Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Field distribution of banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) adults in cooking banana stands in Uganda

The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), is a nocturnal insect that is not readily observed in banana fields. Knowledge on its distribution is essential for the design of management strategies that target the adult stage. Marked weevils were released into seven-year-old banana plots. Ten days later the plots were systematically sampled for adult weevils by first removing the banana leaf mulch and residues, searching subsections of the soil to depths of 3 and 25 cm and, finally, removal and dissection of the banana mats. Of the marked weevils, 62, 56 and 82% respectively, were recovered in three trials. Most weevils were found in close association with either the banana mat (46–66%) or with cut residues lying on the ground between the mats (24–31%). Lesser numbers were found in the leaf mulch and in the top 3 cm of soil away from the mat. The distribution of weevils is likely to be influenced by crop management practices and the availability of residues and by the presence of mulch. Implications for banana weevil IPM are discussed. RésuméLe charançon du bananier, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), est un insecte nocturne qui n’est pas facilement observé dans les plantations de bananiers. La connaissance de sa distribution est essentielle pour élaborer des stratégies de lutte contre le stade adulte. Des adultes marqués ont été lâchés dans trois plantations de bananiers âgées de 7 ans. Un échantillonnage systématique des adultes a été réalisé 10 jours plus tard dans les résidus de feuilles au pied des troncs, dans le sol jusqu’à une profondeur de 25 cm ainsi que dans les gaines foliaires; 62,56 et 82% des adultes marqués ont été retrouvés dans les trois essais. La plupart des charançons ont été retrouvés dans la gaine foliaire (46–66%) ou dans les débris de gaines foliaires reposant sur le sol (24–31%). Peu d’adultes ont été retrouvés dans les débris de feuilles ou dans les 3 premiers centimètres de sol. Il apparaît que la distribution des charançons est influencée par les pratiques culturales et la disponibilité en résidus ainsi que par le paillage. Les conséquences de ces observations sur la lutte intégrée contre le charançon du bananier sont discutées.
Photomorphogenesis and canopy dynamics. Phytochrome-mediated proximity perception accounts for the growth dynamics of canopies of Populus trichocarpa * deltoides 'Beaupre'

The phytochrome family of signal-transducing photoreceptors provides plants with the capacity to perceive variations in the relative fluxes of red (R) and far-red (FR) radiation. This capacity has been proposed to be of ecological value in the perception of the proximity of neighbouring plants and the consequent induction of shade avoidance responses. The work reported here has evaluated this potential by determining quantitatively the effect of neighbour proximity on the growth of canopies of Populus trichocarpa×deltoides‘Beaupre’ trees, and relating the measured variables to the long-term vectoral radiation quality inside each canopy. The spectral distribution of radiation inside four canopies of Populus trichocarpa×deltoides‘Beaupre’ of different densities was monitored throughout the growing season. Spectral distributions inside the canopies were measured in 10° wedges at different heights and angles. The results are presented as PFD over 400–700 nm (PFD400–700) and PFD over 400–800 nm (PFD400–700). Results are also presented for the calculated phytochrome photoequilibrium (Pfr/P) and red:far-red ratio (R:FR). Data are presented as in-canopy angular and height profiles, and as diurnal and seasonal variations. PFD400–700 and Pfr/P were found to be reduced inside each canopy, the reduction being greatest in the most dense canopy, and least in the most open canopy. At any height within each canopy, calculated Pfr/P decreased linearly with time throughout the growing season, until leaf senescence began. The reduction was greater in the denser canopies and was found to be similar for three consecutive field seasons. Linear relationships were found between plant stem growth rate, plant spacing and Pfr/P calculated from radiation propagated approximately horizontally within the canopies. The findings support the role of phytochrome in proximity perception in the natural environment and provide a quantitative basis for investigating the competitive interactions between plants growing in dense stands. The hypothesis is proposed that the dynamics of developing or regenerating canopies can be accounted for on the basis of phytochrome-mediated perception of the proximity of neighbouring plants.
Evolution of parental care in dart poison frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatidae)

Dendrobatid frogs perform a unique mode of parental care, ranging from egg attendance and tadpole transport to tadpole feeding. It is hypothesized that a behaviour in which the egg attending parent remains with the cluch is the most primitive condition. In more advanced forms or parental care, the male is able to attend several clutches of eggs. Tadpole attendance and feeding, finally, started as deceit; the male induced the female to lay eggs into a bromeliad leaf axil already occupied by a larva. Costs and benefits of the different modes of parental care and possible alternative reproductive tactics are discussed.
An approach to analyses of periphytic ciliate communities for monitoring water quality using a modified artificial substrate in Korean coastal waters

