Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Pollen-Load Size and Number of Donors on Sporophyte Fitness in Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)

Competition among pollen tubes within styles sometimes results in progeny with enhanced growth rates, presumably resulting from selection for superior pollen genotypes. Although such gametophytic selection is often invoked as an agent of evolution, its importance in existing natural populations is unknown. I tested for the effects of past and current pollen competition on sporophytic fitness in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). The intensity of previous pollen competition had no overall effect on progeny characteristics such as seed size, germination rate, plant size, or fecundity, as measured in both field and greenhouse environments. Using pollen from "intense" previous competition, I also tested for separate effects of pollen-load size (60 vs. 300 grains) and number of pollen donors per stigma (one vs. three). Again, these pollination treatments had no consistent effects of progeny fitness. In a few cases, plants resulting from three pollen donors were smaller than those from one. My results do not support the prevailing view that differences in the size or genetic diversity of pollen loads on stigmas allow selection for superior offspring. These negative results should be interpreted cautiously, however, because other explanations could account for a lack of treatment effects.
Underlying physiological control of reproduction in urban and forest-dwelling European blackbirds Turdus merula

The development and the continual expansion of urban areas have not only destroyed natural habitats, but also have drastically changed the environmental and ecological conditions of these areas. Consequently, species that have settled in these new man-made ecosystems are exposed to considerable alternations in environmental conditions compared to their ‘wild’ conspecifics. To understand the impact of human-induced environmental changes on life history events such as reproduction, we compared the timing of the reproductive season and its underlying endocrine control in free-living European blackbirds Turdus merula inhabiting urban and nearby forest areas. Body mass, fat score, gonadal size, luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and estradiol (E2) were measured. Urban blackbirds developed their gonads approximately three weeks earlier than forest birds, whereas the timing of gonadal regression did not differ. There are several factors (e.g. artificial light, temperature, food availability, and social cues) which may have caused the differences in the temporal organization of gonadal growth between the urban and forest-living populations. The advanced gonadal development of urban blackbirds did not coincide with an earlier secretion of reproductive hormones. In contrast, urban males had lower plasma LH and T levels during testicular growth than forest males. Differences in social interactions and environmental conditions may explain the contrast of gonadal development and the timing of hormone secretion between urban and forest blackbirds.
Cued Speech: Evolving Evidence 1968–2018

ABSTRACT The mention of Cued Speech (CS) within the field of deaf education and deaf studies is sure to spark some strong opinions. In this systematic review of the literature, the existing evidence related to the use of CS is examined thematically. While several studies indicate differences between modalities, the purpose of this paper is not to refute any modality, but to give an historical understanding of the research related to CS. In addition, the authors provide a chronicle of the themes related to CS since its inception in the 1960s, illustrating a shift in use over time. Discussion and implications for future research is provided.
Theoretical modeling of airways pressure waveform for dual-controlled ventilation with physiological pattern and linear respiratory mechanics

The present paper describes the theoretical treatment performed for the geometrical optimization of advanced and improved-shape waveforms as airways pressure excitation for controlled breathings in dual-controlled ventilation applied to anaesthetized or severe brain injured patients, the respiratory mechanics of which can be assumed linear. Advanced means insensitive to patient breathing activity as well as to ventilator settings while improved-shape intends in comparison to conventional square waveform for a progressive approaching towards physiological transpulmonary pressure and respiratory airflow waveforms. Such functional features along with the best ventilation control for the specific therapeutic requirements of each patient can be achieved through the implementation of both diagnostic and compensation procedures effectively carried out by the Advance Lung Ventilation System (ALVS) already successfully tested for square waveform as airways pressure excitation. Triangular and trapezoidal waveforms have been considered as airways pressure excitation. The results shows that the latter fits completely the requirements for a physiological pattern of endoalveolar pressure and respiratory airflow waveforms, while the former exhibits a lower physiological behaviour but it is anyhow periodically recommended for performing adequately the powerful diagnostic procedure.
Production of unusual fatty acids in rapeseed

