Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radiation Treatment of Foods

Salmonellae resistant to gamma irradiation were developed by repeated irradiation and subculturing in a nutrient broth-yeast extract medium. Few differences were noted in the biochemical characteristics of parent and resistant cultures; however, microculture studies revealed variations in morphology and in cell division patterns. A considerable decrease in pathogenicity for day-old chicks was apparent with resistant cultures, but their phenol-water extracts were as toxic as parent material for 10-day chick embryos. Five serial chick passages did not reverse the reduced pathogenicity or aberrant morphology of a resistant Salmonella typhimurium culture. Results of phage typing of both parent and serially irradiated S. typhimurium were inconclusive, whereas the O-1 genus-specific phage lysed all parent serotypes tested but only one of the serially irradiated cultures. Agglutination of parent S. typhimurium cells with their homologous rabbit antiserum was unaffected by prior absorption with resistant strains. The results indicate that radiation recycling altered Salmonella into strains of lesser public health significance.
Using genotype plus genotype × environment (GGE) bi-plot analysis to identify promising amaranth accessions in Western Nigeria

Summary Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is predominantly a self-pollinating plant and represents a promising and highly nutritious pseudo-cereal (a non-grass plant that produces edible grain) and vegetable crop. Genotype × environment (G × E) interactions exist during cultivar evaluation, indicating the need to identify and select stable, high-performing genotypes that are best suited to a given set of environmental conditions. This study was carried out to examine the effect of G × E interactions on the performance and stability of 30 amaranth accessions and to identify reference test environments in which to evaluate amaranth. All 30 amaranth accessions were evaluated for leaf dry matter (DM) contents and seed yields across four different environments using a randomised complete block design. The four growing environments were situated at two locations, Ibadan and Abeokuta, in Southwest Nigeria, between 2009 and 2010. Genotype plus G × E (GGE) biplot analysis was used. Averaged across all four environments, amaranth accessions NG174 and NG430 produced the highest leaf DM and seed yields, respectively. The test environment contributed 10.9% and 48.0% of the total variation in leaf DM and seed yield, respectively; while G × E accounted for 36.9% and 20.3% of the total variation, respectively. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) G × E interactions indicated changes in the ranking of accessions in the test environments. Ibadan was identified as the more discriminating and representative of the two locations used in the study. NG145 and NG205 produced the highest leaf DM contents and seed yields, respectively, and were the most stable accessions at Ibadan. TIBET50, NG430, and NG174 were better adapted to Abeokuta, while NH161, NG174 and AM44 were better adapted to Ibadan. These accessions could serve as potential parents for future breeding and selection programmes on amaranth.
On the Spoilage of Dried Fish

Assuming that the velocity of spoilage of a dead fish muscle is proportional to the population density of bacteria in the fish muscle, the degree of spoilage, a, after t hours from they were killed may be represented by the following formula: - lna=lna0+∫t0k(θ, w)dt. where k(θ, w) is a constant depending upon the temperature, θ, and moisture content, w, and a0 the initial value of a. For w>0.6, k(θ, w) is presumed as k(θ, w)=k(θ)λ(n), where k(θ) is the value of k for undried fish and depends upon the temperature θ, i. e. k(? )=k(θ, w0) and λ depends upon w only. The relation between λ and w were calculated numerically from the experimental data as shown in Fig. 1. The influence of air-heating on the spoilage in the course of drying may be divided into two parts, viz. (1) the good influence-shortening of the time of drying, and (2) the bad influence-increasing of the velocity of putrefaction. In order to obtain such condition as the heated-air-drying would lead to good results, the author assumed that the temperature coefficient of spoilage, Ql0, is constant, and calculated the time of drying by Prof. TAUTI'S law(1) of similitude. Thus, we get the following relation: - E(θ+Δθ)-e/E(θ)-e 18W01/3+0.22W02/3{E(θ)-e}/18W01/3+0.22W02/3{E(θ+Δθ)-e}>Q10Δθ/ ? 0 where E(θ) is the maximum vapour tension (in mmHg) of water at the temperature θ°C, e, the vapour tension exist in the air, Δθ the temperature rise by the heater of dryer, and W0 the initial weight (ing.) of sprited fish for drying.
Secondary sex ratio in anatinae

