Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of annual pasture legumes in cropping rotations in the cool temperate zone of south-eastern Australia

The relative performance of 3 alternative pasture legumes, in comparison with subterranean clover, grown in a 1:1 pasture:crop rotation was investigated during 1997–2001, at 2 sites in the high rainfall (>500 mm/year) zone of southern Australia. Seedling densities of the pasture legumes (before and after crop) were examined, along with herbage dry matter production, growth pattern and seed production. After 2 cycles of a 1:1 pasture:crop rotation, average seedling densities of balansa (Trifolium michelianum Savi var. michelianum), Persian (T. resupinatum L. var. resupinatum Gib. and Belli), arrowleaf (T. vesiculosum Savi.) and subterranean (T. subterraneum L.) clovers at the 2 sites were 6810, 2910, 680 and 630 plants/m2, respectively. Average cumulative herbage mass in 2001 was 7.49, 5.21, 8.53 and 7.76 t DM/ha.year, respectively. All clovers produced a large seed pool: balansa, 71.8 g/m2; subterranean, 38.9 g/m2; Persian, 35.5 g/m2; and arrowleaf, 35.4 g/m2. The results suggest that a 1:1 pasture:crop rotation is sustainable, in terms of pasture seed–seedling dynamics for each of the legumes, and that under this system the pasture legumes need to be sown only once.
Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal pathology in chronic otitis media patients: a prospective study

Background and Aim: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is a persistent inflammation that causes irreversible changes of the mucosa in the middle ear and mastoid cavity. The present study was conducted at ENT department of Tertiary care institute of Gujarat, India involving 130 patients suffering from chronic otitis media. The study also aimed to compare the microbiological flora of the diseased ear and the nasopharynx. Material and Methods: Present prospective study conducted at department of Otorhinolaryngology Tertiary care institute of Gujarat. Total 130 patients having a clinical diagnosis of chronic suppurative otitis media were invited to participate in the study and an informed consent was sought. Clinical presentation including complaints related with ear and nose were noted. Bilateral ear examination was done using Valsalva maneuver. Pure tone audiometry was also performed on all the cases to assess the effect on hearing status. The nasopharyngeal swab was collected by a sterile technique to avoid commensal growth. Results: The most common presenting nasal complaint was nasal obstruction, followed by postnasal drip, nasal discharge, sneezing, snoring, headache, around 25% of patients had no nasal symptoms. The comparative study of ear and nasopharyngeal swab showed statistically significant correlation. 80 % of ear swabs and 92% of nasopharyngeal swabs were found to be sterile. Conclusion: Chronic otitis media is a disease with multiple factors and different possible aetiologies. The concept of a relationship between sinonasal and nasopharyngeal pathologies and chronic otitis media has been supported by the present study. The comparative study of ear and nasopharyngeal swab showed statistically significant correlation. 80 % of ear swabs and 92% of nasopharyngeal swabs were found to be sterile. The results were compared by chi square tests and were found to be statistically significant (p≤0.05). Around 7% of ear cases showed growth and 3% cases from of corresponding side also same organism. Out 3.5 % study which also statistically significant. Those cases
SPECIFICITY IN INDUCED PLANT RESPONSES SHAPES PATTERNS OF HERBIVORE OCCURRENCE ON SOLANUM DULCAMARA

