Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Mara-Serengeti ungulates in relation to land use changes

Animal population dynamics can be driven by changing climatic forcing, shifting habitat conditions, trophic interactions and anthropogenic influences. To understand these influences, we analyzed trends in populations of seven ungulate species counted during 15 years (1989-2003) of monthly monitoring using vehicle ground counts in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Abundance of six species declined markedly and persistently throughout the reserve during this period. The declines were contemporaneous with progressive habitat deterioration due to changing land use in pastoral ranches bordering the reserve, habitat desiccation due to rising temperatures, recurrent severe droughts and an exceptional ENSO flood in 1997-1998. The effect of progressive habitat deterioration was accentuated by illicit harvest, competition with livestock and elevated predation. After factoring out the influence of rainfall, ungulate populations declined more markedly in sections of the reserve experiencing greater livestock incursions and poaching. The declines were significantly correlated with increasing number of settlements and people in the pastoral ranches for five species. Heightened predation following a crash in the buffalo Syncerus caffer population during a severe drought in 1993 had little support as the primary cause of the declines.
Virulence Markers and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Candida glabrata: An Emerging Pathogen.

Aims: To study virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility profile of C. glabrata isolated from various clinical specimens. Study Design: A total of 175 C. glabrata spp. isolated from various clinical specimens were included in the study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Rural Medical College, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Loni, Maharashtra, India, between March 2008 to March 2013. Methodology: C. glabrata was identified by sugar assimilation and fermentation tests and colony color on Hichrome Candida agar. HiCandida identification kit supplemented the identification of the isolates. The virulence markers studied were production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes (phospholipase, proteinase and coagulase), haemolytic activity and biofilm formation. The antifungal susceptibility profile of C. glabrata isolates was determined by Hicomb minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. The antifungal agents used were amphotericin B (range 0.002-32 μg), fluconazole (range 0.016-256 μg), itraconazole (range 0.002-32 μg) and ketoconazole (range 0.002-32 μg). Results: Maximum number of isolates were obtained from blood culture (36%) followed by urine sample (29.7%). ICU stay followed by HIV infection were the main predisposing factors found to be associated with C. glabrata infection. A total of 53 (30.2%) C. glabrata Research Article British Microbiology Research Journal, 4(1): 39-49, 2014 40 isolates showed phospholipase activity. Proteinase production was seen in 56 (32%) isolates. 48 (27.4%) isolates were coagulase positive. Haemolytic activity was noted in 43 (24.5%) isolates. Most of C. glabrata produced βtype of haemolysis on sheep blood SDA agar. Biofilm forming ability was noted in 68 (38.8%) isolates. Maximum isolates were resistant to fluconazole (46.8%) and ketoconazole (46.8%) followed by itraconazole (45.7%). Amphotericin B resistance was seen in 58 (33.1%) isolates. Conclusion: Once considered as a non pathogenic human commensal, C. glabrata has emerged as an important pathogen in various clinical types of candidiasis. C. glabrata is innately resistant to antifungal drugs and various antifungal mechanisms of the body. Present research data available is not satisfactory to understand the pathogenic and other mechanisms involved in the transition of C. glabrata from nonpathogenic commensal to a potential pathogen. Therefore more research studies are needed to explain pathogenesis, host-pathogen interaction and other survival properties of this emerging pathogen.
Proteomic Analysis of the Response of Liangyoupeijiu (Super High‐Yield Hybrid Rice) Seedlings to Cold Stress

Liangyoupeijiu is a super high-yield hybrid rice. Despite its advantages with respect to yield and grain quality, it is sensitive to cold, which keeps it from being widely cultivated. We subjected Liangyoupeijiu seedlings to 4°C cold treatment, then extracted the leaf proteins. After 2-D gel electrophoresis separation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, a series of differentially displayed proteins were identified. Some metabolism-associated proteins were found among the downregulated proteins, such as carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, transketolase 1, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The upregulated proteins included both stress-resistance proteins such as nucleoside diphosphate kinase I and proteins that are negative for rice growth, such as FtsH-like protein, plastid fusion and/or translocation factor (Pftf) and actin. Our results indicate that cold may inhibit Liangyoupeijiu growth through decreasing metabolic activity and damaging cell structure. (Managing editor: Li-Hui Zhao)
Long Distance Transport of Abscisic Acid in NaCI-Treated Intact Plants of Lupinus albus

