Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inheritance of quantitative traits in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Generation mean analysis was carried out using five parameter model on five cross combinations with five generations i.e. parents, F1s, F2s, and F3s randomly selected from partial diallel breeding experiment. The aim of study was to investigate the mode of gene actions involved in the inheritance of quantitative traits viz. days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaves/plant, capsules/plant, capsule size, capsule weight/plant, seed yield/plant and opium yield/plant. C and D scaling test showed the presence of non allelic interaction in the inheritance for all the traits except for plant height, seed yield/plant (ND1001xIS13) and capsule size (NBR5xND1002) which showed non interacting mode of inheritance. In general, the interaction effect together i.e. additive x additive [i] and dominance x dominance [l] found in higher magnitude than the combined main effects of additive [d] and dominance [h] effects for all the traits in all the five crosses. Dominance effect [h] was found pronounced for most of the traits except days to 50% flowering where additive effect [d] was found prevalent. Among the interaction effects dominance x dominance [l] was predominant over additive x additive [i] for all traits in all the five crosses except capsules/plant and capsule size in cross ND1001xNBRI11 and leaves/plant and opium yield/plant in cross NBRI5xND1002. As per sign of dominance (h) and dominance x dominance (l) duplicate epistasis were noticed for all the traits except plant height and leaves/plant in cross ND1001xUO1285. Potence ratio indicated presence of over dominance for almost all the traits. Substantial amount of realized heterosis, residual heterosis in F2 and F3 progenies and high heritability with moderate to high genetic advance in F2 progeny and significant correlation among important traits in desirable direction were observed. A breeding strategy of diallel selective mating or biparental mating in early segregating generation followed by recurrent selection may be used for genetic improvement.
Size, Growth, and Reproduction of the Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus milberti, in Hawaii

THE SANDBAR SHARK, Carcharhinus milberti (Muller & Henle 1841), is a wide-ranging species found in the subtropical and tropical areas of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Investigations by Bigelow and Schroeder (1948), Springer (1960), and Clark and von Schmidt (1965) have resulted in a fairly thorough knowledge of the life history of the sandbar shark population in the western North Atlantic. Populations in other areas, however, differ in several respects. In a recent paper concerned with C. milberti in the East China Sea, Taniuchi (1971) documented differences in fecundity. The present study reveals significant differences in size at maturity, sex ratio, and fecundity for Hawaiian C. milberti. The Cooperative Shark Research and Control Program (Tester, unpublished) afforded an excellent opportunity to gather life history data on inshore Hawaiian sharks. A total of 1,727 were captured of which 789 (45.7 percent) were sandbar sharks. The study species is pictured in Fig. 1 and can be distinguished from all other Hawaiian members of the Carcharhinidae by the relatively large first dorsal situated far forward (originating over the axil of the pectoral). It also has a prominent ridge between the two dorsals and dermal denticles that are widely spaced and nonoverlapping. It is a fairly heavy-bodied shark at maturity and can be various shades of gray or brown dorsally and creamy white ventrally. The tips and trailing edges of the fins of young individuals are
Purification and Partial Characterization of Major Viscous Protein from Yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) Tuber Mucilage tororo

Viscous protein was purified from yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) tuber mucilage tororo by Phenyl-Toyopearl 650M, DEAE-Toyopearl 650M, and CM-Toyopearl 650M column chromatographies, and partially characterized. The molecular weight of the purified protein was estimated to be about 200 kDa, by Native-PAGE and Toyopearl HW-55F gel filtration. Moreover, it had identical subunits of molecular weight of about 32 kDa, either without or with 2-mercaptoethanol, respectively. This protein was identified as dioscorin, the major storage proteins in yam species tubers, when comparing the sequence obtained in an automatic Edman sequencer with the database using FASTA WWW System. On the other hand, the purified protein showed carbonic anhydrase activity and the activity was not inhibited by 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid: zinc atoms were absent in the purified protein. The optimum pH in viscosity was about 5.8 and optimum temperature 20–30°C. Heat denaturation of the protein occurred at about 40°C, but the protein retained more than 66 % of the original viscosity at 70°C for 30 min.
Etude comparative de la salinite de l’eau et des sols dans la zone Nord des Niayes (Senegal)

The objective of this study is to assess the acidity and salinity of irrigation water and soils in the northern Niayes zone. Seven soil profiles were described and their texture measured. Soils were sampled from the 0 - 20 and 20 40 cm horizons and water was taken from horitcultural watering wells. Our results show that most of the seven profiles are represented by strongly sandy soils. Soil pH varies among sites but there was no significant difference between shallow (0-20) and deeper (20 - 40) fractions. Soil salinity, however, does vary according do both site and sampling depth, with more saline soils at the surface. Factorial correspondence analysis results show a gradient of both acidity and salinity and discriminate two main groups of soil and water. The first group is constituted by alkaline and saline soils and water. The second group is composed of acidic and non-saline soils and water. This study facilitated the identification of two key zones : an inland area subject to high acidity and a littoral area subject to high salinity. These two factors considerably limit agricultural production.
Shortcuts for Biodiversity Conservation Planning: The Effectiveness of Surrogates

