Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal dynamics of neotropical high-altitude mixed oak forests in western Mexico

﻿ This thesis contributes to the understanding of two of the most intriguing questions that forest ecologists have faced over recent decades: 1) how high diversity is maintained in species-rich ecosystems; and 2) what is the role of spatio-temporal environmental variation in structuring forest communities. The aims of the research were to ascertain how species composition varies both spatially and temporally and how changes in the vegetation can be understood in the context of species coexistence theories (niche versus neutral). A group of 38 sympatric species, including 9 species of Quercus , on which little ecological research has been undertaken, were used in this study. The data used in this project include eleven years of periodic remeasurements of permanent plots established in high-altitude oak forests in Mexico. Adult, sapling and seedling trees were studied as well as their environmental surrounding. Spatial and temporal variations in forest composition were analysed using multivariate statistical approaches. The results show that there are discrete communities in these mixed oak forests that correspond to specific environments. At a broad scale the study area can be classified into two floristic zones, a mesic zone characterised by associations that include Quercus candicans, Q. laurina and Q. castanea and; a xeric zone dominated by Q. crassipes. However of a finer scale of analysis important variation in composition was associated with different life stages of the trees, with adult trees showing much stronger environmental associations than seedlings and saplings. Successional pathways and rates vary at relatively fine scales. This may be as a result of dominance alternation between dominant canopy species. Micro-niche zonation processes caused by a high degree of environmental heterogeneity combined with individual species traits explain the coexistence of phylogenetically similar sympatric Quercus species. A hierarchy of processes, each acting at a different spatial and temporal scale, determines species diversity and coexistence. The overall findings support the idea that niche differentiation rather than chance events such as dispersal limitation, are more important in permitting species coexistence.
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic fractionation between diet and tissues of captive seals: implications for dietary reconstructions involving marine mammals

We measured stable carbon ( 13 C/ 12 C) and nitrogen ( 15 N/ 14 N) isotope ratios in nail, whiskers, skin, hair, and blood of captive harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus ), harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) held on a constant diet of herring (Clupea harengus) for at least 2 years. In addition, isotope ratios were measured in the muscle and liver of two harp seals, and in the lung, kidney, heart, and spleen of a single harp seal that had died in captivity. Isotopic fractionation values between dietary herring (δ 13 C: -20.3 ± 0.7‰; δ 15 N: 13.0 ± 0.4‰, n = 33) and these tissues ranged for nitrogen from +1.7 to +3.1‰ for blood and liver, respectively, and for carbon from +0.6 to +3.2‰ for liver and whiskers, respectively. No differences in isotopic fractionation values among species or age groups were detected. These values will permit more accurate dietary reconstructions on the basis of isotopic analysis of the tissues of seals and other marine mammals. For two captive harp seals, carbon and nitrogen isotope values showed small variation along the length of six whiskers (range of standard deviations for δ 13 C: 0.21 to 0.57‰, for δ 15 N: 0.27 to 0.45‰) but showed some evidence of being inversely correlated. Resume : Nous avons mesure des rapports d'isotopes stables pour le carbone ( 13 C/ 12 C) et l'azote ( 15 N/ 14 N) dans les griffes, les moustaches, la peau, le poil et le sang de phoques captifs, soit des phoques du Groenland (Pagophilus groenlandicus ), des phoques communs (Phoca vitulina) et des phoques annele (Phoca hispida), soumis a un regime alimentaire constant de hareng (Clupea harengus) pendant au moins 2 ans. De plus, on a mesure les rapports isotopiques dans le muscle et le foie de deux phoques du Groenland, ainsi que dans les poumons, les reins, le coeur et la rate d'un phoque du Groenland mort en captivite. Les plages des valeurs de separation isotopique observees pour le hareng du regime alimentaire (δ 13 C : -20,3 ± 0,7‰; δ 15 N : 13,0 ± 0,4‰, n = 33) et pour ces tissus etaient comprises entre +1,7 et 3,1‰ (sang et foie, respectivement),
Recherche de la toxicité de diverses souches de Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner vis-à-vis de trois espèces de limaces

