Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Records of Aquatic Beetles (Helophoridae, Hydrophilidae, Hydrochidae, Dytiscidae) and Physico-Chemical Parameters in a Natural Lake (Artvin, Turkey)

Some ecological requirements of aquatic Coleoptera species were studied in a natural lake. Water beetle samples, collected in 2007 from the National Park Sahara-Karagol belonging to the families Helophoridae, Hydrophilidae, Hydrochidae, and Dytiscidae were identified and listed. Both physical (conductivity and temperature) and chemical (pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, hardness, organic matter, chloride, phosphate, and some metal ions) parameters of the inhabited water were measured.
SCIENTIFIC ESTIMATIONS OF BYCATCH LANDED BY THE SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE FLEET TARGETING SWORDFISH (Xiphias gladius) IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE YEARS 2005 AND 2006 .

This document provides an overview of the bycatch levels by species landed by the Spanish surface longline fleet targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea from 1997 to 2004. This information has also been updated for the years 2005 and 2006, the most recent data available. The three most prevalent species in the catch, Xiphias gladius, Prionace glauca and Isurus oxyrhinchus represented, on average 94.2% and 96.1% of the total Atlantic and Mediterranean landings in weight during the last two years, respectively. During the years 2005-2006 the species assumed to be bycatch accounted for 71.7% of the total landings in weight from the Atlantic areas –large pelagic sharks, 67.4; tunas, 2.2 %; billfish,1.2% and other species, 0.9%–. In the Mediterranean Sea, the reported bycatch amounted to around 7.0% of the total landings in weight –large pelagic sharks,4.6%; tunas, 1.6%; other species, 1.3% and billfish close to 0%. As far as bycatch species are concerned, large pelagic sharks were the most prevalent, comprising an average of 94.0% of the bycatch in weight, whereas tunas accounted for 3.1%; billfish,1.7% and other species, 1.2% in the Atlantic. In the Mediterranean, large pelagic sharks amounted to 51.8%, tunas, 23.0; other species,25.2% and billfish,0.1%. Prionace glauca and Isurus oxyrhinchus were the most important species within the group of large pelagic sharks, reaching prevalences of 88.2% and 9.5%, respectively in the Atlantic –very similar to levels observed in other oceans–. The prevalences of these species within the group of large pelagic sharks in the Mediterranean sea were 77.3% and 6.0% , respectively.
Teacher Turnover in the Context of Teacher-Directed Violence: An Empowerment Lens

ABSTRACT Teacher turnover is a significant issue in education that negatively affects students’ academic performance and instructional continuity. While multiple factors impact turnover, the effects of violence directed against teachers on turnover have rarely been explored. The current study examines the extent to which (dis)empowerment applies to teachers who experienced incidents of violence and related intentions to leave their positions. The study includes 403 teachers from a national survey examining teacher-directed violence and teachers’ most upsetting experiences with violence. Using content analysis, results indicated teachers endorsed low levels of empowerment dimensions including status, autonomy and decision-making, and impact. Further, disempowerment was associated with turnover intentions and decisions. Future directions for research, practice, and policy are considered to increase empowerment and prevent turnover following incidents of violence.
Female presence enhances sexual performance of sterile Anastrepha ludens males of the Tapachula‐7 GSS strain

The sterile insect technique (SIT), used for the control of many tephritid fly pests, is based on the rearing and release of large numbers of sexually competitive sterile insects into a wild population. In the interest of reducing expenses and increasing SIT effectiveness, genetic sexing strains (GSS) have been developed. These strains allow the production and release of only males. The objective of our study was to assess the effects of pre‐release adult exposure to methoprene and to females on the mating propensity and mating competitiveness of GSS sterile males of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae). GSS sterile males were kept on a protein‐sugar (protein‐fed) or a protein‐sugar‐methoprene diet and were exposed to different proportions of females for the normal pre‐release period of 5 days. Using laboratory and field‐cage bioassays, we examined the influence of methoprene and female presence on the mating success of sterile males of 3–9 days old, in competition for wild females with untreated males and with wild males. Methoprene and female exposure had no significant effects on male mating success in the laboratory, whereas age had a positive relationship with the number of copulations observed. However, in field‐cage bioassays, males exposed to females obtained a higher number of copulations than unexposed control males. Possible implications of these findings for programs that use GSS and especially for the campaign against Mexican fruit flies are discussed.
Population distributions from native mass spectrometry titrations reveal nearest-neighbor cooperativity in the ring-shaped oligomeric protein TRAP.

