Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of insect herbivory on the growth and fitness of introduced Verbascum thapsus L.

A majority of the plant species that are introduced into new ranges either do not become established, or become naturalized yet do not attain high densities and are thus considered ecologically and economically unproblematic. The factors that limit these relatively “benign” species are not well studied. The biotic resistance hypothesis predicts that herbivores, pathogens and competition reduce growth and reproduction of individual plants and so suppress population growth of non-native species. We explored the effect of insect herbivory and surrounding vegetation on growth and fitness of the non-native biennial plant Verbascum thapsus (common mullein) in Colorado, USA. Mullein is widespread in its introduced North American range, yet is infrequently considered a management concern because populations are often ephemeral and restricted to disturbed sites. To evaluate the impact of insect herbivores on mullein performance, we reduced herbivory using an insecticide treatment and compared sprayed plants to those exposed to ambient levels of herbivory. Reducing herbivory increased survival from rosette to reproduction by 7%, from 70–77%. Of plants that survived, reducing herbivory increased plant area in the first year and plant height, the length of the reproductive spike, and seed set during the second year. Reducing herbivory also had a marked effect on plant fitness, increasing seed set by 50%, from about 48,000 seeds per plant under ambient herbivory to about 98,000 per plant under reduced herbivory. Our findings also highlight that the relationship between herbivory and performance is complex. Among plants exposed to ambient herbivory, we observed a positive relationship between damage and performance, suggesting that, as predicted by the plant vigor hypothesis, insect herbivores choose the largest plants for feeding when their choice is not restricted by insecticide treatment. In contrast to the strong effects of experimentally reduced herbivory, we found that cover of other plants surrounding our focal plants explained relatively little variation in performance outcomes. Overall, we found that herbivore-induced impacts on individual plant performance and seed set are substantial, and thus may help prevent this naturalized species from becoming dominant in undisturbed recipient communities.
“Third World” Girls: Gender, Childhood and Colonialism

This paper discusses to what extent a view of “third world women” as traditional and oppressed still holds with regard to girls from “developing countries”. For that, we recall the criticisms put forward inside feminist studies and make use of the debates about how childhood has been perceived in gender studies, and then approach the issue of girls from the global South. Next, we try to apprehend how girls from the global South have been represented in the recent academic production in this field and, finally, we present some of the results from our fieldworks in Brazil to exemplify how this standardized outlook hinders the understanding of the complexity of the lives of girls situated within their contexts.
When the We Impacts How I Feel About Myself: Effect of Temporal Collective Relative Deprivation on Personal Well-being in the Context of Dramatic Social Change in Kyrgyzstan

Dramatic social change leads to profound societal transformations in many countries around the world. The two recent revolutions in March 2005 and April 2010, and the ethnic conflict in June 2010 in Kyrgyzstan are vivid examples. The present research aims to understand people's reactions to dramatic social change in terms of personal well-being. To further understand how people react psychologically to dramatic social change, the theoretical framework of our research is based on a dominant theory in social psychology: Collective relative deprivation theory. In the past, researchers have argued that collective relative deprivation is logically associated with collective outcomes, and thus is not likely to impact personal well-being (e.g., Walker & Mann, 1987). Others, however, have argued that feelings of collective relative deprivation do impact personal well-being (e.g., Zagefka & Brown, 2005). We postulate that these inconsistent results arise because past research has failed to consider multiple points of comparison over time to assess collective relative deprivation. Specifically, we theorize that multiple points of collective relative deprivation need to be taken into account, and in so doing, collective relative deprivation will, indeed, be related to personal well-being. We also explore the entire trajectory of collective relative deprivation (which represents how an individual perceives the evolution of his/her group's history across time) to predict personal well-being. In the present study, we tested these theoretical propositions in the context of dramatic social change in Kyrgyzstan. Regressions, group-based trajectory modeling, and MANOVA confirm our hypotheses.
Sustainable use of ethnobotanical resources

The study demonstrates the significance of ethnobotanical resources used for ensuring the food and nutritional security conserved by the tribal women of Chattisgarh state. The study was conducted among the tribal women of Halba, Mandiya, Bhatra and Muriya communities of Jagdalpur-Bastar district, Chhatisgarh. Data pertaining to study were recorded by using the participatory approach. Study revealed that there are more than 20 major ethnobotanical resources prevalent in the tribal community, which is being consumed in the forms of leaves, bulbs, plants and fruits. Few of the ethnic vegetables, like charoti, koliari, siliari, chench, bodi and jheera are mostly available in the rainy season and vary in its consumption percentage on account of extent of availability. Few of these ethnic plants are wild and few are domesticated in the kitchen garden for its conservation and sustainable use. Wild indigenous mushroom species namely, banse, jam and mane chhati are the nutritious source of foods and are available in the month of July-August. These ethnobotanical resources provide nutritional security as well as play a multifunctional role in curing several diseases. These varieties are economically sustainable on account of stable marketing. However, there was variation (15-90%) in the consumption of these ethnic plants depending upon availability and duration. No cost nature, stable source of income, compatibility to culture and local availability are the factors responsible for continuous consumption of the identified ethnic vegetables. Different sociocultural, spiritual and high ethical values attached with these ethnobotanical resources play a pivotal role in its sustainable use and conservation.
Analysis of Raw Material Participation in the Production Process. Part II, Practical Aspects

