Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting the distribution of a suitable habitat for the white stork in Southern Sweden: identifying priority areas for reintroduction and habitat restoration

The loss of wetlands and semi‐natural grasslands throughout much of Europe has led to a historic decline of species associated with these habitats. The reinstatement of these habitats, however, requires spatially explicit predictions of the most suitable sites for restoration, to maximize the ecological benefit per unit effort. One species that demonstrates such declines is the white stork Ciconia ciconia, and the restoration of habitat for this flagship species is likely to benefit a suite of other wetland and grassland biota. Storks are also being reintroduced into southern Sweden and elsewhere, and the a priori identification of suitable sites for reintroduction will greatly improve the success of such programmes. Here a simple predictive habitat‐use model was developed, where only a small but reliable presence‐only dataset was available. The model is based on the extent and relative soil moisture of semi‐natural pastures, the extent of wetlands and the extent of hayfields in southern Sweden. Here the model was used to predict the current extent of stork habitat that is suitable for successful breeding, and the extent of habitat that would become suitable with moderate habitat restoration. The habitat model identifies all 10 occupied nesting sites where breeding is currently successful. It also identifies ∼300 km2 of habitat that is predicted to be suitable stork habitat, but that is presently unused; these sites were identified as potential areas for stork reintroduction. The model also identifies over 100 areas where moderate habitat restoration is predicted to have a disproportionate effect (relative to the restoration effort) on the area of suitable habitat for storks; these sites were identified as priorities for habitat restoration. By identifying areas for reintroduction and restoration, such habitat suitability models have the potential to maximize the effectiveness of such conservation programmes.
Smoothing speech trajectories by regularization

The articulators of human speech might only be able to move slowly, which results in the gradual and continuous change of acoustic speech properties. Nevertheless, the so-called speech continuity is rarely explored to discriminate different phones. To exploit this, this paper investigates a multiple-frame MFCC representation (that is expected to retain sufficient time-continuity information) in combination with a supervised dimensionality reduction method, whose target is to find low-dimensional representations that optimally separates different phone classes. The speech continuity information is integrated into this framework by using the regularization terms that penalize discontinuities. Experimental results on TIMIT phonetic classification show that the use of regularizers can help to improve the separability of phone classes.
Effects of natural variation in sex ratio and habitat structure on mate-guarding decisions in amphipods (Crustacea).

We employed field-based studies, with complementary laboratory-based studies, to investigate social and environmental influences on tactical mate-guarding decisions in amphipods (Crustacea). Firstly, we investigated variation in precopulatory mate-guarding duration in Cammarus duebeni celticus in relation to the social structure of natural populations. Variation in population density of up to two orders of magnitude had no effect on precopula duration, whereas guarding durations increased as the sex ratios of the populations became more male biased. That is, males have some ability to assess the probability of other males taking females into precopula and are prepared to guard for longer as this threat of male: male competition increases. A field demonstration of tactical shifts in reproductive behaviour in response to pertinent social conditions is thus provided. Secondly, the 'habitat segregation' hypothesis, which proposes that positive size-assortative pairing in amphipod populations arises due to variation in the use of micro-habitats, was tested in natural field populations and under laboratory conditions in Echinogammarus marinus. This was necessary in order to distinguish any purely environmental determinants of size-assortment from the role of active decisions by males concerning mate choice and male: male competition. The hypothesis was rejected on the grounds that size-assortative pairing arises under both heterogeneous and homogeneous environmental conditions. Further, in both study species, male and female body size were positively correlated with precopula duration. Thus, indirect competition for access to large, fecund females, based on the timing of male entry into precopula, together with direct aggression, provides the explanation for size-assortative pairing in amphipods.
In‐vitro iron dialysability from legumes: Influence of phytate and extrusion cooking