Structural parameters of periphytic ciliate communities on a modified substrate were studied in Korean coastal waters during the period August–November 2007. In order to reduce the strong disturbances from tidal current and circulation in marine ecosystems, a modified slide method, named the polyurethane foam enveloped slide (PFES) system, was used to host ciliate communities. A total of 37 ciliate species, about half of which belong to the orders Hypotrichida and Cyrtophorida, were identified using living observation and silver impregnation method with this system. The sessile ciliates belonged to the orders Peritrichida and Suctorida, while the motile forms were represented primarily by the species of the orders Hypotrichida, Cyrtophorida and Pleurostomatida. The species diversity and evenness were significantly higher in the PFES system than those on the conventional slides (paired t-test: t = 2.384, 2.415; P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the ciliate communities from both sampling systems had similar species composition, but represented significant differences in species distribution and temporal dynamics mainly due to the most dominant peritrich Zoothaminium duplicatum, which overly colonized the conventional slides. Results suggest that the PFES system is more effective than the conventional slide method for periphytic ciliate colonization with high species diversity, evenness and sensitive temporal dynamics mainly due to the reduction of disturbances from tidal current and circulation in marine ecosystems.
A touch of luck and a “real taste of Vegas”: a sensory ethnography of the Montreal Casino

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been an explosion of “experiential design” in casinos, driven in part by research suggesting that curating gambling sensescapes can lure patrons to spend more time – and money – inside the casino. Building on the promise of existing casino ethnographies, this paper argues that a sensory ethnographic approach to the study of gambling environments can offer valuable insight into the experiential design and mood management of the casino. We use sensory ethnography to explore the ambiance of the Montreal Casino, particularly during the casino’s “Vegas Nights” promotion. How does the casino feel (and how does it touch back)? What rhythms flow through its neon labyrinth? What does “getting a real taste of Vegas,” well … taste like? Moreover, we position this ambiance at the center of the casino’s “push-and-pull” approach to problem gambling – where this government-affiliated sensory extravaganza must toe a tenuous line between attraction and responsibilisation. In addition, we examine how the ambiance of the casino is co-produced by patrons and employees. Ultimately, we argue that the casino floor is unlike a sensory research laboratory – for here, sensations mix and mingle, and it takes a sensory ethnographer to quite literally “make sense” of the casino ambiance and its impact on visitor experience.
Steroid Inhibition of Rat Neuronal Nicotinic α4β2 Receptors Expressed in HEK 293 Cells

Steroids, in addition to regulating gene expression, directly affect a variety of ion channels. We examined the action of steroids on human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably transfected to express rat a4b2 neuronal nicotinic receptors. Each steroid that was tested inhibited acetylcholine responses from these receptors, with slow kinetics requiring seconds for block to develop and recover. The action of one steroid [3a,5a,17b3-hydroxyandrostane-17-carbonitrile (ACN)] was studied in detail. Block showed enantioselectivity, with an IC50 value of 1.5 mM for ACN and 4.5 mM for the enantiomer. Inhibition curves had Hill slopes larger than 1, indicating more than one binding site per receptor. Block did not require intracellular compounds containing high-energy phosphate bonds and was not affected by analogs of GTP, suggesting that the mechanism does not require the activation of second messengers. Block did not appear to be strongly selective between open and closed channel states or to involve changes in desensitization. A comparison of different steroids showed that a b-orientation of groups at the 17 position produced more block than a-orientated diastereomers. The stereochemistry at the 3 and 5 positions was less influential for block of a4b2 nicotinic receptors, despite its importance for potentiation of g-aminobutyric acidA receptors. The ability of steroids to block neuronal nicotinic receptors correlated with their ability to produce anesthesia in Xenopus tadpoles, but the concentrations required for inhibition are generally greater. Similarly, the concentrations of endogenous neurosteroids required to inhibit receptors are larger than estimates of brain concentrations.
Discourse and prosody in sentence processing: An electrophysiological investigation

Two Event-Related Potential studies contrast the processing of locally ambiguous sentences in the visual and the auditory modality. These sentences are disambiguated by a lexical element. Before this element appears in a sentence, the sentence can also be disambiguated by a boundary marker: a comma in the visual modality, or a prosodic break in the auditory modality. Previous studies have shown that a specific ERP component, the Closure Positive Shift (CPS) can be elicited by these markers. The results of the present studies show that both the comma and the prosodic break disambiguate the ambiguous sentences before the critical lexical element, despite the fact that a clear CPS is only found in the auditory modality. Comma and prosodic break thus have parallel functions irrespective of whether they do or do not elicit a CPS.
Electrochemical Kinetics of SEI Growth on Carbon Black: Part II. Modeling

