Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preferences and predispositions of female canaries (Serinus canaria) for loud intensity of male sexy phrases

In the present study, we tested the effect of song amplitude on intersexual relationships. To evaluate preferences and predispositions of female canaries for amplitude levels of male song, we conducted two experiments using both females raised in acoustic isolation and females raised in an aviary under ‘normal’ acoustic conditions. The songs used in both experiments followed the same pattern: one reactive phrase surrounded by two nonreactive phrases. The first experiment consisted of testing female preferences for weak, normal, or loud amplitudes of the reactive phrase (i.e. these reactive phrases provoke sexual stimulation in females). In a second experiment, we tested female preferences for weak, normal, or loud amplitudes of the nonreactive phrases. These two experiments allowed us to evaluate female preferences for intensity levels of reactive and nonreactive phrases. In the first experiment, all females significantly prefered loud and normal reactive phrases, whereas the second experiment showed that loud nonreactive phrases do not necessarily provoke more responses than other nonreactive phrases. Female canaries were, thus, more stimulated by the intensity level of a particular part of the song. Both females raised in acoustic isolation and in normal acoustic conditions responded in the same way. We can therefore suppose that learning, through acoustic experience, has little influence on preference development for amplitude levels. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 96, 808–814.
Sexual Risk Behavior Among Kenyan University Students

ABSTRACT Previous HIV/AIDS assessments in Kenya have focused on the sexual risk behaviors of the general population and the HIV serostatus of women of childbearing age. No data are available for Kenyan university students. Baseline surveillance data were obtained from a representative sample of 1917 university students at Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya. Both qualitative (focus group discussions) and quantitative (self-administered questionnaire) data were collected. Students were asked about their HIV knowledge, perceptions, and sexual risk behaviors. Seventy-one % of males and 47.6% of females reported having had sex. Only 49% of university students reported any HIV/AIDS education. Of those who reported having ever had sex, 76% reported ever using a condom: only 18% of males and 14% of females reported using a condom every time they had sex in the last month. Eighty-nine% of students reported thinking they were at risk for HIV infection, but only 28% of subjects had been tested for HIV. Qualitative data suggest the issue of HIV testing remains very controversial among students, in large part because of societal stigma. The results of this study emphasize the vulnerability of university students to HIV infection. Most university students have not had access to accurate HIV/AIDS information. Sexual activity on campus is high and many students consider themselves at risk. Conversely, consistent condom use and rates of voluntary counseling and testing are low.
Evaluation of Ghee Residue as Feed Ingredient for Labeo rohita

A 90-days feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of different levels of ghee residue (GR) on growth performance of Labeo rohita juveniles (Av. wt. 41.82±1.30g). Four different feeds were formulated with different graded levels of ghee residue viz, 0 (GR0), 12 (GR12), 24 (GR24) and 36% (GR36), respectively along with rice bran, mustard oil cake, soyabean meal, vitamin and mineral mixture and vegetable oil. The net weight gain was 6.9±1.8, 11.8±0.7, 15.64±0.47 and 8.89±1.61 g in treatments GR0, GR12, GR24 and GR36, respectively. Protein efficiency ratio was significantly (P<0.05) higher in GR24 vis-a-vis other groups. The feed conversion ratio was lower (P<0.05) in GR24. Specific growth rate and specific feeding was similar in all the treatments. Daily growth coefficient and temperature growth coefficient were significantly (P<0.05) higher in GR24. The contents of moisture, protein and ash were similar in all the treatments, however, lipid content increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of ghee residue with higher value in GR24. Iron, manganese and zinc contents were similar in all the groups. Among the fatty acids, saturated fatty acids were predominant compared to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, ghee residue can be incorporated upto 24% level in the feed of L. rohita juveniles.
Fish assemblage of a Pampasic stream (Buenos Aires, Argentina): temporal variations and relationships with environmental variables

In the Argentine Pampa fertile soils were originally covered by grasslands, but at present are intensively cultivated. We assessed the specific composition of the fish assemblage of El Pescado stream and compared it with that recorded in 1991–1993, when land use in the watershed consisted in natural pastures. The persistence of the fish assemblage between the two studies was rather high: 0.76. Abundance, biomass and species richness were higher during drought periods. Connectivity with the huge Río de la Plata hydrographic system seems the most important contribution to the high and stable species richness of El Pescado stream.
A strategy for identifying introduced provenances and translocations