Plants of Lupinus albus were grown for 51 d under control (M mol m-3 NaCl) and saline (40 mol m-3 NaCl) conditions. Plants were harvested and changes of carbon, nitrogen and abscisic acid (ABA) contents of individual organs were determined 41 d and 51 d after germination. In the period between the two harvests xylem and phloem saps were collected and respiration and photosynthesis of individual organs were measured. Using flows of carbon, C/ABA ratios and increments of ABA flows of ABA in phloem and xylem and rates of biosynthesis and degradation of ABA were calculated. Both under control and saline conditions net biosynthesis occurred in the root, the basal strata of leaves and in the inflorescence. Metabolic degradation of ABA took place in the stem internodes and apical leaf strata. Salt stress increased xylem transport of ABA up to 10-fold and phloem transport to the root up to 5-fold relative to that of the controls. A considerable amount of ABA in the xylem sap originated from biosynthesis in the roots, i.e. 55% in salt-treated and smaller than 28% in control plants. The remaining part of ABA in the xylem sap originated from the shoot: it was translocated in the phloem from fully differentiated leaves towards the root and from there it was recirculated back to the aerial parts of the plant. The data suggest that ABA may serve as a hormonal stress signal from the root system.
Online Communities and Social Network Structure

This paper aims to understand the effects of online communities on the network structure and their marketing implications. To account for the fact that communities are not formed exogenously, we model and estimate how they co-evolve with the friendship network. We control for unobserved heterogeneity and homophily by modeling individuals’ latent positions and similarities. Using data from a worldwide Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Game, we find that individuals’ friendship formation decision and community membership decision reinforce each other. Moreover, model simulation reveals that, under some circumstances, online communities may promote not only within-community ties but also cross-community ties. Here, one important moderating factor is the community stickiness, which is captured by the positive effects of an individual’s number of friends in a community on her probability of staying in that community (instead of switching to a different community). As shown by our simulated diffusion exercises, only a moderately sticky community system promotes cross-community ties and consequently improves information reach. This insight helps social platforms manage online communities more effectively to improve the marketing value of social networks.
Balanço eletrolítico e níveis de proteína bruta sobre o desempenho de pintos de corte de 1 a 21 dias de idade

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Animal Science of UFV to determine the best electrolyte balance (EB) for broiler chicks performance from one to 21 days of age. One day old chicks, male, Ross were reared in the floor covered with shaving woods and fed two corn-soybean meal based diet with 20 and 23% of crude protein (CP) combined with 0; 50; 100; 150; 200; 250; 300 and 350 mEq/kg of EB. The experiment was analyzed as a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of treatments (two CP levels and eight EB) with six replicates of 22 chicks each and 96 experimental units. Weigh gain (WG), feed intake (FI) and feed efficience (FE) were evaluates at 7, 14 and 21 days of age. The best EB estimate at 21 days for the FI were 185 (20% CP) and 194 (23% CP). However, for the WG, the best EB obtained were 166 (20% CP) and 177 (23% CP). Outside these levels of EB, restriction of FC ocurred and probable increase of water consumption. The FE was not significant. Based on the obtained data, EB should be from 166 to 177 mEq/kg for the best performance of chicks. It was also verified that it is possible to decrease the CP level without affecting the performance of the chicks if the rations were adequately supplemented by essential aminoacids in order to supply the nutritional requirement of the chicks.
HISTOPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE JUVENILE ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO SALAR) RETINA: II. RESPONSES TO LIGHT INTENSITIES, WAVELENGTHS, TEMPERATURES, AND CONTINUOUS LIGHT OR DARK

