Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemical composition and coagulating properties of renneted milks from different breeds and species of ruminant

Summary The detailed chemical composition of 25 milks from different breeds of cow, sheep and goat were related to their properties of rennet clotting, coagulum development and syneresis at pH 6·4. Experiments in which concentrations of fat and whey proteins in milk were manipulated, and in which milks were homogenized at different pressures, were also carried out and the effects observed were related to the above processes. The composition of milks varied widely and many relations between concentrations of components could be related to their known modes of secretion from the alveolus or to their structural functions in the colloidal phase of milk. Rennet clotting was related to total Ca concentration and also to the proportions of αs- and β-caseins present. Coagulum strength was strongly related to total casein concentration in milk but was unaffected by total fat content or by casein/fat ratios. Syneresis was inversely related to fat content of milk and little affected by coagulum strength. Homogenization retarded syneresis, probably by altering coagulum structure and modifying entrapment of fat globules within the coagulum.
A Scheme for Trustworthy Friendly Jammer Selection in Cooperative Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, we consider a centralized cooperative cognitive radio network (CCRN), where a primary base station sends a message to a primary user. Meanwhile, a secondary user transmitter (SU-Tx) acts as a friendly jammer that sends jamming signals (artificial noise) to protect the transmitted message from a potential eavesdropper (Eve). However, the SU-Tx may not be completely honest in sending jamming signals for selfish reasons, i.e., it may be untrusted. To select a trustworthy SU-Tx as a friendly jammer, we adopt the concept of trust degree as a selection criterion. We investigate the trust degree's influence on the secrecy performance of a CCRN in cases of perfect channel state information (CSI) and statistical CSI, respectively. In the case of perfect CSI, the accurate expected secrecy rate is derived to evaluate the secrecy performance. In the case of statistical CSI, we calculate the probabilities of the transmission and secrecy outage events, and the secrecy performance is evaluated in terms of effective secrecy throughput. In both cases, we obtain the target trust degree thresholds based on the target secrecy performance thresholds, respectively. Next, we investigate how to calculate the trust degree of each SU-Tx and establish a trust degree list of all SU-Txs. Finally, according to the trust degree list and the target trust degree thresholds, we can select a trustworthy SU-Tx as a friendly jammer in both two cases. A comprehensive simulation study is carried out to validate our secrecy performance analyses and the trust degree management.
A Study of Retinal Development in Larval Herring and Sole

It is known from earlier work (Blaxter & Jones, 1967; Blaxter, 1968a; Blaxter & Staines, 1970) that the larvae of many species of teleost have a pure-cone retina. The rods only appear well after hatching and often as late as metamorphosis. This means that much of the larval life may be spent without fully developed eyes. The rods are difficult to resolve under the light microscope using paraffin sections (about 5 µm) and it is therefore easier to compare the number of cones with the prominent visual cell nuclei in the outer layer (ONL) in such preparations. The ratio has been found to be 1:1 in the early stages and changes as the rods develop, reaching ratios of 1:15 or more in adult fish. Thus, for every cone there may be 14 or more rods.
The Impact of Advertising and R&D on Bankruptcy Survival: A Double-Edged Sword

Advertising and research and development (R&D) benefit firms by increasing sales and shareholder value. However, when a firm is in bankruptcy, the cumulative effects of its past advertising and R&D can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they increase the firm’s expected future cash flow, which increases the likelihood that the bankruptcy court will decide the firm can survive. On the other hand, they increase the liquidation value of the firm’s assets, which decreases the likelihood that the bankruptcy court will decide that the firm can survive. The author argues that the ability of advertising and R&D to either increase or decrease bankruptcy survival is contingent on the influence that the firm’s suppliers have, relative to other creditors, on the bankruptcy court’s decision. Advertising and R&D increase (decrease) bankruptcy survival when suppliers have a high (low) level of influence. Empirical analyses, conducted on 1,504 bankruptcies, show that advertising (R&D) increases bankruptcy survival when at least 35%−38% (18%−21%) of the bankrupt firm’s debt has been borrowed from suppliers, whereas it decreases bankruptcy survival below this point. Out-of-sample machine learning validation shows that the ability to predict whether a bankrupt customer will survive is substantially improved by considering the firm’s advertising and R&D.
Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa, TNF- α , and IL-1 β , but Not IL-6, Induce Human β -Defensin-2 in Respiratory Epithelia

