Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weather-dependent foraging success and sibling aggression in red-tailed hawks in central Washington

Lack (1966, 1968) and others have reviewed evidence indicating that most birds have evolved clutch sizes and related breeding behaviors which permit adults to maximize their genetic contribution to future generations. In many cases, this enhancement is equivalent to (or indistinguishable from) rearing the largest brood(s) of healthy young possible in each breeding season (Ricklefs 1977). However, data on the behavior and breeding biology of many large predatory birds seem inconsistent with such a view. For example, while Lack and others suggested that food availability ultimately limits the reproductive success of large predatory birds, the evidence for food limitation of brood size in these birds is scanty (Brown 1976). Here I report on weather-dependent delivery of prey by Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) to unfledged young and on sibling aggression at a nest in central Washington. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that food availability affects the number of healthy young the parents are capable of rearing.
Genomic analysis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: applications to laboratory diagnosis and genotyping

Molecular assays performed for diagnostic and genotyping purposes can provide data that are relevant to a number of clinical and public health situations. This review describes molecular methods currently used to identify, characterize, and genotype (or DNA fingerprint) members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. In addition, strategies for improving current methods are outlined; recommendations for integrating genotyping data into public health programs are presented; and the necessity for reducing turnaround times for reporting genotyping data, through development of ‘real time’ universal genotyping programs, is stressed.
Analysis of Breach Remedies under Indian Contract Law

The paper analyses the efficiency implications of breach remedies provided under Indian Contract Act and Specific Relief Act in the light of existing literature. The Indian contract law is based on English law, and both share many rules regarding the award of the breach remedies. The paper argues that Indian contract law needs to be more flexible in awarding specific performance and providing parties agreed damages when the parties involved are sophisticated enough to take informed decision. Though, Indian law is based on English law, they differ significantly on some points. The paper discusses the efficiency implication of two provisions in which Indian contract law differs significantly from English contract law.
Application of a Model of Animals’ Growth to Study Slowly Growing Pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate a problem in pig farming by applying results of pigs’ growth modelling. The problem this study deals with is a large amount of variation in weight between animals within groups with growing-finishing pigs with strongly negative effect of slowly growing pigs on farm efficiency. The target is to find out a breeding scheme, which can eliminate the slowly growing phenotype from commercial farms. This study was carried out by applying a mathematical model. The model is species-specific; it was built to analyse growth of pigs. In the study, the model has not been developed, it was published elsewhere. The model’s results are used to clarify some aspects of pigs’ growth under industrial conditions. The model implies that in the pig, there are three growth phenotypes that have distinct growth performances. In the study, a main theme is variation in weight between growth phenotypes in pigs. The results of the study suggest that the slowly growing pigs have a certain growth phenotype. A method to identify the phenotype, and a breading scheme to eliminate the slowly growing phenotype from commercial farms are suggested.
Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from the Flower, Leaf, and Stem of Senecio pandurifolius

The essential oils from the fresh flower, leaf, and stem of Senecio pandurifolius (Asteraceae) were isolated by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. A total of forty-five, sixty, and forty-two compounds were identified, constituting over 90.1%, 88.0%, and 89.0% of oil composition of the flower, leaf, and stem of S. pandurifolius , respectively. The chemical profile reveals the dominance of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (flower: 42.4%, leaf: 43.4%, stem: 52.3%). The main components of essential oils own to S. pandurifolius were �-cuprenene (30.7%) in flower, �-zingiberene (16.1%) in leaf and �- curcumene (14.9%) in stem. Terpene related compounds were in minor amounts in all parts (flower: 1.4%, leaf: 1.5%, stem: 1.9%) of the S. pandurifolius . Also there was no monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes in the essential oil of the stem. In addition, antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of S. pandurifolius were investigated. The oils showed activity against Gram positive bacteria, mycobacterium and fungi, but not Gram negative bacteria. A high antimycobacterial activity was observed with leaf essential oil, which deserves further investigation to determine its active components.
Circular Antenna Array Synthesis Using Multiverse Optimizer

Antenna array synthesis is one of the most popular topics in the electromagnetic field. Since achieving a desired antenna radiation pattern is a mathematical problem, in the literature, there are various optimization algorithms applied to the synthesis process of different kinds of antenna arrays. In this study, Multiverse Optimizer (MVO) and modified MVO (MMVO) are used to perform circular antenna array (CAA) synthesis. During the exploration, exploitation, and local search phases of calculation, MVO uses three concepts in cosmology; white hole, black hole, and wormhole. Convergence capability of this nature-inspired algorithm is employed for finding optimum amplitude and position values of CAA elements in order to achieve an array pattern with low maximum sidelobe level (MSL) and minimum circumference. The performance of MVO and MMVO was tested on five design examples of pattern synthesis, and the obtained results were compared with ten different algorithms. The simulation results show that MVO and MMVO provide low MSLs with small circumferences.
Fledging success in experimentally manipulated broods of House Wrens

