Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) Habitat Associations in Agriculture Fields and along Canal Trails in Phoenix, Arizona

Abstract Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) have experienced significant population declines over the last 100 years in parts of the United States and Canada. This decline may be associated with increasing urbanization and land-cover change; however, owls can occupy urbanized environments. To determine habitat selection in the southeast valley of Phoenix, Arizona, we conducted visual surveys for owls during summer 2011 and measured microhabitat and landscape characteristics in 23 agricultural fields (fields) and along 15 canal right-of-ways (trails). We estimated occupancy rate and detectability using Program MARK. We identified microhabitat selection to relate owl occurrence to landscape variables. Occupancy rate was 32% in both fields and trails and owls had greater detectability along trails. Burrowing Owl occurrence was similar in fields with varying agricultural stages (from undisturbed to harvested) and moisture conditions. Owl occupancy was positively associated with soil type and canal water presence, and occupancy decreased when developed landscape cover (e.g., roads and buildings) increased. These findings suggest that Burrowing Owls are able to live in urbanized environments below 40% developed land cover provided that water and suitable soils are available.
Biology of Aphthona nigriscutis (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) in the laboratory

The flea beetle Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras was introduced to Canada in 1983 and the United States in 1989 for the biological control of leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. Life history data for A. nigriscutis are described based on laboratory studies using insect populations from Barnes County, North Dakota, and Fallon County, Montana. Initial emergence of males and females from spring soil samples was synchronized, but complete emergence for males preceded that of females. For the Barnes County population, ≈80% of the adults were female. When adults were held as mated pairs at 25°C and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h, male longevity was longer than that of the female with a median longevity of 221 and 124 d, respectively. Oviposition started ≈10 d after female emergence and proceeded at a rate of 4 eggs per day over an average oviposition period of 109 d. Oviposition averaged 537 eggs per female with a range of 103—1,157. Eggs from the Fallon County population started to hatch within 10 d after oviposition when eggs were held at 25°C. Egg hatch averaged near 60% and occurred over a period of ≈8 d. Life history data for A. nigriscutis were similar to other univoltine Aphthona spp. , except A. nigriscutis had a female-biased sex ratio, greater male longevity, and higher female oviposition.
Bacterial Community Shift in Two Sectors of a Tannery Plant and its Cr (VI) Removing Potential

The bacterial community, analyzed by both 16S rRNA gene-based clone library and cultivation methods, changed in two different sectors of a tannery plant. Ten different bacterial phyla were detected through the clone library. The bacterial community of the tanning waste consisted of Gammaproteobacteria (34.8%), Bacteroidetes (20.9%), Betaproteobacteria (12.8%), Alphaproteobacteria (7.0%), Firmicutes (7.0%), Deinococcus-Thermus (7%), Planctomycetes (4.7%), Verrucomicrobia (2.3%), Epsilonproteobacteria (1.2%), Spirochaetes (1.2%), and that of the settling tank sludge consisted of Firmicutes (38.8%), Betaproteobacteria (27.1%), Gammaproteobacteria (11.8%), Bacteroidetes (9.4%), Alphaproteobacteria (4.7%), Deltaproteobacteria (3.5%), Actinobacteria (2.4%), Synergistes (1.2%). The tanning waste accommodated higher biodiversity than the downstream primary settling tank did. Cultivation conditions seriously influenced the culturability and isolation of bacterial strains: different levels of nutrients and Cr (VI) and temperatures resulted in isolation of different bacterial strains, which showed different removal of Cr (VI) (from 1.2% to 99.1%). In addition, supplementation of nutritious LB medium enhanced the Cr (VI) culturability of bacterial isolates. Several bacteria detected as operational taxonomy units (OTUs) by culture-independent analysis were isolated, yet many OTUs did not have their relative isolates. Among the isolates, Pseudochrobactrum, Shewanella, Marinobacter, Microbacterium, Psychrobacter and Agrococcus strains showed considerable Cr (VI) removal efficiencies and good potentials for Cr (VI) pollution treatment.
Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1 Internalization

