Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How COVID-19 has exposed inequalities in the UK food system: The case of UK food and poverty

This article draws upon our perspective as academic-practitioners working in the fields of food insecurity, food systems, and inequality to comment, in the early stages of the pandemic and associated lockdown, on the empirical and ethical implications of COVID-19 for socio-economic inequalities in access to food in the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the profound insecurity of large segments of the UK population, an insecurity itself the product of a decade of ‘austerity’ policies. Increased unemployment, reduced hours, and enforced self-isolation for multiple vulnerable groups is likely to lead to an increase in UK food insecurity, exacerbating diet-related health inequalities. The social and economic crisis associated with the pandemic has exposed the fragility of the system of food charity which, at present, is a key response to growing poverty. A vulnerable food system, with just-in-time supply chains, has been challenged by stockpiling. Resultant food supply issues at food banks, alongside rapidly increasing demand and reduced volunteer numbers, has undermined many food charities, especially independent food banks. In the light of this analysis, we make a series of recommendations. We call for an immediate end to the five week wait for Universal Credit and cash grants for low income households. We ask central and local government to recognise that many food aid providers are already at capacity and unable to adopt additional responsibilities. The government’s - significant - response to the economic crisis associated with COVID-19 has underscored a key principle: it is the government’s responsibility to protect population health, to guarantee household incomes, and to safeguard the economy. Millions of households were in poverty before the pandemic, and millions more will be so unless the government continues to protect household incomes through policy change.
Influence of biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 and its antibiotic overproducing derivative on the diversity of resident root colonizing pseudomonads

Non-target effects of biocontrol strains of Pseudomonas on the population of resident pseudomonads should be assessed prior to their large scale application in the environment. The rifampicin resistant bacterium P. fluorescens CHA0-Rif and its antibiotic overproducing derivative CHA0-Rif/pME3424 were introduced into soil microcosms and the population of resident pseudomonads colonizing cucumber roots was investigated after 10 and 52 days. Both CHA0-Rif and CHA0-Rif/pME3424 displaced a part of the resident pseudomonad population after 10 days. To investigate the population structure, utilization of 10 carbon sources and production of two exoenzymes was assessed for 5600 individual pseudomonad isolates and 1700 isolates were subjected to amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis of the spacer region (spacer-ARDRA). After 10 days, only the proportion of pseudomonads able to degrade l-tryptophan was reduced in treatments inoculated with either biocontrol strain. In parallel the phenotypic diversity was reduced. These effects were only observed 10 days after inoculation, and they were similar for inoculation with CHA0-Rif and CHA0-Rif/pME3424. Changes in the population structure of resident pseudomonads on cucumber roots during plant growth were more pronounced than changes due to the inoculants. The inoculants did not affect the genotypic diversity detected with spacer-ARDRA, but the genotypic fingerprints corresponded only partially to the phenotypic profiles. Overall CHA0-Rif had a small and transient impact on the population of resident pseudomonads and the effect was essentially the same for the genetically engineered derivative CHA0-Rif/pME3424.
Protein Synthesis in Juvenile Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus

A method for measuring protein synthesis has been developed for small juvenile fish. A flooding dose of [3H] phenylalanine (Houlihan et al. 1988b) was added to the water containing the animals. Using juvenile tilapia O. mossambicus of approximately 15 mg, stability of the phenylalanine free pool specific radioactivity was achieved within 10 h. A linear increase in the whole body specific radioactivity of protein-bound phenylalanine occurred 3 h after [3H] phenylalanine was added to the water. In larger animals the flooding dose was injected into the peritoneum, and stable free pool phenylalanine specific radioactivities were achieved over 2 h. In the small fish the rate of protein synthesis exhibited a diurnal pattern. Scaling relationships for growth, protein synthesis and protein degradation were similar. The energy cost of protein synthesis in small juvenile animals, determined from the difference before and after the addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, was close to the theoretical minimal cost.
Mortality and tissue damage by heavy metal contamination in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattaria, Blattellidae)

Abstract The accumulation of lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium, supplied in the diet under experimental conditions, was studied in adult German cockroaches. Chronic heavy‐metal exposure de termined different rates of mortality, higher in males than in fe males. In both sexes, Hg, Pb, and Cr bioaccumulated in time, whereas Cd remained at constant low concentrations. Histological studies showed that in some organs and structures, such as the ovary, the testis, the alimentary canal and the fat bodies, there were profound and irreversible pathological anomalies in their tis sues. Also the embryos of some treated females suffered heavy damage during development, and the symbiotic relationships be tween bacteria and fat body cells were deeply altered.
Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mount Kilimanjaro: introduction and family Papilionidae

