Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal variation in sediment biochemistry alters larval habitat selection and juvenile performance in the polychaete Capitella sp. I

The aim of the present study was to understand how larvae and juveniles of the oppor- tunistic polychaete Capitella sp. I respond to natural sediments with varying biochemical properties. Muddy sediments of a similar particle size spectrum were collected from 5 sites in Hong Kong along a pollution gradient of domestic sewage on 4 sampling occasions in both wet and dry seasons. The sediments were used to study the influence of organic matter quantity and composition (i.e. total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll a, biopolymeric carbon and enzymatically hydrolysable amino acid contents) on larval metamorphosis (i.e. habitat selection) and juvenile perfor- mance (i.e. growth and survivorship). Organic matter quantity and composition varied with sampling date and site. Still water multiple-choice experiments showed that larval choice at settlement varied with spatial and temporal variations in sediment biochemical properties. A series of experiments in the study also showed that both the quantity and the composition of organic matter affect the attractive- ness of substrates to larvae and appear to play a key role in determining larval behavior at the time of settlement. Further laboratory experiments showed that larvae did not choose to settle on sediments from sites where juvenile growth was poor and mortality was higher. Our field data indicated that both larval metamorphosis and juvenile performance patterns observed in this laboratory study partially corroborate data on the abundance of adult Capitella spp. in the field. Overall, this study suggests that the field distribution of Capitella sp. I, and consequently species composition in a community, could be determined by the habitat selection by larvae and early juvenile performance.
Intake and diet selection by protein supplemented grazing steers.

Nine esophageal-fistulated and 12 rumen-cannulated steers were randomly allotted to 3 equal supplement groups: cottonseed cake (CSC), ground, pelleted alfalfa hay (ALF), or no supplement (CON). Supplements were individually fed at isonitrogenous levels C1.7 kg * hd CSC vs 3.5 kg . hd 1 ALF) every other day. Animals were maintained on treatment from January through April 1983 while grazing blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) rangeland in southcentral New Mexico. Esophageal samples were collected at 2 times during this period: early February and late March; intake was estimated from total fecal collections in late February and early April. Esophageal samples were analyzed in the laboratory for nitrogen (N) components, in vitro digestibility, fiber, and botanical composition. Animal selection for total grass content of the diet was not influenced (P>.10) by supplementation but declined from February to March (31.8% vs. 21.2%, respectively). Blue grama and mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonii) comprised over 66% of the grass component. Total forbs selected was not influenced by supplementation but increased (P .49), type of supplement consumed, or sampling period (P>.90). Total organic matter intake however, differed (P<.05) between treatment groups because of addition of supplements. Results of this study indicate protein supplementation of wintering steers does not influence botanical or chemical composition of their diets or amount of forage consumed. Improved weight gains and reproductive performance of protein supplemented cattle grazing dormant rangelands are well documented (Parker et al. 1974, Langlands and Bowles 1974, Falvey 1977, Adams and Kartchner 1983). Satisfying dietary requirements for nitrogen is a major mechanism involved in improved livestock performance; however, responses primarily limited to intake and digestibility have been noted (Campling 1970, Conrad 1966). RitAt the time of the study authors were graduate assistants, professor, associate professor, range technician and assistant professor, respectively; Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003. Review of the manuscript by Dr. J.L. Holechek was helpful and we appreciate his efforts. Journal Article 1096, N.Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. , Las Cruces, N. Mex. 88003. Manuscript accepted September 13, 1984. tenhouse et al. (1970) reported forage intake increased upon addition of protein supplements to low-quality forage diets (<6% crude protein). However, results of other studies on the effect of supplements on forage intake have been varied (Weston and Hogan 1968, Rittenhouse et al. 1970). Effects of nitrogen supplementation on diet selectivity have not been investigated, although nutritional status has been proposed to influence preference (Heady 1964). The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of 2 protein supplements, cottonseed cake and ground alfalfa pellets, on diet selectivity from the standpoint of botanical and chemical composition and forage intake.
Facilitative Implicit Rules and Adolescent Emotional Regulation

Facilitative Implicit Rules and Adolescent Emotional Regulation Lexie Y. Pfeifer School of Family Life, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Research has linked emotional regulation to the adaptive functioning of adolescents. Further research suggests that family processes, which include implicit rules, impact children’s emotional regulation. The current study examined the impact of implicit rules that are facilitative of family connectedness on development of adolescents’ emotional regulation. Data came from the Flourishing Families Project (FFP), a seven-year longitudinal study measuring family processes that impact adolescent development. The sample was collected in the northwestern United States and consisted of 500 families with a target child between the ages of 10 and 14 years. Participants filled out self-report measures on implicit family rules and emotional regulation. Data was organized in a cohort sequential design and analyzed using latent variable growth curve modeling. Results indicated that there was no statistically significant growth in emotional regulation across the adolescent years. Results further indicated that initial status of facilitative rules did not have a statistically significant effect on growth in emotional regulation. Finally, growth in facilitative rules was found to have a statistically significant impact on growth in emotional regulation. Clinical implications for work with adolescents and families are discussed.
Geographical distribution of hypodermosis (Hypoderma sp.) in Northern Punjab, Pakistan.

