Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Yellow-eyed penguin - review of population information

The yellow-eyed penguin is endemic to New Zealand and considered to be one of the rarest penguins in the world. It is a long-lived species and population viability analysis shows that even a small increase in adult mortality augments extinction probability dramatically. Fisheries bycatch may be substantial, particularly in the commercial set net fisheries; however, the information currently available does not allow assessing the full extent of fisheries impact. Here we have reviewed and collated information existing to date on yelloweyed penguin population parameters including range and distribution, population levels and trends, adult survival, juvenile survival, age of first breeding and fecundity. Furthermore, we
Quetzal Abundance in Relation to Fruit Availability in a Cloud Forest in Southeastern Mexico 1

The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is an altitudinal migrant that nests in high elevation cloud forests and migrates toward lower areas during the summer rainy season. It has been suggested that its migratory movements are related to the abundance of ripe Lauraceae fruits. We studied the quetzal diet during two consecutive years, as well as changes in fruit abundance of the plant species on which the bird feeds at El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, southeastern Mexico. The quetzal was observed feeding on 32 plant species; of these, 24 are new records in its diet. We chose 20 of these 32 species and studied their fruit phenology for two years in order to describe the relationship between fruit and quetzal abundance. Our results showed that quetzal abundance in the breeding area was correlated with the total number of fruiting species, whereas the correlation between quetzal abundance and the number of fruiting Lauraceae species was only marginal. Additionally, a correlation test showed that quetzal abundance was marginally correlated with total fruit availability (total no. of fruits per month); however, the correlation between quetzal abundance and the number of fruits in the Lauraceae was not significant. Our results suggest that the dynamics of food resources may be playing a major role in the quetzal's migratory behavior. Knowing the bird's diet may aid in characterizing the type of habitat adequate for its conservation. Our observations in this respect suggest that conservation efforts to preserve this bird species should concentrate on the protection of its habitat, including both breeding and nonbreeding (migration) locations.
Sources of resistance in bread wheat to Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) in Syria identified using the Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy (FIGS)

With 1 table Abstract Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), is an important pest of wheat and barley in North America, Africa and the Middle East. Host plant resistance is the most economical and practical means of controlling this insect. Field and greenhouse screening in Syria of bread wheat lines from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas’ (ICARDA) gene bank, using the Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy (FIGS), identified 12 lines resistant to D. noxia. These sources of resistance will be used to develop germplasm resistant to D. noxia for the highland areas of North Africa, and West and Central Asia, where this insect causes economic damage. This study also showed the relevance of the FIGS approach in better targeting accessions held in gene banks for valuable traits.
Relation of plasma secreted frizzled-related protein 5 to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus

To investigate the relationships among plasma secreted frizzled-related protein （sfrp） 5 level and body fat parameters, glucolipid metabolism, insulin resistance index, and inflammation. 89 subjects with normal glocose tolerance （NGT） and 87 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （ T2DM ） were enrolled and each group was divided into no-obese and obese subgroups. Obesity was defined as body mass index （BMI）≥25 kg/m2 according to the World Health Organization -Western Pacific Region diagnostic criteria （2000）. Body fat parameters were measured and BMI, waist-hip ratio were evaluated, meanwhile, the levels of blood glucose-lipid parameters and fasting insulin were also determined. Insulin resistance index （IR） was assessed by homeostasis model assessment （HOMA）. The concentrations of plasma sfrp5 and interleukin 6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma sfrp5 level in T2DM group was significantly lower than that in NGT group [ （ 8.35 ± 3.38 vs 11.35 ± 3.69 ） ng/ml, P〈0.01 ]. The levels of plasma sfrp5 in subjects with obesity were also lower than those in subjects with no-obesity in both NGT and T2DM groups [ （ 9.46± 2.70 vs 13.12 ± 3.62 ） ng/ml and （ 6.70± 2.34 vs 10.12 ± 3.45 ） ng/ml, both P〈0.01 ]. Plasma concentrations of sfrp5 in T2DM-obese group were significantly lower than that in NGT-obese group（ P〈0.01 ）. Correlation analysis showed that plasma sfrp5 levels were negatively correlated with waist-hip ratio, HbAlc, fasting insulin, triglycerides, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, interleukin 6, natural logarithm of HOMA-IR [ In （HOMA-IR） ] , and BMI （ P〈0.01 or P〈0.05 ）. Multiple linear regression showed that In （ HOMA-IR ） , BMI, triglycerides were independent related factors in influencing the levels of plasma sfrp5 （ r2 =0. 216, 0. 177, 0. 113, all P〈0.05 ）. Plasma sfrp5 levels were decreased in obesity and T2DM subjects and were correlated with body fat disposition, glucose-lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammation. Lack of sfrp5 may contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity and T2DM. Key words: Secreted frizzled-related protein5 ; Obesity ; Diabetes mellitus, type 2 ; Inflammation
Deteminants of Accounting Students Performance

