Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Déterminants de la production de plantain dans le sud-ouest du Cameroun : intérêt d'un observatoire

Introduction. Le plantain est une culture importante pour la securite alimentaire en Afrique sub-saharienne. Pour mieux hierarchiser les priorites de recherche en fonction des contraintes des producteurs, une cellule d'observation permanente a ete mise en place dans le cadre d'une demarche interdisciplinaire. Materiel et methodes. Un echantillonnage en bananeraies a couvert les zones de contextes agroecologiques distincts qui approvisionnent Douala. Les donnees ont ete obtenues par un suivi de parcelles et d'exploitations. A l'echelle des parcelles, les observations ont porte sur les pratiques culturales, les populations de nematodes et de charancons, et les rendements. A l'echelle des exploitations, les suivis ont porte sur les fonctions economiques du plantain. Resultats et discussions. La gamme de situations culturales etudiees correspond a une diversite de contextes et d'objectifs des exploitations agricoles. Les observations effectuees sur bananiers (rythme d'emission foliaire, circonference du pseudotronc, nombre de doigts et de feuilles vivantes, poids et longueur des doigts, poids du regime) ont permis d'expliquer comment se determinait le rendement. Celui-ci est surtout affecte par les pertes avant recolte, en relation avec l'etat sanitaire des racines et la presence de nematodes et de charancons. Ces pertes ont ete maximales a la fin de la saison seche. Le rendement est egalement lie au poids du regime determine par le nombre de doigts essentiellement lie a la croissance et a leur remplissage. Pour ce dernier caractere, les resultats obtenus ne mettent pas clairement en evidence l'incidence de la maladie des raies noires. Des ameliorations du protocole de suivi sont proposees.
Food Habits of Cave-Dwelling Bats in the Central Appalachians

The food habits of four species of cave-dwelling bats, Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis keenii, M. lucifugus , and Pipistrellus subflavus , were investigated in the central Appalachians. Information was based primarily on analysis of fecal pellets; however, some stomachs also were examined for food items for comparison with the first procedure. Coleopterans and hemipterans occurred in more than 70% of the adult male E. fuscus samples. All of the hemipterans were green stink bugs, Acrosternum hilare . More than 50% of the adult male M. keenii samples contained coleopteran, lepidopteran, and neuropteran fragments. The neuropterans were represented by the Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera occurred in more than 50% of the adult male M. lucifugus samples. Fifty percent of the Diptera were midges (Chironomidae). Coleopterans and homopterans were present in more than 50% of the adult male P. subflavus samples. Other important prey items for P. subflavus were dipterans, hymenopterans, and lepidopterans. Adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus , and P. subflavus captured concurrently differed in their food habits. More male M. keenii samples contained Hemerobiidae and Lepidoptera than did M. lucifugus or P. subflavus samples, whereas adult male M. lucifugus and P. subflavus took prey from the same insect orders and in approximately the same proportion. In general, adult male E. fuscus appeared to be dietary specialists, whereas adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus , and P. subflavus appeared more generalized in their diets.
SKULL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN THE SOUTHERN FUR SEALS ARCTOCEPHALUS FORSTERI AND A. PUSILLUS DORIFERUS (CARNIVORA: OTARIIDAE)

Cranial development in skulls of New Zealand and Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri and A. pusillus doriferus) was compared and found to be similar. The complete closure of cranial sutures showed little variation in sequence for either species but was generally slower in males. Based on suture closure, females matured earlier than males and showed monophasic growth. Males matured later and expressed monophasic growth for some characteristics but a secondary growth spurt for others. The former included variables that were of shared functional importance (e.g. growth of the braincase plus characteristics related to hearing, breathing and feeding). The latter occurred in features related to biting and structural support of the skull. Not all males exhibited biphasic growth in these characteristics, which may reflect the existence of multiple mating strategies or interpopulation growth differences. Variation in size was greatest in physiologically mature specimens and occurred mainly in those variables that expressed sexually dimorphic development.
Multiple ligand binding sites on Aβ(1–40) fibrils

