bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pistacia terebinthus as a dietary supplement for laying hens
Authors: Çetingül I.S. , Gültepe E.E. , Rahman A , Iqbal A , Uyarlar C , Hacısalihoğlu S , Özçınar Ü , Bayram I
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the potential of Pistacia terebinthus (terebinth) seed meal as a dietary supplement for laying hens. One hundred and ninety-two Babcock 30-week-old laying hens were assigned to one of six treatments (n = 32) with four replicates (n = 8). The hens were fed diets containing 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% terebinth seed meal for eight weeks. Weekly egg production, feed consumption, egg weight, and egg mass were recorded. Egg quality was assessed at the beginning, middle and end of the study. Blood sampling was carried out on 12 birds from each treatment. Total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index were determined. Egg production was greater from hens fed 3% and 4% terebinth than those in the other treatments. Egg weight was increased by supplementation with 2% or more terebinth. Feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, eggshell breaking strength, yolk colour, Haugh units, concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total protein, phosphorus and calcium in serum, and total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and the oxidative stress index did not differ across treatments. It is concluded that dietary terebinth seed supplementation generated positive effects on egg production and egg weight without adverse effects on egg quality or the metabolism of the hen.Keywords: antioxidant, egg production, egg quality, feed consumption, serum biochemistry
Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids in diets fed to sows on fatty acids in brain, muscle and skin of their piglets
Authors: De Gasperín I , Vicente J.G. , Pinos-Rodríguez J.M. , Montiel F , Loeza R , Martínez-Hernández J.M. , Isabel B
Published: June 2020

The aim of this research was to determine fatty acid profiles in piglet brain, skin, and muscle, and in the milk of sows fed fat with different saturation grades during gestation and lactation. At 42 days of gestation, 50 multiparous sows were randomly allocated to one of two treatments, namely a diet containing pork lard (n = 25) and a diet containing soybean oil (n = 25). The fats were provided at 3.6% during gestation and at 4% during lactation. The experimental diets were offered through the weaning of the piglets. The fatty acid profile of the milk was determined fourteen days after parturition. At weaning (21 days postpartum) and seven days later, one of the piglets (n = 64) from 16 sows allocated to each treatment was selected at random to determine fatty acid profiles in brain, skin and muscle. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were higher in the diet with pork lard than in that with soybean oil, in which the polyunsaturated fat content was higher. A higher saturation of fatty acids was found in milk from the sows that consumed pork lard, which contained more saturated fatty acids than the milk from sows that consumed soybean oil. The fatty acid profiles in muscle and skin of the piglets were affected by the diet of the sows. However, the fatty acid profile of the piglets’ brains was not affected by the diet of their mothers.

Keywords: fat saturation, lard, piglet survival, sow feeding, soybean oil
Carcass, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat from genetic reserve ducks after two reproductive seasons
Authors: Kokoszyński D , Bernacki Z , Biegniewska M , Saleh M , Stęczny K , Zwierzyński R , Kotowicz M , Sobczak M , Żochowska-Kujawska J , Wasilewski P.D. , Bucek T , Kmiecik M
Published: June 2020

The aim of the study was to compare carcass composition and meat quality of i) Pekin ducks of French origin (P9), ii) crosses of wild mallard and Pekin duck (K2), and iii) crosses of Khaki Campbell drakes and Orpington Fauve ducks (KhO1). Twenty carcasses from 110-week-old ducks of each genetic group were used. Carcass weight of P9 was significantly higher than that of K2 and KhO1. Carcasses of K2 ducks had a significantly lower percentage of neck and leg muscles and giblet weight compared with P9 and KhO1 ducks, while carcasses of KhO1 ducks had a significantly higher percentage of wing meat compared with K2 and P9, and a significantly lower percentage of breast muscles compared with P9 ducks. Breast and leg muscles of P9 contained significantly more water than those of K2 and KhO1, and the breast muscles of P9 ducks had more protein and less fat than those of KhO1 birds. The leg muscles of KhO1 contained significantly more protein, and those of K2 had significantly more fat than the other duck groups. Breast muscles of P9 and KhO1 ducks had significantly more collagen but had less in leg muscles compared with K2. Breast fillets from P9 ducks showed higher L*, a*, and b* colour values and shear force than K2 and KhO1 ducks.

