Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Production System and Cultivar Effects on the Development of Skin Separation or “Silvering” in Bell Pepper Fruit

S UMMARY . From 2006 to 2008, four different production systems and ﬁve bell pepper cultivars ( Capsicum annuum ) with either no resistance (Alliance and Camelot), tolerance (Revolution), or resistance (Paladin and Aristotle) to the crown rot phase of phytophthora blight ( Phytophthora capsici ) were evaluated for the development of skin separation or ‘‘silvering’’ in fruit at a research facility and four commercial vegetable farms in southern New Jersey. Cultivar, production system, and year, each had a signiﬁcant effect on the total percentage of fruit with skin separation and marketable yield. The percentage of bell pepper fruit with skin separation was higher in both phytophthora-resistant cultivars compared with the phytophthora-susceptible cultivars across all four production systems. Marketable yield was highest when bell peppers were grown in double rows on raised beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation compared with bell peppers grown on single rows on raised beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation and bell peppers grown on single rows on raised, bare ground beds with buried drip irrigation. Marketable yields were lowest when bell peppers were grown in single rows on high, ridged beds with overhead irrigation. Results of this study suggest that the development of skin separation or ‘‘silvering’’ in fruit is more closely associated with genotype than type of production system.
Biased gene conversion drives codon usage in human and precludes selection on translation efficiency

In humans, as in other mammals, synonymous codon usage (SCU) varies widely among genes. In particular, genes involved in cell differentiation or in proliferation display a distinct codon usage, suggesting that SCU is adaptively constrained to optimize translation efficiency in distinct cellular states. However, in mammals, SCU is known to correlate with large-scale fluctuations of GC-content along chromosomes, caused by meiotic recombination, via the non-adaptive process of GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC). To disentangle and to quantify the different factors driving SCU in humans, we analyzed the relationships between functional categories, base composition, recombination, and gene expression. We first demonstrate that SCU is predominantly driven by large-scale variation in GC-content and is not linked to constraints on tRNA abundance, which excludes an effect of translational selection. In agreement with the gBGC model, we show that differences in SCU among functional categories are explained by variation in intragenic recombination rate, which, in turn, is strongly negatively correlated to gene expression levels during meiosis. Our results indicate that variation in SCU among functional categories (including variation associated to differentiation or proliferation) result from differences in levels of meiotic transcription, which interferes with the formation of crossovers and thereby affects gBGC intensity within genes. Overall, the gBGC model explains 70% of the variance in SCU among genes. We argue that the strong heterogeneity of SCU induced by gBGC in mammalian genomes precludes any optimization of the tRNA pool to the demand in codon usage.
STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES CHANGES DURING OSMOTIC DRYING OF PLANTAIN (Musa paradisiaca AAB) AND ITS ROLE ON MASS TRANSFER

This work studies the structural properti s of pla tain (Mus paradisiaca AAB) during osmotic d hydration (OD) and its role on mass transfer phenomena. Drying temperatures of 40, 60 and 80°C and sucrose solutions of 29 and 45°Brix were used in OD. Apparent and true volume, were measured using volumetric displacement and gas stereopycnometer methods. Apparent (ρb) and true densities (ρp) were calculated with volume data. Porosity (ε) and shrinkage (S) were calculated based on ρb and ρp data. Apparent diffusion coefficient (Daw) of water and solids (Das) were calculated. Micrographs were obtained for both, raw and dehydrated samples. The major water loss (WL) was found at 45°Brix dehydrated at 40 and 60°C, whereas the major solid gain (SG) was obtained at 45°Brix dehydrated at 80°C. A non-linear volume dependence on loss moisture, as well as a ρp and ρb increase and ε reduction with two pseudo-equilibrium periods was found. Micrographs at different depths of the food tissu revealed the effect tr atments on two structural anisotropy areas. Shrinkage, starch gelatinization and swelling, as well as anisotropy affect the mass transfer.
RWG Executive Summary : Cassini has

