Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benthic faunal response to a high energy gradient

Echantillonnage quantitatif de la meiofaune et de la macrofaune le long de trois transects dans des zones de surf hautement energetique (Algoa Bay, Republique Sud-Africaine). Mise en evidence d'une zonation ecologique qui est decrite
Leaf breakdown and colonisation by invertebrates in a headwater stream: Comparisons of native and introduced tree species

Abstract Leaf breakdown, colonisation by invertebrates, food choice by a facultative shredder, and composition and activity of the microflora of leaves of three native and three introduced trees were investigated in a small headwater stream, South Island, New Zealand. Leaves of each species were immersed and collected after 1, 32, 60, and 95 days to measure mass loss and invertebrate colonisation. Additional leaves collected after 60 days were used for food choice and respiration experiments, and others taken after 95 days (some species) were examined with scanning electron microscopy. Leaf breakdown rates followed the sequence: elm > red beech > willow > mahoe > oak > mountain beech. Elm (introduced) and mahoe (native) supported the highest invertebrate densities, but shredders were most abundant on willow (introduced) and red beech (native) leaves. In laboratory choice trials the facultative shredder Olinga jeanae showed a preference for elm and red beech leaves which were fastest to break down and had .
Effect of dark respiration on dry matter production of field-grown rice cultivars-comparison of growth efficiency between Nipponbare and Takanari.

The dry matter production, dark respiration rate and growth efficiency of high-yielding rice cultivar 'Takanari', grown under two levels of nitrogen fertilization (11, 17 gN / m2), were compared with those of 'Nipponbare' The crop growth rate (CGR) and leaf area index (LAI) were higher in 'Takanari' throughout the growth season. This higher CGR in 'Takanari' was due to the maintenance of NAR at the same level as in 'Nipponbare' in spite of the increase in LAI. The higher the nitrogen fertilization, the higher was the CGR due to the increase in LAI. The maximum dark respiration rate (Rs) in the whole plant was recorded at the early growth stage, followed by a rapid decrease until 40 days after transplanting and decreased gradually thereafter. The Rs in the whole plant and stems was higher in 'Takanari' as compared with 'Nipponbare' at the early stage, but was almost equal during the grain-filling period. The nitrogen concentration and Rs of the whole plant changed similarly, showing a close correlation between the two characters. The growth efficiency (GE) was about 64% during the early stage and gradually decreased thereafter in both cultivars irrespective of fertilization level. The GE during the grain-filling period was higher in 'Nipponbare' than in 'Takanari' and with the normal fertilization than heavy fertilization. We concluded that GE decreased at the later stage of plant growth due to increase in respiratory loss.
Determining smallholder farmers' preferences for technology dissemination pathways: the case of ‘push–pull’ technology in the control of stemborer and Striga weeds in Kenya

The push–pull technology (PPT) has widely been disseminated to control insect stemborers [Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca] and Striga weeds [Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica] in maize fields in Kenya. This study examined farmers' preferences for various dissemination pathways in order to proffer better targeting of resources in an optimal dissemination strategy. The pathways considered were public meetings (barazas), radio, farmer field schools (FFS), field days (FD), farmer teachers (FT), fellow farmers (FF) and printed materials. Using a weighted score index and ordered probit regression, the different pathways were sequentially ranked as FD, FT, FFS, FF, print materials, Radio, and barazas. Marginal effects from the ordered probit regression model showed that farmers had the least preference for baraza and radio pathways. The farmer categories with the highest preference for particular pathways were: less educated farmers for FD, farmers with small land sizes for FT, farmers belonging to groups for FFS, and young educated farmers for the printed materials. This information would help disseminators and extension agents to target different groups of farmers with different pathways of knowledge transfer based on their preferences.
Original Article Variability of northeast Arctic cod ( Gadus morhua ) distribution on the main spawning grounds in relation to biophysical factors