Keywords: carcass composition, conservation flocks, meat quality, spent duck
Low levels of heavy metals in shrimps (Decapoda: Atyidae) from Omodo River in southern Nigeria
Authors: Dirisu A.R.
Published: June 2020

Shrimps remain an important source of proteins worldwide. The contamination of the environments with effluence such as from domestic, healthcare systems, industrial waste discharges and agricultural run-offs; are posing much danger to the consumption of shrimp diets by humans in particular. The ingestion of heavy metals from sediment and in water column is chiefly the source of contamination to the shrimps. This study was conducted quarterly and spanned from December, 2012 to May, 2014 with the objectives to determining the background levels of eight heavy metals in whole body mass of crustacean (Caridina africana and C. gabonesis) as well as in the sediments. Standard methods were employed in the sampling and analyses. The results obtained for heavy metals in sediments were in folds higher than what were obtained in the shrimps tissues. The mean range of concentrations of metals in the sediment across the stations were in the order; Zn (15.076-18.182 mg kg-1) > Cu (6.146 - 8.130 mg kg-1) > Pb (0.131-0.198 mg Kg-1) > Co (0.033-0.045mg kg-1) > Cr (0.017-0.028mg kg-1) > Cd (0.002-0.010mg kg-1) > Ni (0.003-0.008 mg kg-1) > V (0.001 mg kg-1). The values of heavy metals in shrimps as obtained in this study were far below the limit stipulated by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and have indeed confirmed the non-industrial waste disposal into the water bodies in Agbede-wetlands including Omodo River.

Keywords: Analysis; Agbede; concentrations; ingestion; sediment; shrimps
Parasitic endohelminths of tree frogs from two rainforest habitats in Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Imasuen A.A. , Ojo O.O. , Adesina O.O. , Enabuele E.E. , Aisien M.S.O.
Published: June 2020

Tree frogs are generally regarded as arboreal frogs and those associated with water during their breeding season as aquatic/arboreal frogs. Obazuwa Wetlands and Ikpako Riparian Habitat are both located in Ovia North East and Ovia South West Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria. Frogs were captured from both habitats based on Acoustic Encounter Survey (AES) and the Visual Encounter Survey (VES) techniques. A total of 169 tree frogs were examined; 103 from Obazuwa Wetlands and 66 from Ikpako Riparian Habitat. The specimens from both sites comprised 08 species. Helminth parasites belonging to four taxa were recovered, which included: Cestoda, Trematoda, Nematoda and Acanthocephala. A prevalence of 39.8% and 30.5% were recorded for Obazuwa Wetlands and Ikpako Habitat, respectively. The helminth parasites were restricted to one of both habitats except for Foleyellides sp., which was common to both sites. Some of the helminth parasites were reported for the first time in some of the hosts such as Baerietta jaegerskioeldi (in Afrixalus nigeriensis and Leptopelis spiritusnoctis), Amplicaecum africanum (in Hyperolius guttulatus, Aplectana macintoshii (in L. spiritusnoctis), Cosmocerca commutata (in A. dorsalis and L. spiritusnoctis) and Physaloptera sp. (in Hyperolius concolor Phase B and H. concolor Phase C). The occurrence of Foleyellides sp. in 6 species of tree frogs with a prevalence range of 23.1-75.1% whereas only two species have been previously reported is exceptional and of pathological concern.

Keywords: Tree frogs; helminthes; wetlands; riparian habitats; Edo State; Nigeria
Comparison of cranial and body morphology of tree squirrels (Helioscurius rufobranchium) in selected locations of rainforest in Nigeria
Authors: Bamidele A.O. , Akinpelu A.I.
Published: June 2020

This study examined the differences in cranial morphology of tree squirrel species (Heliosciuru srufobranchium) from four different locations in rainforest part of Nigeria. Locally fabricated live traps made of wire-mesh and steel were used to capture the squirrels. Trapped tree squirrels were immediately transferred to the laboratory in cages, where they were euthanized by placement in a bell-jar containing chloroform-soaked cotton wool. Individuals from two locations (33 from Ile Ife and 49 from Emure Ekiti) were then preliminarily identified to the generic level, using an identification key. Eighty-two (82) skulls were prepared from them, using Long Island Natural History Museum Guide. The sexes of the specimens were determined by visual inspection of the external genitalia. Twenty-seven (27) cranial and six (6) external body parameters were measured using digital Vernier caliper. One-way analysis of variance at p<0.05 was used to determine the difference in measured body parameters and Principal Component Analysis was used to differentiate the measured skull parameters. The results showed that the body parameters; head body length, tail length, tail body length, ear length, hind foot length and body weight measured were slightly different from one location to another. Also, the cranial measurements showed some similarities and differences between the two locations (Ile Ife and Emure Ekiti). In conclusion, the cranial measurements of the tree squirrels from the two locations (Ile Ife and Emure Ekiti) showed slight differences despite the fact that the tree squirrels are from the same genus (H. rufobranchium).

