Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revision of the New Zealand endemic eulophid genus Zealachertus Bouček (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).

The New Zealand endemic eulophid genus ZealachertusBoucek, 1978 is revised. The type species,Z. nothofagi Boucek, 1978 is redescribed andeleven new species are described: Z. abbreviatus, sp.nov., Z. aspirensis, sp. nov.,Z. bildiri, sp. nov., Z. binarius,sp. nov., Z. conjunctus, sp. nov.,Z. holderi, sp. nov., Z. longus,sp. nov., Z. nephelion, sp. nov.,Z. pilifer, sp. nov., Z. planus,sp. nov., and Z. tortriciphaga, sp. nov. A key tospecies is provided, with additional diagnostic features for each species.Generic relationships, host records and biogeography are discussed. Acladistic analysis is undertaken to determine relationships within the genususing two species of Diaulomorpha Ashmead, 1900 asoutgroup taxa.
The linamarase of Leuconostoc mesenteroides: Production, isolation and some properties

Leuconostoc mesenteroides was found to produce highly active linamarase when linamarin was incorporated in its growth medium. The enzyme was isolated from the bacterium and partially purified using diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose. Its activity was measured spectrophotometrically using linamarin extract. This yielded 62.2 mg CN− g−1 of linamarin. A study of some of its properties showed it was active in the temperature range of -10 to +45°C, with an optimum at 29°2°C. Activity was observed over a wide pH range, 4.0–8.0, with optimum at 6.0–6.5. Its pH of stability was 5.5–7.5, while above pH 8.0 there was a rapid loss of activity. Incubating the enzyme at 50°C led to loss of over 90% of its activity within 18 min. The optimal substrate concentration was 0.15–0.20 ml−1. Whereas above 0.25 mg ml−1 there was no observable increase in activity, loss of activity became more pronounced below 0.10 mg ml−1 of substrate.
A Plan for a Long-Term, Automated, Broadband Seismic Monitoring Network on the Global Seafloor

Establishing an extensive and highly durable, long-term, seafloor network of autonomous broadband seismic stations to complement the land-based Global Seismographic Network has been a goal of seismologists for decades. Seismic signals, chiefly the vibrations from earthquakes but also signals generated by storms and other environmental processes, have been processed from land-based seismic stations to build intriguing but incomplete images of the Earth’s interior. Seismologists have mapped structures such as tectonic plates and other crustal remnants sinking deep into the mantle to obtain information on their chemical composition and physical state; but resolution of these structures from land stations is not globally uniform. Because the global surface is two-thirds ocean, increasing the number of seismic stations located in the oceans is critical for better resolution of the Earth’s interior and tectonic structures. A recommendation for a long-term seafloor seismic station pilot experiment is presented here. The overarching instrumentation goal of a pilot experiment is performance that will lead to the installation of a large number of long-term autonomous ocean-bottom seismic stations. The payoff of a network of stations separated from one another by a few hundred kilometers under the global oceans would be greatly refined resolution of the Earth’s interior at all depths. A second prime result would be enriched understanding of large-earthquake rupture processes in both oceanic and continental plates. The experiment would take advantage of newly available technologies such as robotic wave gliders that put an affordable autonomous prototype within reach. These technologies would allow data to be relayed to satellites from seismometers that are deployed on the seafloor with long-lasting, rechargeable batteries. Two regions are presented as promising arenas for such a prototype seafloor seismic station. One site is the central North Atlantic Ocean, and the other high-interest locale is the central South Pacific Ocean.
A 500-year context for the recent surge in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) abundance in the Alagnak River, Alaska

Returns of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) to the Alagnak River in Bristol Bay, Alaska, during the last 3 years were unprecedented in the last five decades. Enumerated run sizes averaged about 1 million fish from 1955 to 2002 but surged unexpectedly to average 5.4 million fish in 20032005. These huge returns currently pose a challenge to management of Bristol Bay sockeye for several reasons, including that it is unclear whether the recent surge in abundance is a new phenomenon or if it has arisen as part of interdecadal population variability. To answer this question we used changes in lake sedimentary δ15N coupled with an isotope-mixing model to estimate historical abundances of sockeye salmon populations in this ecosystem. Our analyses show that periods of high salmon abundance have occurred every ~100 years during the last five centuries, interspersed by prolonged periods of substantially lower abundance. We suggest that the recent high returns are an expression of the long-term variability that i.
Evaluation of a rapid, defined substrate technology method for enumeration of total coliforms and Escherichia coli in chlorinated drinking water