Allostery pervades macromolecular function and drives cooperative binding of ligands to macromolecules. To decipher the mechanisms of cooperative ligand binding it is necessary to define, at a microscopic level, the thermodynamic consequences of binding of each ligand to its energetically coupled site(s). However, extracting these microscopic constants is difficult for macromolecules with more than two binding sites, because the observable (e.g., NMR chemical shift changes, fluorescence, enthalpy) can be altered by allostery, thereby distorting its proportionality to site occupancy. Native mass spectrometry (MS) can directly quantify the populations of homo-oligomeric protein species with different numbers of bound ligands, provided the populations are proportional to ion counts and that MS-compatible electrolytes do not alter the overall thermodynamics. These measurements can help decipher allosteric mechanisms by providing unparalleled access to the statistical thermodynamic partition function. We used native MS (nMS) to study the cooperative binding of tryptophan (Trp) to Bacillus stearothermophilus trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP), a ring-shaped homo-oligomeric protein complex with 11 identical binding sites. MS-compatible solutions did not significantly perturb protein structure and thermodynamics as assessed by ITC and NMR spectroscopy. Populations of Trpn-TRAP11 states were quantified as a function of Trp concentration by nMS. The population distributions could not be explained by a non-cooperative binding model but were well described by a mechanistic nearest neighbor cooperative model. Non-linear least-squares fitting yielded microscopic thermodynamic constants that define the interactions between neighboring binding sites. This approach may be applied to quantify thermodynamic cooperativity in other ring-shaped proteins.
Axial skeleton pathology in broiler chickens

The purpose of the present review is to examine the available data on the prevalence of some major axial skeleton pathologies in broiler chickens, which have a negative effect on welfare Data from literature and from our own research on the incidence of spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, spondylitis and scoliosis are included. Although it has a lesser extent on welfare compared to other skeletal abnormalities (mainly associated with leg problems), the axial skeleton pathology has a definite impact on broiler chicken flocks. Although some reports claim that skeletal abnormalities in broilers chickens are related to the genetic background of the birds and can be decreased by selection, they are still an important cause of pathology cases in the broiler chicken industry. The analysis of available literature has suggested that the prevailing axial skeleton abnormality in commercial broiler chickens was spondylolisthesis, followed by spondylosis, spondylitis and scoliosis.
Evaluation of Clays and Fluorescent Brightener upon the Activity of the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Abstract In the past we have examined different components (i.e., sunlight protectants, virus enhancers) that would be essential in a viral pesticide formulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of silicon-containing materials (bentonite, diatomeaceous earth, kaolin) on the activity of the gypsy moth nucleopolyhedrovirus LdMNPV, as well as the effect of these materials on the viral enhancement activity of a fluorescent brightener Tinopal LPW. Bentonite (1%), diatomaceous earth (1%), and kaolin (1%) had little effect upon the activity of LdMNPV. Moreover, the addition of bentonite, diatomaceous earth or kaolin to LdMNPV/Tinopal had little effect upon the enhancement activity of Tinopal LPW.
Effects of Cold Storage on Development and Survival of Three Species of Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) of House Fly, Musca domestica L.

Abstract The effect of cold storage at 0.5, 5, 10 and 13°C on the developmental rates and survival of the pteromalid parasitoids Muscidifurax raptor Girault & Sanders, Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner, and Trichomalopsis sarcophagae Gahan was examined in the laboratory. Immature M. raptor underwent development at 13°C, but not at 10, 5, or 0.5°C. Immature M. zaraptor and T. sarcophagae did not develop at temperatures ranging from 0.5 to 13°C. Parasitoid survival varied among storage temperatures and was lowest at 0.5°C for M. raptor and M. zaraptor and highest at 10°C. Survival of T. sarcophagae was highest at 5°C and was higher than either species of Muscidifurax at temperatures ≤5°C. M. raptor had the highest survival at 10 and 13°C. A simple model was used to examine the effects of cold storage and stockpiling parasitoids for up to three generations on parasitoid availability. Storage of M. raptor at 10°C for three generations could result in a 3.5-fold increase in availability. Storage of M. zaraptor at 10°C could result in a 2.6-fold increase in availability, and storage of T. sarcophagae at 5°C could result in a 3.2-fold increase in availability. Results suggest that cold storage could be a useful method for increasing the rearing efficiency of these parasitoids.
V-Proximal Trustworthy Banach Spaces

