Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation and relationships among seedling vigor traits in sorghum

Seedling vigor in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is important for improving stand establishment of the crop, particularly in arid regions and in areas where low soil temperatures prevail at planting time. This study was conducted to examine the genetic variation, heritability, and relationships among seedling vigor traits in a recombinant inbred (RI) sorghum population developed from two contrasting inbreds. One hundred RI lines and their parents l'SRN39', an African caudatum and 'Shan Qui Red' (SQR), a Chinese kaoliang] were evaluated for seedling vigor in experiments conducted in the field, in an incubator, and in a greenhouse. Data on 100-kernel weight, visual seedling vigor scores, percentage germination at 12 and 22°C, percentage emergence, seedling height, and shoot dry weight were collected. Genotypic differences were significant for many of these seedling vigor traits. Significant genetic and additive variances were observed for field vigor scores as well as for those traits measured in the more controlled environments. Heritability estimates for visual scores, percentage germination, emergence, and seedling height were high, while those for seedling dry weight were low to medium. Genetic correlation coefficients of visual seedling scores with the different estimates of vigor were significant except for 100-seed weight. Significant genetic interrelationships were revealed among traits measured in the greenhouse and incubator at 22°C. Visual scores taken in field experiments appeared effective in integrating germination, emergence at high temperatures, and shoot dry weight. The significant additive genetic variances obtained indicate that the superior seedling vigor observed in the kaoliang parent, SQR, can be effectively utilized for improving germination in cold temperature, as well as germination, emergence, seedling growth, and development at optimum temperature.
Classifying Eucalyptus forests with high spatial and spectral resolution imagery: an investigation of individual species and vegetation communities

Mapping the spatial distribution of individual species is an important ecological and forestry issue that requires continued research to coincide with advances in remote-sensing technologies. In this study, we investigated the application of high spatial resolution (80 cm) Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager 2 (CASI-2) data for mapping both spectrally complex species and species groups (subgenus grouping) in an Australian eucalypt forest. The relationships between spectral reflectance curves of individual tree species and identified statistical differences among species were analysed with ANOVA. Supervised maximum likelihood classifications were then performed to assess tree species separability in CASI-2 imagery. Results indicated that turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera Smith), mesic vegetation (primarily rainforest species), and an amalgamated group of eucalypts could be readily distinguished. The discrimination of S. glomulifera was particularly robust, with consistently high classification accuracies. Eucalypt classification as a broader species group, rather than individual species, greatly improved classification performance. However, separating sunlit and shaded aspects of tree crowns did not increase classification accuracy.
Estimating low toxic effects

The use of no‐observed‐effect levels (NOLs) and lowest‐observed‐effect levels (LOELs) assummary statistics for low toxic effects has been criticized recently. In this paper, we explore the regression‐based approach for estimating low toxic effects. Key questions with this approach include: (1) is the approach practical with typical toxicity data sets, (2) can low toxic effects be estimated with confidence, (3) what models are appropriate for typical data sets and endpoints, and (4) how do point estimates of low toxic effects (e.g., EC10) compare with their corresponding LOELs and NOELs? Analyses of 198 toxicity data sets (all but 13 unpublished) revealed that: (1) even with a range of models to choose from (three models in the logistic family, probit model, Weibull model), >80% of the data sets did not produce a single adequate model fit; (2) estimates of low toxic effects were often model dependent when an extrapolation beyond the toxicity data was required; (3) confidence intervals can be quite large at 5% effect and lower; (4) of the five models, the three‐parameter logistic equation with a steep slope parameter had the best model fit in the majority of the data sets; and (5) 76.9% of the NOELs and 100% of the LOELs were higher than their corresponding 10% effect point estimates from the best‐fit model equations, suggesting that NOELs and LOELs are poor indicators of low toxic effects. We believe that the regression‐based approach is a better tool than hypothesis testing for estimating low toxic effects. The approach, however, does not produce adequate model fits unless there is an obvious concentration–response relationship and several treatments with partial effects.
Biometeorological characterization of the winter in north‐west Spain based on Alnus pollen flowering

