Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) in the Guadalquivir Estuary (Southern Spain)

The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis was first recorded in the Guadalquivir Estuary in 1987. Management actions by the Andalusian Regional Government were implemented in 2001 to contain and reduce the population of this invasive crab in the estuary and also to prevent its dispersal to neighbouring natural protected areas. Our results showed a heterogeneous distribution of the mitten crabs in the estuary, concentrated in the Sevilla port area. The catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) in traps was significantly higher in October-April. Annual CPUE decreased from 0.04 crabs netd to minimum values of 0.006 crabs netd in 2008, thus reducing the dispersal potential to neighbouring areas. However, given that a number of stochastic factors may be involved in fluctuations in population size and that ships ballast water remains uncontrolled, the management of E. sinensis needs to be continued. Based on the results obtained and the expected sequence of the invasion process in the Guadalquivir Estuary, we propose further management improvements. These results may help to optimize the management of this invasive species both in the Guadalquivir estuary and in comparable scenarios in different parts of the world.
Impact and control of dothistroma blight of pines.

The incidence of dothistroma blight [Dothistroma septospora (Doroguin) Morelet] throughout the world during the last fifteen years is reviewed with particular reference to its economic effects. Impact of the disease has been generally slight in the northern hemisphere, with most severe effects localised in nursery and ornamental stocks in parts of the USA and Canada. In Central and East Africa and New Zealand chronic defoliation has caused serious loss of increment in young Pinus radiata; in Chile outbreaks have been acute and of short duration, causing only slight yield loss. Economic control has been obtained by a well organised copper fungicide spray programme in New Zealand, but this means has proved impracticable in Africa. Experience gained in New Zealand will be valuable when similar problems arise in industrial forest plantations in the future.
Toward a Framework for Language MOOCs and Mobile Assisted Language Learning

In this article a proposal is presented for a theoretical framework that could provide the structure and coherence needed for the development of effective LMOOCs (Language MOOCs) and MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) apps in a systematic way that would facilitate online second language learning. The framework is argued to be appropriate for language teaching and learning since it could be used for the elaboration of online courses such as LMOOCs and syllabi and didactic materials for MALL apps, regardless of the number of students. It has been refined during the process of designing and developing a Professional English LMOOC and the examples provided here are from that course. The framework is built upon the CEFR (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment) since it offers a way to structure the knowledge and skills required in second language learning in a way which is coherent with the constructivist paradigm, following widely accepted European recommendations. It has been adopted because it provides a notional-functional classification of language use and learning (“elegantly” capturing the vastness and complexity of languages and their functional nature), and it is the first general attempt to produce a taxonomy of the elements that intervene in language use and learning, enabling comparable syllabi to be created for all European languages.
Integração da resistência de plantas e predação por Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) para o manejo de Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em sorgo

A integracao entre plantas resistentes e agentes de controle biologico pode ser uma alternativa viavel para o manejo do pulgao-verde, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), na cultura do sorgo. Experimentos foram conduzidos com a finalidade de avaliar o efeito de quatro genotipos de sorgo: GR 11111 e TX 430 x GR 111 (resistentes), GB 3B (moderadamente resistente), e BR 007B (suscetivel), sobre o controle biologico do pulgao S. graminum realizado pelo predador Chrysoperla externa (Hagen). Para isso, avaliaram-se diferentes niveis de infestacao de S. graminum, na presenca e ausencia do predador, em casa-de-vegetacao e a viabilidade de controle de S. graminum no campo. O efeito do predador foi notado 25 dias apos a infestacao, proporcionando maior crescimento das plantas e menores danos. Os danos tambem foram menores nos genotipos resistentes e aumentaram com a elevacao dos niveis de infestacao, sendo menores na presenca do predador C. externa. Em condicoes de campo, a integracao dos dois metodos de controle proporcionou 83% de reducao de danos, quando se utilizou o genotipo resistente TX 430 x GR 111, que foi considerado o mais promissor dentre os estudados.
The Functions of Song in Male House Wrens (Troglodytes Aedon)

