Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REVISION OF THE ASIAN CATFISH GENUS HEMIBAGRUS BLEEKER, 1862 (TELEOSTEI: SILURIFORMES: BAGRIDAE)

The Asian bagrid catfi sh genus Hemibagrus is revised. Eight species groups (H. baramensis, H. guttatus, H. menoda, H. nemurus, H. olyroides, H. planiceps, H. pluriradiatus, and H. wyckii species groups) are recognised, some of which may be natural. They can be diagnosed chiefl y by a combination of characters: vertebral number, length of the adipose-fi n base, and colouration. The identifi cation of Hemibagrus species is diffi cult mainly because of the lack of well-defi ned characters and considerable plasticity in measurements commonly used for diagnosing species in other catfi sh groups. In this study, other taxonomic characters have been investigated to determine their usefulness in differentiating the species. It was found that morphological characters associated with the adipose fi n (length of adipose-fi n base, dorsal to adipose distance, and shape of adipose fi n), head (shape of snout and head width relative to its length), and eye (eye diameter and interorbital distance) are characters useful in species differentiation. Thirty-two valid species are recognised in this study, of which three are described as new, viz. H. divaricatus from western Peninsular Malaysia, H. lacustrinus from Danau Singkarak and its associated drainages in western Sumatra, and H. semotus from northeastern Borneo.
Efficacy of Different Levels of Trichoderma viride Against Root-Knot Nematode in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

All the treatments of Trichoderma viride showed significantly higher plant growth parameters over control The gall development and final nematode population of Meloidogyne incognita decreased with the increasing level of T viride in pots as well as under field conditions Maximum soil fungi were decreased with increasing level of T viride and maximum root nodules and minimum root-knot nematode were observed in 4000 spores ot T viride
Evaluation of some antagonistic bacteria in biological control of Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici causal agent of wheat take-all disease in Iran

Take-all is a disease of wheat root caused by the soil borne fungus , Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc) Von Arx and Oliver var tritici Walker (Ggt) all over the word. There has been considered biological control using the microorganisms departed from suppressive soils or wheat roots, widely. In this study, strains of Bacillus (B. subtilis and B. pumilus ), Pseudomonas (P. fluorescent , P. putida and P. aeruginosa ) and Chromobacteria sp. , separated from wheat rhizosphere, were assessed for their ability to control this disease. Three fungal isolates (23, 35 and 45) were used in all experiments. Out of 45 bacterial strains in laboratory conditions, 15 strains were selected for isolates 23; 14 strains for isolates 35, and 25 strains for isolates 45 based on dual culture tests. In volatile metabolites test, for isolate 45 the most effective bacteria were strains 132 ( P. fluorescens ) and 159 ( P. putida ) and for isolates 23 and 35, strains 73 ( P. fluorescens ) and 10 ( P. putida ) were the best, respectively. Antibiotic production results indicated that for isolate 23 strains 93, 196, 142 ( P. fluorescens ) and 106 (P. putida ); isolate 35, strain 10 ( P. putida ) and isolate 45, strain 66 ( B. subtilis ), 68, 103, 159 ( P. putida ), 173, 93 (P. fluorescens ) and 78 ( P. aeruginosa ) reduced pathogene growth significantly (p<0.05). Regarding siderophore production, among fluorescent pseudomonads, strains 189, 87, 5 and MP were selected. The effectiveness of bacteria on take-all was assessed in test tubes and greenhouse by seed treatment, too. Disease severity was assessed based on 0-6 scale and in all three fungal isolates, there were significant differences between treatments (p<0.01). In growth chamber experiments for isolate 35, P. fluorescens (VN) was the best one and for isolates 23, wheat treated with P. fluorescens strains VN and 196 showed less disease. Finally, for isolates 45, the most effective strains were VN, 132, 39, 73, 189, 196, MP ( P. fluorescens ), 53, 103 and 147 ( P. putida ). According to greenhouse results, in isolate 35 wheat treated with strains 10 ( P. putida ) and VN ( P. fluorescens ) showed no infection indicating bacterial effectiveness in fungal inhibition. Isolate 23, strains 100 ( P. putida ), 196, 5, VN ( P. fluorescens ) and 65 ( B. pumilus ) and in isolate 45, strains VN, 132, 93 ( P. fluorescens ) and 53 ( P. putida ) were the most effective ones. In these cases there was no infection as well. The role of bacteria in promoting plant growth was assessed. There was no difference in growth indices between intact plant and plant treated with bacteria (without any fungal inoculation), so bacteria cause growth enhancement by disease control. Key words. Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Chromobacteria, take-all, biological control.
The Age Structure and Growth Dynamics of Young-Of-The-Year Bass, Dicentrarchus Labrax, Populations

