Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DENNING ECOLOGY OF Conepatus chinga (CARNIVORA: MEPHITIDAE) IN A GRASSLAND RELICT OF CENTRAL ARGENTINA

In order to investigate the factors affecting den site selection in Conepatus chinga, we identified and characterized 199 (males: n = 108, females: n = 91) dens used by 7 radio-tracked skunks from August 2002 to October 2005 in a protected area of the Argentine Pampas grassland. Skunks frequently reused dens (25.1%), without significant differences between sexes. Although C. chinga are solitary animals, our data indicate that males and females may be able to share dens, presumably in the breeding season. Den sites were not homoge- neously distributed within an animal's home range, being the density in core areas greater than in middle and border regions of home ranges. This study confirmed that C. chinga selects specific habitat characteristics for its den sites and suggests that the access to prey is a major factor in their selection. RESUMEN. Uso y seleccion de madrigueras por parte de Conepatus chinga (Mephitidae) en un relicto de pastizal pampeano del centro de Argentina. Para investigar los factores que afectan la seleccion de madri- gueras de Conepatus chinga, identificamos y caracterizamos 199 (machos: n = 108, hembras: = 91) madrigueras utilizadas por siete zorrinos equipados con radiotransmisores en el periodo comprendido entre agosto de 2002- octubre de 2005, en un area protegida en los pastizales pampeanos de Argentina. Frecuentemente los zorrinos reutilizaron sus madrigueras (25,1%), sin encontrarse diferencias significativas entre ambos sexos. Aunque los zorrinos comunes son considerados animales solitarios nuestros resultados indican que tanto machos como hembras pueden compartir las madrigueras, presumiblemente en la epoca de apareamiento. Las madrigueras no estuvieron homogeneamente distribuidas dentro de las areas de accion de los zorrinos, con mayor densidad en las areas nucleo que en las regiones medias y externas de las areas de accion. Este estudio confirma que C. chinga selecciona habitats especificos para sus madrigueras y sugiere que el acceso a las presas es el principal factor que determina esta seleccion.
Does Kamchatka belong to North America? An extruding Okhotsk block suggested by coastal neotectonics of the Ozernoi Peninsula, Kamchatka, Russia

This paper addresses one part of an outstanding tectonic problem regarding the nature of the plate boundary between Eurasia and North America in northeastern Russia. In this region, the northwestern corner of the Pacific plate interacts either simply with the North American plate, or more complexly with one or more blocks independent of North America. North of this corner, evidence of uplift, tilting, and convergence contradicts the prevailing, simpler model. On the Ozernoi Peninsula, similar to 150 km north of the subducting Pacific plate, marine terraces indicate uplift rates of 0.1 to 0.3 mm/yr, with faster rates to the east. Historic and paleoseismic records provide evidence for recurring tsunamigenic, thrust earthquakes offshore of the Ozernoi Peninsula, the most recent a Mw 7.7 earthquake in 1969. A multiplate model where an eastward-moving Okhotsk block, including most of Kamchatka, is converging with a clockwise- rotating Bering block better explains these observations than does the unbroken North American plate model.
Influence of Thermally Treated and Untreated Lupin Meal on the Indicators of Performance and Health Condition of Broilers

