Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of defoliation by mopane caterpillars and pruning by African elephants on the regrowth of Colophospermum mopane foliage

Abstract: Plant responses to herbivory vary depending on herbivory type, yet the comparative effects of defoliation (e.g. by insects) and pruning (e.g. by large mammals) on a single tree species are poorly documented. We investigated this in the Northern Province of South Africa by comparing the regrowth of Colophospermum mopane trees previously defoliated by caterpillars or pruned by elephants, the two main browsers of C. mopane foliage. Shoots were up to 160% and 125% longer after natural (elephant) and simulated pruning and leaves ~25% longer in regrowth after natural pruning (n = 13–15 trees per treatment). Shoot density and chemical defences in leaves (tannin:protein ratio and total polyphenolic concentration) were, however, no different from control trees. Simulated defoliation resulted in statistically insignificant changes to regrowth in terms of leaf and shoot size (both slightly decreased) and shoot density (slightly increased). Natural (caterpillar) defoliation, however, resulted in regrowth with significantly decreased shoot and leaf size (about 50% and 20% of control lengths, respectively), as well as decreased leaf chemical defence. Shoot and leaf length were longer on trees flushing for the first time after pruning and late-season defoliation had a greater negative impact than mid-season defoliation. Despite the differences in regrowth characteristics after pruning and defoliation, mopane plants showed no apparent trade-off in investment between tolerance and resistance after either herbivory type, as neither regrowth nor chemical defence occurred at the expense of the other.
A Case of Canine Insulinoma

Kolevska J., R. Husnik, V. Brunclik, V. Mandys, Z. Vernerova, P. Schanilec, L. Barto‰ova, M. Svoboda:A Case of Canine Insulinoma . Acta Vet. Brno 2004, 73: 353-358. The paper reports on a ten-year-old German Shepherd presented with a history of episodic weakness and convulsions after exercise. The patient showed status epilepticus upon presentation. Glucose concentrations repeatedly determined by glucometer were below detection threshold. After intravenous administration of glucose the condition always temporarily improved, however after 1‐2 hours the situation reverted. Insulinoma was diagnosed on the basis of parallel determination of hypoglycaemia (glucose 3.3 mmol⋅l -1 ) and hyperinsulinaemia (2.398 pmol⋅l -1 ). A poor prognosis was stated and the owner decided for euthanasia. Necropsy revealed a tumour of pancreas. Subsequent pathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma.
Students' interpersonal perspectives on, conceptions of and approaches to learning in online peer assessment

The purpose of this study is to qualitatively explore students' interpersonal perspectives (i.e., psychological safety, value diversity, trust and social interdependence ) on, conceptions of and approaches to learning in an online peer assessment activity required for creating digital artistic works. Twenty-three college students in Taiwan volunteered for interview after the assessment activity. This study found that, the more positive interpersonal perspectives (i.e., high psychological safety, low value diversity for goals, trust in self as assessors and positive social interdependence) the students perceived, the higher level of conceptions and approaches (i.e., cohesive conceptions and deep approaches) they held. However, for certain students, high value diversity for criteria and trust in peers as assessors might play a role in their use of deep approaches, but not in their level of conceptions. Accordingly, a model of the associations between students' interpersonal perspectives, conceptions and approaches is proposed.
Innovation and export in SMEs: the role of relationship banking

This paper assesses the role of relationship lending in explaining simultaneously the innovation activity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), their probability to export (i.e. the extensive margin) and their share of exports on total sales conditional on exporting (i.e. the intensive margin). We adopt a measure of informational tightness based on the ratio of firm’s debt with its main bank to firm’s total assets. Our results show that the strength of the bank-firm relation has a positive impact on both SME’s probability to export and their export margins. This positive effect is only marginally mediated by the SME’s increased propensity to introduce product innovation. We further discuss the financial and non-financial channels through which the intensity of bank-firm relationship supports SMEs’ international activities.
Challenges to student engagement and school effectiveness indicators

