Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behavior and Pollination Efficiency of Nannotrigona perilampoides (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) on Greenhouse Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Subtropical México

The acclimation, foraging behavior, and pollination efÞciency of stingless bees of the speciesNannotrigona perilampoidesCressonwere evaluated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMill.) plants cultivated in two greenhouses. The greenhouses were divided into three areas of 16 m, and one of the following treatments was used for pollination: stingless bees (SB), mechanical vibration (MV), and no pollination (NP). Observations were conducted once a week from 0800 to 1600 hours during 2 mo. The acclimation of the bees to the greenhouses was estimated by the number of bees that did not return to the hive (lost bees) and by comparing the population of the colonies (brood and adults). The foraging activity of the bees across the day was evaluated by comparing the number of foragers per hour. The inßuence of environmental variables on the foraging activity was also analyzed. The pollination efÞciency was compared among treatments through the percentage of fruit set, weight of individual fruit, kilograms of fruit produced per square meter, and the number of seed per fruit. The bees started foraging on the ßowers 7 d after the colonies were introduced to the greenhouse. There was a decline in the population of the colonies across the experiment, but colonies did not die out. Correlations of environmental variables with the foraging activity of the bees showed that none of them had a signiÞcant inßuence on pollen foraging. However, water collection was positively correlated with the temperature and negatively correlated with the humidity inside the greenhouse. The estimation of the pollination efÞciency per treatment showed that there were signiÞcant differences in fruit set in SB (83 4.2) and MV (78.5 6.4) compared with NP (52.6 7.6). However, the average weight of the fruit was similar for the three treatments (65 g). There were signiÞcant differences for seed number in SB (200 15.3) and MV (232 21.4) compared with NP (120 16.6). The productivity in kilograms of fruit per square meter was higher in SB (5.72 0.61) and MV (5.66 0.58 kg) compared with NP (3.34 0.72). The number of seed was positively correlated with the weight of the fruit. We conclude that the use of Nannotrigona testaceicornis Rondani, for pollinating greenhouse tomatoes in tropical climates, could be an alternative to the use of highly defensive African-derived Apis mellifera or non-native bumble bees (Bombus spp.). However,more research is needed to evaluate the cost/beneÞt on large-scale greenhouse pollination using N. perilampoides Cresson against other bee species and pollination methods.
Follicle Selection in Monovular Species

Abstract Follicle deviation is proposed to be the eminent event in follicle selection in monovular species. At deviation, the largest follicle establishes dominance apparently before the second-largest follicle can reach a similar diameter. In cattle, based on diameters of the two follicles at the beginning of deviation, the mechanism becomes established in <8 h. An FSH:follicle-coupling hypothesis has been supported as the essence of follicle selection. According to the hypothesis, the growing follicles cause the FSH decline from the peak of the wave-stimulating FSH surge until deviation, even though the follicles continue to require FSH (two-way functional coupling involving multiple follicles). During multiple-follicle coupling, inhibin is the primary FSH suppressant. Near the beginning of deviation, the largest follicle secretes increased estradiol, and apparently both estradiol and inhibin contribute to the continuing FSH decline; only the more-developed largest follicle is able to utilize the low FSH concentrations (single-follicle coupling). Deviation is encompassed by a transient elevation in LH in heifers and by a component, often distinct, of the long ovulatory LH surge in mares. In heifers, receptors for LH appear in the granulosa cells of the future dominant follicle about 8 h before the beginning of deviation. The LH stimulates the production of estradiol and insulin-like growth factor-1. These intrafollicular factors and perhaps others account for the responsiveness of the largest follicle to the low concentrations of FSH. The smaller follicles have not reached a similar developmental stage and because of their continued and close dependency on FSH become susceptible to the low concentrations. Thereby, follicle selection is established.
Transfer of Chlorfenapyr Among Workers of Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in the Laboratory

