Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumo de fibra em detergente neutro por bovinos em confinamento

The objective of this work was to evaluate the intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by fedlot cattle, the principal factors that influencing this variable, and to correlate the NDF to total dry matter (DM) intake. The data published at the Brazilian Journal of Animal Science Society and Brazilian Journal of Animal Science among the years of 1991 and 2000, totaling 45 scientific works and 181 averages of treatments, were evaluated. The level of total digestible nutrients was negatively correlated to the level of NDF in diets (r = -0.6006; P .10). The description of the relationship among total DM intake and level of NDF in the diet was accomplished using a biphasic profile, looking for similarity to the curves proposed by the static model of DM intake prediction. The intersection of the curves projected a intake of NDF (NDFI) of 11.93 g/kg LW. However, the evaluation of NDFI estimated during the phase attributed to the physical controllers of intake showed inconstancy, generating divergence among the points of maximum intake of DM and NDF. This profile indicated that the transition among the physical and physiologic mechanisms is, possibly, delimited by an interval with interaction among mechanisms. The evaluation of NDFI according to the level of forage in the diets showed stable profiles in concentrations above to 60%, being of 13.53 g/kg LW in the interval from 80 to 100%. Possible interactions with the indigestible fraction of NDF can dictate the plasticity of the daily limit of NDFI.
Phylogenetic analyses of some genera in Oedipodidae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) based on 16S mitochondrial partial gene sequences

Based on the 16S mitochondrial partial gene sequences of 29 genera, containing 26 from Oedipodidae and one each from Tanaoceridae, Pyrgomorphidae and Tetrigidae (as outgroups), the homologus sequences were compared and phylogenetic analyses were performed. A phylogenetic tree was inferred by neighbor‐joining (NJ). The results of sequences compared show that: (i) in a total of 574 bp of Oedipodidae, the number of substituted nucleotides was 265 bp and the average percentages of T, C, A and G were 38.3 %, 11.4%, 31.8% and 18.5%, respectively, and the content of A+T (70.1%) was distinctly richer than that of C+G (29.9%); and (ii) the average nucleotide divergence of 16S rDNA sequences among genera of Oedipodidae were 9.0%, among families of Acridoidea were 17.0%, and between superfamilies (Tetrigoidea and Acridoidea) were 23.9%, respectively. The phylogenetic tree indicated: (i) the Oedipodidae was a monophyletic group, which suggested that the taxonomic status of this family was confirmed; (ii) the genus Heteropternis separated from the other Oedipodids first and had another unique sound‐producing structure in morphology, which is the type‐genus of subfamily Heteropterninae; and (iii) the relative intergeneric relationship within the same continent was closer than that of different continents, and between the Eurasian genera and the African genera, was closer than that between Eurasians and Americans.
Is shell partitioning between the hermit crabs Pagurus brevidactylus and Pagurus criniticornis explained by interference and/or exploitation competition?

Abstract The effect of crab behaviour on shell-use dynamics was analysed, comparing both interference and exploitation behaviours between the hermit crabs Pagurus criniticornis and Pagurus brevidactylus. Although these species exhibited microhabitat separation, with P. criniticornis dominating (100%) in sandy substrates and P. brevidactylus (80%) on rocky shores, they overlapped in the rocky shore/sand interface (P. criniticornis, 53%; P. brevidactylus, 43%). Pagurus criniticornis occupied shells of Cerithium atratum in higher frequencies (84%) than P. brevidactylus (37%), which was hypothesized to be a consequence of competitive interactions combined with their ability to acquire and/or retain this resource. The species P. criniticornis was attracted in larger numbers to simulated gastropod predation events than was P. brevidactylus, which, on the few occasions that it moved before P. criniticornis, tended to be attracted more rapidly. Interspecific shell exchanges between these species were few, suggesting the absence of dominance relationships. The shell-use pattern in this species pair is thus defined by exploitation competition, which is presumed to be intensified in areas of microsympatry. These results differ from other studies, which found that interference competition through interspecific exchanges shapes shell use, indicating that shell partitioning in hermit crabs is dependent on the behaviour of the species involved in the contests.
Alternative mating strategies, partial sibmating and split sex ratios in haplodiploid species

It is shown that when females can adjust their offspring sex ratios conditionally to the identity of their mates, i.e. sib or non‐sib, split sex ratios are expected. These split sex ratios result from variation in relatedness between females and their daughters. Haplodiploid females' relatedness to their daughters increases as their relatedness to their mates increases. Therefore, sibmated females' optimal progeny sex ratio is more female biased than that of outbred females. Inbreeding depression that can result from complementary sex determination (CSD) is also considered. The genetic load caused by CSD can be so costly to sibmated females that they switch to the production of males only. The evolutionarily stable sex ratios for a sibmating model is found to be of a weak type. These weak equilibria and split sex ratios can lead to high variation about the mean and are an incentive for further studies on sex ratio variation in conjunction with mating behaviour. The occurrence of split sex ratios in haplodiploid taxa is important because it favours the evolution of eusociality. Partial local mating and alternative mating strategies can thus eventually lead to the evolution of eusociality.
Seepage Erosion in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico, Relict Landscapes

