Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial DNA control region variation in Sanfratellano horse and two other Sicilian autochthonous breeds

Abstract Mitochondrial D-loop hypervariable region was analysed in 20 Sanfratellano and two other Sicilian autochthonous horse breeds (20 Sicilian Oriental Purebred and 20 Sicilian Indigenous) in order to investigate matrilineal genetic diversity. A total of 20 different haplotypes were identified sequencing a fragment of 397 bp; overall, haplotypes showed 31 polymorphic sites (7.8%). High diversity was detected in Sanfratellano (11 haplotypes) and Sicilian Indigenous (13 haplotypes), whereas only one haplotype was found in Sicilian Oriental Purebred. Sanfratellano sequences were compared with those belonging to the other Sicilian autochthonous horses and 118 sequences selected from the GenBank database in order to calculate the statistics of molecular diversity. Six haplotypes were exclusive of Sanfratellano which shares haplotype C, D, H, and O with the Sicilian Indigenous and haplotype U with the Sicilian Oriental Purebred; not significant differentiation was found between Sanfratellano and Sicilian Indigenous. BLAST search showed Sicilian haplotypes overlap with the database sequences but for three. Phylogenetic analysis did not show monophyletic group for Sanfratellano samples or the other breeds included in this analysis.
FiDL Working Papers

Since the amount of simultaneously circulating cryptocurrencies is increasing rapidly worldwide, this study aims to question the effects on competition between privately issued cryptocurrencies and central bank issued fiat currencies by postulating a coexistence theory despite extreme scenarios. This systematic literature review provides a comprehensive, detailed overview and analysis of the relevant contributions on currency competition and coexistence and develops a theoretical framework of the main ideas and functions of cryptocurrencies as well as a brief summary of the currency approach. Furthermore, it categorises current findings in finance literature into major categories to introduce further research on coexistence. To proof a lack of research, we conducted a systematic literature review to outline previous research and highlight its gaps. We find that the literature reveals convergence towards the hypothesis of a lack of research in coexistence and competition concerning the inter-market situation of privately issued cryptocurrencies and central bank issued fiat currencies.
Predicting locations of rare aquatic species' habitat with a combination of species‐specific and assemblage‐based models

Rare aquatic species are a substantial component of biodiversity, and their conservation is a major objective of many management plans. However, they are difficult to assess, and their optimal habitats are often poorly known. Methods to effectively predict the likely locations of suitable rare aquatic species habitats are needed. We combine two modelling approaches to predict occurrence and general abundance of several rare fish species.
ASSESSMENT OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM RESPONSES TO ATMOSPHERIC CHANGE USING LINKED PLANT–SOIL PROCESS MODELS

Models of photosynthesis, plant growth, and biophysical processes were linked with models that simulate water, nutrient, and carbon flows through plant–soil ecosystems. The linked ecosystem model was applied to examine ecosystem-level responses to CO2, temperature, precipitation, and global-warming scenarios in grasslands of Colorado and Kansas, USA, and Kenya. The model predicted that increased temperatures would decrease primary production at current CO2 levels, but decreases were reversed by doubling atmospheric CO2 concentration. Greater increases in daily minimum temperatures than daily maximum temperatures mitigated reductions in photosynthesis and water-use efficiency (WUE) later in the day, more than offseting increases in nighttime respiration rates under warmer temperatures. A temperature increase of 5°C reduced organic carbon in grassland soils by 20–30%, through effects on plant growth and decomposition, but the doubled CO2 negated soil carbon losses by increasing plant growth. Under higher pr.
An immunological method for granulovirus detection in larvae of Tuta absoluta: searching for isolates with prospects for biological control of this pest in Colombia