Summary Native species of oak in Britain have been of great importance in our history for their many uses, and have thus been subject to management and planting by man for centuries. Following events such as the Enclosure Acts of the late eighteenth century and the Napoleonic wars, many oaks would have been planted. Translocations and introductions of foreign genotypes were greatly encouraged by early landscape gardeners such as Capability Brown. Britain must, therefore be a mosaic of native and non-native oaks. A major problem arises when we try to identify non-native trees. Due to their long life-cycle, oaks are of necessity both phenotypically plastic and genetically very variable and it has been virtually impossible to discriminate between native and non-native forms using traditional methods. The advent of new molecular genetic techniques however, now allows us to identify DNA markers that can distinguish between such forms. The geographic patterns for two chloroplast DNA markers will be presented. One clearly differentiates between oaks from eastern Europe versus western Europe and can be used to identify translocations of eastern European oaks into Britain and western Europe. The second identifies genotypes native to East Anglia and can be used to recognize translocations into and out of East Anglia.
Structure, composition and dynamics of a calcareous grassland metacommunity over a 70‐year interval

1. Calcareous grasslands are communities of high conservation value, often characterized by high plant species richness. These grasslands have experienced a major decline in area throughout Europe, principally resulting from agricultural intensification. Although they have been the focus of extensive previous research, few attempts have been made to examine the long‐term dynamics of multiple communities at the landscape scale.
Phylogeography of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract Glacial cycles in the late Pleistocene played a dominant role in sculpting the evolutionary histories of many high-latitude organisms. The refugial hypothesis argues that populations retracted during glacial maxima and were isolated in separate refugia. One prediction of this hypothesis is that populations inhabiting different refugia diverged and then, during interglacial periods, rapidly expanded into deglaciated regions. The range of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) was modified by these expansion and contraction cycles in the late Pleistocene. Our analyses of variation of mitochondrial control region sequences corroborate previous microsatellite analyses supporting independent evolutionary histories for Coastal and Continental wolves in North America. Coastal wolves represent the remnants of a formerly widespread and diverse southern clade that expanded into coastal Southeast Alaska, likely in the early Holocene. In contrast, extant northern Continental populations appear to be admixed, composed of lineages independently arising from ancestors that persisted in either southern or northern (Beringia) refugia. This pattern of diversification suggests the possibility of 3 temporally independent colonizations of North America by wolves from Asia. Coastal wolves are the last vestige of a formerly widespread phylogroup that largely was extirpated in North America by humans during the last century. The independent phylogeographic history of these Coastal wolves has yet to be characterized. Their distinctiveness among North American wolf populations may warrant a reevaluation of their conservation status and management.
Lauraceous Fossil Flowers from the Kamikitaba Assemblage (Coniacian, Late Cretaceous) of Northeastern Japan (Lauraceae)

Abstract A new genus and species of Lauraceae, Microlaurus perigynus gen. et sp. nov. is described based on fossil charcoalified flower buds recovered from the Kamikitaba assemblage (early Coniacian, Late Cretaceous; ca. 89 million years before present (myr BP)) in the Ashizawa Formation (Asamigawa Member) of the Futaba Group in northeastern Japan. Analysis of the internal structure of the fossil buds using synchrotron-radiation X-ray microtomography (SRXTM) at the 2-BM-B beamline of the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory, shows that the flowers are small, pedicellate, bisexual, trimerous, and actinomorphic, with small outer tepals, larger inner tepals, three whorls of stamens, an innermost androecial whorl composed of staminodia, and a unicarpellate gynoecium containing a single ovule. Microlaurus perigynus is assigned to the Lauraceae based on the regular trimerous floral organization and other details of floral structure, but it is distinguished from most previously described lauraceous fossil flowers by the poorly differentiated filament and anther in the stamens of the third whorl and the marked size difference between the small outer tepals and the large inner tepals. Also unusual are the paired glandular appendages that appear to be associated with the first (outermost) whorl of stamens, rather than the stamens of the third whorl, although the precise position is not fully clear. The same feature occurs in Hernandiaceae, the sister group of Lauraceae, as well as in Powhatania connata, an earlier but fragmentary lauralean fossil flower from the Early to Middle Albian of Virginia. Microlaurus perigynus adds to the floral diversity of Lauraceae known from the Late Cretaceous, and its presence in the Kamikitaba assemblage from Japan underlines the broad geographic distribution and floristic significance of lauraceous plants during the Late Cretaceous.
A mechanistic model of contaminant-induced feeding inhibition in Daphnia magna