Strakova E. , P. Suchý, L. Steinhauser, T. Krejci, R. Pospisil: Influence of Thermally Treated and Untreated Lupin Meal on the Indicators of Performance and Health Condition of Broilers. Acta Vet. Brno 2008, 77: 431-437. The objective of the study was to test the productive effectiveness of complex feeding mixtures for broiler chickens containing lupin meal thermally treated or untreated and to assess their influence on the utility indicators and health condition of broilers. A total of 161 sexed broiler chickens of Ross 308 type were included in the experimental study. The group of cocks (LNM) and hens (LNF) fed a diet containing 10% untreated lupin meal reached a higher mean weight in comparison with the groups consuming a diet with the content of 10% meal treated by heat (LTM and LTF). The cocks in the LNM group reached a higher live weight (2 680.26 g) on day 42 compared with the cocks in the LTM group (2 591.28 g). A significantly higher weight (p ≤ 0.01) was proven in the hens in the LNF group (2 357.25 g) compared with the hens in the LTF group (2 241.22 g) on day 42. Blood was taken from vena basilica on day 42 in order to perform haematological and biochemical tests. In the native blood, the total numbers of erythrocytes (Er), the haematocrit value (Hc), haemoglobin (Hb), the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) and total leukocytes volume (Le) were determined. The assessed biochemical indicators in blood plasma included the total protein concentration (TP), glucose (Glu), cholesterol (Chol), catalytic concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), plasmatic calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg). The results of haematological and biochemical tests ranged within physiological values. Some differences cannot be associated with the diets tested. The study results suggest the possibility of better utilization of thermally untreated lupin meal (compared with thermally treated lupin meal) for the nutrition of broiler chickens. The results achieved suggest both positive and economic effect (no costs for thermal treatment) in the case of no necessity of thermal treatment of lupin meal, when compared e.g. with soy meal, from the point of view of inactivation of anti-nutritional factors. Chicken feeding, lupin meal, live weight, haematological and biochemical indicators
INFLUENCE OF STEEL FIBRES ON CORROSION OF REINFORCEMENT IN CONCRETE IN CHLORIDE ENVIRONMENTS: A REVIEW

This paper presents various durability aspects of steel-fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Published research results show that due to the limited length of the fibres and the casting conditions, steel fibres embedded in concrete show no corrosion signs despite high chloride concentrations. It was also reported that due to the fibres’ ability to arrest crackwidth propagation, permeability was positively affected for cracked concrete compared with plain concrete. Recent research suggested that some of the fibres might be interconnected and in contact with the ordinary steel reinforcement, forming a galvanic couple where the fibres would act as sacrificial anodes protecting the rebar and reducing or even stopping the corrosion process. Based on reviewed durability properties, it is argued that steel fibres could be used in reinforced concrete (RC) structures exposed to chloride environments to improve their overall durability performance. However, further experimental results supporting this hypothesis are needed.
Erosion and modification of metal surfaces by light and heavy ions

Using molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations erosion and surface modification phenomena of metals subjected to light and heavy ion irradiation have been studied. The phenomena include the formation of craters, the sputtering of clusters, and the formation and rupture of He clusters in W irradiated by non-damaging He ions. The differences in formation of H and He gas-impurity clusters in W have also been examined. A scaling law suggested in the literature for the size of microscopic craters is shown to be inaccurate. The present results reveal that the melting temperature of the bombarded material is on a equal footing with the cohesive energy, pointing out the importance of local melting of the material. The investigations of sputtering of Ag and Au by heavy and energetic ions show that a significant fraction of all ejected atoms are bound in clusters. The size distributions of hot, newborn clusters and those remaining after fragmentation are successfully described by an inverse power law, with exponents for newborn and fragmented clusters not differing dramatically. The present results from the examination of the energetics of H and He clusters in W show that the vastly different experimental depths for these clusters can be successfully explained by a different self-trapping behavior: H atoms do not form stable interstitial pairs in perfect W, but He atoms do. Finally, it is found that continous implantation of 50-200 eV He ions into single-crystalline W results in the spontaneous formation of clusters down to depths of a few tens of Angstroms. Two clear mechanisms for the growth of these clusters are obtained. The results also show that the clusters are able to rupture and eject He atoms, but no associated erosion of W atoms is observed.
USING WOOD AND BONE ASH TO REMOVE METAL IONS FROM SOLUTIONS

