Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bit Constraint Parameter Decision Method for CDMA Digital Demodulator

-Bit constraint parameters of the digital demodulator for the code division multiple access (CDMA) system are modeled. We examined the bit constraint effect by measuring output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A performance-oriented method for optimizing the number of bits is proposed. We evaluated the bit constraint system by alternatively measuring output SNR and frame error rate (FER). Results demonstrate that this system with the optimal bit sets achieves FER performance within 3% in an additive white Gaussian noise channel at 3.8dB Eb/Nt. We found that the output SNR of 0.805 satisfy this CDMA requirement.
Phylogeny of Selaginellaceae: Evaluation of Generic/Subgeneric Relationships Based on rbcL Gene Sequences

A cladistic analysis based on rbcL gene sequences from a representative sample of 18 species yields three most parsimonious trees that strongly support monophyly of Selaginellaceae. Within Selaginellaceae, the morphologically distinctive subgenus Selaginella is resolved as sister group to a clade composed of all other species, here termed the rhizophoric clade. In the rhizophoric clade, subgenus Stachygynandrum is paraphyletic to subgenera Ericetorum, Tetragonostachys, and Heterostachys. Monophyly of Ericetorum and Tetragonostachys is strongly corroborated. Results support a close relationship between “resurrection plants” in Stachygynandrum and the mat‐forming or tufted drought‐tolerant species of Tetragonostachys, indicating a common origin of xerophytism in these groups. A close relationship for all isophyllous species, as hypothesized in many classifications, is not supported by the rbcL data. Leaf isophylly and reduction in Ericetorum and Tetragonostachys most probably represent independent reversals of the marked anisophyllous condition in Stachygynandrum. Leaf reduction is one of a suite of characters that may have evolved in response to seasonal drought.
The Effects of Direct-Fed Microbials on Performance and Digestive Tract Morphology of Neo-Natal/Transition Hostein Bull Calves

Calf diarrhea or scours is one of the most significant and costly problems dairy producers face on a daily basis. A study was designed and conducted to evaluate the effects of direct-fed microbials on the performance and digestive tract morphology of neo-natal/transition Holstein bull calves. Treatments consisted of a control (n = 21) and a treatment (n = 22) of direct-fed microbial (5 x 10 cfu) supplemented daily. Samples of the rumen, duodenum, and ileum were harvested at the time of slaughter and examined for differences in morphology. Although the direct-fed microbial did not effect performance, it positively effected the ruminal papillae as well as the ileal villi. These data indicate that direct-fed microbials may increase the nutrient absorptive surface area of the rumen and ileum, resulting in a healthier digestive tract.
Notes on a new mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) pest in Florida and the Caribbean: the papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink

Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, here called the papaya mealybug, was first detected in the United States in Hollywood, Florida in 1998. By the end of 1998 it was found in four localities in the state and has since spread to nine localities in five counties. This mealybug appears to have moved through the Caribbean area since its 1994 detection in the Dominican Republic. The pest is reported to cause serious damage to tropical fruit, especially papaya, and has been detected most frequently, in Florida, on hibiscus. It is now known from Antigua, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Barthelemy, St. Kitts, St. Martin, and the US Virgin Islands. Hosts include: Acacia sp. (Luguminosae), Acalypha sp. (Euphorbiaceae), Ambrosia cumanensis (Compositae), Annona squamosa (Annonaceae), Carica papaya (Caricaceae), Guazuma ulmifolia (Sterculiaccea), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Euphorbiaceae), Hibiscus sp. (Euphorbiaceae), Ipomoea sp. (Convolvulaceae), Manihot chloristica (Euphorbiaceae), Manihot eseulenta (Euphorbiaceae), Mimosa pigra (Lugiminosae), Parthenium hysterophorus (Compositae), Persea americana (Lauraceae), Plumeria sp. (Apocynaceae), Sida sp. (Malvaceae), Solanum melongena (Solanaceae). The species is believed to be native to Mexico and/or Central America.
Herbicide Resistance in Weedy Plants: Physiology and Population Biology

