Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alternative antipredator responses of two coexisting Daphnia species to negative size selection by YOY perch

Our study showed for the first time in nature that two coexisting Daphnia adopted alternative life history and behavioural strategies to cope with negative size-selection predation by gape-limited young-of-the-year (YOY) perch. We evaluated the phenotypic plasticity in life history and behavioural traits of two coexisting Daphnia species, D. pulicaria (2 mm) and D. galeata mendotae (1.4 mm), in response to seasonal changes in predation by YOY yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in a mesotrophic lake. We expected that the large-sized D. pulicaria, the most likely subjected to sizeselective predation by YOY perch, will show stronger antipredator responses than the small-sized D. galeata mendotae. To test this hypothesis, we examined changes in life history and behavioural traits in juveniles and adults of both species during four YOY fish predation periods that were selected based on the presence of YOY perch in the pelagic zone and the relative abundance of Daphnia prey in their gut contents. Our study supports the scenario of negative size-selective predation by gape-limited YOY perch on both Daphnia species. The electivity index indicated that no daphnids with a body length . 1.75 mm were predated by YOY yellow perch. Coexisting Daphnia exhibited phenotypic plasticity in their antipredator defenses based on their vulnerability to seasonal changes in size-selective predation of YOY perch. Juvenile Daphnia were the targeted prey and they responded by a decreased body length. Behavioural defenses were the dominant strategy used by both adult Daphnia populations to withstand high predation. A decreased size at maturity was not employed by Daphnia, except at the very end of the predation period. Behavioural defenses are short-term strategy adopted to avoid predation. Both antipredator defenses became unnecessary expenses and were no longer sustained after the predation period.
Técnicas para a obtenção de preparações citológicas com alta freqüência de metáfases mitóticas em plantas: Passiflora (Passifloraceae) e Crotalaria (Leguminosae)

Experiments were carried out aiming to optimize procedures for cytological preparations of root tips with high frequency of metaphase cells showing clear features of chromosome morphology, in species belonging to two genera of plants, Passiflora (Passifloraceae) and Crotalaria (Leguminosae). For the accumulation of metaphases, as well as prophases and prometaphases with well condensed chromosomes, pretreatments of root tips with different combinations of 8-hydroxiquinoline, a mitotic fuse inhibitor and with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, were evaluated in Feulgen stained preparations. The treatments with 8-hydroxiquinoline at 300ppm + cycloheximide at 3.125ppm, and with 8hydroxiquinoline at 300ppm + cycloheximide at 6.25ppm, both for 1 hour and 30 minutes, were more effective respectively for Passiflora and Crotalaria species. This investigation illustrates a case of differences of pretreatment procedures between two genera of plants, as well as represents a basic work for studies involving the comparison of the karyotype of species belonging to these genera, and especially, for the detection of chromosome markers via several cytogenetic methods (C-banding, fluorescent-chromosome banding and in situ hybridization).
The dynamics of fine root length, biomass, and nitrogen content in two northern hardwood ecosystems

The dynamics of fine (<2.0 mm) roots were measured in two sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) dominated ecosystems (northern and southern sites) during 1989 and 1990 using a combination of minirhizotrons and destructive harvests of fine root biomass and N content. Greater than 50% of annual length production occurred before midsummer in both ecosystems, while the period of greatest mortality was from late summer through winter. About one third of annual fine root production and mortality occur simultaneously, with little observable change in total root length pools. Using fine root length dynamics to derive biomass production and mortality, we calculated annual biomass production values of approximately 8000 and 7300 kg•ha−1•year−1, respectively, at the southern and northern sites. Corresponding biomass mortality (i.e., turnover) values were 6700 and 4800 kg•ha−1•year−1, and total nitrogen returns to the soil from fine root mortality were 72 kg•ha−1•year−1 at the southern site and 54 kg•ha−1•year−1 at the .
Identification of Current Proficiency Level of Extension Competencies and the Competencies Needed for Extension Agents to Be Successful in the 21st Century

In this era of globalization, competency is an issue of concern to any field of professionals and their clients. Competency is an integrated set of skills, knowledge, and attitudes that allow one to effectively carry out the activities of a given work to the standards expected in the employment context. The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to determine the current proficiency level of North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents’ competencies and the other competencies they need to develop to be successful in Cooperative Extension. Findings indicate that the current proficiency level of competency for Extension agents in North Carolina Cooperative Extension varies from moderate to high in all 42 items listed in the survey. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that Extension agents’ years of Extension experience and age were major determinants of their overall proficiency level. Extension agents’ proficiency levels did not vary with gender, level of education, professional association affiliation, job position, or area of job responsibility. The research revealed that emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, flexibility for adapting to changing environments, and ability to manage resources were the most significant other competencies needed for Extension agents to be successful in current context.
An Investigation On Parenting Styles And Gender As Factors Influencing Assertiveness Among Undergraduates