Keywords: Heliosciurus rufobranchium; rainforest; tree squirrel; cranial; morphometric
Rethinking the Challenges of a Multilateral Development Bank in African Society: The African Development Bank in Nigeria, 1986-2015
Authors: Igwe Augustine Uche , Onuegbu Festus Chibuike
Published: June 2020

Multilateral development banks as international donor institutions, oftentimes, are wholly blamed for the failures they encounter in their operational activities in African society. Many scholars have harped on the bourgeois development approach of such banks to fault everything about their operation in Africa. However, a cursory look at the problems that confronted those multilateral development institutions in some African societies tended to present a different scenario. This paper, therefore, examines the challenges of the African Development Bank as one of the international donor-development institutions in Nigeria. Methodology wise, it adopted the qualitative method of research but, as a study in economic history, relevant data were presented and analysed. The writer drew his sources of information mainly from oral respondents, official policy documents and reports. Also, books, newspapers and magazines served as sources. The paper having adopted the structural functionalist theory as the relevant frame of analysis argues that not all the blame for failures about the Bank operation in Nigeria did originate from the Bank: both Nigeria as a recipient and the Bank as a donor share in the responsibility for the performance or failures that the Bank had recorded in the country. The paper found that contrary to the common belief that the African Development Bank is wholly responsible for the problems that confronted it in Nigeria most of those problematic challenges are inherent symptoms of a dysfunctional structure of the Nigerian society. It concludes that the Bank has not been able to realise its developmental targets in Nigeria not because of its bourgeois approach to development but, largely, because the country’s body-politic had been defectively structured in a way that often impedes development. It, thus, enjoins Nigerians not to wholly blame international institutions and donor agencies for all the development failures; hence, it recommends a workable framework and attitudinal reorientation for Nigeria to rid off its structural disabilities and understand her role in the spectrum of development agenda in a globalising world.
Ntulekorita 'Na' n'Igbo Izugbe na Oluasusu Nekede
Authors: Akidi Felista Chidi
Published: June 2020

‘Na’ is one of the important topics in standard Igbo. There are accepted rules of writing ‘na’ in standard Igbo which include ‘na’ as: preposition, auxiliary verb, conjunction and verbroot. The researcher’s observation that Nekede variety can do without ‘na’ in some of the rules and still have meaningful sentences motivated the study. The study adopted contrastive analysis of Lado (1957) as its theoretical framework for analysis. It was found that there are both similarities and differences between the use of ‘na’ in Nekede variety and standard Igbo. The contrastive theory of lado helps to conclude that the knowledge of both the difference of the uses of ‘na’ in Nekede variety and standard Igbo will felicitate teaching and learning of ‘na’ for Nekede variety and also other varieties of the Igbo language . The study will help other researchers to delve into the study of ‘na’ in other dialects.
On Immanuel Kant’s Concept of Duty
Authors: Abraham Kow Kwegya Amissah
Published: June 2020

Central to the philosophical discourse on duty is its ontology, the sanctioning entity, and what legitimises an act to assume the status of duty. Kant  conceives of duty to involve the recognition of, and submission to the moral law. The focus of this work is to critically interrogate the Kantian  conception of duty normatively and the veracity of its application when the conceptualisation assumes practical posture. This is to understand as to whether acting from duty on the one hand, and the universalizability of a moral law according to which a moral agent ought to act on the other hand, guarantees that one acts without any consideration, but for duty. The import is to offer a pragmatic perspective to understandingKant’s conception and to realign his metaphysical conceptualisation of duty within human capabilities. We do this with the position that duty must be within the practical capabilities of humans in moral decision-making.

Keywords: Deontology, Duty, Kantian, Moral Law.
Adaptation of the Higher Education in Engineering to the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Authors: Bonnaud Olivier , Bsiesy Ahmad
Published: June 2020

The 21st century will be the era of the fourth industrial revolution with the progressive introduction of the digital society, with smart/connected objects, smart factories driven by robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence. Manufacturing should be performed by the industry entitled 4.0. These are advanced technologies resulting from steady development of information technology associated with new objects and systems that can fulfil manufacturing tasks. The industry 4.0 concept relies largely on the ability to design and manufacture smart and connected devices that are based on microelectronics technology. This evolution requires highly-skilled technicians, engineers and PhDs well prepared for research, development and manufacturing. Their training, which combines knowledge and the associated compulsory know-how, is becoming the main challenge for the academic world. The curricula must therefore contain the basic knowledge and associated know-how training in all the specialties in the field. The software and hardware used in microelectronics and its applications are becoming so complex and expensive that the most realistic solution for practical training is to share facilities and human resources. This approach has been adopted by the French microelectronics education network, which includes twelve joint university centres and 2 industrial unions. It makes it possible to minimize training costs and to train future graduates on up-to-date tools similar to those used in companies. Thus, this paper deals with the strategy adopted by the French network in order to meet the needs of the future industry 4.0.
The Design of Mold Clamping Mechanisms with Two Dead-Position Configurations
Authors: Chen Tzu-Hsia , Hsieh Long-Chang
Published: June 2020

Blow-molding machines are divided into two types: (1) rotary type blow-molding machine, and (2) linear type blow-molding machine. Good kinematic characteristics of mold clamping mechanism is the goal pursued by manufacturers of blow-molding machine. Traditionally, the mold clamping mechanism has only one dead-position configuration for the mold in the closed position. When the mold is in the open position, the mold clamping mechanism does not have dead-position configuration. This study focuses on the design of mold clamping mechanisms with two dead-position configurations when the mold is in open and closed positions. Firstly, with reference to the existing patents, based on the Yan's creative design methodology, four design concepts of mold clamping mechanisms are synthesized. Then, according to the studies on kinematics of mechanisms, three mold clamping mechanisms with two dead-position configurations are also synthesized. The results of this paper will enhance the research and development (R&D) capability of the mold clamping mechanisms to improve industrial competitiveness.
Lecturers’ Thinking Preferences and Learners’ Individual Differences Based on the Whole Brain® Model: A Case of Solusi University, Zimbabwe
Authors: Dlamini Christinah
Published: June 2020