Predictions of the likely occurrence of herbicide resistance in plants (34) were followed by the first discovery of a triazine-resistant biotype of Senecio vulgaris in the United States in 1968 (66). Since then, and particularly in recent years, the number of reported cases of herbicide resistant weed species has rapidly increased, as has the variety of herbicides to which resistance has evolved. There are over 100 weed species with biotypes known to be resistant to herbicides (Table 1, see also 5, 27, 38, 44); these have been the subject of several symposia, reviews, etc (e.g. 26, 38, 39, 43). Given the enormous literature in this field, citations in this review are limited to key papers, reviews, and current papers. Herbicide resistance may be defined as the condition whereby a plant withstands the normal field dose of a herbicide, as a result of selection and genetic response to repeated exposure to herbicides with a similar mode of action. Susceptible plants are normally killed by recommended field doses. For the remainder of this review susceptible and resistant biotypes, plants, populations, etc, of a given species will be designated as Sand R-, respectively. The weed population/herbicide model provides an excellent example
The role of actin in root hair morphogenesis: studies with lipochito-oligosaccharide as a growth stimulator and cytochalasin as an actin perturbing drug

Summary Root hairs develop from bulges on root epidermal cells and elongate by tip growth, in which Golgi vesicles are targeted, released and inserted into the plasma membrane on one side of the cell. We studied the role of actin in vesicle delivery and retention by comparing the actin filament configuration during bulge formation, root hair initiation, sustained tip growth, growth termination, and in full-grown hairs. Lipochito-oligosaccharides (LCOs) were used to interfere with growth (De Ruijteret al. 1998,Plant J.13, 341–350), and cytochalasin D (CD) was used to interfere with actin function. Actin filament bundles lie net-axially in cytoplasmic strands in the root hair tube. In the subapex of growing hairs, these bundles flare out into fine bundles. The apex is devoid of actin filament bundles. This subapical actin filament configuration is not present in full-grown hairs; instead, actin filament bundles loop through the tip. After LCO application, the tips of hairs that are terminating growth swell, and a new outgrowth appears from a site in the swelling. At the start of this outgrowth, net-axial fine bundles of actin filaments reappear, and the tip region of the outgrowth is devoid of actin filament bundles. CD at 1.0 μm, which does not affect cytoplasmic streaming, does not inhibit bulge formation and LCO-induced swelling, but inhibits initiation of polar growth from bulges, elongation of root hairs and LCO-induced outgrowth from swellings. We conclude that elongating net-axial fine bundles of actin filaments, which we call FB-actin, function in polar growth by targeting and releasing Golgi vesicles to the vesicle-rich region, while actin filament bundles looping through the tip impede vesicle retention.
Bioinformatics analysis of beta-casein gene in some selected mammalian species.

This study investigates in silico the genetic diversity of CSN2 on its evolutionary and differentiation within and among species and also examines the attendant effects of polymorphism on the functionality of CSN2. A total of 22 CNS2 gene sequences with corresponding amino acids belonging to 8 species [cattle (3), buffalo (3), camel (3), goat (3), horse (1), rabbit (3), rat (3) and mice (3) were retrieved from Genbank (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). All sequences were trimmed to equal length (501bp) corresponding to the same region. Sequences alignment, translation and comparison were done with ClustalW using IUB substitution matrix, gap open penalty of 15 and gap extension penalty of 6.66. The alignment revealed high polymorphism of CNS2 sequences within and among species. The Dxy inferred using p-distance revealed a maximum value of 0.68 between horse and goat and a minimum value of 0.03 between cattle and buffalo. The hypothesis of strict neutral evolution was rejected for both genes as P<0.05 for species. Also allelic sequence evolution was entirely driven by positive selection. In silico functional analysis of non-synonymous mutations using PANTHER revealed that, for CSN2, 11 of the amino acid substitutions in the peptide binding region (cattle 5, goat 3 and sheep 1) did not impair protein function. However, 3 substitutions in cattle were predicted to be harmful to protein function, also 2 potentially deleterious SNPs; 1 (Glu36Lys) for cattle and 1 (Leu206Pro) for horse were found. The NJ phylogeny revealed trans-species evolution however, UPGMA tree topology was species-wise. In conclusion, all identified deleterious SNPs should be taken into account while selecting a stock for milk production.
Evaluating computational models of infant phonetic learning across languages

