Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A preliminary survey and analysis of the spatial distribution of aquatic invertebrates in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

The spatial distribution of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Okavango River Delta, Botswana, was investigated during the low-water period in February 2003. This complements an earlier study undertaken during high-water in June 2000. Seventy-five samples were taken in a range of aquatic habitats at 29 georeference points in four focal areas: Upper Panhandle (UPH), Lower Panhandle and Guma Lagoon (LPH), Moremi Game Reserve/Xakanaka (MGR), and Chief's Island (CI). Over 180 morphospecies (approximately 63 families) were recorded during the survey. Multivariate analyses of macroinvertebrate assemblages indicated that assemblages in each of the four focal areas were at least 54% similar at morphospecies level, and 71% similar at family level, although some taxa were more or less common in different areas. Differences in macroinvertebrate assemblages were observed amongst different habitat types, with differences most pronounced between the deltaic habitats and isolated seasonally-flooded pools and temporary rain-filled pools in MGR and CI. The highest number of taxa was recorded in the MGR (125), followed by the UPH (96), CI (93) and the LPH (89) areas. The most families were recorded in the Hemiptera (11), followed by Mollusca (10), Diptera (nine), Coleoptera (nine), Crustacea (six), Ephemeroptera (six) and Odonata (four). Three families of Hirudinea and Trichoptera, and one family of Lepidoptera, were also recorded. Hydracarina were common but not identified beyond order, while Oligochaeta were less frequently recorded. With respect to the different aquatic habitats sampled, the highest number of taxa was recorded in marginal vegetation in the channels and lagoons, although inundated floodplains, floating vegetation and marginal vegetation in backwaters also supported many taxa. The fewest taxa were recorded in sediment. This survey, whilst representing a 'snapshot' of the system under low-water conditions, highlights the importance of maintaining a mosaic of aquatic habitats in the Delta. Further studies would enhance our knowledge of the aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity of the Okavango Delta, thereby contributing to its conservation.
A Qualitative Meta-Analysis on the Use of Serious Games to Support Learners with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: What We Know, What We Need to Know and What We Can Do

ABSTRACT This paper provides a qualitative meta-analysis of the literature on the use of serious games to assist learners with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It aims to identify the research trends and the possible directions for future research. The study begins with a preliminary online search and selection of a sample of articles to identify the main categories of disabilities. This is followed by a detailed analysis of a selection of articles chosen on the basis of their relevance, year of publication and representation of the studies carried out in this field. The preliminary analysis of articles published in recent years showed that the majority of the articles dealt with the use of digital games to support learners with intellectual disabilities. The findings revealed reports of participants’ higher engagement levels and motivation when learning with serious games, in addition to improved competence or performance in domains of language learning and numeracy. Nevertheless, most researchers acknowledged the need for more rigour in validating the effectiveness of the new games as learning tools.
The influence of prior victimization and other factors on college students’ fear of crime and perception of safety

ABSTRACT This research examines how college students’ fear of crime and perception of safety at a university relates to prior victimization, knowledge of others’ victimization, perception of likelihood of victimization, and worry about a school shooting. Data for this research come from online surveys completed in 2016 by 133 randomly selected undergraduate students attending a university located in the eastern United States. Results show no statistically significant difference in fear on campus for research participants who had experienced prior victimization on or off campus compared to those who had no such experience. There is a statistically significant difference in perception of safety at the university between those who experienced victimization off campus compared to those who had not. However, there is no statistically significant difference in safety perception between those who experienced victimization on campus and those who had not. Results indicate that variables that predict fear on campus and perception of safety at the university differ, confirming that fear of crime and perception of safety are not the same. Recommendations to reduce students’ fear and improve perception of safety are offered.
Experimental Management of Nesting Habitat for the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

With the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of natural wetlands, habitat restoration and management are becoming increasingly important tools in the conservation of many turtle species. The rare Blanding’s turtle lives primarily in wetlands but requires well-drained and sparsely vegetated soil for nesting. If traditionally used nesting habitat becomes unsuitable due to vegetation overgrowth, females may travel farther with an increased risk of collection, predation, and mortality from cars. At a habitat creation site in Dutchess County, New York, we examined the success and cost-effectiveness of three methods of nesting habitat management—tilling, mowing, and weeding—on replicated 5 m × 7 m plots. Using radiotelemetry, we followed female turtles throughout the 2006 and 2008 nesting seasons. Nesting turtles preferred tilled plots to weeded or mowed plots. Our work suggests that tilling plots can be a successful and cost-effective means of managing nesting habitat.
Do We Become More Prosocial as We Age, and if So, Why?