This article marks the beginning of a short series on the butterfly fauna of Mount Kilimanjaro. It commences with a brief overview of the topography, tectonic history, climate, ecological zonation and conservation significance of Africa's highest mountain. Following an introductory account to the butterfly fauna, the rest of this paper presents an annotated checklist of the swallowtails (Papilionidae). Eight papilionid species are currently believed to occur within the main forest zone, from 1800 to 2800 m (in places this zone extends down to c.1600 m). Another 10 have been recorded from the lower slopes, which include some disturbed forest and forest relicts, from 700–1800 m. The need for better data is discussed in light of the suggestion that the butterflies of Mount Kilimanjaro could become a focal group for monitoring effects of climate change. An identification key to families, together with a key to the swallowtail species and colour illustrations of adults, are included as online Supplementary Information.
The Continuous-Time Limit of Score-Driven Volatility Models

Abstract We provide general conditions under which a class of discrete-time volatility models driven by the score of the conditional density converges in distribution to a stochastic differential equation as the interval between observations goes to zero. We show that the form of the diffusion limit depends on: (i) the link function, (ii) the conditional second moment of the score, (iii) the normalization of the score. Interestingly, the properties of the stochastic differential equation are strictly entangled with those of the discrete-time counterpart. Score-driven models with fat-tailed densities lead to continuous-time processes with finite volatility of volatility, as opposed to fat-tailed models with a GARCH update, for which the volatility of volatility is explosive. We examine in simulations the implications of such results on approximate estimation and filtering of diffusion processes. An extension to models with a time-varying conditional mean and to conditional covariance models is also developed.
Response of Soybean Yield to Daytime Temperature Change during Seed Filling: A Long-Term Field Study in Northeast China

Abstract Daytime temperature during seed filling is a crucial determinant of grain yield in pulse crops. Although there is much research about the effect of daytime temperature during seed filling on soybean yield in temperature-controlled chambers, the effect in the field has been little explored. Long-term manipulative field experiments are important tools to provide accurate information for revealing the impacts of climate change on crop yields. Using the field records of a long-term fertilization experiment conducted in Northeast China, we analyzed the response of soybean yields to mean daily maximum temperature during seed filling over the period 1987−2007. The results showed that there was a clear positive response of soybean yields to increased mean daily maximum temperature during seed filling ranged from 20 to 24ºC. When compared with the average soybean yields over the last two decades, grain yields increased by 6−10% for each 1ºC increase in mean daily maximum temperature during seed filling and more than 22% of yield trends can be explained. These findings provide a direct evidence for the response of soybean yield to climate change in the field study.
Effect of foliar application of vermiwash compost tea and panchagavya on growth yield and quality of soybean in inceptisol

An experiment was conducted on “Effect of Foliar Application of Vermiwash, Compost tea and Panchagavya on Growth, Yield and Quality of Soybean in Inceptisol,” during 2018-2019 at Farm, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Latur. The experiment was laid out in RBD with eight treatments and three replications. The result revealed that the yield and quality of soybean were significantly increased with the foliar application of vermiwash, compost tea and panchagavya. The maximum yield and quality were recorded in treatment T5- RDF + Panchagavya @ 3% foliar spray followed by T6 – RDF + Compost tea @ 75% foliar spray and which was superior over rest of the treatments.
Hypothesis : parents may selectively restrict sugar-containing foods for pre-school children with a high BMI

Sugar-containing foods are popular among children, but often perceived as contributing to obesity. This study attempted to identify any associations between dietary intake of sugar-containing foods, or NME sugars' and body mass index (BMI) in young children participating in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Children aged 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years. Dietary data were obtained from 4-day weighed dietary diaries completed by the child's caregiver. Associations between BMI and the dietary intake of energy, macronutrients and sugar-containing foods were examined in 1586 children. The sugar-containing foods investigated were: biscuits/cakes, confectionery, soft drinks, table sugar/preserves and breakfast cereals, all expressed as a percentage of dietary energy. Associations between BMI and macronutrients were generally weak, although statistically significant because of the large sample. In age-adjusted partial correlations, BMI was positively correlated with energy (r = 0.12; P < 0.0001) and percentage energ.
The net flux of carbon from agricultural soils in Canada 1970–2010

Changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural soils influence soil quality and greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Land use, management practices, soil characteristics, and climate influence such changes. Using the Century model we estimated the rate of SOC change in agricultural soils of Canada for the period 1970 to 2010. This estimation was based on the estimated SOC change for 15% of the 1250 agriculturally designated soil landscape of Canada (SLC) polygons. Simulations were carried out for two to five crop rotations and for conventional and no‐tillage. The results indicate that the agricultural soils in Canada, whose SOC are currently very close to equilibrium, will stop being a net source of CO2 and will become a sink by the year 2000. Rates of carbon change for the years 1970, 1990, and 2010 were estimated to be −67, − 39, and 11 kgC ha−1. The rate of decline in the carbon content of agricultural soils in Canada has slowed considerably in the 1990s as a result of an increase in the adoption of no‐tillage management, a reduction in the use of summer fallowing, and an increase in fertilizer application. We estimate that the proportion of agricultural land storing SOC will have increased from 17% in 1990 to 53% by the year 2000.
Limitations on reproduction in alpine Ranunculus acris

