Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Manipulations of adult density and juvenile habitat quality in Northern Abalone stock restoration

Wild abalone populations throughout the world have declined dramatically over the past 40 years due primarily to market demands for the mollusc's edible foot. Northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), the only abalone species occurring in British Columbia (B.C.), is widely thought to be threatened by potential population collapse as a result of low adult densities that impair reproductive potential. This study examined the hypothesis that the abundance of wild northern abalone populations are below a critical density required for successful reproduction and assessed two techniques that may aid the 'recovery' of northern abalone in B.C. In the first study, I created dense aggregations of mature abalone during the reproductive period to test whether abalone preferred high density spawning aggregations that theoretically enhance reproductive potential. Twelve weeks following the manipulations, transplanted abalone had dispersed from enhanced densities at different rates and one year later, abalone densities had returned to pre-treatment levels. Slower rates of transplanted abalone dispersal at specific locations indicated that artificially aggregated abalone may have an enhanced theoretical reproductive potential. However, transplanted abalone dispersing to pre-treatment densities indicated that wild populations do not necessarily suffer from impaired reproductive potential. In the second study, I installed artificial habitats that provided standardized surrogate habitat for juvenile abalone and surveyed surrounding natural habitats to determine an index of juvenile abalone abundance. Juvenile abalone used artificial structures at greater mean densities than nearby natural habitat and juvenile abalone abundance was significantly different between sites but not within sites, suggesting artificial structures showed promise in their ability to detect area specific differences in recruitment and to easily measure juvenile abalone abundance. Benefits of these studies in relation to abalone stock restoration are discussed.
Effect of maternal diet on placental development, uteroplacental blood flow, and offspring development in beef cattle

Abstract Considerable effort has been made to understand how nutrition influences livestock health and productivity during the postnatal period. Moreover, while efforts have been made to understand how nutrition impacts many different aspects of female reproduction, there is a growing body of literature that focuses on how maternal nutrition impacts the developing fetus. Providing adequate nutrition during pregnancy is important for maternal health and well- being, as well as conceptus development. Proper establishment of the placenta is important for fetal survival. However, placental adaptations to inadequate maternal nutrition, or other stressors, are imperative for fetal growth to be optimal. By understanding how the maternal environment impacts uterine and umbilical blood flows and other uteroplacental hemodynamic parameters, we can better implement supplementation strategies to protect the developing offspring. This review focuses on how maternal nutrition affects conceptus growth in sheep and beef cattle and offspring performance after birth.
A multi-country assessment of consumer attitudes of genetically modified foods and the implications for new labeling system

This paper estimates the willingness to pay (WTP) for non-genetically modified (GM) vegetable oil and tofu in Korea by using contingent valuation (CV) method and compares this WTP with Japan, Norway, Taiwan and the U.S. It also recovers the distribution of WTP by using a bootstrapping approach to provide a better measure of consumer’s WTP on non-GM foods. Especially, we pay attention to the different characteristics of vegetable oil and tofu; vegetable oil made from GM soybeans doesn’t have genetically altered protein, but tofu made from GM soybean has genetically altered protein. For this reason, vegetable oil made from GM soybeans is excluded from mandatory GM labeling system in Korea. Therefore, in this paper, the potential differences between WTP for non-GM vegetable oil and non-GM tofu are also investigated in order to evaluate the questions regarding the relevance of the introduction of new labeling system in Korea. Copyright 2004 by Hyun-Seok Kim and Kwansoo Kim. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies. * Hyun-Seok Kim is an assistant researcher, Korea Food Research Institute (a formal M.S. student of Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development , Seoul National University); and Kwansoo Kim is assistant professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Seoul National University. We would like to thank professor Kyrre Rickertsen for providing the survey questionnaire used in their previous study. We also would like to thank Doil Yoo and Kwangseok Chae for the assistance in the survey and data entry. This research was supported by a grant from Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. A multi-country assessment of consumer attitudes of genetically modified foods and the implications for new labeling system
Media and the economic crisis of the EU: the “culturalization” of a systemic crisis and Bild-Zeitung's framing of Greece

