Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and functioning of intertidal food webs along an avian flyway: a comparative approach using stable isotopes

1. Food webs and trophic dynamics of coastal systems have been the focus of intense research throughout the world, as they prove to be critical in understanding ecosystem processes and functions. However, very few studies have undertaken a quantitative comparison of entire food webs from a key consumer perspective across a broad geographical area, limiting relevant comparisons among systems with distinct biotic and abiotic components. 2. We investigate the structure and functioning of food webs in four tidal ecosystems of international importance for migratory shorebirds along the East Atlantic Flyway: Tejo estuary in Portugal, Sidi Moussa in Morocco, Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania and Bijagos archipelago in Guinea-Bissau. Basal food sources, shorebirds and their prey (benthic invertebrates) were sampled in all areas, and Bayesian stable isotope mixing models and community-wide metrics were used in a comparative analysis among areas. 3. Significant differences among study areas were found in the structure of food webs, as well as in the relative importance of basal resource pools supporting each food web. Overall, the food web of Banc d'Arguin was characterized by lower trophic diversity and higher functional redundancy than the other sites. This result might be explained by the low number of trophic pathways of organic matter transfer in this seagrass-dominated system which, as a fossil estuary, lacks inputs from both freshwater and nutrient-rich offshore oceanic waters. 4. Structure of shorebird communities was consistent with the main organizational patterns found for each food web, highlighting the less diverse character of the community of Banc d'Arguin. At Banc d'Arguin and Bijagos archipelago, which displayed the smallest and largest isotopic niche widths in bird assemblage, respectively, mean niche overlap among species was low, suggesting high interspecific partitioning in resource use. Tropical systems typically offer comparatively lower harvestable prey biomass for shorebirds and might thus strengthen interspecific competition, leading to low niche overlap among species. 5. Our study reveals relevant differences in the structure of food webs and shorebird communities in coastal areas along an avian flyway. While differences in trophic redundancy of food webs point to distinct levels of ecosystem resilience, contrasts in the organization of shorebird communities highlight the plasticity in the foraging behaviour of species inhabiting areas with distinct environmental conditions.
Observations on Cumacea (Malacostraca: Peracarida) from Antarctic and subantarctic waters. II. The rediscovery and redescriptions of Diastylis hammoniae Zimmer, 1902 and Diastylis planifrons Calman, 1912

ABSTRACT Diastylis hammoniae Zimmer, 1902 and D. planifrons Calman, 1912 are redescribed and illustrated on the basis of examination of the type material and additional specimens collected in Subantarctic waters off Argentina during Cruise 6 of the R/V Eltanin in 1968. Both of these diastylid species have not been reported since their original descriptions. Diastylis hammoniae, which was originally described from two specimens taken in waters off eastern Patagonia, is distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of characters including (1) the absence of exopods on pereopods 3 and 4 in the female, the shape and minute spination of the carapace, (2) the elongate carpus of pereopod 2 (distinctly longer than combined length of propodus and dactylus), (3) the telson not extending as far as the distal third of the uropodal peduncle, and (4) the presence of 6 or 7 pairs of narrow, elongate, simple lateral setae on the telson. Specimens of Diastylis planifrons were collected in the same general area as its type locality. This species is distinguished from other species of Diastylis by a combination of characters including its uniquely sculptured carapace, a well-developed antenna, and pereopod 2 having a slender and elongate carpus which, like that of D. hammoniae, is nearly twice as long as the combined lengths of the propodus and dactylus. Diastylis hammoniae and D. planifrons co-occurred in the R/V Eltanin sample.
What does “organic” mean for farmers? A qualitative study on their perceptions and motivations about organic farming

