Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Zooplankton fluctuations in Jurumirim Reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil): a three-year study

During three consecutive years, monthly samples of zooplankton were taken in the lacustrine (dam) zone of Jurumirim (Sao Paulo, Brazil). The seasonal effect on basic limnological features (thermal regime, oxygen distribution, phytoplankton biomass, etc.) was also examined. The influence of the seasonality on the fluctuation of the zooplankton composition and abundance was not clearly detected (low degree of recurrent patterns). Rotifers (32 taxa) were the most abundant organisms during almost the entire study period with some seasonal alternations in the maximum abundance peaks of the main taxa (Conochilus unicornis, Keratella americana, K. cochlearis and Hexarthra spp.), except for Polyarthra (mainly P. vulgaris). Only occasionally copepods were numerically dominant. Higher copepod abundance was positively associated to periods of increase in the water retention time. Among the Copepoda (10 taxa) the calanoids (mainly Notodiaptomus iheringi) were more abundant, especially in warmer periods. Conversely, cyclopoids had higher abundance in autumn and winter. The species Thermocyclops minutus and T. decipiens co-occurred, but the first attained higher abundance. Some evidence of co-existence strategies between both species are consid ered. Cladocera (17 taxa) was never numerically dominant and the main taxa (Bosmina spp., Ceriodaphnia spp. and Diaphanosoma spp.) occurred almost the whole study period and did not present a seasonal pattern of fluctuation. Diaphanosoma (mainly D. birgei) attained the highest abundance among cladocerans. Most organisms were always found at the surface, but they also occupy the whole water column, even in periods of stratified conditions and low oxygen concentration in the bottom layers. Among the main zooplanktonic taxa, only Hexarthra avoids deep layers. An exceptionally high concentration of Copepoda nauplii on the surface was influenced by low transparency, high concentration of phytoplankton at this layer and low oxygen concentration at the bottom. In periods of higher retention timevariability there was a more heterogeneous distribution of the zooplankton in the water column. The increase in the retention time seems also to favor the copepod development. Finally, some inter-decade changes are considered on the basis of zooplankton assemblage structure observations.
Quality attributes of soy-yoghurt during storage period.

The utilization of soybean milk in manufacturing yoghurt in Sudan was investigated. Soybean milk was prepared from grinded soybean seeds. Four samples of soy yoghurt product were used, namely sample A) 100% soymilk (sample B) 1:1 soymilk: cow milk), sample C (2:1 soymilk: cow milk) and sample D (1:2 soymilk: cow milk). The prepared soy yoghurt samples were stored at refrigerator temperature (10±2 C) o followed by analyses at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days intervals. The chemical compositions of soybean milk used were the total solids (13.15%), protein (7.64%), fat (2.75%), pH-value (6.70) and titratable acidity (0.20%). The type of milk significantly (p<0.05) affected the pH-value of the soy yoghurt. Sample A was the highest (4.50), sample D the lowest (3.30) while sample B and sample C were at an intermediate position (3.50 and 3.70 respectively). Storage period significantly (p<0.05) affected the pH-value of soy yoghurt, the highest value (4.30) was obtained at the beginning of the storage period, while the lowest value (3.00) at the end. The type of milk significantly (p<0.05) affected the titratable acidity of the soy yoghurt. Sample A was the lowest (1.12%), Sample D was the highest (2.50%), while samples B and C were in an intermediate position. Storage period significantly (p<0.05) affected the titratable acidity of soy yoghurt. The lowest titratable acidity (1.21%) was obtained at the beginning of storage period and the highest (2.60%) at the end. The type of milk significantly (p<0.05) affected the wheying off of the soy yoghurt. Sample A was the highest (2.70 ml), sample D was the lowest (1.70 ml), while samples B and C were at an intermediate position. Storage period significantly (p<0.05) affected the wheying off of soy yoghurt. The lowest wheying off (0.00 ml) was obtained at the beginning of storage period and the highest (4.00 ml) at the end. The chemical analyses of soy yoghurt samples at zero time processing, sample A) 100% soymilk (was the highest (31.20%) for total solids and protein content (16.70%),while sample D (1:2 soymilk: cow milk) was the lowest (15.70%) for total solids and protein content) 11.25). Sample B and C were at an intermediate position. Sample A was the lowest (2.20%) for fat content, sample D was the highest (3.25%),while samples Band C occupy an intermediate position. The sensory evaluation significantly (p<0.05) affected by The type of milk and storage period revealed that, the best score (p<0.05) in appearance (4.38), flavour (4.10), texture (4.22) and overall acceptability (4.28) in sample D(1:2 soymilk: cow milk), the worst was recorded by sample A (Soymilk 100%) for appearance (2.68), flavour (3.48), texture (3.36) and overall acceptability (3.44). The other samples were at an intermediate position. It was found that 10 days storage period at refrigerator temperature (10±2 C) was quite satisfactory o to attain good quality soy yoghurt.
Tolerance of Tomato Cultivars and Selected Germplasm to Heat Stress

