Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advances in insect physiology and endocrinology through genomics, peptidomics, and related

This series of the Canadian Journal of Zoology brings together scientists actively working on insect physiology and endocrinology in this postgenomic era. This issue is timely and appropriate. Timely, because of the pace of change brought about by genome projects, functional genomics and genetics (omics technologies), including gene microarrays, mu- tations, RNAi, and sophisticated mass spectrometry techniques, which are helping to unravel complex regulatory processes. Appropriate, because Canada, and the Canadian Journal of Zoology, has a rich history and strong tradition of cutting-edge research in insect biology—with particular strengths in insect physiology and endocrinology. The first review illustrates how these very modern omics technologies can be embraced and applied to insect physiology and endocrinology, and the subse- quent reviews illustrate this in practice, with regard to insect cold hardiness, insulin signaling and stress, peptidergic control of food intake and digestion, endocrine control of diuresis, and finally allatoregulatory peptides. These reviews set the scene and context for the exciting era that we find ourselves in, and the depth of understanding that has come from this post- genomic revolution.
Short-term effects of dust storm on physiological performance of some wild plants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The effects of dust storm were investigated in three wild plants named Ficus nitida, Datura stramonium and Plumeria acutifolia by means of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, as well as, net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance after progressive dust deposition extended for 6 days. In the two months leading up to the storm, severe drought conditions in Riyadh, plus above average maximum temperatures resulted in high potential evapo-transpiration rates, producing severe soil moisture deficits. Exposure to dust resulted in a drastic effect on some physiological parameters including the loss of chlorophyll a and b contents, inhibition of net photosynthetic rate (PN) and significant decrease of stomatal conductance (gs). Carotenoids content and carotenoids/total chlorophyll ratio of dust stressed plants were significantly increased parallel with the progressive deposition of the dust in comparison with control plants. The maximum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry (Fv/Fm, PSII efficiency) varied among plants collected from the same site. Our results evidenced that dust deposition decreased overall plant performance through its severe effect on photosynthesis and resulted in a significant inhibition of PSII efficiency throughout this study period. Key words: Chlorophyll fluorescence, dust storm, photosynthesis, Saudi Arabia.
Validation of rice blast resistance genes in barley using a QTL mapping population and near-isolines

There are prior reports of Pyricularia grisea-the causal agent of blast of rice-causing disease in barley. In order to determine the specificity of this resistance in barley, we extended our previous mapping efforts to include blast isolates from barley and rice grown in Thailand and we assessed two resistance phenotypes: leaf blast (LB) and neck blast (NB). The largest-effect resistance QTL, on chromosome I H, was associated with NB and LB and is located in a region rich in resistance genes, including QTL conferring resistance to stripe rust (incited by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei) and the mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei) resistance gene Mla. The LB, NB and mildew resistance alleles trace to one parent (Baronesse) whereas the stripe rust resistance allele traces to the other parent (BCD47) of the mapping population. Baronesse is the susceptible recurrent parent of a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) for three stripe rust resistance QTL, including one on 1H. Unigene (EST) derived single nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes of these NILs were aligned with the blast mapping population QTL using Mla as an anchor. Baronesse and all NILs without the 1H introgression were resistant to LB and NB. However, two NILs with the I H introgression were resistant to LB and NB. Both are resistant to stripe rust. Therefore, the QTL conferring resistance to stripe rust is separable by recombination from the blast resistance QTL.
Synthetic strategies for modifying dielectric properties and the electron mobility of fullerene derivatives

The goal of this PhD research project was to develop fullerene derivatives with enhanced dielectric properties for photovoltaic applications. Organic solar cells suffer from relatively low power conversion efficiency mainly due to charge recombination, which stems from the low dielectric constant of these materials. Donor and acceptor combinations are necessary to avoid this, but that approach leads to other types of losses. Increasing the dielectric constant would be the fundamental way to cure the problem. In this thesis the effects of several synthetic strategies on the dielectric constant of fullerene derivatives are described. These strategies includes installing strong permanent dipole groups, incorporating flexible ethyleneoxy-type side chains with small dipoles, installing side chains with highly polarizable heavy atoms such as bromine and iodine and, finally, installing side chains which inherently have a high dielectric constant, such as cyclic carbonates. Theoretical calculations predicted enhanced charge separation upon replacing PCBM by fullerenes with side groups containing strong permanent dipoles, but interestingly their experimentally determined dielectric constant remained similar. Among the proposed strategies, installing ethyleneoxy-type side chains is shown to be a promising way to increase the dielectric constant by ~46 percent without devaluation of optical properties, electron mobility, and orbital energy levels of the compound. However, the length of these chains did not show a considerable effect on dielectric constant.
Diurnal variations of summertime precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau in relation to orographically-induced regional circulations