Back-calculated egg fertilization (spawned) dates and growth rates for young-of-the-year bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L), captured from Loughor Estuary, Oxwich Bay and Ogmore Estuary, south Wales, UK, during 1988 and 1989 were compared. Spawned date frequency distributions indicated that the bass spawning season began in late February and continued until early June in 1988 and early July in 1989. There were no significant differences in the frequency distributions of back-calculated spawned dates for the bass populations, between either sites or years, which suggested that any variations in growth rates were attributable to characteristics of their respective environments. Growth rates were determined for bass cohorts resulting from early, midor late-season spawnings at Oxwich and Loughor in 1988 and Oxwich, Loughor and Ogmore in 1989. There were only slight intra-annual differences between the mean growth rates of bass cohorts at the same site, suggesting that bass from early cohorts would be larger at any given time of year. In 1989, growth was considerably faster at Oxwich and Loughor than at Ogmore, where food supply was considered limiting. However, between-site variations in growth rate were small in comparison with inter-annual differences. The faster growth rates observed at Loughor and Oxwich in 1989 were attributed to higher water temperatures. Relationships between growth rate and subsequent survival of young-of-the-year bass, and the relative importance of estuaries as nursery habitats for juvenile bass, are discussed.
Caractérisation des plantations privées de teck (Tectona grandis L.f.) du département de l'Atlantique au Sud-Bénin

Les plantations de teck constituent, au Sud-Benin, un atout socio-economique et environnemental indeniable. Des planteurs prives s’y interessent pour repondre a leurs besoins financiers grâce a la production et a la vente de bois de service. Or, pour amenager durablement des ressources, une bonne connaissance de leurs proprietaires est indispensable. La methode d'echantillonnage « boule de neige » a ete utilisee pour identifier les proprietaires des plantations privees de teck. Cette methode d'echantillonnage s'appuie sur les indications des premiers proprietaires rencontres pour en contacter d'autres. Les donnees sur les profils socio-economiques des proprietaires ainsi que sur les caracteristiques dendrometriques de leurs plantations ont ete collectees. Les mesures dendrometriques ont ete effectuees par echantillonnage en bandes. L’analyse factorielle suivie de la classification hierarchique et de l’analyse discriminante pas a pas ont ete realisees pour definir le profil des proprietaires. Nous avons recense 2 431 proprietaires et 2 624 plantations. Les jeunes plantations (5 ans au plus) representent 16,4 % du total, les plantations eduquees en futaie 12,7 % et les taillis, 70,9 %. Les plantations sont en general de petite taille (0,44 ha en moyenne). Les densites de plantation elevees (en moyenne 3 371 tiges·ha-1 dans les jeunes plantations, 3 006 tiges·ha-1 en futaies et 6 305 tiges·ha-1 en taillis) temoignent d’un mode de sylviculture paysanne. La superficie plantee et la motivation sont les meilleurs discriminants entre groupes. Quatre groupes de proprietaires ont ete identifies : les petits planteurs paysans (groupe 1) dont la motivation principale est la vente de bois, les petits planteurs citadins et les personnes morales (groupe 2) qui souhaitent securiser la propriete de leurs parcelles, les proprietaires majoritairement citadins possedant une plantation de taille moyenne (groupe 3) et les gros planteurs investisseurs (groupe 4) motives par la vente de bois ou la securisation du foncier. La gestion durable des teckeraies du Sud-Benin devra prendre en compte les specificites de chaque groupe, leurs atouts et contraintes.
Introduction and management of vetch/barley forage mixtures in the rainfed areas of Pakistan 2 ⁄ . Forage quality

