Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Prey Resource on the Fitness of the Predator, Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Host quality is one of the important factors affecting the life-history traits of predators. Here, we examined the development and reproductive responses of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) to all life stages (1 st through 5 th instar nymphs (N1-N5) and adult) of the cotton jassid, Amrasca devastans (Dist.) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). C. carnea larvae consumed more N2 than any other A. devastans life stage. Older life stages of the predator displayed higher rates of predation than younger ones. Larvae completed development on each of A. devastans life stages. However, the developmental time from egg hatch to adult eclosion was shortest on N3 and longest on the adult. C. carnea survival to the adult stage was the highest on N3, and lowest on adult A. devastans. Pupal weight (mg) and egg volume (mm 3 ) was lowest on adult A. devastans. Fecundity and egg hatching was highest when females had been reared on N3 A. devastans. The net replacement rate was lowest for the populations reared on N5 and adult A. devastans; these prey regimens also resulted in the lowest intrinsic (rm) and finite (λ) rates of population increase. The mean relative growth rate showed significantly positive correlations with intrinsic (rm) and finite (λ) rates of population increase, while a negative correlation was found with generation doubling time (DT). The results illustrate the potential importance of prey resources (life stage) on C. carnea population growth, and they indicate that C. carnea has considerable potential for the biological control of A. devastans.
The Survival of New Firms: Impact of Idiosyncratic and Environmental Factors

This literature aims at explaining why some firms survive and grow healthy while others stagnate and die 1 . Some researchers mainly focus on the effect of environmental factors upon firm performance and survival. Environmental factors mostly relate to macroeconomic conditions or to industry characteristics such as the stage of development of the market or the degree of industry competition. Some others emphasize the impact of firms’ strategic decisions in order to strengthen their position in the market and guarantee their survival. These decisions concern for example firm size, investment in R&D or in human capital.
Phosphorus supplementation of range cows in the Northern Great Plains.

Low phosphorus (P) levels in Northern Great Plains rangeland forage combined with limited data on the P requirements of range cows (Bos taurus), precipitated 2 studies conducted to compare the performance of P supplemented and no P supplemented (control) beef cows. Phosphorus supplementation levels ranged from 4 to 8 g day-1 depending on estimated P needs at different times of the year. The 2 groups of cows previously had been involved in replacement heifer growing studies, with P treatments established 462 and 402 days, respectively, before initiation of these studies. Winter feed consisted of mixed hay, primarily smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), with corn silage (Zea mays L.) fed only in 1982 and 1983 from calving to the time cows were turned on summer pasture. Summer pastures contained primarily western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Love], needleandthread (Stipa comata Trin. and Rupr.), green needlegrass (S. viridula Trin.), blue grama [Bouteloua Gracilis (H.B.K.) Griffiths] and upland sedges (Carex spp.). The P status of cows used in these studies appeared to be estimated more reliably by forage P than by serum or fecal P. According to P levels in hay and pasture, the diets of control cows were below recommended P levels for about 9 months of the year. However, weight change differences between P supplemented and control cows during the first lactation and gestation periods were gradually lost by the end of the studies. Conception rates of control cows were slightly lower (p<0.08) in the first but not the second study. There were no differences in average calving date or calf birth weights, but P supplementation did increase (p<0.01) calf weaning weights. Cow weight changes, calf weaning weight differences, forage and serum P data, and in the first study conception rate differences indicate that Northern Great Plains forages are marginal to deficient in P for optimal production of beef cows. The most consistent benefit from P supplementation was an increase in calf weaning weights. Data also indicate that energy supplementation for 30 days after calving may increase conception rates.
Information literacy: implications for Mexican and Spanish university students

A growing concern for universities is developing a new educational model in which the student is educated both for future social responsibilities, and where information literacy is viewed as a lifelong learning requirement. Thus, there is a pressing need for empirical analyses to identify the extent to which university students are information‐literate. Therefore, an investigation of university students from two institutions in the USA and Europe was carried out in order to determine how they use their libraries, information and computers. It was found that there were similarities and differences between the two groups of students from the University of Murcia, Spain, and the National University of Mexico.
Halophytes of Chenopodiaceae and Aizoaceae from South-East Coast of India as Potential Sources of Essential Nutrients and Antioxidants

