Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biology of the Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) in a Rain Forest of Puerto Rico 1

Ecological aspects of the mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) were studied in the Luquillo Mountains, a rain forest region in eastern Puerto Rico. Information was obtained by removal trapping of mongoose from grids placed in tree plantations, colorado and tabonuco forests. Trapping efficiency was two mongoose per 100 trap‐days, suggesting mongoose abundance is low in wet montane forests of Puerto Rico. Sex ratio was biased (2.6:1) in favor of males. Body masses of male mongoose inhabiting rain forests of the Luquillo Mountains were larger than those in dry forests at Guánica (P < 0.0001). Stomach contents from 18 mongoose were examined, animal matter comprised 75 percent of the total food items encountered. Of these, 33 percent were from vertebrates. The food items most frequently encountered were lizards (Anolis spp.), centipedes (Scolopendra spp.), and cockroaches (Blatellidae).
Picophytoplankton contribution to phytoplankton community structure in the Gulf of Venice (NW Adriatic Sea)

The size distribution of the phytoplankton community has been analyzed on a monthly basis in the Gulf of Venice (NW Adriatic Sea), with the aim to assess the seasonal variation of the contribution of autotrophic picoplankton (APP) to total phytoplankton. The investigation was carried out in two stations characterized by different influences of fluvial inputs. APP was mainly made up of Synechococcus, the larger fraction (Utermohl Fraction Phytoplankton, UFP: >2 µm as maximum linear dimension) of diatoms and nanoflagellates. The average APP abundance (46 × 10 3 cells ml ‐1 ) and biomass (8.1 µg C dm ‐3 ) indicate that APP was a persistent and significant component of the NW Adriatic phytoplankton. The highest APP abundance (up to 270 × 10 3 cells ml ‐1 ) and biomass (up to 49 µg C dm ‐3 ) were recorded from summer to autumn, UFP peaked from late winter to late spring. The mean APP contribution to total phytoplankton abundance and biomass was 98% and 31% respectively. The seasonal variation of total phytoplankton biomass was mainly driven by the UFP fraction; however, a seasonal shift in the relative importance of UFP and APP occurred from spring to summer.
Climate Change Impacts on Plant Pathogens and Plant Diseases

The effects of climate change on plant pathogens and the diseases they cause have been examined in some pathosystems. Predicted climatic changes are expected to affect pathogen development and survival rates and modify host susceptibility, resulting in changes in the impact of diseases on crops. The effects of these climatic changes will differ by pathosystem and geographical region. These changes may affect not only the optimal conditions for infection but also host specificity and mechanisms of plant infection. We describe research on the effects of changes in temperature, CO2 and ozone concentrations, precipitation, and drought on the biology of pathogens and their ability to infect plants and survive in natural and agricultural environments. Changing abiotic conditions will also affect the microclimate surrounding plants and the susceptibility of plants to infection. These changing conditions are expected to affect microbial communities in the soil and canopy pathosystems, possibly altering the currently observed beneficial effects of these communities. Because both pathogens and host plants will be affected by the changing climate, dramatic changes in the magnitude of disease expression in a given pathosystem, the geographical distribution of particular plant diseases, the economic importance of particular diseases in a given location, and the set of diseases that challenge each crop are expected. These changes will affect the measures farmers use to effectively manage disease, as well as the feasibility of particular cropping systems in particular regions.
Consequences of forest fragmentation for polyporous fungi at two spatial scales

Greatly reduced area of old-growth forests and the very low amount of dead wood in managed forests in northern Europe have caused a marked decline in the populations of saproxylic species. It is less clear at which spatial and temporal scales these adverse changes are taking place, and more information is needed to reliably predict which species are especially sensitive to loss and fragmentation of habitat. Here we compare species richness, incidence of occurrence in forest fragments, and abundance of polyporous fungal species and species groups between two regions in Finland with contrasting histories of forestry and a marked difference in the amount and spatial configuration of old-growth forests. We also analyse the consequences of increasing loss of connectivity on the presence and abundance of polypores in a study region with a documented short-term history of old-growth fragmentation. Our results show that the species number, incidence of occurrence, and abundance of especially the rare, threatened, and near-threatened species are much lower in the old-growth fragments in Hame in southern Finland in comparison with Kuhmo in eastern Finland, most probably because of the longer history of intensive forestry in Hame. Among the rare species, the species that show the greatest difference between the two regions (at the scale of 500 km) also tended to respond most strongly to the more recent forest fragmentation within the study region in Kuhmo (at the scale of 50 km). Polypores associated with spruce seem to be more strongly affected by forestry than species associated with pine, possibly reflecting the differences in the natural dynamics of spruce-dominated and pine-dominated forests.
Task-Technology Fit and Technology Acceptance Model Application to Structure and Evaluate the Adoption of Social Media in Academia