The purpose of this study is to explore determinants of accounting studentsâ€™ performance at the College of Business Studies at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in Kuwait. To accomplish this, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to second-year accounting students. The regression results show that the factors of gender, high school major, age, frequency of doing homework, participation in class discussion, engaging in peer interaction, and number of days studying before exam are significantly and positively related to studentsâ€™ performance in accounting. Results further reveal that high school major (scientific versus humanities) has the strongest impact on studentsâ€™ performance, followed by participation in class discussion. Findings of this study offer an important contribution to accounting education literature. In addition, the findings have important implications for university administrators, accounting instructors, and accounting students.
Cutting Edge: Mice Defective in Fas Are Highly Susceptible to Leishmania major Infection Despite Elevated IL-12 Synthesis, Strong Th1 Responses, and Enhanced Nitric Oxide Production

MRL/MP-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice have a single mutation (lpr) of the fasapoptosis gene. The mutant mice developed significantly smaller lesions than the wild-type mice at the earlier stage of infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania major. However, while all the wild-type mice achieved complete lesion resolution, the disease in the mutant mice progressed inexorably. The mutant mice had more IL-12 and nitrite/nitrate in the serum than wild-type mice following infection. Lymphoid cells from infected MRL/lpr mice produced more IFN-γ but less IL-4 and IL-5 than cells from MRL-+/+ mice. Peritoneal macrophages from the mutant mice also produced more IL-12 and NO after stimulation with LPS. Thus, Fas expression is essential for resistance against leishmaniasis, and Fas-mediated apoptosis may form an integral part of the Th1-mediated microbicidal function.
Flooding, leaf gas exchange, and growth of mango in containers

The effect of flooding on container-gro wn 'Tommy Atkins' mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees on two rootstock, and on container-gro wn seedling 'Peach' mango trees, was investigated by evaluating vegetative growth, net gas exchange, and leaf water potential. In general, flooding simultaneously reduced net CO 2 assimilation (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) after 2 to 3 days. However, flooding did not affect leaf water potential, shoot extension growth, or shoot dry weight, but stem radial growth and root dry weight were reduced, resulting in larger shoot : root ratios for flooded trees. Mortality of flooded trees ranged from 0% to 45% and was not related to-rootstock scion combination. Hypertrophied lenticels were observed on trees that survived flooding but not on trees that died. The reductions in gas exchange, vegetative growth, and the variable tree mortality indicate that mango is not highly flood-tolerant but appears to possess certain adaptations to flooded soil conditions.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF FEMALE PARAPENAEUS LONGIROSTRIS (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, PENAEIDAE) IN THE NORTHERN TYRRHENIAN SEA (WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN)