Retinal epithelial pigment dark-adapts in intensities below 10−3 ft-c. Cones are in a light-adapted state in intensities of 10−2 ft-c and above, semiadapted state in 10−3 ft-c, and dark-adapted state in 10−4 ft-c and below. The retinal index corresponds to the response of cones. It is suggested that the visible spectrum of the yearling Atlantic salmon ranges from 3640 A to 6900 A because the retina is in a light-adapted state in that range. In light, lower and higher temperatures bring about an expansion of the retinal pigment. Cones and retinal index are not affected. In dark, pigment expands with higher temperatures but temperatures exceeding 18.3 °C bring forth contraction. Cones contract with increasing temperatures but beyond 14.8 °C they expand. The retinal index indicates a greater dark-adaptation of retina with increasing temperatures between 5.0 °C and 18.3 °C but higher temperatures make it less dark-adapted. Cones exhibit no rhythm in their positions in continuous light or dark. Pigment demonst.
Haploid production from Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus resistant clones of Lolium

The investigation was earned out to obtain double haploid homozygous lines of Lolium. Lolium multiflorurm ssp. gaudini cv. ‘Liwelo’, 44 clones and five different cultivars (cv.) of L. perenne were tested with regard to their anther culture response on a solid medium. Callus production and plant regeneration of the different genotypes were investigated. Within L. m. ssp. gaudini green plants have been obtained. In L. perenne significant genotypical differences in the in vitro reaction could be demonstrated. A high-responding genotype was selected which produced a maximum of 20 % green plants. A variety × temperature interaction was found for the L. perenne varieties ‘Premier’ and ‘Barlenna’. The production of 34 green plants out ot eight clones enables a first analysis to be made of the inheritance of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus resistance in L. perenne.
Partial Replacement of Fish Meal by Fermented Soybean Meal in Diets for Black Sea Bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, Juveniles

The effect of fish meal (FM) substitution with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) in the diets of the carnivorous marine fish, black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, was investigated. An 8-wk feeding trial was conducted with black sea bream (11.82 ± 0.32 g; mean initial weight) in indoor flow-through fiberglass tanks (25 fish per tank). Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated, in which FM was replaced by FSBM at 0% (control diet), 10% (FSBM10), 20% (FSBM20), 30% (FSBM30), 40% (FSBM40), or 50% (FSBM50), respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish twice daily to apparent satiation. The results showed that there was no difference in survival of black sea bream during the feeding trial. Fish fed the FSBM10 or FSBM20 diet showed comparable growth performance compared with fish fed the control diet (P > 0.05), whereas more than 30% replacement of FM adversely affected weight gain and specific growth rate (P < 0.05). Feed intake was significantly lower for fish fed the FSBM50 diet compared with fish fed the control diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to increase with increasing dietary FSBM with the poorest FCR observed for fish fed the FSBM50 diet. Protein efficiency ratio and protein productive values showed similar patterns. Apparent digestibility of nutrients significantly decreased with increasing dietary FSBM level. With the exception of protein content, no significant differences in whole body and dorsal muscle composition were observed in fish fed the various diets. Fish fed the FSBM50 diet had significantly lower intraperitoneal ratio than fish fed the control or FSBM10 diet. Hepatosomatic index and condition factor were unaffected by dietary treatments. This study showed that up to 20% of dietary FM protein could be replaced by FSBM protein in the diets of juvenile black sea bream.
SYNTHESIS OF MYCOSPORINE‐LIKE AMINO ACIDS IN CHONDRUS CRISPUS (FLORIDEOPHYCEAE) AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR SENSITIVITY TO ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION

The induction and protective role of the UV‐absorbing compounds known as mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs) were examined in sublittoral Chondrus crispus Stackh. transplanted for 2 weeks in the spring and summer to shallow water under three irradiance conditions: PAR (photosynthetically active radiation; 400–700 nm), PAR + UVA (PAR + 320– 400 nm), PAR + UVA + UVB (PAR + UVA + 280– 320 nm). Sublittoral thalli collected around Helgoland, North Sea, Germany, from 6 m below the mean low water of spring tides contained less than 0.1 mg·g−1 dry weight (DW) total MAAs, whereas eulittoral samples contained over 1 mg·g−1 DW. Transplantation to shallow water led to the immediate synthesis of three MAAs in the following temporal order: shinorine (λmax 334 nm), asterina (λmax 330 nm), and palythine (λmax 320 nm), with the shinorine content peaking and then declining after 2 days (exposure to 100 mol photons·m−2). Maximum total MAA content (2 mg·g−1 DW) also occurred after 2 days of induction, exceeding the content normally found in eulittoral samples. Furthermore, the relative proportion of the different MAAs at this time was different than that in eulittoral samples. After 2 days the total content declined to the eulittoral value, with palythine as the principal MAA. Similar data were obtained for all treatments, indicating that MAA synthesis in C. crispus was induced by PAR and not especially stimulated by UV radiation. The ability of photosystem II (PSII) to resist damage by UVB was tested periodically during the acclimation period by exposing samples to a defined UVB dose in the lab. Changes in chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm and effective quantum yield, φII) indicated that PSII function was inhibited during the initial stage of acclimation but gradually improved with time. No difference among screening treatments was detected except in spring for the samples acclimating to PAR + UVA + UVB. In this treatment Fv/Fm and φII were significantly lower than in the other treatments. During the first week of each experiment, growth rates were also significantly reduced by UVB. The reductions occurred despite maximum MAA content, indicating an incomplete protection of photosynthetic and growth‐related processes.
Changes in cell‐wall composition and degradability of sorghum during growth and maturation

Samples of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench × Sorghum sudanense Stapf, cv ‘P 988’) were harvested at five growth stages. Quantitative methylation and acetalation–methylation methods were used to examine changes during growth of cell-wall polysaccharides, their association with phenolic compounds and the effects of changes on rumen degradability. Cellulose degradability, as measured by a nylon-bag method, decreased from 82·5% at the youngest stage to 36·5% at the milk-ripe stage, at a greater rate of change than degradability of dry matter. Among the monosaccharides contributing to cell-wall polysaccharides, the degradabilities of arabinose and uronic acid residues were consistently higher than those of xylose and glucose, the main components of structural carbohydrates. Recovery of parent neutral sugars from cell wall polysaccharides, calculated as the sum of partially methylated alditols, was in good agreement with the values obtained by direct estimation of individual sugars as their alditol acetate derivatives. Total non-starch polysaccharide content increased from 31·1% to 45·1% between the first two growth states, with little change evident thereafter. The relative proportion of individual to total sugars remained consistent throughout growth. The values for arabinose, xylose and glucose residues accounted for 4·9%, 27·9% and 63·0% of total neutral sugars, respectively. The pattern of glycosidic linkages detected could be mainly ascribed to the presence of (1–4)-β-D-glucans (cellulose), arabinoxylan, (1–3)(1–4)-β-D-glucans, (1–4)-β-D-galactan, (1–3)(1–6)-β-D-galactan, rhamnogalacturonan and, possibly, xyloglucan. The cellulose content of the five sorghums was, in order of growth, 14·3%, 21·8%. 22·3%, 21·2% and 22·0% of dry matter. The ratio of the mixed-linked g1ucan:cellulose decreased during growth. Arabinoxylan, the predominant hemicellulosic polysaccharide, was estimated to comprise about 33% of total neutral sugars consistently for all sorghum samples. Arabinose, found largely as terminal residues in the cell walls, carried various amounts of alkali-labile substituents, particularly at position 0–5, depending on the growth stage of sorghum. The extent of 0–5 substitution was closely correlated with both the lignin content (total phenolics minus phenolic acids, r = 0·903) and with cellulose degradability (r = 0·915).
Effet de la salinité sur les paramètres morpho- physiologiques de deux variétés de bananier (Musa acuminata L)