Seminal research into geomorphic shaping of landscapes by emerging groundwater suggest that the relationships governing channel form and incision rate are distinct from other fluvial systems (Howard, 1995; Dunne, 1980, 1990). While some recent work has connected these models to natural settings (Abrams et al., 2009; Petroff et al., 2011), other studies have shown that seepage erosion may be erroneously invoked in landscapes shaped by flooding and overland flow (Lamb et al., 2006, 2007). We investigate the impact of seepage erosion on the geomorphology of a tropical mountain watershed, the Rio Blanco in the Luquillo Mountains of northern Puerto Rico. We focus on a population of amphitheater‐shaped channels that incise into deeply weathered saprolite profiles in the upland reaches of the watershed, where the river is disconnected from regional base‐level lowering (Brocard et al., 2015, 2016). We measured high rates of baseflow from springs feeding these catchments, despite their small drainage areas. We constructed an empirical model relating baseflow discharge to catchment area within the watershed. We quantified long‐term (103‐104 yrs) catchment erosion from 10Be in sediment and measured the short‐term volumetric flux of bedload transport at baseflow. Rates of transport and erosion in this group of channels scale linearly with the feeding drainage area and baseflow discharge. This finding supports a stream incision model proposed for groundwater‐driven channels (Howard, 1995). We propose that deepening saprolite and coincident entrenchment of the subsurface water‐routing system initiated seepage erosion and are actively expanding the headwaters in the Rio Blanco.
Effect of Diesel Exhaust on Development of Fetal Reproductive Function in ICR Female Mice

Diesel exhaust (DE) is a serious air pollution problem in big cities. Most suspended particulate matter (SPM) less than 2.5 μm in diameter consists of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), which are reported to cause pulmonary carcinogenesis, allergic rhinitis, and bronchial asthma-like diseases. It has been recently reported that DE also affects the circulatory and reproductive systems. Yoshida et al. reported that mRNA expression of steroidogenic factor-1 (Ad4BP/SF-1) and of Mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS), which are essential for male gonadal differentiation, decreased significantly in male fetuses when maternal mice were exposed to DE at levels of 0.1 or 3.0 mg DEP/m3 for 8 hr per day between 2 and 13 days postcoitum (dpc). In this study, maternal mice were exposed to DE 0.1 mg DEP /m3 for 8 hr per day between 2 and 13 dpc. Expression levels of Ad4BP/SF-1 and MIS mRNA in female fetuses were not decreased. However, expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein-15, reported to be related to development of the oocyte, were significantly decreased in comparison with that in the control group. Our data suggest that female fetuses of pregnant mice exposed to DE in utero are less sensitive to the expression levels of mRNAs for Ad4BP/SF-1 and MIS compared with males and that DE may affect development of the oocyte in the female fetus.
The developmental growth and quality assessment of five selected cultivars of baby spinach grown in Gauteng province, South Africa

Baby spinach is a relatively new crop in South Africa that has commercial significance in retail stores. Currently, seed companies have developed varieties that have not been evaluated locally. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the growth, development and quality of five selected baby spinach cultivars in Gauteng province, South Africa. Treatments consisted of five selected baby spinach cultivars viz., Ohio, Dash, Monstrous Viroflay, Guitar F1 and Lazio, arranged in a randomised complete block design (RCBD), and replicated three times. The parameters recorded were morphological characteristics, biomass, physiological parameters, minerals, and amino acids. The results showed that cultivar Dash had longer leaf size, petiole and leaf blade, followed by Ohio, which had the highest leaf number (8.4). Monstrous Viroflay yielded higher biomass than other cultivars. Cultivar Ohio indicated a significantly higher level of photosynthetically active radiation with a level of 893.00 µmol m–2 s–1 and leaf area index of 5.90. The aliphatic (isoleucine), aromatic (phenylalanine, tryptophan), acidic (aspartic acid), basic (arginine, histidine), sulphur (cysteamine) and amidic amino acids (asparagine) were dormant in baby spinach. The cultivation of Dash baby spinach by both small- and large-scale producers in the north of Pretoria, Gauteng province of South Africa, is recommended.
Den structure and selection of denning habitat by brown bears in the Romanian Carpathians