La toxicite de plusieurs preparations a base de Bacillus thuringiensis a ete montree vis-a-vis de la limace grise Deroceras reticulatum (Muller) et de l'escargot aquatique Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg) par de precedents auteurs, laissant envisager une methode de lutte microbiologique contre les gasteropodes. C'est pourquoi la toxicite de certains de ces produits commerciaux et de diverses souches non formulees ayant des activites insecticides differentes a ete eprouvee sur trois especes de limaces: D reticulatum, Arion distinctus Mabille et Limax valentianus Ferussac et comparee a celle de produits molluscicides de reference. Parmi les produits testes, deux etaient a base de β-exotoxine (Bitoxibacillin 5 et le surnageant H1). Cependant, aucune preparation a base de Bacillus ne s'est montree toxique vis-a-vis des trois especes de limaces. Seuls les produits molluscicides ont confirme leur efficacite contre les limaces.
Time Series Forecasting with Recurrent Neural Networks in Presence of Missing Data

In many applications, time series forecasting plays an irreplaceable role in time-varying systems such as energy markets, financial markets, and so on. Predicting the dynamic of time-varying systems is essential but is a difficult task because it depends on not only the nature of the system but also on external influences, such as environmental conditions and social and economic status. Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are a special class of neural networks characterized by the recurrent internal connections, which enable to model the nonlinear dynamical system. Recently, they have been applied in the various forecasting tasks and reported that they outperform the forecast accuracy compared with conventional time series forecasting models. However, there is a limited study of time series forecasting using RNNs in the presence of missing data. In this thesis, we propose a novel model that utilize Dilated RNN(DRNN) and a modified attention mechanism, focusing on the problem of time series forecasting with missing data. The proposed model outperforms existing models such as AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average(ARIMA) and Gated Recurrent Unit(GRU), with respect to the forecast accuracy on benchmark datasets. Besides, we provide a formal description of the learning procedure of RNNs, referred as truncated BPTT(k2, k1), and explain how to construct mini-batches of the training dataset for the forecasting tasks with RNNs, that has not been presented before this work. Discussions and future directions are suggested in five different perspectives at the end.
A review of migratory behaviour of sea turtles off southeastern Africa

The survival of sea turtles is threatened by modern fishing methods, exploitation of eggs and habitat destruction. Forming keystone species in the ocean, their extinction would disrupt the marine food chain in ways as yet unknown. The Indian Ocean has many breeding areas for sea turtles, the southernmost ones being on the Maputaland coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest in large numbers thanks to long-lasting protection programmes. For the leatherback this is the only known nesting site in the entire western Indian Ocean. At the end of the reproductive season, both loggerheads and leatherbacks undertake migrations towards disparate feeding areas. To contribute to their conservation, the migratory behaviour of these animals needs to be understood. Here we review 10 years studying this behaviour using transmitters that telemeter data via satellite. It emerges that these species frequent widely dispersed areas ranging from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mozambique Channel. The migratory behaviour of leatherback and loggerhead turtles is, however, very different, probably due to their differing food requirements. While loggerhead postnesting movements have a truly migratory nature, the large-scale wanderings of leatherbacks are better described as prolonged sojourns in extended feeding areas.
The Role of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Sex Identification of a Sample of Egyptian Population Using Maxillary Sinus Predictors

