Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allometric equations for the invasive vine air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) in its exotic range in Florida

Abstract Nondestructive means for estimating air potato (also known as air yam; Dioscorea bulbifera L.) biomass will help gauge its management efficacy over time. We developed allometric equations to estimate total and fractional biomass components and densities of aerial bulbils and underground tubers of field-grown D. bulbifera in Florida. We selected four naturally infested sites representing its southern, central, and northern distribution in Florida and measured three independent variables (vine densities, stem diameters, and top heights) of 84 (21 site–1) discrete D. bulbifera patches during late October to early December of 2012. We destructively harvested D. bulbifera biomass, sorted by tubers, stems, leaves, and bulbils; counted units of bulbils and underground tubers (dependent variables); and dried to a constant weight. Mean percentages of tuber, stem, leaf, and bulbil fractions in total biomass were 42.0, 15.6, 26.0, and 16.4, respectively. We developed a parameterized multiplicative prediction model and regression equation for each dependent variable. Slopes of relationships among independent and dependent variables varied by biomass and density (bulbil and tuber) of plant components. Multiplied values of independent variables: all three for total, tuber, stem, and leaf biomass; two (vine base diameter*patch height) for bulbil biomass; two (vine density*patch height) for bulbil density; and only one (stem density) for tuber density provided best (R2-based) prediction values. These models will provide nondestructive methods for estimating biomass components and density of vegetative propagules of naturally growing D. bulbifera. Models are critical for understanding the performance of D. bulbifera in its exotic range, estimating biomass to project control costs, and comparing biomass components and bulbil/tuber densities during pre- and postmanagement periods to gauge control efficacy.
Effects of Intraspecific Density and Environmental Variables on Electrofishing Catchability of Brown and Rainbow Trout in the Colorado River

Abstract We investigated electrofishing catchability (q) for brown trout Salmo trutta and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, over a range of fish densities, water temperatures, turbidities, conductivities, shoreline types, and seasons. The covariance of q with rainbow trout density strongly resembled random distributions, thereby suggesting no relationship between q and rainbow trout density. The catchability of rainbow trout was greater in turbid water (≥480 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)) than in clear water (≤10 NTU), although lower water temperature may have contributed to this effect. The catchability of rainbow trout was greatest over sand–silt shorelines. The catchability of brown trout increased sharply to levels above those predicted from random chance up to about 0.025 fish/m2 and then assumed an asymptotic or declining relationship with intraspecific fish density. In contrast to the situation with rainbow trout, the catchability of.
Performance characteristics of selected/deselected under 11 players from a professional youth football academy

This study aimed to determine whether players selected for the under 11 team of a professional youth football academy outperform their deselected peers in physical, technical and gross motor coordination skills, or in psycho-social capacities. Of the young players active at different amateur clubs yearly 2% were scouted to participate at trainings and matches from an academy before the first objective baseline testing (season 1 n = 54 boys, season 2 n = 49, age: 9.25 ± 0.46). Most of the scouted players (n = 103) were born in the first quarter of the year (47.6%) and started playing football at a young age (4.80 ± 0.84). Mann–Whitney U tests showed that the selected under 11 players (n = 31) from the reduced pool outperformed their deselected peers (n = 72) in the 30-m slalom sprint, dribble test and Loughborough soccer passing test, and on sport learning-, motor-, creative- and interpersonal capacity (P < 0.05). A discriminant analysis resulted in a significant discriminant function (Wilks’ Λ = 0.673, df = 16 and P = 0.002) with 69.6% of players classified correctly. In sum, the current system, tends to scout 9-year old soccer players with multiple years of soccer experience, and well-developed motor skills, who are predominantly born in the first quarter of the year. Of those players, the ones with better physical and technical skills, who are believed to have most potential to become elite in the future are selected. However, 25 of the players with a high probability of being selected were deselected. Whether this system is appropriate serves a broader ethical discussion within contemporary society.
Variations in the esterase expression pattern with respect to different light regimes in Drosophila agumbensis and Drosophila nagarholensis