Figure 1: Main rings of Saturn; the image is registered along its top edge with a radial profile of the ring optical depth from a Cassini UVIS stellar occultation. The optical depth (usually denoted τ ) is the vertical integral through the ring layer of the particle number density times its cross-sectional area, times extinction efficiency (for the plot above, the efficiency is unity). The B ring – especially its central part – has the highest optical depth, but the highest values shown are just noise limits. Unlabeled regions mentioned in the following text include the series of “plateaus” in the outer C ring, centered on the Maxwell gap near 87500km, which contains an elliptical ringlet. The Encke gap is visible in the outer A ring, around 133600km. The narrow, stranded F Ring is just off the figure at right. Figure from Colwell et al 2009.
Effect of larval age and supplemental feeding on morphometrics and oviposition in honey bee Apis mellifera scutellata queens

Although the effects of numerous factors (such as age of grafted larvae, supplemental feeding and mating) have been studied on the honey bees of Europe and America, they remain unknown for African bee races. To bridge this gap, a study was undertaken at the icipe Karura forest apiaries in Kenya to determine the effect of larval age and supplemental feeding on morphometrics and oviposition in the honey bee Apis mellifera scutellata queens. Queens were reared in 12 colonies with two feeding regimes, fed and not fed. Five larval age groups: 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h old, were grafted from each colony. We measured the fresh weight, spermatheca volume and the external parameters of the emerged queens and compared the oviposition rate by counting the number of eggs laid daily in naturally mated queens (NM) and artificially inseminated queens (AI). Our results show that age of grafted larvae and supplemental feeding significantly affect the morphometrics of the reared queens (p = 0.001), while oviposition rate is more or less the same in NM and AI. This work could eventually be used to select the best breed of honey bee subspecies in East Africa and improve queen rearing methods.
Behind the Scenes: The Corporate Governance Preferences of Institutional Investors

We survey institutional investors to better understand their role in the corporate governance of firms. Consistent with a number of theories, we document widespread behind-the-scenes intervention as well as governance-motivated exit. These governance mechanisms are viewed as complementary devices, with intervention typically occurring prior to a potential exit. We further find that long-term investors and investors that are less concerned about stock liquidity intervene more intensively. Finally, we find that most investors use proxy advisors and believe that the information provided by such advisors improves their own voting decisions.
Catalogue of aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida: Clitellata) of Montenegro, exclusive of Naidinae and Pristininae

The aquatic oligochaete fauna of Montenegro was recently studied in order to improve the knowledge of this group in the Balkan region. This study was carried out on sediments collected from 70 sampling sites (the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea drainage basins) during three years (2005–2008). Forty-one species were identified, from seven following families: Naididae, Enchytraeidae, Haplotaxidae, Lumbriculidae, Lumbricidae, Criodrilidae and Branchiobdellidae (exclusive of Naidinae and Pristininae). Sixteen of them represent first record for the Montenegrin oligochaete fauna: Embolocephalus velutinus, Ilyodrilus templetoni, Psammoryctides deserticola, Spirosperma ferox, Tubifex ignotus, Bathydrilus adriaticus, Bothrioneurum vejdovskyanum, Rhyacodrilus coccineus, Cernosvitoviella atrata, Enchytraeus buchholzi, Mesenchytraeus armatus, Haplotaxis gordioides, Rhynchelmis limosella, Stylodrilus heringianus, Tatriella slovenica and Trichodrilus strandi. The list of species from the subfamilies Naidinae and Pristininae was published previously (Sundic et al. 2011), and it comprises 36 species. Altogether, the present study and literature data show that Montenegrin aquatic oligochaete fauna consists of 77 species. Concerning similarity, values of Jaccard’s index are the highest between Montenegrin and Serbian oligochaete fauna (57 %), and the lowest between Montenegrin and Albanian oligochaete fauna (27.77 %). Species richness estimators (Mao Tau, Uniques Mean, Chao 1, Chao 2, Jack 1, Jack 2, Bootstrap, ACE and ICE) indicate that findings of new oligochaete species in Montenegro are expected.
Resource Gradients and the Distribution and Flowering of Butterwort, a Carnivorous Plant

