Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of major cereal crops for resistance against Rhizoctonia solani under green house and field conditions

A wide collection of cultivated rice, wild rice, maize, wheat and barley genotypes were screened against R. solani for resistance. Results showed that none of the tested cultivated rice varieties showed resistance to sheath blight, except wild rice accessions, Oryza australiensis and O. grandiglumis . Only two rice cvs. , IR 42 and TKM 9 showed moderate resistance among the cultivated rice varieties screened. Moderate resistance was also observed in barley cv. NDB 1445, while other hosts showed susceptibility to the disease. Different hosts included in this study were grouped into two major clusters on the basis of distance based analysis. Two wild rice accessions O. australiensis and O. grandiglumis clustered separately than other hosts including the wild relatives. This study can further be utilized to understand the resistance mechanism in wild rice accessions as well as to take breeding programme with moderate resistance rice varieties.
The ghost of past species occurrence: improving species distribution models for presence-only data

Summary 1 Model-based approaches have been used increasingly in conservation biology over recent years. Species presence data used for predictive species distribution modelling are abundant in natural history collections, whereas reliable absence data are sparse, most notably for vagrant species such as butterflies and snakes. As predictive methods such as generalized linear models (GLM) require absence data, various strategies have been proposed to select pseudo-absence data. However, only a few studies exist that compare different approaches to generating these pseudo-absence data. 2 Natural history collection data are usually available for long periods of time (decades or even centuries), thus allowing historical considerations. However, this historical dimension has rarely been assessed in studies of species distribution, although there is great potential for understanding current patterns, i.e. the past is the key to the present. 3 We used GLM to model the distributions of three ‘target’ butterfly species, Melitaea didyma, Coenonympha tullia and Maculinea teleius, in Switzerland. We developed and compared four strategies for defining pools of pseudo-absence data and applied them to natural history collection data from the last 10, 30 and 100 years. Pools included: (i) sites without target species records; (ii) sites where butterfly species other than the target species were present; (iii) sites without butterfly species but with habitat characteristics similar to those required by the target species; and (iv) a combination of the second and third strategies. Models were evaluated and compared by the total deviance explained, the maximized Kappa and the area under the curve (AUC). 4 Among the four strategies, model performance was best for strategy 3. Contrary to expectations, strategy 2 resulted in even lower model performance compared with models with pseudo-absence data simulated totally at random (strategy 1). 5 Independent of the strategy model, performance was enhanced when sites with historical species presence data were not considered as pseudo-absence data. Therefore, the combination of strategy 3 with species records from the last 100 years achieved the highest model performance. 6 Synthesis and applications. The protection of suitable habitat for species survival or reintroduction in rapidly changing landscapes is a high priority among conservationists. Model-based approaches offer planning authorities the possibility of delimiting priority areas for species detection or habitat protection. The performance of these models can be enhanced by fitting them with pseudo-absence data relying on large archives of natural history collection species presence data rather than using randomly sampled pseudo-absence data.
Population dynamics and fishery management of the paua, Haliotis iris

Abstract A population model is developed and used in conjunction with the results of a study of an unexploited population of paua (Haliotis iris Martyn) to examine the historical pattern of recruitment and yield per recruit. As H. iris cannot yet be aged, the population model uses size rather than age classes, but is structurally similar to the Leslie matrix model. Simulations suggest that the observed population size structure resulted from a short (about 5 year) period of high recruitment, preceded and followed by longer periods of low recruitment. Yield per recruit analysis shows that the present minimum legal size for the fishery (127 mm) provides close to the maximum yield per recruit for most stocks, although yield per recruit could be increased in some areas by a reduction in minimum legal size.
Pengaruh Penggantian Sirup Glukosa dengan Sirup Sorbitol dan Penggantian Butter dengan Salatrim Terhadap Sifat Fisikokimia dan Organoleptik Kembang Gula Karamel

