Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FACTORS DETERMINING LEVELS OF PARASITISM BY WINTHEMIA RUFOPICTA (DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE), WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO HELIOTHIS SPP. (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) AS HOSTS

Abstract Short-term interactions of the polyphagous tachinid Winthemia rufopicta (Big.) with its hosts, especially Heliothis zea (Boddie) and H. virescens (Fab.), are considered. Within a given host species, interacting factors fall into three groups: (1) factors that have little influence on parasite oviposition, or cause little parasite mortality (host responses to ovipositing parasites, previous parasitism, firmness of attachment of eggs and, in the populations studied here, direct competition with other insect parasites); (2) factors that may account for significant limitation of oviposition (habitat, diel activity, and seasonal occurrence of a given host, and species preference of the parasite) or that cause significant parasite mortality (destruction by the host and other mortality of hatching maggots, which in turn depends partly on the position of eggs on the host): and (3) factors that can vary widely in a given host species and are therefore of great potential importance. These are: (a) host feeding behaviour—initial parasitism of H. zea, for example, varies from negligible levels for larvae concealed in corn ears to sometimes very high levels for larvae feeding openly on tobacco leaves; (b) host size—smaller larvae (especially penultimate compared with final instars) receive fewer ovipositions, and fewer eggs per oviposition; (c) host moulting—surface-deposited eggs are lost if the host moults before they hatch, but the rate of moulting varies with instar and foodplant, and interacts differently with parasite egg incubation times at different temperatures (most eggs are lost except in final instars); (d) intraspecific competition—depends on parasite and host densities, but reaches the highest levels in the fall; (e) competition with host pathogens—parasites may be killed during development if the host dies from pathogens. For different hosts, family, size, surface quality, and spatial and temporal availability are known to have divergent influences on the levels of parasitism, but many other interactions are probably important. The interpretation of records of total or of successful parasitism in host samples is considered—behavioural, developmental, and numerical interactions may make conclusions drawn from such records unreliable. In particular, levels of parasitism may change very rapidly as host or parasite populations develop; laboratory rearing may distort recorded levels of successful parasitism; and the proportion of attacked hosts that produce parasites, and the number of parasites produced by each host, normally varies directly with the number of eggs per host even when this is large.
Slip Complementarity and Triggering between the Foreshock, Mainshock, and Afterslip of the 2019 Ridgecrest Rupture Sequence

We investigate the deformation processes during the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence by combining Global Navigation Satellite Systems, strong-motion, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar datasets in a joint inversion. The spatial complementarity of slip between the Mw 6.4 foreshock, Mw 7.1 mainshock, and afterslip suggests the importance of static stress transfer as a triggering mechanism during the rupture sequence. The coseismic slip of the foreshock concentrates mainly on the east-northeast–west-southwest fault above the hypocenter at depths of 2–8 km. The slip distribution of the mainshock straddles the region above the hypocenter with two isolated patches located to the north-northwest and south-southeast, respectively. The geodetically determined moment magnitudes of the foreshock and mainshock are equivalent to moment magnitudes Mw 6.4 and 7.0, assuming a rigidity of 30 GPa. We find a significant shallow slip deficit (>60%) in the Ridgecrest ruptures, likely resulting from the immature fault system in which the sequence occurred. Rapid afterslip concentrates at depths of 2–6 km, surrounding the rupture areas of the foreshock and mainshock. The ruptures also accelerated viscoelastic flow at lower-crustal depths. The Garlock fault was loaded at several locations, begging the question of possible delayed triggering.
A comparative study of the physicochemical properties of starches from root, tuber and cereal crops

