Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tree growth, wood and bark water content of 28 Amazonian tree species in response to variations in rainfall and wood density

Abstract: Pole diameter and wood density are variables commonly used in allometric equations to estimate tree biomass and carbon stocks in tropical forests. The effect of variations in tree water content on pole diameters is often disregarded in allometric equations. This study aimed to determine the effect of rainfall seasonality on tree growth, stem wood and bark water content and to assess the relationship between water content and wood density (dry mass to fresh mass volume ratio) in 120 trees from 28 species in a terra-firme rain forest in the central Amazon. In 2006, stem wood and bark water content were gravimetrically determined in the dry season (August-September) and rainy season (April-May). In the same year, growth in diameter was measured at monthly intervals in the 120 trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm) with dendrometric bands previously adapted to the tree. Mean wood water content was lower in the dry season than the rainy season. On the contrary, bark water content was higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. Wood densities higher than 0.75 g cm-3 were found in 64.3% of the trees. Trees with denser woods grew slower and had lower stem water content. Monthly rainfall did not affect tree growth in diameter, which was contrary to our initial expectation on the effect of rainfall seasonality on tree growth in central Amazonia. This finding supports the hypothesis that in central Amazonia, the mild dry season is not long enough to deplete soil water beyond the reach of the root system, which allows the trees to grow at quite constant rates over the year.
Nile Perch Export and Welfare around Lake Victoria- Has the boom in exports been positive for welfare?

Alarming voices claim that the increased revenues from the Nile Perch industry in Lake Victoria fail to benefit the local population. This paper aims to investigate the evolution of welfare and income inequality alongside the expansion of the Nile Perch export industry in the regions of Mwanza and Mara, Tanzania, during the past 20 years. We find evidence of a decreased poverty and convergence between rural and urban areas in the regions. However our results also indicate increased income inequality with the fishing villages being especially poor compared to the region. Hence the revenues from the increased exports seem to have benefitted the Lake Victoria region as a whole but failed to benefit the people directly involved in the fishing industry. The unequal distribution of income between different actors is less apparent in the case of the Nile Perch sector as opposed to other fish sectors. This fact suggests that the prevailing poverty in the fishing communities is not mainly caused by the exports but rather due to an unequal organization of the fish industry in general.
A three-stage experimental test of revealed preference

A powerful test of Varian's (1982) generalised axiom of revealed preference (GARP) with two goods requires the consumer's budget line to pass through two demand vectors revealed as chosen given other budget sets. In an experiment using this idea, each of 41 student subjects faced a series of 16 successive grouped portfolio selection problems. Each group of selection problems had up to three stages, where later budget sets depended on that subject's choices at earlier stages in the same group. Only 49% of subjects' choices were observed to satisfy GARP exactly, even by our relatively generous nonparametric test.
Childhood Tuberculosis and its Relation with Nutrition

Introduction: Tuberculosis is the sixth leading cause of mortality in Nepal. Childhood tuberculosis consisted 5.54% of newly registered 32,056 cases in 2016-17. Malnutrition is a predictor of tuberculosis and is associated with poorer outcomes. This study evaluates the clinico-epidemiologic profile of childhood tuberculosis and its relation to nutritional status. Methods: This was a retrospective review of 60 cases of tuberculosis admitted over a period of five years. Details regarding demographics, anthropometry, symptomatology and examination findings were retrieved. Diagnosis was categorized as pulmonary, extra-pulmonary and disseminated tuberculosis. Findings of various investigations were noted. Nutritional status of the patients was assessed using the WHO standard charts. Association of malnutrition and anemia with types and severity of tuberculosis was assessed. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 7.9 years (SD = 4.6). The commonest presenting symptom was fever (83.3%) followed by decreased appetite (33.3%) and weight loss (26.7%). Cough was the predominant symptom in pulmonary tuberculosis (45%). Only eight cases were bacteriologically confirmed. Underweight, wasting and stunting were observed in 68.4%, 63.3% and 53.3% of cases respectively. Wasting was significantly associated with severe forms of tuberculosis (p = 0.03). Anemia was present in 89.5% of under five children (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Malnutrition often co-exists in a significant proportion of children with tuberculosis. Diagnosis in resource limited settings heavily relies on clinical suspicion and supporting investigations. Anemia is significantly associated with childhood TB, especially under five children.
TITLE : Improved serodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis using the new recombinant 2 B 2 t antigen

