Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Pseudacteon cultellatus (Diptera: Phoridae) on Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Nothing was known about the life cycle of Pseudacteon cultellatus Borgmeier. Because this species seems to be a promising candidate for biological control of fire ants, we studied several aspects of its development. We measured selected life history traits of the fire ant parasitoid Pseudacteon cultellatus as a function of (1) host species (Solenopsis invicta Buren versus Solenopsis richteri Forel), (2) temperature (22 versus 25°C), and (3) size distributions of available host ants (homogeneous small versus mixed sizes of workers). We found that larval, pupal, and total developmental periods of this phorid fly were between 12 and 18% longer on S. richteri than on S. invicta, and 11–19% longer at 22 than at 25°C. Although larval developmental times did not differ as a function of sizes of host offered, average time of development in the pupal stage was extended by 12% in the case of host size mixtures which included workers larger than the phorid’s preferred host size in comparison to homogeneously small ants. P. cultellatus exhibited a strong preference for small ants, especially when using S. invicta workers as hosts. We did not find a relationship between size of host and sex of emerging flies as previously documented for some other Pseudacteon species. P. culltelatus seems to be a promising species for controlling S. invicta as it develops faster in this smaller host, and because it prefers to attack small ants and does not need larger hosts to produce female flies. Thus, this P. cultellatus can attack the majority of ants in a colony without the risk of producing a male-biased sex ratio.
Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in the Marine Gastropods Zidona dufresnei and Adelomelon beckii from Argentina: Toxicity and Toxin Profiles

ABSTRACT The marine waters around Argentina are periodically affected by a range of phytoplankton species that are known producers of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins. The toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Gymnodinium catenatum have been associated with PSP outbreaks in bivalve molluscs such as mussels. These bivalves are used as a food source by a number of species of carnivorous gastropods, including 2 species of marine snails, Zidona dufresnei and Adelomelon beckii. There is, consequently, a significant risk to consumers of the snails, which can accumulate PSP toxins after predation on the bivalves. Forty-one snail samples of carnivorous snails harvested between 1986 and 2012, representing 2 species (Z. dufresnei and A. beckii), were analyzed for PSP by the reference mouse bioassay (MBA) method and an alternative liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD) method based on AOAC 2005.06. Sample toxicities determined by the 2 methods correlated well, with no statistical difference in the 2 sets of data. The highest levels of PSP were measured in the viscera of the snails, although PSP was still measured in the edible foot muscle as well above the maximum permitted level in many of the samples. The LC-FLD analysis confirmed the presence of toxins in snail samples returning negative MBA results, therefore showing the advantages of using a more sensitive detection method. The LC-FLD results also enabled the assessment of toxin profiles in each of the snail samples, with data confirming the dominance of saxitoxin (STX) in the majority of snails in comparison with the dominant gonyautoxins quantified in the mussel food source. Conversely, a lower number of Z. dufresnei samples did not exhibit the STX-dominant profile, with a total of 4 different profile clusters determined in the 36 samples analyzed. For A. beckii, these variations were not observed, with a consistent STX-dominant profile measured in each of the samples received. There was no correlation between profile type and the year or season of harvest, although there was some indication that the snails harvested from more southern regions (below 39°S) contained lower relative concentrations of STX on average. Results also confirmed there were no significant differences between the profiles determined in the foot, mucus, and viscera matrices. Overall, the study showed good evidence for another useful confirmatory tool for monitoring levels of PSP in 2 species of carnivorous snails. The generation of toxin profile data has enabled the confirmation of the conversion or selective retention of STX in snail tissues. Whilst the majority of Z. dufresnei samples were found to contain the STX-dominant Although, the remainder of samples were found to contain notably different profiles, the reasons for this remain unknown.
Guatemala

The challenges to the respect of human rights remain significant and widespread in Guatemala. The violation of the human rights of certain majority sectors of society continues to be a common thread which has marked Guatemala since its internal armed conflict and during the last decades. For example, after enduring violence, women often suffer discrimination at the hands of police and prosecutors, rural workers, often indigenous, see the strong arm of the law manifest itself when evicting them, yet it is absent when it comes to enforcing their rights. Human rights defenders often find themselves subject to threats and attacks because of their activism, yet it is the exception to the norm that the authorities will act to protect them.
Antidepressant-like effect of chlorogenic acid isolated from Artemisia capillaris Thunb.

