Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First record of Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor, 1985 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a Eucalyptus psyllid in Cameroon, Central Africa

In order to investigate the biodiversity of psyllids in Cameroon, we collected a psyllid on Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) for the first time. Morphometric and morphological studies of this psyllid enable us to identify it as Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Blastopsylla occidentalis lives on four Eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus globulus, E. saligna, E. deglupta, E. camaldulensis) in the Western and Central regions of the country. A description and illustration of the different developmental stages of B. occidentalis will allow the identification of this pest of Eucalyptus.
The Location of Dorsal Information in Frog Early Development

Dorsal information is necessary for the development of the dorsal axial structures which characterize the vertebrates. The nature of dorsal information in early embryos is not known, but its presence is required for the formation of dorsal mesoderm with Spermann organizer activity. In frogs, the dorsoventral axis is specified by a cortical/cytoplasmic rotation in the egg shortly after fertilization, and this dorsal information is limited to a few cells in the equatorial and vegetal region of early cleavage embryos. At the 8‐cell stage, 2–4 cells can promote dorsal development, and at the 32‐cell stage, 4–6 cells have dorsal information. Recent experiments have shown that growth factors can induce cells to form dorsal mesoderm and that lithium can act in those cells to enhance the induction. It will be important to determine the relationship between the location of dorsal information defined embryologically and factors involved in the development of dorsal mesoderm.
Development of a Catalytic Exhaust System for a Direct- Injection Two-Stroke Cycle Engine

During the late 90’s, the US government announced plans to phase out the use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park due to environmental concerns. Prior to this decision, the snowmobile marketplace was dominated by snowmobiles equipped with two-stroke engines due to their high power to weight ratio. However, shortly after the government ruling the major snowmobile manufacturers began adding 4-stroke touring snowmobiles to their model lineups and began development of direct-injection two-stroke engines suited for snowmobile applications. With this in mind, the University of Idaho Clean Snowmobile Team has chosen to design, build, and test a snowmobile equipped with a gasoline direct-injection (GDI) two-stroke engine that maintains the performance of a traditional two-stroke engine while providing significant emission reductions and fuel consumption gains. To further emission improvements, an exhaust catalyst is to be added. This project is a review of literature on the development of exhaust catalysts and determines the optimal characteristics for a GDI two-stroke snowmobile catalyst.
Effect of Human Pressure on Population Size Structures of the Endangered Ferruginean Limpet: Toward Future Management Measures

Abstract Human predation has affected population size structures (in the sense of distribution of body size within particular populations), which has been used to track losses of larger and more fertile individuals from populations. In this sense, human exploitation can also decrease the reproductive output of invertebrate populations such as the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea. A total of 7077 individuals of this protected limpet were analysed among “Under custody” and “Without custody” sites, the strongest indication of human exploitation being the absence of a great number of larger limpets at “Without custody” sites. Likewise, recruitment was lower in “Without custody” than in “Under custody” sites, although the mean density was not affected. The presence of 4084 individuals inside the harbour area of Ceuta indicates the requirement of the involvement of harbour authorities and environmental agencies in a global conservation plan, establishing small fenced reserve areas in artificial breakwaters and natural substrates where dense populations are settled. These reserves could be useful as a focus for larval export via their previous rebalance of sex ratio.
Structural and Optical Properties of NiS Nanoparticles Synthesized by Chemical Precipitation Method

In the present work, orthorhombic NiS nanoparticles were obtained by chemical precipitation method using tri ethanol ammine (TEA) as a capping agent. The nickel sulfide nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), photoluminescence (PL) and micro Raman techniques. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample indicated the formation of orthorhombic structure of NiS. Absorption due to band edge and defect levels was observed in the absorption spectrum of nickel sulphide nanoparticles.Emission peaks due to defect levels was observed in the photoluminescence spectrum.
Using independent nest survey data to validate changes in reporting rates of Martial Eagles between the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 1 and 2

