Leaf wax composition and distribution of Tillandsia landbeckii reflects moisture gradient across the hyperarid Atacama Desert

In the hyperarid Atacama Desert, water availability plays a crucial role in allowing plant survival. Along with scant rainfall, marine advective fog frequently occurs along the coastal escarpment fueling isolated mono-specific patches of Tillandsia vegetation. In this study, we investigate the lipid biomarker composition of the bromeliad Tillandsia landbeckii (CAM plant) to assess structural adaptations at the molecular level as a response to extremely arid conditions. We analyzed long-chain n-alkanes and fatty acids in living specimens (n = 59) collected from the main Tillandsia dune ecosystems across a 350 km coastal transect. We found that the leaf wax composition was dominated by n-alkanes with concentrations (total average 160.8 ± 91.4 µg/g) up to three times higher than fatty acids (66.7 ± 40.7 µg/g), likely as an adaptation to the hyperarid environment. Significant differences were found in leaf wax distribution (Average Chain Length [ACL] and Carbon Preference Index [CPI]) in the northern zone relative to the central and southern zones. We found strong negative correlations between fatty acid CPI and n-alkane ACL with precipitation and surface evaporation pointing at fine-scale adaptations to low moisture availability along the coastal transect. Moreover, our data indicate that the predominance of n-alkanes is reflecting the function of the wax in preventing water loss from the leaves. The hyperarid conditions and good preservation potential of both n-alkanes and fatty acids make them ideal tracers to study late Holocene climate change in the Atacama Desert.

Measuring veterinary client preferences for autonomy and information when making medical decisions for their pets

OBJECTIVE To adapt the 3 scales of the Autonomy Preference Index to veterinary medicine and validate the 3 new scales to measure pet owner preferences for autonomy and information when making medical decisions for their pets. SAMPLE 10 small-animal veterinarians and 10 small-animal clients at a veterinary school–based community practice (pilot study) and 311 small-animal clients of the practice (validation study), of which 47 participated in a follow-up survey. PROCEDURES Wording of items in the Autonomy Preference Index was adapted, and instrument wording was finalized on the basis of feedback obtained in the pilot study to create 3 scales: the Veterinary General Decision-Making Preferences Scale (VGDMPS), Veterinary Clinical Decision-Making Preferences Scale (VCDMPS), and Veterinary Information-Seeking Preferences Scale (VISPS). The 3 scales were then validated by means of administering them to small-animal clients in a clinical setting. RESULTS The 3 scales had acceptable reliability and validity, but clients expressed concern over item wording in the VGDMPS during the pilot study. Overall, results showed that clients had a very high preference for information (mean ± SD VISPS score, 4.78 ± 0.36 on a scale from 1 to 5). Preferences for autonomy varied, but mean values reflected a low-to-moderate desire for autonomy in clinical decision-making (mean ± SD VCDMPS score, 2.04 ± 0.62 on a scale from 1 to 5). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The VCDMPS was a reliable and valid instrument for measuring client preferences for autonomy in clinical decision-making. Veterinarians could potentially use this instrument to better understand pet owner preferences and tailor their communication approach accordingly.