Some properties of starches from cassava, potato and sweet potato were compared with cereal starches from maize, wheat, millet and sorghum. The aim was to determine the properties of tuber and root crop starches and compare them with cereal starches in addition to unravelling the potential of commonly grown sorghum and millet climate resilient crops as cheap and sustainable sources of starch. Significant variations were observed for amylose content and solution properties of starches, where blue values for amylose ranged from 0.355 in potato to 0.476 in cassava, but were averagely low in cereal starches. Amylose leaching increased with temperature with the highest value (0.432) in cassava at 80°C compared with cereal starches (average 0.361). Starch amylosis increased with time of hydrolysis and was highest (>16%) for millet and sorghum and least for potato (<8.5% average). Average swelling power at 80°C was high for cassava (8.58 g/g) and potato (8.44 g/g) compared with sweet potato (6.88 g/g) and low among cereal starches (5.17 g/g). Similarly, starch solubility was low in potato (0.77 g/g) and sweet potato (0.577 g/g) compared with cassava (1.23 g/g). The paste clarity was also high for cassava (48.32%) and potato (42.16%) and least for sweet potato derived starches (23.22%) and all the cereal starches (14.97%). These properties demonstrate the untapped potential of cassava and tuber based starches for use in food and non-food applications previously dominated by cereal starches.
Spectrum of Egg Parasitoids and rate of Parasitism of Egg Batches of the pine processionary Moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) in the Northern Peloponnes/Greece

Investigations have been performed on egg batches of Thaumetopoea pityocampa sampled in the regions of Kalogria, Vrachneika, Fteri-Egio 300 m a.s. l. , Fteri-Egio 500 m a.s. l. and Patra, all situated in the northern Peloponnes - Greece. From the collected 113 egg batches the parasitoids Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet), Baryscapus servadeii (Dom.), Baryscapus transversalis Graham, Anastatus bifasciatus (Fonsc.) and Pediobius sp. have been established. The first two parasitoids were recorded at all of the five sites, while Pediobius sp. was found at Patra only. B. servadeii was the most abundant species at Kalogria, Vrachneika and FteriEgio 500 m a.s. l. , and O. pityocampae at Fteri-Egio, 300 m a.s. l. and Patra, respectively. The number of eggs parasitised by O. pityocampae varied from 3.6 to 23.4 % that were attracted by B. servadeii from 0.9 to 22.6 %, by A. bifasciatus from 0.1 to 1.8 % and by B. transversalis from 0.1 to 1.4 % respectively, at the different sites. Pediobius sp. was found to 0.3 % of the egg masses.
Histological Study of the Caffeine Effect on Intact Gastric Mucosa and Induced Gastric Ulcer in Adult Male Albino Rats

AbstractIntroduction: Gastric ulcer is a serious health problem of worldwide concern.Caffeine is affirmed globally as a safe dietary element as a result of its high antioxidant content. Aim of the work: To assess the cytoprotective impact of caffeine on the intact gastric mucosa and aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in adult male albino rats.Materials and Methods: Forty-two adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I (control group). Group II (caffeine group), received aqueous caffeine (300 mg /kg/day) by gastric tube. Group III, overnight fasted rats received aspirin solution (200 mg/kg/day) orally for 5 consecutive days, then rats were further subdivided equally into: Subgroup IIIa (gastric ulcer group), sacrificed six hours after the last aspirin dose, subgroup IIIb, left without treatment for 4 weeks and subgroup IIIc received caffeine orally for 4 weeks. Group IV (caffeine prophylactic group) before ulcer induction. Serum was maintained for antioxidants activity assay; total antioxidant capacity (TAC), prostaglandin (PGE2) and tumour necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α). Specimens of stomach body were processed for light and electron microscopic studies. Morphometric and statistical analysis was done.Results: Light microscopic study of the gastric ulcer group depicted deep erosion, damage of parietal and chief cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and pyknotic nuclei, congested blood vessels and aggregated mononuclear inflammatory cells that were supported by a significant increase of (TNF-α) expression coupled to a significant decrease in PGE2 and TAC levels and a significant reduction of Periodic-Acid-Schiff reaction coupled to a significant increase in area percentage of collagen fibers upon aspirin administration.The ultrastructural assessment confirmed these distortions.Whereas, caffeine prophylactic and treated groups revealed greater improvement in the histological changes depicted previously. Conclusion:Caffeine has protective impacts on the intact gastric mucosa. Additionally, it alleviated aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in adult male albino rats that might be related to its high antioxidant content
Genetic structure of Caspian Sea southern area honeybee populations, based on microsatellite polymorphism