This study examines experimentally the influence of limiting factors on seed to ovule ratio and seed weight in three alpine populations of the perennial herb Ranunculus acris L. at Finse, southwest Norway. To test for pollen and resource limitation, seed production of supplementally pollinated or completely defoliated plants was compared to that of untreated plants. In one population the experiment was repeated twice during the season. In mid-season, supplemental hand-pollination had no significant effect on seed to ovule ratio, but significantly increased the seed weight, whereas complete defoliation resulted in a significant decrease in seed to ovule ratio and a marginally significant decrease in seed weight. These results indicate that pollen limitation occurred on seed weight and resource limitation mainly on seed to ovule ratio. Seed production in late-flowering control and defoliated plants in one population was nearly completely absent, whereas supplemental pollination increased seed production sub.
Feeding performance of Lake Victoria rock cichlids : testing predictions from morphology

Cichlid fishes that seem specialized phenotypically to exploit certain resources often act as generalists in the field. It is attempted to resolve this paradox by measuring feeding performance. There are two ways of feeding, namely suction feeding and biting, that set conflicitng demands on the anatomy. Rock-dwelling cichlids of the genus Neochromis are specialized biters, feeding largely on filamentous algae and benthic organisms. Pundamilia nyererei is one of the most specialized suction feeders among rock cichlids, its diet being zooplankton and insect larvae. A morphological analysis showed that the three Neochromis species are better adapted anatomically to biting than P. nyererei, while P. nyererei is better adapted to suction feeding. Feeding performance was tested on algal substitute and Chaoborus larvae, representing filamentous algae and zooplankton, respectively. As expected the Neochromis species fed most efficiently on algal substitute, N. rufocaudalis and N. omnicaeruleus taking per bite 2.6 times as much as P. nyererei, and N. greenwoodi 1.7 times. Unexpectedly, the species examined were all well able to collect Chaoborus. P. nyererei collected only 1.2 times as many larvae per suction act as the Neochromis species. Analysis of the stomach contents showed that P. nyererei punctured, or lacerated, the larvae with the pharyngeal jaws, while the Neochromis species swallowed them mostly intact. Thus, feeding on Chaoborus, P. nyererei may be optimizing energy gain and not intake rate.
Effect of ash from sugarcane bagasse and wood co-combustion on corn growth and soil properties

In a pot experiment with corn (Zea mays L. cv. Moncada) and an incubation study, ash from co-combustion of sugarcane bagasse and eucalyptus wood was evaluated for use as a potential alternative to conventional agricultural limestone. Ash was effective as liming agent. Soil pH increased from 5.1 to 5.9 in a Haplic Arenosol and from 5.3 to 6.0 in a Haplic Cambisol. pH of the ash-amended soils were similar to those amended with calcitic and dolomitic limestone. Soil extractable P and K increased by 254% and 869% in the Haplic Cambisol and by 183% and 208% in the Haplic Arenosol. Application of ash to soil was associated with an increase in corn yield of 32% in the Haplic Cambisol and 11% in the Haplic Arenosol relative to the unamended treatments. The uptake of K by corn was greatly enhanced after ash application, increasing from 319 to 1079 mg K pot−1 in the Haplic Cambisol and from 397 to 729 mg K pot−1 in the Haplic Arenosol. Results supported the view that ash is a by-product that can become an increasingly valuable amendment as it acts both as a liming material and as a P and K fertilizer.
Climate-related geographic shift and sudden population increase of a small pelagic fish (Sardinella aurita) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract Round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) is a thermophilous small pelagic clupeid fish that is exploited by the purse-seine fishery across the Mediterranean Sea. For many years, its Aegean Sea distribution has been confined to the southern part of the sea because of its preference for warmer waters. Recently, the geographic distribution of round sardinella, as reflected in purse-seine catches, has gradually shifted, expanding towards the north. The northward expansion is directly related to the sea warming observed in the northern Aegean Sea. Besides its distribution extension, the population of round sardinella in the northern Aegean Sea exhibited a 30-fold increase since the early 1990s and showed a positive correlation to sea surface temperature. Distributional changes and population outbursts may have detrimental ecological effects to the community and ecosystem but may also affect the local fisheries economics by altering the composition and amounts of catches.
Zinc Phosphate and Pyromorphite Solubilization by Soil Plant-Symbiotic Fungi

