Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Student athletes’ experiences of bullying in intercollegiate sport

ABSTRACT Given the limited research on bullying among post-secondary students and within settings outside of school, this exploratory study investigated the bullying and cyber bullying experiences of post-secondary student athletes in intercollegiate athletic contexts. An online exploratory survey assessed experiences of victimization, perpetration, and witnessing in the context of sport. Respondents included 122 student athletes (64% female, 35% male) across 24 sports. The sample self-reported 48% victimization, 31% perpetration, and 62% witnessing for bullying. For cyber bullying, the sample self-reported 7% victimization, 9% perpetration, and 15% witnessing. Other findings included: types, timing, and locations of bullying; reasons for bullying; and responses to these experiences. Findings are interpreted in light of existing sport literature and directions for future research are proposed.
Is metabolic rate a reliable predictor of growth and survival of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the wild

In salmonids, there seems to be a positive correlation between standard metabolic rate and growth rate under artificial rearing conditions. Several recent studies have suggested that phenotypic correlations between physiological or behavioural traits and developmental or life history responses might be common when assayed in low-complexity habitats but rare in those with a high degree of spatiotemporal complexity. This study provides the first test of the connection between metabolic and growth rates of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta) in natural streams. In two out of four streams, there was no relationship between metabolic rates and subsequent growth, whereas in the two others, growth and metabolic rates were negatively correlated. Furthermore, survival rates were either unaffected or negatively correlated with metabolic rates. These results reveal complex relationships between metabolic rate, growth, and environmental variability and suggest that (i) in the wild, negative selection on high metaboli.
Heavy metal pollution in soils and sediments of rural developing district 063, Mexico

For over 100 years the Rural Developing District 063 (RDD-063), which is located in Hidalgo State, has received wastewater without treatment from Mexico City. This wastewater has been used as irrigation water in agriculture, so high amounts of toxic substances have been deposited in the soils and sediments of this area, including heavy metals. Heavy metals are not biodegraded and persist in the environment for long time, so the goal of this study was to evaluate the bioavailable concentration of four heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry during three sampling periods in 1993. The results show increasing levels of cadmium and lead during July (second sampling period), while cobalt had its highest level in March (first sampling period). Finally, chromium data presented an irregular pattern during the whole year. The high levels of these elements indicate major pollution problems in RDD-063, which may represent increased health risks for humans and animals. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) Performance on Annual and Perennial Temperate-Region Grasses

Annual and perennial plants differ in several physiological and life-history aspects such as rates of photosynthesis, respiration–transpiration, and growth, as well as allocation of resources. Possible consequences of these differences on herbivore growth were evaluated experimentally in pairwise comparisons using the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and a range of annual and perennial temperate-region grass species. R. padi growth on annual wild barley ( Hordeum ) species was as good or better than on a barley cultivar. This contrasts with earlier studies in which aphid growth on perennial barleys was found to be much reduced. Aphid growth on annual Alopecurus, Anthoxanthum, Briza , and Bromus spp. was higher than on perennial species of the same genera. However, no differences regarding R. padi performance were found between annual–perennial species of the genera Agrostis, Cynosurus, Lolium, Phleum , and Poa . It is suggested that the resource-availability hypothesis is of no relevance for the observed relationships and that within Gramineae biochemical and/or structural plant traits are of greater importance for R. padi performance.
Foliar epidermis morphology in Quercus (subgenus Quercus, section Quercus) in Iran

Foliar epidermis morphology in Quercus (subgenus Quercus, section Quercus) in Iran The foliar morphology of trichomes, epicuticular waxes and stomata in Quercus cedrorum, Q. infectoria subsp. boissieri, Q. komarovii, Q. longipes, Q. macranthera, Q. petraea subsp. iberica and Q. robur subsp. pedunculiflora were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The trichomes are mainly present on abaxial leaf surface in most species, but rarely they appear on adaxial surface. Five trichome types are identified as simple uniseriate, bulbous, solitary, fasciculate and stellate. The stomata of all studied species are of the anomocytic type, raised on the epidermis. The stomata rim may or may not be covered with epicuticular. The epicuticular waxes are mostly of the crystalloid type but smooth layer wax is observed in Q. robur subsp. pedunculiflora. Statistical analysis revealed foliar micromorphological features as been diagnostic characters in Quercus.
Stereo3D: using stereo images to enrich 3D visualization