Cultured lung epithelial cells release antibacterial activity upon contact with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), which is impaired in cystic fibrosis (CF). In order to identify the factors responsible for killing PA by a biochemical approach, we purified antimicrobial activity from supernatants of the A549 lung epithelial cell line, previously stimulated with PA bacteria, by subsequent high performance liquid chromatography. NH2-terminal sequencing of a major bactericidal compound revealed it to be identical with human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2). A mucoid phenotype of PA, but not two nonmucoid PA strains, high concentrations ( > 10 μ g/ml) of PA lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor α , and interleukin (IL)-1 β , but not IL-6, dose-dependently induced hBD-2 messenger RNA in cultured normal bronchial, tracheal, as well as normal and CF-derived nasal epithelial cells. Genomic analysis of hBD-2 revealed a promoter region containing several putative transcription factor binding sites, including nuclear factor (N.
Nectar Production and Floral Characteristics of Tropaeolum majus L. Grown in Ambient and Elevated Carbon Dioxide

Abstract Tropaeolum majus (nasturtiums) were grown from seed in growth cabinets, under 380 and 750 ppmv CO2. Elevated CO2significantly increased nectar secretion rate, both in flowers milked of nectar daily and in once sampled, 3-d-old flowers. Elevated CO2did not affect time to flowering, total number of flowers produced, pollen to ovule ratio, or the total or individual concentrations of nectar amino acids. The dry weight and longevity of individual flowers was also unchanged. Nectar sugar content was unchanged by elevated CO2in a subset of flowers used to assess the 3-d-old nectar volume. This subset did not show the same increase in nectar volume under elevated CO2as the full set, resulting in the concentration of sugars remaining unchanged. Overall, the quantity rather than the quality of the nectar changed under elevated CO2while flower characteristics remained constant, implying that the identity of pollinators may remain the same while foraging behaviour (e.g. number of visits per plant, distance travelled) may change in the future.
Predicting willingness‐to‐sell and its utility for assessing conservation opportunity for expanding protected area networks

Translating maps of priority areas for conservation into activities which actually secure these places is a complex process, overwhelmingly influenced by human and social factors. Spatial conservation prioritizations often assume that land is available for acquisition. Using data gathered through interviews, we predicted land managers willingness‐to‐sell their land. We included this information in spatial prioritization analyses that aimed to identify areas that achieve conservation objectives while maximizing the probability that land will be available for acquisition. As anticipated, our solutions were more likely of being available for acquisition compared to solutions that did not include the willingness‐to‐sell data. Our results illustrate the trade‐off between designing so‐called “optimal” networks of protected areas, and the realities of translating these maps into on‐ground action. We demonstrate how an important aspect of the social context in which conservation is embedded and defines conservation opportunities can be explicitly accounted for in the development of conservation plans.
Caracterización técnica y socioeconómica de la producción ovina en el estado de Yucatán, México

Caracterizacion tecnica y socioeconomica de la produccion ovina en el estado de Yucatan, Mexico. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la situacion socioeconomica de la produccion ovina en el estado de Yucatan Mexico, durante el ano 2007. El metodo de investigacion consistio en el levantamiento de encuestas mediante cedulas de entrevista, estratificando las unidades de produccion (UP) por numero de vientres (E1 de 1-20, E2 de 21-50 y E3 de mas de 50). Las fuentes alimenticias son praderas, alimento concentrado, agostaderos y pasturas de corte, y se suplementa con minerales. El empadre continuo (76,7%) es comun, la inseminacion artificial se realiza solo en E3 (2,2%). Las enfermedades frecuentes y con mayor incidencia en E1 son: la neumonia (37%), clostridio (27,7%) y el carbon sintomatico (20,2%). Los periodos de desparasitacion se dan fuera de lo recomendado: cada seis meses (41,7%) y anual (33,8%). El cuidado de la hembra proxima al parto y del cordero, se realizan en un 63,3%, y aumenta segun el estrato; mientras que los abortos disminuyen al aumentar el estrato. La mortalidad presento indices normales, solamente en E1, la mortalidad predestete fue elevada (12,2%). Los principales criterios para la venta de animales fueron: peso del animal y necesidad de dinero, y esta se realizo comunmente en la UP (83,7%). Los gastos de mayor magnitud son: mano de obra (23,7%) y alimentacion (21,9%). El ingreso proviene de la venta de animales con peso al mercado y destetes; la rentabilidad solo fue positiva para el estrato 3, con ganancias promedio de $ 2,8 por kilogramo de carne en pie.
The Nesting Biology of the Grey-headed Robin Heteromyias albispecularis (Petroicidae) in Australian Upland Tropical Rainforest