Purpose: to investigate the possibility of sex identification from radiographic maxillary sinus measurements among a sample of Egyptian population. Materials and methods: The present study comprised of 100 living non-pathological Egyptians of 200 maxillary sinuses bilaterally 50 males and 50 females aged 20-70 years. All the participants were scanned with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for various purposes. Maxillary sinus width, depth, bizygomatic distance and intermaxillary distance were measured from axial images and height was measured from coronal images. All measures were obtained between the widest points of all the sinuses, and volumes of maxillary sinuses on both sides were calculated using the following equation: (Width × Depth × Height × 0.5). Results: Non-statistically significant difference was revealed between the right and left maxillary sinuses. All measurement of males showed statistically significantly higher mean values than females. The significant predictors for gender were: sinus volume and inter-maxillary distance. The discriminate functions at group centroids (Group means) were 0.620 for males and -0.620 for females. Conclusion: The dimensions and volume of the maxillary sinus of male were found to be larger than those of female. Discriminant function analysis declared that maxillary sinus volume and intermaxillary distance were the best discriminant parameters for sexual dimorphism.
Investigating Health Communication Interventions on Three Major Illnesses in Nigeria

Background: Communication methods are used to create and increase public awareness of a disease; its causes and treatment; change a person’s or group’s attitudes about a disease; advocate for policy changes in favor of prevention and control, and create social norms that favor healthful living. Objectives: This study sought to examine the health communication interventions so far used on HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB in Nigeria, find out what has been achieved in the process and suggest how the status quocan be improved. Methods: A total of 390 respondents comprising healthcare providers, patients and the general public in the selected states; Enugu (Southeast), Kaduna (Northwest) and Oyo (Southwest) states in Nigeria were sampled using questionnaire. It was a Cross-sectional study. Results: Health communication interventions on HIV/AIDS are majorly received through radio (34.7%), friends (30.1%) and television (18.85%). For malaria, television and radio predominate (31.9%) and (26.7%) respectively, then newspaper (13.1%). However, TB was chiefly through health facilities (30.1%) then television (20.1%) and newspaper, (12.9%). Major types of intervention messages on the illnesses include HIV/AIDS Preventive (76.6%), Malaria Drug use (37.3%) and Tuberculosis control (38.8%). Lack of knowledge of available media was the major factor identified as hindering communication interventions for the 3 diseases. (HIV/AIDS 29.8%, Malaria 32.6% and TB 35.7%). Conclusion: There is a need for attitudinal change by all to ensure that the level of awareness is matched with action and subsequently influence the adoption of intervention measures to improve management of these diseases.
Enterprise social media use and overload: A curvilinear relationship

Considerable research has focused on the positive effects of information technology use. However, emerging research and practice commentary highlight the importance of considering the negative side of information technology use. The current study investigates how enterprise social media use (i.e. work- and social-related use) influences employees’ perceived overload (i.e. information and social overload), which in turn affects enterprise social media-related strain. In addition, we posit that communication visibility moderates the nonlinear relationship between enterprise social media use and overload. Using a survey of 282 enterprise social media users in the workplace as a basis, we find an inverted U-shaped relationship between work-related enterprise social media use and information overload and between work-related enterprise social media use and social overload. Moreover, a U-shaped relationship is found between social-related enterprise social media use and information overload and between social-related enterprise social media use and social overload. Communication visibility positively moderates the inverted U-shaped relationships between work-related enterprise social media use and information overload and between work-related enterprise social media use and social overload, but negatively moderates the U-shaped relationship between social-related enterprise social media use and information overload. The theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Pengaruh Biblioterapi Dengan Buku Cerita Bergambar Terhadap Tingkat Kecemasan Efek Hospitalisasi pada Anak Prasekolah