SUMMARY Visualization in three-dimensional (3D) space is a standard but critical process for examining the complex structure of high dimensional data. Stereoscopic imaging technology can be adopted to enhance 3D representation of many complex data, especially those consisting of points and lines. We illustrate the simple steps that are involved and strongly recommend others to implement it in designing visualization software. To facilitate its application, we created a new software that can convert a regular 3D scatterplot or network figure to a pair of stereo images. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Stereo3D is freely available as an open source R package released under an MIT license at https://github.com/bioinfoDZ/Stereo3D. Others can integrate the codes and implement the method in academic software. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The description of R package and supplemental figures are provided at Bioinformatics online.
The Growth of Gram‐Negative Bacteria in the Hen's Egg

Summary: Bacteriological and chemical methods were used to follow the course of infection in eggs, incubated at 27°, the air cells of which had been inoculated with a suspension of washed bacteria. In the 3–4 days following inoculation, limited bacterial multiplication occurred in the inner membrane of the air cell but very few organisms entered the albumen. These populations then remained static or decreased slightly until renewed multiplication occurred 12–30 days after inoculation. This was induced by contact of the yolk and the shell membranes: it occurred on the 12–20th day in eggs in which the yolk moved towards the site of inoculation, but later when the yolk moved in the opposite direction. At this time there was a general infection of the egg contents and significant changes occurred in the pH and glucose concentration in the albumen. In eggs that had been inoculated with chromogenic and/or proteolytic bacteria, the first macroscopic changes of the contents were seen at this time. The rate and extent of the initial multiplication was influenced by the composition of the fluid used to suspend the washed bacteria and, in all instances, the fastest multiplication occurred when iron was added to the inoculum. Moreover, renewed multiplication occurred when iron was added to the albumen of eggs in which the bacteria were in the stationary phase.
Plasmonics Induced Multifunction Optical Device via Hoof-Shaped Subwavelength Structure

The electromagnetic spectrum includes the frequency range (spectrum) of electromagnetic radiation and its corresponding wavelength and energy. Due to the unique properties of different frequency ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, a series of functional devices working in each frequency rang have been proposed. Here, we propose a periodic subwavelength hoof-shaped structure array, which contains a variety of geometric configurations, including U-shaped and rectangle structures. The results show that the enhanced optical transmission (EOT) effect of the surface plasmon excited by the hoof-shaped structure is highly sensitive to the polarization of the incident light, which leads to the peak’s location shift and the amplitude intensity variety of transmission peaks of U-shaped structure in the case of coupling based on the surface plasmon of rectangle structure. In addition, take advantage of the EOT effect realized in the periodic hoof-shaped structure array, we propose a multifunctional plasmon optical device in the infrared range. By adjusting the polarization angle of the incident light, the functions of the optical splitter in the near-infrared range and the optical switch in the mid-infrared range are realized. Moreover, with the changes of the polarization angle, different proportions of optical intensities split are realized. The device has theoretically confirmed the feasibility of designing multifunctional integrated devices through a hoof-shaped-based metamaterial nanostructure, which provides a broad prospect for the extensive use of multiple physical mechanisms in the future to achieve numerous functions in simple nanostructures.
Nitrogen per unit leaf area affects the upper asymptote of Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici epidemics in winter wheat

