Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic characterization of the population of São Luís, MA, Brazil

Five loci (vWA1, F13A1, D12S67, Apo-B and D1S80) were investigated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining in a sample of 177 individuals from the population of Sao Luis, State of Maranhao, Brazil. A total of 70 different alleles were identified. A statistically significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in a single locus (F13A1, p = 0.0075). The average heterozygosity (H) was estimated at 77.7%, the mean number of alleles per locus as 14. The PD (capacity of genotype differentiation at each locus) ranged from 88.9% (vWA1) to 96.7% (F13A1). The combined PE (power of exclusion) of these five loci was 99.8%. In terms of racial admixture (42% European, 39% Indian, and 19% African Black ancestry), Sao Luis presented an estimate similar to Belem, another trihybrid Amazonian population.
Macrobenthos of the Pamlico River Estuary, North Carolina

A study of the macrobenthos and its environment in the Pamlico River estuary, North Carolina, included measurements of salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, as well as the particle size and concentrations of organic matter of the sediments. Salinity ranged from 1% to 20%, and temperature from 5° to 31° C. Anoxic conditions in the bottom water over—lying the deeper portions of the estuary occurred in the late summer. Two distinct sediment types were found: a sand substrate in the shallow area and a silty clay substrate in the deep area of the estuary. A preliminary sampling program in July 1968 showed that the macrobenthos was characterized by both low diversity and low density because of unfavorable environmental conditions of salinity and sediment. The statistical sampling design for this study was stratification of the estuary and equal random allocation of samples. Only 18 species were found, and the Shannon—Weaver information diversity index (H) showed low values of 0.66—1.77. In addition, low .
Ziziphus mauritiana (masau) fruits fermentation in Zimbabwe: from black-box to starter culture development

This thesis reports on studies of microbiological and biochemical properties of masau ( Ziziphus mauritiana ) fruit fermentation and the development of starter cultures for the production of masau beverages. A survey to document the traditional processing techniques was conducted using a questionnaire and focus group discussions in each of the three districts, i.e., Mudzi, Mt Darwin and Muzarabani in Zimbabwe. The survey results showed that the masau fruit is usually gathered by women and children, and eaten raw or processed into products such as porridge, traditional cakes, mahewu (non-alcoholic fermented beverage), jam, which are sold at local markets. It is also naturally fermented under uncontrolled conditions and distilled into kachasu . The nutritional composition of the masau fruit was analysed. The fruits are good sources of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, and essential micronutrients such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc and vitamin C. In order to enable the selection of starter cultures for the production of masau wine and distillate, yeasts, yeast-like fungi, and lactic acid bacteria present on the unripe, ripe and dried fruits, and in the fermented masau fruits were isolated and identified using physiological and molecular methods. The predominant species were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Pichia kudriavzevii , P. fabianii , Aureobasidium pullulans , Lactobacillus agilis and L. plantarum . The yeast species were then characterised with respect to ethanol and flavour compounds production. Significant differences in the production of ethanol and other volatile compounds were observed during fermentation of masau juice among and within the tested Saccharomyces , Pichia and Saccharomycopsis species. Alcohols and esters were the major volatiles detected in the fermented juice. Ethyl hexanoate and ethyl octanoate were produced in highest amounts as compared to the other flavour compounds. Two traditional low-tech methods for preserving starter cultures, i.e., stabilisation of yeast cultures in dried plant fibre strands, and in rice cakes, were compared with standard lyophilisation. Viable cell counts made during six months storage at 4 °C and 25 °C of lyophilised yeasts, and yeast cultures preserved in dry rice cakes and dry plant fibre strands showed that the rice cake method performed significantly better than lyophilisation. The developed library of fermentation characteristics of yeasts can help in the design of mixtures of strains to obtain a specific melange of masau product functionalities. The defined starter cultures could be preserved using the traditional approaches, which are suitable for small-scale, low-tech applications.
The ensiling characteristics of different herbage species and varieties

SUMMARY The ensiling characteristics of grasses and of red clover were examined by means of a small scale vacuum silage technique. Eight grasses, comprising three varieties each of perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot and two varieties of timothy, were evaluated after application of two levels of nitrogen fertilizer. Three varieties of red clover were evaluated at two stages of growth with and without sucrose supplementation during ensiling. Perennial ryegrass varieties contained more water soluble carbohydrates than cocksfoot and timothy varieties. At the low level of fertilizer N, silages made from the first cut in mid-May were all well preserved 3 weeks after ensiling. At the high level of fertilizer only perennial ryegrass varieties and S345 cocksfoot were well preserved. After ensiling for 14 weeks perennial ryegrass silages remained well preserved but secondary fermentation in the cocksfoot and timothy varieties resulted in poor preservation. Silages made from the second cut at the end of May were all badly preserved except for silage made from tetraploid ryegrass at the low nitrogen level. Significant correlations were established between the water soluble carbohydrate content of the grasses and the quality of the resulting silage, but herbage dry-matter content and buffering capacity were not significantly correlated with silage quality. The red clover varieties were lower in water soluble carbohydrate and higher in buffering capacity than the grasses. Although the silages from red clover were well preserved they were of high pH. Supplementation with sucrose significantly reduced pH and ammonia content and increased lactic-acid content.
Diapause and voltinism in western and 2-year-cycle spruce budworms (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and their hybrid progeny

