Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperbolic Endomorphisms of Free Groups

We prove that ascending HNN extensions of free groups are word-hyperbolic if and only if they have no Baumslag-Solitar subgroups. This extends Brinkmann’s theorem that free-by-cyclic groups are word-hyperbolic if and only if they have no Z subgroups. To get started on our main theorem, we first prove a structure theorem for injective but nonsurjective endomorphisms of free groups. With the decomposition of the free group given by this structure theorem, we (more or less) construct representatives for nonsurjective endomorphisms that are expanding immersions relative to a homotopy equivalence. This structure theorem initializes the development of (relative) train track theory for nonsurjective endomorphisms. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my family and friends for the love and support they have always showered me with, especially in the last few years of graduate school. Mom and dad, thank you for believing in me and my dream to be a mathematician. This dissertation would not have been possible without the guidance of my advisor Matt Clay. Matter of fact, the main sources I used in this dissertation (the appendices) were the first three readings we did together! There have been so many moments when I have doubted myself and he has always been understanding and encouraging. I would also like to thank the rest of my committee: Matt Day and Yo’av Rieck. They have all introduced me to so much interesting mathematics that will fuel my research for the rest of my career. In addition to my committee, I am grateful to Ilya Kapovich and Derrick Wigglesworth for the long conversations we had on the subject of my dissertation; I had a lot of outlandish ideas and their patient probing helped me hone in on the not-wrong ones. Finally, I thank my department — it goes without saying that I would not be where I am today without their support.
Does equalization of family sizes reduce genetic adaptation to captivity?

Genetic adaptation to captive environments is likely to reduce the reproductive fitness of endangered species when they are reintroduced into natural environments. Equalization of family sizes is predicted to halve genetic adaptation to captivity as it removes selection among families and is recommended in captive management of threatened species. This prediction was evaluated by comparing the reproductive fitnesses of replicate populations of Drosophila maintained using either equal (EFS) or variable family sizes (VFS) for 25 generations in captivity under uncrowded conditions on a medium containing CuSO4. After 25 generations, EFS populations produced 8.8% more offspring per pair than their outbred base population on CuSO4 medium, while VFS produced 17.5% more. Consequently, the rate of genetic adaptation to captivity in EFS was about half that in VFS, as predicted. In simulated ‘wild’ conditions (crowded, competitive conditions on medium lacking CuSO4), both treatments showed much lower reproductive fitness than their outbred base population, the reductions being 38% in EFS populations and 43% in VFS populations. Surprisingly, reproductive fitness of the two treatments did not differ significantly under these conditions. These results raise doubts about the ability of equalization of family sizes to reduce genetic deterioration that adversely affects reintroduction success for captive populations of endangered species.
Nerve Growth Factor Inhibits Na /H Exchange and HCO Absorption through Parallel Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-mTOR and ERK Pathways in Thick Ascending Limb *

In the medullary thick ascending limb, inhibiting the basolateral NHE1 Na (cid:1) /H (cid:1) exchanger with nerve growth factor (NGF) induces actin cytoskeleton remodeling that secondarily inhibits apical NHE3 and transepithelial HCO 3 (cid:2) absorption. The inhibition by NGF is mediated 50% through activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Here we examined the signaling pathway responsible for the remainder of the NGF-induced inhibition. Inhibition of HCO 3 (cid:2) absorption was reduced 45% by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors wortmannin or LY294002 and 50% by rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a downstream effector of PI3K. The combination of a PI3K inhibitor plus rapamy-cindidnotcauseafurtherreductionintheinhibitionbyNGF.In contrast, the combination of a PI3K inhibitor plus the MEK/ ERK inhibitor U0126 completely eliminated inhibition by NGF. Rapamycin decreased NGF-induced inhibition of basolateral NHE1 by 45%. NGF induced a 2-fold increase in phosphorylation of Akt, a PI3K target linked to mTOR activation, and a 2.2-fold increase in the activity of p70 S6 The present study was designed to identify the signaling pathway responsible for the remainder of NGF-induced inhibition of NHE1 and HCO 3 (cid:2) absorption in the MTAL. We show that NGF decreases HCO 3 (cid:2) absorption through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent signaling pathway that functions in parallel with ERK to inhibit NHE1. These studies identify a previously unrecognized role for mTOR in regulating Na (cid:1) /H (cid:1) exchange activity and the absorptive function of renal tubules. The results implicate NHE1 as a possible downstream effector contributing to mTOR’s effects on cell growth, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. sium acetate/ATP mixture, and 10 (cid:2) Ci of [ (cid:4) - 32 P]ATP. Sample aliquots (25 (cid:2) l) were onto phosphocellulose The was 5 with 0.75% phosphoric acid and 1 time with acetone, and phosphorylated substrate was quantified by liquid scintillation counting. Results were cor-rected for background determined in each experiment by a negative control assay in which endogenous peptide substrate from Experimental values are a in the same experiment. Equal amounts of S6K in immunoprecipitates were verified within experiments by immunoblotting. We that reproduce accurately changes in the MTAL (19, 21, 23,
Sites and patterns of protein and amino acid utilization during the spawning migration of salmon.

