Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Various Feeding Regimens in a Multiple‐Batch Cropping System of Channel Catfish Production

Abstract A 4-year pond study was conducted to compare net production, feed conversion, processing yield, and body composition of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus that were fed once daily, fed every other day (EOD) to satiation, or fed an amount not exceeding 110 kg·ha−1·d−1 in a multiple-batch cropping system. The greatest amount of feed administered was observed for the daily satiation group, followed by the 110-kg·ha−1·d−1 group and the EOD group (P ≤ 0.05). Net production of fish fed daily to satiation did not significantly differ from that of fish fed up to 110 kg·ha−1·d−1, but that of fish fed daily (satiation or ≤110 kg/ha) was significantly higher than that of fish fed EOD to satiation. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in fish fed up to 110 kg·ha−1·d−1 or EOD to satiation than that of fish fed daily to satiation. Carcass, fillet, and total meat yields did not differ among feeding regimens. Fish fed EOD to satiation had lower fillet fat and higher fillet moisture than fish fed daily .
Drought influences on grain yield of barley, wheat, and maize

Abstract The response of three grain crops to drought was determined in a series of experiments in a mobile rainshelter at Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand. For winter wheat and spring barley, the critical potential soil moisture deficit (Dc) beyond which yield was affected was independent of drought timing, but was much smaller for barley than wheat. Both crops showed similar yield responses to drought above their Dc. In contrast, Dc for maize increased as the season progressed, and yield was much less sensitive to drought once Dc was exceeded. Although yield response was mostly associated with grain number in wheat and barley, mean kernel mass was also reduced as drought stress increased. Grain yield in maize was correlated with mean kernel mass, and uncorrelated with grain number.
Varietal Trials and Physiological Components Determining Yield Differences among Cowpea Varieties in Semiarid Zone of Nigeria

Field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri (11°47.840′N; 13°12.021′E; elevation 319 m asl), in Borno State in semiarid zone of Nigeria during the 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the agronomic performances of some improved cowpea varieties and to identify the physiological traits associated with high grain yield in the semiarid zone of Nigeria. The trial consisted of eight treatments, which included two local varieties, namely, Kannanado White and Borno Brown and six improved varieties, namely, IT90K-277-2, IT97K-568-18, IT89KD-288, IT97K-499-35, IT98K-131-2, and IT89KD-391. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The gross plot size was 5.0 m × 4.0 m (20 m2) while the net plot size was 3.6 m × 3.0 m (10.8 m2). The results showed that the improved varieties, namely, IT90K-277-2, IT97K-499-35, IT98K-131-2, and IT89KD-288, had significantly higher grain yield per hectare and matured earlier to escape drought in this agroecological zone. The local varieties also had significantly heavier grains, took more days to reach first and 50% flowering, and matured later than the improved varieties. Cowpea grain yield per hectare was highly positively correlated with harvest index, shell weight, soil moisture suction measurements, shelling percentage, and grain yield per plant and also significant negative correlation between cowpea grain yield per hectare and number of days to first and 50% flowering, 100-grain weight, number of days to physiological maturity, and pod development period. The results also indicated that fodder yield per hectare was highly positively correlated with photosynthetically active radiation thereby indicating that higher photosynthetically active radiation produced higher yield of fodder.
Does ABA in the Xylem Control the Rate of Leaf Growth in Soil-Dried Maize and Sunflower Plants?

Maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants were grown in large volumes of soil and leaf growth rate was monitored on a daily basis. Half the plants were given a soil drying treatment and when they showed a significant restriction of growth rate (compared to both their daily growth rate before drying and the average growth rate of well-watered plants on the same day), leaf water relations were measured and xylem sap was extracted using several techniques. There was a significant negative log-linear relationship between the rate of leaf growth and the concentration of ABA in the xylem for both species. There was no clear relationship between leaf growth rate and leaf water potential or turgor for either species. Assessment of different methods for sampling xylem sap suggests that exudates collected from stem stumps or samples collected by pressurizing the whole root system are suitable for estimating ABA concentration in xylem, at least with large plants of maize or sunflower, provided the first few hundred cubic millimetres of collected sap are used for the assay. Centrifugation of sections of stems resulted in dilution of ABA in the xylem sap with sap squeezed from parenchyma tissue. This is because, at least in plants subjected to mild soil drying, the concentration of the ABA in the xylem is far higher than that in the cell sap of stem tissue. Results support the proposal that ABA plays a major role as a chemical signal involved in the root-to-shoot communication of the effects of soil drying. The non-hydraulic restriction of leaf growth by a chemical signal can be explained by the extra root sourced ABA in the xylem and may be an important component of the modification of growth and development which results from prolonged soil drought.
The effect of methyl jasmonate and acibenzolar-S-methyl on the populations of the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi Koch) and Typhlodromus pyri Scheut. in apple orchards, as well as on the yield and growth of apple trees

The aim of the study was to examine the possibility of applying methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) and acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH) to reduce the population of mites in apple orchards. The experiment was performed on apple trees cv. “Golden Delicious” grown in an orchard according to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. The study showed that of the two elicitors, JA-Me restricted the population of the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi Koch) more strongly than BTH. Neither of these compounds significantly affected the size of the population of Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten – a beneficial predatory mite feeding on spider mites in apple orchards. The study also showed no adverse effects of these compounds on the yield and growth of apple trees, nor on their reproduction as measured by seed production. Studies indicate that the use of methyl jasmonate against spider mites on apple trees can complement the use of conventional acaricides as well as the introduction of predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae in the protection of apple orchards.
Occurrence of Foliicolous Parasitic Alga Cephaleuros Virescens on Cultivated Ornamental Plants in Southern India

Abstract The algal leaf spot, caused by Cephaleuros virescens Kunze, has been reported in a wide range of plant species from the tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. Investigations on the presence of algal infection mostly involved wild plants and plantation crops of economic interest. Nevertheless, limited studies have examined cultivated ornamental plants for the presence of C. virescens. During the summer and monsoon seasons of 2011 we examined ten leaves of five plants belonging to 86 ornamental plant taxa in 38 families growing in home gardens in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India for the algal presence. Nine of the 86 plant taxa were found to host the algae C. virescens. Although majority of the investigated species are considered as typical hosts of C. vi-rescens, its infection was found only in nine plant species. Although the incidence of the algal leaf spot disease was in general low, there was significant variation in the frequency of occurrence of the algal lesions and the lesion size among the investigated plant taxa and seasons. On plants of five species (Alpinia purpurata, Ficus benjamina, Ficus elastica “Variegata”, Michelia champaca, Polyalthia longifolia), C. virescens was found during both seasons, while infections on the remaining four species (Aglaonema commutatum, Dieffenbachia maculata, Eucalyptus globulus, Syngonium podophyllum) were observed only during the monsoon. The susceptibility of different plant species in a genus and varieties of a species varied suggesting the host influence on the development of infections in addition to variation attributed to the local environmental conditions.
Marker-Assisted Selection for Neutral Detergent Fiber in Smooth Bromegrass

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is the most effective and measurable predictor of animal intake. About 70% of the variation in animal production is attributed to differences in intake potential of livestock feed. Sixteen molecular markers associated with NDF in four divergently selected smooth bromegrass (Bromus inennis L.) populations were selected from a previous study for further examination for possible use in a marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding program. The objectives of this experiment were to confirm the association of previously identified markers to NDF concentration in smooth bromegrass populations and to develop a marker-based selection index. Marker and NDF data were analyzed and marker indices were constructed using data from the current and previous studies. Index scores were used to rank genotypes and create selection differentials on the basis of phenotypic data. Marker frequencies calculated on a subpopulation basis between the previous and current studies were highly unrepeatable. Nevertheless, of the 14 groups of marker indices, seven of which accounted for pedigree structure, one marker index appears to provide the greatest potential for use in MAS to reduce NDF across all four populations of smooth bromegrass. Where pedigree structure is known, selections made using this index would lead to the largest expected response per year and eliminate the need to collect phenotypic data for as long as linkage relationships remain intact. Where pedigree structure is unknown, a general marker index may be used, or phenotypic data can be utilized along with a marker index. However, inclusion of phenotypic data would necessitate a cost-benefit analysis.
Isolation and characterization of a precursor form of lysosomal α‐glucosidase from human urine