Abstract Breeding experiments and rearing under variable controlled conditions have revealed that western and 2-year-cycle spruce budworms (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman and C. biennis Freeman, respectively) from British Columbia, Canada, and their hybrid progeny have the inherent capacity for a variable number of diapause events and hence voltinism. While all crosses have at least one diapause, variability in the relative frequency of a second diapause is determined by genetic traits modified by the photoperiod and, to a lesser extent, temperature experienced during the larval stages. Second diapause appears fixed in C. biennis but is facultative and most frequent at short photophases (12L:12D) in C. occidentalis. Hybrids and backcrosses had responses intermediate to the parental responses under all environmental conditions. The occurrence of a facultative third diapause in all crosses underlines the inherent capacity for flexibility in voltinism in these species. These results are discussed in the context of past, present, and future distributions of alternative life cycles in closely related species. Résumé Des expériences de reproduction et d'élevage dans diverses conditions contrôlées révèlent que les tordeuses occidentale et bisannuelle de l'épinette (respectivement Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman et C. biennis Freeman) de la Colombie-Britannique et leurs hybrides ont la capacité inhérente d'entrer un nombre variable de fois en diapause et donc de produire un nombre variable de générations dans un période donnée. Chaque hybride entre au moins une fois en diapause, et la variabilité sur le plan de la fréquence relative d'une deuxième diapause dépend de caractères génétiques modifiés par la photopériode et, dans une moindre mesure, par les conditions de température qui ont prévalu au cours des stades larvaires. Il semble que C. biennis entre toujours au moins deux fois en diapause, tandis que chez C. occidentalis, la deuxième diapause est facultative et se produit plus fréquemment lorsque les photopériodes sont courtes. Les hybrides et les produits de rétrocroisements ont donné des résultats intermédiaires par rapport à ceux de leurs parents et ce, dans toutes les conditions environnementales. La possibilité d'une troisième diapause facultative chez tous les hybrides met en valeur la capacité inhérente de flexibilité des deux espèces sur le plan du voltinisme. Ces résultats font l'objet d'une discussion dans le contexte des répartitions passées, présentes et future d'autres cycles de vie chez des espèces étroitement apparentées.
Using Taxonomy to Predict Success among Introduced Avifauna: Relative Importance of Transport and Establishment

Abstract: For invasion ecology to become a quantitative approach to conservation, robust predictors of success must be identified. Taxonomy, although often casually mentioned, has never been thoroughly assessed as an agent of prediction. I used binomial probabilities to identify taxonomic patterns in establishment success among global avifauna. At most, 2.54% of all avian species are considered successfully established exotics somewhere in the world. The distribution of these species among higher taxa is far from random. Seven families contained more successfully established exotic species than expected by chance: Anatidae (ducks and geese), Phasianidae (pheasants), Passeridae (sparrows and estrildid finches), Psittacidae (parrots and allies), Columbidae (pigeons and doves), Rheidae (rheas), and Odontophoridae (New World quails). Human influence on probability of transport appears to drive this taxonomic pattern. Anatidae, Odontophoridae, and Phasianidae hold far more species than expected that arrived in their invasive range for exploitation (i.e., hunting or game). Passeridae and Sturnidae (starlings and mynahs) have more pet species than expected by chance. Thus, traits that enhance probability of purposeful transport exhibit a taxonomic pattern. This human influence on probability of transport increases the quantity of species introduced but does not increase the proportion of species that successfully become established. When invasion risk is assigned, it is vital to understand the interaction between species‐specific attributes that influence establishment and transportation.
Laboratory temperature variation is a previously unrecognized source of genotyping error during capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis is being used increasingly for microsatellite genotyping. Here, we report that laboratory temperature greatly affects the estimated allele size, with 5 °C changing the estimated allele size by up to 0.7 bp. With accurate room temperature control, this variation would be relatively unimportant but unfortunately, a questionnaire shows that daily and seasonal laboratory temperature differences are often substantial. One solution is to use a set of reference genotypes, which also greatly assists comparisons between different platforms.
Attempting to Manage Complex Predator–Prey Interactions Fails to Avert Imminent Extinction of a Threatened New Zealand Skink Population

