Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographic gradients in body size: a clarification of Bergmann's rule

1997 marked the sesquicentenary of the publication by Carl Bergmann of the observation that, in general, large‐bodied animal species tend to live further north than their small‐bodied relatives. This has been dubbed Bergmann's rule in his honour. However, more than 150 years on, we appear to be little closer to a general understanding of the rule, or even to any consensus as to whether it exists. This is due in large part to confusion about the taxonomic level at which the rule is considered to operate, and to the conflation of pattern and mechanism. In this paper, we attempt to resolve this confusion by highlighting its sources, and by providing a definition of Bergmann's rule that is practical and useful, yet that retains the essential features of its original formulation. We conclude by briefly reviewing the mechanisms proposed to explain Bergmann's rule as we define it.
Review: Alleviating loneliness in young people - a meta-analysis of interventions.

BACKGROUND Loneliness is common among youth and is associated with poor physical and mental health, and poor educational outcomes. To date, there have been no meta-analyses of interventions aimed at reducing loneliness among young people. METHODS We conducted meta-analyses of single group and randomised control trials (RCTs) of studies published between 1980 and 2019, which measured loneliness as an outcome in youth ages 25 years or younger. Moderators, including sample demographics and intervention characteristics, that might affect intervention success, were examined. RESULTS A total of 39 studies (14 single group and 25 RCTs) were included, and we found evidence that youth loneliness could be reduced via intervention. Moderator analysis - including intervention characteristics, study quality and sample demographics - was also examined. CONCLUSIONS While interventions were shown to reduce loneliness among youth, the interventions included in the meta-analyses often targeted youth viewed to be at risk - for example those with health concerns - and rarely did the interventions target youth who reported loneliness. There is also no indication of whether youth experienced chronic or transient loneliness. In future work, interventions should be designed specifically for loneliness, with universal programmes helping youth manage their transient feelings of loneliness, and targeted interventions for those suffering from chronic loneliness. There is also a need to look at socioeconomic and other risk factors outside the individual for targeted interventions.
Revisionary notes on Negulus O. Boettger, 1889, a genus of minute African land snails (Gastropoda Pulmonata: Vertiginidae)

The genus Negulus is reviewed; only four Recent species, restricted to continental Africa, are recognized. The genus is extinct in Europe, being only recorded from Tertiary deposits. A key to the shells of the Recent species (all figured) is supplied. The anatomy is as yet unknown. A sinistral shell of N. abyssinicus is described from among a series of paralectotypes in the Leiden Museum, the first such abnormality in the genus (figured). A fair amount of shell material has become available (among which some historical specimens) so that metric data may be compared with greater confidence. Recent occurrence is established/confirmed for Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Malaŵi, and Bioko (Fernando Poo). The small size of the shell necessitates sampling forest leaf litter, a technique that has not been widely applied in Africa; undoubtedly the genus occurs much more widely in the Afrotropical Region. Pupa obliquicostulata from St. Helena Is. is removed from the genus because of the presence of apertural dentition.
Individual heat stress response

In 5 experiments, heterogeneous subject groups (large variations in _VO2 max, regular daily activity level, mass, body surface area (AD), % body fat, and AD/mass ratio) were tested for their physiological response while exercising on a cycle ergometer at a relative (45% _VO2 max; REL) or an absolute (60W; ABS) work intensity in a cool (CO; 21°C, 50% rh; REL condition only), warm humid (WH; 35°C, 80%) and a hot dry (HD; 45°C, 20%) environ-ment. Exposures lasted 90 minutes or until one of the safety criteria (Tre 39°C, 90% HRmax) was met. Physiological responses to the heat and work stress were subsequently analysed for the effects of the individual characteristics, in relation to the different work intensity types and the climate types. For this purpose, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used. The analyses showed clear effects of individual characteristics, explaining between 10 and 72% of the variance (adjusted r²) depending on the test condition, _VO2 max and/or mass being the most relevant parameters. In parallel, individual characteristics were incorporated in a simulation model, using control functions from literature. Subsequently, the model was validated with the experimental data. The model was shown to produce results with similar accuracy, to that of the regression model derived from the data used. As the model was not derived from these same data, the validation result was considered successful. Over all, the results showed that individual characteristics play a significant role in the determination of body core temperature response in all conditions tested, but their contribu-tion is low for relative work loads when evaporative heat loss is not restricted.
HIV/AIDS, labor organization and agrobiodiversity: the case of farm households in Southwest Ethiopia.

