Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal changes in sperm production and quality in the red porgy Pagrus pagrus (L.)

Cultured red porgy Pagrus pagrus (L.) males (n=6) were sampled every 2 weeks for milt, in order to monitor changes in sperm quality parameters during a whole spawning period. On 11 January 2001, 60% of the fish were spermiating, increasing to 100% in mid-February and dropping to 30% by mid-April. Sperm density showed a slight increasing trend, with mean values ranging between 8.6 and 23.7×109 spermatozoa mL−1. Sperm motility percentage exhibited a significant improvement during the spawning season (analysis of variance (anova) P=0.0001). The duration of forward motility for the major part of the monitoring period ranged between 2 and 4 min. Red porgy spermatozoa maintained their viability for many days after whole storage of milt at 4°C. During the monitoring period there were significant changes in the mean duration of sperm survival after cold storage, ranging from 5 to 12 days. The total volume of expressible milt was maximal on 28 March, increasing from a mean value of 1.7 mL to 5.3 mL kg−1. Milt production of captive-reared red porgy does not appear to be limiting, when compared with the volume of expressible milt produced by other cultured marine fishes.
Participation in nature protection: Does it benefit the local community? A Triglav National Park case study

This paper examines some aspects of participation in nature protection and tries to understand how this principle is implemented in Slovenia. The paper briefly outlines the institutional context of Slovene nature protection and examines how participation is positioned within it. The presence of different understandings of the participation principle and different interpretations regarding access to environmental decision making are identified. Key to this divergence seems to be the roles that some groups traditionally had in initiatives for nature protection. An attempt is made to understand if and how participation in the recent reframing of the Triglav National Park founding act has benefited the local community.
Cytotaxonomic studies of the subtribe Pogostemoninae sensu Bentham (Labiatae) from South India

Cytology of 11 taxa in three genera belonging to the subtribe Pogostemoninae in Mentheae from South India is studied. The chromosome numbers observed were Pogostemon auricularius 2n=34, P. benghalense 2n=64, P. gardneri n=16, P. heyneanus 2n=34, P. wightii 2n=32 and 64, Eusteralis stellata var. roxburghiana n=14, E. tomentosa var. gracilis 2n=32, and Colebrookea oppositifolia 2n=32. The basic chromosome numbers suggested are x=16 and 17 in Pogostemon, x=14 and 16 in Eusteralis and x=16 for Colebrookea. On the basis of cytological data it is suggested that the whole of Pogostemoninae be included under the subfamily Lamioideae as done by Wunderlich rather than split it and divide the genera among Lamioideae and Nepetoideae as done by Erdtman.
To Use or Not to Use. Investigating M-health Acceptance by Citizens in Malawi Using UTAUT and Trust

: Personal health management is a relatively new concept in Malawi which allows patients to manage health through mobile health (mHealth). Chipatala Cha Pa Foni (CCPF) project, translated from the Chichewa language to "health center by phone" is a hotline service that serves the general public. However, the use of this service in Malawi is considerably low and few studies have been carried out to investigate factors that influence acceptance and use. This study empirically investigates determinants of acceptance and use using a theoretical model founded on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and trust. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from 379 respondents across 3 districts. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique, data was analyzed and results showed that trust, effort expectancy, and performance expectancy positively influenced behavioral intentions. Findings also showed that four out of seven mediation effects between several variables including facilitating conditions and social influence were not supported. The results offer empirical support for several elements of the model used in the investigation in line with prior studies. The study offers novel insights into the mediating role of trust between UTAUT constructs and behavioral intentions. Since UTAUT is a fundamental theoretical model in technology acceptance research, modifying the model to suit the patients’ context contributes to growth in health research.
Using Disasters to Estimate the Impact of Uncertainty

Uncertainty rises in recessions and falls in booms. But what is the causal relationship? We construct cross-country panel data on stock market returns to proxy for first- and second-moment shocks and instrument these with natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and political shocks. Our IV regression results reveal a robust negative short-term impact of second moments (uncertainty) on growth. Employing multiple VAR estimation approaches, relying on a range of identifying assumptions, also reveals a negative impact of uncertainty on growth. Finally, we show that these results are reproducible in a conventional micro-macro business cycle model with time-varying uncertainty.
On the Transfer of Information from Temporary to Permanent Memory [and Discussion]