A rapid, defined substrate technology method, commercially available as Colilert, simultaneously enumerates total coliforms and Escherichia coli in drinking water samples in 24 h without the need for confirmatory tests. The ability of this method to enumerate both total coliforms and E. coli in simulated chlorine‐treated drinking water samples was compared with the standard UK method (minerals‐modified glutamate most probable number) which requires up to 96 h to complete including confirmation. Statistical analysis by a nonparametric matched‐pair test showed the Colilert method to be less efficient at detecting down to one E. coli in these samples compared to the standard UK method. No statistically significant difference between the two methods of enumeration for total coliforms was detected.
Intensity of precommercial crop tree release increases diameter growth and survival of upland oaks

In 1988, seven study areas were established in Connecticut to examine the effects of precommercial crop tree release on development of sapling red oaks (Quercus rubra L.) (n = 1250). Crown class at canopy closure, competition from adjacent trees for growing space and limited resources, and interaction of these factors were major determinants of survival, upper canopy persistence, and diameter growth over the 18 year period studied. Complete release from competition of neighboring trees, but not partial release, increased survival of intermediate and codominant stems. Complete release did not increase survival of oaks in the dominant crown class. Few intermediate and no suppressed oaks ascended into the upper canopy without crop tree release. Complete release doubled the proportion of codominant trees that remained in the upper canopy and increased the proportion of intermediates that ascended into the upper canopy. Complete release increased 18 year diameter growth only for dominant and codominant oaks. B.
Colorimetric determination of ascorbic acid based on carbon quantum dots as peroxidase mimetic enzyme

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized from litchi peel, exhibiting a peroxidase-like activity and enabling the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in association with H2O2 to generate blue oxidized TMB (ox-TMB) with a strong absorption peak at 652 nm. Interestingly, the ox-TMB could be further reduced by ascorbic acid (AA) leading to fading of the blue color and an absorbance decrease. Thus, a convenient and sensitive colorimetric method for detection of AA using CQDs as peroxidase mimics was established. Several factors, such as acidity, temperature, incubating time, and TMB concentration, which might influence the response of the analysis signal, were optimized. The results showed that the decrease of absorbance (ΔA) was in good linear agreement with AA concentration in the range of 1.0–105 μM, with a low detection limit of 0.14 μM. The feasibility of this method was also investigated in commercial beverages with the 94.3–110.0% recovery.
Question Answering System over Linked Data: A Detailed Survey

As the amount of information in the world is growing very quickly, in the case of the semantic web this increasing amount of information is becoming more difficult to find and manage the exact answers to our various questions. To overcome these difficulties some systems have been developed that make it work for us. But there exists many challenges in developing these systems that require a lot of improvement. In this tutorial, we give a basic understanding of Semantic web, RDF triple, SPARQL query language. Here we will discuss the main obstacles for the QA system in processing the questions and a detailed survey of the existing systems. We also provide some advantages and disadvantages of existing QA systems. We also discuss the evaluation campaigns of the existing models based on their precision, recall and F-1 scores on the QALD dataset.
Agronomic Evaluation and Genetic Characterization of Different Accessions in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Lentil is an important winter-sown legume for semi-arid and temperate areas, food consumption of seed is considerable in several countries of Mediterranean Basin. In Central and Southern Italy different lentil landraces are cultivated within specific marginal areas and commercialized with a recognizable geographical indication of origin. Considering the extensive germplasm and the economic importance of lentil in several rural areas, detailed knowledge of existing genetic variation from different regions is the first important step both for conservation and exploitation of genetic resources, allowing to develop breeding programs. In field experiments over three cropping seasons (2002-2005), 25 lentil accessions from Plant Genetic Institute of National Research Council (Bari), representing part of a large germplasm collection from different areas, were carried out at the University of Reggio Calabria in order to characterize the agronomic performances in a semi-arid environment and to study genetic variability. For this purpose, 10 AFLP primer combinations and 6 SSR markers were used. The agronomic results highlighted the influence of different climatic conditions on phenological, biometrical and yielding traits. A considerable production level of lentil (2,55 t ha-1) and a low yield variability in the three years was observed, showing the high adaptability of the germplasm tested to semi-arid environment. The earliness and the plant height appeared as the most important traits negatively correlated to grain yield; in particular the earliness was confirmed as suitable mechanism of escape from abiotic stress. Genetic characterization showed that a few number of microsatellites and primer combinations are able to provide significant insights on genetic diversity combining the 25 accessions in 3 large clusters that mainly mirror their geographic origin. Principal Component Analysis that consider genetic as well as morphological and agronomic data allowed the discrimination of groups with higher similarity and the Laird variety was far from all the other accessions. The macrosperma accession MG 106401 from Algeria results the closest to Laird because of their late-flowering. The fingerprinting of these elite genotypes and the evaluated suitability of agronomic traits could usefully represent strategic tools for new targeted lentil breeding programs in Mediterranean area.
Gaze-based Kinaesthetic Interaction for Virtual Reality

