Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Native and exotic nest predators of Alwal (Golden-shouldered parrot Psephotellus chrysopterygius) on Olkola Country, Cape York Peninsula, Australia

ABSTRACT Nest predation is considered a major cause of population decline for the Endangered Alwal Psephotellus chrysopterygius (Golden-shouldered parrot) in Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Camera-traps were installed at 28 Alwal nests across two breeding seasons in four important refuges for the parrot, to confirm nest predator identities and their impact on nesting success. Nest predators were more common at Alwal nests prior to fledging. The feral cat Felis catus and yellow-spotted monitor Varanus panoptes were the most common predators detected at nests, but the Black-backed butcherbird Cracticus mentalis, Pied butcherbird C. nigrogularis and Brown goshawk Acciptier fasciatus were also documented predating nests. Predators were significantly more common at nests in the days prior to fledging, possibly due to increased nest site activity. Nest success was higher amongst denser vegetation, indicating that cover may inhibit detection of nests by predators, particularly at fledging time. As with many threatened species globally, further monitoring is needed to disentangle knowledge of Alwal nest predation, including refined nest-monitoring techniques to document elusive predation events.
Variation in the Development of Embryos of Hens’ Eggs

Abstract THE embryonic chick at the time of the laying of the eggs is usually subjected to the most extreme variations in environment it will have to withstand before hatching. In cold weather it may be quickly chilled, and during hot weather it may continue to develop, without pausing, for several hours before being stored under conditions that stop development while being held before incubation. Patterson (1910) found that the embryos show variation in development at the time of laying and Hutt and Pilkey (1930) have pointed out that some embryonic stages may be especially sensitive to external conditions, which may cause abnormal development or death, but would not affect the embryo at other stages. Hays and Nicolaides (1934) considered the variation, in embryonic development of fresh-laid eggs, among hens to be of primary importance, and stated that high hatching hens laid fertile eggs with more fully developed embryos than low .
Floristic composition of the cerrado in the Pé-de-Gigante Reserve (Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, southeastern Brazil)

We studied a 1225 ha area, composed mainly of cerrado, in Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, Sao Paulo State, southeastern Brazil (21°36-38'S, 47°36-39'W). In three cerrado physiognomies (campo cerrado ¾ a wooded savanna, cerrado sensu stricto ¾ a woodland, and cerradao ¾ a tall woodland), we collected all vascular plants in reproductive stage, and identified them to species level. We found 360 species, representing 236 genera and 69 families. The richest families were: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Rubiaceae. The savanna physiognomies were richer than the forest one. The ratio between herbaceous and woody species was approximately 2:1. We analysed the whole flora and its two components separately, woody and herbaceous, comparing them with other disjunct cerrado areas. We obtained similarity values (Sorensen index) from 0.47 to 0.81, which showed that the 3 diversity of the cerrado was higher in the herbaceous component than in the woody one.
Fossil Sirenia of the West Atlantic and Caribbean region. I. Metaxytherium floridanum Hay, 1922

ABSTRACT The vast majority of the abundant fossil sirenian remains from the Bone Valley phosphate mining district (chiefly in Polk and Hillsborough counties, Florida) represent a single species of dugongid, Metaxytherium floridanum Hay, 1922. The osteology of this species is described here in detail. Most or all of these specimens apparently come from Units 4–5 of the lower Bone Valley Formation and are late middle Miocene (early Clarendonian) in age. M. ossivallense (Simpson, 1932) is a junior subjective synonym of M. floridanum. M. calvertense Kellogg, 1966, and “Hesperosiren” Simpson, 1932, are not represented in the Bone Valley Formation. Specimens are also reported here from elsewhere in Florida, mainly Alachua County. Some or all of these are later than the typical Bone Valley form, being of late Clarendonian or early Hemphillian age, and some of them, here termed Metaxytherium, cf. M. floridanum, seem to represent a slightly more advanced stage of evolution. M. floridanum had a strongly deflected r.
Squid mantle muscle

The mantles of the small squid Alloteuthis, the larger Loligo, and the cuttlefish Sepia contain an elaborate framework of connective tissue fibres running in different planes. Some of these fibres are apparently elastic. The circular muscle fibres which provide the power stroke in mantle contraction are of two types. Inner and outer mantle zones consist of well-vascularized mitochondria-rich fibres, whereas the central zone contains only mitochondria-poor fibres with a sparse vascular bed. Nerve terminals on the two fibre types are similar. The radial fibres opposing the circular fibres are of the same type as the central fibres, at least in the mid-region of the mantle. It is suggested that the central fibres are involved in escape jetting contractions, and that the fibres of the inner and outer zones are used during rhythmical respiratory contractions.
Studies on vitamin E and meat quality. 3. Effect of feeding high vitamin E levels to pigs on the sensory and keeping quality of cooked ham