To assess the functions of song in male house wrens (Troglodytes aedon), we examined the pattern of song output during different stages of the breeding cycle and behaviour patterns of focal males and conspecifics that were associated with song. We recorded 2093.5 bouts of song from 11 different males in 12 breeding cycles during 3 years. Most song sung prior to pairing is sung at a high volume and is given spontaneously (i.e. is apparently not produced in response to the behaviour of any conspecific). Production of high volume spontaneous song ceased immediately for at least 7 days when the male paired, but resumed immediately upon loss of the mate. Paired males sang high volume spontaneous song after mates began incubating, and almost always sang this song within 10 m of an unoccupied nest site. Several males attracted second mates to these nest sites and immediately ceased their output of high volume spontaneous song. These observations strongly suggest that high volume spontaneous song functions in mate attraction. Male house wrens do not appear to use song on a routine basis to communicate with neighbours or other males. However, they do appear to direct song at other males when territories are threatened. Song is sung at intruders in the territory and at neighbours just establishing a territory of their own. Most song sung after pairing appears to be directed towards mates. We suspect than males use song to inform mates that there is no immediate threat of predation, allowing mates to move quickly to and from nest sites. We discuss the role and benefits of descriptive, correlative studies in assessing song function.
Prey Detection, Dietary Niche Breadth, and Body Size in Bats: Why are Aerial Insectivorous Bats so Small?

Dietary niche breadth increases with body size for most predators such as invertebrates (e.g., Zaret 1980), fish (Werner 1974), mammals (Rosenzweig 1968), and birds (Ashmole 1968), including aerial insectivorous birds (Hespenheide 1971). Essentially, large animals can detect, capture, and consume both small and large prey, whereas smaller predators are limited to small prey. For bats that catch flying insects, we argue that the above generalization does not hold because the prey detection system of aerial insectivorous bats renders small prey unavailable to larger bats. We suggest that this limitation has also constrained the evolution of large aerial insectivorous bats. Aerial insectivorous bats are small. The mean body mass of these bats in three faunas that we analyzed is between 10 and 15 g, and most species have body masses under 10 g (North America, n 28, X + SD = 12.8 + 11.7 g; Central America, n = 22, X = 10.1 + 8.2 g; southern Africa, n = 28, X 15.1 + 10.6 g; see also figs. 1, 2 and Appendix). Similar observations for other areas have been made by McNab (1969), Black (1974), Fenton and Fleming (1976), and Krzanowski (1977). Several hypotheses could explain the small size of aerial insectivorous bats. First, aerial insectivorous animals in general may be small because of constraints imposed by flight (Norberg 1986; Norberg and Rayner 1987). Second, prey size may limit the size of aerial insectivorous animals (e.g., McNab 1969; Black 1974). Bats eat small insects, which may be energetically inadequate for large flying predators. Finally, bat size may be limited by phylogenetic onstraints. Comparisons of the body mass of aerial insectivorous bats with that of aerial insectivorous birds, insectivorous bats that take their prey from surfaces (gleaners), and noninsectivorous bats do not support any of these hypotheses. In North America, aerial insectivorous bats are significantly lighter than diurnal or nocturnal aerial insectivorous birds (fig. 1; Kruskal-Wallis test, H = 33.8, n = 77, P < .001; multiple comparisons [Zar 1984], bats vs. diurnal birds, Q = 4.16, P < .001; bats vs. nocturnal birds, Q = 5.27, P < .001). Sixteen of 28 (57.1%) bat species weigh less than 10 g, whereas only 2 of 42 (4.8%) diurnal aerial insectivorous bird species are this small. None of the seven nocturnal aerial insectivorous bird species weighs less than 48 g. Thus, aerial insectivorous bats are smaller than expected from aerodynamic restrictions alone. Furthermore, feeding aerially on insects per se does not necessitate the small body size that is
A Comparative Study of Subject-Dependent and Subject-Independent Strategies for EEG-Based Emotion Recognition using LSTM Network

