Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Obligate Carnivorous Larvae of the Frog, Lepidobatrachus laevis (Leptodactylidae)

The larval morphology and captive breeding of Lepidobatrachus laevis (Leptodactylidae, Ceratophryinae) from the Paraguayan Chaco is described. The larvae are obligate carnivores that swallow large, living prey whole. The larva has a large dorsoventrally flattened head with a beakless wide mouth. By means of buccal suction they can ingest tadpoles that are nearly equal to themselves in size. The chondrocranial cartilages are simple in comparison to microphagous larvae, and the chondrocranium is wider than long. Larval development is rapid, and some tadpoles reach metamorphosis in 20 d. The brachial chambers are like those of Type IV (Orton, 1953) larvae, but the paired branchial openings are lateral and different from the spiracles of other anuran larvae. The branchial chambers show asymmetrical development with the opercular fold closing the right branchial opening prior to the formation of the left branchial opening. The right branchial chamber reopens and the fully developed larva has two large symmetrical branchial openings. The digestive tract is adult-like and the stomach has a large fundic portion that distends to accept the large prey, a typical muscular pyloric region and sphincter, and a short intestine less than 2 x the SVL of the larva. In many of its characteristics the larva of Lepidobatrachus resembles the adult.
MILITARY AND DEMOGRAPHIC INTER-LINKAGES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LITHUANIAN SUSTAINABILITY

This paper aims at investigating military and demographic inter-linkages in the context of the Lithuanian sustainability. The investigation combines three important economic aspects such as demographic, military and sustainable development. The authors have revealed that demographic trends should be seen as a necessary conditions for ensuring the functioning of the military sector contributes to public security and sustainable development in general. Correlation and stepwise regression analysis, also Monte Carlo forecasting method have been applied for this purpose. Research results have revealed statistically significant interrelationship between military personnel as a share of total labour force and population growth rate, population median age, total fertility rate as well as birth rate. Moreover, Monte Carlo forecasting method allowed revealing for the next 10 years a steady slight increase in armed forces personnel, stable population growth rates, a rapid aging process and a slight decline of total fertility rate. Military and demographic estimations and future projections allow government to incorporate information into planning and sustainable development policy. The insights from this research may contribute to implementing the goals of sustainable development related to eradication of poverty, inequality, social exclusion, improvement in education, well-being and employment and tackling climate change.
Comparison of pasting properties of starch extracted from corn varieties

Maize is the third most important cereal crop and major source of energy and other nutrients for human and livestock in the world. Corn starch is a valuable ingredient in the food industry, being widely used as a thickener, gelling agent, bulking agent and water retention agent. In the present study starches extracted from corn varieties were analyzed for pasting characteristics to determine their potential applications in food system. Peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity and setback viscosity of HQPM-1 and HQPM-7 starch were noted as 1344-1225cP, 716-779cP, 669-567cP, 1349-1326cP and 771-663cP, respectively. It is found that trough viscosity of HQPM-7 starch was significantly higher than HQPM-1 starch whereas peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity and setback viscosity of HQPM-1starch were higher than HQPM-7 starch.
GPS-loggers influence behaviour and physiology in the black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

In recent decades, data loggers and radio- and satellite transmitters have become an important technological part of research on free living animals. Loggers to track movements and behaviour are especially useful in seabird studies, as seabirds often travel considerable distances at sea where visual observations are challenging. The potential negative effects of these devices on mortality, behaviour and reproduction of birds have received some attention, but few studies have investigated the physiological effects of instrument attachment. In the present study, effects of global positioning system (GPS) loggers on black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla were inves- tigated by obtaining behavioural and physiological parameters of stress (nest attendance, plasma levels of the avian stress hormone corticosterone (CORT), relative leucocyte counts, body mass and reproductive success) during 2 d of GPS-deployment. GPS-equipped kittiwakes had signifi- cantly elevated levels of CORT at recapture and also significantly extended the duration of feed- ing trips compared to controls. Kittiwakes with low body condition index (BCI) attended nests less than controls, and this pattern was more pronounced among GPS-equipped birds. The study underlines the need to take device effects into consideration when instrumenting seabirds. Poten- tially, effects may become more evident in birds with low body condition or in years where food is limited, and results from GPS-equipped birds should be viewed with this in mind.
Improving Font Effect Generation based on Pyramid Style Feature