To investigate the introduction of vetch/barley forage mixtures with a range of harvesting treatments in the winter season of Mediterranean-type environments, studies were carried out during 1994–97 at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, which has an annual rainfall of around 1000 mm, and at a much drier site at the Arid Zone Research Centre (AZRC) at Quetta in Pakistan, which has an annual rainfall of around (223 mm). Common vetch (V), barley (B), and their mixtures at seed ratios of V75B25, V50B50, and V25B75 were sown and 3 harvest time treatments (pre-flowering, full flowering, and maturity) were imposed. At NARC, there were significant differences (P < 0·01) in dry matter production between crop mixture ratios and between different harvest times. Mixtures of vetch and barley were generally more productive than any of the sole crops, with the yield of the best mixture V75B25 (7·6 t/ha) being almost twice as productive as sole vetch. Productivity at the full flowering stage was lower (5·3 t/ha) than that recorded at maturity (7·0 t/ha) and for the dual-cut pre-flowering harvest treatment (6·2 t/ha). At AZRC, the same trends as at NARC were observed but with lower yields because of the substantially lower and less well distributed rainfall and suboptimal temperatures. The highest dry matter was obtained with the treatment V75B25 (3·3 t/ha), which was approximately 50% higher in yield than sole vetch or sole barley (around 2 t/ha). Dry matter was highest at the maturity stage (3·2 t/ha) and lowest at the flowering stage (2·3 t/ha), except in the sole vetch crop which was lowest in yield at the pre-flowering stage (2·7 t/ha), implying a minor interaction between seed mixture and harvesting stage.
PARENTAL BEHAVIOR AT PARTURITION IN PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS OCHROGASTER)

Abstract Little is known about the behavior of male and female rodents at parturition. We documented behavior during and immediately after parturition in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), a species characterized by extensive biparental care during the preweaning period. To assess the role of males in parturition and their effect on maternal behavior, we studied parturient behavior of male–female pairs and females recently separated from their mates. We studied 12 births under seminatural conditions. For each birth, we scored behavior beginning with birth of the 1st offspring, using 3 h of continuous videotape records. Time from birth of the 1st offspring to birth of the last was always <1 h. Female prairie voles were aggressive toward their mates and effectively excluded them from the nest for most, if not all, of the period of parturition. Thus, measures of parental behavior were much higher for females than for males in breeding pairs. Females permitted males back into the nest about 1 day after parturition. The behavior at parturition of paired and single females was similar. Our data indicate that females may limit the role of males in parturition and care of newborn young, even in species with extensive paternal investment.
Change in the profiles lipid, digesta cholesterol and propionic acid of rats fed with of seaweed powder-based diets

CommunityA¢â‚¬â„¢s consumption pattern with high fat-low fiber has caused the prevalence of degenerative disease, i.e.cardivascular disease. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the first cause of death in Indonesia. Seaweed is a fiber rich food and has a hypocholesterolemic effect. Objectives of the research were to investigate the changes of lipid profiles, digesta cholesterol and propionic acid of rats fed with seaweed powder-based diet. Five groups of six male Sprague Dawley hypercolesterolemia rats were feed by 0% cholesterol and 0% seaweed powder (negative control); 1% cholesterol and 10% Eucheuma cottonii, 1% cholesterol and 10% Gelidium sp,1% cholesterol and 10% Sargassum sp, and 1% cholesterol and 0% seaweed powder (positive control) for 31 days. The experiment result showed that the seaweed powder did not have a significant effect (P>0,05) on the growth and feed consumption, and serum HDL (Hight Density Lipoprotein) but has a significant effect (P Key words :, seaweed powder, cholesterol, propionic acid.
Resorption proficiency and efficiency of leaf nutrients in woody plants in eastern China

