Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First breeding records for Damara Terns and density of other shorebirds along Angola's Namib Desert coast

The Damara Tern Sterna balaenarum is a small coastal-nesting seabird that breeds in the Namib Desert, with a stronghold in Namibia. About 125 pairs are known from scattered localities in South Africa, and there are suggestions that it breeds in the northern end of the Namib in Angola. During a three-day survey in southern Angola in January 2009, from Tombua in the north to the Cunene River mouth in the south (a distance of 197 km), 573 Damara Terns, of which 7.5% were fledglings, were recorded in three main concentrations: two in the Baia dos Tigres region, and one 30 km north of the Cunene River mouth. A breeding colony was located at the southern site containing a minimum of six nests with single eggs (5) or a recently hatched chick (1). This represents the first known breeding record for Damara Terns in Angola and is a minimum estimate of the true numbers. Other shorebirds encountered on the survey included the first record of European Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and the second record of Swift Tern Sterna bergii in Angola. A total of 26 species of shorebirds was recorded at a density (33 birds km−1 coast) that was identical to that recorded 10 years previously. The probable stronghold of Damara Terns in Angola is the Baia dos Tigres region, where shorebird numbers are relatively high compared to other sections of the Namib Desert coast.
Effect of inoculating fungi into compost on growth of tomato and compost microflora.

The ability of Acremonium butyri, Chaetomium globosum, Gliocladium roseum, Trichoderma Izamatum and Zygorrhynchus moelleri to enhance growth of tomato plants cv. Alta was examined by inoculating soilless compost with these fungi. The effect of inocula on the population of other microflora in the compost was also examined. T. hamatum and Z. moelleri significantly (P<0.05) increased the growth of tomato plants and this increase was greater than resulted from normal fertiliser practice adopted by growers. The population of inoculated T. hamatum and Z. moelleri remained constant in compost with or without tomato plants whereas the populations of other introduced fungi declined with time. Each of the 5 introduced fungi reduced the original populations of Fusarium, Penicilliunz and Mucor, but not the total bacterial or actinomycete populations. The microbial populations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in compost with plants than in compost without plants.
Does climate change really explain changes in the fisheries productivity of Lake Kariba (Zambia-Zimbabwe)?

This paper examines the notion that the fish stocks in Lake Kariba may now be suffering from the effects of climate change as air temperatures there have increased by about 2 °C since 1960. The ecosystem of Lake Kariba has changed dramatically since it was created in 1958, and the nutrients released by the collapse of the floating water-fern Salvinia molesta evidently brought about an increase in fisheries productivity that lasted for only a few years. This could account for some of the decreased catches attributed to climate change, although the data from the inshore fishery may be unreliable in any case. There is little evidence that climate change has affected the inshore fish stocks. On the other hand, research data from a fished area in Zambia and a closed area in Zimbabwe clearly reveal the impact of fishing. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) in gill nets decreased steadily in Zambia but the CPUE increased in Zimbabwe until it was around 2.5 times greater than in Zambia. The fishery for the introduced sardine Limnothrissa miodon is influenced by river flow, itself a reflection of the climate in the huge catchment area above the lake, and by the seasonal cycle of stratification. These factors do not explain all the variation in the catch of this species, and its CPUE declined through periods when river flows were both high and low. The impact of fishing is the only factor that can explain this.
Food quality and food threshold: implications of food stoichiometry to competitive ability of herbivore plankton

Exploitative competition for food resources is considered to be an important factor determining the dominant species in communities. In such a competition, a threshold food concentration (TFC), where the growth rate becomes zero, is crucial in determination of competitive outcomes. In addition, recent studies on ecological stoichiometry have suggested that the TFC of a species would differ due to changes in food elements that limit growth. If the magnitude of change in TFC differs between species, competitive superiority among species may also change. The experiments showed that the rank order of the species in TFC changed according to the P content of food, suggesting that competitively superior species can vary with elemental composition of food. These results imply that as well as quantity, the elemental composition of food is important in exploitative competition, and the changes in elemental composition of food may be critical to shape an entire community structure.
Effects of temperature on the development and survival of an endangered butterfly, Shijimiaeoides divinus barine (Leech) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

The effects of temperature on the development and survival of Shijimiaeoides divinus barine were examined in the laboratory in 2008. The eggs and larvae were reared at temperatures of 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C with a long‐day photoperiod of 16 h light : 8 h dark (16L : 8D). The highest hatchability of eggs was 88.0% at 20°C, but hatchability at high temperatures of 30 and 35°C was 30 and 0%, respectively. The lowest and highest survival rates from the first to third instar were 18.8% at 15°C and 76.9% at 20°C. Few deaths were observed after the fourth instar. The shortest developmental periods of the eggs and larvae were 4.0 and 15.8 days at 30°C, and the durations of the egg and larval stages increased significantly as the temperature decreased. The developmental zero and thermal constants were 9.6°C and 82.6 degree–days for the egg stage, and 10.7°C and 306.8 degree–days for the larval stage. The developmental period of the natural population of S. divinus barine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture was calculated using the developmental zero, thermal constants and Azumino City temperature data.
Do Peers Influence Achievement in High School Economics? Evidence from Georgia's Economics End of Course Test