Nine heat-tolerant tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.)) breeding lines, four heat-tolerant cultivars, and four heat-sensitive cultivars were evaluated in the greenhouse under high temperature (39C day/28C night) and in the field. Criteria for heat tolerance included flowering, fruit set, yield, fruit quality, and seed production. Under high-temperature conditions, the group of heat-tolerant lines, the heat-tolerant cultivars, and the heat-sensitive cul- tivars produced, respectively, the following per plant: flowers, 186, 94, and 55; fruit set 70%, 52%, and 30%; yield, 410, 173, and 11 g; and normal mature fruit, 72%, 37%, and 7%. Yields of heat-tolerant lines under high temperature in the greenhouse ranged from 118% to 31% of their respective yields in the field. Yields of heat-tolerant cultivars were 62% of those in the field. In contrast, yields of heat-sensitiv e cultivars under high temperature were < 1% of their respective yields in the field. High temperature induced flower abscission, reduced fruit set and yield, and increased the incidence of abnormalities. Major fruit abnormalities with high temperatures included cracks, blossom- ed rot, watery tissue, and small, immature fruits. Production of viable seeds under the high-temperature regime was severely reduced or totally inhibited regardless of the heat-tolerance level exhibited by the line or cultivar. The failure of heat-sensitive and most heat-tolerant cultivars or lines to produce viable seeds under such a high temperature suggests that a lower level of heat stress than that applied in these experiments could allow the production of enough seeds to test the relationship between heat tolerance in a genotype and its ability to produce viable seeds under high temperature. The results indicate that certain lines have high tolerance to heat and, therefore, could provide valuable sources of plant material for physiological studies to establish the physiological and molecular bases of heat tolerance. Some of the heat-tolerant lines might also serve as excellent germplasm sources in breeding heat-tolerant tomato cultivars. Lack of tolerance to high temperature in most tomato cultivars presents a major limitation for growing an economic crop in regions where the temperature during part of the growing sea- son, even for short durations, reaches 38C or higher (Johnson
Phylogenetic Relationships of Percina (Percidae: Etheostomatinae)

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships among species of Percina are unresolved. Previous systematic studies of Percina have resulted in the recognition of nine subgenera, diagnosed by external morphological characters. Throughout the history of darter taxonomy characters such as large body size, high meristics, drab coloration, and exploitation of a hyperbenthic habitat have been interpreted as pleisiomorphic. Most species of Percina exhibit these characters, and have been hypothesized to represent the “primitive” lineage of darters. The hypotheses that each of the polytypic subgenera of Percina are monophyletic and that the previously defined primitive characters are pleisiomorphic, have not been investigated with cladistic analyses. In this investigation, complete gene sequences of the mitochondrially encoded cytochrome b were collected from a total of 79 individual specimens, representing nine of 10 percid genera and all 40 species of Percina. Observed patterns of cytochrome b evolution were very similar to those previously reported in other percid fishes. Maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood analyses were generally congruent. The majority of subgenera (Percina, Imostoma, Cottogaster, Swainia, and Odontopholis) were recovered as monophyletic in most analyses. The subgenera Alvordius, Hadropterus, and Ericosma were never recovered as monophyletic; however, monophyly of Hadropterus and Ericosma could not be rejected in statistical analyses of maximum-likelihood score differences. As a result of these phylogenetic analyses, a novel classification of Percina species is proposed. The use of subgenera in Percina taxonomy is abandoned in favor of the recognition of monophyletic “species clades. ” Reconstruction of character evolution on the hypothesized phylogenetic relationships suggest that previously identified pleisiomorphic character states in darters may actually be derived within Percina. Hypothesis testing of derived and ancestral traits in darters is complicated by uncertainty in ancestral character state reconstruction. Contributing to the lack of confidence in character optimization are inadequate sampling of Etheostoma species, short internal branches on the phylogeny, and a high frequency of character change across the entire diversity of darters.
Histochemical Structure of Stomach (Proventriculus and Gizzard) in Some Bird Species

