Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain IRS2 Signaling Coordinates Life Span and Nutrient Homeostasis

Reduced insulin-like signaling extends the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. Here, we show that, in mice, less insulin receptor substrate–2 (Irs2) signaling throughout the body or just in the brain extended life span up to 18%. At 22 months of age, brain-specific Irs2 knockout mice were overweight, hyperinsulinemic, and glucose intolerant; however, compared with control mice, they were more active and displayed greater glucose oxidation, and during meals they displayed stable superoxide dismutase–2 concentrations in the hypothalamus. Thus, less Irs2 signaling in aging brains can promote healthy metabolism, attenuate meal-induced oxidative stress, and extend the life span of overweight and insulin-resistant mice.
A Revision of Lack's Brood Reduction Hypothesis

A recent review by T. Amundsen and J. N. Stokland showed that, when food was plentiful, last-hatched nestlings of asynchronously hatched broods died more frequently than their nestmates or nestlings in synchronously hatched broods. They argued that if last-hatched nestlings die as a consequence of hatching asynchrony, then brood reduction must be maladaptive. I construct a model similar to a model by D. M. Temme and E. Charnov. In my model, asynchronously hatched broods experience reduced survival rates of the last-hatched nestling during good food years, and synchronously hatched broods experience entire brood starvation during bad food years. I compare the reproductive performance of parents raising an asynchronously hatched brood to parents raising a synchronously hatched brood. I show that hatching asynchrony is favored over synchronous hatching when good food years are not very frequent, when the survival rate of last-hatched nestlings during good food years is high, when the survival rate of nestlings raised in synchronously hatched broods during bad food years is low, or when bad food years are not severe. I discuss the model's assumptions and predictions, and I compare the results of this model to Temme and Charnov's model.
Fraud Detection Gap between Auditor and Fraud Detection Models: Evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council

This study investigates an auditor’s fraud detection gap (FDG) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) companies by comparing the result of the fraud detection models (namely the Beneish M-score, Dechow F-score, and Altman Z-score) with an actual of audit opinion given by the auditors. Prior scholars documented that financial models are accurate and important measurements in fraud detection. However, the majority of fraud cases in the region are revealed accidentally which indicates the unclear role of the internal and external auditor. The data consists of 365 companies operated in the GCC for the period from 2015 to 2017 with a total of 1,095 observations. The study found that the success rate of detecting financial statement frauds for Dechow F model is much higher than Beneish M or Altman Z models. The result also indicated that the highest FDG-score results were obtained by the Dechow F model. However, the Beneish M model can detect financial statements’ fraud better for companies associated to local audit firms as compared to international audit firms. Additionally, Big 4 audit firms are associated with a lower FDG in Beneish M model but increase FDG in Altman Z model. Hence, the study supported the inclusion of statistical models, to a certain extent, as an alternative or supplementary method that assisted in making better decision-making for companies within the Gulf States. The regulators, policy maker, and practitioners, mainly the audit firms must concern that the ability to detect financial statement’s fraud can be enhanced by utilizing the appropriate fraud detection model.
Production, composition and fatty acid profile of milk and butter texture of dairy cows fed ground or pelleted concentrate with sunflower and/or lignosulfonate

The objective of this study was to evaluate the milk production, composition, milk fatty acid profile, butter texture and blood parameters of Holstein cows fed corn silage and concentrate containing one of the following: ground sunflower seeds; ground sunflower seeds treated with 50 g of lignosulfonate/kg of sunflower dry matter; pelleted sunflower seeds; or ground sunflower seeds pelleted and treated with 50 g of lignosulfonate/kg of sunflower dry matter. Four lactating cows were used, each with 130±28 days in lactation and a body weight of 569±63 kg. These animals were distributed in a Latin square design with four periods of 21 days each, with 14 days of adaptation and seven days of data collection. The diets were formulated to meet nutritional requirements and had a forage:concentrate ratio of 60:40. The milk fat was lower in the pelleted treatments. The concentrations of 16:1 n-11 and trans18:1 n-9 in the milk increased, and the n-6:n-3 ratio was higher for the pelleted treatments. The firmness and adhesiveness of the butter and the blood parameters analyzed were not affected by the treatments. Addition of lignosulfonate is not effective in protecting polyunsaturated fatty acids from the ruminal biohydrogenation process, and the pelleting process has little effect on the milk fatty acid profile and can not change the butter texture.
Buntings (Emberizidae) as indicators of HNV of farmlands: a case of study in Central Italy