Caramel soft candy is one of noncrysytalline candy, with soft and chewy texture. Sorbitol as known low calories sweetener agent with 2/3 Calorie content of sucrose. Salatrim is a one of fat replacer with lipid base was classified as triglyceride. The advantages of the salatrim usage is 5 Calories/gram compared with 9 Calories/gram on ordinary lipid together give physical characteristic with conventional lipid. This objective of this is to find out about the effect of the changing glucose syrup with sorbitol syrup and butter with salatrim toward chemical physics and organoleptic of caramel soft candy to know the usage of both to produce most favorable caramel soft candy. This study were doing with making caramel soft candy with replacement variation of glucose syrup with sorbitol syrup (20%:80%; 10%:90%; and 0%:100%) and replacement variation of butter with salatrim (10%:90 and 0%:100%). The study design are using Factorial Group Randomly Design and Factorial Complete Randomly Design with 6 treatment combination, each 4 replications. Based on statistic evaluation, there are interaction effect between replacement glucose syrup with sorbitol syrup and replacement butter with salatrim toward hardness, tensile strength and panelist preference to colour and texture caramel soft candy, but not effecting in water content, reducing sugar content, lightness, redness, yellowness and panelist preference to taste of caramel soft candy. Replacement glucoce syrup with sorbitol syrup would effecting in water content, reducing sugar content, lightness, redness and yellowness caramel soft candy. The taste preference effected by each of treatment but not effected by interaction of both treatment. The best product based on weighing technique was caramel soft candy with replacement glucose syrup with sorbitol syrup 100% and replacement butter with salatrim 100% (A3B2) that consists of 8,87% water content, 10,79 gram/ 100gram material, 487,25 Newton hardness, 10,13 Newton tensile strength, 41,48 lightness, 13,25 redness and 26,40 yellowness.The colour preference score was 5,04, texture was 5,07 and taste was 4,97 which classified on netral to likely enough.
Effect of inorganics and organics on the yield and nutrient uptake by three crops in a rotation on an acid alfisol

In a field study conductedat Palampur a significant increase in cropyields of potato andmaize could be obtained with the increase in NPK doses. The FYM and closer spacing also significantly increased the crop yields. The N, P and K uptake by all the three crops in a sequence (potato-maize-potato) increased with the increase in NPK doses. FYM application had the same effect, but the effect of spacing in general was not significant.
The rich generally get richer, but there are exceptions: Correlations between species richness of native plant species and alien weeds in Mexico

Studies on the resistance of communities to plant invasions at different spatial scales have yielded contradictory results that have been attributed to scale‐dependent factors. Some of these studies argue either for or against Elton's notion of biotic resistance against invasions through diversity. We studied the correlation between alien weeds and native species, dividing the latter group into weedy and non‐weedy species, integrating various factors that influence diversity into an analysis on the scale of the federal states of Mexico. The resulting multiple‐regression models for native and alien weed species are robust (adjusted R2 = 0.87 and R2 = 0.69, respectively) and show a strong partial correlation of the number of weed species (native and alien) with the number of non‐weed native species. These results agree with studies showing a positive correlation between the number of native and alien species on larger scales. Both models also include human population density as an important predictor variable, but this is more important for alien weeds (β = 0.62) than for native weeds (β = 0.32). In the regression model for native weed species richness, the non‐cultivated (fallow) area (β = 0.24) correlated positively with native weed richness. In the model for alien weed species richness, the native weed species richness was an important variable (β = −0.51), showing a negative partial correlation (rpart = −0.4). This result is consistent with Elton's biotic resistance hypothesis, suggesting that biotic resistance is scale independent but that this may be masked by other factors that influence the diversity of both weeds and non‐weeds.
Mycoflora of Smoke- dried fish Varieties sold in Eke Awka Market in Anambra State , Nigeria