In-uitro iron dictlysabitity from fue ltaliqn legumes (mottled beqn' white bean,faba bean, chickpea, lenti[) and the influence of phltate and extrusion cooking on it were eualuated. Iron dialysability was 2 3 and 2 4o in mo lcd and white bean respectiuel1t, l'2o/o in faha bean, 2 70A in chickpea and l'lYo in lentil. After exlrusion cooking the fours showed a marked iron co taminqtion and a decrease in iron dialysability, but these changes were signifrcant only for mottled bean. Enzymic phytqte remoual induced an increase in iron dialysability > 100tA in all ihe raw legumes except moiilpd bean which showed an increase of onll' 5ToA This.finding indicates thaI' although phytate consistently modifes iron dialysability, it is difrcult to identiJy a quantitatiue relationship between phytate conlent and irotl dialysability.
Diet and feeding habits of the sperm whale (Physeter Catodon L.) in the cook strait region of New Zealand

Summary Stomachs of 151 sperm whales were examined at the Tory Channel whaling station in 1963 and 1964. In nine stomachs examined quantitatively there was a 1.69:1 ratio of squid to fish by weight. Some gastroliths were found. The weight of fresh food varied from 12.70 to 105 kg. Two samples of lower mandibles from squids totalling 2,118 specimens were separated into 11 types and subtypes with the help of a previously published key by M. R. Clarke. These types have been designated: Ai, Aii, Aiii; Bi, Bii, Biii; and C, D, E, F, and G. Some beaks (2.36% of the total) could not be grouped into these categories. Onychoteuthid squid made up the bulk of the stomach contents by number and weight. The following squid were identified: Nototodarus sloanei, Histioteuthis cookiana, Architeuthis sp. , and Moroteuthis sp. The most common fish in the stomachs were: Polypriori oxygeneios (groper), Genypterus blacodes (ling), Hoplostethus sp. , an unidentified eel, and Jordanidia solandri (southern kingfish). Other species.
Registration of FLIP 91-178C, FLIP 93-53C, and FLIP 93-98C: Chickpea Germplasm Lines Resistant to Ascochyta Blight, Fusarium Wilt and Cold

R. G. PERCY* AND E. L. TURCOTTE (12) 6. Turcotte, E.L. , C.V. Feaster , and E.F. Young, Jr. 1991. Registration of six American Puna cotton germplas m lines. Crop Sci. 31:495. 7. Turcotte, E.L. , andR.G. Percy. 1988. Pima cotton improvement , p. 149151. In Cotton, A College of Agriculture Report . Univ. of Arizona. Series P-72. 8. Turcotte, E.L. , andR.G. Percy. 1989. Pima cotton improvement , p. 145148. In J.C. Silvertooth and J. Isbel (ed.) Cotton, A College of Agriculture Report . Univ. of Arizona. Series P-77. 9. Turcotte, E.L. , and R.G. Percy. 1990. Pima cotton improvement , p. 97100. In J.C. Silvertoot h and M. Bantlin (ed.) Cotton, A College of Agriculture Report . Univ. of Arizona. Series P-81. 10. Turcotte, E.L. , and R.G. Percy. 1991. Pima cotton improvement , p. 9396. In J.C. Silvertoot h and M. Bantlin (ed.) Cotton, A College of Agriculture Report . Univ. of Arizona. Series P-87. 11. Turcotte, E.L. , R.G. Percy, and C.V. Feaster . 1992. Registration of Pima 'S-7' American Pima cotton. Crop Sci. 32:1291. 12. USDA-ARS, Maricopa Agricultural Center , 37860 W. Smith-Enke Rd., Maricopa, AZ 85239. Cooperative investigation of die USDA-ARS and Arizona Agric. Exp. Stn. Registration by CSSA. Accepted 31 July 1996. ^Correspondin g author (rpercy@ag.arizona.edu) . Published in Crop Sci. 37:632-63 (1997).
Activator Protein 2α Inhibits Tumorigenicity and Represses Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Transcription in Prostate Cancer Cells

