Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Test of Busse,s method of studying directional preferences of migrating small Passeriformes

The test was carried out in the Central Poland, during the autumn migration in years 1997 and 1998, and the object was the Robin Erithacus rubecula. The aim of the study was the verification of the new field method for studying directional preferences in small Passerine migrants, proposed by Busse (1995). In total, 843 Robins were tested in "Busse's cage". Directions preferred by the tested birds were distributed in conformance with wintering areas and migration routes of the species known from literature. Robins with dark legs and grey plumage at flanks pointed at the directions according to the axis Scandinavia - the Balkans, which is in consistence with the literature data. Robins tested at daytime show stronger directionality than those tested at night. Birds tested with the sun visible expressed stronger directionality than those tested under overcast. The Robins tested at day more often pointed at the return direction - to the north and to the north-east. The activity of birds in the experimental cage increased at daytime with the lack of sun visible, and with overcast, and was higher in birds with smaller fat deposit, thus it reflected mainly the normal vital activity not associated with the migration.
Effect of Palm Oil Clinker (POC) Aggregate on the Mechanical Properties of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) Mixtures

Aggregate composition has a pivotal role in ensuring the quality of pavement materials. The use of waste materials to replace the aggregate composition of asphalt pavement leads to green, sustainable, and environmentally friendly construction, which ultimately preserves nature by reducing the need to harvest materials from natural sources. Using the Marshall mix design, the main objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of waste palm oil clinker (POC) as fine aggregates replacement on the properties of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixture. Six groups of asphalt mixtures were prepared using different percentages of palm oil clinker content (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). To determine the Marshall properties and select the optimum binder content, asphalt mixture samples with different percentages of asphalt binder content (5.0%, 5.5%, 6.0%, 6.5%, and 7.0%) were prepared for each group. The results showed that the palm oil clinker was appropriate for use as a fine aggregate replacement up to 100% in SMA mixture and could satisfy the mix design requirements in terms of Marshall stability, flow, quotient, and volumetric properties. However, the percentage of palm oil clinker replacement as fine aggregate has merely influenced the optimum binder content. Furthermore, there were improvements in the drain down, resilient modulus and indirect tensile fatigue performances of the SMA mixture. In conclusion, the use of POC as fine aggregates replacement in SMA mixture indicates a good potential to be commercialized in flexible pavement construction.
Middle Childhood Adverse Psychomotor Outcomes from Malaria in Pregnancy: A Study using the Denver Developmental Screening Test-II

Objective: to evaluate changes in the development of premature children aged 5 to 6 years, born to mothers with malaria during pregnancy and to compare them to a control group of premature children born to mothers who did not have malaria during pregnancy. Methods: cross-sectional and analytical study. The Denver test-II was applied to 20 children in the study group and 20 children in the control group. Results: in the group of premature children of mothers with malaria during pregnancy, the vast majority showed abnormal performance with more significant changes in the activities of the language sector "define seven words", "say two compound words", "understand four prepositions" and "account five blocks”, “knows three adjectives”. In the fine-adaptive motor sector, the activities "draw people with six parts", "copy disassembled square", "copy +" and in the gross motor sector "swing your foot for six seconds", "swing your foot for five seconds", "swing the foot for four seconds", "rocks the foot for three seconds", were the most important developmental changes. In the control group, the performance of suspected delay or possible abnormality was more concentrated in the gross motor sector. Conclusions: children from 5 to 6 years of age, born prematurely to mothers with malaria during pregnancy, 80% had suspected abnormal performance, a result much higher than the group of children born prematurely to mothers without malaria. These results strongly suggest that malaria disease during pregnancy alters fetal development, producing developmental sequelae that can be detected even at 5 to 6 years of age. In addition, the results support the use of the Denver test-II as a simple screening method for the assessment of delays in child development, covering broad motor coordination (coarse), fine motor coordination (adaptive), language and personal-social adaptation. This test has been used to identify children who are at risk of developing problems and to monitor the child longitudinally.
Impacts of 1.5 °C and 2 °C Global Warming on Net Primary Productivity and Carbon Balance in China’s Terrestrial Ecosystems