The objective of this work was to study the influence of vitamin E (α-tocopheryl acetate) supplementation of pig diets on the time-dependent sensory quality of cured and cooked hams. Pigs were fed identical diets until they reached 45 kg live weight. From 45 to 100 kg, six control pigs received a diet containing 8 mg of α-tocopheryl acetate/kg of feed, whereas the supplemented animals received 200 mg/kg of feed. In cured and cooked hams produced from supplemented animals the α-tocopherol levels were 5-fold higher when compared to hams produced from the control animals. After 16 days of storage at 6 °C, the sensory panel detected a significant preference (95%) for the hams produced from pigs fed the supplemented diet. Hams from pigs fed the control diet were significantly more susceptible to lipid oxidation than hams from pigs fed the supplemented diet. GC−MS analyses of the volatile compounds of the cooked hams as a function of storage time (3 weeks at 6 °C and 3 months at −18 °C) indicated higher concent.
How Can School Libraries Support Student Wellbeing? Evidence and Implications for Further Research

Abstract Concern about student wellbeing and related mental health is a global issue, and schools are increasingly expected to support student wellbeing. While the focus on libraries and wellbeing in research is more commonly on public libraries, school libraries can also play an important supportive role in this regard. Robust research evidence is needed from school library contexts to support targeted advocacy in order to enhance student wellbeing. This paper explores how school libraries may support student wellbeing by operating as safe spaces for young people, promoting and resourcing mental health and wellbeing initiatives, and supporting and promoting bibliotherapeutic practices and reading for pleasure. It then highlights implications for future research to support the development of a sound, research-supported evidence base for advocacy moving forward.
Evaluation of an NCAA sponsored online support group for career-ending injured collegiate athletes transitioning out of sports

ABSTRACT Forced early retirement due to a career-ending injury is a unique and traumatic life event for an NCAA collegiate athlete. Although the NCAA financially helps some of these athletes, problems still arise due to inadequate recognition of the psychosocial effects of career-ending injuries. There has been little research to evaluate the effectiveness of a common psychosocial intervention for these athletes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate if an NCAA-sponsored online support group would help collegiate athletes with career-ending injuries transition out of college sport. Participants were identified using purposive criterion sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with former Division I NCAA collegiate athletes who experienced a career-ending injury. Implications practitioners could use to help ease these athletes’ transition out of sports were identified and a foundation was established for future studies regarding the helpfulness of online support groups for career-ending injured athletes.
Comparative Study between Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion using Cage and Plate or Cage Alone

Background: anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion (ACDF) is a well-accepted management option for the treatment of persistent cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy due to cervical disc prolapse. Typically a fusion is performed to stabilize the segment, maintain foraminal height. Objective: to prospectively analyze the effect of one-level ACDF, comparing stand-alone cages and cage-with-plate fixation constructs with respect to clinical outcomes and radiologic changes. Patients and Methods: a total of 20 patients who underwent one-level for cervical disc disease and who completed 6 months of follow-up were included in this study. The patients were grouped into ACDF-Cage-only and ACDF-Cage-with-plate groups. The following parameters were assessed using radiographs: subsidence, adjacent disc space narrowing, clinical outcomes were assessed using the Odom's criteria. Results: in the comparison of one-level ACDF-cage-only and ACDF-cage-with-plate groups, at the 3-and 6-months follow-up: Regarding the functional outcome in the plate group 6 (60%) patients had excellent outcome, 2 (20%) patients had good outcome, 1 (10%) had satisfactory and 1 (10%) had poor outcome, while in the cage group 7 (70%) patients had excellent outcome, 110%) had good outcome, 1 (10%) had satisfactory and 1 (10%) had poor outcome. Conclusion: our results showed that for single-level cases, plate fixation had no additional benefit versus cage-only, although the cage-with-plate fixation group had a lower incidence of cage sinking than did the cage-only group. We conclude that physicians should be aware of these possible advantages and disadvantages associated with using cervical plates in one-level ACDF.
The Perils of Path Dependency: Germany’s Russia Policy

Abstract With the notable exception of the Ukraine crisis, Berlin has pursued a cooperative policy vis-à-vis Moscow, demonstrating a unique measure of understanding. This policy is consistent with the two roles that Germany has played in the international system since World War II—as a ‘civilian power’ and as a ‘trading state’. Both have proven successful in foreign policy and economic terms, but have also created a path dependency that complicated adaptability to changed conditions: indecisiveness and a propensity for the middle ground have proven to be its questionable side-effects.
Mapping thermokarst lakes and ponds across permafrost landscapes in the Headwater Area of Yellow River on northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