Farmlands represent one of the most important habitats for several bird species in Europe, but during the last few decades, agricultural landscapes have been subject to a rapid and large-scale change, caused by the intensification and mechanization of agricultural activities, that is one of the main drivers of worldwide biodiversity decline. The high nature value farmlands (HNV) are characterized through three criteria: low-intensity farming, presence of residual semi-natural vegetation (hedgerows, uncultivated, shrubs, scattered trees, marginal uncultivated) and diversity of land cover mosaic; values that are often correlated with highest farmland bird diversity. In this work, we used Generalized Linear Models to evaluate the presence of different bunting species, typical of farmlands in Central Italy, as potential indicators of HNV of farmland and surrogates of landscape heterogeneity. Our results showed how the presence of bunting species is associated with markedly different environmental parameters. A species which could potentially be more useful for identifying HNV farmlands (more heterogeneous landscape, supporting also greater bird species richness) is the Cirl Bunting. The Corn Bunting and Ortolan Bunting were less predictive as indicators of farmland heterogeneity. Ortolan Bunting was unrelated to the complexity of farmlands and bird richness. This information is important for the planning of large-scale conservation policies and to increase our understanding of farmland bird indicators.
On the delineation of tropical vegetation types with an emphasis on forest/savanna transitions

Background: There is no generally agreed classification scheme for the many different vegetation formation types occurring in the tropics. This hinders cross-continental comparisons and causes confusion as words such as ‘forest’ and ‘savanna’ have different meanings to different people. Tropical vegetation formations are therefore usually imprecisely and/or ambiguously defined in modelling, remote sensing and ecological studies. Aims: To integrate observed variations in tropical vegetation structure and floristic composition into a single classification scheme. Methods: Using structural and floristic measurements made on three continents, discrete tropical vegetation groupings were defined on the basis of overstorey and understorey structure and species compositions by using clustering techniques. Results: Twelve structural groupings were identified based on height and canopy cover of the dominant upper stratum and the extent of lower-strata woody shrub cover and grass cover. Structural classifications did not, however, always agree with those based on floristic composition, especially for plots located in the forest–savanna transition zone. This duality is incorporated into a new tropical vegetation classification scheme. Conclusions: Both floristics and stand structure are important criteria for the meaningful delineation of tropical vegetation formations, especially in the forest/savanna transition zone. A new tropical vegetation classification scheme incorporating this information has been developed.
Insight into the Cladonia convoluta-C. foliacea (Cladoniaceae, Ascomycota) complex and related species, revealed through morphological, biochemical and phylogenetic analyses

Species boundaries are often not easy to establish in lichens of the genus Cladonia, where each species displays a great morphological variability. Cladonia convoluta and C. foliacea are two commonly accepted, morphologically similar lichen taxa. Molecular (nuclear ITS rDNA, rpb2 partial gene, cox1 partial gene), chemical and morphological characters were used to elucidate the taxonomic rank of these taxa. Our analyses were carried out on material from several European countries. Other related species, viz. C. firma, C. cervicornis and C. pulvinata were also studied. Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses were based on 71 ITS, 39 cox1 and 33 rpb2 sequences. Neither morphological characters nor phylogenetic analyses gave evidence to delimit two taxa in the C. convoluta/C. foliacea complex; however C. firma, C. cervicornis and C. pulvinata formed three distinct monophyletic groups.
Effects of in vivo beta-adrenoceptor blockade on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in rainbow trout

Rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, received intraarterial injections of saline or the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol 1 h prior to sacrifice. Liver glycogen content in vivo and glycogen depletion, total glucose production, lactate gluconeogenesis, and oxidation in isolated hepatocytes in vitro were assessed. A significant handling-induced glycogen depletion was prevented by prior beta-adrenergic blockade. Reported maximal glycogen phosphorylase activities could not account for the apparent rate of glycogen depletion. Glycogen depletion continued throughout the hepatocyte isolation procedures and the rates were independent of the presence of propranolol. Epinephrine (5 × 10−7 M) or dibutyryl cAMP (1 × 10−5 M) stimulated total glucose production and lactate gluconeogenesis but not oxidation. Prior beta-adrenoreceptor blockade depressed total glucose production, but the extent of epinephrine or dibutyryl cAMP activation was independent of the presence of propranolol in the incubation. Gluconeogenesis was depressed but only in the presence of propranolol. These results suggest that stress-induced catecholamine surges during the preparatory phase of hepatocyte isolation in rainbow trout modify the carbohydrate metabolism of these cells during incubation.
Asian and south-western Pacific continental terranes derived from Gondwana, and their biogeographic significance

