Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Future of Tropical Ecology

Whether there is a future for tropical ecology, and of what it will consist, does not lie in the unveiling of yet another intricate animal-plant interaction, in the application of technological marvels, or in the discovery of a crop plant that can be grown with high yield on rainforest soils. The answer does not lie in meticulous analysis of what we know to date. Yes, we need these things. But the real future of tropical ecology lies in whether, within our generation, the academic, social and commercial sectors can collaboratively preserve even small portions of tropical wildlands to be studied and used for understanding, for material gain, and for the intellectual development of the society in which the wildland is embedded. The tropical ecologist has a clear mandate to be a prominent guide and glue in this collaboration. Ecologists are specialists at understanding interactions between complex units and their environments; the future of tropical ecology lies, above all, in the interface between humanity and the tropical nature that humanity has corralled. It is this generation of ecologists who will determine whether the tropical agroscape is to be populated only by humans and their mutualists, commensals, and parasites, or whether it will also contain some islands of the greater nature-the nature that spawned humans yet has been vanquished by them. An ocean of oil palm plantations, no matter how sustained the yield and no matter how well-fed the caretakers, is no more human destiny, nor is it of more ecological interest, than is any other assembly line. My goal here, then, is not to review the trajectory of the literature generated by studies of tropical ecology and biology, but rather to outline what is clearly becoming the structure of tropical ecology's future. My inferences and guid-
A New End-to-End Multi-Dimensional CNN Framework for Land Cover/Land Use Change Detection in Multi-Source Remote Sensing Datasets

The diversity of change detection (CD) methods and the limitations in generalizing these techniques using different types of remote sensing datasets over various study areas have been a challenge for CD applications. Additionally, most CD methods have been implemented in two intensive and time-consuming steps: (a) predicting change areas, and (b) decision on predicted areas. In this study, a novel CD framework based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed to not only address the aforementioned problems but also to considerably improve the level of accuracy. The proposed CNN-based CD network contains three parallel channels: the first and second channels, respectively, extract deep features on the original firstand second-time imagery and the third channel focuses on the extraction of change deep features based on differencing and staking deep features. Additionally, each channel includes three types of convolution kernels: 1D-, 2D-, and 3D-dilated-convolution. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed CD method are evaluated using three different types of remote sensing benchmark datasets (i.e., multispectral, hyperspectral, and Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture RADAR (PolSAR)). The results of the CD maps are also evaluated both visually and statistically by calculating nine different accuracy indices. Moreover, the results of the CD using the proposed method are compared to those of several state-of-the-art CD algorithms. All the results prove that the proposed method outperforms the other remote sensing CD techniques. For instance, considering different scenarios, the Overall Accuracies (OAs) and Kappa Coefficients (KCs) of the proposed CD method are better than 95.89% and 0.805, respectively, and the Miss Detection (MD) and the False Alarm (FA) rates are lower than 12% and 3%, respectively.
Factors that influence vaccination decision-making among pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The most important factor influencing maternal vaccination uptake is healthcare professional (HCP) recommendation. However, where data are available, one-third of pregnant women remain unvaccinated despite receiving a recommendation. Therefore, it is essential to understand the significance of other factors and distinguish between vaccines administered routinely and during outbreaks. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD 42019118299) to examine the strength of the relationships between identified factors and maternal vaccination uptake. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase Classic & Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, IBSS, LILACS, AfricaWideInfo, IMEMR, and Global Health databases for studies reporting factors that influence maternal vaccination. We used random-effects models to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR) of being vaccinated by vaccine type. Findings We screened 17,236 articles and identified 120 studies from 30 countries for inclusion. Of these, 49 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The odds of receiving a pertussis or influenza vaccination were ten to twelve-times higher among pregnant women who received a recommendation from HCPs. During the 2009 influenza pandemic an HCP recommendation increased the odds of antenatal H1N1 vaccine uptake six times (OR 6.76, 95% CI 3.12–14.64, I2 = 92.00%). Believing there was potential for vaccine-induced harm had a negative influence on seasonal (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.11–0.44 I2 = 84.00%) and pandemic influenza vaccine uptake (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.09–0.29, I2 = 89.48%), reducing the odds of being vaccinated five-fold. Combined with our qualitative analysis the relationship between the belief in substantial disease risk and maternal seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccination uptake was limited. Conclusions The effect of an HCP recommendation during an outbreak, whilst still powerful, may be muted by other factors. This requires further research, particularly when vaccines are novel. Public health campaigns which centre on the protectiveness and safety of a maternal vaccine rather than disease threat alone may prove beneficial.
N-Alkylisatin-Loaded Liposomes Target the Urokinase Plasminogen Activator System in Breast Cancer

The urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor (uPA/uPAR) are biomarkers for metastasis, especially in triple-negative breast cancer. We prepared anti-mitotic N-alkylisatin (N-AI)-loaded liposomes functionalized with the uPA/uPAR targeting ligand, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2/SerpinB2), and assessed liposome uptake in vitro and in vivo. Receptor-dependent uptake of PAI-2-functionalized liposomes was significantly higher in the uPA/uPAR overexpressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line relative to the low uPAR/uPAR expressing MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Furthermore, N-AI cytotoxicity was enhanced in a receptor-dependent manner. In vivo, PAI-2 N-AI liposomes had a plasma half-life of 5.82 h and showed an increased accumulation at the primary tumor site in an orthotopic MDA-MB-231 BALB/c-Fox1nu/Ausb xenograft mouse model, relative to the non-functionalized liposomes, up to 6 h post-injection. These findings support the further development of N-AI-loaded PAI-2-functionalized liposomes for uPA/uPAR-positive breast cancer, especially against triple-negative breast cancer, for which the prognosis is poor and treatment is limited.
The flammability and energy content of some important plant species and fuel components in the forests of southeastern Tasmania

Energy content and rate of flame front movement in various plant species and fuel components from the forests of southeastern Tasmania exhibited a range in values, and responses. Eucalypt dry forest species and fuel components showed the highest energy content and the greatest tendency to propagate fire whereas species from wet sclerophyll and gully habitats and Casuarina dry forest communities propagated fire less readily. Species from dry habitats have, in general, low ash contents, high energy levels, high volatile oil contents and low moisture contents. Wet habitat species have high percentages of moisture and ash. General support is given to the hypothesis that natural selection has favoured flammable characteristics in fire-dependent plant communities.
In vitro antioxidant capability and performance assessment of White Roman goose supplemented with dried Toona sinensis

ABSTRACT Toona sinensis (TS) leaf is a well-known traditional oriental medicine herb. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro antioxidant capability and performance assessment of White Roman goose supplemented with dried TS leaves (TSL). The TSL extracts contained 22.23 ± 1.13 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (DW) and 1.38 ± 0.06 mg quercetin equivalent/g DW of total phenolics and flavonoid contents. The scavenging action of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical and superoxide anion was as good as that of the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid, respectively. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation of TSL extracts at 2.5 mg/mL reached nearly 40% compared with the BHT. One hundred and eight White Roman geese aged 6 weeks were distributed to six pens randomly, and fed a grower diet ad libitum during the growing period, with each pen containing nine males and nine females following completely randomized design. Diets were supplemented with the following levels of dried TSL: 0% (control), 0.1% or 0.2% groups for 6 weeks, respectively. The results revealed no significant effects among treatments in the growth performance, blood biochemical parameters and muscle fibre of the grower geese. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) content of the serum in the 0.2% TSL group was significantly higher than that of the control group. In conclusion, dried TSL powder has antioxidative effects in vitro and could serve as a promising natural feed additive to improve the serum SOD content of grower geese.
Bacterial exopolymer utilization by a harpacticoid copepod: A methodology and results

Exopolymer mucus secretions of bacteria and diatoms are potential foods for benthic animals. These secretions are coincidently ingested by animals during consumption of microbial cells and sediments. The utilization of microbial secretions was investigated with exopolymer derived from a marine bacterium (Pseudomonas sp.) from seagrass beds and a harpacticoid copepod Laophonte sp. from the same habitat. A new technique was developed to examine ingestion, absorption, and absorption efficiencies of these bacterial secretions by consumers. Exopolymer mucus (from the bacterium in stationary phase) was labeled with 14C, collected, purified, and bound onto bacteriumsized beads. The exopolymer slime coating mimicked the coatings associated with many marine bacteria. Results from feeding experiments where the coated beads were mixed with sediment demonstrated that the mucus-exopolymer secretions of bacteria were ingested and utilized by Laophonte sp. Absorption efficiencies, determined directly, were >80% in the presence of other food resources, indicating that the exopolymer is potentially a highly labile C resource for this
Multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in dogs with diarrhea

Increased prevalence of antimicrobials resistance of pathogenic bacteria is a growing world wide concern. Its major risk factor has been generally considered as a consequence of the wide use of antimicrobials leading to the emergence and dissemination of resistant bacteria and resistance genes (van den Bogaard and Stobberingh, 2000). Pet animals, especially dogs, represent potential sources for the spreading of antimicrobial resistance resulting from the extensive use of antimicrobial agents in these animals and their close contact with humans (Guardabassi et al., 2004). Reports of extra-intestinal infections in dogs due to multidrug-resistant
Microwave Blanching of Vegetables

