Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive effects of pH and temperature on native and alien mussels from the west coast of South Africa

Global warming and ocean acidification influence marine calcifying organisms, particularly those with external shells. Among these, mussels may compensate for environmental changes by phenotypic plasticity, but this may entail trade-offs between shell deposition, growth and reproduction. We assessed main and interactive effects of pH and temperature on four mussel species on the west coast of South Africa (33°48′ S, 18°27′ E) in October 2012 by comparing shell dissolution, shell growth, shell breaking force and condition index of two native species, the ribbed mussel Aulacomya atra and the black mussel Choromytilus meridionalis, and two aliens, the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the bisexual mussel Semimytilus algosus. Live mussels and dead shells were exposed for 42 days to seawater of pH 7.5 or 8.0, at 14 °C or 20 °C. Low pH, high temperature and their combination increased shell dissolution of the two aliens but their growth rates and condition indices remained unchanged. Aulacomya atra also experienced greater shell dissolution at a low pH and high temperature, but grew faster in low-pH treatments. For C. meridionalis, shell dissolution was unaffected by pH or temperature; it also grew faster in low-pH treatments, but had a lower condition index in the higher temperature treatment. Shell strength was not determined by thickness alone. In most respects, all four species proved to be robust to short-term reduction of pH and elevation of temperature, but the native species compensated for greater shell dissolution at low pH by increasing growth rate, whereas the aliens did not, so their invasive success cannot be ascribed to benefits accruing from climate change.
Thyroid antibodies in association with thyroid malignancy

Occurrence of thyroid antibodies and thyroiditis in association with thyroid malignancy, suspected malignancy or other thyroid diseases was studied in 177 patients. Retrospective clinical analysis revealed that 137 patients had thyroid carcinoma (108 papillary carcinomas, 10 occult papillary carcinomas, 14 follicular carcinomas, and 5 other carcinomas) and 40 had other thyroid diseases. Thyroid microsomal (AMC) and thyroglobulin antibodies (ATG) were measured by the particle agglutination method. Clinically significant thyroid antibody titers and histological or clinical features of thyroiditis were seen in nine patients with thyroid carcinoma, being equally prevalent in follicular and papillary carcinomas. Taking into account the prevalence of positive AMC antibodies and thyroid carcinoma in Finland, the highest predicted prevalence of simultaneously occurring thyroid carcinoma and thyroiditis in the under 40 age group should be 0.002% and in the over 40 age group 0.006%. In the present material the observed occurrences in corresponding age groups were unexpectedly high (4.7% and 5.2%). The results may partly be due to patient selection, but they also suggest that there might be a link between thyroiditis and thyroid carcinoma.
Micropropagation of Semecarpus anacardium L.: A medicinally important tree species

Abstract Semecarpus anacardium L. , a deciduous forest tree, is a source of medicinal compounds. Poor seed-viability restricts the conventional propagation. Micropropagation protocol is standardized for this species. Shoot culture-derived nodal explants were cultured in woody plant media supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ). Shoot differentiation from meristem was limited. Meristems swelled to form meristematic mass in higher concentrations of TDZ. Swelling of meristem was attributed to the proliferation of meristematic cells. Development of shoots from meristematic mass on withdrawal of TDZ in culture medium indicated the inhibitory influence of TDZ on differentiation of buds to form shoots. Harvesting the primary shoot, leads to appearance of additional shoot buds which elongated on repeated transfer of explants in a medium devoid of growth regulator every four weeks. Optimum (17) number of shoots obtained from each meristem in explants pre-cultured in TDZ 2.27 μM and re-cultured in growth regulator free medium for seven cycles (28 weeks). This confirms the stimulatory influence of TDZ on proliferation of meristem and inhibitory influence on shoot differentiation. All shoots, rooted in the medium with Indole butyric acid 2.46 μM. Plantlets survived on transfer to sand: soil (1:1) mixture and acclimatized. This is the first report on micropropagation of S. anacardium from seedling derived nodal buds using TDZ.
Description of a Digital Cranial Endocast of Bathygenys reevesi (Merycoidodontidae; Oreodontoidea) and Implications for Apomorphy-Based Diagnosis of Isolated, Natural Endocasts