ABSTRACr. -I manipulated brood size in a population of box-nesting House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) to determine if fledging success was limited by the ability of parents to provision nestlings. Enlarged broods produced significantly more fledged young than did control or reduced broods, but fledglings from enlarged broods weighed 6-7% less than fledglings from other broods. Fledging success was unrelated to original clutch size, but parents that laid large clutches fledged heavier offspring. These results do not support the brood-provisioning hypothesis. Brood size in House Wrens may be limited by post-fledging survival or interseasonal costs of reproduction, but I was unable to assess these factors in this study. Received 28 Sept. 1992, accepted 3 March 1993. Lack (1947) hypothesized that clutch size in altricial birds evolved in relation to the ability of parents to provide food for nestlings; however, most studies of fledging success in relation to brood size have shown that experimentally-enlarged broods fledge the most young (Lessells 1986). This has led to several important modifications of Lack's hypothesis. If fledglings from large broods leave the nest in poorer condition, then any apparent advantage of large brood size may disappear due to higher mortality of postfledglings (Magrath 1991). Likewise, parents that attempt to raise large broods may have lower future survival and/or reproductive success (Nur 1988). Finally, Lack (1947) suggested that the average clutch size for the population represented a single optimum for all individuals, but among-individual variation in clutch size might reflect differences in individual or territory quality (the individual-optimization hypothesis; Nur 1987). In order to test these various hypotheses, it is essential to manipulate brood size to remove any potentially confounding relationships between individual quality and clutch size (Lessells 1986). In this study, I manipulated broods of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) to determine if nestling survival and fledgling mass were affected by brood size. I also examined nestling survival and fledgling mass of manipulated broods in relation to the original unmanipulated clutch size to determine whether females that laid large clutches were more capable of raising large broods.
Binding behaviors of scutellarin with a-, b-, c-cyclodextrins and their derivatives

A series of cyclodextrin/scutellarin inclusion complexes were prepared from a-cyclodextrin, b-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxypropyl-b-cyclodextrin with scutellarin (SCU), and their inclusion complexation behaviors, such as stoichiometry, complex stability constants and inclusion mode, were investigated by means of UV/Vis spectroscopy, H NMR and 2D NMR. The results showed that the SCU could be efficiently encapsulated in the cyclodextrin cavity in aqueous solution to produce complexes that were more soluble than free SCU. The enhanced binding ability of cyclodextrins towards SCU was discussed from the viewpoint of the size/shape-fit and multiple recognition mechanism between host and guest.
Prey Delivery, Caching, and Retrieval Rates in Nesting Prairie Falcons

From 1984-1987, 48 nesting attempts of Prairie Falcons (Falco mexicanus) were observed for 568 days (8,397 hr) in southwestern Idaho. Observations started 1-5 weeks prior to incubation until the young were 35 days old or a nesting attempt failed. I investigated prey delivery, caching, and retrieval rates during the nesting season; relationships between prey delivery rates, hatching date, the number of young fledged per pair, and the physical condition of the young were assessed. The main prey item was the Townsend's ground squirrel (Spermophilus townsendii), which accounted for 37% of all delivered prey items (n = 1,742 items). Males delivered 97.5, 95.3, and 70.2% of all prey items during the preincubation, incubation, and brood-rearing stages, respectively. Overall, males delivered 76.6% of all prey. Prey delivery rates by a pair were three to four times higher during brood rearing than during preincubation and incubation. The prey delivery through the day was bimodal in frequency and may have reflected the diurnal aboveground activity pattern of the falcon's main prey item, the Townsend's ground squirrel. Diurnal caching patterns followed delivery patterns. Prey delivery rates per pair/hour decreased with progressively later hatching dates, resulting in a decrease in productivity. Prey delivery rates per pair/ hour and the proportion of Townsend's ground squirrel in a falcon pair's diet increased with the number of young fledged per pair. Caching and retrieval rates peaked during the first 2 weeks of brood rearing and then declined. Retrieval rates did not differ from caching rates. Prey retrievals peaked in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Caching was considered an important behavioral mechanism to maximize food intake and to dampen fluctuations in prey availability.
Effect of storage conditions and duration on the potency of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seeds as a home-made Insecticide