The task of font effect generation is stylizing the shape and texture of style images into font images. There exist some methods to handle this task. However, stylized font images become unrecognized when the glyph structure is quite complicated. This paper proposes a font effect generation model based on pyramid style feature. Morphology operations are utilized to improve the transferring effect. Experiments show that our proposed method is more suitable for stylizing complex glyph images than other state-of-the-arts methods.
The genus Pinnularia (Bacillariophyta, Pinnulariaceae) from Lago dos Tigres, Britânia, Goiás, Brazil

Studies of the genus Pinnularia Ehrenb. are only incipient in central-western Brazil, especially in Goias. Only 20 of the 170 taxa known from Brazil were recorded in this state until now. A taxonomic study of Pinnularia from Lago dos Tigres (Tocantins-Araguaia River Basin) recorded 20 specific and infraspecific taxa, distributed in 17 species, including P. instabilis whose lectotype is designated here. Only P. meridiana var. meridiana was previously recorded in aquatic systems of the state. Eighteen taxa are newly recorded for Goias, and one is the first record in Brazil. The Pinnularia flora from Lago dos Tigres contains nine taxa in common with the Amazon River Basin flora, and seven other taxa that occur elsewhere in the Parana River Basin.
Female choice and the causes and adaptiveness of polygyny in great reed warblers

(1) In a dense reedbed at Lake Biwa in Japan 30-80% of male great reed warblers were polygynous each year, whereas others remained monogamous or even unmated throughout the breeding season. (2) Males that had established territories by mid-May (early males) were more likely to be polygynous than those that established territories after mid-May (late males). Second females were attracted to the territories of early males, even though unmated late males held territories nearby. (3) Many late males attracted mates when all the first mates of early males either had not yet laid or had chicks. At these stages, males do not sing actively and hence did not attract females. Already mated early males attracted as many or more females as unmated late males as long as they were singing. (4) Early males held large territories early in the breeding season and late males established their territories by carving out a part of the former's territory. Territories of early males always included an area of dense vegetation which was never yielded to later arrivals.
The Civil Servants’ Intention to Be Whistle Blowers of Corruption Cases in Government Sector

: This study aims to describe the intentions of civil servant in Central Java Indonesia to do whistle-blowing. This paper also examined the relationship of attitudes toward whistleblowing and organizational commitment toward whistleblowing intention. The respondents within this study were 200 government civil servants working on Audit Board of the Republic Indonesia Representative of Central Java Province and Inspectorate of Central Java Province. This paper using closed questionnaire to collect the data. The questionnaire developed from previous study using scale 1-5 and 135 questionnaires were analyzed using IBM SPSS 21. The respondents were willing to become whistle-blowers in the event of fraud cases they found out. The research findings indicated that the attitude and organizational commitment gave a positive influence on whistle-blowing intentions. It can be concluded that in the formation of intentions to do whistle-blowing influenced factor inside oneself to form the intention and required the existence of self-control from various limitations.
Effects of endogenous sulfur dioxide on pulmonary vascular inflammation in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension

Objective To investigate the effects of endogenous sulfur dioxide(SO2) on pulmonary vascular inflammation in rats with monocrotaline(MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8 for each group): control group, MCT group, MCT+ L-aspartic acid-β-hydroxamate(HDX) group, and MCT+ SO2 group.Rats in the MCT group, MCT+ HDX group, and MCT+ SO2 group were subcutaneously injected with MCT(60 mg/kg) on the first day.For rats in MCT+ HDX group, HDX(25 mg/kg, on day 0, 7 and 14) was given orally after injection of MCT; and rats in MCT+ SO2 group were subcutaneously injected with the SO2 donor sodium sulfite/sodium bisulfate(Na2SO3/NaHSO3, and mole ratio was adjusted to approximately 3: 1) each day.Rats in the control group received only the same volume of solvent vehicle only.After 3 weeks, mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) of each rat was evaluated by using a right cardiac catheterization procedure.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of inflammatory related factor intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and the key molecules of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signal transduction pathway, including p65 and inhibitor of NF-κB(IκBα) in the small pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Results The differences in mPAP, expression of ICAM-1, IκBα and p65 in the small pulmonary artery endothelial cells were found among the 4 groups(mPAP: F=53.334, P<0.01; ICAM-1: F=183.82, P<0.01; IκBα: F=142.89, P<0.01; p65: F=105.46, P<0.01). The mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) was significantly raised in MCT group rats as compared with that of the control group along with upregulated expressions of ICAM-1 protein and p65 protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells, while the expression of IκBα protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells was significantly low.After administration of HDX, the mPAP and the expression of ICAM-1 protein and p65 protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells further increased compared with those of MCT group, while the expression of IκBα protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells was significantly lower than that of MCT group.Whereas with treatment of SO2 derivatives, the mPAP, the expression of ICAM-1 protein and p65 protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells were significantly lower than those of MCT group, while the expression of IκBα protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells increased significantly compared with that of MCT group. Conclusions Endogenous SO2 might inhibit the activation of NF-κB pathway in the small pulmonary artery endothelial cells, attenuate the pulmonary vascular inflammation and prevent the MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. Key words: Sulfur dioxide; Pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary vascular inflammation; Nuclear factor-κB
Investigation of nickel stress induction in terms of metal accumulation and antioxidative enzyme activity in barley seedlings