Most waterfowl have highly skewed tertiary (adult) sex ratios in favor of males (Bellrose et al. 1961, Aldrich 1973, Bellrose 1980, Owen and Dix 1986). Sex ratios of diving ducks generally are more distorted than those of dabbling ducks (Mendall 1958, Aldrich 1973, Bellrose 1980). Perhaps the greatest disparity has been recorded for Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria), and Common Pochards (Aythya ferina), with two to three or more males for every female in some major wintering areas (Haramis et al. 1985, Owen and Dix 1986). The skewed sex ratio among Temperate Zone ducks is of particular interest because most of these species show seasonal monogamy (reviewed by Rohwer and Anderson 1988, Oring and Sayler 1992). Thus, many males have little opportunity for reproduction, especially because the secondary reproductive tactic of forced copulation appears to be confined to successfully paired individuals (McKinney et al. 1983, McKinney 1985, Gauthier 1988). However, it is important to realize that male-biased sex ratios in adult ducks are the product, not the cause, of seasonal monogamy (Oring and Sayler 1992). The strong and consistent skew in tertiary sex ratios raises the question of when and how skewed sex ratios develop, and suggests that females may manipulate sex ratios. If females can control the sex ratio of her progeny to increase survival of one sex, parental fitness will increase too (Leblanc 1987). Surprisingly little information has been published on secondary (at hatching) sex ratios of ducks. Most data come from ducklings hatched in an incubator from eggs collected from wild free-ranging females and provide no evidence that sex ratios at hatching differ from unity (Sowls 1955, Mendall 1958, Bellrose et al. 1961, Swennen et al. 1979). Dubovsky (1990) hatched captive wild-strain and game-farm female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) eggs in an incubator and found no evidence that sex ratio in this species varies with laying order, egg mass, and clutch sequence within a breeding season. More complete information is available for other bird taxa, but the evidence for adaptive control of offspring sex is scantand controversial (reviewed by Clutton-Brock 1986, Ligon and Ligon 1990). For example, some studies report variation in sex ratios at hatching as a function of laying or hatching sequence
Two new damselfly species from Polillo Island, Philippines (Odonata: Platystictidae)

Drepanosticta wildermuthi spec. nov. and Sulcosticta vantoli spec. nov. are described and illustrated. The two species are compared with their nearest relatives, D. moorei van Tol & Muller and S. viticula van Tol, respectively. Drepanosticta wildermuthi spec. nov has shorter anterior lobe processes compared to D. moorei. Sulcosticta vantoli spec. nov. has a simpler paraproct structure compared to S. viticula.
HABITAT QUALITY AND THE FORAGING BEHAVIOUR OF COCCINELLID LARVAE

SUMMARY (1) The aim of this study was to determine whether an invertebrate predator with limited sensory abilities could modify its foraging behaviour in response to changes in habitat quality, and so maximize its feeding rate. (2) The effects of hunger, rate of prey encounter and rate of food intake on the foraging behaviour of fourth instar Coccinella septempunctata L. larvae were investigated. (3) The duration of area-restricted searching behaviour following prey encounter increased with increasing hunger. This increased the probability of encountering a subsequent prey item and ultimately the time spent in a patch and the degree to which each patch was exploited. (4) Handling time increased as hunger increased. (5) Changes in the duration of the area-restricted searching behaviour and handling time were dependent on hunger level and not average encounter rate or average rate of food intake. (6) Extensive searching behaviour did not change with hunger level. (7) Hunger-induced changes in foraging behaviour enabled larvae to forage in a manner consistent with optimal foraging theory.
Patterns of Genetic Structure and Variation of Merkus Pine (Pinus Merkusii) in Indonesia

