Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vocabulary Acquisition through Computer Science Modeling: A Comparative Study on Visual and Textual Vocabulary Instruction

In Computer Science (CS), modeling with diagrams is a well-known practice to visualize complex software systems or database structures. However, modeling with e.g., entity-relationship diagrams or UML (Unified Modeling Language) is also helpful in other disciplines. In this research, CS models are used as a teaching and learning tool in foreign language acquisition. The field of computer science offers a variety of models that can visualize states, as well as processes and, are therefore very suitable for the different areas of language teaching (e.g., reading, writing, grammar-, or vocabulary acquisition). With CS modeling as a teaching and learning strategy, two main objectives are addressed: enhancing learning and retention and fostering computational thinking skills. This paper presents best practice examples on how to meet these two objectives as well as the results of a crossover study, where we investigated whether vocabulary acquisition is facilitated when it is thematically preorganized in class diagrams. The results illustrate that pupils who studied with the class diagram strategy had significantly higher recall performance than pupils who studied with the list of words. A qualitative analysis of the participants’ feedback after the intervention revealed decisive criteria for their preferences regarding the learning format.
Dinoflagellate cyst records in recent sediments from Daya Bay, South China Sea

Nine sediment cores of 8–26 cm in length were collected from two basins of Daya Bay, the South China Sea, by Tokyo University Fisheries Oceanography Laboratory core sampler in August 2001 to investigate the distribution of dinoflagellate resting cysts. In the present study, 51 different cyst morphotypes representing 22 genera were identified from 65 sediment samples. Among them, there were 21 autotrophic species and 30 heterotrophic ones. Cyst species richness in each sample varied from 12 to 29, while the values of Shannon‐Weaver diversity index (H′) were between 0.15 and 4.13. There were an obvious increase in both species richness and values of H′in 2–6 cm sediments. Cyst concentrations varied from 154 to 113 483 cysts per gram dry weight sediment, and were much higher in upper sediments. Scrippsiella trochoidea was the most dominant cyst type, which took up over 90% of cyst assemblages in the upper sediments. The abrupt increase of S. trochoidea cysts in the surface sediments reflected the bloom of this species in Daya Bay in 2000. The results from cyst assemblages showed some trend of changes in water quality in this area, and indicated a typical type of pollution caused by cultural eutrophication, which started in the 1980s and greatly accelerated in the middle of 1990s. Cysts of Alexandrium, mainly those of Alexandrium catenella and Alexandrium tamarense complex, occurred frequently and abundantly in this area, with the highest concentration and relative frequency of 503 cysts per gram dry weight sediment and 22.3%, respectively. The high abundance of Alexandrium cysts provided rich ‘seed bed’ for Alexandrium blooms and was also an important source of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins, especially in winter.
RECRUITMENT AND PELAGIC GROWTH OF GLOEOTRICHIA ECHINULATA (CYANOPHYCEAE) IN LAKE ERKEN 1

Different parameters in the life cycle of the colony forming cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia echinulata (J.E. Smith) Richter was evaluated in Lake Erken, Sweden. Recruitment of colonies from the sediments and pelagic abundance were measured during 2 years. These data were then used in a model to evaluate and estimate parameters of the life cycle. In our study, recruitment alone only contributed to a small part (<5%) of the maximum G. echinulata abundance that occurred during late summer. However, recruitment from shallow sediments forms the important seed for the pelagic population. Together with measured rates of migration from the sediment, variations in either pelagic colony division rate or pelagic residence time could explain variations in the measured abundance of G. echinulata in situ.
Longitudinal patterns of ecosystem processes and community structure in a subarctic river continuum