Quality of learning outcome is the primary goal of higher education. University lecturers should be equipped with andragogic skills to enhance learning. At the exemplar institution, 10 lecturers, aged below 50, were not trained to teach in higher education. Recurring evaluation comments, from Bachelor and Master of Education students highlighted lecturers’ poor teaching methods. This study therefore, adopted Whole Brain® model by Herrmann (1996) to enhance the quality of teaching practice. The model is comprehensive in facilitating innovative teaching techniques and enhancing learning. It encourages lecturers to be aware of their thinking style preferences in order to design learning opportunities that factor in learners’ diverse learning differences (De Boer, Du Toit, Scheepers and Bothm, 2011). Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) (a survey questionnaire) was used to collect quantitative data while face to face interviews gathered qualitative information. HBDI® data was computed into participants’ thinking preference profiles. Deductive thematic approach was used for qualitative data analysis and results showed diversity in thinking styles among the participants. The majority confirmed their understanding of the model and its diagnosis of thinking preferences. The HBDI® proved to be a valid, reliable measure of human mental preferences. The research recommends the participants to fruitfully use the HBDI® in their teaching endeavors. Seminars on learning style flexibility are recommended as part of professional development. Finally, institutions of higher learning can subscribe to the Whole Brain® Group and have their workers and students complete the HBDI® so that they become aware of their preferences for teaching-learning benefits.
Production of waste polystyrene-based composites and evaluation as corrosion inhibitor for rebar coating
Authors: DEHGHANPOUR Heydar , BAŞ Enes , AKÇAER Nihan , YILMAZ Kemalettin
Published: June 2020

Corrosion is one of the most effective structural damages in rebar reinforced structural elements. Different methods are applied to protect concrete structures from corrosion. In this study, in order to prevent rebar corrosion, it has aimed to coating recycled polystyrene based composite materials and to examine them with electrical methods. The matrix element in the composites has obtained by dissolving the waste polystyrene foam material in benzine. Carbon, carbon fiber and standard sand were used as additives. Rebar reinforced cylinder concrete specimens, which completed their 28-day age in the curing pool, were subjected to accelerating corrosion by applying 70 Volt voltage in 3% NaCl water solution for 48 hours. Anode-cathode and four-probe conductivity measurement tests were performed to determine the corrosion condition of the samples. Splitting tensile test has been performed on the same samples. According to the results, it was found that although the Splitting tensile strength of coated rebar reinforced concrete samples did not change significantly compared to the control sample, all the coatings were advantageous in terms of corrosion prevention. It was also has found that there was good adherence between most rebar and concrete, as understood in the splitting tensile test.
Does stock market capitalization cause GDP? A causality study for Central and Eastern European countries
Authors: Prats María A. , Sandoval Beatriz
Published: June 2020

This paper analyzes the relationship between stock market capitalization to GDP and real GDP in 10 Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007, with the objective of determining whether the financial markets played a role as drivers of economic development in these countries or vice versa. The methodology, using a cointegrated Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, is based on the application of three different measures of causality: Granger causality test, Toda-Yamamoto approach and Frequency Domain approach. The results obtained suggest evidence of a causal relationship in both directions between the variables in a significant number of countries, and especially in those where the variables show to be clearly cointegrated (Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia).
St. Lucia Technical Assistance Report—Rebasing GDP Mission
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Statistics Dept.
Published: June 2020

A technical assistance (TA) mission was undertaken by the Real Sector Statistics Advisor in the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) to Saint Lucia during January 27-February 7, 2020, to provide advice to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on compiling rebased GDP estimates. The 2006 base year for the GDP estimates is outdated and does not reflect the current structure of the economy. There is scope to improve the data sources and GDP compilation methodology and to implement the relevant System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA) recommendations.
Seychelles
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Published: June 2020

In recent years, economic growth has been robust and inflation low, while the external and fiscal positions have improved. These hard-won gains, supported by three successive Fund financial programs, followed by the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), which was approved in 2017, are at risk of being eroded by the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authorities have taken decisive measures to prevent a local outbreak and to mitigate the economic impact on affected businesses and the most vulnerable households. Nonetheless, given Seychelles’ heavy dependence on tourism, the economy is being very badly hit, with GDP likely to drop by over 10 per-cent this year.
Georgia
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Statistics Dept.
Published: June 2020

