoretical explanation for physics major selection and persistence that incorporated aspects of competence, autonomy and social relatedness. Results: The support of faculty, research opportunities and peer socialisation were factors that contributed to the development of self-determination. Hindrances that impacted women’s undergraduate experiences included negative gender stereotypes, persistent self-doubt, minority status and unwelcoming classroom cultures. Self-determination was characterised by social integration, confidence, and individual and collective agency. Conclusion: A new explanatory framework for the persistence of women in undergraduate physics is proposed, suggesting self-determination is facilitated by external validation, which in turn moderates the impact of personal and social tensions.
Spatial Raft Coalescence Represents an Initial Step in FcγR Signaling1

Characterization of lipid rafts as separated membrane microdomains consist of heterogeneous proteins suggesting that lateral assembly of rafts after Ag receptor cross-linking represents the earliest signal generating process. In line with the concept, cross-linked Ag receptors have been shown to associate with detergent-insoluble raft fraction without the aid of Src family kinases. However, it has not been established whether spatial raft coalescence could also precede Src family kinase activation. In this study, we showed that spatial raft coalescence after low-affinity FcγR cross-linking in RAW264.7 macrophages is independent of Src family kinase activity. The lateral raft assembly was found to be ascribed to the action of ligand-binding subunits, rather than to immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-bearing signal subunits, because monomeric murine FcγRIIb expressed in rat basophilic leukemia cells successfully induced spatial raft reorganization after cross-linking. We also showed that extracellular and transmembrane region of FcγRIIb is sufficient for raft stabilization. Moreover, this receptor fragment triggers rapid calcium mobilization and linker for activation of T cells phosphorylation, in a manner sensitive to Src family kinase inhibition and to cholesterol depletion. Presence of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif and addition of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif to the receptor fragment abolished and enhanced the responses, respectively, but did not affect raft stabilization. These findings support the concept that ligand-binding subunit is responsible for raft coalescence, and that this event triggers initial biochemical signaling.
Predicting Genetic Gain of Backward and Forward Selection in Forest Tree Breeding

In several forest tree breeding operations either backward or forward selection is used, although a proper combination of both might be more advantageous. Using calculations based on quantitative genetic theory, comparisons were made between the relative merits of backward and forward selection for individual families. In backward selection the mother was chosen based on her offspring and in forward selection the best offspring was selected from the family consisting of the mother and her children. A range of heritabilities and selection intensities in natural forest and progeny test (the latter is a function of progeny size) were compared. It is the more favourable to select backward the higher the mother ranks. Depending on the combination of parameter values, backward selection was superior to forward selection for open pollinated progeny in 1% to 57% of the top ranking families. High intensity of selection in the forest, low heritability and small progeny size favoured backward selections. Backward selection for families with plus tree fathers was usually not favourable for more than a few percent of the families. Only when heritability was low it could be favourable to select 10% of top-ranking mothers. The calculations show that it can often be optimal to apply backward selection for the best families and forward selection for the lower ranking families side by side. However, the difference is often small and then other considerations can be more important.
Static Bending Analysis of Auxetic Plate by FEM and a New Third-Order Shear Deformation Plate Theory

In this paper, a finite element method (FEM) and a new third-order shear deformation plate theory are proposed to investigate a static bending model of auxetic plates with negative Poisson’s ratio. The three – layer sandwich plate is consisted of auxetic honeycombs core layer with negative Poisson’s ratio integrated, isotropic homogeneous materials at the top and bottom of surfaces. A displacement-based finite element formulation associated with a novel third-order shear deformation plate theory without any requirement of shear correction factors is thus developed. The results show the effects of geometrical parameters, boundary conditions, uniform transverse pressure on the static bending of auxetic plates with negative Poisson’s ratio. Numerical examples are solved, then compared with the published literatures to validate the feasibility and accuracy of proposed analysis method.
Evolutionary analyses of orphan genes in mouse lineages in the context of de novo gene birth

Gene birth is the process through which new genes appear. For a long time it was argued that the natural way of generating new genes was from copies of existing genes, and the possibility of de novo gene emergence was neglected. However, recent evidence has forced to reconsider old models and de novo gene birth gained recognition as a widespread phenomenon. De novo gene birth is the process by which a non-genic sequence is able to gain gene-like features through few mutations. The following work is a compilation of analyses that seek to highlight the importance and prevalence of de novo gene birth in genomes, suggesting that this is a process that is present at all times and which becomes very relevant upon ecological shifts. In the first chapter, I showed through phylostratigraphic analyses that new genes are substantially simpler than older, a trend which was consistent for several features and organisms, and suggestive of a frequent emergence of new genes through non-duplicative processes. In addition to this, I detected a strong association between gene birth and high transcriptional activity and chromosomal proximity. As part of this work, I was also able to use phylostratigraphy to evaluate a different model of gene birth, overprinting of alternative reading frames. In the following chapters of this dissertation, I made use of high-throughput sequencing of transcriptomes and genomes to ask questions about the origin and change of genes at closer time divergences than ever before, ranging from nearly 3000 years to 10 million years of divergence. I was able to detect the theoretically predicted effects of short time scale comparisons on the rate of protein evolution. Also, I contribute evidence that genes of different ages show different selective constraints even after only a few thousand years of divergence. Finally, in the last part of this thesis I evaluated the role of transcription in gene birth dynamics. Transcription seems to be a predominant feature of genomes, as most of the genome showed some level of transcription. In terms of de novo gene birth, I was able to identify 663 candidate loci from presence and absence of transcription. Analyses of these candidate loci indicated that gains are rather stable, meaning that subsequent losses were rarely found. In agreement with previous studies, I confirmed the role of testis as a driver of new genes. These results indicate that transcription is not a limiting factor in the emergence of new genes, and that our knowledge about the key regulatory elements of transcription and their turnover is still limited to explain why new genes seem to arise at a higher rate than they decay.
First records of the termite, Termes hispaniolae (Banks, 1918) (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae), from Bolivia and new Caribbean Basin records