Mathematical models of capacity fade can reduce the time and cost of lithium-ion battery development and deployment, and growth of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is a major source of capacity fade. Experiments in Part I reveal nonlinear voltage dependence and strong charge-discharge asymmetry in SEI growth on carbon black negative electrodes, which is not captured by previous models. Here, we present a theoretical model for the electrochemical kinetics of SEI growth coupled to lithium intercalation, which accurately predicts experimental results with few adjustable parameters. The key hypothesis is that the initial SEI is a mixed ion-electron conductor, and its electronic conductivity varies approximately with the square of the local lithium concentration, consistent with hopping conduction of electrons along percolating networks. By including a lithium-ion concentration dependence for the electronic conductivity in the SEI, the bulk SEI thus modulates the overpotential and exchange current of the electrolyte reduction reaction. As a result, SEI growth is promoted during lithiation but suppressed during delithiation. This new insight establishes the fundamental electrochemistry of SEI growth kinetics. Our model improves upon existing models by introducing the effects of electrochemical SEI growth and its dependence on potential, current magnitude, and current direction in predicting capacity fade.
Phylogeography of the genus Chondrostoma Agassiz, 1835 (Teleostei: Leuciscidae) in Anatolia, as inferred from mitochondrial DNA analysis

The molecular phylogeny of the Anatolian species of the genus Chondrostoma (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae) was studied by sequencing of the mitochondrial cyt b gene. A total of 144 tissue samples from 14 described species were collected from 35 different localities in Turkey. In total, 74 cyt b haplotypes were identified. Haplotype network construction and phylogenetic analysis allocated all 14 species to two main haplogroups that are congruent with those currently accepted on the basis of morphological characteristics. The first haplogroup, the Nasus lineage, is distributed across Caucasia and the Black Sea and Marmara regions and is also represented in the Aegean basin. The second haplogroup, the Regium lineage, is distributed from eastern Anatolia to the Mediterranean Sea basin. Based on estimates generated in this study, the radical divergence between the main Chondrostoma haplogroups in Turkey occurred during the late Miocene (Tortonian stage) and late Pliocene Period, approximately 5.82 Mya (8.48–3.45 Mya). The splitting of the Nasus lineage occurred approximately 5.11 Mya, in the early Pliocene, and the Regium Lineage diverged from its sister group, the Nasus lineage approximately 4.77 Mya. The primary diversification events for the species belonging to these two haplogroups occurred in the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene which coincides with the uplifting of the Anatolian plateau about 2.5–3.0 Mya.
Black Panther, queer erasure, and intersectional representation in popular culture

ABSTRACT This essay interrogates queer erasure from the film Black Panther. The implications of queer erasure from one of the most recognizable and lucrative franchises in film history are particularly problematic as Black Panther envisions “a Pan-African past, present, and future” where queer bodies are both invisible and unwelcome. By continuing to relegate queer sexualities to spaces of Otherness in superhero films, the film reifies dominant discourses of heteronormativity and patriarchy, producing a paradoxical image of Black (queer) women.
Contrasting Responses of Weed Communities and Crops to 12 Years of tillage and Fertilization Treatments

Minimizing inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, or tillage may be sought by producers to satisfy economic as well as environmental goals. One of the challenges in reducing inputs, whether synthetic fertilizers or herbicides, or substituting a synthetic nutrient with an organic source, is to identify practices that will provide optimum growing conditions for the crop while maintaining an adequate level of weed control. Our objective was to measure the cumulative effects of 12 yr of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization treatments applied to two tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT) vs. no tillage (NT)] in a corn–soybean rotation on weed communities and crop yields. Residual (postherbicide treatment) weed species assembly was determined by multivariate analysis and was influenced mainly by tillage, with weeds more strongly associated with NT than with CT. Diversity of weed communities as measured by richness, evenness (E), and a diversity index (H′), and total weed biomass were greater for NT than for CT. Nutrient treatments had little or no effect on these parameters. Corn yields were reduced by 70% in the absence of N and by 25% in NT compared to CT treatments. Soybean yields were reduced in NT with increasing P rates compared to other treatments, but reductions never exceeded 10%. Overall, corn and soybean had different responses to treatments, with corn yields being far more affected by fertilization and tillage than soybean yields. Conversely, the absence of tillage had a much greater effect than the absence of nutrient input on weed community assembly and biomass, suggesting the importance of a weed management program specifically tailored for NT systems. Nomenclature: Corn, Zea mays L. , soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr
Effects of the Cessation of Grazing on the Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the Central Plateau, Tasmania

The response of grassy vegetation to exclusion from grazing was found to be related to a major productivity gradient in the central highlands of Tasmania. All sites showed a trend toward increased structural complexity, a decrease in bare ground and a decrease in species richness when grazing was excluded. However, the effect was much more pronounced at sites of high productivity. These findings support the theory that species richness is a function of both disturbance and the rate of competitive exclusion (site quality), and support suggestions that stock grazing is inappropriate above 1000 m on the Central Plateau.
Farmer knowledge, attitude and practices on sorghum allelopathy in five sorghum producing districts of Zimbabwe