Field trials tested which components of epidemic development of Puccinia striiformis, the cause of yellow rust, were affected by nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied to winter wheat. Both timing and amount of N were varied to affect canopy size and leaf N content, and to provide a supply of mobile N to the pathogen, by causing fresh N uptake after leaf expansion was complete. No N was applied to control plots. A logistic disease-progress function was fitted to disease-severity data, which were assessed in absolute units. Leaf area and specific leaf N (g N per m2 leaf tissue) were quantified. Large and highly significant effects of N on the upper asymptotes, or ‘carrying capacities’ (c) were found. Effects on rates and points of inflection of the epidemics were not significant. Early N resulted in larger shoot numbers and leaf area, but disease was also more severe, so that by grain filling, the remaining green leaf areas were larger without N than with N. Later N treatments did not increase canopy size, but did increase symptom area compared with the control. These effects differ from the concept that N affects disease as a result of its effect on canopy growth, and therefore canopy microclimate, and suggest instead a substrate effect. Linear regression revealed that 51% of the observed differences in c were explained by variation in specific leaf N, suggesting that growth of the rust fungus may depend directly on particular components of total leaf N.
Robust deep learning framework for the detection of melanoma in images

Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, occurs when melanocytes become cancerous and is a common cause of death in adults. The presence of melanoma can be conclusively proved through biopsies, but these lap reports often take time. Early detection of melanoma could improve mortality rates and reduce costs. AI-based assistive tools can aid early detection. Most studies focus on detection either in dermoscopic images or in non-dermoscopic images, not both. In this paper, we propose a novel generalised framework which can detect melanoma in both dermoscopic and non-dermoscopic images. The framework includes a preprocessing pipeline, data augmentation and resolving class imbalances, followed by a VGG-16 model. The model gives a sensitivity (for melanoma cases) of 87% on non-dermoscopic images and 91 % on dermoscopic images.
Evolution of reproductive strategies and male sexual ornaments in poeciliid fishes as inferred by mitochondrial 16 rRNA gene phylogeny

Poeciliid fishes have been widely used as a model system in the study of sexual selection mechanisms. In several species belonging to the genera Xiphophorus and Poecilia males show conspicuous ornaments and use courtship display to obtain female cooperation during mating. Conversely most of the remaining poeciliids are drab and achieve copulation mainly through gonopodial thrusting, a fertilization strategy that bypasses the female's consent. We sequenced a portion of the large (16S) mitochondrial ribosomal RNA gene to estimate the phylogenetic relationships among the five tribes of the subfamily Poeciliinae (ROSEN & BAYLEY 1963) and we used the molecular phylogeny to reconstruct the origin of male ornaments and the evolutionary history of the reproductive strategies in this family. Gambusiini were found to be the basal tribe in the subfamily Poeciliinae. In our phylogeny, Xiphophorus and Poecilia were not closely related thus suggesting that the tribe Poeciliini is not a monophyletic group. Gonopodial th.
MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF SORBUS SP. FROM THE PIENINY MTS. AND ITS RELATION TO OTHER SORBUS SPECIES

The systematic position of Sorbus population occurring in the Pieniny Mts. is controversial. To verify its taxonomic status we studied the ITS sequence of closely related species of the S. aria group: Sorbus sp. from the Pieniny Mts. , S. aria from the Tatra Mts. , S. graeca from the Balkans, and other well-distinguished native Polish Sorbus species (S. aria, S. aucuparia, S. intermedia and S. torminalis). As a reference we examined Sorbus populations closest to the Pieniny Mts. where S. graeca was reported to occur, in Slovakia. The results indicate that the Sorbus plants found in the Pieniny Mts. differ genetically from those in the Tatra Mts. but are identical to those collected from the Vihorlat Mts. in Slovakia and are closely related to S. graeca from the Balkans.
Winter Territoriality and Irruptive Behavior in the Paridae