Abstract Artemisia capillaris Thunb. is widely used in the herbal medicine field. This study describes the antidepressant effect of a flavonoid (chlorogenic acid) isolated from the Artemisia capillaris Thunb. The expression of the pituitary gland and hypothalamic POMC mRNA or plasma β-endorphin levels were increased by extract of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. or its flavoniod administered orally. In addition, antidepressant activity was studied using the tail suspension test (TST), the forced swimming test (FST) and the rotarod test in a chronically restrained immobilization stress group in mice. After restraint stress (2 h/day for 14 days), animals were kept in a cage for 14 days without any further stress, but with drugs. Mice were fed with a diet supplemented for 14 days and during the behavioral test period with chlorogenic acid (30 mg/kg/day). POMC mRNA or the plasma β-endorphin level was increased by the extract of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and its flavoniod. In addition, the immobility time in TST and FST was significantly reduced by chlorogenic acid. In the rotarod test, the riding time remained similar to that of the control group at 15 rpm. Our results suggest that the flavonoid (chlorogenic acid) isolated from Artemisia capillaris Thunb. shows a potent antidepressant effect.
Longitudinal zonation of macroinvertebrates in an Ecuadorian glacier‐fed stream: do tropical glacial systems fit the temperate model?

SUMMARY 1. The ecology of glacier-fed streams at temperate latitudes has been intensely studied in recent years, leading to the development of a well-validated conceptual model on the longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrate communities downstream of the glacier margin (Freshwater Biology, 2001a; 46, 1833). However, to our knowledge, the ecology of tropical glacier-fed streams has not yet been studied. 2. We sampled benthic macroinvertebrates and measured environmental variables at nine sites between 4730 and 4225 m altitude along a 4.3 km stretch of a glacier-fed stream 40 km south of the equator in the Ecuadorian Andes. Our goal was to study the longitudinal distribution of the fauna in relation to environmental factors and to compare this with the conceptual model based on temperate–arctic glacier-fed streams. 3. Total density of invertebrates differed considerably at the two highest altitude sites; 4600 m )2 at a pro-glacial lake outlet and only 4 m )2 at a site originating directly from the glacier snout. Otherwise, there was a downstream decrease in density to about 825 m )2 at the three lowest sites. Taxon richness increased with distance from the glacier, very similar to the pattern predicted. A total of 28 taxa were collected; two at the glacier snout, seven at the nearby pro-glacial lake outlet, 13 at site 2 (<400 m from the glacier) and 20 at the lowest sites. 4. The numerical percentage of Chironomidae (Diptera) decreased downstream from 100 to 44%. The subfamily Podonominae was numerous at the highest sites but became much less important further downstream. The Orthocladiinae were important both in numbers and species at all sites, while Diamesinae were numerous only in the middle of the reach studied and were completely absent from the upper three sites. The limited importance of the Diamesinae, and its replacement by Podonominae, is different from the pattern typically observed in north-temperate glacier-fed streams. This could be because of the fact that the genus Diamesa is missing from the Neotropics. 5. Stream temperature and channel stability explained most of the variability in faunal composition and richness, supporting the model. Stability increased systematically downstream while temperature did not. Surprisingly, no classical kryal zone (Tmax <4 � C)
The dynamic mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomer: Catalytic effect of carbonyl iron powder

The vulcanization time of the natural rubber–based magnetorheological elastomers and natural rubber was tested by the rotor-less vulcanizer. Result shows that the magnetorheological properties were best after adding 190 copies of carbonyl iron powder. From the test of rotor-less vulcanizer and equilibrium swelling method, it could be found that, after adding 190 copies of carbonyl iron powder, the crosslink density was increased by 11% and the vulcanization time was shortened by 20%. The catalytic activity of accelerator mainly originated from its ability of forming active vulcanizing agent with sulfur atom, and the possible mechanisms had been given. The carbonyl iron powder in magnetorheological elastomers improved the magnetorheological properties and the efficiency of vulcanization.
Frequency of Staphylococci in Oral Cavity of Healthy Medical Workers

Hospitals are the places where infective agents abound. Medical workers may be contaminated by these nosocomial infective agents, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococci. To better understand the potential role of medical staff as a reservoir for circulating pathogenic bacteria and their transmission, we analyzed staphylococcal colonization in the oral cavities of six medical staff members who work at Nihon University Hospital at Matsudo. Oral samples were obtained by swabbing the oral cavities with sterile cotton swabs, and then the inoculated samples were evaluated using routine bacteriological study methods. Staphylococci were detected in the oral samples of all of the medical staff. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most predominant species in the oral cavity (75.1%). None of the medical staff were infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but three of six staff members possessed methicillin-resistant coagulase-nega-tive staphylococci (MR-CNS). Medical staff members are both at risk of infection and are a potential source of nosocomial pathogens such as methicillin-resistant staphylococci. As a preventive measure against nosocomial infection, it might be necessary to continuously investigate the frequency of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the oral cavities of medical staff.
Survival of Sitodiplosis mosellana (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on wheat (Poaceae) with antibiosis resistance: implication for the evolution of virulence1