Interspecific competition between phytophagous insects can occur when plant responses induced by an early-season herbivore alter host quality for later colonizers. Recent evidence for specificity in the elicitation of induced plant responses by different attackers suggests that dynamics of host use in the field may be more complex than previously anticipated, because host suitability for colonizing herbivores may depend on which herbivore species has initially damaged a plant. In each of two years, we manipulated the first herbivore to attack Solanum dulcamara plants in an experimental population using several different arthropod species and subsequently monitored colonization by natural herbivores over the course of the growing season. We additionally performed weekly herbivore counts in wild S. dulcamara populations following natural variation in herbivore arrival. Plant-mediated interactions occurred primarily between two leaf-feeding beetles, Psylliodes affinis and Plagiometriona clavata. In both manipulative and observational experiments, P. clavata oviposition was reduced on plants initially damaged by P. affinis (or a third leaf-feeding beetle, Lema trilinea) relative to plants that were initially undamaged. Lowered P. clavata occurrence continued through subsequent life-history stages, resulting in decreased emergence of second-generation P. clavata adults on these plants. The occurrence of P. affinis was also lowered on plants damaged by conspecifics in both manipulative and observational experiments. Resistance against P. affinis also followed applications of jasmonic acid, an elicitor of plant defensive responses. Conversely, early-season damage by P. clavata did not influence plant quality for either later conspecifics or P. affinis. Initial herbivory by the spittlebug Aphrophora saratogensis or generalist taildropper slugs (Prophysaon sp.) likewise had no influence on P. clavata and P. affinis colonization, whereas L. trilinea damage did not affect later arriving P. affinis. Hence, only a subset of early-season damagers influenced herbivore occurrence on S. dulcamara. Preference tests examining P. affinis feeding and P. clavata oviposition confirmed that specificity in elicitation of induced plant responses produced the divergent herbivore occurrence patterns observed in the field. Overall, the existence of plant-mediated competitive asymmetry between herbivore species on S. dulcamara highlights the dynamic nature of plant resistance and its potential role in organizing herbivore communities.
Chemistry students’ cognitive structures in oxidation-reduction, through an 8E learning cycle

The purpose of this study was to analyse students’ cognitive structure in the concept of oxidation reduction by employing an 8E learning cycle model. 32 students in year-10 were participated in the study. Data was collected by a drawing and writing technique demonstrated through student worksheets, interviews, observations, and a reflective journal. The 8E learning cycle, which consist of engage, explore, e-search, elaborate, exchange, extend, evaluate and explain stages, was applied to the process. Data analysis consisted of data reduction, data presentation, and a conclusion. Students’ cognitive structures were divided into three categories, namely; an understanding, misconception and no understanding. Categories of understanding were found in the concept of redox, oxidizing agents and acid-base nomenclature, and transitions. Students’ misconceptions of categories were found in the redox applications and polyatomic. Students faced challenges in understanding the oxidation number and binary nomenclature. The results show that misconceptions were decreased through the implementation of the 8E learning cycle. The 8E Learning cycle also has implications for students’ critical thinking, collaboration, and empathy communication skills.
Functional and evolutionary morphology of woodpeckers

Bock, W.J. 1999. Functional and evolutionary morphology of woodpeckers. In: Adams, N.J. & Slotow, R.H. (eds) Proc. 22 Int. Ornithol. Congr. , Durban. Ostrich 70 (1): 23–31. Woodpeckers are the first example of adaptive evolution by Natural Selection mentioned by Darwin who commented that their' feet, tail, beak and tongue' are ‘so admirably adapted to catch insects under the bark of trees’. Over the ensuing decades, the adaptiveness and evolution of these diverse woodpecker features has been examined by many workers but with limited success. A major problem was that these evolutionary explanations were not supported by logically prior functional explanations. Structures of the toes, hind limb and tail are associated with climbing. All forces acting on the climbing bird can be determined with the Method of Free-Body Analysis, which together with measurements of hind limb and tail features and of the tree surfaces used by different species, will permit understanding of the evolution of climbing adaptations.
Size Ratios and Artifacts: Hutchinson's Rule Revisited

We show that size ratios within the range predicted by Hutchinson's rule invariably result, given only that animal sizes are distributed lognormally and that the variances of these distributions are small. We argue that both these conditions are properties of a wide variety of animate and inanimate objects in nature, and therefore size ratios tell us little about the processes structuring animal communities. Our results confirm previous suggestions that Hutchinson's constant is an artifact, and we present a reasonable mechanism to suggest how such an artifact might arise.
CORRELATION OF LIVER STIFFNESS IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASES BETWEEN FIBROSCAN AND 2D SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY IN PHRAMONGKUTKLAO HOSPITAL

