Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allelopathic Effect of Chrysanthemum Procumentens on the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Beans Phaseolus Vulgaris

The present study was undertaken to assess the allelopathic effect of Chrysanthemum procumentens in relation to germination and growth of bean seedling. C. procumentens reduced germination and suppressed early seedling growth of beans. With increase in extract concentration from 20 mg ml-1 to 60 mg ml-1, a gradual decrease in seed germination evaluated by reduction in the concentration of biomolecules such as total protein, total soluble sugar and amylase activities; and increase in the activities of hydrolytic enzymes such as proteases, Lipases and Arginase occurred. The longest seedling root and shoot lengths were recorded on day 1 at 20 mg ml-1 extract concentration while the shortest seedling root and shoot length were recorded on day 6 at 80 mg ml-1 extract concentrations. It was noted that the reduction in germination and suppression of seedling growth observed in this study were concentration and time dependent. The result suggested that C. procumentens had good allelopathic potential which reduces germination and plant growth.
Status and trends of Rangifer tarandus and Ovibos moschatus populations in Canada

We identified 97 Rangifer tarandus and 17 Ovibos moschatus populations in Canada. In July 1991, the Canadian populations totalled 1.9 to 2.6 million caribou, 13 600 reindeer and 108 600 muskoxen. Seven barren-ground caribou populations contributed about 75% to Canada's total number of caribou. Most population trends of these barren-ground caribou had shiftet from increasing in the early 1980s to stable or decreasing in the late 1980s. The George River herd of Quebec and Labrador has been decreasing since 1987, but remains the largest Canadian caribou population. The ecological factors driving barren-ground caribou population dynamics are not well understood. Arctic islands caribou are about 17% of all Canadian caribou. Over 60% of Arctic islands caribou occurred on Baffin Island. Most Arctic islands populations were decreasing with the exceptions of Southampton, Bathurst, Victoria and Baffin islands. Movements within and between islands are not well understood, and probably limit the usefulness of small surveys for indicating long-term trends of Arctic islands caribou populations. Woodland caribou form about 7% of all Canadian caribou, with about 40% of these occurring on the island of Newfoundland. Most Canadian woodland caribou have not been well studied or censused. In many areas, they were faced with an increasing rate of habitat loss. Exceptions included: some eastern Yukon populations and most Newfoundland populations which were increasing. Over 70% of the Canadian muskox population occurred on Banks and Victoria islands. Almost all muskox populations were increasing, especially those on Banks, Victoria, Melville and Bathurst islands. Muskoxen on the mainland Northwest Territories are re-colonizing southern portions of their historical distribution.
Internal audit functions and audit outcomes: Evidence from Indonesia

Abstract The internal audit function is important to minimize the occurrence of fraudulent financial statements and provide assurance and independent consultation for decision-making. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of the quality of internal audit team (internal audit function) on audit fees, audit quality, audit choice, and audit opinion. This study uses 722 observations on companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for two periods from 2016 to 2017 and uses Ordinary Least Square Regression analysis techniques to examine the hypotheses. This study found that one of the internal auditors' functions, which is size of the internal audit team, as a corporate oversight mechanism has a positive and significant relationship to the magnitude of external auditor fees, audit quality, and the tendency of companies to choose auditors with big names (Big4). In addition, this study found that internal audit also has a negative and significant influence on the tendency of companies to accept going concern audit opinions. This research provides support on the benefit of having a good quality of internal auditors for the company. The results of this study indicate that companies that have an adequate internal audit function tend to cost higher external auditor fees, and hiring auditors with big names (Big4) to produce high audit quality. In addition, the existence of adequate internal auditors also reducing the probability of the firms on receiving the going concern audit opinions.
The Plow and Agricultural Sustainability