Dried fish is an aquatic food between 80-85% whose moisture content is between 80- 85% and is a relished food item in many dishes in many cities of the world including Awka, Nigeria. This relished food item is prone to invasion by fungi which have been known to produce toxins which have deleterious consequences on human health. It is therefore important to monitor the mycological quality of smoke-dried fishes. This work was aimed at isolating, characterizing and identifying the mycoflora of smoke-dried fish varieties sold in Eke-Awka Market in Anambra State, Nigeria. The mycoflora of the smoke-dried fish varieties was studied using cultural techniques, with Sabouraud dextrose agar as the growth medium. Bonga, Cat, Tilapia, Cod and Croaker fishes were used as the samples. The examination showed that the fishes were contaminated with fungi. The cod fishes had the highest fungal count of 2.6 x 103 cfu/g while the Croaker fishes had the least fungal count of 1.2 x 103 cfu/g. The fungi were characterized and identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium solani, Mucor mucedo and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Aspergillus niger was isolated from all the fish samples studied, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus flavus from the Bonga fishes, Mucor mucedo from the Cat and Croaker fishes, Fusarium solani from the Cod fishes while Aspergillus was isolated from Tilapia fishes. Aspergillus niger occurred most frequently (79%) while Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Fusarium solani had the least frequency of occurrence (2%) in the fish samples. The fungi isolated are known to produce toxins that cause cancer of the liver, acute hepatitis, reduction in red blood cells and decreased immune system in man. Prolonged intake of these smoke-dried fish varieties containing these fungi and their toxins may constitute health hazards. Adequate cooking before consumption would reduce the mycoflora of these fishes, hence safeguarding the health of the consuming public. Keywords: Mycoflora, Smoke-dried fish varieties, Eke Awka Market
Diet composition influences annual breeding success of Montagu's Harriers Circus pygargus feeding on diverse prey

Capsule Diet diversity was positively related to nest failure in Montagu's Harriers. Aims To evaluate whether breeding density, age structure and breeding success of Montagu's Harriers were related to variations in diet composition. Methods Breeding data were collected over an eight-year period (1991–98) in Madrid, central Spain. Diet was evaluated through pellets and remains collected near nests. Diet diversity was calculated using Shannon's index. Results Diet diversity was negatively correlated to the proportion of hares Lepus granatensis in the diet, positively to the proportion of insects, and not significantly to other prey types. Breeding parameters varied significantly between years, although annual variation in breeding parameters in Madrid was lower than in populations where diet is less diverse. Nest failure was the most important variable explaining variation in productivity, and was primarily caused by food-related factors (abandonment and starvation). Nest failure was less frequent in years where diet diversity was lower. Conclusion Hares appear to be the preferred prey for Montagu's Harriers in Madrid, and other prey were used mainly when hares were less abundant or less available (with insects being the main alternative prey). Years when diet was less diverse (i.e. when hares were dominant in the diet) were associated with a higher productivity, and with a lower between-pair variation in this parameter.
A molecular phylogeny of the checkered beetles and a description of Epiclininae a new subfamily (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae)

We provide the first molecular phylogeny of the clerid lineage (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Thanerocleridae) within the superfamily Cleroidea to examine the two most recently proposed hypotheses of higher level classification. Phylogenetic relationships of checkered beetles were inferred from approximately ∼5000 nt of both nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA (28S, 16S and 12S) and the mitochondrial protein‐coding gene COI. A worldwide sample of ∼70 genera representing almost a quarter of generic diversity of the clerid lineage was included and phylogenies were reconstructed using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood approaches. Results support the monophyly of many proposed subfamilies but were not entirely congruent with either current classification system. The subfamilial relationships within the Cleridae are resolved with support for three main lineages. Tillinae are supported as the sister group to all other subfamilies within the Cleridae, whereas Thaneroclerinae, Korynetinae and a new subfamily formally described here, Epiclininae subf.n. , form a sister group to Clerinae + Hydnocerinae.
Norovirus Tracing in Environmental and Outbreak Settings - Experiences of waterborne, foodborne and nosocomial transmission