The timing of pollen appearance in the atmosphere provides a general idea of the flowering onset of plants over a wide area. Woody plants in temperate regions have evolved mechanisms to preserve cells from the risk of frost during adverse weather conditions in the period prior to flowering regulated mainly by temperature. A number of indices have been developed to quantify the rest and heat requirements of temperature, which will enable the plant to adapt to environmental conditions. However, flowering is a dynamic and complex phenomenon and it is difficult to separate individual effects of different meteorological parameters. The use of modified bioclimatic indices could be a major step forward. In this study the Alnus glutinosa flowering in four different areas in north‐western Spain in the period 1995–2003 is examined, and trends identified by means of information gathered by Hirst pollen traps. Temperature plays an important role in the maturation of reproductive organs and pollen production. Comparison with bioclimatic indices showed that temperature during the 25–55 days preceding pollen release was the main controlling factor, and that relationship between flowering time and bioclimatic indicator values differs according to local conditions. In colder areas, rest and heat temperature requirements are greater because the trees need protection over a longer period; in the Mediterranean region of north‐western Spain, the rest temperature requirement and the threshold temperature are both higher than in Eurosiberian areas. Ombrothermic, Continentality and Thermicity indices are thus useful tools for characterizing the various bioclimatic areas of north‐western Spain.
Traits associated with drought survival in three Australian tropical rainforest seedlings

Drought affects the distribution of plant species in tropical forests and will likely increase under climate change. Future rainforest composition may be determined by species’ abilities to withstand increased drought incidence, particularly at the vulnerable seedling stage. A greenhouse drought survival experiment was conducted on seedlings of three common evergreen tree species from Australia’s Wet Tropics to assess species’ drought survival. This was then related to five functional traits to evaluate the relative importance of desiccation tolerance (ability to persist through drought) and desiccation delay (ability to postpone drought stress) in drought survival. Among the three species examined, delay traits (leaf shedding, root-to-shoot ratio and stem saturated water content) corresponded with experimental drought survival better than tolerance traits (specific leaf area, stem density). Notably, we found differential leaf shedding among these evergreen species and a positive correlation between percent leaf loss and drought survival among individuals across all species (R2 = 0.42). If this pattern holds with greater species replication, it suggests that desiccation delay, particularly via leaf shedding, is important for drought survival even in nominally evergreen species. We suggest that finer classifications of deciduousness such as percent leaf loss under drought stress may be useful in predicting species’ responses to drought conditions.
CLADISTIC AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF THE WEEVIL GENUS LISTRODERES SCHOENHERR (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Abstract— The weevil genus Listroderes Schoenherr is a monophyletic group defined by the body vestiture consisting of subcircular to suboval scales, and comprises 35 species endemic to southern South America. A cladistic analysis of the genus was carried out using 44 characters from external morphology, body vestiture, and male and female genitalia. The curvipes (three species), nodifer (five species) and robustus (four species) species groups and the 23 species of the costirostris species group were considered terminal taxa. Apomorphic states were identified using the genus Hyperoides Marshall as outgroup. The analysis yielded 122 equally parsimonious cladograms, each with 89 steps and a consistency index of 0.42; a successive weighting procedure resulted in nine cladograms (consistency index of 0.69 and retention index of 0.85). In the general consensus cladogram, nodifer‐robustus and curvipes‐costirostris are two pairs of sister species groups. The costirostris group comprises the subgroups foveatus, angusticeps, costirostris, delaiguei, bimaculatus and elegans, in phylogenetic order. A distributional analysis of the species of Listroderes led to identification of four areas of endemism, namely central Chile, sub‐Antarctic, central Argentina and Chaco. A vicariance biogeographic analysis of these areas, based on area cladograms of Listroderes, Hyperoides, Naupactus taeniatulus species group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Lucilia generic group (Asteraceae) was carried out applying the three‐area statements technique. According to the general area cladogram the sequence of area‐fragmentation is as follows: (central Chile (sub‐Antarctic (central Argentina, Chaco))). This sequence is congruent with the history hypothesized for the region, where the uplift of the Andes (Oligocene‐Pliocene) led to a progressive aridification, replacing the ancient subtropical forest by open‐country environments.
Relationship between respiration rate of juvenile brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), water temperature, and swimming characteristics