Biodiversity is not completely known anywhere, so conservation planning is always based on surrogates for which data are available and, hence, assumed effective for the conservation of unknown biodiversity. We review the literature on the effectiveness of surrogates for conservation planning based on complementary representation. We apply a standardized approach based on a Species Accumulation Index of surrogate effectiveness to compare results from 575 tests in 27 studies. Overall, we find positive, but relatively weak, surrogacy power. Cross-taxon surrogates are substantially more effective than surrogates based on environmental data. Within cross-taxon tests, surrogacy was higher for tests within the same realm (terrestrial, marine, freshwater). Surrogacy was higher when extrapolated (rather than field) data were used. Our results suggest that practical conservation planning based on data for well-known taxonomic groups can cautiously proceed under the assumption that it captures species in less well-k.
LAVENDER CULTIVATION IN BULGARIA – 21ST CENTURY DEVELOPMENTS, BREEDING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

STANEV, S. , T. ZAGORCHEVA and I. ATANASSOV, 2016. Lavender cultivation in Bulgaria – 21st century developments, breeding challenges and opportunities. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 22: 584–590 Bulgaria has a near century long tradition in lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill) cultivation and essential oil production. Following signifi cant reduction of lavender plantations during the country’s transition period at the end of the last century, the industrial lavender cultivation gained considerable attention and rapid expansion during the last decade. Here we present the main trends of the 21st century developments of the industrial lavender cultivation in Bulgaria. The data of parallel growing and essential oil production of the currently cultivated Bulgarian lavender varieties demonstrate the higher impact of cultivating vegetative propagated varieties instead of seed derived lavender populations. The main directions and challenges of the 21st century lavender growing in the country related to increased lavender cultivation are pointed out. The recent advances in development of lavender genomic resources, molecular markers, comparative analysis of fl ower volatiles and related opportunities for targeted breeding and marker assisted selection are discussed.
Genotypic variations among isolates of Marasmius quercophilus, a white-rot fungus isolated from evergreen oak litter

Marasmius quercophilus is a white-rot basidiomycete isolated from evergreen oak litter. This fungus plays an extensive role in litter degradation because of its cellulase, pectinase, and laccase production. Our objective was to investigate the potential genotypic polymorphism of this species using RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and the amplification and the sequencing of fragments ITS (internal transcribed spacer) from the rRNA repeat. An intraspecies polymorphism was observed for the M. quercophilus isolates studied as suggested by the tree found with RAPD data: seven subgroups were defined. The minimum similarity coefficient observed in these groups was 0.278. The sizes of fragments ITS 1 and ITS 2 were the same for each isolate (ITS 1: 320 bp and ITS 2: 450 bp), and the percentages of nucleotide variation were 1.25 and 1.11%, respectively. Few isolates from the studied population had the same RAPD pattern that would suggest a clonal development in some zones of the site of La Gardiole.
Incidence and distribution of Barley yellow dwarf virus and Cereal yellow dwarf virus in over-summering grasses in a Mediterranean-type environment

During the summer periods of 2000 and 2001, incidences of infection with Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and Cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV) were determined in grass weeds and volunteer cereals surviving at isolated sites throughout the grainbelt of south-western Australia, which has a Mediterranean-type climate. Samples of Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis curvula, Erharta calycina, Pennisetum clandestinum, and volunteer cereals (mostly wheat) were tested for BYDV (serotypes MAV, PAV and RMV) and CYDV (serotype RPV), and those of at least 19 other grass species were tested for BYDV only (serotypes PAV and MAV). In 2000, BYDV and/or CYDV were detected in 33% of 192 sites in 0.7% of 26 700 samples, and in 2001 the corresponding values were 19% of 176 sites and 0.5% of 21 953 samples. Infection was distributed relatively evenly throughout the different annual average rainfall zones of the grainbelt, but when sites were categorised according to actual rainfall for late spring to early autumn, the proportion of sites and samples infected increased where such rainfall exceeded 300 mm. In both summer sampling periods, the most abundant grass species were C. dactylon and E. curvula, with BYDV and/or CYDV being detected in 0.1–0.6% and 0.1–0.5% of samples, respectively. The corresponding incidences were 0–1% for Erharta calycina, 7–8% for P. clandestinum, and 0.2–2% for volunteer wheat. The most abundant species tested for BYDV only were Chloris truncata and Digitaria sanguinalis, with infection incidences of 0.2–0.7 and 0.2–0.3%, respectively. Chloris virgata (2–3%) and Urochloa panicoides (0.3–0.6%) were the only other infected species. Within individual sites and host species, the greatest incidences of CYDV were in P. clandestinum (23% in 2000 and 18% in 2001) and of BYDV in Chloris virgata (14% with PAV and 12% with MAV in 2000). Small populations of grass-infesting aphids were found over-summering at 26% (2000) and 3% (2001) of sites and occurred in all 3 annual rainfall zones. The predominant species was Hysteroneura setariae, but Rhopalosiphum maidis, R. padi, and Sitobion miscanthi occurred occasionally. Presence of over-summering BYDV, CYDV, and aphids in all rainfall zones has important implications for virus spread to cereal crops throughout the grainbelt.
Age and size compositions, growth and reproductive biology of the breaksea cod Epinephelides armatus, a gonochoristic serranid