Abstract The potential for transfer of chlorfenapyr among subterranean termites was investigated using a donor–recipient (5:95 ratio) experiment. In one experiment, workers of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) were exposed to treated sand at 0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 ppm chlorfenapyr (wt [AI]/wt sand). Exposed workers were allowed to interact with untreated nestmates for 14 d, after which mortality was assessed. The three colonies responded differently to the treatments in this experiment. For two colonies, donor exposure rates of 500 ppm (as well as 250 ppm for colony B) chlorfenapyr resulted in significantly greater recipient mortality than controls. For colony C, donor chlorfenapyr exposure did not significantly influence recipient mortality. In a second experiment examining donor mortality over time, donor termites exposed to all test concentrations of chlorfenapyr (except for 0 ppm) suffered 100% mortality within 5 d. Analysis of donor termite body washes using gas chromatography indicated a linear uptake of chlorfenapyr by termites over the concentration range studied. Thus, for this concentration range, no upper limit (saturation plateau) of termite uptake for chlorfenapyr was reached.
Unsupervised learning of finite mixture models with deterministic annealing for large-scale data analysis

The finite mixture model, one of the most fundamental foundations in the fields of data mining and machine learning areas to access the essential structures of observed random sample data, aims at building a probabilistic model in which random sample data is described as a probabilistic distribution represented by mixtures of other distributions called latent components. The finite mixture model provides a convenient way to explain random phenomena of observed sample data in a generative process of finite mixtures. The main challenges in the finite mixture model are (i) to search an optimal model parameter set from a large problem space and (ii) to find a generalized model to avoid overfitting. The standard method used to fit a finite mixture model is an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm. However, an EM-based algorithm finds only locally optimized solutions and thus the quality of the answer is heavily affected by an initial condition (known as a local optimum problem). Moreover, it can cause an overfitting problem. We address these problems by using the novel optimization heuristic, known as Deterministic Annealing (DA), which has been proven its success to avoid local optima and been widely used in many data mining algorithms. More specifically, in this thesis, we focus two well-known data mining algorithms based on the finite mixture model: Generative Topographic Mapping (GTM) for dimension reduction and data visualization and Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis (PLSA) for text mining and information retrieval. Those two algorithms have been widely used in the field of data visualization and text mining but still suffer from the local optimum problem due to the use of the EM algorithm in their original developments. We extend those algorithms by using the DA algorithm to improve its quality in parameter estimation and provide overfitting avoidance. We show various experiment results to show the improvements.
DIFFERENT LIFE HISTORIES OF THE CO-OCCURRING FAIRY SHRIMPS BRANCHIPUS SCHAEFFERI AND STREPTOCEPHALUS TORVICORNIS (ANOSTRACA)

Abstract Branchipus schaefferi and Streptocephalus torvicornis commonly co-occur in ephemeral ponds throughout the Mediterranean Region. We compared survivorship, growth, and reproduction. Our results show statistically significant differences in all three parameters under laboratory conditions at 25°C, reflecting different life history strategies between these species. Branchipus schaefferi grows quickly to 18 mm body length, producing roughly 1700 cysts during an average lifespan of 24 days, while S. torvicornis lives an average of 120 days (length 24 mm), laying 2400 cysts. This suggests that S. torvicornis is better adapted to deep longer-lived pools, whereas B. schaefferi may survive in small, more ephemeral pools as formed from spring melt water and autumn rains. While the lifespan is equal for both sexes in B. schaefferi, the males of S. torvicornis live 2.8 times longer than females (325 days versus 114) compelled into a long postreproductive period by lack of females in their environment.
THE GROWTH OF MALE SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS IN ARISTAEOMORPHA FOLIACEA AND ARISTEUS ANTENNATUS (DECAPODA, ARISTEIDAE) IN THE GREEK IONIAN SEA (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN)