Small numbers of larval wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana Géhin, survived and matured in each of five field seasons in a plot of spring wheat carrying the Sm1 gene for antibiosis resistance against this insect. Wheat midge developing on resistant wheat had higher survival in the laboratory than in the field, but survival was always very low compared with that of larvae developing on susceptible wheat. The mass of these larvae and their survival during diapause were approximately half those of larvae developing on susceptible wheat in both the laboratory and the field. The survival of some wheat midge larvae on resistant wheat, and their reduced mass, is consistent with the hypothesis that a virulence allele allowing adaptation to Sm1 is present in the population. Assuming this to be the case, the frequency of the allele in the population was estimated to be between 0.8 × 10−4 and 1.6 × 10−2, if surviving larvae are heterozygous for the allele. Although rare, a virulence allele occurring at this frequency would likely allow the wheat midge to overcome the resistance gene Sm1 once resistant wheat is grown over a wide area.
Age Differences in the Response of Willow Tits (Parus montanus) to Conspecific Alarm Calls

Predation is an important mortality factor in wintering birds. To counter this, birds produce alarm calls in the presence of predators which serve to warn conspecifics. In social hierarchical bird flocks, adults survive the winter better than juveniles and therefore survival strategies probably vary with social status. This study examined the differential responses to alarm calls by free-living willow tits, Parus montanus, in dominance-structured winter flocks in Finland. To explore the age-dependent differences in response to conspecific alarm calls, a series with three alarm calls was played to focal adults and juveniles while they sat in the middle section of a spruce branch. Immediately after the playback, juvenile willow tits moved more often, flew longer distances and changed branches more often than did adults. Previous mammal studies have shown that juveniles are more likely to flee than adults after hearing conspecific alarm calls. The current study demonstrates that similar age-dependent responses to conspecific alarm calls occur in birds also. These findings reflect an increased vulnerability to predators or lack of experience of young birds.
Prokaryotic picoplankton dynamics in a warm-monomictic saline lake: temporal and spatial variation in structure and composition

The prokaryotic picoplankton (PPP) composition was studied in the tropical high-altitude saline Lake Alchichica, Mexico, using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The temporal dynamics of the PPP followed the annual hydrodynamics of this warm-monomictic lake. The abundance of both the autotrophic (APP) and heterotrophic (HPP) functional groups of PPP increased during the mixing period to reach maximum values at the beginning of the stratification period, when the highest hybridization percentages for the domain Bacteria were also registered. The increase in PPP was most likely related to the availability of nutrients soon after the start of the mixing period. Throughout the rest of the stratification, APP and HPP decreased significantly together with the hybridization percentages, mostly related to the exhaustion of nutrients in the mixing zone. In spite of being oligosaline, the prokaryotic composition of Lake Alchichica was more typical of fresh than of saltier water bodies. During the mixing period, the Pcy and Planctomycetes (PLA) formed the main bacterioplankton fraction. Meanwhile throughout the stratification period PLA, Betaproteobacteria (BET) and Gammaproteobacteria (GAM) were the most abundant groups in the epilimnion and metalimnion. The domain Archaea (ARCH), BET GAM, Paracoccus the principal denitrifier of the Alphaproteobacteria and sulphate-reducing bacteria were dominant in the oxycline and hypolimnion in association with dissolved oxygen depletion and the nutrient enrichment of the deeper strata.
Deep Learning and the Cross-Section of Expected Returns

Deep learning is an active area of research in machine learning. I train deep feedforward neural networks (DFN) based on a set of 68 firm characteristics (FC) to predict the US cross-section of stock returns. After applying a network optimization strategy, I find that DFN long-short portfolios can generate attractive risk-adjusted returns compared to a linear benchmark. These findings underscore the importance of non-linear relationships among FC and expected returns. The results are robust to size, weighting schemes and portfolio cutoff points. Moreover, I show that price related FC, namely, short-term reversal and the twelve-months momentum, are among the main drivers of the return predictions. The majority of FC play a minor role in the variation of these predictions.
Genetic Analysis and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers Associated with Cooking Time in Common Bean

Cooking time is an important trait in the breeding of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), especially in Mexico where 96% of beans consumed are prepared in the household. Because of the characteristics of the cooking time trait, a method of indirect selection would increase selection efficiency. The objective of this study was to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers associated with the trait and estimate genetic parameters of cooking time. For that purpose, 104 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from contrasting cooking time bean cultivars were evaluated for three consecutive generations (F 5 to F 8 ). In each generation, cooking time was determined and plants in the F 7 generation were genotyped. One marker was associated with cooking time. The polymorphic UNAM-16 of 310 base pairs (bp) explained 23% of the variation in cooking time of the lines studied. Narrow sense heritability (h 2 ) was estimated for cooking time, as was the number of genes involved in the trait. A high value of h 2 (0.74) was estimated for cooking time. Also, it was estimated that two genes control the cooking time trait.
Employee Representation