The idea that information is transferred from temporary to permanent storage is a pervasive one in memory research. However, in this article it is argued that the idea is unnecessary and misleading. Functions relating rehearsal time to subsequent memory performance take a variety of forms, depending first on the qualitative nature of the encoding processes carried out during rehearsal, and second on the compatibility of retrieval processes with the initial encoding. It is argued that memory is largely a function of depth and elaboration of the initial encoding, and that the memory deficits found in elderly people and under conditions of divided attention reflect impaired comprehension of the material. On the other hand, amnesic patients exhibit adequate comprehension yet poor memory, suggesting that some physiological process of consolidation may also be involved in normal learning and remembering.
The Impact of a Vortex Ring on Porous Surfaces—A Review

A vortex ring interacting with a solid surface have been studied extensively, both experimentally and numerically, for many years, however, there are relatively few studies made on the interaction with porous surfaces. Most of these studies were carried out recently and limited to laboratory investigations. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on the interaction of a vortex ring on a porous surface and future research direction.
Tittle: The Impacts of Trade Cost and Export Specialization on Export: A Case Study-Lao PDR

Laos is the land-locked with small economy, to enhance export’s competitiveness and sustainability is now being criticized the capacity of exports at present and in future. There seems less incentives for investors to produce the products and services for supplying the domestic market. Exporting their products overseas is a more attractive option. Due to the trade costs particularly for exports are still high as a result from the low infrastructure development and there is a lack of policies on specific potential products. Thus it induced a large proportion of FDI flow into only mining and hydropower sectors and changing export structure recently in Laos. This paper hence focused on the investigation of the impacts of trade cost and export specialization on the export performance of Laos by applying two specific models, namely the aggregated model from 1986 to 2010 and the disaggregated model from 2001 to 2010. The augmented gravity model and unbalanced panel data were used with the GLS-SUR approach. The findings confirmed that the level of infrastructure development (one of proxies represents the trade costs) in both trading countries is accelerating export activities in Laos. However, the magnitude of the importing country’s infrastructure development has a stronger effect than that of the home country. Additionally, the transaction cost and geographical distance are also significant with negative effects on export. More importantly, export specialization is statistically significant such that a 10% change in specialization can potentially stimulate around 43% export growth.
Validation of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) – Dusun Version in Alcohol Users in Sabahan Borneo

Introduction: The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) developed by WHO is instrumental in identifying individuals on the alcohol misuse spectrum. However there is no culturally appropriate Dusun language version in Sabahan Borneo. This study aims to develop and validate a Dusun language version of AUDIT (AUDIT-D). Methods: AUDIT was translated to Dusun and back translated to English and Malay. The first version was pilot tested in 20 participants and harmonised. The harmonised version was administered to 50 Dusun first language speakers fluent in Malay from villages in rural Sabah. Participants filled in socio-demographic questionnaires, Dusun (AUDIT-D) and Bahasa Malaysia (AUDIT-M) versions of AUDIT, and validated Bahasa Malaysia versions of the M.I. N.I. alcohol dependence subscale and CAGE. Results: ROC curves calculated AUDIT-D dependence cut-off of 9 and more, with prevalence of dependence at 46%. Factor analysis of AUDIT-D yielded a one - or three-factor solution, distinct from the AUDIT-M factor structure. Cronbach alpha coefficients for the total AUDIT- D was 0.83. Significant Spearman’s correlations existed between AUDIT-D and AUDIT- M scores (Spearman’s rho=0.999, p<.001). AUDIT-D and AUDIT-M were both significantlycorrelated with M.I. N.I. alcohol dependence subscales (rho=0.624 and 0.617 respectively, with p<0.0001). Both were not significantly correlated with CAGE. Conclusion: The AUDIT-D questionnaire has acceptable psychometric properties, properties and demonstrates similar factor structures to other areas with high alcoholdependence prevalence. It is suitable for the assessment and identification of alcohol use disorders in the unique Sabahan Borneo cultural landscape.
Estimativas da trajetória genética do crescimento de codornas de corte utilizando modelos de regressão aleatória

Growth genetic trajectories of two quail meat type lines for body weights at hatch and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age were evaluated using random regression model, under animal model analysis. Genetic parameters estimates were obtained to establish the most adequate age for efficient selection. Body weights of 2,432 and 2,478 quails from EV1 and EV2 genetic lines, respectively, from three generations of selection were recorded. Genetic parameter estimates were obtained using Dxmrr subroutine of the DFReml software. Heritability estimates ranged from . 01 to . 50 for EV1 and from . 01 to . 10 for EV2. For both genetic lines the highest heritability estimates were obtained for body weight at 42 days of age and genetic correlations between body weight at hatch and body weights recorded in other ages were all negatives and permanent environment correlations were higher for EV2 genetic line. The results suggest that selection to increase body weight for both genetic lines is more efficient when undertaken at 42 days of age, but reasonable responses to selection can also be obtained in younger ages for EV1 genetic line.
Winter habitat selection by the Vulnerable black-necked crane Grus nigricollis in Yunnan, China: implications for determining effective conservation actions