The purpose of the mission was to assist the National Statistics Office (Geostat) in progressing on the compilation of a residential property price index (RPPI). This was the third price statistics mission to Georgia conducted under the auspices of the three-year Project to Improve National Accounts and Price Statistics in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. This project is funded by the Government of The Netherlands. The aim of the first mission, held during April 25 to May 4, 2018 was to assist Geostat in obtaining data for RPPI compilation. The second mission held during in December 2018 focused on the assessment of the data obtained and training Geostat staff on the RPPI compilation. The aim of the current mission was to assist Geostat in compiling an experimental RPPI.
Republic of Armenia
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
Published: June 2020

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tightening of global financial conditions have disrupted the, until recently, favorable macroeconomic conditions. The near-term outlook has significantly weakened, with growth expected to decline to -1½ percent in 2020, and the fiscal and the current account deficits widening considerably this year. These projections are subject to more than the usual uncertainty. The authorities’ response has been timely and proactive, focusing on strengthening the provision of public health services, limiting domestic contagion, and introducing targeted economic relief measures aimed at assisting viable businesses and vulnerable people weather the crisis.
Ecuador
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
Published: June 2020

Ecuador is facing urgent and immediate balance of
payment (BOP) needs driven by the sharp propagation of the Covid-19 outbreak—
Ecuador is one of the hardest hit countries in Latin America—a plummeting of oil
prices, and a dramatic collapse of global demand. This confluence of shocks is
expected to significantly reduce Ecuador’s export revenues, put considerable strain
on the budget, curtail external financing flows, dampen economic activity, which is
expected to contract by 6.7 percent in 2020, and create substantial risks to debt
sustainability. The resulting external financing gap is about 8.4 percent of GDP in
2020 and 7.6 percent of GDP in 2021. If not addressed promptly, the immediate BOP
need could cause significant socio-economic disruptions.
Assessing excellence in community-based research: Lessons from research with Syrian refugee newcomers
Authors: Janzen Rich , Ochocka Joanna
Published: June 2020

In this article, we critically reflect on three Syrian refugee research projects that were conducted simultaneously in Ontario, Canada, in order to: (1) strengthen the community system of support for refugee newcomers; (2) address social isolation of Syrian parents and seniors; and (3) promote wellbeing of Syrian youth. Our purpose in this article is to demonstrate a tangible way of assessing research projects which claim to be community-based, and in so doing gain a deeper understanding of how research can be a means of contributing to refugee newcomer resilience. Our assessment of the three studies was done through the reflective lens of the Community Based Research Excellence Tool (CBRET). CBRET is a reflective tool designed to assess the quality and impact of community-based research projects, considering the six domains of community-driven, participation, rigour, knowledge mobilisation, community mobilisation and societal impact. Our assessment produced four main lessons. The first two lessons point to the benefit of holistic emphasis on the six categories covered in the CBRET tool, and to adaptability in determining corresponding indicators when using CBRET. The last two lessons suggest that research can be pursued in such a way that reinforces the rescue story and promotes the safety of people who arrive as refugees. Our lessons suggest that both the findings and the process of research can be interventions towards social change. The diversity of the three case examples also demonstrates that these lessons can be applied to projects which focus on both individual-level and community-level outcomes.
Taking stories: The ethics of cross-cultural community conservation research in Samburu, Kenya
Authors: Walker Sarah , Bruyere Brett , Grady Meredith , McHenry Alexandra , Frickman Carrie , Davis Will , Women's Village Unity
Published: June 2020