Abstract: The Romanian Carpathian Mountains provide one of the largest areas suitable for brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe, but the long history of logging has reduced old-growth forest to fragments. Continuous timber extraction, along with new recreation opportunities from motorized vehicles, may affect brown bear denning habitat through disturbance. As such, understanding den site selection at the landscape and local levels is important for the conservation and sustainable management of the Romanian brown bear population. We used data on 86 den sites collected between 2010 and 2013 in Southeastern Carpathians and developed Resource Selection Functions for second-order (landscape-level) and third-order (local level) den habitat selection, using habitat structure and topographic attributes of den locations. The altitude of dens ranged between 440 and 1,320 m, with a mean slope of 19.7 ± 0.8%. Aspect was evenly distributed between southwest (22.9% of the dens), east (20.5%), south (18.1%), and southeast (15.7%). Dens stabilized by boulders were dominant (68%), and had maximum mean length = 149.2 ± 5.6 cm, width = 109.1 ± 4.8 cm, and height = 113.8 ± 10.5 cm. At both local and the landscape scales, bears selected for steeper slope and higher percent coverage of mixed (beech–fir–spruce [Fagus sylvatica–Abies alba–Picea abies]) forest. At the landscape scale, bears also selected dens at higher altitude, and with greater coverage of old forest, and away from urban areas and recent clear-cuts. Our spatial predictions have the potential to inform forest management by identifying areas where disturbance of brown bear denning habitat should be avoided or limited, thus contributing to brown bear management and conservation planning in the Romanian Carpathians.
The Role of Nest Depth and Site Choice in Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change on an Oviparous Reptile

Climate change is likely to have strong impacts on oviparous animals with minimal parental care, because nest temperature can impact egg development, sex, and survival, especially in the absence of mitigation via parental care. Nesting females may compensate for increasing temperatures by altering how, when, and where they nest. We examined the factors determining nest depth and site choice as well as the effects that nest depth and location have on nest temperature and hatching success in the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). We found that nest depth was not correlated with nesting female size, egg characteristics, or daily temperatures. Nest temperatures and hatching success were correlated with different environmental and nest characteristics between 2004, a cool and wet year, and 2005, a hot and dry year. Females selected nests with lower southern overstory vegetation in 2005. These results suggest that nest depth and location can play an important yet varying role in determining nest temperature and hatching success in more extreme warm and dry environmental conditions and, therefore, may mitigate the impacts of climate change on oviparous reptiles. However, we found minimal evidence that turtles choose nest locations and depths that maximize offspring survival based on short-term environmental cues.
Influência de variedades de cana-de-açúcar, incorporadas em dieta artificial, no desenvolvimento de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) e no seu parasitismo por Cotesia flavipes (Cam.)

In this study it was observed the influence of two sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties, that were included in an artificial diet as powdered stem, on development of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) and parasistism by Cotesia flavipes (Cam.). The variety SP71 - 1081 was less suitable (P ≤ 0.05) to D. saccharalis development than SP 71-3146, delaying larval and pupal period and decreasing larval weight; no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed for larval and pupal survival as well as pupal weight. D. saccharalis larvae reared on artificial diet and on sugarcane stem were equally preferred by the parasitoid C. flavipes. Larvae reared on artificial diet with powdered stem of the tested varieties promoted a similar development of C. flavipes. The percent of parasitism in the larvae reared in artificials diets contention of the SP 71-1081 (84.0%) and SP 71-3146 (81.3%) varieties were similar.
How institutional and ecological forces shape the career profiles of organizational leaders: An analysis of US law school deans, 1894–2009

How do macro social forces shape the career profiles of organizational leaders? The aim of the article is to answer this question by examining how institutional and ecological forces have influenced the careers of law school deans in the US from the late 19th century to the present. Specifically, we focus on the coexistence of two social forces—professionalization and the diversity of an organizational population. On the one hand, we view professionalization as a converging institutional force that promotes homogeneity among leader career profiles. The diversity of an organizational population, on the other hand, is viewed as a diverging ecological force that increases heterogeneity among leader career profiles. We show how these two opposing forces have left different imprints on leader career profiles with a unique career data of 1396 deans in American law schools from 1894 to 2009. We utilize optimal matching analysis to assess the degree of similarity (or dissimilarity) among deans’ career sequences and test our hypotheses. This study contributes to our understanding of the link between macro social transformations and leader career profiles.
Photoinhibition and recovery of NH4+-oxidizing bacteria and NO2−-oxidizing bacteria