Details of the reproductive biology, size and age compositions and growth of the breaksea cod Epinephelides armatus, the sole representative of Epinephelides, were obtained by collecting monthly samples of a wide total length (LT) range of individuals from coastal marine waters at 31-32°S on the lower west coast of Australia. Although the modal L T class of females (250-299 mm) was markedly less than that of males (400-449 mm), the modal ages of the two sexes were similar, i.e. 4 v. 5 years, respectively. The similarity in the age compositions and the histological demonstration that the gonads of all E. armatus consist solely of either ovarian or testicular tissues demonstrate that this species is gonochoristic, which is highly unusual for an anthiinine serranid. The absence of a central, membrane-lined 'ovarian' lumen in the testes of juveniles would account for adult testes containing neither this ovarian remnant nor the peripherally located sperm sinuses that are found in the mature testes of almost all other serranids. The results demonstrate that E. armatus exhibits a very unusual pattern of sexual development for a serranid. The spawning period of E. armatus lasts for c. 9 months, which is long for a species in temperate Western Australian waters, but comparable with that of many other relatively small serranids elsewhere. Females grow slower than males, attaining LT at 3, 5 and 10 years of c. 200, 285 and 420 mm, respectively, compared with c. 215, 315 and 450 mm, respectively. Females, however, attain maturity at a greater LT and older age than males.
Understanding international students beyond studentification: A new class of transnational urban consumers. The example of Erasmus students in Lisbon (Portugal)

For the last 10 years the city of Lisbon has been receiving an increasing number of international students, expanding considerably the supply of student accommodation. In spite of the resulting rise of a new and underdeveloped housing market directed to students, studentification is not exhibiting the usual concentration and segregation patterns of clustering across the city. On the contrary, the effects of student-related economic activities are spreading throughout Lisbon, overlapping with several urban transformations. An examination of international students’ lifestyles in Lisbon seems to demonstrate that diverse youth cultures of Erasmus students are colonising different districts and activities through diverse processes of belonging and distinction. Beyond the studentification literature (and its housing-supply centred perspective) it is necessary to recognise that international students become involved in broader urban processes such as the tourism industry, marginal gentrification or entrepreneurial creativity, thus becoming a new class of transnational urban consumers.
Comunidade de aranhas (Arachnida, Araneae) do pantanal norte (Mato Grosso, Brasil) e sua similaridade com a araneofauna amazônica

Spiders are good study subjects when it comes to the evaluation of animal community organization and of the habitat’s influence over it. Nevertheless, the first step to understand the organization of a specific community is to record its species. An inventory of the spider fauna of the headwaters of the Paraguay River basin was carried out using systematic (beating tray and nocturnal transects) and casual samplings. As a result, at least 16 new species, as well as 39 new occurrences for the state of Mato Grosso were recorded. A total of 2114 spiders (602 of them adults), distributed among 206 morphospecies (35 families and 105 genera) were collected. Statistical estimates point towards the existence of a much larger number of spider species (at least 290) in the sampled areas. Together, Araneidae, Theridiidae and Salticidae, the most species rich families (51, 46 and 36 spp., respectively), represent more than 65% of the overall spider richness. A high number of species and a low number of individuals per species characterize community structure, a result that is typical for tropical spider communities. Amazonian influence, as depicted from faunal comparisons between species composition at Pantanal and Legal Amazonia, increases continuously from more southern localities, such as Caceres (47% amazonian fauna) to northern localities, such as Indiavai (75%), Reserva do Cabacal (82%) or Jauru (86%).
Effect of Dietary Halophyte Salicornia bigelovii Torr on Carcass Characteristics, Minerals, Fatty Acids and Amino Acids Profile of Camel Meat