S. Variability of northeast Arctic cod ( Gadus morhua ) distribution on the main spawning grounds in relation to biophysical factors. Early life stages mayon average gain a survival beneﬁt from the regular of parent ﬁsh to the same spawning grounds. Such areas may have a considerable spatial extent, occupation of which varies between spawning seasons. Northeast Arctic cod ( Gadus morhua ) is an ideal candidate to pinpoint the most inﬂuential biophysical factors in these respects due to its data richness and apparently strong “homing” behaviour. Their main spawning grounds, off northern Norway, are split in two by the Lofoten archipelago, and in the previous decade strong spawning activity was observed on the seaward continental shelf (Yttersida), while in recent years spawning activity in the wide fjord (Vestfjorden), that separates the islands from the Norwegian mainland, has again increased. Time-series of egg distribution were available from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2004– 2012. Weusedseveral ﬁxed and random factorsto constructastatisticalmodel for thedistribution ofrecentlyspawnedeggs, andhence, spawning adults in either area. We show that the most relevant covariates for the spatial distribution of eggs in Vestfjorden are local temperature and bathymetry, while at Yttersida inﬂuence affecting the whole stock, like regional ocean climate and age structure appear more important. Therefore, spawning inside the fjord may be constrained by suboptimal environmental conditions. Yttersida may be occupied by ﬁsh which have been displaced out of Vestfjorden when preferred conditions there are of limited extent.
Studies on anastomosis groups of Rhizoctonia solani isolates causing disease in two forest nurseries in Poland

Summary Thirty-eight isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were isolated from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings with damping-off symptoms, originating from two forest nurseries in central-west Poland (Wronczyn and Jarocin) and from diseased seedlings grown in soil from Wronczyn nursery. Majority of these isolates (79%) had multinucleate cells and were identified as Rhizoctonia solani. The remaining isolates were recognized as binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. R. solani isolates were characterized using hyphal anastomosis and were divided into five anastomosis groups (AG). The most prevalent was AG5 (37% of isolates), followed by AG2-1 (30%) and 27% of the isolates were identified as AG4. Groups AG1-IB and AG2-2 were only represented by single isolates. The virulence recorded as mortality (in percentage) was comparatively high for binucleate and multinucleate isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. Sequence analysis of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region was used for phylogenetic analysis. The dendrogram showed that isolates were distinctly separated based on their AG types and there was no relationship between pathogenicity on Scots pine seedlings and the AG to which the isolates belong to. The results are discussed with respect to pathogenic potential of the various AG groups.
Contribution to the study of the reproductive cycle of the wide-eyed flounder Bothus podas podas in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

The wide-eyed flounder Bothus podas podas is a small fish that belongs to the Bothidae family. This species is a demersal fish inhabiting sandy and muddy bottoms where it lives buried in the sand. In the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia), B. podas podas is an uncommon fish caught in small quantities by trawlers, between depths of 20 and 50 m. There are very few complete studies of the biology of this fish in the Mediterranean Sea. Even in Tunisia, the biology of B. podas podas is unknown. In addition, it has been noticed that during the last few years, despite having weak commercial value, this fish has attracted the fishermen's attention of the region after the observed reduction in the flat fish stocks, particularly the Egyptian sole Solea aegyptiaca. The aim of this work was to study the reproduction of B. podas podas and determine the sex-ratio, the sexual cycle, the spawning period and the first sexual maturity. The data for this work was collected during the period of May 2004 until September 2005. In general, this study shows that the proportion of sexes is in favour of females and permits us to analyse the sex-ratio variations according to the size and age of the fish. It also seems that males grow faster than females. The monthly following of the gonad somatic index (GSI), the liver somatic index (LSI) and the condition factor (K) enabled us to determine that the period of maturation occurs from May to August, to define the spawning period from August to November and to deduce that B. podas podas uses the lipid reserves accumulated in the liver to develop its gonads. Concerning the first sexual maturity it was noted that the main size related to 25%, 50% and 75% of matured individuals were respectively for males: 19.68 cm, 21 cm and 22.34 cm and for females: 18.87 cm, 20.4 cm and 21.93 cm. The coefficients of the logistic function were for males: a = 0.827, b = 17.38 and for females: a = 0.718, b = 14.65.
Adequate range of boron nutrition is more restricted for root nodule development than for plant growth in young soybean plant

