Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing for sub-colony variation in seabird foraging behaviour: ecological and methodological consequences for understanding colonial living

Intraspecific interactions have important roles in shaping foraging behaviours. For colonial species such as seabirds, intense competition for prey around colonies may drive differences in foraging behaviour between age-classes and sexes or lead to individual specialisation. While much research has focussed on understanding these differences in foraging behaviour, few studies have investigated the possibility of sub-colony foraging asymmetries within colonies. Such knowledge could improve our understanding of the ecological processes associated with colonial living. It may also have important methodological implications in studies where the foraging behaviours recorded from individuals in a small number of sub-colonies are assumed to be representative of those from the colony as a whole. Here, we use GPS loggers and stable isotope analysis of red blood cells to test for differences in foraging behaviour among 7 sub-colonies of a large northern gannet Morus bassanus colony over 3 yr. We found no instances of statistically significant differences in foraging behaviour among sub-colonies. Although complimentary in situ observations found similarities among neighbours’ departure directions, these results may be attributable to wind vectors. We therefore conclude that sub-colony foraging asymmetries are either limited or absent in northern gannets. However, given the current lack of knowledge across seabird species, we urge similar studies elsewhere.
Prevalência e fatores associados à infecção pelo vírus da diarréia viral bovina na região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

This study was performed in order to estimate the prevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and to determine the main factors related to the prevalence of the infection in cattle of Santa Vitoria do Palmar and Chui counties, in Rio Grande do Sul State. Sera were submitted to the serum neutralization test and an epidemiological questionnaire was filled out in each herd to investigate variables that could be associated with this infection. The sera samples were collected in 85 farms, with or without clinical signs of BVDV infection. From 1.734 serum samples examined, 1.150 (66.32%) in 70 (82.35%) herds were positive. Variables that were identified as risk factors to seropositivity were mixed (dairy and beef) herds, extensive production, use of mechanical milking, use of artificial insemination or artificial insemination associated with natural service, use of the maternity unit at calving and absence of veterinarian assistance (P<0.05). The results demonstrate the expressive dissemination of the BVDV in cattle of this region in Rio Grande do Sul
Descriptive statistics and the pattern of horse racing in New Zealand. 2. Harness racing

The aim of the present study was to describe the pattern of pacing and trotting races and starts, including temporal trends, in Harness racing in New Zealand. Data on all race starts between 1 August 2005 and 31 July 2010 were supplied by Harness Racing New Zealand. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data at both race and starts level, stratified by pacing and trotting races. In total, 78% of races run were pacing races and most races occurred in the Southern region. The start type varied by race, with most pacing races run with mobile starts and trotting races with standing starts. Regardless of race type most races were run on all-weather tracks and were run in the summer or autumn. There was little change in the median number of starts per horse over time and the median number of starters per trainer per year was 16 (interquartile range 7–35, max. 612) and 12 (interquartile range 5–24, max. 235) for pacing and trotting races, respectively. Differences in track surfaces, gait, region and drivers between the Standardbred and the Thoroughbred industry suggests a need for data specific to the Harness racing industry in New Zealand. This study provided baseline data on the pattern of Standardbred racing and highlighted factors unique to the Harness racing industry in New Zealand.
Productivity under Shade and Different Nutrient Solution of Hydroponic Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. BR.)

Commercialization of watercress in the Sierra Norte mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico principally relies on harvesting plants growing on riverbanks; however, semi-intensive cultivation throughout the year could be established as an alternative for the region. With this as an objective, the present study was carried out using the laminar flow of nutrients technique to evaluate four solutions of different macronutrients and four shade percentages. Treatment distribution was formulated according to a bifactorial arrangement. Four harvest periods were employed, in April, June, September, and November of 2010. Yields and vegetative growth of watercress decreased linearly with increasing shade levels. The best results were obtained with a nutrient solution using an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.90 dS m−1. Shade cloth percentages higher than 10% caused a significant decrease in total cycle production; the use of shade cloth is not recommended during seasons with low incident radiation.
Clonal structure and fertility in a sympatric population of the peat mosses, Sphagnum rubellum and S. capillifolium.