<jats:p>In a recent work (2016), the first author proved the fuzzy sum rule for the <jats:italic>V</jats:italic>-proximal subdifferential under some natural assumptions on an equivalent norm of the Banach spaces. In the present paper, we are going to prove that the class of Banach spaces satisfying the fuzzy sum rule is very large and contains all <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>L</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:math> spaces <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mo>∞</mml:mo></mml:math> as well as the sequence spaces <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>l</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msup><mml:mfenced open="(" close=")"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mo><</mml:mo></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mo>∞</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:mrow></mml:mfenced></mml:math>, the Sobolev spaces <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>W</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mo>,</mml:mo><mml:mi>n</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msup><mml:mfenced open="(" close=")"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mo><</mml:mo></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mo>∞</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:mrow></mml:mfenced></mml:math>, and the Schatten trace ideals <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3. org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6"><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="bold">C</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi>p</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msup><mml:mfenced open="(" close=")"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mo><</mml:mo></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mo>∞</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:mrow></mml:mfenced></mml:math>. </jats:p>
Formulation and investigation of pilocarpine hydrochloride niosomal gels for the treatment of glaucoma: intraocular pressure measurement in white albino rabbits

Abstract The present study was focused on investigating niosomal gels loaded with cholinergic drug; pilocarpine HCl, for prolonged precorneal residence time and improved bioavailability for glaucoma treatment. Pilocarpine HCl niosomes were prepared using various nonionic surfactants (span 20, span 60 and span 80), in the presence of cholesterol in different molar ratios by ether injection method. The selected formulations were incorporated into carbopol 934 and locust bean gum-based gels. TEM analysis confirmed that niosomes formed were spherical in shape and has a definite internal aqueous space with uniform particle size. Formulation F4 composed of span 60 and cholesterol (1:1) gave the highest entrapment (93.26 ± 1.75%) and slower release results after 8 hours (Q8h = 60.35 ± 1.87%) among other formulations. The in-vitro drug permeation studies showed that there was a prolonged release of drug from niosomal gels as compared to niosomes itself. Considering the in-vitro drug release, niosomal gel formulation G2 was the best among the studied formulations. The release data were fitted to an empirical equation, which indicated that the release follows non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. The stability study revealed that incorporation of niosomes in gel increased their stability than the niosome itself. No signs of redness, inflammation, swelling or increased tear production were observed over the study period for tested formulation by Draize’s test. The intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering activity of G2 formulation showed relative bioavailability 2.64 times more than bioavailability of marketed Pilopine HS® gel. These results suggest that the niosomal gels containing pilocarpine HCl are promising ocular carriers for glaucoma treatment.
Fire Evacuation Process Using Both Elevators and Staircases for Aging People: Simulation Case Study on Personnel Distribution in High-Rise Nursing Home

There were increasing concerns on the possibility and suitability of using elevators for high-rise building evacuation because, through the improvement of the elevator system, the self-evacuation ability of age people is promoted as much as possible in the process of an emergency evacuation. The combined evacuation using both elevators and stairs was put into discussion. However, there was no empirical evidence and numerical simulation on emergency evacuation using both elevators and staircases for aging people in high-rise nursing homes. Therefore, using one case study, this paper simulated the emergency evacuation in a high-rise nursing home using variables such as the distribution of the elderly with different physical conditions, the proportion of the elderly in different physical conditions, the number of the elderly, the number of floors, the number of elevators used, and the priority of the elevator floor. By simulating the evacuation process in various scenarios, the general distribution strategy of high-rise nursing home and the optimal use of the elevator-stair combination during the emergency evacuation were developed. Results show that the elevator-stair combination of evacuation is more effective than using elevators or stairs alone. Increasing the number and speed of elevators can reduce evacuation time. Categorizing elderly people on each floor according to their physical conditions could reduce the evacuation time than randomly distributing them.
Evidence of Increased Vehicle Speeding in Ohio’s Major Cities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper compares the speeding patterns before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in three major cities in Ohio, USA: Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Using high-resolution and real-time INRIX traffic data, we find evidence of increased speeding in all three cities. In particular, we observe an increase in the spatial extent of speeding as well as in the average level of speeding. We also find the mean differences in speeding before and after the COVID-19 outbreak are statistically significant within the study areas.
Karyotype analysis of Placea amoena Phil. (Amaryllidaceae) by double fluorescence in situ hybridization

Abstract —Placea Miers ex Lindley is an endemic genus of Chile. There are between 3 and 6 species cited for Chile. P. amoena Phil., is a beautiful plant with red tepals and it is growing in the Province of Illapel in Región IV. We identify the physical localization of gene clusters of 5S and 25S rDNA in Placea amoena by double fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). P. amoena is 2n = 16, with the chromosome set 2m + 5sm + 1st. The ratio of the longest pair/shortest pair (R) is 2.60 with a karyotype asymmetry index (AsI %) of 63.15. Signals of 5S and 18/25S rRNA genes are seen in 5 of the 8 chromosomal pairs. Chromosome 1 has a 5S rDNA location terminal in the short arm; chromosome 2 contains the same localization, but in a position nearer the centromere; chromosome 3 shows no rDNA localizations; chromosome 4 has two signals, both in the terminal part of the short arm, the 18/25S rDNA at the tip of the arm and 5S rDNA inmediately below it; chromosome 5 has only one 18/25S rDNA signal terminal portion of the short arm; chromosomes 6 and 7 show no localizations; chromosome 8 contains one 18/25S rDNA signal distal in the short arm. The homologues of the long arm of chromosome pair 2 was polymorphic in the length. It would be of interest to localize 5S and 18/25S rRNA in the other species of Placea through in situ hybridization to help clarify the taxonomic position of each taxa.
LMS-Enabled Blended Learning Use Intentions among Distance Education Tutors: Examining the Mediation Role of Attitude Based on Technology-Related Stimulus-Response Theoretical Framework (TR-SR-TF)

