bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Web-based decision support toolbox for Spanish reservoirs
Authors: Voces-Aboy Jose , Abia-Llera Inmaculada , Sánchez-García Eroteida , Navascués Beatriz , Rodríguez-Camino Ernesto , Garrido-del-Pozo María Nieves , García-Gómez María Concepción , Álvarez-González José Adolfo , Pastor-Argüello Fernando
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Under the S-ClimWaRe (Seasonal Climate prediction in support of Water Reservoirs management) initiative, a climate service to support decision-making process by water managers in Spanish reservoirs has been developed. It consists in a web-based toolbox jointly designed with
stakeholders. The website is organized in two main areas. The first one allows the user to
explore, for any water reservoir or grid point over continental Spain, the
existing hydrological variability and risk linked to climate variability.
This is performed through a set of indicators obtained from time series of
hydrological and meteorological observations and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, identified as main climate driver in this geographical region. The second main area provides seasonal forecasts of NAO and both reservoir inflow and precipitation, complemented by information on probabilistic forecasts skill. Currently the NAO index is the only driver implemented for display, and
forecasts come from a statistical forecasting system developed only for the
extended winter NDJFM period. Through the MEDSCOPE (MEDiterranean Services
Chain based On climate PrEdictions) project new sources of predictability
and relationships with different climate drivers will be explored. Forecast
skill improvement is expected after the combination and weighting of
ensemble members of the Copernicus seasonal forecasting systems. These
forecasts will feed more sophisticated hydrological models. The toolbox has
been flexible designed with respect to sources of seasonal forecasts and
extension to additional drivers, variables and seasons. In this way, user
requirements and scientific progress will be easily incorporated to new
versions of this climate service.
Estimates of climatic influence on the carbon cycle
Authors: Enting Ian , Clisby Nathan
Published: August 2019

Abstract. The influence of climatic change on the carbon cycle is important as part of a CO2-climate feedback loop. However the magnitude of the coupling depends on the timescales involved. We expand on previous analyses of the ice-core CO2 data from the pre-industrial period 1000–1750, extending the analysis into the 20th century. Our results emphasise the limitations of characterising the climate-to-CO2 influence by a single number γ. Even once a time-scale dependence is incorporated, the coldest part of the Little Ice Age seems to reflect different behaviour to that in earlier or later centuries. Different temperature reconstructions appear to capture distinct aspects of pre-industrial climate fluctuations that lacked global coherence. An exploratory study extends the analysis into the industrial period. In this study, most paleo-temperature data fail to fit the plateau (or plateaus) in 20th century ice-core CO2, with one particular reconstruction as an exception. One interpretation of this fit is that although the reconstruction does not closely reflect hemispheric temperature changes, it samples a pattern of variation where the terrestrial carbon exchange is anomalously sensitive to regional climate variations. These various results suggest that this type of empirical study may have limited applicability to the 21st century.
The Effect of Micro-teaching Practices on the Professional Self-determination Beliefs of Teacher Candidates in University Education in Turkey
Authors: Celik Feti
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study is to show the effect of micro-teaching technique applied to teacher candidates in pedagogical formation program in Turkish universities on the perception of professional self-efficacy. Unequalized experiment and quasi-experimental method with control group were used in the study. The study group of the study consisted of 55 prospective teachers studying in the 2018-2019 fall semester pedagogical formation program of the Faculty of Education of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. The research data were collected through the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale according to the pre-test post-test application model. In the research, presentations were video-taped. The video footage was watched in the classroom and criticisms and discussions were made about how a better presentation could be. The course activities, in which each participant prospective teacher made three presentations during the activity period, were carried out for 12 weeks. According to the findings, the experimental group of teachers in terms of self-sufficiency beliefs see themselves more adequate than the control group. However, there was no differentiation between groups in the subdimension of self-efficacy.
Exploration of the Windfall and Market Entrepreneurship During the Great Recession
Authors: Nwaokoro Amaechi N. , Washington Lee , Griffin Autumn
Published: August 2019

Market innovative entrepreneurs have the desire of exploring declining economic markets to seek for windfall. They seek to profit heavily from adverse market conditions. The Great Recession may have presented some economic disasters, rage, and hardship to many people in the housing market in the 2000s but to the innovative market entrepreneurs, it presented some economic opportunities for experiencing a market windfall. Mostly, the objective of this exploratory study is to highlight the impact of the opportunistic events created by the housing foreclosure fillings, completed foreclosures, and home repossessions on the indexed price of housing that harbors the related opportunity cost. The increased indexed price of the housing driven by the fluctuation of both the quantity demanded and produced of housing seems to have led to the entrepreneurial windfall profit during the recession.
Dynamic Electricity Pricing – Modeling Manufacturer Response and an Application to Cement Processing
Authors: Eryilmaz Derya , Apland Jeffrey , Smith Timothy M.
Published: August 2019