AUTHORS: Ana Hernández-González, Saúl Santivañez, Héctor H. García, Silvia Rodríguez, Santiago Muñoz, Guillermo Ramos, Antonio Orduña and Mar SilesLucas. AFFILIATIONS: 1 IRNASA, CSIC. Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; 2 Instituto Peruano de Parasitología Clínica y Experimental INPPACE, Lima, Perú; 3 Hospital Clínico de Salamanca, Donante de Sangre s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; 4 Hospital Universitario de Valladolid, Ramón y Cajal, 3, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.
Salinity and depth as structuring factors of cryptic divergence in Moina brachiata (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Microcrustacean taxa in temporary waters are important contributors to aquatic biodiversity on the landscape scale even though much of the diversity at the molecular level is still undiscovered. Cladoceran species other than Daphnia are not frequently targeted in molecular investigations. We used nuclear allozyme polymorphisms as well as DNA sequence variation in mitochondrial 16 S and COI gene regions to reveal patterns of genetic differentiation among populations of a cladoceran species ? Moina brachiata ? that typically inhabits temporary aquatic habitats. Samples originated from 20 temporary to semi-permanent waterbodies in the Hungarian Great Plain of the Pannonian biogeographic region. We observed strong genetic differentiation in the phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated 16 S and COI genes, based on which M. brachiata was found to represent a complex of four cryptic lineages (A, B, C and D) with, however, one of these (lineage D) detected based on only one individual. Regarding the nuclear markers, diagnostic alleles of the PGM and MDH enzyme loci in complete linkage disequilibrium were observed separating the 'B' lineage from the rest. In addition, indirect evidence was provided by the AAT locus, where the AAT1 allele was found to be potentially diagnostic for lineage 'C'. The three phylogenetically defined lineages ('A', 'B', 'C') could be separated from each other along the first canonical axis of a multivariate analysis of occurrence, and this first axis was strongly correlated with depth and salinity of the ponds. There is a strong association between habitat depth and the occurrence of the 'B' lineage. Our results indicate that habitat depth and associated ecological characteristics driven by differences in hydroperiod likely are responsible for the present distribution of the lineages.
A Study on the Level of Awareness of Sustainability Concepts in Construction amongst Students: The Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Experience

Sustainability aims at improving human life while balancing environmental, social and economic needs. It calls for the comfortability of all constituents of the ecosystem. It is therefore a tool that caters for the present and future activities of man. But the activities of man such as construction has proved to be a major impediment to sustainable development because of its impact on the environment which results to degradation. This paper presents and discusses the results of a survey that was conducted among construction students of Nuhu Bamalli Polytecnic, Zaria, with the objective of investigating their awareness regarding the understanding of sustainable construction concepts. The results of the survey shows that a high percentage of the sample population have heard about sustainable construction but just a few have an understanding of the concepts. It is therefore concluded that there is a pressing need for inclusion of sustainable/green design courses in the education of students of the construction industry, with an attention also on the industry stakeholders to reflect these concepts in their designs and construction because students easily model their works during their training process. The paper recommends a curriculum redesign for construction related courses and a government intervention in making policies that ensure that the construction industry stakeholders adhere to sustainable strategies in their practice. Keywords: Construction Industry; Sustainable Construction; Sustainability; Nigeria; Sustainable Development; Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic
Ethnomedicinal Aspects of Plants Used as Spices and Condiments in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria

The ethnomedicinal applications of the plant species used primarily as spices and condiments among the indigenous peoples of the Niger Delta area of Nigeria were examined. A total of 24 species belonging to 10 different families were found to have varying applications in ethnobotany and ethnomedicine. The studies indicate that the indigenous people have also developed different methods for collecting, processing, using and conserving these valuable plants and/or their products. The contributions of this study towards the understanding, documentation and safeguarding of indigenous knowledge and use of plants are discussed.
Histological effects of chlorpyrifos on the reproductive organs of red cotton stainer, Dysdercus koenigii (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

Red cotton stainer is a serious pest of cotton crops. It is found damaging crops in Pakistan, South-eastern Asia and various states of India-Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It occurs on malvaceous (e.g. okra) as well as non-malvaceous (e.g. sweet potato) plants as well. It damages cotton crops either by feeding on the seeds and staining them through their excreta or by transmitting cotton staining fungi. In present study, the effect of chlorpyrifos was studied on the reproductive organs of both the male and female of Dysdercus koenigii to gain information for control of their population. Chlorpyrifos in the concentration 0.005% and 0.01% was given in the feed of D. koenigii and observations were made after 24 hours treatment with insecticide. The ovaries of D. koenigii are of the telotrophic meroistic type in which, a large amount of yolk in the oocytes is localized in the vitellarium. The treated ovaries showed a considerable reduction in the amount of yolk resulting in the vacuolization and resorption of yolk which show greater damage at higher concentration. In testes major changes were found in germ cells especially spermatozoa, which were either assembled in irregular groups or adhered to each other. At high concentration (0·01%) the spermatozoa were found damaged altogether showing irregular clumping and disrupted structure. The degeneration observed in these organs were directly proportional to the concentration of chlorpyrifos used.
The molecular Zeeman effect and diagnostics of solar and stellar magnetic fields: II. Synthetic Stokes profiles in the Zeeman regime