Settled agriculture began about 10 to 13 millennia ago in the valleys of the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, and other rivers. Prehistoric tools developed included a short-handled forked branch that evolved into a hoe, and a long-armed hockey-shaped stick with a curved handle called an ard. The ard, which eventually evolved into a plow, won religious sanctions in many ancient cultures such as those of Greece, China, and India. The plow-based agriculture flourished in alluvial and loess-derived soils. These soils are generally coarse-textured, less cohesive, devoid of stones and suitable for growing closely spaced cereals such as wheat (Triticum aestivum). In contrast, hoe-based agriculture dominated in regions where widely spaced roots and tuberous crops, such as cassava (Manihoc esculenta) and yam (Dioscorea spp.), were grown on sloping lands. Mechanization of plowing with the tractor during the early part of 20th century vastly expanded the land area under cultivation. However, plowing also caused erosion and exacerbated environmental problems of non-point source pollution, emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and loss of biodiversity. The environmental movement, begun in 1950s and 1960s, led to the development of no-till (NT) farming. After approximately 50 years of its introduction, NT farming is practiced only on about 6% of the global cropland area, mostly in North and South America, and in Australia. Adoption of NT farming by resource-poor farmers of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by removal of crop residues for fodder and animal dung as residential fuel, lack of appropriate seed drill which can sow in an unplowed soil covered by crop residue mulch, and non-availability or prohibitively high cost of herbicides. While use of the plow is unsustainable on erodible soils, its use is essential until alternative sources of residential fuels are available to rural households, efficient seed drills are developed by village blacksmiths, and herbicides become economical and effective against perennial weeds or other viable options of weed control are available.
Morphology and SSU rRNA Gene Sequences of Three Marine Ciliates from Yellow Sea, China, Including One New Species, Uronema heteromarinum nov. spec. (Ciliophora, Scuticociliatida)

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of three marine scuticociliates, Uronema marinum Dujardin, 1841, U. heteromarinum nov. spec. and Pleuronema setigerum Calkins, 1902, isolated from coastal waters off Qingdao, China, were investigated using living observation and silver impregnation methods. Due to the great confusion in the species definition of the well-known species U. marinum, we have documented a detailed discussion/comparison and believe that most of the confusion is due to the fact that at least 2 closely-related sibling morphotypes exist which are often not recognized. Based on the data available, U. marinum is strictly defined as follows: marine Uronema ca. 30 × 10 μm in size, with truncated apical frontal plate and smooth pellicle, extrusomes inconspicuous, cytostome located equatorially, 12-14 somatic kineties and one contractile vacuole pore near posterior end of kinety 2. Uronema heteromarinum nov. spec. resembles U. marinum but can be distinguished morphologically by its notched pellicle with conspicuous extrusomes and reticulate ridges, the 15-16 somatic kineties, widely separated membranelle 1 and membranelle 2, as well as the subequatorially positioned cytostome. Based on the Qingdao population, an improved diagnosis for the poorly known Pleuronema setigerum is: marine slender oval-shaped form, in vivo about 40-50 x 15-20 μm; 3-5 preoral kineties and 14-22 somatic kineties; membranelle 1 and 3 three-rowed, and posterior end of M2a ring-like. The small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene for all three organisms were sequenced and analyzed with standard methods.
Sexual dimorphism in birds: why are there so many different forms of dimorphism?

Variation in the extent of sexual dimorphism among bird species is traditionally attributed to differences in social mating system. However, there are many different forms of dimorphism among birds, and not all of them show an obvious correlation with social mating system. For example, recent work has shown that many highly polygamous species are, in fact, monomorphic, whereas many putatively monogamous species are dimorphic. In this paper we break up sexual dimorphism into subcomponents and then use comparative analyses to examine the pattern of covariation between these subcomponents and various aspects of sexual, social, and parental behaviour. Our first finding is that size dimorphism and plumage–colour dimorphism do not show the same pattern of covariation. Differences in size dimorphism are associated with variation in social mating system and sex differences in parental care, whereas differences in plumage–colour dimorphism are associated with variation in the frequency of extra–bond paternity. These results suggest that size dimorphism is associated with the sort of intrasexual competition described by traditional classifications of social mating system, whereas plumage–colour dimorphism is associated with cryptic female choice. However, when we break up plumage–colour dimorphism according to whether it is due to melanins, carotenoids or structural colours, we find that each category of plumage–colour dimorphism shows a different pattern of covariation. The correlation between overall plumage–colour dimorphism and the rate of extra–bond paternity is due to structural colours, whereas melanin–based dimorphism is associated with sex differences in parental care. The former result is particularly interesting given that new work suggests structural colours are associated with active sexual displays and the reflection of ultraviolet light.
Seasonal variations in the breeding of the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus)