Noroviruses (NoV), a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in hospital settings, also occur as sporadic infections or periodic non-seasonal community outbreaks. Human NoV replicates to high concentration in the intestinal tract, is readily transmitted by the faecal-oral route, hand-to-hand contact, contaminated food and water, and by aerosols. Large numbers of NoV are discharged into wastewaters and, despite sewage treatment, can cause problems when recycled river waters are used as source of drinking water. Two major groups of NoV are associated with human infections, genogroups (G) GI and GII. Epidemiological studies indicate association of GI with non-seasonal foodand waterborne infections, and GII with person-to-person transmission, particularly nosocomial spread of NoV GII.4. As NoV detection in filter-feeding bivalves may have a sentinel role in tracing NoV in environmental waters, molecular tools were used to detect and characterize NoV in mussels from Foto near the plume of sewage effluents from Gothenburg wastewater treatment plant. Sequence analyses of NoV RNA from Foto mussels revealed GI.1 strains with high similarity (99%, 3.1kb) to strains detected in patients infected in non-seasonal, waterborne outbreaks linked to bathing in Lake Delsjo. Comparative sequence analysis of NoV strains from mussels and patients indicated that human NoV outbreak strains circulate in wastewaters, and can be traced in bivalves. Molecular methods were used to characterize NoV detected in oysters implicated in a gastroenteric outbreak where only those who ate oysters were affected. Mixed human NoV GI and GII strains were found in the oysters, evidence of faecal contamination of the bivalves, held for several weeks in Stromstad harbour waters. NoV GI.1 strains from the oysters showed high similarity (≥ 99%, 285 nt) to the GI.1 detected in faeces obtained from one of the oyster-eating patients. Phylogenetic analyses of GI.1 strains from patient and oysters indicated the contaminated bivalves as point source of infection. The similarity (99%, 3.1kb) of NoV GI.1 detected in Foto mussels, patient samples from Delsjo waterborne outbreak, and the Stromstad oyster outbreak, was remarkable. High similarity held also when strains were compared with GenBank references; 96% with L23828, from an oyster outbreak, Japan 1989; 87% with the original Norwalk strain M87661, 1968, point source well water. These findings indicate genomic stability of NoV GI.1 strains over a period greater than 20 years, and dispersal of GI.1 in environmental waters. Association of NoV GI strains with outbreaks related to sewage-contaminated water was emphasized in the molecular epidemiology of a large, non-seasonal waterborne outbreak affecting Lilla Edet, situated on the River Gota. Molecular studies
Disponibilidade aparente de fósforo em ingredientes pela tilápia-do-nilo ( Oreochromis niloticus )

Apparent availability of phosphorus from various foodstuffs for sexually reversed Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) was provided. Fish with an average weight of 16.0  0.5g were randomly stocked in 21 aquariums equipped with feces collector ( Guelf system), at the rate of five fish per aquarium. Each set of three aquariums was provided with a biological filter, aeration and flowing water (0.75 L/min discharge). An egg albumin-gelatin purified diet containing 0.1% chromic oxide was used as reference and basal diet. Dicalcium phosphate, bone and fish meals, soybean and wheat bran and middlings were added to the basal diet at 3.5, 6.0, 21.67, 40.0, 12.0 and 10.62% respectively, at the expense of albumin, gelatin and dextrose. Dicalcium phosphate was the best phosphorus source (apparent availability of 74.23%) for tilapia fingerlings. In decreasing order it was followed by bone and soybean meals (54.59 and 35.13%), wheat middlings (30.49%), fish meal (27.15%) and corn meal (7.33%). Whereas fish meal had the lowest apparent phosphorus availability among animal foodstuff, soybean meal was the best among plant foodstuffs.
Epidemiological studies on the infection process and symptom expression of soybean sudden death syndrome

