Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Breeding Biology and Diet of the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides in the New England Region of New South Wales

The breeding biology, behaviour and diet of the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides were studied throughout 110 hours of observation from nest-renovation until early in the nestling period, and by analysis of prey remains and pellets, at three nests in the New England region of northern New South Wales in 2006. Supplementary observations and collections of food remains were made at a fourth nest, which was also monitored through the nestling and post-fledging periods. Egg-laying occurred in September (n = 4 clutches). At two nests, incubation (by both sexes, but mostly by the female) lasted 37–39 days, and at one nest the post-fledging dependence period lasted at least 8 weeks. Sex-roles, parental behaviour and time-budgets in each phase (week 1 only of the nestling period) are described and quantified. Fledgling productivity was 0.4 young per pair (1.0 per successful pair) in 2006 (n = 5 pairs). The breeding diet at three nests near Armidale (on the Northern Tablelands of NSW) was 78% mammals (70% Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus ), 13% birds and 4% reptiles by number (plus 4% unidentified bird/mammal), and 94% mammals (80% Rabbits), 5% birds and 1% reptiles by biomass (n = 23 prey items). Hunting and attack behaviour are described; one of four observed strikes was successful.
The Benefits of Legume Crops on Corn and Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Nutrition, and Soil Properties Improvement

Legume crops leave N-rich residues and improve soil properties that can boost the yield of subsequent crops. Th is study conducted at two sites in Québec, eastern Canada, identifi ed the most appropriate preceding legume crops for subsequent corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and N nutrition. Legumes were established in 2011, in monoculture or mixed with grain crops, for a total of 13 treatments: common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), hairy vetch/wheat, crimson clover/ wheat, fi eld pea/wheat, alfalfa/corn, hairy vetch/corn, crimson clover/corn) and a non-N fi xing crop (corn) as the control. In 2012, each plot was split and fi ve N fertilizer rates applied to corn and wheat. Four legume systems (alfalfa, hairy vetch, crimson clover, and hairy vetch/wheat) signifi cantly increased the soil structure stability, alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities at warmer St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil location but not at the cooler St-Lambert-de-Lauzon site. Th ese legumes also signifi cantly increased yields and N nutrition of corn and wheat at St Mathieu-de-Beloeil and of wheat only at St-Lambert-de-Lauzon. Although legume N credit was found low (~30 kg N ha–1), the N fertilizer replacement value was 51 to 77 kg N ha–1 for corn and up to 37 kg N ha–1 for wheat, depending on the preceding legume crop. Th is suggests that indirect eff ects related to improved soil properties impacted positively corn and wheat yield and N nutrition.
Effects of environmental variation and livestock grazing on ant community structure in temperate eucalypt woodlands

Grazing by livestock is a major ecological disturbance, with potential effects on vegetation, soil, and insect fauna. Ants are a diverse and functionally important insect group with many associations with the ground layer, yet recent global syntheses question the importance of grazing effects on ant communities relative to vegetation or soil. We examined the effects of vegetation, soil and grazing on the whole ant community, ant functional groups, and abundant species in temperate eucalypt woodlands, southeastern Australia. We found limited influence of grazing on our vegetation and soil measures, except for a positive association between grazing and exotic perennial grass cover. We also found that exotic grass cover had a negative effect on overall ant abundance and richness, but not functional groups or individual species. Soil C:N ratio had a positive effect on the subdominant Camponotini, and leaf litter cover had a positive effect on the abundance of cryptic species. Partial Mantel tests revealed an effect of both environmental and grazing measures on ant assemblage composition, but constrained ordination showed that leaf litter cover, grass biomass, and native and exotic perennial grass cover had stronger correlations with ant community structure than grazing. Our study shows that both environmental variation and grazing play a role in driving ant community structure, but that key environmental variables such as grass biomass and leaf litter cover are particularly important in temperate eucalypt woodlands. Monitoring of ant communities to measure the benefits of changed grazing regimes for biodiversity should consider contemporary grazing pressure as well as the underlying effects of variation in plants and soils.
Assessment of slow blighting (Alternaria brassicae) resistance and yield in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.)