This article critically studies the hegemonic discursive construction of the EU’s current (2012) economic crisis, as it is articulated by political and economic elites and by mass media. The study focuses on the political economy of the particular crisis and through the critical concept of reification, the study emphasizes the hegemonic naturalization of the economic crisis by the “free market” economistic ideology. The article problematizes the positioning of Greece as the “crisis epicentre” in Europe, understanding Greece as a scapegoat and as a laboratory where political strategies of capitalist restructuring of the EU are performed. Through the frame analysis of Bild-zeitung’s headlines on the coverage of crisis-struck Greece, the article discusses a) the “culturalization” of the crisis and the diversion from a structural public debate on the global economic crisis b) the disciplinary function of crisis’ publicity, related to social control and the production of new, neoliberal social subjectivities c) the alienating effect of the culturalist crisis discourses to transnational publics, resulting to the misrecognition of the ideological and structural reasons of the given crisis, the misrecognition of the effects of the crisis and crisis-politics in people’s lives, the misrecognition of popular socio-political struggles in countries worse struck by crisis politics, and the eclipse of transnational solidarity and identification to the common issues that European people in particular are facing.
Genotype-environment interaction in maize hybrids: an application of the AMMI model

The genotype-environment interaction is generally recognized when the same genotype is assessed in different environments, having a decisive influence in cultivar recommendation. Maize hybrids that are only adapted to particular environments can become a limiting factor to seed production in large scale. One of the main objectives of breeders is the obtainment of a hybrid with high mean yield and good adaptation to different environments. The present study assessed the grain yield stability in thirty-six maize genotypes in ten environments located in Central Brazil in the 1999/2000 growing season. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) detected significance (P<0.01) for the genotype-environment interaction (GE). The AMMI model (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) was used to assess the additive and multiplicative effects of the interaction. The results indicated homogeneity of environments assessed and high correlation of the hybrid genetic constitution with the yield stability of the three types studied -single, triple and double crosses maize hybrids. The first multiplicative component of the interaction explained more than half (50.6%) of the original sum of squares (SS GE ). Most of the environments were neutral in their contribution to the interaction. The Uberlândia environment contributed positively, while the environment in Patos de Minas contributed negatively to the GE interaction. Most of the genotypes also presented a low contribution to interaction. Some single crosses hybrids presented greater mean yield (10182.0 kg.ha -1 ) while the double crosses hybrids presented greater stability to the
MARAPANIM BAY, PARÁ, BRAZIL

1 Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos da Amazônia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Coordenação de Zoologia, Av. Perimetral, 1901, Terra Firme, 66077-530, Belém, Pará, Brazil 2 Pós-graduação em Saúde Pública e Meio Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, 21041-210, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3 Laboratório de Ornitologia e Bioacústica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, 66075-110, Belém, Pará, Brazil * Corresponding author, e-mail: sotalias@gmail.com http://dx.doi. org/10.5597/lajam00165
Family forest owners' opinions about forest management in northern Finland

Forest management guidelines changed at the end of the 1990’s in Finland. Biodiversity, visual landscape, water systems, and different forms of forest use are now better taken into account. The objectives, outdoor recreation motives, and attitudes towards the present forest management activities of the non-industrial private forest owners called family forest owners in this article, whose forest holdings are located in northern Finland, were studied. In addition, a forest owner typology based on the above-mentioned motives, objectives, and attitudes was created, and the relationship between the typology and the forest owners’ background was tested. Principal component analysis, log-linear models, canonical correlations, and K-means cluster analysis were used in the data analysis. The results showed that especially commercial timber production, but also multiple-use forestry, is important for forest owners. Non-timber products such as game, berries, and forest mushrooms were considered more important than biodiversity, conservation of endangered species, tourism, and reindeer herding. The current, more ecological forest management activities were widely accepted by the owners. The changes had been perceived in the forest management activities. Close relationships were found between the objectives, attitudes and motives of the forest owners. Those owners who emphasized ecological tourism and multiple-use forestry, more frequently accepted detailed conservation and other “softer” management methods than those who emphasized commercial timber production. Typologies, called conservationists, timber producers, and multi-objective forest owners, were identified. Forest owner’s education and source of income were closely related to their typology. Highly educated forest owners and those who gained their money from tourism belonged to the groups named conservationists or multi-objective owners, whereas those who lived on forestry income represented timber producers.
Risk Analysis Method Based on FMEA for Transmission Line in Lightning Hazards

Failure rate of transmission line and reliability of power system are significantly affected by Lightning meteorological factor. In view of the complexity and variability of Lightning meteorological factors, this paper presents lightning trip-out rate model of transmission line in considering distribution of ground flash density and lightning day hours. Meanwhile, presents a failure rate model of transmission line in different condition, and a risk analysis method for transmission line considering multiple risk factors based on risk quantification. This method takes Lightning meteorological factor as the main evaluation standard, and establishes risk degree evaluation system for transmission line including another five evaluation standard. Put forward the risk indicators by quantify the risk factors based on experience date of transmission line in service. Based on the risk indexes comprehensive evaluation is conducted, and the evaluation result closer to practice is achieved, providing basis for transmission line risk warning and maintenance strategy. Through the risk analysis for 220 kV transmission line in a certain power supply bureau, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated. Copyright © 2014 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
Experimental observations of the effects of bacteria on aluminosilicate weathering