Abstract A pot experiment was conducted under growth chamber conditions to determine the lower and upper critical levels of boron (B) for plant growth, nodule development, and nodule acetylene reduction activity (ARA) in young soybean plants. Plants of a soybean cultivar, Tachinagaha, were grown in pots containing river sand to which a nutrient solution with different B levels was added and were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum A1017. At 8, 12, and 16 d after sowing (DAS), among the plants supplied with the solution at 0, 1.0, and 2.0 mg B L-1 , plants with 1.0 mg B L-1 showed the highest values for dry shoot and fresh root weight, root length, total number of developing nodules and meristematic nodules (DMN), and ARA. At 20 DAS plants grown with 11 B levels (0-2.0 mg L-1) were compared. The B critical deficiency levels for soybean dry shoot weight, fresh root weight, root length, DMN, number of complete nodules, and ARA were approximately 46, 35, 34, 57, 60, and 50 mg B kg-1 dry matter, and the c.
Post-natal growth, mother-infant interactions and development of vocalizations in the vespertilionid bat Plecotus auritus

Female brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus nurse their own young selectively. Choice experiments suggested that females recognized infants by using both olfactory and acoustic cues. Infant isolation calls (i-calls) showed individual variation, and vocal signatures allowed the females to recognize and suckle their own pup. As the pups grew, the i-calls increased in frequency and decreased in duration, and the i-calls appeared to change into orientation cries. Mothers were able to recognize recent calls of their own babies in preference to older calls. Echolocation sounds were distinguishable statistically between lactating females, and the behaviour of the babies during choice experiments suggested that in this species a mutual acoustic recognition occurs. The growth and development of wing shape in P. auritus are described.
Using higher taxa as surrogates of species richness: a study based on 3700 Coleoptera, Diptera, and Acari species in Central-Hungarian reserves

Abstract The conservation of biodiversity needs to locate the most diverse sites. Species level is the most often considered taxonomic resolution. However, it is almost impossible to conduct a rapid species level survey of many hyperdiverse and difficult to identify taxa, mainly within arthropods, which are the main components of species richness. I tested whether higher taxa (genus and family) are good surrogates of species richness in three large and usually not surveyed groups in 16 reserves in Central-Hungary: Coleoptera (2415 spp), Diptera (1004 spp), and Acari (288 spp). Species richness of the reserves correlated strongly with both genus and family diversity for all groups. Species numbers also correlated between pairs of the three taxa, but not for genus and family numbers. Therefore, higher taxon diversity is a good surrogate of species diversity, but the diversity of one taxon can indicate the diversity of the other only at the species level. Die Konservation der Biodiversitat braucht die Lokalisation des vielfaltesten Platze. Der Artenstand ist die haufigst, bedachte Losung. Jedoch ist es fast unmoglich, eine schnelle Vermessung auf dem Niveau der Arten bei vielen hyperdiversen und schweridentifizierenden Taxa zu machen, besonders bei Insekten, die die Hauptkomponente der Artenvielfalt sind. Ich untersuchte, ob die hoheren Taxa (Genus und Familie) in drei grosen und normalweise nicht ermessten Gruppen auf 16 mittelungarischen Schutzgebieten gute Ersatze der Artenvielfalt sind: Coleoptera (2415 Spp), Diptera (1004 Spp), und Acari (288 Spp). Die Artenvielfalt der Schutzgebiete korrelierte stark mit beider Genus- und Familiediversitat fur alle Gruppen. Die Nummer der Spezies korrelierte auch zwischen der Paaren der drei Taxa, aber die Nummer von Genera und Familien nicht. Also die hocheste Taxondiversitat ist ein guter Ersatz der Speziesdiversitat, aber die Diversitat von einem Taxon kann die Diversitat von anderen Taxa nur auf Artenstand indizieren.
Firmness of Heat Induced Albumen Coagulum

