Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reptiles of the central Western Ghats, India - a reappraisal and revised checklist, with emphasis on the Agumbe plateau

We examined the species richness and distribution patterns of reptiles inhabiting the Central Western Ghats Mountains of southwestern India. In the past few years, field work by us as well as our colleagues resulted in a steady stream of several new regional records of species of day geckos ( Cnemaspis ), skinks (Scincidae), shieldtail snakes (Uropeltidae), bronzeback tree snakes ( Dendrelaphis ) and coral snakes ( Calliophis ). Based on our past extensive sampling in the region as a whole and intensive, long-term sampling in the central part, i.e., the Agumbe plateau, we continue to add several additional species of geckos (Gekkonidae), agamids ( Calotes ), skinks and snakes in this paper. We take a more holistic approach here and revise the checklist of reptiles inhabiting the Central Western Ghats not only by adding all our past and present new regional records but also by deleting some dubious «records» of agamids ( Salea ) and pitvipers ( Trimeresurus ) not based on voucher specimens pending the availability of reliable, soundly identified vouchers. As a result, a total of 71 species of reptiles, comprising of 4 chelonians, 24 lizards and 43 snakes are reported here. Our literature review shows that only 11 (out of 71) species were originally described from this region. Our preliminary analysis of area cladogram delineated that despite the many range extensions of «southern» Western Ghats species, the Central Western Ghats reptile fauna is still more similar to the Northern Western Ghats. Our analysis of distribution patterns revealed that half the species are Western Ghats endemics (47%), many are also widespread species (30%) and that the Eastern Ghats and Sri Lankan fauna were only scarcely represented.
Financial Decentralization in Malaysian Schools: Strategies for Effective Implementation.

This article presents findings on the essential strategies required at the schoolsite and the relevant people responsible for the effective implementation ofschool-based financial management in Malaysia. Many lessons have been learnedsince more than a decade of the school-based financial management reform inMalaysia through the establishment of school as Responsibility Centre or PusatTanggungjawab (PTj). The government of Malaysia has allocated an enormousamount of money for the education sector during last the few decades to ensurethe highest quality of education for Malaysian society. Therefore school financehas to be managed strategically to confirm the best educational outcome througheffective resource allocation. This study employed the qualitative approach usingthe interview method with ten selected principals heading schools with financialautonomy in Malaysia. The findings revealed a few essential strategies that needto be focused by schools both at individual level and school level in order tosuccessfully manage school finances. The collaboration and mutual effort from allstakeholders are expected to bring transformation toward effective school basedfinancial management in Malaysia.
Physicochemical Characterization of Opuntia ficus-indica Seed Oil from Morocco

Oil yield, physicochemical, tricylglecrols, fatty acid composition, sterols, tocopherols and stability oxidative of Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil obtained by cold pressing extraction were determined. Oil yield was between 6 - 7%. Nine triacylglycerols were identified, the major being LLL (24.94%), LLO (21.31%), LLP (15.90%), and OOL (13.76%). The main fatty acids ranked in the following order of abundance: C18:2 (60.8%), C18:1 (21.3%),C16:0 (11.9%), C18:0 3.4%). The quality and composition of some minor constituents of seed oil were determined. Total tocopherol content in seed oil was 94.6 mg/100 g, γ-tocopherol (90%) was the main constituent. the sterol composition is similar to that of other vegetable oils, level of sterols making up 90.33 mg/100g seed oil was present. The sterol marker, β-sitosterol, accounted for 75.3% of the total sterol content in the seed oil. This oil presented a moderate content in phospholipids.
Power Optimization using Label Switching Router and Predictor Technique in 2 Dimensional Network on Chip

Objectives : To design a label switched-predictor router in 2D Network on chip and compare the power consumption in label switched router and label switched predictor router. Methods/Statistical Analysis: To implement label switching technique with Maxflow Fulkerson algorithm to find the routing path. The modification added in this paper is the predictor which predicts whether the data is repeated data or new data and if it is a repeated data, the previous output will be considered by which power consumption is improved. An 8 bit data is provided and compared with the previous data to check for repeated data and Xilinx software and ISIM simulator was implemented. Findings : The power consumption in label switched router is 177.14mW and in label switched-predictor router is 155.85mW. There is 12 % improvement in power consumption. When the size of network increases; the power consumption for the repeated data inputs will be reduced by this implementation. Application/Improvements: This work can be extended by applying streaming video inputs to the 3x 3 mesh network and compare its performance.
Negative regulation of TLR9‐mediated IFN‐α induction by a small‐molecule, synthetic TLR7 ligand