Biodiversity is under threat at a global level, and many of the most biodiverse hotspots are in developing regions of the world. In many of these communities, livelihoods are often dependent on the same natural landscapes that support biodiversity. As a result, achieving global conservation and development goals is a priority in these regions, and therefore they attract the interest of both local and international researchers. However, research by outside, Western-based researchers can present ethical and practical challenges in these areas. Fortunately, community-based participatory research (CBPR), if managed well, can contribute to responsible conservation research in these regions. In this article, we investigate strategies to address ethical issues associated with cross-cultural conservation and development research. Our analysis draws on the experiences of a women’s village in northern Kenya and six Western researchers. Using qualitative methodologies, we identify common themes in ethical conservation and develop research including critical consciousness, relationship-building, reciprocity, and adaptive research processes. We discuss the implications for ethical CBPR and, specifically, the need for both researchers and funders to only conduct such research if they can devote the resources required to do so ethically.
Assessment of genetic diversity and differentiation among four indigenous Turkish sheep breeds using microsatellites
Authors: Karsli Bahar Argun , Demir Eymen , Fidan Huseyin Goktug , Karsli Taki
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Conservation and breeding programmes of livestock species
depend on determination of genetic diversity. Today in livestock species,
microsatellite markers are commonly used to reveal population structure and
genetic diversity in both breeds and varieties. In this study, population
structure, genetic diversity, and differentiation among four native Turkish
sheep breeds including Güney Karaman, Kangal, Norduz, and Karakas were
assessed by using 21 microsatellite loci. By genotyping 120 individuals
belonging to four sheep breeds, a total of 275 different alleles, 37 of which
were private alleles, were observed across all loci. The mean number of
alleles per breed ranged from 7.28 (Güney Karaman) to 8.09 (Karakas), while
allelic richness ranged from 7.22 (Güney Karaman) to 7.87 (Karakas). Mean
observed heterozygosity varied from 0.60 (Kangal) to 0.66 (Norduz and
Karakas). The lowest pairwise FST value (0.084) was between Kangal and
Karakas populations, while the highest pairwise FST value (0.142) was
between Norduz and Karakas populations. Polymorphic information content (PIC)
values, ranging from 0.71 (ETH10) to 0.91 (OarFCB304), were highly
polymorphic (PIC > 0.5) and informative in studied populations. In
the present study, the results of phylogenetic analysis were of importance,
since all studied populations have been accepted as Akkaraman varieties till
today. However, factorial correspondence and structure analysis, pairwise
FST values, and an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean
analysis (UPGMA) dendrogram revealed that Güney Karaman and Norduz
populations have became genetically different from the Akkaraman breed due being
raised in different parts of Turkey under different climatic conditions
together with their breeding practices. Therefore, we recommend that more
comprehensive molecular studies should be conducted to clarify genetic
differentiation of Akkaraman sheep varieties.
Effects of fertilization and stand age on N2O and NO emissions from tea plantations: a site-scale study in a subtropical region using a modified biogeochemical model
Authors: Zhang Wei , Yao Zhisheng , Zheng Xunhua , Liu Chunyan , Wang Rui , Wang Kai , Li Siqi , Han Shenghui , Zuo Qiang , Shi Jianchu
Published: June 2020

Abstract. To meet increasing demands, tea plantations are rapidly
expanding in China. Although the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and
nitric oxide (NO) from tea plantations may be substantially influenced by
soil pH reduction and intensive nitrogen fertilization, process model-based
studies on this issue are still rare. In this study, the process-oriented
biogeochemical model, Catchment Nutrient Management Model –
DeNitrification-DeComposition (CNMM-DNDC), was modified by adding tea-growth-related processes that may induce a soil pH reduction. Using a
dataset for intensively managed tea plantations at a subtropical site, the
performances of the original and modified models for simulating the
emissions of both gases subject to different fertilization alternatives and
stand ages were evaluated. Compared with the observations in the early stage of
a tea plantation, the original and modified models showed comparable
performances for simulating the daily gas fluxes (with a Nash–Sutcliffe index
(NSI) of 0.10 versus 0.18 for N2O and 0.32 versus 0.33 for NO), annual
emissions (with an NSI of 0.81 versus 0.94 for N2O and 0.92 versus 0.94
for NO) and annual direct emission factors (EFds). For the modified
model, the observations and simulations demonstrated that the short-term
replacement of urea with oil cake stimulated N2O emissions by
∼62 % and ∼36 % and mitigated NO emissions
by ∼25 % and ∼14 %, respectively. The
model simulations resulted in a positive dependence of EFds of either
gas on nitrogen doses, implicating the importance of model-based
quantification of this key parameter for inventory purposes. In addition, the
modified model with pH-related scientific processes showed overall
inhibitory effects on the gases' emissions in the middle to late stages during a
full tea plant lifetime. In conclusion, the modified CNMM-DNDC exhibits the
potential for quantifying N2O and NO emissions from tea plantations
under various conditions. Nevertheless, wider validation is still required
for simulation of long-term soil pH variations and emissions of both gases
from tea plantations.
An investigation of accessible and inclusive instructional field practices in US geoscience departments
Authors: Carabajal Ivan G. , Atchison Christopher L.
Published: June 2020