Ecosystem processes and community structure in running waters of the boreal forests of Quebec, Canada, are strongly influenced by climate and channel geomorphology. Here we present an overview of a project examining longitudinal trends as small streams gradually coalesce into large rivers, summarizing our results in a series of budgets and predictive equations describing changes in organic carbon dynamics and community structure. There were significant trends with stream order for 70% of the 73 components, processes, and ratios examined. Of 46 independent components examined, 63% showed a significant trend with stream order. As stream size increased from 1st to 9th order there was a decrease in total carbon inputs (i.e., precipitation, throughfall, primary production, and allochthonous materials) followed by a gradual increase due to greater primary production in streams >6th order. The standing stock of carbon decreased exponentially downstream, and total carbon outputs (i.e., respiration, leaching, methane evasion, and insect emergence) increased slightly downstream. Nevertheless, some ecosystem—level processes, as well as community structure, showed equivocal trends, which were apparently due to the hierarchical scale of examination and the relative degree of physicochemical vs. biological control, of the processes and communities. The data, when placed in a watershed perspective, showed that total carbon inputs were evenly distributed by stream order throughout the 19 871—km2 Moisie River drainage network. Most carbon was stored in the small 1st to 3rd order streams, whereas the majority of organic carbon was metabolized in the 7th to 9th order rivers. Fluvial transport of organic carbon to the Gulf of St. Lawrence was nearly three times that of the measured total annual input, suggesting that inputs of dissolved organic carbon in groundwater were more important than previously expected. Ecosystem—level measurements of carbon retention and utilization also showed significant trends with stream order. The spiraling length for carbon increased exponentially from 8—15 km in small streams to 426 km in the 9th order river. There was a concomitant decrease in reach retention with stream order, while the rate coefficient of respiration and rate of downstream movement increased with order. The stream metabolism index, a measure of ecosystem efficiency, increased from 1st to 7th order, thereafter decreasing as streams became larger. These trends with stream order were related to physical gradients in channel dimensions, hydrology, riparian influences, and sunlight. We conclude that these subarctic lotic ecosystems have numerous strong relationships with stream order and that the dynamics can be described by a relatively small set of predictive equations.
Experimentally based model of a complex between a snake toxin and the α7 nicotinic receptor

To understand how snake neurotoxins interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, we have elaborated an experimentally based model of the α–cobratoxin–α7 receptor complex. This model was achieved by using (i) a three-dimensional model of the α7 extracellular domain derived from the crystallographic structure of the homologous acetylcholine-binding protein, (ii) the previously solved x-ray structure of the toxin, and (iii) nine pairs of residues identified by cycle-mutant experiments to make contacts between the α-cobratoxin and α7 receptor. Because the receptor loop F occludes entrance of the toxin binding pocket, we submitted this loop to a dynamics simulation and selected a conformation that allowed the toxin to reach its binding site. The three-dimensional structure of the toxin–receptor complex model was validated a posteriori by an additional double-mutant experiment. The model shows that the toxin interacts perpendicularly to the receptor axis, in an equatorial position of the extracellular domain. The tip of the toxin central loop plugs into the receptor between two subunits, just below the functional receptor loop C, the C-terminal tail of the toxin making adjacent additional interactions at the receptor surface. The receptor establishes major contacts with the toxin by its loop C, which is assisted by principal (loops A and B) and complementary (loops D, F, and 1) functional regions. This model explains the antagonistic properties of the toxin toward the neuronal receptor and opens the way to the design of new antagonists.
Growth and Yields of Intercropped Sorghum and Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Semi-arid Nigeria

Effect of five planting patterns on the growth, yield and yield components of intercropped sunflower and sorghum was studied during 1989–90 planting seasons at University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Generally, intercropping depressed the performance of sorghum more than sunflower. Sorghum plants grown in alternate hills with sunflower had the shortest stems, the least dry matter and total seed yields per hectare, while the highest dry matter and seed yields were obtained from sorghum planted in five alternating rows with sunflower. Similarly, in sunflower, plants grown in five alternating rows with sorghum had the highest yields compared with other planting patterns, but there were no significant differences in the dry matter and total seed yields of sorghum and sunflower intercropped in three and five alternating rows. Light transmission, leaf area index and yields of both crops followed similar trends under the various planting patterns. Interplanting in five alternating rows that allowed the highest leaf area also allowed the lowest light transmission and produced the highest yields. Land use efficiency was highly improved under three and five rows interplanting by 52 and 74 % respectively.
An Aquatic Disease on a Terrestrial Salamander: Individual and Population Level Effects of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on Batrachoseps attenuatus (Plethodontidae)