Circadian clock enables organism’s to adapt under fluctuating environmental conditions by coupling of behavioral, physiological and molecular processes in a wide variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants, birds and mammals. The endogenous circadian system functions to organize behavior and physiology to adapt to and anticipate environment changes in light and temperature. The present study is an attempt to understand enzyme profiles (alpha- and beta-esterases) of Drosophila agumbensis and Drosophila nagarholensis under light/dark (LD), constant dark (DD) constant light (LL), conditions over twenty generations. A polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (7.5% – Native gel) was used to study the esterase expression patterns in two species of the montium subgroup of Drosophila. Alpha- and beta-esterase expression was significantly decreased in LL when compared to LD and DD at both the generations and species. In all the light regimes, females were found to have significantly higher level of α- and β-esterase expression than males. Flies were maintained under different light regimes showed difference in their expression patterns with respect to alpha- and beta-esterases. The present study showed that constant light conditions affect the expression of esterases in D. agumbensis and D. nagarholensis.
Pollination ecology of Christmas Bells (Blandfordia nobilis Sm.): Effects of adding artificial nectar on pollen removal and seed‐set

Addition of artificial nectar to Blandfordia nobilis plants increased fruit set in plants treated in December but had no apparent effect on either fruit set for plants treated in January or the amount of pollen removed per plant for either the December or January plants. Increased nectar production would therefore have conferred no apparent reproductive advantage to a plant flowering in January and would have been advantageous to a December flowering plant only in terms of reproduction as a female, and not in terms of male reproduction.
Study of physico-mechanical properties of concretes based on palm kernel shells originating from the locality of Haut Nkam in Cameroon

This study is based on the use of palm kernel shells as aggregate in the manufacture of concrete. Several (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) substitutions were used in the volume fraction of the aggregates. In order to evaluate the effect of this substitution, the mechanical properties at 7 and 28 days for compression was determine, 28 days for bending and then the physical properties of fresh and hardened concrete are carried out. The results show that 25% replacement of aggregate at 28 days have the compressive stress of the reference concrete (which is about 41 Mpa). At 100% replacement, the resistance becomes very low (about 5.37 Mpa). However with 50% replacement, a reduction of the weight of the concrete is important (around 2000 kg/m3). It can at this level be classified as light weight concrete. Concerning the workability, between 25 and 50% of substitution allows obtaining the class 2 consistency, while between 75 and 100% in class 1, results corroborates the high rate of absorption of shells. Key words: Palm kernel shells, concrete, workability, mechanical properties, physical properties.
Effects of the forage to concentrate ratio on B-vitamin concentrations in different ruminal fractions of dairy cows

Two studies were undertaken to verify the effect of the forage to concentrate ratio of the diet on B-vitamin concentrations in ruminal contents. In Study 1, eight primiparous and eight multiparous cows were used in a cross-over design, and concentrations of biotin, folates and vitamin B12 were determined in ruminal fluid and plasma of cows fed a high-forage (HF; 58:42 forage to concentrate ratio; DM basis) or a low-forage (LF; 37:63 forage to concentrate ratio; DM basis) diet. In Study 2, six ruminally cannulated lactating cows were used in a cross-over design to evaluate the effects of forage to concentrate ratio (HF = 60:40; LF = 40:60; DM basis) on concentrations of seven B-vitamins in the particle-free fluid and in both liquid- and solid-associated bacteria. Results showed that B-vitamins were present mainly in the bacterial fractions of the ruminal content, while only limited amounts were found in the surrounding fluid. A change in the forage to concentrate ratio had a greater effect on vitamin conce.
Gametogenic cycles and reproduction in the beadlet sea anemone Actinia equina (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Sexual Actinia equina have been maintained in the laboratory. Monthly biopsies show that these animals have annual gametogenic cycles. Regular samples from several natural populations suggest that animals in the wild show similar gametogenic periodicity. In the laboratory, males release sperm, but females brood young, at least for a few weeks. Members of these broods are released sporadically, usually after a water change. Males and non-sexual adults kept in isolation for over a year release a few juveniles during and at the end of that time. These young are likely to be asexually reproduced. There appears to be geographical variation of anemone size and in the frequency of sexual individuals in populations round the British Coast, so that modes of reproduction may vary.
Assessing congruence of opportunistic records and systematic surveys for predicting Hispaniolan mammal species distributions

