Comparison of two sampling protocols and four home-range estimators using radio-tracking data from urban badgers Meles meles

Radio-telemetry is often the method of choice for studies of species whose behaviour is difficult to observe directly. However, considerable debate has ensued about the best way of deriving home-range estimates. In recent years, kernel estimators have become the most widely used method, together with the oldest and simplest method, the minimum convex polygon (MCP). More recently, it has been suggested that the local convex hull (LCH) might be more appropriate than kernel methods in cases where an animal’s home range includes a priori inaccessible areas. Yet another method, the Brownian bridge (BB), explicitly uses autocorrelated data to determine movement paths and, ultimately, home ranges or migration routes of animals. Whereas several studies have used simulation techniques to compare these different methods, few have used data from real animals. We used radio-telemetric data from urban badgers Meles meles to compare two sampling protocols (10-minute vs at least 30-minute inter-fix intervals) and four home-range estimators (MCP, fixed kernels (FK), LCH and BB). We used a multi-response permutation procedure and randomisation tests to compare overall patterns of fixes and degree of overlap of home ranges estimated using data from different sampling protocols, and a general linear model to compare the influence of sampling protocols and home-range estimator on the size of habitat patches. The shape of the estimated home ranges was influenced by sampling protocol in some cases. By contrast, the sizes and proportions of different habitats within home ranges were influenced by estimator type but not by sampling protocol. LCH performed consistently better than FK, and is especially appropriate for patchy study areas containing frequent no-go zones. However, we recommend using LCH in combination with other methods to estimate total range size, because LCH tended to produce smaller estimates than any other method. Results relating to BB are preliminary but suggest that this method is unsuitable for species in which range size is small compared to average travel speed.Marie-Curie Intra-European Fellowship (BSSUB - 24007); Defra WSC contract WM0304; Wildlife Biology granted the permit to upload the article to this repositor

Landau Theory of Domain Wall Magnetoelectricity

We calculate the exact analytical solution to the domain wall properties in a multiferroic system with two order parameters that are coupled bi-quadratically. This is then adapted to the case of a magnetoelectric multiferroic material such as BiFeO3, with a view to examine critically whether the domain walls can account for the enhancement of magnetization reported for thin films fo this material, in view of the correlation between increasing magnetization and increasing volume fraction of domain walls as films become thinner. The present analysis can be generalized to describe a class of magnetoelectric devices based upon domain walls rather than bulk properties.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Design and Simulation of Wind Pump System for Ban Village

The significance of water to human existence can never be overemphasized. Most rural areas do not have access to portable drinking water. Underground water has been adjudged by World Health Organization (WHO) to be a relatively better alternative source of portable drinking water. Hand pump may not provide adequate water for larger community; diesel engine pump emits Green House Gases (GHG). Thus a relatively better alternative source of energy is the wind. Wind pump is designed for Ban village to pump water from borehole to an overhead tank to be supplied to the village, since Ban village is considered to be one of the locations in Nigeria that has high wind speed that can be harnessed for wind pump technology. Design results show that a 3.6 m diameter wind mill will be required to pump water from borehole through a total head of 35 m to the village to meet the daily water need of 25 m3. Results from the Wind Energy Resources Analysis (WERA) software simulation using the wind speed characteristics of the region shows that the monthly water discharge by wind pump is proportional to the monthly average wind speed with the peak monthly discharge of about 3000 m3 in January which declines to about 1,000 m3 in October. This volume of water is enough to meet the monthly water need of the village. Keywords: Wind speed, Wind pump, Simulation

3,4-and 3,5-disubstituted 2-pyridones using an intermolecular cycloaddition/cycloreversion strategy: toward the synthesis of aristopyridinone A

The intermolecular cycloaddition of pyrazinone precursors with alkyne substrates was evaluated. The resulting regioisomeric [2.2.2]-diketopiperazine alkene cycloadducts were diverted into 2-pyridone products through cycloreversion of the [2.2.2]-bicyclic intermediates. New insights into the regioselectivity of pyrazinone azadiene Diels-Alder reactions as well as cycloreversion reactivity were revealed in this study. Synthetic sequences using this [4+2]/r[4+2] strategy were determined that can produce predominantly the 3,5-disubstituted 2-pyridone alkaloid structures; pyridones featuring the 3,4-substitution pattern are observed as the minor regioisomeric products. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Rubrobacter spartanus sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic oligotrophic bacterium isolated from volcanic soil