Abstract Mineral dissolution experiments using batch cultures of soil and groundwater bacteria were monitored with solution chemistry and various microscopic techniques to determine the effects of these organisms on weathering reactions. Several strains of bacteria produced organic and inorganic acids and extracellular polymers in culture, increasing the release of cations from biotite (Si, Fe, Al) and plagioclase feldspar (Si, Al) by up to two orders of magnitude compared to abiotic controls. Microbial colonies on mineral grains were examined by cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), and epifluorescence microscopy. Bacteria colonized all mineral surfaces, often preferentially along cleavage steps and edges of mineral grains. Low-voltage high-resolution cryo-SEM of high-pressure cryofixed and partially freeze-dried colonized minerals showed many bacteria attached by extracellular polymers of unknown composition. These biofilms covered much larger areas of the mineral surfaces than bacterial cells alone. Mineral surfaces where bacteria and extracellular polymers occurred appeared more extensively etched than surrounding uncolonized surfaces. CSLM was used to observe microbial colonization of biotite and to measure pH in microenvironments surrounding living microcolonies using a ratiometric pH-sensitive fluorescent dye set. A strain of bacteria (B0693 from the U.S. Department of Energy Subsurface Microbial Culture Collection) formed large attached microcolonies, both on the outer (001) surface and within interlayer spaces as narrow as 1 mm. Solution pH decreased from near neutral at the mineral surface to 3-4 around microcolonies living within confined spaces of interior colonized cleavage planes. However, no evidence of pH microgradients surrounding exterior microcolonies was noted.
Estimating the Uncertainty of Tensile Strength Measurement for A Photocured Material Produced by Additive Manufacturing

The aim of this study was to estimate the measurement uncertainty for a material produced by additive manufacturing. The material investigated was FullCure 720 photocured resin, which was applied to fabricate tensile specimens with a Connex 350 3D printer based on PolyJet technology. The tensile strength of the specimens established through static tensile testing was used to determine the measurement uncertainty. There is a need for extensive research into the performance of model materials obtained via 3D printing as they have not been studied sufficiently like metal alloys or plastics, the most common structural materials. In this analysis, the measurement uncertainty was estimated using a larger number of samples than usual, i.e., thirty instead of typical ten. The results can be very useful to engineers who design models and finished products using this material. The investigations also show how wide the scatter of results is.
Nephrin signal peptide sequence cDNA in expression vector determines antibody characteristics reacting on native or glycosylation-disturbed nephrin protein in genetic immunization

Methods: Five fragments of nephrin cDNA with or without signal peptide sequence were inserted to the pTARGETTM vector. Rats were immunized with these vectors by the gene-gun method. Seras were analyzed by Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: Four different antibodies induced by cDNA encoding nephrin protein fragments without signal peptide showed antigen-site specific binding to fragmented nonglycosylated nephrin proteins. These antibodies also reacted to a deglycosylated full-length nephrin protein, but reacted to neither a native nephrin protein nor a fully-glycosylated conformational nephrin protein. Four different antibodies induced by cDNA encoding nephrin fragments with signal peptide showed an antigen-site specific binding to non-glycosylated nephrin protein fragments. In additions, these antibodies reacted to both a native nephrin protein and a full-length glycosylated conformational nephrin protein. Conclusions: The absence of signal peptide sequence cDNA in the expression vector produced antibodies specific for glycosylation-disturbed proteins, while its presence also produced antibodies that bound to native or fully glycosylated conformation protein.
N-acetylcysteine Inhibits and Eradicates Candida albicans Biofilms

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis that attributed to its mucus dissolving properties. Its ability to reduce biofilm formed by different types of bacteria was proven previously in many studies. Therefore we examined its effect on C. albicans biofilms by testing its effect alone and in combination with ketoconazole using Tissue culture plate assay method (TCP). NAC effects on C. albicans morphology and the texture of biofilms were determined using Scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the inhibitory effect of NAC was concentration dependent. NAC reduced C. albicans adherence by ≥32.8% while ketoconazole reduced adherence by ≥25% in comparison to control. Also, it showed higher disruptive effect (50-95%) than ketoconazole (22-80.7%) on mature biofilms. Using NAC and ketoconazole in combination, a significant inhibitory effect (P<0.01) on both adherence and mature biofilms (54-100%) was seen. NAC reduced the amount of biofilm mass in all tested Candida in concentrations at which their growth was not affected. NAC and ketoconazole combinations showed complete eradication to mature biofilms formed in most of the tested strains. NAC can inhibit C. albicans growth, inhibit dimorphism, which is an important step in biofilm formation, and change the texture of the formed biofilms, what makes NAC an interesting agent to be used as an inhibitor for biofilm formation by C. albicans.
Improving inclusive design practice - transferring knowledge from sports design practice

