Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feeding ecology of immature Lithodoras dorsalis (Valenciennes, 1840) (Siluriformes: Doradidae) in a tidal environment, estuary of the rio Amazonas

Studies of feeding ecology are important for the evaluation of interactive processes in fish communities. This study evaluated the feeding ecology of Lithodoras dorsalis (Doradidae) from streams within the Amazon estuary delta (Brazil), a macro-tidal area, on different pluviometric periods. A total of 371 young specimens was collected during 12 months of sampling (July 2010 to June 2011). The species diet was composed of 28 food items analyzed by Repletion Index, Alimentary Index and Niche Breadth. Young L. dorsalis was classified as herbivore with a frugivory tendency due to the high importance of fruit and seeds in its diet. Food intake varied among sampled months, with the lowest intake being recorded during the rainy-dry season transition period, and the highest at the beginning of the dry season. The importance of food items and the composition of the diet were different throughout the year, probably due to the daily tides that allow fish to access new environments and the pluviometric periods. These results provide important data on the feeding ecology of Amazonian doradids. The study also emphasized the importance of allochthonous resources, derived from the riparian forest, which reinforces the importance of this habitat for the conservation of Neotropical freshwater fishes. O estudo da ecologia alimentar de peixes e uma abordagem consistente na avaliacao dos processos interativos dentro das comunidades. Dessa forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a ecologia alimentar do bacu-pedra Lithodoras dorsalis em furos proximos no delta do estuario Amazonico (Brasil), uma area sobre influencia de macro-mares, em diferentes periodos pluviometricos. Durante 12 meses de coletas (julho de 2010 a junho de 2011), foram coligidos 371 especimes jovens, sendo que a dieta da especie foi composta por 28 itens alimentares analisados pelos seguintes indices: Indice de Replecao Estomacal, Indice de Importância Alimentar e Amplitude de Nicho. Lithodoras dorsalis quando jovem foi classificada como herbivora com tendencia a frugivoria, devido aos altos valores de importância de frutos e sementes em sua dieta. A intensidade de obtencao de alimento por L. dorsalis diferiu entre os meses de coleta, onde o final do periodo de transicao chuva-estiagem e o inicio da estiagem foram os periodos de menor e maior atividade alimentar, respectivamente. Tambem houve diferenca na importância alimentar dos itens entre os periodos pluviometricos. Estes resultados fornecem informacoes importantes sobre a ecologia alimentar de doradideos na Amazonia. Alem disso, percebeu-se o alto consumo de material aloctone pelo bacu-pedra, sendo estes itens alimentares provenientes da floresta riparia, o que reforca a importância deste ambiente para a conservacao da ictiofauna neotropical.
Factors Affecting Synseeds Formation and Germination of Banana Cultivar Grande Naine

Synthetic seeds technique has unraveled new vistas in in vitro plant biotechnology, such as large scale clonal propagation, delivery of clonal plantlets, germplasm conservation, breeding of plants in which propagation through normal seeds is not possible, genetic uniformity, easy storage and transportation etc. This study aimed to optimize a method of banana synthetic seeds formation and germination. Analysis data conducted that concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride, exposure times to the later, BA concentration in alginate matrix and composition of alginate matrix were affected formation and germination of banana synthetic seeds. Results cleared that synthetic seeds formation and texture depended on both Na-alginate and CaCl . 2H O concentrations. The more 22 rounded and good texture was obtained from 4% sodium alginate when it dropped in 100 mM CaCl . 2H O. 22 Exposure times to CaCl . 2H O affected synthetic seeds germination, exposure for ten minutes to CaCl . 2H O 22 2 2 resulted in 100% germination after 16 weeks. Banana synthetic seeds germination increased with increasing of benzyl adenine (BA) in sodium alginate matrix, from 80% synthetic seeds germination at control (free of BA) to 100% synthetic seeds germination at 5.0 mg/l BA. Adding 2.5 mg/l BA, 1.0 g/l activated charcoal (AC) and MS medium to sodium alginate matrix enhanced banana synthetic seeds germination compared with distilled water, MS or MS+2.5mg/l BA (97.1, 71.4, 85.7 and 92.9% of synthetic seeds germination, respectively). Also, growth proliferation and growth parameters after germination were affected by synthetic seeds composition. Results of genetic analysis of banana synthetic seeds using RAPD and ISSR genetic markers, which resulted in producing 51 total amplified fragments from ten RAPD primers and 28 total amplified fragments from ten ISSR primers, revealed that synthetic seeds is a save method to produce true to type plantlets.
Impact of primary soil tillage intensity on maize (Zea mays L.) seedbed formation and productivity parameters.

