Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the potential of INFFER to improve management of agro-environmental assets in tuscany

In the European Union, as in many parts of the world, there is increasing pressure to demonstrate that environmental projects achieve expected outcomes and are cost-effective. This paper reports on a trial application of an environmental investment framework, the Investment Framework for Environmental Resource (INFFER). The framework, based on benefit:cost analysis principles, was applied to agro-environmental assets in the Mugello and Valdisieve areas of northern Tuscany, Italy. Farmers, environmental and institutional representatives and technical experts took part in the process of identifying agro-environmental assets in the region. A total of 26 assets were identified, and of these, only 2 (the last remaining population of Cistus laurfolius within the natural protected area of local interest ( Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale , ANPIL) of Santa Brigida, and the Sant’ Antonio forest were selected as having reasonable prospects of progressing to cost-effective projects (benefit:cost ratio>1). Detailed projects were developed for both assets and found to be cost-effective based on available information. While the mindset of being clear about identifying and valuing natural assets was a new concept to participants, overall the process worked well. The factors considered in calculating a benefit:cost ratio, including technical feasibility, adoption and compliance factors, socio-political risks, costs and the likelihood of obtaining long-term funding to maintain project benefits, were all relevant in Tuscany and required the knowledge of local experts. Overall, INFFER appears relevant and useful in an EU context, and, in particular, is highly compatible with the EU Natura 2000 nature and biodiversity policy.
Food production vs. biodiversity: comparing organic and conventional agriculture

Summary 1. A substantial proportion of the global land surface is used for agricultural production. Agricultural land serves multiple societal purposes; it provides food, fuel and fibre and also acts as habitat for organisms and supports the services they provide. Biodiversity conservation and food production need to be balanced: production needs to be sustainable, while conservation cannot be totally at the expense of crop yield. 2. To identify the benefits (in terms of biodiversity conservation) and costs (in terms of reduction in yields) of agricultural management, we examined the relationship between crop yield and abundance and species density of important taxa in winter cereal fields on both organic and conventional farms in lowland England. 3. Of eight species groups examined, five (farmland plants, bumblebees, butterflies, solitary bees and epigeal arthropods) were negatively associated with crop yield, but the shape of this relationship varied between taxa. It was linear for the abundance of bumblebees and species density of butterflies, concave up for the abundance of epigeal arthropods and butterflies and concave down for species density of plants and bumblebees. 4. Grain production per unit area was 54% lower in organic compared with conventional fields. When controlling for yield, diversity of bumblebees, butterflies, hoverflies and epigeal arthropods did not differ between farming systems, indicating that observed differences in biodiversity between organic and conventional fields are explained by lower yields in organic fields and not by different management practices per se. Only percentage cover and species density of plants were increased by organic field management after controlling for yield. The abundance of solitary wild bees and hoverflies was increased in landscapes with high amount of organic land. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that considerable gains in biodiversity require roughly proportionate reductions in yield in highly productive agricultural systems. They suggest that conservation efforts may be more cost effective in low-productivity agricultural systems or on non-agricultural land. In less productive agricultural landscapes, biodiversity benefit can be gained by concentrating organic farms into hotspots without a commensurate reduction in yield.
Role of fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates in leaf litter breakdown in a polluted river

Abstract The effects of water-quality degradation caused by urbanization, agricultural, and industrial activities on leaf litter breakdown and associated communities of invertebrates and microorganisms were examined at 1 reference and 2 downstream polluted sites in the Ave River (northwestern Portugal). Conductivity, concentrations of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, and PO43−-P, and density of culturable microorganisms were high at the polluted sites. Rates of leaf breakdown also were high, and the highest value was found at the most-downstream, nutrient-enriched polluted site. However, the other polluted site had low current velocity and sedimentation, and nutrient enrichment did not lead to rapid leaf breakdown. Shredders were scarce or absent at all sampling sites, and low shredder density probably explained the lack of differences in leaf breakdown rates between fine-mesh and coarse-mesh bags. High fungal and bacterial production on leaves supported high leaf breakdown rates. Bacterial production was greater at both polluted sites than at the reference site, but it did not exceed 11% of the total microbial production. Fungal biomass and production were markedly different between polluted sites, with the highest values corresponding to the fastest leaf breakdown. Our findings indicate that fungi were the major decomposers in this polluted river. We encourage further research on the effects of multiple stressors on the activity of fungal decomposers to help us better understand the mechanisms underlying leaf litter breakdown in streams under stress.
A new frog species of the genus Rugosa from Sado Island, Japan (Anura, Ranidae)

