Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resource partitioning within a tropical seabird community: new information from stable isotopes

Characteristics of the tropical oceanic environment (low productivity, little seasonality) and poor diversity of tropical seabird foraging methods and prey relative to temperate and polar spe- cies suggest that tropical seabirds overall encompass a narrow range of isotopic niches, with large overlaps among species. To test this hypothesis, we examined the stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotopic composition of blood and feathers of 5 seabird species from Europa Island, Mozam- bique Channel. While differences were small, blood δ 13 C and δ 15 N values characterized 5 distinct and non-overlapping trophic niches during the breeding period. Seabirds used 2 distinct foraging areas (δ 13 C), one used by sooty tern Sterna fuscata and white-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus and one used by red-footed booby Sula sula and great Fregata minor and lesser F. ariel frigatebirds. Seabird species overall encompassed less than 1 trophic level (δ 15 N), which is in agreement with a diet mainly based on flying fish and squid. Feather δ 13 C and δ 15 N values showed that the trophic structure of the community was different during the breeding and non-breeding (moulting) periods, suggesting a shift in the feeding ecology when adult birds were no longer central-place foragers. The stable iso- tope method underlined sex-related (red-footed booby) and age-related (great frigatebird immatures and adults) feeding strategies. It also suggested that breeding adults could feed themselves on differ- ent prey than those given to their chicks (sooty tern). Within the tropical pelagic ecosystem, seabirds overall shared the same trophic level as large predatory fishes (albacore, yellowfin and skipjack tunas), but they had lower δ 15 N values than the deeper-dwelling bigeye tuna and swordfish. We con- clude that analyzing stable isotope values in blood and feathers appears to be a promising alternative method for investigating food and feeding ecology of tropical seabirds year round, and for determin- ing sex- and age-related differences in their foraging strategies. A limitation of the method is the lack of information on marine isoscapes; future studies aimed at isotopically characterizing the tropical marine environment could help to associate consumer signatures to geographic origins.
Strong interaction of a turbulent spot with a shock-induced separation bubble

Direct numerical simulations have been conducted to study the passage of a turbulent spot through a shock-induced separation bubble. Localized blowing is used to trip the boundary layer well upstream of the shock impingement, leading to mature turbulent spots at impingement, with a length comparable to the length of the separation zone. Interactions are simulated at free stream Mach numbers of two and four, for isothermal (hot) wall boundary conditions. The core of the spot is seen to tunnel through the separation bubble, leading to a transient reattachment of the flow. Recovery times are long due to the influence of the calmed region behind the spot. The propagation speed of the trailing interface of the spot decreases during the interaction and a substantial increase in the lateral spreading of the spot was observed. A conceptual model based on the growth of the lateral shear layer near the wingtips of the spot is used to explain the change in lateral growth rate.
Alzheimer's Disease Risk Factor Pyk2 Mediates Amyloid-β-Induced Synaptic Dysfunction and Loss

Dozens of genes have been implicated in late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk, but none has a defined mechanism of action in neurons. Here, we show that the risk factor Pyk2 (PTK2B) localizes specifically to neurons in adult brain. Absence of Pyk2 has no major effect on synapse formation or the basal parameters of synaptic transmission in the hippocampal Schaffer collateral pathway. However, the induction of synaptic LTD is suppressed in Pyk2-null slices. In contrast, deletion of Pyk2 expression does not alter LTP under control conditions. Of relevance for AD pathophysiology, Pyk2−/− slices are protected from amyloid-β-oligomer (Aβo)-induced suppression of LTP in hippocampal slices. Acutely, a Pyk2 kinase inhibitor also prevents Aβo-induced suppression of LTP in WT slices. Female and male transgenic AD model mice expressing APPswe/PSEN1ΔE9 require Pyk2 for age-dependent loss of synaptic markers and for impairment of learning and memory. However, absence of Pyk2 does not alter Aβ accumulation or gliosis. Therefore, the Pyk2 risk gene is directly implicated in a neuronal Aβo signaling pathway impairing synaptic anatomy and function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Genetic variation at the Pyk2 (PTK2B) locus is a risk for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the pathophysiological role of Pyk2 is not clear. Here, we studied Pyk2 neuronal function in mice lacking expression with and without transgenes generating amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque pathology. Pyk2 is not required for basal synaptic transmission or LTP, but participates in LTD. Hippocampal slices lacking Pyk2 are protected from AD-related Aβ oligomer suppression of synaptic plasticity. In transgenic AD model mice, deletion of Pyk2 rescues synaptic loss and learning/memory deficits. Therefore, Pyk2 plays a central role in AD-related synaptic dysfunction mediating Aβ-triggered dysfunction.
THE ANALYSIS OF PROPORTIONAL REASONING PROBLEM IN THE INDONESIAN MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOK FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