Distance education delivery has shifted from the mere meaning of distance due to the use of abridged technologies. Current distance education utilizes technologies that have made the term distance a metaphor. The affordances of technology have promoted student-student interaction; teacher-student interaction as well as student-student interaction across boundaries. This has been possible due to blended leaning that combines both the online component in addition to the face-to-face sessions. One of the technologies that have made blended learning possible in distance education is the Learning Management System (LMS). However, intentions towards the use of LMS have been a crucial element in contemporary literature especially in Africa. Consequently, one of the key determinants of LMS use intentions is attitude towards the technology. Hence, this study is focused on unraveling the key determinants of attitude based on a Technology-Related Stimulus-Response Theoretical Framework (TR-SR-TF) while addressing empirically, the mediating role of attitude on these determinants. In view of this, the study employed a survey design with the questionnaire as an instrument for data collection from a sample of 267 course tutors in distance education. The results from a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach revealed performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions as key antecedents of attitude towards LMS for blended learning. Again, attitude had a significant mediating effect on all three antecedents in determining behavioural intention towards LMS use for blended learning in distance education. The results of the study suggests that factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions should be critically addressed while implementing LMS-enabled blended learning because the former factors have a direct effect on attitude towards use intentions of blended learning for distance education delivery.
Composition and Structure of Woody Vegetation in Community Compared to State Forests in Tehuledere District, South Wollo, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Restoring the degraded areas with vegetation cover is an optimal strategy to mitigate land degradation. The objective of this study was to examine the composition and structure of woody vegetation in community and state forests in Tehuledere District, South Wollo, Ethiopia. The vegetation data were collected by sampling a total of 40 systematically laid sample plots (i.e. 20 samples in each forest type) and analyzed to determine woody species composition (i.e. number of species, frequency, density, dominance, and importance value index) and forest structure (i.e. diameter distribution, basal area, and biodiversity index). The vegetation structure was described by diameter class using inverse J-shaped as this type of distribution considered being indicative of a stable population structure or good regeneration status. The results revealed that significantly greater densities of seedlings and saplings were found in the community forest than that of the state forest. Moreover, a total of 45 woody species, representing 29 families were recorded in this forest. However, 29 woody species, representing 25 families were only found in the state forest, suggesting that 25 woody species were common in both forest types. However, 20 woody species were found only in the community forest, whereas only three species were exclusively obtained in the state forest. Woody plant densities were 10,881 and 9,501 individuals’ ha−1 in community and state forests, respectively. The result suggested that Juniperus procera was the most dominant species in both forest types. The community forest had a diversity value of 2.26, while the corresponding value for the state forest was only 2.07. Overall, as compared to the state forest, the community forest had a better status in several biological parameters. Generally, the results emphasize the importance of the relative advantage of the community forestry approach to restore, enhance, and maintain (e.g. enrichment planting, pruning, and selective cutting) the forest resources over the conventional or protectionist way of the state forest management. Therefore, intervention for legal framework and institutional development particularly through formal recognition of people’s ownership and right over the conservation management of forests is essential toward sustainable forestry.
Business actors and land restitution in the Colombian transition from armed conflict

ABSTRACT In the field of business and human rights, it is recognised that some of the worst human rights violations related to business actors occur in conflict-affected countries. Yet, little research adresses the potential of domestic transitional justice instruments to provide victims with access to remedy. This article seeks to better understand the functioning of such instruments by presenting a case study of the land restitution mechanism in Colombia. This mechanism constitutes a far-reaching remedy framework for cases of land dispossession, in which business actors appropriated the land of forcibly displaced persons, including extensive legal assistance measures, shifts and reductions in the burden of proof and a binding due diligence obligation for investors. However, its implementation has been rather weak. Drawing on qualitative interviews with experts involved in land restitution proceedings against business actors, the article identifies the main obstacles to these proceedings and develops recommendations on how to improve transitional justice instruments so as to redress victims of business-related human rights violations in post-conflict settings.