Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary preferences of cows offered choices between white clover and 'high sugar' and 'typical' perennial ryegrass cultivars

An experiment was conducted to compare dietary preferences of cows offered simple choices between spatially separated monocultures of perennial ryegrass cvv. AberDawn (AD) and AberElan (AE), and white clover (WC) under strip grazing. AberDawn was bred to express high water soluble carbohydrate concentrations, whereas AE has typical levels. The proposed hypotheses were that cows would exhibit a partial preference for the ryegrass cultivar with a higher concentration of non-structural carbohydrates, and that there would be an interaction between the non-structural carbohydrate concentration of the ryegrass and strength of preference for WC. Non-lactating cows were offered a pasture allowance of about 20 kg DM each day for 9 days in 3 ‘choice’ treatments: AD + WC, AE + WC and AD + AE. All pastures had similar estimated metabolisable energy contents, but AD had a higher crude protein (136 v. 118 g/kg DM) and slightly lower neutral detergent fibre (480 v. 497 g/kg DM) concentration than AE, and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations were similar in both grasses. White clover had higher crude protein (236 v. 127 g/kg DM), and lower neutral detergent fibre (317 v. 489 g/kg DM) and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations (140 v. 183 g/kg DM), and contained less dead material (60 v. 242 g/kg DM) than the grasses. AberDawn contained less (P<0.05; 578 v. 698 g/kg DM) green ryegrass than AE. Pre-grazing pasture mass (1870 v. 2010 kg DM/ha), pasture allowance (23 v. 25 kg DM/cow), and residual pasture mass (1610 v. 1710 kg DM/ha) were lower for AD than AE, and for WC were lower (P<0.05) than for both grasses. Dry matter intake, intake rate and bite size were lower (P<0.05) on AD + AE than on treatments containing WC. Cows grazing AD + AE ruminated longer (P<0.05), ruminated more (P<0.05) boli, and had more (P<0.05) ruminating chews than those on treatments including WC. The cows on AD + AE had more (P<0.05) total chews than those on AD + WC or AE + WC, but grazing time was not always significantly different between choice treatments. It is suggested that the longer ruminating times and greater number of boli processed in cows grazing only grass may reflect the slower digestion rates of ryegrass compared with clover. Cows grazing the AD + WC or AE + WC choice treatments showed a partial preference for WC, spending more (P<0.001) time grazing and consuming more (P<0.001) WC than ryegrass. Within the AD + AE choice treatment, cows spent more (P<0.05) time grazing and consumed more (P<0.05) AE than AD. Using the mean of 2 methods of estimation, the partial preferences for AD + WC, AE + WC and AD + AE were 39 : 61, 41 : 59 and 45 : 55, respectively.
Induced α Helix in the VP16 Activation Domain upon Binding to a Human TAF

Activation domains are functional modules that enable sequence-specific DNA binding proteins to stimulate transcription. The structural basis for the function of activation domains is poorly understood. A combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and biochemical experiments revealed that the minimal acidic activation domain of the herpes simplex virus VP16 protein undergoes an induced transition from random coil to α helix upon binding to its target protein, hTAFII31 (a human TFIID TATA box – binding protein-associated factor). Identification of the two hydrophobic residues that make nonpolar contacts suggests a general recognition motif of acidic activation domains for hTAFII31.
Fuzzy Adaptive Tracking Control for State Constraint Switched Stochastic Nonlinear Systems With Unstable Inverse Dynamics

In this article, a novel fuzzy adaptive tracking control scheme is concerned for a class of stochastic state-constrained switched nonlinear systems. The considered stochastic switched nonlinear system contains unknown nonlinearities and unstable inverse dynamics. In the design process, first, fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) are used to approximate the unknown nonlinear dynamics. Second, the stochastic barrier Lyapunov functions (BLFs) are constructed to deal with the state constraint problem. Then, an adaptive fuzzy state-feedback controller is designed by utilizing the $It\hat o$ lemma and average dwell time (ADT) approach, which can guarantee both the control system and unstable inverse dynamics to be bounded in probability and all the states cannot violate their constrained sets. Two simulation examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed control approach.
Cytological Effects of Different Mutagens in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