In this study, we assessed the antioxidant efficacy and nutritional value of the halophytic plants in order to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulations. The lyophilized samples of the five tropical halophytes (Chenopodiaceae and Aizoaceae), namely, Salicornia brachiata, Arthrocnemum indicum, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda monoica, and Sesuvium portulacastrum from the southeast coast of India were analyzed for total digestible protein, amino acid and fatty acid composition using spectrophotometric, HPLC and GC methods, respectively. The aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of these samples were studied for its free radical scavenging activity using DPPH. radical scavenging assay and total phenolic content (mg GAE/g) using Folin–Ciocalteu method. Protein content of S. brachiata (4.6 g/100g) and S. maritima (4.0 g/100g) were higher than that of others. A good ratio of essential/ non-essential (E/NE) amino acids in all species (>1.0) indicated them as sources of well balanced and high-quality proteins. High DHA (1.33%) and EPA (1.26%) in S. maritima resulted in having a higher n-3:n-6 ratio (0.24) than in other halophytes (0.09-0.16). The PUFA/ SFA ratio was found to be significantly higher in S. brachiata (1.16) due to high 18:2n-6 (16.9%) and 18:3n-6 (21.9%) (p < 0.05), suggesting its ability to thrive under stress conditions, which was supported by the high phenolic contents (557 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 0.90 mg/mL) of its EtOAc extract. The presence of high titer of amino acids, fatty acids, nutritional antioxidants (phenolics) and free radical quenching potential of these underutilized species indicate their potential towards human health applications.
Inventory of traditional ethno-veterinary practices followed by goat keepers in Uttarakhand

A bench mark survey was conducted to collect the information on common diseases inflicting losses to the goats along with the use of local plants, plants parts and other traditional healthcare practices followed by the goat keepers of Uttarakhand. The results of the study revealed that diarrhoea, pneumonia, gastrointestinal helminthiasis, external parasites, retention of placenta and plant poisoning were very common problems and most of the goat keepers used the traditional medicines to treat these diseases/ ailments. Different plant species and their parts, viz. roots, leaves, bark powder, seeds and oils are used for treatment of these ailments.
Social impact and impoverishment risks of the Koga irrigation scheme, Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

The Koga project is the first new large-scale irrigation scheme in the Blue Nile river basin since the 1970s and may thus serve as an example of the tremendous changes of landscape and livelihood that are accompanying current water development projects in Ethiopia. This article analyzes the impoverishment risks arising out of the development-induced relocation of households in Koga. Following the Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction model, seven of eight impoverishment risks could be identified, namely temporal landlessness, homelessness, joblessness, social marginalization, loss of household assets, social disarticulation and food insecurity, though the majority of relocated households succeeded in moving to other rural areas and did not face the challenges caused by urbanization. The Koga project and the local municipality undertook activities to reverse the impoverishment risk for the relocated households, but focused on the reconstruction of material livelihood assets (land, houses and compensation). The extent of rural-urban migration as a result of the project was underestimated. Proactive activities by the affected households succeeded in reducing their risk of impoverishment if they were informed early enough about the irrigation project.
THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS PRETREATMENT METHODS ON EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH FOR GLUCOSE PRODUCTION

In this study, a pretreatment of empty fruit bunch (EFB) using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2), acid and alkaline were investigated for glucose yield from enzymatic hydrolysis. The chemical composition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of EFB before and after pretreatment were determined. From this study, the chemical composition of EFB (% g/g dry biomass) before pretreatment for cellulose, hemicellulose and Klason lignin were recorded as 36.7%, 22.8%, and 24.2%, respectively. After pretreatment, the highest cellulose composition was obtained from EFB treated with alkaline followed by acid and SC-CO2 which gave the results of 48.5%, 47.7% and 38% respectively. The glucose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis for untreated EFB was 17% (w/w). After pretreatment, the glucose yield increased to 84.4%, 34% and 24% for alkaline, acid and SC-CO2 of the treated EFB, respectively. Other than that, XRD analysis showed increase in the crystallinity index after each pretreatment. Morphology analysis showed the surface of the treated EFB looked swollen and ruptured as compared with the surface of the untreated EFB. Between the three pretreatments, alkaline pretreatment gives the highest cellulose composition and glucose yield. Thus, it shows that alkaline pretreatment was the best pretreatment method on EFB compared to acid and SC-CO2 pretreatments.
Gifted education in Zimbabwe