Assertiveness is a substantial communication style that enhances successful relationships with families and colleagues (Mahmoud, AI Kalaldeh and Abed El-Rahman, 2013). Assertive behaviour involves expressing our legitimate rights as an individual. Everyone has the right to express our own wants, needs, feelings and ideas. Other individuals have a right too to respond to our assertiveness with their own ideas and feelings. Therefore, an assertive behaviour involves a negotiating agreeable compromise, opening the way for honest relationship with others (Kumar and Fernandez, 2017). Hollandsworth (1977), defined assertiveness as “the expression of one‟s feelings, needs, preference, or opinions in a nonthreatening, non-punitive manner”. Assertive persons are known to make choices and usually achieve their own goals, being truthful to self and straight forward. On the other hand, non-assertive behaviour implies being passive without expressing one‟s feelings, needs and ideas; ignoring personal rights and allowing others to infringe upon. People often choose non-assertive behaviour to avoid unpleasant situations, tension, conflicts and confrontation (Kumar and Fernandez, 2017) On the other hand, parenting style is the way parents bring up their children (Okoli. Ezeme, Chime Ozougwu, et. al 2020). Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs due to its complexity and diversity. There are so many options and opinions to deal with, and when parenting goes wrong; its Abstract: The study investigated parenting styles and gender as factors influencing assertiveness among 180 undergraduates drawn from faculty of social sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Participants consist of 80 males (44.44%) and 100 females (55.56%) with age range between 19 to 28 years. Data was collected using Parental Care Scale and Assertiveness inventory. The result of the hierarchical linear regression indicated that gender and authoritative parenting style significantly influenced assertiveness as male undergraduates reported high level of assertiveness than the female undergraduates, while authoritarian and permissive parenting styles were insignificant. The implications of the findings require that parents who have already adopted the authoritative parenting style should thrive in encouraging the female undergraduates through assertive training to come up in their assertiveness level. Further study in this area should consider both younger and older participants in their study and besides parenting style, other variables like: styles, variables like personality, peer pressure, locality, and self-perception, should be tested on assertiveness.
Clinico-Demographic Profile Of Traumatic Spinal Injury in a Tertiary Hospital

As of today, there has been a limited number of studies about the demographic profile of traumatic spinal injuries in our locality and our country. The objective of this study is to determine the clinico-demographic profile of patients with traumatic spinal injury admitted in our institution for the past 10 years. A chart review of 73 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria with traumatic spinal injuries were reviewed. Traumatic spinal injury in the locality mostly affects ages 46-60 years with a mean age of 53.5. Males were most commonly affected, married and unemployed secondary to fall and motor vehicular accidents. The cervical spine is the most commonly affected area, resulting to an incomplete paraplegia with ASIA D score in most cases. These patients were mostly managed conservatively and improved upon discharge. Strict implementation of traffic rules and fall prevention should be emphasized by the government and the locality, and also increase the awareness of patients at risk for traumatic spinal injuries and its debilitating consequences.
Investigation of the Effects of Prestige, Satisfaction and Communication on Brand Identification, word- of-mouth and Repurchase in Luxury Automobile Industry

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect reputation (prestige), satisfaction, and organizational communication on brand identification and to show how brand identification influences word-of-mouth and brand repurchase in luxury automobiles industry. A survey of owners of luxury automobiles in Tehran, that the customers referred to authorized repair shops automobiles. 408 questionnaires were collected and cluster sampling. Data analysis is used to Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and is used to SPSS & LISREL software for data analysis. The results show that reputation (prestige), satisfaction and organizational communication influence on brand identification. Also develop relationships with customers through brand identification causes to word-of-mouth about the brand and intentions to repurchase. Thus, managers are provided with strategies that lead to improved understanding of customers of the brand, so that they can strengthen the customers’ brand identification.
The Paradox of the Value-Form Paradigm

This paper argues that the value-form paradigm both loses sight of the origin of value in the historically specific relations of capitalist production and that it reinstates the fetishism it seeks to oppose. Since it holds that the creation of value takes place post festum in exchange, it cannot be said that surplus-value is extracted from the laborer. And since it regards abstract labor as a substance constituted in exchange, it cannot retain Marx’s theory of inversion. Thus, as an interpretation of Capital, the value-form paradigm produces logical inconsistencies in Marx’s theory of value and should thus be rejected as implausible.
Effects of Genotype and Date of Harvest on Infection of Peanut Seed by Aspergillus flavus and Subsequent Contamination with Aflatoxin