The effect of gamma rays, EMS, sodium azide and their combination on various cytological parameters in M2 generation were studied in lentil variety PL-639. The mean values of quadrivalents, rod bivalents, univalents, fragments/bridges, cytological abnormal cells and pollen sterility were increased in mutagenic treated population, while the chiasma frequency was decreased. Combined treatments showed additive effect, EMS produced slightly more abnormalities over sodium azide. Pollen sterility could be used as a parameter for selection plants having more number of quadrivalents.
Barriers to Forest Regeneration in an Abandoned Pasture in Puerto Rico

Sources of forest regeneration (soil seed bank, seed rain) and barriers to seedling establishment were examined in a recently abandoned pasture in eastern Puerto Rico. Few woody species were found in the soil seed bank or in the seed rain. The number of seeds and species in the seed rain and soil seed bank declined with distance from the adjacent secondary forest. Nine species naturally dispersed and colonized plots during the study, with the wind‐dispersed tree Tabebuia heterophylla being the predominant colonizer (91% of all seedlings). Barriers to seedling establishment were determined using a blocked field experiment with eleven woody species representative of a variety of life histories. Each species was planted under the pasture vegetation (control) or in areas where all vegetation was removed (removal). Germination was enhanced for four species in the control treatment, five species were not affected, and two species did not germinate under either treatment. Survival to 6 months was higher in the removal treatment for two species. Seedling biomass was greater in the removal treatment at 12 months for one species. Seed mass was a good predictor of germination success and final shoot biomass, but not survival. This study demonstrates that seeding recently abandoned pastures with a mix of known pioneer species may accelerate the rate of secondary succession, but some species will have to be planted in later successional stages in order to overcome strong barriers to establishment.
Perfil de progesterona e intervalo ao estro de receptoras bovinas sincronizadas com doses reduzidas de cloprostenol

The objective of this research was to compare the effects of different doses of application of sodic cloprostenol (doses equivalent to 50% the conventional), in the intramuscular (IM) and intra-vulvosubmucosal (IVSM) vias on the synchronization rates, interval of application to estrus and decrease of seric progesterone concentrations. One hundred and ninety-nine females, 103 with of previus report estrous and 96 without report of previus estores evaluated by rectal palpation to verify the presence of corpus luteum, were randomly divided into three treatments: 1 - 68 animals (38 with report of previous estrus) received 1 mL of cloprostenol through IVSM; 2 - 66 animals (33 with report of previous estrus) received 1 mL through IM; 3 - 65 animals (32 with report of previous estrus) received 2 mL through IM. It was considered the animals that showed estrus up to 96 hours after cloprostenol application. The seric progesterone concentrations (P4) were analyzed by RIA at 0 and 48 hours after the application of luteolitic drug. No effects of treatments on synchronization rates (72.1, 53.0, and 64.6%, respectively), interval from application to estrus (69.3 ± 15.2, 67.9 ± 16.7, and 68.3 ± 16.9 hours, respectively) and P4 percentage concentration decrease (79; 68 and 83%, respectively) were observed. However, when data of animals from treatments of days 11 to 16 were grouped and compared to those of treatments of days 7 to 10, the synchronization rates differed (76.1% vs 55.5%). Sodic cloprostenol doses that was reduced by 50%, in IM or IVSM vias, showed effect similar to the conventional dose. Animals during days 11 to 16 respond better to a synchronization with cloprostenol than those during days 7 to 10 of diestrus.
Practical Sliding Mode Using State Depended Intermittent Control