The demonstrational field trials were carried out on a silty loam soils at the Experimental Station of Lithuanian University of Agriculture (Kaunas reg.) and agricultural farm "Gruduva" (Sakiai reg.) in 2003. The aim of investigations was to establish the influence of primary soil tillage intensity on maize seedbed formation, productivity parameters and energy balance of technologies. In both trials soils were deep ploughed (20-22 cm) with a mouldboard plough "Kverneland" in autumn (control treatment), also shallow loosened with cultivator "Horsch" (5-8 cm, Experimental Station) or disc harrow "Kuhn" (10-12 cm, farm) in autumn. According to the results of investigations, the decrease of primary soil tillage intensity had positive influence on maize seedbed moisture content (up to 20-26% in seedbed surface and up to 9-17% in seedbed down) and structural compositions, therefore these influenced on denser crop formation (up to 0.7-0.9 plants m -2 ). The highest maize productivity parameters were found in the crop of 80 thousand plants per ha but this increased tillering of stems. The increase of crop density up to 120-125 thousand plants per ha decreased average mass of kernels, number of kernels per row of cob and yield of grain. Tillering of stems was not found. In condition of well-balanced even mineral fertilization the decrease of soil tillage intensity had no influence on maize productivity parameters. Organic fertilization was more effective in autumn than in spring, especially in conditions of minimal soil tillage. Organic fertilization of maize increased (by 30-35%) input of energy; however, total balance of energy was similar in both tillage conditions because of yield difference. In condition of balanced mineral fertilization the decrease of soil tillage intensity (from deep ploughing to shallow loosening with cultivator) decreased energy consumption and positively affected its balance.
Flocking with informed agents

Two similar Laplacian-based models for swarms with informed agents are proposed and analyzed analytically and numerically. In these models, each individual adjusts its velocity to match that of its neighbors and some individuals are given a preferred heading direction towards which they accelerate if there is no local velocity consensus. The convergence to a collective group swarming state with constant velocity is analytically proven for a range of parameters and initial conditions. Using numerical computations, the ability of a small group of informed individuals to accurately guide a swarm of uninformed agents is investigated. The results obtained in one of our two models are analogous to those found for more realistic and complex algorithms for describing biological swarms, namely, that the fraction of informed individuals required to guide the whole group is small, and that it becomes smaller for swarms with more individuals. This observation in our simple system provides insight into the possibly robust dynamics that contribute to biologically eective collective leadership and decision-making processes. In contrast with the more sophisticated models mentioned above, we can describe conditions under which convergence to consensus is ensured.
Influence of Seedling Age at Infection and Watering Frequency on Growth and Yield Responses of Eggplant to Cucumber Mosaic Virus

Eggplant, (Solanum melongena L), cv. golden beauty obtained from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria was used in greenhouse experiments aimed at evaluating the interactive effect of infection of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, genus Cucumovirus; Family-Bromoviridae) at different ages of direct- seeded eggplant and varying watering frequency. Infected plants generally manifested mosaic symptoms and stunting, with the growth and yield responses varying with the inoculation and watering regimes. Plants inoculated earliest, i.e., at 1 week after germination, manifested the most severe symptoms while those inoculated latest at 3 weeks after germination manifested the least severity. Regardless of the inoculation regime, plants that were watered once or thrice a week with 500ml of water each time performed poorer than those that received twice. On the whole, plants that were inoculated at a relatively older age of 3 weeks after germination and received water twice a week performed better under infection than other treatment combinations in term of growth and yield values. The results suggest that careful manipulation of planting and watering may be an effective cultural disease management strategy in CMV infected eggplant.
COCCIDIAN (APICOMPLEXA) PARASITE INFECTING STROMBUS GIGAS LINNÉ, 1758 DIGESTIVE GLAND

Abstract This study reports on a new parasite of the digestive gland of the queen conch, Strombus gigas. An intense and generalized sporozoan infection was detected during a reproductive study of S. gigas in San Andres island (Colombia). The parasite was found in the digestive gland of every sampled S. gigas, with a heavy intensity of infection (invasion of every cell) in many animals. The infection of the digestive gland began in the cryptic cells and later secretory cells were also infected, giving way to discharge of sporocysts to the stomach through the digestive gland ducts. Apicomplexa-like trophozoites were embedded in the digestive gland epithelial cells and attached to host cell wall by their conoid end. Several stages were detected: trophozoites, sporocysts, and gamonts containing macrogametes or microgametes. Given the presence of multiple stages at the same time, the entire life cycle of the parasite is assumed to occur within the same host and tissue. The taxonomic position of the parasite should be ascertained by DNA analysis.
'Qualicum' Red Raspberry

