Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altitudinal and Seasonal Differences in the Diets of Antechinus-Swainsonii and Antechinus-Stuartii (Marsupialia, Dasyuridae) in Relation to the Availability of Prey in the Snowy Mountains

The diets of Antechinus stuartii and A. swainsonii and the availability of their prey were studied in the Snowy Mountains in areas subjected to a winter cover of snow. Active prey were found to be less common in winter than summer and less common at higher than lower altitudes. The prey taken were more likely to reflect availability (as measured either by pitfall traps or litter samples) where prey was scarce. The diet varied between years but within years was more variable for A. stuartii than for A. swainsonii, possibly because A. stuartii was able to feed in trees in summer but not in winter, whereas A. swainsonii foraged only on the ground in all seasons. Antechinus stuartii and A. swainsonii fed on different types of prey at low subalpine altitudes (1600 m), where they foraged in different microhabitats; this difference was also reflected in the sizes of prey consumed. At high subalpine altitudes (1850 m), A. stuartii and A. swainsonii fed on both the same type and the same size of prey, indicating that the two species did not select different prey sizes but that prey size was determined by the size of food available to each species. Predation on a particular group by A. swainsonii in summer was more likely if that prey group was also available in winter. This suggests that by improving its skills at finding and catching these prey, A. swainsonii was better fitted for survival through the winter. This may help explain the greater abundance of A. swainsonii and the decline in numbers of A. stuartii almost to local extinction in snow-covered areas.
Examining the Role of Purpose in the Adoption of Digital Assistants

When do consumers adopt digital personal assistants like Cortana, Siri, or Alexa? This thesis proposes to add to the current technology adoption literature on digital assistants by examining the moderating impact of the purpose for which the device is used. Building on the theory of uses and gratifications, it was expected that devices viewed with high cognitive appraisal would be more likely to be chosen for cognitive purposes than devices viewed with high affective appraisal, while devices viewed with high affective appraisal would be more likely to be selected for affective purposes than devices viewed with high cognitive appraisal. Two experiments were conducted that supported these hypotheses.
Chemical Composition of Fresh and Salted Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) Roe

Abstract Fresh and stored heavily or lightly salted lumpfish roe was examined. Proximate composition was not influenced by processing. Fresh and lightly salted roe had similar compositions of fatty acids and total amino acids. Lightly salted roe had increased levels of free fatty acids, peroxide values, thiobarbituric acid values and free amino acids. Composition of free amino acids also differed. The results indicated that lipid hydrolysis, lipid oxidation, and liberation of amino acids occurred during storage of heavily salted roe prior to desalting. Trime-thylamine and trimethylamine oxide concentrations were low or unde-tectable in all roes.
Upper thermal tolerance in anuran embryos and tadpoles at constant and variable peak temperatures

Anuran survival is strongly affected by exposure to high environmental temperatures. However, their upper thermal tolerances vary between species and within developmental stages. The aims of this research were to measure the median lethal temperature (LT50) of three anuran developmental stages (Gosner stages 10, 20, and 25) at a constant thermal regime, and of developing embryos (stage 10) until they became tadpoles (stage 25) exposed to daily peaks of temperatures between 1000 and 1600. Four Colombian species (Emerald-eyed Treefrog, Hypsiboas crepitans (Wied-Neuwied, 1824); Tungara Frog, Engystomops pustulosus (Cope, 1864); Rivero’s Toad, Rhinella humboldti (Gallardo, 1965); Emerald Glassfrog, Espadarana prosoblepon (Boettger, 1892)) were used in these experiments. An ontogenetic increase was observed in the upper thermal tolerance from embryos to tadpoles for all species studied. In addition, developing embryos exposed to peak temperatures showed a LT50 fairly close to the mean of the maximum habitat te.
Hyperiid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidae) collected recently from eastern Australian waters

