Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling interpopulation dispersal by banner-tailed kangaroo rats

Many metapopulation models assume rules of population connectivity that are implicitly based on what we know about within-population dispersal, but especially for vertebrates, few data exist to assess whether interpopulation dispersal is just within-pop- ulation dispersal "scaled up. " We extended existing multi-stratum mark-release-recapture models to incorporate the robust design, allowing us to compare patterns of within- and between-population movement in the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis). Movement was rare among eight populations separated by only a few hundred meters: seven years of twice-annual sampling captured > 1200 individuals but only 26 interpopu- lation dispersers. We developed a program that implemented models with parameters for capture, survival, and interpopulation movement probability and that evaluated competing hypotheses in a model selection framework. We evaluated variants of the island, stepping- stone, and isolation-by-distance models of interpopulation movement, incorporating effects of age, season, and habitat (short or tall grass). For both sexes, QAIC, values clearly favored isolation-by-distance models, or models combining the effects of isolation by distance and habitat. Models with probability of dispersal expressed as linear-logistic functions of dis- tance and as negative exponentials of distance fit the data equally well. Interpopulation movement probabilities were similar among sexes (perhaps slightly biased toward females), greater for juveniles than adults (especially for females), and greater before than during the breeding season (especially for females). These patterns resemble those previously described for within-population dispersal in this species, which we interpret as indicating that the same processes initiate both within- and between-population dispersal.
Struvite Precipitation Induced by a Novel Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus SRB4 Isolated from River Sediment

This article presents a study of struvite formation in liquid medium induced by the sulfate-reducing bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus SRB4, a strain isolated from river sediment. We identified the bacterial strain A. calcoaceticus SRB4 and analyzed its micromorphology. The minerals formed were studied with an electroprobe microanalyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, differential thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus SRB4 was found to induce struvite precipitation, whereas sterile control cultures did not. Many transparent stick-shaped struvite precipitates were distributed at the bottom of the conical flasks in the experimental group. Most bacteria were spherical and a large quantity of spherical struvite particles (less than 200 nm in diameter) adhered to the bacterial surface. An electron probe microanalysis showed that the precipitates contained C, O, P, Mg, and other elements. Fourier transformation infrared spectra showed that the precipitates contained crystalline water, NH4+, and PO43− groups. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that the precipitates were struvite crystals, with preferential orientation and lattice distortion. Thermogravimetry showed that the weight loss was caused by the evaporation of crystalline water at temperatures lower than 136°C and the release of ammonia from struvite at temperatures of 136–228.5°C. In this article, we discuss the possible mechanism of struvite formation and the possible role played by A. calcoaceticus SRB4. Our study extends our understanding of the phosphate biomineralization mechanism and should prove useful in recycling phosphorus in wastewater.
Comparison of Muscle Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Composition of Castrated and Uncastrated Male Pigs at Different Slaughter Ages

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of castration and slaughter age on amino acid and fatty acid compositions in Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of pigs, as well as growth rates and meat quality. The total amino acid, essential amino acid and nonessential amino acid contents of barrows were significantly higher (P<0.01, <0.001, <0.001, respectively) than the ones of boars. Additionally, the content of several saturated fatty acids and total mono-unsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher (P<0.001), and total polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly lower (P<0.001) in the LD muscle of barrows than in boars. Compared with boars, barrows had lower (P<0.05) growth rates after 147 days, higher (P<0.05) intramuscular fat content at 147 days, and higher (P<0.01) average back fat thicknesses at 147 and 210 days. These results suggest that the amino acid and fatty acid compositions of LD muscle from male pigs, as well as growth rates and meat quality, were influenced by castration, and, to a lesser degree, by slaughter age.
Modifying Texture Perception With Pseudo-Haptic Feedback for a Projected Virtual Hand Interface