Des recherches ont ete effectuees pendant 18 mois sur la reproduction a'Arvicanthis niloticus dans la nature en fonction des variations de la temperature ambiante et de la nourriture disponible, et egalement en captivite. Bien que ce rongeur se reproduise toute 1'annee, on constate que les pics de son activite reproductive coincident avec la saison des pluies d'hiver, ou la temperature maximale est voisine de 20° ä 30^ et la temperature minimale de 10° ä 15°, l'humidite relative de 60 ä 90%, et oü la nourriture est abondante dans les champs. On constate une variation saisonniere du pourcentage de males avec des testicules actifs dans le scrotum. Les femelles ont une ovulation spontanee. II n'y a pas formation d'un bouchon vaginal apres la copulation. La gestation dure 21 ä 23 jours. Les portees sont de 4 ä 8 jeunes (moyenne 5,47).
Evaluation of Multi-Satellite Precipitation Products and Their Ability in Capturing the Characteristics of Extreme Climate Events over the Yangtze River Basin, China

Against the background of global climate change and anthropogenic stresses, extreme climate events (ECEs) are projected to increase in both frequency and intensity. Precipitation is one of the main climate parameters for ECE analysis. However, accurate precipitation information for extreme climate events research from dense rain gauges is still difficult to obtain in mountainous or economically disadvantaged regions. Satellite precipitation products (SPPs) with high spatial and temporal resolution offer opportunities to monitor ECE intensities and trends on large spatial scales. In this study, the accuracies of seven SPPs on multiple spatiotemporal scales in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) during the period of 2003–2017 are evaluated, along with their ability to capture ECE characteristics. The seven products are the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station Data (CHIRPS) (25), CHIRPS (05), Climate Prediction Center Morphing (CMORPH), Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN)-Climate Data Record, PERSIANN-Cloud Classification System, and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) IMERG. Rain gauge precipitation data provided by the China Meteorological Administration are adopted as reference data. Various statistical evaluation metrics and different ECE indexes are used to evaluate and compare the performances of the selected products. The results show that CMORPH has the best agreement with the reference data on the daily and annual scales, but GPM IMERG performs relatively well on the monthly scale. With regard to ECE monitoring in the YRB, in general, GPM IMERG and CMORPH provide higher precision. As regards the spatial heterogeneity of the SPP performance in the YRB, most of the examined SPPs have poor accuracy in the mountainous areas of the upper reach. Only CMORPH and GPM IMERG exhibit superior performance; this is because they feature an improved inversion precipitation algorithm for mountainous areas. Furthermore, most SPPs have poor ability to capture extreme precipitation in the estuaries of the lower reach and to monitor drought in the mountainous areas of the upper reach. This study can provide a reference for SPP selection for ECE analysis.
Evidence of chemical communication in the spiny rat Trinomys yonenagae (Echimyidae): anal scent gland and social interactions