The purpose of this article was to reduce the dissimilarities in the literature regarding the use of social media for training and its impact on students’ academic performance in higher education institutions. The main method of data collection for task-technology fit (TTF) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) was a questionnaire survey. This research hypothesizes that TTF applied to social media for learning will affect technology, task, and social characteristics that in turn improve students’ satisfaction and students’ academic performance. It also posits that the behavioral intent to use social media for learning will affect comprehension efficiency, ease of use, and enjoyment, all of which also improve students’ satisfaction and students’ academic performance. The data collection questionnaire was conducted with 162 students familiar with social media. Quantitative structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the results. A significant relationship was found between technology, task, and social features with TTF for utilizing social media for academic purposes, all of which fostered student enjoyment and improved outcomes. Similarly, a clear relationship was found between comprehension efficiency, ease of use, and enjoyment with behavioral intentions to utilize social media for academic purposes that positively affected satisfaction and achievement. Therefore, the study indicates that TTF and behavioral intentions to use social media improve the active learning of students and enable them to efficiently share knowledge, information, and discussions. We recommend that students utilize social media in pursuit of their educational goals. Educators should also be persuaded to incorporate social media into their classes at higher education institutions.
Numerical simulation of tides and tidal currents in Liaodong Bay with POM

A three-dimensional ocean circulation model, called Princeton Ocean Model (POM), is employed to simulate tides and tidal currents in Liaodong Bay. The nested grid technique is adopted to improve the computation precision. Computed harmonic constants of M-1, M-2 tides at five tidal gauge stations and surface elevations at two oil platforms are compared with those observed, and show good agreements with them. Based on the calculated results, the co-amplitude and co-phase tag lines of nil and M-2 tidal constituents, the residual current field of M-2 constituent, tidal form, tidal Current ellipse and the moving style of tidal current are given. It is found that diurnal tidal constituents have no amphidromic point whereas semi-diurnal constituents have one in the region of interest. Meanwhile, some meaningful results are concluded and presented, which are conducive to a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of tides and tidal currents in the Liaodong Bay.
Borate-Vanadate Glass-Ceramic Composites Doped with Crystalline Luminescent Oxide Nanoparticles

The vanadate-borate glass samples were synthesized by melt-quenching method and investigated. The glass compositions showed the best optical characteristics were incorporated with luminescent oxide nanoparticles. Structural and spectral properties of the glass and glass-ceramic composites were studied by XRD, SEM, reflection and luminescent techniques. Dependency of band gap energy on concentrations of glass components was studied using Kubelko-Munk transformations of the measured reflection spectra. Luminescent spectra of the activated glass-ceramic composites depend on matrix composition and method of incorporation of crystalline nanoparticles in the glass matrix. Conditions of synthesis and optimal ratios of the composites components those allow obtaining of samples promising for practical applications are discussed.
Physical Workloads vs Cognitive Tasks Performance - Mobile Monitoring Capabilities

The current study was focused on the registration of physical measurements during alternation tasks of physical load and cognitive task performance. Physical workload consisted of three stages of simple exercise protocol, where the load increased from stage to stage. The cognitive study protocol consisted of a series of cognitive tasks divided by their complexity into easy, moderate and hard levels. For the current study, mental arithmetic, logical tasks and spatial thinking tasks were chosen. Physical parameters of each subject were recorded before and after each task. A simple body area network of mobile sensing devices was comprised to measure pressure, temperature, and pulse of the subject during study. The purpose of the investigation was to see if a simplification of the measurement system can provide reliable data for analysis and therefore can be applied for further field studies.
Effects of EMS and SA on meiotic cells and thymoquinone content of Nigella sativa L. cultivars

The genotoxic effects of EMS (ethyl methane sulphonate) and SA (sodium azide) were examined on meiotic cell division of Nigella sativa L. using two stable cultivars BHUVN-1 and NRCSSAN-1. The percentage of abnormal pollen mother cells (PMCs) increased as the concentration of both mutagens increased. SA turned out to be a superior mutagenic agent to EMS, inducing fewer chromosomal aberrations and more desired mutational changes. Cultivar NRCSSAN-1 proved to be more sensitive than BHUVN-1 to SA treatment; a reverse response, however, was noted with EMS treatment. The study found no perfect correlation between the chromosomal anomalies and pollen sterility. Of the diverse array of mutant populations screened for morphological and biochemical changes, total oil and thymoquinone content were found to be significantly enhanced in NSM8 (a dwarf mutant line).
DFT Study of H2, H2O, and O2 Adsorption on Ni(111) Surface