Activator protein-2α (AP-2) is a transcription factor that regulates proliferation and differentiation in mammalian cells. We have shown previously that although AP-2 is expressed highly in normal prostatic epithelium, its expression is lost in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer, suggesting that loss of AP-2 plays a role in prostate cancer development. We demonstrate that forced AP-2 expression in the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP-LN3 (AP-2 negative) inhibited dramatically tumor incidence in nude mice. To identify the genes that might have been responsible for this effect, we used microchip expression array. We found several genes known to be involved in malignancy were deregulated, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. Because VEGF was down-regulated by 14.7-fold in the AP-2-transfected cells and because it is a major angiogenic factor in prostate cancer development and progression, we chose to examine the AP-2-VEGF interaction. Our evidence suggests that AP-2 repressed transcriptionally the VEGF promoter by competing with the transcriptional activator Sp3. Loss of AP-2 in prostate cancer cells reduced the AP-2:Sp3 ratio and activated VEGF expression. AP-2 acts as a tumor-suppressor gene in prostate cancer. Elucidating the molecular events resulting from loss of AP-2 in the prostate epithelium has implications for the understanding and prevention of the onset of prostate cancer.
Enhanced Rice Growth is Conferred by Increased Leaf ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Activity

Enhanced Rice Growth is Conferred by Increased Leaf ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Activity Modification of leaf starch levels may be employed in attempts to increase cereal yield. Few studies have examined leaf starch as a plant biomass limiting factor. Here we test the hypothesis that rice plant productivity may be increased by increasing leaf starch. Starch biosynthesis is controlled by the heterotetrameric rate-limiting enzyme ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase). Rice variety Nipponbare was transformed with a modified form of the maize endosperm AGPase large subunit gene, Sh2r6hs, as well as with the small subunit gene, Bt2, under control of a rice RuBisCO small subunit promoter. RNA sequencing results indicated that Sh2r6hs and Bt2 transcript levels were each greater than 20 times that of the native genes. Increased total AGPase activity was correlated with higher leaf starch accumulation at the end of the day.
The taxonomic status of British Water voles, genus Arvicola

Samples of skulls of Arvicola were studied from several regions of Britain to test the hypothesis that more than one species of the genus might be present. Analysis of cranial measurements and of quasi-discontinuous variants of the skull provides no grounds for recognizing more than a single species, and comparison with samples from continental Europe supports the view that all the British samples represent A. terrestris rather than A. supidus. The analysis of epigenetic variants confirms the difference between A. terrestris and A. sapidus. None of the characters studied shows much regional variation within the Britain mainland, but further data are provided on the characters of an insular population on Eilean Gamhna, Argyll.
Use of centrifuged and preserved microalgae for feeding juvenile Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum): effects on growth and fatty acid composition

Abstract The objective of the present study was to assess the nutritional value of three diets containing commercial preserved microalgae pastes and the relationship of their biochemical composition to the growth rate and fatty acids profile of juvenile Tapes philippinarum. The feeding period was 6 weeks. At a daily ratio of 1% dry weight live weight of the clams–1, the trispecific diet with 40% of I. galbana, 20% of T. suecica and 40% of C. muelleri supported greater growth of animals than either a mixture of 80% of I. galbana and 20% T. suecica or I. galbana alone (P< 0.05). Even the fatty acid profile was significantly modified depending on the composition of the diets. In particular a decrease of EPA was observed in clams with the lowest growth rate.
Hopanoids in Bacteria and Cyanobacteria – Their Role in Cellular Biochemistry and Physiology, Analysis and Occurrence

Hopanoids, widespread compounds of triterpene nature, are found mainly in different bacterial types (G+ and G- bacteria, aerobs, facultative anaerobs, strict anaerobs), in methanotrophs, acetic acid bacteria, nitrogen fixers, purple non-sulphur bacteria, cyanobacteria, and also in sediments. They occur in a variety of structures from simple hopanoids to elongated compounds with polyfunctional side chains such as bacteriohopanepolyols (BH-polyols). This review summa- rizes current knowledge of the occurrence of these compounds in different bacterial types, genera and species, their bio- synthesis and functions in cellular membranes and in important biochemical and physiological processes, and surveys ad- vances and trends in the field of hopanoid analysis, especially as concerns LC-MS with soft ionization techniques such as APCI and/or ESI.
Anomaly Detection for Application Log Data