Summary The purpose of the present study to determine the geographical distribution of Hypoderma in the Northern Punjab, Pakistan. One thousand cows were examined by palpation method for the presence of warbles in different areas from northern Punjab from August 2010 to February 2011. The overall prevalence was 18.40% with significant differences in the geographical distribution of Hypoderma, when the grazing pattern, Topography, Water Bodies and Village were considered in different geographic areas. The prevalence was higher in hilly and semi-hilly areas as compared to the plane areas.
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Student Justification for or against Evolutionary Theory.

Students accepting evolution are likely to rely on science as cognitive authority (i.e. science textbooks and science teachers). In contrast, those not accepting are likely to rely on religion as cognitive authority (i.e. religious texts and religious leaders). A thematic analysis based on existing quantitative and qualitative studies has been carried out in order to propose a theoretical framework for a range of reasons contributing to students' acceptance and rejection of evolutionary theory . This article urges that instruction of evolution is more than the matter of delivering scientific contents. It also deals with personal worldviews influenced by different forms of cognitive authority. It is therefore important to put more emphasis on developing students’ learning skills to critically evaluate which source of information is scientifically appropriate, with full respect to religious belief of individuals.
Do CEO characteristics affect earnings management? Evidence from France

This study attempts to add to the small body of existing literature relating Chief executive officer characteristics to earnings management. Our research was carried out on 153 French listed companies during 2008. Using discretionary accruals as a proxy for earnings management, we found a significant positive relationship between CEO characteristics and earnings management. This suggests that since reputed CEOs are well compensated, they are more afraid to lose thier compensation level, and their incentive to manipulate their firm’s earnings therefore increases. Findings also indicate that the dual CEO-chair relationship encourages CEOs to manage earnings, particularly when CEO-chairs hold the major proportion of equity in the firm. This finding suggests that CEO-chairs use their managerial power and the freedom from control to extract private yields. Finally, we present new on the relationship between CEO expertise and earnings management, showing that expertise positively affects CEO’s behavior leading to their using agressive earnings management.
Habitat utilization by juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata, Linnaeus, 1766) around a shallow water coral reef

Contemporary studies of sea turtle diving behaviour are generally based upon sophisticated techniques such as the attachment of time depth recorders. However, if the risks of misinterpretation are to be minimized, it is essential that electronic data are analysed in the light of first-hand observations. To this aim, we set out to make observations of juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata, Linnaeus, 1766) foraging and resting in a shallow water coral reef habitat around the granitic Seychelles (4°'S, 55°'E). Data were collected from six study sites characterized by a shallow reef plateau (<5 m) and a flat sandy area at the base of the reef face (<10 m). Observation data were categorized into the following behaviours: (1) stationary foraging; (2) active foraging; (3) resting; and (4) assisted resting. Central to this investigation was the development of a technique for accurately estimating the size of sea turtles in situ based upon previously tested techniques for reef fishes. This revealed that through calibration, the curved carapace length (CCL) of marine turtles can be consistently estimated to within 10 cm of their actual size. Although rudimentary, this has advantages for assessing the residency or absence of specific life history stages from particular environments. Indeed, our data supported previous claims that following the reproductive season, adult hawksbills in the region may move away from the nesting beaches to alternative foraging grounds whilst immature turtles (following the pelagic juvenile stage) may opt to reside in areas close to their natal beaches. With regards to habitat utilization, juvenile hawksbills displayed an alternating pattern of short, shallow foraging dives followed by deeper, longer resting dives. These findings are consistent with previous electronic studies of free-range diving in this species and suggest that the maximization of resting duration may be an important factor driving this behaviour.
The Representation of Social Actors In Interchange Third Edition Series: A Critical Discourse Analysis

This study takes a critical discourse analysis approach to investigate the linguistic representation of male and female social actors and construction of gender identities in the Interchange Third Edition. The analytical models used are van Leeuwen's (1996) framework and Halliday's transitivity model (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004). The findings of this study indicated a differential representation of social actors in that females were portrayed as more prominent, successful, active, independent, expressive and assertive in comparison with males. Generally, it seems that attempts have been made to bring women from margin to the foreground. Moreover, females are associated with high status activities. This challenges traditional values that exclude and demean the value of women in society implying that women are as crucial as men to the community's function.
Plasma treatment of textile fibers