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) caused by Fusarium virguliforme (Aoki, O'Donnel, Homma & Lattanzi) is one of the most important soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) diseases in the US. Management strategies currently available for this disease are not always effective, partly due to the high variability in symptom expression that occurs in field environments. To clarify the relationship between progress of root rot and foliar symptoms, soybean seedlings were inoculated at five inoculum densities and were destructively sampled over a 50 day period. Disease severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) increased in response to increasing inoculum density (P 0.8, P < 0.01) with foliar severity at 40 and 50 DAI, while weak correlations were found when roots and leaves were assessed simultaneously. Rate of disease progress generally increased as inoculum densities increased for both root and foliar symptoms. Root biomass was reduced by up to 80% at the three highest inoculum densities. To study the effect of plant age on symptom expression, plants were sown at intervals over a five week period to obtain plants at different stages of development at the time of inoculation. Plants were incubated in growth chambers to 17oPC for 7 days and then to 24PoPPC, and assessed for root rot and foliar severity at 18 and 38 DAI. Root rot developed on plants inoculated at all ages, but plants inoculated 0 days after planting (DAP) had the highest (P < 0.01) root rot severity compared to plants inoculated at older ages. Foliar symptoms were severe on plants inoculated 0 DAP, but never developed on plants inoculated at all other ages. Fungal colonization of the xylem was more frequent (56%) in plants inoculated 0 DAP than on plants inoculated at later stages (2-14%). These findings show that soybean roots are susceptible to infection at different vegetative growth stages but that plants become less susceptible to xylem colonization and development of foliar symptoms as they mature. The interaction between plant age at inoculation and soil temperature was studied in greenhouse conditions. Soybeans were grown at 17, 23 and 29PoPPC and inoculated at 0, 3, 7 and 13 DAP. Root rot developed in all inoculated plants, but severity decreased with increasing temperature and root age at inoculation. Foliar symptoms also became less severe at warmer soil temperatures, but severity was greatly dependent on plant age at inoculation. At 17PoPC, plants inoculated at all ages except 13 DAP developed foliar symptoms, while at 29PoPC only plants inoculated 0 DAP showed foliar symptoms for the duration of the experiment. Plants inoculated 0 DAP showed severe root rot and foliar symptoms at all temperatures. Root growth rate and root length were negatively correlated with root rot AUDPC and root rot rate, and positively correlated with root dry weight. This suggests that accelerated root growth in warm soils restricts…
Prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites in five communities in south-west Nigeria.

An investigation was conducted to determine the infection rate of intestinal parasites among 312 primary and post primary school children in randomly selected schools in five communities in Ilesa West Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria, between January and July, 2005. Faecal samples were collected from these subjects and examined. Direct saline and iodine preparations were examined as well as the preparation from sedimentation technique. The kato-katz technique was used for determination of intensity of worm infestation. 151 (48.40%) school children were infected. Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba histolytica were the intestinal parasites found in the study population. Out of the 151 (48.40%) infected, 122 (39.10%) were positive for A. lumbricoides and 29 (9.29%) were positive for E. histolytica. Age group 5 7 years was mostly (50.00%) infected in primary school and age group 13 15 years was mostly (54.12%) infected in post-primary school. The intensity rate of A. lumbricoides was light (100 3,000 egg) among the school children in both primary and post–primary schools. The overall infection rate in both primary and post-primary schools for males and females were 20.79 and 28.21% respectively, which implies that infection rate was higher in females but not statistically significant (P>0.05). The differences observed in the infection rates in the study locations were also not statistically significant (P>0.05).
CANNIBALISM AMONG SALAMANDRA SALAMANDRA (L.) LARVAE

ABSTRACT Two populations of Salamandra salamandra (L.) larvae from Galilee were studied: a cannibalistic population from Hammama Spring, and a non-cannibalistic population from Tel Dan. The cannibalistic larvae grew faster than the non-cannibalistic ones. The habitat at Tel Dan contained an ample supply of food (invertebrates) for the larvae. A shortage of food in the Hammama Spring population, while not affecting the rate of growth, caused an increase in cannibalism. Five large cannibalistic larvae consumed 116 small larvae during the three months required to complete metamorphosis. There was no incidence of cannibalism among large larvae of roughly equal size. The phenomenon of cannibalism as an aspect of adaptation to different habitats is discussed.