This work was carried out to investigate the effects of grinding, storage conditions and duration on the bio-efficacy of neem seeds as a home-made insecticide against the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Samples of neem seeds (intact and ground) were kept in small jute sacks and stored in the sun, refrigerator (4oC), and room temperature (28 ± 2oC) for two, four and six weeks in each condition. After the respective storage period, a water extract (5%) was prepared and sprayed topically on the 3 rd instar larvae of the beetle as well as on the pupal stage. A significant mortality of 62.83% resulted from the neem seeds stored in the refrigerator on the 7 th day of exposure. The seeds stored in the sun caused a mortality of 48.49%. The water extract from the seeds which were stored at room temperature, resulted in significantly high cumulative larval mortality of 50.30%. The efficacy of neem seeds kept in the sun was negatively affected and correlated with the length of storage period. However, the efficacy of the neem seeds stored in the refrigerator was increased with storage time. The pupal mortality due to spraying with water extract from neem seeds stored in the sun, refrigerator and room temperature was 49.67, 68.12 and 69.43% respectively. The mortality in the control (water treatment) was 7.33%. The results indicated that grinding of neem seeds before storage seems to have no effects on their efficacy.
Different Enhancement of the East Asian Summer Monsoon under Global Warming and Interglacial Epochs Simulated by CMIP6 Models: Role of the Subtropical High

Southerly wind in the lower troposphere is an essential feature of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) circulation, which is reported to be enhanced under global warming scenarios and interglacial epochs. Based on an analysis of an ensemble of CMIP6 models, this study shows that the magnitude of intensification of the EASM circulation is much smaller under global warming scenarios than during interglacial epochs. Distinct changes in the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) are responsible for the different responses of the EASM circulation. The WNPSH is substantially enhanced during interglacial epochs, which acts to strengthen the southerly wind associated with the EASM on the western flank of the WNPSH. However, the change in the WNPSH is insignificant and cannot strengthen the EASM under global warming scenarios, and the weakly enhanced EASM circulation may be a direct response to intensified heating over the Tibetan Plateau. The land–ocean thermal contrast explains the different responses of the WNPSH. During interglacial epochs, the summertime surface warming over the subtropical North Pacific is much weaker than over Eurasia due to the large thermal inertia of the ocean to increased insolation, and the WNPSH is intensified as a response to the suppressed latent heating over the subtropical North Pacific. The fast response of the WNPSH to abrupt quadrupling of CO2 without sufficient ocean warming is an analog to the interglacial epochs, but it is offset by the effect of slow oceanic warming, resulting in an insignificant change of the WNPSH under global warming scenarios.
The three-dimensional life cycle of potential vorticity cutoffs: A global 
ERA-interim climatology (1979–2017)

Abstract. The aim of this study is to explore the nature of potential vorticity (PV) cutoff life cycles. While climatological frequencies of such upper-level cyclonic vortices are well known, their life cycle and in particular their three-dimensional evolution is poorly understood. To address this gap, a method is introduced that allows tracking PV cutoffs as three-dimensional objects. As it is based on isentropic air parcel trajectories, the detailed evolution of the cutoffs on isentropic surfaces, including their associated cross-tropopause mass fluxes, can be analyzed. The novel method is applied to the ERA-interim dataset for the years 1979–2017 and the first global climatology of PV cutoffs is presented that is independent of the selection of a vertical level and identifies and tracks PV cutoffs as three-dimensonal features. More than 40 000 PV cutoff life cycles are identified and analyzed in the almost 40-year data set. Known frequency maxima of PV cutoffs are confirmed and, additionally, bands in subtropical areas in the summer hemispheres and a circumpolar band around Antarctica are identified. A detailed investigation of PV cutoff life cycles in different genesis regions reveals that PV cutoff genesis occurs as a result of distinct Rossby wave breaking scenarios. In addition, there is a remarkable regional variability of PV cutoff mobility, lifetimes and vertical evolution. This regional variability of PV cutoff behaviour can to some extent be explained by differences in cross-tropopause mass fluxes and the varying frequencies of different lysis scenarios on isentropic surfaces, i.e. diabatic decay and reabsorption to the stratospheric reservoir. It is found that, on a global average, reabsorption occurs about as frequently as diabatic decay, but on higher isentropic levels. Further, the temporal link between PV cutoffs and associated surface cyclones is investigated. Novel insights are that (i) the frequency and characteristics of this link strongly depend on the region, and (ii) PV cutoffs are frequently involved in surface cyclogenesis a few days after their formation. PV cutoffs forming from similar Rossby wave breaking scenarios in different regions also show remarkable similarities in other characteristics of their life cycle. Based on that, a classification of PV cutoff life cycles into three types is proposed: Type I forms from anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking equatorward of the jet stream, Type II is the result of anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking followed by cyclonic Rossby wave breaking between the polar and the subtropical jets, and Type III forms from cyclonic wave breaking in the storm track regions. While diabatic decay is particularly frequent for Types I and II, reabsorption dominates for the Type III life cycle.
Analysis of Serum Vitamin D Level in Leprosy Patients