The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta is an important insect pest of tomato crops worldwide. Biological control using entomopathogenic viruses such as isolates of Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus (PhopGV) can be a promising tool for suitably controlling this pest. However to date, few viral isolates from T. absoluta have been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an economic, fast and accurate immunological technique for granulovirus detection and to evaluate viral presence in T. absoluta larvae from field samples collected in Colombia. Polyclonal antibodies against PhopGV were produced by using hens and rabbits. The production system in hen was selected as the most efficient and simple method. Then, a dot-blot test was developed, demonstrating the ability of antibodies to recognize granulovirus. Finally, granulovirus presence in 1186 T. absoluta larvae collected in the most important tomato production areas in Colombia was evaluated, and eight isolates were found in Boyacá and Cundinamarca (0.7% of occurrence). These results constitute the first report of a granulovirus isolated from T. absoluta larvae which had been naturally infected in Colombia's tomato producing-fields, and thereby validates the use of the immunological technique to detect granulovirus in field conditions.
Cyclohexanediol Fatty Acid Diesters as Model Compounds for Mechanistic Studies in Silver Ion High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract Series of cis‐1,2‐ and cis/trans‐1,4‐cyclohexanediol diesters of saturated, oleic and linoleic fatty acids were employed as model compounds in a study of the effect of the unsaturation and the position of the acyl moieties on the retention of acylglycerol molecules in silver ion high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). cis‐1,2‐Diunsaturated cyclohexanediol diesters were retained slightly more strongly than were the respective cis/trans‐1,4‐compounds, thus indicating that formation of chelate‐type complexes between silver ions and the double bonds of two adjacent unsaturated fatty acid residues during silver ion chromatography may occur to a limited extent.
Molecular phylogeny of the South American land slug Phyllocaulis (Mollusca, Soleolifera, Veronicellidae)

Gomes, S. R. , Britto da Silva, F. , Mendes, I. L. V. , Thomé, J. W. & Bonatto, S. L. (2009). Molecular phylogeny of the South American land slug Phyllocaulis (Mollusca, Soleolifera, Veronicellidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 177–186.
Vertical distribution of invertebrate drift in a large river1

Invertebrate drift in large rivers has often been sampled at only one depth, under the assumption that drift density is equal throughout the water column. A new sampling apparatus showed that the vertical distribution of drift density for the baetid mayflies Pseudocloeon and Buetis and for the caddisflies Hydropsyche and Cheumutopsyche was not uniform. Invertebrate drift, or downstream transport (Waters 1972), is a natural event in the lives of many members of the stream benthos. The study of invertebrate drift and its role in the production cycle of running water, however, has been limited for the most part to small streams because established sampling techniques are not suitable for depths over 0.5 m. Several workers have used floating nets or modified plankton samplers anchored to the substrate or suspended in midwater (Elliott 1967; Ulfstrand 1968). Pearson and Kramer (1969) developed a waterwheel-driven sampler and suggested it for large rivers. Each of these methods samples a single stratum ’ This research was supported by Northern States Power Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401. of water, and it is assumed that drift density-the number of organisms caught per unit volume of water sampled-is evenly distributed for all taxa throughout the water column. We have re-evaluated this hypothesis through the design and use of a new sampling apparatus which permits multilevel sampling in water exceeding 0.5 m. Our work was done on the Mississippi River near Monticello, Wright County, Minnesota, from July 1973 through July 1974. At two sampling sites, at the end of short riffles where the substrate was primarily gravel and rubble and within lo20 m of the bank, the apparatus was set at depths ranging from 0.44 to 1.29 m. The current velocity ranged from 0.2 to 1.5 m *s-l and the daily river discharge from 48 to 345 m3. s-l over the sampling periods. Drift sampling nets, 15 x 15 x 145 cm, were made of 452-mesh Nitex (openings about 452 pm) secured to a brass-rod frame like that of Waters (1962) (Fig. lA, B). Pieces of steel conduit, 15 cm long, were brazed to the sides of the brass frame to act as points of attachment to what we called a “net-stack frame” (Fig. lC), made of 2.5-cm-square iron tubing.
Comparison of the Hodrick-Prescott filter with other trend estimation methods