Kinaesthetic interaction using force-feedback devices is promising in virtual reality. However, the devices are currently not suitable for interactions within large virtual spaces because of their limited workspace. We developed a novel gaze-based kinaesthetic interface that employs the user’s gaze to relocate the device workspace. The workspace switches to a new location when the user pulls the mechanical arm of the device to its reset position and gazes at the new target. This design enables the robust relocating of device workspace, thus achieving an infinite interaction space, and simultaneously maintains a flexible hand-based kinaesthetic exploration. We compared the new interface with the scaling-based traditional interface in an experiment involving softness and smoothness discrimination. Our results showed that the gaze-based interface performs better than the traditional interface, in terms of efficiency and kinaesthetic perception. It improves the user experience for kinaesthetic interaction in virtual reality without increasing eye strain.
A New Beaked Whale (Cetacea, Odontoceti) from the Late Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina

ABSTRACT A new genus and species of Ziphiidae, Notoziphius bruneti, gen. et sp. nov., from the late Miocene of Patagonia, is described on the basis of a well-preserved skull and partial left and right dentaries. It can be diagnosed by large, triangular, and markedly asymmetric nasals that strongly point anteroventrally, the ascending process of the maxilla not expanded posteriorly, supraoccipital strongly sloped posteroventrally; elliptical fossa on the nasal process of the premaxilla, small and anterolaterally directed premaxillary crest, and the presence of well-defined alveoli in the maxilla. A phylogenetic analysis including 25 ziphiid genera and 31 characters shows Notoziphius as nested within Ziphiidae in a basal clade with Aporotus, Beneziphius, Messapicetus, and Ziphirostrum. This clade is diagnosed by medial fusion of the premaxillae that closes the mesorostral groove, lateral margin of prenarial basin formed by a thick strip of maxilla, premaxillary crest anterolaterally directed, and reduced contact between nasal and premaxillary crest. The presence of Notoziphius in the Miocene of Patagonia increases our knowledge of ziphiid diversity in South America. Notoziphius bruneti and other Miocene records of ziphiids reinforce the idea that during the Miocene ziphiids were widely distributed and diverse.
Top Management Teams’ Academic Experience and Firms’ Corporate Social Responsibility Voluntary Disclosure

ABSTRACT Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure is becoming increasingly important for modern corporations. Focusing on voluntary CSR disclosure and drawing on upper echelons theory, we propose that voluntary CSR disclosure is the manifestation of managerial preferences (e.g., managers’ professional ethical values and standards). Specifically, we argue that top executives with an academic background tend to have higher professional and ethical standards than their non-academic counterparts. These standards lead them to act with self-restraint and to perceive CSR disclosure as an opportunity rather than a threat. Compared with non-academic executives, therefore, top executives with an academic background provide stakeholders with more CSR information. Based on a sample of publicly listed firms in China, we find a significant difference in voluntary CSR disclosure between firms led by academic executives and firms without academic top executives. This difference is smaller for firms that are state-owned, firms that are audited by large audit firms, and firms with greater analyst coverage. We contribute to the literature on CSR voluntary disclosure by providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of top management teams’ academic backgrounds.
Involvement of β‐Endorphin in the Preoptic Anterior Hypothalamus during Interleukin‐1β‐Induced Fever in Rats a

Central administration of cytokines induces fever. 's2 Some of the neuromediators involved in this effect are the endogenous opioid peptides within the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH), a primary central control site for body temperature (Tb) regulation, where opioid receptors are also 10cated. ~ Mu-receptor agonists, administered into the POAH, evoked hype~thermial,~ similar to that induced by cytokines. Previous results from our laboratory demonstrated that microinjection of a selective p-opioid receptor antagonist into the POAH prevented the fever produced by central administration of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)' or interleukin-lp (IL-lj3)2 and that the release level of the opioid peptide p-endorphin @-E) in the POAH was increased after TNF-a microinjection into this regi0n.l These results indicate that opioid peptides within the POAH play an important role in the cytokine-induced Tb responses. Because of reports that IL-lP can induce the secretion of opioid peptides in the pituitary5 and increase the opioid receptor binding of 1251-p-E in rat brain,6 and that P-E microinjection into the POAH induces hyperthermia, 1,4 we investigated whether the P-E release level in the POAH can also be changed after IL-1p microinjection. Male S-D rats (250280 g) were stereotaxically implanted with a cannula in the POAH (AP: 7.8; R: 0.5; V: -1) under ketamine anesthesia. One week later, a microdialysis probe (concentric shape with a 0.3-mm diameter and a 1.5-mm effective length of polyacrylonitrile membrane), with a thin, fused silica tube attached as a side catheter, was inserted into the POAH. Eighteen h later, the rats were placed into individual plastic cages where they could move, unrestrained, in an environmental room kept at 21 rt 0.5"C and 50 ? 2% humidity. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) containing 0.1% BSA was perfused into the probe at a rate of 4 pllmin, and a dialysis sample was collected every 30 min for a 1-h baseline, and then for another 3 h after IL-1P administration. A thermistor probe was inserted 6 cm into the rectum and a reading was taken from a digital thermometer. One p1 of
PATCH-SIZE EFFECTS ON PLANT PHENOLICS IN SUCCESSIONAL OPENINGS OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS'