Summary Seventy-eight nests of the Grey-headed Robin Heteromyias albispecularis were studied on the Paluma Range, north Queensland, during 1978–89 and three on the southern Atherton Tableland in 1997. Only one pair of birds attended each nest. The presumed female built, incubated, brooded and fed young, provisioning herself and being fed by her mate. The male did not feed the offspring directly. Nests took 12–15 days to build and often remained empty for 2–4 weeks before egg laying. Nests were open cups typically built upon the spiny stems of a climbing palm Calamus sp. or in the crowns of saplings, mostly < 3 m above ground. Nesting at Paluma began in late August-early September. Most (90%) clutches were incubated during September-November, with October the peak month (59%) and 81% of nestlings left the nest in November. Of 46 clutches, 56% were of two eggs and 44% of one egg (mean clutch size 1.6). Fresh eggs (1–3 days old) weighed 15% of mean adult female weight on average, and were incubated for 17–19 days in bouts averaging 6.8 min at a rate of 5.8 per h. There was little variation in nestling period between broods of one and two; the median for all broods was 12–13 (range 10–14) days. Females brooded young for 33% of diurnal observation time and fed them 9.7 times per h. Males provisioned nesting females 1.3 times per h during incubation, 5.2 times per h during the nestling stage and overall provided 47% of nestling meals indirectly. Eighty-three per cent of eggs hatched and 54% of nestlings fledged; 39% of eggs produced fledglings at a rate of 0.7 per nest. Overall nest success rate was 45%, or higher (53%) if restricted to only those nests whose fate was known. These findings are compared with those of other Australasian robins.
California Coastal Erosion Response to Sea Level Rise- Analysis and Mapping

Services provided pursuant to this Agreement are intended solely for the use and benefit of the Pacific Institute and the Ocean Protection Council. No other person or entity shall be entitled to rely on the services, opinions, recommendations, plans or specifications provided pursuant to this agreement without the express written consent of Philip Williams & make no warrant, express or implied, and assume no responsibility or liability for the results of any actions taken or other information developed based on this report; nor does any party represent that the uses of this information will not infringe upon privately owned rights. This report is being made available for informational purposes only and has not been approved or disapproved by the OPC, nor has the OPC passed upon the accuracy, currency, completeness, or adequacy of the information in this report. Users of this report agree by their use to hold blameless the OPC and the authors of the report for any liability associated with its use in any form. This work shall not be used to assess actual coastal hazards, insurance requirements, or property values.
Growth and allocation of Picea rubens, Picea mariana, and their hybrids under ambient and elevated CO2

Red spruce (RS; Picea rubens Sarg.) – black spruce (BS; Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) controlled crosses (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0% RS, balance BS) showed increasingly greater height with increasing proportion of BS in each successive year. Height growth of 4-year-old ambient CO2 (aCO2) grown trees was highly correlated with height of 22-year-old field-grown trees of the same or similar crosses. Bud flush was earliest in BS and declined linearly with increasing proportion of RS with no significant CO2 effect. Percent stem (stem + branches) mass increased under elevated CO2 (eCO2), a quarter of which was due to ontogeny. Conversely, percent needle mass had a significant negative relationship with increasing tree size, and there was a CO2 × tree size interaction. Shoot-to-root ratio was greatest for BS, whereas RS had among the lowest. Hybrid index (HI) 50 had the greatest root mass allocation, lowest shoot-to-root ratio, and among the greatest total mass under eCO2. Growth efficiency increased with tree .
Increasing plant longevity and associated metabolic events in potted carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. Clove Pink)

The effects of aminooxyacetic acid, benzyladenine, and 1-methylcyclopropene treatments on the post-production flower quality of potted carnation plants (Dianthus caryophyllus L. Clove Pink) were investigated considering ethylene production and antioxidant metabolism. Maximum plant longevity (17 days) was obtained using 70 ppb of 1-methylcyclopropene. As compared to control plants, ethylene production was significantly decreased by aminooxyacetic acid at concentrations over 100 mg L-1, benzyladenine at 20 or 30 mg L-1, and 1-methylcyclopropene at 70 and 140 ppb. A significant increase in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid concentration was observed in 1-methylcyclopropene treated plants compared with the control ones. On the other hand, decline in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid concentration was observed after using 100 or 150 mg L-1 of aminooxyacetic acid. Use of 1-methylcyclopropene (70 or 140 ppb), aminooxyacetic acid (100 or 150 mg L-1), and benzyladenine (20 or 30 mg L-1) significantly decreased H2O2 concentration and superoxide radical when compared with the untreated control. Significant increases in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase were noticed when plants were treated with 70 ppb 1-methylcyclopropene. In conclusion, aminooxyacetic acid, benzyladenine (at high concentrations), and 1-methylcyclopropene treatments can be suitable candidates for extending plant longevity, maintaining the visual quality, and reducing the loss of flower anthocyanin.
Teachers’ Instructional Quality and Students’ Difficulty Level in Financial Accounting at Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria

The performance of senior secondary school students in Financial Accounting had not been encouraging. Several factors could be responsible for the low performance in the school system. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the teachers’ instructional quality and students’ difficulty level in Financial Accounting at the senior secondary school level in Lagos State based on students’ and teachers’ perceptions. The study raised and answered three related research questions and also formulated and tested two relevant research hypotheses. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised all students and teachers of Financial Accounting in the public senior secondary schools under Education District IV in Lagos State. Specifically, the population was two thousand four hundred and ninety-two (2492) senior secondary school 1 and senior secondary school 2 students of Financial Accounting and ten (10) teachers of Financial Accounting from the ten selected schools. The sample size for this study was three hundred and thirty-three (333) students, using Checkmarket Sample Size Calculator at five percent (5%) margin and ninety-five (95%) confidence level, but three hundred (300) was used eventually due to logistics challenge. All the ten teachers of Financial Accounting were used as sample due to their limited number. The research instrument used was structured questionnaire. The internal consistency of the research instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha correlation coefficient and it yielded an average index of 0.90. The research questions and hypotheses data were analysed using mean and standard deviation as well as t-test statistical tools respectively at 0.05 level of significance. The results, among others, show that most of the teachers were first-degree holders and had obtained adequate teaching experiences. However, most teachers had not obtained higher academic and professional certificates. Most of the teachers of Financial Accounting were not using activity-based pedagogical strategies. In addition, the findings show that most of the topics in the Financial Accounting syllabus were difficult to students. Therefore, it was recommended, among others, that more innovative and experiential learning strategies should be adopted; proper orientation should be given to students on how to succeed in Financial Accounting; and teachers should upgrade in order to acquire high-class professional qualifications for them to have a thorough understanding of topics, which gave serious challenges to their students.
Canonical Analysis for Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Three Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Rapid exploratory field survey, to identify indigenous chicken ecotypes was conducted in north Gondar zone of Ethiopia. Chicken ecotypes including Necked neck, Gasgie and Gugut from Quara, Alefa and Tache Armacheho districts were identified, respectively. Morphological variations among the three study populations and nine measurable traits were evaluated. General linear model, canonical discriminate and stepwise analyses were applied for assessing variability among the study populations. Necked neck and Gasgie ecotypes were heavier and had wider linear traits than the rest, while most of the study traits for the Gugut ecotype were the lowest. The most important variables for discriminating between the three populations were shank length, keel length, wingspan and beak length with canonical discriminant function score of 0.897, 0.752, 0.449 and 0.433, respectively. The greatest distance value was between Gasgie and Necked neck ecotype while the least one was between Gugut and Necked neck. The discriminate analysis therefore classified the three populations to be distinct clusters. The morphological traits studied have proved to be useful in genetic characterization of indigenous chickens and can thus be useful in developing strategies for conservation of the genetic diversity.
The effect of ethanol fixation on stable isotope signatures in benthic organisms

Stable isotope analyses are often used for the estimation of food web structures based on empirical fractionation (i.e., enrichment of carbon isotope signatures at 0–1‰ with one trophic level, and that of nitrogen at 3–4‰). We examined the effect of 80% ethanol fixation on both carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures of six species of macrobenthos samples. The effect of fixation was inconsistent (i.e. both enrichment and depletion occurred). The shift of nitrogen isotope signatures due to fixation ranged from −0.3 to +0.8‰, and the carbon signatures of fixed samples showed enrichment by −0.3 to +1.3‰ depending on the species. These changes would clearly affect estimation of trophic levels and energy flow in food webs. Ethanol fixation may not be a smart choice because of the inconsistency of the effect on isotope signatures. However, if the effect was corrected for each species, ethanol-fixed samples can be practically useful for food web analyses using stable isotopes.
Cold responses of Arabidopsis mutants impaired in freezing tolerance

Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Heynh), characterized as deficient in their freezing tolerance after cold acclimation, were surveyed for some of the normal responses to cold exposure. In foliar tissue, the cold-inducibility of three proteins, the levels of sucrose and glucose, the fatty acyl composition of lipids, and the accumulation of anthocyanin was examined. Four mutations (sfr3, sfr4, sfr6, and sfr7) reduced or eliminated the accumulation of anthocyanin during cold acclimation. One mutation (sfr4) prevented the normally cold-induced elevation of sucrose and glucose levels ; both sfr4 and another mutation (sfr7) affected fatty acid composition after (and only after) cold acclimation. On the other hand mutations sfr1, sfr2 and sfr5 did not differ significantly from the wild type in any of the parameters tested, suggesting that they have other, perhaps highly specific, effects on low-temperature responses.