Abstract Despite making tremendous progress in education since independence to become a leader in literacy in Africa, Zimbabwe lags behind other nations in providing special programming for its gifted children and youths. Not only do gifted and talented students exist in Zimbabwean schools and colleges, giftedness has also been confirmed in research on indigenous cultures. This paper discusses a number of issues characterizing the discourse of gifted education in Zimbabwe. In this discourse, the paper examines indigenous conceptions of giftedness, types of giftedness valued, local beliefs about giftedness, challenges involved in educating gifted students and critical findings in local research on gifted education in Zimbabwe. The paper is informed by a number of studies conducted by this writer and other researchers on gifted education in Zimbabwe. Future directions for gifted education research in Zimbabwe are highlighted.
Instructional Leadership Practices in Secondary Schools of Assosa Zone, Ethiopia

The purpose of the study was to investigate instructional leadership practices in secondary schools of Assosa zone, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia. In order to address the objectives of the study, a cross sectional descriptive survey method was employed. The population of the study were 266 teachers and 12 principals. From this number of population, 141 teachers and 12 principals were used as a sample using simple random and comprehensive sampling techniques respectively. Data collected from respondents was analyzed and interpreted using Percentage, one sample t-test, and weighted mean. The finding revealed that, among instructional leadership functions, instructional leaders’ role in communicating school goals, supervision and evaluation of instruction, monitoring of school progress, protection of instructional time, maintaining high visibility, are promoting professional development seemed to be at a level near to average. Whereas, coordination of the curriculum, providing incentive for teachers, and incentive for students were significantly low performed. Based on findings it is concluded that, instructional leadership practices in the zone seem to be deprived. On top of the findings, recommendations are forwarded to address the weaknesses encountered by the principals in their instructional leadership activities mainly focusing on empowering both principals and schools to foster instructional leadership practices in the secondary schools of the zone.
Miscible displacement in a Hele-Shaw cell at high rates

We study experimentally and theoretically the downward vertical displacement of one miscible fluid by another lighter one in the gap of a Hele-Shaw cell at sufficiently high velocities for diffusive effects to be negligible. Under certain conditions on the viscosity ratio, M, and the normalized flow rate, U, this results in the formation of a two-dimensional tongue of the injected fluid, which is symmetric with respect to the midplane. Thresholds in flow rate and viscosity ratio exist above which the two- dimensional flow destabilizes, giving rise to a three-dimensional pattern. We describe in detail the two-dimensional regime using a kinematic wave theory similar to Yang & Yortsos (1997) and we delineate in the (M, U)-plane three different domains, characterized respectively by the absence of a shock, the presence of an internal shock and the presence of a frontal shock. Theoretical and experimental results are compared and found to be in good agreement for the first two domains, but not for the third domain, where the frontal shock is not of the contact type. An analogous treatment is also applied to the case of axisymmetric displacement in a cylindrical tube.
In Search of the Euro Area Fiscal Stance

This paper investigates the role of fiscal policies over the aggregate EMU business cycle. Previous studies, based on the assumption of non-separability between public and private consumptions, obtain a large public consumption multiplier, a small fraction of non-Ricardian households and, consequently, a relatively small multiplier for public transfers. We provide motivations for assuming separability and, on these grounds, we estimate a relatively large share of non-Ricardian households. As a result, we obtain that both multipliers are large. We also find that, in spite of their potentially strong effects, fiscal policies were substantially muted during the EMU years. This result is confirmed even for the post 2007 period. In fact fiscal policies did not complement the monetary policy stimulus in response to the financial crisis. Further, we cannot detect any substantial aggregate effect of austerity measures. Finally, the post-2007 surge in expenditure-to-GDP ratios was apparently determined by non-policy shocks that reduced output growth.
The Effect of Oral Corrective Feedback on Article Errors in L3 English: Prompts vs. Recasts

This study examines the effect of prompts and recasts in providing CF for the article errors by Kurdish-Arabic bilinguals who learn English as a third language. 39 lower-intermediate Kurdish-Arabic bilingual learners of English were tested on three tests: pre-, post-, and delayed post-tests. The participants were randomly put into three groups: (1) prompt group (n =15), (2) recast group (n = 14), and (3) no feedback group (n = 10). Each group completed 28 dialogues, which included articles in a Forced Choice Elicitation Task (FCET) as a pre-test. The same test was given to the three groups as post- and delayed post-tests. Between the pre-test and the post-test, the prompt and recast groups took a treatment which involved an interactional activity that aimed the FCET, in which the former took CF in the form of prompts, and the latter took it as recasts for their article errors in L3 English.Results showed that all groups were the same in the pre-test. In addition, both the prompt and recast groups were similar in post-test but were significantly better than the group which did not receive any feedback. In delayed post-test, the prompt group significantly outperformed the other two groups. These findings suggest that prompts are more effective than recasts in providing oral feedback over the long term. The error analysis, on the other hand, revealed that among the four contexts of articles, all students had the highest error rate in the [-def, +spec] context in both pre- and post-tests. These were substitution errors rather than omission errors, which shows that the students fluctuated between definiteness and specificity settings. In delayed post-test, the prompt group significantly made fewer errors than the other two groups.
Reply to reviewers' comments