Assessing potential impacts of 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming and identifying the risks of further 0.5 °C warming are crucial for climate adaptation and disaster risk management. Four earth system models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and a process-based ecosystem model are used in this study to assess the impacts and potential risks of the two warming targets on the carbon cycle of China’s terrestrial ecosystems. Results show that warming generally stimulates the increase of net primary productivity (NPP) and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) under both representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The projected increments of NPP are higher at 2 °C warming than that at 1.5 °C warming for both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios; approximately 13% and 19% under RCP4.5, and 12.5% and 20% under RCP8.5 at 1.5 °C and 2 °C warming, respectively. However, the increasing rate of NPP was projected to decline at 2 °C warming under the RCP4.5 scenario, and the further 0.5 °C temperature rising induces the decreased NPP linear slopes in more than 81% areas of China’s ecosystems. The total NEP is projected to be increased by 53% at 1.5 °C, and by 81% at 2 °C warming. NEP was projected to increase approximately by 28% with the additional 0.5 °C warming. Furthermore, the increasing rate of NEP weakens at 2 °C warming, especially under the RCP8.5 scenario. In summary, China’s total NPP and NEP were projected to increase under both 1.5 °C and 2 °C warming scenarios, although adverse effects (i.e., the drop of NPP growth and the reduction of carbon sequestration capacity) would occur in some regions such as northern China in the process of global warming.
Proatherogenic effects of common pathogens on liver, adipose tissue and coronary artery disease

10 1. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE . 12 1.1. Atherosclerosis: inflammatory background . 12 1.1.1. Overview of lipoprotein metabolism and lipid transport . 12 1.1.2. Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis . 14 1.1.3. Risk factors . 17 1.1.4. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse model . 17 1.2. Proatherogenic disorders in the liver and adipose tissue . 19 1.2. 1. Adipose tissue lipid metabolism and dysfunction . 19 1.2. 2. Liver lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease . 21 1.3. Infections and atherosclerosis . 23 1.3.1. Lipopolysaccharide and inflammation response . 24 1.4. Infectious agent Chlamydia pneumonia . 25 1.4.1. C. pneumoniae and ASVD . 27 1.5. Periodontal disease. 29 1.5. 1. Periodontal pathogens . 30 1.5. 2. Characteristics of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans . 34 1.5. 3. Detection of periodontal pathogens . 35 1.5. 4. Periodontal pathogens and ASVD . 38 2. AIMS OF THE STUDY . 43 3. MICE, STUDY SUBJECTS, AND METHODS . 44 3.1. Mice and study design (I, II) . 44 3.1.1. Mice (I, II) . 44 3.1.2. Study design (I, II) . 44 3.2. Study subjects (III, IV) . 45 3.2. 1. Periodontally diseased and healthy subjects (III) . 45 3.2. 2. Subjects with angiographically verified CAD, ACS, and non-CAD (IV) . 46 3.3. Methods . 46 3.3.1. Bacterial culture (I, II, III) . 46 3.3.2. Detection of bacteria in lung and liver tissues (I) . 47 3.3.3. Histological analysis and immunohistochemistry (I) . 47 3.3. 4. Liver lipid analysis (I) . 47 3.3. 5. Tissue FA analysis (I, II) . 48 3.3. 6. Isolation of RNA, synthesis of cDNA, and QPCR assays for relative quantification of mRNA expression (I, II) . 48 3.3. 7. Saliva sample collection, isolation of bacterial DNA, and QPCR assays for periodontal pathogens (III, IV) . 49 3.3. 8. Adipose tissue microarray analysis (II) . 50 3.3. 9. CAD diagnosis and ASVD risk-related parameters (IV) . 50 3.3.10. Statistical analyses (I, II, III, IV) . 50 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 52 4.1. Infection and inflammation studies in apoE-deficient mice (I, II) . 52 4.1.1. A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced hepatic inflammatory status (I) . 52 4.1.2. A. actinomycetemcomitans-derived changes in transcriptomes and fatty acid distribution in inguinal and epididymal adipose tissues (II) . 56 4.1.3. The effect of C. pneumoniae infection on liver and adipose tissue lipid homeostasis and the adipose tissue transcriptome (I, II) . 59 4.1.4. Limitations of the experimental mouse model studies (I, II) . 61 4.2. Quantitative salivary pathogen level and coronary artery disease (III, IV) . 62 4.2. 1. Development and evaluation of QPCR assays for periodontal bacteria (III) . 62 4.2. 2. Association of salivary bacteria levels with CAD (IV) . 65 4.3. General discussion (I, II, III, IV) . 70 5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . 73 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 75 REFERENCES . 77 ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS . 112
EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF ANTI-SICKLING ACTIVITIES OF MACERATED SEEDS OF CAJANUS CAJAN AND PHENYLALANINE