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are a family of molecules that function as sensors for the detection of foreign pathogens through the recognition of nonvariable microbial motifs. Although numerous studies have focused on singular TLRs, less attention has been focused on how simultaneous signaling of multiple TLRs may result in counter‐regulation of the effects of each. Here, we examine the counter‐regulation that occurs during simultaneous stimulation of TLR7 and TLR9 on human plasmacytoid dendritic cels (PDCs) and B cells. Interestingly, we observed that the capacity for potent IFN‐α‐induction by TLR9 ligands like CpG‐C and CpG‐A is markedly reduced by concurrent small molecule TLR7 stimulation. However, this inhibition is specific to particular CpG motif‐containing immunostimulatory sequence (ISS) functions such as IFN‐α induction and BDCA‐2 down‐regulation. Other ISS activities such as PDC expression of CD80/CD86, secretion of IL‐6, and B cell proliferation are not altered by the presence of TLR7 ligands (TLR7Ls). In concordance with the ability of TLR7Ls to decrease IFN‐α secretion induced by ISS, we also find that the expression of interferon regulatory factor‐7 (IRF‐7), a transcriptional factor critical for IFN‐α expression, is reduced. Furthermore, down‐regulation of TLR9 mRNA expression is accelerated after TLR7 stimulation. These data indicate that TLR7 and TLR9 costimulation do not combine synergistically for IFN‐α induction and demonstrate that, instead, a negative feedback mechanism has evolved, possibly to prevent levels of IFN‐α secretion potentially detrimental to the host.
Games people (don’t) play: An analysis of pre-service EFL teachers’ behaviors and beliefs regarding digital game-based language learning

Abstract Despite the prevalence of digital gaming as a leisure activity and research attesting to the affordances of digital game-based language learning (DGBLL) for English as a foreign language (EFL), the use of DGBLL remains low, especially outside the United States. A survey was carried out in order to understand both the beliefs and behaviors of pre-service EFL teachers in Germany regarding DGBLL. Utilizing constructs from a variety of instruments, students were asked about their prior experience with digital media for language learning, their perceived language skills and language learning strategies, their digital game playing behaviors, their digital language learning behaviors, and their beliefs regarding DGBLL. The results demonstrate that the cohort engages in limited DGBLL despite holding generally positive beliefs about the activity. While favorable beliefs were found to be inversely related to prior experience in formal school settings, current engagement in game playing affects perceived English language skills and language learning strategies positively. These findings have significant implications for EFL teacher education as regards DGBLL and further illuminate the habits and attitudes of so-called “digital natives. ”
Skull mechanics and implications for feeding behaviour in a large marsupial carnivore guild: the thylacine, Tasmanian devil and spotted‐tailed quoll

Extinction risk varies across species and is influenced by key ecological parameters, such as diet specialization. For predictive conservation science to be effective, we need to understand extinction risk factors that may have implicated recent species extinctions. Diet and feeding behaviour of the large extinct marsupial carnivore Thylacinus cynocephalus or thylacine have long been debated. Improved understanding of the skull's biomechanical performance and its limitations in a comparative context may yield important insights. Here, we use three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis to assess aspects of biomechanical performance in the skull of T. cynocephalus relative to those of two extant marsupial carnivores with known diets that occurred sympatrically with T. cynocephalus: the Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, and spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. Together, these three species comprised the large mammalian carnivore guild in Tasmania at the time of European settlement. The bone-cracking S. harrisii produced high bite forces for its size as expected, but the stresses induced were surprisingly high. A higher proportion of cancellous bone in the skull of this osteophage may act to absorb shock but decrease rigidity and hence raise stress. A relatively high bite force and rigid skull characterized D. maculatus, which may allow them to target prey of variable sizes. Compared with S. harrisii and D. maculatus, we found that the skull of T. cynocephalus was least well adapted to withstand forces driven solely by its jaw-closing musculature, as well as to simulations of struggling prey. Our findings suggest that T. cynocephalus likely consumed smaller prey relative to its size, which may have had implications for their survival.
The amino-acid requirement of laying hens

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Methyl isonicotinate induces increased walking and take‐off behaviour in western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis

Timely detection of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is important to help prevent economic damage to crops. Coloured traps are commonly used for thrips monitoring and their efficacy can be markedly improved with the addition of semiochemicals such as methyl isonicotinate (MI). However, the behavioural response of thrips to these compounds is poorly understood. In leaf/petal disc laboratory experiments the effect of MI on adult female WFT was examined with respect to walking and take‐off behaviour. Clean air or air with MI was blown over the leaf/petal discs at an angle of 30° via a glass pipette connected to a wash bottle containing a cotton dental roll with or without a defined amount of MI. At airspeeds of 0.6–1.2 m s−1 and at doses of 1, 10, 50, 100, and 1000 μl (equivalent to indicative concentrations of 1.7, 4.5, 7.3, 8.8, and 14.9 ng MI l−1 air blown over the leaf discs), WFT spent a greater proportion of time walking on chrysanthemum leaf discs in the presence of MI than the non‐attractive thrips compound β‐caryophyllene or clean air. Western flower thrips showed a dose‐dependent take‐off response to the thrips attractant MI, but not to β‐caryophyllene (virtually no take‐off). At 100 μl of MI (8.8 ng l−1 air), WFT spent a greater proportion of time walking on host plant tissue than in clean air, depending on plant disc substrates. Furthermore, WFT took off more often from plant discs exposed to an air current containing MI than from those exposed to clean air. Western flower thrips exposed to MI took off at a similar rate from chrysanthemum leaves, chrysanthemum flower petals, and sweet pepper leaves, but much less readily from bean leaves. The results show that MI stimulates walking and take‐off behaviour for adult female WFT under these experimental conditions and these responses are dose‐dependent and mediated by the host plant. These results are placed in the context of previous research on the behavioural response of thrips to semiochemicals and their implications for thrips pest management are discussed.
Budgeted Online Influence Maximization

We introduce a new budgeted framework for on-line influence maximization, considering the total cost of an advertising campaign instead of the common cardinality constraint on a chosen influ-encer set. Our approach models better the real-world setting where the cost of influencers varies and advertizers want to find the best value for their overall social advertising budget. We propose an algorithm assuming an independent cascade diffusion model and edge-level semi-bandit feedback, and provide both theoretical and experimental results. Our analysis is also valid for the cardinality-constraint setting and improves the state of the art regret bound in this case.
EVALUATION OF INFILTRATION RATE OF PERVIOUS CONCRETE PAVEMENT MODEL BY VARYING PERFORATION PATTERNS OF PIPES

This paper presents the process of evaluation of the infiltration rate of pervious concrete pavement by changing the perforation of drainage pipes. The paper starts with studying of the literature available on pervious concrete for finding out the infiltration rate and construction methodology of pervious concrete pavement. The evaluation of the infiltration rate of the pervious concrete is made according to the ASTM standards which includes the study of different types of perforation effects on the discharge from the miniature scaled down pervious concrete pavement model. For the investigation, cement content is used of 375 kg/m and w/c kept as 0.4. The aggregate/cement ratio is kept as 4. The pervious concrete is made by using the 4.75-10 mm size aggregates. For the measurement of discharge through pervious concrete, 10 cm diameter pipe is used. Four different types of perforation patterns are employed and out of that zigzag pattern is considered as the best type of perforation to get maximum discharge from the pervious concrete pavement.
A Review of Three Level Inverters for Renewable Energy Resources System

The use of distributed energy resources is increasingly being pursued as a supplement and an alternative to large conventional central power stations. The specification of a power-electronic interface is subject to requirements related not only to the renewable energy source itself but also to its effects on the power-system operation, especially where the intermittent energy source constitutes a significant part of the total system capacity. In this paper, new trends in power electronics for the integration of wind and photovoltaic (PV) power generators are presented. A review of the appropriate storage-system technology used for the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources is also introduced. Discussions about common and future trends in renewable energy systems based on reliability and maturity of each technology are presented.
A new milliped of the Genus Chonodesmus, with a proposed reclassification of the family Cryptodesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)

Summary Chonodemus gervaisi, n. sp. , is described from San Agustin, Colombia. The genus Chonodesmus in many ways provides a link between the three nominal families Cryptodesmidae, Pterodesmidae, and Peridontodesmidae, and it is proposed that the three be combined into a single taxon, Cryptodesmidae, with the other two names retained for subordinate groups. A provisional classification of the family is suggested, including generic synonymy, and the new tribes Lampodesmini, Ophrydes‐mini, Dyakryptini, and Trichopeltini are proposed. The family name Otodesmidae is reduced to subfamily rank, and the name Niponiellidae reduced to tribal status. A key is provided for four West African genera of the subfamily Pterodesminae.
Estimating tree biomass of sub-Saharan African forests: a review of available allometric equations.