Older adults contribute—through charitable donations or volunteering—more to the common good than younger adults, an age difference that has profound society-level implications. Yet the reasons for this difference are not well understood. Evidence suggests that a purely altruistic concern for the common good is a major motivation for prosocial behavior and that this concern increases across adulthood. We argue that this finding, and prosocial behavior in general, is better understood using a value-based decision framework than through traditional dual-process accounts. Following the value-based decision approach, we derive specific hypotheses about life-span changes in motivation or resources as factors that explain why older adults show an increased concern for the well-being of other people.
Tolerance of grain sorghum to PRE- and POST-applied photosystem II–inhibiting herbicides

Abstract Atrazine offers growers a reliable option to control a broad spectrum of weeds in grain sorghum production systems when applied PRE or POST. However, because of the extensive use of atrazine in grain sorghum and corn, it has been found in groundwater in the United States. Given this issue, field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in Fayetteville and Marianna, Arkansas, to explore the tolerance of grain sorghum to applications of assorted photosystem II (PSII)-inhibiting herbicides in combination with S-metolachlor (PRE and POST) or mesotrione (POST only) as atrazine replacements. All experiments were designed as a factorial, randomized complete block; the two factors were (1) PSII herbicide and (2) the herbicide added to create the mixture. The PSII herbicides were prometryn, ametryn, simazine, fluometuron, metribuzin, linuron, diuron, atrazine, and propazine. The second factor consisted of either no additional herbicide, S-metolachlor, or mesotrione; however, mesotrione was excluded in the PRE experiments. Crop injury estimates, height, and yield data were collected or calculated in both studies. In the PRE study, injury was less than 10% for all treatments except those containing simazine, which caused 11% injury 28 d after application (DAA). Averaged over PSII herbicide, S-metolachlor–containing treatments caused 7% injury at 14 and 28 DAA. Grain sorghum in atrazine-containing treatments yielded 97% of the nontreated. Grain sorghum receiving other herbicide treatments had significant yield loss due to crop injury, compared with atrazine-containing treatments. In the POST study, ametryn- and prometryn-containing treatments were more injurious than all other treatments 14 DAA. Grain sorghum yield in all POST treatments was comparable to atrazine, except prometryn plus mesotrione, which was 65% of the nontreated. More herbicides should be evaluated to find a comparable fit to atrazine when applied PRE in grain sorghum. However, when applied POST, diuron, fluometuron, linuron, metribuzin, propazine, and simazine have some potential to replace atrazine in terms of crop tolerance and should be further tested as part of a weed control program across a greater range of environments. Nomenclature: Ametryn; atrazine; diuron; fluometuron; linuron; mesotrione; metribuzin; prometryn; propazine; simazine; corn, Zea mays L. ; grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. ssp. bicolor
On the Activity and Selectivity of CoAl and CoAlCe Mixed Oxides in Formaldehyde Production from Pulp Mill Emissions

Contaminated methanol has very good potential for being utilized in formaldehyde production instead of its destructive abatement. The activities, selectivities and stabilities of cobalt–alumina and cobalt–alumina–ceria catalysts prepared by the hydrotalcite-method were investigated in formaldehyde production from emissions of methanol and methanethiol. Catalysts were thoroughly characterized and the relationships between the characterization results and the catalytic performances were drawn. The preparation method used led to the formation of spinel-type structures in the form of Co2AlO4 based on x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Ceria seems to be present as CeO2, even though interaction with alumina is possible in the fresh catalyst. The same structure is maintained after pelletizing the cobalt–alumina–ceria catalyst. The cobalt–alumina–ceria catalyst was slightly better in formaldehyde production, probably due to lower redox temperatures and higher amounts of acidity and basicity. Methanol conversion is negatively affected by the presence of methanethiol; however, formaldehyde yields are improved. The stability of the pelletized catalyst was promising based on a 16 h experiment. During the experiment, cobalt was oxidized (Co2+ → Co3+), cerium was reduced (Ce4+ → Ce3+) and sulfates were formed, especially on the outer surface of the pellet. These changes affected the low temperature performance of the catalyst; however, the formaldehyde yield was unchanged.
The resilience of parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder in China: a social culture perspective

Background Parenting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to be challenging worldwide, especially in the Chinese context where there lacks support for parents. Method Five parents of children with ASD of high level of resilience in China were interviewed about their experiences of raising children with ASD and influencing factors of developing resilience. Results Findings highlighted the process of developing resilience shaping from the interaction between different social system, including introspect and self-cultivation in micro system, acceptance of ASD, playing various roles for their children, and expanded social network in the interactions between micro and mezzo systems and accept the worst results in the interactions between micro and macro systems. The characteristics of resilience for Chinese parents of children with ASD were that parents built positive relationships with themselves and outsides though active interaction and changed their social environment as an outcome. Conclusion The results of this study may reveal the process and characteristics of resilience for Chinese parents having children with ASD, which can be a starting point for other parents to understand and learn from them. Besides, it provides insight for service providers into paying attention to the whole experience of parents and help them to expand the relative network to support them.
Family planning in a life‐cycle model with income risk