Human body augmentation makes it possible to obtain new abilities that we cannot achieve with our actual bodies. A projected virtual hand interface is a promising approach for body augmentation because it can extend a user’s reach in daily life without the need to wear a device. Although users can manipulate a projected virtual hand as if it were their own hand and can interact with distant objects through it, they cannot feel the sensation of touch when the projected virtual hand is overlaid on a real object. In this paper, we propose a novel pseudo-haptic feedback framework to provide users with the tactile texture of objects without the use of haptic devices. We designed three types of visual effects that produce unevenness, slipperiness, and softness. The experimental results indicate that the proposed visual effects can lead users to feel the intended tactile sensation. Furthermore, the visual effects provide users with tactile sensations with three to five levels of intensity without producing a strange feeling.
A new nodosaur specimen (Dinosauria: Nodosauridae) from the Smoky Hill Chalk (Upper Cretaceous) of western Kansas

Abstract The right ulna and radius of a small nodosaur were recovered from the Smoky Hill Chalk Member (Upper Santonian) of the Niobrara Formation in October, 2000. Based on the similarity of the specimen in comparison with the holotype of Niobrarasaurus coleii, and the relatively small size of the remains, the bones are considered to be those of a juvenile N. coleii. The presence of two parallel scratch marks on the distal shaft of the radius, and the partially digested appearance of the proximal and distal ends of both bones, suggest that the lower limb had been detached from the carcass as the result of scavenging, most likely by the large lamniform shark, Cretoxyrhina mantelli. Although the remains of terrestrial vertebrates are not unknown from sediments deposited in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Sea, additional discoveries are infrequent and valuable sources of information regarding the terrestrial fauna of the time.
Development in wheat as affected by timing and length of exposure to long photoperiod

Seeds of a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. 'Condor') were vernalized and then grown at 19°C in two naturally-lit environments, one with a moderate (12 h) and the other with long (18 h) photoperiod. Treatments consisted of transfers of plants from the moderate to the long photoperiod chamber on different occasions, or for periods of different durations. The main objectives were to determine whether wheat development responds to current and previous photoperiodic environments and whether there is a juvenile phase when the plants are insensitive to photoperiod. Plants under constant 18 h photoperiod had fewer leaves which appeared faster than those under constant 12 h photoperiod (i.e. phyllochron was increased from 4.4 to 5.1 d leaf -1 ). Plants transferred from 12 h to 18 h photoperiod at terminal spikelet appearance (TSA) reached anthesis 4 d earlier than plants retained at 12 h, while plants under continuous long photoperiod (18 h) completed this phase most rapidly. Thus, there was some evidence for a historic effect of photoperiod on development. Exposure to long photoperiod during the first 5 d after plant emergence accelerated the rate of development towards anthesis, suggesting that there was no juvenile period of photoperiodic insensitivity. There were, however, changes during ontogeny in the degree of sensitivity to long photoperiod, increasing from seedling emergence to a maximum c. 15 d later, and then decreasing again. Although all treatments were imposed before TSA, the response was not limited to the pre-TSA phase, suggesting that well before the terminal spikelet appeared, the plant was already committed to the initiation of this spikelet. Spikelet number decreased with delayed transfer to long photoperiod with a minimum for plants transferred to long days from 16-20 d after seedling emergence. Additionally, there was a trend for an increase in the rate of leaf appearance (decrease in phyllochron) when the plants were exposed to long days between 10 and 35 d after seedling emergence. Although the differences were small, when considered in conjunction with the effects on final leaf number they become important in explaining differences in time to anthesis.
Pathological study on the upper respiratory tract infection of chickens and isolation, identification of causal bacteria