The lack of Indonesian students achievement in the international assessment is due to several factors. Students are not familiar with the problems requiring reasoning, in particular the proportional reasoning. This research aims to identify the distribution and the Level of Cognitive Demands (LCD) of the proportional reasoning problems found in the Year 7 and Year 8 mathematics textbooks based on the 2013 curriculum (revised edition 2014). The data collection was conducted by identifying the proportional reasoning problems found in the whole chapters of the textbooks which are then analysed and classified using the Smiths and Stein’s criteria of LCD (1998). The results reveal that the proportional reasoning problems were only found in the three of 17 chapters namely ratio and proportion, rectangle and triangle, and Pythagorean Theorem, which represent different LCD including Lower-LCD (Low-M and Low-P) and Higher-LCD (High-P). Out of 69 proportional reasoning problem found in the textbooks, the percentage of higher-LCD problems (n=29 ; 42.03%) is less than lower-LCD (n=40;57.97%). In addition, the higher-LCD problems found were only the high-P type. None was found to meet the requirement of High-DM demanding students to conduct ‘doing mathematics’, complex approach and self-monitoring or self regulation of students’ cognitive process. It is recommended that the proportional reasoning problems, including some High-DM problems, should be provided in each topic in Indonesian mathematics textbooks. DOI : http://dx.doi. org/10.22342/jme.9. 1.4145. 55-68
Precursor Phenomena of Barium Titanate Single Crystals Grown Using a Solid-State Single Crystal Growth Method Studied with Inelastic Brillouin Light Scattering and Birefringence Measurements

The nature of precursor phenomena in the paraelectric phase of ferroelectrics is one of the main questions to be resolved from a fundamental point of view. Barium titanate (BaTiO3) is one of the most representative perovskite-structured ferroelectrics intensively studied until now. The pretransitional behavior of BaTiO3 single crystal grown using a solid-state crystal growth (SSCG) method was investigated for the first time and compared to previous results. There is no melting process in the SSCG method, thus the crystal grown using a SSCG method have inherent higher levels of impurity and defect concentrations, which is a good candidate for investigating the effect of crystal quality on the precursor phenomena. The acoustic, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties, as well as birefringence, of the SSCG-grown BaTiO3 were examined over a wide temperature range. Especially, the acoustic phonon behavior was investigated in terms of Brillouin spectroscopy, which is a complementary technique to Raman spectroscopy. The obtained precursor anomalies of the SSCG-grown BaTiO3 in the cubic phase were similar to those of other single crystals, in particular, of high-quality single crystal grown by top-seeded solution growth method. These results clearly indicate that the observed precursor phenomena are common and intrinsic effect irrespective of the crystal quality.
Factors Influencing the Performance of Family-Controlled Publicly-Listed Firms in Malaysia

While highly concentrated equity ownership of publicly-listed firms is a common phenomenon in most developing capital markets worldwide, the various factors that influence the performance of firms controlled specifically by family blockholders is only partially understood at present. Therefore, we scrutinize the many channels/means by which this distinctive phenomenon manifests itself. On the basis of data covering 84 of the largest Malaysian publicly-listed, familycontrolled firms in 2008, we found that the performance of family-controlled firms are significantly influenced by characteristics such as ethnicity of controlling families (contextspecific), nature of family involvement in firm management and presence of other blockholders.
Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Wild and Domesticated Grey (Francolinus pondicerianus) and Black Partridges (Francolinus francolinus) from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province of Pakistan

Ectoparasites increase birds' morbidity by sucking blood and causing irritation to them hence affect their economic production. In the current study comparative prevalence of ectoparasites was studied in domesticated and wild black (Francolinus francolinus) and grey partridges (Francolinus pondicerianus) from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province of Pakistan. Sixteen species of ectoparasites, including eight lice, four mite, three tick and one flea species, were collected from 88 out of 110 (80%) wild/domesticated black and grey partridges by using standard methods and identified by using taxonomic keys. 53 grey partridges (33 domesticated and 20 wild) were infested by seven lice species (Menopon gallinae, Goniocotes gall, Menacanthus stramineus, Genero columbicola, Lipeurus caponis, Brueelia coquimbana, Coculogaster heterographus), three species of ticks (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes pacificus, Amblyomma maculatum) 2 species of mites (Ornithonyssus syliarum, Dermanyssus gallinae) and a flea species (Pulex irritans). While 57 black partridges (35 domesticated and 22 wild) were infested by 7 species of lices (Coculogaster heterographus, Brueelia coquimbana, Menacanthus stramineus, Genero columbicola, Menopon gallinae, Lipeurus caponis, Goniodes gigas), four species of mites (Tyroglyphus spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus syliarum, Sternostoma tracheacolum), two species of ticks (Ixodes pacificus, Amblyomma americanum) and a flea specie (Pullex irritans).
Influences of hearing-disabled children’s observational skills on their drawings