The diurnal patterns of variation of summertime precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau were first investigated using the TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis product for five summer seasons (i.e. June to August for 2002–2006). Both hourly precipitation amount and precipitation frequency exhibit pronounced daily variability with an overall late-afternoon–evening maximum and a dominant morning minimum. A notable exception is the prevalent nocturnal maximum around the periphery of the Plateau. In terms of the normalized harmonic amplitude, the diurnal signal shows significant regional contrast with the strongest manifestation over the central Plateau and the weakest near the periphery. This remarkable spatial dependence in daily rainfall cycles is clear evidence of orographic and heterogeneous land-surface impacts on convective development. Using six-hourly NCEP FNL data, we then examined the diurnal variability in the atmospheric circulation and thermodynamics in this region. The results show that the Plateau heats (cools) the overlying atmosphere during the day (night) more than the surrounding areas, and as a consequence a relatively stronger confluent circulation in this region occurs during the day than during the night, consistent with the diurnal rainfall cycles. Moreover, the regions with large low-level convergence and upper-level divergence correspond to the strong diurnal rainfall variations. The reversed daily alterations of convergence–divergence patterns in the vicinity of the Plateau edges are in agreement with the observed nighttime rainfall peak therein. This study further demonstrates the importance of the Tibetan Plateau in regulating regional circulation and precipitation.
VENTILATION CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW MANUFACTURED HOUSE

A manufactured home has been installed on the NIST campus for ventilation, energy and indoor air quality studies. The primary purposes of the facility are to study mechanical ventilation requirements for U.S. manufactured homes and to investigate the systems used to meet these requirements. In addition, the building will be used to investigate moisture issues, indoor air quality impacts of combustion appliances, and VOC emissions from building materials and furnishings. The first phase of this multiyear effort has focused on airtightness, system airflows and air change rates. This paper describes the measurement results including envelope and duct airtightness, ventilation system airflow rates, and whole house air change rates under different ventilation configurations and weather conditions. In addition, a model of the building in the multizone airflow program CONTAMW is presented along with comparisons between model predictions and measurements of air change rates. The results indicate that the envelope and air distribution ductwork are fairly leaky, but not unusually high for U.S. manufactured homes, and that the predicted air change rates are in good agreement with the measured values.
Can Cushioned Shoes with Anatomical Insole Correct the Impact in Runners with Recurring Shin Splint

Shin splint injury usually takes several weeks to recover. We determine the effect of cushioned shoes with anatomical insole on impact, over pronation and mechanical strategy to impact during running in 10 k runners, over pronators, rear foot initial contact and unilateral recurrent shin splint respect bare foot running before sport return. Fourteen runners with recurrent shin splint who underwent standardized physical therapy were included. We compared by one tailed paired t-test the variables impact, rear foot over pronation angle in midstance and mechanical strategy to impact during barefoot running condition with anatomical insole and cushioned shoes running condition (α=0.05 and 1-β=80%). The impact was reduced from 6.893 g to 6.600 g (95% CI: 6.513 g-6.686 g, p<0.001) using cushioned shoes with anatomical insole condition respect barefoot running condition. The over pronation angle in midstance was reduced from 18.50° to 16.21° (95% CI: 14.29°-18.13°, p = 0.011) using cushioned shoes with anatomical insole condition respect barefoot running condition. The mechanical strategy to impact analyzed by cross correlation coefficient between cushioned shoes with anatomical insole condition with barefoot running condition was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.74-0.81, p<0.001). Running with cushioned shoes with anatomical insole in subjects with unilateral recurrent shin splint before return sport attenuates the impact and reduces over pronation. But, doesnt change the mechanical strategy to impact.
Ocean Waves and Teleconnection Patterns in the Northern Hemisphere

AbstractUnderstanding long-term, ocean wave climate variability is important to assess climate change impacts on coastal and ocean physics and engineering. Teleconnection patterns can represent wave climate variability in the context of climate change. The objective of this study is to identify how large-scale spatial distributions of wave heights vary on a monthly basis and how they are influenced by various teleconnection patterns using reanalysis datasets. The wave height climate responses to teleconnection patterns in the eastern part of the North Pacific and North Atlantic are more sensible than in the corresponding western parts. The dominant spatial patterns of monthly averaged wave height variability in winter were obtained by empirical orthogonal function analysis. The three dominant patterns in the North Pacific and North Atlantic are similar. It is remarkable that one of the three dominant patterns, a band-shaped pattern, exhibits a strong relation to the teleconnection pattern in each ocean. T.
REIT ETFs Performance During the Financial Crisis.

