Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal analysis of a long-term conservation agriculture experiment in Malawi and lessons for future experimental design

Abstract Resilient cropping systems are required to achieve food security in the presence of climate change, and so several long-term conservation agriculture (CA) trials have been established in southern Africa – one of them at the Chitedze Agriculture Research Station in Malawi in 2007. The present study focused on a longitudinal analysis of 10 years of data from the trial to better understand the joint effects of variations between the seasons and particular contrasts among treatments on yield of maize. Of further interest was the variability of treatment responses in time and space and the implications for design of future trials with adequate statistical power. The analysis shows treatment differences of the mean effect which vary according to cropping season. There was a strong treatment effect between rotational treatments and other treatments and a weak effect between intercropping and monocropping. There was no evidence for an overall advantage of systems where residues are retained (in combination with direct seeding or planting basins) over conventional management with respect to maize yield. A season effect was evident although the strong benefit of rotation in El Niño season was also reduced, highlighting the strong interaction between treatment and climatic conditions. The power analysis shows that treatment effects of practically significant magnitude may be unlikely to be detected with just four replicates, as at Chitedze, under either a simple randomised control trial or a factorial experiment. Given logistical and financial constraints, it is important to design trials with fewer treatments but more replicates to gain enough statistical power and to pay attention to the selection of treatments to given an informative outcome.
Study of the effects of different monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings densitieson Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and water quality in a low-techrecirculation aquaponic system

The sustainable food initiatives and awareness amongst development interest has increased rapidly the technology of aquaponics in recent years due to widespread interest in local agencies that aquaponics may allow for the production of both vegetables and fish in waterdeficient or soil-deficient zones. The present study aimed to compare rearing of three different fish (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings densities on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) and water quality in a shallow water low-tech recirculation aquaponic system. The experimental aquaria were designed in 12 longitudinal aquaria of equal volum of 105L. 3 The treatments (Aquaponic vs Hydroponic) in this study were set-up for 56 days under 4treatments with three replications. T1, control (lettuce plant only using Hoagland solution), T2, T3, and T4 where stocking density of tilapia were 150(15 fish/ aquar.), 175(17 fish/ aquar.) and 200(20 fish/ aquar.) fish/m 3 with Lettuce plants, respectively. Fish was fed up to satiation twice a day with commercially available floating pellet with 30% protein level. The wastewater from the fish aquarium was irrigated to the vegetable bed by a 40 watt submersible water pump. During the experimental period different water quality parameters were monitored regularly. Growth and yield of Lettuce were measured by means of fresh weight, dry weight (g), leaf area (cm 2 ), and Chlorophyll (SPAD). The range of water temperature was 27 to 29 o C (av. 28 o C), dissolve oxygen 6.8 to 7.4 mg/l (av. 7.1 mg/l), pH 7.10 to 7.4(av. 7.25), total ammonia (mg/l) 0.10 to 12.0 mg/l (av. 0.11 mg/l), nitrite (mg/l) 0.003 to0.005 (av. 0.004 mg/l) and nitrate (mg/l) 140 to 180 (average 160 mg/l). At the end of the experiment, the study suggests that stocking density of 20 fish/aquarium for tilapia, i.e.200 fish/m 3 with Lettuce plants, is suitable for production of both plant and fish in a recirculating aquaponic system because of higher nutrient availability in this
Why are there so few exclusively frugivorous birds? Experiments on fruit digestibility

Birds of six non-exclusively frugivorous passerine species were kept on six exclusive single-species fruit diets. Birds and fruits originated from the same Mediterranean scrub community. Most birds lost weight steadily, in spite of an increased rate of pulp intake. Weight loss was greater in small birds and in birds which are more frugivorous in nature than others. Weight loss increased as protein digestibility decreased, and decreased as the proportion of protein in diet increased. Protein digestibility increased with the proportion of protein in diet, hence buckthorn (Rhamnus palaestinus) proved the worse diet, and gardrobe (Osyris alba) the best diet. Most birds ingested more energy and more protein than required for maintenance, but metabolized and digested less than required. It is concluded that fleshy fruits are nutritionally adequate but they probably contain agents that reduce the efficiency of the birds' nitrogen metabolism, thus leading to the inability to subsist on an exclusive fruit diet. It is proposed that plants improve seed dispersal, by forcing birds to break frugivory by bouts of insectivory, and move away rather than stay on a rich clump of fruits and deposit all seeds underneath parents.
Description and Biology of Hesperocimex Sonorensis, New Species, an Ectoparasite of the Purple Martin (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

