Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Augmentation of Ring Recovery Data with Field Information

1. It is well-known that the Cormack-Seber model (Cormack 1970; Seber 1971) for ring-recovery data from birds ringed as nestlings does not provide unique maximum-likelihood estimates of the parameters without the addition of a constraint. Lakhani & Newton (1983) pointed out that the use of a constraint might yield misleading estimates. Unique estimates do result from the addition of separate information on one of the parameters; Lakhani (1987) suggested the possibility of the survival of first-year birds being based on observed deaths of radio-marked birds. 2. We show here that the estimate of the survival probability for first-year birds, obtained from radio-marked birds alone, may not correspond to the overall maximum-likelihood estimate of this probability. 3. We explain how such a discrepancy may arise, and show that, in this case, one of the other parameters in the model is estimated on a boundary to the parameter space, i.e. is either 0 or 1. 4. A small simulation study is carried out to explore the implications of this finding for the bias of the parameter estimators. We see that if the radio-marking does not affect first-year survival, then the most serious bias is for the survival probability phi(k), where k is the number of years' duration of the ringing study. For other parameters, bias will be lower, and possibly of the order of 10%, though this depends on the size of the radio-tracking study. This bias might well be less than the possibly unknown bias in the absence of any augmentation, as claimed by Lakhani (1987). 5. If radio-marked birds experience a reduced probability of survival then more serious bias may extend to all parameters. In this situation, bias increases as the size of the radio-tracking study increases. 6. When a discrepancy of the kind described in (2) above arises, repeating the radio-tracking experiment is advisable only if survival is not expected to be impaired by radio-marking, and if a large radio-marking experiment may be carried out. 7. Lakhani (1987, 1990) has suggested further improvements to the simple radio-tracking scheme examined here. Morgan & Freeman (1989) have discussed a model with first-year variation in survival rates which allows the estimation of model parameters, without the need of any constraints. The possibility of combining this modelling development with further field information is discussed.
Health Information Seeking Behaviour Among Students in the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

The study investigated the health information-seeking behaviour of students at the Federal University of Technology, Akure in Nigeria. Information resources exploited by university students to meet health information needs were also examined. The study made use of the descriptive survey design, randomly sampling respondents’ opinions on reasons for seeking health information and factors that militate against the effective use of health information. Of 377 respondents, 239 (63.4%) of them were disposed to seeking information on physical fitness or exercise and cold or flu. Newspaper (283 or 75.1%) was identified as respondents’ commonest source of health information. For university students, a major inhibitor of health information seeking outside the library is the high cost of accessing health information for personal use (318 or 84.4%). But within the library, the uncooperative attitude of library personnel (240 or 63.7%) was identified as respondents’ major hindrance in accessing health information in the library. The study recommended adequate provision of health information resources for students’ use and regular library personnel training to improve professional skills required for effective dissemination of health information, particularly to university students. Keywords: information, information need, health information, health information-seeking behaviour, university students, library personnel DOI: 10.7176/JIEA/10-2-03 Publication date: March 31 st 2020
Rheological Study on the Effect of the A5 Subunit on the Gelation Characteristics of Soybean Proteins

In order to clarify the effect of acidic subunit A5 of 11S globulin in soybean protein on gelation characteristics, the gelation process for soymilk was studied by dynamic viscoelastic measurements. It was found that tofu gels prepared from cultivars without the A5 subunit were harder and more solid-like than those prepared from cultivars with the A5 subunit.
Allelic family‐specific humoral responses to merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) in Gabonese residents with Plasmodium falciparum infections

Merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) expressed by Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages has been identified as a promising vaccine candidate. In order to explore allelic family‐specific humoral responses which may be responsible for parasite neutralization during natural infections, isolates from individuals with either asymptomatic infections or uncomplicated malaria and residing in a Central African area where Plasmodium transmission is high and perennial, were analysed using MSP2 as polymorphic marker. The family‐specific antibody responses were assessed by ELISA using MSP2 synthetic peptides. We observed an age‐dependence of P. falciparum infection complexity. The decrease of infection complexity around 15 years of age was observed simultaneously with an increase in the mean number of MSP2 variants recognized. No significant difference in the P. falciparum genetic diversity and infection complexity was found in isolates from asymptomatic subjects and patients with uncomplicated malaria. The longitudinal follow‐up showed a rapid development of immune responses to various regions of MSP2 variants within one week. Comparing humoral responses obtained with the other major antigen on the merozoite surface, MSP1, our findings suggest that different pathways of responsiveness are involved in antibody production to merozoite surface antigens.
STUDIES ON THE EGG STAGE OF DIDYMURIA VIOLESCENS (LEACH) (PHASMATODEA: PHASMATIDAE) INHABITING MOUNTAIN ASH FOREST IN VICTORIA