The proportional occurrence of bacteria and pathological lesions in the nasal sinuses and trachea of dead chickens were determined during 2008-2009. Nasal sinus and tracheal swabs from 50 dead birds were collected in sterile nutrient broth. The histopathological samples were collected in 10% neutral buffered formalin and studied with light microscope. The isolation and identification of bacteria were performed by culture, staining and biochemical tests. The proportional occurrence of bacteria in trachea (n = 50) and nasal sinuses (n = 50) of dead chickens was Klebsiella sp. (6.0%) , Escherichia coli (38.8%), Pasteurella sp. (8.6%) , Bacillus sp. (5.2%) and Staphylococcus sp. (41.4%). Congested trachea (n=3) and mucus-filled sinuses (n = 3) of dead chickens were studied for histopathology. Microscopically, rhinitis was characterized by infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes and few neutrophils. The epithelium of nasal passage revealed pyknotic nucleus with disruption of epithelium. There was sinusitis with purulent and necrotic changes around the nasal sinus. The nasal sinuses were infiltrated with macrophages, lymphocytes and few plasma cells. The mucosal layer of the nasal turbinates showed pus and necrosis. There was disruption of different mucous glands with accumulation of macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells in the submucosa. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bvet.v28i2. 10677 Bangl. vet . 2011. Vol. 28, No. 2, 60  69
Resistance Mechanism to Tribenuron-Methyl in White Mustard (Sinapis alba) from Southern Spain

Abstract Tribenuron-methyl has been used widely for the last 15 yr to control white mustard in cereal crops from southern Spain. Since 2007, several cases of tribenuron-methyl resistance have been reported in wheat fields. Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to characterize the mechanism of suspected tribenuron-methyl resistance in a white mustard biotype (hereafter AR16) from Malaga (southern Spain). Under greenhouse conditions, the dose (g ai ha−1) inhibiting fresh weight by 50% (ED50) was 5.20 and 0.57 for the AR16 and AR3 (known susceptible) biotypes, respectively. With the use of 14C-tribenuron-methyl, absorption and translocation from treated leaves were similar between biotypes. Thin-layer chromatography indicated foliar metabolism of tribenuron-methyl was low in both R and S biotypes. Assays on the binding affinity of tribenuron-methyl on acetolactate synthase (ALS) revealed enzyme activity was reduced by 50% (I50 value) at 638.7 and 0.23 nM for the AR16 and AR3 biotypes, respectively. This resulted in 2,777-fold greater resistance to tribenuron-methyl for the AR16 compared to AR3 biotype. Sequencing the gene encoding ALS, a proline/serine amino-acid substitution, was detected in position 197 of the A domain. Based on these results, it is concluded that tribenuron-methyl resistance in the AR16 biotype is due to a target-site mutation in the ALS enzyme, resulting in a lack of affinity to tribenuron-methyl. Nomenclature: White mustard, Sinapis alba L.
Isolation and screening of cellulolytic bacteria from soil and optimization of cellulase production and activity

Objective: The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the isolation, identification and screening of bacteria with high cellulase activity from soil samples. Materials and Methods: Cellulose degrading bacteria were isolated from soil sample using serial dilution and pour plate method. Bacteria were further identified by morphological and biochemical tests and subjected to cellulase production in 250 ml Erlenmayer flask using potato waste medium for 48h of fermentation period at 35oC with agitation speed of 140rpm. Results: Seven different bacterial strains were isolated and screened for cellulase production in submerged fermentation process. Among these seven tested bacterial strains; ASN2 showed maximum yield for cellulase production. This strain was further characterized by biochemical and morphological tests and identified as Cellulomonas sp. ASN2. Supplementation of glucose, peptone and cysteine to the fermentation medium are favored enzyme secretion. The optimum pH and temperature for the activity of crude enzyme was 7.5 and 60oC, respectively. Metal profile of the enzyme indicated that Co2+ and Mn2+ are the strong stimulators while Hg 2+ and Fe 2+ inhibited the activity of cellulase from cellulolytic bacterial strain, Cellulomonas sp.ASN2. Conclusion: Results indicated that favorable fermentation conditions and the selection of a suitable growth medium played a key role in the production of cellulase from newly isolated Cellulomonas sp. ASN2. Due to its particular characteristics this enzyme will be used in saccharification process for bioethanol production from plant biomasses.
An Intergroup Comparison of Connotative Dimensions in Architecture