Chemometrics, Health Risk Assessment and Probable Sources of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Atmospheric Rainwater in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs)-(aliphatic and aromatic) were analysed for in atmospheric rainwater between April- June; July – August; September–October depicting early, mid, late rain of 2019. Sampling at Rumuodomaya/ Rumuodome and Ogale in Rivers State using basins fastened to a table 2 M above ground and 120 M from high features, Rainwater was analysed after treatment using Agilent GC-FID. Results show cumulative TPHs at R/R were 56.6551mg/L, 39.5201mg/L and 7.2283mg/L, Ogale: 9.1217mg/L, 59.4923mg/L and 21.9825mg/L. Aliphatic hydrocarbons: C5 – C8 were < 1, low contamination, other carbon aggregates (C9 – C16, C17– C35, and C36 – C40) indicate high contamination. Chemometric assessment showed high contamination. TPHs aggregates at Rumuodomaya/ Rumuodome were- C8 – C11 (1.034 and 1.005) early rain, C18 – C25 and C26 – C33 has Carbon preference index of 1.287 and 1.630 (mid-rain), C26 – C33 has CPI of 1.288 (late-rain), Ogale area, C26–C33 has CPI of 1.732 (early-rain), mid-rain C8 – C11 (2.768) and C12–C17 (5.368). Pristane/phytane ratio indicated biogenic and pyrogenic sources. Average carbon length of TPHs for odd n-alkanes were C9 – C11 (9.446) and C35 – C39 (38.980), C9 – C11(10.238), C35 – C39 (36.510); C9 – C11 (10.240) and C35 – C39 (36.934). Average daily intake depicted possible health issues for children and adults as hazard index > 1 for aromatics.

Maqasid-based consumer preference index for Islamic home financing

Purpose Using the maqasid-based consumer preference index (MCPi), this study aims to investigate customer preference for Islamic home financing. Design/methodology/approach The current study, based on valid 1,034 usable questionnaires and the MCPi, evaluates consumer choice for the supplied Islamic home finance products by 16 Islamic banks in Malaysia. Findings According to the findings, all banks have a moderate value of MCPi. Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad is at the top of the list, followed by Maybank Islamic, Commerce International Merchant Bankers Islamic and Malaysia Building Society Berhad. Research limitations/implications The MCPi is used in this study to test a new technique to measuring consumer preference. The contributions are confined to these particular variables – Educating Customer, Establishing Justice, Promoting Welfare and Fulfiling Islamic Debt Policy. The research also has limitations in terms of the facility’s general setting. Future research may shed light on these issues from new angles. Practical implications This research offers banks a new way to manage their products based on maqasid al-Sharīʿah. Originality/value In the context of Malaysia, this study introduces the MCPi, a new measure of consumer preference for home financing.

Use of a Matching Preference Index to Empirically Examine Distribution Imbalances in Beijing Citizens’ Names

Personal names contain considerable meaningful information about biological and social characteristics of the name-bearer. They also routinely contain important data about cultural preferences in the naming process. Access to this level of information has been limited in the past by a lack of access to large-scale empirical data. As this investigation demonstrates, by utilizing a reliable large-scale sample of Beijing citizens, it is possible to empirically demonstrate onomastic imbalances in the occurrence of Chinese surnames, given names, and full names. In particular, this paper explores the matching imbalance between Chinese surnames and given names, a phenomenon which has as yet received scant attention in onomastic literature. As this article demonstrates, our innovative quantitative approach makes it possible to reveal statistically significant differences between real names and “random-matching names” that reflect a matching imbalance and imply the probable existence of underlying cultural preferences in Chinese naming processes. The key to this approach is generating a matching preference index (MPI) for names in a dataset. Alongside explaining how this approach is used, this paper offers possible reasons to explain why specific names have higher or lower MPI rankings. As this paper argues, one of the main reasons for these empirical differences may be found in special associations name-givers have within Chinese culture.

Color Preference for Host-Seeking Activity of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

A cue for long-range vision allows mosquitoes to identify hosts and differentiate the ecological niches (e.g., habitats). However, the visual factors involved in attracting mosquitoes to a host are complex and have not been fully understood. Therefore, we assessed color preference to Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex pipiens (Conquillett) as diurnal and nocturnal species, respectively, using seven fundamental colors including black, white, red, yellow, green, blue, and purple with each trap at 100 lux in a laboratory. We used a binary behavioral assay using the Mosquito Preference Index (MPI) as a preference ratio with a range of 0–1. Our analyses showed that Ae. albopictus had a greater response to black (MPIs, 0.7), followed closely by red, blue, and purple (MPIs, 0.6). We also found that red, blue, and purple were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) than those of green (MPI, 0.5), white (MPI, 0.3), and yellow (MPI, 0.2). Similarly, the MPIs for Cx. pipiens were significantly higher at black and red (MPIs, 0.7; P &lt; 0.05) compare to those of white and yellow (MPIs, 0.3; P &lt; 0.05). The color preference of Ae. albopictus showed significant correlation to luminous intensities (L-value) (r = −0.640; P = 0.000) and blue intensities (b-value) (r = −0.372; P = 0.000) for all seven colors. In addition, Cx. pipiens negatively correlated (r = −0.703; P = 0.000) between color preference and L-value. Our analyses provide a greater understanding of how color plays a role in visual sensory stimuli, and how that could potentially affect mosquito host-seeking behavior.