1. A two-step procedure is described for the isolation of lysosomal α-glucosidase from human urine. In the second step, affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-100, two fractions with acid α-glucosidase activity were obtained. 2. Fraction I contained α-glucosidase of Mr 109000, whereas fraction II contained components of Mr 76000 and 70000. 3. α-Glucosidase in fraction I had an Mr similar to that of the precursor of α-glucosidase detected in the medium of fibroblasts after labelling with [14C]leucine. The components in fraction II had Mr identical to those of the mature forms of α-glucosidase found in placenta or cultured human skin fibroblasts. 4. α-Glucosidase in fraction I contained mannose 6-phosphate (3.5 mol/mol polypeptide). No mannose 6-phosphate was present in the components in fraction II. 5. Fraction I, but not fraction II, was avidly endocytosed by α-glucosidase-deficient cultured human skin fibroblasts. Endocytosis of fraction I was inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate. 6. The pH optimum and Km values for p-nitrophenyl α-glucoside, maltose and glycogen of fractions I and II α-glucosidase were almost identical. However, the activity with glycogen relative to that of either p-nitrophenyl α-glucoside or maltose was lower in fraction I than in fraction II. 7. It is concluded that fraction I consists of the precursor form of α-glucosidase and fraction II of the mature forms of the enzyme. 8. The importance of urine as a source of precursors of lysosomal enzymes is discussed.
Sexual selection in Hetaerina titia males: a possible key species to understand the evolution of pigmentation in calopterygid damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera)

Hetaerina titia males bear wing pigmentation patterns similar to Hetaerina and Calopteryx (a derived sister genus of Hetaerina) species: black (typical of Calopteryx) and red (typical of Hetaerina). Sexual selection has operated on red (via male-male competition) and black (via male-male competition and female choice) in Hetaerina and Calopteryx, respectively. We investigated sexual behavior and pigmentation in H. titia to understand their evolution in both genera using H. titia as a possible evolutionary transitional stage. Similar to Calopteryx, the black pigmentation correlated with five male quality aspects: defending a territory, survival, immune ability, parasite resistance and fat reserves. We hypothesize that black pigmentation, but not red, may be used to signal energetic condition when males compete for a territory. The red pigmentation, despite indicating male quality in Hetaerina species, did not correlate with quality but showed a positive relation with parasite burden. These results suggest that the red lost its function which was gained by the black pigmentation, possibly via intrasexual competition, in the absence of female choice (as H. titia does not show male pre-copulatory courtship as in Calopteryx, during which females choose males based on black pigmentation). It is unknown why the red pigmentation was retained.
Increased Carnivory in Finnish Red Fox Females — Adaptation to a New Competitor?

Carnivore teeth, especially the carnassials, are subjects to selection in the presence of dietary competition. We compared several craniodental characters in the Finnish foxes before and after arrival of an invasive species, the raccoon dog. The female foxes displayed increased adaptation to carnivory, whereas we found no significant change in the male foxes after the arrival of the raccoon dog. We suggest that the presence of a new competitor may be driving the Finnish female foxes towards more carnivorous diet.
Changes in Grape Seed Phenols as Affected By Enzymic and Chemical Oxidation in vitro

An in vitro oxidation system containing all the phenolic compounds of an extract of grape seeds and phenol oxidases (catechol oxidase from grapes and laccase from grey mold of grape Botrytis cinerea) was used to determine the effects of enzymic oxidation on seven phenolic compounds: gallic acid, (+)-catechin; (-)-epicatechin and four procyanidins, dimers of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin units. HPLC determinations showed that there was considerable depletion of phenolic compounds in the extract by both enzymes since the quantities of all the compounds fell during enzymic oxidation. When a pure chemical oxidation was compared, the decrease was very much slower.
Medium-term effect of perennial energy crops on soil organic carbon storage