Abstract Low-temperature plasma technologyboth glow discharge under reduced pressure as well as barrier discharge under normal pressureare well established in different industrial applications. Since recently, however, the plasma technology is being introduced in textile industry as well. Fields of application are desizing, functionalizing, and design of surface properties of textile fibers. Plasma technology is suitable to modify the chemical structure as well as the topography of the surface of the material. Examples of natural as well as man-made fibers prove the enormous potential of plasma treatment of textile materials. It has proven to be successful in shrink-resist treatment of wool with a simultaneously positive effect on the dyeing and printing. Not only the chemical structure of the surface is modified using different plasma gases but also the topography of the surface. A highly hydrophobic surface with a particular surface topography in contact with water is extremely dust- and dirt-repellent and hence should be also repellent to bacteria and fungi. Man-made fibers to be used under chemical stress are modified with diffusion-barrier layers on their surfaces without modifying the bulk properties; hence, the stability of those fibers is significantly improved.
Effects of sheep grazing on a spotted knapweed-infested Idaho fescue community.

Spotted knapweed (Centaurea Maculosa Lam.), a Eurasian perennial forb, is replacing many native perennial grasses, such as Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer.), in foothills of the Northern Rocky Mountain region. Our objective was to determine if 3 summers of repeated sheep grazing would reduce spotted knapweed without impacting the dominant, associated native perennial grass. Each summer, small pastures were grazed for 1-7 days in mid-June, mid-July, and early September. Areas repeatedly grazed by sheep had lower densities of seedlings, rosettes, and mature spotted knapweed plants than ungrazed areas. In addition, the proportion of young plants in the population was less in grazed than ungrazed areas. Basal areas of spotted knapweed plants were greater in grazed (8.2 cm2) than ungrazed areas (4.0 cm2). There were fewer spotted knapweed seeds in soil samples from grazed areas (12 seeds m-2) than from ungrazed (49 seeds m-2). Idaho fescue plant density increased 40% in grazed areas from 1991 to 1994, but leaves and flower stems on these plants were 38% and 17% shorter, respectively, than in ungrazed areas. By 1994, frequency of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) was 35% greater in grazed than ungrazed areas. Grazing did not alter the amount of litter; however the amount of bare soil increased from 2.2 to 5.6% in grazed areas, while it decreased from 4 to 1% in ungrazed areas. Three summers of repeated sheep grazing negatively impacted spotted knapweed, but minimally affected the native grass community. A long term commitment to repeated sheep grazing may slow the rate of increase of spotted knapweed in native plant communities.
Evaluation of Two Lactobacillus Strains as Probiotics with EmphasisIn Utilizing Prebiotic Inulin as Energy Source

The aim of this experiment was to examine the capability of two Lactobacillus strains as probiotics with emphasis in utilizing prebiotic inulin as energy source. Lactobacillus casei strain AP and AG were isolated from fecal of Indonesian infant, and had been reported in previous experiments. Characteristics as probiotics was evaluated in vitro based on the ability to grow on media at low pH and the addition up to 1.5% bile salts, the ability to inhibit the growth of Shigella flexnerii , Eschericia coli , Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, the ability to attach gastric mucin, and the ability to consume prebiotic inulin as the only carbon source. Results showed that 80% of cells survived to pH 2.0 for 90 minutes, while survival of these two strains after growing at media supplemented with 1.5% bile salts was more than 70%. These two strains showed the ability to inhibit the growth of Shigella flexnerii, Eschericia coli , Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Further study on the adherence ability showed high level (70%) attachment on gastric mucin. Both strains were also able to grow normally using prebiotic inulin as the only carbon source. It was concluded that Lactobacillus casei strains AP and AG are potential candidates as probiotics and subject to further in vivo assessment.
Physiological and Biochemical Changes in Cucurbita moschata Duch. Ex. Poir Inoculated with a Nigerian Strain of Moroccan Watermelon Mosaic Virus (MWMV): Lagenaria breviflora Isolate