This paper addresses the problem of EEG-based emotion recognition and classification and investigates the performance of classifiers for subject-independent and subject-dependent models separately. The results are compared with other classifiers and also with existing work in the concerned domain as well. We perform the experiments on the publicly available DEAP dataset with band power as the feature and classification accuracies are found pertaining to the widely accepted Valence-Arousal Model. The best results were reported by the LSTM model in case of the subject-dependent model with accuracies of 94.69% and 93.13% on valence and arousal scales respectively. SVM performed the best for the subject-independent model with accuracies of 72.19% on valence scale and 71.25% on arousal scale.
Estudio Comparativo de los Resultados del Tratamiento del Carcinoma Anal Escamoso en los Pacientes HIV Positivos y Negativos

Introduction: The treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in HIV-positive patients is controversial. Although current guidelines recommend performing standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with good immune status, some authors believe that these patients have greater toxicity and worse long-term results, so they would require a different approach. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of SCC treatment in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.DESIGN: Comparative retrospective study.Patients and methods: The records of patients treated in the Coloproctology Section, Hospital Fernandez, between 01/2007 and 10/2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Those of the anal canal were divided into: Group I: HIV-negative and Group II: HIV-positive. Demographic variables, specific risk factors, staging, CRT (drugs, toxicity, and response), curative/palliative surgical treatment, persistence/recurrence, and cancer-specific and global survival were compared.Results: 28 patients (18 women), margin: 2, conduit: 26 (Group I: 15. Group II: 11). The HIV-positive were mostly men who have sex with men (vs. 100% HIV-negative women; p<0.01), younger (45.2 ± 0.9 vs. 63.6 ± 8; p<0.01) and smokers (82% vs. 27%; p=0.005). There was no significant difference in staging, although Group II had tumors with more severe complications. Completed the treatment: Group I: 93%, Group II: 64% of patients (p<0,05). Thirteen out of 14 (93%) patients in Group I, and 3/7 (43%) patients in Group II had a complete response to CRT (p<0.01). There were 3 recurrences, 2 loco-regional and 1 distance (p=NS). HIV-positive required more surgery (82% vs. 27%; p<0.01). 5 patients (4 of Group II) underwent an abdominal-perineal resection (APR). Forty six percent of patients had permanent colostomy, with or without APR, most of them were HIV-positive (82% vs. 27%; p=0.002). In HIV-positive patients, the RR of cancer mortality was 4 (95% CI: 1.01-16.5; p=0.02) and the RR of overall mortality was 5.45 (95% CI: 1.42-20, 8; p=0.002). They also had lower overall (p=0.001) and disease-free survival (p=0.01). Median follow-up: 27 months (4 - 216). Conclusion: HIV-positive patients with anal SCC were different from HIV-negative patients in that they had a lower complete response rate to CRT, and a greater need for surgical treatment. They had a significantly lower overall and disease-free survival than HIV-negative patients.
Seed dispersal in an African fig tree: birds as high quantity, low quality dispersers?

Ficus burtt-davyi is a shrub or small tree found in the south and east of South Africa. Based on studies carried out in an area where the plant grows mainly as a rock-splitter, we first describe the nature and timing of the fruit resources it offers to potential dispersal agents, and then the animals that feed on the fruits. The figs are eaten by a diverse avian disperser assemblage, although just two species comprised about half of the recorded visits to the trees. Germination trials with seeds defecated by the birds found that they germinated more quickly than control seeds. Small terrestrial mammals and ants were also found to have a role in fig seed dispersal which may be disproportionate to the number of seeds they transport.
El Proceso de Implementación de Analíticas de Aprendizaje