Abstract The pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, typically associated with anuran amphibians, is present in natural populations of the terrestrial salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus, from California, USA, and four congeners from California and Oregon, USA. I demonstrate that the chytrid has been present in wild populations of B. attenuatus since at least 1973, and while infected salamanders collected in the wild exhibited 100% mortality in the laboratory, wild populations appear to have remained stable with seasonally variable infection rates. Laboratory experiments showed that inoculated salamanders housed in dry microhabitats, mimicking summer aestivation conditions, are able to shed the chytrid infection. Combining these data with the decrease in prevalence from spring to fall suggests that environmental conditions in the natural range of B. attenuatus mediate the effects of this potentially highly lethal pathogen, stabilizing this host–pathogen relationship. While B. attenuatus continues to be an abundant salamander, other amphibians are experiencing marked declines. An understanding of the relationship between the amphibian chytrid fungus and species of Batrachoseps may be applicable to patterns of declines and persistence in other species of plethodontid salamanders, and amphibians in general.
Experimental SEM Determination of Game Mammalian Bloodstains on Stone Tools

Abstract The presence of morphologically complete mammalian erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBC) from bloodstains has been previously evidenced in prehistoric implements. While the presence of ancient non-human blood on a prehistoric tool is evidence of the real use of this on an animal resource, the presence of RBC in a smear is evidence of blood. In a simulation of a prehistoric predation human operative chain, mammalian bloodstains on palaeolithic-like chert implements were obtained from two specimens belonging to the order Artiodactyla: collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu, family Tayassuidae) and Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas, family Bovidae). After one year, the unburied peccary blood smear and the buried gazelle smear were coated with gold and then examined by a scanning electron microscope. Results revealed the presence of preserved RBC with several shapes like those found in haematological studies, as well as curved plasma fractures and negative imprints, two bloodstain-characteristic morphologies which are interpreted as due, respectively, to erythrocyte-plasma interaction when drying and to imprinting by dried plasma matrix.
Tolerance and co-tolerance of the grass Chloris barbata Sw. to mercury, cadmium and zinc.

Races of Chloris barbata Sw. from a mercury-contaminated site in the vicinity of a chloralkali plant and from a non-contaminated site were tested for their relative tolerance to mercury, cadmium and zinc. Pre-rooted tillers of each of the races were grown in calcium nitrate solution, Ca(NO3 )2 , 4H2 O, l gl-1 with or without HgCI2 (0.001, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and mgl-1 ), CdSO4 . 8H2 O (0.05, 1.0, 2.5 and 5 mg l-1 and ZnSO4 7H2 O (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg l-1 ) for a period of 5 d, Metal tolerance was evaluated by the effects of the metal on root elongation. Races from the contaminated site were found to be metal-tolerant, as indicated by higher tolerance indices (TIs) than races from the non-contaminated site. Mercury and cadmium at lower concentrations and zinc at all concentrations stimulated root growth in tolerant races, resulting in a TI of more than 100%. This indicated a requirement of the metal ion for better root growth. Compared to non-tolerant races, the tolerant races exhibited higher catalase, peroxidase and acid phosphatase activities as well as higher thiol levels. The over-all study thus indicated that races of C. barbata from the mercury-contaminated site were not only tolerant to mercury but also co-tolerant to cadmium and zinc. Biochemical studies provided evidence that the tolerant races were physiologically distinct from the intolerant races.
THE EFFECT OF SOME MEDITERRANEAN SCRUBLAND FRUGIVORES UPON GERMINATION PATTERNS