Selecting a Biomass Pelleting Processing Depot Using a Data Driven Decision-Making Approach

Bioenergy is one of the potential solutions to satisfy the extensive demand for energy and reduce fossil fuel dependency. For biomass to be an efficient source of bioenergy, it must be converted to a usable form, one of which is pellets. This study compares three commonly used methods to produce pellets in a biomass depot and presents a framework to select the most effective and economic pelleting processes. The comparison is performed using a data driven decision-making method called the Preference Index Selection Method (PSI). We considered three main pelletization technologies and compared four of their most critical attributes. The three popular biomass pellet processing methods used for this study are the conventional pelleting process (CPP), the high moisture pelleting process (HMPP), and the ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX). These processes were evaluated from both economic and environmental perspectives. We used the state of Mississippi as a testing ground for our analyses. The results obtained through the PSI method were validated with the Grey relational analysis (GRA) method. The results revealed that of the three available pelleting processes, the conventional pelleting process and the high moisture pelleting process were the most economic and environmentally friendly.

Assessment of Soybean Resistance to Leaf-feeding Insect, Spodoptera litura

One of soybean problem in Indonesia is leaf damage caused by the Spodoptera litura. The aim of the study was to identify the resistance of soybean genotypes againts army worm based on the preference index and morphophysiological characters. 150 soybean genotypes were grown under field condition from February to May 2018 in Malang (East Java, Indonesia). The preference test was conducted in the laboratory using G100H as resistant reference plant to armyworm. The result showed that the preference index was ranged from 0.09-1.82. A total of 105 genotypes showed a low preference index (resistant), 39 genotypes showed a high preference index (susceptible), and a genotype has similar preference index with the reference plant (has equal resistance with G100H). Based on the preference index and morphophysiological characters, 150 soybean genotypes can be grouped into eight clusters. A genotype from cluster VIII (Anjasmoro/Rajabasa-41) has characteristics of low leaf water content, dense leaf trichomes, and the preference index of 0.14. Those characteristics could be the attributes of the soybean genotypes that is resistant to S. litura. The Anjasmoro/Rajabasa-41 was recommended to be cultivated in Indonesian, or may be used as a gene source in the breeding program for S. litura resistance

Syngenetic rapid growth of ellipsoidal silica concretions with bitumen cores

Isolated silica concretions in calcareous sediments have unique shapes and distinct sharp boundaries and are considered to form by diagenesis of biogenic siliceous grains. However, the details and rates of syngenetic formation of these spherical concretions are still not fully clear. Here we present a model for concretion growth by diffusion, with chemical buffering involving decomposition of organic matter leading to a pH change in the pore-water and preservation of residual bitumen cores in the concretions. The model is compatible with some pervasive silica precipitation. Based on the observed elemental distributions, C, N, S, bulk carbon isotope and carbon preference index (CPI) measurements of the silica-enriched concretions, bitumen cores and surrounding calcareous rocks, the rate of diffusive concretion growth during early diagenesis is shown using a diffusion-growth diagram. This approach reveals that ellipsoidal SiO2 concretions with a diameter of a few cm formed rapidly and the precipitated silica preserved the bitumen cores. Our work provides a generalized chemical buffering model involving organic matter that can explain the rapid syngenetic growth of other types of silica accumulation in calcareous sediments.