Objectives: The aim of this work is to determine the effect of salt stress on the level of regeneration of explants, and morphophysiological characters of two banana varieties (Musa acuminata ): “grande naine “and “petite naine,’’ to regenerate vitro plants tolerant of salinity. Methodology and results : The release of two varieties banana (Musa acuminata ) “grande naine ” and “petite naine’’ from the Gharb region were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium, with or without added NaCl (0, 2, 4 and 6 g / l). The results show that the two varieties have shoot regeneration despite the saline treatment.
China's Capital Account Liberalisation: International Perspective

This volume collects the papers presented at the joint BIS/SAFE seminar on Capital account liberalisation in China: international perspectives, held on 12-13 September 2002 in Beijing, China. Seminar participants from outside China were mostly experienced practitioners and policymakers from 13 economies across four continents. Chinese participants consisted mainly of staff from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the People's Bank of China and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The main aim of the seminar was to draw on the diverse international experiences in managing cross-border capital flows and to shed light on how China should proceed to implement capital account liberalisation in the years ahead, following its recent historic entry into the WTO. The present collection includes 16 seminar papers, which are organised under the following six topics: Overview Japanese experience Bank-related capital flows Corporate and non-bank flows Equity portfolio flows Offshore banknote flows Our introduction should be read in close conjunction with the welcome speech by SAFE Deputy Director General Ma Delun and with the SAFE summary chapter by Wang Yungui and Xie Yuelan, which follow immediately.
The Effect of Intra-European Migration on Cognitive Abilities in Later Life

English Abstract: The study raises the question about the long-term effect of intra-European migration on cognitive abilities in later life. In contrast to previous studies, not natives in the destination country but stayers in the origin country are used as reference group for migrants who moved to another European country at some point in life and are now growing old abroad. Using SHARE data and applying an instrumental variable approach in the first and fixed effects models in the second analytical step, the results indicate that migration turns out to have a negative long-term effect on the baseline level of cognitive abilities but that the process of cognitive decline does not differ significantly between migrants and stayers. German Abstract: Die vorliegende Studie geht der Frage nach, inwiefern sich intra-Europäische Migration auf die kognitiven Fähigkeiten im späteren Leben auswirkt. Im Gegensatz zu vorherigen Studien werden nicht Personen der Zielländer, sondern Personen der Herkunftsländer als Vergleichsgruppe herangezogen. Unter Nutzung des SHARE Datensatzes und unter Verwendung eines Instrumentalvariablen-Ansatzes im ersten sowie von Fixed Effects Modelle im zweiten Analyseschritt, zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass Migration langfristig einen negativen Effekt auf das Basisniveau der kognitiven Fähigkeiten hat. Hinsichtlich des Prozesses der kognitiven Alterung zeigen sich jedoch keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen Migrantinnen und Migranten und den Vergleichspersonen der Herkunftsländer.
Forecasting Recovery Rates on Non-Performing Loans with Machine Learning

Abstract We compare the performance of a wide set of regression techniques and machine-learning algorithms for predicting recovery rates on non-performing loans, using a private database from a European debt collection agency. We find that rule-based algorithms such as Cubist, boosted trees, and random forests perform significantly better than other approaches. In addition to loan contract specificities, predictors that refer to the bank recovery process — prior to the portfolio’s sale to a debt collector — are also shown to enhance forecasting performance. These variables, derived from the time series of contacts to defaulted clients and client reimbursements to the bank, help all algorithms better identify debtors with different repayment ability and/or commitment, and in general those with different recovery potential.
Entrainment of a circadian rhythm of activity in an amphipod by skeleton photoperiods

Abstract Talorchestia quoyana, a sand beach amphipod, shows a rhythm of locomotor activity controlled by a circadian clock and an inhibitory circatidal clock. This article reports on an investigation of the entrainment of the circadian dock to skeleton photoperiods. Four important mathematical models for circadian rhythms are examined with respect to the results of the entrainment experiments and to predictions from the phase response curve for Talorchestia. Significant differences between the models are described, and properties of circadian rhythms not accounted for by present models are outlined.