Abstract The objective of the present research is to study the seasonal morphometric variations of the secondary sexual characters of Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus males. Samples were collected from December 1996 to November 1997 using a commercial bottom trawl in a depth range of 446–728 m in the southeastern Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). This is the first attempt to resolve the morphometry of the appendix masculina and appendix interna of these species. Carapace length and lengths and widths of appendix masculina and appendix interna were measured in both species. The relationships between the surfaces of the two appendices and the carapace length in both species were studied. There is a positive allometric growth of these structures in both species. Temporal and bathymetric variation of the above variables are also presented. The possible role of the two appendices in copulation of these two species is discussed.
Efficacy and Persistence of Rosemary Oil as an Acaricide Against Twospotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Greenhouse Tomato

Abstract Efficacy of rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. , essential oil was assessed against twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), as well as effects on the tomato, Lycopersicum esculatum Mill. , host plant and biocontrol agents. Laboratory bioassay results indicated that pure rosemary oil and EcoTrol (a rosemary oil-based pesticide) caused complete mortality of spider mites at concentrations that are not phytotoxic to the host plant. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot is less susceptible to rosemary oil and EcoTrol than twospotted spider mite both in the laboratory and the greenhouse. Rosemary oil repels spider mites and can affect oviposition behavior. Moreover, rosemary oil and rosemary oil-based pesticides are nonpersistent in the environment, and their lethal and sublethal effects fade within 1 or 2 d. EcoTrol is safe to tomato foliage, flowers, and fruit even at double the recommended label rate. A greenhouse trial indicated that a single application of EcoTrol at its recommended label rate could reduce a twospotted spider mite population by 52%. At that rate, EcoTrol did not cause any mortality in P. persimilis nor did it affect their eggs. In general, EcoTrol was found to be a suitable option for small-scale integrated pest management programs for controlling twospotted spider mites on greenhouse tomato plants.
LIFE CYCLE OF THE DEEP-WATER PANDALID SHRIMP PLESIONIKA EDWARDSII (DECAPODA, CARIDEA) IN THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Abstract The reproduction, growth and population dynamics of the deep-water pandalid shrimp Plesionika edwardsii Brandt were studied in the South Tyrrhenian Sea (central Mediterranean Sea, Italy). Individuals were collected between 100- and 350-m depth during an experimental trap survey conducted in the April 1998–November 1999 period. The mean catch did not show differences in relation to either sampling depth or season. Reproduction appeared to be continuous throughout the year even if the main reproductive activity occurred in April–July. The small ovigerous females were 15.5 mm CL, whereas the mean size at which 50% of females were ovigerous (L50) was 18 mm CL. Differences in size at maturity were recorded during the year. The L50 reached the minimum value in June and maximum in October–November, at the end of the breeding season when the reproductive stock was composed mainly of a few large females. A main recruitment cohort was observed in January, although new cohorts of juveniles appeared in each sampling period. The von Bertalanffy growth curve parameters were estimated for both sexes using the relative mean carapace lengths at ages. Females grew faster and reached larger size after maturity than males. Longevity was estimated to be around 3.5 years for both sexes.
Human Urine and Chicken Feces as Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Attractants for Resource-Poor Fruit Growers

Weevaluatedhumanurineandchicken feces, twonaturallyoccurring, inexpensive, and readily available substances, as baits for the capture ofAnastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) byusing glass McPhail traps. Two studies were performed simultaneously in a commercial mango orchard in Veracruz, México. In the Þrst study, we compared a 50% water dilution of human urine against hydrolyzed protein, both compounds at the fresh and 5-d-old stages, and water alone (control treatment). In the second study, we tested fresh chicken feces mixed with water, a torula yeast/borax solution at three different ages (1Ð4, 5Ð9, and 10Ð15 d), and water (control treatment). Both human urine and chicken feceswere attractive toAnastrepha adults comparedwithwater alone, but attracted two and three times fewer adults than hydrolyzed protein and torula yeast/borax, respectively. However, unlike torula yeast/borax, aging of humanurine did not decrease its attractiveness. Five-day old human urine attracted numerically more A. serpentina females than males, similar numbers of A. obliquamales and females, and signiÞcantlymore sexually immatureA. obliqua females thanmature ones. Chicken feces proved to be as attractive as the aged torula yeast/borax treatments forA. obliqua and A. serpentina. We argue that because both human urine and chicken feces are cost-free and can be easily obtained, they are viable, low-technology alternatives to costly commercial attractants, particularly for low-income growers or backyard farmers in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Tolerance of Processing Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Varieties to Halosulfuron-methyl