The numbers of the hospitalized children in the last two decades have been increased rapidly. The increasing of the percentage of the hospitalized children became more serious and more complex than the previous years. Hospitalization might causes anxious on the children. The children became increasingly anxious and might affect the healing process. Therefore, to decrease the childrenâ€™s anxiety during the healing process, the use of the book as a therapy media, known as Bibliotherapy is suggested. This research is aimed at identifying the effect ofÂ Bibliotherapy by using storybooks on the anxiety level of hospitalization effect on preschool children in childrenâ€™s room. This research employed Quasi-Experimental with One Group pre-test and post-test design, and the total sample was 19 respondents. The sampling technique was accidental sampling. The instruments used in this research were questionnaire and observation. The data were analyzed through univariat and bivariate. The findings showed that the average score on the level anxiety before treated by Bibliotherapy by using the storybooks was 23.2, while after giving the therapy was 18.6. The T-test obtained p+0,001 (p<0.05), it means that Ho is rejected, there is a relationship between the effect of Bibliotherapy by using story books on the childrenâ€™s level of anxiety as the effect of the hospitalization on the preschool children in childrenâ€™s room at RSUD Bangkinang. It is expected for the Hospital to give therapy program while children care by Bibliotherapy by using the storybooks to decrease the childrenâ€™s anxiety.
Influence of thermal fronts on habitat selection by four rorqual whale species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Understanding the factors influencing habitat selection is critical to improving manage- ment and conservation plans for large whales. Many studies have linked the distribution of cetaceans to basic environmental features such as underwater topography and sea surface temperature (SST), but the mechanisms underlying these relationships are poorly understood. Dynamic mesoscale pro- cesses like thermal fronts are prime candidates to link physiographic factors to whale distribution because they increase biological productivity and aggregate prey. However, previous studies of large whales have found little evidence of such associations, possibly because they were not at the appro- priate spatio-temporal scales. We quantified the relationship between SST fronts and the distribution of blue Balaenoptera musculus, finback B. physalus, humpback Megaptera novaeangliae and minke B. acutorostrata whales in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. We compared the distribution of 1094 whale sightings collected from boat surveys conducted in 1996 to 2000 to the locations of frontal areas determined from 61 satellite maps. The distributions of whales and thermal fronts were highly corre- lated (random resampling and Mantel tests of matrix similarity). Spatial distributions differed among species, probably reflecting differences in feeding strategies. Identification of surface fronts from satellite imagery thus effectively complemented field observations of whales. These findings signifi- cantly increase our understanding of habitat quality in rorqual whales, and encourage a greater use of dynamic environmental variables in future studies of whale habitat use.
Interleukin‐2 primes eosinophil degranulation in hypereosinophilia and Wells' syndrome

Patients with hypereosinophilia frequently suffer from eosinophil‐mediated damages of the heart, lungs, skin, and other organs, while some do not. The reason(s) for this difference is not known. We observed that eosinophils from most patients with hypereosinophilia express the α‐chain of the IL‐2 receptor (CD25), and that IL‐2 enhances platelet‐activating factor‐stimulated release ofeosinophil cationic protein from CD25‐expressing but not from CD25‐negative eosinophils. Such a "priming" effect has previously been described for eosinophil hematopoietins. These data suggest thatpatients with increased eosinophil surface CD25 expression are at higher risk of eosinophil degranulation and subsequent tissue damage when IL‐2 is present at inflammatory sites.
Sexual Selection and Mating Chronology of Lesser Prairie-Chickens

