Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cryopreservation of sperm and larvae of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis)

Summary Cryopreservation of sperm and larvae of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) was carried out to assess their performance characteristics using methods commonly employed in fish spermatozoa and other oyster species. Sperm was cryopreserved in Calcium-free Hanks’ balanced salt solution in the presence of cryoprotectants methanol and dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) at concentrations of 5 or 10%. The highest post-thaw motility (progressive: 3 ± 6%, static: 8 ± 10%) was observed with 10% DMSO with a noted decrease in comparison to fresh sperm (progressive: 13 ± 6%, static: 63 ± 23%). Membrane integrity of spermatozoa was measured by live-dead fluorescent staining. The highest percentage of membrane-intact cells (60 ± 6%) was also observed when 10% DMSO was used. A 30-min exposure of trochophorae and veliger larvae to 5, 10, 15 or 20% DMSO was carried out to test the toxicity of this cryoprotectant on early life stages, resulting in the highest survival of veligers (99 ± 2%) exposed to 10% DMSO. Cryopreservation of veligers was carried out in two steps [(i) at 13 cm above the level of liquid nitrogen for 10 min, (ii) 10 cm for 12 or 23 min] in the presence of 5 or 10% DMSO. The highest post-thaw survival of larvae (59 ± 31%) was observed at 12 cm of the second step and 10% DMSO. However, none of the larvae survived for 24 h after thawing probably due to the inaccuracies of the freezing protocol, thus, further studies are needed to standardize cooling conditions.
Geocast System

—Each day that goes by is a day closer to the day in which all vehicles will move autonomously, with no need for any sort of human aid to make decisions. In order for autonomous vehicles to become a reality, the sharing of information between all intervening parties in a vehicle network, such as vehicles and infrastructures, is necessary. This share of information must be reliable, assuring that no relevant information is lost, and, on the other hand, the information delivery must be done with a small latency, in order for all the network nodes to be updated as best as possible. Thus, emerged the need to create architectures that support these requirements for applications that can make decisions. In Europe, ETSI developed the C-ITS architecture, on which the way of communicating between nodes is quite innovative, when compared to traditional ways of communication.The name of this communication mode is ’Geocast’, which enables the possibility of sending information to a geographical area, with no need for the knowledge of the identity of the nodes that are in such location. Because this communication mode is recent, there are not sufﬁcient studies in order to take conclusions on whether it is correctly working. As such, this work aims to implement a simpliﬁed vision of the ETSI architecture, with special emphasis on the layer which implements the Geocast mode of communication, in order for students to be able to use it as a foundation for their C-ITS applications.
Evidence for inheritance of age of maturity in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

We report results of age-specific mating experiments carried out with chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) at Elk River Hatchery, Oregon. Our analysis of returns from these experiments includes assessment of the marine growth of progeny, and we also account for the negative bias on mean age of returning mature progeny that is a consequence of troll fishery harvest of immature salmon. Results suggest that (a) heritability of age of maturity is relatively high in this species (calculated h2 were 0.49–0.57 and 0.39–0.41 for males and females, respectively), (b) inheritance of age of maturity of females appears to be independent of age of male parent, and (c) for a given parental age, "faster-growing" progeny generally mature at younger ages, but (d) progeny from older parents are not generally smaller at age than progeny from younger parents. Inheritance of age of maturity therefore cannot be a simple reflection of inheritance of growth rate. We tentatively propose the existence of heritable minimum thr.
Drawing Out Trauma: Visual Art Therapy for Child Sexual Abuse Victims

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem that can have lasting effects cognitively, physiologically, and emotionally for the victim. If the psychological damage from CSA goes untreated, it can lead to an unstable self and to unstable relationships with others. Sexually abused children often have difficulty verbalizing traumatic incidents. Visual arts therapy offers a potentially effective alternative to strictly verbal therapies, countering dissociation and promoting healthy emotional regulation.
Medication Dispenser - Therapy Management

Associated with the increasing average life expectancy, it has been observed that more and more cases of people with memory loss have been found, either because of natural reasons or due to illness. Another problem related to the aging population is the increasing need to take medication. In this context, the main objective of this thesis is the design and development of an application for mobile devices that interacts with diﬀerent systems, including an electronic medication dispenser and an online portal, allowing close monitoring of medication taken and monitoring of other health aspects of the assisted person. The medication dispenser stores medication doses that are only available in preconﬁgured times and record all interactions with it. Through the online portal one can share information without constraints of location and time. Using the mobile application it is possible to collect information from diﬀerent systems as well as introduce information manually, such as medication to be administered, future examinations, recorded blood pressure values, among others. The developed application allows the control of how medication is taken and collects information on the health status of the assisted person, enabling the creation and sharing of his health history. In order to validate and test the features of the mobile application, we also developed an application that simulates an electronic medication dispenser and a simple web server that allows consultation of all exported information.
Electrical Characterization of Si/ZnO Nanorod PN Heterojunction Diode

