Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction for Glaucoma Image Feature Extraction Using Classification Mining Model

Glaucoma is the major cause of blindness in working population. Glaucoma is characterized by increased intra-ocular pressure inside the eye leading to changes in the optic disc and optic nerve. It does not reveal its symptoms until later stage. In this paper image dataset consists of 30 images, out of which 15 are normal images and 15 are Glaucoma affected images. The implementation of the proposed work was done through Matlab 2013a. The results first project the efficiency of disc segmentation and six feature extraction. Then, results show the Glaucoma detection without eliminating instance with NBC algorithm. Then the classification accuracy obtained after eliminating instances through NBC are reported. The SVM and NBC classification results are reported on features with and without feature selection.
SDSS Standard Star Catalog for Stripe 82: the Dawn of Industrial 1% Optical Photometry

We describe a standard star catalog constructed using multiple SDSS photometric observations (at least four per band, with a median of ten) in the ugriz system. The catalog includes 1.01 million non-variable unresolved objects from the equatorial stripe 82 (|δJ2000| < 1.266) in the RA range 20h University of Washington, Dept. of Astronomy, Box 351580, Seattle, WA 98195 Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN 37044 Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, P.O. Box 500, Batavia, IL 60510 Princeton University Observatory, Princeton, NJ 08544 Institute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0015, Japan New Mexico State University, Box 30001, 1320 Frenger St., Las Cruces, NM 88003 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, MS 50R5032, Berkeley, CA, 94720 Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 University of California–Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Institute for Advanced Study, 1 Einstein Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540 School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK U.S. Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station, P.O. Box 1149, Flagstaff, AZ 86002 Department of Astronomy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Apache Point Observatory, 2001 Apache Point Road, P.O. Box 59, Sunspot, NM 88349-0059 Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 University of Chicago, Astronomy & Astrophysics Center, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
Authentic Assessment Tasks for Developing Secondary Schoolers' Speaking Skills

This study aimed at investigating the effect of using some authentic assessment tasks on developing secondary schoolers‘ speaking skills. The design was the qusai experimental pre & posttest. Two classes from Fakous Military Secondary School for Boys in Sharkia were randomly chosen . one was the experimental group and the second one was the control one. Each group consisted of thirty male students. The experimental group was taught using some authentic assessment tasks in learning speaking skills, whereas the control group was taught using the regular method. An achievement test was administrated to both groups. It consisted of fourteen questions . The test was administrated to the two groups before and after the treatment (using some authentic assessment tasks during October, November, and December, 2016). The obtained data were analyzed statistically through the use of Cronbach`s Alpha, ttest and effect size. The results of the study revealed that the students taught by some authentic assessment tasks had better scores in the speaking skills test than those taught by the regular teaching. It can be concluded that the authentic assessment tasks had a significantly positive effect on speaking skills learning for this sample of the secondary school students .
First observation of the courtship behaviour of the giant devil ray Mobula mobular (Myliobatiformes: Mobulidae)

ABSTRACT Courtship behaviour of the giant devil ray Mobula mobular is described from northern New Zealand, temperate southwest Pacific Ocean, for the first time. A mating train consisting of a full-term pregnant female and up to four males was observed over a period of 147 minutes. Their behaviour was similar to courtship behaviour observed in other large mobulids. Biting of the female was not observed, possibly due to the female’s use of the surface to prevent males positioning themselves above her. However, the lead male pressed the female’s abdomen and underside each time the female reached or stopped at the surface. The occurrence of pregnant females and mating behaviour off northern North Island confirms breeding occurs in New Zealand waters.
Dealing with mutualists and antagonists: Specificity of plant‐mediated interactions between herbivores and flower visitors, and consequences for plant fitness