Some aspects of the biochemistry of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchns nerka) were investigated during spawning migration in the Fraser River, B.C. Studies included measurements of the activities of metabolic enzymes, protein content, and free amino acid concentrations in various tissues. In white muscle, soluble and insoluble protein decreased by 70% during migration and the activities of most of the enzymes studied showed a similar pattern. In contrast, the activities of cathepsin D (EC 3.4.23.5) and carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.12A.1) increased considerably, whereas the activities of alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) and malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) were unchanged during migration. In red muscle and heart there was little change in either protein levels or enzyme activities, with the exception of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.4), which increased threefold to sixfold. In liver, the activities of metabolic enzymes and the levels of soluble protein decreased, whereas proteolytic enzyme activities .
The Stata Journal

In this paper, I show how to estimate the parameters of the beta-binomial distribution and its multivariate generalization, the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution. This approach involves no additional programming, as it relies on an existing Stata command used for overdispersed count panel data. Including covariates to allow for regression models based in these distributions is straightforward. function used to estimate the parameters of the ﬁxed-eﬀect negative binomial model ( FENB ) follows the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution. The practical implication of this observation is that the command xtnbreg (with the fe option) can be readily used to estimate the parameters of the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution and, more importantly, of its univariate counterpart, the beta-binomial distribution. I illustrate the use of xtnbreg for this purpose by replicating some of the examples that are published in the literature. I also brieﬂy discuss how to include covariates and how to implement a likelihood-ratio test for overdispersion.
Edaphic and Floristic Variation within a 1‐ha Plot of Lowland Amazonian Rain Forest 1

Several studies in lowland tropical rain forests have documented effects of local‐scale topographic variation on plant species distribution and abundance patterns. Few studies have compared the distribution patterns of more than one plant group, however, and even fewer have related these to measured physical and chemical soil characteristics. Here, we document such soil characteristics within a square 1‐ha plot in Amazonian Ecuador, and compare them to the distribution patterns of terrestrial pteridophytes, angiosperm ground herbs, and palms. Substantial variation in soil properties was found within the plot. The three plant groups showed highly correlated floristic patterns within the 1‐ha plot even after the effect of geographical distances had been taken into account. Mantel tests yielded significant correlations between edaphic patterns, as measured by distances in various soil and topographic characteristics, and floristic patterns. For all three plant groups, differences in elevation within the plot were highly correlated with floristic distances, and for terrestrial pteridophytes and palms, distances in soil calcium content and sand content were also important. Our results resembled those obtained at wider spatial scales with the same plant groups, which indicates that soil factors may play an important role for distribution and beta diversity of plants, even at the local scale.
Within-Field Spatial Structure of Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Populations in New Brunswick

Abstract The objective of this project was to quantify the spatial structure for the Colorado potato beetle in a northern region. The study was carried out in 15 sections of 10 ha of commercial potato fields and six 1-ha experimental fields in New Brunswick between 1999 and 2001 using a 20 by 20-m sampling grid. The sampling sites occupied by adults, expressed as a percentage of sites available for colonization at even distances from the nearest field border, tended to be distributed uniformly across the field area. The study confirmed the applicability of the curvilinear relation between beetle incidence and mean density per sample to Canadian insect populations. A significantly larger proportion of the postdiapausing and prediapausing adult potato beetles was found nearest field borders. This larger proportion of adults was shown to result largely from the greater number of sites (or plants) available for colonization at the outside perimeter of fields than at any other distance within the fields but also from an accumulation or redistribution of a small percentage of the adults to the first 0–20 m of the crop along a field border. The ability of the adult potato beetles to extend their presence over most of the field area at the very beginning of the crop season, when their abundance is low, limits the value of perimeter control methods against this pest. However, accumulation of individuals around the perimeter does justify their use for larger fields and if control measures are applied up to 20–40 m from the edge. Spatial dependency was present in only 1–7% of the monitoring dates and explained between 0 and 68% of the variation. The generation of distribution maps for site-specific management of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), does not seem to be a practical alternative to existing sampling programs.
Teaching psychology through English: Incidental improvement in academic reading comprehension

Teaching academic material through English as a foreign language presents additional challenges for the students, but also additional benefits. I report on a module of medical psychology taught in English to Ecuadorian university students whose first language is Spanish. Comparisons of pre and post module reading comprehension scores showed that there was large and statistically significant improvement in reading comprehension. However, ratings of confidence in comprehension remained unchanged. The improvement in scores represents an example of incidental learning, as the module was focused entirely on content and did not include any teaching of English as a foreign language. I conclude that teaching with only academic journal articles is possible. In addition, incidental improvements in reading comprehension may present additional benefits of this approach.
Pollination of the Endangered Arizona Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus arizonicus)