This brief introduces a practical sliding mode using state depended intermittent control strategy. Robust stabilization of the linear time-invariant system is achieved by rejecting the effect of matched and bounded input disturbances using the proposed state dependent intermittent sliding mode control (SDI-SMC). The system trajectories are driven to a predesigned practical sliding mode band by the proposed control to establish a practical sliding mode. The salient feature of the proposed control strategy is that the control is turned off whenever it is not necessary, which will result in a considerable saving in the control effort and other resources. The proposed SDI-SMC is simulated on the model of an industrial plant emulator and a detailed comparison is done with sliding mode control (SMC), event-triggered sliding mode control (ET-SMC) and adaptive sliding mode control (Adp-SMC).
The role of copepod-dominated meiofauna in the mineralization of organic matter in a cold marine mesocosm

Large populations of meiofauna are found in the sand filters of the St. Lawrence mesocosm at the Montreal Biodome. Three 30-day experiments were conducted in heterotrophic microcosms to quantify how populations of micro- and meio-faunal organisms affect mineralization using the apparent mineralization rate (AMR), i.e., nitrate production, as a proxy. Tryptone, mesocosm detritus, and fishmeal were used as organic substrates (C:N ratios 4-8). Harpacticoid copepods dominated the meiofauna in numbers (87%) and biomass (90%). AMR was inversely related to meiofaunal mass and not related to ciliate density. Through grazing, 1 g meiofaunal dry mass·m-2 reduced the AMR of tryptone by 42%, of detritus by 9.4%, and of fishmeal by 2.7%. Particle size affected the effect of meiofauna, whereas the C:N ratio affected the AMR. The scarcity of nematodes, which are known to stimulate mineralization, may explain these results. Copepod-dominated meiofauna decrease nutrient regeneration rates in heterotrophic habitats when C:.
Lack of correlation between constitutive and induced resistance to a herbivore in crucifer plants: real or flawed by experimental methods?

The correlation between constitutive and induced resistance to herbivores in plants has long been of interest to evolutionary biologists, and various approaches to determining levels of resistance have been used in this field of research. In this study, we examined the relationship between constitutive and induced resistance to the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), in 11 closely related species of wild crucifers. We assessed the survival, development, and reproduction of the test insects and calculated their intrinsic rate of increase as an indicator of constitutive and induced resistance for the plants. We used larvae of P. xylostella and jasmonic acid as elicitors of the induced response. We failed to find a correlation between constitutive and induced resistance in these crucifer plants when the induction of resistance was initiated by either herbivory or jasmonic acid application. Analysis of the results suggests that the failure to detect a relationship between the two types of resistance could be caused by flaws in measuring constitutive resistance, which was apparently confounded with induced resistance. We discuss the difficulties and pitfalls in measuring constitutive resistance and ways to improve the methodology in investigating the relationships between constitutive and induced resistance in plants.
Durch Cobboldina longicauda spec. noy. bedingte Papillome und Ulcera im Magen des Klippschliefers (Procavia abessinica)

Zusammenfassung Bericht uber 3 Klippschliefer, in deren Pars oesophagea papillomatose Wucherungen mit Hyper- und Parakeratose aufgetreten sind, bedingt durch Befall mit Cobboldina longicauda spec. nova, deren Morphologie naher beschrieben wird. Summary Papillomas and ulcers in the stomach of the Hyrax (Procavia abessinica) The authors report papillomatous proliferations with hyperceratosis and paraceratosis in the oesophageal area of the stomach in three Hyrax, caused by Cobboldina longicauda spec. nov., the morphology of which is described. Resume Papillomes et ulceres gastriques provoques chez le daman de Syrie par Cobbildina longicauda spec, nova Les auteurs rapportent une lesion trouvee chez 3 damans de Syrie (Procavia abessinica) dans la pars oesophagea de l'estomac, qui presentait des proliferations papillomateuses avec hyper- et parakeratose provoquees par Cobboldina longicauda spec. nov, dont ils donnent une description morphologique. Resumen Papilomas y alceras en el estomago del procavia abisinio (Procavia abessinica) ocasionados por Cobboldina longicauda spec. nova Se informa sobre tres procavias abisinios, en cuyas partes esofagicas aparecieron cada vez proliferaciones papilomatosas con hiper y paraqueratosis, motivadas por una infestacion con Cobboldina longicauda spec. nova, cuya morfologia se describe en detalle.
Osmotic priming of seeds of crop species with polyethylene glycol as a means of enhancing early and synchronous germination at cool temperatures