Abstract Al-Owaimer, A. N. 2001. Effect of dietary halophyte Salicornia bigelovii Torr on carcass chacracteristics, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids profile of camel meat. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 18: 185–192. To evaluate the effect of feeding Salicornia bigelovii, a halophylte, eleven Najdi camels (202 kg) were divided into two groups and fed on diets containing either 25% Rhodes grass or Salicornia hay for 120 days. Carcass characteristics were generally not affected by Salicornia hay. Similarly proximate composition, minerals, essential amino acids and fatty acids of M. longissimus were generally not affected by dietary treatments. However, Na, linoleic acid, Polyunsaturated fatty acids and methionine were higher in Salicornia hay fed camels, whereas, essential amino acid valine, histidine and phenyl alanine were lower in these camels. It is concluded that Salicornia hay can be included at 25% level in the diet of adult Najdi camels.
Germination, vigor and pathogen incidence in broccoli seed treated with Carboxin + Thiran

The purpose of treating seeds chemically is to eradicate their pathogens and/or protect them against soil pathogens, mainly by germination time. However, there is little research on vegetables investigating the effect of this treatment on seed quality. Therefore, this study evaluates the effects of Carboxin + Thiram doses on germination and vigor of three lots of broccoli seeds, as well as on the incidence of fungi in treated seed. The 15 treatments were evaluated in a factorial system (3x5), with the first factor consisting of three lots of 'Avenger' broccoli seeds (lots 82744, 82745 and 82749), and the second factor consisting of five doses (0, 0.04, 0.06, 0.10 and 0.12% of a.i.) of Carboxin + Thiram fungicide (commercial name Vitavax-Thiran). The germination and seed vigor were evaluated, in addition to the presence of pathogens in seeds after treatment (blotter test). All lots showed high levels of germination and vigor. The lot 82749, however, showed higher value in plug test in substrate emergence (99%) than lot 82745 (95%). Regarding the treatment with Carboxin + Thiram, no changes in germination average (98%) and vigor were noticed (average for the first germination count, length, and dry weight of seedling, plug test at 10 days after sowing of 97%, 4.9 cm, 4.0 mg and 96%, respectively), showing that this fungicide, in the evaluated doses, does not affect the quality of broccoli seeds. As to seeds health, the pathogens Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. were detected, in addition to saprophytic species such as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Rhizopus. The higher incidence of Fusarium spp. was noticed in lot 82744, and the lowest in lot 82749. As to Penicillium spp. , lot 82479 was the most contaminated. Regarding other fungi, the general incidence was very low and there was no difference between lots and doses used. Key words: Brassica oleracea, seed treatment, fungicides.
Immunogenicity of Protein-N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide Copolymer Conjugates in A/J and B10 Mice

Two proteins (model targeting residues) human immunoglobulin fraction (IgG) and human transferrin have been conjugated to N-(2-hydroxy propyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer and the antibody titer elicited, after subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration to A/J and B10 mice of free and conjugated protein, was measured using the ELISA technique. The measured IgG titer against protein-HPMA copolymer conjugates was always higher than the IgM titer. Also, the titer (IgG) measured against native protein was up to 250-fold greater than that raised against protein-HPMA copolymer conjugates. This reduction in antibody titer against conjugate had a limited de pendence on its molecular weight.
Benefits of parental care: do juvenile lizards obtain better-quality habitat by remaining with their parents?

Evolutionary theory suggests that parental care is favoured by natural selection when the benefits to offspring fitness outweigh the costs of parental expenditure.The nature of such benefits may differ among species, however, especially in species reflecting independent evolutionary origins of parental care. Black rock skinks (Egernia saxatilis, Scincidae) of south-eastern Australia are viviparous rock-dwelling lizards with prolonged parenr- offspring association; adult pairs vigorously defend their home range - and, when present, their offspring - against conspecifics. We addressed the hypothesis that, by remaining within their parents' (vigorously defended) home range, juveniles thereby obtain access to better-quality habitats. Measurements of bioiogically significant variables (crevice size, sun exposureJ vegetation cover) revealed little difference between shelter-rocks used by solitary ('orphan') iuveniles and those within family groups containing adults. Indeed, the only consistent differences involved larger (and therefore, less predator-proof) crevices for juveniles within family groups than for solitary conspecifics. Our data thus falsifu the hypothesis that parental care evolves because of benefits associated with habitat quality; instead, it appears that parental protection of juveniles against infanticidal conspecifics may be the most plausible benefit to parent-offspring association in this system.
Does Live Programming Help Program Comprehension? A user study with Live Robot Programming

A tenet of Live Programming is that its tightening of the development feedback loop results in better program comprehension and hence higher developer productivity. There are however no extensive reports published on user studies that validate this claim when considering already existing code. In this paper we report on a controlled experiment that establishes whether our live programming language, LRP, helps in program understanding when compared to a non-live language and toolkit. We furthermore obtained qualitative feed-back from the test subjects on their preferences between the two systems. Remarkably, while the users prefer the live sys-tem over a non-live system, the actual level and speed of program comprehension is the same for both systems.