SIREGAR, I. Z. & HATTEMER, H. H. 2004. Patterns of genetic structure and variation of merkus pine (Pintis merkusii) in Indonesia. The genetic structure and variation of Pinus merkusii from two natural populations in Sumatra and one artificial population (seed orchard) in Java were evaluated using isoenzymes as genetic markers. Moderate levels of genetic variation were found in a conservation stand in Aceh (Sumatra) and a seedling seed orchard in Java included in the present study, while no variation was observed in a population from a national park in Kerinci (Sumatra). Genetic variation measures of the seed trees, progenies (embryos) and effective pollen in these populations were determined using eight isoenzyme loci (GOT-B, GOT-C, GOT-D, PGM-A, PGM-B, SKDH-A, NDH-A and FDH-A). In both of the variable populations 80% of the loci were polymorphic. Analysis of the seed trees showed that effective number of alleles per locus (A/L), allelic diversity {v), gametic diversity (v ) and total population differentiation (oT= H) in the population from Aceh (Sumatra) were 2.0, 1.544, 40.953 and 0.361 respectively, while in the population ofjava they were 2.4,1.630, 62.516 and 0.395 respectively. At the progeny level (embryo level), the above measures for the population from Aceh were 2.0, 1.565, 46.023 and 0.362 respectively, while in the population from Java they were 2.4, 1.636, 63.448 and 0.389 respectively.
Cracking Complex Taxonomy of Costa Rican Moths: Anacrusis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae)

ABSTRACT. Remarkably similar forewing patterns, striking sexual dimorphism, and rampant sympatry combine to present a taxonomically and morphologically bewildering complex of five species of Anacrusis tortricid moths in Central America: Anacrusis turrialbae Razowski, Anacrusis piriferana (Zeller), Anacrusis terrimccarthyae, n. sp. , Anacrusis nephrodes (Walsingham), and Anacrusis ellensatterleeae, n. sp. Morphology and DNA barcodes (i.e., the mitochondrial gene COI) corroborate the integrity of the five species, all of which have been reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. These species are polyphagous, with larval foodplants spanning many families of flowering plants. In ACG they occupy different forest types that are correlated with elevation.
Zooplankton community of Parnaíba River, Northeastern Brazil

Aim:The objective of the present work is to present a list of species of zooplankton (Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda) from the Parnaiba River. Additionally, we provide comments on their distribution along the river, and between dry and wet seasons.MethodsZooplankton was collected with a plankton net (60 µm mesh) and concentrated into a volume of 80 mL for further analysis, during the dry (October 2010) and wet (April 2011) seasons. Sampling was restricted to the marginal areas at depths between 80 and 150 cm.ResultsA total of 132 species was recorded among the three zooplankton groups studied. During the dry season a total of 82 species was registered and 102 species was registered for the wet season. Rotifera contributed with 66.7% of the species, followed by Cladocera (26.5%) and Copepoda (6.8%). ConclusionsThe richness of species observed was high compared to other large rivers in Brazil. In the context of current policies for water management and river diversions in northeastern Brazil, the present study highlights the importance of this river system for biodiversity conservation.
A Comparison of Primary Production in Stream Ecosystems

Temperature fluctuation and nitrate were highly correlated with their 2nd principle component. One difference between their analysis and ours was that precipitation was highly correlated with their 1st principle component but didn't come into our analysis until the 3rd principle component. The lack of a temperature effect and the greater importance of precipitation in the study by Cushing et al. were probably results of the more limited latitudinal extent of their sites.
Global stability of genetic systems governed by mutation and selection

Abstract This paper considers the behaviour of infinite haploid genetic populations under the influence of mutation and selection depending on a single locus. Under wide conditions the Perron–Frobenius theory of non-negative matrices and its generalization by Vere-Jones are used to prove that there is a single globally stable state of the population when there is a finite or, under more restrictive conditions, an infinite set of possible alleles.
Seasonal variation of Hemiptera community of a temple pond of Cachar District, Assam, northeastern India