In response to the growing interest in estimating carbon stocks in forests, available allometric equations have been compiled for sub-Saharan Africa. Tree, sprout and stand volume and biomass equations were reviewed. The 850 equations and 125 related references were incorporated into an open-access database on the Carboafrica website (http://www.carboafrica. net). The collected information provides a basic tool for the estimation of biomass and carbon stocks and other purposes, such as bioenergy and fodder supply assessment. A Tier-method approach was developed to illustrate the possible use of the equations. Current available biomass expansion factors that are used to convert a volume to the total aboveground biomass appear to be limited; incomplete species-specific allometric equations are preferred to generalised equations. The analysis of the database highlighted important gaps in available tools to assess forest carbon stocks and changes in these stocks. A quality control assessment revealed that 22% of the equations were misreported and recommendations were proposed to guide further research. Further statistical analyses, such as the Bayesian approach, would help to produce more accurate biomass estimates. (Resume d'auteur)
A Hierarchical Model for Estimating Change in American Woodcock Populations

Abstract The Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) is a primary source of information on population change for American woodcock (Scolopax minor). We analyzed the SGS using a hierarchical log-linear model and compared the estimates of change and annual indices of abundance to a route regression analysis of SGS data. We also grouped SGS routes into Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) and estimated population change and annual indices using BCRs within states and provinces as strata. Based on the hierarchical model–based estimates, we concluded that woodcock populations were declining in North America between 1968 and 2006 (trend = −0.9%/yr, 95% credible interval: −1.2, −0.5). Singing-Ground Survey results are generally similar between analytical approaches, but the hierarchical model has several important advantages over the route regression. Hierarchical models better accommodate changes in survey efficiency over time and space by treating strata, years, and observers as random effects in the context of a log-linear model, providing trend estimates that are derived directly from the annual indices. We also conducted a hierarchical model analysis of woodcock data from the Christmas Bird Count and the North American Breeding Bird Survey. All surveys showed general consistency in patterns of population change, but the SGS had the shortest credible intervals. We suggest that population management and conservation planning for woodcock involving interpretation of the SGS use estimates provided by the hierarchical model.
Niche dimensionality links biodiversity and invasibility of microbial communities

Summary Biodiversity is a central factor driving community invasibility. Diverse communities exploit resources more efficiently, leaving less free niche space available to invaders. Niche partitioning, however, is only possible in complex resource environments, and we hypothesized that resource richness drives the biodiversity–invasibility relationship. We tested the effect of two biodiversity indices, taxonomic richness and functional dissimilarity, on the invasibility of Pseudomonas fluorescens communities in microcosms of varying resource richness, herein used as a proxy for niche dimensionality, because different P. fluorescens genotypes differed in their ability to use those resources. Invader success was negatively correlated with the diversity of the resident community, with functional dissimilarity being of greater significance than taxonomic richness. Varied niche dimensionality revealed different mechanisms determining community invasibility: at low niche dimensionality, invasibility was driven by the presence of particular genotypes (identity effect) rather than by the biodiversity of the resident community. At high niche dimensionality, functional dissimilarity increased community productivity and reduced invasion, most likely through complementarity effects. The results show that functionally dissimilar bacterial strains efficiently exploit their environment, reducing the resources available for invasive species. These findings call for the preservation of functionally dissimilar taxa to warrant resistance of communities against invasive species, in particular, in environments of high niche dimensionality.
Assessing the performance evaluation of different convective parameterization schemes in simulating the intensity of severe cyclonic storms over the Bay of Bengal region

In the present work, the performance of six convective parameterization schemes (CPSs) of the Weather Research and Forecasting model is tested for the intensity simulation of the cyclonic storms Mala, Sidr, Nargis, Aila, Laila, Jal and Thane which formed over the Bay of Bengal, with a special focus on Jal (formed in November 2010). It is found that the Grell‐3, new Kain–Fritsch and old simplified Arakawa–Schubert CPSs provide higher intensity and give higher divergence in the upper‐level convective precipitation rate, horizontal eddy viscosity, eddy viscosity of heat and total advective moisture tendency than other tested CPSs. It is noted that no single CPS can be assumed “best” for simulating all characteristics of a storm including intensity, track, rainfall amount, the spatial distribution of rainfall, and landfall (time and location). The study also incorporated some of the critically simulated parameters such as vorticity (shear, curvature and total), latent heating, relative humidity, equivalent potential temperature, cloud water content and cloud fraction in the intensity forecast and their importance in the cyclone forecast is discussed. The CPSs influence the forecasted convective precipitation rate of the storm and have a good correlation with the maximum surface wind, cloud fraction and upper‐level divergence.