Sickle cell patients' interest in traditional pharmacopoeia comes from the healing promise made by traditional practitioners and the expensive cost of medicines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antisickling activity of macerated seeds of Cajanus cajan and compare its activity to that of phenylalanine. An induction of sickling due to 2% sodium metabisulfite was performed on 30 blood samples from SSFA 2 homozygous sickle cell patients. The macerated seeds of Cajanus cajan at 10 to 500 mg / ml concentrations and 10 mg / ml phenylalanine were added then. The reading was made after a contact time of 30 minutes. All extracts from the seeds of Cajanus cajan led to a reduction in the percentage of sickle cells which rose from 64.70% to 19.03%. The phenylalanine solution also caused a reduction in the percentage of sickling which rose from 64.70% to 22.76%. The activity of the maceration at the concentration of 400 mg / ml was higher than that of the phenylalanine. These results advocate for the use of Cajanus cajan seeds in the diet of sickle cell disease to reduce the occurrence of painful crisis. by 50% the of In a study amino analysis showed that the solvent extracts of cajan contain 26.3% phenylalanine (Phe) in the of free amino and according to the phenylalanine, for anti-sicklingactivity of the plant (Ekeke and 1990). It there been as a general objective: to assess the anti-sickling activity of the maceration of the of Cajanus cajan and to S5, S6), a mixture at equal volumes of blood diluted at 1/10 th of 2% sodium metabisulfite solution and the different macerations was performed. The observation by an optical microscope at 40 x magnification of one drop of each mixture between blade and lamella was then made after 30 minutes and the percentage of sickle (RBCs) was determined.
Determining the Influence of Particle Size, Diets, Analytical Methods and Feed Form on the Predictability of the Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

The Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) technique is a rapid and non-destructive technique used to evaluate the chemical composition of complete feed and ingredients. The accuracy of its prediction is not only affected by instrument calibrations but also sample particle size, shape and arrangement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of corn particle size, methods of analysis, diets and feed form (mash and pellet) on the accuracy of the NIRS technique using standard calibrations provided with the instrument. In Experiment 1, treatments were arranged in a 4 × 3 × 3 factorial design. The major ingredients in the different diets were i) soybean meal+DDGs, ii) soybean meal+fish meal+DDGs, iii) soybean meal+fish meal+wheat bran, and iv) soybean meal+wheat bran. These were manufactured using different corn particle sizes (400, 600 and 800 μm) to contain a calculated protein content of 20% and subsequently analyzed using three different methods (laboratory, NIRS-ground and NIRSunground). Experiment 2 was a 3 × 2 factorial with three methods of analysis (laboratory, NIRS-ground and NIRS-unground) and two feed forms (mash and pellet). Diets were pelleted and cooled in a counter-flow cooler for 10 minutes. Prior to NIRS analysis, subsample of mash and pellets was ground through a 0.5 mm sieve for the ground treatment. Ground and unground mash and pellet samples for Experiment 1 and 2 were scanned on a Foss NIRS D2500 machine with a wavelength range of 400 to 2,500 nm at a reflectance of log (1/R) at 2 nm intervals for each sample. Laboratory values from wet chemistry analyses were obtained using the Dumas Combustion method and these were compared to results from the NIRS. In Experiment 1, there was no three way interaction. However, a two-way interaction (P ≤ 0.05) was observed for diets x method of analysis and particle size x method of analysis. Crude Protein (CP) content of samples varied when analyzed with NIRS-unground but similar CP was observed for those analyzed with either NIRS-ground or laboratory method. A difference (P ≤ 0.05) in CP content was observed for diets, method of analysis but not for particle sizes. Results of NIRS-ground samples were greater and closer to the expected CP (20%) than NIRS-unground samples. In Experiment 2, an interaction was observed between feed form and method of analysis. The CP content of unground feed samples varied for the feed forms but grinding samples yielded similar results for both NIRS and laboratory analyses. Analyzing unground feed samples using standard calibrations yielded less accurate results compared to samples ground prior to analysis using either NIRS or laboratory methods.
Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterial communities from an area under the influence of iron mining and from the adjacent phytophysiognomies which have high genetic diversity