Dynamic pricing, also known as real-time pricing, provides electricity users with an economic incentive to adjust electricity use based on changing market conditions. This paper studies the economic implications of real-time pricing mechanisms in a cement manufacturing plant. Production for a representative cement manufacturing plant is modeled using stochastic mathematical programming. The results show that a cement plant can a) reduce electricity costs by shifting electricity load of certain processes to times when electricity prices are lower, and b) profitably reduce electricity use during peak prices through more efficient scheduling of production under real-time pricing compared to fixed pricing. The results suggest that building scheduling flexibility into certain industrial manufacturing processes to reschedule electricity consumption when the electricity prices at their peak may be economical. The results also suggest that shifts in the production schedule of a cement manufacturer that result from real-time pricing may also influence environmental impacts. The modelling framework modeled real-time pricing as a source of risk in this study, which is also applicable to other energy intensive industries. As such, dynamic pricing strategies that include the non-market impacts of electricity generation should be further explored.
Determination of Optimal Roasting Conditions for the Production of Gabou
Authors: Rabiou Maman M. , Yaou Chaibou , Lewamy Mamadou , Moussa Idrissa , Sabo Haoua , Sadou Hassimi
Published: August 2019

Gabou is a traditional onion-based spice commonly used in Niger. It is prepared in a handcrafted way by roasting of dried onion. This study was conducted to determine the optimal roasting conditions. The traditional processes of Gabou manufacturing were identified through a survey and studied. Gabou were produced at different roasting temperatures and times in presence of the oil quantities in the laboratory. Then sensory analyses were conducted to select the Gabou of best sensory characteristics. The chemical composition of the selected Gabou and their raw materials was determined. The result of the investigation showed that flower stems, green leaves and onion bulbs were used in the production of Gabou. The optimal roasting conditions were obtained at 120°C for 8 min for bulbs Gabou, 120°C for 5 min for green leaves Gabou and 130°C for 11 min for flower stems Gabou in the presence of 1 ml, 2 ml and 0 ml palm oil per 30 g, respectively. Roasting conditions that led to the production of Gabou of good sensory characteristics did not have a significant negative influence (p<0.05) on proximate and mineral composition. On the contrary, they have significantly reduced the moisture content which contributes to the reduction of Gabou shelf life.
Treatment of inflammatory pain – an interdisciplinary problem from the perspective of a rheumatologist, neurologist, physiotherapist, pain specialist and clinical pharmacologist
Authors: Wordliczek Jerzy , Woroń Jarosław , Targońska-Stępniak Beata , Tarnacka Beata , Malec-Milewska Małgorzata
Published: August 2019

The article discusses inflammatory pain in an interdisciplinary way, including opinions on methods of treatment of disease entities in which a component of inflammatory pain appears by various specialists: a rheumatologist, neurologist, physiotherapist, clinical pharmacologist and pain medicine specialist. The pathomechanism of inflammatory pain, which determines the choice and effectiveness of therapy, has been widely discussed. The most common type of inflammatory pain is pain in the organ of the movement, which also dominates as the most frequent reason for experiencing pain and the cause of disability of patients, which is why this topic was discussed the most widely.
Multi-Sensor 3D Scanner For Postural Analysis
Authors: Gazziro Mario , China Rodrigo   Teiske , Real Eduardo  Machado , Fukuchi Reginaldo   Kisho , Gois João Paulo
Published: August 2019

A postura é geralmente definida como a posição relativa dos elemen- tos do corpo. A postura ideal é aquela em que as articulações estão sob uma quantidade mı́nima de estresse, mas nunca são alcançadas devido a fatores indi- viduais. É importante medir essa falta de equilı́brio para minimizar seus efeitos a longo prazo. Este artigo apresenta a criação de um scanner 3D multifuncional para análise postural que permite a medição de distâncias e ângulos entre pon- tos anatômicos do corpo de forma semi-automática, adicionando aplicações que somente informações 3D podem agregar, como a medição do volume cor- poral para calcular o percentual de gordura corporal e os perı́metros das partes do corpo. Este equipamento foi construı́do usando 2 sensores RGB-D combina- dos com a biblioteca de reconstrução ReconstructMe e ao software MeshLab, criando um sistema interativo e fácil de usar. A aplicação desenvolvida foi uti- lizada em testes de análise postural de um manequim seguindo o protocolo de avaliação postural SAPO e comparada com o software original SAPO (mesmo do protocolo), indicando boa correspondência entre os métodos.
Efeitos Sensoriais em Jogos Cognitivos para Idosos: Jogo do Stroop
Authors: De Paula Gustavo Lopes , De Melo Luiz Felipe , Dos Santos Mayara Helena , Seixas Flávio L. , Santana Rosimere F. , Muchaluat-Saade Débora
Published: August 2019

Pesquisas realizadas recentemente revelam que os jogos virtuais esti- mulam o cérebro de uma forma benéfica à saúde do usuário, portanto, esses vêm sendo amplamente utilizados como um auxı́lio ao tratamento de doenças rela- cionadas ao envelhecimento. Além disso, estudos elucidam que o uso de efeitos sensoriais é eficaz no tratamento de psicopatologias. Dessa maneira, este ar- tigo propõe o Jogo do Stroop, um jogo cognitivo baseado no teste de Stroop, com a presença de um efeito sensorial de luz. O jogo foi desenvolvido para a TV digital brasileira, utilizando o middleware Ginga-NCL. Após a realização de testes do Jogo do Stroop com idosos em uma oficina de memória cognitiva, conclui-se que o jogo proposto neste trabalho teve uma boa aceitação entre os voluntários e que o efeito sensorial altera a percepção do jogador, tornando-o mais atrativo.
Uma Proposta de Camada de Aplicação baseada no Padrão IEEE 11073 para Simulação de Aplicações de Saúde Digital em Redes Corporais sem Fio
Authors: Lima Robson A. , Ferreira Vinicius C. , Caballero Egberto , Albuquerque Célio V. N. , Muchaluat-Saade Débora
Published: August 2019