The authors provide the first estimates of the impact of peers on achievement in high school economics. The estimates are obtained by analyzing three years of data on all high school students who take Georgia's required economics course and its accompanying high-stakes End of Course Test (Georgia Department of Education). They use an instrumental variables approach with teacher-level fixed effects to control for selection bias, simultaneity, measurement error in the measure of peer quality, and nonrandom assignment of teachers to students. The authors find that an increase of one standard deviation in the prior academic achievement of peers increases achievement in economics by 0.03 standard deviation.
Influence of tomato spotted wilt virus on performance and behaviour of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)

The general principles in pathogen transmission by insects involve a complex and specific interplay, in this case between thrips, tospovirus and their shared host plant, which has led to outbreaks of crop disease epidemics of economic and social importance. The possible processes and factors driving their co‐evolution were partly studied by rearing Frankliniella occidentalis [western flower thrips (WFT)] on either tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)–infected or uninfected Capsicum annum leaflets throughout their larval stages. Later, pupae were transferred individually on healthy leaf discs for further studies of the influence of TSWV on WFT development and behavioural patterns. The exposure of WFT to TSWV was found to improve performance with regard to longevity and survival, with mean longevity being significantly higher in TSWV‐exposed WFT compared to unexposed ones (F(3,403) = 22.44, P < 0.0001). The observed improvement in survival was as a result of significant reduction in mortality for the WFT individuals exposed to TSWV (F(3,383) = 849.94, P < 0.0001) compared to the unexposed. However, the results showed a significant reduction in mean daily fecundity overtime (F10,10) = 246.66, P < 0.0001) and across the four treatments (F(3,30) = 6.62, P = 0.001), as well as lifetime fecundity (F(3,23) = 21.23, P < 0.0001) of the WFT exposed to TSWV compared to the unexposed reared on uninfected leaf discs. For preferential test, C. annum leaf discs infected with TSWV were more attractive to WFT as compared to healthy leaf discs (χ2(4, 34) = 112.35, P < 0.0001). These results are envisaged to contribute to a clear understanding into the plant–vector–virus interaction, which is essential for accurate diagnosis and control of the TSWV epidemic, as well as the control of F. occidentalis as crop pest.
The potential for participatory landscape management to reduce the impact of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on lamb production

Context Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation has an impact on populations of many species throughout its range worldwide, and as such, the red fox is the target of control programs. Aims We investigated the potential for participatory landscape management to reduce the impact of fox predation on a major prey species, lambs. Methods The present study monitored fox-management programs already operating across 4.5 million hectares of regional New South Wales to compare the impact of varying (frequency and spatial coverage) control effort on lamb survival. Key results The frequency and timing of fox control was correlated with lamb survival. Lamb survival was higher in areas where fox baiting was carried out twice a year, in autumn and late winter/spring. Spatial coverage of the control program was also positively correlated with lamb survival. Properties that had near neighbours (up to 2.5 km away) participating in group fox-control programs had higher survival of lambs than properties that did not. Conclusions These results support the development of a high level of group participation in fox-control programs that considers both spatial extent and frequency of baiting programs. They also support a movement away from the reactionary, short-term practice of baiting small areas to protect vulnerable prey. Implications Coordinated group-baiting programs are likely to deliver improved lamb survival and should be promoted in areas where ongoing control programs for foxes are necessary.
EFFECT OF PIPERONYL BUTOXIDE ON THE ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF CHLORDIMEFORM BY LARVAE OF THE CATTLE TICK, BOOPHILUS MICROPLUS *

Cattle tick larvae continuously exposed to 0.02%N′‐(4‐chloro‐o‐toryi)‐N, N‐dimethylformamkline (chlordimeform‐14C) in impregnated packets absorbed the acaricide and metabolized it to N′‐(4‐chloro‐o‐tolyl)‐N‐methylformamidine (demethylchlordimeform), 4′‐chloro‐o‐formotolutdide, 4‐chloro‐o‐toluidine, and an unidentified polar conjugate. Larval mortality was greatest between 24 and 48 h, and more than 85% of larvae were dead by 48 h. During this time interval (24 to 48 h) demethylchlordimeform, itself an acaricide, was the major metabolite.
Monophyletic subgroups of the tribe Millettieae (Leguminosae) as revealed by phytochrome nucleotide sequence data