Abstract. This study examines current accessible field-based instructional
strategies across geoscience departments in the United States that support
students with visual, hearing, and mobility disabilities. A qualitative
questionnaire was administered to geoscience instructors from over 160 US
geology departments. Outcomes from the data analysis were used to categorize
accessible instructional practices into three distinct pedagogical methods:
modifications, accommodations, and options for accessible instructional
design. Utilizing the lens of critical disability theory, we then
investigated how the identified teaching practices varied in inclusion, as
some strategies can often be more exclusionary towards individual students
with disabilities. Although from a US perspective, the outcomes of this
study offer practical suggestions for providing accessible and inclusive
field experiences that may inform a global geoscience instructional context.
Retrieved wind speed from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2
Authors: Nelson Robert R. , Eldering Annmarie , Crisp David , Merrelli Aronne J. , O'Dell Christopher W.
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Satellite measurements of surface wind speed over the ocean inform a wide variety of scientific pursuits. While both active and passive microwave sensors are traditionally used to detect surface wind speed over water surfaces, measurements of reflected sunlight in the near-infrared made by the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) are also sensitive to the wind speed. In this work, retrieved wind speeds from OCO-2 glint measurements are validated against the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR2). Both sensors are in the international Afternoon Constellation, allowing for a large number of co-located observations. Several different OCO-2 retrieval algorithm modifications are tested, with the most successful being a single-band Cox-Munk-only model. Using this, we find excellent agreement between the two sensors, with OCO-2 having a small mean low bias against AMSR2 of −0.22 m/s, an RMSD of 0.75 m/s, and a correlation coefficient of 0.94. Although OCO-2 is restricted to clear-sky measurements, potential benefits of its higher spatial resolution relative to microwave instruments include the study of coastal wind processes, which may be able to inform certain economic sectors.
The soil organic carbon stabilization potential of old and new wheat cultivars: a 13CO2-labeling study
Authors: Van de Broek Marijn , Ghiasi Shiva , Decock Charlotte , Hund Andreas , Abiven Samuel , Friedli Cordula , Werner Roland A. , Six Johan
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Over the past decades, average global wheat yields have
increased by about 250 %, mainly due to the cultivation of high-yielding
wheat cultivars. This selection process not only affected aboveground parts
of plants, but in some cases also reduced root biomass, with potentially
large consequences for the amount of organic carbon (OC) transferred to the
soil. To study the effect of wheat breeding for high-yielding cultivars on
subsoil OC dynamics, two old and two new wheat cultivars from the Swiss
wheat breeding program were grown for one growing season in 1.5 m deep
lysimeters and pulse labeled with 13CO2 to quantify the amount
of assimilated carbon that was transferred belowground and can potentially
be stabilized in the soil. The results show that although the old wheat
cultivars with higher root biomass transferred more assimilated carbon
belowground compared to more recent cultivars, no significant differences in
net rhizodeposition were found between the different cultivars. As a
consequence, the long-term effect of wheat cultivar selection on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks
will depend on the amount of root biomass that is stabilized in the soil.
Our results suggest that the process of wheat selection for high-yielding
cultivars resulted in lower amounts of belowground carbon translocation,
with potentially important effects on SOC stocks. Further research is
necessary to quantify the long-term importance of this effect.
Evapotranspiration over agroforestry sites in Germany
Authors: Markwitz Christian , Knohl Alexander , Siebicke Lukas
Published: June 2020

Abstract. In past years the interest in growing crops and trees for bioenergy production increased. One agricultural practice is the mixed cultivation of fast growing trees and annual crops or perennial grass-lands on the same piece of land, referred to as one type of agroforestry. The inclusion of tree strips into the agricultural landscape has been shown – on the one hand – to lead to reduced wind speeds and higher carbon sequestration above-ground and in the soil. On the other hand, concerns have been risen about increased water losses to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration (ET). Therefore it was our main objective to proof if agroforestry systems have higher ET compared to monoculture systems. We followed a replicated measurement design to investigate the impact of agroforestry (AF) on ET under consideration of different ambient conditions. We measured actual ET at five agroforestry sites in direct comparison to five monoculture (MC) sites in Northern Germany in 2016 and 2017. We used an eddy covariance energy balance set-up (ECEB) and a low-cost eddy covariance set-up (EC-LC) to measure actual evapotranspiration over each agroforestry and each monoculture system. We conducted direct eddy covariance (EC) measurement campaigns of approximately four weeks duration for method validation. Results from the short-term measurement campaigns showed a high agreement between ET from EC-LC and EC, indicated by slopes of a linear regression analysis between 0.86 and 1.3 (R2 between 0.7 and 0.94) across sites. Root mean square errors of LE from EC-LC vs. EC were half as small as from ECEB vs. EC, indicating a superior performance of EC-LC compared to ECEB. The overall effect of agroforestry on system-scale ET for the two years was small compared to the monoculture systems. Differences between annual ET over AF and MC from the two years and both measuring set-ups were not significant (p = 0.3557). We interpret this as an effect of compensating small-scale differences in ET when ET is measured on system-scale. A reduction of ET is expected to be strongest next to the tree strips due to reduced wind speed and limited incident radiation relative to an open field. Whereas in between the tree strips ET is expected to increase due to higher incident radiation. Most likely differences in ET rates next to and in between the tree strips are of the same order of magnitude and compensate each other on system scale. In contrast, we found a strong dependency of ET on the local climate, characterized by the evapotranspiration index (∑ET/precipitation). We observed significant (p = 0.0007098) higher mean evapotranspiration indices across sites for a drier than normal year (2016) compared to a wet year (2017) independent of the land-use or method. We conclude that agroforestry has not resulted in an increased water loss to the atmosphere indicating that agroforestry in Germany can be a land-use alternative to conventional agriculture.
Description of the male of fossil Calomicrus eocenicus Bukejs et Bezděk (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) from Eocene Baltic amber using X-ray microtomography
Authors: Bukejs Andris , Bezděk Jan , Alekseev Vitalii I. , Kairišs Kristaps , McKellar Ryan C.
Published: June 2020