Background: Noninvasive asessment of liver stiffness has been increasingly used to evaluate fibrosis instead of liver biopsy among patients with chronic liver diseases. FibroScan has been widely used as ana alternative tool to assess liver stiffness, Several studies have shown significant correlation betwen the performance in staging liver fibrosis using 2D shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) techique, FibroScan method and the histological analysis of liver biospy. The information usinf 2D-SWE is not well established in Thailand because this rather new technology can be obtained suing high-end ultrasound machines. Objective: The study aimed ti evaluate the coeeelation of liver stiffness in chronic liver diseases obtained by the 2D-SWE methods and a referance standard methods, FibroScan. Methods: A properctive observational study was conducted between March and Decmeber 2018. A tota; of 30 consecutive participants aged 18-80 years having chronic liver diseases were enrolled. Liver stiffness (LS) was evaluated in the same session using two elastographic methods: FibroScan (transient elastography) and 2D-SWE techiques. The conventional 2D ultrasound of the liver was also performaed simultaneously. The assessment og fibrosis is described below: significant fibrosis (F>2), advanced fibrosis (F=4). The cut off values were 6.6, 9.4 and 11.2 kPa, respectively. Results: Moserate to strong positive correlations were observed between measurements obtained by FibroScan and 2D-SWE in all stages of liver fibrosis (r=0.66, p<0.01) especially in fibrosis stages 2-3. Conclusion: The 2D-SWE techique could be another alternative tool to evaluate liver fibrosis especially during the main targeted early stages for further medical therapeutic pravention of liver stiffness progression. This 2D-SWE may be added in routine sonographic studies in particular cases of chronic liver disease.
Effect of seed damage and metalaxyl seed treatment on pythium seedling blight and seed yield of field pea

When cool, wet conditions persist after planting, Pythium spp. can be an important constraint to stand establishment in field pea. Laboratory studies and field trials were conducted over 3 yr to assess the impact and evaluate the interactions of Pythium spp. , metalaxyl seed treatment and damage to seed on seedling establishment, root rot severity and seed yield of field pea. Seedling emergence, seedling size, and seed yield were reduced by inoculation with Pythium spp. and by mechanical damage to the seed. Fungicide seed treatment reduced the impact of seed damage, but did not always restore seedling emergence and seed yield to the same level as from undamaged seed. Undamaged seed treated with metalaxyl was not affected by inoculation with Pythium spp. Differences among cultivars, although often significant, were small relative to the effect of seed injury. Laboratory studies showed a negative linear relationship between inoculum concentration and emergence from untreated seed. They also showed that Pythi.
A rigorous yet simple quantitative risk assessment method for quarantine pests and non-native organisms

Internationally recognised guidelines for the assessment of risk posed by non-native organisms generally suggest that the assessment is disaggregated into a series of components each being scored and then the scores added or averaged to give the final result. Assigning odds instead of scores allows a more rigorous probabilistic treatment of the data, which can offer more effective discrimination between organisms. For each component of the assessment, the odds express how likely is the evidence if the organism poses a risk as a quarantine pest. According to Bayesian theory, the odds for all components are multiplied together and the product divided by itself plus one to give the probability that the organism poses a risk as a quarantine pest given the evidence available (assuming that the prior probability is neutral). A general illustration of the different distributions of outcomes obtained from score averaging and probability is provided. The approach is then applied to a set of risk assessments for 256 potential quarantine pests compiled for Tanzania in 1997. The greater discrimination between cases may help improve communication between risk assessment scientists and regulatory decision makers.
A NEW BROWN ALGAL ORDER, ISHIGEALES (PHAEOPHYCEAE), ESTABLISHED ON THE BASIS OF PLASTID PROTEIN‐CODING rbcL, psaA, AND psbA REGION COMPARISONS 1