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions can be used to promote early and synchronous germination of seeds at cool temperatures. The determination of optimum priming levels is an essential prelude to proposed field trials. Priming with solutions of PEG (all at 10 °C) at −10 bars (1 bar = 100 kPa) for 6 days for maize, −10 bars for 2 days for wheat and barley, −10 bars for 1 day for sorghum, and −5 bars for 6 days for soybean has the maximum promotive effect. Air-drying of primed seeds reduces the advantages gained by priming; the longer the period of drying the greater the reduction.
Electrical Performance Study of Colored c-Si Building-Integrated PV Modules

Digital ceramic printing on glass is explored as a solution to “camouflage” crystalline silicon-based solar cells in order to improve the visual appearance of c-Si PV modules for building-integrated photovoltaics; however, printing on the front glass reduces the light transmittance and, thus, affects the module performance. By combining experiments and regression modeling, we quantify the effect of six different colors with varying print opacities on module electrical parameters under standard test conditions. Our experimental results reveal that print opacity and color have a significant detrimental impact on the module short-circuit current (<italic>I</italic><sub>sc</sub>) and maximum module power (<italic>P</italic><sub>mpp</sub>), but minimally affects the module open-circuit voltage (<italic>V</italic><sub>oc</sub>) and fill factor (FF). Taking black print with 100% opacity as an example, the monochromatic module shows 75% <italic>I</italic><sub>sc</sub>-loss, 74% <italic>P</italic><sub>mpp</sub>-loss, 6% <italic>V</italic><sub>oc</sub>-loss, and 5% FF-gain compared to a nonprinted glass. Furthermore, it is observed that at any given print opacity, black print results in the highest performance loss, whereas blue print shows the lowest loss. Our regression analysis shows that the effect of print opacity on module-<italic>I</italic><sub>sc</sub> is color dependent. The fitted regression models for the six colors under study are able to predict the <italic>I</italic><sub>sc</sub>-loss for any given opacity level with a root mean square error of less than 1%.
Habitat Use by Wild Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in a Transition Zone Environment

Abstract Animals should use habitats that increase their chances of survival and reproductive output; thus, information on habitat use can be useful both from an ecological and a conservation perspective. Using global positioning system tracking collars, we studied habitat use by a pair of Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolves) living in a cerrado–Atlantic forest transition zone in Brazil. During our study, the female had a litter of pups, and we were able to evaluate how reproduction affected habitat use. To investigate habitat use, we mapped our telemetry fixes onto vegetational and geographical data obtained from satellite images of our study site. We investigated habitat use by maned wolves in relation to vegetation and land cover, proximity to buildings, proximity to roads, elevation, and distance to water sources. Maned wolves showed a strong preference for rocky fields, which are a subhabitat of cerrado, and a strong avoidance of Atlantic rain forest. Maned wolves also were associated significantly and positively with buildings and roads at night, likely because of supplemental feeding and ease of locomotion. Elevation was confounded with habitat type and the location of supplemental feeding; therefore, no firm conclusions could be drawn about this factor. The female remained ≤250 m from water when she was lactating. Although maned wolves can be behaviorally flexible in terms of habitat use, they show a strong preference for open habitats such as cerrado that is especially pronounced during a reproductive phase.
Effects of Prior Anatomy Coursework on Assessment Performance and Study Habits