Abstract Comparative assessment of the relative information content of different independent spatial data types is necessary to evaluate whether they provide congruent biogeographic signals for predicting species ranges. Opportunistic occurrence records and systematically collected survey data are available from the Dominican Republic for Hispaniola’s surviving endemic non‐volant mammals, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) and Hispaniolan hutia (Plagiodontia aedium); opportunistic records (archaeological, historical and recent) exist from across the entire country, and systematic survey data have been collected from seven protected areas. Species distribution models were developed in maxent for solenodons and hutias using both data types, with species habitat suitability and potential country‐level distribution predicted using seven biotic and abiotic environmental variables. Three different models were produced and compared for each species: (a) opportunistic model, with starting model incorporating abiotic‐only predictors; (b) total survey model, with starting model incorporating biotic and abiotic predictors; and (c) reduced survey model, with starting model incorporating abiotic‐only predictors to allow further comparison with the opportunistic model. All models predict suitable environmental conditions for both solenodons and hutias across a broadly congruent, relatively large area of the Dominican Republic, providing a spatial baseline of conservation‐priority landscapes that might support native mammals. Correlation between total and reduced survey models is high for both species, indicating the substantial explanatory power of abiotic variables for predicting Hispaniolan mammal distributions. However, correlation between survey models and opportunistic models is only moderately positive. Species distribution models derived from different data types can provide different predictions about habitat suitability and conservation‐priority landscapes for threatened species, likely reflecting incompleteness and bias in spatial sampling associated with both data types. Models derived using both opportunistic and systematic data must therefore be applied critically and cautiously.
Molecular detection and characterisation of phytoplasma in Trigonella foenum-graecum and identification of potential insect vectors in Punjab, Pakistan

Discerning with crop health issues, this study was conducted to detect and identify phytoplasmas and their potential insect vectors in symptomatic Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) plants collected from Punjab, Pakistan. The detection of phytoplasma in collected leafhopper species and Fenugreek plants was confirmed by nested PCR amplification of 16SrDNA by employing primer pairs (P1/P7 & R16F2n/R16R2). Our results indicated that all the symptomatic fenugreek plant and specimens of leafhoppers, Orosius albicinctus, Empoasca spp. , and Balclutha incisa resulted positive in PCR. Sequencing of amplified DNA products and phylogenetic analysis of our Fenugreek phyllody phytoplasma (Accession number MH398586) showed that the phytoplasma strains detected has maximum identity (100%) with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasiae’ subgroup 16Sr-II-D (Gen Bank number Y10097. This is the first detection and identification of phytoplasma presence in fenugreek seed plants with putative potential insect vectors in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Erratum: Multiple Intestinal Neoplasia Caused By a Mutation in the Murine Homolog of the APC Gene

Germ-line mutations of the APC gene are responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an autosomal dominantly inherited disease in humans. Patients with FAP develop multiple benign colorectal tumors. Recently, a mouse lineage that exhibits an autosomal dominantly inherited predisposition to multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) was described. Linkage analysis showed that the murine homolog of the APC gene (mApc) was tightly linked to the Min locus. Sequence comparison of mApc between normal and Min-affected mice identified a nonsense mutation, which cosegregated with the Min phenotype. This mutation is analogous to those found in FAP kindreds and in sporadic colorectal cancers.
Bioassay-based risk assessment of complex mixtures