This species is described from a population inhabiting nests of Progne subis hesperia in Sonora, Mexico. In laboratory studies it was found that first instar nymphs, fed once to repletion and then starved, molted and survived up to 63 days; that adults unfed after their final moult survived up to 169 days (males) or 218 days (females); and that a normally reproducing colony starved after approximately 75 days of age showed maximum survival for males of 59 days, for females 66 days. Well nourished virgin females were incapable of laying eggs, but after mating oviposited at the rate of 5.79 eggs per day per female for five consecutive weeks, with maximum production 6.88 eggs per day per female over a 3-day period. In one colony of 9 males and 14 females 5,195 eggs were produced over a 28-week period, an average of 343 per female, and 92.5% of these eggs hatched. Of 301 nymphs emerging to the adult stage, 37.9% were females, 62.1% males. Limited autogenous reproduction can occur in this species. In a colony where both sexes were not fed, 15 females produced 9 eggs; in another where only the females were unfed 13 females produced 25 eggs. Unfed males were found capable of inseminating females with viable sperm. 28 unfed males and 14 well fed females were kept together for one week, when the males were removed; these females averaged 242 eggs each during a 13-week period following exposure to the males, with maximum average production of 133 eggs for a 28- day period during the third to sixth weeks; 91.9% of these eggs hatched. Egg production declined sharply after eight weeks and virtually stopped by the 13th week, but when males were then added to the colony production increased to 0.9 egg per day per female. When starvation was imposed on a well-fed colony active in egg production, this production declined 92% between the fourth and seventh days, and only one egg was laid after the first week of starvation.
Circulation timescales of Atlantic Water in the Arctic Ocean determined from anthropogenic radionuclides

Abstract. The inflow of Atlantic Water to the Arctic Ocean is a crucial determinant for the future trajectory of this ocean basin with regard to warming, loss of sea ice, and ocean acidification. Yet many details of the fate and circulation of these waters within the Arctic remain unclear. Here, we use the two long-lived anthropogenic radionuclides 129I and 236U together with two age models to constrain the pathways and circulation times of Atlantic Water in the surface (10–35 m depth) and in the mid-depth Atlantic layer (250–800 m depth). We thereby benefit from the unique time-dependent tagging of Atlantic Water by these two isotopes. In the surface layer, a binary mixing model yields tracer ages of Atlantic Water between 9–16 years in the Amundsen Basin, 12–17 years in the Fram Strait (East Greenland Current), and up to 20 years in the Canada Basin, reflecting the pathways of Atlantic Water through the Arctic and their exiting through the Fram Strait. In the mid-depth Atlantic layer (250–800 m), the transit time distribution (TTD) model yields mean ages in the central Arctic ranging between 15 and 55 years, while the mode ages representing the most probable ages of the TTD range between 3 and 30 years. The estimated mean ages are overall in good agreement with previous studies using artificial radionuclides or ventilation tracers. Although we find the overall flow to be dominated by advection, the shift in the mode age towards a younger age compared to the mean age also reflects the presence of a substantial amount of lateral mixing. For applications interested in how fast signals are transported into the Arctic's interior, the mode age appears to be a suitable measure. The short mode ages obtained in this study suggest that changes in the properties of Atlantic Water will quickly spread through the Arctic Ocean and can lead to relatively rapid changes throughout the upper water column in future years.
Assessment of carvacrol paste as endodontic medication associated with laser photobiomodulation in tissue repair: an experimental study in rats

This study aimed to analyze the tissue reaction caused by carvacrol paste associated or not with laser photobiomodulation (LPBM) at λ660 nm in the subcutaneous tissue of rats. Sixty Wistar rats were divided into four groups and they received the following interventions: subcutaneous implantation of empty polyethylene tubes (CTR), implantation of tubes containing carvacrol paste (CVC), implantation of empty tubes and LPBM (LLLT), and implantation of tubes containing carvacrol paste and LPBM (CVCLT). The animals were euthanized at three, eight, and 15 days after surgery. The inflammatory reaction and fibroplasia were analyzed histomorphometrically. Significant differences among the groups were determined by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). In the 3-day period, the CVCLT group had low inflammatory infiltration (p<0.01). In the 8and 15-day periods, the LLLT and CVCLT groups presented a low amount of lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate (p<0.01 and p<0.05). Regarding the formation of fibrous tissue, the CVC group had the highest formation of type III collagen in the 8-day period (p<0.001). In the 15-day period, the CVCLT group had a lower formation of type I collagen than the CTR and LLLT groups (p<0.05). The use of the carvacrol paste associated with photobiomodulation optimizes the inflammatory period and tissue repair.
Predictors of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among Human Immunodeficiency Virus patients in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Introduction: Sustained optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is required for long-term suppression of viral replication. However, adherence level in Jos, Nigeria has been reported to be below optimal adherence, thus this study investigates the predictors of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients there. Methods: A validated and pretested questionnaire was used in this cross-sectional study to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, duration of being on ART, alcohol consumption, presence of symptoms, drug type and disclosure status from 224 randomly selected adult HIV patients. Chi-square and binary logistics regression were used for data analysis. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Only 14.3% of the respondents had optimal adherence. Adherence to ART is significantly associated with gender (p = 0.043), duration of ART use (p = 0.041), alcohol (p = 0.029), drug type (p = 0.001), and disclosure status (p = 0.004). Binary logistics regression reveals that females are 2.4 times more likely to have optimal adherence than males, patients on ART for over 10 years are 2.5 times more likely to have optimal adherence than those less than 10 years, and patients with disclosed HIV status are 3.3 times more likely to have optimal adherence than those who had not. Conclusion: Generally, the patients had suboptimal adherence. Being female, having longer duration on ART and disclosure status are predictors for optimal adherence. Intervention with emphasis on males and new patients on ART is recommended to educate on optimal adherence and motivate patients to disclose their status.
Assessing the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Psychiatric Patients on Antipsychotic Medication Using Platelet Indices