The transfer of materials such as nutrients from one ecosystem to another can establish gradients that affect the distribution and performance of species. We examined how a natural resource gradient influences the density and flowering of butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), a carnivorous plant. Mývatn, a lake in Iceland, produces large midge populations, generating a gradient in midge abundance on shore. The midge gradient was associated with butterwort flowering probability, which decreased by roughly 50% moving away from the shore. In a midge addition experiment, plants receiving midges had a four-fold increase in their subsequent likelihood of flowering, implicating carnivory in the flowering gradient. Nonetheless, the density of butterworts increased with distance from shore, in negative association with soil nutrient content and the abundance of grass species. This suggests that the positive effect of the midge gradient on butterwort flowering is overwhelmed by the negative effect of competition with grasses.
Finding reference: a comparison of modelling approaches for predicting macroinvertebrate community index benchmarks

ABSTRACT Reference benchmarks are needed to assess the contemporary status of rivers and to establish restoration targets. We developed predictive models to estimate site-specific reference values for a macroinvertebrate community index (MCI), which is used to indicate a range of human impacts on wadeable streams. We compared three statistical modelling approaches – general linear, boosted regression tree (BRT) and random forest (RF) – and tested the effect of spatial scale on predictive accuracy by developing national and regional BRT models. Using fitted flexible models (BRT, RF) and resetting predictors to reflect natural state provided the most accurate predictions of reference condition. Variation in reference MCI predictions from national and regional models was within the range observed from methodological and temporal variability. The proportion of native vegetation in upstream catchments was the primary predictor of MCI scores in all models, while secondary predictors varied regionally.
A New and Three Rare Species of Planktonic Anabaena (Nostocales, Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria) from Japan

A new species of planktonic Anabaena, A. tsugaruensis, is described from Lake Higurashi-no-ike of the Tsugaru-Juniko lakes in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan. Further, three rare species of planktonic Anabaena, A. cf. heterospora Nyg. , A. levanderi Lemm. , and A. cf. solitaria Kleb. , are added to the Japanese cyanophyte flora with taxonomic notes.
Linseed fibre – effect on composite flour properties and cereal products quality

Wheat flour was fortified by 2.5 or 5.0 wt. per cent of linseed fibre, gained from seeds of golden flax varieties Amon and Raciol and brown one Recital (granulation 500 - 700 m), prepared from 2015 harvest. Technological quality of six flour composites was described analytically by Falling Number and Zeleny sedimentation test. Both screening methods shown a little impact on amylases activity and protein quality, respectively. Rheological tests included the farinograph, the extensigraph and the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) proofs. Additions of brown and yellow flax fibre significantly increased farinograph water absorption and shortened dough stability, somewhat stronger by addition of brown linseed fibre. Extensigraph curves course depended on dough resting time, higher differences between wheat control and flour composites were observed after 60 min dough resting. Linseed fibre supported dough extensibility, and energy as area under curve significantly decreased about 7 - 18%, mainly due to increasing alternative material portion in dough. In general, fibre is characterised as hydrophilic material, and pasting profiles of flour composites confirmed this experience. During dough leavening, tested samples were differentiated according to maturograph dough resistance; optimal leavening time of wheat-linseed fibre dough was shorter than control. Regardless described modifications in dough machinability, specific volumes of bread buns were similar though whole sample set. A weak worsening of buns vaulting reflected a partial dilution of dough gluten skeleton. Cut-off biscuits were characterised by gradually lowering spread ratio, correspondingly to elevated dough elasticity. Laboratory prepared elbow-pasta have the same cooking time as the control (8.0 min), and data variation could not be attributed to linseed fibre or addition level. All three cereal products were found to have acceptable sensory profiles. PCA method verified partial lowering of protein quality and pointed at tested sample differentiation according to linseed addition level.
Genetic analyses of bovine CARD15, a putative disease resistance gene