A taxonomic report on hyperiid amphipods collected during the period 1970-1977 from waters off New South Wales, and in 1989 from off Sydney and slightly north-east of Brisbane, is presented. The collection consists of sixty one species of which nineteen are new ]Jecords for Australian waters. Taxonomic features of all of the latter, and some of the lesser known species, are illustrated. A brief diagnosis and a list of synonymies is given for each species and r. ~marks on systematics to aid future identification and comments on taxonomic difficulties are provided where appropriate. Most of the species represent a tropical or warm-temperate fauna indicating the influence of warm-core eddies in the Tasman Sea. ZEIDLER, W. , 1992. Hyperiid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) collected recently from eastern Australian waters. Records of the Australian Museum 44(1): 85-133. 85 The hyperiid amphipod fauna of Australian waters has not received much attention in the past. Previous records of hyperiids, mainly from eastern Australia, are by Barnard (1931), Dakin & Colefax (1940), Stebbing (1888), Young & Anderson (1987), and Zeidler (1978). Watson & Chaloupka (1982) record a few species from Bass Strait. Very few of these papers provide a taxonomic treatment of the species studied and our knowledge of the Australian fauna is thus limited with identifications relying on the availability of a variety of, often difficult to obtain, literature concerning fauna from other parts of the world. Previous to this study, seventy four species of hyperiids were known from Australian waters (Young & Anderson, 1987; Zeidler, 1978); nearly all records being from the shallower (less than 400 m) waters of eastern Australia. In most cases hyperiids were only collected as part of a general sampling program and it is thus likely that many more species will be added to the Australian fauna in the future. In particular there are very few plankton samples available from deep water (greater than 1000 m) which is the domain of most Physosomata which represent about one third of the world's fauna of about 240 species. Also opening and closing nets were rarely used so that information on the depth preference of species in Australian waters (and indeed worldwide) is very limited. Since 1971, the New South Wales State Fisheries (now the Fisheries Division of the NSW Department of Agriculture) has been carrying out trawling surveys
Confirmation of the rod cGMP phosphodiesterase β subunit (PDEβ) nonsense mutation in affected rcd-1 Irish setters in the UK and development of a diagnostic test

Rodkone dysplasia type one (rcd-1) is an early onset inherited retinal dystrophy segregating in the Irish setter breed. It is classed as one of the autosomal recessive canine generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophies (PRA). The disease results in complete loss of photoreceptors by approximately one year of age. Levels of retinal cGMP are markedly elevated and of abnormal distribution in rod photoreceptors. Rod phosphodiesterase activity is absent and mRNA encoding the beta subunit (PDEB) of the holoenzyme is uniquely reduced in predegenerate retinae. Using retinae from normal, unrelated adult dogs we have PCR-amplified and sequenced the cDNA for PDEβ. The cDNA is almost identical to that recently described for the Irish setter in the USA apart from two translationally silent single nucleotide changes. Using carrier and affected setters from a UK breeding colony we have screened genomic DNA and can confirm the G to A transition in rcd-1 affected dogs at position 2420, creating an amber mutation in codon 80.
Risk assessment model using conditional probability and simulation: case study in a piped gas supply chain in Brazil

The objective of this article is to present a proposed application for systematic risk assessment considering the dependence between risks. The proposal relies on a systematic literature review (SLR) as the initial phase, in which the risk classes, management phases and the tools that can be applied to the risk assessment are identified, considering the dependence between them. For this, the system adopted includes the identification and later evaluation of the risks. The evaluation involves the analytic network process (ANP), Monte Carlo Simulation and conditional probability by means of Bayes’ theorem. The identification and evaluation of the risks were applied to two links of a piped gas supply chain in Brazil, identified as company X and Y, where six specialists were interviewed in each company in the managerial areas. The ANP indicted that the most critical risk in the links is the demand risk. From this, it was possible through Monte Carlo Simulation to identify the probability of occurrence of events with connection to demand risk: demand (X) / demand risk (Y), with probability of 10%; price risk (X) / demand risk (Y), with probability of 0.64%; and risk of supply (Y) / demand risk (X), with a probability of 0%. This indicates that the highest risk is the risk of demand of firm Y, and therefore mitigation strategies should focus on this risk, as it represents the true cause of supply chain vulnerability, generating risk with the highest probability.
Shining a light into the world’s deepest caves: phylogenetic systematics of the troglobiotic scorpion genus Alacran Francke, 1982 (Typhlochactidae : Alacraninae)

