Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life in the Slow Lane: Stress Responses in Plethodontid Salamanders

Abstract Plethodontid salamanders are specialized for a low-energy lifestyle, offering an interesting model for studying vertebrate stress responses. Furthermore, in an increasingly changing environment, it is important to understand how plethodontid salamanders respond to a variety of different stressors. Here, I review findings from my research group on the impact of various stressors on behavior and physiology in three species of plethodontid salamanders. A robust response to putative stressors was a decrease in locomotory activity, which was found after exposure to handling, predator kairomones, and acidic environments. The change in locomotory activity was not related to changes in corticosterone (CORT), a glucocorticoid hormone (GC) considered to be a hallmark of the vertebrate stress response. The uncoupling of CORT from stress-induced behavior might relate to the fact that decreased locomotory activity is not energetically costly, while CORT is a metabolic hormone that functions to mobilize glucose. Although CORT was not related to changes in behavior, experimental elevation of plasma CORT decreased body mass, increased metabolic rate, and suppressed wound healing. In addition, experimental elevation of CORT increased infection abundance, but not disease, when exposed to an amphibian fungal pathogen. My research team has also tested whether individual variation in plasma CORT in free-living animals was a useful biomarker of health and population viability. One study found no relationship between plasma CORT, body condition, and environmental degradation. Another study found no relationship between plasma CORT, body condition, and measures of reproductive effort. Taken together, CORT might not be the primary mediator of responses to putative stressors in plethodontid salamanders, perhaps because of the low-energy lifestyle of plethodontid salamanders. I encourage more studies with a broader range of species and approaches to better understand the stress physiology of plethodontid salamanders.
Thistle be a mess: Untangling the taxonomy of Cirsium (Cardueae: Compositae) in North America

Cirsium (i.e., “thistles”) are one of the most taxonomically challenging groups of Compositae in North America. This study represents the first attempt to infer a broadly sampled phylogeny of Cirsium in North America. The two main objectives are to: (i) test whether currently hypothesized species variety complexes (C. arizonicum, C. clavatum, C. eatonii, and C. scariosum) constitute monophyletic lineages, and (ii) recircumscribe any taxa that are identified as problematic. Phylogeny reconstructions based on DNA sequence data from two nuclear ribosomal regions and four plastid markers were used to infer evolutionary lineages and test species’ delimitations. Eight species varietal complexes were resolved as polyphyletic. We recircumscribed these complexes and in doing so found evidence to support the recognition of six new taxa. We hypothesize that the extensive taxonomic difficulty within Cirsium is the result of several factors: (i) previously undescribed taxa, (ii) inadequate representation of taxa from herbarium specimens, (iii) phenotypic convergence, (iv) hybridization, and (v) incipient speciation. While we can provide evidence to support the recircumscription of some taxa, others remain unresolved. Therefore, we are working on a phylogenomic study of North American Cirsium to answer remaining taxonomic questions as well as provide a robust framework for biogeographic studies.
Democratising and Anticipating Everyday Futures Through Critical Design: A Review of Exemplars