ABSTRACT Relatively few studies of cranial endocasts document intraspecific variation. Here, discrete morphological and morphometric variation from a sample of more than 150 natural cranial endocasts from a single Eocene locality, Reeves Bonebed (hereafter ‘RBB’) from West Texas are documented. The first description of a digital endocast of an oreodont, Bathygenys reevesi, is given to provide comparative data for other oreodont endocasts. The RBB endocasts were originally assigned to B. reevesi, but virtually none has diagnostic craniodental material still attached, and isolated endocasts of other cetartiodactyl species are known from this locality. Consequently, an attempt was made to identify apomorphies on the RBB sample to diagnose specimens to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The RBB endocasts were diagnosed as oreodonts based on the presence of large, rounded casts of the tuberculum olfactorium, but no specimen can be diagnosed to a particular species. The range for most linear measurements for the RBB sample overlapped with measures from multiple species of oreodonts from RBB. A coefficient of variation analysis of linear measurements suggests that the RBB sample represents more than one species. Therefore, endocasts from RBB that lack associated craniodental material cannot be definitively assigned to a species, and the original assumption that all are B. reevesi is not supported. This illustrates the necessity of applying apomorphy-based identifications for isolated specimens, including endocasts. In addition, this study reveals some gaps in data from cetartiodactyl brains, which need to be filled for future studies on brain evolution in this clade.
Variation in virulence within the population of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in New York.

(.) Isolates did not differ widely, indicating only a moderate degree of physiologic specialization in the populations of P. tritici-repentis under study. Similarity of wheat cultivars was also determined based on their patterns of resistance to 17 isolates of P. tritici-repentis. Winter wheat cultivars currently grown in New York possess moderate to high resistance, whereas spring wheat cultivars are susceptible to P. tritici-repentis. For wheat breeding purposes, screening wheat genotypes with a few virulent isolates may suffice in selection for a moderate level of resistance to P. tritici-repentis. Cluster analysis may be a useful tool to discern similarities among pathogen isolates and among host genotypes in quantitative host-pathogen systems, but experimental variation may influence cluster composition
The distribution of some basicranial characters within the Marsupialia and a phylogeny of the Phalangeriformes

ABSTRACT Relationships among diprotodontian marsupials have remained enigmatic despite recent work in neontology and paleontology. Thus, the long suspected monophyly of phalangeriform marsupials in not well established. Basicranial anatomy, however, may be useful in elucidating phylogenetic relationships within the Diprotodontia. Specifically, phalangeriform marsupials have a broadened ectotympanic, a tympanic cavity that is firmly surrounded by bone, and an alisphenoid tympanic wing that extends posteriorly to the anterior margin of the paroccipital and/or posterior lacerate foramen. Within the Phalangeriformes, phalangeroids and petauroids exhibit several derived characters not present in the macropodoids. These characters include modifications of the postglenoid process, the external auditory meatus, the ventral postglenoid foramen, and the bones of the auditory region of the skull. Other derived characters, both cranial and dental, argue against the monophyly of a clade containing phalangeroids and pe.
Reducing moisture effects on soil organic carbon content prediction in visible and near-infrared spectra with an external parameter othogonalization algorithm