ABSTRACT The large variety of the semi-automated methods in mapping the surface water bodies and the frequent omission of ponds (< 10,000 m2) from permafrost regions inventories motivates this work. Based on the correlation matrix, several widely used classification methods for mapping the surface water bodies were assessed. Water bodies inventory was generated at a local and landscape scale in the Headwater Area of the Yellow River (HAYR) on a Sentinel-2 satellite image from 23 November 2015. The assessed methods are: spectral water indices, supervised and unsupervised classifiers (k-means, Density Slicing, Maximum Likelihood Classification ˗ MLC), and machine learning algorithms (Random Forest and Support Vector Machines). The MLC method applied on visible and near-infrared (NIR) bands represents the best ratio regarding the accuracy (96%), Kappa coefficient (0.87), and water surface (14.87 km2). However, misclassifications are still present, which requires manual editing. Based on the MLC approach, 651 more water bodies were identified than previous inventories. Ponds are account for up to 93% of the 966 of individual water bodies and contribute to 42% of the total water surface, in the context that were omitted before. This analysis emphasize the importance of method settings for the classifier performance, as well as the ponds abundance and substantial contribution to the total water surface. This inventory will improve the general circulation models and provides baseline information for sustainable management of water resources in the HAYR, one of the core Asian Water Towers.
Genetic variation and parameter estimates in Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew)

Pacific yew (Taxusbrevifolia Nutt.) is a shade-tolerant gymnosperm native to the western United States and Canada. It recently gained attention as the source of Taxol® (paclitaxel), a promising new anticancer drug. Large-scale harvest of mature Pacific yew trees for the extraction of paclitaxel has resulted in the need for improved forest management practices and an increased understanding of the amount and distribution of genetic variation in the species. We partitioned estimates of genetic variance for allozyme, metric, and taxane traits into region, population, family, and within family components in seedling common-garden tests. Genetic diversity, genetic distance, and Nei's Gst values were estimated based on gene frequencies for 22 isozyme loci. Concentrations of taxanes were determined for needles and roots using HPLC. Populations of Pacific yew are more distinct from one another than is typical of long-lived, wind-pollinated conifers in western North America, but there is little regional differenti.
Release Characteristics of Manganese in Soil under Ion-absorbed Rare Earth Mining Conditions

ABSTRACT The use of high-concentration ammonium sulfate leaching agent for the mining of ion-absorbed rare earth ore will change the soil environment properties, thereby inducing the release of associated heavy metals. Serious manganese pollution has been observed in the environment of rare earth mining areas, but the environmental chemical process of manganese in the raw ore soil has not been fully recognized. In this study, a sequential extraction experiment showed that the manganese in the soil included acid extractable form, reducible form, oxidizable form, and residual form, among which residual form and reducible form were the main forms. According to the release kinetics experiment, the release process of manganese included the fast release and slow release, which was controlled by multiple diffusion mechanisms and could be optimally fitted with the Elovich equation. The treatment of ammonium sulfate leaching agent could reduce the proportion of reducible form and increase the proportion of residual form, but there was no significant change in other forms. In addition, batch release experiments indicated that leaching factors (the initial concentration and initial pH of leaching agent, and temperature) could affect the release of manganese. Lower pH and higher temperature were not conducive to the stability of manganese and significantly aggravated the release amount. Excessive initial concentration had a certain inhibitory effect on the release amount, but the effect was weak. Considering the significant effect of initial pH and temperature on the release of manganese, during the mining process of ion-absorbed rare earth, controlling the initial pH of leaching agent and reducing the mining scale in the hot summer are the key measures to manage the release risk of manganese.
Personalizing college mathematics with technology

Abstract This study investigated personalization as an innovation that can be used to impact college mathematics achievement. In the reported study, similar tasks using personalized data and teacher-selected data were implemented in courses in both 4-year and 2-year colleges. Pre- and posttests and student work were analyzed to examine the impact of personalization on student understanding. Our findings provide insight into how the use of the technology can influence students’ thinking and ability to connect with and use personally authentic data.
Fabrication of Cu/Nafion-Based Ionic Polymer Metal Composites by Electroless Plating Method

Abstract The Cu/Nafion-based ionic polymer metal composites were analyzed in terms morphology, proton conductivity, water loss, displacement and blocking force performance were examined. The SEM images revealed that Cu particles distribution is uniform and compact on the surface of Nafion membrane due to continuous heterogeneous nucleation and grain growth. The IPMC is composed of the ionomer membrane layer, the middle layer and the surface electrode layer. A less water restricts the migration of the hydrated cation transfer, and causes the migration barrier, resulting in reducing conductivity of the IPMCs. The maximum displacement and maximum force are 30 mm and 9.1 mN.
Indonesia in the Time of Covid-19