In software development, there is an absolute requirement to ensure that a system once developed, functions at its best throughout its lifetime. Application log data is critical to maintaining application performance and thus techniques to parse, understand and detect anomalies in application log data are critical to ensuring efficiency in software development. While initially hampered by limited hardware and lack of quality datasets, anomaly detection techniques have recently received a surge of interest with advancements in machine learning technology and especially neural networks. In this paper, we explore anomaly detection, historical techniques to detect anomalies and recent advancements in neural networks, which promise to revolutionize anomaly detection in application log data. Further, we analyze the most promising anomaly detection techniques and propose a hybrid model combining LSTM Neural Network and Auto Encoder which improves upon existing techniques.
Structural change and cumulative causation: A Kaldorian approach

This paper presents a multisectoral model based on Kaldor's approach to explain the importance of structural change and cumulative causation. Divergence in countries' growth rates in Kaldorian models are explained either by different degrees of increasing returns among sectors on the supply side or by different income elasticities of exports and imports on the demand‐side, but it is not explained by both factors together. In this vein, a multisector growth model that combines different sectoral income elasticities and different sectoral increasing returns is built to explain how structural changes toward high‐tech industries can trigger a process of cumulative causation and ensure higher growth rates in the long run.
Dynamics of prices and consumption of unhealthy foods as a monitoring tool of the strategy against obesity in Mexico

Mexico faces an epidemic of overweight and obesity, in 2018 75% of adults were overweight or obese. This condition as a risk factor generates a significant financial impact in the Health Sector. According to an estimate by the Ministry of Health in 2014, the direct cost for medical care of diseases related to overweight and obesity represented 34% of public spending on health care. In response, the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Overweight, Obesity, and Diabetes was implemented in 2013, which included as one of its pillars the implementation of fiscal policies. As part of fiscal policy, taxes were established on sugary drinks and foods with high-calorie content. Seven years after the implementation of the Strategy to control the epidemic of overweight and obesity, there have been some results. However, it is necessary to continue working and especially monitoring the performance of the different actions implemented. As part of this second stage of a public health policy a monitoring system for fiscal policy is proposed, based on three components: a) price index of healthy and unhealthy foods through Principal Component Analysis, b) volatility measurement of both baskets through a GARCH model and c) monitoring of consumption patterns through household income and expenditure surveys. The main results identified a price differentials between the baskets of products healthy and unhealthy, especially at the beginning of the fiscal policy. Healthy products have higher price volatility than unhealthy products and according to consumption patterns, on average Mexican households spend 30% of their food expenditure on unhealthy products. To strengthen fiscal actions to control overweight and obesity, it is recommended to have monitoring systems that allow the dynamic design and implementation of public policies. Although taxes have reduced in some grade the consumption of unhealthy products, it is necessary to promote the affordability of healthy products, helping to improve the diet of Mexican households.
A Collaborative Action in the Implementation of Moderate Islamic Education to Counter Radicalism

A number of studies have argued that radicalism should be resisted by implementing moderate policies. Few studies have focused on what moderate policies should be implemented and how they can prevent radicalism within the context of Muslim society. This study, therefore, aims to understand the collaborative influence of local institutions on the implementation of moderate Islamic educational policies to prevent radicalism in a city in the Jambi province, Indonesia. This study used a qualitative case study in data gathering through direct observation, indepth interviews, and document analyses. The research results showed that by implementing the moderate wasathiyyah Islamic education concept in Islamic schools and Islamic subject content, Muslim societies increased their perspectives and awareness on the importance of moderate Islamic values. They change the concept of jihad from a concept of violence to humanism, which involves working hard to increase welfare, accept pluralism, inclusivity, tolerance, and rational actions. This study concludes that moderate education within Islamic education institutions can prevent or counter radicalism, extreme behaviour, and conflict. Thus, security, order, comfort, harmony, and peace will be created in the community.
Microstructure formation by sodium alginate in absence of salts as function of concentration, temperature and storage time