Companies searching for a key to further development and maintaining an advantage over their competition pay attention to various factors. Some invest in technological innovations, other choose process and organisational structure optimisation, some focus on building an organisational culture promoting effectiveness or search for new market opportunities. This publication will focus on those companies, which build their position among their competitors based on properly imple- mented loss elimination strategy. Therefore, the purpose of this publication (a second part of an on- going cycle) is to analyse the selected products focusing in the participation of raw material purchase cost in the total production cost of a given product. This will allow to propose a strategy in the up- coming part, which will have a measurable effect on lowering the production costs and increasing the value of the production plant. Paper type: Research Paper
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI TINGKAT PARTISIPASI ANGKATAN KERJA WANITA DAERAH TINGKAT I JAWA TIMUR

Perbedaan dalam struktur ekonomi yan[? terjadi dalam proses pembangunan biasanya mempunyai pen[? aruh yang besar terhadap TPAK ( Tingkat Partisipasi Angkatan Kerja) wanila. Dengan penggunaan huruf "U", dimana tingkat pendidikan tertinggi adalah perguruan tinggi dan tingkat pendidikan terendah ada/ah SD hingga SLTP, sehingga dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa semakin tinggi tingkat pendidikan akan dapat memba wa perubahan da/am TPAK ( Tingkat Partisipasi Angkatan Kerja ). Pada tahap­ tahap pertama da/am pembangunan, lapangan kerja di sector pertanian dan sector tradisional lainnya akan berkurang lebih cepat daripada peningkalan lapangan kerja di sector modern. Diramalkan bahwa ha/ ini akan mengurangi kesempatan kerja dan meningkatkan pengangguran tertama dari kalangan wanita. Pada waktu bersamaan, proses pembangunan juga meningkatkan pendapatan keluarga sehingga mengurangi tekanan ekonomi, yang sebelumnya memaha lranita untuk bekerja. Kedua ha/ ini menyababkan wanita cenderung keluar dari angkatan kerja dan menyebabkan TPAK (Tingkat Partisipasi Angkatan Kerja) wanila menurun. Ditinjau dari umur pun ha/ inijuga terjadi yaitu pol a huru.f "U" baik di kola maupun di desa. Umumnya TPAK wanita meningkat pada kelompok umur sebelum meningkat 15 - 19 tahun, 20 - 21 tahun (umur bekerja) 50 51 tahun. Selain itu peningkatan TPAK (Tingkat Partisipasi Angkatan Kerja) wanita dapat terjadi pada periode umur sebelum ke/ahiran anak, kemudian menurun pada masa kelahiran anak dan meningkat lagi pada periode setelah anak-anak menjadi besar. ( Surdarsono , 1998 ).
Phenotypic (assessment of rice Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for genetic variability and varietal diversity under direct seeded condition

The study on variability and diversity of 32 genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under direct seeded condition revealed significant variability at 5% level among the genotypes for all the characters. High level of broad sense heritability was observed for days to 50% flowering (0.986) followed by filled grains (0.8216) and 1000-grain weight (0.7306). Expected genetic advance was highest for yield per hectare (39.639) and filled grains per panicle (51.39). Genetic divergence analysis using Mahalanobisâ€™s D2 statistic grouped the genotypes into 7 clusters. Cluster II had maximum number (16) of genotypes. Maximum inter cluster distance was found between cluster IV and VII (984.82). However, intra cluster distance was maximum in cluster III (363.58). Genotypes from diverse clusters viz.NR 89, PAU 3284, ARIZE SWIFT, RY 248, Varadhan, RYC489, MTU 1010 and RYC 674 could be recommend-ed for inclusion in hybridization programme for breeding under aerobic rice condition.
Contribution of macroporosity to water flux of a soil under different tillage systems