It is difficult to disagree with the suggestion that visual perceptive ability is the first human sense to compensate for hearing disability. In the literature, there are views that support the notion that when perceptive skills impaired in one of the senses, perceptive skills in other senses tended to be strengthened to compensate the gap in general perception. On the other hand, there are also opposing views claiming that senses work together in orchestration and so an impaired or disabled sense may result in impairment of perceptive skills as a whole at least in a partial way. The limited numbers of studies focusing on visual perception skills of children with hearing disabilities are far from consensus. This current study was inspired by these unclear and confusing views about perceptive skills of hearing-disabled. We can posit the question at this point that ‘May these hearing-disabled children’s visually enforced perceptive skills have influence on their observational drawing abilities? ’
Measuring the quality of service: a case of Chancellor College Library, University of Malawi

This paper discusses the perceptions and expectations of undergraduate students of the quality of service at Chancellor College Library, University of Malawi. A LibQUAL+ instrument was used to assess the students' perceptions and expectations of the quality of service. The minimum expectation of service that the students would accept was also examined. Using a self-administered questionnaire and an interview schedule it was found that Chancellor College Library did not perform well in all the LibQUAL dimensions of service quality namely : affect of service, library as place and information control. Undergraduate students of the Chancellor College had higher expectations of service quality than the perceived quality of service both for desired expectations and minimum expectations leading to negative adequacy and superiority gaps.
Changes in Leaf Characteristics with Tree Age in Dryobalanops beccarii Dyer in a Restored Forest of Sarawak, Malaysia

Study on leaf properties of an endangered dipterocarp tree species, Dryobalanops beccarii, was conducted in a restored forest. The study focused on the morphology, nutrient concentration and gas exchange in well-developed leaves of D. beccarii at different ontogenetic phases. The hypothesis tested that leaf physiological and morphological changes are related to the nutrient concentration level of D. beccarii leaves in each ontogenetic phase. Seedling leaves were small and thin, whereas adult tree leaves were the large and thick. The stomata density per unit was abundant in adult tree leaves as compared to seedlings and saplings leaves. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) was increased from the seedling phase until the sapling phase, but decreased as the D. beccarii reached the mature phase. Scarce stomata density in seedling leaves contributed to low Pn, A and gs, while sapling leaves recorded opposite results due to abundant stomata density accompanied by highest accumulation of nitrogen (N) content per unit leaf area. The low concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) detracted the gas exchange performance. Hence, changes in leaf morphology and physiology of D. beccarii were affected by the differences in resource used at each tree ontogenetic phase.
Opposing cardioprotective actions and parallel hypertrophic effects of δPKC and ɛPKC

Conflicting roles for protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in cardiac disease have been reported. Here, δPKC-selective activator and inhibitor peptides were designed rationally, based on molecular modeling and structural homology analyses. Together with previously identified activator and inhibitor peptides of ɛPKC, δPKC peptides were used to identify cardiac functions of these isozymes. In isolated cardiomyocytes, perfused hearts, and transgenic mice, δPKC and ɛPKC had opposing actions on protection from ischemia-induced damage. Specifically, activation of ɛPKC caused cardioprotection whereas activation of δPKC increased damage induced by ischemia in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, δPKC and ɛPKC caused identical nonpathological cardiac hypertrophy; activation of either isozyme caused nonpathological hypertrophy of the heart. These results demonstrate that two related PKC isozymes have both parallel and opposing effects in the heart, indicating the danger in the use of therapeutics with nonselective isozyme inhibitors and activators. Moreover, reduction in cardiac damage caused by ischemia by perfusion of selective regulator peptides of PKC through the coronary arteries constitutes a major step toward developing a therapeutic agent for acute cardiac ischemia.
Incidence of Antibiotic Resistance of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Isolated from Various Sudanese Fermented Foods

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most increasing problems worldwide that has been created due to the extensive use of antibiotics in both human and animal treatment. This could lead to the transmission of antibiotic resistant strains to the human body through food. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance of LAB of fermented foods (sorghum dough, mish, yoghurt, cucumber pickles, cheese and meat sausage) consumed regularly in Sudan. In this regard, 25 strains of LAB were isolated from six types of Sudanese fermented foods. The isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 8 antibiotics including amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, tetracycline, tobramycin, and vancomycin by standard disk diffusion method. All isolates showed multiple resistances to the antibiotics used, specifically, tobramycin, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. However, the results demonstrated that none of the isolates were totally susceptible to all antibiotics tested. Most of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus isolates were resistant to vancomycin, whereas all Pediococcus isolates were resistant to this antibiotic. All isolates were either susceptible or have weak resistance to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. The study concluded that the tested fermented foods contained LAB that shared multiple resistance to at least three types of antibiotics. Thus, these antibiotic resistances in Sudanese fermented foods are distressing, and hence call should be done to avoid excessive using and/or misusing of antibiotics in non-therapeutic purposes.
Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Safe Drug Disposal System among General Population of India