Genetic Analyses of Bovine CARD15, a Putative Disease Resistance Gene. (May 2004) Kristen Hawkins Taylor, B.S., Lamar University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. James E. Womack Through a binding partner the CARD15 gene activates NF-kB, a molecule with a role in the initiation of the inflammatory immune response. The gene is highly conserved in both structure and function in human and mouse and has recently been implicated as a disease resistance gene in Crohn’s disease and Blau Syndrome in human. The gene’s relationship to disease and its conservation between species suggests that it may also have a conserved role in bovine disease resistance. To elucidate the potential role of bovine CARD15 in disease resistance, the gene was characterized in cattle. Bovine CARD15 is located 4.2 cR5000 telomeric to ADCY7 on chromosome 18. It spans ~30 kb and is comprised of 12 exons, 11 of which are coding. Bovine CARD15 is expressed in many tissues, but is most abundant in peripheral blood leukocytes. An extensive comparative analysis between the bovine, mouse and human CARD15 genes revealed high levels of inter-species conservation in sequence, genomic structure and protein domains. Conserved putative regulatory motifs were identified in the three species comparison of the 5’UTR, 3’UTR and the intronic sequences flanking exons. Additionally, diverse regulatory motifs were identified in each of the species indicating an evolutionary divergence in the mechanisms of regulation of gene expression. To assess the extent of genetic diversity within bovine CARD15, 41 individuals from nine breeds representing two subspecies were sequenced and screened for polymorphisms. Thirty-six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified including 26 within the gene transcript. Haplotypes were estimated for each individual and parsimonious SNP sets were identified with which the multi-locus Bos taurus and Bos indicus
Pathogenic Microorganisms Associated With Diarrhea in Infants And Children in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region / Iraq

This study was performed to assess the incidence of microorganisms causing diarrhea in infants and children of both sexes and different ages from 12 days to 14 years in Duhok province, during the period from October 2012 to June 2013, in which 522 diarrheal samples (278 males and 244 females) were collected from infants and children attended pediatrics Heevi teaching hospital in Duhok city coming from different regions of Duhok province. Out of 522 samples 426 (81.61%) were positive for bacteria, followed by 146(27.97%) parasites, 69(13.21%) viruses and 5 (0.96%) fungi. The most prevalent enteric pathogens were Escherichia coli 305(58.43%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica 134(25.67%), Klebseilla spp. 105(20.1%), and Rotavirus 57(10.91%). Mixed infections were documented in 129 (24.71%) cases, with the maximum being with bacteria and parasite in 62(11.87%). The most frequent microorganisms encountered in mixed infections were E. coli and E. histolytica at rates of 64.34 and 62.01%, respectively. Infants less than 2 years showed the highest rate (72.22%), while children aged 12-14 years were least infected (0.96%). Moreover, the rate of infection in males was greater than females, but statistically this difference was nonsignificant.
Offspring sex ratio in sheep, cattle, goats and pigs: influence of season and lunar phase at conception

Abstract This study assessed the relationship between season and lunar phase at conception on offspring sex ratio of four livestock species (sheep, cattle, goats and pigs). The sex of 66,830 lambs (1995–2015); 25,546 calves (2011–2015); 5671 kids (2002–2007) and 1916 piglets was recorded. Moon phases were categorized as either new moon, crescent moon, full moon or decrescent moon. Sex ratio, expressed as proportion of males (males/males + females), was tested against the expected value of 1:1. In sheep, offspring sex ratio and lunar phase were not correlated; season had a significant (p = 0.002) effect on offspring sex ratio. The proportion of males born of spring and winter matings was significantly higher than it was among offspring born of summer (p < 0.05) or autumn (p < 0.01) conceptions. Offspring sex ratios in spring (p < 0.05), autumn (p < 0.01) and winter (p < 0.05) differed significantly from the expected. In cattle, moon phase and season did not affect the offspring sex ratio; however, the interaction effect was highly significant (p = 0.001). The overall piglet sex ratio (0.522), and the sex ratios among piglets conceived during a crescent moon and those conceived in summer differed significantly (p < 0.05) from 1:1. Research including additional factors such as hormonal treatments prior to insemination, food availability, weather and maternal and paternal factors might provide the underlying reasons for the effects of season and moon phase on offspring sex ratio in some livestock species.
The effect of changing spectral composition on the photosynthetic efficiency and survival rate of Goniastrea sp. Ex Situ