Abstract I studied pollination of the Arizona hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus arizonicus), an endangered plant species occurring in the Superstition Mountains, Arizona, in order to identify the pollinators of the species, determine whether the species is self-incompatible or pollen-limited, and evaluate whether individuals transplanted to make way for habitat disturbance continue to receive pollination. The flowers of E. arizonicus are large, bright red, and cup-shaped. Important flower visitors included hummingbirds and native halictid bees. Flower visitor guilds were similar between the wild population and the transplanted individuals (located in the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Pinal County, Arizona), although the Arboretum is located at a low elevation and supports much higher abundances of flowering plants and pollinators than occur in the wild sites. Pollination treatments indicated E. arizonicus is highly self-incompatible but not pollen-limited and hummingbird visitation is relatively more important to seed set than is insect visitation but both contribute to total seed counts.
The Effects of Enhanced Regulatory Oversight of Banks on Borrower Performance

We examine whether increased regulatory oversight of banks affects borrower performance by incentivizing banks to more closely monitor their existing borrowers. We exploit a shock that exogenously increased regulatory oversight of some banks while leaving regulatory oversight unchanged for other banks. Using multiple difference-in-differences designs, we document an increase in borrowers’ performance after their banks are subject to greater regulatory oversight. These effects vary predictably based on borrower and loan characteristics that capture intensity of bank monitoring. Our findings suggest enhanced regulatory oversight of banks can have a meaningful spillover effect on bank monitoring of existing borrowers.
Monthly Variations in Gross Composition of California Herd Milks

Abstract Data on the gross composition of herd milks were collected over 14 mo. Fifteen herds (five Jersey, four Guernsey, five Holstein, and one Shorthorn) from California's San Joaquin Valley were studied. An Infrared Milk Analyzer was used to determine fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat in samples collected daily from farm tanks. Monthly variations were parallel for fat and protein concentrations in the milk from all breeds, winter milk containing more than summer milk. Monthly variations for lactose concentration were not as great as for fat and protein, with winter milk containing less than summer milk. Annual means for each component by breed did not differ from Illinois data collected 30 yr ago over 12 mo except for fat in Guernsey milk, which was . 5% lower. Monthly variations in gross composition was the same in California as in Illinois. However, there appear to be differences from gross composition in 12 mo studies in South Dakota and North Carolina and for a shorter study in Pennsylvania.
Intercultural Communicative Competence in English Language Teaching in Kazakhstan.

In recent years, the significance of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) development has been widely recognised in foreign language education, with language teachers expected to encourage the development of ICC in their learners. The current study aims to investigate how Kazakhstani EFL (English as a foreign language) teachers from English-medium schools perceive ICC and to what extent their beliefs are integrated and reflected in their reported teaching practices. Employing a questionnaire, qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 103 EFL teachers. The findings reveal that the teachers are aware of the concept of ICC and the role of teaching interculturally oriented objectives. However, the implementation of these has not yet been integrated on a regular basis in their actual teaching and thus requires greater support and promotion.
DNA profiling among egg and beef meat isolates of Escherichia coli by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR (ERIC-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR)

Forty three (n=43) genomic DNA of Escherichia coli (11 isolates from eggs and 32 isolates from imported beef meats) were characterized by shiga toxin 1 (stx1), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR (ERIC-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) analyses. In the shiga toxin 1 (stx1) gene detection with primer stx 1F (5'-TTCTTCGGTATCCTATTCCC-3') and stx 1R (5'- CTGTCACAGTAACAACCGT-3'), 9 E. coli of beef meats isolates were positive toward sxt1 gene. The results of the ERIC-PCR and RAPD-PCR were analyzed using GelCompar II software. ERIC-PCR with primer ERIC1 (5'-CACTTAGGGGTCCTCGAATGTA -3') and ERIC2 (5'-AAGTAAGTGACTGGGGTGAGCG-3') discriminated the E. coli into 6 clusters and 10 single isolates at 80% similarity. RAPD-PCR with primer Gen8 and Gen9, produced 10 clusters and 15 single isolates and 12 clusters and 14 single isolates of 80%, respectively. These results demonstrated that both ERIC-PCR and RAPD-PCR are useful and suitable tools for molecular typing of those isolates examined.
Fungi associated with the spoilage of berry and their reaction to electromagnetic field