Abstract. A male representative of the extinct species Calomicrus eocenicus Bukejs et
Bezděk, 2014 (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) is found and described for the
first time from Eocene Baltic amber using X-ray microtomography. The
aedeagus is well preserved within the body cavity of the specimen, and it is
illustrated in detail. This fossil species exhibits distinct sexual
dimorphism: the male has a smaller total body size, as well as a
copula-adapted modification in abdominal ventrite 5 (apical margin deeply
trilobed, with round medial fovea present); meanwhile the female is larger
in body size and has a simple abdominal ventrite 5 (without fovea,
non-incised and widely rounded apically). Similar sexually dimorphic
characters are typical for extant members of the tribe Luperini, and this
report is the first time that they are described in an Eocene species. The
known sexually dimorphic characters present in Coleoptera within Eocene
Baltic amber are briefly discussed.
RainNet v1.0: a convolutional neural network for radar-based precipitation nowcasting
Authors: Ayzel Georgy , Scheffer Tobias , Heistermann Maik
Published: June 2020

Abstract. In this study, we present RainNet, a deep convolutional neural network
for radar-based precipitation nowcasting. Its design was inspired by
the U-Net and SegNet families of deep learning models, which were
originally designed for binary segmentation tasks. RainNet was trained
to predict continuous precipitation intensities at a lead time of 5 min, using several years of quality-controlled weather radar
composites provided by the German Weather Service (DWD). That data set
covers Germany with a spatial domain of 900 km×900 km
and has a resolution of 1 km in space and 5 min in
time. Independent verification experiments were carried out on 11
summer precipitation events from 2016 to 2017. In order to achieve
a lead time of 1 h, a recursive approach was implemented by using
RainNet predictions at 5 min lead times as model inputs for
longer lead times. In the verification experiments, trivial Eulerian
persistence and a conventional model based on optical flow served as
benchmarks. The latter is available in the rainymotion
library and had previously been shown to outperform DWD's operational
nowcasting model for the same set of verification events. RainNet significantly outperforms the benchmark models at all lead
times up to 60 min for the routine verification metrics mean
absolute error (MAE) and the critical success index (CSI) at intensity
thresholds of 0.125, 1, and 5 mm h−1. However, rainymotion turned out to be superior in predicting the exceedance of higher
intensity thresholds (here 10 and 15 mm h−1). The limited
ability of RainNet to predict heavy rainfall intensities is an
undesirable property which we attribute to a high level of spatial
smoothing introduced by the model. At a lead time of 5 min, an
analysis of power spectral density confirmed a significant loss of
spectral power at length scales of 16 km and below. Obviously,
RainNet had learned an optimal level of smoothing to produce a nowcast
at 5 min lead time. In that sense, the loss of spectral power
at small scales is informative, too, as it reflects the limits of
predictability as a function of spatial scale. Beyond the lead time of
5 min, however, the increasing level of smoothing is a mere
artifact – an analogue to numerical diffusion – that is not
a property of RainNet itself but of its recursive application. In the
context of early warning, the smoothing is particularly unfavorable
since pronounced features of intense precipitation tend to get lost
over longer lead times. Hence, we propose several options to address
this issue in prospective research, including an adjustment of the
loss function for model training, model training for longer lead
times, and the prediction of threshold exceedance in terms of a binary
segmentation task. Furthermore, we suggest additional input data that
could help to better identify situations with imminent precipitation
dynamics. The model code, pretrained weights, and training data are
provided in open repositories as an input for such future studies.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 9 No. 2
Authors: Young Jenny
Published: June 2020

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (EMSD) would like to thank the following reviewers for reviewing manuscripts from February 1, 2020, to May 1, 2020. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Many authors, regardless of whether EMSD publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Macrothink Institute appreciates the following reviewers’ rigorous and conscientious efforts for this journal. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review during this period.  Aristotulus Ernst Tungka, University of Sam Ratulangi Manado, IndonesiaChristiane do Nascimento Monte, Universidade Federal Fluminense, BrazilGiacomo Chiesa, Politecnico di Torino, ItalyHayssam Mohamed Ali, King Saud University, EgyptKhalid Alahmadi, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaMurat Eyvaz, Gebze Institute of Technology, Turkey
Emancipation Policy or Propaganda? The Position of Albanian Women under State Socialism
Authors: Luku Esilda , Luku Elvin
Published: June 2020

This article aims to analyze the status of Albanian women under state socialism, examining whether the struggle for women’s rights was the intention or only the political rhetoric of the Albanian centralized state apparatus. It investigates the institutionalization of feminist interests in state agencies from the top down and their impact on society. By analyzing the state-derived policies on women’s issues and the role of the Women’s Union of Albania, the study intends to contribute to the discourse with regard to the emancipation of the Albanian women under state socialism, focusing on the following issues: education, employment, political representation, and women’s legal status. Based on discourse analysis as well as critical content analysis of primary sources (e.g., official documents, congresses’ proceedings, legislation) and secondary sources (e.g., books, journal articles, newspapers), the article explores the participation of Albanian women in socialist state-building and how and to what extent it managed to transform their socioeconomic and political status in society and within the family.