The recent recognition of numerous small geological terranes in the Indo-Pacific region has revolutionised our understanding of geological and biogeographic processes. Most of these terranes rifted from Gondwana. The Shan-Thai terrane rifted from Australia in the Permian and collided with Indo-China in the Triassic. Parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan may have rifted from Australia in the Cretaceous and carried an angiosperm flora north. Other terranes, now dispersed in South-East Asia and in the Pacific were, at various times in the Cenozoic, part of the Australian continent. Faunal and floral mobilism to Fiji via the Solomons and Vanuatu was probably not difficult up to the late Miocene.
Protection of lodgepole pine from attack by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) using high doses of verbenone in combination with nonhost bark volatiles

We evaluated the antiaggregation pheromone verbenone at low and high doses alone and with a seven-component repellent blend of nonhost angiosperm bark volatiles (NHVs) for their ability to deter attack by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. Release devices containing antiaggregants were deployed at 16 points on a 10-m grid in 40 x 40-m plots near Williams Lake, B.C. in June 2001. In 10 control plots with no antiaggregants, single pheromone-baited trees, at the plot centre were all mass-attacked by the mountain pine beetle by early October, as were 26.6% of the 432 lodgepole pines within the boundaries of the plots. In contrast, in plots treated with a high dose of verbenone plus NHVs, two of the central, pheromone-baited trees escaped any attack whatsoever, four of 10 plots had no surrounding trees attacked and only 2.1% of the total of 523 surrounding trees were mass-attacked. Density of attacked and mass-attacked trees was highest within 5 m of the central baited tree in all treatments, indicating that those beetles that breached the antiaggregant grid were then drawn toward the baited tree. Operational efficacy should thus be improved in the absence of baited trees within a treated area. We conclude that high-dose verbenone plus NHV treatments could be implemented operationally as a minor component of an integrated pest management strategy for large infestations, particularly in a push-pull tactic in which beetles are pushed from one area by the antiaggregant treatment and drawn into another with attractive baits. However, the principal use would be in the short-term protection of small, high-value stands or stands of high ecological or social value.
A comparison of cone and needle characters in Abies: a test of a new theory of evolution

One part of a new theory of evolution proposed by Wiley and Brooks is that evolution results in continually increasing complexity. This leads to the unique prediction that once speciation occurs and species are embarked on independent histories, developmentally independent characters will become more correlated. This was tested by comparing cone and needle characters for some Abies species from different levels in a hierarchy, i.e., from the population level, where one would predict low correlations, to the supraspecific level, where one would predict high correlations. In a general sense, these predictions were realized. The results also indicated approximately equal correlations between cone and needle characters at levels below the species. These results were unexpected since one would predict that allopatric populations in the analyses would be embarked on independent histories because they are reproductively isolated and this would show correlations between cone and needle characters. This implies th.
Quantitative Interrelations of Protein and Nonprotein Constituents of Soybeans 1

T HE increasing use of high-protein feeds since World War II has resulted in an expansion in the demand for soybean meal because of its high protein content (8). spite of a great increase in the production of soybeans, still more soybean protein is needed, but the demand for fats and oils has not kept pace with the increased production. For this reason, interest has increased in the possibility of breeding soybeans for high protein content. If the percentage of protein increases the percentage of other constituents must decrease correspondingly. It is important to know whether the protein gained is more valuable than the materials which would be lost. The inverse relation between percentages of protein and oil is well known (3, 5). The increase in protein generally averages 1.6 to 2.0 times the decrease in oil. The purpose of this study was to determine what . changes in the proportions of other constituents accompany Increase or decrease in the percentage of protein.
Plasma vitellogenin levels in male common carp Cyprinus carpio and crucian carp Carassius cuvieri of Lake Kasumigaura

: In order to investigate the possible influence of estrogenic environmental endocrine disruptors on the reproductive activity of fish in Lake Kasumigaura, plasma levels of vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker of estrogen exposure, were measured in wild and cultured male common carp Cyprinus carpio and wild crucian carp Carassius cuvieri. Testicular histology and plasma steroid hormone levels were also examined. Fish were collected from June 1998 to August 1999. Plasma VTG levels in most fish examined were below a detection limit (40 ng/mL) throughout the sampling period, and a small amount of VTG (43.5 ng/mL–1680 ng/mL) compared to that in females was detected in some fish. Active spermatogenesis in the testis and increased levels of plasma sex steroids were observed in most of the fish examined. Thus, no marked influence of estrogenic chemicals was detected in the reproductive activity of male common carp and crucian carp in Lake Kasumigaura collected from the sampling sites in the present investigation.
Higher education and behavior analysis in Europe: creating a unified approach for the training of autism professionals