Although the structures of Thioflavin T and another benzothiazole, BTA-1, are similar, they bind to Aß non-competitively, probably to different sites on the Aß (1–40) fibrils. The amyloid fibril-induced fluorescence of ThT that corresponds to a fraction of total ThT binding is not displaced by high concentrations of (S)-naproxen or (R)-ibuprofen, which are reported to potently block high affinity binding of the radiolabeled malononitrile FDDNP and derivatives. The binding of the benzothiazole ligands is significantly substoichiometric with respect to Aß (1–40) monomer peptide, unlike Congo Red, which binds to Aß (1–40) fibrils on a 1:1 basis with monomer peptide. These results indicate that there are multiple domains for ligand binding to amyloid fibrils and suggest that it may be possible to design ligands that bind selectively to particular forms of fibrils that are connected with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and potentially other protein misfolding diseases.
Evaluation of Spanish Arundo scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis (Hemiptera; Diaspididae) survival and fecundity on three new world genotypes of Arundo donax (Poaceae; Arundinoideae)

Abstract A pre-release evaluation of survival and fecundity of the arundo scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis, was conducted on three invasive genotypes of the riparian weed, Arundo donax. The three A. donax genotypes were collected from Laredo, Austin and Balmorhea, TX, which represented the majority of the genotypic diversity found in Texas watersheds. Although R. donacis developed on all three genotypes of the plant, the Austin A. donax genotype, followed by the Laredo genotype, were the most suitable in terms of the size of first-generation immature and adult scale populations that developed after crawler release. Both the Laredo and Austin genotypes of A. donax are likely to be of Spanish origin and are close genetic matches with scale's original host plant genotype in Alicante, Spain. In comparison, survival was lowest on the phylogenetically distant genotype of A. donax from Balmorhea, TX. Although the population size of settled, immature second-generation scales varied in a manner similar to that of the first generation, the fecundity of isolated first-generation females was not significantly different across the three plant genotypes, suggesting that R. donacis is not a genotype specialist in terms of nutrient assimilation for reproduction. Rather, differences in genotype suitability affect rates of success of crawler settling. These results indicate that selection of scale genotype from the native range may have a moderate influence on the success of R. donacis and ultimately the biological control programme.
Differential Immunohistochemical Expression of Syndecan-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Colonic Mucosa of Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in intestinal mucosa plays a key role in the inflammation characterizing Crohn’s disease (CD). Moreover, adhesion molecule syndecan-1 mediates the maintenance of mucosal integrity and supports tissue repair. Therefore, our aim in this study was to correlate simultaneous expression of TNFα and syndecan-1 in patients affected by CD. Biopsies from 10 patients with CD of large bowel and 10 subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (controls) were studied by immunohistochemical detection of both TNFα and syndecan-1 on successive serial sections. Overall labeling index (OLI) was indicated by the percentage of positive stromal (i.e., nonepithelial) cells/1000 counted in randomized fields, whereas selected labeling index (SLI) was represented by the simultaneous evaluation of both molecules in a same single selected field of each specimen. TNFα and syndecan-1 OLI were significantly higher in CD compared with controls, while SLI showed an inverse relationship between the molecules in CD which was not observed in controls. Epithelial syndecan-1 cytoplasmatic staining of superficial epithelium was associated with loss of basolateral staining in the crypts and high stromal TNFα in CD. In conclusion, TNFα and syndecan-1 expression is increased in the intestinal mucosa of patients with CD. However, the expression of the two molecules is inversely related when a single field is considered, these data supporting the possibility of a downregulation exerted by TNFα.
Identification of Puffer Fish of the Genus Lagocephalus: L. lunaris, L. spadiceus and L. inermis, Using Multiplex PCR