Data from isozyme and leaf shape variation are combined to explore the clonal structure at a site where hybridization between Sphagnum rubellum and Sphagnum capillifolium was previously indicated. Shoots of both species were sampled at 10-cm intervals along seven transects across different hummocks. Allelic data from 13 enzyme systems revealed 22 multilocus genotypes representing different clones, 18 being S. capillifolium and 4 being S. rubellum. The mean ± SE and maximum clonal length were 35 ± 8 cm and 160 cm, respectively. The sets of alleles found in the progeny of S. capillifolium were identical to the maternal complement of alleles in 78% of the material, indicating either self-fertilization or fertilization by a male with the same set of alleles at the screened loci. Outcrossing was detected in six cases. Patterns of differentiation and the hierarchical structuring of diversity among species, transects, and clones were analysed with canonical variates analysis using stem-leaf characters. A stronge.
The ovulation and activation of primary and secondary oocytes in LT/Sv strain mice

Eggs were isolated from the oviducts or ovaries of LT/Sv strain mice in order to investigate the pathways taken by them following spontaneous or induced parthenogenetic activation. The chromosome preparations from the ovarian oocytes that matured in vitro to metaphase I were all morphologically normal. Of 42 recently ovulated eggs that failed to activate parthenogenetically in culture, 57% on nuclear densitometric analysis were found to have the normal 2C amount of DNA, and 1N (haploid) number of chromosomes present, and were arrested at metaphase II. Somewhat unexpectedly, 43% had a 4C amount of DNA, and 2N (diploid) number of chromosomes present, had been arrested at metaphase I, and were evidently ovulated as primary oocytes. Following parthenogenetic activation, the majority of oocytes extruded a polar body and developed a single pronucleus. The activated eggs could be divided into two sub-populations according to the diameter (and therefore volume) of the pronucleus—in one group this was about one-third greater than in the other. The chromosome constitution of the two groups was determined separately at the first cleavage mitosis. Those with a normal-sized pronucleus were invariably haploid, while those with an enlarged pronuclear volume were invariably found to be diploid. The chromosomes in the diploid spreads often appeared to be associated in homologous pairs. We conclude that almost uniquely in LT/Sv strain females eggs may be activated parthenogenetically at either stage of meiotic maturation giving rise to diploid or haploid embryos, respectively.
A Morphometric Analysis of the Sorex cinereus Group in Central and Eastern North America

Canonical-variate analysis of cranial variables and analysis of qualitative skull characters of shrews of the Sorex cinereus group were undertaken to elucidate relationships and to study geographic variation. Results of these analyses support separation of Sorex haydeni and S. cinereus as independent species, but do not support specific status for other taxa studied. Contiguously distributed taxa, cinereus, fontinalis, lesueurii , and ohionensis , constitute a group of morphologically overlapping forms; the allopatric milleri is somewhat peripheral, yet morphologically similar to cinereus . Geographic variation is characterized by existence of a larger form with a longer rostrum in the north ( cinereus ) and smaller forms with shorter rostra in the south ( fontinalis, lesueurii ). Ohio populations are transitional between cinereus and lesueurii , therefore ohionensis may not represent a valid subspecies. Sorex milleri apparently represents a relict population of S. cinereus and may not have attained specific status.
Effect of the heat-induced whey proteins/κ-casein complex on the acid gelation of yak milk

The effect of the heat-induced whey proteins/κ-casein complex on the acid gelation of yak milk was investigated. Both soluble whey protein/κ-casein complexes and the surface as micelle-bound complexes change the rheological properties of yoghurt. However, the soluble whey protein/κ-casein complexes were predominant in increasing the storage modulus (G′), water-holding capacity and firmness of acid gelation than micelle-bound complexes. The water-holding capacity and firmness increased with the increase of the amount of the soluble whey protein/κ-casein complexes. The water holding capacity and firmness of yoghurt from heated yak milk at pH 7.0 was higher than that at pH 6.6 and pH 7.4. The result also indicated that the amount of soluble heat-induced whey protein/κ-casein complexes were predominant in increasing the water holding capacity and firmness of yoghurt than the micelle-bound protein complexes.
A groundwater quality survey of an unsewered, semi‐rural area

Abstract A baseline groundwater quality survey of 120 household wells in an unsewered area at Yaldhurst, near Christchurch, was carried out between September and December, 1976. Ammonia‐N levels were below the detection limit (0.02 g m‐3) in all samples. Nitrate‐N, conductivity, and chloride levels tended to vary according to well depth and location, being lower in the deeper wells and in wells located in an area of shallow, stony soils. Approximately 33% of the wells contained coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria or faecal streptococci. A subset of 25 wells was sampled fortnightly from January to August 1977. From January to June, mean nitrate‐N and conductivity levels remained stable at approximately 1.5 g m‐3 and 11.2 mS m‐1 respectively. An increase in these levels to 3.3 g m‐3 and 15.8 mS m‐1 in July‐August corresponded with a rise in the water table. Leaching losses from soils probably accounted for most of the nitrate entering the Yaldhurst aquifers, the contribution by septic tank systems b.
Empirical Study of the Impact of Brand Name on Market Performance through Sustainable Competitive Advantage and Brand Loyalty as Moderator in Pakistani Context