SUMMARY (1) The probabilty of germination, the length of seed dormancy, and the temporal pattern of germination of five bird-dispersed plant species of an eastern Mediterranean scrubland community varied depending on the plant species, on which of seven bird species they were experimentally fed to, on whether or not they remained covered by pulp, and on whether or not the pulp was experimentally removed before sowing. (2) It is proposed that, in order to withstand the passage through the gut, seeds are protected in a way that may delay their germination after defecation and alter the inherent dormancy, depending on the amount of wear the seeds go through while in the gut. The experimental results suggest that frugivory modifies the length of this dormancy so that the evenness of seedling emergence over time increases as more dispersers, each of which treats the seed in its gut differently, ingest the fruit. This may help to spread the risks encountered during germination, as an adaptation to a relatively mesic environment with an unpredictable rain pattern. (3) Rhamnus palaestinus seeds are encased in a sheath with unique features. It fully protects the seeds during passage through the gut of a disperser, and is shed immediately after defecation. Thus protection does not wear out in the gut, yet germination is not impaired and remains totally independent of gut characteristics of the various dispersers.
The Proximate Mechanisms of Natal Dispersal in Female Horses

The aim of this study was to investigate proximate mechanisms of natal dispersal by female horses, Equus caballus (i.e. proximate causes and the factors influencing the timing), and to test predictions from two functional hypotheses: the intrasexual competition hypothesis, and inbreeding avoidance. The data concerned 40 individuals born between 1974-1985 in a closely monitored herd which developed a natural social structure during this period. All the females dispersed from their natal groups; none became solitary; 80% transferred to existing harems, the others formed new groups with bachelor stallions. Abduction by stallions affected only a quarter of the females whose transfers were observed. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that a function of natal dispersal is to reduce intrasexual competition. The young females were not expelled by resident females of their natal groups, and did not, as a rule, experience increased aggression from these females before emigration. Their social bonds with members of their natal groups showed no progressive weakening prior to departure, and there was no gradual strengthening of bonds with individuals in the groups to which they transferred. There was no evidence for reproductive competition between the young females and resident mares of their natal groups, since the young females always refused the sexual approaches by males of these groups. Finally, age at dispersal did not decrease with the number of resident females in the groups they left. In contrast, as predicted by the inbreeding avoidance hypothesis, the primary cause of dispersal appeared to be sexual attraction to unfamiliar males. When in oestrus and before dispersing, the young females accepted matings only with males of other groups in spite of frequent sexual approaches by males of their natal groups (normally close relatives). In addition, none dispersed before first oestrus, and most did so during an oestrous period, at or before the conception of their first foal. The mothers of most young females interposed themselves when close kin males of the natal group approached their daughters sexually; this could contribute to the avoidance of close inbreeding. Among the other factors examined, some did not influence dispersal of the young females : they experienced low levels of aggression by adult stallions of their natal groups, particularly at the time of departure; their weight and body condition had no significant effects on leaving age nor did their mother's rank, the number of siblings, or the birth of another. In contrast, as the number of groups and the breeding sex ratio increased, dispersal age declined, occurring at a median age of 23 months (range 12-42 months) in the later years, when the herd had developed a natural social system.
Transcriptional Elements Directing a Liver-Specific Expression of P450/6βA (CYP3A2) Gene-Encoding Testosterone 6β-Hydroxylase