Irruptions are irregular mass movements performed outside the main breeding area of a species (Svardson 1957, Bock and Lepthien 1976). These movements commonly involve juveniles or individuals with poor competitive ability (Smith and Nilsson 1987) and often are attributed to large-scale variation in food supplies or weather conditions that lead to population booms (Bock and Lepthien 1976, Perrins 1979). Irruptions may be produced after years of good food production followed by a successful breeding season (Ulfstrand 1963, Bejer and Rudemo 1987, Hussell 1996). However, anomalous seed-crop production may be interpreted only as the proximate cause for the irruptive behavior of parids (Ulfstrand 1962) and fringillids (Jenni 1987). Large seed crops increase resource availability and may lead to high population densities, which in turn may force some individuals to make long movements (Ulfstrand et al. 1974). However, some related species of parids with similar foraging behavior and habitat selection (e.g. Great Tit [Parus major] and Marsh Tit [P palustris], or Coal Tit [P ater] and Crested Tit [P cristatus]; Cramp and Perrins 1993) show very different responses to variation in food-crop size, resulting in specific irruptive tendencies. Few studies have been conducted on mechanisms of irruptive behavior (but see Bock and Lepthien 1976). In this study, I used comparative methods to examine possible links between winter territoriality and irruptive behavior in parids. Differences in nonbreeding social systems (i.e. degree of winter territoriality) can affect spacing mechanisms of individuals (Matthysen 1990). Therefore, an increase in the degree of winter territoriality likely would reduce the benefits of irruptive behavior. I also assessed the relative importance of annual fecundity in the predicted relationship between winter territoriality and irruptive behavior, because high fecundity favors offspring production and therefore may lead to irruptive episodes. Methods. -I gathered data from the literature on winter territoriality and irruptive tendency for 13 species of parids and the White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), which I used as an outgroup (see Appendix). Whether a species was considered to be irruptive was based on information in Cramp and Perrins (1993) and Harrap and Quinn (1996). Al-
Ornithological Knowledge for Preliminary Risk Assessment of Avian Influenza (H5N1): The Implementation of the European Model in Croatia

The lack of epidemiological knowledge when planning the approach to preventing possible future outbreaks of avian influenza may lead to uncontrolled spreading of HPAI H5N1 virus and, consequently, danger to the poultry industry and human health and threats to the survival of endangered wild birds. The implementation of a model developed for the rapid assessment of ornithological data relevant to the spreading of avian influenza in the EU countries resulted in the identification of 23 Higher Risk Species and 17 Bridge Species for the territory of Croatia. It also identified a number of wetland areas, where Higher Risk Species come together during migration and wintering, as potential AI introduction and outbreak sites. The EU model was adapted to suit the Croatian circumstances. The migratory flyways of Higher Risk Species were analysed using data on birds ringed outside Croatia and found on the territory of Croatia between 1910 and 1992. These results form the ornithological part for the risk assessment of possible future outbreaks both at the national level and internationally, in neighbouring countries. It may also be used for AI research under the global European model. Data on poultry density, type of poultry husbandry, poultry trade and movement are needed. We propose the establishment of a database on the commercial movements of poultry and poultry products under the Early Warning System.
Optimization of Thymoquinone-Loaded Coconut Oil Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for the Management of Ethanol-Induced Ulcer

In the global incidence of peptic ulcer, with the associated rates of hospitalizations and mortality are increasing, in the United States, peptic ulcer disease affects approximately 4.6 million people annually, with an estimated 10% of the US population having evidence of a duodenal ulcer. The present research aims to find a novel treatment for ethanol induced ulcer by loading thymoquinone (TQ) on a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC), using Compritol® 888 and coconut oil. The TQ-loaded coconut oil NLC was formulated using melt emulsification combined with a sonication method using Poloxamer 188 as a surfactant. Finally, the optimization of the formulations was performed on a three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken statistical design, with 85.63% entrapment efficiency of TQ in the optimized formulation. A biphasic release pattern of the formulation was recorded in an in vitro drug release study, where the initial burst release of the drug was observed in the first 2 h, followed by a gradual release. Later, the TQ-loaded coconut oil NLC was found to protect the gastric mucous membrane more effectively (78.95% in.; p < 0.01) in an alcohol-induced ulcer model, whereas the TQ suspension showed 30.87% inhibition (p < 0.05) of the ulcerative index, when compared with the ulcer control group. The histopathological evaluations of the stomach in ulcer-induced animals demonstrated protection potential of TQ-loaded coconut oil NLC against an alcohol-induced gastric ulcer. In a nutshell, the entrapment of TQ within the NLC was found to deliver the entrapped drug more effectively when administered through an oral route to possess a gastroprotective effect.
Castor oil: new lessons from an ancient oil