Genetic diversity is a key component of ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of Iranian native honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera meda L.) located in the northern region. Colonies from 24 locations have been analyzed using microsatellite markers. Samples were collected from Caspian Sea southern area (north of Iran). Six microsatellite markers (A28, A29, A113, A24, A76, and A43) amplified them. Amplification was successful in four loci but not for A76 and A43. Polymorphism and diversity indices were high for all amplified loci and for total population. Average heterozygosity and average number of alleles were significantly high in these colonies. The phylogenies also revealed a genetic distance among colonies of this area. The results showed a reliable genetic diversity among Apis mellifera meda L. populations in the north of Iran (southern area of Caspian Sea). Based on the microsatellite genotypes, the honeybee population in the southern area of Caspian Sea can be clustered into two distinct subpopulations located in Gilan and Mazandaran area. These results support the previous morphological and biochemical evidences. Keywords: genetic diversity, microsatellite, Apis mellifera meda L
“It’s Complicated Because We’re Only Sixteen”: A Framework for Understanding Childhood Sexual Abuse Disclosures to Peers

The process of disclosing childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is very difficult for young people. Researchers have consistently found that young people disclose CSA to other youth at much higher rates than to familiar adults or authorities and indicate that CSA remains largely unknown to adults. However, no study to date has focused exclusively on understanding the process of youth-directed disclosures from young people’s perspectives. Using grounded theory methodology, this qualitative study aimed to understand the process of CSA disclosures to peers based on interviews with 30 young people from Canada and Ireland who have experienced CSA. The findings reflect the iterative and dialogical nature of the peer disclosure process and provide a framework for youth-directed disclosures that is centered on the theme of uncertainty. An underlying sense of uncertainty permeated the entire disclosure experience as participants’ narratives reflected six stages that were interrelated in a cyclical process: experiencing internal conflict, needing to tell and choosing to confide in peers, expecting emotional support from peers, gradual telling and making sense of the abuse, burden on peers, and assessing peer responses and further disclosures. In addition, this model was not static, as with time, participants reinterpreted their peers’ responses. The presented framework is consistent with previous conceptualizations of CSA disclosures, but the focus on youth-directed disclosures from the perspective of young people also allowed for a model that explains processes that are unique to peer disclosures. Practice and policy implications as well as limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Ülkemizde Satılan Bebek ve Çocuk Mamalarında Gıda Zehirlenmesine Neden Olan Önemli Bazı Mikroorganizmaların Varlığı Üzerine Araştırmalar

60 infant food formula samples were collected from the local market in their original packages. 50 of these samples were dry formulas, 10 of them were in conserved food form. All of the samples were examined for Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcusaureus, Salmonella spp, and coliform bacteria count. While coliform bacteria were isolated from 15 samples (%25.0) and B. cereus from 2 samples (%3.3), E. coli, S. aureus and Salmonella spp. were not determined from any of the samples. All the positive samples were from the dry formulas group.
Study on Heat Transfer Performance and Anti-Fouling Mechanism of Ternary Ni-W-P Coating