Aims (i) t o explore variations in nutrient resorption of woody plants and their relationship with nutrient limitation and ( ii) to identify the fac- tors that control these variations in forests of eastern china. Methods We measured nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in both green and senesced leaves of 172 woody species at 10 for - est sites across eastern china. We compared the nutrient resorption proficiency (Nu r P) and efficiency (Nu r E) of N and P in plant leaves for different functional groups ; we further investigated the latitudi - nal and altitudinal variations in Nu r P and Nu r E and the impacts of climate, soil and plant types on leaf nutrient resorptions. Important Findings
Antioxidant metabolism in asymptomatic leaves of Verticillium-infected pepper associated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus deserticola can alleviate the deleterious effect of Verticillium dahliae on the growth and yield of pepper when pathogen attack occurs during the vegetative stage of growth. As biotic stresses can alter the activity of reaction oxygen species scavenger enzymes, our first objective was to determine if V. dahliae caused biochemical changes in asymptomatic leaves even before the onset of first visible symptoms of the disease in plants, laying special emphasis on antioxidant enzymes. The second aim was to assess if AMF modified the metabolism in leaves of Verticillium-inoculated plants. Results showed that V. dahliae caused metabolic changes in asymptomatic leaves even before plants had developed disease symptoms, but there were some differences between non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants. Non-mycorrhizal pepper inoculated with the pathogen exhibited an early enhancement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, which was not co-ordinated with increases in any peroxidase activity. The presumably subsequent accumulation of H2O2 could be related to the quick progress of the disease observed in these plants. On the other hand, mycorrhizal plants did not show simultaneous co-ordination among different antioxidant enzymes, but they had more balanced SOD, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase activities in leaves during the first month after pathogen inoculation than non-mycorrhizal ones. This fact could be related to the longer maintenance of photosynthetic rates in pathogen-infected plants associated with AMF observed in previous studies.
Lactobacillus amylovorus as a phytase producer in submerged culture

Nineteen strains of lactic acid producing bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus and Streptococcus collected from different culture collections were screened for the production of extracellular phytase. A number of them exhibited the enzyme activity in the fermentation medium but Lactobacillus amylovorus B4552 produced the maximum amounts of phytase ranging from 125 to 146 units ml‐1 extracellularly under the submerged cultivation conditions. The optimum glucose and inorganic phosphate levels for highest phytase production were found to be 1% and 24% mg, respectively. Lactobacillus amylovorus has potential in improving nutritional qualities of cereal and pulse‐based food fermentations.
Productivity of maize after strip intercropping with leguminous crops under warm-temperate climate

Use of legume cover crops has been reported to improve maize productivity through various mechanisms that include improved soil mineral N supply and weed control. However, in the smallholder irrigation farming sector, where maize is the staple crop, strategies for intercropping summer legume cover crops are often a challenge for farmers. Field experiments were conducted in a warm-temperate region of South Africa during the summer season of 2007/08 and 2008/09 to investigate the effects of strip intercropping patterns (3:2; 4:2 and 6:2 patterns) on the productivity of maize (cv. PAN 6479) together with mucuna or sunnhemp. The strip-intercrop patterns did not result in improved soil mineral N or weed control. Maize yields from rows adjacent to the cover crop strips were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than other rows. The 3:2 strip intercropping pattern slightly depressed yields; however, yield reduction was more pronounced in the 1 st season where water stress was experienced with maize partial land equivalent ratios (PLER) of 0.55 and 0.98 in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons respectively. A long winter fallow period reduced the positive impact of legume cover crops on soil mineral N and weed control benefits, resulting in no observable yield increase in a subsequent maize crop. Summer legume cover crops may enhance productivity of winter food/cash crops; however, this requires further investigation.
Probability of Intra- and Interspecific Encounters, and the Duration of Parental Care in Nicrophorus investigator (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Abstract In burying beetles (Nicrophorus), male and female pairs bury small carcasses to supply their larvae with food. Both parents care for their larvae for several days and defend them against other burying beetles that try to usurp the carcass. Male defense is very effective in preventing take-overs by conspecifics, but ineffective against attacks by larger congeners. From information on four species of Nicrophorus, Scott (1998) suggested that this asymmetry affects the duration of male care; males care longer when the major competitors are conspecifics, and leave early if they are larger congeners. We performed a field study examining the phenology of N. investigator Zetterstedt and its sympatric congeners in Bielefeld, Germany. Because of its relatively low abundance, an N. investigator arriving at a carcass had a much higher chance to meet an individual of another species of burying beetle than to meet a conspecific, suggesting that intraspecific competition is less important than competition by congeners. Breeding experiments showed that male care in N. investigator was shorter than in the numerically dominant species N. vespilloides Herbst and N. vespillo (L.), supporting Scott’s hypothesis. However, we cannot exclude that the differences in male care were caused by other factors that vary between species, as for example the speed of larval development. Also, the probability of encounter used to estimate the relative importance of intra- and interspecific conflicts only gives a rough estimate of the competitive situation because of differences in fighting ability between species.
Monitoring population productivity in the saiga antelope