Plants need to deal with antagonists, such as herbivores, while maintaining interactions with mutualists, such as pollinators that help plants to maximize their reproductive output. Although many plant species have inducible defences to save metabolic costs of defence in the absence of herbivores, plant responses induced by herbivore attack can have ecological costs. For example, herbivore-induced responses can affect flower traits and alter interactions with flower visitors. Such plant-mediated interactions between herbivores and flower visitors can affect plant reproductive output. Current knowledge on the generality and specificity of plant-mediated herbivore-flower-visitor interactions and its consequences for plant fitness is limited. In this study, we investigated whether a broad range of herbivores feeding on the annual plant Brassica nigra affect interactions with flower visitors, whether the direction of interactions is predicted by the feeding modes (chewing and sap-feeding) and sites (above- and belowground) of the herbivores, and whether it results in fitness consequences for the plant. Our results show that attack of B. nigra by a range of different herbivores influenced plant interactions with mutualist pollinators and an antagonist florivore, the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus. Pollinator community composition was affected by herbivory, whereas overall pollinator attraction was maintained. Pollinator community composition of uninfested plants differed from that of chewing and root herbivore-infested plants. Main responders in the pollinator communities to changes induced by herbivory were syrphid flies, bumblebees, and solitary bees. Although the preference of pollen beetle adults was not affected by herbivory, beetle larvae performed best on plants infested with the nematode Heterodera schachtii. The changes in pollinator community composition and syrphid fly visitation can explain the observed increase in seed set of root herbivore-infested plants. Interactions of flowering B. nigra plants with mutualist and antagonist insects are well integrated and conflicting interactions do not reduce reproductive output. Our results suggest some degree of specificity in herbivore-flower-visitor interactions with consequences for plant fitness. Specificity of plant responses were determined at the species level as well as the herbivore functional group level, and differed depending on the flower visitor. Because plant reproduction was affected by indirect plant-mediated interactions, these can potentially result in selection on plant strategies to optimize growth, defence and reproduction. A plain language summary is available for this article.
Evaluating perennial ryegrass cultivars: improving testing

The agronomic performance of a range of perennial ryegrass cultivar-endophyte combinations was compared in 16 trials conducted at sites throughout New Zealand. Each trial was run for 3 years according to seed industry evaluation protocols, measuring variables including: dry matter (DM) yield (total annual and seasonal DM yield), ryegrass ground cover at the end of 3 years, susceptibility to plant pulling, and rust incidence. The change in DM yield over the 3-year term of each trial was also analysed. There were significant differences among cultivars in total annual DM yield, and in seasonal DM yield for each of the five periods of the year among which yield was split (winter, early spring, late spring, summer, and autumn). Mean annual yield declined between Year 1 and Year 3 in all regions except Taranaki, by between 0.8 t DM/ha (Canterbury) and 5.3 t DM/ha (Waikato). There were significant region, year, region × year, and cultivar × year interactions in yield change. Significant differences in ground cover score for perennial ryegrass at the end of 3 years were recorded among cultivars. However, these differences did not mirror on-farm observations of ryegrass persistence in the Waikato during the drought of 2007/08, suggesting that the standard trial protocols currently used do not adequately test persistence. It is recommended that industry cultivar testing needs to more accurately assess perennial ryegrass persistence, using new protocols including running trials on commercial farms, for more than 3 years, and using mixed swards. Genetic differences in persistence could be generated more quickly by choosing sites known to challenge perennial ryegrass growth and survival.
Percutaneous Image-guided Thermal Ablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Nephrectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, some patients are not suitable candidates for nephrectomy because of high surgical risk, reduced renal function, or the presence of multiple renal tumors. Percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation, including cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation, is a minimally invasive and highly effective treatment and can be used to treat RCC in patients who are not good candidates for surgery. This article will review percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation for RCC, covering treatment indications, ablation modalities and techniques, oncologic outcomes, and possible complications. In addition, the characteristics of each ablation modality and its comparison with nephrectomy are also presented.
Cloth Mask Breathability and Filtration Efficiency Technical Report 1

1. Executive Summary The present scientific evidence indicates that mask-wearing by the public is an effective measure for reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 due to a combination of droplet (>5 um) and aerosol protection (<5 um). Given that many varieties of cloth mask are effective at reducing transmission via large droplets, any mask is better than no mask. Mask use should be strongly encouraged to be used in conjunction with measures such as physical distancing. This report focuses primarily on the material considerations for designing cloth masks which protect against transmission via smaller droplets and aerosols in addition to protecting against transmission via larger droplets. Better understanding the respective risks of aerosol transmission compared to large droplet transmission for SARS-CoV-2 is an area of developing study. In this report, we compare studies of different materials that could be used to make homemade masks, with the goal of (1) summarizing both qualitative findings for what materials may provide a greater degree of aerosol protection for homemade masks and (2) identifying gaps in the scientific literature for future study. We consider all literature that evaluated the breathability and filtration efficiency of materials that could be used for homemade masks. It should be noted that the studies reviewed only evaluated the material and did not study leakage that can occur at the side of the mask once it is on a person’s face. Mask fit is a critical element in the overall effectiveness of any mask and masks should be designed to minimize leakage around the sides and by the nose. Mask fit and design will be addressed in a separate report.
Growth, reproduction and recruitment of Silvetia siliquosa (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) transplants using polyethylene rope and natural rock methods