Recent advances in the computation of the Zeeman splitting of molecular lines have paved the way for their use as diagnostics of solar and stellar magnetic fields. A systematic study of their diagnostic capabilities had not been carried out so far, however. Here we investigate how molecular lines can be used to deduce the magnetic and thermal structure of sunspots, starspots and cool stars. First, we briefly describe the Stokes radiative transfer of Zeeman-split molecular lines. Then, we compute Stokes spectra of TiO, OH, CH and FeH lines and investigate their diagnostic capabilities. We also compare the synthetic profiles with observations. Spectra of TiO, OH and FeH are found to be interesting diagnostics of sunspot magnetic fields. This is also true for cool stars, where, however, the OH Stokes V profiles may require very high S/ N data to be reliably employed. Finally we investigate the potential of various molecular bands for high-contrast imaging of the solar surface. The violet CN and CH bands turn out to be most promising for imaging the photosphere, the TiO bands are excellent for imaging sunspot umbrae, while the UV OH band can be used for imaging both the photosphere and sunspots.
Substituted imidazoles as corrosion inhibitors for N80 steel in hydrochloric acid

Three synthesized imidazole derivatives, namely 1-[hydrazinyl(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-1H-imidazole [HMPMI], 1-[hydrazinyl(phenyl)methyl]-1H imidazol [HPMI] and 1-[hydrazinyl(chlorophenyl)methyl]-1H-imidazol [HCPMI] have been used as corrosion inhibitors for N80 steel in 15% HCl using weight loss, electrochemical polarization, AC impedance and SEM techniques. The results show that the inhibition efficiency of all inhibitors increases with the increase in inhibitors concentration. All studied inhibitors act as mixed inhibitors and obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Corrosion inhibition takes place through adsorption phenomenon.
Identification of Cercospora leaf spot resistance among fenugreek accessions and characterization of the pathogen

Cercospora leaf spot is a destructive and widespread disease of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). To identify resistant germplasms and to morphologically characterize the disease pathogen on fenugreek plants, 48 accessions adapted to western Canada were screened by artificially inoculating plants with 1x104 spores ml-1 conidial suspensions of C. traversiana in growth cabinets. Out of these, nine accessions were characterized as resistant (R) or moderately resistant (MR) and the rest were susceptible. A more detailed study with 20 selected (9 resistant and 11 other) accessions using the artificial inoculation method revealed that the accessions were significantly (p = 0.01) different in their reaction to the disease. In the later test only two (L3717 and PI138687) had R and two (L3698 and F86) had MR ratings. An ANOVA for the agronomic traits measured indicated that the interaction effect of accession and treatment (with or without inoculation) was significant and the R or MR rated accessions were less affected by inoculation than the rest. The western Canada adapted accessions recovered from the fungal inoculation and produced a reasonable seed and biomass yield. Although further studies are warranted to verify the findings, the disease symptoms described, the disease effect on agronomic traits observed, and morphology of the pathogen may serve as a reference for future studies involving plant reaction to C. traversiana.
The Language of Toys: Gendered Language in Toy Advertisements

Children are socialized to conform to traditional gender role stereotypes, a developmental process affected by elements of popular culture that associate femininity with passivity, nurturance, and emotional expressivity; and masculinity with power, agency, and aggression. Toys, as one element of popular culture, often reflect these stereotypes through manipulations of design features that signify the gender appropriateness of toy play. Prior research on toys has documented the gender-differentiated use of such overt markers as colors, names, and logos in toy marketing. However, subtler gender markers such as the language used to advertise toys has received little research attention. This is surprising given the evidence of distinctive language styles adopted by females and males that are considered to reflect traditional gender role stereotypes. In this study, the narrative language that accompanied action figures marketed for girls, and action figures marketed for boys was analyzed for the presence of gendered language. It was hypothesized that lexical elements associated with traditional gender role stereotypes would differentiate the narratives as a function of gender. Results showed that female action figure narratives contained more intensive adverbs, more social words, and more adjectival references to physical appearance, fantasy, and triviality, supporting stereotypes of females as emotional, social, and uninvolved with real world concerns. Male narratives contained more second-person plural pronouns, more aggression words, and more adjectival references to power, destructive action, and science and technology, supporting stereotypic masculinity associations to power, aggression, action, and involvement with real-life endeavors. Discussion focuses on potential adverse consequences to children’s psychosocial development that is posed by exposure to gender-polarized toys.
Fatty acid composition of three species of Codium ( Bryopsidales , Chlorophyta ) in Chile Composición de ácidos grasos en tres especies del género Codium ( Bryopsidales , Chlorophyta ) de Chile