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) internalization was studied by monitoring the uptake of125I-TGF-β1 in Mv1Lu cells, which endogenously express TGF-β receptors types I (RI), II (RII), and III (RIII), and 293 cells transfected with RI and RII. At 37 °C internalization occurred rapidly, within 10 min of ligand addition. Internalization was optimal in 293 cells expressing both RI and RII. Internalization was prevented by phenylarsine oxide, a nonspecific inhibitor of receptor internalization, but was not affected by reagents that interfere with clathrin-mediated endocytosis such as monodansylcadaverine, K44A dynamin, and inhibitors of endosomal acidification. Electron microscopic examination of Mv1Lu cells treated with 125I- TGF-β1 at 37 °C indicated that internalization occurred via a noncoated vesicular mechanism. Internalization was prevented by prebinding cells with TGF-β1 at 4 °C for 2 h prior to switching the cells to 37 °C. This was attributed to a loss of receptor binding, as indicated by a rapid decrease in the amount of TGF-β1 bound to the cell surface at 37 °C and by a reduction in the labeling intensities of RI and RII in125I-TGF-β1-cross-linking experiments. Mv1Lu or 293 (RI+RII) cells, prebound with TGF-β1 at 4 °C and subsequently stripped of ligand by an acid wash, nevertheless initiated a signaling response upon transfer to 37 °C, suggesting that prebinding promotes formation of stable RI·RII complexes that can signal independently of ligand.
Higher rates of nucleotide substitution in Drosophila than in mammals

To examine whether the rate of nucleotide substitution is affected by generation time of the organism, I attempted to estimate an accurate rate of synonymous (silent) substitution in Drosophila lineages, using alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) and heat shock protein 82 (hsp82) genes. The results obtained suggest that the rate of synonymous substitution in Drosophila lineages is roughly 10-8 per site per year. This rate is approximately two times higher than that of rodents and ten times greater than higher primates. The higher rate in Drosophila may be explained by the shorter generation times of the Drosophila species, though the possibility that the mutation mechanism in Drosophila may differ from that in mammals cannot be excluded.
Sampling and pheromone trapping for comparison of abundance of Amyelois transitella in almonds and pistachios

The navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the primary insect pest of almonds, Prunus amygdalus Batsch (Rosaceae), and pistachios, Pistacia vera L. (Anacardiaceae), in California, USA. Abundance of A. transitella was compared between these crops by examining total and infested mummy nuts collected in trees and on the ground between January and March in 2003 and 2004, and by examining the number of males captured in sticky traps baited with virgin females as a pheromone source during the subsequent growing seasons. There was an 8–9‐fold greater density of total mummies (potential hosts) in pistachios compared to almonds. The proportion of mummies infested was not significantly different between the crops in 2003, but significantly more almond than pistachio mummies were infested in 2004. In 2003, the average density of infested mummies per hectare was greater in pistachios than in almonds, but in 2004 the converse was true. Examination of meteorological data did not suggest an explanation for more live A. transitella per infested mummy in almonds in 2004. The number of males captured in pistachios was consistently greater than the number captured in almonds, particularly during the second flight in June and July. The number of males captured in sticky traps in the summer was more strongly associated with the total mummy density in the sanitation survey of the previous winter than with the density of infested mummies. We conclude that the overall density of mummy nuts serving as potential oviposition sites prior to the next year's crop has a greater impact on the abundance of A. transitella during the growing season and subsequent harvest than does the density of infested mummies. The implications for the ecology and management of this pest species are discussed.
The cost of phenotypic evolution

Formulae are developed for the fraction of the population that must be eliminated by selection in each generation in order to account for a given rate of evolution in a metrical trait. A combination of directional and stabilizing selection is assumed. The effects of competition based on phenotypic value are also considered. The formulae are applied to data on evolutionary rates and their variances. It is concluded that most selective elimination is due to stabilizing selection, and that even very rapid evolutionary change in a single character usually involves low levels of additional elimination. It is suggested that long-sustained evolutionary trends are unlikely to be caused either by gradual change of the optimum under stabilizing selection or by the effects of competitive selection in favor of extreme individuals. It is possible that genetic correlations between traits under selection may limit the response of a single trait to directional selection and hence produce very gradual change.
Approximate Outage Probability and Capacity for $\kappa$ - $\mu$ Shadowed Fading