Silvetia siliquosa is an ecologically and commercially important brown alga that is harvested from its natural habitats, but its population has recently been diminishing along the Korean coast. To develop new techniques for algal population restoration, we tested two newly developed transplantation methods (using polyethylene ropes and natural rock pieces) at two study sites, Gwanmaedo and Yeongsando, on the southwest coast of Korea, from May to November 2014. The transplants on polyethylene ropes showed significantly greater survival, maturity, and growth than those on natural rocks at both study sites. Newly recruited juveniles (<3 cm) of S. siliquosa increased remarkably from May to December near the transplants on polyethylene ropes and natural rocks. Therefore, we suggest that transplantation using polyethylene ropes is more effective than using natural rocks to restore the population of S. siliquosa in Korea.
Identification of Durum Wheat Salt Tolerance Sources in Elite Tunisian Varieties and a Targeted FIGS Subset from ICARDA Gene Bank: Non-Destructive and Easy Way

The success of durum wheat breeding program for salt tolerance improvement depends on sources of tolerance, the screening method and the selection of target traits. In this study, we used morpho-physiological traits to elucidate the phenotypic and genetic variation in salinity tolerance of a 50 internationally derived durum wheat genotypes. Four Australian lines containing salt tolerance Nax genes from CSIRO (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia); six Tunisian old and new cultivars (Kerim, Khiar, Maali, Mahmoudi, Nasr and Selim) and forty ICARDA’s gene bank landraces selected basing on FIGS Method (Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy) were evaluated in semi controlled conditions at the INRAT Ariana experimental station. Significant genotypic variation and Pearson's correlations were found among the evaluated traits. The data were converted to salt tolerance indexes (STI) before statistical analysis. The high positive and significantly correlation of STI of grain yield and those of tillering (r=0.46), mean daily evapotranspiration (r=0.46), shoot dry weight (r=0.74), number of spikes per plant (r=0.74), spike length (r=0.30), thousand grain weight (r=0.36) and the chlorophyll content at 79 day after sowing (r=0.30) indicated that salt stress induces a high reduction in these parameters, leading to the reduction in grain yield. Therefore we can consider these parameters as the most relevant for salinity tolerance screening criterion in durum wheat breeding programs. Among the analysed genotypes the ICARDA’s landrace IG-85714 from Greece showed better performances under salt stress. Among the analysed Tunisian varieties Maali and Nasr exhibited some level of tolerance. Approximately half of the analysed genotypes showed a moderate to high level of salt tolerance. These are the first sources for the salt tolerance in durum wheat identified in the ICARDA gene bank. This demonstrated that FIGS was effective for sampling large ex situ germplasm collections when seeking novel genetic sources of salt tolerance.
Differential Outcomes of Nectar Robbing on the Reproductive Success of a Melittophilous and an Ornithophilous Species

Premise of research. Nectar robbers can affect pollinator behavior and indirectly affect plant fitness. The signal of such effects (positive, neutral, or negative) may depend on how the primary pollinators of a given plant species respond to robbed flowers. Comparative studies are important to give insight on which factors are linked to these differential outcomes of nectar robbing on plant reproductive success. Here, we investigated the effect of a common Neotropical nectar robber, the stingless bee, Trigona spinipes (Apidae), on the reproductive success of the bee-pollinated Crotalaria vitellina (Fabaceae) and the hummingbird-pollinated Besleria longimucronata (Gesneriaceae). Methodology. We compared the robbing rate (number of flowers robbed relative to total flower display) between species and evaluated the effect of robbing on plant reproductive success by comparing the seed number per fruit of robbed fruits (identified by the presence of scars in the calyx, caused by the robber) with that of intact fruits. Pivotal results. The hummingbird-pollinated B. longimucronata had a higher proportion of robbed flowers than the bee-pollinated C. vitellina. Moreover, we found a negative effect of robbing on seed number per fruit for B. longimucronata but no effect for C. vitellina. Conclusions. The differences in the outcome of nectar robbing can be interpreted based on previous studies of pollinator behavior: hummingbirds often avoid nectar-robbed flowers, while bees often do not exhibit a preference between robbed and intact flowers. Our results show that the same robber species can have differential effects on the reproductive success of distinct plant species. In this sense, the outcome of nectar robbing will depend on the interplay between plant traits and pollinator behavior.
Study the effects of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis antigens in the improvement of fertility in female mice against the virulent pathogen with virulent type of same pathogen