We evaluated symbiotic (rhizobia) and non‐symbiotic efficiency and the diversity of native communities of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in soil samples from an area in recovery after iron mining (RA) and from adjacent phytophysiognomies (Ironstone Outcrops, Neotropical Savanna, Atlantic Forest) in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, MG, Brazil, in two climate seasons. Greenhouse experiments were conducted with siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) as a trap plant. The SPAD index in siratro was more effective in detecting the difference between the symbiotic efficiencies of the communities of PGPR than shoot dry matter, with readings of the SPAD index greater in RA. Genetic diversity, of 327 strains evaluated by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, showed 29 genera in the dry season and 19 in the rainy season, among these genera some recognized as nodulating and endophytes, and others potentially endophytes. Genera belonging to the phyla Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were found. The nodule‐forming genera Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium and the endophytic Paenibacillus were those of highest occurrence in both seasons and in all phytophysiognomies. The greater symbiotic efficiency and the high genetic diversity of the rhizobacterial community found in RA indicate that soil rehabilitation is effectively in process. As most of native legume species form symbiosis with Rhizobium and mainly Bradyrhizobium, these bacterial communities are an important source of potential inoculant strains, as well as, a relevant feature for the successful establishment of diverse legumes for revegetation purposes.
ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA DE MÉTODOS DE ESTIMATIVA DE ÁREA FOLIAR EM BETERRABA

O presente trabalho, realizado no Departamento de Ciencias Vegetais da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido, teve como finalidade avaliar a precisao de cinco metodos de estimativa de area foliar na cultura da beterraba. Foram utilizadas 30 folhas sem limbo, retiradas aleatoriamente do campo. As folhas foram coletadas aos 45 dias apos o transplantio. Os metodos de estimativa de area foliar utilizados foram: metodo dos discos foliares, comprimento x largura, metodo dos quadrados, fotografia, scanner, integrador de area foliar. Os metodos avaliados foram comparados com o metodo considerado de referencia (scanner), com base no criterio de coeficiente de determinacao da regressao linear (R 2 ). O metodo que mais se aproximou da area foliar de referencia foi o metodo dos quadrados, que proporcionou um coeficiente de regressao R 2 = 0,9836 .
Dispersion and Nonlinearity Identification for Single-Mode Fibers Using the Nonlinear Fourier Transform

Efficient fiber-optic communication requires precise knowledge of the fiber coefficients, but these often change over time due to factors such as aging or bending. We propose a novel algorithm that identifies the average second-order dispersion and Kerr nonlinearity coefficient of a fiber, without employing any special training signals. Instead, ordinary input and output data recorded during normal operation is used. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such algorithm. The algorithm is based on the nonlinear Fourier spectrum of the signal, which is known to evolve trivially as the signal propagates through an idealized model of the fiber. The algorithm varies the values of the fiber coefficients until the corresponding nonlinear Fourier spectrum at transmitter and receiver match optimally. We test the algorithm on simulated transmission data over a 1600 km link, and accurately identify the fiber coefficients. The identification algorithm is in particular well suited for providing a fiber model for nonlinear Fourier transform-based communication.
Testing a key assumption of using drones as frightening devices: Do birds perceive drones as risky?