Stomach samples (proventriculus and gizzard) of sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus), crow (Corvus corone) and sparrow (Passer domesticus) were investigated in this study. In histochemical investigations, strong sulfated mucins were not determined in compound glands of proventriculus, but a little reaction to AB (pH 0.5) in compound glands was observed in proventriculus of sparrow hawk and crow. While weak AB (pH 1.0) (+) character was found in sparrow gizzard, it was found as dense in superficial glands of sparrow hawk. However, it was not observed in crow gizzard. While AF (+) character (sulfated mucins) was detected as dense in epithelium and as weak in glands of gizzard of sparrow hawk, this character was not observed in glands of gizzards of crow and sparrow. Any reactivity to Periodic Acid-Shiff (PAS) staining was not observed in both epithelium and glands of sparrow proventriculus
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EGGS FROM ARAUCANA HENS OF FREE RANGE FED IN ARGENTINA

The physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition of eggs of laying hens with free range feeding (Araucana) were studied and a comparison with two kinds of commercial eggs, brownyellowish (BR) and white (WH) shell eggs, laid by hens fed with a conventional diet was made. Protein content was similar for all kinds of eggs (15 g/100 g egg). The dry matter in Araucana hens eggs (26 g/100 g egg) and the lipid and cholesterol contents (35 and 0.65 g/100 g yolk, respectively) were higher than in commercial ones. The content of minerals in the whole eggs was similar for all eggs analyzed, sodium and potassium being the most abundant. In all samples, the
Needle fungi and tree health of Pinus radiata in Tasmania

Pinus radiata is one of the most important species of forestry plantation worldwide and many pests and diseases have followed the expansion of this species around the globe. Tasmanian P. radiata plantations suffer from a needle cast disease referred to as spring needle cast (SNC) which has similar symptoms to Cyclaneusma needle cast, a serious disease in New Zealand. Stands with moderate or severe SNC can be expected to suffer potential losses in clear-fall volume. The aetiology of SNC is poorly understood and has long been a point of debate between Tasmania and New Zealand foresters with the New Zealanders attributing SNC to Cyclaneusma minus. Tasmanian research in the 90s proposed that SNC is caused by one or a suite of fungi that are triggered by an unknown environmental stress. Three species of fungi have been putatively associated with SNC, i.e. Lophodermium pinastri, Strasseria geniculata and C. minus. Understanding endophyte diversity is crucial for determining their role in forest health. Endophytes are increasingly recognized for having a role in plant-pathogen interactions leading to disease. In particular, they may play an important role in determining the presence of a disease such as SNC, which does not appear to have a single pathogenic causal agent and which may be associated with environmental stress. The main objective of this study was therefore to identify needle fungal communities which are associated with both healthy and SNC-affected trees in P. radiata plantations in Tasmania. Needle fungi have been extensively studied in conifers but rarely in P. radiata.
Biological control of diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.), an Indian scenario with reference to past and future strategies

Diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.)(Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) is a major pest of cabbage and cauliflower in India, Several natural enemies such as parasitoids, predators and insect pathogens have been reported from different parts of the country. Only very few parasitoids have been exploited for the control of DBM either as a sole method of biological control or incorporated as one of the components in Integrated Pest Management strategies. Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja and Cotesia plutellae Kurdj, were studied exhaustively and used against DBM. No effort has been made either to conserve the predators or to exploit for the control of DBM. Entomopathogens will certainly play a vital role in the suppression of DBM when used as insecticidal sprays. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been used for the control of DBM. Other agents have not been exploited. A future strategy in biological control of DBM in India suggested here is the integration of inundative releases of the egg parasitoid, T. bactrae, conservation of C. plutellae and spraying of Paecilomyces farinosus (Holmskiold) Brown and Smith or granulosis virus or Greater wax moth nuclear ployhredrosis virus. (Resume d'auteur)
Effect of crop-screw parameters on rough rice grain damage in handling with a horizontal screw conveyor.

In this study, the rough rice grain damage in handling process with a horizontal screw conveyor was evaluated as a function of the grains moisture content (at three levels of 8, 11 and 14% w.b.), screw clearance (at four levels of 6, 9, 12 and 15 mm) and screw flight rotating speed (at five levels of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 rpm). Considering combination of the evaluated factors, 60 treatments were conducted on the basis of randomised complete block design. The rough rice grains damage was determined in terms of broken kernels (BK), hulled grains (HG), hulled-fissured grains (HFG) and fissured kernels (FK). The results revealed that as the moisture content of rough rice grains increased from 8 to 14% (w.b.), the values of broken kernels (BK), hulled grains (HG), hulled-fissured grains (HFG) and fissured kernels (FK) decreased from 0.39 to 24%, 0.54 to 0.36%, 7.95 to 4.97% and 3.37 to 1.86%, respectively. As the screw flight rotating speed increased from 100 to 500 rpm, the values of broken kernels (BK), hulled grains (HG), hulled-fissured grains (HFG) and fissured kernels (FK) increased from 0.19 to 0.45%, from 0.33 to 0.57%, from 3.58 to 9.36% and from 1.60 to 3.60%, respectively. Increasing the screw clearance cause the values of broken kernels (BK), hulled grains (HG), hulled-fissured grains (HFG) and fissured kernels (FK) to be decreased from 0.45 to 0.19%, from 0.57 to 0.32%, from 8.35 to 5.04% and from 3.22 to 1.97%, respectively. The results also indicated that the effects of moisture content, screw clearance and screw flight rotating speed on the values of broken kernels (BK), hulled grains (HG), hulled-fissured grains (HFG) and fissured kernels (FK) were all significant at the 1% probability level.
A new species of crested gibbon, from the central Annamite mountain range