Several peanut genotypes reported as resistant, susceptible or highly susceptible to in vitro colonization of rehydrated, mature, stored, undamaged seed by Aspergillus flavus (IVSCAF) were tested for natural seed infection by A. flavus and other fungi in two or more replicated field trials at ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India, in 1979–1984. Undamaged pods were sampled before maturity, at optimum maturity (normal harvest) and when over - mature (late harvest) and seed examined for infection by A. flavus and other fungi. In the 1983 and 1984 rainy and 1983/84 postrainy seasons, only four genotypes (one resistant and three susceptible) were tested, and seed were also tested for aflatoxin content. In all seasons the genotypes reported as IVSCAF - resistant had significantly lower levels of seed infection with A. flavus and other fungi than did genotypes reported as IVSCAF - susceptible. Cenotypic differences in levels of seed infection by A. flavus were consistent over seasons. The resistant cultivar J11 had a significantly lower aflatoxin content than the other three IVSCAF - susceptible genotypes tested in the 1983–1984 seasons. Drought stress in the 1984 season apparently increased susceptibility to seed infection by A. flavus and other fungi, and to aflatoxin contamination, in all cultivars. Seed infection by A. flavus and other fungi, and aflatoxin contamination increased with increasing maturity of pods, indicating the importance of lifting the peanut crop at optimum maturity.
Seasonal Variation in Feeding Patterns and Food Niche Overlap in the Mediterranean Blennies Scartella cristata, Parablennius pilicornis and Lipophrys trigloides (Pisces: Blenniidae)

Abstract. Gut contents of a total of 180 specimens of the blennies Scartella cristata (L., 1758). Parablennius pilicornis (Cuvier, 1829) and Lipophrys trigloides (Valenciennes, 1836) caught in the course of 1990 off Playa de la Mora (Prov. Tarragona, Spain) were analysed. The quantitative composition of food differed considerably between the 3 species (mostly algae in the herbivorous S. cristara. Amphipoda in the carnivorous L. trigloides and a variety of items in omnivorous P. pilicornis). The 3 species in the course of a year overlap little in food resource use, with overlap reaching its maximum in April when juvenile Mytilus on the rock substrate are in ample supply. In S. cristata and L. trigloides, diversity of food items is similarly lowest in July and April, respectively, when these 2 species attain their optimal nutritional status. In contrast, diet diversity and food intake are inversely correlated in P. pilicornis. Evidently, resource sharing between blenniid species in the rocky shore habitat is clearly structured, but subject to seasonal dynamics. It is concluded that food niche analyses should consider seasonal plasticity in feeding patterns and refrain from premature conclusions based on short-term studies.
Pattern of antimicrobial usage for prophylaxis of surgical site infection in a tertiary care hospital of Western Uttar Pradesh

Background: The practice of giving antibiotic prophylaxis has resulted in the reduction of surgical site infections (SSI), thus reducing cost, morbidity, and mortality. Common nosocomial infections in surgical patients include SSIs, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonias and blood stream infections (BSIs). The present study was, therefore, designed to analyze the efficacy of antimicrobials used for prophylaxis during surgery in a tertiary care hospital in India.Methods: Total 100 patients were enrolled. Name, timing, route, dose of antimicrobials given were recorded. All the relevant data was taken from the patient’s medication charts and medical records. Chi-square test and t-test were applied.Results: The optimal time of giving antimicrobial prophylaxis in present study was 1 hour before the surgery. A total of 8 different antimicrobials were prescribed to 100 patients, out of which most commonly prescribed were cephalosporin i.e. 82%. Majority of SSI (57.12%) occurred when the duration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) was for ≥2 hours (p value <0.05). Common organisms seen in SSI were E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas and Kleibsella species. The hospital stay of patients with SSI was more as compared to patients without SSI in present study (p value <0.05). Conclusions: It has been observed that inappropriate selection and timing of giving SAP play an important role in developing SSI, which can be adequately controlled by adopting SAP guidelines, good infection control practices and risk factor analysis.
A Revision of the Dubois Crocodylians, Gavialis bengawanicus and Crocodylus ossifragus, from the Pleistocene Homo erectus Beds of Java