An account is given on aspects of the egg stage of the spur‐legged phasmatid Didymuria violescens inhabiting mountain ash forest. At 21‐23°C and 45% RH, fertilized egg embryos matured more rapidly than those unfertilized, but most eggs failed to hatch, suggesting that diapause in fully grown embryos (pharate nymphs) is not generally terminated near room temperature. Freshly laid eggs remained healthy under constant high temperatures and associated drying effects for 2 weeks, but desiccated during 4 weeks of exposure.
Direct evidence that symbiotic N2 fixation in fertile grassland is an important trait for a strong response of plants to elevated atmospheric CO2

Although legumes showed a clearly superior yield response to elevated atmospheric pCO2 compared to nonlegumes in a variety of field experiments, the extent to which this is due to symbiotic N2 fixation per se has yet to be determined. Thus, effectively and ineffectively nodulating lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) plants with a very similar genetic background were grown in competition with each other on fertile soil in the Swiss FACE experiment in order to monitor their CO2 response. Under elevated atmospheric pCO2, effectively nodulating lucerne, thus capable of symbiotically fixing N2, strongly increased the harvestable biomass and the N yield, independent of N fertilization. In contrast, the harvestable biomass and N yield of ineffectively nodulating plants were affected negatively by elevated atmospheric pCO2 when N fertilization was low. Large amounts of N fertilizer enabled the plants to respond more favourably to elevated atmospheric pCO2, although not as strongly as effectively nodulating plants. The CO2‐induced increase in N yield of the effectively nodulating plants was attributed solely to an increase in symbiotic N2 fixation of 50–175%, depending on the N fertilization treatment. N yield derived from the uptake of mineral N from the soil was, however, not affected by elevated pCO2. This result demonstrates that, in fertile soil and under temperate climatic conditions, symbiotic N2 fixation per se is responsible for the considerably greater amount of above‐ground biomass and the higher N yield under elevated atmospheric pCO2. This supports the assumption that symbiotic N2 fixation plays a key role in maintaining the C/N balance in terrestrial ecosystems in a CO2‐rich world.
THE ADAPTATION OF CALLUNA VULGARIS (L.) HULL TO CONTRASTING SOIL TYPES

SUMMARY Samples of Calluna vulgaris were collected from several sites of contrasting soil type and the mineral status of plants and soils measured. Differences in the concentrations of several potentially toxic elements in these plants and soils occurred but the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus concentrations, particularly in the plants, were similar. When cuttings of Calluna from each population were grown in all soil types, it was shown that these samples were adapted to the different soils. Two ways in which this species may be adapted to tolerate high concentrations of lead were noted.
Chondrichthyan Occurrence and Abundance Trends in False Bay, South Africa, Spanning a Century of Catch and Survey Records

Commercial fishing in False Bay, South Africa, began in the 1600s. Today chondrichthyans are regularly taken in fisheries throughout the bay. Using a combination of catch, survey and life history data, the occurrence and long-term changes in populations of chondrichthyans in False Bay are described. Analyses of time series data from five fishing methods between 1897 and 2011 provided trends in relative abundance. Of the 37 species found in False Bay, 25 showed no significant trends for any fishing method. Of the 12 species and two genera with catch trends, four showed a common trend across methods, two increasing (Mustelus mustelus and Carcharhinus brachyurus) and two decreasing (Galeorhinus galeus and Raja spp.), while another two species (Triakis megalopterus and Isurus oxyrinchus) showed highly significant declines in one method only. A productivity index was used in conjunction with information on species distribution, catch frequency and trends in abundance to assess the vulnerability of False Bay chondrichthyans. Among the various habitats and depth strata, the surf-zone has been most impacted by exploitation, whereas the conservation of deep-water, soft-sediment species has benefited from the ban on trawling in False Bay implemented in 1928. Continued monitoring using catch data from beach-seine, recreational shore-angling and the commercial linefishery is recommended, along with improved species identification.
Desempenho de tricogramatídeos como potenciais agentes de controle de Pseudoplusia includens Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

