Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increasing Livestock Consumption and Its Impact on Climate Change Mitigation Targets

The goals of this research were to assess how global meat consumption rates could impact climate change mitigation targets and analyze where and in what form preventing increased consumption patterns will have the greatest affect. During the Paris climate change debates in 2015 (COP21), global leaders agreed to strive towards a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that will keep global temperature rise below 2° Celsius from pre-industrial levels. This will require a reduction in total emissions of 40-70% from 2010 levels by 2050. In 2010, livestock production accounted for 15% of the world’s total GHG emissions. By 2050, there will be an additional 2 billion people on the planet and forecasted livestock production efficiencies alone will not be sufficient to meet climate change mitigation targets. Consumption will have to decrease. Research was conducted in four primary phases: 1) Understanding recent consumption patterns by country, region, and meat type; 2) Forecasting future (2050) consumption patterns; 3) Determining greenhouse gas emissions associated with current (2010) and future (2050) consumption patterns; and 4) Exploring impacts to greenhouse gas emissions of several future behavioral change/prevention scenarios. Log transformed regression analyses indicated a strong relationship between per capita GDP and meat consumption, which enabled meat consumption to be forecasted to 2050 by region and meat type. With population and GDP growth, business-as-usual projections resulted in livestock related emissions increasing by 57% in 2050 (compared to 2010 levels). The future behavioral change/prevention scenarios explored fell into four primary categories: 1) Per capita meat consumption aligning with dietary guidelines in certain high-consuming regions; 2) A 50% decrease in per capita consumption in certain regions, while ensuring dietary guidelines are met in others; 3) A global shift away from beef consumption to poultry; and 4) Global behavioral change and prevention, while ensuring dietary guidelines are met in all regions. The best performing scenario examined a global equitable change and/or prevention in behavior that required a 50% reduction in per capita consumption, but ensured dietary guidelines were met (when needed) by allocating the delta to poultry consumption. This scenario resulted in a 48% reduction in forecasted 2050 livestock emissions, but only an 18% reduction in livestock emissions from 2010 levels. While this is a significant step in the right direction, it is not sufficient to meet the sector’s equitable share of climate change mitigation targets, which would require at least a 40% reduction from 2010 levels. Further research should explore similar meat consumption reductions combined with increases in other protein sources (such as plants, insects, and lab-grown meat) and the widespread adoption of efficient production practices.
Specificity Enhancement in microRNA Target Prediction through Knowledge Discovery

Results are filtered according to p-value thresholds. Machine learning techniques have the potential of alleviating the complexity of knowledge acquisition. This book presents today’s state and development tendencies of machine learning. It is a multi-author book. Taking into account the large amount of knowledge about machine learning and practice presented in the book, it is divided into three major parts: Introduction, Machine Learning Theory and Applications. Part I focuses on the introduction to machine learning. The author also attempts to promote a new design of thinking machines and development philosophy. Considering the growing complexity and serious difficulties of information processing in machine learning, in Part II of the book, the theoretical foundations of machine learning are considered, and they mainly include self-organizing maps (SOMs), clustering, artificial neural networks, nonlinear control, fuzzy system and knowledge-based system (KBS). Part III contains selected applications of various machine learning approaches, from flight delays, network intrusion, immune system, ship design to CT and RNA target prediction. The book will be of interest to industrial engineers and scientists as well as academics who wish to pursue machine learning. The book is intended for both graduate and postgraduate students in fields such as computer science, cybernetics, system sciences, engineering, statistics, and social sciences, and as a reference for software professionals and practitioners.
Effects of contrasting demographic histories on selection at major histocompatibility complex loci in two sympatric species of tuco-tucos (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae)

bij_1358 260.277 To explore the impact of history on selection and genetic structure at functional loci, we compared patterns of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variability in two sympatric species of ctenomyid rodents with different demographic backgrounds. Although Ctenomys talarum has experienced a stable demographic history, Ctenomys australis has undergone a recent demographic expansion. Accordingly, we predicted that MHC allele frequency distributions should be more skewed, differences between coding and noncoding regions should be less pronounced, and evidence of current selection on MHC loci should be reduced in C. australis relative to C. talarum. To test these predictions, we compared variation at the MHC class II DRB and DQA genes with that at multiple neutral markers, including DQA intron 2, the mitochondrial control region, and 8–12 microsatellite loci. These analyses supported the first two of our predictions but indicated that estimates of selection (based on w-values) were greater for C. australis. Further exploration of these data, however, revealed differences in the time frames over which selection appears to have acted on each species, with evidence of contemporary selection on MHC loci being limited to C. talarum. Collectively, these findings indicate that demographic history can substantially influence genetic structure at functional loci and that the effects of history on selection may be temporally complex and dynamic. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99, 260–277. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Ctenomys australis – Ctenomys talarum – expansion – population.
Choreographic Ghosts: Dance and the Revival of Shuffle Along