Farm households affected by HIV/AIDS reallocate their resources which has implications for crop diversity. Previous research shows that agrobiodiversity contributes to reducing the negative effects of HIV/AIDS through improving household nutrition and thereby delaying the progression of HIV into AIDS. The nutrition and health improvement effect of crop diversity is influenced by the extent to which the pressure of the epidemic causes the households to divert more resources towards some crops or activities than to others, such as through constraining labor availability. The thesis aims at analyzing to what extent, if, HIV/AIDS affects agrobiodiversity in the home garden of farm households where labor is allocated to the field and the home garden and sharecropping is an option. The study employs a farm household model where transaction costs in the labor market is taken into account and where adult male morbidity and mortality is assumed to cause a differential productivity effect between labor allocated to the home garden and fields. It contributes to the literature by paying attention to how HIV/AIDS-driven household resource reallocation affects agrobiodiversity and how the effect might change with the availability of sharecropping possibility and varying role of plots. The analysis was carried out both theoretically and empirically. The theoretical analysis employs the labor allocation approach where the household chooses labor allocations between the home garden and fields; and the Dixit-Stiglitz product diversity approach where crop diversity is explicitly modeled and hence labor allocation to the field and crop diversity in the home garden are the choice variables. The empirical analysis employs both in-depth study of four HIV/AIDS affected farm households and a survey analysis of 205 farm household in two woredas in Jimma zone of Southwest Ethiopia. Results indicate that where households value crop diversity and where adult morbidity and mortality has a plot-specific labor productivity effect, a decline in productivity due to HIV/AIDS does not necessarily cause a decline in crop diversity. The effect rather depends on the degree of substitutability between the products of the field and of the home garden. A higher degree of substitutability between the two products is likely to cause an increase in crop diversity in the home garden in response to a decline in labor productivity. The findings suggest that nutrition education can be integrated as a strategy to assist farm household adjustment of crop choice in the home garden so as to maximize the nutrition role of agrobiodiversity. The results further indicate that farm households affected by adult male morbidity and mortality as well increase the degree of sharecropping-out in the field. This suggests that taking action to enhance sharecropping such as through facilitating land titling and stipulating clear land use and transfer terms are relevant interventions.
Chromium, Copper, Nickel and Zinc Uptake in Corn (Zea mays L.) Irrigated With Electroplating Effluent

Due to the scarcity of freshwater supply, effluent from industries is significantly becoming an alternative in irrigating crops. Despite its nutrient-rich components, there are some apprehensions in utilizing it because it contains heavy metals, which are detrimental when present in critical amounts. This study investigated the uptake of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in corn irrigated with electroplating effluent using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Results indicated greater accumulation of the said elements in the root rather than in the shoot tissues. The amount of Cr, Ni and Zn in the root tissues increased with the increasing concentrations of electroplating effluents. In the shoot tissues, greater accumulation of Ni (14 and 16 ppm) at 75% and 100% was determined, while the concentrations of Zn, Cr and Cu were in limited amounts. The metal accumulation profile of the root tissues in 100% effluent was in the order of NiÂ (427.7 ppm) > Zn (77.1 ppm) > Cr (46.6 ppm) > Cu (31.0 ppm) while in the shoot tissues it was in the order of Zn (33 ppm) >Ni (16.3 ppm) > Cu (7.8 ppm) > Cr (2.8 ppm). The concentrations of these elements in corn tissues fall below the reported critical levels in plants. Â Hence, the use of electroplating effluents in irrigating corn is a feasible option.
Viscous fluid flow inside an oscillating cylinder and its extension to Stokes’ second problem

We present the analytical solution for the fluid motion inside a cylindrical tank whose angular velocity starts from rest and undergoes a harmonic oscillation. This problem, which has not yet been reported, is an extension to Stokes’ second problem where the fluid motion is governed by an outer moving cylindrical boundary and a zero velocity condition at the cylinder center. Different from the flow on the outside of a cylinder, the cylinder radius has a large influence on the internal fluid motion. We show that the fluid approaches solid body rotation for cylinders with outer radii similar to the characteristic viscous length scale of the flow, whereas the motion approaches that of Stokes’ original flat plate solution within very large cylinders. We detail both the transient starting condition and the quasi-steady fluid motion, which we present along with a particle image velocimetry experiment for validation. After decay of the initial startup transient, both quasi-steady analytical and experimental results predict that the oscillatory flow inside has an amplitude of velocity that decreases toward the center of the cylinder. The thickness of the Stokes layer, which is proportional to the penetration depth of the viscous wave, is altered by the size of the cylinder and/or the frequency of oscillation. We show that the penetration depth of the Stokes layer reaches its maximum thickness at intermediate cylinder sizes. The solution and results presented herein are potentially of value to describe the fluid motion in many applications where fluids are contained within cylindrical geometries.
Effects of defoliatingStipa tenuisandPiptochaetium napostaenseat different phenological stages: tiller demography and growth☆