Abstract: Field spectroscopy and other efficient hyperspectral techniques have been widely used to measure soil properties, including soil organic carbon (SOC) content. However, reflectance measurements based on field spectroscopy are quite sensitive to uncontrolled variations in surface soil conditions, such as moisture content; hence, such variations lead to drastically reduced prediction accuracy. The goals of this work are to (i) explore the moisture effect on soil spectra with different SOC levels, (ii) evaluate the selection of optimal parameter for external parameter othogonalization (EPO) in reducing moisture effect, and (iii) improve SOC prediction accuracy for semi-arid soils with various moisture levels by combing the EPO with machine learning method. Soil samples were collected from grassland regions of Inner Mongolia in North China. Rewetting laboratory experiments were conducted to make samples moisturized at five levels. Visible and near-infrared spectra (350–2500 nm) of soil samples rewetted were observed using a hand-held SVC HR-1024 spectroradiometer. Our results show that moisture influences the correlation between SOC content and soil reflectance spectra and that moisture has a greater impact on the spectra of samples with low SOC. An EPO algorithm can quantitatively extract information of the affected spectra from the spectra of moist soil samples by an optimal singular value. A SOC model that effectively couples EPO with random forest (RF) outperforms partial least-square regression (PLSR)-based models. The EPO–RF model generates better results with R 2 of 0.86 and root-mean squared error (RMSE) of 3.82 g kg-1, whereas a PLSR model gives R 2 of 0.79 and RMSE of 4.68 g kg-1.
Lowering the Minimum Donation Amount Increases Consumer Purchase Likelihood of Products Associated with Cause-Related Marketing Campaigns

Both the total amount to be donated and the way it is communicated can influence consumer reactions to cause-related marketing (CM) campaigns. While companies often choose not to explicate any donation limit, this study argues that donation frames (e.g., minimum or maximum total donation) can enhance the likelihood of consumer purchases associated with CM campaigns. In a series of four studies, the authors find that consumers often respond more favorably to minimum-frame CM campaigns with a relatively low donation amount (e.g., at least $100,000 will be donated) than those with a high donation amount (e.g., at least $10 million will be donated) despite the superiority of the latter for the recipient cause. This effect is inverted for maximum donation frames, such that a high donation amount leads to greater consumer participation. This research also demonstrates that this effect is driven by the consumer desire to make a personal contribution to a cause, which is more likely to be observed when consumers endow it with high importance. These effects are obtained with attitudes, behavioral intentions, and actual expenditures.
Surface-sediment chrysophytes from 35 Quebec lakes and their usefulness in reconstructing lake-water pH

Chrysophyte scales from surface sediment samples of 35 Quebec lakes were analyzed to examine their relationship with lake-water pH. The percent composition of common chrysophyte taxa were plotted against the measured lake-water pH. The distribution of many taxa was found to be closely associated with pH. The pH indicator status and abundance-weighted mean pH values of the majority of taxa of the studied region agreed with the published work. Chrysophyte counts were quantified to establish a predictive pH model using multiple regressions of pH indicator chrysophyte assemblages with lake-water pH. A strong relationship (r2 = 0.72) was observed between measured and inferred pH values. The pH predictive ability of chrysophytes was further corroborated by reconstructing the recent pH history of Lake Bonneville. Over the last 30 years, the inferred pH of this lake has declined ≈ 1 pH unit. The present study accentuates that stratigraphic analysis of chrysophytes will provide useful measurements of the extent of.
Affective Communication of Map Symbols: A Semantic Differential Analysis

Maps enable us to relate to spatial phenomena and events from viewpoints far beyond direct experience. By employing signs and symbols, maps communicate about near as well as distant geospatial phenomena, events, objects, or ideas. Besides acting as identifiers, map signs and symbols may, however, not only denote but also connote. While most cartographic research has focused on the denoting character of visual variables, research from related disciplines stresses the importance of connotative qualities on affect, cognition, and behavior. Hence, this research focused on the connotative character of map symbols by empirically assessing the affective qualities of shape stimuli. In three stimulus conditions of cartographic and non-cartographic contexts, affective responses towards a set of eight shape stimuli were assessed by employing a semantic differential technique. Overall findings showed that shape symbols lead to, at times, highly distinctive affective responses. Findings further suggest two particular stimulus clusters of affective qualities that prevailed over all stimulus conditions, i.e., a cluster of asymmetric stimuli and a cluster of symmetric stimuli. Between the intersection of psychology, cartography, and semiotics, this paper outlines theoretical perspectives on cartographic semiotics, discusses empirical findings, and addresses implications for future research.
Soil surface features as indicators of rangeland site productivity.