Abstract Habitat change has major effects on wildlife and it is important to understand how wild animals respond to changing habitats. Dashanbao National Nature Reserve, in north-east Yunnan, China, which was established for the protection of the black-necked crane Grus nigricollis, other wintering waterbirds and the upland wetland ecosystem, recently began converting farmland to grassland and woodland. With respect to this policy we studied habitat selection by black-necked cranes in the Reserve from November 2006 to April 2007. Farmland, grassland, marsh and water were used by black-necked cranes but no cranes occurred in man-made woodland. Black-necked cranes showed the least preference for grassland and no significant differences were detected in the species’ preference for the other three habitats. However, black-necked cranes exhibited different behavioural responses to the four habitats: farmland and grassland were their main foraging sites. Principle component analysis verified that a foraging-related component was the first factor determining habitat selection. Cranes used habitat close to their roosts with short grass, shallow water and less disturbance by human activity. Our results indicate that the policy of converting farmland and grassland to woodland is not beneficial for conservation of the crane. For effective conservation of the black-necked crane scientific habitat management that takes into account habitat selection by the species is required, with the retention of some farmland and restoration of wetlands.
A replication of ‘The long-run impact of foreign aid in 36 African countries: Insights from multivariate time series analysis’ (Oxford Bulletin of Statistics and Economics, 2014)

Macroeconomic data have been shown to vary substantially between sources, especially so for low-income countries. While the impact of data revisions on inference is well documented for cross-country studies, there is no systematic analysis of the robustness of results obtained from time series analysis. This is despite the fact that time series analysis is an integral part of the econometric toolkit of government analysts, and informs policy decisions in many areas of macroeconomics. This study fills this gap for the notoriously controversial aid-effectiveness debate using the statistical framework by Juselius et al. (2014, Oxf Bull Econ Stat): by adopting alternative sources of GDP data in 36 sub-Saharan African countries The author finds that results remain robust across datasets in two thirds of the countries, but sometimes drastically change in others. These findings suggest that robustness checks such as those carried out here should become standard procedure for macroeconomic analysis using single-country time series.
Comparison of the effect of natural and experimental anoxia on carbohydrate and energy metabolism in Iris pseudacorus rhizomes

Carbohydrate utilization in Iris pseudacorus rhizomes was investigated under natural conditions in the field for a period of one year. The area of study was under flood from mid-December to end of May and wet for the rest of the period of study. Rhizome samples were collected in the wild twice monthly. in order to determine glucose content and amount of reducing and non-reducing sugars in the rhizome core material. For comparison with experimental anoxia, rhizomes were washed and kept under strict anoxia in the dark at +20°C. Carbohydrates were measured in groups as above. The amount of ethanol and the levels, of ATP. ADP and AMP were also measured and adenylate energy charge computed. Glucose content of the rhizomes was 10 mg g−1 fresh weight in the autumn and decreased during winter to reach ca 5 mg g−1 fresh weight in the spring. Total reducing sugars increased in w inter while the amount of non-reducing sugars increased during early autumn and decreased during winter and spring. Not all non-reducing sugar stores had been used up in the spring when growth was resumed. Under experimental anoxia adenylate energy charge remained relatively high for 30 days (near 0.6 or over) and then dropped quickly to bekm 0.3. indicating death of the tissues. After 30 days under anoxia the amount of ethanol still increased and that of total reducing sugars decreased. The level of non-reducing sugars decreased from 0 to 15 days of anoxia before an increase took place durine the next 20 days.
Concept Mapping for Improving Expository Writing in Second Language

one from academic point of view. The students at intermediate level need to practice expository essay writing to be able to write fluently in their university stage ahead. The study investigated the effects of conceptmapping strategy on expository writing skill of the students atintermediate level. The study was experimental in nature with pretestposttest control group design. To this end, forty students fromGovernment Girls Higher Secondary School from Intermediate Part IIwere selected as an average sample after their Proficiency in EnglishLanguage Test (PET). They were divided into two equivalent groupsafter pretest. The concept mapping treatment was given to theexperimental group for six weeks. They composed 10 expository essaysfollowing concept mapping strategy for each essay. The control groupwas taught in a conventional way. Pretest-Posttest score difference ofwriting achievement of control and experimental groups revealedsignificant difference. It was observed that the he treatment group wrotemore organized, extensive, comprehensive and rich essays than thosewritten by students of control group. The findings suggest that conceptmapping is a practical tool in prompting expository writing skill of thestudents at intermediate level in Pakistani perspective.
Leaf area, light environment, and gas exchange in Montepulciano grapevines trained to Tendone trellising system

