Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF LONG TERM STORAGE ON PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF POTATO

Determination of physical and chemical properties of products such as potato in the long term storage and their variations is one of the significant specifications in terms of consumer preference and reaching high product quality. Therefore, it is a significant issue to know the changes that may occur on quality and physiological values of potato in the long term storage as much as its cultivation and breeding. With this research, the physical properties such as weight loss and the chemical properties such as specific gravity, dry matter, starch, protein contents and chips efficiencies were determined at the end of storage period of potato cultivars (Binella, Granola, Banba, Natascha, Toscana, Slaney and Marfona). The experiment was established as completely randomized designs with three replicates in 2013 and 2014 years . At the end of storage period, significant differences were determined among the potato cultivars according to the changes that occurred on physical and chemical properties of potato tubers. The weight loss was determined on all cultivars at the end of storage. The chemical properties of some potato cultivars increased while decreasing at some of them. The changes at the rates of -2.03% in terms of weight, 0.06% in terms of specific gravity, -1.46% dry matter, 2.95% starch, 7.85% protein and -5.43% were determined in accordance with the general average of potato cultivars at the end of storage. Consequently, it was determined that there were increased and decreased on specific gravity, starch, protein, dry matter and chips efficiency among the chemical properties along with that these changed in accordance with the cultivars at the potatoes which were stored in the long term (24 weeks) controlled conditions. The results of studies presented that the physical and chemical changes occurred on the tubers in the long term storage depend on the potato cultivars.
Biodiversity signature of the Last Glacial Maximum at South Georgia, Southern Ocean

High‐latitude biodiversity distributions can preserve signals of the timing and geography of past glaciations, and as such ground truth ice‐sheet models. Discrete polar archipelagos offer the fewest confounding factors for testing historic ice position records in extant biodiversity. At South Georgia, two competing geological hypotheses suggest that either the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice was extensive, nearly covering the continental shelf (H1 Big ice) or restricted to the inner fjords (H2 Little ice). We examined the past configuration of the South Georgia ice cap using seabed biodiversity.
Effect of different levels of citrus essential oil and its active component on rumen microbial fermentation and methane production in vitro

The fermentation characteristics of adding different levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 ? L/75mL buffered rumen fluid) of citrus essential oil or its bioactive component (limonene, 0, 30, 45 and 60 ? L/75mL buffered rumen fluid) to a basal substrate (50% roughage: 50% concentrate) were evaluated in vitro by semi automatic gas production (GP) technique. The investigated essential oil was Citrus reticulata (CR25, CR50, CR75), and Limonene (L30, L45, L60). The analyses of the citrus essential oils by GC/MS showed that the main components were dl-Limonene (83.9 %) and ? - Terpinene (10.75 %) There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in cumulative gas production (GP) after subtracting the blank gas volume for different levels of citrus essential oil or limonene. All levels of citrus essential oil and limonene were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the GP in compare to the substrate without additive. The second and third dose of citrus essential oil or limonene decreased (P < 0.05) methane emission when expressed on dry matter basis, but when expressed on the base of digested organic matter the third dose only from citrus essential oil decreased (P < 0.05) methane emission in vitro . The inhibition of methane production was along with a significant reduction in protozoa count. Partitioning factor (PF) was used as an index of the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in vitro . There was no significant effect of citrus essential oils on PF, while limonene supplementation declined (P < 0.05) the PF values. The inclusion of citrus essential oil or limonene was affected negatively on true digestibility of dry and organic matter. The NH3-N concentration was dramatically declined with inclusion of high level of citrus or limonene. This study suggested that the citrus essential oil has the potential to affect ruminal fermentation efficiency and could be a promising methane mitigating agent, which attributed to its rich content of limonene. Key words: citrus, limonene, essential oil, gas production, methane, protozoa, degradation .
Phenological and Physiological Study of Six Cultivars of Ziziphus spp. Planted in Basra Province- Iraq.