The baseline risk assessment often plays an integral role in various decision-making processes at Superfund sites. The present study reports on risk characterizations prepared for seven complex mixtures using biological and chemical analysis. Three of the samples (A, B, and C) were complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) extracted from coal tar; while four samples extracted from munitions-contaminated soil contained primarily nitroaromatic hydrocarbons. The chemical-based risk assessment ranked sample C as least toxic, while the risk associated with samples A and B was approximately equal. The microbial bioassay was in general agreement for the coal tar samples. The weighted activity of the coal tar extracts in Salmonella was 4,960 for sample C, and 162,000 and 206,000 for samples A and B, respectively. The bacterial mutagenicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene contaminated soils exhibited an indirect correlation with chemical-based risk assessment. The aqueous extract of sample 004 induced 1,292 net revertants in Salmonella, while the estimated risk to ingestion and dermal adsorption was 2E-9. The data indicate that the chemical-based risk assessment accurately predicted the genotoxicity of the PAHs, while the accuracy of the risk assessment for munitions contaminated soils was limited due to the presence of metabolites of TNT degradation. The biologicalmore » tests used in this research provide a valuable compliment to chemical analysis for characterizing the genotoxic risk of complex mixtures. « less
Cryptolepine Provokes Changes in the Expression of Cell Cycle Proteins in Growing Cells

Problem statement: Cryptolepine, the antimalarial plant alkaloid is cytotoxic to mammalian cells, but there is rather little understanding of the possible mechanisms involved in the cell-kill action of cryptolepine. Approach: We examined mammalian cells exposed to cryptolepine (0.5-5.0 μM) for effects on the cell cycle and associated alterations in the levels of major regulatory proteins using immunoblotting and flow cytometry. Results: Cryptolepine (0.5-5.0 μM) caused a dose-dependent increase in the sub-G1 from 3.03-31.64% in HepG2 and from 13.80-42.82%) in MCL-5, cell lines with wild p53. Additionally, G1 fractions increased to 69.17 and 37.49% in HepG2 and MCL-5 respectively. In both cell lines, the G1 increase was associated with temporal increases in MDM2 protein, p53 protein and p53’s target cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21. Consistent with the G1 arrest was also a decrease in cyclin D1, cyclin A and the hyperphosphorylated form of retinoblastoma protein, the key modulators of the G1 checkpoint in HepG2 cells. In cells with null-p53 (SKOV3) however, a p53-independent G2 arrest was evident. Conclusion: The study showed that, though cryptolepine is cytotoxic irrespective of the p53 status of the cell line, its effect on the cell cycle appears to depend on the p53 status of the cell line. The potent cell-kill action of cryptolepine and its ability to evoke cell cycle arrest in susceptible cells favor its anticancer potential.
Swertia densifolia leaf extract as a dose-dependant attractant or repellent for Apis florea

Summary Leaf extract of an Indian medicinal plant, Chirayata, Swertia densifolia (Griseb.) (Gentianaceae), known to show attractant and repellent properties towards Apis cerana, has been shown to possess similar properties towards Apis florea. Formulations of the extract in liquid paraffin at concentrations of up to 125 mg/ml were repellent and those at higher concentrations were attractant. Beekeepers might be able to develop lures or repellent formulations based on these findings.
Environmental Determinants of a Country’s Food Security in Short-Term and Long-Term Perspectives

About 10% of the world population suffered from hunger in 2018. Thereby, the main objective of this research is the identification of environmental drivers and inhibitors of a country’s food security in the short and long run. The Food Security Index (FSI) was constructed from 19 indicators using Principal Component Analysis. Identification of the short- and long-run relationships between the FSI and environmental factors was realized with the pooled mean-group estimator for 28 post-socialistic countries for 2000–2016. Empirical research results showed that a country’s food security in the short run is affected by greenhouse gas emissions but boosted by the increase of renewable energy production. Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, electrification of rural populations, access to clean fuels, renewable energy production, arable land, and forest area growth might be essential tasks in order to ensure countries’ food security in the long-run.
A comparison of stock and individual identification for sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in British Columbia provided by microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms

Variation at 14 microsatellite loci, one major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus, and 49 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) loci was surveyed in 44 populations of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) over 16 regions from southern and central British Columbia, Canada. Sequential addition of the five highest rated SNPs to the suite of 14 microsatellites provided the equivalent average accuracy when compared with the current suite of microsatellites and MHC. Six microsatellites provided the equivalent average stock identification resolution and individual assignment accuracy compared with 46 SNPs. For regional stock compositions, 53–104 SNPs were projected to be required to provide accuracy and precision equivalent to the microsatellites. For population-specific stock compositions, 75–79 SNPs were projected to be required to provide accuracy and precision equivalent to the microsatellites. Equivalency in individual assignment accuracy to region was estimated to require 100 SNPs of the quality evaluate.
Effects of planting date and inoculation date on severity of wheat streak mosaic in hard red winter wheat cultivars.

Hard red winter wheat cultivars were inoculated with wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) in the fall or spring and then were evaluated in the spring for severity of wheat streak mosaic symptoms, detection of WSMV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fertile tiller production, yield, and thousand kernel weight (TKW). On the basis of these parameters, seven cultivars (Century, Chisholm, Pioneer 2157, Siouxland, Tam 108, Triumph 64, and Vona) were considered susceptible when inoculated with WSMV in the fall (.)
Evaluation of TB/HIV Collaborative Activities: The Case of South Tongu District, Ghana

Background There is a complex interaction between infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) infection that results in a synergistic increase in their prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. In Ghana, 32% of TB cases were estimated to be coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic HIV, with the highest number of coinfections in the Volta Region. This study assessed the extent of linkage between the TB and HIV collaborative activities in the South Tongu District of Ghana. Method The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the coverage of activities to reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV and the coverage of activities to reduce the burden of HIV in TB patients and explored the barriers to collaborative activities from the providers' perspective. Results The study showed that 344 (94.8%) HIV-positive clients were screened for TB, of which 10 (8.5%) were bacteriologically confirmed. Among those positive for TB, 6 (60%) received cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) and antiretroviral therapy. Sixty-seven (93.1%) TB patients were screened for HIV. Of these, 28 (38.9%) were retropositive, among whom 14 (50%) received anti-TB treatment. However, there were no records of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for these patients. Inadequately trained personnel leading to work overload, manual record-keeping, lack of staff motivation, and absence of “enablers” packages for patients were identified as barriers to TB/HIV collaboration. Conclusion Overall, there was a moderate linkage between TB and HIV collaborative activities in the study setting. Notwithstanding, there exist some barriers that mitigate against the successful implementation of the collaborative process from the providers' perspective, hence we recommend for measures to ensure effective, efficient, and sustained integrated TB/HIV activities by addressing these barriers.
Hydrogen turnover by psychrotrophic homoacetogenic and mesophilic methanogenic bacteria in anoxic paddy soil and lake sediment

The effect of temperature on CH4 production, turnover of dissolved H2, and enrichment of H2-utilizing anaerobic bacteria was studied in anoxic paddy soil and sediment of Lake Constance. When anoxic paddy soil was incubated under an atmosphere of H2/CO2, rates of CH4 production increased 25°C, but decreased at temperatures lower than 20°C. Chloroform completely inhibited methano-genesis in anoxic paddy soil and lake sediment, but did not or only partially inhibit the turnover of dissolved H2, especially at low incubation temperatures. Cultures with H2 as energy source resulted in the enrichment of chemolithotrophic homoacetogenic bacteria whenever incubation temperatures were lower than 20°C. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens could only be enriched at 30°C from anoxic paddy soil. A homoacetogen