Fungi responsible for the spoilage of some berry, namely pawpaw ( Carica papaya ), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis ), banana ( Musa acuminata ), garden egg ( Solanum melongena ), lemon ( Citrus limoni ), and tangelo ( Citrus tangelo ) with respect to their control using electromagnetic field were investigated. Fungi isolated include the genera of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Articulospora, Gonatobotryum, Varicosporium, Trichoderma, Blastomyces, Fusarium, Pleurothecium and yeast, Saccharomyces . The fungal isolates were treated by exposure to electromagnetic field strength generated at voltage of 7, 10, and 13 V for periods of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min, respectively. Growth of the fungal isolates was inhibited by the electromagnetic field with the inhibitory effect becoming more pronounced with increase in the field intensity and period of exposure. Apparently, healthy fruits were exposed to the highest electromagnetic field generated (13 V) for maximum time of exposure used (60 min). Proximate and mineral analyses of the treated and untreated fruits revealed that electromagnetic field wave has no negative or adverse effects on the nutrient components of the fruits. Therefore, electromagnetic field wave can be used in controlling spoilage fungi, thereby increasing the shelf life of fruits.
Estimation of Crayfish Abundance and Size-structure in Diets of White Ibis Chicks

Abstract We investigated the use of crayfish gastroliths and exoskeleton pieces for quantifying crayfish abundance and size-structure in diets of White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) chicks in the Everglades. We then quantified crayfish and fish abundance from various small hard parts and intact fish heads in 23 boluses, taken from two nesting colonies in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA 3) and Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Lox) in the Florida Everglades during May 2006. We determined that using gastroliths to estimate crayfish numbers in boluses had significant drawbacks; only a small fraction of field-caught crayfish bear gastroliths and the two crayfish species in the Everglades differ in percentage bearing gastroliths. In contrast, counts of crayfish rostrums and chelae pairs gave simple and similar estimates of crayfish in the boluses. The two colonies had strikingly different diets in May 2006; New Colony 3 (Lox) boluses were dominated by crayfish while birds from the Alley North (WCA 3) boluses were fish-dominated and had few crayfish. Using measurements of the crayfish rostrums we determined the size-structure of crayfish found in the diets of the New Colony 3 birds, and determined that the crayfish in the diet were relatively large (mean = 19 mm carapace length) when compared to the available crayfish in the marsh. These crayfish were also large relative to previous reports of crayfish found in White Ibis diets in the Everglades.
Myrmecia Reticulata as a Phycobiont and Free-Living—free-Living Trebouxia— The Problem of Stenocybe Septata

Myrmecia reticulata (Chlorococcales) has hitherto only been reported from three lichen species: Catillaria chalybeia (Tschermak-Woess, 1951), Bacidia nanipara (Zeitler, 1954) and Phlyctis argena (Tschermak-Woess, 1969). It has further been noted in the free-living state by Geitler (1965) who observed it for two successive summers on Aesculus hippocastanum bark moistened by sap exuding from a wound in Schloss Belvedere park, Vienna, and by Tschermak-Woess (in Geitler, 1965) on rock in the Schloss Schonbrunn park. Subsequent observations, reported here, show that this alga is much more frequent than previously assumed. In addition, Trebouxia, one of the most frequently encountered phycobionts, has been definitely found in a free-living state. In conjunction with these studies a question also arose as to whether Stenocybe septata was regularly or facultatively lichenized with Myrmecia reticulata or Trebouxia.
Improving Infant Nutrition through the Market: Experimental Evidence in Ghana

We study the impact of introduction of a new complementary food product for infants into the market on infants’ nutritional status. We conduct experimental sales of the product, Koko-plus, with randomly selected mother-infant pairs every week for half a year in Ghana. We find that the introduction of Koko-plus into the market significantly increases children’s weight. However, the effect is heterogeneous: it is smaller among children whose baseline weight is lower. We investigate the mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity and find that it is associated with access to safe drinking water. If mothers give their children safe drinking water, the sale of Koko-plus significantly increases their children’s weight regardless of their baseline nutrition status. The results imply that the complementary food market works for improving infant nutrition but good sanitary environment is a necessary condition for it.
Plants in constructed wetlands help to treat agricultural processing wastewater

Over the past three decades, wineries in the western United States and sugarcane processing for ethanol in Central and South America have experienced problems related to the treatment and disposal of process wastewater. Both winery and sugarcane (molasses) wastewaters are characterized by large organic loadings that change seasonally and are detrimental to aquatic life. We examined the role of plants for treating these wastewaters in constructed wetlands. In the greenhouse, subsurface-flow flumes with volcanic rock substrates and plants steadily removed approximately 80% of organic-loading oxygen demand from sugarcane process wastewater after about 3 weeks of plant growth; unplanted flumes removed about 30% less. In field studies at two operational wineries, we evaluated the performance of similar-sized, paired, subsurface constructed wetlands with and without plants; while both removed most of the oxygen demand, removal rates in the planted system were slightly greater and significantly different from those of the unplanted system under field conditions.