This study was conducted in a private orchard at Abu Al Khasib area in Basra province – Iraq, during the growing season (2013), to evaluate six cultivars of Ziziphus spp. Plant, phenologically and physiologically. The results confirmed a difference among the cultivars in some phenological characteristics, and a similarity in others. While in physiological characteristics, and a similarity in others. While in physiological characteristics the study showed a significant superiority of the Toffahi cultivar in its length, diameter and weight of fruits (4.00 cm, 3.26 cm and 7.30 g.) respectively and in its fruit dry weight percentage (42.38 %), while the Hindi cultivar was superior in the T.S. S. , water content and phenols percentages (17.22, 67.36 and 2.21 %) respectively. But the Laimoni cultivar was superior in leaf area, adjustable total acidity percentage and calcium pectate percentage (6.78 cm 2 , 0.81 % and 4.57%) respectively. While Bathri cultivar was significantly superior in total chlorophyll content (3.36 mg. 100­­ -1 fresh weight). Whilst the rest of cultivars showed a variable differences among them.
Meiobenthic Assemblages from the Southwestern Coast of the Black Sea, İğneada (Turkey)

Abstract Meiobenthic organisms were sampled for the first time from İğneada coasts, Turkey (Western Black Sea) in order to provide a base-line study on the meiobenthic community structure of the sampling area. Meiobenthos was found to be composed of 12 higher taxonomical groups: Nematoda, Harpacticoida, Polychaeta, recent hard-shelled Foraminifera, soft-shelled Foraminifera, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Ostracoda, Turbellaria, Oligochaeta, Nemertea and Acari. Meiobenthic community was dominated by nematodes, harpacticoid copepods and hard-shelled foraminifera in the study area. Fifty two species of Nematoda, fifteen species of Harpacticoida and twelve species of living hard-shelled Foraminifera were identified. Six nematode species (Bathylaimus australis, Bolbolaimus murinae, Neochromadora poecilosomoides, Neochromadora sabulicola, Oncholaimellus mediterraneus and Onyx perfectus) are reported for the first time from Turkey although they are known to occur at the central Turkish Black Sea. Total density of the meiobenthos ranged between 67–757 ind. 10 cm−2 at stations. Nematodes showed densities ranging from 61 to 350 ind. 10 cm−2 which represented 25–92% of the total meiobenthos. Since the terrestrial part of the region is protected as a National Park and the coastal part has been proposed as a marine protected area, research should be intensified on the fauna of İğneada coastal waters to clarify the biodiversity of the area.
TRPA1 Is Expressed in Central But Not in Peripheral Glia

TRPA1 are cation channels expressed in sensory neurons and in several other cell types. This channel is specifically activated by ally isothiocyanate (AITC), the pungent component of mustard oil, as well as by other electrophilic compounds. Although TRPA1 expression in central glia has been reported, its subcellular localization and its expression in peripheral glia have not been investigated before. In this paper we report the molecular and functional expression of TRPA1 in rat cortical astrocytes. Real-time RT-PCR identified low but significant amounts of TRPA1 mRNA in cortical astrocytes while no signal was seen in peripheral glia isolated from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) or in a glial cell line (DITNC-1). Calcium imaging showed AITC-induced signals in astro-cytes while no response in peripheral glia. AITC induced calcium signals in astrocytes in the presence and in the absence of extracellular calcium, suggesting an intracellular localization of TRPA1 channels. Whole cell electrophysiological recordings were performed in astrocytes, in peripheral glia and in DITNC-1 cells transfected with TRPA1 during AITC application. In TRPA1-transfected DITNC-1 cells typical TRPA1 currents were recorded with a reversal potential near 0 mV, consistent with the opening of a non-selective cation channel. No such currents were recorded in untransfected DITNC-1 cells, in astrocytes and in peripheral glial cells, where even high concentrations of AITC (up to 10 mM) induced no significant outward current. In astrocytes AITC transiently induced an outward rectifying current with the reversal potential near ? 90 mV, consistent with K channel activation, likely activated by intracellular release of calcium. Our results suggest that TRPA1 channels are molecularly and functionally expressed in calcium-containing organelles of rat cortical astrocytes, with no expression in the plasma membrane.
Rice development and water demand under drought stress imposed at distinct growth stages