The fatty acid compositions of algae show characteristic patterns accoding to species. This paper is the first to identify and compare the main fatty acids of the two endemic Codium species: C. dimorphum and C. fernandezianum found in Chile. In addition the fatty acids of the introduced species C. fragile were investigated. Palmitic acid was shown to be the main fatty acid, comprising between 28 to 54%, followed by oleic and linolenic acids. We also confirm, for the first time, the presence of hexadecatrienoic acid (C16:3) in all three species, which is suggested to be a characteristic fatty acid for Codium genus, so this can be used in chemotaxonomy for these species around the world.
Reef response to sea-level and environmental changes during the last deglaciation: Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 310, Tahiti Sea Level

The last deglaciation is characterized by a rapid sea-level rise and coeval abrupt environmental changes. The Barbados coral reef record suggests that this period has been punctuated by two brief intervals of accelerated melting (meltwater pulses, MWP), occurring at 14.08–13.61 ka and 11.4–11.1 ka (calendar years before present), that are superimposed on a smooth and continuous rise of sea level. Although their timing, magnitude, and even existence have been debated, those catastrophic sea-level rises are thought to have induced distinct reef drowning events. The reef response to sea-level and environmental changes during the last deglacial sea-level rise at Tahiti is reconstructed based on a chronological, sedimentological, and paleobiological study of cores drilled through the relict reef features on the modern forereef slopes during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 310, complemented by results on previous cores drilled through the Papeete reef. Reefs accreted continuously between 16 and 10 ka, mostly through aggradational processes, at growth rates averaging 10 mm yr−1. No cessation of reef growth, even temporary, has been evidenced during this period at Tahiti. Changes in the composition of coralgal assemblages coincide with abrupt variations in reef growth rates and characterize the response of the upward-growing reef pile to nonmonotonous sea-level rise and coeval environmental changes. The sea-level jump during MWP 1A, 16 ± 2 m of magnitude in ∼350 yr, induced the retrogradation of shallow-water coral assemblages, gradual deepening, and incipient reef drowning. The Tahiti reef record does not support the occurrence of an abrupt reef drowning event coinciding with a sea-level pulse of ∼15 m, and implies an apparent rise of 40 mm yr−1 during the time interval corresponding to MWP 1B at Barbados.
Evolution of fractures in a highly dynamic thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical system - (II) Remote sensing fracture analysis, Jabal Shams, Oman Mountains

Extensive, very high quality outcrops on the southern flank of Jabal Shams, Oman Mountains, expose the complex fracture and fault network of an exhumed high-pressure cell. Veins are filled with white calcite in grey host rock, allowing 0.7 meter-resolution mapping based on satellite image interpretation, followed by ground-truthing with detailed field observation in selected areas. From Quickbird and Landsat data, a model was developed using interpreted 562 faults and 145,000 fractures in an area of 31 km2; the area of a typical 3-D seismic survey but with one hundred times higher resolution. Four generations of veins, with strikes of 130°, 000°, 090° and 045°, are overprinted by normal faults with wide cemented damage zones and offsets up to 500 m. Veins are generally a few 10s of meters long, and lack signs of strong mechanical interactions such as curving or abutting. This suggests a restoration of the bulk strength during the formation of the joints, and an anticlockwise rotation of permeability anisotropy during progressive fracturing. The spatial density of all cemented fractures is rather homogenous, but the spatial density within individual joint sets is heterogeneous, suggesting patchy fracturing during the different evolutionary stages. A weak mechanical anisotropy, caused by the veins, affects the nucleation and evolution of the anastomosing normal fault system that overprints the cemented joints.
Nonlinear quantum transport of light in a cold atomic cloud

We outline the non-perturbative theory of multiple scattering of resonant, intense laser light off a dilute cloud of cold atoms. A combination of master equation and diagrammatic techniques allows, for the first time, a quantitative description of nonlinear diffusive transport as well as of coherent backscattering of the injected electromagnetic field, notwithstanding the exponential growth of Hilbert space with the number of atomic scatterers. As an exemplary application, we monitor the laser light's intensity profile within the medium, the spectrum of the backscattered light and the coherent backscattering peak's height with increasing pump intensity. Our theory establishes a general, microscopic, scalable approach to nonlinear transport phenomena in complex quantum materials.