Behavioral and histological data reveal that Trinomys yonenagae, a colonial and fossorial caviomorph rodent, emits direct chemical signals through a single, highly developed, eversible anal sebaceous gland. Connective tissue cov- ers the secretory portion of the gland, dividing it into smaller incomplete lobules. Well-defined layers of striated mus- cle fibers, which are organized in a crisscrossed manner, surround the external surface of the gland. These features indicate active secretion, and may be important for gland eversion. The frequency of gland eversion was zero when ei- ther males or females explored a new territory singly. However, when two unacquainted adults were paired independ- ently of the sex, the anal gland was everted without scent being applied to the substrate or conspecifics. The chemical signaling was concomitant with the occurrence of investigative behaviors such as nose-nose, nose-rump, and nose-anus contact. Anal-gland protrusion did not evoke avoidance responses and agonistic behaviors were never observed. The data do not support the function of the short-lived signal as either a sex attractant or a scent mark. The potential im- portance of chemical signaling in T. yonenagae by means of an eversible gland may lie in recognizing individuals or classes of individuals, minimizing aggression, and increasing social cohesion, all of which are important to colonial an- imals.
Salt Tolerance in the Halophyte Suaeda maritima L. Dum.: Evaluation of the Effect of Salinity upon Growth

The effects of the concentrations and species of ions in the external medium upon the growth of Suaeda maritima, a coastal halophyte, have been investigated. Plants grown in highly saline conditions (340 mol m−3 NaCl) had larger fresh and dry weights than plants grown in a standard culture medium (13 mol m−3). However, differing contributions of water and inorganic ions meant that these increases in fresh and dry weights greatly exaggerated the increase in growth, i.e. organic dry matter production. Enhanced growth in high salt concentrations was evident only after prolonged exposure and was attributable to increased cell size. Growth increased smoothly with increasing mineral concentration in the external medium and was maximal at 170 mol m−3 added NaCl, although 90% maximal growth was obtained at only one tenth of this concentration. Ion-specific growth enhancement was not apparent at low concentrations of NaCl. Growth at high concentrations (340 mol m−3) was maximal in NaCl and the effects of other salts ranged between this and toxicity in KC1. It is suggested (1) that the description of growth stimulation in halophytes by salt is somewhat arbitrary, (2) that increased organic growth with increasing salt concentration results from the relationship between turgor pressure and extension growth, and (3) that tolerance to extreme salinities is a separate phenomenon from the growth response.
Age, Growth, and Production of the Yellow Perch, Perca Flavescens (Mitchill), of Saginaw Bay

Abstract Ages were determined and individual growth histories computed from the examination and measurement of scales from 820 yellow perch collected in 1929 and 1930. Calculated lengths greater than 101 millimeters were computed on the assumption (supported by empirical data) that the ratio of body length to scale length is constant. Lengths below 101 millimeters were determined with the aid of an empirical curve of the body-scale relationship of small fish. Yellow perch of age-groups III and IV (in the fourth and fifth years of life) made up the bulk of the collection (78 per cent). Females grew slightly more rapidly than males, but members of both sexes attained the legal length of 8 1/2 inches during the fourth year of life, just as they were entering on the period of most rapid growth in weight. The greatest growth in weight of both sexes occurred in the sixth year of life. In the combined samples of the two years the females exceeded the males in abundance in the ratio, 296:100. The weight of the Sa.
Avian polygyny is most likely in populations with high variability in heritable male fitness

In all mating systems where males can gain more than one female (including lekking), males expend effort on attracting mates at the expense of parental effort. Previous theoretical work concluded that, when opportunities for additional matings are high, males should forgo investment in a current clutch. However, in most avian species, opportunities for additional matings occur when more than one female chooses to mate with an individual male. Thus polygyny occurs as a result of female choice. Any general explanation for the evolution of polygyny must also include a discussion of why females choose to mate with a male who invests in mating effort at the expense of his investment in her offspring. Here we show, by using a joint evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) model, that male investment in display and female choice for displaying males are evolutionarily stable when the ‘good genes’ advantage of female choice is large enough to outweigh the loss of paternal care. We also show that the ‘good genes’ advantage for choice is significant only when there is sufficient variation in the quality of males. If there is little variation amongst males, high-quality males chosen by choosy females will only be slightly better than average ones. Thus there will be little benefit to offset the cost of lost parental care for choosy females, and the benefit for male display will be low. The invasion and stability conditions for female choice and male display are satisfied when male genetic quality is highly variable. Therefore we predict that polygynous mating systems are most likely in populations and species in which there is high heritable variation in male genetic quality.
A study of the distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the genital tract of the Zebu bull (Bos indicus)