Field resistance/partial resistance to Alternaria blight ( Alternaria brassicae) was assessed in nine genotypes of Indian mustard under field conditions. Three genotypes Viz. PR 8988, PR 9024 and Kranti exhibited partial resistance and had lowest per cent blight cover, apparent infection rate and AUDPC values. Size of spots was more robust parameter in identifying blighting resistance. Size of spots was positively & significantly correlated with maximum severity (r=0.985), leaf defoliation (r=0.934) and sporulation (r=0.985). The magnitude of correlation coefficients being greater than other parameters. The yield potential of the genotypes was negatively correlated with all blighting assessment parameters.
Enantioselectivity in the Rabbit Liver Microsomal Biotransformation of Styrene and Phenylpropenes

The rabbit liver microsomal P-450 catalyzed oxidation of styrene (1a) and isomeric phenylpropenes, trans-1-phenylpropene (1b), cis-1-phenylpropene (1c) and 3-phenylpropene (1d), was investigated and the enantioselectivity of the epoxidation of the olefinic double bond was determined by checking the enantiomeric excesses of the corresponding first formed epoxides (2). These enantiomeric excesses were always modest, ranging between 7% of (1S,2S)-(2b) and 22% of (1R,2R)-(2c). In the case of (1d) a nonenantioselective hydroxylation at the benzylic-allylic C(3) was also oberved. The ratio between this hydroxylation and olefin epoxidation of (Id) was 1:2.
Social and genetic benefits of parental investment suggest sex differences in selection pressures

Provisioning behavior in altricial birds is often used to measure parental investment and is assumed to have fitness consequences to the parents providing it, with the benefits outweighing the costs. Here we investigate the fitness costs and benefits (parent survival and offspring recruitment) of provisioning behavior in wild house sparrows Passer domesticus, using long-term data from a pedigreed isolated population. We disentangled the long-term fitness consequences in terms of number of recruits, of provisioning behavior from those of other parental investments and individual quality through a cross-foster design. We accounted for extra-pair offspring in all analyses. Provisioning behavior confers social fitness benefits in terms of the number of recruits to both parents. Only in females we detected an influence individual quality: female sparrows with high provisioning frequencies were associated with more genetic recruits than those who provided food less frequently to their young, even though foster parents reared the offspring. We detected a relationship between annual survival probability and provisioning behavior only in males, but not in females. This finding, together with indirect benefits differing by sex, indicates that different selection pressures are acting on the sexes. Our study can show that it is justified to use provisioning behavior as a form of parental investment sensu Trivers, since we show that this behavior is costly to parents and that the genetic fitness benefits exceed the costs.
Inheritance of seed yield, maturity and seed weight of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under semi-arid rainfed conditions

SUMMARY To develop an effective breeding programme for rainfed production of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), the inheritance of seed yield under such conditions should be understood, preferably considering the effects of environment to account for site or season specificity. Thus, heritability, expected and realized gain from selection, and combining ability were evaluated for a nine-parent diallel of common bean without reciprocals but including parents, at two locations each in Mexico and Colombia, using the F2 and F3 population bulks. Heritability estimated from regressions of F3 on F2 ranged from 0·09 ± 0·18 (S.E.) to 0·75±0·25 for seed yield, from 0·26±009 to 0·34±009 for days to maturity and from0·57±004 to 0·80±004 for 100-seed weight. Expected gain from selection in the F2 was estimated as a percentage of the population mean, selecting the upper 20% of the populations. Expected gain in seed yield ranged from 1·8 to 8·4% in Mexico and from 6·5 to 28·1% in Colombia. Realized gains in seed yield in the F3 were 0·4–7·4% in Mexico and 2·9–15·7% in Colombia. Realized gain values for days to maturity were < 2·2%, and for 100-seed weight > 13·4%. General combining ability (GCA) mean squares (estimated using Griffing's Method 2, Model 1) were significant (P <0·01) and larger than those for specific combining ability (SCA) for all traits at all locations. The parents from the Mexican highlands tended to have a positive GCA effect for yield in Mexico but negative values in Colombia, whereas parents adapted to mid-elevation tropical environments showed the opposite tendency. However, all significant GCA values of breeding line V8025 were positive in both countries.
The species of Chondrophycus and Laurencia (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) occurring in Dhofar, the Sultanate of Oman