Repeat monitoring is vital to measure biodiversity change. However, monitoring protocols may change, as survey techniques improve or different questions are asked. Such modifications may cause difficulties when examining changes in wildlife populations. The Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP) 1 and 2 are repeat national bird surveys undertaken 20 years apart. These surveys therefore offer unrivalled potential to examine bird population changes in an African context. However, changes in protocols, both spatially and temporally, between the two surveys have raised concerns over using these data to infer population changes. In this study we use independ- ent nest survey data to test whether changes in reporting rates of Martial Eagles in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park between the two SABAP surveys were reflected in real change in numbers of nesting pairs. From 11 quarter degree squares (QDS), covering c. 8 000 km2, both SABAP and nest surveys suggested a near identical 44% decline. Levels of agreement were weaker at the individual QDS scale, although in 67% of cases the direction of change was the same using both surveys. These results suggest that comparisons in the reporting rates between SABAP 1 and SABAP 2 accurately reflect changes in the breeding population size of this species.
Convergence of TNFα and IFNγ signalling pathways through synergistic induction of IRF-1/ISGF-2 is mediated by a composite GAS/κB promoter element

The molecular basis for the well known synergistic biological effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interferon gamma (IFNgamma) is still poorly understood. This report demonstrates that expression of interferon-regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), also known as interferon-stimulated-gene factor 2 (ISGF-2), is synergistically induced by these cytokines. The induction is a primary transcriptional response that occurs rapidly without a requirement for new protein synthesis. Synergism is mediated by a novel composite element in the IRF-1 promoter that includes an IFNgamma-activation site (GAS) overlapped by a non-consensus site for nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB). These sequences are bound strongly by signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) and weakly by the p50/p65 heterodimer form of NFkappaB, respectively. However, the binding of STAT-1 and NFkappaB to the GAS/kappaB element in vitro seems to be mutually exclusive and independent. Synergistic induction of IRF-1 is likely to be an important early step in regulatory networks critical to the synergism of TNFalpha and IFNgamma. The GAS/kappaB element may mediate synergistic transcriptional induction of IRF-1 by other pairs of ligands that together activate NFkappaB and STAT family members. Other genes are likely to contain this motif and be regulated similarly.
Effects of early application of chlormequat on tillering and yield of winter wheat

Early investigations into the effects of the growth retardant chlormequat on wheat and barley showed that in the absence of lodging the number of ears was frequently increased following treatment at the beginning of stem elongation (Humphries, Welbank & Witts, 1965; Alcock, Morgan & Jessop, 1967; Barrett, Meens & Mees, 1967). More recently, earlier applications, at the three-leaf stage, to barley have been shown to be more effective in increasing the number of ears (Koranteng & Matthews, 1982). However, there appears to be little information on the effects on number of ears of early application of chlormequat to winter wheat. Therefore, in 1982 three field experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of early application of chlormequat on the numbers of tillers and ears and grain yield of winter wheat.
An account of morphological and structural characterization of American mimosoideae pollen. Part I: Tribe acacieae

Abstract The results of a pollen study of 77 American species of Acacia (tribe Acaciae) characterizes pollen among the different New World taxa of the compound‐pollen Mimosoideae on the basis of the most relevant morphologic and structural features. Two pollen types and five subtypes are recognized and summarized in the diagnostic key presented herein. As a result of the species studied, some newly observed structural features are now utilized; these features modify the previous characterization of the pollen of Acacia, and include frequent ornamentation of the suprasubreticulate or supramicrorugulate exine, presence of subpseudocolpi in some species, and presence of a bistratified granular infractectal layer in the subgenus Aculeiferum but not in the section Filicinae.
Development of a bioinformatic analytical approach to identify novel human cancer testis gene candidates