This study aimed to establish a comparison for theoretical water demand between rice plants grown under flooding and under different levels of water stress, imposed at distinct crop stages, in terms of plant morpho-physiology and phenology. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse, using complete randomized design and factorial scheme 3 × 4 + 1, with four replications. Factor “A” was defined as the growth stage when water stress was imposed on the treatments, these stages being (1) vegetative, (2) reproductive 1, and (3) reproductive 2; factor “B” was composed of four levels of water stress (0 to 200 kPa). The additional treatment consisted of a flooded check. Water was replenished back to saturation every time the threshold stress level was reached. There is damage to rice growth and development in water tensions greater than 30 kPa when applied between tillering start and anthesis. Main damage was observed as reduced rates of culm growth; leaf area tended to be maintained. Water luxury consumption by rice plants grown under flooding seems to be about 23% of the total demand, compared to the other irrigated treatments. The rice field should be irrigated back to saturation when soil water tension is between 10 kPa and 30 kPa. Overall, theoretical crop coefficient (Kc) for rice under sprinkler irrigation is about 20% lower than that observed for the flooded check. Key words: Water consumption, planting system, Oryza sativa.
Preparation of vinegar from coconut water using baker’s yeast and acetobacter aceti TISTR 102 starter powder

In order to produce vinegar, coconut water was fermented through two stages: alcoholic fermentation with baker’s yeast and followed by acetous fermentation with A. aceti TISTR 102 starter powder. The baker’s yeast and the sugar concentration significantly effected on the alcoholic fermentation ( p ≤0.05). Baker’s yeast at 0.4% (w/v) was added to 1,500 mL of coconut water at 12% (w/v) sugar content that adequately produced approximately 6% (v/v) ethanol concentration within 1 day . The ethanol was used as the substrate for acetification with A. aceti TISTR 102 starter powder. The addition of A. aceti TISTR 102 starter powder at 0.5% (w/v) completely produced 6.27±0.02% acetic acid within 18 days, thus attaining 89% fermentation efficiency . In the sensory evaluation test, the coconut water vinegar was rated with acceptable scores for all of the sensorial attributes (appearance, odor, sourness and overall acceptance). Vinegar from coconut water is one considered and application in household scale.
Biology and nutrition of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) fed on different food sources

We studied Spodoptera frugiperda development using different food sources in the laboratory and field. Newly hatched larvae were fed soybean, cotton, maize, wheat, and oat leaves. An artificial diet was used as the control. Duration of pre-pupal, pupal, and larva-adult period, pupal weight, sex ratio, survival, larva feeding preferences, oviposition preferences, and nutritional quality of different hosts were evaluated. Insects fed on wheat showed the shortest larva-adult period. The insects fed on cotton and soybean had longer larval development cycles and pupae of lower weight. Feeding preference was evident for third instar larvae and did not differ between wheat, oat, maize, and soybean, which were the preferred hosts. Moths oviposited to a greater extent on the upper canopy of wheat than that of other plants in both the no-choice and free-choice tests. Treatments influenced insect growth, food consumption, and digestion when nutritional variables were analyzed. Thus, grasses were better hosts for S. frugiperda development. Cotton was the least preferred food, followed by soybean. The present study can improve our understanding of S. frugiperda in these different crops and help in developing management strategies. Even though S. frugiperda is considered to be polyphagous, this pest is closely associated with grasses (maize, wheat, oat) and has lower potential as a soybean or cotton feeder. Howerver, S. frugiperda food intake regulation appears to be triggered by a complex of different mechanisms. Thus, S. frugiperda can also damage soybean and cotton and adapt to them in the absence of preferred hosts.
Conservation Approaches For Autochthonous Woody Plants in Flanders