Abstract. The scorpion genus Alacran Francke, 1982, endemic to eastern Mexico, was created to accommodate Alacran tartarus Francke, 1982. This remarkable troglobiotic species is adapted for life in some of the world’s deepest caves, 720–916 m below the surface in the Sistema Huautla of the state of Oaxaca (the deepest records at which a scorpion has been found). A second species, Alacran chamuco Francke, 2009, was later described from Te Cimutaá, also in Oaxaca. In the present contribution, we describe a third species, Alacran triquimera, sp. nov., recently discovered in a cave system in the state of Puebla, and test the monophyly and internal relationships of Alacran, based on a cladistic analysis of 10 terminal taxa (including seven species representing all four genera of Typhlochactidae) and 151 informative morphological characters, building on a previously published matrix. The single most parsimonious tree obtained, supports the monophyly of Alacran and the following relationships among its component species: (A. chamuco (A. tartarus + A. triquimera, sp. nov.)). The phylogenetic relationships among the three species of Alacran are consistent with the biogeographical history of the caves they inhabit. Based on the geological history of the Sierra Madre del Sur and the likely similar speleogenesis of the Tres Quimeras, Sistema Huautla and Te Cimutaá caves, we propose a vicariance hypothesis to account for the disjunct distribution of the three species of Alacran, whereby an initially more widespread, panmictic ancestral population speciated into three geographically isolated taxa following fragmentation of the southern Sierra Madre del Sur.
Effects of torrefaction and water washing on the properties and combustion reactivity of various wastes

On account of increasing waste problems and energy crisis, this study performed waste‐to‐energy on three kinds of intermediate waste epoxy resins, including the one used for printed circuit board manufacture (WE1), the one from Bisphenol A type epoxy resin (WE2), and the one from purifying process (WE3), using water washing and torrefaction. Biomass and coal were also tested for comparison. The properties, including proximate analysis, elemental analysis, higher heating value (HHV), and combustion characteristics of the feedstocks before/after the pretreatments, were analyzed. Coal and WE3 did not need any pretreatment to be fuel because their HHVs were high already (26.7 and 34.12 MJ/kg, respectively). Torrefaction presented a good modification on fir in that its fixed carbon content increases a lot, resulting in a 42% enhancement in HHV. However, the high thermal resistance of the intermediate waste epoxy resins let them show merely upgrade after torrefaction pretreatment, especially for WE2. After torrefaction, the ash content of it attained 77% that was not suitable as a fuel. On the other hand, water washing displayed good performance on it where its ash content was reduced by over 88% coupled with the 270% increment on HHV. This was attributed to the removal of salt in WE2 during water washing. The TGA/DTG proved that salt inside intermediate waste epoxy resins was diminished after water washing. Furthermore, after water washing, all the combustible contents concentrated at a lower temperature (250°C‐500°C) which benefited the real application.
Alternative Real-time Image-Based Smoke Detection Algorithm