Recently, a generalization of $\kappa$ - $\mu$ fading and Rician shadowed fading, i.e, $\kappa$ - $\mu$ shadowed fading has been proposed. In this work, we derive approximate expressions for outage probability and channel capacity when the signal of interest and interferers both experience $\kappa$ - $\mu$ shadowed fading with arbitrary parameters. The expressions are expressed in terms of well known hypergeometric function, which can be easily evaluated numerically. Finally, simulation results are provided which shows that our approximation is fairly tight.
Survival rate and life span of rhesus monkeys at the Yerkes regional primate research center

This paper describes the survival rates of 763 rhesus monkeys maintained at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center (YRPRC). The survival rates were determined by methods used to calculate survival rates of human populations. The monkeys were divided into 3 groups based on their specific life histories. Group I monkeys were wild‐born and were housed singly from the time they came into captivity at about 2 years of age. Group II monkeys were born either in the wild or in captivity and were housed in social groups since their acquisition at ages 2 to 8 years. Group III monkeys were born at the YRPRC and housed in social groups. Due to these differences in life histories, direct comparisons among survival curves of the 3 groups are, at best, tenuous, as are comparisons with populations maintained at other facilities. In the present study the highest mortality rate occurred during the first month of life. The maximum life span attained in our group I was 35 years, with only 6.2% of monkeys in this group attaining an age beyond 30 years.
Germin and Germin-like Proteins: Evolution, Structure, and Function

Germin and germin-like proteins (GLPs) are encoded by a family of genes found in all plants. They are part of the cupin superfamily of biochemically diverse proteins, a superfamily that has a conserved tertiary structure, though with limited similarity in primary sequence. The subgroups of GLPs have different enzyme functions that include the two hydrogen peroxide–generating enzymes, oxalate oxidase (OxO) and superoxide dismutase. This review summarizes the sequence and structural details of GLPs and also discusses their evolutionary progression, particularly their amplification in gene number during the evolution of the land plants. In terms of function, the GLPs are known to be differentially expressed during specific periods of plant growth and development, a pattern of evolutionary subfunctionalization. They are also implicated in the response of plants to biotic (viruses, bacteria, mycorrhizae, fungi, insects, nematodes, and parasitic plants) and abiotic (salt, heat/cold, drought, nutrient, and metal) stress. Most detailed data come from studies of fungal pathogenesis in cereals. This involvement with the protection of plants from environmental stress of various types has led to numerous plant breeding studies that have found links between GLPs and QTLs for disease and stress resistance. In addition the OxO enzyme has considerable commercial significance, based principally on its use in the medical diagnosis of oxalate concentration in plasma and urine. Finally, this review provides information on the nutritional importance of these proteins in the human diet, as several members are known to be allergenic, a feature related to their thermal stability and evolutionary connection to the seed storage proteins, also members of the cupin superfamily.
A Comparison of Methods for Classifying Rhizosphere Bacteria

SUMMARY: A comparison was made between the following three methods of classifying bacteria: (1) division on associated characters, (2) identification by the use of Skerman's key, (3) classification by means of Affinity Index. Division on associated characters was of no value in this particular case. Skerman's key was adequate for the identification of the isolates, while the Affinity Index (a slight modification of the Similarity Index of Sneath) gave a comprehensive view of the relationships between isolates. It was considered that a random sample of 43 isolates selected from a collection of 318 rhizosphere bacteria formed a spectrum, rather than a series of groups.
Horse mackerel egg identification using DNA methodology