In the first year of life, infants' speech perception becomes attuned to the sounds of their native language. Many accounts of this early phonetic learning exist, but computational models predicting the attunement patterns observed in infants from the speech input they hear have been lacking. A recent study presented the first such model, drawing on algorithms proposed for unsupervised learning from naturalistic speech, and tested it on a single phone contrast. Here we study five such algorithms, selected for their potential cognitive relevance. We simulate phonetic learning with each algorithm and perform tests on three phone contrasts from different languages, comparing the results to infants' discrimination patterns. The five models display varying degrees of agreement with empirical observations, showing that our approach can help decide between candidate mechanisms for early phonetic learning, and providing insight into which aspects of the models are critical for capturing infants' perceptual development.
Tinnitus

* See Last Page for Key New 2017 Kessler/Moussa Page 1 Reference Study Type Patients/ Events Study Objective (Purpose of Study) Study Results Study Quality 1. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Quick Statistics. Available at: http://www.nidcd. nih.gov/health/statistics/ Pages/quick.aspx. Review/OtherDx N/A To present statics regarding deafness and other communication disorders. No results stated in abstract. 4
Developmental Genetics of C4 Photosynthesis

C4 PHOTOSyNTHESIS . 26 C4 CELLULAR SPECIALIZATION . 27 Kranz Anatomy . 27 Leaf Cell Ontogeny . " . 29 VARIATIONS IN C4 CELLULAR SPECIALIZATION . 30 CrC4Intermediate Plants . 30 Aquatic C4 Plants 31 Other Non·Kranz C4 Species 32 ONTOGENY OF C4 PATIERNS . 32 Leaf Ontogeny and the C4 System . 32 Veins as Positional Landmarks """"""" . " . ". """""",,. ,,"""""""""""" 34 Illumination and C4 Positional Regulation" . " . ". 35 REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL C4 GENES " . 36 MUTATIONS AFFECTING C4 PATTERN . ". 38 MODEL FOR CONTROL OF C4 PATTERNS DURING DEVELOPMENT. 40
Reconocimiento de Primates y Amenazas Para su Supervivencia en Bosques Pre- Montano y Montano de la Region Cajamarca, Perú

Resumen Llevamos a cabo un reconocimiento de corta duración de los bosques pre montano y montano de la Región Cajamarca para determinar las especies de primates que la habitan e identificar las amenazas para la supervivencia de sus poblaciones. Desde Octubre a Noviembre de 2012 se realizaron censos por transecto en nueve puntos de muestreo pertenecientes a los sectores de Huamantanga y Torohuaca y adicionalmente entrevistamos a nueve personas. En 218 km recorridos fueron registrados 20 grupos pertenecientes a Alouatta seniculus (6 grupos), Cebus yuracus (6 grupos) y Aotus sp. (8 grupos). El tamaño promedio de los grupos fue 3.2 para Aotus sp. , 7.7 para A. seniculus y 14.0 para C. yuracus. La tasa de avistamiento más alta fue para Aotus sp. (6.6 a 7 individuos/10 km y la más baja para A. seniculus (1.92 a 2.54 individuos/ 10 km). En el caso de Aotus sp. , no fue posible identificar la especie, pero podría tratarse de A. vociferans o una especie nueva. En el área de estudio, las principales amenazas para la supervivencia de los primates son la deforestación y quema de la vegetación.
Influence of Cyclic Pre-lay Attendance on Synchronous Breeding in Common Murres

Abstract Social stimulation in concert with environmental factors may influence the degree of reproductive synchrony among colonial breeders. Synchronous breeding has been shown to enhance reproductive success by decreasing predation. Although Common Murres (Uria aalge) typically have a cyclic pre-lay attendance pattern, during one of four consecutive breeding seasons we observed one acyclic pre-lay period (1999). The present study investigated how differences in pre-lay attendance patterns may influence breeding synchrony and reproductive success in a Common Murre sub-colony on Great Island, Newfoundland. Compared to the cyclic pre-lay period (2000), the acyclic pre-lay period showed: i) less synchronous egg-laying, ii) pairs spent less time together at their site due to the overall lower attendance by both sexes, but particularly by females, and iii) higher predation during early and first half of peak egg-laying, although overall reproductive success did not differ between years due to high re-laying rates. These results suggest that cyclic attendance during the pre-lay period of Common Murres may influence breeding synchrony within a sub-colony, which may reduce predation during early incubation and late chick rearing.
Evolution of taxonomic diversity gradients in the marine realm: evidence from the composition of Recent bivalve faunas