Effective conservation requires a good understanding of factors causing variation in population growth rate. We here analyse the relationship between female age and fecundity in the saiga antelope Saiga tatarica tatarica, a critically endangered ungulate of the Eurasian steppes and semideserts, at both individual and population levels. Annual variation in age structure and twinning rates was investigated using long‐term datasets, sampling a total of 3308 females in four populations over more than 40 years. Further, a new non‐invasive method is presented, estimating twinning rates from both calves and placentas encountered during calving aggregation transects. At an individual level, the most parsimonious model for twinning rates included three age classes (1, 2 and ≥3 years); however, the model with only two classes (1 and ≥2 years) was competitive and particularly useful for monitoring because these two age classes can reliably be determined by direct observation in the field. Among yearlings, 77.4% were fecund and 11.7% twinned, whereas among older females 94.6% were fecund and 72.6% twinned. At a population level, annual variation in age structure (proportion ≥2 years) correlated well with annual variation in twinning rate except in the north‐west Pre‐Caspian population. Our results suggest that the recent poaching‐driven collapse in saiga numbers has potentially resulted in reductions in fecundity, which will have an impact on population growth rate. Our results highlight the potential for monitoring of twinning rate using non‐invasive calving aggregation transects as a cost‐effective additional tool to population counts for monitoring the status of this critically endangered species. These monitoring methods are also potentially transferable to other ungulate species.
“Novak”

Good clinical work is based on a sound knowledge of physiology and pathology, a fact especially true of gynaecology. The relationship is admirably brought out in this book, which is perhaps the chief reason for the enthusiastic welcome accorded the first edition in Britain and for its continued popularity. It is interesting to read, simple and clear as well as informative. It has become a standard book which most gynaecologists and pathologists not only possess but refer to constantly. Those studying for higher examinations pin their faith on it. Not the least of its attractions is that although it is fairly comprehensive it is not too detailed for those whose interests are mainly practical. The author provides a few important references for those wishing to delve more deeply into any subject. The book in its original form is so well known-indeed in Britain it is usually called " Novak" without regard for other books by the same authorthat it seems hardly necessary to describe it in detail. The second edition conforms closely to the first in subject-matter, style, and layout. The increased size is largely due to additional illustrations; there are nearly as many of these as pages, and excellent they are too. The author has taken care to bring the text thoroughly up to date, but has wisely avoided any attempt to make the book " exhaustive or encyclopaedic. " Had he done the latter much of its charm would probably have been lost. The obstetrical section is still strictly limited in its scope. It is doubtful whether anyone without the special qualifications of Dr. Novak could have written this book, for he is a practising gynaecologist with a wide experience and interest in pathology and endocrinology. One small adverse criticism is of the author's use of the terms vaginal and vulval mucosa. It is a common enough error, but it is surprising that it should be perpetuated by one of Novak's undoubted authority. T. N. A. JEFFCOATE.