Despite the existence of many design tools to educate and assist the designer in implementing inclusive design, there is still a lack of inclusive design uptake in industry. The client is often cited as a barrier to inclusive design uptake, therefore it is important that this issue is addressed if inclusive design uptake is to be increased. Sports design is a highly user focused discipline, therefore it is anticipated that there is scope for inclusive design to learn from this user centred discipline. This research aims to investigate the potential of applying the sports design process within an inclusive design context to increase inclusive design uptake in industry. The paper reports on a practical study, which interviewed practicing industry designers and designers from a UK centre specialising in inclusive design. The outcome is a set of recommendations from designers on how the sports design process model can be developed to facilitate inclusive design uptake in industry.
Whatever Explains Whatever: The Duhem-Quine Thesis and Conventional Quantitative Methods In Political Science

The paper (for the first time, to the best knowledge of the author) applies the Duhem-Quine thesis to conventional quantitative methods in political science. As a result, the discussion of methodological problems associated with these methods is implanted into the epistemological issues highlighted by the Duhem-Quine thesis. Such a link between popular political science methods and philosophy of science could help clarify the difficulties of the former and give impetus to the improved research practices
Using blood's Passer domesticus as a possible bio-indicator of urban heavy metals pollution in Rabat-Salé (Morocco)

his study aims to evaluate the impact of heavy metals such as Zinc, Lead and Cadmium on the living organisms in industrial and urban areas, using for the first time in Morocco, the blood of Passer domesticus (House sparrow) as a bio-indicator of pollution by metals. For this purpose, a blood collection was performed on 50 house sparrows (Passer domesticus) males and females, which were captured in five different sites of Rabat, (ten specimens by site), according to the road traffic and industrial activities, the results obtained indicate the presence of metals in all the analyzed samples: for Lead the highest levels were found in the town center > Kamra> algae >Agdal and the farm of Allal bureau (rural site for control). For Cadmium the most significant concentrations were detected in Oulja > Town center > Agdal > Kamra and A baharoui. As for the Zinc the highest rates were registered in the form of Sidi Allal baharoui. These results suggest that we can have two possible sources of contamination by heavy metals: Road traffic, and Industrial activities.
Miocene Planktonic Foraminiferal Biozonation for South Sumatra Basin, Indonesia

Planktonic foraminifera are widely utilized for marine sediments analysis and recent developments in the geochronology of planktonic foraminifera has improved their values as a tool for sedimentary basin analysis. Assessment on the applicability of the “standard” foraminiferal biozonations (e.g., Bolli, 1966; Blow, 1969; and Postuma, 1971) to the biostratigraphy data of the South Sumatra Basin suggests that the standard zones, which are mostly interval-zones defined by first occurrence events, are hardly applicable to the biostratigraphy data derived from the examination of well-cuttings routinely and continuously used in most sedimentary basin studies in Indonesia. The proposed biozonation in this paper were constructed based on two considerations, i.e. information on the biostratigraphy events as indicated in regional- and global-scale biozonation schemes and the occurrence of foraminifera species in the South Sumatra Basin. The correlation between the proposed zonation and that of Blow’s (1969) scheme suggests that the proposed zonation is basically a Blow’s zonation and, accordingly, may be perceived as a modified Blow’s zonation for South Sumatra Basin.
Positional control of rotary servo cart system using generalized dynamic inversion

This paper presents the design approach of Generalized Dynamic Inversion (GDI) for angular position control of SRV02 rotary servo base system. In GDI, linear first order constraint differential equations are formulated based on the deviation function of angular position and its rate, and its inverse is calculated using Moore-Penrose Generalized Inverse to realize the control law. The singularity problem related to generalized inversion is solved by the inclusion of dynamic scaling factor that will guarantee the boundedness of the elements of the inverted matrix and stable tracking performance. Numerical simulations and real-time experiment are performed to evaluate the tracking performance and robustness capabilities of the proposed control law considering nominal and perturbed model dynamics. For comparative analysis, the results of GDI is compared with conventional PID control. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate better angular position tracking for the square-wave and sinusoidal waveforms, which reveals the superiority, and agility of GDI control over conventional PID.