Simular novos protocolos em Redes Corporais sem Fio (Wireless Body Area Networks - WBANs) é importante para fazer uma avaliação da pro- posta antes de partir para o desenvolvimento de uma implementação real. Con- tudo, simuladores de WBANs apenas oferecem aplicações genéricas de rede, não sendo possı́vel simular um dispositivo de saúde em uma rede WBAN. Sendo assim, este trabalho propõe uma camada de aplicação baseada no Padrão ISO/IEEE 11073 para simulação de aplicações de saúde digital em WBANs. A proposta é implementada no simulador Castalia, usando como base a biblioteca Antidote, uma implementação de código aberto de dispositivos ISO/IEEE 11073 (X73-PHD). Resultados de simulação mostram que o modelo de comunicação padrão da norma X73-PHD não apresenta um bom desempenho devido a lon- gos timeouts definidos na norma. Portanto, este artigo também propõe um novo modo de comunicação, que reduz a troca de pacotes de controles e o número de associações feitas pelos dispositivos de saúde em WBANs.
Otimização de CNN aplicada ao Diagnóstico de Melanoma
Authors: Rocha Carlos Vinicios Martins , Maia Lucas Bezerra , Junior Geraldo Braz , De Almeida João Dallyson Sousa , De Paiva Anselmo Cardoso
Published: August 2019

O melanoma é o câncer de pele mais letal em comparação aos ou- tros, entretanto, os pacientes apresentam um elevado ı́ndice de cura quando diagnosticado em seu estágio inicial. Por este motivo, tem sido propostas abor- dagens para o diagnóstico e detecção automática propostas por diferentes au- tores. Entretanto, o treinamento de modelos em bases de dados pequenas e não balanceadas apresentam diversos obstáculos. Dessa forma, esse trabalho em andamento tem o objetivo aplicar as técnicas de transferência de aprendizado para treinamento de modelos capazes de auxiliar no diagnóstico e triagem do melanoma. Resultado preliminares mostraram que uso da geração de dados sintéticos em conjunto com o fine-tuning da VGG16, apresentaram melhorias cruciais, aproximadamente 100% de sensibilidade e 93,75% de especificidade.
Metodologia para localização de nódulos malignos da tireoide a partir de imagens infravermelhas
Authors: Moran Maira Beatriz Hernandez , Conci Aura
Published: August 2019

Anomalias na tireoide têm alta prevalência e sua identificação pre- coce é essencial para um tratamento mais eficaz. Termogramas podem ser usados nesse processo, já que nódulos tendem a ser mais vascularizados, re- sultando num aumento de temperatura na região. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia para localizar nódulos na tireoide. São estudados parâmetros que permitiriam segmentar regiões possivelmente nodulares em termografias. Re- des neurais convolucionais (CNN) são usadas para classificação dessas regiões, identificando quais se referem a nódulos. Os resultados obtidos apontam que, devido ao bom resultado da CNN na classificação (com acurácia de 96%), a viabilidade da metodologia proposta depende do sucesso da segmentação.
O Desafio da Utilização de Tecnologias Computacionais para Suporte a Crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista
Authors: Ivo Patrícia S. Almeida , Barreto Ivana Cristina H. C. , Viana David , Andrade Luiz Odorico M. , Oliveira Mauro
Published: August 2019

O Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) está entre os problemas de saúde mental que mais prejudicam o desenvolvimento infantil. Em geral, pessoas com o autismo precisam de suporte de habilidades linguísticas, comportamentais e sociais para serem bem-sucedidas. O presente trabalho buscou conhecer os principais desafios vivenciados por crianças com TEA e seus familiares/cuidadores, com base nas dificuldades relatadas pelos próprios familiares destas crianças e pela equipe multiprofissional que as acompanha. Os resultados encontrados podem subsidiar pesquisas futuras voltadas à atenuação dessas necessidades.
Desafios para os Avanços da Análise de Big Data na Saúde
Authors: Galvão Adriana Benício , Valentim Ricardo Alexandro De Medeiros
Published: August 2019

Este artigo descreve desafios para os avanços da Análise de Big Data na Saúde, os quais se mostram pertinentes devido às necessidades atuais por sistemas de saúde de alta demanda. Diante disso, é apresentada a importância do desenvolvimento de novas ferramentas de análise, que sejam de fácil uso, reflitam a agregação de conhecimentos de diversas áreas e resolvam problemas reais de saúde. Como forma de validar as novas ferramentas, é sugerida a utilização de dados dos vários Sistemas de Informação em Saúde do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil.
L’administration de la Preuve Face aux Exigences du Principe Dispositif en droit Civil Congolais
Authors: Ruth Malunga N’landu
Published: August 2019