Several US states have recently restricted the access to abortions. We study fertility intentions and how family planning and abortions are used as mechanisms to control fertility among couples facing income risk. We formulate and estimate a life‐cycle consumption‐saving model with uninsurable income risk and imperfect contraceptive control that matches fertility behavior in the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) well. We use the estimated model to investigate how family planning and abortions are used to control fertility in our model. Our simulations suggest that income risk affects family planning and that abortion is used to control fertility due to the presence of income risk. This indicates that the availability of abortions might play a role as an insurance mechanism.
DNA Hydroxymethylation in the Regulation of Gene Expression in Human Solid Cancer

Chromatin in cancer undergoes chemical and structural changes that alter gene expression patterns. One of the chemical modifications that impacts gene regulation is 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), also called DNA hydroxymethylation. 5hmC is a stable mark that is commonly associated with transcriptional activation. In cancer, the global loss of 5hmC is a hallmark. In addition, the deregulation of 5hmC in specific regions of the genome, such as enhancers, promoters, and body of the gene, alters the expression of genes in cancer. These alterations have been detected by the improvement in the mapping of 5hmC at genomic scale, which has allowed us to evaluate the sites where 5hmC alterations occur and the genes that are affected. In this chapter, the recent knowledge about the status of 5hmC in genome specific sites of human solid cancers, the relationship with enzymes ten-eleven translocation (TET) and isocitrate dehydrogenase ( IDH) involved in the dynamic regulation of 5hmC levels, and the impact of the 5hmC aberrant changes on the genic expression in these malignances is reviewed.
Numerical solution for heat transfer of Oldroyd–B fluid over a stretching sheet using successive linearization method

Article history: Received 12 October 2019 Received in revised form 8 March 2020 Accepted 10 March 2020 The objective of this study is to find the numerical solution for the MHD flow of heat transfer to the incompressible Oldroyd-B liquid on a stretching sheet channel. The partial differential equations governing this system are converted into ordinary differential equations using similarity conversion. The resulting nonlinear equations governing the flow problem are numerically solved by the successive line method (SLM). Numerical results are derived and presented in tables for some comparisons. These comparisons are important in demonstrating the high accuracy of SLM in solving the system of nonlinear differential equations. These solutions take into account the behavior of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. It is reported that Deborah number in terms of relaxation time resists and slows down the motion of fluid particles at various time instants. Temperature profile increase by increasing Deborah number in terms of relaxation time. The graphical results of various non-Newtonian parameters such as coefficient of mixed convection, Hartman, Deborah, and Prandtl number on the flow, field, and analysis are also discussed. In addition, the current results were tested and compared to the published results available in a limited manner, and an excellent agreement was reached.
Inter- and intraspecific genetic variation in Caulerpa (Chlorophyta) based on nuclear rDNA ITS sequences

Caulerpa (Chlorophyta, Ulvophyceae) is a common marine tropical-subtropical genus of about 70 species, inhabiting the eulittoral zone on rocks and corals as well as mangroves. The genus is particularly diverse and abundant along southern Australian coasts, where it is thought to have originated. Here, we compare sequences from the nuclear ribosomal cistron among five species of Caulerpa, including nine populations of Caulerpa filiformis from two biogeographic regions : five from Australia and four from South Africa. Species relationships were well resolved by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and supported by high bootstrap values as follows: (C. geminata (C. simpliciuscula (C. trifaria (C. scalpelliformis (C. filiformis – Australia, C. filiformis – South Africa ))))). Nucleotide divergence within C. filiformis was low with four and five nucleotide differences present in ITS1 and ITS2 respectively. Unexpectedly, the 5.8S rRNA gene showed eight nucleotide differences between the Australian and So.
Cross-Species Transferability of Solanum spp. DNA Markers and Their Application in Assessing Genetic Variation in Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) Populations from Texas, USA