The brown algal family Ishigeaceae currently includes a single genus, Ishige Yendo, with two species. The relationship of the family to other brown algal lineages is less studied in terms of their plastid ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny. We determined the sequences of rbcL from four samples of the two Ishige species and nine putative relatives and the psaA and psbA sequences from 37 representatives of the brown algae. Analyses of individual and combined data sets resulted in similar trees; however, the concatenated data gave greater resolution and clade support than each individual gene. In all the phylogenies, the Phaeophyceae was well resolved, the Ectocarpales being placed in a terminal position and the Ishigeaceae ending up in a basal position. From our ultrastructural study, we concluded that the pyrenoid is absent in the Ishigeaceae, despite the presence of a rudimentary pyrenoid in I. okamurae. These results suggest that the Ishigeaceae is an early diverging brown lineage. Our molecular and morphological data, therefore, lead us to exclude the Ishigeaceae from the Ectocarpales s.l. , which have an elaborate pyrenoid, and to propose its own order Ishigeales ord. nov. The Ishigeales is distinguished by oligostichous structure of thalli, phaeophycean hairs formed within cryptostomata, unilocular sporangia transformed from terminal cortical cells, and plurilocular sporangia lacking sterile terminal cells. This study is the first to document the utility of the psaA and psbA sequences for brown algae and also the first report on the multigene phylogeny of the Phaeophyceae based on three protein‐coding plastid genes.
Patterns of bryophyte diversity in arable fields of Lithuania

The paper presents research data on bryophyte diversity in arable land throughout the territory of Lithuania. The bryoflora was analyzed regarding systematic structure and morphological forms, life-history strategies, mode of reproduction and frequency of species. Bryophyte diversity in arable fields of Lithuania was compared with that of Slovakia and the British Isles, which are positioned in different geographical regions of Europe. A total of 97 species of bryophytes of 25 families and 48 genera were ascertained. Dominance of acrocarpous mosses and thalloid liverworts, high representation of Pottiaceae, Bryaceae, Mielichhoferiaceae and Ricciaceae families as well as Bryum , Dicranella , Pohlia and Riccia genera, wide distribution of annual shuttles and ephemeral colonists, high reproduction effort of the species (frequent sporophytes and asexual propagules) were specific features of the bryophytes of the studied habitats as a result of adaptations to regular disturbances. The distribution of species into six frequency groups seemed to be uneven. The most abundant group of species with the lowest frequency (1–3 records) covered 53.6% of all species. The group contained about 90% of all many-year potential life span species recorded in the habitat. Species with short life span were distributed quite evenly throughout frequency groups. No regionally-specific species were ascertained in the studied habitat. Most of arable-land-specific species recorded in Lithuania is distributed throughout different regions of Europe.
Linking a decade of forest decline in the south-west of Western Australia to bioclimatic change

Summary The south-west of Western Australia has experienced severe and prolonged drought over the last three decades. This has coincided with forest declines and more recently (following the summer of 2010–2011) sudden stand mortality in the Northern jarrah forest. Over the same period the Southern jarrah and Southern karri forests remained unaffected. The bioclimatic linkage between these localised climatic events and forest responses is key to developing a predictive capability that permits timely interventionist management strategies. We looked at the temporal dynamics of three accessible bioclimatic parameters (monthly mean diurnal temperature range, monthly mean precipitation and an aridity index derived from evaporation data) that were spatially registered with forested areas known to have been affected by this shift towards dryer and hotter conditions. Changes in forest condition were determined by accessing the vegetation fractional-cover data set, freely available from the high temporal resolution satellite MODIS. This data set provided estimates of three vegetation-related indices, namely photosynthetic vegetation, non-photosynthetic vegetation and bare soil cover. Both the climatic variables and the vegetative response variables were spatially co-registered over each of the three selected forest areas and a time series analysis undertaken for each variable. From the observed trends, we identify a set of threshold values for each bioclimatic metric and the approximate time lag associated with observed notable deterioration in the vegetation cover metrics.
Bacteriastrum parallelum sp. nov., a new diatom from the Gulf of Naples, and new observations on B. furcatum (Chaetocerotaceae, Bacillariophyta)