: Organic production involves multiple techniques and it is interpreted in different ways by the agents involved. They would act according to their preferences, values and expectations but also determined by the current system of food production, distribution and commercialization. At the same time, farmers experience a change in their perception regarding their business, themselves, and the relation with nature. For these reasons, it is relevant to study how this change contribute to the development of rural spaces and sustainable agrifood systems. The overall objective of this research is to find out producers’ views about organic agriculture and farm labour. In order to do so, I have analysed the discourses and experiences from thirteen deep-interviews to different agents related to organic production whose activity takes place in the region of Aragon (Spain). The study gives evidences about the change in the meaning of “farming” in organic production and their implications in the development of this sector, based in the ideal of sustainability. It shows how organic farming is not only driven by economic motivations but also farmers’ ecological commitment to sustainability.
An Effective Reconstruction of Replica Memory Design Optimization for Embedded System

Application specific custom memory architecture requires implementing the behavior of system performance in various aspects. Application specific replica cell designed, analyzed with lower cost and delay which is used in ASIP (application specific instruction set processor) and High level synthesis environment. By the help of replica cell design operational computing data storage frequency is analyzed according to operational optimal degree or shortest data transition path is effective contribution in storage optimization section. We have also analyzed column circuitry replica design architecture used in low power embedded devices. This reconstructive replica cell architecture is improving the operational computing frequency with low power consumption. Replica implemented memory cell design reduces the delay time or cost which is highly required for ASIP and High level synthesis environment.
Genetic Characterization of an Invasive Boa constrictor Population on the Caribbean Island of Aruba

Abstract Boa constrictor was first documented on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 1999. Despite intensive efforts to eradicate the snake from the island, B. constrictor has established a stable, reproductively successful population on Aruba. We generated mitochondrial sequence and multilocus microsatellite data for individuals from this population to characterize the origins and means of introduction to the island. Phylogenetic analyses and measures of genetic diversity for this population were compared with those for invasive B. constrictor imperator from Cozumel and B. constrictor constrictor from Puerto Rico. Cozumel populations of B. c. imperator had significantly higher numbers of alleles and significantly higher values for FIS than the Puerto Rico and Aruba populations. Observed, expected, and Nei's unbiased heterozygosities, as well as effective number of alleles, were not significantly different. The effective population sizes from Aruba and Puerto Rico were generally lower than those for either of the Cozumel populations; however, there were broad confidence intervals associated with published estimates. We conclude that the present B. constrictor population on Aruba most likely resulted from the release or escape of a small number of unrelated captive snakes originating from South America (B. c. constrictor) and are phylogenetically distinct from introduced boas on Puerto Rico and Cozumel. This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting the ease with which a small number of relatively slow-maturing B. constrictor can quickly invade, become established, and avoid eradication efforts in a new location with suitable habitat.
BEHAVIOUR OF A WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM: A MODELLING AND SIMULATION STUDY OF ACTIVITIES WITH SOME EXPERIMENTS

Modelling and simulation is rapidly becoming a mainstream approach in determination of dynamical behaviour and management of operation of physical systems. This paper presents a study of nonlinear modelling and simulation of city of Gaziantep water supply system, and some experiments on the real system. The nonlinear model is obtained using active and passive dynamical elements. Validation of the simulation model is accomplished through comparison with system observations and using data validation and face validity approaches. The nonlinear system is simulated for comparison with the realsystem measurements. Results demonstrate the dynamical behaviour of the real system about flow stability, water heads in the reservoirs and a measure of the friction at different sections of the water supply system.
Topology Based Rigidity and Modal Analysis of Six Link Single Degree of Freedom Kinematic Chains

Kinematic chains are identified by researchers in the form of manipulators and hence stiffness and rigidity of kinematic chains are also important criteria. Topology of chain can vary their properties and hence in the present work an attempt has been made to compare the properties for different topologies i.e. for watt`s and Stephenson chain and their inversions. Six links single degree of freedom Kinematic chains are considered for analysis for Deflection and the modal frequencies as flexible kinematic chains for different angular positions in software Creo (Mechanica).
Chemical State and Nutritional Availability of Iron in a Prepared Infant Formula