Field experiments were conducted at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, OH in 2002 and 2004 to evaluate the tolerance of tomato varieties to halosulfuronmethyl, a selective herbicide used for POST control of broadleaf weeds and nutsedge (Cyperus). POST herbicide treatments included halosulfuron-methyl at 0, 34.7 and 70 g ai ha-1. Plots were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 wk after treatment (WAT), and yield was recorded at the end of the season. Minimal crop injury was observed 1 and 3 WAT in plots treated with both halosulfuronmethyl rates only in 2002. Although the crop recovered from herbicide injury when treated with the lower rate at 6 WAT, ‘Ohio 8245’, ‘M82’, and ‘E6203’ showed injury at this interval when treated with halosulfuron-methyl at 70 g ha-1. No injury was observed with either rates in 2004. No significant yield reduction was observed in any of the varieties in the test plots. These results indicate that differential tolerance to halosulfuron-methyl does not exists among these tomato varieties with the exception of E6203 and M82. Nomenclature: Halosulfuron; tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L.
A Comprehensive Kinematic Analysis during a 15 Km Submaximal Training Run

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate kinematics during a 15 km submaximal endurance training run. Methods: Fifteen participants (eight male, seven female; 30.5 ± 8.4 years; 71.8 ± 11 kg; 1.73 ± 0.07 m) currently training for an endurance race completed a 15 km training run (1:24:34 ± 0:10:20 finish times) on an outdoor course. Sagittal plane two-dimensional kinematic data were captured and analyzed for a single stance phase at 0.5 km intervals. All dependent variables (lap times, step length, step frequency, stance time, and joint angles (knee, ankle & hip) at contact and during stance) were calculated every half km and averaged over three km segments. Results: Lap time (p < 0.001) and stance time (p < 0.001) each increased across the duration of the run. Step length decreased (p = 0.020) but there was no change in step frequency (p = 0.087) across time. Knee flexion at foot contact decreased across time (p = 0.041), with no changes in hip (p = 0.916) or ankle (p = 0.591) angles at foot contact. Torso inclination increased across laps (p = 0.001). During stance phase, decreased peak knee flexion (p = 0.041) was the only lower extremity joint angle altered during the run. Conclusion: Runners adjust lower and upper extremity body positions, as well as running gait parameter variables, in response to slower running velocities during the later stages of a submaximal endurance run.
Higher Densities of Distributed Pheromone Sources Provide Disruption of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Superior to That of Lower Densities of Clumped Sources

Abstract Field experiments quantified the effect of synthetic pheromone release-site density and distribution on 1) orientational disruption of male codling moths, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), to pheromone-baited traps; and 2) fruit injury. A clustering test varied pheromone release-site density from 0 to 1,000 Isomate-C Plus dispensers per ha while maintaining the total number of dispensers at 1,000. Percentage of orientational disruption of pheromone-baited traps increased significantly as a function of increasing density of release sites. Fruit injury decreased as the density of release sites increased and was lowest in plots treated with Isomate-C Plus dispensers distributed as 1,000 point sources per ha. We also manipulated point source density of 0.1-ml paraffin-wax drops containing 5% codlemone [(E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol], and thus the total amount of pheromone deployed per hectare. The percentage of disruption of traps baited with either 1.0- or 0.1-mg codlemone lures increased with increasing density of wax drops deployed. Both trapping and field observations confirmed that wax drops were attractive to male codling moths, suggesting that disruption was mediated by competitive attraction. Development of dispensers that can be mechanically applied at high densities has potential to improve the efficacy and economics of codling moth disruption at high population densities.
Optimum seeding date and rate for irrigated cereal and oilseed crops in southern Alberta