Introduction . Results . Discussion . Materials and Methods . References . Supplemental Material . 4 CancerMA: a Web-based Tool for Automatic Meta-analysis of Public Cancer Microarray Data* 91 Abstract . Introduction . Methods and Structure of CancerMA . Discussion . Conclusion . References . Supplemental Material . Introduction . Methods and Structure of CancerMA . Discussion . Conclusion . References . Supplemental Material . 5 CancerEST: a Web-based Tool for Automatic Meta-analysis of Public EST Data* 103 Abstract . Introduction . Methods and Structure of CancerEST . Use of CanceEST . Validation . Discussion . Conclusion . References . Supplemental Material . Introduction . Methods and Structure of CancerEST . Use of CanceEST . Validation . Discussion . Conclusion . References . Supplemental Material .
Influence of ammonia treatment and time of ensiling on proteolysis in corn silage

Chopped whole corn (32 to 34% dry matter) was treated with 0, . 25, . 52, or 1.08% added nitrogen as ammonia (of silage dry matter). About 3 kg of material was placed in polyethylene bags, which then were evacuated and served as experimental silos. Triplicate bags were opened at 0, 1, 2, 6, 12, and 54 days after ensiling and analyzed for dry matter, pH, lactic acid, total and insoluble nitrogen, and free amino acids in the water phase. Added ammonia increased initial pH of silages. Lactic acid production during early ensiling was delayed by high ammonia, but intermediate ammonia (.52%) resulted in highest lactate. Ammonia decreased proteolysis and deamination of amino acids. Increases in alanine were large in the water phase of silage treated with highest ammonia. These were increases not from proteolytic effects but synthesis of alanine stimulated by high ammonia.
Different collecting methods reveal different ecological groups of centipedes (Chilopoda)

Soil invertebrates are studied by a number of methods. Here we used zoological methods (soil sampling, pitfall trapping, litter sifting, and hand collecting) to sample centipede communities in four floodplain forests (Czech Republic, Europe) and compared the efficiency of these methods. Heat-extraction from soil samples was the most effective, followed by pitfall trapping. The centipedes found by us can be divided into five ecological groups: 1) larger, abundant lithobiomorphs, 2) larger, scarcer lithobiomorphs, 3) smaller, soil lithobiomorphs, 4) abundant geophilomorphs, and 5) scarcer geophilomorphs.
ASPECTS OF THE LIFE HISTORY AND FISHERY OF THE WHITE CROAKER, GENYONEMUSUNEATUS(SCIAENIDAE), OFF CALIFORNIA

White croaker. Genyonemuslinea/us (Ayres). was a dominant species off southern California in nearshore. sandy substratum waters. and comprised 29.7% of all fish taxa taken in otter trawl hauls. Juveniles occurred in waters <27 m and the mean length ofall individuals increased with depth. The maximumdepth ofcapture was 183 m. White croaker live to 12 years. exhibiting rapid growth which is essentially constant throughout the species' life. Females grew at a slightly faster rate than males. Von Bertalanffy age-length parameters for females wereL~= 60.7. k = 0.04'/0= -7.6,andformalesL~= 59.2,k = 0.03'/0= -8.7. After 1 year. more than 50% of the individuals are mature, but others delay maturity for 4 years. Larger females had longer spawning seasons than did smaller individuals. Although spawning occurred throughout the year. principal spawning occurred between November and April, with a February-March peak. White croaker are batch spawners; females spawned 18-24 times a season. Batch fecundities ranged from 800 to 37,200 eggs. White croaker reproduction off Monterey differed significantly from that off southern California. Large-scale spawning occurred from at leastJuly through February. and continued throughout the year. Colder wateroffMonterey may have allowed for extended spawning activity. White croaker larvae were a significant constituent of the southern California ichthyoplankton fauna, second in abundance to northern anchovy, Engmulismordax.in waters <36 m deep. Data from ichthyoplankton surveys indicated two spawning centers, one located from Redondo Beach to Laguna Beach and a smaller one centered about Ventura. Highest larval densities were found near the substratum in 15-22 m of water. White croaker is an important part of the skiff sportfishery and the basis of a growing commercial gill net fishery. Size frequencies of whi/. e croaker taken in both fisheries indicated that few juveniles were captured.
Per se Performance of Ridge Gourd (Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L.) Germplasm for Growth and Flower Characters