The P450/6βA (CYP3A2) gene encoding a testosterone 6β-hydroxylase is expressed predominantly in liver and induced by the treatment of rats with various compounds. To understand the mechanism of the basal transcriptional activation of the CYP3A2 gene, the cis-acting elements in the proximal promoter region (−165 to −73) of the CYP3A2 gene were identified in this study. Nuclear extract from rat livers interacted with three sites, 6βA-A (−106 to −87), 6βA-B (−140 to −119) and 6βA-C (−163 to −145). These sites were detectable by DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays and found to share nucleotide sequence similarity with each other (T(A/C)(A/C)N(A/G)AAG(G/ T)(C/T)CA). Direct repeats of AGTTCA (−134 to −120) and AG(G/C)TCA (−162 to −148) are also detected in 6βA-B and 6βA-C sites, respectively. To elucidate the relationship of these sites with basal transcriptional activation of the CYP3A2 gene, varying lengths of the proximal promoter region (−164 to +41) fused to a CAT reporter gene were transfected in human hepatoma (HepG2) and mouse adrenal tumor (Y-1) cells. The relative level of CAT activity in HepG2 cells was slightly increased by the deletion of the 5′-portion from −164 to −111 bp, but was reduced to 14% of the control (the construct including from -110 to +41) by the deletion from −110 to −81 including the 6βA-A site. On the other hand, these deletions have no clear effect on the level of the activity in Y-1 cells. Substitution mutations at two nucleotides in the 6βA-A site resulted in the reduction of CAT activity in HepG2 cells to 12% of the activity in the wild-type construct, The interaction of an oligonucleotide corresponding to the 6βA-A site (−106 to −87) with liver nuclear factors was completely inhibited by the addition of a typical oligonucleotide for hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) binding site (F, M. Sladek, W. Zhong, E. Lai, and J. E. Darnell, Jr,, 1990, Genes Dev. 4, 2353-2365) but not of oligonucleotides corresponding to 6βA-B or 6βA-C sites. These results suggest an essential role of the binding of HNF-4 and/or HNF-4-related nuclear factors to the 6βA-A site on the basal transcriptional activation of the CYP3A2 gene in liver cells.
Seed-to-seed allelopathic effects between two invaders of burned Pampa grasslands

The establishment of Lotus tenuis can interfere with colonization by Carduus acanthoides during the early post-burn recovery of Flooding Pampa grasslands. The purpose of this research was to determine the potential role of L. tenuis seeds as a source of allelopathic compounds involved in that interaction. Imbibed seeds of L. tenuis and aqueous leachates from them were bioassayed for their ability to inhibit germination and seedling growth of C. acanthoides, both on sterilized filter paper and on pasteurized soil as substrata. Germination and/or emergence of C. acanthoides were inhibited and root length was reduced on filter paper or soil, by both the presence of L. tenuis seeds and their leachate, at densities of L. tenuis near the maximum values observed in the field. Germination and seedling growth of C. acanthoides were less affected by the presence of L. tenuis seeds than by the addition of their leachate, and the presence of L. tenuis seeds or their leachate showed stronger effects on emergence of C. acanthoides from soil than on its germination on filter paper. Methods applied for leachate sterilization, ultrafiltration or autoclaving did not modify C. acanthoides responses. Neither the germination rate nor the root length of C. acanthoides seedlings were affected by solutions of polyethylene glycol with similar osmolarity to the leachates. We conclude that the release of inhibitory substances on to filter paper and into pot soil from imbibed L. tenuis seeds would be the mechanism responsible for the observed effects.
Effect of different oils in diets for finishing pigs: performance, carcass traits and fatty acid profile of the meat

An experiment was carried out in the Animal Science Department of Lavras University to determine the effects of different oils on the performance, carcass traits and fatty acid profile of meat from finishing pigs. In total, 80 Large White × Landrace animals, including 40 gilts and 40 barrows, with an average initial weight of 68.50 ± 1.45 kg, were used. Isoenergetic, isoprotein and isolysinic diets based on corn and soybean meal without the addition of oil or with 2% soybean oil, canola oil, linseed oil or PUFA commercial oil were tested. No significant (P > 0.05) effects were observed in the pigs’ performance. However, significant (P < 0.05) improvements were observed regarding the percentage of meat on the carcass and the loin area with the addition of linseed oil (2%) in the diets. The carcasses of the pigs fed diets containing linseed oil also had higher content of protein in the femoral biceps muscle compared with those from pigs fed soybean oil diets. The fatty acid composition of the intramuscular fat of the longissimus dorsi muscle reflected the composition of the oils added to the diets. In conclusion, linseed oil at 2.0% in the finishing pig diet improved lean tissue accretion (lean meat and loin area in the carcass). In addition, the fatty acid deposition in the muscles followed the dietary fatty acid profile.