Thousands of drugs are releasing into the market day by day in order to treat various diseases and to promote the health of growing population of India. But when they no longer needed their disposal become necessary because drug is a chemical and once it expires it will become a toxic agent. The people may have expired drugs, unused or unwanted medicines which may occur as a result of non-adherence, excessive storage of OTC medication or disuse of drugs. The USFDA initiated ‘drug take back programme’ to prevent the entry of these medication into environment. But in India drug take back programmer is not functional. The country is now facing the numerous problems due to improper drug disposal methods such as burning, flushing into toilet and throwing somewhere or into waste-basket which may lead to environmental contamination and pollution, contamination of water supplies and other local sources used by community and wildlife which will results in serious environmental and health hazards like toxicity, accidental poisoning and drug abuse, development of drug resistance problems and even death. Since the drug take back programme is not functional in the developing countries like India several cases of toxicity and accidental exposure are seen day by day. So an online survey was conducted in general population in order to check the knowledge of people regarding safe drug disposal system. From the data, 73% of 214 people are not aware of safe and effective disposal of drugs without causing any harmful effect to nature and public.
Educational Resilience from Parental Perspective

In this study we explored the contribution of parents’ perceptions of their child’s resilience to their assessments of the child’s abilities and academic proficiencies. We examined whether parents’ perceptions of their child’s resilience would predict, independently of the child’s assessed competencies, their appraisals of the child’s respective competencies across a four-year time span. A group of academically and vocationally educated parents (N = 326) evaluated their child’s resiliencies (education-related, persistence, and confidence) when the child was in the fifth grade. The parents also assessed their child’s competencies in various abilities and school subjects. They then repeated these assessments once the child had entered the ninth grade, i.e., at the end of his/her compulsory education. Linear regression analyses indicated that the parents’ perceptions, especially those of their child’s educational resilience, did have significant effects on their assessments of the child’s verbal–cognitive competencies. In addition, the results suggested that perceptions of a child’s resiliencies might be more pertinent for academically educated than for vocationally educated parents. Accordingly, even though parental assessments of their child’s future competencies are closely associated with the respective assessments of his/her current competencies, the perceptions of the child’s educational resilience may function as a separate basis for parents’ appraisals of their child’s competencies.
Estrategia enseñanza-aprendizaje basada en experimentos (ABE) para mejorar la comprensión de gráficas en Cinemática

espanolSe presentan los resultados de la aplicacion de una estrategia de ensenanza basada en experimentos para mejorar la compresion de graficas de cinematica, con estudiantes universitarios. Se trabajo con tres grupos tradicionales (control) y uno experimental (ABE). Se utilizo el test TUG-K para medir el nivel de comprension de las graficas, en pretest y postest. Encontramos que los grupos tradicionales no pudieron eliminar sus ideas erroneas acerca de la interpretacion de las mismas; la ganancia de Hake tiene un promedio de 7% lo que indica que el metodo tradicional no es efectivo para estos casos. Sin embargo, con ABE los estudiantes del grupo experimental pudieron superar diversas deficiencias en la interpretacion de las graficas, pudieron relacionar la pendiente con la velocidad y la aceleracion (segun el tipo de grafico), los modelos matematicos con su interpretacion fisica, asi como el pasar de una representacion grafica a una textual y vic. La ganancia de Hake supera el 40%, el factor de concentracion indica que las respuestas al postest caen las zonas HH y MM indicando un nivel alto para ABE. La prueba de hipotesis muestra que entre los grupos experimental y de control existen diferencias significativas en sus aprendizajes, lo que nos sugiere que la estrategia planteada ofrece mejores resultados que la tradicional. EnglishWe show results about a methodology named experiment-based learning (EBL) in order to improve kinematic-graph comprehension in university students. We worked with three traditional groups and one experimental group (EBL). We used TUG-K test to measure the graph comprehension level in pretest and posttest. WE found that traditional groups could not eliminate their misconception about graph interpretation; Hake gains average was 7% indicating that traditional teaching in not a good instruction for these topics. However, using EBL experimental group could eliminate some misconception about kinematic graph; they could link the slope with the velocity and acceleration (according the graph), the mathematic models with its physics interpretation, such as go from one representation graph to verbal interpretation and vic. For EBL, Hake gain is lager that 40%, concentration factor indicate that posttest result placed in MM and HH zone, and this is a good result for our strategy. Hypothesis test shows that between traditional groups and experimental group there are significant differences in their learning, and this point out that EBL offer better results than traditional instruction.