Criteria for the classification of Red Earth soils into groups reflecting differences in their productive potenrial were investigated on three sites near Cobar, New South Wales. Five features were shown to be useful by cluster and discriminate analysis of an extensive data set. A field-based classification using six very similar criteria was also tested and shown to agree with the cluster method. Laboratory tests for stability and fertility of the surface soil layer from each class indicated a significant difference between classes, and a narrow range of values for an individual class. Herbage production on quadrats over the range of soil surface condition also consistently reflected the classification. When the method was tested with three personnel previously unfamiliar with the criteria, good agreement with the original experimental set was obtained.
Carcass and beef characteristics of young bulls finished in feedlot and fed diets with different concentrate levels

The objetive in this experiment was to evaluate carcass and beef quantitative and qualitative characterstics from young bulls, slaughtered at 14-16 months of age and fed diets containing different concentrate levels. It was used sixteen Charolais- Nellore crossbreed non-castrated young bulls and fed diets containing 22; 40; 59 or 79% of concentrate. The animals were complete randomly distributed, with four replicates per diet. Initial age and body weight of the animals were 9.32 months and 192.44 kg, respectively. The animals were slaugthered at 400 kg of body weight in a packing plant, 54 km away from the feedlot. The diet offered was isoproteic and the roughage used was corn silage. The carcass physiological maturity decreased as the concentrate in diet increased. The hindquarter percentage, beef color, and texture increased linearly as the level of concentrate in diet increased. Increase in the concentrate levels in the diet does not affect the majority of carcass characterstics, although it improves meat visual aspect.
Nutrient uptake and alkaline phosphatase (ec 3:1:3:1) activity of emiliania huxleyi (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) during growth under n and p limitation in continuous cultures

Emiliania huxleyi (strain L) expressed an exceptional P assimilation capability. Under P limitation, the minimum cell P content was 2.6 fmol P·cell−1, and cell N remained constant at all growth rates at 100 fmol N·cell−1. Both, calcification of cells and the induction of the phosphate uptake system were inversely correlated with growth rate. The highest (cellular P based) maximum phosphate uptake rate (VmaxP) was 1400 times (i.e. 8.9 h−1) higher than the actual uptake rate. The affinity of the P‐uptake system (dV/dS) was 19.8 L·μmol−1·h−1 at μ = 0.14 d−1. This is the highest value ever reported for a phytoplankton species. Vmax and dV/dS for phosphate uptake were 48% and 15% lower in the dark than in the light at the lowest growth rates.
Robust global distributed attitude control for multiple rigid bodies using a hybrid controller

ABSTRACT This work proposes a distributed attitude synchronisation control for an undirected connected network of agents that robustly globally asymptotically stabilises the synchronised state. The strategy uses a quaternion representation of the attitude and hysteretic hybrid feedback with one binary logic variable for each agent to solve the problems arisen when purely continuous or memoryless discontinuous state-feedback laws are employed, such as the unwinding phenomenon and sensitivity to chattering. Compared to the scenario of a single rigid-body, for the strategy employed, the multiple rigid bodies scenario, a stronger requirement on the hysteresis half-width is necessary. Simulation results show the performance of the proposed controller in a six-agent scenario in contrast with another controller reported in the literature using a non-hybrid continuous feedback law.
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes as tracers of change in diet breadth during Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in Europe