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: Received: 16 February, 2020 Accepted: 26 April, 2020 Online: 03 May, 2020 Most buildings are equipped with various types of sensors to detect smoke in the event of a fire, though most are located internally. Practically, smoke has to reach the sensor in order for the sensor to react. The limitations of these sensors are their inability to respond in the early stages of a fire, and their questioned efficiency in accurately detecting the source of the smoke and locations in external environments. Image processing techniques are widely used in different critical applications in the domains of security, recognition, detection, etc. In this paper, we present an alternative image-based algorithm that can detect smoke in both indoor and outdoor environments. The algorithm operates over colored images to detect smoke at the early stages of a fire. The core of the algorithm relies on target extraction, color analysis and block subtraction components. Results shows that our proposed algorithm is capable of detecting smoke accurately at a rate of 95.10%, making it suitable for wide range of applications.
Host range validation, molecular identification and release and establishment of a Chinese biotype of the Asian leaf beetle Lilioceris cheni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) for control of Dioscorea bulbifera L. in the southern United States

Abstract Dioscorea bulbifera, an Asian vine, is invasive in the southeastern USA. It rarely flowers but propagates from potato-like bulbils formed in leaf axils, which persist into the subsequent growing season. Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto, a foliage-feeding beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) from Nepal, had been tested, proven to be a specialist and approved for release as a biological control agent. Regulatory delays, however, resulted in the demise of quarantine-held colonies, and acquisition of new Nepalese stock proved untenable. Searches then undertaken in southern China resulted in the collection of over 300 similar beetles. Two Chinese Lilioceris species were identified: one confirmed to be L. cheni and the other identified as Lilioceris egena (Weise). Mitochondrial analysis revealed an exact DNA match between some Chinese and one of the two Nepalese c oxidase subunit I haplotypes and all Chinese L. cheni haplotypes clustered as a single species but the comingling of the two species aroused concerns over possible hybridisation. These concerns were allayed by nuclear D2 analysis showing the absence of dual parental sequences. Nonetheless, diligence was exercised to ensure that the Chinese strains were safe to release. Abridged host testing using critical test species verified specificity. Caged releases during autumn 2011 documented the ability of adult beetles to overwinter in south Florida despite a prolonged lack of foliage. Open releases the following year produced vigorous populations that caused extensive defoliation. Preliminary observations indicate that L. cheni now contributes to the control of D. bulbifera and the bulbil-feeding L. egena should complement these effects if its host range proves appropriate.
Developments in accounting and treasury functions in public educational institutions in the Municipality of Medellín, Colombia, since 1976

This article examines the official educational institutions in the Municipality of Medellín, focusing on their accounting and budget management and observing their normative development from 1976 to June 2018. The importance of this study lies in clarifying the role that accounting plays in improving the administration of public resources because accounting is adaptable to the educational context. This study concludes that the accounting system in educational establishments has significantly improved as regards administrative and accounting autonomy, thereby impacting the quality and performance of educational services. In summary, a link between accounting and education becomes evident in this historical review. Therefore, the role of state control and monitoring agencies is crucial.
Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)

Abstract Helastia Guenee, 1868 is redefined and redescribed. New Zealand species previously placed in that genus but not congeneric with the type species are reassigned to either the available genera Epyaxa Meyrick, 1883, Asaphodes Meyrick, 1885 and Xanthorhoe Hubner, [1825] or placed in a newly described genus, Gingidiobora. Six Australian species placed in Xanthorhoe are shown to be congeneric with three New Zealand species, previously placed in Helastia and here transferred to Epyaxa. Eight new species are described in Helastia: Helastia alba n. sp. ; H. angusta n. sp. ; H. christinae n. sp. ; H. cryptica n. sp. ; H. mutabilis n. sp. ; H. ohauensis n. sp. ; H. salmoni n. sp. ; H. scissa n. sp. The following new combinations and synonymies are proposed: Asaphodes chlorocapna (Meyrick, 1925) n. comb. ; A. citroena (Clark, 1934) n. comb. ; A. glaciata (Hudson, 1925) n. comb. ; A. ida (Clark, 1926) n. comb; Epyaxa agelasta (Turner, 1904) n. comb. ; E. centroneura (Meyrick, 1890) n. comb. ; E. epia (Turner, 1922) n. co.
Supplementary grain and sodium propionate increase the liveweight gain and glucose entry rates of steers given molasses diets