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection with a variety of clinical spectrum caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) that is highly influenced by host immune response. In leprosy, vitamin D acts as an immunomodulator through a VDR-mediated antimicrobial pathway that affects the innate immune system to bacterial killing. M. leprae inhibits VDR activity through the down-regulation of CYP27B1. Elevated 1.25(OH)2D levels are required to modulate cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) production, which leads to reduced 25(OH)D level. This study aimed to analyze the difference in serum vitamin D level between leprosy patients and healthy people.Methods: This research was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design involving 20 patients with new cases of leprosy and 20 controls. The diagnosis of leprosy was confirmed through physical examination and laboratory examination. We conducted blood sampling and measurement of serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) level in both groups using the chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) method. The collected data were then processed and analyzed statistically using the Mann-Whitney test.Result: In this study, we found that the mean serum vitamin D level in leprosy patients (22.27 Â± 5.418 ng/mL) was lower than controls (33.00 Â± 1.913 ng/mL), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean serum vitamin D level in male leprosy patients (23.69 Â± 4.034 ng/mL) was higher than females (16.55 Â± 7.081 ng/mL), and was highest in patients aged 36 â€“ 45 years (25.314 Â± 2.2945 ng/mL). Conclusion: Serum vitamin D level was significantly lower in leprosy patients than in controls. Serum vitamin D level in leprosy patients was higher in the male group and was highest in patients aged 36 â€“ 45 years.
A PARTITION-BASED FEATURE SELECTION METHOD FOR MIXED DATA: A FILTER APPROACH

Feature selection is fundamentally an optimization problem for selecting relevant features from several alternatives in clustering problems. Though several algorithms have been suggested, however till this day, there has not been any one of those that has been dubbed as the best for every problem scenario. Therefore, researchers continue to strive in developing superior algorithms. Even though clustering process is considered a pre-processing task but what it really does is just dividing the data into groups. In this paper we have attempted an improved distance function to cluster mixed data. A similarity measure for mixed data is Gower distance is adopted and modified to define the similarity between object pairs. A partitional algorithm for mixed data is employed to group similar objects in clusters. The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated on similar mixed and real educational dataset in terms of the silhouette coefficient. Results reveal the effectiveness of this algorithm in unsupervised discovery problems. The proposed algorithm performed better than other clustering algorithms for various datasets.
Interactive comment on “ δ 13 C values in stalagmites from tropical South America for the last two millennia ” by Valdir Felipe Novello et al .

We appreciate the time and effort of the reviewer to evaluate our manuscript. We understand that this reviewer is not from the speleothem community, which we believe is a positive aspect, showing that our data can be of interest to a broad audience. Although we do not agree with some of the reviewer’s comments, they have certainly helped us to clarify possible confusing points in our text, making her (his) contribution extremely important for our work. This reviewer appears to have been somewhat confused about what is our introduction and what is our discussion/conclusion section. For example, all comments provided below by the reviewer are related to vegetation. However, veg-
Proximity Sensing for Contact Tracing

The TC4TL (Too Close For Too Long) challenge is aimed towards designing an effective proximity sensing algorithm that can accurately provide exposure notifications. In this paper, we describe our approach to model sensor and other device-level data to estimate the distance between two phones. We also present our research and data analysis on the TC4TL challenge and discuss various limitations associated with the task, and the dataset used for this purpose.
The Seventh Research Dive on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Estimating

When studying poverty, researchers tend to rely on data related to economic livelihoods, especially to analyse poverty trends and patterns throughout developing countries. Findings and insights from such analyses are then typically used to design poverty reduction programmes and formulate public policies. However, collecting data on economic livelihoods is often a tall order for researchers and governments, in part due to the high costs associated with it. To address this issue, Pulse Lab Jakarta chose to explore big data - new and diverse digital data sources - that come with the bene � ts of increased accuracy, timeliness and cost-e � ciency. In this paper, several research methodologies are discussed, which demonstrate the ability (and advantages) of using these data sources to estimate consumption expenditure, wealth, and other poverty-related indicators. Tosupport the Indonesian Government’s agenda on reducing poverty, Pulse Lab Jakarta organised its 7th Research Dive for Development, focused on exploring arti � cial intelligence and machine learning approaches for Estimating Poverty. Among the invited participants were researchers, public o � cials and academics from across Indonesia who mashed up various big datasets to develop methods and insights on burning policy questions. The datasets included satellite imagery, e-commerce data, social media data, and household survey results.