In 2016, director George C. Wolfe and choreographer Savion Glover created Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, a backstage musical about the 1921 show Shuffle Along, noted for its all-black cast and creative team. Although Wolfe proclaimed dance to be the most important aspect of the original musical, his production does not mention Shuffle Along’s original choreographer, Lawrence Deas, nor does it examine the labor of choreography. These omissions expose how dance on Broadway remains subordinate to other aspects of a musical, thus reproducing racist and sexist logics about embodied performance.
Mammalian evolution and phylogeny from complete mitochondrial genomes : a thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Molecular BioSciences at Massey University

The evolutionary tree of mammals is being resolved quickly. Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences are valuable data for deep mammalian phylogenetic relationships. From this study, the use of long-range PCR followed by short-range PCR and sequencing was proven to be a successful strategy for sequencing complete mt-genomes. This method is more efficient and cheaper than current cloning approaches. This method is also able to avoid most of the nuclear mitochondrial copies. Long branch attraction is a problem confusing the deep mammalian phylogeny. By sequencing complete mt-genomes of key taxa (2 marsupials, 2 bats, a pika, a gymnure, a rodent and a shrew) to break up long branches, this study resolve some ambiguous relationships in mammalian phylogeny. The 8 mammalian mitochondrial DNA sequences from this study give additional support for the 4 groupings (Xenarthrans, Afrotheria, Supraprimates and Laurasiatheria) of placental mammals from current molecular studies. Some of the ambiguous relationships of higher mammalian relationships also get improved resolution. Bats are a monophyletic group but megabats may be paraphyletic. Eulipotyphla is a monophyletic group and deepest in the Laurasiatheria. Rodents are monophyletic and apart from a problem with the tree shrew, are sister to lagomorphs (Glires). With the new gymnure complete mt-DNA available, the aberrant hedgehog mt-genome is returning to its traditional position in the placental tree and joins other Eulipotyphla (mole, shrew). This monophyletic Eulipotyphla is observed for the first time in the mammalian mitochondrial tree. The Erinaceidae (hedgehog and gymnure) and murid rodent seem to be under different processes of evolution and are attracted to the outgroups. By comparing trees without outgroups (unrooted trees) and with outgroups (rooted trees) and by constraining group(s) with unstable positions, the influence of marsupials/platypus outgroups on Erinaceidae and murid rodent can be investigated. The results from this study suggest that there is a long branch attraction problem between marsupials/platypus outgroups and murid rodent and Erinaceidae; the basal postions of Erinaceidae and murid rodent found in previous studies may be long branch attraction artifacts. The resolved mammalian tree will be the basis for further molecular studies for estimating the time of divergence of extant mammalian orders, for the prediction of protein secondary structure, for the processes of transition of nucleotides and amino acids sequences in the tree, etc. Having a resolved mammalian tree is not the end for this research, rather a pivotal step for understanding evolution in molecular level.
In Situ Ruminal Degradation Kinetics of Dry Matter, Crude Protein and Neutral Detergent Fiber of Tropical Ruminant Feedstuffs

The in situ ruminal degradation kinetics of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of nine common ruminant feeds (six concentrate feeds viz. maize grain (MG), groundnut cake (GNC), mustard oil cake (MOC), cotton seed cake (CSC), deoiled rice bran (DORB), wheat bran (WB) and three fodders viz. berseem fodder (BF), maize fodder (MF) and sorghum fodder (SF) was evaluated. Nylon bags with concentrate feeds in quadruplicate were incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h while those having fodders were incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h in two adult rumen fistulated bulls. The non linear model of Orskov and McDonald was used to interpret the data and to arrive at quickly degradable fraction (a), slowly degradable fraction (b), degradation rate (c) and effective degradability (ED) of test feeds. Effective DM degradability was highest in MOC among concentrate feeds and in BF among fodders. Similarly highest effective CP degradability was recorded in MOC and MF in test feed categories. GNC and MF showed highest effective NDF degradability among concentrates and fodders, respectively. It was concluded that DORB, CSC and BF due to their least CP degradability can be incorporated into dairy rations as feeds with higher bypass protein value while MOC and MF due to their higher NDF degradability can be considered as better fibre and energy source for ruminants.
Desert truffles : phylogeny, physiology, distribution and domestication