The study records seven families, 11 genera and 14 species of hemipteran insect community in different seasons in a temple pond near Silchar, Cachar District, Assam, northeastern India. The pond is very rich in macrophytes like Nelumbo nucifera (Water Lotus), Hygrorhiza aristata (Indian Lotus), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda Grass), Philotria sp. etc. The hemipteran families recorded in the system were Corixidae, Gerridae, Aphididae, Mesoveliidae, Notonectidae, Nepidae and Belostomatidae. The species were Micronecta haliploides, Micronecta (Basileonecta) scutellaris scutellaris (Stal) (Corixidae); Neogerris parvula (Stal), Limnogonus nitidus (Mayr), Tenagogerris sp. , Rhagadotarsus sp. (Gerridae); Enithares ciliata (Fabricius), Anisops lundbladiana Landsbury, (Notonectidae); Diplonychus rusticus (Fabricius) and Diplonychus annulatus (Fabricius) (Belostomatidae), Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae (Linnaeus) (Aphididae), Ranatra elongata (Fabricius), Ranatra varipes varipes (Stal) (Nepidae) and Mesovelia vittigera Horvath (Mesoveliidae). The highest population of Hemiptera was recorded during the post-monsoon followed by the pre-monsoon and the monsoon periods. The lowest was recorded in the winter. Shannon Weiner diversity index (H/) and evenness index (J/) showed the highest diversity and evenness during the post monsoon period. Berger Parker index of dominance (d) was found highest in winter. In winter both diversity and density were the lowest. The study revealed the presence of four dominant species and three sub-dominant species in the pond. Insect diversity did not show any significant relationship with the environmental variables.
Efficient Systems Biology Algorithms for Biological Networks over Multiple Time-Scales: From Evolutionary to Regulatory Time

Recently, Computational Biology has emerged as one of the most exciting areas of computer science research, not only because of its immediate impact on many biomedical applications, (e.g., personalized medicine, drug and vaccine discovery, tools for diagnostics and therapeutic interventions, etc.), but also because it raises many new and interesting combinatorial and algorithmic questions, in the process. In this thesis, we focus on robust and efficient algorithms to analyze biological networks, primarily targeting protein networks, possibly the most fascinating networks in computational biology in terms of their structure, evolution and complexity, as well as because of their role in various genetic and metabolic diseases. Classically, protein networks have been studied statically, i.e., without taking into account time-dependent metamorphic changes in network topology and functionality. In this work, we introduce new analysis techniques that view protein networks as being dynamic in nature, evolving over time, and diverse in regulatory patterns at various stages of the system development. Our analysis is capable of dealing with multiple time-scales: ranging from the slowest time-scale corresponding to evolutionary time between species, speeding up to intra-species pathway evolution time, and finally, moving to the other extreme at the cellular developmental time-scale. We also provide a new method to overcome limitations imposed by corrupting effects of experimental noise (e.g., high false positive and false negative rates) in Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) networks, which often provide primary data for protein complexes. Our new combinatorial algorithm measures connectivity between proteins in Y2H network not by edges but by edge-disjoint paths, which reflects pathway evolution better within single species network. This algorithm has been shown to be robust against increasing false positives and false negatives, as estimated using variation of information and separation measures. In addition, we have devised a new way to incorporate evolutionary information in order to significantly improve classification of proteins, especially those isolated in their own networks or surrounded by poorly characterized neighbors. In our method, the networks of two (or more) species are joined by edges of high sequence similarity so that protein-homologs of different species can exchange information and acquire new and improved functional associations. Finally, we have integrated many of these techniques into one tool to create a novel analysis of malaria parasite P. falciparum's life-cycle at the scale of reaction-time, single cell level, and encompassing its entire inter-erythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC). Our approach allows connecting time-course gene expression profiles of consecutive IDC stages in order to assign functions to unannotated Malaria proteins and predict potential targets for vaccine and drug development.
Effect of clipping and diammonium phosphate spray on growth and seed yield of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of diammonium phosphate spray and clipping of the terminal shoot of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata Pers.) plant during summer season of 1998 and 1999 under sodic soil (pH 8.9). The diammonium phosphate (DAP 2% spray enhanced the shoot length, shoot dry weight and branch numbers/plant. Clipping either on 25 or 35 days after sowing significantly reduced the shoot length; but improved the dry weight of the shoot by increasing the branch numbers/plant. The diammonium phosphate spray registered higher seed yield of 18.3 and 18.2% than water spray and 62.6 and 59.0% than the control in 1998 and 1999 respectively. Clipping also improved the seed yield significantly.
The microclimate in tall fescue turf as affected by canopy density and its influence on brown patch disease