The electrical characterization of p-Silicon (Si) and n-Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod heterojunction diode has been performed. ZnO nanorods were grown on p-Silicon substrate by the aqueous chemical growth (ACG) method. The SEM image revealed high density, vertically aligned hexagonal ZnO nanorods with an average height of about 1.2 μm. Electrical characterization of n-ZnO nanorods/p-Si heterojunction diode was done by current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V), and conductance-voltage (G-V) measurements at room temperature. The heterojunction exhibited good electrical characteristics with diode-like rectifying behaviour with an ideality factor of 2.7, rectification factor of 52, and barrier height of 0.7 V. Energy band (EB) structure has been studied to investigate the factors responsible for small rectification factor. In order to investigate nonidealities, series resistance and distribution of interface state density (NSS) below the conduction band (CB) were extracted with the help of I-V and C-V and G-V measurements. The series resistances were found to be 0.70, 0.73, and 0.75 KΩ, and density distribution interface states from 8.38 × 1012 to 5.83 × 1011 eV−1 cm−2 were obtained from 0.01 eV to 0.55 eV below the conduction band.
Real-Time Adaptive Strategies for StarCraft: BroodWars

In this document we introduce the idea of an adaptive strategy for the StarCraft: BroodWars test bed. The motivation behind such strategy is that only one agent has yet been capable of playing and defeating a professional level player and most of the existing agents have non-adaptive strategic components. This lack of adaptability renders agents unable to react effectively to certain unforeseen strategies that a human can quickly come up with just by observing and exploiting these limitations. The proposed architecture will behave in a way that it can adapt to any of these situations without the need of coding specific strategies. We will also discuss the results obtained by applying this adaptive strategy and how to further improve its efficiency.
Photoperiod Control of Parr–Smolt Transformation in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Changes in Salinity Tolerance, Gill Na+,K+-ATPase Activity, and Plasma Thyroid Hormones

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were subjected to artificial photoperiods to determine the manner and extent of photoperiod control of the parr–smolt transformation. Exposure to continuous light (L24) at first feeding and maintained throughout the rearing period inhibited increases in salinity tolerance and gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity that occurred in spring in fish raised under simulated natural photoperiod (SNP). Fish reared under continuous light and returned to SNP in October (L24OCT) underwent normal increases in salinity tolerance and gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity, whereas those returned in December (L24DEC) underwent delayed and intermediate increases. Plasma thyroxine peaks occurred simultaneously in all groups but were diminished in the L24 and L24DEC groups. Plasma 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine levels were not affected by any photoperiod treatment. Inhibition of the parr–smolt transformation decreased the potential for growth in seawater. In spite of changes in the timing of the transformation induced .
The absorptive processes in the embryos of Parabrotula dentiens, a viviparous, deep‐sea Brotulid fish

Parabrotula dentiens is a viviparous deep sea Brotulid fish. The embryos at the 6 mm. stage are held within the ovarian cavity as are the embryos of Zoarces, the Embiotocidae, the Goodeidae, the Jenynsiidae and the Anablepidae in the later stages. The embryos of Parabrotula dentiens are equipped with external processes which are attached around the anus and to the ventral wall of the embryo for a short distance in front of the anus. The processes have a spongy connective tissue stroma and are covered with a syncytial layer. It is assumed that the processes augment the body surface of the embryos and have a nutrition‐absorbing and an oxygen‐absorbing function.
BOYS DON’T CRY: BRAND GENDER AND THE STEREOTYPING OF EMOTIONS ABSTRACT Building on the literature on brand gender, this research examines how gender-based stereotypes regarding emotional behaviors can influence consumers’ response to brand emotions. Three experimental studies demonstrate that consum

Building on the literature on brand gender, this research examines how gender-based stereotypes regarding emotional behaviors can influence consumers’ response to brand emotions. Three experimental studies demonstrate that consumers hold the same gender-based expectations of brands as they do with human emotions. In particular, individuals stereotype communal emotions (e.g., happiness, sadness and sympathy) as being more consistent with brand femininity and agentic emotions (anger and pride) as being more consistent with brand masculinity. The current research also measures consumers’ evaluation of brand emotional expression, such as a tribute to a deceased celebrity on Twitter or a Facebook message of sympathy for victims of a terror attack. It shows that masculine brands can suffer from the stereotype that masculinity is typically associated with emotional control. The emotional expression of a masculine brand will activate persuasion knowledge and negatively impact the perceived sincerity of the brand. Evidence of this effect is provided for both female(happiness and sadness) and male-stereotyped (anger) emotions.
Analysis of Knowledge Management in Companies Involved in Innovation Activities in Yucatan, Mexico