A major new inventory of living marine Bivalvia (Mollusca) is based on 29 regional faunas. These again pick out strong latitudinal and longitudinal gradients in taxonomic diversity, but there are indications that the patterns are not so regular as previously thought. There are signs of asymmetry between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere latitudinal gradients, with the former tending to be more regular than the latter. Northern gradients are also characterized by a marked inflection at approximately 30°N, and the three Australian provinces seem to form a distinct “hot-spot” in the Southern Hemisphere. The larger of the two tropical high-diversity foci (the southern China-Indonesia-NE Australia one) appears to be much more nearly arcuate in plan view than oval and is closely associated with the world's richest development of coral reefs. A taxonomic and stratigraphic analysis reveals that the steepest latitudinal gradients are associated with the youngest bivalve clades. The most striking pattern is that shown by the heteroconchs, an essentially infaunal taxon that radiated extensively throughout the Cenozoic era. Steep gradients are also characteristic of the relatively young anomalodesmatan and arcoid clades and, somewhat surprisingly, the predominantly epifaunal pteriomorphs. Although the latter taxon falls within an older (i.e., “late Paleozoic-Jurassic”) group of clades, it is apparent that certain elements within it (and in particular the Pectinidae) radiated extensively in the latest Mesozoic-Cenozoic. A small but significant component of the later stages of the adaptive radiation of the Bivalvia comprised epifaunal taxa. The presence of the steepest latitudinal gradients in the youngest clades provides further evidence that the Tropics have served as a major center of evolutionary innovation. Even though some sort of retraction mechanism cannot be completely ruled out, these gradients are most likely the product of primary radiations. Clade history can be an important determinant of contemporary large-scale biodiversity patterns. The markedly lower diversity of some bivalve clades, such as the heteroconchs, in the high-latitude and polar regions may simply reflect the fact that they are not yet fully established there. In a way that is reminiscent of the onshore-offshore radiation of certain benthic marine invertebrate taxa, it may take periods of tens or even hundreds of millions of years for bivalve clades to disseminate fully across the earth's surface. The persistent spread of taxa from low- to high-latitude regions should perhaps come as no great surprise, as the tropical ocean is very much older than either of the polar ones. The late Cretaceous-Cenozoic evolutionary radiation of the Bivalvia was accompanied by a marked deterioration in global climates, and many new groups have yet to be fully assimilated into cool- and cold-water benthic ecosystems.
Growth of Epichloe/Neotyphodium and p-endophytes in leaves of Lolium and Festuca grasses

Epichloe spp. (Clavicipitaceae) and their close asexual relatives, Neotyphodium spp. , form systemic endophytic associations with Pooideae grasses. Interactions between Lolium and Festuca host grasses and fungal endophytes were examined in studies focusing on leaves of natural associations and also of plants into which the endophyte was introduced by seedling inoculation. Light microscopy as well as fungal isolation was used to locate the position of hyphae, while transmission electron microscopy was used to examine host/fungus interactions at the cellular level. These studies provide support for synchronised plant and endophyte growth. This characteristic pattern of growth was maintained when both Epichloe and Neotyphodium spp. were introduced by seedling inoculation into new host species. Hyphae, with few exceptions, grew rapidly as leaves grew and ceased when leaf growth ceased. This pattern of growth offers an explanation for the characteristic appearance of hyphae in leaf sheaths of host grasses; seldom branched and for all species other than N. occultans, aligned parallel to the leaf axis. Hyphal growth of a second group of endophytic fungi, referred to as p-endophytes, was not regulated in the same way, with growth continuing as leaves aged. This pattern of growth gives rise to high concentrations of branched ramifying hyphae in old leaf sheaths. Although host genotype did not effect the basic pattern of hyphal growth of Epichloe/Neotyphodium endophytes, it strongly influenced the concentration and distribution of hyphae throughout leaves. Examination by TEM revealed no evidence that penetration of hyphae into dense tissue was aided by the secretion of pectic enzymes that loosen the middle lamella connecting host cells. Instead it appeared that penetration occurred by hyphae physically pushing between cells. The absence of enzymatic loosening of the middle lamella during penetration could explain why hyphae of these endophytes apparently do not elicit host defence reactions in natural associations. However, subtle interactions between the hyphae of Epichloe/Neotyphodium and host cells in natural associations were observed.
Forages for feedstocks of biorefineries in temperate environments: review of lignin research in bioenergy crops and some insight into Miscanthus studies