An evaluation trial on ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L. ) genotypes for growth and flower charactersviz. , vine length, days to first female flower anthesis, node number for first female flower appearance, number of male flowers per vine, number of female flowers per vine and sex ratio was conducted at Department of Vegetable crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore. Thirty five genotypes of ridge gourd were evaluated in randomized block design with two replications during 2012. The genotype IC 413577 and IC 339239 recorded the highest values for vine length while the genotype IC 413577 and IC 385912 showed minimum days for anthesis in female flowers. The genotype IC 413577 registered the highest and the lowest value for number of female flowers per vine and sexratio respectively followedby CO-1. The genotype IC 413577 was foundto be the most promising entry for various traits studied and hence it can be used for further crop improvement programmes like hybridization and evaluation.
Natural history and morphometry of the Cuban iguana (Cyclura nubila Gray, 1831) in Cayo Sijú, Cuba

The report presents data about the Cuban iguana population (Cyclura nubila nubila) inhabiting Cayo Sijú, an 88 ha island off the southwest coast of Cuba. Population densities estimated using strip transects were higher in xerophytic coastal scrub (6.72 ± 6.25 iguanas/ha) than in typical sand vegetation (3.63 ± 2.71 iguanas/ha) and mangrove forests (2.9 ± 2.9 iguanas/ha). The total population for the cay was estimated at 350 individuals with an adult biomass of approximately 11.67 kg/ha. Densities varied minimally between three habitat types and between the wet and dry seasons. No significant density fluctuations were found one month after Hurricane Ivan affected the cay. Iguana burrows were encountered most frequently in beach dunes. Analysis of 30 scat samples revealed eight species of plants, with the fruits of Chrysobalanum icaco and the leaves of Batis maritima being the most frequently identified items. The remains of crab (Cardisoma guandhumi) and insects of the order Hemiptera were also present in scat samples. Sexual dimorphism was evident in this population, with males being significantly larger in eight morphological variables. The snout-vent length measurements were larger in this population than in those reported in two cays off the south coast of Cuba.
Fish assemblages of European tidal marshes: a comparison based on species, families and functional guilds

In considering the use of estuarine habitats by fish assemblages, alternative views of the assemblage are increasingly being explored, based on functional rather than taxonomic aspects. The allocation of all taxa to a number of functional guilds allows a description of fish assemblages in terms of vertical zonation, habitat preferences, including the substratum preference of benthic/demersal species, and dietary preferences. This paper presents the first comparison of the structure of the fish assemblages in the tidal marshes of 6 European estuaries (Bay of Cadiz, Spain; Mira, Portugal; Loire, France; Westerschelde, The Netherlands; Humber, UK; Forth, UK). Cluster analysis was used to com- pare the assemblages recorded in 29 tidal marsh and associated estuary reference sites. Distinct dif- ferences between estuaries were apparent in comparing the taxonomic structure (species, family) of the assemblages, indicating a division between assemblages of northern and southern Atlantic Euro- pean tidal marshes. The use of ecological guilds successfully separated marsh assemblages domi- nated by freshwater adventitious/diadromous taxa (Loire) from those dominated by marine juvenile taxa (Mira, Forth). Comparisons of vertical distribution guilds indicated a major division between pelagic-dominated (Forth, upper Loire) and benthic-dominated (Cadiz, Westerschelde, Mira, Loire) assemblages. This division was also partly reflected by the dietary preference guilds, with a strong separation between assemblages dominated by planktivores (Forth) and those in which most taxa are either invertebrate feeders (Humber, Cadiz, Westerschelde) or invertebrate/fish feeders (most Mira sites, lower Loire). The very low representation of a primarily piscivorous guild in all sites (in contrast to the fish assemblages of the main estuaries) supports the view that European tidal marshes contain fish assemblages with high proportions of juvenile individuals and may provide significant refugia for life stages vulnerable to predation. Although the comparability of datasets is limited by differences in sampling regimes and methodologies, the use of functional guilds, reflecting different aspects of the use of the marshes, reveals that functional similarities exist between the fish assemblages of Euro- pean tidal marshes, despite considerable taxonomic, physical and chemical differences between the sites. Further modifications to the use of functional guilds are discussed, and recommendations made to refine their value for studying fish assemblages in tidal marsh environments.
GERENCIAMENTO DE RESULTADOS: ESTUDO EMPÍRICO EM EMPRESAS BRASILEIRAS E PORTUGUESAS ANTES E APÓS A ADOÇÃO DAS IFRS