This article explores design’s relation with the future by analysing a collection of exemplars from design fiction and speculative design for their potential to democratise and anticipate visions of future everyday life in design. Future visions – both implicit and explicit ones – have a realising power of their own. This is especially true for design, the products of which co-shape the lives of millions of users. Rather than calling for a “better” future vision however, this paper draws on research from the social sciences and futures studies to argue for the importance of diversifying and enriching visions of future everyday life within design. Critical design is well equipped to contribute to this objective because it questions the status quo and is relatable and actionable for designers. The paper reviews exemplars from critical design for their potential to democratise and anticipate future everyday life. To analyse their ways of engaging with future everyday life, the exemplars are positioned in the future cone model of probable, possible and preferred futures. Through this positioning, a distinction emerged between two forms of critical future engagement: alternative fictions and extrapolative fictions. Alternative fictions are explicitly positioned outside of generally expected futures, while extrapolative fictions are explicitly positioned within them. Both have their own strengths and limitations for democratising and anticipating future everyday life. Alternative fictions enrol actors as “future people” and create scenes to depict future contexts, but can also include deployments in present day contexts to explore alternative human-artefact relations. Alternative fictions tend to be accompanied by alternative design practices. Extrapolative fictions do not include deployments and rarely propose alternative design practices, but they can play an important role in highlighting the underexposed risks of mainstream design pursuits. Critical design can and should play a role in democratising and anticipating future everyday life. Alternative and extrapolative fictions can complement each other in this pursuit. Extrapolative fictions question the status quo from within and use the power of design to highlight underexposed aspects of expected futures. Alternative fictions question the status quo from without and use the power of design to creatively generate different objects that can be used to flesh out alternative ways of living and their related context. Further research is needed into how critical fictions are best integrated into mainstream design practices.
Hipocalcemia subclínica en ganado vacuno lechero: tratamiento y manejo preventivo. revisión bibliográfica

espanolLa hipocalcemia es la enfermedad metabolica con mas prevalencia del ganado vacuno de leche de alta produccion. Algunos autores la situan alrededor del 65% (Martinez et al., 2012) y el 78% (Rodriguez et al., 2017), en el periodo cercano al parto. El desarrollo de la enfermedad subclinica puede ocurrir entre las 24 horas previas al parto hasta las 40 horas posteriores al mismo. Se debe a una perdida de calcio total (por debajo de 8,5 mg/dl), con mecanismos homeostaticos del organismo incapaces de reponer los niveles plasmaticos de este mineral. Dicha enfermedad metabolica tiene consecuencias sobre la produccion y sobre la salud del rebano. La bajada de este metabolito da lugar a una cascada de enfermedades, lo que ocasiona perdidas importantes en la cuenta de la explotacion. El diagnostico de esta patologia es de rebano, midiendose el calcio total en sangre en las vacas de leche que se encuentran en el periodo de transicion. Esto ha contribuido a que la mayoria de los estudios publicados vayan orientados a ensayar una pauta nutricional, molecula o principio activo farmacologico que contribuya a disminuir la prevalencia de la hipocalcemia subclinica. El objetivo de esta revision ha sido evaluar los resultados obtenidos en los distintos estudios publicados, para poder establecer cual es la mejor estrategia preventiva de la hipocalcemia subclinica y al mismo tiempo, dar a conocer las investigaciones mas recientes que se estan desarrollando en este campo EnglishHypocalcemia is the most prevalent metabolic disease in high-yielding cows. Some authors place it around 65% (Martinez et al., 2012) and 78% (Rodriguez et al., 2017), in the period near parturition. The development of the subclinical disease can occur between 24 hours prior to parturition and 40 hours after it. It is due to a decrease in total serum calcium (below 8.5 mg/dl). Moreover, the homeostatic mechanisms available in the organism are not able to reestablish the plasmatic levels of this mineral. This metabolic disease has consequences on the production and on the health of the herd. The decrease of this metabolite results in a cascade of diseases which causes significant losses in the farm account. The diagnosis of this pathology takes place in the herd by measuring the total serum calcium in blood in dairy cows that are in period of transition. This has contributed to the fact that most of the issued studies are aimed at testing a nutritional model, molecule or pharmacological substance that contributes to decreasing the prevalence of subclinical hypocalcemia. The goal of this study has been to evaluate the results obtained in different papers published, in order to establish the best preventive strategy of subclinical hypocalcemia. It also aims at introducing the most recent investigations developed in this area
Variation in Some Qualitative Traits of the Indigenous Guinea Fowls in Northern Ghana