Con el despegue de la popularidad del area de analitica de aprendizaje durante la ultima decada, numerosas investigaciones han surgido y la opinion publica se ha hecho eco de esta tendencia. Sin embargo, la realidad es que el impacto que ha tenido en la practica ha sido bastante bajo, y se esta produciendo poca transferencia a las instituciones educativas. Una de las posibles causas es la elevada complejidad del campo, y que no existan procesos claros; por ello, en este trabajo, se propone un pragmatico proceso de implementacion de analiticas de aprendizaje en cinco etapas: 1) entornos de aprendizaje, 2) recoleccion de datos en crudo, 3) manipulacion de datos e ingenieria de caracteristicas, 4) analisis y modelos y 5) aplicacion educacional. Ademas, se revisan una serie de factores transversales que afectan esta implementacion, como la tecnologia, ciencias del aprendizaje, privacidad, instituciones y politicas educacionales. El proceso que se detalla puede resultar de utilidad para investigadores, analistas de datos educacionales, educadores e instituciones educativas que busquen introducirse en el area. Alcanzar el verdadero potencial de las analiticas de aprendizaje requerira de estrecha colaboracion y conversacion entre todos los actores involucrados en su desarrollo, que permita su implementacion de forma sistematica y productiva.
Predicting susceptibility of white fir during a drought-associated outbreak of the fir engraver, Scolytus centralis, in California

Phenotypic traits were compared with a vigor (growth efficiency) index for accuracy in predicting susceptibility of white fir, Abiesconcolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. , during a drought-associated outbreak of the fir engraver, Scolytusventralis LeC. , in the central Sierra Nevada at Lake Tahoe, California. Predictor variables were estimated for 633 firs in six forest stands in 1987. After 2 years, virtually all of the trees had been attacked by the beetle, and 230 (36.3%) had been killed or were dying. In all of the predictor variables, firs that were killed differed significantly from those that survived. Compared with survivors, firs that died averaged shorter, more ragged crowns and lower growth efficiencies. Also, firs that died were more frequently dominant or codominant in the stand canopy and, when characterized in 1987, more often evidenced signs of being under current or recent (in 1985 or 1986) attack by the beetles. But, on either an individual tree or a stand basis, predictive accuracy was inadequ.
Geographic variability and taxonomy of the nose-horned viper, Vipera ammodytes (L. 1758), in the central and eastern parts of the Balkans: A multivariate study

A multivariate analyses of various morphological characters (morphometric, meristic and qualitative) of nose-horned viper ( Vipera ammodytes ) revealed a complex morphological differentiation of populations from the central and the eastern Balkan Peninsula. Analyses of quantitative data showed no clear morphological discrimination or well-defined taxonomical units. On the contrary, analyses of qualitative traits separated two discrete taxa in the analysed area. One, inhabiting the eastern and the southern part of the Balkans, includes samples from most parts of Bulgaria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and south-eastern Serbia, whereas the other ranges from north-western Bulgaria through the main part of Serbia (except the south-east) to Montenegro.
Phylogeny of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) based on five molecular loci

The order Thysanoptera (Paraneoptera), commonly known as thrips, displays a wide range of behaviours, and includes several pest species. The classification and suggested relationships among these insects remain morphologically based, and have never been evaluated formally with a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis. We tested the monophyly of the suborders, included families and the recognized subfamilies, and investigated their relationships. Phylogenies were reconstructed based upon 5299 bp from five genetic loci: 18S ribosomal DNA, 28S ribosomal DNA, Histone 3, Tubulin‐alpha I and cytochrome oxidase c subunit I. Ninety‐nine thrips species from seven of the nine families, all six subfamilies and 70 genera were sequenced. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses all strongly support a monophyletic Tubulifera and Terebrantia. The families Phlaeothripidae, Aeolothripidae, Melanthripidae and Thripidae are recovered as monophyletic. The relationship of Aeolothripidae and Merothripidae to the rest of Terebrantia is equivocal. Molecular data support previous suggestions that Aeolothripidae or Merothripidae could be a sister to the rest of Terebrantia. Four of the six subfamilies are recovered as monophyletic. The two largest subfamilies, Phlaeothripinae and Thripinae, are paraphyletic and require further study to understand their internal relationships.
Effect of NaCl and nitrogen availability on growth and photosynthesis of seedlings of a mangrove species, Kandelia candel (L.) Druce