Summary The distribution and chemical state of ferrous iron added to a prepared infant formula was studied, using Fe 59 as a tracer. The iron was found to be almost entirely associated with the milk proteins. Before protein hydrolysis, only 3% of the iron was dialyzable against either distilled water or a citrate solution, but after hydrolysis in vitro, 20% of the iron was dialyzable against water and 79% against citrate solution. Digestion in vivo increased the percentage of dialyzable iron still further. Most of the iron added to milk products exists as a soluble protein iron complex and it is available nutritionally after the protein portion of the complex is digested.
Caftaric acid: an overview on its structure, daily consumption, bioavailability and pharmacological effects

Caftaric acid is simply known as phenolic derivative and it is present in high concentrations in grape seeds an d juice. The chemical structure of caftaric acid is C13H12O9, with molar mass of the acid equal to 312.230 g/mol. Caftaric acid is formed united of caffeic acid and tartaric acid. This paper reviews caftaric acid structure, daily consumption, bioavailability and pharmacological effects. The caftaric acid quickly passes to the stomach and duodenum and increases the absorption of the acid in the intestinal Caco -2 cells. The antioxidant effect of grape stem was related to its caftaric acid constituent. The grape juice has anti-inflammatory effect and this anti-inflammatory effect is correlated with the main constituent of this juice which is caftaric acid. Caftaric acid has antimutagenic effect in an animal model suggesting that caftaric acid participates in chemopreventive effect of the Yamabudo juice. The "liver detoxifying" effect is observed and correlated with oral supplementation with aqueous decoctions of Cichorium spinosum and Cichorium intybus in Greece where caftaric acid is the major constituent of these two aqueous decoctions. The caftaric acid possesses a double effect through decreasing high blood glucose and high blood pressure so this acid can be used in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. The caftaric acid increases granulocyte/macrophage-colony forming cells from femurs of female animals' models by 70%. In conclusion, caftaric acid is presented about 5 mg/100 cm 3 grape juice. The acid is quickly passes into the stomach and duodenum. The trans-caftaric acid represents 85% of the total phenolic content in the Concord grape juice with a total concentration of 444 μmol/L. The caftaric acid has many pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and anti-hypertensive, anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome and neuroprotective effects.
Biogeography, population genetics and mating systems of natural Nasonia populations

The parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis has been used extensively in sex allocation research. Although laboratory experiments have largely confirmed predictions of Local Mate Competition (LMC) theory, the underlying assumptions of LMC models have hardly been explored in nature. We genotyped over 3500 individuals from two distant locations (in the Netherlands and Germany) at four polymorphic microsatellite loci to validate key assumptions of LMC theory, in terms of both the original models and more recent extensions to them. We estimated the number of females contributing eggs to patches of hosts and the clutch sizes as well as sex ratios produced by individual foundresses. In addition we evaluated the level of inbreeding and population differentiation. Foundress numbers ranged from 1 to 7 (average 3.0 ±0.46 SE). Foundresses were randomly distributed across the patches and across hosts within patches, with few parasitizing more than one patch. Of the hosts, 40% were parasitized by more than one foundress. Clutch sizes of individual foundresses (average 9.99 ±0.51 SE) varied considerably between hosts. The time period during which offspring continued to emerge from a patch or host correlated strongly with foundress number, indicating that sequential rather than simultaneous parasitism is the more common. Genetic differentiation at the regional level between Germany and the Netherlands, as estimated by Slatkin’s private allele method (0.11) and Hedrick’s corrected G’LT (0.23), indicates significant substructuring between regions. The level of population inbreeding for the two localities (FIL = 0.168) fitted the expectation based on the average foundress number per patch.
Effectiveness of bacterial strains (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Streptomyces) against Fusarium Graminearum causal agent of crown rot disease on wheat