Phylogenetic analysis of phytochrome (PHY) genes reveals the identity and relationships of four PHY loci among papilionoid Leguminosae. A phylogenetic analysis of loci combined according to species suggests that most of the tribe Millettieae belongs to one of two monophyletic clades: the Derris-Lonchocarpus or the Tephrosia clade. Together these two form a monophyletic group that is sister to a lineage represented by Millettia grandis of Millettia sect. Compresso-gemmatae. Collectively, this large monophyletic group is referred to as the Millettieae-core group, which based on our sampling, includes species of Millettieae that do not accumulate the nonprotein amino acid canavanine and that mostly have pseudoracemose or pseudopaniculate inflorescences. This new phylogenetic framework assists in targeting additional taxa for future sampling. For example, the "American Derris" (Deguelia), which accumulate canavanine, might not be members of the Millettieae core group. Afgekia is also predicted not to be a member because it accumulates canavanine and has an inflorescence of terminal racemes. PHY gene analysis specifically reveals that certain genera traditionally classified in Millettieae are actually distantly related to the Millettieae core group, such as Austrosteensia, Callerya, Craibia, Cyclolobium, Fordia, Platycyamus, Poecilanthe, and Wisteria.
The role of the Brazilian Congress in defining public social policies

ABSTRACT The analysis of the role of Congress in defining public policy matters to the debate on the characterisation of legislatures in a spectrum that ranges from the ‘transformative’ to the ‘arena’ type (according to the typology of Polsby). This paper, related to the Brazilian case, considers definitions relevant to the areas of education and health. On education, this study presents an analysis of the content of the legislative proposals of parliamentarians and two case studies, which discuss policy definitions of funding and quality assessment. On health, this article presents an analysis of related legislative proposals and especially those that resulted in funding rules. These studies suggest that Congress in Brazil has an important part to play in defining public policies, acting either as a transforming agent or as an arena for debates. The Brazilian Congress seems to have been, at the same time, active, reactive, collaborative and innovative. This finding leads to the conclusion that the Brazilian Legislature must be placed at an intermediate level between the extreme types of Polsby’s categories; this position is compatible with the ‘coalitional presidentialism’.
Studying Animal Diets In Situ Using Portable Stable Isotope Analyzers

I assessed the usefulness of a portable stable isotope analyzer for assigning animals to food chains of tropical ecosystems. Based on the stable carbon isotope ratio of the animals’ breath (δ13Cbreath), it was possible to distinguish between the isotopically distinct food chains of fruit‐eating bats and blood‐eating vampire bats. Portable instruments for the analysis of δ13Cbreath may improve our ability to quantify animal diets, because they are accurate and cheap, and most importantly they can be used in situ.
IdentIfyIng the gene(s) that allow tIgrIopus calIfornIcus to survIve under thermal stress

The copepod species, Tigriopus californicus, is one of the most thermally adaptable species in the biosphere. They have been found in tide pools from the coast of Alaska down to the coast of Southern California. However, as all other organisms have limits, the T. californicus are only able to tolerate temperatures up to 34oC. By comparing gene expression between specimens exposed to high temperatures and those expressed to optimal temperatures, we identified the genes responsible for conferring tolerance to increasing temperatures. After testing gene expression between copepods at 20oC and at 34oC, we have determined that both the hsp70 gene and the toll-like receptors of the T. californicus play a role in tolerance to temperature variance. L’espece copepode, Tigriopus californicus, est une des especes les plus thermiquement adaptables de la biosphere. On les trouve dans les bâches depuis la cote de l’Alaska jusqu’a la cote sud de la Californie. Toutefois, comme tous les autres organ¬ismes, les Tigriopus californicus ont des limites et ne peuvent pas tolerer des temperatures superieures a 34oC. En comparant l’expression genetique entre les specimens exposes a des temperatures elevees et ceux exposes a des temperatures optimales, nous avons identifie les genes responsables de la tolerance a des temperatures en hausse. Apres avoir teste l’expression genetique entre les copepodes a 20oC et a 34oC, nous avons determine que le gene hsp70 et les recepteurs de type Toll du T. californicus jouent tous deux un role dans la tolerance aux variations de temperature.
In-Vitro Simulated Gastric Fluid Digestion and Immunogenicity of Different Crustacean Protein Extracts