Dans une affaire civile, le principe dispositif circonscrit l’étendu et le contenu des faits conformément à la requête des parties dans le cadre de l’instance. Il a donc pour fonction de venir déterminer l’office des parties quant aux faits. Cette fonction est présentée en parallèle avec celle du juge dans sa mission de dire le droit. Les parties doivent amener les faits dans le cadre de l’instance suivant les limites de la requête et le juge à son tours ne peut pas statuer au-delà des faits qui sous-tendent la requête qui lui est soumise par les parties, ni dénaturer les faits de la cause dans le procès civil. Ainsi, la preuve qui peut être exigée ou retenue à l’instance n’est relative qu’aux faits de la cause que les parties ont apportée devant le juge. Ni le juge, moins encore une partie au litige, ne peut exiger d’autres preuves ultra causa par respect au principe dispositif d’application en procédure civile en RDC qui veut que se soit les parties qui amènent les faits à l’instance mais pas le juge et les preuves ne peuvent être exigé que dans la limite de ces faits. C’est dans ce contexte que cette étude s’intéresse aux défis auxquels est confrontée l’administration de la preuve face aux exigences du principe dispositif dans un procès civil en RDC.
New trends in botulinum toxin use in dermatology
Authors: Guida Stefania , Farnetani Francesca , Nisticò Steven P. , Giorgio Mariarosaria Caterina , Babino Graziella , Pellacani Giovanni , Fulgione Elisabetta
Published: August 2019

Background: Recent studies have highlighted new botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) applications in the field of dermatology.

Objective: To review current knowledge of BoNT use in dermatology.

Methods: The literature of the last 5 years has been reviewed.

Results: We describe interesting protocols of BoNT treatment for hyperhidrosis (HH), hypertrophic scars and keloids, Raynaud phenomenon, facial flushing, oily skin, psoriasis, Hailey-Hailey disease, and cutaneous lesions like painful lesions and periorbital syringomas.

Conclusions: Several skin conditions eligible for BoNT treatment have been described. After the wide application for HH treatment, scars as well as vascular and inflammatory skin disorders, oily skin and cutaneous lesions represent fields of application of BoNT.
Reasons and Beliefs
Authors: Morganti Matteo , Tanyi Attila ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2019

The present paper identifies a challenge for a certain view of practical reasons, according to which practical reasons (both normative and motivating) are states of affairs. The problem is that those who endorse such a view seem forced to maintain both (a) that the contents of beliefs are states of affairs and (b) that the conception according to which the contents of beliefs are states of affairs is outlandish. The suggestion is put forward that, by distinguishing the content of a belief (as a proposition) from its object (as a state of affairs), the conflict between (a) and (b) can be neutralized.
Teaching Moral Philosophy through Literature Circles
Authors: Van Dyk Tricia ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2019

How do you effectively teach moral philosophy to classes of twenty to thirty-five students who come from diverse national, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and educational backgrounds, and most of whom have little or no interest in philosophy? In seeking ways to create a course that is relevant, practical, and engaging, I hit upon the idea of adapting literature circles to the study of moral philosophies. In this paper, I contextualize the need for an approach that promotes individual student responsibility within a teamwork context, introduce the appropriateness and adaptability of the literature circles concept in a philosophy classroom, and uncover the theoretical structure underneath the strategy in order to make it more adaptable to other classrooms and courses.
INNOVATIONS: Subject access to periodicals: A Main-Mac combo
Authors: Foster Constance L.
Published: August 2019

INNOVATIONS: Subject access to periodicals: A Main-Mac combo
Letters
Authors: Lancaster John
Published: August 2019

Letters
Publishers and librarians examine scholarly communication
Authors: Sabosik Patricia E
Published: August 2019

Publishers and librarians examine scholarly communication
Letters
Authors: Musser Linda , Massman Virgil F.
Published: August 2019

Letters
Letters
Authors: Winnegrad Mark H.
Published: August 2019

Letters
Optical local area network at Walla Walla College
Authors: Gaskeïl Carolyn
Published: August 2019

Optical local area network at Walla Walla College
Letters
Authors: Larson Jeffry , Metz Ray E , Junion-Metz Gail
Published: August 2019

Letters
The future of reference IV: A response
Authors: Dillon Dennis
Published: August 2019

The future of reference IV: A response
Academic Libraries at the Crossroads: ACRL's 1992-93 Annual Report
Authors: Library Association American
Published: August 2019

Academic Libraries at the Crossroads: ACRL's 1992-93 Annual Report
Contexte de gestion et présence de comportements harcelants perçus en milieu scolaire
Authors: Roussis Sara-Émilie , Gosselin Eric , Tremblay Jean-François , Leroux Mylène , Gélinas-Proulx Andréanne
Published: August 2019