Abstract Firmness of heat induced albumen coagulum was measured with a multiple blade shear-compression cell equipped shear press. Maximum shearing force increased with both cooking time and temperature from 2.6 ± . 2 kg (77 C, 7 min) to 15.8 ± . 25 kg (77 C, 60 min); from 4.7 ± . 4 kg (80 C, 7 min) to 15.0 ± . 4 kg (80 C, 60 min); from 14.8 ± . 2 kg (85 C, 7 min) to 22.9 ± . 3 kg (85 C, 60 min); from 19.8 ± kg (90 C, 7 min) to 25.0 ± 1.6 kg (90 C, 60 min). Ranges shown are standard deviations. Water dilution (up to 50 ml H2O/100 ml albumen) resulted in an exponential decrease in shear force values to about 71% of the value at no dilution. Coagulum firmness at pH 7 decreased to about 50% of the shear value obtained at pH 9 then rose to a value greater by 75% at pH 5.5 Compared to 0-level control samples, NaCl (.9M) reduced coagulum firmness 16%, CuSO4·5H2O (1.0 × 10−3 M) 22%, ALCL3·6H2O (1.0 × 10−3 M) 18%, and KIO3 (1%) 61% whereas FeCl3·6H2O (5.0 × 10−4M) increased firmness about 90%. Digestion of albumen with the proteolytic enzymes papain, ficin, and pronase (.1%) for 2 hr at room temperature prior to thermal treatment produced mushy coagula.
DNA barcoding of Pedicularis L. (Orobanchaceae): Evaluating four universal barcode loci in a large and hemiparasitic genus

Abstract One application of DNA barcoding is species identification based on sequences of a short and standardized DNA region. In plants, various DNA regions, alone or in combination, have been proposed and investigated, but consensus on a universal plant barcode remains elusive. In this study, we tested the utility of four candidate barcoding regions (rbcL, matK, trnH‐psbA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)) as DNA barcodes for discriminating species in a large and hemiparasitic genus Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae). Amplification and sequencing was successful using single primer pairs for rbcL, trnH‐psbA, and ITS, whereas two primer pairs were required for matK. Patterns of sequence divergence commonly showed a “barcoding gap”, that is, a bimodal frequency distribution of pairwise distances representing genetic diversity within and between species, respectively. Considering primer universality, ease of amplification and sequencing, and performance in discriminating species, we found the most effective single‐region barcode for Pedicularis to be ITS, and the most effective two‐region barcode to be rbcL + ITS. Both discriminated at least 78% of the 88 species and correctly identified at least 89% of the sequences in our sample, and were effective in placing unidentified samples in known species groups. Our results suggest that DNA barcoding has the potential to aid taxonomic research in Pedicularis, a species‐rich cosmopolitan clade much in need of revision, as well as ecological studies in its center of diversity, the Hengduan Mountains region of China.
Effect of mating system, carcass grade and age at marketing on carcass characteristics of pigs.

Gye-Woong Kim and Seok-Eun KimDepartment of Animal Resources Science, Kongju National UniversityABSTRACTThis study was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of crossbred pigs according to mating system, carcass grade and age at marketing. A total of 656 pigs of 128 gilts and 528 barrows were collected and analyzed at public slaughter house. Differences between LY and LYD crossbred on marbling score and water holding capacity were significantly(p<0.05) found. The influences of LY and LYD crossbred on carcass weight, backfat thickness, meat colour, carcass grade and age at marketing were not significantly showed. The carcass weight of D carcass grade was significantly(p<0.05) heavier than that of the other grade. The backfat thickness was significantly(p<0.05) appeared gradually in accordance with the increase of carcass grade. There was significantly difference among the carcass grades on water holding capacity(p<0.05). The differences among the carcass grades on the meat colour, marbling score and age at marketing were not found significantly. The carcass weight of high age group at marketing was significantly heavier than that of the low age group(p<0.05). The backfat thickness of the group of high age at marketing was significantly thicker than that of the group of low age(p<0.05). There were significant differences among age group at marketing in marbling score, carcass grade, and water holding capacity, respectively(p<0.05). The carcass weight was positively correlated with the backfat thickness but negatively correlated with the carcass grade. The correlation between the backfat and carcass grade was significantly negative. The meat colour was negatively correlated with water holding capacity. (Key words :Mating system, Carcass grade, Age at marketing, Carcass characteristics)
Predatory Abilities of Mononchoides Longicaudatus and M. Fortidens (Nematoda: Diplogasterida) and Factors Influencing Predation