Aspects of the reproductive biology of female Parapenaeus longirostris, were analysed from monthly sam ples collected by trawling in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, from January 1994 to February 1995. Ripe females were found all the year round and two peaks of activity were observed, one in spring and another at the beginning of autumn. All post-moulting females presented spent or post- spawned ovaries, therefore at least one ovarian cycle occurs with a single inter-moult period. The minimum female size at maturity was 16 mm carapace length (CL) and 50% of the female population was mature at about 22 mm CL. Fecundity ranged from 23 000 to 204 000 eggs respectively for indi viduals from 26 to 43 mm CL. Riassunto - Biologia riproduttiva difeinmine di Parapenaeus longirostris (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae) nel Mar Tirreno Settentrionale (Mediterraneo Occidentale). L'analisi di campioni mensili del gambero rosa, Parapenaeus iongiro sins, raccolti da gennaio 1994 a febbraio 1995 sui fondi stra scicabili del Tirreno settentrionale, ha permesso di definire alcuni aspetti della biologia riproduttiva di questa specie. Femmine con oociti prossimi alla deposizione sono state tro vate tutto l'anno, ma principalmente in primavera e all'inizio deli' autunno. Tutte le feminine in postmuta presentavano ovari in riposo o in postdeposizione: questo particolare indica che il loro ciclo ovarico ha luogo entro un unico periodo di intermuta. Femmine con ovari maturi sono state trovate a partire dalla taglia di 16 mm di lunghezza carapace (LC), ma ii 50% del la popolazione femminile diventa sessualmente matura a cir ca 22 mm LC. II numero di oociti prodotto dalle feminine dipende dalla loro taglia, e varia da 23.000 a 204.000 uova rispettivamente per gli individui compresi tra 26 e 43 mm LC. Parole chiave - Parapenaeus ion girostris, Crostacei, Riproduzione, Fecondita, Mediterraneo occidentale.
Partial Purification and Characterization of Biological Effects of a Lipid Toxin Produced byMycobacterium ulcerans

ABSTRACT Organisms in the genus Mycobacterium cause a variety of human diseases. One member of the genus, M. ulcerans, causes a necrotizing skin disease called Buruli ulcer. Buruli ulcer is unique among mycobacterial diseases in that the organisms at the site of infection are extracellular and there is little acute inflammatory response. Previous literature reported the presence of a toxin in the culture supernatant of M. ulcerans which causes a cytopathic effect on the mouse fibroblast cell line L929 in which the adherent cells round up and detach from the tissue culture plate. Here we report partial purification of a lipid toxin from the culture supernatant of M. ulcerans which is capable of causing the cytopathic effect on L929 cells. We also show that this cytopathic effect is a result of cytoskeletal rearrangement. The M. ulcerans toxin does not cause cell death but instead arrests cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
Artificial Neural Networks in Public Policy: Towards an Analytical Framework

ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS IN PUBLIC POLICY: TOWARDS AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK Joshua Lee, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2020 Committee Chair: Dr. Laurie Schintler This dissertation assesses how artificial neural networks (ANNs) and other machine learning systems should be devised, built, and implemented in US governmental organizations (i.e. public agencies). While it primarily focuses on ANNs given their current prevalence and accuracy, many of its conclusions are broadly applicable to other kinds of machine learning as well. It develops an analytical framework, drawn from diverse fields including law, behavioral psychology, public policy, and computer science, that public agency managers and analysts can utilize. The framework yields a series of principles based on my research methodology that I argue are the most relevant to public agencies. The qualitative methodology consists of an iterative approach based on archival research, peer review, expert interviews, and comparative analysis. Critically, this dissertation’s intent is not to provide the specific answers to all questions related to machine learning in public agencies. Given the speed at which this field changes, attempting to provide universally applicable answers would be difficult and short term at best. Rather, this framework focuses on principles which can help guide the user to the proper questions they need to ask for their particular use case. In that same vein, the normative principles it provides are procedurally focused in scope rather than focused on policy outcomes. In other words, this framework is meant to be equally applicable regardless of what one’s specific policy goals are.
Moult and Morphometrics of the Pallid Swift Apus pallidus in Northwestern Italy