Background: Psychiatric patents have a predisposition towards developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). This risk is largely related to the medications used in treating the disorders. The objective of the study was to assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in Psychiatric Patients on antipsychotic drugs using platelet indices. Methodology: This was a case-control study involving 92 participants comprising of 51-psychatric patients on antipsychotics and 41 non psychiatric persons (blood donors) as controls. Blood (2.5mls) was collected from both subjects and controls into separate EDTA anticoagulant tubes. A full blood count was performed on each sample using Haematology Auto analyser. Platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) were extracted from the result of each participant. Clinical data of each subjects including age, sex, weight, height, duration of antipsychotic drug use, class of antipsychotic drugs were obtained from their respective case-files. Results: The mean platelet count of 194.5±59.80 X10/L for the subjects was significantly lower than 338.8±159.07 X10/L for the controls. On the other hand, the MPV value of the subjects (9.4±0.85) was significantly higher than the MPV of 8.7±1.05 for the controls. (p=0.01 in both cases). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant association between the mean MPV of the subjects and the duration of antipsychotic use. (p=0.01). Conclusion: A significantly high MPV (a biomarker of platelet activation) may portends VTE risk. Hence, MPV may be used as a surrogate biomarker in assessing VTE risk in psychiatric patients.
Announcing High Prices to Deter Innovation

Price announcements—similar to the ones made by tech firms at media events—are effective in deterring innovation. By announcing (and setting) a high price, a firm increases its rivals’ short-run profits, reducing the rival firms’ incentives to innovate by magnifying their Arrow’s replacement effect. We show that the equilibrium prices are greater and research and development (R&D) investments lower relative to when price announcements cannot be used strategically. We call this the R&D deterrence effect of price and show that it induces equilibrium prices that may exceed the multiproduct monopoly prices and even dissipate the consumer benefits of innovation. This paper was accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy.
Structured Equation Model for Determinants of Adoption and Use of Mobile Money Transfer Services inUganda

In recent years, mobile phones have created a platform to expand commercial transactions in a very easy manner and have created a wide array of business opportunities through the expansion of wireless communication in developing countries. The mobile money transfer (MMT) service is an extensive form of mobile banking. This study investigates the key factors that influence the Uganda consumers' adoption and use of mobile money transfer services using key constructs from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model (UTAUT). The research design was cross sectional, descriptive and correlational. The study was quantitative. In this study Structural Equation Modeling was used to create a model of factors that influence the adoption and usage of Mobile Money Transfer services in Uganda. The findings in this study provide useful information to Mobile Network Operators that they can use in implementation of their Mobile Money Transfer service. The study was conducted in Kampala District. The study established that the independent variable namely, Customer Expectancy, Social Factors and Transaction costs had significant influence on Behavioral Intention towards the use of a given Mobile Money Transfer service. Also Behavioral intention was a significant determinant of Use Behavior of Mobile Money Transfer services. In conclusion the research model was found to be important in determining factors that influence the adoption and use of a given Mobile Money Transfer service.
Curcumin and hesperetin attenuate D-galactose-induced