A importância da macroporosidade para o transporte de agua no solo faz a sua avaliacao de forma quantitativa uma tarefa desafiadora. Os valores da condutividade hidraulica (K) do solo em diferentes potenciais de retencao de agua no solo e a quantificacao de macroporos condutores de agua (θM) em diferentes sistemas de preparo do solo proporcionarao melhor compreensao dos efeitos no arranjo de poros e nas propriedades fisico-hidricas do solo. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de um preparo convencional do solo com arado de aivecas (CT), com subsolador (CP) e utilizando um sistema com plantio direto (NT) sobre os atributos θM e K, bem como quantificar a contribuicao da macroporosidade para o fluxo total de agua em um solo franco. Um infiltrometro de tensao no solo foi utilizado para emitir duas pressoes ascendentes de agua (-5 cm e 0 cm) para inferir θM e K, durante o pousio. A macroporosidade foi determinada com base na contribuicao do fluxo entre os potenciais de agua de 0 e -5 cm (K0 e K5, respectivamente), de acordo com a equacao de Hagen-Poiseuille. Os valores da K0 obtidos foram estatisticamente superiores no preparo CT, quando comparados aos valores do NT e do CP. Os valores da K5 nao diferiram estatisticamente entre os tipos de preparo. Os valores medios da K variaram entre 0,20 e 3,70 cm/h. A quantificacao de macroporos condutores de agua (θM) foi significativamente superior para o preparo CT em relacao aos preparos CP e NT, seguindo a mesma tendencia da K0. Nao foram detectadas diferencas significativas dos valores de θM entre os preparos CP e NT. Utilizando o preparo CT, foi possivel a formacao de macroporos condutores de agua com persistencia ate a pos-colheita; ja no preparo CP, os macroporos condutores de agua nao foram persistentes. Os resultados apresentados sustentam a hipotese de que o sistema de preparo do solo escolhido altera o movimento da agua no solo, principalmente, devido a formacao de macroporos condutores de agua. Estudos futuros sobre o efeito do sistema de preparo relacionado ao movimento da agua no solo devem-se concentrar nas condicoes de formacao da macroporosidade do solo.
MODELLING OF PERMEABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL-FLY ASH-BENTONITE CUT-OFF WALL USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHOD

In order to prevent the contamination the groundwater, by restricting the horizontal movement of leachate, cut-off walls were recommended [1]. Currently, one of the factors in designing cut-off walls is to provide efficient and relatively inexpensive means of containing contaminants. In order to obtain acceptable permeability, it was suggested by Baxter [2] to provide a mix of 96% soil and 4% bentonite in the design of cutoff walls, but bentonite is relatively expensive, thus the viability of fly ash as a replacement for bentonite was considered. Soil mixtures were proposed and rigorous laboratory tests were performed to determine the individual properties of the said soil mixtures. Tests for specific gravity, soil index property, relative density, microscopic characterizations, elemental composition and permeability were performed to garner data that were utilized for the Response Surface Method Permeability models. The minimum permeability requirements for the cut-off wall were achieved using various mixtures of soil-bentonite-fly ash.
Runtime Requirements Monitoring Framework for Adaptive e-Learning Systems

As academic learners and companies are turning to e-learning courses to achieve their personal and professional goals, it becomes more and more important to handle service quality in this sector. Despite scientific research conducted to personalize the learning process and meet learner's requirements under adaptive e-learning systems, however, the specification and management of quality attribute is particularly challenging due to problems arising from environmental variability. In our view, a detailed and high-level specification of requirements supported through the whole system lifecycle is needed for a comprehensive management of adaptive e-learning systems, especially in continuously changing environmental conditions. In this paper, we propose a runtime requirements monitoring to check the conformity of adaptive e-learning systems to their requirements and ensure that the activities offered by these learning environments can achieve the desired learning outcomes. As a result, when deviations (i.e., not satisfied requirements) occur, they are identified and then notified during system operation. With our approach, the requirements are supported during the whole system lifecycle. First, we specify system's requirements in the form of a dynamic software product line. This specification applies a novel requirements engineering language that combines goal-driven requirements with features and claims and avoid the enumeration of all desired adaptation strategies (i.e. when an adaptation should be applied) at the design time. Second, the specification is automatically transformed into a constraint satisfaction problem that reduces the requirements monitoring into a constraint program at runtime.
Management of Biostimulant and Silicon in Mineral Nutrition and Quality of Cotton Fiber

Silicon (Si) and biostimulant management have been proposed techniques to reduce the impacts of abiotic stresses and to increase the productivity of several crops, however, there are still few concise results of the management of this crop. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of biostimulant and silicon treatments on isolated or mixed applications on mineral nutrition, yield and fiber quality of two cotton varieties. For this, an experiment was carried out in a randomized block design in the municipality of Luís Eduardo Magalhães-BA, in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, with four replications, in which four biostimulant treatments (control, without application; Si; biostimulant; and Si + biostimulant) were evaluated in two cotton varieties (FM 954GLT and FM 983GLT). The nutrient content of leaves, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, fiber yield, and quality were evaluated, the data collected were submitted to the F test and means were compared by Tukey at 5% probability. At the end of the experiment, it was verified that the management of Si and biostimulants increase the integrity of the cell wall, the association of Si + biostimulant increases the levels of N, Fe and Si foliar and reduces the levels of B and Mn, and do not influence on yield and fiber quality.
Tracking habitat use of a long‐distance migratory bird, the American redstart Setophaga ruticilla, using stable‐carbon isotopes in cellular blood