A multiplex PCR assay was developed to identify widespread poison-containing puffer fishes of the genus Lagocephalus: L. lunaris, L. spadiceus and L. inermis, using a novel KUGEN_ILSspec primer set which is specific for 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes. KUGEN_ILSspec set is composed of fish positive-amplified primers that produced a 289-bp fragment while L. lunaris-, L. spadiceus- and L. inermis-specific primers produced 123-, 196- and 493-bp fragments, respectively. The sensitivity of this primer set was found to be high as it was capable of amplifying targeted DNA at concentrations as low as 1 ng/μL. Moreover, the primer set was shown to amplify intact DNA and species-specific fragments from heat-processed food. Consequently, multiplex PCR technique in combination with KUGEN_ILSspec primer set could offer an effective measure for detecting poisonous puffer fish contamination in both fresh and processed fish products, which will greatly aid in public health control and law enforcing endeavors.
Some behavioural changes observed among fasting subjects, their nutritional habits and energy expenditure in Ramadan

This study was conducted in five provinces and food consumption, physical activity types and duration for 3 consecutive days were recorded in the questionnaire together with some general characteristics of 750 (320 males, 430 females) adults who were on fast during Ramadan at time of interview. One hundred and eightyseven subjects had some type of health problems, among whom 60.4% were using drugs, and 31.6% were on diets; however, during Ramadan 9.7 and 18.8% of the subjects dropped taking drugs and did not regularly keep on diets, respectively. During the fasting time, from dawn to sunset, 34.3% of the subjects developed some behavioural disturbances, such as feeling tired and being unwilling to work. Although the meal consumed at dawn consisted of foods that were usually eaten at breakfast, the meal consumed at sunset consisted of a great variety of foods. Calcium intake was the most insufficiently consumed nutrient. It was observed that the daily energy intakes were less than the expenditures both in males and females. Further research should be done on the effects of fasting in health and disease.
Selenium levels in cow's milk from different regions of Australia

Homogenised cow's milk samples were collected each season in 1990 and 1991 from 19 selected dairy factories in different regions across Australia. Fresh cow's milk samples were also collected every month in 1990 and 1991 from 24 selected dairy farms in Queensland. Selenium (Se) analyses were performed by spectrofluorimetry after complexing with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene. The study found a wide variation of Se levels in homogenised milk from dairy milk factories. Statistical analysis using unpaired t-test showed that Se levels in summer were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in other seasons. Mean concentrations in summer, autumn, winter and spring for 1990 and 1991 were 23.8 ± 4.6, 20.9 ± 4.4, 20.7 ± 4.2 and 20.6 ± 4.8 μ g/L, respectively. A two-way ANOVA analysis also indicated that regions and season have a significant influence (P < 0.001) on Se levels and that there is an interaction between regions and seasons. High Se levels in each region tend to be associated with high Se levels in summer milk. A wide variation of Se levels was also found in raw milk collected from dairy farms. Mean concentration was 22.0 ± 6.0 μ g/L, with a range of 6.7 to 47.6 μ g/L. When the values of Se levels in homogenised milk for each season were used to estimate the contribution of milk to daily intake of different populations groups, it was found that infants have the highest intake (10.0-12.2 μ g/day) which meets the Australian Recommended Dietary Intake.
New Cribrilinidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) from the upper bathyal of the Atlanto-Mediterranean region

The genus Puellina (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata, Cribrilinidae) appears to be particularly diverse in the upper bathyal of the Atlanto-Mediterranean province. Material from several regions (Azores, Canary Is., Ibero-Moroccan Bay, Straits of Gibraltar, Alboran Sea, NW Mediterranean Sea) includes four new species: P. denticulata sp. nov.; P. bathyalis sp. nov.; P. setiformis sp. nov.; P. pseudoradiata sp. nov. Two of these new species are polytypic, each of them presenting a Canarian population (P. setiformis setiformis ssp. nov., P. pseudoradiata canariensis ssp. nov.) diverging by constant microanatomical characters from a Mediterranean morphotype (P. setiformis romana ssp. nov., P. pseudoradiata pseudoradiata ssp. nov.). Puellina scripta (Reuss, 1848), first described from the Badenian (Mid-Miocene) of Europe, is recorded for the first time with certainty in Recent seas; it is confined to the upper slope throughout a Tethyan distribution (Gibraltar, Florida, Indian ocean, Pacific ocean). A deep-sea form of P.
Ideal ratio of threonine to lysine in straight-run Cobb 500 broiler chickens from 15 to 28 d of age predicted from regression and broken-line models