Abstract A novel Bacteriastrum (Chaetocerotaceae, Bacillariophyta) species, B. parallelum, was studied with light and electron microscopy using both cultured and natural material from the Gulf of Naples (Mediterranean Sea). This is the only non-colonial Bacteriastrum species described. Cells are very small (diameter 3–10 μm), with 5-12 chloroplasts, and with thin setae arising from the valve face rim and forming an acute angle with the pervalvar axis. Cells are heterovalvate, with setae of the anterior valve almost parallel to those of the posterior valve. The species is common in spring samples from the Gulf, at times reaching concentrations of 5 × 106 cells l−1. We also examined natural and cultured material of the type species of the genus, B. furcatum Shadbolt. Our observations provide evidence that in this species the setae of the anterior terminal valve consistently have a different shape and orientation from those of the posterior terminal valve. Therefore, Bacteriastrum furcatum should be moved fr.
Efeito de sementes oleaginosas inteiras e óleo de soja sobre a digestibilidade in vitro e os padrões ruminais de bezerros holandeses

ABSTRACT - This work was conducted to compare the effects of whole soybean and cotton seeds and soybean oil on the ruminalpattern and in vitro disappearance, in fistulated Holstein calves. Two calves fitted with rumen cannula were fed a basal diet with 2.5%of ether extract (EE), which was compared with 5.0% EE, where whole soybean, whole cotton seeds or soybean oil were the source ofadditional EE. The addition of whole soybean and cottonseed resulted in decrease on in vitro dry matter and neutral detergent fiberdisappearance, however there was no alteration in the in vitro acid detergent fiber disappearance in relation to the control diet. The additionof whole cottonseed decreased the crude protein in vitro disappearance compared to control diet. The propionic acid concentration inthe diets with addition of soybean oil was 16% higher than that proportionated by the other diets. The use of soybean oil seems to bethe most adequate in relation to dry matter, in vitro NDF, ADF disappearance and pH maintenance, when compared to the others typesof lipid addition, however less efficiently than the soybean seed in relation to
ERP-BCI based communication using a straightforward, user-centered software tool including auto-calibration and predictive text entry

In this study we investigated if brain computer interfaces (BCI) based on event-related potentials (ERP) can be handled independently by laymen without expert interference, which is inevitable for establishing ERP-BCIs in end-user’s daily life situations. We implemented a straightforward, user-centered software tool which reduces handling of an ERP-BCI application to a few button presses. The software individually adjusts classifier weights and control parameters in the background, invisible to the end-user (auto-calibration). Also, a predictive text entry system directly integrated into the matrix allows for fast selection of words. In this study, N=19 BCI novices used the software on their own without expert interference. All participants were able to operate the software and to correctly spell a sentence with the auto-calibrated classifier. Furthermore, participants particularly benefited from the predictive text entry in terms of spelling speed and accuracy was not reduced, as previously reported elsewhere with another predictive text entry paradigm. Altogether this study demonstrates feasibility of BCI use independently by laymen and the strong benefit of integrating text entry into the matrix.
Determinação da formulação e caracterização do néctar de camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia McVaugh)

Camu-camu is a wild fruit distributed throughout the banks of lakes and rivers in Amazonia, which presents a great economical potential on account of its agronomic, technological and nutritional features. Nevertheless, its consumption is still restricted due to its high acidity, bitterness, and skin astringency, thus needing the use of proper technologies for its use. The objective of the present study was to determine the ideal camu-camu nectar formulation and to assess its physical and physical-chemical characteristics. Nine formulations with different pulp and sugar concentrations, which were submitted to a preference test by a board of 30 untrained tasters, were prepared in order to obtain the nectar. Among the tested formulations, the one presenting the highest degree of preference was prepared with 17.5% of sugar and 17% of pulp, presenting values of LHunter 32.00, aHunter 3.22 and bHunter -0.38, ascorbic acid 382.07 mg/100 mL, anthocyanins 2.51 mg/100 g and 89.1% global acceptance. The findings demonstrate the camu-camu nectar's nutritional and technological viability on account of its attractive colour, good tasting flavour, and pleasant aroma, as well as for being a source of vitamin C.