Pots experiment was carried out in the Agricultural Research Department during the season 2013-2014 to assess the effectiveness of bacterial strains (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, and Streptomyces) against Fusarium graminearum. Azospirillum, Streptomyces, B. pumillus and bacterial mixture that cultivated in not contaminated soil with fungus led to increase in the percentage of germination (100, 90.67, 90.33, 100%) respectively. The bacterial mixture, Azospirillum, Streptomyces and B. pumillus led to decrease percentage and severity of crown rot disease reached 45.83, 50.89, 51.48, 54.16% and 29.21,35.49,38.36, 39.70% respectively. The produced concentrations of IAA from bacteria P.fluorescens, Streptomyces, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, B. subtilis and B.pumillus reached 0.013, 0.017, 0.015, 0.012, 0.013, 0.023mg / L respectively, whereas the produced concentrations of cytokinein reached 0.012, 0.010, 0.007, 0.007, 0.012, 0.015mg / L respectively. The concentrations of phenolic compounds reached 120.15, 144.87, 118.97, 155.53, 119.86, 140.76, 160. 68μg/g soft tissue respectively. PAL enzyme activity in the treated plants reached 9.54, 11.21, 10.11, 12.13, 9.68, 11.89 and 14.12 n mole/min/g soft tissue respectively. Peroxidase activity reached 26.97, 34.67, 25.81, 35.88, 26.68, 29.32, 41.68 absorption change /min/gm soft tissue respectively. The activity of chitinase enzyme reached 19.28, 27.78, 18.78, 29.58, 19.89, 25.91, 33.43 μmole/min/gm soft tissue, respectively.
A study of the effect of the slope angle of a green dike on the failure of the grass revetment due to wave impact Master Thesis Civil Engineering and Management

Parts of the Netherlands are protected against floods from the sea by dikes. At the Dollard in the Netherlands, a special dike was constructed, a green dike. A green dike is a dike with a grass cover on the entire slope and does not contain a hard revetment to deal with the incoming waves. Unfortunately, it is uncertain under which exact storm circumstances the seaside grass revetment fails. The assessment of the strength of the grass revetment against wave impact is captured in the “Wettelijk Beoordelingsinstrumentarium” (WBI), but the slope angle is not included although it has an important effect on the revetment strength. Therefore, the objective of this research is to determine the effect of the slope angle on the duration until failure of the revetment due to wave impact, also termed resistance-duration.
Omnics Exo: Lightweight Personal Wearable Robot

Lower limb exoskeletons have great potential in injury prevention for workers, but the current lower-limb exoskeletons are typically heavy, bulky and challenging to provide good safety for complex environmental conditions. This paper presents two versions of lightweight and high-torque knee exoskeletons, primarily for squat assistance for injury prevention. We employ high-torque-density motor and quasi-direct-drive actuation in exoskeleton design to achieve light weight and hightorque output. A tethered knee exoskeleton platform is developed to study biomechanics and understand control to optimize humanrobot interaction. A portable knee exoskeleton platform is developed to translate the knowlge gained from the tethered platform for onsite knee injury prevention. Keywords—Knee exoskeleton, squat assistance, high-torquedensity motor, quasi-direct-drive actuation
TRUGENE sequencing versus INNO‐LiPA for sub‐genotyping of HCV genotype‐4