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in fossil bone collagen have been used as evidence for an increase of diet breadth between Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthals and Early Upper Palaeolithic anatomically modern humans. In this paper, we revisit the rules of palaeodietary reconstruction using collagen stable isotopes and reassess the possible isotopic signatures of potential protein resources available to prehistoric humans. It appears that the interpretation of the human's isotopic signature does not necessarily imply a significant proportion of aquatic-derived protein in the diet neither for Neandertal nor for first anatomically modern humans in Europe. Exploitation of aquatic ecosystems by humans needs to be supported by further zooarchaeological evidence. Nevertheless, isotopic biogeochemistry of fossil human collagen can be very useful in palaeodietary reconstructions provided that basic rules are followed while selecting samples of coeval fauna, in order to establish the end members of different food resources. Significant progress investigating the evolution of subsistence strategies in fossil hominids is expected from a combination of zooarchaeological and isotopic data. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensitivity of Ancient Lake Ohrid to Local Anthropogenic Impacts and Global Warming

ABSTRACT Human impacts on the few ancient lakes of the world must be assessed, as any change can lead to an irreversible loss of endemic communities. In such an assessment, the sensitivity of Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania; surface area A = 358 km2, volume V = 55 km3, > 200 endemic species) to three major human impacts—water abstraction, eutrophication, and global warming—is evaluated. It is shown that ongoing eutrophication presents the major threat to this unique lake system, even under the conservative assumption of an increase in phosphorus (P) concentration from the current 4.5 to a potential future 9 mg P m−3. Eutrophication would lead to a significant reduction in light penetration, which is a prerequisite for endemic, deep living plankton communities. Moreover, a P increase to 9 mg P m−3 would create deep water anoxia through elevated oxygen consumption and increase in the water column stability due to more mineralization of organic material. Such anoxic conditions would severely threaten the endemic bottom fauna. The trend toward anoxia is further amplified by the predicted global warming of 0.04°C yr−1, which significantly reduces the frequency of complete seasonal deep convective mixing compared to the current warming of 0.006°C yr−1. This reduction in deep water exchange is triggered by the warming process rather than by overall higher temperatures in the lake. In contrast, deep convective mixing would be even more frequent than today under a higher temperature equilibrium, as a result of the temperature dependence of the thermal expansivity of water. Although water abstraction may change local habitats, e.g., karst spring areas, its effects on overall lake properties was shown to be of minor importance.
Southern Hemisphere temperate tree lines are not climatically depressed

Southern temperate tree lines are found at low elevations compared with their Northern Hemisphere counterparts. They are also regarded as forming at warm temperatures, which has been attributed to taxon‐specific limitations. Using New Zealand tree lines as an example, we assess whether these tree lines are anomalously warm compared with the global mean.
Do Derivatives Instruments Ownership Decrease Firm Value in Indonesia?

This research aims to examine the association between derivatives instruments and firm value. This research is quantitative research with multiple linear regression models and panel data. The sample employed in this research is non-financial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The type of data used in this study is secondary data sourced from financial statements, stock price information, and annual reports from 2012 to 2017. The sample selection using a purposive sampling method with the number of samples amounted to 246 firm-year. The result of this study suggests that a derivatives instrument is not associated with firm value. Investors in Indonesia do not consider ownership of derivative instruments by companies whether those are harmful of not for the investment impact. Also, derivatives do not have an official market in Indonesia as well as investors also do not understand the purpose of derivative ownership by companies.
Micro-Franchising in the Bottom of the Pyramid Market: Rwanda

Abstract This study examines how a mission-driven shared identification can help mitigate the failure of a micro-franchise in Rwanda, a bottom of the pyramid market. A single case study was adopted following Gioia’s established analytical process. Interviews, semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted between the period of 2018 and 2019. It was found that, a mission-driven shared identification can be achieved if a micro-franchisor promotes a culture of sharing and perceived organisational support among micro-franchisees. Also, an alliance with the government or its endorsement is necessary in encouraging franchisees to identify with a micro-franchisor. Furthermore, in a collectivist culture, if a micro-franchisor succeeds in establishing shared identification, the franchisees are very likely to remain loyal in times of crisis.