This research aimed to point out the most suitable trichogrammatid strains to control the soybean looper Pseudoplusia includes Walker. Biological parameters and parasitism ratio of 11 Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, one Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner and one Trichogrammatoidea annulata De Santis strains reared on P. includens eggs were evaluated. Among all tested strains/species, T. pretiosum strain RV, collected in Rio Verde, GO, had the fastest development cycle and the highest percentage of parasitism of P. includens eggs. There was no difference in the parasitism and in the number of parasitoid emerged per egg among the tested parasitoid species and strains. Accordingly to the cluster analysis, T. pretiosum strain RV reared on P. includens eggs had the best performance. Considering the higher parasitism rate, shorter biological cycle, higher survival and sex ratio, T. pretiosum strain RV is the most appropriated to be used in field releases aiming at P. includens control.
Energy Markets and Global Economic Conditions

Abstract We evaluate alternative indicators of global economic activity and other market fundamentals in terms of their usefulness for forecasting real oil prices and global petroleum consumption. World industrial production is one of the most useful indicators. However, by combining measures from several different sources, we can do even better. Our analysis results in a new index of global economic conditions and measures for assessing future energy demand and oil price pressures. We illustrate their usefulness for quantifying the main factors behind the severe contraction of the global economy and the price risks faced by shale oil producers in early 2020.
Interspecific differences in male vocalizations of three sympatric fur seals ( Arctocephalus spp.)

This study investigated species recognition based on bark calls and full threat calls (FTCs) in three fur seal species, Antarctic Arctocephalus gazella, subantarctic A. tropicalis and New Zealand A. forsteri, that breed sympatrically and hybridize at subantarctic Macquarie Island. Bark calls, which are produced by males in male‐female interactions, were more species-specific than their full threat calls, suggesting that bark calls could be used in species recognition and female mate choice. Further, the bark calls of A. tropicalis were more species-specific than those of A. gazella and A. forsteri, suggesting that divergence of calls between species is a consequence of phylogenetic distance, or has resulted from sexual selection through female mate choice. We believe the latter is more probable as we did not observe similar divergence in the FTCs of males. As such, the highly divergent bark calls of A. tropicalis may have resulted from sexual selection that has promoted pre-mating isolation via the process of reinforcement.
Functions of essential nutrition for high quality spermatogenesis

The process of sperm production is well understood, but the studies of essential nutritional elements which are necessary for successful spermatogenesis are not deeply studied as yet. Our review focuses on integrating available information of various nutritional elements involved in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation and male reproductive system development, such as Zinc, Selenium, Folate, Vitamins and others. Antioxidants protect sperm from further oxidative damage during the entire sperm production. Other nutrients assist to improve sperm quality through different ways. The important roles of macronutrients like lipids, amino acids and proteins are emphasized here. These macronutrients constitute major components of the spermatozoa. Effects of nutritional elements on the development of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, sperm motility and semen quality, capacity of capacitation and fertilization are discussed. A review of these areas will provide researchers with a better understanding of the compulsory participation of these nutrients in male reproductive processes. This review also pointed out gaps in current studies which will require further investigations.
An Eigenmode Correlation‐Based Algorithm for Approaching Antenna Optimal Currents With Multiple Feeds

A feeding algorithm has been proposed for the excitation of the optimal electric current of Rayleigh quotient form optimization problems. Modal weighting coefficients of the corresponding generalized eigenvalue problem are calculated to form the correlation information between the desired and all other unwanted modes. Based on this information, multiple feeds are arranged to approximate the desired current distributions. The eigencurrent distribution is also utilized for some shape modification to the radiator for a possible feed number reduction. Three canonical optimization problems for electrically small antennas, minimum Q, maximum G/Q, and maximum G are studied and discussed. Several numerical examples with a certain arbitrary shape and electrical size are given. With the proposed feeding algorithm, calculated and simulated current distributions and performance indices are close to the theoretical optimum solution. Finally, a practical feeding network design for a classic characteristic mode problem is shown as a validation.
Relaxant Effects of Quercetin and Rutin on Human Isolated Bronchus

Increasing epidemiological evidence supports the view, that quercetin has protective roles in a multitude of disease states in human who have a high intake of polyphenols. To investigate the ability of quercetin and its rutinoside, rutin, to modulate the relaxation of human airways smooth muscle and to determine the mechanism (s) of such relaxation, isolated human bronchus rings were suspended in individual organ baths, precontracted with acetylcholine or with histamine and the relaxing effects of quercetin and rutin were determined by measurement of isometric tension. Quercetin induced concentration-dependent relaxant responses on acetylcholine or histamine precontracted human bronchial rings and with almost equal effectiveness. In terms of potency (pD2) and efficacy (Emax), quercetin is more potent than rutin on relaxant responses of human bronchus. K+ and Ca2+ concentration-dependent contraction curves were inhibited after incubation with increasing concentrations of quercetin. Quercetin potentiated in a concentration-dependent manner the relaxant effects of isoprenaline or sodium nitroprusside. Rutin had no effect on K+-induced contraction and on relaxant activity of isoprenaline or sodium nitroprusside. Our results suggest that the bronchodilator effects of quercetin are modulated by an increase in cyclic nucleotide levels as well as an alteration in availability of Ca2+ to the contractile machinery.
Screening of Indian Plant Extracts for Antibacterial Activity