Abstract The current primary threats to biodiversity on a global scale are species invasions and habitat modification. Management of vulnerable populations often involves a lengthy sequence of 1) research to identify threats and recommend management strategies, 2) active management, and 3) results monitoring to assess effectiveness of management. The last mainland population of the large, endemic New Zealand skink (Whitaker's skink [Cyclodina whitakeri]) provides an opportunity to test this process in a system where the synergistic effects between invasive species (introduced rodents and grasses) have predicted outcomes. A low abundance of Whitaker's skink at the Pukerua Bay Scientific Reserve in the 1980s prompted management recommendations to remove grazing stock and revegetate the site to simultaneously restore habitat and provide protection against introduced mammalian predators. Since Whitaker's skink have low detectability, it was recommended that sympatric copper skink (C. aenea) be used an indicator species of management effectiveness. Grazing stock were removed in 1987, but efforts to revegetate the site were ineffective. Long-term monitoring (1984–2006) of the Whitaker's skink population and 4 other sympatric lizard species within a 336-m2 area at the site resulted in 1,693 lizard captures over 7,597 trap days. Whitaker's skink represented 2.8% of all captures in 1984–1988, but declined relative to other species to represent only 0.2% of captures in 2000–2006 (representing 2 individuals). Congeneric copper skink showed a similar decline with capture rates also approaching zero by 2006. Removing grazing stock did not result in an increased abundance of Whitaker's skink or copper skink through improved habitat quality, as was intended by the management recommendation. Instead, reduced grazing has allowed introduced seeding grasses to proliferate, which may have led to periodic rodent irruptions, supporting a guild of introduced mammalian predators and depleting populations of Whitaker's skink and copper skink. In this instance, attempted protection may have driven a vulnerable population towards extinction. We recommend investigating the feasibility of constructing a mammal-proof fence around the core Whitaker's skink habitat, as the last remaining management option to salvage the population.
Self-supervised learning and recognition by integrating information from several sensors

Almost all of species recognize outer world by integrating information from several sensors such as eyes and ears. Using this strategy, they seems to realize robust recognition in any situations. Furthermore, some researcher found that there are cases that the integration of visual inputs and acoustic inputs plays an important rule for the learning in their early life. From these points of view, we have already proposed a sensory integrating system. The system has several sets of neural networks and sensors. Each neural network receives inputs from corresponding sensor, and recognize the inputs. The output of each neural network is sent to an integrating unit, which integrates outputs from all the neural networks. The integrating unit outputs the recognition result of the system. This paper improves the previous system by introducing a new learning and recognition method based on a Bayesian strategy. The aim of this new system is that 1. Robust recognition in any situation using several sensors. 2. Detection of the correct class of ambiguous sensory inputs, using a Bayesian strategy. 3. Bayesian learning without any supervised signals.
Genetic compensation for sarcoglycan loss by integrin α7β1 in muscle

Disruption of the sarcoglycan complex leads to muscle membrane instability and muscular dystrophy in humans and mice. Through the dystrophin glycoprotein complex, sarcoglycan participates in connecting the internal cytoskeleton to the membrane and the extracellular matrix. Integrin α7β1 is also a transmembrane protein of skeletal and cardiac muscle that similarly links the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Mice lacking integrin α7 develop mild muscle degeneration, while sarcoglycan mutant mice display overt muscle degeneration and muscular dystrophy. In sarcoglycan-deficient muscle, integrin α7 protein was upregulated at the plasma membrane. To ascertain whether integrin α7 upregulation compensates for the loss of the transmembrane sarcoglycan linkage in sarcoglycan-deficient muscle, we generated mice lacking both integrin α7 and γ-sarcoglycan (gxi). These double-mutant gxi mice exhibit profound, rapid muscle degeneration leading to death before one month of age consistent with a weakened cellular attachment to the extracellular matrix. The regenerative capacity of gxi muscle was intact with increased embryonic myosin heavy chain expression, myofiber central nucleation and normal in vivo myoblast differentiation. Therefore, upregulation of integrin α7β1 compensates as a transmembrane muscle cell attachment for sarcoglycan consistent with overlapping roles for sarcoglycan and integrins in mediating cytoskeletal-membrane-extracellular matrix interaction.
Electromicrobiology: An Emerging Reality—A Review

Electromicrobiology is the study of the interactions between the novel electrical properties of microorganisms and electronic devices. A diversity of microorganisms such as Geobacter and Shewanella species is capable of interacting electrically with the environment. Many recent advances in Electromicrobiology stem from studying Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) which are a device designed for the harvesting of electric current from organic compounds. Three types of Microbial Fuel Cells are known which are heterotrophic microbial fuel cells, photosynthetic microbial fuel cells (bio-solar cells) designed to harness the most abundant and promising energy source (solar irradiation) of earth and the hybrid microbial fuel cell. Electric microorganisms especially Sporomusa ovata can use electron derived from electrodes to reduce carbondioxide to multicarbon extracellular organic compounds in a process known as Microbial Electrosynthesis. The mechanism of electron transfer to electrodes by electric microbes is either by the use of electron shuttling molecules, redox-active proteins or via conductive pili. Conductive microorganisms and/or their nanowires have a number of potential practical applications but additional basic research will be necessary for rational applications. This review looks at the Microbial Fuel Cells, the associated mechanisms and applications.
Reappraising Personal Experience in the Preparation of School Administrators