M.J. Wynne, D. Serio, M. Cormaci, and G. Furnari. 2005. The species of Chondrophycus and Laurencia (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) occurring in Dhofar, the Sultanate of Oman. Phycologia 44: 497–509. Fieldwork carried out in the Dhofar region of the Sultanate of Oman has resulted in many collections of marine algae assignable to the related genera Chondrophycus and Laurencia. Observations are made on the following five species of Chondrophycus, all representing first reports for Oman: Chondrophycus ceylanicus (J. Agardh) M.J. Wynne, Serio, Cormaci & G. Furnari comb. nov., C. cruciatus, C. dotyi, C. palisadus, and C. succisus. A first record of Laurencia nidifica is made for Oman, and new collections are documented for the previously reported species L. heteroclada and L. majuscula. A key to the Sultanate of Oman species of the Laurencia complex is given.
Exploring elementary graders’ intercultural attitudes through a guided reading approach

Tesis de Maestria en Ensenanza de Lenguas Extranjeras que presenta un estudio de tipo cualitativo con enfoque en investigacion accion, llevado a cabo en el marco de un estudio investigativo enfocado en el area de Lengua Inglesa. Busca principalmente explorar el impacto de la inclusion de la lectura guiada como una estrategia de comprension de lectura que promueva actitudes interculturales en estudiantes de primaria en un colegio privado en el municipio de Tenjo, Colombia. La investigadora invita a una reflexion acerca de la necesidad de aprender lenguas extranjeras partiendo de las interacciones interculturales propias del idioma, viendolo no como un fin, sino como un medio para resolver problematicas comunicativas y de interaccion presentes en la exploracion de una lengua que no es la propia.
The importance of the time factor in the response of zooplankton to varying concentrations of naturally occurring particulate matter 1

Over the course of a year a linear relationship was found between feeding rates of five species of neritic copepods and their probable food supply, the naturally occurring particulate matter. However, a saturation-type curve was obtained when a range of food concentration was offered to Pseudocalanus minutus over a short period of time (18-20 h). Digestive enzyme levels of the copepod population were also found to vary linearly on a seasonal basis. The affinity (l/Z&) appeared to vary with time, indicating acclimation in the digestive system. A new model, linear for variations of food concentrations over an extended period of time (weeks to a year) and curvilinear for variations over a time smaller than the one needed for acclimation, is developed.
Phosphorylated osteopontin peptides inhibit crystallization by resisting the aggregation of calcium phosphate nanoparticles

Under near-physiological pH and ionic strength, the role of a 14 amino acid segment of osteopontin (OPN) in inhibiting hydroxyapatite (HAP) nucleation and growth was kinetically examined by measuring the induction time via pH monitoring. The phosphorylated 14-mer OPN peptide segments (PP) significantly inhibit nucleation of HAP by markedly increasing induction times with an increase in the number of phosphorylation sites at their lower concentrations (<156 nM). The presence of phosphate groups in OPN peptides not only enhances the stability of the calcium phosphate (Ca–P) nanoparticles and limits their aggregation, but also inhibits the phase transformation from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to the final crystalline phases. The extent of phosphorylation of OPN peptides is important to its protective roles in inhibiting crystallization by resisting the aggregation of Ca–P nanoparticles at a given concentration range. The nonphosphorylated peptide segment (NPP) had relatively little effect on induction times at concentrations lower than 156 nM, whereas at a higher concentration (234 nM), the effect of NPP in inhibiting HAP nucleation was enhanced. These results clearly showed that OPN inhibits HAP crystallization by prolonging induction times and delaying subsequent growth in a phosphorylation and/or concentration-dependent manner.
PREVALENCE OF SLIME PRODUCING MULTIPLE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT AND SERUM SUSCEPTIBLE ACINETOBACTER baumani IN HUMAN SOURCES