Castor oil, from Ricinus communis, has been used since ancient times as a safe and reliable laxative. The pharmacologically active molecule in the oil is ricinoleic acid. This hydroxylated, long‐chain fatty acid has multiple effects on the intestinal mucosa, resulting in fluid secretion. Early studies indicated that the mucosal effects were due to enteritis or interference with cellular metabolism. Later studies revealed that the fatty acid could increase mucosal permeability and cause cytotoxicity, associated with release of eicosanoids, platelet activating factor, other autacoids and nitric oxide. In addition, ricinoleic acid disrupts normal intestinal motility. The combination of these effects on the mucosa and smooth muscle of the gut account for its laxative action. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System of Celecoxib for Avoiding Delayed Oral Absorption in Rats with Impaired Gastric Motility

This study aimed to develop a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) of celecoxib (CEL) for suppressed delay in oral absorption under impaired gastric motility. A pseudo-ternary phase diagram was constructed for the determination of the optimal component ratio in SEDDS of CEL (SEDDS/CEL), and the SEDDS/CEL was physicochemically characterized. A pharmacokinetic study on orally dosed CEL samples (5-mg CEL/kg) was carried out in normal and propantheline (PPT)-treated rats to mimic impaired gastric motility. SEDDS/CEL rapidly formed a fine emulsion with a mean size of 147 nm in distilled water and significantly improved the dissolution behavior of CEL under pH 1.2 condition with a 20-fold higher dissolved amount than crystalline CEL. In normal rats, orally dosed SEDDS/CEL provided a 4.6-fold higher systemic exposure than that of crystalline CEL, due to the improved dissolution properties of CEL. Crystalline CEL showed delayed and decreased oral absorption of CEL in PPT-treated rats as evidenced by a 6.9-h-delayed mean absorption time and only 12% of the systemic exposure of CEL compared with those in normal rats. In contrast, SEDDS/CEL enhanced the oral absorption of CEL with a 14.6-fold higher systemic exposure with significant suppression of delay in absorption than crystalline CEL even in PPT-treated rats. SEDDS/CEL could be an efficacious option for suppressing delay in CEL absorption even under impairment of gastric motility, possibly leading to rapid and reproducible management of severe acute pain.
Evaluation of the Systematic Error for Scanning Microwave Microscopy Following an In-Situ Broadband Calibration Procedure

We are presenting an study of the calibration error related to an in-situ calibration procedure, that combines simulation and characterization, for quantitative measurement in scanning microwave microscopy (SMM). Following a description of the calibration procedure, the calibrated SMM is tested for the measurement of self-established load permitting to report a possible capacitance evaluation with signal to noise ratio above 10 over several tens of attofarad.
Ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius: A review of the species groups and their phylogenetic relationships (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae)

Abstract. Myrmecia Fabricius is revised at species‐group level. Nine groups are recognized: those of M.aberrans, M.cephalotes, M.gulosa, M.mandibularis, M.nigrocincta, M.picta, M.pilosula, M.tepperi and M. urens. A key to the species groups is provided, and worker diagnoses, illustrations and species lists are given for each. Eight groups are constituted much as in the previous classification of John Clark, but defined using new characters. Phylogenetic relationships are investigated, with six cladograms derived from four sets of data, each with a different outgroup. The most plausible cladograms suggest that: (1) the aberrans group is the sister group to the others; (2) the pilosula, tepperi and mandibularis groups constitute a monophyletic assemblage, though monophyly of the first two is not confirmed; (3) the gulosa, nigrocincta, urens and picta groups constitute a monophyletic assemblage, though monophyly of the picta group is not confirmed; (4) the phylogenetic position of the cephalotes group is unclear.