Fig. 1. Fruiting lateral of ‘Qualicum’ red raspberry. ‘Qualicum’ (Fig. 1) is a new floricanefruiting red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) from the breeding program at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre (PARC) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Vancouver, B.C. ‘Qualicum’ produces high yields of large fruit with excellent quality. Although the cultivar appears suited to fresh and processing markets, it will be of particular interest to the former because of its firm fruit, which has relatively low susceptibility to postharvest rot, most of which is caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. ‘Qualicum’, a British Columbia native Indian word that translates as “where the dog salmon run,” is a town on Vancouver Island. The choice of the name is in keeping with the tradition of choosing appropriate British Columbia native Indian words for cultivars developed by the breeding program at the PARC.
EFFECT OF GENOTYPE ON THE in vitro REGENERATION OF Stevia rebaudiana VIA SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS

Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae) is a plant of economic importance because of its medicinal properties and the presence of sweetener compounds on its leaves. These compounds can be a substitute for sucrose in a wide variety of products used by persons with diabetes and obesity problems. To standardize an efficient and effective propagation method for the different Stevia genotypes grown in Colombia, this study evaluated the effect of different combinations of the plant growth regulators 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 6-(gamma, gamma-dimethylallylamino) purine (2iP) and Zeatin on the induction and development of somatic embryos. Adenine and coconut water were also evaluated as supplements in the basal culture medium Murashige and Skoog Basal Salt Mixture (MS) with glutamine. The combination of 2,4-D (18.09 µM) and 2iP (7.38 µM) produced the highest number of somatic embryos per explant, which had well-defined characteristics. The genotype showed a significant effect on the embryogenic response. In the "SRQ-93" genotype, the formation and development of somatic embryos was achieved, whereas the genotypes "Bertoni" and "Morita II" only yielded embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli, respectively. The conversion to seedlings was achieved on the regeneration medium containing gibberellic acid (GA3) (0.29 µM) and activated charcoal.
Response of Onion (Allium cepa L.) to Methods of Sowing and Weed Management Practices

Onion could be grown equally profitable either by transplanting or broadcasting. Effective, efficient and economic weed management was achieved through pre-emergence application of fluchloralin or pendimethalin at 0.9 kg ha−1 supplemented with one hand weeding at 40 days stage of crop. Oxidiazonat 0.75 kg ha−1 proved effective against Digera arvensis and Eclipta alba.
Distribuição do sistema radicular de cafeeiro conilon irrigado e não irrigado

The objective of this work was to evaluate the distribution of the root system of irrigated and nonirrigated conilon coffee ( Coffea canephora ). Conilon plants of the clonal variety Emcapa 8111, genotype 02, with five years of age, were used. The design was completely randomized in split‑split plots with five replicates. The treatments consisted of: presence and absence of irrigation (plots), 13 distances from the stem (ten in the direction between rows and three of the planting row) and six soil layers (0–60 cm) in the split‑plots. Roots were collected, washed, scanned, and processed by the Safira software to quantify surface area, length, volume, and diameter. Nonirrigated conilon plants showed greater root surface area, length, and volume per soil volume, as well as less discrepant distribution of roots in the soil surface and in depth, in comparison to irrigated plants. The drip irrigation system promotes higher root distribution in irrigated plants, in the area covered by the wet‑bulb irrigation.
Determinants of CD4 Cell Count among Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Attendant HIV Positive Adults Using Longitudinal Data Analysis in University of Gondar Referral Hospital

Background: CD4 count is the best predictor for disease status and immediate risk of death and thus should be used to identify those who have advanced HIV disease. The aim of this study to investigating the basic factors of CD4cell count and assessing the progression of CD4cell count among HIV positive adults those they were attending university of Gondar Referral ART clinic, since December 2012 up to December 2017. Subjects and Methods: Since, the outcome variable was measured repeatedly through time and measurements within the patient were correlated. Such type of data requires a special types of modeling strategy, there for longitudinal data analysis plays a major role on such type of data analysis. Linear mixed model with unstructured correlation matrix were used to model the data in this study by including fixed and random factors on the model. Results: From the total of 216 Study subjects were followed retrospectively 61.08% and 38.92 were females and males respectively. The maximum number of observation per subject was 10 and the minimum and maximum CD4cell counts were 65 and 1440 respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study religion (orthodox, and Muslim), weight, baseline CD4cell count, time, TB screen positive, hemoglobin level, regimen type (d4t-3TC-NVP and AZT-3TC-NVP)and the interaction effect of time with baseline CD4count was significant predictors of CD4count. We would like to recommend for the patients must be, punctual, initiated to ART with high base line CD4count and hemoglobin level.
Reproductive biology and morphometric characters of the Squid Loligo forbesi (Cephalopoda: Loligindae) in the Suez bay. Red Sea, Egypt