The cyclical adjustment method used by the Commission services (European Commission, 1995) to calculate these cyclically adjusted balances involves two main steps (Blanchard, 1990): first, trend output is estimated. Estimates of the cyclical fluctuations are obtained by subtracting these trend output estimates from actual output. secondly, the effects of these output gaps on government budget receipts and expenditure are calculated via the use of revenue and expenditure elasticities. These cyclical effects are then deducted from the actual government budget balance to obtain the cyclically adjusted budget balance.
Infection of Macrosiphum euphorbiae with mycelial preparations of Erynia neoaphidis in a greenhouse trial

Experimental preparations (alginate granules and mycelial mats) of the entomopathogenic Erynia neoaphidis were assessed for their capacity to cause infections in populations of Macrosiphum euphorbiae on pepper plants, in a greenhouse trial performed over 14 d. The dried preparations contained hyphal cells, which upon rehydration produced conidiophores and ejected ballistospores. Applications of alginate granules and mycelial mats on soil were more rapid in causing infections in the host population compared with foliar applications. On the last sample date, infection rates of 10–14% were obtained with foliar applications of E. neoaphidis as alginate granules and mycelial mats, respectively. With soil applications of E. neoaphidis granules and mats, infections were 23–36% after 14 d. From all sample dates, 183 cadavers were found on pepper plants treated with E. neoaphidis and 37 (= 20%) exhibited external sporulation after overnight incubation. Comparisons were also made with single foliar sprays of Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol WPr) and the systemic insecticide pymetrozine (Chess WPg), the latter being the only treatment to significantly reduce aphid numbers during the trial period. Treatment with B. bassiana resulted in good initial infection rates (50–60%) which declined over the period and reached the same infection level as E. neoaphidis treatments at the end of the trial. With B. bassiana , a total of 81 cadavers were found, of which 62 (= 77%) sporulated.
Morphological and Molecular Identification of Two New Species of Hyphodontia (Schizoporaceae, Hymenochaetales) from Southern China

Abstract Two new Hyphodontia species, H. pseudotropica and H. rhizomorpha spp. nov., are described based on morphological and molecular characters. Hyphodontia pseudotropica is characterized by poroid hymenophore with buff to buff-yellow pore surface, a monomitic hyphal system with thick-walled, frequently branched generative hyphae and oblong-ellipsoid basidiospores, and plenty of bladder-like cystidia. Hyphodontia rhizomorpha is distinguished by poroid hymenophores when juvenile, cracked with age; white pore surface, larger pores (1–2 per mm), bearing white rhizomorphs, a monomitic hyphal system with encrusted generative hyphae, and ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores (4.3–5.5 × 3.7–4.1 µm). Both morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis inferred from ITS sequences confirmed the placement of the two new species in Hyphodontia s.l. and showed its relationships with similar species in the genus.
Influence of characteristic parameters of signal on fault feature extraction of singular value method

The detection of mechanical fault signals by singular value decomposition is a commonly used method in fault diagnosis. The delay time of the fault signal time series and the rationality of the value of the phase space embedding dimension, as well as the fluctuation of the characteristic parameters of the fault signal, will cause the singular value decomposition method to have a greater impact on the accuracy of fault feature identification and diagnosis. In this article, the simulation model of the similarity signal is established by the combination of the autocorrelation function method and the Cao’s algorithm. Then, the delay time of the signal sequence and the optimal value of the embedded dimension are obtained through simulation. Next, using this method to study the fluctuation of the characteristic parameters such as the frequency, amplitude and initial phase of the signal, the relationship between the characteristic parameters of the signal and the singular value of the signal is obtained. Finally, through the experimental study of the pitting corrosion of the gear tooth surface, the vibration of the fault feature is obtained. The research shows that the combination of autocorrelation function method and Cao's algorithm can calculate the optimal characteristic parameters for the singular value decomposition method and improve the ability of the method to identify fault features.
PERSONALITY TRAITS AND LOCUS OF CONTROL AS PREDICTORS OF STUDENTS’ SELF-EFFICACY