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of the process of convergence to the standards of international accounting on Earnings Management levels in Brazilian and Portuguese companies. The study is as a descriptive-explanatory research using the quantitative approach guided by the adapted Barth et al. (2008) model to estimate the level of earnings management. The study analyzed 143 Brazilian companies and 30 Portuguese companies taken from the website of Thomson Financial Worldscope and analyzed them in two different periods – post and pre-convergence. The data analysis was performed using multivariate statistical techniques, panel data analysis, logistic regression, variance ratio test and spearman correlation (rho). The results of the four earnings management measures were not statistically significant to attest the effect of international accounting standards issued by the IASB on earnings management levels in the post-convergence period. It is important to highlight that the search for quality in accounting information does not only depend on the convergence to international accounting standards in the countries, but on the other factors as well, such as cultural, socioeconomic and institutional and legal factors, which influence the process of accounting convergence. Keywords: earnings management, Brazilian and Portuguese companies, adoption of IFRS.
ECONOMIC LINKAGES BETWEEN, ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND POVERTY REDUCTION: IMPLICATION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between total energy consumption and poverty rate in Nigeria. To achieve this purpose the study employs ordinary least square regression analysis and the cointegration analysis to test for the long run relationship. The study also use the Granger Causality test to ascertain if energy consumption Granger cause poverty or otherwise. The empirical results show that a long run co-integrated relationship exists between total energy consumption and poverty rate in Nigeria. The long-run co-integrating regression result reveals that if total energy consumption is increased by one percent poverty rate will decrease by 0.33 percent. We also found a strong causal relation which runs from total energy consumption to poverty rate in Nigeria. These findings clearly indicate that energy consumption has a significant impact on poverty rate in Nigeria. The study recommends that there is need for the government to make energy available for the citizens so as to make them self-reliant-thus increasing employment opportunities, income level and reduce poverty rate in Nigeria.
Free-living nematodes from the deep-sea Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano, including the description of two new and three known species

Two new and three known species of the genera Aponema Jensen, 1978, Molgolaimus Ditlevsen, 1921, Sabatieria Rouville, 1903, and Terschellingia De Mann, 1888 were found at the deep-sea Hakon Mosby Mud Volcano, at a depth of 1250m, in the Norwegian Sea. Aponema ninae sp. n. is characterized by short body length, short spicules, gubernaculum with wide apophyses, which are bevelled on the top, and long narrowed tail with drop-shape thickened tip and caudal setae. The new species most resembles Aponema torosa (Lorenzen, 1973). Molgolaimus haakonmosbiensis sp. n. differs from all other species of Molgolaimus by shape and length of spicules; relations of spicule length to the anal body diameter; presence of two supplements. Spicules of the new species are short (30.5 µm), slender, twisted with amplate and excurved proximal parts. The appearance of our specimen of Sabatieria ornata fits well with the original description of Ditlevsen, 1918. Specimens of Terschellingia distlamphida Juario, 1974 also fit the original description based on nematodes sampled from the sub littoral of the German Bight. However, the Norwegian specimens have a shorter (1010 µ m vs. 1343 µ m) and thicker body (a=64.6 µ m vs. a=32.0 µ m). The Hakon Mosby specimens of Terschellingia longicaudata De Mann, 1907 differ from the original description in body length and thickness: 1094 µm vs. 1429 µm, and a=22.3 µm vs. 49.0 µm correspondingly, but agree with descriptions by other authors, especially with the one by Chitwood (1951).