Changes of the activity of antioxidative enzymes (APX, GPX) were investigated in barley roots and leaves during a one day and a one week setting of 0, 100, 500, 1000 µM nickel treatment parallel with the measurement of nickel accumulation in order to elucidate the mechanisms in terms of anitoxidative enzyme activity during the early phase of nickel exposure. We concluded that nickel also cause ROS formation in barely seedlings in the roots and also in the leaves. In the inactivation of ROS both APX and GPX play role although to different extent and for different duration. Moreover APX reacts rapidly to nickel stress, since its activity rises even after three hours of the nickel treatment.
Development of novel software tools and methods for investigating the significance of overlapping transcription factor genomic interactions

Genomic regions represent features such as gene annotations, transcription factor binding sites and epigenetic modifications. Performing various genomic operations such as identifying overlapping/non-overlapping regions or nearest gene annotations are common research needs. The data can be saved in a database system for easy management, however, there is no comprehensive database built-in algorithm at present to identify overlapping regions. Therefore I have developed a novel region-mapping (RegMap) SQL-based algorithm to perform genomic operations and have benchmarked the performance of different databases. Benchmarking identified that PostgreSQL extracts overlapping regionsmuch faster thanMySQL. Insertion and data uploads in PostgreSQLwere also better, although general searching capability of both databases was almost equivalent. In addition, using the algorithm pair-wise, overlaps of>1000 datasets of transcription factor binding sites and histonemarks, collected from previous publications, were reported and it was found that HNF4G significantly co-locates with cohesin subunit STAG1 (SA1). J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 877–883, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Some Comparisons of the Black-tailed and White- tailed Prairie Dogs in North-Central Colorad 2

Black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dogs in north- auditory communications. The species differed markedly in the type, number, and construction me.thods of the burrow entrances. The black- tailed prairie. dogs altered their above-ground environment behaviorally, but the white-tailed did not. Both were diurnal, with two periods of maximum surface activity durin, the summer. Black-tailed prairie dogs generally confined their daily activities to definite boundaries; the white- tailed did not. Pups of both species spent considerable time in play. Pups of the black-tailed species displayed much care-soliciting behavior directed at the adults; pups of the white-tailed species did not. Black- tailed prairie dogs remained active above ground throughout the year, but with less total activity during winter than summer. White-tailed prairie dogs completely terminated surface activity during winter; adult males were the first to appear above ground in early spring and the first to become inactive in early summer; adult females appeared a little later and remained active slightly longer; pups remained active above ground until fall. Food habits varied with the time of year and the availability of vegetation. The black-tailed species ate mostly forbs and grasses, the white-tailed mostly grasses and sedges. The black-tailed prairie dogs consumed many roots; the white-tailed never ate roots. The density of burrow entrances and animals was greater for the black- tailed than for the white-tailed prairie dogs. The black-tailed species bred during late February; births occurred in late March and April, and the pups appeared above ground in early May. The white-tailed species bred in late March; births occurred in early May, and the pups appeared above ground in early June. There was no evidence to indi- cate yearlings were less successful breeders than adults with either spe- cies. There appeared to be no mortality between the time of conception and the initial appearance of the pups above ground for the black-tailed species, but almost 40% of the embryos were lost in this interval with the white-tailed species. Immigration and emigration played little part in the dynamics of the black-tailed species, but were more important for the white-tailed species. Badgers were the principal predators for both species and drowning contributed to mortality at both study sites. The black-tailed prairie dogs were longer than the white-tailed species, mostly because their tails were longer. Females of both species were similar in weight, but male white-tailed prairie dogs were heavier than the black-tailed of either sex.
The role of germination date, spatial arrangement, and neighbourhood effects in competitive interactions in Linum