DAV I D CANTER is currently Research Fellow at the Building Performance Research Unit at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He has a wide range of research interests oriented around man’s response to the designed environment. Although he received his undergraduate and graduate training in psychology at Liverpool University, Dr. Canter has worked closely with architects and is very much concerned with the role of architectural psychology research in architectural education.
Prolactin-based “Water-drive Theory” in Migratory Salamanders: Some Disprovable Data

ABSTRACT To reconsider a classic theory that prolactin induces water-drive behavior in migratory salamanders (i.e., prolactin-based water-drive theory), I showed, with a brief review of past references, some disprovable data on the basis of “migratory activity type” and “mucus secretion” in the hynobiid salamanders, Hynobius hidamontanus and Salamandrella keyserlingii. This theory could not explain fall immigrations toward terrestrial hibernacula unrelated to mating in S. keyserlingii. Likewise, literature review indicated that it also could not explain breeding immigrations toward dry pond basins in Ambystoma opacum and toward terrestrial nest-sites adjacent to the water in Tylototriton (Echinotriton) andersoni. Mucus that was secreted from dermal mucous glands, a target organ for prolactin, was absent on the skin of both fall-nonbreeding and spring-breeding immigrants of S. keyserlingii. In the context of existence of ecological and physiological examples against the prolactin-based water-drive theory, which have been so far neglected in endocrinological studies, it is conclusively necessary to determine plasma prolactin concentrations in salamanders just before entering the water.
Dietary myo‐inositol requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

An 11-week growth trial was conducted to determine dietary myo-inositol (MI) requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Myo-inositol was supplemented to the basal diet to formulate six purified diets containing 1, 56, 107, 146, 194 and 247 mg MI kg(-1) diet, respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile gibel carp (initial body weight 3.38 +/- 0.27 g, mean +/- SD) in a flow-through system. The diets were randomly assigned to different fish tanks. Fish fed >= 107 mg MI kg(-1) diet had significantly higher weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio than those fed 1 mg MI kg(-1) diet. Fish fed >= 56 mg MI kg(-1) diet had higher feeding rate and survival compared with fish fed 1 mg MI kg(-1) diet. Dietary supple-mental inositol did not affect fish liver inositol concentration. Fish fed >= 56 mg MI kg(-1) diet had higher body dry matter, crude protein and gross energy and lower hepatosomatic index than fish fed 1 mg MI kg(-1) diet. Dietary inositol supplementation decreased fish body ash. Quadratic regression of weight gain indicated that the myo-inositol requirement to maximum growth for juvenile gibel carp was 165.3 mg MI kg(-1) diet.
Carfentrazone-ethyl aplicado em pós-emergência para o controle de Ipomea spp. e Commelina benghalensis na cultura da cana-de-açúcar

This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy and selectivity of the herbicide carfentrazone-ethyl applied in post-emergence to control weeds in sugarcane crop and to evaluate dose-response curves of this herbicide in four species of Ipomoea spp. and Commelina benghalensis. Field experiment was carried out in post-emergence of weeds and sugarcane (cv. RB72-454). The experimental design adopted was a completely randomized block with the following treatments: carfentrazone at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 g ha-1 and metribuzin at 2,400 g ha1. The main weed species presented in the area were I. nil, I. grandifolia, I. quamoclit, Momordica charantia and C. benghalensis. The evaluations of percentage of weed control and selectivity to sugarcane crop were carried out at 15, 30 and 45 days after herbicide application. An experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions to elaborate dose-response curves with the weeds I. nil, I. grandifolia, I hederifolia, I. quamoclit and C. benghalensis. The herbicide rates analyzed were: 10D, 4D, 2D, D, 0.5D, 0.25D, 0.125D, 0.1D and 0.01D; where D = 20 g ha-1. Results were analyzed by dose-response curves in visual control and fresh mass. In the field experiment, results showed efficient weed control and the rate of 50 g ha-1 was considered the best carfentrazone treatment. No chemical treatment caused visible injury in the sugarcane crop. The greenhouse experiment showed that decreasing susceptibility of Ipomoea species to carfentrazone-ethyl was: I. hederifolia > I. quamoclit > I. nil > I. grandifolia and that C. benghalensis is controlled by carfentrazone at 5 g ha-1.
Optimizing inventories of diverse sites: insights from Barro Colorado Island birds

1. Diverse sites have long‐attracted ecologists, yet the overwhelming variety of species can confound attempts to enumerate species richness. Various predictive methods estimate species richness by comparing the rate at which species are first detected with the rate at which they are detected again, yielding richness estimates of known precision without exhaustive sampling.
Keeping pace with climate change: what can we learn from the spread of Lessepsian migrants?