Microenvironment was monitored within tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) experiment plots in which the severity of brown patch disease, caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-1-IA, was found to correlate with canopy density. Canopy density was varied either by planting cultivars that produced different densities, or by planting a single cultivar at three seeding rates. Air and foliage temperatures within the canopy differed by only approximately 1°C between low- and high-density canopies during 1993 and 1994 in both studies. In a wet year, 1993, leaf wetness and relative humidity did not differ significantly between low- and high-density canopies. In 1994, which was more typical in regards to weather, a denser canopy promoted leaf wetness and high relative humidity in both studies. Leaf wetness duration averaged over 10 days was 0.8 h longer in the high-density cultivar Arriba than in the low-density cultivar Fawn. In addition, the period of relative humidity above 90% was 2.3 h longer in Arriba than in Fawn. Canopies of tall fescue with different plant densities were inoculated in the laboratory with R. solani and placed under uniformly high humidity and temperature. Hyphae grew between leaf blades separated by up to 8 mm. Interblade hyphal growth occurred more frequently in high-density canopies because of the closer proximity of leaf blades, and as a result, mycelia and necrosis spread more rapidly from inoculation sites in high-density canopies. It was concluded that microenvironmental conditions and the physical proximity of leaf blades in high-density turfs can be more favorable for brown patch disease.
Presence of Indicators and Salmonella in Natural Waters Affected by Outfall Wastewater Discharges

The presence of the pathogenic microorganism Salmonella as well as indicator microorganisms (total and faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, Clostridium perfringens, and coliphages) was investigated in three different aquatic environments affected by sewage discharges. The relationships between indicators and Salmonella depended mainly on the source of faecal discharges and on the survival capability of the microorganisms in aquatic environments. The microorganisms most closely related to Salmonella spp were faecal coliforms and C. perfringens , the latter yielding also the highest linear regression slope value. Detection percentages of Salmonella spp were high even at a low level of pollution, which allowed detection of the pathogens in the absence of classical indicator microorganisms in the sample. The results obtained in the present study showed that there were no differences in survival rates between the serotypes of Salmonella tested. Moreover, Salmonella spp exhibited a similar persistence to E. coli in aquatic ecosystems, particularly in marine environment.
The Nest and Eggs of the White-Bellied Wren

The White-bellied Wren (Nannorchilus leucoguster) is a small, plainly colored, almost exclusively Mexican wren which is far more often heard than seen. It is smaller than the House Wren (Troglodytes agdon) and is brownish gray above and grayish white below, and has a fairly distinct grayish white superciliary line. Its wings and tail are faintly barred with dark brown. Its most distinctive feature is its stubby tail, which is only a little more than an inch long. In the Gomez Farias district of southwestern Tamaulipas, where I first encountered this wren in early March of 1938 (Sutton and Burleigh, 1939:36), it lives principally in the thickets of kuipilca or wild pineapple (Bromelia pinguin) , a tough, barbed xerophyte which grows in dense, waist-high mats throughout the brushy woodlands bordering the rivers as well as on the lower foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Here the bird spends much of its time close to the ground, feeding at the bases of theleaf-rosettes, keeping itself more or less hidden even while singing. Its song, a tinkling, ebullient pret-til-ly, pret-til-ly, pret-til-ly, is instantly recognizable as a wren’s because of its rhythmic quality. As the bird sings it lifts its head, but ordinarily it does not assume the head-straight-up, tail-straight-down posture which is characteristic of so many wrens. Two other bird species, the Cinnamomeous Tinamou (Crypturellus cinnumomeus) and Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rujivirgatus), inhabit the huipilla beds with it in that region.