School systems are increasingly required to report on a range of predetermined indicators designed to measure aspects of student engagement and school effectiveness. However the utility and validity of indicators that form part of the public accountability of schools is rarely questioned. In Victoria, Australia, student perceptions of school engagement (i.e., sense of connection to school, teachers and peers), motivation to learn, self-esteem, and student safety are part of a range of public accountability indicators. This study examined differences between two cohorts of Year 9 female students from socioeconomically low (n1 = 99) and high (n2 = 97) resourced schools on a number of these accountability indicators. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were found between low and high resourced schools on student engagement measures or measures of motivation to learn or self-esteem. The only significant finding was that females from the high-resourced school reported higher levels of student safety (i.e., fewer bullying behaviours) than females from the low-resourced school. The findings from this study raise questions about the suitability of these indicators as measures of student engagement and school effectiveness.
Depression, anxiety symptoms and substance use amongst sex workers attending a non-governmental organisation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: Sex work is a high-risk occupation for mental health problems as sex workers are vulnerable to high rates of violence, sexual coercion, stigma and HIV. Aim: To determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and substance use in sex workers.Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of all men and women attending the Sisonke health initiative, a non-profit non-governmental organisation (NGO), for sex workers was conducted over three months. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ 20), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ 9) and the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST V3.0) were administered. Results: A total of 155 participants were surveyed. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms on the SRQ 20 and PHQ 9 total scores were 78.4% and 80.9% respectively. Some 40% of sex workers reported suicidal ideation in the year preceding the study. High rates of violence (n = 112, 72%) and childhood abuse (n = 107, 69%) were reported. The prevalence of HIV was 76.1%. The lifetime prevalence of substance use for nicotine (87.8%), alcohol (87.8%) and cannabis (87.7%) was high. Despite the high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms reported, only 15 (9.7%) participants were receiving psychiatric treatment at the time of the survey. Conclusions: The high prevalence of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, substance use and co-morbid HIV infection reported by sex workers and the significant treatment gap suggests an urgent need to provide an integrated health service that targets physical and mental health in sex workers.
The agricultural transition and the origins of Neolithic society in Europe

The origin of Neolithic societies and the agricultural transition have been a subject of concentrated attention and a subject of debate and controversy among archaeologist, geneticists and linguists. In my contribution I review and evaluate different archaeological interpretations of the transition to farming. I will also discuss the archaeogenetic evidence and its integration with archaeological data.
Cactus ( Opuntia ficus indica ) extract improves endoplasmic reticulum stress in Drosophila melanogaster

We reported in this paper the requirement of the extract of cactus (Opuntia ficus indica ) for regulating unfolded protein response (UPR) target genes and maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a subcellular organelle where many proteins are synthesized and sorted to various subcellular destinations. Accumulation of unfolded protein in ER can induce a stress. The ER responds to stress by initiating a cascade of events known as the "unfolded protein response" (UPR). The UPR pathway is triggered by sensors located at the ER membrane. Here, we analyzed a branch of the UPR mediated by ire-1/xbp-1 in Drosophila to establish its regulation by aqueous extract from fruits and cladode of cactus "Opuntia ficus indica ". In Drosophila , the Dxbp-1 transcript was submitted to an “unconventional” splicing induced by IRE1 endoribonucease that generated a processed Dxbp-1s transcript encoding a Dxbp-1 protein isoform. The Dxbp-1s is a key regulator in UPR to activate genes involved in folding and degradation to restore ER function. Here, we investigated the interaction between ER stress and bimolecular extract from cactus O. ficus indica which is a xerophyte that play multiple functions in medicine with anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic and antioxidants properties. We showed that the aqueous extract from fruit and cladode of O. ficus indica regulated ER stress mediated by the modulation of the unconventional splicing of mRNA xbp-1 and for transcription of bip RNA. A good correlation was found between ire-1/xbp-1 expression and bip expression.
Variation in Barbell Position Relative to Shoulder and Foot Anatomical Landmarks Alters Movement Efficiency

International Journal of Exercise Science 5(3) : 183-195, 2012. The purpose of this study was to determine if either of the two deadlift starting positions would yield a more efficient movement than the other; (1) the traditional Olympic lifting and deadlift starting position with the barbell over the metatarsalphalangeal joint and under the acromioclavicular joint or (2) an experimental alignment with the bar over the navicular bone and under the most inferior and medial aspect of the scapular spine. This second starting position, developed as a teaching convention, differs from the historical alignment of toes-barbell-shoulder joint and is also proposed to reduce horizontal displacement of the bar thus minimizing the amount of work needed to complete the movement. It was hypothesized that the experimental alignment would produce a more efficient pulling movement compared to a traditional starting alignment. Efficiency was defined as a barbell path approaching linear movement, with larger horizontal displacements being considered less efficient than smaller displacements. Six intermediate level weightlifters, 23.8 ± 1.9 years of age, 164.7 ± 7.9 cm in height, 81.5 ± 31.9 kg in body mass, completed a series of deadlifts under both alignment conditions with 90% of their self-reported 1RM (169.0 ± 58.17 kg). Posterior horizontal barbell displacement was measured by videoanalysis. In the traditional alignment (metatarsalphalangeal-bar-acromioclavicular) displacement was 66.7 ± 12.9 mm and was 37.5 ± 13.7 mm in the experiment alignment (navicular-bar-scapular spine). The noted 43.8% reduction (29.2 mm) in horizontal displacement in the experimental alignment condition was statistically significant (p = 0.0001) and supports the hypothesis in regards to improved lifting efficiency.
BLACKFACE SURVEILLANCE CAMERA DATABASE FOR EVALUATING FACE RECOGNITION IN LOW QUALITY SCENARIOS