Vegetable-derived oils are of interest for industrial applications partly because of the chemical similarity of plant oils to mineral oils but also because of the economic need to reduce overproduction of seed oils for nutritional use. Complex oils can be produced in seeds as a low cost agricultural product based on renewable solar energy that requires less refining and is biodegradable and thus produces less adverse effects on the environment. In addition, biotechnologies have accelerated selection programmes and increased the genetic diversity available for the development of new varieties of oilseeds with specific fatty acid compositions. In the developing oilseed, energy and carbon are stored as lipid under the form of triacylglycerol, that is, a glycerol molecule to which three fatty acids are esterified. Fatty acids comprise a linear chain of carbon atoms, the first of which carries an organic acid group. The chain length and the presence of double bonds determine the properties of the fatty acid which in turn determine the physical and chemical properties of the oil of storage lipids and hence their economic value. In addition to the common C16- and C18-saturated and unsaturated fatty acids of membrane lipids, the seed storage lipids of many plant species contain unusual fatty acids (UFAs) which can vary in chain length, in the degree of unsaturation, possess double bonds in unusual positions, or can contain additional functional groups such as hydroxy, epoxy, cyclic and acetylenic groups [1]. These unusual fatty acids are of value as industrial feedstocks and their uses include the production of fuels and lubricants, soap and detergents, paints and varnishes, adhesives and plastics (Figure 1).
Sleep Debt Is Not Associated with Mental Health Among School-Age Adolescents: The Gravity of Short Sleep

Background: Previous research on sleep debt has neglected considering sleep duration on weekdays as a contributing factor. Objectives: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between sleep debt and mental health in school-age adolescents, taking weekday sleep deficits under consideration. Methods: We identified 1,392 students who had provided data on sleep duration from the 2016 - 2017 for Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the independent effect of sleep debt on perceived stress or depressive mood. Results: Individuals with poor mental health sleep less on weekdays, resulting in more sleep debt. Final regression models that were adjusted for potential covariates revealed that poor mental health was associated with shortened sleep on weekdays but was not associated with overall sleep debt. Conclusions: Our result suggests that efforts should be made to lengthen sleep on weekdays, not on weekends, to lower stress or depressive mood among adolescents.
Information Technology Issues in Republic of Macedonia

The information technology (IT) industry is recognized as a key sector in the Republic of Macedonia. It demonstrates continuous growth in terms of number of IT companies and employees. We present the key results from our World IT Project of Macedonian IT workers regarding organizational, technological and individual IT issues in this chapter. The most important organizational issues are knowledge management, lack of IT staff, and very high IT employee turnover rate in the Macedonian sample. Business intelligence/analytics and software as a service are also identified among the most important technology and infrastructure issues. Finally, regarding the individual IT employee issues, it should be noted that most of the IT professionals in Macedonia in general are quite satisfied with and they like their current job. Thus, employment in IT industry in Macedonia continues to be very attractive for young people.
Marine research, resources and conservation in the Azores

1 A history of marine research on the Azores is outlined. Until two decades ago most oceanic and littoral marine studies had been carried out by foreign scientists. Studies by Azorean scientists started to increase in the early 1980s when the University of the Azores was created. 2 Ocean circulation in this part of the Atlantic is described as a background for biogeography and diversity. The picture emerges that Azores is a ‚meeting point’ for shallow water marine fauna and flora of different origins. 3 The species composition of one of the best studied groups of organisms, the fish, is compared between locations in the northeastern Atlantic. The work on fish is also compared with other well studied groups (algae and hydroids) to highlight the interest of the Azores as a natural biogeographical experiment. 4 Studies of marine resources began less than two decades ago. The development of demersal fisheries is described focusing on the switch from small-scale artisanal fishing to more commercial fisheries. 5 Conservation of species and legislation in force for molluscs, crustaceans, fishes, marine turtles, seabirds and marine mammals are summarized. 6 Protected marine areas already designated are defined, as well as new areas recommended. 7 The paper concludes with a discussion of current threats and future management strategies.
EFFICACY OF INSECTICIDAL EAR TAGS ON FLY CONTROL AND MILK PRODUCTION OF DAIRY COWS

Twenty Holstein cows were blocked into two groups of 10 cows each to evaluate an insecticidal ear tag (8% fenvalerate) on fly control and milk production. One group received one tag in each ear while the control group remained untagged. Each group was allowed access to an exercise-pasture lot of similar size. Forages were fed in the lots and grain was fed in the barn at milking. Tagging resulted in a 99.9% reduction in horn flies over the 16 wk of the trial. However, other flies (house, stable and face) were not controlled to the same extent. As horn fly numbers decreased the number of the other flies increased on tagged cows. Tagging resulted in an overall increase in milk yield by 1.06 kg/d for the trial but not all weeks of the trial showed significant responses. Milk fat and protein percentages were not different between tagged and control animals. Key words: Diptera, dairy cattle, milk production, fenvalerate, ear tags, fly control
Digestive anatomy of terrestrial Isopoda: Armadillidium vulgare and Armadillidium nasatum