Cette étude porte sur l’incidence du style de gestion, de la gestion des conflits et du stress sur la présence de comportements harcelants en milieu scolaire. Plus précisément, le lien entre le style de gestion de la direction d’école primaire et la présence de comportements harcelants chez les enseignants a été étudié. Les analyses statistiques démontrent l’effet de protection que fournit le leadership transformationnel face aux comportements de harcèlement psychologique. Cependant, en ce qui concerne les autres composantes du style de gestion, l’étude ne révèle aucun lien significatif avec les comportements harcelants. Somme toute, cette recherche permet de mieux comprendre l’incidence du contexte scolaire quant à l’avènement de comportements harcelants et permet d’entrevoir de nouvelles mesures de prévention.
Solving a shuttle mystery
Authors: Conley Bridget , Gralnick Jeffrey
Published: August 2019

Shewanella oneidensis bacteria use an abiotic reaction to help shuttle electrons outside of the cell.
A comparison of the academic outcome of chiropractic students on full-time and full-time equivalent chiropractic education routes
Authors: Hunnisett Adrian G. W. , Cunliffe Christina
Published: August 2019

Objective

To compare the academic equivalence of full-time (FT) and full-time equivalent (FTE) delivery routes for chiropractic training and to assess nontraditional education delivery as a viable method for training chiropractors.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of student summative assessment data was undertaken on a total of 196 FT and FTE students studying for the master's in chiropractic degree at a UK chiropractic college between 2009 and graduating by 2017. The analysis consisted of within-group comparison and between-group comparisons using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

The demographics of the 2 student groups varied in terms of gender and age distribution. The analysis of summative data indicated no differences between the 2 routes of delivery. There was also no difference in the distribution of final degree classification outcome between the 2 routes.

Conclusions

While it is possible that demographic differences influence the outcomes in each training route, this preliminary study indicates that, based only on analysis of overall achievement, there is no difference in either FT or FTE programs in training chiropractors, allowing them to register with the UK regulatory body. It suggests that a nontraditional mode of delivery is an achievable route to qualification as a chiropractor, enabling a greater number of students to consider chiropractic as a career choice while managing other life commitments.
Conservation Education, Alternative Livelihood and Habitat Restoration: The Best Strategies for Conservation of Magombera Forest Reserve
Authors: Mahulu Anna , Lugelo Ahmed , Mtoka Samuel , Ngongolo Kelvin
Published: August 2019

The Magombera forest is a home of endemic and endangered biological species such as Udzungwa red colobus monkey (Procolobus gordonorum) and the Magombera chameleon (Kinyongia magomberae). However, the forest is facing high threat of disappearing through  resources extraction pressure from adjacent local communities. The project aimed at improving conservation of Magombera forest by involving the adjacent communities through provision of conservation education, restoration initiatives and bee keeping as alternative livelihoods. The study revealed that the concept of forest conservation is well supported. Nevertheless, people are extracting resources from the forest for their subsistence. The dependence of the people on the forest is due to lack of alternatives to the forest resources, inability of the people to produce alternatives source of income and little conservation education. The project resulted in a community having a positive attitude change towards conservation. The improved bee keeping was introduced to the community and successfully adopted. About 89% of indigenous trees planted for restoring the degraded area of the forest survived, only 11% of trees planted could not survive.  There is a need to expand the scale of the project by involving many participants particularly youths that showed strong interest in the project.
Effect of Cultural Conditions on Biosurfactant Production by Candida sp. Isolated from the Sap of Elaeis guineensis
Authors: Nwaguma I. V. , Chikere C. B. , Okpokwasili G. C.
Published: August 2019

Aims: This study is aimed at determining the effect of cultural condition on biosurfactant production by Candida sp. isolates from saps of Elaeis guineensis.

Methodology: Chemical analysis of the sap was carried out. Yeast isolates from the sap were screened for biosurfactant production based on emulsification index (E24), emulsification assay, haemolytic assay, oil displacement test, CTAB and tilted glass slide ability. The best biosurfactant-producing yeast isolate was identified based on its phenotypic, microscopic, and biochemical characteristics. The emulsification capacity of the produced biosurfactant on selected oils was studied. Optimum cultural and nutritional requirements (temperature, pH, inoculum       concentration, nitrogen sources and carbon sources) for biosurfactant production by the isolate were determined.

Results: The characteristics of the sap from Elaeis guineensis were reducing sugar (0.51 ± 0.03 mg/ml), alcohol (14.04 ± 0.15%), specific gravity (0.827±0.024), and pH (5.68±0.03). The crude biosurfactant produced displaced a thin film of crude oil on petri dish by 55 mm, and revealed high emulsification index (E24) of 52.5% using Olive oil as substrate compared to E24 of 60.6% by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Based on colonial, microscopic, and biochemical characteristics, the isolate SA2 was identified as Candida sp. The crude biosurfactant showed varying capacity in emulsifying the different oils that were examined. Optimization data revealed maximum biosurfactant production after 7 days of incubation, inoculum concentration of 10%, at temperature of 20ºC, pH of 2 with cassava peel as substrate.