Lack of knowledge about allelopathy technology may be a barrier to the adoption of allelopathy by farmers. A questionnaire survey together with physical weed sampling in farmers’ fields were conducted to examine farmer knowledge, attitude and practices on sorghum allelopathy and to establish weed density in fields grown to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 growing seasons in five districts of Zimbabwe. A third of the farmers (29%) knew about and associated poor weed growth with sorghum allelopathy. About half (49%) left sorghum stalks standing in plots after harvesting and later ploughed them under, while 6% cut and burnt them. Both previous and current season sorghum significantly (p < 0.05) affected density of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. , Bidens pilosa L. , Acanthospermum hispidum DC and Richardia scabra L. , suggesting that allelopathic effects of sorghum can be caused by both residual and freshly exuded allelochemicals. Five varieties suspected to be allelopathic by growers were evaluated for sorgoleone content. There were significant (p < 0.001) differences in sorgoleone production among the five varieties. The detection of very low levels of sorgoleone in some of the varieties suggest that compounds other than sorgoleone contributed to the suspected allelopathic effects.
Transcription Factor Nrf2 Regulates Inflammation by Mediating the Effect of 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2

ABSTRACT Activated macrophages express high levels of Nrf2, a transcription factor that positively regulates the gene expression of antioxidant and detoxication enzymes. In this study, we examined how Nrf2 contributes to the anti-inflammatory process. As a model system of acute inflammation, we administered carrageenan to induce pleurisy and found that in Nrf2-deficient mice, tissue invasion by neutrophils persisted during inflammation and the recruitment of macrophages was delayed. Using an antibody against 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), it was observed that macrophages from pleural lavage accumulate 15d-PGJ2. We show that in mouse peritoneal macrophages 15d-PGJ2 can activate Nrf2 by forming adducts with Keap1, resulting in an Nrf2-dependent induction of heme oxygenase 1 and peroxiredoxin I (PrxI) gene expression. Administration of the cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor NS-398 to mice with carrageenan-induced pleurisy caused persistence of neutrophil recruitment and, in macrophages, attenuated the 15d-PGJ2 accumulation and PrxI expression. Administration of 15d-PGJ2 into the pleural space of NS-398-treated wild-type mice largely counteracted both the decrease in PrxI and persistence of neutrophil recruitment. In contrast, these changes did not occur in the Nrf2-deficient mice. These results demonstrate that Nrf2 regulates the inflammation process downstream of 15d-PGJ2 by orchestrating the recruitment of inflammatory cells and regulating the gene expression within those cells.
Review and cladistic analysis of the Neotropical tarantula genus Ephebopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) with notes on the Aviculariinae

The tarantula genus Ephebopus Simon 1892 is reviewed and includes the type species, E. murinus (Walckenaer 1837), and E. uatuman Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1992, E. cyanognathus West & Marshall 2000, E. rufescens West & Marshall 2000 and Ephebopus foliatus, sp. nov., from Guyana. Ephebopus violaceus Mello-Leitao 1930 is transferred to Tapinauchenius Ausserer, where it is a senior synonym of Tapinauchenius purpureus Schmidt 1995 new synonymy. Ephebopus fossor Pocock 1903 is considered a nomen dubium. Ephebopus occurs in northeastern South America where it is known only from Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Spiders of the genus are generally fossorial; however, Ephebopus murinus has a developmental stage that is arboreal. A cladistic analysis of the Theraphosidae retrieves the Aviculariinae as monophyletic, including Avicularia Lamarck, Iridopelma Pocock 1901, Pachistopelma Pocock 1901, Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus Pocock, Ephebopus, Stromatopelma Karsch and Heteroscodra Pocock, having as a synapomorphy the well-developed scopulae on tarsi and metatarsi I–II that is very laterally extended.
Using personalized learning as an instructional approach to motivate learners in online higher education: Learner self-determination and intrinsic motivation

Abstract In this qualitative comparison study, we examine the perceived efficacy of using personalized learning (PL) activities based on PL principles to support students’ psychological need satisfaction and intrinsic motivation in an online course using a traditional one-size-fits-all model. We apply self-determination theory as a framework to investigate students’ perceptions of their psychological need satisfaction (e.g., competence, autonomy, and relatedness) and relation to students’ intrinsic motivation when enrolled in an online course implementing PL principles. Overall, the study results showed the potential of implementing personalized learning principles in online courses to support students’ psychological need satisfaction (e.g., autonomy and competence) and intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, students perceived the PL interventions as engaging and effective in meeting their learning needs and interests.
Erratum: Visualization of lipids and proteins at high spatial and temporal resolution via interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy (2016 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 49 274002)

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