We estimated the cost of spontaneous swimming and the swimming characteristics of juvenile brook trout for 21 combinations of water temperature (3.5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 20.7 °C) and respirometer volume (27, 54, and 108 L). Spontaneous swimming costs were estimated as the oxygen depletion in the respirometers corrected for biological oxygen demand of the water and standard metabolism of the fish. Spontaneous swimming costs varied 9-fold among our experiments. Swimming characteristics, such as the average and the variance of speed, acceleration, and turning rates, were determined using a pair of video cameras. Swimming characteristics varied 2- to 10-fold among experiments. Speed and turning rate tended to increase with water temperature up to 18 °C and decreased at 20.7 °C. Water temperature (r2 = 0.44) was the only variable that could explain a significant portion of the variations of spontaneous swimming costs between 3.7 and 20.7 °C. Variance of speed (partial R2 = 0.32) and the average turning rate .
Flooding Tolerance of Ladino White, Intermediate White, Persian, and Strawberry Clovers1

Intermediate white, ladino white, strawberry, and persian clovers were grown in the greenhouse during a 4-month period and subjected to flooding 3 days in 10, 6 days in 10, and continuously. In another experiment, three varieties of ladino white and two varieties of intermediate white clover were compared when flooded 6 days in 10 during a 3-month period. Ladino clover varieties were more tolerant of poor drainage than intermediate white clover varieties. Persian, strawberry, and ladino white clover herbage growth responses were similar. Root growth of persian and strawberry clovers was less affected by flooding than that of ladino. Herbage N was reduced by flooding in intermediate white and only slightly reduced in ladino, persian, and strawberry clovers. Manganese accumulation in the herbage was not related to flooding tolerance of the clover species.
Annual Production and Disappearance of Detritus on Three South Carolina Old Fields

Aboveground vegetative production was measured for two consecutive years in three South Carolina old fields beginning with a 1-yr mixed forb field, a 12-yr broomsedge (Anidropogon) field, and a 12-yr Lespedeza field. Vegetative production was periodically har- vested and corrected for mortality between sampling periods. Total aboveground production by the vegetation was mixed forb, 1,321 and 1,447 kcal/m2; broomsedge, 898 and 1,297 kcal/m2; and lespedeza, 4,467 and 4,490 kcal/m2 for the 2 yr, respectively. Close approxi- mations of the annual vegetative production by each field were obtained by multiplying the average annual standing crop of detritus by the mean annual detritus disappearance rate. Summing the maximum standing crops of each species, a practice often used to avoid under- estimation of the annual production, may in some circumstances lead to serious overestimation of production. Comparisons of specific productivity parameters determined for the three South Carolina fields with those determined for a 30-yr-old field in Michigan differed widely between all four fields except for the ratios of total vegetative production/maximum standing crops of green materials.
Giardia trophozoite-secreted proteins and their effects on intestinal epithelia

Giardia is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. It is a flagellated cyst-forming enteric pathogen that inhabits the lumen of the small intestine. Two genetically distinct lineages (assemblages A and B) are of public health relevance and are often associated with water-borne outbreaks. Yet, the mechanism of pathogenesis and virulence in Giardia is poorly understood. A soluble component derived from healthy, viable and human infective Giardia trophozoites was shown to be able to mediate profound changes in the physiology of human derived enteric cells, consistent with the production of secreted virulence factors by the parasite. Quantitative proteomic analysis was successfully applied to the whole parasite and supernatants derived from the parasite in order to ascertain which parasite proteins are secreted. The genome of Giardia is believed to contain open reading frames which could encode as many as 6,000 proteins although hitherto there was only direct evidence for expression of a few hundred of these. Approximately 1,600 proteins were identified from each assemblage, the vast majority of which being common to both lineages. To look for actual enrichment in the supernatant, the ratio of proteins in the supernatant was compared with the pellet. This defined a far smaller group of putatively secreted proteins enriched comprising a high proportion encoded by genes annotated to have signal peptides, known virulence factors such as the Cathepsin B cysteine proteases and Variable Surface Proteins, scavenging proteins such as an extracellular nuclease and a high proportion of hitherto hypothetical proteins and proteins of unknown function. Further analysis of the genes encoding these proteins indicated that they were highly variable and likely to be under positive selection pressure, confirming their probable role in host-pathogen interactions and their potential as markers for discriminating virulent strains. Based on the proteomic analysis, a new model of pathogenic mechanism for Giardia-induced damage to enteric epithelium in which extracellular nuclease, Cathepsin B and Tenascin may have a concerted action was proposed and may have important implications in the understanding of Giardia pathogenesis.
The Staggered Spondaic Word Test