Abstract Tiller demography and growth were determined for defoliated and nondefoliated plants of Stipa tenuis and Piptochaetium napostaense under natural field conditions in 1991 and 1992. Defoliated plants were clipped once a year to a stubble height of 5–7 cm at one of the following phenological stages: vegetative ( V ), or during early ( E ), late ( L ) or post ( P ) internode elongation. Defoliation at the different phenological stages hastened tiller senescence in 1991 but not in 1992, which might be associated with lower precipitation during the first year. Rates of leaf production for both species during late autumn–early winter were greater after plants were defoliated at V and/or E than for nondefoliated controls in 1992. In addition, tillers of S. tenuis and P. napostaense exhibited greater relative growth rates for height or green leaf blade, stem plus sheath and total lengths after they had been defoliated at V and/or E than when not defoliated or defoliated later in the growing season of 1991 and 1992. During 1991, total dry matter production was similar in all defoliation treatments for both species. In 1992, however, defoliation at the V stage was earlier than in 1991 and all active meristems remained on both species after defoliation. This, and the relative growth rate increments observed for these plants contributed to their overcompensation of tissue lost by defoliation, and thus a greater amount of dry matter was produced than in the nondefoliated controls. At the same time, the lowest dry matter production among all treatments was observed after plants of both species were defoliated late during internode elongation. Removal of all active meristems, the occurrence of low soil water potentials at this time, the existence of a greater number of metabolically inactive buds on these plants, and the lower time available for regrowth must have contributed to this response.
Historical Legacies and African Development

As Africa’s role on the global stage is rising, so does the need to understand the shadow of history on the continent’s economy and polity. We discuss recent works that shed light on Africa’s colonial and precolonial legacies. The emerging corpus is remarkably interdisciplinary. Archives, ethnographic materials, georeferenced censuses, surveys, and satellite imagery are some of the sources often combined to test influential conjectures put forward in African historiography. Exploiting within-country variation and employing credible, albeit mostly local, identification techniques, this recent literature has uncovered strong evidence of historical continuity as well as instances of rupture in the evolution of the African economy. The exposition proceeds in reverse chronological order. Starting from the colonial period, which has been linked to almost all of Africa’s postindependence maladies, we first review works that uncover the lasting legacies of colonial investments in infrastructure and human capital and quantify the role of various extractive institutions, such as indirect rule and oppression associated with concessionary agreements. Second, we discuss the long-lasting impact of the “Scramble for Africa,” which led to ethnic partitioning and the creation of artificial modern states. Third, we cover studies on the multifaceted legacy of the slave trades. Fourth, we analyze the contemporary role of various precolonial, ethnic-specific, institutional, and social traits such as political centralization. We conclude by offering some thoughts on what we view as open questions. ( JEL F54, N17, N37, N47, O10, O43)
Dietary Protein Requirement of Juvenile Fuxian Minnow, Anabarilius grahami

A 10-wk experiment was conducted to determine the optimum dietary protein requirement of juvenile Fuxian minnow, Anabarilius grahami (initial average weight 4.14 g). Five isocaloric diets were formulated to contain graded levels of protein (29, 34, 39, 44, and 49%). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish in a recirculating rearing system maintained at 17–21 C. Feed intake of fish fed the 39 and 44% protein diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed the 29, 34, and 49% protein diets (P 0.05). In contrast, feed conversion ratio decreased with increasing dietary protein level up to 39%. Protein retention efficiency or protein efficiency ratio generally increased with increasing dietary protein level up to 39%, and then the value gradually decreased thereafter. Broken-line regression analysis showed that the optimum dietary protein requirement for maximum weight gain of juvenile A. grahami under the experimental conditions was 38.6% (equivalent to ca. 33.0% estimated digestible protein).
The role of mir-290-295 in murine embryonic and germ cell development