Abstract Canopy light interception (CPFDInt), spectral irradiance, leaf water potential, gas- exchange and optical properties were measured in an irrigated vineyard (Vitis vinifera L. cv Montepulciano) trained to the so-called tendone system in which leaf area index (LAI) was varied by means of 50% (T50) or 75% (T75) cluster removal. The 20.5 t ha−1 yield in the unthinned treatment (UT) decreased by only 36% in T50 and by 52% in T75. LAI and CPFDInt similarly increased until summer pruning when LAI was 1.75 m2 m−2 in UT, and 25.6% or 62.2% higher in T50 and T75, respectively. The two thinned treatments had only 12.4% higher CPFDInt than in UT (1167.1 μmol m−2 s−1) due to the increased leaf self-shading. The red-to-far red ratio (R: FR) was as low as 0.10 below the canopy. Light-saturated CO2 assimilation (A max) in June averaged 14.4 μmol m−2 s−1 in sun-exposed leaves, and 7.6 μmol m−2 s−1 in shade leaves. By contrast, the apparent quantum yield of CO2 assimilation (φe) was not significantly affected by leaf position, averaging 0.029 and 0.070 mol mol−1 in June and October, respectively. Middle and low canopy leaves had only 27 or 6%, respectively, of the top canopy leaves actual CO2 assimilation rate.
Recent advances, misconceptions, untested assumptions, and future research agenda for identity fusion theory

Funding information Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades from the Spanish Government, Grant/Award Number: RTI2018-093550-B100 Abstract Just a decade ago, two psychologists, Swann, and Gómez, developed a new theoretical framework to explain extreme pro-group behaviors: identity fusion theory. Identity fusion refers to a visceral feeling of oneness with a group that motivates individuals to do extraordinary self-sacrifices on behalf of the group or each of its members. Since the formulation of the theory, interdisciplinary researchers of the five continents have conducted dozens of studies on identity fusion, both in laboratory and field settings. Research has deepened into the causes, consequences, underlying mechanisms, and applications of identity fusion. The development of fusion-based research has been steadfast and very prolific. Hence, the first section of the current manuscript includes an updated overview of this fast growing literature. This increasing interest for the theory has, however, been accompanied by a series of misconceptions and untested research assumptions, which we address in the second and third sections of the paper, concluding with a final section suggesting a future research agenda. Our aim is to help those interested in knowing more about identity fusion or about the causal mechanisms that lead individuals to risk their life and personal well-being for a group discarding common misconceptions as well as formulating more precise and nuanced hypotheses for future research. DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12531
Polyamine metabolism and its regulation

Data obtained in bacteria and mammals have revealed the existence of transcriptional, translational and/or post-translational mechanisms controlling polyamine metabolism. In plants, most of the genes encoding polyamine biosynthetic enzymes have recently been isolated and antibodies to some are available. These tools have been used to initiate the study of the regulatory mechanisms controlling cellular polyamine levels in plants, as well as to attempt the alteration of polyamine metabolic fluxes in transgenic plants. The transgenic approach has increased our understanding of how polyamines might function and how this could be used for achieving beneficial biotechnological applications. The aim of this review is to cover both of these basic and applied aspects.
Quantitative trait loci for partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean

Partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae Kauffmann and Gerdemann in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] is expressed as a reduced level of root rot and is effective against all populations of the pathogen. The objective of this study was to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for partial resistance to P. sojae in the soybean 'Conrad'. Three recombinant inbred soybean populations, Conrad × 'Sloan', Conrad × 'Harosoy', and Conrad × 'Williams', were evaluated for root lesion growth rate in growth chamber experiments following inoculation with P. sojae and with SSR markers to identify putative QTLs. The three populations segregated for root lesion growth rate after root inoculations. Two putative QTLs donated by Conrad were identified in all three populations and were positioned on soybean molecular linkage groups (MLGs) F and D1b+W. The QTL on MLG F explained 32.4, 35.0, and 21.4% of the genotypic variation for Conrad x Sloan, Conrad x Harosoy, and Conrad × Williams populations, respectively. The QTL on MLG D1b+W explained 10.6, 15.9, and 20.7% of the genotypic variation for the same three populations, respectively. The QTL on MLG F appears to be of more value based on the percentage of genotypic variation explained. Because the results indicate that QTLs for partial resistance to P. sojae map to different regions in soybean compared with the known Rps genes poses a challenge to soybean breeders. Marker-assisted selection may expedite the process of combining both Rps genes with partial resistance into high-yielding cultivars.