This research examined the impact of sustainability based marketing asset (e.g., brand name) on market performance through the sustainable competitive advantage and with the moderating effect of brand loyalty. The data was collected from 360 respondents who were customers of hotels/restaurants, on likert scale from 1= strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree that was used to empirically test the hypotheses. Primarily the current research is carried out to know the relationship among the brand name, brand loyalty, sustainable competitive advantage and market performance in Pakistani hotel/restaurants industry. The current research is conducted through questionnaire-based survey from individuals who were the customers of hotel/restaurants in Pakistan. Structural equation modeling technique is adopted through AMOS version 23. The results of the research show that sustainable competitive advantage partially mediates the relationship between brand name and market performance and brand loyalty moderates the relationship between sustainable competitive advantage and market performance. The results of this research are beneficial for the service industry and help the marketers in formulating their marketing strategies to attract the more and more customers toward service industry. In addition, according to researcher knowledge sustainable competitive advantage was not studied as a mediator between sustainability-based marketing asset (e.g., brand name) and market performance and brand loyalty as a moderator between sustainable competitive advantage and market performance before this study.
Corn Gluten Meal as an Alternative Weed Control Option for Spring-Transplanted Onions

Abstract Successful screening of suitable onion (Allium cepa L.) varieties, viable production areas, and potential marketing options suggest that onions are a potential alternative crop for Oklahoma and northeast Texas. Unfortunately, onion's slow growth rate, short height, non-branching plant structure, low leaf area, and shallow root system can result in a total loss of marketable yields as a result of weed competition. Field research was conducted in 2002 and 2003 in southeast Oklahoma (Lane, OK) to determine the weed control efficacy of selected preemergent synthetic herbicides and corn gluten meal (CGM) for use in spring-transplanted onion cv. Hybrid Yellow Granex PRR, production. There were 21 treatments [12 synthetic herbicide treatments, 5 CGM application rates, a full-season weed-free (hand-weeded) treatment, a full-season weedy-check, a partial-season weed-free (weed-free for the first half of the growing season), and a weedy-check without onions]. Weed cover and weed control ratings were collected at 46 days after planting (DAP) and at harvest. The synthetic herbicide treatments resulted in significantly greater weed control at 46 DAP and harvest compared to all CGM application rates. The highest CGM rate (4,000 kg·ha−1) did maintain fair, 72.1%, total weed control and good, 82.7%, broadleaf weed control until 46 DAP. Among the synthetic herbicides, pendimethalin provided the best early and full season weed control.
Hybrid syndrome‐induced postzygotic reproductive isolation: A second reproduction barrier in Chironomus thummi (Diptera, Chironomidae)

The frequency of the occurrence of hybrids between Chironomus thummi thummi and Chironomus thummi piger is estimated to be 0.047% in the wild. The rare hybridization events are the consequence of the sexual isolation mechanism of different swarming behavior of thummi and piger. Under laboratory conditions hybrids are easily obtained. The reciprocal hybrids show two different dysgenesis syndromes depending on the direction of crosses. The Rud syndrome reduces the number of fertile thummi (f) x piger (m) hybrids to less than 2% by rudimentary gonads, and the HLE syndrome the number of fertile piger (f) x thummi (m) hybrids to 12% by a reduction of the hatching frequency of the hybrid larvae. The overall frequency of the occurrence of hybrids in the wild that are able to reproduce is estimated to be 0.0033%. In backcrosses of the hybrids with the parental strains a further fertility reduction of 40% occurs. Thus, the two syndromes operate postzygoticaly as an effective second reproductive isolation mechanism that evolved most probably as an important prerequisite of speciation. Zusammenfassung Hybridsyndrom bedingte postzygotische reproduktive Isolation als eine weitere Fortpflanzungsbarriere bei Chironomus thummi (Diptera, Chironomidae) Unterartbastarde zwischen Chironomus th. thummi und Ch. thummi piger treten in der Natur in einer Hafigkeit von 0,047% auf. Die seltenen Hybridisierungsereignisse sind Folge eines bereits beschriebenen reproduktiven Isolationsmechanismus, dem ein unterschiedliches Schwarmverhalten der Unterarten zugrunde liegt. Hybridisierungen gelingen im Labor ohne Schwierigkeiten. Die reziproken Bastarde sind von zwei verschiedenen Schadigungssyndromen betroffen, wobei jedes Syndrom jeweils nur in einer Kreuzungsrichtung auftritt. Das Rud Syndrom reduziert die Zahl der fortpflanzungsfahigen thummi (f) x piger (m) Bastarde durch rudimentare Gonadenentwicklung auf weniger als 2%, das HLE Syndrome vermindert infolge geringen Eischlupfes die piger (f) x thummi (m) Bastarde auf 12%. Insgesamt sind nur 7% der Bastarde reproduktionsfahig. Die Haufigkeit der im Freiland auftretenden, fortpflanzungsfahigen Bastarde betragt somit 0,0033%. Nach Ruckkreuzung der Bastarde mit den Elternstammen sind weitere 40% der Nachkonnen syndromgeschadigt und unfruchtbar. Die Syndrome reprasentieren somit einen zweiten, postzygotischen Mechanismus der reproduktiven Isolation, der sich vermutlich als wichtige Voraussetzung fur die Speziesbildung evolviert hat.
Timing of treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy era