1Department of Computer Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. 2,3Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. 4Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. 5Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria. *Corresponding author: 1abayomiallia@funaab.edu. ng, Tel: +2347030672420
Responses of selected biota after biostimulation of a vegetable oil spill in the Con Joubert Bird Sanctuary wetland: A pilot study

An investigation on the effect of a vegetable oil spill was conducted on the biological diversity of the Con Joubert Bird Sanctuary wetland in South Africa before and after biostimulation with different concentrations of fertilizer during 2008. Biostimulation responses were analyzed 30 days after different concentrations of fertilizer were applied to the freshwater wetland at three selected sampling sites. The Con Joubert Bird Sanctuary wetland showed a high degree of contamination after a vegetable oil spill, resulting in a large volume of vegetable oil in the sediment and water column, respectively. Vegetable oil contents differed at each sampling site before biostimulation and each site showed variable responses after biostimulation. In this study, biostimulation results displayed a high yield of microbial activity and vegetable oil degradation at site one and two respectively. However, the degradation of the high vegetable oil concentrations within the sediments at sampling site 3 may have been hampered or retarded by the polymerized state of the vegetable oil. The phytoplankton, protozoan, macroinvertebrates and microorganisms assemblage were affected and showed little improvement at site 3, even after biostimulation with the high fertilizer concentration of 800 g/m2, in comparison to sites 1 and 2 which showed greater biological activities and degradation of vegetable oil. Key words: Biostimulation, vegetable oil spill, fresh water wetland.
A 5-factor risk model for european stocks

The objective of this master thesis is to calculate a five-risk factor model for the European stock market by replicating Fama and French (2015). Consistent with Fama and French (2015) results, this research shows that value, profitability and investment risk factors play an important role in assessing the expected return of an asset. These results shed light on the relation between the risk factors in North America and the risk factors in Europe.
Visuals in Geography Textbooks: Categorization of Types and Assessment of Their Instructional Qualities

The article focuses on the issue of visuals in geography textbooks and their assessment. The issue is explained from the perspective of educational and cognitive psychological theory and the theory of textbooks. The general purpose of the presented research is to develop a research instrument for categorising the types of visuals in geography textbooks and for assessing their instructional qualities – their ness, text relatedness and caption aptness. The investigation was conducted as a content analysis of 963 visuals in five Czech lower secondary human geography textbooks. The research findings showed that in the analyzed textbooks realistic visuals predominate, photographs in particular. Evaluation of relation between the visuals and expository text proved a more or less equal representation of text related visuals and text elaborating visuals. As far as the caption aptness of visuals in geography textbooks is concerned, the most commonly represented ones are identifying captions and extensional captions. The research documented that recommendations of educational and psychological research are not sufficiently reflected in the analysed textbooks which provides opportunities for applied research into this area as well as for textbook production.
A distance-limited sample of massive molecular outflows

We have observed 99 mid-infrared-bright, massive young stellar objects and compact H ii regions drawn from the Red MSX source survey in the J = 3−2 transition of 12CO and 13CO, using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. 89 targets are within 6 kpc of the Sun, covering a representative range of luminosities and core masses. These constitute a relatively unbiased sample of bipolar molecular outflows associated with massive star formation. Of these, 59, 17 and 13 sources (66, 19 and 15 per cent) are found to have outflows, show some evidence of outflow, and have no evidence of outflow, respectively. The time-dependent parameters of the high-velocity molecular flows are calculated using a spatially variable dynamic time-scale. The canonical correlations between the outflow parameters and source luminosity are recovered and shown to scale with those of low-mass sources. For coeval star formation, we find the scaling is consistent with all the protostars in an embedded cluster providing the outflow force, with massive stars up to ∼30 M⊙ generating outflows. Taken at face value, the results support the model of a scaled-up version of the accretion-related outflow-generation mechanism associated with discs and jets in low-mass objects with time-averaged accretion rates of ∼10−3 M⊙ yr−1 on to the cores. However, we also suggest an alternative model, in which the molecular outflow dynamics are dominated by the entrained mass and are unrelated to the details of the acceleration mechanism. We find no evidence that outflows contribute significantly to the turbulent kinetic energy of the surrounding dense cores.
ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS FOR MARKETING CAREERS: GAP ANALYSIS OF EDUCATION AND PROFESSION