Abstract Little is known about mate selection and lek dynamics of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). We collected data on male territory size and location on leks, behavior, and morphological characteristics and assessed the importance of these variables on male Lesser Prairie-Chicken mating success during spring 2008 and 2009 in the Texas Southern High Plains. We used discrete choice models and found that males that were less idle were chosen more often for mating. Our results also suggest that males with smaller territories obtained more copulations. Morphological characteristics were weaker predictors of male mating success. Peak female attendance at leks occurred during the 1-week interval starting 13 April during both years of study. Male prairie-chickens appear to make exploratory movements to, and from, leks early in the lekking season; 13 of 19 males banded early (23 Feb–13 Mar) in the lekking season departed the lek of capture and were not reobserved (11 yearlings, 2 adults). Thirty-three percent (range = 26–51%) of males on a lek mated (yearlings = 44%, adults = 20%) and males that were more active experienced greater mating success.
Urinary tract Infection among type 2 diabetic patients admitted in a multispecialty hospital in South Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic and potentially disabling disease which is reaching an epidemic proportion in many parts of the world. UTI is a common infection observed in diabetic patients. The objectives of this study was to determine the prevalence of UTI among hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients, the frequent bacteria responsible for UTI and most susceptible antibiotics among the diabetic patients.Methods: A hospital-based study involving type 2 diabetes patients admitted with diagnosis of UTI between 2017- 2018 (July - June). The study was a cross sectional study and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. Patients fitting study inclusion and exclusion criteria took part in the study with informed written consent obtained. A validated pilot-tested questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection.Results: Total of 126 subjects were identified. Prevalence of UTI was around 25% higher in women with type 2 diabetes than in men. UTI was found to be significantly associated with age, creatinine (p<0.05) and Escherichia coli was the commonly isolated micro-organism. The gram negative pathogens were highly sensitive to cefoperazone-sulbactum and amikacin was found to be the most sensitive antibiotic for both gram positive and gram negative pathogens.Conclusions: UTIs are frequent in diabetic patients. Improved glycemic control in diabetics may help in controlling the UTIs. Accurate screening for UTI in diabetic patients is also critical to enable the appropriate treatment and avoiding related complications.
In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia spp. to azole drugs

Objective To analyze in vitro the susceptibility of ketoconazole, fluconazole, and miconazole against Malassezia spp. Methods Antifungal susceptibilities were determined from isolates of pityriasis versicolor lesions using disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), based on Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guide were recorded after 24-48 hour of incubation at 35oC. Malassezia spp. showed different susceptibility profiles for the drug tested. The samples were tested for ketoconazole, fluconazole, and miconazole susceptibility. The susceptibility differences were analyzed using chi square test (x2). Results According to statistic, the susceptibility of ketoconazole, fluconazole and miconazole showed a significant difference ( p <0.05) in which 16 samples were sensitive to ketoconazole and fluconazole, while 10 samples were resistant and 6 samples were intermediate to miconazole. Conclusion There was a significant difference in susceptibility of ketoconazole, fluconazole, and miconazole against Malassezia spp.
Effect of the type of lactic starter on microbiologicalchemical and sensory characteristics of Feta cheese

The influence of the type of lactic starter inoculation on chemical and microbiologicalcharacteristics of Feta cheese was investigated. Yoghurt (Y) and starters, (A) Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis + Lactobacillus casei + Leuconostoc cremoris (6:2:2). (B) L. lactis subsp. lactis + L. casei + Enterococcus durans (6:2:2). (C) L. lactic subsp. lactis + L. casei + E. durans + Leuc. ceremoris (6:2:1:1), were examined. Inoculation with starters B and/or C had a significant ( P P E . durans in cheese made with starter B or C which produces proteolytic enzymes active at low pH, accumulated higher ( P P ) flavour, body and texture scores. Thus, mesophilic starters supplemented with E . durans might be considered appropriate for Feta cheese production.
Recombination frequency variation in maize as revealed by genomewide single‐nucleotide polymorphisms

Recombination frequency greatly affects selection efficiency in plant breeding. A high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) map integrated with physical map and other molecular maps is very useful for characterizing genetic recombination variation. In this study, recombination frequency in maize was investigated through SNP linkage maps constructed with three recombinant inbred line populations. The integrated map consisted of 1443 molecular markers, including 1155 SNPs, spanning 1346 cM. A 100-fold difference in recombination frequency was observed between different chromosomal regions, ranging from an average of 0.09 cM/Mb for pericentromeric regions to 7.08 cM/Mb for telomeric regions. Recombination suppression in non-centromeric regions identified nine recombination-suppressed regions, one of which likely contained condensed heterochromatin (knobs). Recombination variation along chromosomes was highly predictable for pericentromeric and telomeric regions, but population-specific with 4.5-fold difference for the same marker interval across the three populations or specific chromosome regions because of the presence of knobs. As recombination variation can be identified and well characterized as shown in this study, the related information will facilitate future genetic studies, gene cloning and marker-assisted plant breeding.