The digestive tract of Armadillidium is essentially a straight tube, and consists of a foregut, a midgut, and a hindgut. The foregut is differentiated into an esophagus and cardiac and pyloric stomach chambers. The triturating mechanism, the gastric mill, is de- rived from the chitinous intima, and is the most conspicuous aspect of the cardiac stomach. The intima of the pyloric stomach forms a strain- ing apparatus. The hindgut is short, and opens by way of a terminal anus. The foregut and the hindgut are histologically similar, their walls consisting of a chitinous intima, a mucosa of columnar epithelium, con- tinuous bands of circular muscle, and scattered bundles of longitudinal muscle. The midgut possesses two pairs of hepatopancreatic caeca, a dorsal longitudinal typhlosole, and a midgut sphincter. The structure of the midgut wall includes a folded chitinous intima, a syncytial mucosa with intraepithelial muscle fibers, and a basement membrane. The mid- gut muscularis forms a segmented checkerboard pattern of spaced inner circular bands and spaced outer longitudinal bands. The hepatopan- creatic caeca are hollow blind tubes composed of large columnar cells with one or two nuclei near their bases and conspicuous vacuoles near their lumen surfaces.
Deep water Exchanges in Bute Inlet, British Columbia

Bute Inlet is a fjord of the British Columbia mainland coast connected to the Strait of Georgia through Sutil Channel. The properties of the waters in the inlet were observed during a series of cruises from June 1972 to June 1974 with the main objective of determining the water exchange below the top 100 m.Vertical longitudinal sections and time-series plots of salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen distributions measured during the 2-yr survey were used to analyze the circulation patterns and renewal processes of the water below 100 m.Inflows of deep water from the Strait of Georgia into Bute occurred frequently during the study period, and took place when the water from the Strait of Georgia above the inlet sill depth was denser than the water in the basin of the inlet. Volumes of some inflows into Bute were estimated, and calculations indicate that inflow speeds could be large enough to be recorded by existing current meters. The renewal of the deep water in Bute Inlet basin appears to be basicall.
Firm Size, Financial Distress, Audit Quality, and Earnings Management of Banking Companies

The era of globalization has stimulated the spirit of competition of companies in an ever-intensifying business race of various sectors. In an attempt to sustain the life of the company, earnings figures are kept positive to attract investors and to elevate the company’s social status. This study aims to examine whether firm size, financial distress, and audit quality are influenced by earnings management. This research is a quantitative study from secondary data. A sample of 12 banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2014–2018 was used in this research. This research also employed descriptive analysis and panel data regression analysis. Results showed that firm size had a significant negative effect on earnings management; financial distress had a significant positive effect on earnings management; whereas audit quality had no significant effect on earnings management. A multitude of issues arising in banking companies involve earnings management behaviour. It is suggested that investors and the public perform a deeper analysis of the companies in which to invest. Companies are also advised against earning management practices harmful to financial statement users.
Changes in the abundance of farmland birds in relation to the timing of agricultural intensification in England and Wales

1. Over the past three decades changes in agricultural management have resulted in increased crop and grass production. This intensification has been accompanied by population declines among farmland bird species and a decline in farmland biodiversity. We have analysed trends in agricultural management in order to quantify the degree of intensification, and have considered how they match change in the farmland bird community. 2. Changes in agriculture through time (1962–95) were examined quantitatively for 31 variables representing crop areas, livestock numbers, fertilizer application, grass production and pesticide use. The majority were highly intercorrelated because factors facilitating intensification simultaneously affected many management activities. 3. Change in agriculture was measured using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). The period 1970–88 saw most intensification, characterized by increases in the area of oilseed rape, autumn-sown cereals, and the use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. Spring-sown cereals, bare fallow and root crops declined. 4. Indices of relative population change between 1962 and 1996 were determined for 29 bird species using data from Common Birds Census (CBC) plots on farmland in England and Wales. Principal components analysis (PCA) described a gradient from species that had declined most to those that had increased. 5. The ordinations of agricultural change and bird population change were broadly matching but with a time lag in the response of birds. The most accurately measured agricultural variables for the period 1974–91 matched the changes in farmland birds more closely. 6. We conclude that large shifts in agricultural management are a plausible explanation for the declines in farmland bird populations. We propose a threshold model relating to critical amounts of high-quality habitat or food resources that may be relevant in explaining the lag in response of birds, and propose it should be taken into account in predicting the effects of future agri-environment schemes. Identifying individual factors responsible for bird declines is not possible without detailed experimental work because many components of intensification are interdependent. Birds may be responding to a suite of interacting factors rather individual aspects of farm management. Holistic conservation strategy that encourages general extensification of farming practices will be most likely to benefit farmland bird communities.
Real-time quantitative PCR assay for measurement of avian telomeres