This study was carried out to determine physiological and biochemical changes in C. moschata inoculated with a Nigerian strain of MWMV isolated from Lagenaria breviflora in Calabar, Nigeria. The virus infection resulted in significant (p#0.05) reductions in plant height, leaf area and number of leaves produces with highest percentage difference of 39.3% (42 PID), 60.9% (35 PID) and 25.7% (49 PID), respectively. There was a significant (p#0.05) difference in chlorophyll content between inoculated and healthy plants. The chlorophyll content of inoculated plants at all stages of growth was lower compared with the healthy plants. Chlorophyll b content was higher than Chl a in both inoculated and healthy plants. Chlorophyll a, b and total Chlorophyll were significantly reduced in inoculated plants when compared with the healthy ones. Of the twelve photochemicals screened, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, polyphenols and reducing sugars were present while phlobatanins, anthraquinones and hydroxymethyl anthraquinones were absent. Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus engendered reductions in alkaloids (32.1%), reducing sugars (42.0%), saponins (33.6%), terpenoids (25.0%) and steroids (15.0%) and increase in inoculated samples of glycosides (14.8%) and flavonoids (12.5%). Effect of MWMV on proximate compositions of C. moschata revealed significant p#0.05) reductions in lipid (25.0%) and ash (14.6%) and significant (p$0.05) increases in protein (23.4%) and fibre (10.5%). Effect of the virus on carotene, vitamin A and C were insignificant. Infection of MWMV also led to significant decreases in the contents of K (48%), Fe (28.6%), Zn (25.0%) and Mg (22.0%), while Cu recorded 100% increase in inoculated samples. Marginal increase in Ca and P were recorded in inoculated samples. Infection of MWMV on antioxidants caused significant increase in inoculated samples of hydrocyanic acid and insignificant increases in total and soluble oxalate and phytic acid. Increases recorded in the antioxidant contents in plants inoculated with MWMV resulted in reduced bioavailability of minerals in the vegetable. Reduction in chlorophyll contents in inoculated plants would be a major factor explaining poor growth of host plants with attendant reductions in mineral elements of C. moschata. Changes in physiological and biochemical parameters induced by MWMV altered vital metabolic processes of C. moschata.
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Zingiber officinale and Orthosiphon stamineus on Enterococcus faecalis

This study evaluates the antibacterial effects of Zingiber officinale essential oil and Orthosiphon stamineus water extract against Enterococcus faecalis . The herbs were prepared in various concentrations to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and growth inhibitory effect. Anti-adhesion activities of the herbs were determined by co-incubation with E. faecalis cultures for 6 and 24 h. Biofilm disruption activities were determined by adding the studied herbs into preformed E. faecalis biofilm. The effects on the morphology of E. faecalis grown as biofilm were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MICs of ginger oil and O. stamineus extract were 0.31 and 25 mg/mL, respectively. Between the tested herbs, ginger exhibited greater inhibitory effects on the growth of E. faecalis grown in suspension mode. Both herbs generally showed anti-adhesion activities in inverse concentration-dependent manner. No significant biofilm disruption activities by both herbs were observed. SEM analyses showed E. faecalis cell surface changes in the treated biofilm. The studied herbs may have compromised the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane. These findings suggest that the studied herbs may have better antibacterial activities against E. faecalis in suspension mode compared to biofilm mode, with ginger oil showed greater antibacterial activity compared to O. stamineus extract.
Determinants of the Prevalence of Start-ups

The purpose of this study is to identify key institutional determinants of firm emergence and growth. We do this using various types of data from Sweden. A characterization of a number of institutions and policy measures shows that they are likely to have contributed to an environment that discourages entrepreneurial activity and firm growth. Aspects dealt with include: missing arenas for entrepreneurship in the care sectors and for household-related services, taxation of entrepreneurial income, incentives for wealth accumulation, wage-setting institutions and labor market regulations. Using original data, we provide evidence of a low prevalence of nascent entrepreneurs and a small net employment contribution by high-growth firms. We admit that indisputable evidence for the effects of institutional arrange- ments is almost impossible to establish. However, the con- sistency of our theoretical arguments and empirical data makes a strong case for the notion that the Swedish case illustrates the costs of giving too little weight to economic renewal in policy making.
IDENTIFICATION OF SOME BACILLUS ISOLATES PRODUCING EXO-ENZYMES USING QUANTITATIVE REAL-TIME POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)

The basic goal of this study is the isolation of some Bacillus isolates from different sources for production of bioactive products such as detection of cellulose(s) and pectinase(s) and identification of these isolates using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT PCR) depending on 16S rRNA gene in each isolate. Nine, six and two isolates were obtained from municipal sewage water, composted rice straw and expired pharmaceutical drugs (Capozide), respectively. Out of nine isolates, only four Bacilli (SW2, SW3, SW6 and SW9) were selected and examined for cellulose(s) and pectinase(s) production, and revealed that only SW2 and SW9 exhibited maximum pectate lyase (PL) and polygalacturonase (PGase) viz. 465.55 and 222.53 (U/mg), respectively. Out of six Bacilli isolates (RS1, RS3 and RS5), only RS3 showed maximum productivity of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) viz. 657.21 (U/mg). On the other hand, only one Bacillus isolate out of two was selected ECC2 and exhibited the maximum Avicelase productivity viz. 533.32 (U/mg). TaqMan qRT PCR method was used to detect and quantify the 16S rRNA genes of Bacillus isolates tested. Forward primer Bsub5 F and the reverse primer Bsub3 R were used for the amplification of 16S rRNA of the “Bacillus subtilis group”, it is also successful to demonstrate the most similarities of the Bacillus isolates in this study and they are closely related to “Bacillus subtilis group”.