The Covid-19 virus has spread across the world with alarming speed, infecting millions and causing economic disruption on an unprecedented scale. In this survey, we examine the impact of the outbreak on the Indonesian economy, as well as the government’s response to the public health crisis and its provisions for the emerging economic crisis. Indonesia’s delay in responding to the health crisis while Covid-19 spread in neighbouring countries in January–February 2020 has been costly for the health of the population. The government’s policy responses have so far been aimed at steadying the ship, addressing both the needs of the poor and the potentially poor (vulnerable) groups. At the time of writing, Covid-19 had not been tamed in Indonesia by any means. Hence, its implications for economic growth, jobs and welfare remained uncertain, as policy discussions were all about opening up the economy from virus-imposed restrictions across the country, under what has been termed the ‘new normal’.
The moderating effect of social support on the relationship between burnout, intention to drop out, and satisfaction with studies of first-year university students

This study investigated the relationships between student burnout, intention to drop out, and satisfaction with studies, considering their self-reported social support from parents and significant others. First-year black African students from a peri-urban South African university campus (n = 452; females = 58.63%; mean age = 20.08 years, SD = 2.70 years) completed burnout, intention to drop out, satisfaction with studies, and social support measures. Regression analyses showed students with higher burnout symptoms (i.e. exhaustion, cynicism, and lack of professional efficacy) to have a higher intention to drop out from university and to be less satisfied with their studies. Social support from parents and significant others moderated certain relationships between burnout, intention to drop out, and satisfaction with studies. Understanding the role of social support on quality of student life could assist academic development and support services to provide better-targeted interventions with first-year university students.
STUDY OF THE EXPRESSION LEVELS OF SURVIVIN GENE IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by malignant clonal proliferation of immature myeloid cells. Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) gene family. It was found that knockdownof survivin was reported to induce apoptosis in leukemia cell lines and also potentiated the chemotherapeutic antileukemic effects.Aim: Investigating survivin gene expression levels in de novo acute myeloid leukemia at the time of diagnosis, and the correlation between survivin expression at time of diagnosis and the achievement of complete remission after induction chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used and the results were evaluated with comparative Ct method for 35 AML casescontrolled by 15 non AML patient. Results: The present study showed that Survivin expression was significantly higher in cases than in controls (p<0.001). The mean expression level of survivin among patients with complete remission (28.64 ± 6.23) was significantly lower than those with induction failure (186.86 ± 229.71) (p<0.001). None of AML cases with high expression of Survivin above the median achieved complete remission. The age of AML cases positively correlated to survivin gene expression (r= 0.615, p <0.001). Conclusion: Survivin expression analysis at time of diagnosis may aid in determining the prognosis of AML cases.
L-Arginine Regulates Immune Functions in Chickens Immunized with Intermediate Strain of Infectious Bursal Disease Vaccine

The present study investigated the effects of dietary arginine (Arg) supplementation on immune functions of broiler chickens inoculated with infectious bursal disease vaccine (IBDV). A total of 500 one-day-old female Ross (308) broilers were randomly assigned into 10 treatments (5 replicates per treatment, 10 birds per replicate). On day 14, birds were inoculated intramuscularly with IBDV or saline. Birds were fed diets containing one of five dietary Arg concentrations: 9.9, 13.9, 17.6, 21.3, or 25.3 g/kg respectively. The IBDV inoculation significantly reduced ( P ＜ 0.05) serum lysozyme and IgA concentration, mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation (Con A), PBMC in vitro NO and H 2 O 2 yield, and serum anti-Newcastle disease virus (NDV) body titers. Increasing Arg concentration linearly increased ( P ＜ 0.05) serum lysozyme concentration, quadratically increased ( P ＜ 0.05) in vitro PBMC NO yield, linearly and quadratically increased ( P ＜ 0.05) PBMC proliferation (LPS). Serum anti-IBDV antibody titers tended to be increased quadratically ( P ＝ 0.06) by increasing Arg concentration. The Arg requirement of IBDV inoculated chickens (18.9 ± 0.5) for minimum FCR was higher ( P ＜ 0.05) than that of un-inoculated chickens (16.0 ± 1.3). The Arg requirements of IBDV inoculated chickens for the highest IgA concentration (17.5 ± 0.6 g/kg) and PBMC proliferation (LPS) (19.8 ± 2.1 g/kg) tended to be higher ( P ＜ 0.10) than those for un-inoculated chickens (IgA: 16.1 ± 0.6 g/kg; PBMC proliferation (LPS): 16.3 ± 0.8 g/kg). These results indicate that dietary Arg supplementation may have a potential effect in alleviating IBDV-inoculation induced immunosuppression via enhancing the immune function of chickens. J. Poult. Sci., 52: 101 - 108, 2015