In the present work, wood and bone ash were used to remove metal cations from solutions. Cation-removal capacity of the ashes was analyzed by potentiometric titration. It was found that the capacity of wood ash was two times higher (37.3 meq g -1 ) than bone ash (15.2 meq g -1 ). Kinetics of metal ions removal by both ashes was described with pseudo-second order equation and Langmuir model was employed to describe equilibrium of the process. Wood ash had better removal properties than bone ash - at the same experimental conditions biosorption capacity at equilibrium for wood ash was 2 times higher (244 mg g -1 ) than for bone ash (123 mg g -1 ). Promising results were also obtained for wood ash, which was capable of removing 67.9 % of Zn(II) ions, 70.4 % of Cd(II) ions, 92.8 % of Cu(II) ions and 99.1 % of Cr(III) ions from model solution of wastewater from metallurgical industry and 84.5 % of Cr(III) ions from the postbiosorption solution from the production process of biological feed additives. The utilization of ashes of biological origin was found to be a promising alternative to conventional processes of wastewater treatment.
Logistic regression for determining factors influencing students’ perception of reputation of an ODL institution

In today’s competitive higher education environment, an institution needs to be pro-active in generating higher revenue and also to remain ahead of its competitors. There are basically two ways to increase revenue, that is, to increase new intakes and to retain a maximum number of existing students. In the case of the former, one of the best strategies to adopt is to utilise the institution’s own students to attract others to enroll. The strategy will be successful if the students believe very strongly in the reputation of their university. The objective of this study is to determine the satisfaction factors that contribute positively to students’ perception of reputation in OUM, the first ODL institution in Malaysia. The study employs logistic regression technique. Based on a sample of 2,662 students in 2007, the study found that the significant predictors for institution’s reputation were “Teaching and Learning”, “Learner Centredness” and “Student Affairs Management”; the odds ratio indicated that “Teaching and Learning” has the highest impact on the outcome variable, followed by “Learner-Centredness” and “Student Affairs Management”. However, the logistic regression model adopted in this study explained only 19.0% of the variation in the outcome variable, indicating that there is a need to identify other variables in future research in this area. (Authors' abstract)
Quality of Screening Colonoscopy: Learning Technical Skills and Evaluating Competence

Colonoscopy is an essential part of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs since it can diagnose CRC as well as identify and excise precursor lesions before the carcinoma fully develops (Winawer et al., 1993). Although colonoscopy has shown to be effective in decreasing the incidence and mortality of CRC (Kahi et al., 2009), it does not provide total protection against cancer since, in daily practice, a clinically significant number of CRCs and adenomas still go undetected. For example, the proportion of undiagnosed CRC in patients having previously undergone colonoscopy ranges from 2.1%, when the cancer is located in the left colon and the splenic angle, to 5.9% when located in the right colon (Bressler et al., 2007). The proportion of undetected adenomas ranges from 2% for polyps ≥10 mm to 26% for polyps of between 1 and 5 mm (van Rijn, 2006). Consequently, an incidence of interval cancers has been described which ranges from 1.7 to 2.4/1000 person-years of follow-up in patients included in a control program following the excision of one or more adenomas (Pabby et al., 2005). One of the factors which seem to have the most bearing on the number of lesions diagnosed by colonoscopy is the endoscopist him/herself. A difference of up to 20% has been described in the proportion of colonoscopies with at least one adenoma (Chen & Rex, 2007) and of up to 9 times in the proportion of patients with advanced adenomas (Barclay et al., 2006). Other studies confirm these results and suggest that some endoscopists could leave up to half of the adenomas undiagnosed (Rex, 2006b). A number of technical aspects could be responsible for these differences, in particular the ability to reach the cecum and the withdrawal technique (longer explorations, better examination of the proximal mucosa in folds and angles, better management of colon distension and better cleaning of the remains and fluids in the colon) (Rex, 2000). Screening colonoscopy is a special situation which involves an invasive exploration of an asymptomatic subject with the theoretical promise of detecting CRC before it produces symptoms, or of reducing the individual risk of suffering CRC by detecting and excising colorectal adenomas. In this context, where the detection of lesions is crucial, it appears to be essential to have endoscopists with the necessary technical skills. A study carried out recently in the setting of a CRC screening program based on the detection of fecal occult blood showed that the endoscopist was an independent predictive factor in the detection of
“ Hemiptera : Coccoidea ” or “ Hemiptera : Sternorrhyncha : Coccoidea