Students entering health science fields often take multiple human anatomy courses throughout their education, including settings such as high school, community colleges/technical schools, and 4‐year undergraduate universities. Additionally, it is not uncommon for students to retake a human anatomy course during their undergraduate careers if they are not satisfied with their initial performance. While research has shown that final grade performance improves for those retaking the same undergraduate course, it is unclear whether previous anatomy coursework in high school, community college, or other undergraduate university settings confers the same advantage on course performance or influences study methods employed in the course. In other words, students who have had experience in anatomical coursework may have developed effective study approaches before taking a more advanced anatomy course. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of previous human anatomy coursework on lecture and lab exam performance and study habits in an undergraduate human anatomy course at a large state university in Tennessee for the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 academic years (N = 442).
Working capital dynamics

We assess short-run variations in firms’ working capital allocations in light of finding persistence in these allocations in the recent literature. Specifically, we study the extent and speed of mean reversion in firms’ working capital allocations to evaluate if firms tend to follow firm-specific value-maximizing optimal allocations. Furthermore, we assess whether and to what extent firms trade off their working capital to accommodate capital expenditure shocks. While we find frequent inter-temporal offsetting movements in working capital allocations in the short run, we do not find evidence of a systematic trade-off between working capital and fixed asset investments. JEL Classification: G30, G31, G32
Arginylation of ß-Actin Regulates Actin Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility

Posttranslational arginylation is critical for mouse embryogenesis, cardiovascular development, and angiogenesis, but its molecular effects and the identity of proteins arginylated in vivo are unknown. We found that β-actin was arginylated in vivo to regulate actin filament properties, β-actin localization, and lamella formation in motile cells. Arginylation of β-actin apparently represents a critical step in the actin N-terminal processing needed for actin functioning in vivo. Thus, posttranslational arginylation of a single protein target can regulate its intracellular function, inducing global changes on the cellular level, and may contribute to cardiovascular development and angiogenesis.
Salience and social meaning in speech production and perception

Research has shown that phonetic features can index social meaning, yet less is known about whether this phenomenon occurs in the same way in speech production and speech perception. In particular, one of the factors that most seems to affect variables’ capacity for social meaning-making is the notion of salience. This thesis addresses the question of how phonetic variation points to social meaning in speech production and perception and what role salience plays in influencing this process. I investigate these issues using a sociophonetic study of two phonetic variables currently undergoing change in the South of England – /t/-glottalling and GOOSE-fronting – as produced and perceived by adolescents at a state school and a private school in Hampshire, UK. While the former is reported to be highly salient with strong socio-indexical relations, the latter is said not to be very salient and to lack associations with speakers’ social characteristics. The production results show that /t/-glottalling displays macro-sociological variation in the community, while GOOSE-fronting varies between peer groups within the private school. Both features can be used to index stances in interaction, but this effect is much stronger for /t/-glottalling. In perception, listeners were easily able to notice glottal /t/ in auditory stimuli and consistently associated it with a set of related social meanings, yet this was not the case for fronted GOOSE. The findings have implications for our understanding of how the social meanings of phonetic variables are produced and perceived by the same individuals, especially in the contexts of adolescent peer groups at school and social stratification between different types of school. I argue that researchers employing the construct of salience in sociolinguistics should acknowledge the limitations and different dimensions of the concept and operationalise these in their study design.
Adaptation of the STEM Value-Expectancy Assessment Scale to Turkish Culture

This study aimed to obtain a measurement tool in Turkish culture to determine the motivation of university students (pre-service teachers) toward STEM based on the expectancy-value theory. For this purpose, the validity and reliability studies of the Turkish version of the STEM Value-Expectancy Assessment Scale developed by Appianing and Van Eck (2018) were conducted. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was undertaken to check the validity of the scale administered to 196 pre-service science teachers selected by purposeful sampling and Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficients were examined for the reliability evaluation. One item that showed a tendency to be loaded on two factors in CFA was removed and the repeated CFA confirmed a good fit for the two-factor structure as in the original scale. In the reliability analysis, the internal consistency coefficients were calculated as . 87 for the whole scale, . 82 for the perceived value component, and . 82 for the expectations of success in STEM careers component. When the validity and reliability results were evaluated together, it was concluded that the adaptation of the scale to Turkish culture was a measurement tool that has high validity and reliability that could be administered to prospective teachers.