McKenzie, R. H. , Bremer, E. , Middleton, A. B. , Pfiffner, P. G. and Woods, S. A. 2011. Optimum seeding date and rate for irrigated cereal and oilseed crops in southern Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 293-303. High crop productivity is essential for irrigated crops and may be strongly affected by decisions of seeding date and rate. An irrigated field experiment was conducted at two locations in southern Alberta for 4 yr to compare the impact of seeding date and rate on productivity and quality of nine cereal crops and two oilseed crops. Seeding rate was only evaluated on one date in late April or early May, when maximum yields were expected. Delayed seeding reduced crop yields by 0.6 to 1.7% per day after the end of April: flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) = CWRS wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), feed triticale (×Triticosecale W.) = CPS or SWS wheat = triticale or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) silage = durum (T. turgidum L.), feed or malt barley < canola (Brassica napus L.). Crop quality deteriorated with delayed seeding for some crops, particularly canola, malt barley and SWS wheat, but was unaffected or even slightly improved for other crops. Seeding rate generally had a smaller effect on crop yield or quality than seeding date, but triticale and SWS wheat required high seeding rates to achieve maximum yields. Early seeding and a sufficient seeding rate were required for high crop productivity of irrigated cereal and oilseed crops in southern Alberta.
History Of Modern Europe

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Evaluation of Alternative Tactics for Management of Insecticide-Resistant Horn Flies (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract A 3-yr study was conducted to determine the efficacy of tactics that could be used to manage populations of insecticide-resistant horn flies, Hematobia irritans irritans (L.). Insecticide spray, spot-on or pour-on formulations and two IGRs in bolus formulation, 1.3- and 3.2-ha pasture rotations on different rotation schedules, 0–50% Brahman breeding, selected fly-resistant cows, and a mechanical trap were evaluated singly and in combination. Concentration-mortality tests indicated that horn flies collected from cows used in the current study were significantly less susceptible to diazinon, coumaphos, and methoxychlor than horn flies from cows at the same locations previously used to determine baseline susceptibility. During the 3-yr study at the Southeast Research and Extension Center (SEREC), the IGR-bolus significantly reduced (P < 0.05) horn fly numbers on both the continuous and rotational graze regimens, resulting in significantly (P < 0.05) greater calf weaning weights (average of 24 kg). Horn fly numbers were significantly greater on untreated cows during the 3-yr study at the Southwest Research and Extension Center (SWREC) compared with the mean fly numbers on cows that received fly-management treatments. All tactics and tactic-combinations used at SWREC on cattle having no Brahman breeding failed to significantly reduce insecticide-resistant horn fly numbers. However, the combination of Brahman breeding with the IGR-Bolus and mechanical trap significantly reduced horn fly numbers and resulted in significant increases in calf weaning weight. In addition, mean horn fly numbers decreased significantly as the percentage Brahman breeding increased with 50% Brahman breeding reducing horn fly numbers by 140 flies per cow. No significant difference was found between the mean fly numbers on the fly-resistant purebred group and the cows that had no Brahman breeding but received the IGR-Bolus or used the mechanical trap. The use of synergized zeta-cypermethrin pour-on treatment successfully complimented the use of IGR-bolus and mechanical traps in reducing insecticide-resistant horn fly numbers. Neither 1.3- nor 3.2-ha size paddocks and stocking rates used in the rotation graze regimens at SEREC and SWREC, respectively, significantly reduced horn fly numbers when compared with continuously grazed paddocks. Data indicated the importance of using tactics that reduce horn fly numbers to ≈150 horn flies per cow. These data demonstrated the efficacy of using tactic combinations to manage insecticide-resistant horn fly populations.