Conclusion: The study has demonstrated the capacity of Candida sp. from the sap of Elaeis guineensis to produce biosurfactant utilizing cassava peel as substrate. The use of cassava peel, which represents a low-cost substrate, is important in reducing the cost of biosurfactant production. Moreover, using yeasts from Elaeis guineensis make the production process ecologically friendly.
Constraints to Non-timber Forest Products Supply in Ago-Owu Forest Reserve of Osun State, Nigeria
Authors: Aderounmu A. F. , Adejumo A. A.
Published: August 2019

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are products or services other than timber that is produced in a forest and of course, are indispensable parts of the livelihood strategy of the forest’s adjoining communities. Their economic potentials necessitated the need for research to be carried out on its production and constraints facing its supply in the study area. Therefore, constraints to NTFPs’ supply in Ago-Owu forest reserve and its environment were investigated. Three communities (Mokore, Ajegunle and Alabameta) were randomly selected communities of the identified study area (Mokore, Ajegunle, Alabameta, Elewe, Alaguntan and Okodowo) identified communities in the study area. Their populations were sought for and samples were drawn in proportionate to their sizes: Mokore (50), Ajegunle (40) and Alabameta (20). This gave a total number of 110 respondents from which 105 questionnaires were derived for the investigations. A set of questionnaire was used to obtain data on source of NTFPs, commonly sourced NTFPs and constraints facing its supply in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit regression at α0.05. Majority of the respondents were male (69.1%) and 64.8% of them were within the age of 30-50 years. Also, most of the respondents were married (78.1%) and less than half of them (41%) had no formal education, but were predominantly farmers (72.4%). The major source of NTFPs in the study area was forest reserve (70.5%), while a total of seventeen (17) different NTFPs commonly sourced were documented. Constraints facing the supply of NTFPs included Climate change, Lack of finance for smooth running of the activities involved in the products’ supply and price fluctuation with odds-ratio of 9.87, 5.66 and 1.92 respectively. The study established the significance of the Ago-Owu forest reserve to the livelihood of the forest dwellers. However, there is need for the establishment of new plantations to fostering production of the products as well as serving as adaptation strategies against climate change. There is also an urgent need for the State Forestry Service/government to address their areas of concern pointed out in this study for bio-prospecting, economic well-being of forest dwellers and great advantage of boost in revenue propensity of Osun State.
Enzymatic Potentials of Microorganisms Associated With Cassava Retting
Authors: Obi C. N. , Agu U. B.
Published: August 2019

The enzymatic potentials of microorganisms isolated from retting cassava were evaluated for the purpose of pectinase, cellulase and amylase activities. Cassava tubers of 12 months old were collected from 3 different sources: Ahieke, Ndoru and Umuariga in Abia State. They were hand peeled, cut into cylinders, washed, submerged into water and allowed to ret. After retting a dilution of the retted tubers was inoculated into different media plates: De-Man Rogosa Sharp agar, Sabouraud Dextrose agar, Nutrient agar, Mannitol salt agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 30°C for 3-5 days. 35 isolates were identified in the retting cassava samples which are bacteria 25(71.43%) and fungi 10(28.57%). The bacterial isolates identified include Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp and Proteus spp while fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, Rhodotorula spp and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The total viable counts of the isolates increased as the retting hours increased. Lactobacillus spp and Saccharomyces cerevisiae dominated the later stage of the fermentation. Bacillus subtilis has the highest percentage occurrence 8(22.9%) while Rhodotorula spp has the lowest percentage occurrence 2(5.7%). The production of amylase enzyme was recorded with all the isolates with the exception of Staphylococcus aureus. Production of cellulase and pectinase enzymes was selective among the isolates. Results from this study shows that enzymes like amylase, pectinase and cellulase from microorganisms played an important role in retting of cassava tubers.
Production of Maize Silage is Possible in Integrated Systems with Arboreal Component
Authors: Carnevalli Roberta Aparecida , Cruz e Santos Emanuelle Beatriz , De Abreu Joadil Gonçalves , Garcia Larissa Fernanda , Coletti Admar Junior , Giustina Carolina Della , Peixoto Wender Mateus , Santos Herrera Larah Dryelle , Rodrigues Janderson Aguiar
Published: August 2019

Distribution of the intercropped plants determines the production but it is highly dependent on the machinery of the property. Producers, who harvest silage row by row, depend on plantings with greater spacing. This study was aimed to evaluate the maize intercropped for cultivated silage in 0.90 m between rows, with grass under the shade and full sunlight conditions. Maize with brachiaria grass was tested in four sowing densities (0, 2, 4 and 6 kg of pure and viable seeds per hectare). The factorial treatments (2x2x4) were distributed in a split-plot design with four repetitions. The maize agronomic characteristics and the silage quality were evaluated. There was a high level of competition when associated with maize, piatã and eucalyptus. Aggressive piatã grass growth, with light restriction by trees, have affected strongly the maize forage mass-produced, and consequently, reduced silage production. Regarding grain yield, the intercrop with ruziziensis grass was superior (210%) to the intercrop with piatã grass. It was mainly influenced by the low yield in the piatã grass intercropped under shade conditions. This pattern was different for ruziziensis because it was a less aggressive grass in terms of growth. For plantations with 0.90 m of spacing, there was a light restriction. The maize intercropped under the shade of trees must be done with lower growth rate grass to reduce competition and maintain the yield.
Gender Issues in Alcohol Consumption: A Study of Equiano’s Travels, Nwapa’s Efuru and Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
Authors: Okonkwo Uche Uwaezuoke , Anyachonkeya Ngozi
Published: August 2019