Nickel sensor action for analytical detection of hydrogen and oxygen gases is dependent on the adsorption, dissociation, and diffusion of hydrogen and oxygen. These processes and water adsorption was studied by the density functional theory with model Ni(111) slabs. It was found that H atoms were absorbed only by voids in the fcc structure as the Ni surface was filled. The voids in the fcc sites were also preferred for the adsorption of oxygen atoms and oxygen-hydrogen pairs. Two bridge adsorption forms of water were found in addition to the well-known, top-site adsorption form.
THE VOCAL REPERTOIRE IN NORTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS CERATOTHERIUM SIMUM COTTONI AS RECORDED IN THE LAST SURVIVING HERD

ABSTRACT The Northern White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum cottoni is a subspecies of the White Rhino that is almost extinct in the wild. We studied the last reproducing herd kept in Zoo Dvur Kralove to describe its vocal repertoire. The calls produced by eight individuals were recorded and analysed as concerned both sound properties and behavioural contexts in which they were emitted. We distinguished 11 calls belonging to four categories: (1) tonal harmonic sounds, (2) puffing sounds, (3) growling sounds, and (4) repetitive sounds. We found an apparent similarity between acoustic parameters of homologous calls recorded in both white rhino subspecies. We further confirmed that the repertoire of white rhino calls is much larger than that reported in other rhino species. We tentatively interpret this finding as an adaptation to increased sociality. Four calls reach the infrasound range; nevertheless, they are probably not used for communication over distance. This is obvious in the case of the grouch call, which contains the highest infrasound component. There are, however, other candidates for such a communication function: the repetitive pant sound, which is not known in other rhino species. We hypothesise that the repetitions may enhance their audibility in the typical open habitats of white rhinos.
Detection and Classification of Complex Power Quality Disturbances Using Hybrid Algorithm Based on Combined Features of Stockwell Transform and Hilbert Transform

This manuscript presents a complex power quality (PQ) disturbances recognition algorithm using hybrid features of signals extracted using Stockwell transform and Hilbert transform. A power quality index is proposed with the help of various complex PQ disturbances are detected effectively. Peak magnitudes of this power quality index are taken as input for decision tree supported by rules to classify the complex PQ disturbances. This algorithm is robust to be incorporated in online PQ monitoring equipments. Effectiveness of proposed algorithm has been established for detecting and classifying the different nature of complex nature PQ disturbances. Study is carried out using MATLAB software.
Diet and Reproductive Output in Seabirds

In recent years, behavioral ecology has placed considerable emphasis on understanding the adaptive basis of diet choice and factors that influence which foods are selected from an available array (Stephens and Krebs 1986). Most of this research, however, has concentrated on estimating how animals might maximize the rate of caloric intake, and there is some evidence that animals are capable of such choices (Kamil et al. 1987, Stephens and Krebs 1986). In contrast, few studies have focused on the relationship between diet and reproductive performance (Kamil et al. 1987). This relationship is important, because reproductive performance is likely to be a better indicator of individual fitness than ability to maximize caloric intake (Pierotti and Annett 1987). Excellent data exist on reproductive performance in many species of birds and mammals. These data demonstrate that individuals vary considerably in reproductive performance, considered both within single breeding seasons and over reproductive lifetimes (Clutton-Brock 1988). Only rarely, however, do these studies identify specific ecological factors, such as individual differences in diet
Local Binary Pattern based Technique for Content Based Image Copy Detection

Now a day’s there is a significant increase in the in the duplicate copies of large original images. One of the main reason for such duplication is due to the availability of large number of image editing software. In this paper, we have proposed a significant image hashing technique based on Local Binary Pattern (LBP) for image identification. Here, the input image is initially pre-processed to remove any kind of minor effects. Local binary pattern (LBP) is then applied to the processed image to produce features which is used for identification. The calculated experimental values show that proposed hashing is giving extraordinary performance against ‘Histogram equalization’ attack. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve shows that proposed hashing gives better results as compared to other referenced techniques. Keeping in view the results obtained for the proposed technique, one can say that we can use such a copy detector for online detection of image copies.
Morphological variation in sexual and agamospermous Amelanchier (Rosaceae)

Agamospermy, which is almost always associated with polyploidy, is often assumed to reduce variation and foster evolution of microspecies. We tested for the occurrence of microspecies by comparing variation of sexual Amelanchier bartramiana and facultatively agamospermous (asexually seed-producing) Amelanchier laevis. We assessed within- and among-population variation of 222 individuals from six Maine populations of each species for eight morphological variables. Mahalanobis distances between individuals and population centroids and between population centroids and species centroids were used as measures of within- and among-population variation, respectively. Amelanchier bartramiana contains significantly more within- and among-population morphological variation than A. laevis. The two species do not differ in how they partition morphological variation within and among populations. Amelanchier laevis thus does not contain microspecies. Variation within A. laevis may be the result of sexuality, hybridizat.
Effect of irradiation on vitamin C content of strawberries and potatoes in combination with storage and with further cooking in potatoes