Corals exposed to high light intensity may be susceptible to bleaching, therefore understanding the effect of light on coral photophysiology is vital to their protection. Goniastrea corals collected from Hall Bank Reef were placed under four different light filter treatments: blue, clear, red and UV opaque under outdoor conditions at Perth, Western Australia and photosynthetic activities were measured using a Diving-PAM. The main aim of this study was determining light composition (exposed λ) effect on the corals’ photosynthetic efficiency and survival rate. The photosynthetic efficiency was quantified as Fv/Fm (the effective quantum yield of Photosystem II), the electron transport rate (ETR and ETRmax), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), and alpha (α). Coral survival was monitored until all corals had died, and it was found that corals subjected to shorter wavelengths (the blue light treatment) survived longer than other light treatments. The corals were initially collected from 12 m depth, where they are naturally adapted to an environment that is exposed to mainly blue light (450-495 nm); therefore they would be adapted to these conditions. The Fv/Fm dropped significantly over the course of the experiment, with higher Fv/Fm reduction in clear and UV light filter treatments when compared to corals kept at blue and red spectra. Fv/Fm reduction over time may be due to chronic photoinhibition damaging PSII and lowering the overall photosynthetic yield of the algal symbiont. The Fv/Fm of the corals subjected to the blue light treatment was consistently higher, most likely due to lower PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) level transmitting this filter. The diurnal trials indicated there was a peak in Fv/Fm at 9am, before decreasing at midday under all light treatments. This was attributed to the high irradiance at this time of day causing dynamic photoinhibition and thus a temporary lowering of the photosynthetic yield of the symbionts. ETRmax, α and NPQ did not change significantly over time, however α and ETRmax showed a general trend of increasing until midday (when irradiance is highest) and then decreasing. Overall this showed that corals exposed to broader bands of the electromagnetic spectrum are more likely to experience damage to PSII and subsequent decrease in photosynthetic yield, as well as lowered survival rate. The results of this study indicate that altering the transmission of light in the ocean may have detrimental effects on coral reefs.
Production and Characterization of Bacteriocin-like Peptide Produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B10

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B10 that was isolated from soil was identified according to data of morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA sequence analyses. The bacteriocin like peptide (BLP) produced by B. amyloliquefaciens B10 shows extendend antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria including some pathogenic bacteria such as B. cereus and L. monocytogenesis and yeast including opportunistic pathogen such as Candida albicans. The BLP was sensitive to proteolytic enzyme proteinase K, lipase, tripsin, α- amylase except for catalase (5 mg/ml). While the activity of BLP of B13 was stable at 90°C for 30 min, the activity was completely lost at 90°C for 2 h and 121°C 20 min. Although activity of BLP of B10 was stable pH range 3-9, optimum pH was 7.0. It was sensitive against some organic solvent and detergent such as ethanol, hexane, ethyl ether and tween-80. Partial purification of BLP of B10 performed 70% ammonium sulphate precipitation was shown that it has approximately 5 kDa molecular weight. Key Words: Bacillus amyloliquefaci ens B10, bacteriocin like peptide, antimicrobial activity, partial purification
Bathycongrus trimaculatus, a new congrid eel (Teleostei: Anguilliformes) from the southwestern Pacific, with a redescription of Bathycongrus bleekeri Fowler

Bathycongrus trimaculatus is described from 16 specimens collected from moderately deep water off the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and New Caledonia in the southwestern Pacific. It is distinguished from all other species by the presence of three conspicuous dark spots in the dorsal and anal fins; by having the vomerine teeth in an elongate patch with all the teeth about the same size and none of them greatly enlarged; by having fewer vertebrae; and by its small size. Bathycongrus bleekeri is redescribed, based on the unique holotype and two additional specimens, and compared to other species of the genus.