In this study the “disintegration hypothesis” is tested. It is examined whether the Vanguard Real Estate Investment Trust and iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate Index Fund exchange traded funds disintegrate from their underlying indexes during the recent financial crisis. Failure to support the “disintegration hypothesis” of the exchange traded fund and underlying index is found. It is also found that the Vanguard Real Estate Investment Trust exchange traded fund is consistently cointegrated with its underlying index the MSCI US REITs Index, before, during and after the financial crisis. It is also found that the iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate Index Fund before the financial crisis is not cointegrated with its underlying index, the Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index; whereas during and after the crisis the exchange traded fund and index are cointegrated. Additionally, it is documented that the tracking error of these two exchange traded funds increases and becomes more volatile during the financial crisis relative to the before and after crisis period.
What drives gasoline taxes

Gasoline taxes are the most important tax on car use. The question naturally arises as to what tax would be adopted by a government that responds to the preferences of the public. To address that issue, we begin with the standard Downsian model, where policy is determined by the median voter. This model predicts that as long as the median voter is not a car user, he wants high taxes on road use and a road capacity that maximizes net tax revenues. When he becomes a driver himself, he wants road user taxes that are lower and only increase to control congestion, as well as more road capacity. We then use panel data for 28 countries and find support for our theory. When the median voter becomes a driver, the gasoline tax drops on average by 20%.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AVIAN MORTALITY AT A NORTH FLORIDA TELEVISION TOWER: A 29-YEAR STUDY

Abstract The study of birds killed at the WCTV television tower in north Florida over a 29-yr period is one of the longest of its kind. A total of 44,007 individuals in 186 species was collected, and over 94% of the total number of individuals were Neotropical migrants with the Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceous) the most frequent. Two factors changed during the study period: tower height and scavenger control. Analysis of these factors suggests that towers approximately 94 m or lower may not pose as great a threat of avian mortality as caused by towers 200 m or greater. Absence of scavenger control corresponded with a 71% decline in the number of individuals found beneath the tower. Any study of avian mortality at communication towers must directly address the problem of removal of injured and dead birds by scavengers to make an accurate measure of mortality.
Towards Research University through Ambidexterity Practice: A Lecturer Perspective

The concept of ambidexterity in organization theory refers to an organization's ability to innovate in explorative manners (Duncan, 1980). Ambidexterity can be identified into structural ambidexterity and contextual ambidexterity (Tushman, O'Reilly, 1990). In small medium enterprises, for example, innovation activities take contextual form since most owners act both as entrepreneurs and business leaders (Kusumastuti, et.al., 2015), while in established corporations innovation activities generally occur in structural form. Thus research takes academic institution as its locus, within which innovation activities are mandatory for all civitas academica (academic community). The study uses mixed method for collecting data through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. It shows that university has the capacity to provide context in institutional support and remuneration system as a means stimulate lecturers and researchers to be more innovative. The scheme also provided structure at the university and faculty level as tools to coordinate and integrate research projects. The organizational learning at the individual level reflects the pattern of contextual ambidexterity process.
The Application of Garch Family Models to Some Agricultural Crop Products in Amhara National Regional State

The price volatility of agricultural crop products has increased in the last decade. It has a negative impact on the economy of the country through income instability for producers, consumers and whole sellers and also leads to a major decline in future output. The aim of this thesis is to identify and analyze the determinant factors of average monthly price volatility of cereals (wheat and barley) and pulses (bean and pea) in Amhara National Regional State over the period of December 2001 to June 2012 GC. The return series considered exhibited typical characteristics of financial time series such as volatility clustering, leptokurtic distributions and asymmetric effect and thus, can suitably modeled using GARCH family models. Among such models entertained in this study, ARMA(1,0)-EGARCH(3,3) with GED for wheat, ARMA(4,4)-EGARCH(2,3) with GED for bean and ARMA(1,0)-EGARCH(1,2) with student-t for pea were chosen to be the best fit models. The monthly price return series of barley exhibited no ARCH effects, and thus, was not modeled using (G)ARCH family models. From the results, exchange rate and general and food inflation rates were found to be an increasing effect on price volatility of wheat, bean and pea. On the other hand, rainfall was found to have a stabilizing effect on the price volatility of these crops. Moreover, saving interest rate has a decreasing effect on the price volatility of wheat and bean. The results also revealed that price volatility has seasonal variation. The asymmetric terms were found to be significant in all GARCH models considered. Thus, price volatility tends to over-react in response to bad news as compared to good news. Furthermore, the significance of the EGARCH terms provides strong evidence of volatility spillover from one period to another. Key words: price volatility, crop products, ARMA, ARCH, GARCH family models
Root system traits of Norway spruce, Scots pine, and silver birch in mixed boreal forests: an analysis of root architecture, morphology, and anatomy