In this paper, the formation of microstructure by a food polysaccharide, sodium alginate, is investigated. Optical microscopy is used to analyse the microstructural changes under the influence of concentration, temperature and storage time. The results reveal the formation of structure after a “bottom-up” strategy, in three phases, from small clusters to elongated aggregates and to biofilms. The structure formation is strongly influenced by the polysaccharide concentration, temperature and storage time.
Machine learning approaches to manufacturing and materials: Applications to semi-supervised, unbalanced and heterogeneous data problems

The objective of this thesis is to use machine learning and deep learning techniques for the quality assurance of metal casting processes. Metal casting can be defined as a process in which liquid metal is poured into a mold of a desired shape and allowed to solidify. The process is completed after ejection of the final solidified component, also known as a casting, out of the mold. There may be undesired irregularities in the metal casting process known as casting defects. Among the defects that are found, porosity is considered to be a major defect, which is di cult to detect, until the end of the manufacturing cycle. When there are small voids, holes or pockets found within the metal, porosity defect occurs. It is important to control and alleviate porosity below certain permissible thresholds, depending on the product that is being manufactured. If the foundry process can be modeled using machine learning approaches, to predict the state of the casting prior to completion of the casting process, it would save the foundry the inspection and testing of the casting, which requires specific attention of the sta↵ and expensive machinery for testing. Moreover, if the casting fails the quality test, then it would be rendered useless. This is one of the major issues for the foundries today. The main aim of this project, is to make predictions about the quality of metal cast components. We determine whether under certain given conditions and parameters, a cast component would pass or fail the quality test. Although this thesis focuses on porosity defects, machine learning and deep learning techniques can be used to model any other kinds of defects such as shrinkage defects, metal pouring defects or any metallurgical defects. The other important objective is to identify the most important parameters in this casting process, that are responsible for the porosity control and ultimately the quality of the cast component. The challenges faced during the data analysis while dealing with a small sized, unbalanced, heterogeneous and semi-supervised dataset, such as this one, are also covered. We compare the results obtained using di↵erent machine learning techniques in terms of F1 score, precision and recall, among other metrics, on unseen test data post cross validation. Finally, the conclusions and scope for the future work are also discussed.
AmpG, a signal transducer in chromosomal β‐lactamase induction

The chromosomal ampCβ‐lactamase in Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter cloacae is inducible by β‐lactam antibiotics. When an inducible ampC gene is introduced on a plasmid into Escherichia coli together with its transcriptional regulator ampR, the plasmid‐borne β‐lactamase is still inducible. We have isolated mutants, containing alterations in a novel E. coli gene, ampG, in which a cloned C. freundii ampC gene is unable to respond to β‐lactam inducers. The ampG gene was cloned, sequenced and mapped to minute 9.6 on the E. coli chromosome. The deduced amino acid sequence predicted AmpG to be a 53kDa, trans‐membrane protein, which we propose acts as a signal transducer or permease in the β‐lactamase induction system. Immediately upstream of ampG there is another 579‐base‐pair‐long open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative lipoprotein shown to be non‐essential for β‐lactamase induction. We have found that ampG and this ORF form an operon, whose promoter is located in front of the ORF. Located closely upstream of the putative promoter is the morphogene bolA, which is transcribed in the opposite orientation. However, using transcription fusions, we have found that the ampG transcription is not regulated by bolA. In addition, we show that transcription is probably not regulated by either the starvation specific sigma factor RpoS, which controls bolA, or by AmpD the negative regulator for ampC transcription.