The scope of this study was to evaluate the effect of perennial energy crops on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. A field experiment was undertaken in 2002 at Anzola dell’Emilia in the lower Po Valley, Northern Italy. Five perennial energy crops were established on a land area which had been previously cultivated with arable crops for at least 20 years. The compared crops are: the herbaceous perennials giant reed and miscanthus, and the woody species poplar, willow and black locust, managed as short rotation coppice (SRC). SOC was measured in 2009, seven years after the start of the experiment, on an upper soil layer of 0.0-0.2 m and a lower soil layer of 0.2-0.4 m. The study aimed to compare the SOC storage of energy crops with alternative land use. Therefore, two adjacent areas were sampled in the same soil layers: i) arable land in steady state, cultivated with rainfed annual crops; ii) natural meadow established at the start of the experiment. The conversion of arable land into perennial energy crops resulted in SOC storage, in the upper soil layer (0.0-0.2 m) ranging from 1150 to 1950 kg C ha-1 year-1 during the 7-year period. No significant differences were detected in SOC among crop species. We found no relationship between the harvested dry matter and the SOC storage. The conversion of arable land into perennial energy crops provides a substantial SOC sequestration benefit even when the hidden C cost of N industrial fertilizers is taken into account. While the SOC increased, the total N content in the soil remained fairly constant. This is probably due to the low rate of nitrogen applied to the perennial crops. However, our data are preliminary and the number of years in which the SOC continues to increase needs to be quantified, especially for the herbaceous species giant reed and miscanthus, with a supposedly long duration of the useful cropping cycle of 20 years or longer.
The effect of Intensive Semantic Therapy on Picture Naming in Chronic Aphasic Patients

This case-study tests the findings of Pulvermüller et al. (2001) and Meinzer et al. (2005) about whether intensive therapy has potential to be used for achieving progress in the linguistic performance of patients suffering from chronic aphasia. In this research, four participants – 2 males and 2 females – suffering from chronic aphasia were treated with intensive semantic therapy during one month. Two weeks before and two weeks after the period of therapy, the participants took several tests, to measure their possible improvements on two picture-naming tests (BNT and SAT) and one regular test (ScreeLing). The results show a positive trend for most of the subjects, but only one shows a significant improvement. It is discussed whether the intensity of therapy and a distinction between Broca’s and Wernicke’s aphasia are factors playing a role in this research.
Lamb meat quality and intramuscular fatty acid composition as affected by concentrates including different legume seeds

The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of concentrates including legume seeds (Vicia faba var. minor or Pisum sativum) on lamb performances and meat quality, emphasizing the intramuscular fatty acid composition. Thirty lambs (14.5±3.45 kg live weight) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: i) group fed on concentrate including 400 g/kg of peas (PEA); ii) group fed on concentrate including 380 g/kg of faba bean (FB); iii) group fed on concentrate including 180 g/kg of soybean meal (SBM). Growth and slaughter performances were not affected by treatments as well as physical and proximate chemical meat characteristics. FB and SBM meat showed higher (P<0.001) vaccenic acid levels compared to PEA meat. Oleic acid was higher (P<0.05) in PEA meat compared to SBM meat while its level in FB meat was similar to counterparts. Linoleic acid levels tended to increase (P<0.10) in SBM lambs compared with PEA animals. PEA group showed higher (P<0.001) α-linolenic acid proportions compared with FB and SBM groups and a tendentially higher (P<0.10) eicosapentaenoic acid content compared with SBM meat. As a result, total n-3 fatty acids were higher (P<0.05) in PEA meat compared to SBM one while the proportions in FB meat were at intermediate level. These findings accounted for a lower and more favourable (P<0.001) n-6/n-3 ratio in PEA group compared with counterparts. Peas based-concentrate seemed to be more effective than faba bean- or soybean meal-included concentrates to improve the acidic profile of meat leading to higher α-linolenic acid levels and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio.
Non-Linear Instance-Based Cross-Lingual Mapping for Non-Isomorphic Embedding Spaces