Egg identification in plankton samples is usually needed for purposes of stock assessment. Until recently, only morphological characters were used for identifying the eggs of different fish species. Late developmental stages are easily distinguishable due to pigmentation as well as egg and oil globule size range. However, for early stages, these characteristics are difficult to be discriminated and may overlap with other species. European horse mackerel species (Trachurus trachurus, T. mediterraneus, T. picturatus) overlap significantly in their spawning areas in some European waters. Because of the fact that their eggs are morphologically similar, genetic methodologies are needed to identify eggs and larvae to species correctly. In the present study, formalin- and ethanol-preserved eggs were tested to estimate the efficacy of genetic methodologies for species identification of eggs when different preservatives are used. A 370-bp fragment of cytochrome b was successfully amplified followed by restriction fragment analysis with two restriction enzymes aiming to identify the eggs to species. Horse mackerel egg identification was accomplished with the maximum success in ethanol-preserved eggs. However, it seems that various preservatives had different effects on the DNA quality of eggs as genetic identification was less successful in formalin-preserved eggs. Preserving in ethanol a part of the eggs obtained in plankton surveys is suggested for purposes of accurate genetic identification, even if their morphological features are distorted in time.
Abundance – distribution relationships in fish assembly of the Amazonas floodplain lakes

This study shows that patterns in some community assemblages are not mainly governed by local factors but also by regional ones. Using field data from 36 floodplain forest lakes in the Amazon basin, we present transect count data on the richness, abundance and distribution of floodplain lake fish species. A total of 194 fish species were collected, of which 43 were classified as short-distance migrants. A positive relation was found for local migratory and sedentary species abundances with distribution at a regional scale. The study also suggests that the probability of the presence of a migratory species is more affected by aspects of river-lake connectivity than sedentary species. Our results seem to indicate that migratory species play an important role in local dynamics of floodplain lakes.
A novel device detects a rapid ozone-induced transient stomatal closure in intact Arabidopsis and its absence in abi2 mutant

To follow stomatal responses to ozone (O 3 ) in different Arabidopsis lines, we constructed a rapid-response O 3 exposure/gas-exchange measurement device consisting of eight through-flow whole-rosette cuvettes. To separate rosette from roots and growth substrate, plant is grown through an agar-filled hole in a polished glass plate fixed on the pot. Following insertion of the plant, the plate forms air-tight bottom surface of the cuvette; thus the rosette is enclosed without touching it during any phase of the insertion of the plant to the cuvette. The device allows monitoring rapid responses in the stomatal function. For example, an acute exposure to 150 ppb O 3 decreased stomatal conductance to 60-70% of its initial value within 9-12 min. Thereafter, the conductance regained its preexposure value within further 30-40 min in spite of the continuing O 3 exposure. The transient decrease was absent in the abscisic acid-insensitive mutant abi2 defective in a class 2C protein phosphatase. This provides an in vivo confirmation that the early transient decrease in stomatal conductance is not a result of physical damage by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed from O 3 breakdown but reflects the biological action of ROS, transduced through a signalling cascade. Thus, the apparatus will be helpful in specifying complex molecular and genetic interactions in rapid responses in guard cells in vivo.
Encapsulation of halophytic plant parts powder in suppression of root rot diseases

First attempt was done for the encapsulation of organic matter in which Rhizophora mucronata Lam. parts powder was filled in capsule shells and incorporated in soil at one, three and five capsules per pot to assess its impact on the crop growth. The results showed that R. mucronata stem at three capsules per pot was found better in the enhancement of growth parameters while leaves and stem of mangrove resulted in greater germination of okra and mung bean seeds. Leaves and stem powder at five capsules per pot significantly reduced colonisation of root-infecting fungi. However, empty shells did not have any effect on root-infecting fungi whereas the growth of crop plants was increased when compared with a control.
CLASSIFICATION OF ASCOIDEACEOUS YEASTS BASED ON THE ELECTROPHORETIC COMPARISON OF ENZYMES AND COENZYMES Q SYSTEMS