The vitamin C content of four varieties of strawberry was determined before and after treatment with ionising radiation at doses of 1, 2 or 3 kGy and after storage for 5 and 10 days at 6°C, and also in potatoes which, having been allowed a period of one month to recover from the effects of post-harvest stress, were irradiated at a sprout inhibition dose of 0·15 kGy, followed by storage and cooking. Total ascorbic acid (TAA), ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) concentrations were measured using the technique of ion-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. Results from analysis of the strawberry samples showed the DHAA content increased immediately following irradiation and must, therefore, be taken into account when reporting vitamin C levels in irradiated produce. In addition it was observed that whilst irradiation did affect the vitamin C concentration in all varieties of strawberry, the change was small in comparison with the large variations observed between varieties. With regard to potatoes results showed that, whilst irradiation, storage and cooking all had the effect of reducing vitamin C concentration, irradiated samples stored for 5 months had similar or marginally higher levels than their non-irradiated counterparts. Cooking did not markedly reduce TAA content of irradiated potatoes compared to non-irradiated potatoes and it was also noted that microwave cooking was more destructive than boiling in lightly salted water. ©1997 SCI
Responses of citrus leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, macronutrient and carbohydrate contents to elevated CO2

Summary Ninety days exposure to elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations at and above 600 ppm resulted in ‘down-regulation’ of leaf net photosynthesis rate (A) in completely expanded and old leaves of Citrus madurensis Loureiro (Calamondin). The decrease of A at high CO 2 levels could be explained by a lower activity and/or concentration of Calvin cycle enzymes, which was accompanied by a reduced leaf N content. Nevertheless, C. madurensis did not suffer from nutrient deficiency. Instead, N was redistributed in the plant according to the sink capacity for this macronutrient, which changed at elevated CO 2 levels. Mutual shading of older leaves, which occurred especially at elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations due to the accelerated tree growth, and as a consequence, adaptation to a slightly darker environment may also have played a role for the ‘down-regulation’ of A. A decrease of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm in completely expanded and old leaves of C. madurensis at and above 750 ppm CO 2 is interpreted to indicate photoinhibition at high CO 2 levels. Especially in young leaves of C. madurensis, but also in older ones, the increase of photosynthetic water use efficiency was an important effect of elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations.
Multiple Transient Transitions Behavior Analysis of a Double Memristor’s Hidden System and Its Circuit

In this paper, a low-dimensional hidden nonlinear system is constructed by replacing two linear resistors of a simple integrating circuit with two active memristors. The system was analyzed in detail by using the Lyapunov exponent, 0–1 Test, Poincaré map, phase diagram, power spectral density diagram, time-domain waveform, and chaotic characteristic diagram. The results show that the system can oscillate by itself under zero initial conditions, and there are various transient transition behaviors, such as from chaos to limit cycle, chaos to quasi-periodic, quasi-periodic to another quasi-periodic transition, quasi-periodic to periodic transition. Besides, these transient processes themselves include 2, 3, 4, and 5 different states respectively, showing multiple transient transitions behavior, which are not reported in the related literature. It is also found that the initial states of these transition states have rich symmetrical attractors and the stable state is multistability. In addition, the global entropy analysis method is adopted to test the universal existence of transient behaviors, which demonstrates that the system has rich nonlinear characteristics. Finally, the memristive circuit verifies the system’s physical feasibility and enriches the application of memristors in circuit theory.
Caracterização do processo de rigor mortis do músculo Ilio-ischiocaudalis de jacaré-do-pantanal (Caiman crocodilus yacare) e maciez da carne

This paper studied six pantanal alligators (Caiman crocodilus yacare) carcass with goal of rigor mortis process characterization of Ilio-ischiocaudalis muscle during industrial cooling and meat tenderness. The alligators were randomly assembled and slaughtered at Cooperativa de Criadores do Jacare do Pantanal (COOCRIJAPAN) - Caceres- Mato Grosso After exsanguination, were mensured temperature of chilling room and carcasses, pH and samples were collected for determination the sarcomere length, shear force and cooking loss at different times (0.5, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24 and 36 hours). The temperature of chilling room varied from 2.6°C (0.5h) to 0.9°C (36h) and the mean carcass temperature from 21.0°C to 4.2°C, respectively. The mean initial pH of the muscle was 6.7 and the final was 5.6. The smallest sarcomere size ocurred at 15 hours after exsanguination (1.5µm). This meat presents shear force lower than 6.0kg.