We present InstaMap, an instance-based method for learning projection-based cross-lingual word embeddings. Unlike prior work, it deviates from learning a single global linear projection. InstaMap is a non-parametric model that learns a non-linear projection by iteratively: (1) finding a globally optimal rotation of the source embedding space relying on the Kabsch algorithm, and then (2) moving each point along an instance-specific translation vector estimated from the translation vectors of the point’s nearest neighbours in the training dictionary. We report performance gains with InstaMap over four representative state-of-the-art projection-based models on bilingual lexicon induction across a set of 28 diverse language pairs. We note prominent improvements, especially for more distant language pairs (i.e., languages with non-isomorphic monolingual spaces).
Optimization of extraction of peanut proteins with water by response surface methodology

Water extraction of peanut proteins was optimized to maximize protein extraction, Y1 and protein concentration in the extract, Y2. A central composite design involving solids-to-water ratio (X1), pH (X2), temperature (X3) and time (X4) was used, and second-order models for Y1 and Y2 were employed to generate response surfaces. The optimum conditions to obtain Y1≥ 85% and Y2≥ 2.5% were X1= 1:8; X2= 8.0; X3= 50 °C; X4= 30 min. Estimates of Y1 and Y2 at the optimum were 85.29% and 2.7%, respectively. Experimental verification gave values of Y1= 84.39%± 0.78 and Y2= 2.80%± 0.02. Y1 and Y2 were further maximized, as measured by absorbance of solution following centrifugation of the extract, when papain (0.05% g/g peanuts) was added and extraction was carried out at the optimum conditions.
Growth and Terminal Bud Formation in Picea abies Seedlings Grown with Alternating Diurnal Temperature and Different Light Qualities

The root collar diameter and the height:diameter ratio are of particular importance in container-grown seedlings where a high density in the containers may produce spindly seedlings. Temperature regimes and light quality are known to affect plant growth. The aim of this study was to identify responses in Picea abies (L.) Karst. seedlings grown with light providing different red:far-red ratios and under temperature regimes with alternating day (DT) and night temperature (NT) from negative (DT < NT) to positive (DT > NT) difference (DIF) between DT and NT. Experiments were conducted in controlled environment chambers and in a daylight phytotron. Only limited thermoperiodic responses appeared in P . abies seedlings with respect to seedling height and dry weight accumulation. The formation of terminal buds, however, was clearly delayed in seedlings grown at negative DIF. The results indicate a requirement for day extension light that is high in far-red, to prevent terminal bud formation under natural short-day conditions. An extended study should be conducted to clarify the minimum level of light intensity and the optimal light quality needed to prevent terminal bud formation under natural short-day conditions.
On total evidence: for the record

Total evidence in phylogenetic inference continues to be debated, but not always with improved understanding. At least some of the lack of progress has been due to discussants ‘‘talking past each another’’ (e.g., see Naylor and Adams, 2001, 2003; O’Leary et al., 2003). Such is obviously case when they fail to distinguish logic from method. Since most of the current debates begin with a reference to Kluge (1989), wherein a concept of total evidence was introduced to phylogeneticists, it seems necessary to reiterate what I said concerning the logical and methodological. Whereas pheneticists sought their justification for taxonomic congruence in the logic of ‘‘taxonomic stability’’, Kluge (p. 9) conceptualized his in terms of ‘‘explanatory power (Miyamoto, 1985). ’’ In prefacing his logic, Kluge acknowledged Carnap (1950) as the source of the term ‘‘total evidence’’, and the question has been raised as to what aspects, if any, of Carnap’s philosophy of science did Kluge entail in making that reference. Indeed, Carnap was an inductionist ⁄probabilist, both in logic and method, as Kluge made perfectly clear (p. 10), in quoting from Carnap (1950, p. 211; and from Hempel (1965) who supported Carnap):