The research problem was to determine whether the students’ self-efficacy can be predicted based on their personality traits and locus of control. The sample consisted of 200 high school students (100 females), aged 18-19. Personality traits were defined in accordance with the Big Five plus Two model (Smederevac, Mitrović, & Ćolović, 2010) supposing the existence of seven broad personality dispositions: extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, conscientiousness, aggressiveness, positive valence, negative valence. The LOC scale (Bezinović, 1990) was used to determine whether a person believes that he/she is responsible for his/her behavior and actions or that is due to external circumstances. Self-efficacy (social, academic, and emotional) was measured by the questionnaire SEQ-C (Muris, 2001). The data were processed by the multiple regression analysis procedures, firstly including personality traits as predictors and secondly adding locus of control in the model. Extraversion and locus of control were shown as significant predictors of social self-efficacy of students. Conscientiousness, negative valence, openness and locus of control were predictors of students’ academic self-efficacy. Emotional self-efficacy of students could be predicted by positive valence and aggressiveness. The results showed that personality characteristics, especially traits, were better predictors of social and academic self-efficacy than of emotional one.
Identification of the Genetic Differences Between Some Faba Bean Genotypes by Finger Print Characters

Two investigations were carried out at the experimental farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, during the winter seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. The investigation was carried out to study the performance of five faba bean genotypes and identifying and discriminating faba bean lines.Seven RAPD markers were used to detect the genetic variability and relationships among five faba bean lines. The results of RAPD analysis showed that six out of the seven tested primers displayed polymorphism among the all tested lines, while one primers were monomorphic. 47.83% out of 69 bands amplified were polymorphic. Unique DNA fragments with different sizes were detected in particular lines but not in the others using different primers. Unique DNA markers with different sizes were related to some traits such as green pod/plants, weight of dry seeds/plant, tellers/plant and protein content percentage traits the genetic similarity among the five faba bean lines was high, ranging from 96.7% to 76%. The highest similarity and shortest genetic distance were found between Romy 80 and Romy 3. While the lowest genetic distance were found between Romy 80 and Ass. 85/37. The investigation suggested that the RAPD approach showed considerable potential for identifying and discriminating faba bean line.
Bayesian assessment of the SNA1 snapper (Pagrus auratus) stock on the north‐east coast of New Zealand

Abstract A statistical catch‐at‐age model was used in a Bayesian context to assess the SNA1 snapper (Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)) stock off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The analysis differs from previous assessments by starting at an exploited population size in 1970 and using a Bayesian framework to describe uncertainty in the estimates of current stock status and projections of future stock status. The model was fit to two tagging biomass estimates and to catch‐at‐age data. Annual recruitment multipliers were estimated by assuming a temperature‐recruitment relationship and fitting to pre‐recruit trawl survey data for the Hauraki Gulf‐Bay of Plenty combined substock (HG‐BoP) and as individual parameters for the East Northland substock (EN). The combined HG‐BoP substock is estimated to be below the biomass level that will support maximum sustainable yield, but will rebuild under current estimated removals. The EN substock is estimated to be above the biomass level that will support maximum sustainable yield and will remain above this level during the next 20 years assuming current estimated removals continue. The initial fishing mortality rate in 1970 is a very important parameter in the model because it is inversely related to the rate of stock rebuilding. Unfortunately the initial fishing mortality rate is not well determined by the data in either assessment.
The Conditional Relationship between Beta and Stock Returns: An Empirical Study in the Colombo Stock Market

The objective of this research is to find out the conditional relationship between beta and stock returns for the period 1999 to 2013 in the Sri Lankan market. This study tests whether the beta factor has an ability to influence on the stock returns and attempts to investigate the conditional relationship between beta and stock returns in Sri Lanka. This study reveals that the relationship between beta- return is positive during the up market condition and the relationship is negative during the down market condition in Colombo Stock Exchange during the study period. Therefore, the beta-realized return relationship is hold in the Colombo Stock Exchange with market condition such as up and down markets.
Some aspects of modelling of the hydrological cycle in the ECMWF model