Hepatitis C virus genotypes and subtypes determination is an important factor for understanding the epidemiology of the virus, in the pre‐treatment evaluation of the patients and in defining better treatment strategies. In the present study, we compared two commercially available assays for HCV genotyping: the reverse hybridization based Innogenetics INNO‐LiPA HCV II and the direct sequencing by TRUGENE assay. The study included 31 HCV‐RNA positive Egyptian patients; 18 patients with chronic active hepatitis, 8 with HCC, and 5 with cirrhosis. Using the TRUGENE genotyping test, all the samples had genotype 4 (100%) and subtyped as 4a in 18/31(58%), 4c in 10/31 (32%), 4e in 1/31 (3%), 4a/c in 1/31 (3%), and 4g in 1/31 (3%). Using the INNO‐LiPA assay, 30 samples had genotype 4 (97%), and 1 sample had genotype 1e (3%). One sample showed mixed infection with type 4f and type 1. Only six samples were subtypable by INNO‐LiPA, three were genotype 4c/d, and the other three were 4f, 4e, and 1e. Seven samples gave reactivity in the INNO‐LiPA of lines 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, which are considered untypable by the interpretation chart but considered to be a rare HCV genotype 4 by the manufacturer. At the genotype level, there was a 97% concordance between TRUGENE sequencing and INNO‐LiPA, but at the subtype level the concordance rate was 3% only. We conclude that the TRUGENE genotyping assay is a reliable test for HCV genotyping for the detection of major types and subtypes detection, while INNO‐LiPA is a good test at the genotype level but unreliable for subtyping especially in the Egyptian population. This is mainly due to the high diversity of genotype 4, which is the most prevalent genotype in Egypt. J. Med. Virol. 75:412–420, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Automated Approach for Selecting Bugs in Component-Based Software Projects

- Bug-fixing tasks represent a critical obstacle for maintaining software systems, in which project managers are faced with the challenge of manually selecting bugs to be fixed in the next release, usually concerning priority and severity criteria indicated in bug reports. For large complex systems, in which a considerable number of bugs exists, ad-hoc manual approaches are unsuitable, representing a timing consuming, labor-intensive and error prone strategy. In such a context, exploring search-based software engineering techniques, this paper proposes an automated approach for selecting interdependent bugs in component-based software projects, adopting a multi-customer model for choosing the more relevant bugs from the viewpoint of the software producer and its customers, but with total cost limited by the project budget.
Charges and forces on conductive particles in roll-type corona-electrostatic separators

The authors proposed the use of a numerical method of field analysis to evaluate more accurately the charges and forces on man-size conductive particles of virtually any shape in contact with an electrode. A charge simulation program was tested for this purpose, and provided the input data to an algorithm for the computation of particle trajectories. The results were in good agreement with observations made on a laboratory electroseparator. The effect of space charge on the behavior of conductive particles was studied with a three-electrode system (a grounded grid between a corona electrode and a metallic plate energized by two high-voltage supplies of opposite polarities). The accuracy of numerical simulations of electroseparation processes is expected to increase when a mathematical model of particle motion in DC corona fields will be incorporated in the existing computer programs. <<ETX>>
DETERMINATION OF POTENTIAL MULTI-TARGET INHIBITORS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN SILICO

The complexity of Alzheimer’s disease requires therapeutic treatments that counteract multiple processes. Symptoms and causes include formation of senile plaques, agglomeration of neurofibrillary tangles, disruption of cholinergic activity, and oxidative stress. Enzymes that promote these pathways include BACE1, GSK-3β, CDK-5, AChE, BuChE, MAO-A, and MAO-B. Virtual screening of the InterBioScreen and Zinc 15 databases was conducted using the Schrödinger 2019 Phase program to identify potential inhibitors of these enzymes. InterBioScreen compounds 1N-05528, and 1N-72595, and Zinc 15 compounds ZINC314161, ZINC5854353, ZINC15674654, ZINC49170543, ZINC96112244, and ZINC604382088 all showed exergonic binding within the active sites of at least five AD enzymes. These compounds were docked individually with standard precision (SP) and compared with known inhibitors—the docking locations and scores were comparable with those of known inhibitors. ADME blood brain permeability evaluations with QPlogBB and QPMDCK showed that the compounds should not be blocked by the blood brain barrier. DETERMINATION OF POTENTIAL MULTI-TARGET INHIBITORS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN SILICO Massimo D. Bezoari†, Glendalyn Boothe* Northwestern State University, Louisiana Scholars’ College, Natchitoches, LA 71497 †Corresponding author: bezoarim@nsula.edu