The genus Termes Linnaeus, 1758 occurs in the Neotropical, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions and is notable for the long, narrow, and nearly symmetrical mandibles of the soldier caste. I report the presence of T. hispaniolae (Banks, 1918) in Bolivia and provide many additional new geographic records throughout the Caribbean Basin. Termes hispaniolae is common in much of its range, and workers are characterized by a diagnostic enteric valve armature that is described here for the first time.
PERSPECTIVES ON THE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS AS ANTIMICROBIALS AGAINST CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI CECT 7572 IN RETAIL CHICKEN MEATS PACKAGED IN MICROAEROBIC ATMOSPHERE

ABSTRACT The chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) of Inula graveolens, Laurus nobilis, Pistacia lentiscus and Satureja montana was analyzed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. The main components of EOs obtained were, respectively, bornyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, β-myrcene and carvacrol. EOs were screened for their ability to inhibit the growth of Campylobacter jejuni CECT 7572 using the standard agar-disk diffusion assay. The results obtained, followed by measurements of minimal inhibitory concentrations, indicated that I. graveolens was most active (Φ = 53.3 mm), with the lowest MIC value against C. jejuni (2 µL/mL). EOs were tested in chicken stored in microaerobic conditions at 3 ± 2C, experimentally inoculated with the pathogen at a level of 5 × 105 cfu/g. C. jejuni counts in treated samples were 0.7–4.7 log10 cfu/g lower (P < 0.05) than the controls throughout storage. The latter reached numbers of about 8 log10 cfu/g after 1 week. Lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]) and sensory freshness odor were also determined. Samples treated with any EO had the lowest TBARS values (P < 0.05). The presence of EOs significantly extended fresh meat odor. The results of the bioassays, together with the chemical profile of the EOs, support the possibility of using all EOs as potent natural preservatives to contribute in the reduction of experimentally inoculated C. jejuni in chicken meat. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The results revealed for the first time in a chicken meat system the potential of I. graveolens, L. nobilis, P. lentiscus and S. montana EOs in inhibiting C. jejuni. This suggests the possibility that they, particularly I. graveolens, could be used as natural preservatives in chicken meat for reducing food hazards caused by this pathogen, which is now recognized as the leading cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis.
Metabolic and molecular responses in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus during short and prolonged hypoxia

The strictly aquatic breathing Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is an extremely hypoxia-tolerant fish. To augment our understanding of the effects of hypoxia on anaerobic glycolysis in the Nile tilapia, we studied the effect of short-term for 1 day (trial 1) and long-term for 30 days (trial 2) hypoxia on a selected glycolytic enzymes activity and mRNA expression in liver and white muscle. The hypoxic oxygen concentrations used in the two trials were 2, 1, and 0.5 mg O2 L−1 for comparison with a control normoxic group 8 mg O2 L−1. The activity of phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in liver and white muscle except liver LDH decreased in trial 1 and increased in trial 2. Assessments of mRNA levels in trial 1 revealed that PFK was downregulated and LDH was upregulated in liver and white muscle, while PK fluctuated between upregulation in liver and downregulation in white muscle. Meanwhile, PK and LDH were upregulated while PFK was similar to control values in both tissues in trial 2. Comet assay results demonstrated an increase in DNA damage that was directly proportional to increasing hypoxic concentrations. This damage was more pronounced in trial 1. This suggests that the Nile tilapia cope better with long-term hypoxic conditions, possibly as an adaptive response.
Systematic Risk at the Industry Level: A Case Study of Australia

The cornerstone of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) lies with its beta. The question of whether or not beta is dead has attracted great attention from academics and practitioners in the last 50 years or so, and the debate is still ongoing. Many empirical studies have been conducted to test the validity of beta within the framework of CAPM. However, it is a claim of this paper that beta at the industry level has been largely ignored in the current literature. This study is conducted to examine if beta, proxied for a systematic risk, should be considered valid in the application of the CAPM at the industry level for Australia using daily data on 2200 stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange from January 2007 to 31 December 2016. Various portfolio formations are utilized in this paper. General economic conditions such as interest rate, inflation, and GDP are examples of systematic risk. Findings from this study indicate that the selection of portfolio construction, estimation technique, and news about economic conditions significantly affects the view whether or not beta should be considered as a valid measure of systematic risk.
Characterizing attendance patterns at a multidisciplinary pediatric obesity clinic

ABSTRACT Participants (N = 1050; ages 1–19) were from a multidisciplinary pediatric obesity clinic. There were no significant associations between patient characteristics and attrition from the initial visit to the first follow-up. Multiple linear regressions revealed race and the approximate distance traveled to the clinic was associated with the number of days elapsed between the initial visit and first follow-up, with a small effect size (such that Black/African American children and youth returned to the clinic later; individuals living farther away returned sooner). Days elapsed between the initial visit and first follow-up were associated with the rate of later clinic visits, with moderate effect size.