The successful use of stable isotopes to track migratory animals between different seasons of the annual cycle depends, in part, on the turnover rate of isotopes in sample tissue. We examined whether stable-carbon isotopes in the blood of a long-distance migratory bird, the American redstart Setophaga ruticilla, sampled upon arrival to the temperate breeding grounds could be used to track the quality of habitat used the previous season on the tropical wintering grounds. Stable-carbon isotopes in red-blood cells sampled upon arrival (δ13CRBC) were significantly less negative relative to: 1) plasma sampled upon arrival from the same individuals, 2) red-blood cells of redstarts recaptured more than a month later on the breeding grounds, and 3) nestling feathers grown at the same breeding location. δ13CRBC was also significantly different between sexes, consistent with findings from the wintering grounds where sex-biased habitat use is known to occur. Although individuals likely integrate some isotopic signatures during migration, we provide evidence that cellular blood can be used to track the relative habitat use of migratory birds during the wintering period. Non-destructive methods of sampling stable-isotopes, such as this, are particularly useful because it provides a technique for tracking the patterns of habitat use and/or geographic location of migratory animals. Such approaches allow researchers to understand how events throughout the annual cycle interact to influence population dynamics.
Symmetric homoclinic solutions to the periodic orbits in the Michelson system

The Michelson system (6) x'''+x'+0.5x2 = c2 for the parame- ter value c = 1 is investigated. It was proven in (8) that the system possesses two odd periodic solutions. We shall show that there exist infinitely many homoclinic and heteroclinic connections between them. Moreover, we shall show that the family of homoclinic solutions contains a countable set of odd homoclinic solutions.
Riparo Gaban: the Mesolithic layers

The paper presents the results of the archaeological investigation in the Mesolithic layers at Riparo Gaban, in the Conca of Trento, northem Italy. Riparo Gaban is a small rock-shelter multilayer site, presenting part of a local cultural sequence: Sauveterrian-Castelnovian-Early Neolithic. Similar sites are known from Romagnano III and Pradestel. PAROLE CRIAVE: Mesolitico, Industrie litiche, Faune, Livelli, Riparo Gaban
Ethics education adherence by teacher trainees during teaching practice: a Botswana perspective

This paper presents the results of a survey conducted to find out the extent to which teacher trainees understand and observe professional ethics. It also sought the contribution of the Faculty of Education and secondary schools make in promoting teacher ethics among trainees on teaching practice. Data were gathered from randomly chosen 90 participants as follows: 70 teacher trainees on teaching practice at schools, 10 school teaching practice coordinators and 10 lecturers in the Faculty of Education at the University of Botswana. A predominantly qualitative based empirical approach to data gathering that used an open-ended questionnaire was used. The results show that teacher trainees have a fair understanding of what teacher ethics and teacher professionalism entail. However, this knowledge does not translate into practice. Still teacher trainees indulge in love affairs with their students, which the study reveals. Such teacher behaviour undermines the academic performance of students particularly the girls as they are the most affected by such relations. Male teachers have been reported to be the ones who make advances towards girls more than female teachers to the boys on sexuality matters. Such behaviour by teacher trainees, as the survey suggests, has likely been partly influenced by the absence of an enacted code of ethics that teachers can relate to in their practice which has partly contributed to some teachers to flout professional conduct with impunity. The paper ends by recommending that a code of ethics for teachers is very necessary in order to raise the image of teaching as a vocation and that ethics education should be mandatory to all students of education at the teacher training institutions in Botswana.
LOCAL K-CONVOLUTED C-COSINE FUNCTIONS AND ABSTRACT CAUCHY PROBLEMS

Abstract. Let K be a locally integrable function from [0, T0) into F(=R or C) , and C a bounded linear operator on a Banach space X over F. In this paper, we shall deduce some basic properties of a nondegenerate local K-convoluted C-cosine function on X and some generation theorems of local K-convoluted C-cosine functions on X with or without the nondegeneracy, which can be applied to obtain some equivalence relations between the generation of a nondegenerate local K-convoluted C-cosine function on X with subgenerator A and the unique existence of solutions of the abstract Cauchy problem: u''(t) = Au(t) + f(t) for a.e. t in (0, T0),u(0) = x, u'(0)=y.