The aim of this study was to characterize the local guinea fowls of the Northern Ghanabased on some qualitative traits. Three hundred local guinea fowls randomly selected from 204 farmers purposively sampled from the Northern (NR), Upper East (UE), Upper West (UW) and Volta regions (VR) were scored for phenotypic characteristics (variation in plumage and shank colour, helmet colours, ear lobe colour, helmet shape, skin colour, eye colour and ptilopody). Data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. Nine colour variations were identified: pearl grey, pearl grey pied, bronze, brown, coral blue, ash, brown pied, bronze pied and white. Birds with pearl grey colour were the majority (43.7%) whereas the least were birds with the brown pied colour (0.7%). Helmet shapes identified were single (42.7%), slanted backwards (34.00%) and erect (23.3%). Earlobe colours identified were white (94.7%), bluish (2.7%) and spotted (2.7%). Shank colours identified were orange (29.00%), black (33.70%), and yellow (0.30%, and white (37.0%). Skin colours identified were dark (40.00%), pale red (19.70%), yellow (18.30%) and red (22.00%). Eye colours identified were white (1%), brown (27.3%), black (71.3%) and pink (0.3%). Skeletal structures identified were normal (94.4%), creeper (5.1%) and polydactyl (0.5%). Helmet colours include purple (28%), brown (41%), black (24.7%) and red (6.3%). The population of Ghanaian local guinea fowls studied showed heterogeneity in the phenotypic traits considered and therefore present a genetic pool from which selection could be made. These findings will help both farmers and breeders to produce guinea fowls with specific phenotypic traits to meet consumer preferences.
Multidimensional assessment of environmental adaptation of cryptic Halomonhystera (Nematoda) species from bathyal cold-seep- and intertidal habitats

32 Introduction 33 Material and methods 36 1. Study area 36 2. Sampling strategy 36 3. Sequence data 37 4. Morphometric data 38 5. Data processing 39 5.1 Sequence Data 39 5.2 Morphometric data 40 5.3 Population genetic structure 40
Antihyperlipidemic activity of Achyranthes aspera Linn leaves on cholesterol induced hyperlipidemia in rats

Plants have been one of the important sources of medicines since the beginning of human civilization. Achyranthes aspera Linn. (A.aspera) belonging to family Amaranthaceae, commonly found in India. The plant is used as antiarthritic, purgative, diuretic and antimalarial etc. The antihyperlipidemic activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of leaves of A.aspera was evaluated using cholesterol induced hyperlipidemia in albino wistar rats. In this model, 8 groups consist of 6 animals per group. Group I and II were considered as saline and hyperlipidemic controls respectively, and groups III-VIII received respective treatment (ethanolic extract 250 mg, 500 mg, aqueous extract 250mg, 500 mg, Ayurvedic preparation and atorvastatin). All the groups received cholesterol (400 mg/kg b.w. p.o) except saline control for 4 weeks. The serum HDL, LDL, TG, and TC levels were analyzed in cholesterol induced hyperlipidemia where both the extracts of ethanolic and aqueous extract were shown antihyperlipidemic activity compared to hyperlipidemic control.
T-Spline Surface Toolpath Generation Using Watershed-Based Feature Recognition

The freeform surface is treated as a single machining region for most traditional toolpath generation algorithms. However, due to the complexity of a freeform surface, it is impossible to produce a high-quality surface using one unique machining process. Hence, region-based methods are widely investigated for freeform surface machining to achieve an optimized toolpath. The Non-Uniform Rational B-spline Surface (NURBS) represented freeform surface is not suitable for region-based toolpath generation because of the surface gaps caused by NURBS trimming and merging operations. To solve the limitation of the NURBS, T-spline is proposed with the advantages of being gap-free, having less control points, and local refinement, which is an ideal tool for region-based toolpath generation. Thus, T-spline is introduced to represent a freeform surface for its toolpath generation in the paper. A region-based toolpath generation method for the T-spline surface is proposed based on watershed technology. Firstly, watershed-based feature recognition is presented to divide the T-spline surface into a set of sub-regions. Secondly, the concept of a PolyBoundingBox that consists of a set of minimum bounding boxes is proposed to describe the sub-regions, and Manufacturing-Suitable Regions are constructed with the help of T-spline local refinement and the PolyBoundingBox. In the end, an optimized multi-rectangles toolpath generation algorithm is applied for sub-regions. The proposed method is tested using three synthetic T-spline surfaces, and the comparison results show the advantage in toolpath length and toolpath reversing number.
Plasticidade morfológica de Myrcia splendens (S.w.) CD. ( Myrtaceae ) ocorrente em Mata Atlântica e Cerrado

Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC. , a tree species popularly known as “guamirim-de-folha-miuda”, has a wide geographic distribution in Central America and in most of Brazil, with its southern limit the state of Santa Catarina. This study compares morphological and anatomical features observed in this species in a forest environment of Santa Catarina and a savanna of Minas Gerais. For each individual sample, fully expanded leaves and wood stems for subsequent histological preparation and biometrics were collected. The results show that populations diff er structurally between the two environments. The most plastic attributes are dry mass, specifi c leaf area and the frequency of vessels. This plant can be characterized as having a high morphological plasticity, which may favor the installation of new territories and justifi es its wide distribution. The set of data produced can also contribute to the indication of characters of taxonomic value.
Nutrient Content, Protein Fractionation, and Utilization of Some Beans as Potential Alternatives to Soybean for Ruminant Feeding

This experiment aimed to determine nutrient content, protein fraction, and in vitro rumen fermentation of some alternative beans in comparison to soybean. Samples used were napier grass, soybean, redbean, groundnut, pigeonpea, cowpea, bambarabean, and mungbean. Samples were determined for their proximate composition, Van Soest’s fiber fraction, and Cornell protein fraction. The samples were subsequently evaluated for their fermentation characteristics and digestibility by using a two-stage in vitro rumen fermentation technique, maintained at 39 oC for 2 × 48 h. The in vitro incubation was performed in three consecutive runs by following a randomized complete block design in which each sample per run was represented by four fermentation tubes. Results revealed that all experimental beans contained high crude protein (CP), i.e. above 200 g/kg dry matter (DM), but only soybean and groundnut had CP contents higher than 300 g/kg DM. Redbean had the lowest crude fiber and acid detergent fiber contents among the beans. Soybean contained high proportion of rapidly degraded CP fraction, but low in slowly degraded and unavailable CP fractions. High proportion of slowly degraded CP fraction was found in redbean and bambarabean. Redbean, pigeonpea, cowpea, and mungbean were better than soybean, groundnut, and bambarabean with regard to DM degradability and DM digestibility values (P<0.05). Concentration of total VFA was the highest in the incubation of redbean. It was concluded that groundnut, redbean, pigeonpea, cowpea, and mungbean have the potency to be used to substitute soybean for ruminant feeding.
On Reducing the Energy Consumption of Software: From Hurdles to Requirements

Background. As software took control over hardware in many domains, the question of the energy footprint induced by the software is becoming critical for our society, as the resources powering the underlying infrastructure are finite. Yet, beyond this growing interest, energy consumption remains a difficult concept to master for a developer. Aims. The purpose of this study is to better understand the root causes that prevent the issue of software energy consumption to be more widely considered by developers and companies. Method. To investigate this issue, this paper reports on a qualitative study we conducted in an industrial context. We applied an in-depth analysis of the interviews of 10 experienced developers and summarized a set of implications. Results. We argue that our study delivers i) insightful feedback on how green software design is considered among the interviewed developers and ii) a set of findings to build helpful tools, motivate further research, and establish better development strategies to promote green software design. Conclusion. This paper covers an industrial case study of developers' awareness of green software design and how to promote it within the company. While it might not be generalizable for any company, we believe our results deliver a common body of knowledge with implications to be considered for similar cases and further researches.
Agricultural technology is unavoidable, directional, combinatory, disruptive, unpredictable and has unintended consequences