Particles in water ubiquitously carry a net negative charge. It was hypothesised that the interaction between suspended particles and pollutants in water results in a process of adsorption that can be related to the charge of the pollutant concerned, and that this is a potential route of pollutant uptake by aquatic animals such as particle-grazing zooplankton. Experiments with the alga Chlorella vulgaris were conducted to test the hypothesis that pollutant-induced feeding inhibition in the cladoceran Daphnia magna was dependent on this mechanism. Using compounds differing in charge, results supported the hypothesis that, while all compounds were capable of causing feeding inhibition, electropositive species such as cadmium induced effects close to the chronic no-effect concentration, whereas electronegative species such as vanadium induced effects only at or close to lethal levels. It was suggested that for those compounds capable of causing feeding inhibition at sublethal concentrations, this inhibition would be a key mechanism impairing reproduction and growth, with potential consequences for grazing animals at population and community levels in natural ecosystems.
Feasibility of a virtual reality program to treat children with fear of darkness with nonexpert therapists

espanolViabilidad de un programa de realidad virtual para tratar ninos con miedo a la oscuridad con terapeutas no expertos. El miedo a la oscuridad es muy frecuente y estable en los ninos y, a menudo, termina convirtiendose en una fobia situacional especifica. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la viabilidad de adaptarlo y aplicarlo a traves de una herramienta de realidad virtual (RV) por terapeutas no expertos. Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio pre-experimental con seis participantes de 8 a 12 anos de edad utilizando escalas de pre y postratamiento para evaluar el miedo a la oscuridad. Se han encontrado diferencias estadisticamente significativas con tamanos del efecto grandes en todas las medidas posteriores al tratamiento: EMO (Roshenthal’s r = 0.64), WCDAN (r = 0.52), e item global del miedo actual a la oscuridad (r = 0.59). Al usar el Indice de Cambio Fiable (ICF) como una medida del cambio clinicamente significativo, cuatro participantes mejoraron satisfactoriamente, uno aceptablemente, y el otro no mejoro. Los resultados apoyan la viabilidad de utilizar un programa de RV adaptado para tratar el miedo a la oscuridad sin necesidad de un terapeuta experto. Sin embargo, se necesitan estudios experimentales mas detallados para analizar su eficacia. EnglishFear of darkness is highly prevalent and stable in children and often ends up becoming a specific situational phobia. The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of adapting and applying it through a Virtual Reality (VR) tool by nonexpert therapists. A pre-experimental study was carried out with six participants between the ages of 8 and 12 years old using pre- and posttreatment scales for assessing the fear of darkness. Statistically significant differences with large effects were found in all posttreatment measures: EMO (Roshenthal’s r = 0.64), WCDAN (r = 0.52), and Global item of current fear of darkness (r = 0.59). Using the Reliable Change Index (RCI) as a measure of clinically significant change, four participants improved satisfactorily, one acceptably, and the other did not improve. The results support the feasibility of using an adapted VR program to treat fear of darkness without being an expert therapist. However, more detailed experimental studies need to be carried out in order to analyze its efficacy.
High Expression, Purification, and Properties of Recombinant Homocysteine α,γ-Lyase

Homocysteine a,g-lyase from the anaerobic protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis has been cloned from genomic DNA using PCR methods and expressed in Escherichia coli with a vector containing the T7 promoter. The recombinant homocysteine a,g-lyase (rHCYase) is expressed as the major protein in the host E. coli cells. The enzyme was puriAEed to approximately 90% purity using heat treatment at 50∞C, precipitation steps with polyethyleneimine, polyethylene glycol 8000, and high sodium chloride, DEAE±Sepharose FF chromatography, and phenyl±Sepharose 6 FF chromatography. The AEnal yield was greater than 50%, which encompassed an approximate 18-fold puriAEcation. The enzyme is a homotetramer with a monomer molecular weight of 43K and contains pyridoxal phosphate. The Trichomonas rHCYase is selective for homocysteine with respect to very low cysteinase activity in contrast to the a,g-lyase from Pseudomonas putida, which has very high cysteinase activity with respect to homocysteine. The T. vaginalis and P. putida a,g-lyases readily separate on a phenyl±Sepharose 6 FF column with the T. vaginalis enzyme eluting AErst. rHCYase is stable up to 50∞C and active over a pH range of 6 ± 8. These properties of high recombinant expression in E. coli, a simple and effective high-yield puriAEcation procedure and high relative speciAEcity for homocysteine with respect to cysteine, make rHCYase a promising candidate to use for the diagnosis of hyperhomocystenemia, which has been demonstrated to be a major risk factor for the onset and mortality of cardiovascular disease of all types. © 1998 Academic Press
Total Quality Management and Competitiveness of Money Deposit Banks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between total quality management (TQM) and competitiveness. This study also examined the mediating effect of information technology on the relationship between TQM and competitiveness. The motivation for this study was driven by the inconsistent findings in the literature concerning the above relationships. To achieve this purpose, the study integrated the effect of TQM on competitiveness. Copies of Questionnaire were distributed to 254 bank officers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and 157 indicating 62% response and 38% non response that were ready and usable for further analysis with the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used to test the consistency of the items on the research instrument. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to test the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables. The hypotheses concerning TQM dimensions (service design and continuous improvement) with measures of competitiveness (organizational excellence, and organizational performance) are statistically significant. Conclusion was also made based on the findings and the study recommended among others that banks are encourage to employ more staff i.e. cashiers to solve the problem of long queue in the banking hall. We are in cashless economy; banks should endeavour to make cash available in ATMs at all times.
Population dynamics of noctuid moths and damage forecasting in sugar beet