We describe a new frog species in the genus Rugosa from Sado Island, Japan. This new species, Rugosa susurra, is ge-netically close to R. rugosa Temminck and Schlegel, but is morphologically distinguishable and postzygotically isolatedfrom the latter species. The skin over the entire body is much smoother, and the abdomen and ventral surface of hindlimbare deep yellow whereas these are pale yellow or grayish yellow in R. rugosa. In addition, duration of the advertisementcall of Rugosa susurra is definitely longer than that of R. rugosa. Rugosa susurra is the first endemic amphibian species to Sado Island in Japan.
Growth and Yield of Millet and Cowpea in Relay and Intercrop Systems in the Sahelian Zone in Years when the Onset of the Rainy Season is Early

Summary Field trials conducted previously in Niger have shown that in years when the onset of the rains is 15–20 days earlier than average, the long growing season can be exploited by growing a relay crop of millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). In the trials reported here, the advantages of relay cropping were compared with intercropping with improved management and intercropping under traditional management during the 1989, 1990 and 1991 rainy seasons at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Sadore, Niger. The length of the growing season varied from 139 to 150 days over the three seasons. The relay crop produced more dry matter and leaf area and yielded more than the intercrops in all three years, confirming that in years when the onset of the rains is early, relay cropping with millet and cowpea is a better option than growing the same two species as an intercrop. Relay cropping avoids the competitive effects inherent in intercropping systems, while offering the additional advantages of rotating cereals with legumes. Mijo y caupí en sistemas de relevo y de cultivo simultáneo
Beauveria bassiana, a dual purpose biocontrol organism, with activity against insect pests and plant pathogens.

Microbial control of plant pathogens and insect pests is an important component of efforts to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and increase sustainability of agriculture. Although the number of registered microbial products has increased in recent years, many potential biopesticides have either not been developed for commercial use, or have had limited success, due to their pathogen or pest specificity, inconsistent performance across environments, or a lack of understanding of the mechanism(s) of biocontrol, resulting in ineffective use. Beauveria bassiana is a commercially available entomopathogenic fungus with an extensive host range of insect pests. Isolates of this fungus have been shown to be endophytic in specific crop plants, and in some cases, endophytic colonization has been linked to the ability ofthe fungus to control insect pests. With few exceptions, research on B. bassiana as a potential biological control for plant pathogens has been limited to in vitro studies on growth inhibition and cell lysis of plant pathogens. The potential of B. bassiana to control important plant pathogens in situ remains largely unknown. We have evidence that B. bassiana 11-98, originally isolated from an infected click beetle in Scott County, Tennessee, U.S.A. , can control damping-off of tomato, caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani, and can provide protection to cotton against a seedling disease complex in field soils. Furthermore, seed treatment with B. bassiana isolate 11-98 has resulted in endophytic colonization of tomato seedlings in a gnotobiotic system. The mechanism(s) of biocontrol by B. bassiana against plant pathogens, and whether or not endophytic colonization is a critical component of biocontrol are currently being investigated. Development of biopesticides that can control both plant pathogens and insect pests will have enormous value for plant protection in U.S. agriculture. Such biopesticidal organisms would be similar to wide spectrum pesticides with their potential for a significant reduction in pest management costs. However, unlike most chemical products, which have activity only against insects or plant pathogens, these biocontrol agents would have activity against both. Furthermore, disease and pest control with microbial agents offer the environmental advantages associated with biological control.
Expression of the P5CS Gene in Transgenic Versus Nontransgenic Olive (Olea europaea) under Salinity Stress

Olive is an ever- green tree of the oleaceae family and of the genus olea , grown under a wide range of climates and soils all over the world. In Iran, 50 percent of all growing areas encountered by high salt concentration conditions and drought. Water deficit caused by drought and high salinity has been an important factor limiting crop productivity. To cope with these environmental stresses, application of molecular plant breeding is necessary. In response to osmotic stress elicited by condition of high salt, the expression of P5CS gene increased in olive plants. Transgenic and non transgenic olive plants were transferred to the solid ½ MS containing 200 mM NaCl and they were sub- cultured about 2 weeks, then total protein was extracted from fresh leaves of transgenic plants and non transgenic plants under osmotic stress condition and measured using of Bradford to subject to SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. To probe the effect of P5CS overexpression on salinity stress tolerance, polyclonal antibody developed in rabbit against P5CS protein was used. The result of immunological methods for specific detection of P5CS gene, strongly indicated P5CS up - regulation in stressed transgenic olive plants versus stressed non transgenic olive plants.
The economic impacts of Scottish fiscal policies and their spillover effects on the energy system