Hypogeous desert fungi. - Nomenclatural history and Genealogies of Desert Truffles. - Cryptic and new species. - Soil Properties. - Types of Mycorrhizal Association. - Pre-symbiotic interactions between the desert truffle Terfezia boudieri and its host plant Helianthemum sessiliflorum. - Benefits conferred on plants. - Ecology and Distribution of Desert Truffles in Western North America. - The European desert truffles. - Mediterranean Basin: North Africa. - Asian Mediterranean Desert Truffles. - Non mediterranean Asian desert countries. - Ecology and Distribution of Desert Truffles in the Kalahari of southern Africa. - Ecology and Distribution of Desert Truffles in the Australian Outback. - The History of Desert-Truffle Use. - Enzymes in Terfezia claveryi ascocarps. - Nutritional and antioxidant properties of Terfezia and Picoa. - Nutritional and antioxidant Properties of the white desert truffle Tirmania nivea (Zubaidi). - Preservation of Truffles. - The Medicinal Value of Desert Truffles. - Domestication: Preparation of mycorrhizal seedlings. - Preparation and maintenance of both man-planted and wild plots.
Relationships between Body Image, Self- Esteem and Quality of Life among Female Nursing Students

Introduction: The effects of body image on self-esteem and in turn quality of life can be especially powerful during the teenage years. Aim: This study aims to assess the relationships between body image, selfesteem and quality of life among female nursing students Design: A descriptive correlation study was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted in faculty of nursing, Ain Shams University. Subject: A convenience sample of a total of 120 female nursing students. Tools: The following instruments were utilized: 1) Brief Demographic Questionnaire and Familial Profiles; 2) Body Image Questionnaire; 3) Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale; 4) World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) Findings: Showed that there was a statistical significant relation between the studied participants’ self -esteem and their age, marital status. But there was no statistical significant relation between their self -esteem and their university level, birth order, residence, parent education, family size and family income. There was a statistical significant relation between the studied participants’ quality of life domains and their age, marital status university level, birth order, parent education, family size and family income. Meanwhile there was no statistical significant relation between their quality of life domains and their residence. Conclusion: more than two fifth of female nursing student under study were have low self esteem and quarter of them were have poor body image perception . also, there was a statistically significant relations between body image, selfesteem and quality of life among female nursing students under study Recommendation: nursing students need more counseling program to attain a realistic, positive perception of their body image and to overcome the negative views about their body image in order to enhance their self-esteem and different dimensions of their quality of life.
Influence of the dietary protein level and type of litter on the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis in broilers

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is a condition that causes necrotic lesions on the plantar surface of the footpads in broilers, and in severe cases may cause pain. The aim of this study was to determin the influence of tree level of dietary protein and four type of litter on the incidence of the FPD. A total of 1,272 one-day-old chicks were raised on floor pens in a design involving 3 A— 4 arrangement of protein level [high (HP), medium (MP) or low (LP)], and litter materials (whole wheat straw, rice hulls, wood shavings and a mixture of the three types listed above), on a 3-stage feeding program (2 replicate pens/treatment; 50 birds/pen). The incidence and development of FPD were recorded weekly for all birds from day 8 to slaughter. The largest body weight was observed in the HP group (2441.96 g), followed by MP (2308.16 g) and LP (2215.34 g) group. FPD scores for protein level ranged from 53 (LP) to 76 (MP), and for litter type range from 7 (wood shavings) to 150 (whole wheat straw) exceeding the value of 50 points considered by the EU proposal as threshold. The incidences of FPD for protein level were 32% (LP), 48% (MP) and 43% (HP), and 8% (wood shavings), 22% (rice hulls), 52% (mixture) and 80% (whole wheat straw). The results obtained in this study lead to the conclusion that protein level and litter type influences in a great extent the body weight of broiler chickens and FPD score at slaughter .
Causal Inference Using Mediation Analysis or Instrumental Variables - Full Mediation in the Absence of Conditional Independence

Both instrumental variable (IV) estimation and mediation analysis are tools for causal inference. However, IV estimation has mostly developed in economics for causal inference from observational data. In contrast, mediation analysis has mostly developed in psychology, as a tool to empirically establish the process by which an experimental manipulation brings about its effect on the dependent variable of interest. As a consequence, many researchers well versed in IV estimation are not familiar with mediation analysis, and vice versa. In this paper, we discuss the communalities and differences between IV estimation and mediation analysis. We highlight that IV estimation leverages an a priori assumption of full mediation for causal inference. In contrast, modern practice in mediation analysis focusses on testing the statistical significance of the indirect effect without too much regard for the specification of the estimated model. A drawback of this approach is that inferring mediation from the statistical significance of a (putative) indirect effect through the hypothesized mediator may be spurious altogether. We discuss specification issues and how they relate to inference about mediation, and specifically the distinction between full and partial mediation. Based on this discussion we argue in favor of further developing tests that are more diagnostic about the underlying causal structure, motivated by the implication that full mediation could be more common than currently believed.
Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Hormaphidinae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) indicate Late Cretaceous tribal diversification