This study investigates generic skills, technical abilities and conceptual knowledge required by employers of marketing professionals. The first part of the research is based upon the content analysis of 375 advertisements of marketing jobs. These competencies were classified in two categories i.e. generic skills and technical marketing skills. With regards to generic skills, oral/written communication, leadership and team work has come out as preferred by employers. The Industry knowledge and sales management are the most desirable technical skills that are required by employers. In the second phase 16 marketing executives ranked the competencies they prefer while hiring marketing professionals. Lastly an exploratory study was conducted to find out if essential competencies are delivered through curriculum of marketing or not. ‘Industry specific knowledge’ and forecasting and budgeting are two areas that are not sufficiently covered by the marketing curriculum.
Comparing normative influences as determinants of environmentally conscious behaviours between the USA and Japan

The present study explored the influences of subjective and descriptive norms on environmentally conscious behaviours between the USA and Japan. It was predicted that subjective norms would have a larger effect on behaviour in Japan than in the USA. Descriptive norms were expected to have a greater influence on behaviour in the USA. The survey was done with 160 American students and 114 Japanese students. The results showed that subjective norms are relevant only in Japan, but the effect was limited. Alternatively, descriptive norms were a powerful determinant in the USA. It was also found that respondents asserted that they commit environmentally conscious behaviours more frequently than others, regardless of their country. The present research suggests that the role of subjective and descriptive norms may vary between cultures, and highlights a necessity for distinguishing between interpersonal and social norms.
An improved retrieval of tropospheric NO 2 from space over polluted regions using an Earth radiance reference

Abstract. A novel tropospheric NO2 DOAS retrieval algorithm optimised for a nadir-viewing satellite instrument imaging polluted areas is proposed in this work. Current satellite DOAS retrievals have relied on using a solar reference spectrum to derive a total slant column, then using either model assimilation or spatial filtering to derive the tropospheric component. In the ERrs-DOAS (Earth radiance reference sector DOAS) algorithm, tropospheric NO2 slant columns are derived using spectra averaged from measurements over unpolluted regions, thus removing the need for post-hoc separation techniques, though some residual stratospheric biases may still remain. To validate the ERrs-DOAS algorithm, DOAS retrievals were performed on modelled spectra created by the radiative transfer model SCIATRAN, as well as L1B Earth radiance data measured by the NASA/KNMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). It was found that retrievals using an Earth radiance reference produce spatial distributions of tropospheric NO2 over eastern China during June 2005 that highly correlate with those derived using existing retrieval algorithms. Comparisons with slant columns retrieved by the operational NO2 retrieval algorithm for OMI (OMNO2A) show that the ERrs-DOAS algorithm greatly reduces the presence of artificial across-track biases (stripes) caused by calibration errors, as well as the removal of path length enhancement in off-nadir pixels. Analysis of Pacific SCDs suggests that the algorithm also produces a 27% reduction in retrieval uncertainty, though this may be partially due to biases introduced by differences in the retrieval algorithm settings. The ERrs-DOAS technique also reveals absorption features over the Sahara and similar regions characteristic of sand and liquid H2O absorption, as first discovered in the analysis of GOME-2 NO2 retrievals.
Long-term Life Recovery Processes Among Survivors of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake: 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005 Life Recovery Social Survey Results

This paper summarizes findings from life recovery surveys conducted in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005 among 1995 Kobe earthquake survivors. The 1999 survey (N=915) developed some of the key scales for the project, including life recovery, physical and psychological stress, family relations, and civic-mindedness. The 2001 study (N=1203) integrated 1999 study findings and those from 1999 grassroots assessment of life recovery, from which a seven critical element model of life recovery was constructed. The effects of these seven critical elements on life recovery were empirically tested and validated by general linear model (GLM) analysis. The 2003 (N=1203) and 2005 (N=1028) studies focused both on life recovery outcomes and on intervening life recovery processes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identified causal links among recovery-promotion factors, recovery processes such as event impact stabilization, and event evaluation through community empowerment, and recovery outcomes. Event impact was a process through which impact caused by earthquake damage, loss, and/or stress was alleviated by housing, household finances, and stress management. Through event evaluation, social ties and community rebuilding efforts directly or indirectly facilitated the reframing of earthquake experiences into positive narratives. Research and policy implications of these findings are discussed in the end.
Inflight performance and calibration of the NuSTAR CdZnTe pixel detectors

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) satellite is a NASA Small Explorer mission designed to operate the first focusing high-energy X-ray (3-79 keV) telescope in orbit. Since the launch in June 2012, all the NuSTAR components have been working normally. The focal plane module is equipped with an 155Eu radioactive source to irradiate the CdZnTe pixel detectors for independent calibration separately from optics. The inflight spectral calibration of the CdZnTe detectors is performed with the onboard 155Eu source. The derived detector performance agrees well with ground-measured data. The in-orbit detector background rate is stable and the lowest among past high-energy X-ray instruments.