So how good are the moisture fields in the ECMWF model? The moisture field depends on physical parametrizations which can have substantial uncertainties, but it also depends on the large-scale motion, particularly the vertical motion. Strong sensitivity of atmospheric moisture to parametrization has been demonstrated in earlier work with the ECMWF model by e.g. Tiedtke et al. ( 1988) and Gregory ( 1996) for sensitivity to shallow convection, Tiedtke ( 1993) for sensitivity to cloud parametrization, Jakob and Klein ( 1999) for sensitivity to microphysics, and by Beljaars and Viterbo ( 1998) for the impact of boundary layer top entrainment and air-sea transfer.
Multibranch Selective Kernel Networks for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated excellent performance in hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. However, tuning some critical hyperparameters of a CNN—such as the receptive field (RF) size—presents a major challenge due to the presence of features with different scales in HSIs. Contrary to the conventional design of CNNs, which fixes the RF size, it has been proven that the RF size is modulated by the stimulus and hence, depends on the scene being considered. Such a dilemma has been rarely considered in CNN design. In this letter, a new multibranch selective kernel network (MSKNet) is introduced, in which the input image is convolved using different RF sizes to create multiple branches so that the effect of each branch is adjusted by an attention mechanism according to the input contrast. As a result, our newly developed MSKNet is capable of modeling different scales. Our experimental results, conducted on three widely used HSIs, reveal that the MSKNet can outperform state-of-the-art CNNs in the context of HSI classification problems. The source code of our newly developed MSKNet is available from: https://github.com/mhaut/MSKNet-HSI
Linkage map construction and mapping QTL for cotton fibre quality using SRAP, SSR and RAPD

Tetraploid cotton is one of the most extensively cultivated species. Two tetraploid species, Gossypium hirsutum L. and G. barbadense L. , dominate the world's cotton production. To better understand the genetic basis of cotton fibre traits for the improvement of fibre quality, a genetic linkage map of tetraploid cotton was constructed using sequence-related amplified polymorphisms (SRAPs), simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). A total of 238 SRAP primer combinations, 368 SSR primer pairs and 600 RAPD primers were used to screen polymorphisms between G. hirsutum cv. Handan208 and G. barbadense cv. Pima90 which revealed 749 polymorphic loci in total (205 SSRs, 107 RAPDs and 437 SRAPs). Sixty-nine F2 progeny from the interspecific cross of 'Handan208' x 'Pima90' were genotyped with the 749 polymorphic markers. A total of 566 loci were assembled into 41 linkage groups with at least three loci in each group. Twenty-eight linkage groups were assigned to corresponding chromosomes by SSR markers with known chromosome locations. The map covered 5141.8 cM with a mean interlocus space of 9.08 cM. A chi2 test for significance of deviations from the expected ratio (1 : 2 : 1 or 3 : 1) identified 135 loci (18.0%) with skewed segregation, most of which had an excess of maternal parental alleles. In total, 13 QTL associated with fibre traits were detected, among which two QTL were for fibre strength, four for fibre length and seven for micronaire value. These QTL were on nine linkage groups explaining 16.18-28.92% of the trait variation. Six QTL were located in the A subgenome, six QTL in the D subgenome and one QTL in an unassigned linkage group. There were three QTL for micronaire value clustered on LG1, which would be very useful for improving this trait by molecular marker-assisted selection.
Chemical composition, amino acid analysis and functional properties of breadnut (Artocarpus altilis) flour

Breadnut flour was processed and evaluated in the laboratory for chemical composition, amino acid and functional properties. The results showed that breadnut flour contained high quality protein with total essential amino acid of 55.1% which is comparable with that of soya flour and egg; while it is better than most nuts and oil seeds. Most of the essential amino acids satisfy the range for infant requirement or even higher than the maximum value of the range. The most predominant amino acids in breadnut are valine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, while the limiting amino acid is methionine + cystine. Breadnut protein has minimum solubility at pH 5 and maximum solubility at pH 8. Potassium is the most abundant among the minerals determined (0.7 g/100 g) while magnesium (0.08 g/100 g) is the least. The result of the functional properties showed that the flour may be useful as a thickener and protein supplement in diet.