(1) The simultaneous effects of density, spatial pattern, and date of germination upon plant growth and reproduction were examined in Linum grandiflorum var. rubrum grown in a bench filled with soil. Newly germinated seedlings were planted on two dates at three densities; spatial pattern was created by varying the sizes of the patches containing plants of a single planting date. (2) Density, germination date, and spatial pattern all had significant effects upon plant weight and the number of flowers per plant. The three factors interacted in their effects in a complex fashion; the effect of each pattern was dependent upon the density, and the effect of a pattern-density combination was dependent upon germination date. (3) The competition experienced by an individual plant is due to its immediate neighbours. Therefore, the correlations between the weight of individuals and the weight of the neighbouring plants within 7.1 cm were calculated; no pattern of correlations was evident. Correlations between plant biomass and the biomass of all neighbours within 7. 1 cm, weighted by their distance away, were negative, but low. These results were evidently due to individuals experiencing interference from a relatively large number of neighbouring individuals, and so, as well as the expected negative correlations, positive correlations occurred among neighbours due to suppression by a third individual. (4) The substitution of a function of the sizes of neighbouring individuals for overall density in the prediction and explanation of competitive effects thus presents some major problems in those cases in which individuals compete with many neighbours. (5) T he 'failure' of nearest neighbour analysis to detect clearcut negative correlations between the sizes of neighbouring plants should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence for the absence of competition; it may be the result of competition among many neighbouring individuals.
Speciation in Australian birds adapted to arid habitats

SUMMARYFord, J. 1974. Speciation in Australian birds adapted to arid habitats. Emu 74: 161–168.Several stages of speciation can now be identified in some birds occurring mainly in the mulga habitat of the arid parts of Australia. Speciation in birds adapted to the stony and Triodia-sandhill deserts has occurred more commonly than previously suspected. Only sedentary birds of the mulga and desert habitats have produced differentiated isolates. The Eyrean Barrier has played an important role in the production of species adapted to arid conditions from those adapted to mesic conditions and in the speciation of inhabitants of the mulga. Some isolates of desert species may have been formed during pluvial periods in the Pleistocene.
Biosecurity Evaluation of Poultry Production Cluster (PPCs) in Thailand

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biosecurity levels of Poultry Production Clusters (PPCs) in Thailand. Biosecurity levels of poultry farms in the PPCs were determined with criteria specified in biosecurity score form in 3 provinces i.e., Mahasarakham (contract farm with company), Nakhon Phanom (cooperative farm) and Nong Khai (individual farm) in the Northeast region of Thailand. In each province, biosecurity levels were evaluated both in the controlled group and in the cluster (15 farms each). Biosecurity scores were compared between farms in the controlled group and the cluster and among 3 provinces. From the results, it was found that scores of attractiveness to wild bird, measures for visitors and traders, measures for equipments and vehicles of poultry farm, local environment, measures taken at the entrances to poultry sheds in poultry farms and biosecurity plans of poultry farmers in Mahasarakham were significantly higher than in Nakhon Phanom and Nong Khai (p<0.05). The score of measures related to staffs of the poultry farms in Nakhon Phanom was significantly higher than those in Nong Khai (p<0.05). The score of feed quality in Mahasarakham and Nong Khai was significantly higher than that in Nakhon Phanom (p<0.05). In Mahasarakham, scores of local environment and biosecurity plans of poultry farmers of the controlled group were significantly higher than those of the cluster (p<0.05). In Nakhon Phanom, scores of attractiveness to wild bird, measures for incoming poultry, measures for visitors, measures taken at the entrances to poultry sheds and biosecurity plans of poultry farmers in controlled group were significantly higher than in the cluster (p<0.05). This demonstrated that biosecurity levels of contract farm with company were better than cooperative and individual ones. The difference of biosecurity levels was due to the farming pattern, farm’s ecology, the compliance to governmental measures and policies and the ability to invest in biosecurity system of each group. As a result, the scores of biosecurity differed.
A Skull of Pteranodon (Longicepia) longiceps Marsh Associated With Wing and Body Bones

A partial skull of Pteranodon (Longicepid) longicepc Marsh (the taxonomy is after Miller, in press) from the Cretaceous Niobrara Formation of western Kansas was discovered associated wtth post-cranial bones; sternum, cenrical vertebrae, a dorsal vertebra, radius, ulna, pteroid, carpals7 metatarsals, ribs, phalanges, metacarpaIs, humeri, and femora. Previotlsly no described Pteranodon skulls have been found associated with postcranial bones (except for some cervical vertebrae) and some offier specimens that were found wiffi quadrate bones associated with post-cranial bones. Although senJeral specimens of a primitive pteranodont, PteranoXfvn (Nyctowvrgs) gracilis, consist of skulls associated with post-cranial bones.