Acidolysis, complexolysis and metal accumulation were involved in solubilization of zinc phosphate and pyromorphite by a selection of soil fungi representing ericoid and ectomycorrhizal plant symbionts and an endophytic/entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria caledonica. Zinc phosphate was much more readily solubilized than pyromorphite. According to the relationship between metal mobilization and pH, acidolysis (protonation) was found to be the major mechanism of both zinc phosphate and pyromorphite dissolution for most of the fungi examined. In general, the more metal tolerant fungal strains yielded more biomass, acidified the medium more and dissolved more of the metal mineral than less tolerant strains. However, B. caledonica 4 excreted a substantial amount of oxalic acid (∼ 0.8 mM) in the presence of pyromorphite that coincided with a dramatic increase in lead mobilization providing a clear example of complexolysis. Organic acid excretion by fungi was inter- and intraspecific and was strongly influenced by the presence of the toxic metal minerals. When grown on zinc phosphate or pyromorphite, Hymenoscyphus ericae DGC3(UZ) accumulated the lowest metal concentration, but Thelephora terrestris accumulated the highest metal concentration in the biomass. The ability to accumulate water-soluble lead species, representing mainly cytosolic and vacuolar pools, seemed to be connected with pyromorphite-solubilizing ability. B. caledonica 4, which demonstrated the highest ability to dissolve pyromorphite, accumulated the highest water-soluble fraction and total lead concentration in the mycelium. Generally, isolates with a higher zinc-tolerance accumulated significantly less total zinc from zinc phosphate (including the sum of water-soluble and NaCl-extractable zinc) than non-tolerant strains.
The emergence and mating rhythms of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787) is a serious pantropical insect pest of grain legumes. The emergence and mating rhythms of the legume pod borer adults were investigated at 29±1°C and 75–80% r.h. under 14L:10D. The results showed that emergence activity of M . vitrata occurred throughout the day, 86% of females and 73% of males emerged at night. The highest emergence frequency occurred at 2300–2400 h and 0200–0300 h for females and males, respectively. The highest mating frequency occurred between 2300 and 2400 h for 3-day-old moths. Single mating peaks were observed for 1-, 6-and 7-day-old moths and double mating peaks were observed for 2- to 5-day-old moths. The percentage of pairs mating at the first peak was higher than at the second peak. More time was spent in mating during the first half of scotophase than the second one. The mating behaviour of M. vitrata was age-dependent. Young and old pairs spent more time in mating than middle-aged pairs. Advanced onset of time and peak for mating were observed directly by older moths. The emergence activities of both sexes were almost synchronous. Emergence peaks were almost synchronous with the two peaks of mating at different time of day.
Ultrastructural study of mature sperm of Pomphorhynchus laevis Müller (Acanthocephala: Palaeacanthocephala), a fish parasite

Summary Ultrastructural observations on mature sperm of Pomphorhynchus laevis (Muller, 1776), the dominant acanthocephalan parasite of fish from the River Brenta, were carried out by scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy Adult males of P. laevis were obtained from the digestive tract of Leucisctcs cephalus (Pisces: Cyprinidae). The spermatozoon of P. laevis is inverted with respect to conventional sperm models; it is filiform and consists of an anterior flagellar apparatus and a posterior nucleocytoplasmic derivative. The latter includes a layer of condensed chromatin beneath the plasma membrane opposite to the flagellum, numerous large subspherical electron dense inclusions, glycogen deposits and a pentalaminar structure next to the flagellum. The nucleocytoplasmic derivative terminates caudally with a flat lamina devoid of the dense inclusions and glycogen deposits. Proceeding through the posterior lamina, the 9+2 axoneme progressively disorganizes. The ultrastructural organization resembl.
Goshawk predation during winter, spring and summer in a boreal forest area of central Sweden

Predation by goshawks was studied in a central Swedish boreal forest area. Data were collected in winter (January–February) 1977-81 by tracking radio-tagged goshawks, and in the breeding season (April–July) by collecting prey remains at the nest. In the breeding season birds dominated the prey, amounting to 86% of prey number and 91% of prey biomass. Wood pigeon Columba palumbus, black grouse Tetrao tetrix, hooded crow Corvus corone cornix and jay Garrulus glandarius accounted for more than 50% of the prey animals, whereas capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and black grouse accounted for more than 50% of prey biomass. There was no functional response to black grouse density fluctuations. Every year goshawks killed significantly more females than males of both capercaillie and black grouse, due to high vulnerability of the grouse hens while laying and incubating. It was estimated that during spring and early summer goshawk predation removed 25% of the female, and 14% of the male black grouse population. In winter squirrel was the dominating prey, both in terms of number (79%) and weight (56%). The proportion of squirrel in the diet was equally high both in winters of low and high squirrel density. The high proportion of squirrel in the winterdiet, as compared to the breeding season, is believed to be due to squirrels having to accept an increased predation risk in winter, in order to feed efficiently enough.