Major virulence of gram negative bacteria, slime production, serum susceptibility and drug resistance are play a major role in causing diseases in human beings . The studies were carried out for isolation and identification of slime producing, multi drug resistant Acinetobacter baumanni from various samples. Totally 29 strains of A.baumanni were obtained in which 23(25%) and 6 (6.5%) strains were from clinical and environmental samples respectively. All the A.baumanni strains were further screened for multiple antibiotic resistant capabilities. Only 10.3 % of the clinical isolates of A.baumanni were positive for proteolytic test and none of the environmental isolates were produced protease enzyme. The slime production is about 55 % of the total isolates were confirmed and significantly higher level of clinical (82.6 %) and environmental (50%) A.baumanni strains were resistant to normal human serum. In conclusion our study suggests that all the serum resistant strains were slime producers and it expresses high MAR index, which appears to be an association with potential virulent factors cause diseases in human.
Characterization of herring populations west of the British Isles: an investigation of mixing based on otolith microchemistry

Herring along the west coast of the British Isles are managed and assessed as a series of discrete stocks. The relationship between the spawning components, mixed (feeding) aggregations, and juveniles in nursery areas for these stocks was modelled by discriminant analysis and integrated stock mixture analysis based on otolith elemental composition data. The relative elemental concentrations produced otolith signals corresponding to three main groupings of nursery-ground fish representing the Irish Sea, Scottish sea lochs, and the Minch. There were significant differences among spawning groups in the otolith concentrations of Li, Na, Mg, Mn, Sr, and Ba. Inclusion of length-at-age information improved the classification rates, ranging overall from 35 to 100%. Spawning groups consist of individuals from a number of different nursery areas and originate from several different management areas. Each of the mixed aggregations contained at least three spawning components. Results suggest that most west coast herring belong to interconnected populations subject to mixing and that populations are not discrete, so the current practice of assessments based on individual spawning components will probably not provide sufficiently robust information for management advice. The complexity of herring populations needs to be considered for both fisheries and coastal-zone management.
Detection of sugar composition of some apricot cultivars by high performance liquid chromatography.

This study was aimed at assessing the quality characteristics of 21 apricot genotypes such as Turfanda Eski Malatya, Karacabey, Paviot, Zerdali No.1, Aprikoz, Soganci, Hasanbey, Levent, Royal, Şekerpare, Cataloglu, Kabaasi, Stark Early Orange, Sakit-3, Şam, Hacihaliloglu, Iri Bitirgen, Casna Drenova, Cologlu, Ordubat, Imrahor that are grown in Malatya provinces of Turkey. Main soluble sugars of experimental varieties were separated, identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with refractive index detection. According to the results, sugar composition of apricot genotypes was different from one genotype to another. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose were determined as the major sugars in all apricot varieties and our local genotypes were detected to have higher concentration in terms of identified sugars.
Assessing the Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Sodium Metabisulphite: A Food Preservative.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of sodium metabisulphite, a commonly used food additive has been studied on root tip cells of Allium cepa L. The root tips were treated with series of concentrations (10, 20, 30mg/lit) for 10 and 20 hours. Increase in concentration and time duration of the treatments decreased root growth, mitotic index and increased in chromosomal abnormalities. C-mitosis was the most frequent abnormality observed along with other abnormalities such as sticky chromosomes, laggards, micronuclei, and bridges during ana-phase and telophase. The present investigation clearly establishes the deleterious effects of sodium metabisulphite. Thus, its use should be minimized and search for alternative biopreservative having negligible toxicity must be undertaken.
Relationship between yield, growth and spike weight in wheat under phosphorus deficiency and shading