WHY THE TAXON HOMOPTERA DOES NOT EXIST. Many researchers still use the name Homoptera for the higher taxon of any member of the Sternorrhyncha (Aleyrodoidea, Aphidoidea, Coccoidea and Psylloidea) or Auchenorrhyncha (Cercopoidea, Cicadoidea, Cicadelloidea and Fulgoroidea), or to refer collectively to the Sternorrhyncha plus Auchenorrhyncha. Recent work based on morphological and molecular studies provide phylogenetic evidence that the Homoptera is paraphyletic and therefore its use should be abandoned.
Sexual maturation in male bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock

Since the mid-1970s, study has focused on reproductive biology of female bowhead whales, while little has been described for males. This study evaluates testicular morphology (mass and length) and histology in relation to body length to determine the onset of male sexual maturity. Mean testis mass and mean testis length were highly correlated. Body length and mean testis mass were significantly correlated and an inflection of increased testicular mass occurred at approximately 12.5-13.0m suggesting the onset of puberty, and also indicated by histologic findings. Biological variability and the fact that few male animals have been examined within this critical length cohort do not allow determination of the onset of maturity with higher precision. Too few mature males have been landed in spring to make statistical comparisons of testes mass with autumn-landed animals within specific size cohorts. Two large (15.7m and 17.7m) males landed in spring had relatively small inactive testes and were diagnosed as pseudohermaphrodites; body length and mean testis length and seminiferous tubule diameter (STD) were not correlated with the other ‘normal’ whales. The smallest male confirmed as mature based on the presence of spermatocytes was 12.7m. The largest testes measured (combined mass 203kg) were from a whale landed in autumn. Mean STD for individual whales ranged from 33.3-170.9m and increased with mean testis weight and whale length. The STD is similar within a testis regardless of region evaluated, with minor variability. Some variation was noted for transverse sections within a cross section for some whales but no pattern was evident.
Factors Affecting Location Decisions of the Economic Headliners – Exporters and Foreign-Owned Firms – in China

Foreign-owned firms are frequently viewed as an important source of new capital, access to world markets and employment generation and there exist numerous studies on the determinants of FDI flows and the role of incentives designed to attract FDI. Similarly important for economic growth are exporters, yet the factors that play a role in their location decisions have not been identified. Using a data set of 1,409 firms in China who report, among other things, why they have chosen a particular location, we find that the perceived importance of various site attributes differs considerably for those two types of firms: foreign-owned firms are attracted by the local market size, supply of skilled workers, and the quality of (telecommunications! ) infrastructure; future exporters are driven by low rents, and fewer regulatory requirements and taxes; both types of firms care about the availability of government services.
Macrobenthic community structure in a Brazilian chocked lagoon system under environmental stress

Saquarema-Jacone lagoonal system (SJLS) comprises a sequence of five interconnected shallow brackish lagoons with access to the sea by a single permanent tidal channel. It is a eutrophic system, receiving constant input of organic load from its urbanized catchments. The relationship between several environmental variables and the spatial-temporal distribution of the benthic macrofauna was assessed during four seasonal samplings (dry and wet periods of 2007-2009). Sediment replicates were sampled at seven sites for biological identification and analyzes of organic matter, carbonates, phytopigments, grain size and heavy metals. Salinity, dissolved oxygen and redox potential were measured in situ. SJLS was characterized by sandy bottoms with very reducing conditions. Redox potential significantly discriminated between the dry and wet periods and anoxic conditions were observed in the latter. No significant seasonal differences were observed in the macrofauna. A total of 37 taxa were identified, of which Capitella sp, oligochaetes and Laeonereis culveri (Webster, 1880) were the dominant, representing the early stage of community recovery following dystrophic crises. The faunistic pattern seems to be determined by complex combinations of silt+clay with salinity, organic matter and redox potential. On the other hand, the low concentrations of heavy metals found did not seem to influence the structure and distribution of the biota. SJLS is undergoing persistent environmental stress, dominated by first-order opportunistic species linked to organically enriched sediments.
Determinants of Patients’ Satisfaction at Sunyani Regional Hospital, Ghana