Abstract Methanol extracts of 22 Indian plants belonging to 12 families were studied for their antibacterial activity. All the examined plant extracts were effective against more than one organism, and the results are comparable with antibiotics. Out of the plants tested, Blumea lacera. (Burm f.) DC (Asteraceae), Canscora diffusa. (Vahl) R. Br. (Gentianaceae), Cassia alata. L. , C. biflora. L. , C. fistula. L. (Ceasalpiniaceae), and Putranjiva roxburghii. Wall (Euphorbiaceae) extracts were found to be more effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus. was found to be susceptible to 68% of the tested plant extracts, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa. showed resistance to most of the plant extracts.
Population genetic structure of the Pocillopora damicornis morphospecies along Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

The effective management of a coral reef system relies on a detailed understanding of the population structure of dominant habitat-forming species. For some corals, however, high levels of phenotypic plasticity have made species delineation based on morphological character- istics alone unreliable, suggesting that previous studies of population genetic structure may have been influenced by the inclusion of multiple genetic lineages in the analyses. We examined the population structure of the Pocillopora damicornis morphospecies along the World Heritage Ningaloo Coast, Western Australia, and recovered 2 mitochondrial haplotypes from sympatrically occurring colonies possessing morphological characteristics consistent with taxonomic classifica- tion of P. damicornis. Despite a high degree of genetic differentiation between these lineages, we detected low levels of unidirectional admixture between them, suggesting that reproductive bar- riers are not fully developed. We found dual modes of reproduction for both lineages with consid- erable variation in the contribution of sexual reproduction among sample sites. Lastly, we identi- fied a high dispersal potential of sexually produced propagules in the most common lineage with positive spatial autocorrelation detected over distances up to 60 km. Based on these results, it appears that populations of P. damicornis have a high capacity to recover from environmental per- turbations as long as the effects of disturbances are patchy across Ningaloo Reef.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cultivation of Plants Used for Biofuel Production in Poland

A reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as an increase in the share of renewable energy are the main objectives of EU energy policy. In Poland, biofuels play an important role in the structure of obtaining energy from renewable sources. In the case of biofuels obtained from agricultural raw materials, one of the significant components of emissions generated in their full life cycle is emissions from the cultivation stage. The aim of the study is to estimate and recognize the structure of GHG emission from biomass production in selected farms in Poland. For this purpose, the methodology that was recommended by the Polish certification system of sustainable biofuels and bioliquids production, as approved by the European Commission, was used. The calculated emission values vary between 41.5 kg CO2eq/t and 147.2 kg CO2eq/t dry matter. The highest average emissions were obtained for wheat (103.6 kg CO2eq/t), followed by maize (100.5 kg CO2eq/t), triticale (95.4 kg CO2eq/t), and rye (72.5 kg CO2eq/t). The greatest impact on the total GHG emissions from biomass production is caused by field emissions of nitrous oxide and emissions from the production and transport of fertilizers and agrochemicals. Emissions that were generated at the stage of production, storage, and transport of seeds and during the use of fuels in agricultural and forestry machinery have a significantly smaller share in the total GHG emissions from biomass production.
Applying Thematic Analysis to Education: A Hybrid Approach to Interpreting Data in Practitioner Research

Thematic analysis (TA), as a qualitative analytic method, is widely used in health care, psychology, and beyond. However, scant details are often given to demonstrate the process of data analysis, especially in the field of education. This article describes how a hybrid approach of TA was applied to interpret multiple data sources in a practitioner inquiry. Particular attention is given to the inductive and deductive coding and theme development process of TA. Underpinned by the constructivist epistemology, codes were driven by both data per se and theories, through a “bottom-up” and “top-down” approach to identify themes. A detailed example of six steps of data analysis is presented, which evidences the systematic analysis of raw data from observation and research journals, students’ focus groups, and a classroom teacher’s semistructured interviews. This example demonstrates how classroom practice was unpacked and how insiders’ insights were interpreted through the theoretical lens while also allowing the participants to express themselves. By providing step-by-step guidelines in data coding and identification of themes, this article contributes to informing qualitative researchers, especially teacher-researchers who undertake their research in the classroom setting.