Species need to move to keep pace with changing climates, but we do not know if species can move at the required speed. Spread rates of native species may underestimate how fast species can move, we therefore assessed how fast Lessepsian species (marine non‐native species that invaded the Mediterranean from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal) can spread to give a ‘best‐case’ assessment of the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity. We show that about 20% of Lessepsian species could not spread fast enough to keep pace with climate change in about 20% of the global seas and this suggests that climate change may lead to biodiversity loss. The velocity of climate change on the seabed is much lower than at the sea surface, and as a result of this the proportion of species that keep pace with climate change at the seabed was much larger than at the sea surface. This suggests that locations at depth could act as refuges for slow dispersing species. Our analysis compared different estimates of the spreading abilities of marine species and showed that the estimate of spread rates strongly affects the predicted effect of climate change on biodiversity. Providing more accurate estimates of the spreading ability of marine species should therefore have priority if we want to predict the effect of climate change on marine biodiversity. This study is a first approximation of the potential scale and distribution of global marine biodiversity loss and can provide benchmark estimates of the spread rates that species could achieve in colonizing suitable habitat. Assisted colonization may be required to maintain biodiversity in the most strongly affected areas.
A Compact and Broadband Four-Way Dual Polarization Waveguide Power Divider for Antenna Arrays

The design and optimization of a novel compact and highly efficient power divider exhibiting dual-polarization in an in-phase $2 \times 4$ scheme (4-way) is presented. The two fundamental orthogonal modes $TE _{10}$ and $TE _{01}$ arrive in-phase on each of the four square waveguides for each polarization by the utilization of four 3-port turnstile junctions accompanied by four E-plane and two H-plane power division structures. The power divider ends up to two commercial waveguide (WR75) ports (each for one polarization). The presented passive component can be used as a dual-polarized feeding network for a $2 \times 2$ antenna array or any four-port radiating element with square input waveguides and aperture sizes above $2.4 \lambda $ that are commonly targeted for focal array or direct radiating elements at GEO applications. The power divider is fully metallic, a fact that makes it an ideal candidate for satellite applications. The design band is Ku-Tx (10.7–12.75 GHz), presenting a Return Loss better than 20 dB and an input-output isolation of the orthogonal modes better than 30 dB. The exciter is also subjected to sensitivity analysis for estimating its manufacturing tolerances, exhibiting a robust behavior to dimensional variations, while its losses are also evaluated around 0.1 dB when aluminum parts are assumed. Finally, a compact topology of a $2.5 \lambda $ aperture size array in a $2 \times 2$ scheme was designed and optimized where the level of aperture efficiency was the principal design goal. The array is after connected to the exciter to obtain the final feed system.
Dual-Polarized Dual-Frequency Ka-band Transmitarray Lens

In this contribution, a new dual-frequency unit cell for transmitarrays is presented. This cell is based on a rectangular structure consisting of 4-stacked rectangular patches coupled 2-by-2 using a cross slot. One of the polarization is optimized to be transparent at 28 GHz, and the perpendicular one at 38 GHz. The cell provides a phase delay up to 300 degrees for each polarization at both frequencies. Furthermore, it allows to develop different radiation patterns for each frequency independently. In order to show the potential applications of this cell, a transmitarray antenna has been designed and simulated. The antenna can focus the energy on a near-field spot at 28 GHz using one polarization and it can also steer a beam to the broadside direction with the other polarization at 38 GHz.