Abstract Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) is an invasive species that has successfully spread outside its native range to become a noxious weed in 21 states in the United States and 42 countries worldwide. The successful establishment of S. elaeagnifolium outside its native habitat indicates its innate ability to adapt to a multitude of environments. Phenotypic plasticity and/or genetic adaptation have been identified as key mechanisms underlying the adaptive success of invasive species. Whereas phenotypic plasticity allows a species to buffer changes in the environment by altering its phenotypic attributes within the short term, genetic adaptation is responsible for the longer-term adaptability of plants to heterogeneous environments and is dependent on the amount of genetic variation present in the species. In this study, we screened DNA markers that are specific to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Solanum lycopersicoides Dunal for their interspecific transferability to S. elaeagnifolium and determined the applicability of the transferable DNA markers in assessing the extent of genetic variation in populations from Lubbock, Littlefield, and Blackwell, TX. Of the 187 markers screened, 78 successfully amplified targets in S. elaeagnifolium, indicating the evolutionary conservation of marker loci across S. lycopersicum, S. lycopersicoides, and S. elaeagnifolium, despite their genetic divergence millions of years ago. Genotyping of S. elaeagnifolium populations using 50 DNA markers that consistently amplified clear bands in more than 60% of the plants identified nine polymorphic markers with 0.014 to 0.621 polymorphism information content. Genetic diversity analysis by DNA marker profiling established genetic variation among populations and within individuals of different populations. Unweighted paired group method with arithmetic mean analysis grouped the plants into six clusters that are generally defined by selection pressures unique to each collection site. Results of the study indicate the capacity of S. elaeagnifolium for genetic differentiation in response to variable selection pressures within the same geographic region.
Host acceptance behaviour of the jack pine tip beetle, Conophthorus anksianae and the red pine cone beetle, C. resinosae

The jack pine tip beetle, Conophthorus banksianae McPherson (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and the red pine cone beetle, C. resinosae Hopkins, are doubtful sibling species. However, it is possible that these two taxa are valid species that maintain reproductive isolation because they accept different hosts. In a series of laboratory and field cage experiments, the host acceptance behaviours of these two species under choice and no choice conditions were compared. The field experiments demonstrated that the two species have a similar propensity to accept jack pine cones and shoots for feeding, but differ consistently in their acceptance of red pine cones, and variably in their acceptance of red pine shoots. However, the laboratory experiments did not indicate a difference between the two species in their propensity to accept red pine cones for feeding. In field cages, C. resinosae accepted significantly more red pine cones for oviposition than C. banksianae; the situation was reversed for jack pine shoots. In comparison to C. banksianae, C. resinosae is a more generalist feeder. The results from this study suggest that host acceptance behaviour is a permeable barrier unable to ensure reproductive isolation between the two species. Although there are differences in the host acceptance behaviours between C. banksianae and C. resinosae, we conclude that these differences do not necessarily support their designation as distinct species.
Biosynthesis of the 1,3,4,6-hexanetetracarboxylic acid subunit of methanofuran

/sup 2/H- and /sup 13/C-labeled precursors were used to establish the pathway for the biosynthesis of the 1,3,4,6-hexanetetracarboxylic acid (TCA) component of methanofuran, which is found in some methanogenic bacteria. The extent and position of incorporation of label into TCA were measured from the mass spectrum of the tetramethyl ester of TCA that was prepared from methanofuran present in cells grown in the presence of labeled acetate. (2,2,2-/sup 2/H/sub 3/)Acetate was found to incorporate deuterium into two separate sites of the TCA molecule, with one on each side of the symmetrical molecule. One site was found to be labeled 37% with deuterium, the same as for the glutamic acid present in the cells; the other site was labeled 77% with deuterium, the same as for the malonate-derived compounds in the cells. An analog of TCA, 1-hydroxy-1,3,4,6-hexanetetracarboxylic acid, found in methanofuran isolated from Methanobrevibacter smithii, was found to incorporate /sup 13/C/sub 2/ units from (1,2-/sup 13/C/sub 2/)acetate into three positions of the molecule. One of the acetate /sup 13/C/sub 2/ units was incorporated into the non-hydroxyl-containing side of the molecule (carbons 4, 5, and 6 and the C-6 carboxylic acid group), and two acetate units were incorporated into the hydroxyl-containing sidemore » of the molecule (carbons 1, 2, and 3 and the C-1 carboxylic acid group). On the basis of this and additional information, it is concluded that TCA is biosynthesized by the condensation of . cap alpha. -ketoglutaric acid with malonic acid to form 1,1,2,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid, which is further condensed with a second molecule of malonate, in a series of reactions analogous to those observed during fatty acid biosynthesis, to form TCA. « less
Patterns of host utilisation by herbivore assemblages of the genus Caloptilia (Lepidoptera; Gracillariidae) on congeneric maple tree (Acer) species

1. The pattern of host utilisation by congeneric Caloptilia caterpillars on 14 different species of Acer (maple) was investigated in temperate mixed forests of central Japan. A multi‐filtering model of host plant utilisation was proposed to address how phylogenetically related herbivore assemblages are constructed on phylogenetically related host plant species.