This study was designed to detect the efficiency of immunization with culture filtrated antigen (CFAg) and whole sonicated antigen (WSAg) prepared from a local strain of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and improvement of the fertility in female. Eighty female mice were divided into 4 groups equally: Group1 & G2 of mice were immunized with (CFAg) & (WSAg) respectively at dose 0.3 ml subcutaneously in Two doses, 2 weeks interval of each Ag. Group 3 served as a control. At 28 days post immunization skin test was done, then at 30 days blood sample used for the serum interferon Ƴ Elisa test. The mice in G1, G2, and G3 were challenged virulent C. pseudotuberculosis (5×109) CFU/ ml I/P. At 30 days post infection, 10 mice from each group were scarified to determine serum hormones (estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH), record the numbers of ovarian follicles, in addition to this; small pieces from ovary, oviduct and uterus were processed for histopathology. The results revealed that the antigens stimulate cellular immunity in immunized mice. The serum levels of estrogen, progesterone were high and FSH and LH were low levels in G3 as compared with those good values of G1 & G2 in addition, there is variation in the number of types of ovarian follicles between the mice groups. This study concluded that immunization with C. pseudotuberculosis antigens leads to increase immunity that lead to protect of genital female organs in immunized mice in comparison with infected mice which caused different changes which may lead to infertility.
Physiological Responses of Slow-Growing Chickens under Diurnally Cycling Temperature in a Hot Environment

Free-range chicken production has significantly increased in recent years and it often entails exposing birds to cyclic environmental conditions. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of bird strain and sex, and rearing system on the physiological responses of Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Naked Neck (NN) chickens reared in a hot environment. Body weight (BW), rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) were determined weekly for 4 weeks, in 3 slow-growing chicken strains under cyclic environmental conditions. A total of 288, 20-week old Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Naked Neck (NN) chickens were separated by sex and allocated to extensive and intensive rearing systems. Ambient temperature and relative humidity (RH) were used to compute a temperature humidity index (THI). A Proc MIXED model was used to analyze fixed effects and a linear regression model was fitted to test the relationship between THI and response parameters. All factors studied influenced (p<0.05) BW while none affected (p>0.05) RT. Higher BW (p<0.05) were obtained with OV in both rearing systems. Sex influenced (p=0.0021) HR but not RR (p>0.05). Week and rearing system affected (p>0.05) RR. THI showed significant correlation with RR and HR. THI was higher in intensive than extensive rearing. Physiological responses of PK, OV and NN are comparable under similar rearing conditions.
Stability of biocontrol products carrying Candida sake CPA-1 in starch derivatives as a function of water activity

ABSTRACT The preservation and shelf-life of formulations of the biocontrol agent Candida sake CPA-1 and starch derivatives as a function of water activity (aW) were studied in terms of the physical stability of the products and cell viability. Formulations of biocontrol products (BCPs), based on combinations of potato starch and pre-gelatinised potato starch (F1 and F2) or maltodextrines (MD) (F3) containing cell protectants, were obtained by fluidised-bed drying. The carriers and the formulated products were stored at 20°C under different aW conditions. The water sorption and water plasticization behaviour of the different products were analysed through the water sorption isotherms and glass transition temperatures (Tg). Likewise, the viability of C. sake over time was determined as a function of the aW. The solubility of the products was also assessed. Although formulations stored at 20°C and low aW (≤ 0.33) exhibited a better shelf-life, a significant decrease in cell survival ratio after 180 storage days was observed. Cold storage (5°C) was required to better maintain the cell viability, thus prolonging the shelf-life of BCPs. Formulations containing MD were the most effective at preserving cell viability and also exhibited the highest water solubility. All the formulations were physically stable at ambient temperature; therefore, the cell stability is the critical point at which to establish both the aW levels and temperature during storage. Packaging the product using high water vapour barrier material and under cold storage would be necessary to ensure a high number of viable cells and an effective and competitive BCP.