To compare the immunogenicity and digestibility in-vitro simulated gastric fluid, the protein extracts of white-leg shrimp, Chinese shrimp (female and male shrimp were separated), Southern rough shrimp, Acetes chinensis, Mantis shrimp and crawfish were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, indirect ELISA and Western blotting. The results showed that except for Acetes chinensis, the larger proportion of molecular mass were near to 25 kDa (sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein) and 38 kDa (tropomyosin). White-leg shrimp protein and Southern rough shrimp protein had a maximum similarity of 68.2%. White-leg shrimp protein had higher immunogenicity than others. There were much more IgE-binding bands in male Chinese shrimp protein, while Crawfish just had only one IgE-binding band (38 kDa, tropomyosin). In simulated gastric fluid system, the protein such as 25 kDa was rapidly degraded within 0.5 mins, while tropomyosin (38 kDa) was relatively resistant to pepsin digestion. The Western blotting results indicated that the allergenicity of those crustacean protein extracts still remained even they were digested with simulated gastric fluid for 60 min.
Biochemical differences between Calanus finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus Esterases, malate and triose-phosphate dehydrogenases, aldolase, ‘peptidases’, and Other enzymes

Three species of copepods—Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus), C. helgolandicus (Claus) and C. hyperboreus (Krcyer)—can be easily and consistently differentiated by starch-gel electrophoresis of a number of their enzymes. The techniques used allow the study of individual variation in natural populations of small invertebrates, some of the variation being readily equated with known genetically based protein polymorphisms in man and other species. C. finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus have 15 enzyme zones in common and differ by 24-28 zones. By the rationale of molecular biology it can be suggested that these two forms differ in two-thirds of the structural genes. The results support the morpho-logical studies by Rees (1949) and Matthews (1966b) and the chromosomal studies by Harding (1963). Hence it is clear that the ‘finmarchicus-helgolandicus’ problem is solved: C. finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus are distinct species. The potentials and problems of biochemical systematics are discussed with particular reference to marine biology. INTRODUCTION Electrophoretic techniques have contributed to the solution of many taxonomic problems—for example, the monophyletic origin of ratite birds (Sibley, 1960), the discovery of a sibling species of sea-cucumber (Manwell & Baker, 1963 a; Manwell, 1966a), the status of species and populations of pheasants (Baker, 1965; Baker, Manwell, Labisky & Harper, 1966), the union of the orang-utan, chimpanzee, gorilla and man into one family, the Pongidae (Tashian, 1965), and the recognition of hybridization in lizards (Dessauer, Fox & Pough, 1962) and fishes (Manwell, Baker & Childers, 1963).
Instinctive participation: community-initiated mechanisms for managing and maintaining urban poor settlements in Cairo, Egypt

The demand for the collective involvement of residents in managing and maintaining their urban residential areas is increasing all over the world, particularly in the developing countries. Such collective responsibility for shared urban spaces and building elements among residents was deep-rooted in the traditional urbanism of Cairo. By the early twentieth century, the distribution of responsibilities had changed radically, with the adoption of the Western-inspired maintenance and management paradigms throughout municipalities. With the deterioration of municipal services in Cairo, especially in urban poor areas, and the shortcomings associated with the top-down participatory approaches of nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations, the search for an alternative approach is now desperately needed. This research investigates the community-driven, spontaneously initiated participatory mechanisms and tools of the urban poor in Cairo for managing and maintaining their housing built environment. For the research method, three residential settlements representing the three prevailing patterns of urban poor housing were selected in order to address three main questions: what are the practices among the urban poor for managing and maintaining their housing built environment in Cairo today? ; what are the attitudes of those residents toward their shared responsibility for managing and maintaining their housing built environment? ; and why do they have these attitudes? Through this research, it has been found that the local communities managed to develop self-organizing mechanisms and spontaneous tools to efficiently manage and maintain their housing built environment. On the other hand, an analysis of residents’ preferences and attitudes suggests that, in general, they neither prefer to keep taking sole responsibility for managing and maintaining their housing built environment, nor wish to leave the entire process in the hands of local authorities. Instead, they would like to share the responsibility with these authorities. The results of this research can be the base for proposing an innovative approach that recognizes instinctive community-initiated mechanisms, but which also has municipal involvement, to create a ‘localized’ conceptual approach for managing and maintaining deprived urban settlements in Cairo, as well as other potential cities in Egypt, the Arab world, and the developing countries as a whole.
Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella And Escherichia Coli Isolated From Day-Old Chicks, Vom, Nigeria

Reports of large scale mortality of day-old-chicks were received at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria in 2007 to 2008. We investigated the cause of death using several virological and bacteriological techniques, isolated the pathogenic agents and carried out sensitivity tests. Our investigation revealed that Escherichia coli and Salmonella organisms were isolated in the outbreaks. A pattern of antibiotic resistance that seems to be increasing was also found. Considering the role of chickens and its products in the human food chain in Nigeria; and the close interaction between poultry and man, these resistant organisms may pose dangers to humans through the food chain or zoonotic infection and precipitate a similar pattern of resistance in man. We advocated for informed use of antibiotics in the food animals, especially poultry.