General Comments 1. Application of EPIC model to China The authors explain the lower emissions total from this study as being explained by US and UK emissions factors being applied to China (Sect. 3.2.2). In this study, EPIC is described as simulating “a wide range of vegetative systems, tillage systems, and other crop management practices” (p.750, l.25-6). To what extent are these methods specifically reflective of practices in China (versus the US) since the model was developed by US researchers for application in the US (originally)? Are there sensitivity tests that could be conducted to examine how much parameters that are known to differ between cultures influence the fertilizer applied? What extensions might be added in the future to more accurately represent farming practices in China?
Measurement of longitudinal vibrations of the rollers in a folding machine

In paper folding machines vibrations of rollers and of their segments take place. Thus, it is important to perform measurements of those vibrations and to investigate vibrational processes in those rollers. Measurements are performed by using a laser displacement head of the type “Microtrack LTC 200-100”. Specific positions of rollers and of their segments were pre-selected. Measurements were performed at those positions and the obtained results were processed and investigated. Vibrational effects taking place in rollers and also in their segments during the process of rotation influence the quality of produced printing materials. Plane strain problem is investigated and supplementary stiffness from the static loading caused by centrifugal forces is taken into account. Eigenmodes of longitudinal vibrations are investigated.
Excess Cash Holdings and Shareholder Value

We examine the determinants of corporate cash holdings in Australia and the impact on shareholder wealth of holding excess cash. Our results show that a trade-off model best explains the level of a firm’s cash holdings in Australia. We find that ‘transitory’ excess cash firms earn significantly higher risk-adjusted returns compared to ‘persistent’ excess cash firms, suggesting that the market penalises firms who hoard cash. The marginal value of cash also declines with larger cash balances, and the longer firms hold on to excess cash. The results are consistent with agency costs associated with persistence in excess cash holdings.
Avocado fruit diseases and their control in South Africa

SYNOPSIS The most important pre-harvest fruit disease of avocado at Westfalia Estate was Cercospora spot, caused by Pseudocercospora purpurea. A statistical model, suitable for forecasting the number of conidia released into the orchard's atmosphere, was developed. The model was used to determine critical infection periods, thus facilitating accurate timing of fungicidal sprays. Infections by the fungus taking place early in the growing season resulted in the highest disease incidence. A three-month latent period occurred in the disease cycle. Cercospora spot can be controlled by timely application of benomyl, captafol, Cu-oxychloride and Cu-hydroxide.
Value-relevance of disclosure: risk factors and risk management in Brazilian firms

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether the disclosure in accounting reports of information on risk and its management affects, at the margin, firm valuations in the Brazilian capital market. It questioned the existence of value relevance in the disclosure of information related to risk factors and risk management structures. The importance of the topic arises from the documentation that disclosure on risk factors plays a statistically significant role in valuing firms in a context marked by economic and political uncertainty, as is the case of the Brazilian market. The findings confirmed that information about risk shows informational relevance for firm valuations. Information on risk management in a firm, in turn, was not shown to be significant in terms of affecting company share valuations. The investigation of detailed reports with different risk factors indicated that individualized information shows different degrees of relevance for company valuations. It is inferred that the disclosure of risk factors affects the perception of investors, who also base their estimates of return on the availability and detail of such information. It is also observed that information on risk management structure was not shown to be value relevant; moreover, few firms published information on the establishment of this type of entity in their management structures. The residual income valuation (RIV) model (Ohlson, 1995) was applied using regressions with panel data estimation related to the three years covering 2012 to 2014. The sample, which was randomly delimited, was formed of 100 companies. The data on disclosure of risk and disclosure of risk management were collected from the companies’ Reference Forms, available from the website of the São Paulo Stock, Commodities, and Futures Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA). As an impact on the area of knowledge, broader discussions are expected regarding the utility of disclosure on the topic related to risk factors and the existence of a specific body responsible for risk management in firms, according to investors’ perceptions. It also contributes by providing evidence about the quality of disclosure related to risk (factors and management) and the perception of the capital market regarding the informativeness and relevance of such elements.