The most damaging Noctuidae pests in sugar beets in Croatia are classified into two groups based on the injuries that their larvae produce: the cutting species (Agrotis ipsilon and Agrotis segetum) and the surface‐feeding species (Mamestra brassicae, Lacanobia oleracea and Autographa gamma). The flight activity of male moths was detected and monitored using traps baited with sex pheromone. The study aimed to determine the population dynamics of noctuid pests in sugar beet crops and to propose damage forecasts and thresholds based on male moths capture in pheromone traps in specific weather conditions. A strong positive correlation between captured male moths in pheromone traps and the level of damage to sugar beet crops was established. The population densities were extremely affected by the weather conditions that prevailed in the sugar beet growing period. If the weather conditions are not optimal, the population of the second generation of moths and larvae will be smaller, and the level of damage to plants will decrease accordingly. Thus, intensive monitoring of noctuid male moth flights and weather conditions in the sugar beet growing season enabled forecasting of future damage to a larger area, although visual inspections are necessary to plan insecticide applications.
12. Voter behaviour

On Saturday, 18 May 2019, the incumbent Liberal–National Coalition parties surprised most observers by winning a majority of seats in the House of Representatives. Although the win was narrow—the conservative parties won 77 seats in the 151-seat chamber—this gave them a majority in the lower house of the national parliament. Using new data from the Cooperative Australian Election Survey, this chapter addresses and empirically evaluates some of the narratives about voting behaviour that emerged out of this shock election result, including claims about economic interest, age and ethnicity.
Influence of Source of Oil Added to Diet on Egg Quality Traits of Laying Quail

This experiment was performed to investigate the influence of different oils in the diets of laying quail on their egg quality characteristics. One hundred and twenty 7-wk old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were allocated to four groups with three replicates containing 10 quail each (30 quail per each treatment group). They were fed for 13 weeks (including one week of adaptation period) on diet s containing 3% oil from different sources, viz. either sunflower (T1), linseed (T2), maize (T3), or fish oil (T4). Inclusion the diet of laying quail with fish oil (T4) and maize oil (T2) resulted in significant increase with respect to egg weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, yolk diameter, yolk height, albumen diameter, albumen height, shell thickness and Haugh unit during all periods of experiment and in total means of thes e parameters. However, the addition of different oil sources used in this experiment to quail diets did not significantly affect total means of shell weight, relative weight of albumen and relative weight of shell, while total means of relative weight of yolk, yolk index and albumen index were higher in the birds receiving diets containing fish (T4) and maize (T2) oil than in other treatments (T1 and T3). The results of this experiment clearly demonstrated that supplementation the laying quail diet with fish and maize oil improved most criteria of egg quality. Therefore, incorporation of fish and maize oil into the diets of Japanese quail may have practical value in manipulating egg quality.
Correlated anatomical and physiological studies of the growth of the nervous system in amphibia. VI. The mechanism of integration in amblystoma punctatum

The spinal niotor nerves . The cranial motor nerves . The general re,lakions of the motor tract . The cells of origin of the motor tract . The floor-plate neurones . The primary motor cells . The tegmental cells . The visceral motor column . Cells of the sensory zone . The posterior commissure . Ventral-root neurones of vertebrates . A prototype of integrating mechanisms in verte The nucleus motorius tegmenti . The fasciculus longitudinalis medialis . The visceral motor column and the tractus bulbospinalis .
Soil Test Based Fertilizer Prescriptions under Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System for Maize in an Inceptisol of Varanasi

To develop fertilizer prescription equations for maize, a field experiment was conducted on Inceptisol of Agricultural Research Farm, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during kharif 2012 by using integrated plant nutrient management system on the basis of STCR approach. Soil test data, maize grain yield and NPK uptake by maize crop were used for obtaining four important basic parameters viz., nutrients required to produce one tonne (1 t) of maize grain (NR), contribution of nutrients from fertilizers (%CF), contribution of nutrients from soil (%CS) and contribution of nutrients from organic matter (%CFYM). It was found that 19.4, 5.70 and 18.4 kg of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively were required for producing 1 t maize grain. The per cent contribution of nutrients from soil, fertilizer and FYM were 18.2. 13.4 and 8.18 for N; 49.6, 11.7 and 7.87 for P2O5; and 19.4, 25.4 and 9.96 for K2O, respectively. By using these basic parameters, ready reckoner of fertilizer doses was prepared for varying soil test values and desired yield targets of maize for NPK alone and NPK with FYM.