Three vegetables, spinach, carrot and bell peppers, were blanched both conventionally in water and using pulsed microwaves at 95 2C. Effects of various parameters were investigated on the temp. attained during microwave blanching, temp. mapping in the microwave oven, kinetics of peroxidase inactivation, levels of total carotenoids and ascorbic acid and product wt. Kinetics of peroxidase inactivation during microwave blanching were comparable to water blanching, with higher reaction rates in the case of water blanching. The temp. and absorbed power levels during microwave blanching were influenced by the nature of the vegetable itself, its quantity, shape, location in the oven and the microwave power applied. Product yields (wt.) were lower after microwave blanching. In comparison to water blanching, vitamin C losses were reduced in microwaved vegetables by 18, 8.5 and 33.5% for spinach, bell peppers and carrots, respectively (P < 0.05); total carotenoid loss in microwave-blanched carrots was reduced by 35.73% (P < 0.01). It is concluded that vegetables blanched with microwave energy are more nutritious than those heated to the same temp. by conventional water blanching.
Observation of High-Energy Astrophysical Neutrinos in Three Years of IceCube Data

A search for high-energy neutrinos interacting within the IceCube detector between 2010 and 2012 provided the first evidence for a high-energy neutrino flux of extraterrestrial origin. Results from an analysis using the same methods with a third year (2012-2013) of data from the complete IceCube detector are consistent with the previously reported astrophysical flux in the 100 TeV - PeV range at the level of $10^{-8}\, \mathrm{GeV}\, \mathrm{cm}^{-2}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}\, \mathrm{sr}^{-1}$ per flavor and reject a purely atmospheric explanation for the combined 3-year data at $5.7 \sigma$. The data are consistent with expectations for equal fluxes of all three neutrino flavors and with isotropic arrival directions, suggesting either numerous or spatially extended sources. The three-year dataset, with a livetime of 988 days, contains a total of 37 neutrino candidate events with deposited energies ranging from 30 to 2000 TeV. The 2000 TeV event is the highest-energy neutrino interaction ever observed.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OBSERVATION AND EXPERIMENTATION IN THE FIELD STUDY OF BEHAVIOR

Man goes to nature to learn what nature is, but, in so doing, he introduces possibilities of distortion through his own presence. These risks Bacon had in mind when he stressed the importance of scientific investigation as a means of supplementing and correcting our sense impressions, which are likely to be “infirm and erring. ” After a tendency of long standing, observation is frequently viewed as the one necessary field method, and the laboratory is considered the place for experimentation. This view seems justified in part by tlie fact that field investigation is more obviously dependent, as a rule, upon the worker’s immediate perception than is laboratory research. Yet this involves an oversimplification, not only in the sense that the resources of observation as a technique are minimized but also in that the relation of field investigation to the laboratory is misrepresented. The laboratory holds its place traditionally as the investigative situation in which the scientiíic study of given phenomena may proceed without the intervention of unknowns of any large magnitude. Unfortunately, this justified emphasis upon laboratory techniques of control has led to the mistaken impression that control may be obtained only under laboratory conditions. This sectarian conception of the “sanctity of the laboratory” has encouraged a narrow view of experimental science, a t the expense of the social sciences, in which field procedures are of paramount importance. ’” The difference is not that abrupt. As Warden, Jenkins, and WarnerS6 have said, “Obviously, no sharp liire can be drawn between careful iield observation and simple experimental procedure. In a very proper sense, the laboratory may be considered as a limited and controllable field in which isolation and quantitative measurement of selected aspects of behavior can be made. ” Properly speaking, in terms of the logic of science, there is really no experimental method as distinct from ob~erva t ion ,~~ and the field study of behavior is no exception. A consideration of the advancing scope of experimentation from the physical to the biological to the psychological and social sciences in the present century inevitably broadens our concept of research beyond the scope of the laboratory proper. Actually, in numerous ways, observation and experimentation are as closely related in field study as they are in other areas of scientjfic investigation. The role of experimentation in the social sciences, as in science generally, is the refinement of observational techniques.l8 In a11 scientific research, in field or laboratory, the function of the investigator as an observer of natural phenomena is involved in a variety of ways, which require appropriate control. “Control,” in this larger sense, concerns a11 measures taken to increase the reliability and validity of methods and procedures in a scientiúc investigation .
A Survey of Primate Populations in Northeastern Venezuelan Guayana

Abstract The region of the Guiana Shield is extraordinarily rich in biodiversity. Little is known, however, of the biogeography and conservation status of its diverse primate taxa. The aim of this study was to conduct a rapid survey of primate populations in the northeastern-most part of the state of Bolívar, Venezuela, near the border with Guyana. A previous study had indicated that the white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), wedge-capped capuchin (Cebus olivaceus), and red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) were present in this area. It had also been suggested that black spider monkeys (Ateles paniscus), golden-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas), and night monkeys (Aotus) may be present in this part of the Venezuelan Guayana. Forty-nine sites of the Río Cuyuní basin were surveyed. Pre-existing forest trails were walked and the Río Cuyuní was also censused by boat. Interviews with local people at all the sites indicated that the only primates inhabiting this region are A. seniculus, C. olivaceus, and P. pithecia. S. midas is not present (or is extremely rare) in the northeastern part of the state of Bolívar. References to night monkeys may well refer to Potos flavus. The presence of an isolated population of Ateles remains uncertain. Cattle ranching, mining, hunting, logging, and the pet trade are major threats to the primates in this part of Venezuela. Further primate surveys should be conducted in the western Guiana Shield.
Combining population genetics, species distribution modelling and field assessments to understand a species vulnerability to climate change