In recent years there has been a reassessment of the importance of knowledge in organizations. This has led to the need for knowledge management as a process for the acquisition, development, and use of knowledge, both tacitly and explicitly, for the achievement of business goals, the maintenance of sustainable competitive advantage, and innovation. The aim of this paper is to analyze knowledge management in companies involved in innovation activities in the state of Yucatán, México, through a quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental study, which was conducted by means of a survey given to a sample of 73 managers of these companies. The results show that, in these companies, knowledge management is at a highly-developed stage. The storage and application practices are those which companies have worked harder, whereas protection and acquisition of knowledge have received less attention. They have focused on storing information that represents valuable knowledge and applying it, mainly for the improvement everyday tasks that contribute to streamline processes and redesign of products and/or services.
Recurrent Selection for Resistance to Leaf Feeding by Fall Armyworm on Maize

Populations and inbreds of maize, Zea mays L. , with effective levels of resistance to damage by fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), are needed to transfer resistance to commercial hybrids for the U.S. Southeast. Recurrent S 1 selection for resistance to leaf feeding by larvae of fall armyworm was conducted with an exotic maize synthetic, FAW-CC (.)
DECLINING RING-NECKED PHEASANTS IN THE KLAMATH BASIN, CALIFORNIA: II. SURVIVAL, PRODUCTIVITY, AND COVER

Cover condition and its influence on nesting success, survival, and body condition of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were evaluated at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge (TLNWR) and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge (LKNWR). Inadequate nesting cover was responsible for extremely low nest success early in the nesting season at TLNWR. Later in the season at TLNWR, spring-planted crops provided cover to conceal nesting and renesting hens; however, only 0.07 young were produced (to 1 August) per hen during the study. The extremely low reproductive rates were well below those required to maintain a stable population. At TLNWR, most adult mortality during spring and early summer (before crops provided adequate cover) apparently resulted from predation by golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). This mortality occurred weeks before insecticide applications. Hard winters (cold temperatures and heavy snowfall) periodically reduce the pheasant population in the Klamath Basin and again greatly reduced numbers during the last year of this study. Unfortunately, pheasant populations declined under the conditions found during this study and were unable to recover from the hard winter of 1992 to 1993. Mean body mass and tarsal length of adult hen pheasants at TLNWR, which is intensively farmed, were less than those for hens at LKNWR, which is not intensively farmed. Results of our study suggest that TLNWR hens may have been nutritionally stressed, and that the amount and distribution of vegetative cover needs to be improved at TLNWR. Habitat management of edge cover along agricultural crops should feature perennial grasses and legumes with small tracts of land interspersed throughout the agricultural fields to provide alternative cover for wildlife in general including pheasants.
Reply to the Reviewer’s Comments

Conventional drug delivery systems are inadequate in providing essential cyto-architecture restoration and connection patterns because of restrictions posed by the restrictive blood-brain barrier. Nanotechnological approaches involve various nano-sized carrier systems and other devices, which stimulate the action of therapeutic agents on molecular level and revolutionized the treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders with minimal side effects. Over the conventional approaches, nanotechnological approaches have various promising strategies to cross blood brain barrier and increase the bioavailability of therapeutics in brain. This review article emphasizes the current and future utility of nano drug delivery systems for the treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders.
Growth dynamics of muscle fibres, dry weight, and condition in relation to somatic growth rate in yearling rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Rainbow trout (15.5 cm) fed "ad lib. " rations grew a little faster at 12 °C than at 16 °C, and both groups grew much faster than a third group at 12 °C receiving "3–4%" rations. Growth of the mosaic muscle mass was characterized by increase in fibre mean diameter, though most bulk increase (up to 25 cm or more) resulted from increase in fibre number. Fibre diameter: fish length was least in the fastest growing trout (12 °C ad lib.), signifying their greater ability to add new fibres during growth compared with the slower growing trout; diameter range increased markedly among trout > 18 cm long, but small fibres (< 20 μm) persisted in diminishing numbers even in the largest trout. In the 12 °C ad lib. trout, condition (K) correlated with length and fibre diameter; in the slower growing groups K was more influenced by mean fibre diameter. A higher asymptote of K occurred at greater length in the fastest growing group than in the two slower growing groups. Percent dry weight: length was greater for 16 °C ad .
Nerve regeneration in C. elegans after femtosecond laser axotomy