The energy and economic systems are inextricably intertwined. This means that fiscal interventions are likely to have a significant influence on the energy system, the neglect of which could lead to inefficiencies in the design of energy and economic policies. The importance of this in practice depends on the strength of the spill-over effects from fiscal instruments to energy policy goals. This is the focus of the present paper which employs a multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to track the impacts of fiscal adjustments on key economic and energy policy goals. In particular the effect of tax and public expenditure changes are quantified and compared both with and without the imposition of a balanced budget. We are interested in identifying conditions under which a fiscal policy “double dividend” might occur. This is a stimulus to the economy accompanied by a simultaneous reduction in emissions or increase in energy productivity. Our results suggest that such an outcome is possible but these impacts depend on the public’s valuation of the amenity associated with the greater public expenditure and the extent to which this is reflected in workers’ wage bargaining behaviour. There are undoubtedly differential spillover effects on key elements of the energy system from tax and expenditure policies that may prove capable of exploitation through the coordination of fiscal and energy policies. Whilst it seems doubtful that fiscal policies would be formulated with a view to improved coordination with energy policies, policymakers can benefit from knowledge concerning the likely direction and scale of fiscal spillover effects to key elements of the energy system. For example, this analysis reveals the extent of any energy policy adjustment that would be required to maintain a given level of emissions.
Econometric Analysis of Foreign Finance and Economic Development in Nigeria

This study explores the link between foreign finance and human development index (a proxy for economic development) in Nigeria with yearly statistics generated from CBN and NBS of various issues. In doing this, we utilized the ADF methodology for the analysis of stationarity/non-stationarity while the Johansen (cointegration test) and the parsimonious-ECM are adopted for the estimation of parameters. Based on the findings, we can conclude from the short run dynamics that foreign aid contributed positively to economic development while foreign and portfolio investment as well as external debt is confirmed to have negatively contributed to economic prosperity. In the long run, these variables (external debt, foreign aid, foreign and portfolio investment) were found to influence development in Nigeria. Given the impression of the results, we recommend that the monetary authorities should stabilize the Nigerian economy and create an attractive environment for external investors. Furthermore, borrowed resources should be properly manage and channeled to investment in infrastructures that will speed up the needed growth in Nigeria.
Preparation and antimicrobial activity of tannin polymers from Platycarya strobilacea infructescence

Abstract Tannin polymer fractions with different molecular weight distribution are extracted and purified with macroporous resin from Platycarya strobilacea infructescence (PSI). The antimicrobial activity of the tannin polymer fractions is tested against Gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, Gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and fungus Aspergillus niger. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the tested tannin polymers in proper nutrients is determined using the broth double dilution method (serially diluted technique). For comparison, sodium benzoate is used as antimicrobial and antifungal reference drugs. All PSI tannin polymer fractions (TPF-1, TPF-2, TPF-3, TPF-4 and TPF-5) have been found to display notable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli with low MIC values. Tannin polymer fractions with the number average molecular weight Mn of 1454 (TPF-2) and 1275 (TPF-5) have been found to exhibit broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. These results indicate the possibility of using P. strobilacea infructescence tannin polymers for medicinal uses.
Preparation of hydroxyapatite/hyaluronan biomimetic nano-hybrid material for reconstruction of critical size bone defects

Sintered bi-phase calcium phosphate material was subjected to dry high-energy milling for 40 hours to obtain crystalline nano-metric hydroxyapatite. During milling the tertiary calcium phosphate got fully amorphous. Powder XRD analysis was used for phase control and crystallite size measurements. The morphological studies were performed by SEM and TEM and showed formation of granulated agglomerates. The obtained material was additionally milled with 1% hyaluronan for times of 2, 5, and 10 hours and the initially formed agglomerates were subsequently disintegrated to form well homogenized nano-hydroxyapatite particles of a hybrid hydroxyapatite/hyaluronan material, which was used for filling of bone defects with critical sizes in cases of apical periodontites. Test clinical studies showed good healing process.
LEARNING DFA FROM CORRECTIONS 1

This paper is focused on learning deterministic ﬁnite automata (DFA) within the framework of query learning. We present an eﬃcient algorithm for learning DFA, based on Angluin’s algorithm to identify DFA from membership and equivalence queries. We improve Angluin’s results using a new type of query called correction query. Therefore, our learning algorithm has access to a teacher able of answering two type of queries: correction and equivalence queries. It can learn any DFA from an adequate teacher in polynomial time. We prove that it is possible to learn DFA from corrections and that the number of queries are reduced considerably.
The Role of Laparoscopic Intraoperative Ultrasonography in Patients with Suspected Choledocholithiasis. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