MicroRNAs, 22nt long RNAs derived from hairpin transcripts, are important regulators of gene expression and have been shown to participate in regulation of every biological process known to date. Mir-290 through mir-295 (mir-290-295) is a mammalian-specific miRNA cluster that, in the mouse, is expressed specifically in early embryos and embryonic germ cells. This thesis examines the in vivo consequences of targeted deletion of mir-290-295 in the developing mouse embryo. Mir-290-295 deficiency results in a partially penetrant embryonic lethality. Mir-290-295 is not required for early preimplantation development but is instead required for later postimplantation development. In surviving mir-290-295 deficient embryos, female but not male fertility is compromised. This impairment in fertility arises from a defect in migrating primordial germ cells and occurs equally in male and female mutant animals. Male mir-290-295-mice, due to the extended proliferative lifespan of their germ cells, are able to recover from this initial germ cell loss and are fertile. Female mir-290-295-/mice are unable to recover and are sterile due to premature ovarian failure. Thesis Supervisor: Rudolf Jaenisch Title: Professor of Biology
Surveillance of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Infection in Mixed Thai Native Chickens in the Area of Nakornpathom Province

This study was to conduct a surveillance of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in mixed Thai native chickens. Samples were submitted from 30 mixed Thai native chicken flocks, 15 birds per flock, aged between 1 and 4 months without MG vaccination in the area of Nakornpathom province during the September 2005 - October 2006 period. Each bird was bled for MG serology by a serum plate agglutination (SPA) test and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits and swabbed for MG antigen detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results revealed that the positive reactors detected by the SPA test, ELISA and PCR procedure were 7, 8 and 6 flocks, respectively. There were 5 flocks that were detected to have positive reactors in all tests. The percentage of positive results depending on age: 1 month, 1-2 months, 2-3 months and 3-4 months tested by SPA, ELISA and PCR was 18.2-40%, 16.7-40% and 18.2- 40%, respectively. This study found that the older the flock the higher the number of positive reactors was found. MG DNA was determined in birds older than 1 month. In addition, respiratory clinical signs were probably observed in the MG infected flocks.
Irrigation return flow causing a nitrate hotspot and denitrification imprints in groundwater at Tinwald, New Zealand

Abstract. Nitrate concentrations in groundwater have been historically high (N≥11.3 mg L−1) in an area surrounding Tinwald, Ashburton, since at least the mid-1980s. The local community is interested in methods to remediate the high nitrate in groundwater. To do this, they need to know where the nitrate is coming from. Tinwald groundwater exhibits two features stemming from irrigation with local groundwater (i.e. irrigation return flow). The first feature is increased concentrations of nitrate (and other chemicals and stable isotopes) in a “hotspot” around Tinwald. The chemical concentrations of the groundwater are increased by recirculation of water already relatively high in chemicals. The irrigation return flow coefficient C (irrigation return flow divided by irrigation flow) is found to be consistent with the chemical enrichments. The stable isotopes of the groundwater show a similar pattern of enrichment by irrigation return flow of up to 40 % and are also enriched by evaporation (causing a loss of about 5 % of the original water mass). Management implications are that irrigation return flow needs to be taken into account in modelling of nitrate transport through soil–groundwater systems and in avoiding overuse of nitrate fertiliser leading to greater leaching of nitrate to the groundwater and unnecessary economic cost. The second feature is the presence of “denitrification imprints” (shown by enrichment of the δ15N and δ18ONO3 values of nitrate) in even relatively oxic groundwaters. The denitrification imprints can be clearly seen because (apart from denitrification) the nitrate has a blended isotopic composition due to irrigation return flow and N being retained in the soil–plant system as organic N. The nitrate concentration and isotopic compositions of nitrate are found to be correlated with the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. This denitrification imprint is attributed to localised denitrification in fine pores or small-scale physical heterogeneity where conditions are reducing. The implication is that denitrification could be occurring where it is not expected because groundwater DO concentrations are not low.
Predictive Voltage Control: Empowering Domestic Customers With a Key Role in the Active Management of LV Networks

In order to avoid voltage problems derived from the connection of large amounts of renewable-based generation to the electrical distribution system, new advanced tools need to be developed that are able to exploit the presence of Distributed Energy Resources (DER). This paper describes the approach proposed for a predictive voltage control algorithm to be used in Low Voltage (LV) distribution networks in order to make use of available flexibilities from domestic consumers via their Home Energy Management System (HEMS) and more traditional resources from the Distribution System Operator (DSO), such as transformers with On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) and storage devices. The proposed algorithm—the Low Voltage Control (LVC)—is detailed in this paper. The algorithm was tested through simulation using a real Portuguese LV network and real consumption and generation data, in order to evaluate its performance in preparation for a field-trial validation in a Portuguese smart grids pilot.