Wildlife managers have recently suggested the use of unmanned aircraft systems or drones as nonlethal hazing tools to deter birds from areas of human-wildlife conflict. However, it remains unclear if birds perceive common drone platforms as threatening. Based on field studies assessing behavioral and physiological responses, it is generally assumed that birds perceive less risk from drones than from predators. However, studies controlling for multiple confounding effects have not been conducted. Our goal was to establish the degree to which the perception of risk by birds would vary between common drone platforms relative to a predator model when flown at different approach types. We evaluated the behavioral responses of individual Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) to 3 drone platforms: a predator model, a fixed-wing resembling an airplane, and a multirotor, approaching either head-on or overhead. Blackbirds became alert earlier (by 13.7 s), alarm-called more frequently (by a factor of 12), returned to forage later (by a factor of 4.7), and increased vigilance (by a factor of 1.3) in response to the predator model compared with the multirotor. Blackbirds also perceived the fixed-wing as riskier than the multirotor, but less risky than the predator model. Overhead approaches mostly failed to elicit flight in blackbirds across all platform types, and no blackbirds took flight in response to the multirotor at either overhead or head-on approaches. Our findings demonstrate that birds perceived drones with predatory characteristics as riskier than common drone models (i.e. fixed-wing and multirotor platforms). We recommend that drones be modified with additional stimuli to increase perceived risk when used as frightening devices, but avoided if used for wildlife monitoring.
A Revision of Species Diversity in the Neotropical Genus Oreobates (Anura: Strabomantidae), with the Description of Three New Species from the Amazonian Slopes of the Andes

ABSTRACT We revisit species diversity within Oreobates (Anura: Strabomantidae) by combining molecular phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA amphibian barcode fragment with the study of the external morphology of living and preserved specimens. Molecular and morphological evidence support the existence of 23 species within Oreobates, and three additional candidate species (Oreobates sp. [Ca JF809995], Oreobates sp. [Ca EU368903], Oreobates cruralis [Ca EU192295]). We describe and name three new species from the Andean humid montane forests of Departamento Cusco, southern Peru: O. amarakaeri New Species from Río Nusinuscato and Río Mabe, at elevations ranging from 670 to 1000 m in the Andean foothills; O. machiguenga, new species, from Río Kimbiri (1350 m), a small tributary of the Apurimac River, in the western versant of Cordillera Vilcabamba; and O. gemcare, new species, from the Kosñipata Valley at elevations ranging from 2400 to 2800 m. The three new species are readily distinguished from all other Oreobates by at least one qualitative morphological character. Three species are transferred to Oreobates from three genera of Strabomantidae: Hypodactylus lundbergi Pristimantis crepitans, and Phrynopus ayacucho (for which the advertisement call, coloration in life, and male characteristics are described for first time). Oreobates simmonsi is transferred to the genus Lynchius. Hylodes verrucosus is considered a junior synonym of Hylodes philippi. In addition, H. philippi is removed from the synonymy of O. quixensis and considered a nomem dubium within Hypodactylus. The inclusion of Phrynopus ayacucho in Oreobates extends the ecological range of the genus to the cold Andean puna. Oreobates is thus distributed from the Amazonian lowlands in southern Colombia to northern Argentina, reaching the Brazilian Atlantic dry forests in eastern Brazil, across an altitudinal range from ca. 100 to 3850 m.
How the 2017 Federal Election in Germany Affected Satisfaction with Democracy among AfD Voters

Dissatisfaction with democracy is among the central determinants of voting for a populist radical right party, such as the German Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). At the same time, elections have been shown to increase political satisfaction, especially when voters see themselves as winners of the election. In this article, we ask, first, whether voters of the AfD have partly been reconciled with democracy during the 2017 federal election in Germany in which the party entered the Bundestag for the first time since its foundation. Second, we investigate which individual level factors conditioned the change in democratic satisfaction among AfD voters. Our empirical analysis, which is based on panel survey data from the 2017 Germany Longitudinal Election Studies (GLES), shows that AfD voters experienced a stronger increase in support for the political regime than any other voter group. Moreover, policy congruence with the AfD on socioeconomic issues as well as identifying with a party other than the AfD enhanced this boost in satisfaction with democracy. Our findings point to the importance of political representation and opportunities for protest-based voting behaviour regarding public support and the legitimacy of democratic political systems.