The effects of illumination on nitrifying bacteria were investigated with and without substrate. NH4+-oxidizing bacteria (strain H-1, probably Nitrosospira sp.) and NO2--oxidizing bacteria (strain O-1, probably Nitrobacter sp.), isolated from Lake Kizaki, were inhibited by light (about 75μEinsteins/m2/sec, 12-hr light: 12-hr dark). Photoinhibited H-1 and O-1 cells recovered after several to tens of days under dark conditions. However, H-1 cells, illuminated for 7 to 10 days in the absence of NH4+, did not produce NO2- significantly for 120 to 350 days in a medium containing 50uM NH4+. The substrate (NH4+) was found to protect H-1 from photoinhibition, while such an effect of NO2- on O-1 was not so clear. O-1 was more sensitive to light than H-1 in the short illumination period. However, the inhibitory effect of prolonged illumination was greater on H-1 than on O-1. It was indicated from growth kinetic analysis that the photoinhibitory effects on both NH4+-oxidizing bacteria and NO2--oxidizing bacteria were not only lethal but also bacteriostatic.
Acute effects from changes in saddle height in perceived comfort during cycling

Prior research did not provide data on acute adaptations to changes in saddle height as commonly performed in bicycle fitting. This study assessed the acute responses from recreational cyclists to changes in saddle height using dynamic bicycle fitting. Ten recreational cyclists completed five trials using three saddle heights (Preferred, High and Low), one Sham-height trial and a final repeated trial for assessment of intra-session reliability. High and Low saddle heights were determined based on dynamically measured knee flexion angles (±10° from their Preferred height). Trials were performed for 30-s at 90 ± 2 rpm and 2.5 W/kg (181 ± 32 W). Perceived comfort and discomfort and rating of perceived exertion were assessed at the end of each trial. Significant differences were determined when p < 0.05. Increased comfort was observed at the preferred saddle height compared to a lower saddle height (p = 0.03) but no differences were observed between Preferred and High (p = 0.69) or High vs. Low (p = 0.06). The Sham height was also not different from its equivalent saddle height (p = 0.77) and rating of perceived exertion did not differ between saddle heights (p = 0.33). Recreational cyclists were generally sensitive to changes in saddle height given they reported different levels of comfort between their preferred and a lower saddle height. Similar levels of comfort were observed when a Sham height was introduced, showing that recreational cyclists identified that no change in saddle height was conducted. However, these cyclists could not report differences in comfort when cycling at a High compared to a Low saddle height.
The biology of the West African shad Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bowdich) in the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

The biology of the population of Ethmalosa fimbriata occurring in the Lagos lagoon was investigated. Three size groups, 35–69 mm (Yoyo), 70–169 mm (Efolo) and 170 mm and above (Agbodo) occur in the lagoon and the spatial distribution of these size groups and the length frequency distribution of the species is given. The relationship between length, weight, age and growth is discussed and the food and feeding intra-relationship of the size groups is shown. Information on the fecundity and possible spawning periods is discussed.
"Core-Periphery" in the European Union – An Economic Perspective

The heterogeneity of economic performances in the EU member states is one of the main reasons for the existence of a “core-periphery” relationship. The goal of this research is to examine various economic indicators to reveal possible divisions between the EU members. This issue emphasized the contribution of rich “core” countries to the imbalances in poorer “peripheral” EU members. By applying cluster methodology and considering the most recent data, two groups of countries were identified, the first comprising 11 countries that form the “centre” or the “core”, and the rest of the EU forming the “periphery”. Considering differences between these countries is necessary and justified for discussions about the future development of the EU that will involve differences between member states.
Settlement of Mussel Perna perna Seed on Artificial Collectors Deployed on Sea Surface

The low settlement of mussel Perna perna seeds on artificial collectors deployed on sea subsurface has been a major obstacle to the mussel farming improvement in Brazil. This study aimed to compare the seed settlement on artificial collectors deployed on the sea surface with the aid of buoys and at the subsurface (20 cm depth) in Cocanha Beach, Caraguatatuba City, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Mann–Whitney test showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between treatments for each class of length, with the best settlement occurring on the sea surface collectors for all classes (P < 0.05). It is concluded that deploying artificial collectors with buoys on the sea surface increases the number and the biomass of settled mussel seeds when compared to the non-buoys deployed collectors on the sea subsurface.
Head posture detection with embedded attention model

Based on Convolutional Neural Network, the paper presents a compact detection algorithm that can estimate the head pose from a single picture. Our method is based on soft stage wise regression. In order to reduce model complexity, three-dimensional detection of the “pitch, yaw, and roll” of the head posture adopts multi-level classification. Each level of classification requires only a small number of classification tasks and fewer neurons. In order to enhance the feature expression of the algorithm, the attention model is embedded. Attention model includes channel attention structure and spatial attention structure, enhancing the feature expression of the feature map in the two dimensions of the intermediate feature map channel and space. The attention model can be seamlessly integrated into the CNN architecture with low overhead. The experiment proves that the improved algorithm compares the method model proposed by Yang with a smaller complexity of 4.36M and an average absolute error of 0.7%~0.9%.