Summary. We examined moult patterns and body morphometry of pallid swifts at two locations in NW Italy, by sampling 352 birds at their nests from July through October over a 20-year period. Birds were sexed by behaviour at the nest. We found no sexual dimorphism in 8th primary length, tail length, depth of the tail fork, rectrices T5–T4 tip delta length or body mass. We found a significant difference between the sexes in wing length (females mean: 174.7 mm, range 169–184; males: 177.0 mm, range 169–191), but because of extensive overlap it cannot be used to determine the sex of most individuals. Measurements of birds recaptured in following years did not differ with increasing age. Birds began the moult in July. Moult was estimated to last about five months, from July until November–December, and was not completed on our study sites. Females and males did not differ in the timing and progression of the moult during the season. About one-third of individuals did not replace the 9th or 10th (outermost) primary, with a complex pattern of retention and substitution in sequence year after year. The overlap of breeding season and moult in this population appears to be higher than that reported for two other Italian swifts and is similar to that found in tropical swift species.
The effect of osmotic shock and subsequent adaptation on the thermotolerance and cell morphology of Listeria monocytogenes

The relationship between the time of exposure to different levels of NaCl and the corresponding changes in thermotolerance and cell morphology of Listeria monocytogenes was investigated. The kinetics of the increase in thermotolerance, after an osmotic upshift, showed a very rapid initial response (<2 min) followed by a more gradual increase whereby cells, after 4 h exposure at 30°C, became nearly as heat resistant as those grown for 48 h under the same conditions. Cells grown in media with 0.09 mol l−1 NaCl subjected to a short osmotic up-shock in media containing 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mol l−1 NaCl showed a 1.3, 2.5 and 8-fold increase in thermotolerance, respectively. Osmotic adaptation, signified by growth at the higher NaCl concentration, however, resulted in a 2- to 3-fold additional increase in thermotolerance. An osmotic down-shock caused a very rapid loss of thermotolerance (<5 min). Osmotic shock and adaptation experiments were also performed in minced beef where similar changes in thermotolerance were observed. Cell morphology was markedly affected by the osmolarity of the growth medium. Cells grown in media containing 1.5 mol l−1 NaCl became up to 50 times longer than cells grown in media with 0.09 mol l−1 NaCl, but no direct link to thermotolerance could be made.
Generating Elevation Surface from a Single RGB Remotely Sensed Image Using Deep Learning

Generating Digital Elevation Models (DEM) from satellite imagery or other data sources constitutes an essential tool for a plethora of applications and disciplines, ranging from 3D flight planning and simulation, autonomous driving and satellite navigation, such as GPS, to modeling water flow, precision farming and forestry. The task of extracting this 3D geometry from a given surface hitherto requires a combination of appropriately collected corresponding samples and/or specialized equipment, as inferring the elevation from single image data is out of reach for contemporary approaches. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have experienced unprecedented growth in recent years as they can extrapolate rules in a data-driven manner and retrieve convoluted, nonlinear one-to-one mappings, such as an approximate mapping from satellite imagery to DEMs. Therefore, we propose an end-to-end Deep Learning (DL) approach to construct this mapping and to generate an absolute or relative point cloud estimation of a DEM given a single RGB satellite (Sentinel-2 imagery in this work) or drone image. The model has been readily extended to incorporate available information from the non-visible electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike existing methods, we only exploit one image for the production of the elevation data, rendering our approach less restrictive and constrained, but suboptimal compared to them at the same time. Moreover, recent advances in software and hardware allow us to make the inference and the generation extremely fast, even on moderate hardware. We deploy Conditional Generative Adversarial networks (CGAN), which are the state-of-the-art approach to image-to-image translation. We expect our work to serve as a springboard for further development in this field and to foster the integration of such methods in the process of generating, updating and analyzing DEMs.
Timing and synchrony of activity in caribou