Climate change is recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Multidisciplinary approaches that combine population genetics and species distribution modelling to assess these threats and recommend conservation actions are critical but rare. Combined, these methods provide independent verification and a more compelling case for developing conservation actions. This study integrates these data streams together with field assessments and spatial analyses to develop future genetic resource management recommendations. The study species was Callistemon teretifolius (Needle Bottlebrush), a shrub species endemic to the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and potentially vulnerable to climate change. Chloroplast microsatellite and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism data were combined with species distribution modelling (MaxEnt), spatial analysis and field assessment to evaluate climate change vulnerability. Two major genetic groups were identified (Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges). Populations in the Flinders Ranges, especially the Southern Flinders Ranges exhibited the highest genetic diversity, indicating a possible genetic refugium. Lower genetic diversity to the south in the Mount Lofty Ranges and north in the Gammon Ranges may be due to post-glacial expansion into these areas from the Flinders Ranges or loss of alleles. Low levels of contemporary gene flow were identified, which suggests Callistemon teretifolius may have a limited capacity to respond to climate change through migration. Range restrictions were predicted for all future climates, especially in the north. It is likely that C. teretifolius will be adversely affected by climate change, due to limited gene flow, predicted range restriction and loss of suitable habitat. The Southern Flinders Ranges should be a priority for conservation because it contains the highest number of individuals and genetic diversity. We recommend monitoring and adaptive management involving restoration in the Southern Flinders Ranges, potentially incorporating genetic translocations from other areas to capture diversity, to assist C. teretifolius to adapt to climate change.
Optimal surveillance against foot-and-mouth disease: A sample average approximation approach

Decisions surrounding the presence of infectious diseases are typically made in the face of considerable uncertainty. However, the development of models to guide these decisions has been substantially constrained by computational difficulty. This paper focuses on the case of finding the optimal level of surveillance against a highly infectious animal disease where time, space and randomness are fully considered. We apply the Sample Average Approximation approach to solve our problem, and to control model dimension, we propose the use of an infection tree model, in combination with sensible ‘tree-pruning’ and parallel processing techniques. Our proposed model and techniques are generally applicable to a number of disease types, but we demonstrate the approach by solving for optimal surveillance levels against foot-and-mouth disease using bulk milk testing as an active surveillance protocol, during an epidemic, among 42,279 farms, fully characterised by their location, livestock type and size, in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Vertical Infestation Profile of Aedes in Selected Urban High-Rise Residences in Malaysia

Dengue is placing huge burdens on the Malaysian healthcare system as well as the economy. With the expansion in the number of high-rise residential buildings, particularly in the urban centers, the flight range and behavior of Aedes mosquitoes may be altered in this habitat type. In this study, we aimed to expand the understanding of the vertical distribution and dispersal of Aedes in nine selected high-rise residences in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Johor using ovitraps as the sampling method. We discovered that Ae. aegypti is the predominant species in all study sites. Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are most abundant within the first three levels and could be found up to level 21 (approximately 61.1–63.0 m). Pearson correlation analyses exhibited negative correlations in eight out of nine study sites between the ovitrap indexes (OIs) within each floor level, suggesting that Aedes density decreased as the building level increased. Our findings provide information to the public health authorities on ‘hot spot’ floors for effective suppression of dengue transmission.
Re-evaluation of the distribution of Meissner’s corpuscles in human skin

Meissner’s corpuscles are generally considered to be located in the dermal papilla of hairless skin on the fingers, toes, palms, soles, lips, eyelids, nipples, and genital organs. We used hematoxylin and eosin staining to examine the distribution of Meissner’s corpuscles in skin tissues of the fingertips, palms, lips, nipples, and labia majora and minora obtained from cadavers. Many Meissner’s corpuscles were observed in the dermal papilla of the fingertips, whereas the palms had only 20% as many. Meissner’s corpuscles were rare in the lips, nipples, and external genital organs, which have relatively high two-point discrimination. Because Meissner’s corpuscles are rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors, they may quickly detect changes in tactile sensation, including two-point discrimination, in the movable glabrous skin. In conclusion, Meissner’s corpuscles might be rare in non-movable glabrous skin compared to the fingertips and palms.