Summary Crested gibbons are endemic to the Indochinese bioregion and occur only in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China. However, their diversity is not completely understood and the number of recognized species is still under debate. Recent investigations divide crested gibbons into six species, namely Nomascus hainanus, N. nasutus, N. concolor, N. leucogenys, N. sikiand N. gabriellae. However, there is evidence that gibbons in the range of N. sikirepresent two taxa. Based on genetic, acoustic and morphological data, a new gibbon species - Nomascus annamensis- is herein described.
Oocytes, Eggs, and Ovarioles of Some Long-Tongued Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Abstract NOTE: Appendix: Parammobatodes rozeni, a New Bee Species from Israel, by Maximilian Schwarz3 We present here new information regarding the number of ovarioles and the number and size of mature oocytes of certain bee taxa collected on a field trip in Turkey in June and July 2001. This information is augmented with similar data concerning taxa related at the tribal level to those that we found in Turkey. The mature oocytes/eggs of all taxa listed below are described and most are illustrated by photographs, scanning electron micrographs, and/or line drawings, and comparisons are made with previously published descriptions. These taxa, arranged by family, subfamily, and tribe, are as follows: MEGACHILIDAE: Megachilinae: Dioxyini: Dioxys cincta (Jurine), Dioxys pacificus Cockerell. APIDAE: Xylocopinae: Xylocopini: Xylocopa (Proxylocopa) olivieri Lepeletier; Nomadinae: Ammobatoidini: Holcopasites insoletus (Linsley), Holcopasites tegularis Hurd and Linsley; Nomadinae: Biastini: Biastes brevicornis (Panzer); Nomadinae: Ammobatini: Ammobates carinatus Morawitz, Parammobatodes rozeni Schwarz, Oreopasites (Oreopasites) favreauae Rozen, Oreopasites (Oreopasites) vanduzeei Cockerell, O. (Perditopasites) barbarae Rozen, O. (P.) linsleyi Rozen, “Parammobatodes” orientana (Warnke), Pasites maculatus Jurine, Sphecodopsis (Pseudodichroa) capensis (Friese), S. (P.) fumipennis (Bischoff); Apinae: Melectini: Melecta albifrons albovaria Erichson, Melecta species, Thyreomelecta kirghisia Rightmyer and Engel, Thyreus lieftincki Rozen, Xeromelecta californica (Cresson). The mature oocyte of Xylocopa (Proxylocopa) olivieri, a ground-nesting species, is found to be large relative to the body size of the female but somewhat smaller than the “giant” eggs of wood-nesting Xylocopa, as classified by Iwata and Sakagami (1966. Gigantism and dwarfism in bee eggs in relation to the mode of life, with notes on the number of ovarioles. Japanese Journal of Ecology 16: 4–16). Egg deposition habits of some cleptoparasitic taxa are discussed. In addition to smaller size relative to body size, eggs of cleptoparasitic bees show great variation in micropylar structure, dimensions, and chorionic ornamentation, thickness, and patterning, compared with eggs of nonparasitic bees. An appendix by Maximilian Schwarz describes and names Parammobatodes rozeni, new species, from Israel.
Estimation automatisée sur vidéos de la biodiversité et de l’abondance des poissons coralliens

Les recifs coralliens soutiennent une forte biodiversite en poissons (environ 7000 especes) qui est la source de plusieurs services ecosystemiques comme l’apport en proteines via la peche, la regulation des flux de matiere mais aussi le support d’activites recreatives comme la plongee. Cependant, ces poissons subissent des pressions croissantes comme la surexploitation par la peche et la destruction du corail par rechauffement climatique. Dans ce contexte, un des enjeux majeurs de l’ecologie marine est d’estimer precisement la biodiversite, l’abondance et la biomasse de ces poissons recifaux et ce, avec une frequence temporelle permettant de detecter les modifications liees aux changements environne-mentaux, aux pressions anthropiques et aux strategies de gestion (e.g. reserves marines). Jusqu’a recemment, le recensement des poissons recifaux s’effectuait principalement en plongee au cours desquelles l’observateur identifiait toutes les especes visibles et estimait leurs abondances (nombre d’individus). Ce protocole induit des limites comme la duree et la profondeur des plongees ainsi que des erreurs ou des biais lies a l’experience du plongeur qui ne sont pas quantifiables ou corrigibles a posteriori. Face a ces limitations, les recents developpements technologiques dans la prise de videos sous-marines en haute definition a moindre cout offrent des protocoles beaucoup moins contraignants. Cependant, il n’existe a l’heure actuelle aucun moyen rapide et fiable d’analyser ces quantites de donnees ce qui empeche l’essor de ces suivis videos a grande echelle. Au cours de cette these, nous avons mis en place des algorithmes d’identification et de localisation automatiques de poissons dans des videos sous-marines. L’ensemble du processus fut aborde, depuis les campagnes terrain permettant de recolter les videos a l’annotation de ces donnees afin de les rendre exploitables par des algorithmes d’apprentissage profond (ou Deep Learning), a la conception des modeles, au test de ces modeles et au traitement des sorties des differents modeles. Nous avons ainsi recolte plus de 380.000 images appartenant a plus de 300 especes de poissons recifaux. Nous avons developpe des methodes d’identification precises (94% de bonnes classifications) pour 20 especes parmi les plus presentes sur les recifs coralliens autour de Mayotte, ainsi que des methodes de post-traitement permettant de detecter et de supprimer les erreurs commises par le modele (diminuant ainsi le taux d’erreur jusqu’a 2%). Nous avons aussi developpe un algorithme de detection permettant de localiser plus de 84% des individus presents a l’image sur une video.