We examined the seasonal changes in plant chemical defenses of key tree species (Robinia pseudoacacia, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and Cornus florida) regenerating during early succession in different patch sizes within Southern Appalachian forests. Trees of each species were sampled from five sizes of forest openings (0.016, 0.08, 0.4, 2.0, and 10 ha; two replicates each) and from the understory of surrounding forests. Leaves of rapidly growing, pioneer species (Robinia and Liriodendron) were slightly less tough and contained lower levels of hydrolyzable tannins and total phenolics, but higher condensed tannin concentrations than the slower growing, more shade-tolerant species (Acer and Cornus). These results generally support earlier findings indicating the evolu- tionary development of greater levels of constitutive phenolics in slow-growing than fast- growing species. The differential use of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins by slow- and fast-growing species may reflect adaptive trade-offs in the allocation of different types of phenolics. Regenerating trees often had tougher leaves and contained higher levels of phenolics in large than small openings by midsummer. The differences in phenolics were more pronounced for condensed tannins and when comparing the smallest canopy openings with larger patch sizes. Plant phenolics were also generally lower in understory trees than in nonspecific sprouts in openings. These findings may reflect phenotypic carbon/nutrient adjustments as light availability changes across the patch-size gradient. The greater sunlight in large than small openings apparently promotes excess carbon production and a metabolic buildup of phenolic compounds. Independent measures of phenolic compounds peaked at different times during the growing season. Hydrolyzable tannins reached peak levels quite early whereas condensed tannins increased later in the growing season. Total phenolics peaked in midsummer. Herbivore damage was consistently high (5-9%) on Robinia sprouts in all openings. Insect herbivory on the remaining three species (1-5%) was significantly lower in large than small patch sizes. Tree species regenerating in the high sunlight of larger openings in Southern Appalachian forests thus tend to have tougher leaves, contain greater phenolics, and experience less herbivore damage than conspecifics in small openings.
Seeing Colleagues as Learning Resources: The Influence of Mathematics Teacher Meetings on Advice-Seeking Social Networks

Teacher collaboration is often assumed to support school’s ongoing improvement, but it is unclear how formal learning opportunities in teacher workgroups shape informal ones. In this mixed methods study, we examined 77 teacher collaborative meetings from 24 schools representing 116 teacher pairs. We coupled qualitative analysis of the learning opportunities in formal meetings with quantitative analysis of teachers’ advice-seeking ties in informal social networks. We found that teachers’ coparticipation in learning-rich, high-depth meetings strongly predicted the formation of new advice-seeking ties. What is more, these new informal ties were linked to growth in teachers’ expertise, pointing to added value of teachers’ participation in high-depth teacher collaboration.
A Bayesian Belief Network Model For Detecting Multi-stage Attacks With Malicious IP Addresses

Multi-stage attacks are attacks executed in phases where each phase of the attack solely relies on the completion of the preceding phase. These attacks are so intelligently designed that they are able to elude detection from most network instruction detection systems and they are capable of penetrating sophisticated defenses. In this paper, we proposed and simulated a Bayesian Belief Network Model to predict Multi-stage Attacks with Malicious IP. The model was designed using Bayes Server and tested with data collected from cyber security repository. The model had 99% prediction accuracy
Molecular Phylogenetic Relationships of Cibotium and Origin of the Hawaiian Endemics

Abstract The tree fern genus Cibotium comprises nine species distributed in tropical regions of Asia, Mesoamerica, and the Hawaiian Islands. The four Hawaiian species are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The goals of this paper were to determine the relationships among the Cibotium species, determine whether the Hawaiian species are monophyletic, and infer the dispersal pathway likely responsible for delivering an ancestral Cibotium species to the Hawaiian Islands. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on four coding and five non-coding plastid DNA sequences supported Hawaiian Cibotium as monophyletic, suggesting a single colonization of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiian Cibotium are most closely related to species in Mesoamerica. If the ancestor of Hawaiian Cibotium dispersed to the Hawaiian Islands via wind dispersed spores, our analyses suggest the trade winds or storms delivered spores from Mesoamerica or the Hawaiian Islands were colonized first by a species from Asia, followed by subsequent dispersal to Mesoamerica from Hawai'i. Our analyses do not allow us to favor one hypothesis over the other.