The aphid subfamily Hormaphidinae is a good candidate for the study of the evolution of insect – plant relationships. Most hormaphidine species depend on woody primary host plants and woody or herbaceous secondary host plants, and represent high host specificity, especially to their primary hosts. No detailed molecular phylogeny of Hormaphidinae has been reported, and the taxonomic positions of some taxa in this group remain unclear. To reconstruct major phylogenetic relationships and to understand the evolution of host association patterns for major lineages, we present the first detailed molecular phylogeny of Hormaphidinae, as inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences, using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. The monophyly of Hormaphidinae and its three traditional tribes was supported, and a sister relationship between Hormaphidini and Nipponaphidini was suggested. Most inner relationships within tribes were also supported, and some novel relationships were revealed. Two subtribes of Cerataphidini are proposed. Divergence times estimated using a Bayesian approach indicate that tribal diversifications occurred during the Late Cretaceous and were coincident with the appearance of their primary host plants. The current pattern of secondary host association for the three tribes may have evolved in different time ranges. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165, 73–87.
Comparative analysis of volatile components from labial glands of male Japanese bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

The volatile components from the labial glands of males of six Japanese bumblebee species were analyzed and compared. Clear species‐specificity was found. Ethyl dodecanoate was identified as the major component from the glands of Bombus (Bombus) hypocrita hypocrita and Bombus (Bombus) hypocrita sapporoensis while dihydrofarnesal and dihydrofarnesol were the major components from Bombus (Bombus) ignitus. Citronellol and trans,trans‐farnesol were found from Bombus (Pyrobombus) ardens ardens and Bombus (Diversobombus) diversus diversus, respectively. trans,trans‐Farnesol was also found from Bombus (Diversobombus) diversus tersatus in Hokkaido. Such differences strongly suggest that these chemicals play an important role in reproductive isolation between sympatric species of Japanese bumblebees.
Defining Seed Quality by Seed Maturity and Crop Performance

ABSTRACT Changes in seed dry weight of two tropical maize hybrids, Oba Supa 1 and 2, were monitored during late maturation and seeds of Oba Supa 1 were harvested at five times between 43 and 19% seed moisture. Physiological seed quality was evaluated in laboratory tests and field trials at three planting dates. Using differences in field performance at the different dates, index of seed ageing was computed. Except for ear diameter, differences in field emergence characteristics, post-emergence growth and performance of all stages were negligible (P > 0.05). Despite negligible differences in cob diameter, ear diameter of plants from seeds of the first two maturity stages were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than that of other stages. Maturity of seed planted affected kernel size and consequently, grain yield, of the resultant crop. Irrespective of maturity stage, however, seedling growth traits, interval between flowering stages, morphological traits, number of harvestable ears and grain yield were the traits most affected by seed ageing. Many deteriorative changes that have been reported as occurring in seeds soon after harvest are not immediately translated into large measurable effects on all traits of subsequent maize crop. Laboratory test results correlated well with field performance and they were recommended as good indicators of seed quality for planting purposes in tropical locations with similar conditions as that of this study.
Comparison of Heteranthera dubia (Jacq.) MacM.-associated macroinvertebrates between geographical regions in the United States

Macroinvertebrates associated with the aquatic plant, water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), were sampled from 12 waterbodies in four regions of the United States from June to August 2005. Taxa richness, evenness, and diversity were lowest in the Lower Midwest (LMW) region, and higher in Northern sites, especially the Upper Midwest (UMW), and Northeast (NE). While relative abundance varied from site to site and region to region, utilization of the plant by functional groups remained fairly constant. Collector-gatherers consistently comprised the largest portion of invertebrates sampled. The shredder/ herbivore functional group comprised an average of 17 % of total groups. Through an exhaustive literature review, it was found that shredder/ herbivores of water stargrass have not been reported in the literature. Because of this, the herbivore group was analyzed separately and consisted of 2,383 specimens representing 23 species. The most common groups were Rhopalosiphum sp. , Nectopsyche spp. and chironomids. No differences were found in herbivore diversity or evenness between sampling regions, but species richness was significantly different.