Patient satisfaction is a major determinant of quality health care delivery. Many studies have reported that there is a positive relation between patients’ satisfaction and outcome. This study was aimed at assessing factors associated with patients’ satisfaction at Sunyani Regional Hospital in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data and it was analysed using SPSS (version 16.0). Factor analysis based on principal component extraction using Oblimin with Kaiser Normalization rotation method was employed in assessing the factors that contribute to patients’ satisfaction. The result showed that patients’ satisfaction is influenced by a number of factors such as attitudes of nurses toward patients, the capacity to deliver prompt service without wasting time, ability to disseminate information to patients and the availability of up-to-date equipment. The hospital’s ability to render 24 hour service, response to emergency cases, the patience of the doctor to clearly explain what was wrong with patients before giving treatment, providing patients with detail information about their medication, and attractiveness and cleanliness of the hospital among others constitute some of the factors that determined patients’ satisfaction.
Experimental sand burial affects seedling survivorship, morphologicaltraits, and biomass allocation of Ulmus pumila var. sabulosa in the Horqin Sandy Land, China

Abstract. As a native tree species, Ulmus pumila var. sabulosa (sandy elm) is widely distributed in the Horqin Sandy Land, China. However, seedlings of this species have to withstand various depths of sand burial after emergence because of increasing soil degradation, which is mainly caused by overgrazing, climate change, and wind erosion. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the changes in its survivorship, morphological traits, and biomass allocation when seedlings were buried at different burial depths: unburied controls and seedlings buried vertically up to 33, 67, 100, or 133 % of their initial mean seedling height. The results showed that partial sand burial treatments (i.e., less than 67 % burial) did not reduce seedling survivorship, which still reached 100 %. However, seedling mortality increased when sand burial was equal to or greater than 100 %. In comparison with the control treatment, seedling height and stem diameter increased at least by 6 and 14 % with partial burial, respectively. In the meantime, seedling taproot length, total biomass, and relative mass growth rates were at least enhanced by 10, 15.6, and 27.6 %, respectively, with the partial sand burial treatment. Furthermore, sand burial decreased total leaf area and changed biomass allocation in seedlings, partitioning more biomass to aboveground organs (e.g., leaves) and less to belowground parts (roots). Complete sand burial after seedling emergence inhibited its re-emergence and growth, even leading to death. Our findings indicated that seedlings of sandy elm showed some resistance to partial sand burial and were adapted to sandy environments from an evolutionary perspective. The negative effect of excessive sand burial after seedling emergence might help in understanding failures in recruitments of sparse elm in the study region.
Instability of the Thermohaline Ocean Circulation on Interdecadal Timescales

The stability of three-dimensional thermally driven ocean flows in a single hemispheric sector basin is investigated using techniques of numerical bifurcation theory. Under restoring conditions for the temperature, the flow is stable. However, when forced with the associated heat flux, an interdecadal oscillatory timescale instability appears. This occurs as a Hopf bifurcation when the horizontal mixing coefficient of heat is decreased. The physical mechanism of the oscillation is described by analyzing the potential energy changes of the perturbation flow near the Hopf bifurcation. In the relatively slow phase of the oscillation, a temperature anomaly propagates westward near the northern boundary on a background temperature gradient, thereby changing the perturbation zonal temperature gradient, with corresponding changes in meridional overturning. This is followed by a relatively fast phase in which the zonal overturning reacts to a change in sign of the perturbation meridional temperature gradient. The different responses of zonal and meridional overturning cause a phase difference between the effect of temperature and vertical velocity anomalies on the buoyancy work anomaly, the latter dominating the changes in potential energy. This phase difference eventually controls the timescale of the oscillation.