riers to understanding. These barriers removed, ideas, like water, seek their level. In the field of industry these barriers must be razed by machinery for systematic contact and common counsel, if conflict is to be avoided. Millions of our industrial workers are daily brought beneath the same roofs with the owners or managers of business, but barriers of ignorance and language and the lack of proper machinery for contact and intercommunication, foster a mutual state of fear and distrust, with unsound conceptions of each other’s problems. The average employer is no philosopher or reconstructionist and knows little of the
PHYTOPLANKTON DIVERSITY OF SHALLOW TIDAL LAKES: INFLUENCE OF PERIODIC SALINITY CHANGES ON DIVERSITY AND SPECIES NUMBER OF A NATURAL ASSEMBLAGE 1

The influence of periodic salinity changes was investigated for 42 days under semicontinuous culture conditions with phosphorus limitation using phytoplankton assemblages from Lake Waihola, a tidally influenced shallow lake. To simulate tidal effects on the phytoplankton community, salinity in the cultures was increased in pulses at different intervals (3.5, 7, and 14 days), and these cultures were compared with those that experienced constant freshwater conditions. Salinity pulses significantly affected competition and succession with a major loss in diversity during the first days of the experiment due to the initial pulse that caused a transition from freshwater to brackish conditions in the cultures. After this initial phase, diversity index (H') and species number (Scorr) decreased less rapidly. The loss in H' and Scorr over time was highest under constant freshwater conditions and lowest in the treatment with an interval of 3.5 days between salinity pulses. At the end of the experiment, the combination of initial loss in H' and Scorr and the time course of H' and Scorr resulted in a U‐shaped relation between the interval length of salinity pulses and both H' and Scorrtemp1.txttemp1. txt. Our results indicate that salinity pulses at intervals of a few days tend to promote phytoplankton diversity. If saline intrusions in coastal freshwater systems occur only at spring tides, this will lead to decreases in diversity and species richness.
EFFECT OF ROOM TEMPERATURE ON THE QUALITY OF DNA FROM EARPHONE SWAB BY OBSERVING MITOCHONDRIAL DNA [mtDNA] D-LOOP REGION OF 126 bp (HVS II, nt 34-159) AND 143 bp (HVS I, nt 16268-16410)

The objects contained in crime scene and its surroundings have significance in the examination of forensic identification. The most commonly used specimens in the examination for identification are blood/blood spots, semen patches, vaginal swabs, buccal swabs and bones, including items often used by the perpetrator/victim the last time. For example, a mobile phone hearing aid (headset/earphone). In the use of earphones attached to the outer ear skin so it is suspected there is a serumen attached to the tool. One factor that can affect the quality of DNA is the prolonged exposure. Until now in Indonesia the effect of long exposure to room temperature on the quality of DNA on the DNA material of earphone swabs through DNA analysis has not been widely known. The type of study was laboratory experimental. Used earphones are exposed at room temperature within 1, 7, 14 and 20 days. The results of this study indicate that the environmental effect, ie the duration of exposure, affects the decrease in DNA content significantly from day 1 to 20. Detection of PCR mtDNA D-Loop HVS I visualization results 143 bp nt: 16268 16410 shows positive detection results (+) Only at day 1 exposure to room temperature [4 sample/66,67%] and day 7 [3 sample/50%]. Visualization of PCR results mtDNA D-Loop HVS II 126bp nt: 34 -159 was performed on day 1 day room exposure [2 sample/33,37%] and day 7 [6 sample/100%]. Conclusion, the duration of exposure to room temperature affect the quality of DNA from earpiece swab material. Decreased levels of earphones DNA swabs showed a significance value (p <0.005) against the effect of long time exposure to room temperature.
Learner Agency

This article presents first results of an ethnographic research project in a Luxembourgish primary school that accompanied the development of a school project by children from the fifth grade. Analysing the data children themselves collected with Kodak Zi8 cameras in order to document their project activities, it investigates their possibilities and constraints to become designers of a ‘third space’ within the educational institution. The author draws on Emile Durkheim's educational sociology in order to simultaneously analyse the educational processes of socialisation and subjectification that occur when children are legitimated to take part in the design of their own learning processes within school. The analysis focuses on the social languages children are drawing on and creating when shaping their school project in and through the collected data. It succeeds in depicting the interplay of structure and agency in children's practices and in demonstrating children's capability to contribute to their subjectification as social beings and to co-design the educational institution they are socialised by. However, it also points to the institution's mistrust and constant endangering of children's initiative and constitution as social actors. In this sense, the article deals with the possibilities of and obstacles to transformation of institutions of learning from within and bottom up.