Abstract. Rhizomatous and perennial warm-season C4 grasses such as Miscanthus spp. and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) are potential bioenergy crops for temperate regions. However, lignin in Miscanthus and switchgrass inhibits the cellulose digestion process during bioethanol production. One of the targets for improvement of forages from feedstocks to bioenergy crops is to develop a cost-efficient biorefinery process through lignin content manipulation. Numerous reports have shown that RNAi suppression of lignin-biosynthesis pathway genes can increase biomass fermentable sugar yields for biofuel production. These studies have also reported that RNAi suppression of cell-wall lignin biosynthesis can decrease biomass yield and resistance to biotic stress in the transgenic plants. Transcriptome and metabolome approaches can be used to clarify the networks and pathways of lignin biosynthesis to facilitate the identification of appropriate target genes for transformation. However, whole-genome sequencing of the forage species, which provides much-needed genomic information, is limited. Germplasm of natural, low-lignin mutants also plays a role in identification of genetic regulation of lignin content and this would be useful breeding material. Molecular markers have been developed and utilised to accelerate identification of quantitative trait loci/genes for traits relating to the biorefinery process. All of these studies will serve as basic information for supporting genetic improvement through classical breeding or genetic transformation, and offer the opportunity to develop cultivars which have enhanced biomass and are cost-efficient for biorefinery process.
Nitrate reductase activity in Sphagnum fuscum in relation to wet deposition of nitrate from the atmosphere

Summary Nitrate reductase activity has been measured in Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) Klinggr. growing on an ombrotrophic mire in subarctic Sweden, remote from urban and industrial sources of atmospheric pollution. Perturbation experiments in the field demonstrated nitrate induction of nitrate reductase activity which was both rapid and concentration dependent. Cumulative nitrate reductase activity after repeated treatments with 1 mM nitrate declined with each successive treatment. It is suggested that this may be a result of intracellular ammonium accumulation. Nitrate reductase activity in plants subjected solely to wet and dry deposition from the atmosphere showed little diurnal change, and watering of Sphagnum fuscum hummocks with distilled water had no effect on the enzyme activity. Nitrate reductase activity was, however, shown to be induced by natural precipitation events, the cumulative induced activity being proportional to nitrate deposition. The data suggest that the wet deposition of nitrate represents an important source of nitrogen for ombrotrophic Sphagnum species, and that there is a close coupling of the physiology of S. fuscum plants with their atmospheric environment. Such a relationship would be readily perturbed by atmospheric pollution.
Genetic parameters of digestibility of wheat- or corn-based diets in chickens

Feed efficiency of birds depend on their food consumption, their digestion ability , and the metabolic use of absorbed energy (Fairfull and Chambers, 1984). It has often been argued that in contrast with food consumption and energy use, digestibility was not depending on animal genetics (Pym, 1990). However, it has recently been shown that digestibility of a wheat-based diet was highly heritable in broilers (h=0.37, Mignon-Grasteau et al., 2004). This result is probably linked to the fact that wheat is much less easily digested than corn, which leads to heterogeneous digestibilities between animals, whereas performances are more homogeneous with corn. Following this heritability estimate, two lines have been divergently selected on their high (D+) or low (D-) ability to digest a wheat-based diet. The selection criterion was AMEn (Apparent Metabolisable Energy corrected to zero Nitrogen retention) between 20 and 23 d, at a constant body weight. The aim of the present work was to test our hypotheses about the effet of diet composition on the estimation of heritability of AMEn and to evaluate the possibility of selection of this trait, by comparing estimates obtained on corn-based diets and on wheat-based diets.