Die rauberischen Fahigkeiten von Mononchoides longicaudatus und Mononchoides fortidens (Nematoda : Diplogasterida) und Faktoren, die das Beutemachen beeinflussen In in vitro Studien wurden die rauberischen Fahigkeiten aller Entwicklungsstadien von Mononchoides longicaudatus und M. fortidens untersucht, einschlieslich Beutefang, Mechanismus der Nahrungsaufnahme, Umfang des Beutemachens bei Adulten und Juvenilen, Beutebevorzugung sowie der Einflus der Anzahl Beutetiere, des Hungers der Rauber und der Temperatur auf das Beutemachen. Die Mechanismen des Beutefangs und der Nahrungsaufnahme werden in funf Phasen eingeteilt: Begegnung mit der Beute, Angriffsreaktion, Angriff, Speichelabgabe/extrakorporale Verdauung und Nahrungsaufnahme. Die meisten Phasen waren bei beiden Raubern vergleichbar. M. fortidens fing haufiger und brauchte weniger Zeit zum Verzehr der Beute als M. longicaudatus. Letzterer prufte seine Beute sanfter und fur langere Zeit, wahrend die Prufung von M. fortidens heftiger und kurzer war. Die Rate des Beutemachens blieb bei mannlichen und weiblichen Raubern uber zwolf Tage hinweg gleich. Sie wurde durch die Anzahl der vorhandenen Beutetiere, den Hungerzustand der Rauber und die Temperatur gesteuert. Der hochste Beutefang fand in einer Population von 200 Beutetieren bei 25-30°C mit Raubern statt, die 12 Tage gehungert hatten. Acrobeloides sp. , Cephalobus sp. , Panagrellus redivivus und die J2-Stadien von Meloidogyne incognita und Anguina tritici wurden von den beiden Raubern am starksten bevorzugt. Hoplolaimus indicus und Hemicriconemoides mangiferae wurden nicht gefressen.
The influence of aluminum on growth, carbohydrate, and organic acid content of an aluminum-tolerant and an aluminun-sensitive cultivar of wheat

An aluminum-sensitive cultivar (Katepwa) and an aluminum-tolerant experimental line (PT741) of Triticum aestivum were grown in nutrient solutions containing 0–400 μM aluminum at pH 4.5. After 18 days of growth, plant fresh weight was reduced in the Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant germ plasm by as little as 100 and 200 μM Al, respectively, and a number of changes in carbon allocation were observed. Shoot to root ratios increased with Al concentration in the Al-sensitive 'Katepwa' and remained constant in the Al-tolerant PT741.In both 'Katepwa' and PT741, shoot carbon was increasingly deposited into starch and fructan pools with increasing Al concentration. However, fructan deposition was more marked in the Al-sensitive 'Katepwa', possibly reflecting a failure to export carbon to the roots. Differences between Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive germ plasm were also observed in some organic acid levels. Contrary to several previous reports, higher concentrations of organic acids were found in the roots of Al-sensitiv.
Comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros em confinamento, alimentados com dieta exclusiva de concentrado com diferentes porcentagens de proteína

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the ingestive behavior of feedlot lambs fed with an exclusive diet of concentrate with different percentages of protein (14, 16, 18, and 20%). A total of twenty four Santa Ines crossbred lambs, not castrated, with approximately 180 days of age, average live weight of 25kg, confined, in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and six repetitions. The time spent on feeding decreased linearly in 0.20 hours/day for each 1% increasing in protein percentage in the diet, the idleness increased linearly in 0.25 hours/day, and the total chewing decreased linearly in 0.25 hours/day. The increase in the protein percentage in the diet increased the feed efficiency linearly (kg DM and NDF/hour) in 0.038 and 0.005kg/hour, respectively, for DM and NDF fractions. However, the intake of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), the rumination efficiency (kg DM and NDF/hour), as well as the period (no /day) and the time (min) spent on feeding, ruminating and idling were not influenced by different protein percentages in the diet.
INTROGRESSIVE HYBRIDIZATION IN PHLOX BIFIDA

PREVIOUS STUDIES of hybridization in the flowering plants (see Anderson, 1949, and Heiser, 1949b, for references to the literature) have shown that one of the commonest, if not the commonest, results of hybridization is the enrichment of variation in the participating species, through successive backcrosses. For a number of genera-Tradescantia (Anderson and various collaborators), Nicotiana (Anderson, 1939) and Helianthus (Heicer, 1947, 1949a, and 1951)-it has been demonstrated experimentally that by the second or third back-cross the majority of these mongrels cannot be distinguished morphologically from the pure species, a fact that had long ago been well established by such hybridizers as K6lreuter (1766) and von Gartner (1849).