Summary The growth, photosynthetic gas exchange, leaf stable carbonisotope ratio (δ13C), osmotic potential (Ψs), and sodium (Na) and potassium (K) contents were measured in seedlings of a mangrove species, Kandelia candel (L.) Druce, grown under combinations of two kinds of nitrogen availability, high and low nitrogen (0.1 and 0.01 mmol/L NH4NO3), and three NaCl treatments, low, medium, and high salinity (85, 250, and 430 mmol/L NaCl). The objectives of this study were to investigate the responses of these parameters to salinity during growth and to evaluate whether nitrogen availability alters these responses. The accumulation of biomass, shoot elongation, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, leaf Ψs, and leaf K contents were found to decrease with increasing NaCl. In contrast, leaf δ13C value and Na content increase with increasing NaCl. An increase in N availability significantly increased photosynthetic rates and leaf biomass, but lowered root and leaf Ψs of seedlings. In contrast, the amount of Na and K accumulation in roots and leaves was not affected by nitrogen availability.
Size‐dependent reproduction in Australian alpine Ranunculus

The effect of plant size on reproduction in four species of alpine Ranunculus (R. muelleri, R. dissectifolius, R. graniticola and R. niphophilus) was investigated in two sites over two seasons in the field on a total of 190 plants. The effects of plant size (number of leaves) and number of flowers on the number of anthers, ovules and seed per flower and per plant were determined. There was a positive relationship between several measures of reproduction and plant size in all four species, indicating that reproduction is size-dependent. All the results indicate that the main factor controlling the amount of seed produced by alpine Ranunculus is the size of the plant. Specifically, bigger plants produced more seed by producing more flowers, not by producing more ovules per flower, or higher seed set per flower. Correspondingly, bigger plants produced more anthers by producing more flowers, rather than by producing flowers with more anthers. The total number of seeds produced by a plant was directly proportional to plant size in the four species. Therefore, reproductive effort should not vary with plant size in the four species.
New hosts and differential susceptibility of five-needle pine species to Dooks needle blight (Lophophacidium dooksii)

Abstract An outbreak of Dooks needle blight (Lophophacidium dooksii) in a five-needle pine genetic archive containing nine five-needle pine species and their interspecific hybrids provided an opportunity to observe the differential susceptibility of these pine species to the disease. Survey results indicated that four of the nine species in the archive were susceptible, including new hosts western white pine (Pinus monticola) and Himalayan blue pine (P. wallichiana), as well as previously reported hosts eastern white pine (P. strobus) and Macedonian pine (P. peuce). Japanese white pine (P. parviflora) and Korean pine (P. koraiensis) were seemingly not affected by the pathogen. While P. peuce and its interspecific hybrids showed the highest susceptibility and the heaviest needle damage, P. parviflora and its interspecific hybrids, including those with P. peuce, were rarely infected, indicating a potential strong and dominant genetic resistance to the pathogen. Pinus monticola and P. strobus showed similar levels of susceptibility and needle damage. Implications of these results to forest health in North America and the Balkans are discussed.
Environmental Risks of Inorganic Metals and Metalloids: A Continuing, Evolving Scientific Odyssey

ABSTRACT Ecological risk assessment (ERA) of metals, metalloids, and inorganic metal substances (collectively referred to as metals) no longer focuses solely on persistence and bioaccumulation, but rather on solubility, toxicity, natural occurrence (concentrations above/added to background), essentiality (deficiency as well as excess), speciation, and bioavailability. Tolerance (both acclimation and adaptation) and possible resultant energetic costs are being considered, and realism is being increased in laboratory toxicity tests by the use of organisms pre-acclimated to natural levels of metals. The present status of ERAs for inorganic metals is summarized in terms of four key questions: (1) Do metals accumulate in biota above background levels? (2) Are these metals metabolically active? (3) If so, are they likely to result in adverse effects to individuals either alone or in combination with other stressors? (4) If so, are they likely to result in adverse impacts to populations? The most pragmatically useful future research will be that focused on the interactive risks of both complex chemical mixtures (metals and non-metals) and non-chemical stressors (both biotic and abiotic). Ideally this should occur in the context of continued metal loadings to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems assessed holistically, including trophic food web relationships, metal transfer, and genetic diversity. Relationships between environmental concentrations and internal, metabolically active doses are the key to understanding and predicting environmental risks without excessive reliance on safety factors.