The Doctoral thesis was carried out at Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Department of General and Emergency Surgery. Defence: at the public session of the Doctoral Council of Clinical Medicine on 1 July 2020 at 13.00 in Hippocrates Lecture Theatre, 16 Dzirciema Street, Rīga Stradiņs University.
EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF VITAMIN A AND E (BETA 4 VET) ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF GOATS IN BIHAR (FIELD TRIAL REPORT)

A field trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of enhanced supplementation of Vitamin A,E and organic trace minerals on reproductive viability of goats under field condition.14 female non cyclic goats, 9-12 months age belonging to farmer groups of Bihar running under the Bihar rural livelihood promotion society (BRLPS) were supplemented by bolus beta 4 vet manufactured by (Hester Biosciences Ltd.) @ 1 bolus orally per day for 10 days. The goats were reared non intensively with feeding and grazing as per farmers usual practice. The study revealed that supplementation of bolus Beta 4 vet resulted in 79% of goats coming in heat with conception of 29% of the animals in the supplemented group. From the present study it is concluded that the supplementation of Beta 4 vet increased percent of animals coming to heat and subsequently the conception rate of animals helping in better reproductive outcomes in animals under field condition.
Some explorations of the life history ratios to describe length composition, spawning-per-recruit, and the spawning potential ratio

Evaluating the status of data-poor fish stocks is often limited by incomplete knowledge of the basic life history parameters: the natural mortality rate (M), the von Bertalanffy growth parameters (L1 and k), and the length at maturity (Lm). A common approach to estimate these individual parameters has been to use the Beverton– Holt life history invariants, the ratios M/k and Lm/L1, especially for estimating M. In this study, we assumed no knowledge of the individual parameters, and explored how the information on life history strategy contained in these ratios can be applied to assessing data-poor stocks. We developed analytical models to develop a relationship between M/k and the von Bertalanffy growth curve, and demonstrate the link between the life history ratios and yield- and spawning-per-recruit. We further developed the previously recognized relationship between M/k and yield- and spawning-per-recruit by using information on Lm/L1, knife-edge selectivity (Lc/L1), and the ratio of fishing to natural mortality (F/M), to demonstrate the link between an exploited stock’s expected length composition, and its spawning potential ratio (SPR), an internationally recognized measurement of stock status. Variation in length-at-age and logistic selectivity patterns were incorporated in the model to demonstrate how SPR can be calculated from the observed size composition of the catch; an advance which has potential as a cost-effective method for assessing data-poor stocks. A companion paper investigates the effects of deviations in the main assumptions of the model on the application of the analytical models developed in this study as a cost-effective method for stock assessment [Hordyk, A. R. , Ono, K. , Valencia, S. , Loneragan, N. R. , and Prince, J. D. this issue. A novel length based empirical estimation method of spawning potential ratio (SPR), and tests of its performance, for small-scale, data-poor fisheries. ICES Journal of Marine Science].
Long-term stability of β-galactosidase protein expression in the absence of selective growth conditions in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell

In this study, the adequacy of β-galactosidase (β-gal) as marker for models that requires durable and high level gene expression in the absence of selective pressure was investigated. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with expression vector pcDNA4/HisMax-TOPO/lacZ containing lacZ and zeocin resistant genes. 26 recombinant CHO cell lines were established using lipid cationic transfection (TransFast™ Transfection Reagent) as DNA transfer method. 6 clones were productive in the expression of β-gal when grown in the presence of zeocin as the selective pressure. 2 sub-clones, TF8 (1) and TF9 (7) grown for 11 passages in nonselective medium which maintained high levels of protein expression with specific β-gal activity in the absence of zeocin were almost constant at 1.5704 and 4.3017 units β-gal activity/mg protein respectively. Specific growth rate of TF8 (1) and TF9 (7) in the absence of zeocin were approximately 0.638 and 0.656 day −1 respectively. The expression of β-gal does not affect the cell growth and the transfectants were stable population in terms of cell viability. Removal of zeocin from the media increases specific growth rate from a range of 24 to 52% and β-gal protein production in reference to specific activity increases from 128 to 320% with the capability to be expanded to larger volumes. In this study, we demonstrate transfected CHO cells with the ability to produce β-gal without the presence of zeocin for at least 11 passages. Key words: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), β-galactosidase, clone stability, selective pressure.
Evolution of Quality of Service in IP Networks

The Internet is an interconnection of networks, or clouds. I ndividual networks are administratively distinct and opaque (or should be) to outsiders. The emphasis is on ric h connectivity that allows data packets to find new routes, even if some part of the old route fails during a co nnection. This is possible because each packet is routed separately. In contrast, the telephony network ro utescalls, using the same path for the duration of the call. Failure of some portion of the pre-arranged path th us results in the loss of the call.