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Brain senescence causes cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. It has also been demonstrated that curcumin (Cur) and hesperetin (Hes), both antioxidant polyphenolic compounds, mediate anti-aging and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether Cur, Hes, and/or their combination exert anti-aging effects in D-galactose (Dg)-induced aged neuronal cells and rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells differentiated in response to retinoic acid were treated with Cur (1 μM), Hes (1 μM), or a combination of both, followed by 300 mM Dg. Neuronal loss was subsequently evaluated by measuring average neurite length and analyzing expression of β-tubulin III, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and neurofilament heavy polypeptide. Cellular senescence and related proteins, p16 and p21, were also investigated, including their regulation of antioxidant enzymes. In vivo, brain aging was induced by injecting 250 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) Dg. The effects of supplementing this model with 50 mg/kg b.w. Cur, 50 mg/kg b.w. Hes, or a combination of both for 3 months were subsequently evaluated. Brain aging was examined with a step-through passive avoidance test and apoptosis markers were analyzed in brain cortex tissues. RESULTS: Cur, Hes, and their combination improved neuron length and cellular senescence by decreasing the number of β-gal stained cells, down-regulated expression of p16 and p21, and up-regulated expression of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, and catalase. Administration of Cur, Hes, or their combination also tended to ameliorate cognitive impairment and suppress apoptosis in the cerebral cortex by downregulating Bax and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase expression and increasing Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Cur and Hes appear to attenuate Dg-induced brain aging via regulation of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis. These results suggest that Cur and Hes may mediate neuroprotective effects in the aging process, and further study of these antioxidant polyphenolic compounds is warranted.
Fig-Frugivore interactions Follow a constrained Brownian motion model oF evolution in an important Bird area, west aFrica

Understanding how ecosystems function is critical in order to shed light on processes that lead to species coexistence. Ficus species provide highly specialized niches for frugivores in tropical forests, but little is known about how Ficus–frugivore interactions evolve over time. Here we applied three approaches to investigate these interactions based on key parameters. We tested for a model of evolution that could explain interaction patterns, evaluated the phylogenetic signal, and assessed the evolutionary rate of niches generated by Ficus species. We showed that interactions are best explained by a brownian motion model, indicating a random walk. However, the signal observed is lower than expected under this model, and at the same time the evolutionary rate provides evidence for niche conservatism. Such findings are incompatible with an unbounded brownian process. We therefore propose that a random walk constrained by ecological forces towards a stabilizing selection could better explain fig–frugivore interactions in tropical forests.
Ecobiology of the common castor butterfly Ariadne merione merione (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera: Nymphalidae)

We describe the life history of the common castor butterfly, Ariadne merione merione, monthly occurrence and seasonality of early stages and larval performance in terms of food consumption and utilization, and the length of life cycle. Our study was conducted during 2002 in the Andhra University campus at Visakhapatnam (17°42' N, 82°18' E), South India. Field study indicated that A. merione merione was in continuous flight and reproduction, with highest densities of early and adult stages occurring during June - September, the time of the entire South-West monsoon. Occurrence of the early stages was positively, but non-significantly correlated with rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and day-length. Multiple regression analysis showed that the effect of any combination of weather parameters on the reproductive activity was less than 40%. The South-West monsoon period probably influenced the reproductive activity by promoting fresh growth of the larval host plant, Ricinus communis, which in turn supported development of early stages. Ariadne merione merione was exemplified by a life cycle of 27.4 ± 3.57 days (eggs 3-4, larvae 13-18, and pupa 6-9 days) permitting a maximum of 8-9 overlapping generations per year. The values of the nutritional indices across the instars were A.D. 87.02-95.50%; E.C. I. 3.80-20.90%; E.C. D. 4.00-24.08%, measured at 28°C in the laboratory. These relatively high values, at least partially explain the ecological success of A. merione merione in the urban environment.
Running Head : SPATIO-TEMPORAL INFORMATION IN DYNAMIC FACES

A great deal of perceptual and social information is conveyed by facial motion. Here, we investigated observers’ sensitivity to the complex spatio-temporal information in facial expressions and what cues they use to judge the similarity of these movements. We motioncaptured four facial expressions and decomposed them into time courses of semantically meaningful local facial actions (e.g., eyebrow raise). We then generated approximations of the time courses which differed in the amount of information about the natural facial motion they contained, and used these and the original time courses to animate an avatar head. Observers chose which of two animations based on approximations was more similar to the animation based on the original time course. We found that observers preferred animations containing more information about the natural facial motion dynamics. To explain observers’ similarity judgments, we developed and used several measures of objective stimulus similarity. The time course of facial actions (e.g., onset and peak of eyebrow raise) explained observers’ behavioral choices better than image-based measures (e.g., optic flow). Our results thus revealed observers’ sensitivity to changes of natural facial dynamics. Importantly, our method allows a quantitative explanation of the perceived similarity of dynamic facial expressions, which suggests that sparse but meaningful spatio-temporal cues are used to process facial motion.