This paper appraises gender issues in alcohol consumption in Africa, in terms of processing and control using Oladuah Equiano’s autobiography- Equiano’s Travels, Flora Nwapa’s Efuru, and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. These three literary texts are thoughtfully chosen for the study, in view of the fact that Equiano pioneered African literature, and advanced by Flora Nwapa and Chinua Achebe in their debut, Efuru and Things Fall Apart, published in 1966 and 1958, respectively. In Equiano’s Travels, published in 1789, Equiano capture and document the Igbo lifestyle in its nativity. Scholars have attempted to look at the works of these literary titans from several perspectives and themes but, to the best of the knowledge of these researchers, they have not enquired into the Igbo lifestyle in alcohol consumption and given it the desired academic attention as amply presented in the literary works of these literary paragons and pathfinders, as the present study intends to do. While Achebe looks at the traditional humane living of Igbo society in the hinterland in its pre-colonial period, Nwapa discusses the lifestyle and folkways of Igbo Lake people of Oguta. Nwapa presents a segment of this Igbo society, which grants women access to alcoholic drink in the public, in sharp contrast to the rest of Igbo society that restricts women from drinking the same liqueur. Likely, the ample liberty and tremendous respect accorded to the female folk in Oguta Igbo subculture may be responsible for this, coupled with the fact that the river deity of the Lake, Uhamiri goddess, may have provided further evidence to the improved status accorded to women. Thus, Nwapa in the pages of her literary works, especially in Efuru and One Is Enough, brings to our doorstep the lifestyle and folkways of Ogbuide Lake people of Oguta, which enable women to enjoy this unrestricted liberty of self-expression and audacious access to alcoholic drinks at the profane gaze of men, as it was. Equiano, through his travails and escapades of slavery, shows the changing trends in alcohol drinking and culture especially the differences in female drinking cultures based on geography and climate. Today, the ethos of Igbo society has changed remarkably. The paper seeks to investigate these details using Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Nwapa’s Efuru as well as Equiano’s Travels, our texts of focus. The inquiry is essentially literary or library research.
“To Make the Four Hundred Million Move”: The Late Qing Dynasty Origins of Modern Chinese Sport and Physical Culture
Authors: Morris Andrew
Published: July 2002

There is no athletic movement in China... Caspar Whitney, in Harper's Weekly, 1898” and “Just as our women [swimmers] dominate... Zhou Ming, Head Coach, PRC National Swim Team, 1997.

There is little doubt that, after a century's exposure, Chinese have absorbed and understand quite clearly the greater meanings of the realm of sport—the connections between competitive athletic endeavor, imperialist bluster, and economic standing in the world community. This article is an exploration of the late Qing Dynasty origins of this modern global culture of physical culture and sport.
URINE EFFECTS ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND THE IMPACT OF URINE AND DUNG ON PEARL MILLET YIELD
Authors: POWELL J. M. , IKPE F. N. , SOMDA Z. C. , FERNÁNDEZ-RIVERA S.
Published: July 2002

Most farming systems in semi-arid West Africa rely on organic matter recycling for maintaining soil fertility. The cycling of biomass through ruminant livestock into dung (faeces) and urine that fertilize the soil has long been an important factor in t
he nutrient cycling processes of these integrated, mixed crop/livestock systems. While dung greatly improves soil properties and crop yields, little is known about the effects of urine on soil chemical properties and the impact of dung and urine on crop p
roduction. An average voiding of sheep urine applied to a sandy, siliceous soil in the Republic of Niger increased soil pH, available phosphorus and ammonium levels dramatically in the upper 10–15 cm of soil, especially during the first week
following application. Losses of applied urine nitrogen via volatilization were in the order of 30–50%. A four-year field trial was conducted on the same soil type to evaluate the effects on pearl millet and weed yields of corralling cattle o
r sheep overnight on cropland (dung plus urine application) for one, two or three nights, every one, two or three years versus the effects of applying only dung at the same application rates and intervals achieved with corralling. The main results of this
field trial were that (1) urine had large positive effects on millet grain, threshed panicle, leaf, stem and weed yields, (2) sheep dung was more effective than cattle dung in increasing yield, (3) two nights of dung application was adequate for maximum
yield and (4) the positive effects of dung and urine on yield lasted two to three cropping seasons after application.
Single Nucleotide Primer Extension (SNuPE) analysis of
the G6PD gene in somatic cells and oocytes of a
kangaroo (Macropus robustus)
Authors: WATSON DEBBIE , JACOMBS ANITA S. , LOEBEL DAVID A. , ROBINSON EDWARD S. , JOHNSTON PETER G.
Published: July 2002

cDNA sequence analysis of the X-linked glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene has
shown a base difference between two subspecies of the kangaroo, Macropus robustus robustus
(wallaroo) and M. r. erubescens (euro). A thymine residue in the wallaroo at position 358 in exon
5 has been replaced by a cytosine residue in the euro, which accounts for the previously reported
electrophoretic difference between the two subspecies. This base difference allowed use of the
Single Nucleotide Primer Extension (SNuPE) technique to study allele-specific expression of G6PD
at the transcriptional level. We began by examining G6PD expression in somatic cells and observed
complete paternal X inactivation in all somatic tissues of adult female heterozygotes, whereas we
found partial paternal allele activity in cultured fibroblasts, thus confirming previous allozyme
electrophoresis studies. In late dictyate oocytes from an adult heterozygote, the assay also detected
expression of both the maternal and paternal alleles at the G6PD locus, with the maternal allele
showing preferential expression. Thus reactivation of the inactive paternally derived X
chromosome occurs during oogenesis in M. robustus, although the exact timing of reactivation
remains to be determined.
Simulating genealogies of selected alleles in a population of variable size
Authors: SLATKIN MONTGOMERY
Published: July 2002