© 2017 IUMS. Bacterial strain HPK2-2T was isolated from soil adjacent to the caldera of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. HPK2-2T is a chemoorganoheterotroph that shows optimal growth at 50 °C (range 45-55 °C) and pH 8.0 (range 5.0-10.0). Sequence analysis of the 16S subunit of the rRNA gene showed that HPK2-2T is most closely related to the type strain of Rubrobactertaiwanensis (ATCC BAA-406T), with which it shared 94.5% sequence identity. The major fatty acids detected in HPK2-2T were C18:0 14-methyl and C16:0 12-methyl; internally branched fatty acids such as these are characteristic of the genus Rubrobacter. The only respiratory quinone detected was MK-8, which is the major respiratory quinone for all members of the family Rubrobacteraceae examined thus far. We propose that HPK2-2T represents a novel species of the genus Rubrobacter, for which we propose the name Rubrobacterspartanus (type strain HPK2-2T; DSM 102139T; LMG 29988T)

Artifacts from manganese reduction in rock samples prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) slicing for X-ray microspectroscopic analysis

Abstract. Manganese (Mn)-rich natural rock coatings, so-called rock varnishes, are discussed controversially regarding their genesis. Biogenic and abiogenic mechanisms, as well as a combination of both, have been proposed to be responsible for the Mn oxidation and deposition process. We conducted scanning transmission X-ray microscopy - near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS) measurements to examine the abundance and spatial distribution of the different oxidation states of Mn within these nano- to micrometer thick crusts. Such microanalytical measurements of thin and hard rock crusts require sample preparation with minimal contamination risk. Focused ion beam (FIB) slicing, a well-established technique in geosciences, was used in this study to obtain 100–200 nm thin slices of the samples for X-ray transmission spectroscopy. However, even though this preparation is suitable to investigate element distributions and structures in rock samples, we observed that, using standard parameters, modifications of the Mn oxidation states occur in the surfaces of the FIB slices. Based on our results, the preparation technique likely causes the reduction of Mn4+ to Mn2+/3+. We draw attention to this issue, since FIB slicing, SEM imaging, and other preparation and visualization techniques operating in the keV range are well-established in geosciences, but researchers are often unaware of the potential for reduction of Mn and possibly other elements in the samples’ surface layers

Pupuk Organik Cair asal Limbah Kulit Nanas untuk Perbaikan Lahan Karet Rakyat di Payaraman Barat, Ogan Ilir

Setyawan D, Maren A, Budianta D, Warsito W, Priatna SJ. 2022. Liquid organic fertilizer from pineapple peel waste for rural rubber land improvement in West Payaraman, Ogan Ilir. In: Herlinda S et al. (Eds.), Prosiding Seminar Nasional Lahan Suboptimal ke-10 Tahun 2022, Palembang  27 Oktober 2022. pp. 878-884.  Palembang: Penerbit & Percetakan Universitas Sriwijaya (UNSRI).Rubber plantations are an important source of income in Payaraman District, Ogan Ilir and are generally cultivated on marginal lands. Meanwhile, pineapple peel waste that is not utilized will pile up into garbage even though it can be used as liquid organic fertilizer or compost. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of POC pineapple peel waste in increasing soil N, P, and K nutrients and latex production. The study used a split plot design with the main plot of weed clearing (without and with weeding) while the subplots were POC doses of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4% (equivalent to 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 ml POC). per liter of water). Watering is done with a frequency of once per week. The treatment was repeated three times. The experimental unit consisted of 30 mature rubber trees. Latex is collected weekly. The results showed that the POC of pineapple peel had a pH of 3.95; 0.05 % N; 0.027 % P and 0.19 % K. The initial soil pH value from 4.13 to 4.18 increased to around pH 5.0 after POC application for 4 weeks. Likewise, the total N content is about 0.26%; P-total 100 mg/kg and K-total 14 mg/kg. ANOVA results showed that the best treatment was a dose of 30 ml/liter with a latex production of 770 g/tree. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that the POC of pineapple waste has the potential to improve soil fertility and latex production. Weeding is important to reduce nutrient competition with rubber plants.