Two bioassays were conducted to determine the ideal ratio of threonine (Thr) relative to lysine (Lys) in straight-run Cobb 500 broiler chickens from 15 to 28 d of age. Broiler chickens were fed wheat-corn gluten meal-based diet fortified with synthetic amino acids. A Lys-deficient basal diet was formulated to contain 0.60% standardised ileal digestible Lys (SID Lys) and subsequent treatments had 0.12% Lys added incrementally until a level of 1.2% SID Lys was reached for a total of six treatments. A Thr-deficient basal diet was formulated to contain 0.46% of standardised ileal digestible Thr (SID Thr) and subsequent treatments had 0.07% Thr added incrementally until a level of 0.81% SID Thr was reached for a total of six treatments. Both male and female birds were randomised across 48 floor pens (4 replicate pens, and 12 birds per pen) and fed one of the six levels of each of the test amino acid from 15 to 28 d of age. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) responded quadratically (P < 0.0001) to graded levels of Thr (0.46–0.81%); however, these responses were linear (P < 0.0001) to different levels of Lys (0.60–1.20%). Using quadratic broken-line model, Lys requirements were estimated at 0.99 and 1.14% of diet for BWG and FCR, respectively. Lys requirements for BWG and FCR were estimated at 0.89 and 0.98% of diet with linear broken-line model. Thr requirement for BWG and FCR was estimated at 0.79 and 0.81% of diet with quadratic broken-line model, and 0.69 and 0.71% of diet with the linear broken-line model, respectively. Considering FCR as a response, the ideal ratios of SID Thr:SID Lys were 72 and 71% using the linear broken-line and quadratic broken line models, respectively.
Murman, north-west Russia, and Varanger, north-east Norway

Recent published estimates of the numbers of seabirds breeding along the coast of Murman have been partly based on data collected in the 1960s. Counts made in some of the largest colonies in 1999–2005 show that the present populations of black-legged kittiwakes ( Rissa tridactyla ), common guillemots ( Uria aalge ) and Brünnich’s guillemot ( U. lomvia ) in Murman are approximately 110 000 pairs, 10 000–12 000 pairs and 2000–3000 pairs, respectively. In Varanger the numbers are ca. 32 000 pairs, 6000–7000 pairs and 400–500 pairs, respectively. Although there has been a large decline in black-legged kittiwake numbers in the Varanger region since 1980, there is no evidence of a similar decline in Murman at least until 1999. With the exception of one colony in Murman, numbers of common guillemots breeding throughout the region seem to have recovered after suffering a huge decline in 1986/87.
Employees’ Expectations from CSR: The Case of Master Students

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) influences the performance of employees> it contributes to attract and retain employees, and to increase the labor productivity. Employees want good wages and good prospects, nevertheless they want to feel proud of the company they work for. The paper explores the expectations of employees involved in an economic master program in line with CSR activities developed by the companies they work for. Examining the opinions about CSR of this category of employees is motivated by the fact that they are the most active constituent of the labor force, those who are supposed to be the most enthusiastic to engage voluntarily in CSR projects. This category of employees is expected to be the future managers, who will decide CSR strategies and their commitment to CSR will be reflected in the programs that companies will develop. The research is a qualitative, consisting of a group discussion, and continued with a self-administrated questionnaire. The study focused on master students from the largest economic university from Romania. The conclusions of the paper reflect the fact that this category of employees is interested mostly on training programs offer red by the companies, but, also, cares about the companies’ involvement in the society issues.
“ Why do Farmers Grow the Crops they Do? ” The Impact of Crop Choice on Agricultural Productivity and Poverty

The aim of this paper is to examine the factors which determine the crop choices of small-holder farmers in Nigeria and how these choices affect productivity and welfare outcomes. Using the two-rounds of LSMS panel data from Nigeria in 2010/11 and 2012/13; I start by re-examining the old arguments surrounding whether small-holder farmers are indeed “ efficient-but-poor ” . I find that smallholders are generally efficient in their allocation of resources (after estimating household crop productivity by stochastic frontier analysis), but are not necessarily rational in their crop choices because even when some crops are found to be more productive than others, the less productive crop is often chosen. To figure out why, a treatments effect model is employed to determine farmer selection into the choice of a type of crop in the first stage; and subsequently the impact of their choices on productivity and poverty. I find that access to free inputs, non-farm income and the use of seeds from the previous growing season are some of the important determinants of crop choice. In addition, I also find many similarities between the crop choice made and the idea of risk aversion.
Disentangling Vulnerability through Consumer Behavior: The Role of Financial Health