SUMMARY The effect of phosphorus deficiency on yield formation in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Prointa Oasis) was investigated, focusing on crop growth and dry matter partitioning during the spike growth period (SGP), which is critical for grain number determination. Two experiments combining shading and P deficiency were performed at Balcarce, Argentina (37°45′S). The main treatments were two levels of soil P-availability: low P, a naturally low P fertility soil (7·0 and 5·5 mg Bray extractable P/kg soil, in the first and second experiments respectively) and high P, a P dose that does not limit growth. The sub-treatments were two levels of radiation (shaded and control). Phosphorus deficiency affected yield mainly through the number of grains/unit surface (m2). Differences in grain number/m2 were related to differences in dry weight of spikes/m2, measured 7 days after anthesis, excluding grain weight. The duration of the SGP did not change much as result of P deficiency: 27 days with high P and only 3 days more with low P. Therefore, changes in spike dry weight were mainly due to differences in spike growth rate. In turn, the spike growth rate of all treatments was linearly related to crop growth rate, with little effect of dry matter partitioning to spikes. Finally, differences in crop growth rate between P treatments were mainly determined by the amount of intercepted radiation. It was concluded that P deficiency resulted in a reduction in intercepted radiation during the SGP, thus causing a reduction in grain number and crop yield.
EVALUATION OF GENETIC VARIABILITY USING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA MARKERS IN SELECTED SPECIES OF Solanum L. - A POTENTIAL MEDICINAL GENUS

Molecular techniques have been found to be more useful and accurate for the determination of both interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation among plants. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, in particular, have been successfully employed for determination of intraspecific genetic diversity among several plant species. Solanum, the genus selected for the present study is the largest and complex genus of the Solanaceae. It comprises more than 1,500 species with geographical origin in Asia and Africa. The centers of diversity are in South America, Australia and Africa, while relatively less diverse species are found in Europe and Asia with a promise as primarily in medicinal followed by vegetable crop. The present investigation was carried out to assess the genetic diversity of 16 selected species including one variant accession based on RAPD mark ers. Most of the selected species are having potential medicinal properties and used in modern system of medicine as well as in traditional system by the ethnic societies of Kerala against various ailments. The 234 polymorphic bands were scored using 15 random primers employed suggesting 100% polymorphism across the genotypes. UPGMA dendrogram cluster analysis indicated three distinct clusters, one comprising accessions of S. mauritianum, S. capsicoides (spiny accession) and S. trilobatum, while second included four species viz., S. pseudocapsicum, S. mammosum, S. capsicoides (lax spiny accession) and S. giganteum. S. seaforthianum, S. erianthum, S. nigrum, S. melongena var. insanum, S. torvum, WO
GENETIC DIVERSITY OF MALAYSIAN INDIGENOUS MAHSEER, TOR DOURONENSIS IN SARAWAK RIVER BASINS AS REVEALED BY CYTOCHROME C OXIDASE I GENE SEQUENCES

Malaysian Mahseer, Tor douronensis, locally known as “kelah” in Peninsular Malaysia or semah in Sarawak is one of the important Mahseers used for food as well as the aquarium industry and game fishing. This species is endemic to Malaysian Borneo river basins. The wild stocks of T. douronensis have declined substantially in recent years, due to over exploitation, pollution and illegal fishing practices. DNA sequencing based on a partial sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene, was used to determine genetic variation in wild stocks of T. douronensis originated from eight different populations in Sarawak River Basins of Malaysian Borneo. The highest haplotype diversity was found in Entabai river population while the lowest were marked in four populations of Lundu, Terbat, Bau and Kg. Pa Puti. The population structure analyses based on ANOVA or found low level of intra and high level of inter population variations in samples of T. douronensis of Sarawak. The presence of unique haplotype in some populations, along with high FST values indicated that there has been restricted or no migration among the existing population which were separated by geographical barrier or river systems. The population structure of the three regions was also analysed using ANOVA and revealed that most of the variations occurred among regions and among subpopulations within a region. Population structure of T. douronensis showed high degree of genetic heterogeneity and appeared to be significantly structured into geographically discrete population.