Activity data were analyzed to assess activity patterns of caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti). We hypothesized that equal day and night activity, termed nychthemeral activity, would be expected if food constitutes a limiting resource for a highly gregarious species. To test this hypothesis, we investigated activity patterns of two caribou populations at the same latitude: one captive with no food limitation and the other wild and free-ranging in the Alaska Range in interior Alaska known to be at the end of a 3-year low plane of nutrition. For captive caribou, activity patterns were determined from focal-animal behavioural observations each month except May. Data were collected on wild caribou using activity-recording radio collars in each of three seasons: late winter, postcalving, and midsummer. Wild and captive caribou exhibited nychthemeral activity and did not time activity to sunrise or sunset. Wild caribou exhibited no among-group synchrony. Within-group synchrony was high in both herds. Wild caribo.
ACREAGE RESPONSE ANALYSIS OF MAIZE GROWERS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

This study was conducted to analyze the acreage response of maize with respect to price and non-price factors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The time-series data for the period of 35 years (1976-2010) pertaining to, maize area, maize price, rice price, maize yield, average rainfall were collected from various published sources. Nerlovian adjustment lag model and Vector Auto Regression (VAR) technique of estimation was employed for analyzing acreage response of maize. The model explained more than 90 percent of variation in the dependent variable. The expected maize price was unlikely found to be negative and statistically insignificant. The regression coefficients for lag rice price and lag maize yield also appeared insignificant. Area under maize in lagged year was found to be an important variable influencing farmer’s decision on acreage allocation. Among the short run and long run elasticities with respect to lag area that is 0.7155 and 2.5149, long run elasticity was more, signaling that acreage adjustment would normally take place in the long run. The coefficient of lag rainfall was found to be negative and significant indicating a negative relation between maize acreage and rainfall. The short run elasticity of maize area with respect to lag rainfall during the study period has been calculated at -0.0894 while the long run elasticity comes to be -0.3142, indicate its inelastic nature and little effect on the decision of farmers regarding allocation of land to maize. Small area adjustment coefficient (0.2845) revealed low rate of farmers’ area adjustment to desired level because of more institutional and technological constraints. Based upon the findings of this study it can be concluded that farmers allocate land to maize crop mainly basing on their previous allocation pattern rather than relative crop prices.
Checklist and distribution patterns of apoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Sphecidae and Crabronidae) of Cuba

Information on Sphecidae and Crabronidae is summarized for Cuba and an updated checklist is presented, including distributional data. The following new records are presented: CUBA, Nitela sp. and five undescribed species of Trypoxylon; BAHAMAS (Eleuthera Island), Oxybelus analis; HISPANIOLA, Podium fulvipes, O. analis and Trypoxylon orientinum; JAMAICA, T. orientinum; MONA ISLAND, T. orientinum and Bembix americana antilleana; NAVASSA ISLAND, Trypoxylon n. sp. and Tachysphex dominicanus. Tachytes antillarum Cameron, 1906 is newly synonymized with. T. tricinctus (Fabricius, 1804). The native fauna of apoid wasps of Cuba is composed of 89 species and contains three elements: species endemic to Cuba (44.2%); species endemic to the West Indies and shared among various islands (30.6 %); and continental species whose distribution includes the West Indies (25.9 %).
Temperature and Flow Effects on Migration Timing of Chinook Salmon Smolts

Abstract Physiological and behavioral changes occur in the spring when juvenile Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. undergo smolting. Survival is maximized if the timing of these changes coincides with migration from fresh to marine environments. Therefore, understanding how environmental conditions influence the onset, duration, and termination of smolting can have substantial management implications, particularly for flow-controlled rivers. We used an information-theoretic model comparison analysis to investigate the roles of daily mean temperature, temperature experience (accumulated thermal units [ATU]), photoperiod, and flow on the timing of the downstream migration of Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha smolts from the Nechako River in central British Columbia. Both binary (migration or not) and count (the total number of migrants) models were developed that predicted the downstream migration of Chinook salmon based on data collected from fish captured at rotary-screw traps from 1992 to 2004. The analyses id.