This paper analyzes the effect of financial participation on consumer's financial vulnerability, which is pervasive in countries in the developing world. We suggest the need to observe the financial behavior of consumers, through financial health, to analyze the effects of such participation rather than taking into account only the narrower concept of financial inclusion. Our hypothesis is that welfare gains are not directly derived from the standalone ownership of bank accounts (i.e. financial inclusion) or having access to credit, but from their appropriate and responsible use. Firstly, we developed a stylized general framework to study the mechanisms and develop a measure to monitor financial health. Secondly, evidence on how participation in the financial system affects vulnerability is shown for five Latin American countries (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru). We find that financial health has a higher impact on financial vulnerability than does financial inclusion. Human capital and financial literacy also affect financial vulnerability. The higher the level of these variables, the higher (lower) the probability of being financially safe (vulnerable). The structure of income and the environment in which individuals live affects financial vulnerability as well.
Photosynthesis and Water‐Use Efficiency of Awned and Awnletted Near‐Isogenic Lines of Hard Winter Wheat

Awned hard red winter wheat (HRWW, Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars have prevailed in the Great Plains since the introduction of «Turkey» wheat in the 1870s, but the role of awns in wheat productivity is unclear. Awns may serve a photosynthetic function during periods of drought stress, and may actually compensate for flag leaf photosynthesis reduced by drought stress. Our objectives were to determine the effect of genetic awn suppression on photosynthesis and instantaneous or season-long measurements of water-use efficiency (WUE), and to monitor associated changes in kernel characteristics. Plants of awned and awnletted near-isogenic lines of three contemporary HRWW cultivars (TAM 107, Century, and Mustang) were grown in controlled-environment chambers under well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Photosynthetic rates of spikes and flag leaves were measured separately at two stages of kernel development. Whole-plant and grain WUE were measured based on actual water use. Under well-watered conditions, net photosynthetic rates of awnletted spikes were significantly lower than awned spikes for all cultivars at 14 d after anthesis (DAA) and for two cultivars at 24 DAA. Under water-deficit conditions, rates were significantly lower for awnletted spikes of Mustang and TAM 107 at 14 DAA, while no differences were found at 24 DAA. No differences were found between isolines for flag leaf photosynthesis at either stage. Generally, differences in kernel characteristics were nonsignificant between awned and awnletted lines. Although some instantaneous photosynthetic measurements suggested higher WUE of awned spikes, this difference did not result in higher WUE based on whole-plant biomass or grain weight for awned isolines
Efficacy of Ampelomyces spp. against powdery mildew disease of rose caused by Podosphaera pannosa

The fungus Ampelomyces spp. , a hyperparasite of powdery mildews, was isolated from flowering plants Zinnia elegans, Ageratum conyzoides, Hydrangea sp. , and Dahlia spp. The morphological characteristics were observed using light and scanning electron microscopes. Pycnidia variable in shape (ovoid and ellipsoid) and conidia measuring 10.5 to 13.5 μm in length × 2.5 to 3.0 μm in width were detected. Four isolates of Ampelomyces spp. were obtained, AMP1-Ze, AMP2-Ac, AMP3-Hg and AMP4-Dl, to study their ability to inhibit conidial germination on onion cell tissue of the fungus Podosphaera pannosa which causes rose powdery mildew. The biocompounds produced by these mycoparasites had LC50 values between 91.20-190.55 ppm. The most effective biocompound was produced by the Ampelomyces–from Ageratum conyzoides (AMP2-Ac) and it was compared to a conventional fungicide (carbendazim 10cc/20L) and control (non-treated). This biocompound reduced the severity of powdery mildew disease by 45.33% in greenhouse experiments.