ABSTRACT Training of behaviour analysts for autism services, has improved notably within a European higher education context. However, regional discrepancies associated with economic, health care, social services, and institutional policies magnify the importance of creating appropriate unified training and consumer protection. Although the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA) has endorsed the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) designations, the absence of European and national regulations, recognition, and accreditation remain significant barriers to quality training and implementation. These challenges are particularly pertinent in light of BACB decision to limit certification to residents in the USA and Canada after 2022. Advances, challenges, and future directions are discussed within the context of higher education in the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Norway, and Sweden. The post-Bologna European agenda for higher education, globalization and opportunities for the training of behaviour analysts within European higher education are outlined.
Induction of winged sexuparae in root‐inhabiting colonies of the aphid Pemphigus betae

Abstract. Growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine what environmental factors induce the development of sexuparae in root‐feeding colonies of the aphid Pemphigus betae Doane (Aphididae: Pemphiginae). Experimental colonies were derived from clones that had been reproducing for at least 15 months under constant laboratory conditions. At constant 20–23oC, sexuparae were almost never produced regardless of the level of crowding or photoperiod. In contrast, every culture of several clones produced sexuparae when subjected to temperatures alternating between 20 and 15oC during the light and dark phases respectively. This fluctuating temperature regime resulted in sexupara production regardless of photoperiod. All cultures also produced some sexuparae when cultures were kept in constant darkness at temperatures that were either alternated between 20 and 15oC or kept constant at 15oC. Constant 17oC resulted in sexupara production in most cultures. At 17oC, experimental manipulation of densities within cultures showed that crowding promotes sexupara production. Thus, within the range of conditions occurring at the time of sexupara induction in the field, photoperiod has no effect on sexupara production, temperature below a threshold between 17 and 20–23oC triggers sexupara production, and crowding promotes sexupara production but only if temperature is low enough.
Projecting Changes in Temperature Extremes in the Han River Basin of China Using Downscaled CMIP5 Multi-Model Ensembles

Estimating the changes in the spatial–temporal characteristics of extreme temperature events under future climate scenarios is critical to provide reference information to help mitigate climate change. In this study, we analyzed 16 extreme temperature indices calculated based on downscaled data from 28 Global Climate Models (GCMs) that were obtained from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios in the Han River Basin (HRB). The results indicate that the downscaled data from 28 GCMs reproduced a consistent sign of recent trends for all extreme temperature indices except the DTR for the historical period (1961–2013). We found significantly increasing trends for the warm extreme indices (i.e., TXx, TNx, TX90p, TN90p, SU, TR, and WSDI) and considerably decreasing trends for the cold extreme indices (i.e., TX10p, TN10p, CSDI, FD, ID) under both the RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios for 2021–2100. Spatially, great changes in warm extremes will occur in the west and southeast of the HRB in the future. The projected changes in extreme temperatures will impact the eco-environment and agricultural production. Our findings will help regional managers adopt countermeasures and strategies to adapt to future climate change, especially extreme weather events.
Supplier-initiating risk management behaviour and supply-side resilience: the effects of interpersonal relationships and dependence asymmetry in buyer-supplier relationships

Purpose The aim of the study is to explore how two dimensions of interpersonal relationships (i.e. size and range of relationships) affect supplier-initiating risk management behaviours (SIRMB) and supply-side resilience. Further, the study aims to explore the moderating role of dependence asymmetry. Design/methodology/approach Nine hypotheses are tested based on a moderated mediation analysis of survey data from 247 manufacturing firms in China. The data are validated using a subset of 57 attentive secondary respondents and archival data. Findings SIRMB positively relates to supply-side resilience. Further, SIRMB mediates the positive relationship between range and supply-side resilience, and this relationship is stronger at lower levels of dependence asymmetry. Yet, although dependence asymmetry positively moderates the relationship between range and SIRMB, it negatively moderates the relationship between size and SIRMB. We did not, however, find evidence that size has a conditional indirect effect on supply-side resilience through SIRMB. Practical implications Managers in buying firms can incentivise SIRMB to enhance supply-side resilience by developing a diverse rather than a large set of interpersonal relationships with a supplier. This might include allocating particular employees with a wide range of contacts within a supplier to that relationship, while it may be necessary to adopt different networking strategies for different supplier relationships. Firms in a highly asymmetrical relationship may seek to raise supplier expectations about the necessity to initiate risk management behaviour or look to change the dynamic of the relationship by managing contracts for fairness. Originality/value New knowledge on SIRMB as a mediating variable underpinning the relationship between interpersonal relationships and supply-side resilience is provided; and empirical evidence on the opposing moderation effect of dependence asymmetry is presented.