Reproductive biology and morphometric variation of male and female Loligo forbesi were investigated from samples obtained from commercial catches in Suez bay. The samples were collected seasonally between 2005 and 2006. The results of sex ratio indicated that females outnumber males during peak periods of reproduction. Based upon morphological features of the gonads, three maturity stages were described in both sexes. Depending on the proportion of each maturity stages as well as various maturity indices (gonad somatic index, GSI and nidamental gland index. NG1) the spawning season was found to take place during spring and early summer. Sexual dimorphism is evident in L. forbesi, where the males grow more rapidly than do females and achieve larger sizes. The mean size at maturity was 106 and 104 mm dorsal mantle length (DML) for males and females respectively. Potential fecundity estimates were obtained by counting eggs and ova in the oviduct and ovary of mature females and were in the range of 4985 to 12427 (mean = 9633±1555). There was a weak relationship between ova number and mantle length but a reasonable positive correlation was reported. The ovaries of mature females contained eggs of various sizes, indicating that spawning probably occurs intermittently. Comparisons of external morphometric characters between males and females of L. forbesi indicated a high overlapping between the sexes. Sexual dimorphism was limited to few measurements,
Enhanced viability of Bacillus coagulans after spray drying with calcium lactate, storage and re-hydration

The present work has provided an alternative probiotic preparation, which is easily scalable for commercial operations in eco-friendly and cost-effective manner. Spray drying being a proven technology compared to convective current, infra-red exposure and lyophilization, it will make visible impact on production, sale and use of Bacillus coagulans as an effective probiotic preparation.
Adaptive landscapes in evolving populations of Pseudomonas fluorescens in simple environments

The adaptive landscape heuristic can be used to answer the question "how predictable is evolution? " because its topology will impact the repeatability of evolution. In my Masters research I addressed this question in two ways: (1)1 reviewed empirical adaptive landscape studies in the fields of directed protein evolution and microbial experimental evolution and (2) I performed a selection experiment to characterize adaptive landscape topology by measuring variance in fitness and metabolic phenotype within and among genetically distinct Pseudomonas fluorescens strains in two environments. Empirical studies have found that protein level landscapes are generally smooth, however, population level landscapes are rugged even in simple environments. Experimentally I found that the pattern of variance in fitness and metabolic phenotype was unique to the selection environment. The response to selection was highly repeatable at the level of fitness, but the underlying genetic routes taken were different for each environment and more variable in xylose than in glucose, suggesting a more rugged underlying landscape. More generally, my research suggests that making statements about the predictability of adaptive evolution at the population level may be challenging and will likely depend on the specifics of the environment in which selection occurs.
Mother-Offspring Signature Whistle Similarity and Patterns of Association in Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis)

We assessed the degree of similarity between signature whistles of mother and offspring pairs in free- living Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). As a means of qualitative evaluation, judges compared the time- frequency contour patterns of signature whistle spectrograms. We also evaluated quantitative measurements of whistle frequency and duration. All five female offspring produced signature whistles that were similar to their mothers" whistles by a least one means of comparison, whereas two of the four male offspring produced signature whistles that were dissimilar from their mothers" by both methods of comparison. However, statistically, male offspring were just as likely to produce signature whistles like their mothers" as female offspring (p = 0.167). We compared whistle similarity between mothers and offspring to the degree of association for each pair. Offspring that most often associated with their mothers when they were four years of age had whistles that were more similar to their mothers" whistles both qualitatively (r(4) = 0.92, p = 0.009) and quantitatively (r(4) = 0.92, p = 0.004). Because signature whistles are developed within a dolphin"s first year, our finding likely reflects the level of bond between mother and calf.
INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF BACTERIA BLIGHT AND LEAF STREAK DISEASE IN SOME COMMON AGRO PLANTS IN MAKURDI

Studies were carried to quantify bacterial leaf streak and blight diseases on some common agro plants in their different locations in Makurdi from June to October 2008. Disease plants based on symptoms and disease index (DI) determined. Disease severity on the crops was done by using a disease score scale of 0 -4. Diseased plant leaves were collected for culture, Isolation and identification of the causal organisms. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. The results showed that, the highest percentage incidence of blight was (33.67%) on Ipomea batatas(L.) Lam at Wadata while the lowest was (9.18%) on Abelmoschus esculentus(L.) Moench at Wadata. The highest severity score (2.0) was recorded on Vigna unguiculata and Ipomea batatas. The highest percentage incidence of streak recorded was (25.81%) on Zea mays at North bank while the lowest was (10.97%) on Oryza sativa at North bank. The highest severity score was (2.0) recorded on Oryza sativa, Saccharum officinarum, Zea maysand Sorghum bicolor. It was observed that significant difference (P 0.05) existed in the distribution of blight and streak on crops in the studied areas. Isolates show that the causal organisms of the studied plants diseases were Pseudomonas syringaeand Xanthomonas translucens . It was concluded that blight and streak exist on crops and sites in Makurdi to varying degrees. It is recommended that measures of controlling/ preventing blight and streak disease be put in place.