Science historian James Burke, scientist turned writer Isaac Asimov and polymath Stuart Kauffman have all argued, from different angles, that technology is unavoidable, directional, combinatory, disruptive and unpredictable. They also highlight the unintended consequences of technology seeking to fix a problem and creating new problems and opportunities. Here I draw on their vision to outline these features of technology with a focus on sustainable agriculture and highlight their implications for investment in research and development, and connecting public policy and technological change.
Feature Enhancement And Fusion For Image-Based Particle Matter Estimation With F-MSE Loss

Air pollution is a major hazard to environment and human health. Particle matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM25) is a very harmful air pollutant that can penetrate deeply into lungs through human respiratory system. In this paper, we propose an efficient and reliable method to estimate PM25 concentration using outdoor images. Firstly, a prior attention block based on gradient features is used to enhance the boundary area between the sky region and the object in a feature map. After that, an embedding layer is applied to encode weather information and fuse it with image features. Finally, a deep neural network model with a novel loss function, F-MSE, is constructed to combine the prediction error of each model level during the training process and to further improve the effectiveness of the presented method. The proposed method was evaluated on a PM2.5 dataset with 1,514 images and the experimental results demonstrate that our method outperformed other existing methods.
Inbreeding pada Populasi Banteng (Bos javanicus d’Alton 1832) di Kebun Binatang Surabaya

Inbreeding Population of Banteng (Bos javanicus drAlton 1832) at Surabaya Zoo. Reny Sawitry and Mariana Takandjandji. Banteng (Bos javanicus drAlton 1832) is one of wildlife that is maintained in Surabaya Zoo, their mating system happened from a couples, and so overlap from generation to next generation. The purposed of this research was to determine effective population size, genetic diversity, and the change of physical and physiological of the herd. The methods used in this study were analysis DNA mitochondria from hair samples, description of physical and physiological change, and inbreeding coefficient. The results showed that effective populations size of herd in Surabaya Zoo tended to decline from productive age of banteng. Haplotype diversity of herd population was very low, the distance of genetic intra population zerro, and itrs genetic diversity was very homogen. This occured caused change in sex ratio of which male dominated the offspring population. Subsequently, the impact of inbreeding was the change of physic and physiology of banteng such as skin colour, sterile and infertile. Inbreeding that happened in Surabaya Zoo affected extinction of third population because of individual number of live sex less than one. The inbreeding coeficient was calculate using of pedigree analysis and inbreeding rate per generation based on the population structure. The calculation result of inbreeding coeficient was 0.42, while the inbreeding rate was 4.3% per generation. Finally, itrs needed to supply banteng from nature to fix offsprings and itrs genetic diversity. Abstrak Banteng (Bos javanicus drAlton 1832) merupakan salah satu satwa liar yang dipelihara di Kebun Binatang Surabaya (KBS). Sistem perkawinan banteng di lokasi ini dimulai dari bibit tunggal dan overlap antar generasi. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui keragaman genetika banteng di KBS melalui analisis DNA mitokondria, deskripsi perubahan fisik dan fisiologi banteng, gambaran nilai koefisien dan laju inbreeding per generasi. Metode yang digunakan adalah penghitungan ukuran populasi efektif, deskripsi perubahan fisik dan fisiologi serta koefisien dan laju inbreeding. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ukuran populasi efektif banteng cenderung menurun dilihat dari umur produktif. Diversitas haplotipe populasi banteng di KBS sangat rendah, sehingga jarak genetik dalam populasi = 0 dan dapat dikatakan keragaman genetiknya sangat homogen. Rata-rata nilai koefisien inbreeding adalah 0,42 dan laju inbreeding 4,3% per generasi. Hal ini dapat dilihat dari keturunan jantan daripada betina. Perkawinan secara inbreeding penurunan fisik serta fisiologi banteng di KBS, seperti terjadinya kemandulan dan ketidaksuburan. Inbreeding juga mengakibatkan kepunahan pada populasi yang ada karena pada generasi ketiga jumlah individu tiap kelamin yang hidup kurang dari satu. Dengan demikian diperlukan pasokan banteng dari alam untuk memperbaiki keturunan dan keragaman genetik.