Abstract Autochthonous genetic resources of woody plants have become seriously endangered in Flanders because of the particularly low and fragmented forest cover, centuries of intensive forest use in this highly populated area and the wide-spread usage of non-autochthonous planting stock in reforestation and landscape plantings. Intraspecific hybridisation between remnant autochthonous populations and foreign genotypes, which can show inadequate adaptation, may influence the autochthonous genetic constitution and fitness in the long term. As several European countries face similar problems, the objective of this paper is to outline the conservation measures that are taken in Flanders. The central aim is to maintain and create the necessary conditions for natural and flexible evolution of the genetic diversity of autochthonous trees and shrubs. An inventory survey to locate remaining autochthonous populations was started in 1997 and will be completed in 2006. Relict populations are preserved in clonal banks. Central issues are the production of autochthonous planting stock through in situ seed collection, the approval of seed sources and stands and the creation of seed orchards. Conservation actions are discussed.
An investigation of base cation deposition in Finland

The deposition of the base cations Na + , K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in 1998 was estimated for Finland using measurement data for precipitation and air quality. The highest deposition for all compounds was measured near the southern coast, and it decreased gradually northwards. Deposition of sodium and magnesium increased again in the far north in the vicinity of the Arctic Ocean. The estimated ranges for the annual deposition of sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium in Finland were 90-610 mg m -2 , 10-80 mg m -2 , 30-160 mg m -2 and 30-210 mg m -2 , respectively. Similar values have been published for large areas of Sweden and Norway. During the last decade the sum of the base cation concentration in bulk precipitation decreased by 15%-35% in all areas in Finland. The non-sea-salt fraction declined in bulk precipitation approximately as much. An especially large reduction occurred in the southeastern part of Finland, where the wet deposition of base cations decreased almost as much as the wet deposition of sulphur.
Determinants and opportunities for commercial marketing of beef cattle raised on communally owned natural pastures in South Africa

The objective of this study was to examine the factors influencing smallholder producers’ potential to sell cattle and identify marketing opportunities for sustainable beef production in South Africa. A total of 95 structured questionnaires was administered to the Ncorha and Gxwalibomvu communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Average cattle herd size per household was higher (P < 0.05) in Ncorha (13.7 ± 1.9) than in Gxwalibomvu (11.3 ± 1.9). The logit model showed that households with few members, young farmers, Christians, large cattle herds, low income levels and access to extension services had high potential to sell cattle compared with other households (P < 0.05). Beef branding (∼40% of respondents from each community), feedlotting (∼30%), group marketing (∼25%) and forward contracting (>5%) were mentioned as potential strategies for improving commercial marketing of cattle in the studied areas. Most producers (70%) indicated their potential and willingness to participate in developing a natural pasture-fed beef brand. Overall, commercial marketing of beef cattle raised on communally owned natural pastures in the surveyed areas in South Africa was largely determined by farmer’s demographic characteristics, cattle herd size and access to extension services with branding and feedlotting as the major opportunities for improving sales.
PROTEST: A PROcrustean Randomization TEST of community environment concordance

Abstract:A multivariate measure of the concordance or association between matrices of species abundances and environmental variables was generally lacking in ecology until recently. Traditional statistical procedures comparing such relationships are often unsuitable because of non-linearity among species and/or environmental data. To address these problems, I propose a randomization test based on Procrustes analysis. One matrix is subject to reflection, rigid rotation, translation, and dilation to minimize the sum of the squared residual deviations between points for each observation and the identical observation in the target matrix. This is a classical Procrustes approach to matrix analysis. To assess the significance of this measure of matrix concordance, I use a randomization test to determine whether the sum of residual deviations is less than that expected by chance. The PROcrustean randomization TEST (PROTEST) may be used with either raw data matrices or with multivariate summaries of the original .
Immunity to the metacestode of Taenia taeniaeformis in the laboratory rat.