The aim of this thesis was to unravel the functional-structural characteristics of root systems of Betula pendula Roth. , Picea abies (L.) Karst. , and Pinus sylvestris L. in mixed boreal forest stands differing in their developmental stage and site fertility. The root systems of these species had similar structural regularities: horizontallyoriented shallow roots defined the horizontal area of influence, and within this area, each species placed fine roots in the uppermost soil layers, while sinker roots defined the maximum rooting depth. Large radial spread and high ramification of coarse roots, and the high specific root length (SRL) and root length density (RLD) of fine roots indicated the high belowground competitiveness and root plasticity of B. pendula. Smaller radial root spread and sparser branching of coarse roots, and low SRL and RLD of fine roots of the conifers could indicate their more conservative resource use and high association with and dependence on ectomycorrhiza-forming fungi. The vertical fine root distributions of the species were mostly overlapping, implying the possibility for intense belowground competition for nutrients. In each species, conduits tapered and their frequency increased from distal roots to the stem, from the stem to the branches, and to leaf petioles in B. pendula. Conduit tapering was organ-specific in each species violating the assumptions of the general vascular scaling model (WBE). This reflects the hierarchical organization of a tree and differences between organs in the relative importance of transport, safety, and mechanical demands. The applied root model was capable of depicting the mass, length and spread of coarse roots of B. pendula and P. abies, and to the lesser extent in P. sylvestris. The roots did not follow self-similar fractal branching, because the parameter values varied within the root systems. Model parameters indicate differences in rooting behavior, and therefore different ecophysiological adaptations between species.
Communication across cancer boundaries

Background: Cancer patients can be socially isolated and lonely. The general public still has negative attitudes toward cancer and cancer patients. It is important for cancer patients to have a supportive environment and to connect with other people. Methods : We conducted a qualitative study with two focus group interviews of eight persons using a grounded theory approach to understand ordinary people’s perceptions of cancer and cancer patients, and to explore their experience of interacting with the patients. Results: This study revealed “Communication across cancer boundaries” as a core category with six themes: “negative assumptions,” “social stigma,” “communication boundaries,” “transforming perceptions of cancer patients through interactions,” “building communication competence,” and “awakening empathy. ” The ordinary people still had negative assumptions about cancer and cancer patients, leading to social stigma and creating communication boundaries. The experience of interaction with a cancer patient, however, altered their views on cancer patients, and reminded them of the need for communication competence to create a relationship with empathy. Conclusions: The results of this study provided unique insights into ordinary people’s views on cancer and cancer patients. Health care providers should understand how ordinary people perceive cancer patients, and provide education and they should provide information to both cancer patients and the general public. A society’s greater understanding of cancer and cancer patients enables the society to provide an empathetic community where cancer is no longer seen as a taboo and stigmatized.
Transition to turbulence at the bottom of a solitary wave

Abstract A linear stability analysis of the laminar flow in the boundary layer at the bottom of a solitary wave is made to determine the conditions leading to transition and the appearance of turbulence. The Reynolds number of the phenomenon is assumed to be large and a ‘momentary’ criterion of instability is used. The results show that the laminar regime becomes unstable during the decelerating phase, when the height of the solitary wave exceeds a threshold value which depends on the ratio between the boundary layer thickness and the local water depth. A comparison of the theoretical results with the experimental measurements of Sumer et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 646, 2010, pp. 207–231) supports the analysis.
Modeling the Nationalism Character Building through Hidden Curriculum Attachment for High School Student at Frontier Area of Indonesia

One important issue in education today in Indonesia is the morality as part of educational outcomes. The difference characteristics of students in today's era compare to the previous, cannot be approached in traditional ways of learning. Society needs an alternative educational model that can produce graduates with strong character on morality. This research aims to develop a model of education in schools based on nationalism values based on the experience of certain school. The model will be implemented at the frontier area of Indonesia. This study is a qualitative research used focus group interviews method to explore the experiences in the assembling of value-based boarding school. The subjects of this study were Taruna Nusantara, Muallimin and Muallimaat high schools. The result of this research is a modified model of education for building student character that can be applied to other un-boarding schools or regular schools at frontier are of Indonesia.