The histochemical localization of acid and alkaline glycerophosphatase (phosphomonoesterase) has been determined throughout the reproductive tract in the bull. Sections were incubated in a buffer substrate containing sodium β-glycerophosphate at pH 4·5 and pH 9·4. Duplicate sections were incubated for progressive lengths of time ranging from ½ hr. (alkaline phosphatase) to a maximum of 48 hr. (acid phosphatase). Evidence of the presence of both enzymes has been obtained in the tissues which compose the reproductive tract. In the case of acid phosphatase the reaction was predominant in the nuclei of the lining epithelial cells. In addition, a positive cellular reaction was found in the distal portions of the epithelium lining the epididymis, the ampulla of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles. The reaction obtained in the testis appeared to vary with the stage of activity of the tubule. In the case of alkaline phosphatase the reaction was predominantly shown by the basement membrane and the capillaries throughout the tissues with a cellular reaction in the distal portions of the cells lining the epididymis, the ampulla of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles. In the seminal vesicles the type ‘A’ cells reacted strongly while the periphery of the osmic staining vacuoles of the type ‘B’ cells also gave a positive reaction. The only activity present in the prostate was in the capillary endothelium. The spermatogenic epithelium showed a positive reaction, but no reaction was given by the interstitial cells.
Production process monitoring and post-production strain measurement on a full-size carbon-fibre composite aircraft tail cone assembly using embedded optical fibre sensors

Multiplexed optical fibre sensors were embedded into a carbon-fibre-reinforced-preform during the industrial production of a full-sized, one-piece tail cone assembly for a regional jet aircraft. Optical fibre Fresnel sensors monitored both the infusion of the resin, via measurement of the refractive index-dependent attenuation in the reflected light signal, and the degree of cure of the resin, via measurement of the chemical cure reaction-dependent change in refractive index. The resin cure was also monitored by optical fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) fabricated in high linearly birefringent optical fibre, which measured through-thickness strain development, while FBGs in standard single mode optical fibre measured longitudinal strain development. The magnitudes and profiles of the transverse and longitudinal strains developed during the curing process were consistent across different locations on the tail cone. Typical transverse and longitudinal strains, related to cure reaction-induced shrinkage, were −1500 ± 17 μϵ and −500 ± 5 μϵ, respectively. Post-production, the same embedded FBG sensors were used subsequently to monitor structural strains when the tail cone was subjected to vacuum pressure loading. The longitudinal strains measured using the embedded FBG sensors were generally in good agreement with the longitudinal strains measured by the surface-bonded resistance foil strain gauge (RFSG) sensors, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The in-plane transverse and circumferential strains, oriented collinearly, were measured by the embedded FBGs and appropriately oriented surface-bonded RFSG sensors, respectively, and were, qualitatively, in good agreement.
The fine structure of the leaf nodules of Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A.DC. (Myrsinaceae)

The fine structure of the leaf nodules of Ardisia crispa is described. The bacterial endophyte in mature nodules is extracellular, forming a compact mass which is encompassed within a 5–6 cell thick sheath of modified mesophyll cells. Processes from these sheath cells invade the bacterial mass providing a host surface across which exchange of metabolites may take place. Considerable pleomorphism is exhibited by the bacteria, paralleling that found in other symbiotic associations in which the host can influence the morphology of the microsymbiont. The spherical, highly granate chloroplasts, rich in starch, which are characteristic of the spongy mesophyll leaf cells, are replaced, in the modified sheath cells, by a degenerate plastid form containing membrane whorls. Lipid reserves appear to replace the starch in the sheath cells. The significance of these changes is discussed.