We present the application of a real-time quantitative PCR assay, previously developed to measure relative telomere length in humans and mice, to two bird species, the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata and the Alpine swift Apus melba. This technique is based on the PCR amplification of telomeric (TTAGGG)n sequences using specific oligonucleotide primers. Relative telomere length is expressed as the ratio (T/S) of telomere repeat copy number (T) to control single gene copy number (S). This method is particularly useful for comparisons of individuals within species, or where the same individuals are followed longitudinally. We used glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a single control gene. In both species, we validated our PCR measurements of relative telomere length against absolute measurements of telomere length determined by the conventional method of quantifying telomere terminal restriction fragment (TRF) lengths using both the traditional Southern blot analysis (Alpine swifts) and in gel hybridization (zebra finches). As found in humans and mice, telomere lengths in the same sample measured by TRF and PCR were well correlated in both the Alpine swift and the zebra finch. Hence, this PCR assay for measurement of bird telomeres, which is fast and requires only small amounts of genomic DNA, should open new avenues in the study of environmental factors influencing variation in telomere length, and how this variation translates into variation in cellular and whole organism senescence.
Glial cell lineage in vivo in the mouse cerebellum

Glial cells of the cerebellum originate from cells of the ventricular germinative layer, but their lineage has not been fully elucidated. For studying the glial cell lineage in vivo by retrovirus‐mediated gene transfer, we introduced a marker retrovirus into the ventricular germinative layer of embryonic day 13 mice. In the resulting adult cerebella, virus‐labeled glial cells were grouped in discrete clusters, and statistical analysis showed that these clusters represented clones in high probability. Of 71 of the virus‐labeled glial clusters, 33 clusters were composed of astrocytes/Bergmann glia, 10 were composed of only white matter astrocytes, and 24 were composed of only oligodendrocytes. No glial clusters contained virus‐labeled neurons. These results suggest that astrocytes/Bergmann glia, white matter astrocytes and oligodendrocytes immediately arise from separate glial precursors: these three glial lineages may diverge in the course of cerebellar development.
The Role of Teacher in Counteracting the Transnational Religious Ideology of Khilafah

This paper elaborates the role of teacher in counteracting the influence of the transnational ideology of Khilafah to high school students which has potentials to give birth to religious radicalism and endanger their nationalism. This qualitative research with ethnographic approach took place at SMA N 1, SMA 2 and SMA N 3 Purwokerto. The reason for choosing Purwokerto as the location of the research because it is a student city with Javanese Banyumasan cultural characteristics. Choosing high school students as the sample is due to their unstable and dynamic personality and their important role in determining the model of religious and national life in Indonesia in the future. Based on the research, 3 (three) conclusions were revealed. First, the pattern of students' religious views in general is moderate. Some students recognize the concept of Khilafah with a relatively minimal understanding of information that does not have implications for their personality in religion and nationality. Secondly, most students are familiar with the concept of khilafah through the internet, social media, and social and scientific interaction. Third, as a form of awareness of the dangers of transnational ideology (such as the ideology of Khilafah), teachers build and foster students’ awareness both through structured learning and the development of religious activities in schools so that they are careful in associating and wise in utilizing the internet and social media thus avoiding the influence of radical religious ideology that endangers nationalism.
New views on primate origins

Most primates live in trees, and many of them have strikingly human‐like hands and faces. Scientists who study primate evolution agree that these two facts must be connected in some way. The details, however, are a matter of debate. Early theories explained the human‐like peculiarities of primates simply as arboreal adaptations. More recent accounts have traced the origins of these peculiarities to more specific ways of arboreal life, involving leaping locomotion, shrub‐layer foraging, visually guided predation on insects, or fruit‐eating.
Roles of Rice GL2-type Homeobox Genes in Epidermis Differentiation

GL2-type genes have been recognized as plant-specific homeobox genes involved in epidermis development. Here we report the isolation and characterization of rice GL2-type homeobox genes. The BLAST searches using the rice genomic database revealed that there are at least nine GL2-type homeobox genes (Rocl-Roc9) in the rice genome. Among them, we have isolated full cDNA clones of five Roc genes, including previously reported Rocl. GL2-type homeodomain proteins have a dimerization motif, consisting of two leucine zipper-like motifs (LZ1 and LZ2) interrupted by a loop, adjacent to the C-terminal part of the homeodomain. The Roc proteins can form both homo- and hetero-dimers through leucine zipper motifs in various combinations. In situ hybridization, RNA gel blot analysis and RT-PCR experiment revealed that the five Roc genes commonly showed an epidermis-specific expression, but partially differed in the temporal expression pattern. These results suggest that the Roc genes can regulate a variety of processes in epidermis differentiation in a combinatorial way.