An importance-sampling method is presented that allows the simulation of the history of a selected allele in a population of variable size. A sample path describing the number of copies of an allele that arose as a single mutant is generated by simulating backwards from the current frequency until the allele is lost. The mathematical expectation of a quantity or statistic is then estimated by taking averages over replicate simulations, weighting each replicate by the ratio of its probabilities under the Markov chains for the forward and backwards processes. This method was used to find the average age of a selected allele in an exponentially growing population. In terms of the effect on average allele age, selection in favour of an allele is not equivalent to exponential growth. To generate gene genealogies of a sample of copies of a selected allele, the neutral coalescent model is simulated for the subpopulation containing only the selected allele. From the resulting intra-allelic genealogy, it is possible to calculate the likelihood of the selection intensity as a function of the observed level of variability at marker loci closely linked to the selected allele. This method was used to estimate the intensity of selection affecting the Δ32 allele at the CCR5 locus in Europeans and a mutant at the MLH1 locus associated with colorectal cancer in the Finnish population.
Rapid fixation of deleterious alleles can be caused by

Muller's ratchet
Authors: CHARLESWORTH BRIAN , CHARLESWORTH DEBORAH
Published: July 2002

Theoretical arguments are presented which suggest that each advance

of Muller's ratchet in a

haploid asexual population causes the fixation of a deleterious

mutation at a single locus. A

similar process operates in a diploid, fully asexual population under a

wide range of parameter

values, with respect to fixation within one of the two haploid genomes.

Fixations of deleterious

mutations in asexual species can thus be greatly accelerated in comparison

with a freely recombining

genome, if the ratchet is operating. In a diploid with segregation of a

single chromosome, but no

crossing over within the chromosome, the advance of the ratchet can be
decoupled

from fixation if

mutations are sufficiently close to recessivity. A new analytical approximation

for the rate of

advance of the ratchet is proposed. Simulation results are presented that

validate the assertions

about fixation. The simulations show that none of the analytical approximations

for the rate of

advance of the ratchet are satisfactory when population size is large.

The relevance of these results

for evolutionary processes such as Y chromosome degeneration is discussed.
On the contribution of deleterious alleles to fitness variance

in natural populations of Drosophila
Authors: SANTOS MAURO
Published: July 2002

I have studied the consequences of habitat patchiness on the

persistence times of deleterious alleles

in a random mating population. Results based on computer simulations and
supported by

analytical approximations suggest that deleterious alleles remain approximately

1/(1−2FST) more

generations in the patchy than in a comparable homogeneous population,
where

0<FST[les ]0·25 is

the fraction of genetic variance due to the sample of families across patches

in one generation. In

natural populations of Drosophila, therefore, the

contribution of deleterious mutants to the genetic

variance in fitness might be larger than previously thought. A model of

density-dependent viability

selection, inspired by the suggestion that deleterious effects can

substantially increase when the

environment becomes harsher, also gives credence to the analytical results

and illustrates that mean

persistence times are very sensitive to changes in ecological parameters.

If the density dependence

model can be taken seriously, there is a clear difficulty in comparing

observed and expected levels

of genetic variance on the basis of the simplest mutation–selection

balance model.
Poisson distribution of male mating success in laboratory
populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: JOSHI AMITABH , DO MICHAEL H. , MUELLER LAURENCE D.
Published: July 2002

Variation among males and females in reproductive success is a major determinant of effective
population size. Most studies of male mating success in Drosophila, however, have been done
under conditions very different from those in typical cultures. We determined the distribution of
male mating success in five laboratory populations of D. melanogaster maintained on a 14 d,
discrete generation cycle fairly representative of standard Drosophila cultures. Mating success was
measured as the number of matings a male could achieve under conditions closely approximating a
regular culture vial of these populations. Preliminary studies determined that most mating in these
populations occurred within 14 h of the flies attaining sexual maturity. Consequently, individual
virgin males were marked with white paint on their thorax, put into vials with varying numbers of
unmarked virgin flies of both sexes, and monitored continuously for matings over a period of up
to 14 h. At various times during the assay, virgin males and females were added to these vials in
proportions simulating the pattern of eclosion in culture vials. The observed variation in the
number of matings per male in the five populations was, by and large, consistent with a Poisson
distribution, suggesting that male mating success in short-generation-time, discrete-generation
laboratory cultures of D. melanogaster may fulfil a fundamental assumption of the Wright–Fisher
model of genetic drift in finite populations.