Sixty one strains of ascoideaceous yeasts belonging to twenty species of nine genera were examined from a taxonomical viewpoint based on a study of the electrophoretic comparison of the enzymes and the coenzymes Q (Co-Q) systems. The fifty strains, excluding those yeasts in which the detected number of enzymes was 3 or less, were divided into 4 clusters and 2 subclusters by numerical analysis of the relative electrophoretic mobilities (Rm) of 8 enzymes. On the other hand, the Co-Q systems of the ascoideaceous yeasts were Q-7, Q-8, or Q-9. These Co-Q systems and the septal ultrastructures coincided with each other. It is possible to divide these yeasts into four groups on the basis of similarity value according to the Rm of 8 enzymes: Saccharomycopsis lipolytica, other Saccharomycopsis spp. and related genera, Hyphopichia burtonii and/or Stephanoascus ciferrii, and Ambrosiozyma and Hormoascus. Saccharomycopsis lipolytica should be excluded from the genus Saccharomycopsis and is assigned to the genus Yarrowia. Ambrosiozyma and Hormoascus are considered to be cogeneric. Our data revealed close taxonomic relationship in the numerical classification based on the Rm of enzymes, Co-Q systems, and the septal ultrastructure.
Ontogenetic Scaling of the Cranial Horn Array in Phrynosoma orbiculare (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)

Abstract Phrynosoma orbiculare bears one pair of horns on the midline parietal bone (P2), two pairs on each squamosal bone (S1 and S2), and one horn on each frontal bone (F0). Reduced major axis (RMA) regression statistics for the relationship of each horn to head length, and of head length to body length, were estimated and compared for significant differences in slopes, size at smallest head length, and size at greatest head length. F0 and P2 increase at different but low rates, but S1 and S2 grow at a significantly faster rate and approach P2 length toward the upper end of the head length range. This suggests an adaptive role for the cranial horn array in adult lizards. No sexual differences were found in these relationships, but there were significant subspecific differences in the relationships of head length to body length and of S1 and S2 to head length. This allometry of the cranial horn array is hypothesized to represent a plesiomorphic condition among the horned phrynosomatids.
Experiments on flow and learning in games : creating services to support efficient serious games development

The work in this dissertation has been carried out under the auspices of Eras-mus Mundus Doctorate Program in Interactive and Cognitive Environments (ICE). This work was conducted towards a joint double PhD degree affiliated with the following partner universities: Acknowledgements This PhD Thesis has been developed in the framework of, and according to, the rules of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate on Interactive and Cogni-tive Environments EMJD ICE [FPA n°2010-0012] with the cooperation of the following Universities: According to ICE regulations, the Italian PhD title has also been awarded by the Università degli Studi di Genova. vi "He who has not tasted the bitterness of learning even for a moment , will withstand humiliation from foolishness all his life. Existence of a man is the knowledge and piety. "-Imam Asy-Syafi'i q.s. "The sum total of all the essence of good is to seek knowledge, practice upon it and teaching it to somebody. To my wife and my parents (+in laws) Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the support of Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate program in Interactive and Cognitive Environments (EMJD ICE) and Eu-ropean Gaming and Learning Alliance (GALA). This dissertation would not have been possible without the help of my supervisors , colleagues, friends, and family. First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to my promotors: prof. Alessandro DeGloria and prof.dr. Matthias Rauterberg, and my co-promotor: dr. Francesco Bellotti and dr. Erik van der Spek. Throughout the PhD project you have kindly provided me with valuable guidance, knowledge, advice, and support. I also would like to thank the reviewers: prof.dr. Ben Schouten, prof.dr. Ryohei Nakatsu, and dr. Pieter Spronck. I would like to sincerely thank the ICE didactic support: Francesco Grasso and Isadora who had been very helpful during my stay in Italy, and also Miriam for the assistance in the last year of my study. I would like to thank Ellen Konijnenberg and Gaby Jansen for helping me out with all administrative issues during my stay in the Netherlands. All colleagues from EMJD ICE program, Elios lab, and the Designed Intelligence Group, thank you! thank you for your help. Furthermore, I would like to thank all my colleagues in Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), especially bu Mahendrawathi Erawan for your excellent recommendation, Cak Son, Raras, and Anisah for visiting me during my study.landa: thank you for having me. I realize that the list of people mentioned in here is …