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a potentially lethal disease and radical cystectomy (RC) remains the gold standard for its treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by RC can improve OS and is currently approved by international guidelines. In the setting of patients undergoing primary RC, several studies have shown that a delay from the time of diagnosis to surgery greater than 3 months could negatively impact oncological outcomes. It remains to be determined how timing impact patients undergoing NAC. Time to initiation of NAC represents an important time course which is poorly reported; two studies investigating it failed to demonstrate an association between delay of NAC and prognosis. After the completion of chemotherapy, there is no clear indication on how much recovery time is needed before performing surgery and how much delay is acceptable without affecting oncological outcomes. Single-center experiences suggest that surgery could be safely delayed up to approximately 10 weeks or that earlier RC does not affect perioperative morbidity. However, these results could not be reproduced by population-based studies. Even though lacking of evidence, is it not wise to reduce delays between each step in the treatment
Microhabitat selection and seasonality of alpine invertebrates

Summary Microhabitat selection is important for invertebrates in both summer and winter, but has not been investigated extensively in alpine terrestrial communities. We investigated the factors affecting microhabitat selection by alpine invertebrates in a system of rock slab pavement on the Rock and Pillar Range, Central Otago, New Zealand. We found fewer individuals of most groups under the 379 rocks re-examined during the winter. Logistic regression was used to model the presence of the cockroach Celatoblatta quinquemaculata (Dictyoptera: Blattidae); the alpine weta Hemideina maori (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae); and the spider Neoramia childi (Aranea: Agelenidae). We found that rock refuge size and season were extremely important in determining presence of all of these species, and that both abiotic and biotic aspects of rock microhabitat were necessary to describe occupancy. We also found clear evidence of biological interactions between the three species modelled. The marked decrease in under-rock occupancy by C. quinquemaculata in the winter is hypothesised to be a result of selection of alternative (non-rock) microhabitats
Complete thymectomy for myasthenia gravis

The therapeutic value of transsternal extended thymectomy for patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) has been determined by the results of the Myasthenia Gravis Thymectomy Trial (MGTX). The most crucial point of thymectomy lies in the completeness of the resection with the thymus, mediastinal fat, lower cervical fat and thymoma (if any), the more complete the resection the better neurological outcome. In clinical practice, the minimally invasive approaches for thymectomy have become a “usual” approach for thymectomy in many centers worldwide. Robotic thymectomy, as the latest advance in minimally invasive thymectomy, has gained much popularity and has been regarded as a promising approach for MG patients with encouraging neurological outcomes. Although several approaches for robotic thymectomy have been described, the authors recommend a unilateral approach from the left side with 3 trocars only for most of the cases, this is for several anatomical reasons, e.g., access to the common anatomical locations with ectopic thymic tissues; dissection of the upper poles and thymic veins; atypical anatomy of the left thymic main lobe, visualization of the contralateral phrenic nerve favor this technique. Herein, the authors describe the left-sided robotic extended thymectomy for MG patients in detail including patient selection and workup, preoperative preparation, equipment preference cart, procedure and tips, tricks and pitfalls.
Magnetic resonance image (MRI) synthesis from brain computed tomography (CT) images based on deep learning methods for magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiotherapy.

Background Precise patient setup is critical in radiation therapy. Medical imaging plays an essential role in patient setup. As compared to computed tomography (CT) images, magnetic resonance image (MRI) has high contrast for soft tissues, which becomes a promising imaging modality during treatment. In this paper, we proposed a method to synthesize brain MRI images from corresponding planning CT (pCT) images. The synthetic MRI (sMRI) images can be used to align with positioning MRI (pMRI) equipped by an MRI-guided accelerator to account for the disadvantages of multi-modality image registration. Methods Several deep learning network models were applied to implement this brain MRI synthesis task, including CycleGAN, Pix2Pix model, and U-Net. We evaluated these methods using several metrics, including mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), structural similarity index (SSIM), and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). Results In our experiments, U-Net with L1+L2 loss achieved the best results with the lowest overall average MAE of 74.19 and MSE of 1.035*104, respectively, and produced the highest SSIM of 0.9440 and PSNR of 32.44. Conclusions Quantitative comparisons suggest that the performance of U-Net, a supervised deep learning method, is better than the performance of CycleGAN, a typical unsupervised method, in our brain MRI synthesis procedure. The proposed method can convert pCT/pMRI multi-modality registration into mono-modality registration, which can be used to reduce registration error and achieve a more accurate patient setup.