Cysticercosis and hydatidosis are cyclozoonotic diseases of current importance to both public and animal health authorities throughout the world. Taenia taeniaeformis in the field is cycled through rodents (rats and mice) as intermediate hosts while the cat serves as the definitive host in a predator-prey relationship. The intermediate host becomes parasitized after the ingestion of infective eggs. Taeniid parasites possess the capacity to stimulate a strong immune response to the invasive larval stages, a response which is capable of destroying an infective challenge but seems incapable of eliminating the established parasites of the primary infection. At present the mechanisms by which these parasites are able to evade the efferent arm of the immune response remain undetermined. However, the natural host-parasite relationship offered by the experimental model of taeniasis, Taenia taeniaeformis in the rat, provides a means to experimentally examine both the host's response to the parasite as well as the parasite's response to the host in an effort to gain further insight into the phenomenon of prolonged survival.
Diverse outcomes of species interactions in an invaded annual plant community

Aims Despite acknowledgement that interactions among native and exotic species are important for determining the structure and diversity of novel communities, directed experiments using multiple exotics from the same system are rare. Recent observational studies have highlighted distinct ways that exotic species interface with resident natives across invaded communities. The correlative nature of these studies, however, has provided few details about the mechanisms driving distinct interaction outcomes within the same communities. Our aim was to determine how three exotic annual plant species with distinct relationships with local plant diversity impact the performance of a co-occurring native annual in the York gum–jam woodlands of Western Australia. Methods We grew species in experimental communities in growth chambers at varying total planting densities to assess how interaction outcomes varied among natives and exotics across a gradient of competition intensity. We measured a variety of performance responses, including survival, biomass and population-level and individuallevel reproductive investment. Important Findings Overall, the effects of interspecific versus intraspecific competition on performance varied with the identity and density of exotic competitors. The exploitative exotic grass Bromus madritensis was dominant in polyculture, whereas the diminutive grass Pentameris airoides conferred weak intraspecific competition and interspecific facilitation on native Waitzia nitida. The exotic broadleaf forb, Hypochaeris glabra, suppressed growth and survival of W. nitida, while W. nitida had weakly negative, neutral or positive effects on all exotics. These outcomes highlight the complexity of interactions impacting the diversity, stability and structure of novel plant communities. As few of these communities contain a single exotic species, understanding the competitive dynamics occurring in diverse novel communities is critical for their conservation and restoration.
Delphastus catalinae and the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci biotype B, on tomato: modeling predation across spatial scales

ii Acknowledgments. vii Vita . ix Publications . ix List of Tables . xv List of Figures . xvi Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Predator-prey models and biological control . 1 Functional response theory. 3 Fit of data to functional response models . 6 Scale transition and functional responses . 9 Research foci . 13 Study system . 13 The tomato plant . 14
Poultry Meat Irradiation - Effect of Temperature on Chemical Changes and Inactivation of Microorganisms.

Chilled (10°C) and frozen (-15°C) broiler carcasses initially artificially contaminated either with Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella typhimurium or Serratia marcescens (106cfu/g) were irradiated (Co60) with doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 kGy. Ps. aeruginosa was eliminated by doses of 1.0 - 2.5 kGy, S. marcescens by doses of 2.5 - 5.0 kGy and S. typhimurium by a dose of 10 kGy. Characteristic radiation odor increasing with radiation dose and temperature was well removed by heat meat preparation. Radiation resulted in increase of acid and peroxide values and destruction of thiamine (up to 57%/10 kGy) and riboflavin (up to 27%/10 kGy), lower increase of fat indexes and lower destruction of vitamins was observed at lower irradiation temperature. Content of amino acids was not affected by the treatment.