Since the formation of fouling reduces heat transfer efficiency and causes energy loss, anti-fouling is desirable and may be achieved by coating. In this work, a nickel-tungsten-phosphorus (Ni-W-P) coating was prepared on the mild steel (1015) substrate using electroless plating by varying sodium tungstate concentration to improve its anti-fouling property. Surface morphology, microstructure, fouling behavior, and heat transfer performance of coatings were further reported. Also, the reaction path, transition state, and energy gradient change of calcite, aragonite, and vaterite were also calculated. During the deposition process, as the W and P elements were solids dissolved in the Ni crystal cell, the content of Ni element was obviously higher than that of the other two elements. Globular morphology was evenly covered on the surface. Consequently, the thermal conductivity of ternary Ni-W-P coating decreases from 8.48 W/m·K to 8.19 W/m·K with the increase of W content. Additionally, it goes up to 8.93 W/m·K with the increase of heat source temperature 343 K. Oxidation products are always accompanied by deposits of calcite-phase CaCO3 fouling. Due to the low surface energy of Ni-W-P coating, Ca2+ and [CO3]2− are prone to cross the transition state with a low energy barrier of 0.10 eV, resulting in the more formation of aragonite-phase CaCO3 fouling on ternary Ni-W-P coating. Nevertheless, because of the interaction of high surface energy and oxidation products on the bare matrix or Ni-W-P coating with superior W content, free Ca2+ and [CO3]2− can be easy to nucleate into calcite. As time goes on, the heat transfer efficiency of material with Ni-W-P coating is superior to the bare surface.
Relationship among Body Weight, Scrotal Circumference and Sperm Quantity of Bali Bulls in Baturiti Artificial Insemination Center

Bali cattle are one of the native cattle breeds in Indonesia as a meat producer. The objective of this study was to analyze the correlation between body weight and scrotal circumference and sperm quantity of Bali bulls. To accomplish this objective, primary and secondary data of Bali bulls in Baturiti Artificial Insemination (AI) Center, Bali from 2017 to 2019 were used in this research, consisted of scrotal circumference (SC), body weight (BW), semen volume (SV) and sperm concentration (SCon) (n = 9 bulls in productive age). Total Number Sperm (TNS) was calculated multiply value of SV and SCon. The data were analyzed statistically using Correlation Pearson Square. There was no significant correlation among body weight, scrotal circumference, and sperm quantity of Bali bulls in this research (P>0.05). Low positive correlation was found between BW with SC (0.296), very low positive correlation with SV (0.049), very low negative correlation with SCon (−0.089) and moderate positive correlation with TNS (0.427). Moreover, SC showed low negative correlation with SCon (−0.202), very low negative correlation with SV (−0.028) and low positive correlation with TNS (0.286). In conclusion, BW showed positive correlation SC, SV and TNS, but showed a negative correlation SCon. SC had positive correlation with TNS but they showed negative correlation with SV and SCon of Bali bulls.
Content for Free? Drivers of Past Payment, Paying Intent and Willingness to Pay for Digital Journalism – A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract The advertising-based revenue model for journalism is severely challenged due to the effects of digitization. Providers of journalistic content have therefore put increasing emphasis on paid content strategies in recent years. This article provides a literature review of factors that contribute to consumers’ past payment (PP), paying intent (PI) and willingness to pay (WTP) for digital journalistic content. We identify 17 variables based on 37 articles that influence PP, PI and WTP. While those factors are linked to either consumer(s), the product or its economics, little research examines the psychological needs and motives associated with demand for digital journalism. Due to inconsistent measurements in the literature, however, the results remain ambiguous.
Microstructure and Electrical Property of Ex-Situ and In-Situ Copper Titanium Carbide Nanocomposites

In this study, ex-situ Cu-TiC nanocomposites of 1, 3 and 5 vol. % TiC and in-situ Cu-TiH2-C nanocomposites (corresponding to 5 vol. % TiC) were prepared using ball milling and spark plasma sintering methods. Powder mixtures were milled for 4 h at 400 rpm. As-milled Cu-TiC composite powders were consolidated under an applied pressure of 70 MPa. The phase composition, and microstructure of the composite samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope techniques, respectively. With the increasing TiC content from 1 to 5 vol. %, the hardness of the ex-situ composites when sintered at 600 °C changed between 161.4 and 178.5 HV and the electrical conductivity decreased from 52.1 to 47.6% IACS. In-situ Cu-TiH2-C nanocomposite sintered at 950 °C had higher hardness and electrical conductivity than ex-situ Cu-TiC composite due to having a homogenous distribution of nano reinforcement particles and dense structure.
Multi‐subject stochastic blockmodels with mixed effects for adaptive analysis of individual differences in human brain network cluster structure

Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the class of stochastic blockmodels (SBM) and their applications to multi‐subject brain networks. In our most recent work, we have considered an extension of the classical SBM, termed heterogeneous SBM (Het‐SBM), that models subject variability in the cluster‐connectivity profiles through the addition of a logistic regression model with subject‐specific covariates on the level of each block. Although this model has proved to be useful in both the clustering and inference aspects of multi‐subject brain network data, including fleshing out differences in connectivity between patients and controls, it does not account for dependencies that may exist within subjects. To overcome this limitation, we propose an extension of Het‐SBM, termed Het‐Mixed‐SBM, in which we model the within‐subject dependencies by adding subject‐ and block‐level random intercepts in the embedded logistic regression model. Using synthetic data, we investigate the accuracy of the partitions estimated by our proposed model as well as the validity of inference procedures based on the Wald and permutation tests. Finally, we illustrate the model by analyzing the resting‐state fMRI networks of 99 healthy volunteers from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) using covariates like age, gender, and IQ to explain the clustering patterns observed in the data.
Coupled Hydraulic Fracture and Proppant Transport Simulation

This paper focuses on the study of proppant transport mechanisms in fractures during frac-packing operation. A multi-module, numerical proppant, reservoir and geomechanics simulator has been developed, which improves the current numerical modeling techniques for proppant transport. The modules are linked together and tailored to capture the processes and mechanisms that are significant in frac-pack operations. The proposed approach takes advantage of a robust and sophisticated numerical smeared fracture simulator and incorporates an in-house proppant transport module to calculate propped fracture dimensions and concentration distribution. In the development of software capability, the propped fracture geometry and proppant concentration, which are the output of the proppant module, are imported to the hydraulic fracture simulator through mobility modification. Complex issues of proppant transport in fractures that are addressed in the literature and captured by the current model are: hindered settling velocity (terminal velocity of proppant in the injection fluid), the effect of fracture walls, proppant concentration and inertia on settling (due to extra drag forces applied on particles, compared to single-particle motion in Stokes regime in unbounded medium), possible propped fracture porosity and also mobility change due to the presence of proppant, and fracture closure or extension during proppant injection. A sensitivity analysis is conducted using realistic parameters to provide guidelines that allow more accurate predictions of the proppant concentration and fluid flow. The main objective of this study is to link a numerical hydraulic fracture model to a proppant transport model to study the fracturing response and proppant distribution and to investigate the effect of proppant injection on fracture propagation and fracture dimensions.
Agent-Based Analysis of Urban Spaces Using Space Syntax and Spatial Cognition Approaches: A Case Study in Bari, Italy

The present study provides a reflection on the agent-based intelligence of urban spatial environments through the comparison of a formal quantitative approach, i.e., space syntax, and a qualitative experimentation based on the spatial cognition approach. Until recently, space syntax was adopted by urban planners and designers to support urban design and planning decisions, based on an analysis of the urban physical environment. Researchers in the cognitive science field have increased their attempts to address space syntax techniques to better understand the relationships of cognitive spatial agents with the spatial features of urban environments. In this context, the experimental approach focuses on the qualities of the environment as interacted, perceived and interpreted by cognitive agents and reflects on the role which it plays in affecting spatial decisions and route choices. The present paper aimed to explore the extent to which possible integration between the different approaches can provide insights on agent-based decisions in actions and behavioural processes in space for useful perspectives in urban analysis and planning. Findings suggest relevant correlations between the experimentation results and space syntax predictions when a correspondence of some aspects can be found. Conversely, interesting qualitative insights from the spatial cognition approach are pointed out to enrich the configurational analysis. The potential and constraints of each approach and the ways of combining these are presented. Evidence supports the suitability of the proposal outlined in the present paper within the framework of urban planning practice.