Based on the simple Deweyan thesis that individual learning and growth are based upon actual life experiences, the author proposes a model to guide curricular reform and the rethinking of pedagogy and program delivery in preparation programs for school administrators. A description of the model suggests that reflection, a critical mediating tool of individual experience, helps to link curriculum content/context and conceptions of learning and knowledge to a holistic guide to substantive reform in pedagogy and practice in the field of educational administration. The article ends with a discussion of how the inclusion of personal experience helps to bridge a critical gap between professors of school administration and practicing administrators.
Yield prediction of acoustic charge transport transversal filters

A yield model for gallium arsenide acoustic charge transport transversal filters is presented. It differs from previous IC yield models in that it is not assumed that individual failures of the nondestructive sensing taps necessarily cause a device failure. In this way, a redundancy in the number of taps included in the design is accounted for. Poisson statistics are used to describe the tap failures. A representative design example is presented, and the critical area for device failure is calculated. Yield is predicted for a range of defect densities, distribution functions, and redundancies. To verify the model, a Monte Carlo simulation is performed on an equivalent circuit model of the device. The results of the yield model are then compared to the Monte Carlo simulation. Better than 95% agreement is obtained for the Poisson model weighted by a triangular distribution function with one redundant circuit. <<ETX>>
Proanthocyanidin Composition of Red Vitis vinifera Varieties from the Douro Valley during Ripening: Influence of Cultivation Altitude

The effect of altitude and its related climatic conditions on the proanthocyanidin composition of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesa varieties during berry maturation is reported for the 1997 vintage. At berry maturation, low altitude is shown to be an important factor favoring the biosynthesis of higher concentrations of grape-skin catechin monomers ((+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate), procyanidin dimers, trimer C1, as well as total extractable proanthocyanidins. The grapes (skin and seeds) of Touriga Nacional were found to be richer in low molecular weight flavan-3-ol compounds, while Touriga Francesa contained higher concentrations of total extractable proanthocyanidins. At harvest, grape-skin dimer content was comprised almost entirely of dimer B1, followed by dimers B2 and B3, whereas C4-C8 linked dimers (B1 to B4) and B2-gallate were the most abundant found in seeds. Dimer B2, which was one of the less important dimers at the early stage of development in seeds, showed a tendency to increase during ripening, while its respective gallate ester (B2-gallate) markedly decreased.
A Study and Categorization of DOS Attacks in Cloud Computing Environment

: Cloud computing is an emergent technology imparts on-demand accessibility of shared resources like servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the Internet. With a rise in Cloud Service Providers, massive Internet users are switching to Cloud platforms since it has the threat of security breach by unauthorized users. Nowadays one of the chief attacks among all which challenges the security in cloud is the DoS attacks. The availability, SLA, and performance of the cloud is targeted by the DoS attack. This review presents various DoS attacks and its classification in cloud computing environment.
Management preferences, perceived benefits and conflicts among resource users and managers in the Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania

SUMMARY Conflicts between resource users and managers are common and well documented on Mafia Island (Tanzania), where there has been a history of unresolved conflict over marine conservation initiatives. The perceptions of fisheries and park restrictions among resource users and managers were evaluated to try to understand the underlying causes of these conflicts. Responses concerning management preferences of government officials employed by the Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP), personnel of the fisheries department, and heads of households in three villages in and out of the Park were compared. The largest differences in perceptions were found between villagers and managers, but all respondents agreed that minimum fish lengths and gear restrictions were beneficial and that benefits increased along the scale of the individual – community – national government. Villagers and government officials differed most in their perceptions towards area-based management, spatial and temporal closures, and species restrictions. Perceptions of management restrictions and benefits were only weakly correlated with the socioeconomic status of the villagers, but more strongly correlated with their living in or out of the Park and their family's economic options. The most negative perceptions towards restrictions were found in villages near fisheries closures, where there was a heavy reliance on marine resources and a higher numbers of jobs per household, but less reliance on cash crops, animal husbandry and tourism. The lack of these three options appears to have produced lower levels of support for MIMP and associated restrictions, and might be overcome by (1) using gear and minimum size restrictions more than fisheries closures and (2) increasing access to tourism, cash crops, animal husbandry and salaried employment, rather than simply increasing livelihood diversity.