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplements of sorghum grain (1·1 kg/day), sodium propionate (65 g/day) and intra-abomasal glucose infusion (200 g/day) on the liveweight gain (LWG), glucose metabolism and nitrogen utilization of Hereford steers (four per group) given molasses-based diets ad libitum (molasses 589, urea 18, sunflower meal 194, pangola grass hay 187, minerals 12 g/kg as fed). There was no significant effect of treatment on voluntary feed consumption (97–106 g dry matter (DM)/kg0·75 per day) or DM digestibility (0·564–0·579). The LWG of steers given grain supplements (899 g/day) and sodium propionate (943 g/day) were significantly (P<0·05) higher than those of steers given the basal diet (741 g/day) and basal diet plus glucose infusion (794 g/day). All supplements decreased plasma urea concentrations and urinary N excretion and increased the efficiency of N utilization from 0·19 to 0·36–0·38 g N retained per g apparently digested N intake. The provision of grain (13% DM intake) increased ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in rumen fluid, and both grain and sodium propionate increased the proportion of propionic acid in ruminal VFA. Grain supplementation and glucose infusions significantly (P<0·05) increased glucose entry rates (g/day and g/kg0·75 per day) without affecting plasma glucose concentrations or glucose pool size and space. Sodium propionate supplements increased plasma insulin concentrations to a lesser extent than grain supplements and glucose infusion. Increased glucose availability in the present studies was associated with an improved utilization of dietary protein and, in some cases, with improved LWG.
Evaluation of Bacterial Recovery Efficiency and Counting Precision from Decaying Leaf Litter in Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin, USA

Abstract We studied the effectiveness of sonication and filter-size-fractionation to efficiently remove and separate bacterial leaf-surface colonizers from other members of the microbial community. Leaf discs from red oak and paper birch leaves were colonized in situ for 8 and 22 days in Little Rock Lake, WI, and sonicated at 90 W power output for 60 seconds, followed by filter-fractionation (3.0 μm) to remove and isolate bacteria. This technique consistently yielded the highest bacterial activity (relative Electron Transport System activity) and resulted in bacterial recovery efficiencies from leaf surfaces ranging from 96.5% to 98.8%. In addition, comparisons among various methods currently used to estimate bacterial densities (e.g., malachite green-INT, acridine orange direct counts, scanning electron microscopy approaches) were completed to assess the utility of the MINT method for counting bacteria removed by sonication. Bacterial counts derived from MINT and AODC methods were never significantly different, but always were significantly higher and less variable than counts from SEM. Finally, an attempt was made to address sources of variability in counting precision using the MINT method for bacteria removed from leaf surfaces. For two leaf species, on two sampling dates, most of the variability in MINT cell counts was due to variability among microscopic fields counted, while little was due to either subsample or filter used in cell counts. Thus, the combination of sonication and filter-size-fractionation to remove bacterial leaf surface colonizers appears to be an effective approach, allowing reproducible and precise measurements of bacterial densities and activities.
Colony–Substratum Relations in Scrupocellariidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata)

In the Bryozoa in general the colony is attached by means of the primary zooid, the ancestrula, which is permanently cemented to the substratum. The attachment is brought about, in the marine bryozoans, by the larva everting its interior sac into a basal adhesive disc secreting a thin layer of hardening mucus. In Scrupocellaria reptans no adhesive disc was found. The metamorphosing larva is fixed to the substratum by a column of loose, sticky secretion. This primary fixation is ephemeral and replaced by a secondary, permanent fixation by one pair of rootlets. Thus, the ancestrula body proper and the colony arising from it become permanently free from the substratum but anchored to it by rootlets, the primary pair and series of secondary rootlets. This unique and certainly secondarily evolved type of attachment is apparently realized in the Scrupocellariidae in general, to a more or less perfect degree. It appears as one of several possible models to meet efficiently with environmental disturbances.