ABSTRACT Revision of the two extinct Javanese crocodylian species Gavialis bengawanicus Dubois, 1908, and Crocodylus ossifragus Dubois, 1908, indicates that only the former is valid and that the latter is a junior subjective synonym of the extant C. siamensis Schneider, 1801. Gavialis bengawanicus is diagnosed by a relatively small number of maxillary and dentary teeth, a modest maxillary process developed into the lacrimal, a W-shaped maxillo-palatine suture, a planar skull table, occlusal pits present exclusively on the dentaries, and relatively small and subcircular supratemporal fossae at maturity. It is the best-known extinct Gavialis, and it probably represents the only valid extinct Gavialis species known outside the Indian subcontinent. Both crocodylians from Java have been found exclusively along with the Stegodon-Homo erectus fauna, which is considered to be largely the result of an Early Pleistocene dispersal from the Siwaliks Hills via the so-called Siva-Malayan route. It is not clear if the dispersal of Gavialis from the Indian subcontinent to Java necessarily required the crossing of salt water barriers, but the possible occurrence of Gavialis remains in Sulawesi and Woodlark, two islands located east of the Huxley and Wallace lines that were never connected to the mainland, can be explained by inferring a marine dispersal. According to the present knowledge of the past distribution of Gavialis, this genus originated in the Indo-Pakistani area in the early Miocene and during the Quaternary dispersed to the Sunda region, possibly reaching western-most Oceania.
Lamyropsis genus in the Mediterranean area: Phylogenetic position of L. microcephala (Asteraceae: Cardueae)

The aim of this study was to give results about position of Lamyropsis microcephala within an already existing phylogeny of Lamyropsis genus on the Mediterranean area, by analyzing external transcribed spacer/internal transcribed spacer sequence data. The four Lamyropsis species considered in the model can be recognized as distinct taxa originated from successive migration/speciation events.
Potential hepatoprotective effects of vitamin E and Nigella sativa oil on hepatotoxicity induced by chronic exposure to malathion in human and male albino rats

Malathion is an organophosphorus (OP) insecticide and has a wide range of use in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public health. Malathion and other OP insecticides produce hepatotoxic effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of Nigella sativa oil and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) on the hepatotoxicity induced by malathion on workers involved in the formulation of pesticides, chronically exposed to malathion, and in male albino rats orally administrated malathion. This study was conducted on both human and experimental animals, the human study was conducted on 30 control subjects working as administrators and 45 subjects working in formulation of pesticides and exposed to malathion (≥3 years), all were males with age ranges from 30 to 60 years. The 45 males working in pesticides formulation were classified into three groups; (1) 15 workers exposed to pesticides (2) 15 workers exposed to pesticides and received vitamin (E), in a dose of 10 mg kg−1 day−1 orally for 60 days, and (3) 15 workers exposed to pesticides and received 100 mg kg−1 day−1 of N. sativa oil for 60 days. The animal experiment was conducted on 40 adult male albino rats weighing 150–200 g. They were divided into four groups (10 rats in each group). First group served as the control group, the second group received malathion in a dose of 50 mg kg−1 orally per day for 60 days, the third group received malathion (in the same dose and route of administration) and vitamin E in a dose of 10 mg kg−1 day−1 orally for 60 days, and the fourth group received malathion (in the same dose and route of administration) and N. sativa oil in a dose of 100 mg kg−1 day−1 orally for 60 days. Liver function tests (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], serum alkaline phosphatase [ALP], albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, and total proteins), antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), and lipid peroxidation [MDA] were analyzed in both human and animal experiments. The results of both human and animal study revealed that, exposure to malathion produced significant increases in AST, ALT, and lipid peroxidation. There were significant decrease in albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, total protein, and antioxidant enzymes. There was no significant change in ALP. In addition exposed workers showed significant decreases in serum globulin. Nigella sativa oil or vitamin E administration showed significant improvement of liver function tests, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes impairment induced by malathion. Thus, dietary supplement, N. sativa oil, or vitamin E may represent a potential therapeutic agent in reducing malathion-induced hepatotoxicity.
Circularly polarized S-band square patch antenna with a single cut for S-band small satellites applications- Ali Mohammed Mebrek,Algerian Space Agency

In this paper, the main purpose is to design an Sband patch antenna which is basically directional and circularly polarized for S-band small satellites applications. This antenna has a square shape ground and on the upper portion there is a patch which is also square but with a single truncated corner in order to get circular polarization, the connection between the patch and the ground has been established using a coaxial probe. The designed antenna can be easily integrated with a small satellite body due to the simplicity of the design. Commercially available finite element method solver based High Frequency Structural Simulator (HFSS) have been used in this analysis. The proposed antenna achieved desirable results with an axial ration of 0.17dB at center frequency of 2.2 GHz and less than 3dB for a frequency band of 31 MHz and beam width of more than 110°. The gain achieved by this antenna is around 7dBi at center frequency. The directional radiation pattern, circular polarization (CP), and high gain characteristics make the proposed antenna suitable for small satellite applications. Keywords—Circularly polarized; S-band; square patch; single truncated corner directional antenna; high gain; coaxial probe; small satellites.