We show sub-micron scale surgery with femtosecond lasers in a tiny living organism. By just cutting few nano-scale nerve connections inside the nematode C. elegans, we can stop the whole worm from moving backwards. This delicate axotomy keeps the surrounding of the severed axons un-damaged so that the axons can regrow back, and the worms recover and can move backwards again. These results demonstrate, for the first time, nerve regeneration in such a tiny organism, in its evolutionarily simplest form. The ability to perform precise sub-micron scale axotomy on such organisms provides tremendous research potential for rapid screening of drugs and discovery of new biomolecules affecting regeneration and development.
Chemical Fertilizer Subsidy and Maize Production Ashanti Region, Ghana

Quick Response Code Abstract: This study examined the effects of fertilizer subsidy on maize production in the Ejisu-Juaben and Ejura Districts. Primary and secondary data were collected for the study from 300 randomly sampled maize farmers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that there was a considerable positive effect of the subsidy on maize production, as there had been an increase in the quantity of fertilizer applied after the subsidy when compared to those applied before the subsidy with the average total quantity of fertilizer applied increasing from 23.42kg per acre before the subsidy to 68.338kg per acre after the subsidy was implemented. Consequently, there had been an increase in maize yield from 309kg per acre to 498kg per acre after the subsidy and farm sizes increased averagely from 3.26 acres to 3.91 acres after the subsidy. There had been a significant reduction of the price of a 50kg bag of fertilizer from an average of ¢49 to ¢26. Challenges faced by the farmers included the high cost of other inputs; late arrival of the subsidized fertilizer; low prices for produce; and access to credit from formal financial institutions. For sustained maize production, the fertilizer subsidy should be continued, but on the condition that it reaches the farmers on time. In addition the farmers should be assisted with credit to enable them buy the subsidized fertilizer.
Forest inventory of small areas combining the calibration estimator and a spatial model

The use of satellite images is considered to compute improved weights for field plots when estimating totals of forest variables over a region by weighted sums of plot measurements. It is intuitively appealing, and necessary in growth projections for management planning, that the weight of each plot can be interpreted as the total area of similar forest in the region. This way we can get a sound description for the whole region so that the relations and distributions of all predicted forest variables resemble the true population. Area interpretation is possible if the weights are positive and the same for all target variables. A calibration estimator provides such weights. If we need estimates for small subregions (counties in this study), we should utilize plots outside the current subregion. A spatial variogram model is suggested for computing the variance of the proposed small-area calibration estimator. Kriging provides optimal weights under such model, but the area interpretation for weights would no.
Anomaly or Misbehaviour Node Extraction Using Efficient-Web Miner Algorithm

— Today network security, uptime and performance of network are important and serious issue in computer network. Anomaly is deviation from normal behaviour affecting network security. Anomaly Extraction is identification of unusual flow from network, which is need of network operator. Anomaly extraction aims to automatically find the inconsistencies in large set of data observed during an anomalous time interval. Extracted anomalies will be important for root cause analysis, network forensics, attack mitigation and anomaly modelling. We use meta data provided by several histogram based detectors to identify suspicious flows, and then apply association rule mining to find and summarize anomalous flows. Frequent pattern mining techniques namely Apriori Algorithm and Efficient-Web Miner Algorithm will be used to generate the set of association rules applied on metadata. Using network traffic log data, algorithms effectively finds the flow associated with the anomalous event(s). Efficient-Web Miner Algorithm triggers a very small number of false positives. Efficient-Web Miner has much better performance in terms of time and space complexity than Apriori Algorithm for large data sets. This anomaly extraction method significantly reduces the time needed for analyzing alarms, making anomaly detection systems more practical, simple.
Effectiveness of Game-Theoretic Strategies in Extensive-Form General-Sum Games

Game theory is a descriptive theory defining the conditions for the strategies of rational agents to form an equilibrium (a.k.a. the solution concepts). From the prescriptive viewpoint, game theory generally fails (e.g., when multiple Nash equilibria exist) and can only serve as a heuristic for agents. Extensive-form general-sum games have a plethora of solution concepts, each posing specific assumptions about the players. Unfortunately, there is no comparison of the effectiveness of the solution-concept strategies that would serve as a guideline for selecting the most effective algorithm for a given domain. We provide this comparison and evaluate the effectiveness of solution-concept strategies and strategies computed by Counterfactual regret minimization (CFR) and Monte Carlo Tree Search in practice. Our results show that (1) CFR strategies perform typically the best, (2) the effectiveness of the Nash equilibrium and its refinements is closely related to the correlation between the utilities of players, and (3) that the strong assumptions about the opponent in Strong Stackelberg equilibrium typically cause ineffective strategies when not met.