We have described three major groupings that encompass most auditory processing difficulties. While the problems may be superimposed upon one another in any individual client, each diagnostic sign is closely associated with particular communication and learning disorders. In addition, these behaviors may be related back to the functional anatomy of the regions that are implicated by the SSW test. The auditory-decoding group is deficient in rapid analysis of speech. The vagueness of speech sound knowledge is thought to lead to auditory misunderstanding and confusion. In early life, this may be reflected in the child's articulation. Poor phonic skills that result from this deficit are thought to contribute to their limited reading and spelling abilities. The auditory tolerance-fading memory group is often thought to have severe auditory-processing problems because those in it are highly distracted by background sounds and have poor auditory memories. However, school performance is not far from grade level, and the resulting reading disabilities stem more from limited comprehension than from an inability to sound out the words. Distractibility and poor auditory memory could contribute to the apparent weakness in reading comprehension. Many of the characteristics of the auditory tolerance-fading memory group are similar to those of attention deficit disorder cases. Both groups are associated anatomically with the AC region. The auditory integration cases can be divided into two subgroups. In the first, the subjects exhibit the most severe reading and spelling problems of the three major categories. These individuals closely resemble the classical dyslexics. We presume that this disorder represents a major disruption in auditory-visual integration. The second subgroup has much less severe learning difficulties, which closely follow the pattern of dysfunction of the auditory tolerance-fading memory group. The excellent physiological procedures to which we have been exposed during this Windows on the Brain conference provide a glimpse of the exciting possibilities for studying brain function. However, in working with individuals who have cognitive impairments, the new technology should be validated by standard behavioral tests. In turn, the new techniques will provide those who use behavioral measures with new parameters and concepts to broaden our understanding. For the past quarter of a century, the SSW test has been compared with other behavioral, physiological, and anatomical procedures. Based on the information that has been assembled, we have been able to classify auditory processing disorders into three major categories. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Historical maps and their application in landscape ecological research.

Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovak Republic; e-mail: olah@vsld.tuzvo. skAbstractOlah B. : Historical maps and their application in landscape ecological research. Ekologia (Brati-slava), Vol. 28, No. 2, p. 143–151, 2009.Historical maps represent a unique information source of the past landscape, its organisation and use in the last 250–300 years. They show the picture of no more existing landscape as viewed by their creators. In the paper there are presented sources of historical maps from the Slovak Republic territory, their informative value for landscape ecological research and an outline of their processing in geographical information systems. In the second part we focused on practical use of historical maps information in landscape ecological research, sustainable land use planning, nature conserva-tion and ecosystem management. Key words: historical maps, landscape ecological research, land use changes
Susceptibility of Five Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) Varieties to Attack by Callosobruchus Maculatus (Fab.) [Coleoptera: Bruchidae]

Cowpea is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates in the diets of many people in developing countries. The seed, however, suffers considerable damage during storage through infestation by the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.). Five improved varieties of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) namely Asontem (IT82D-32), Bengpla (IT83S-818), Soronko (TVX2724-01F), Asetenapa (IT81D-1951) and Adom (CR-06-07) released by the Crops Research Institute of the CSIR for cultivation in Ghana were screened for susceptibility to the cowpea beetle, C. maculatus, in storage for a period of 30 days in the laboratory at an ambient temperature of 27.5 ± 0.9oC and relative humidity of 64.6 ± 2%. Each variety was placed in a plastic bag and kept in a freezer at -5oC for 24 hours to eliminate C. maculatus infestations coming from the field. Two hundred grammes of each cowpea variety was placed in a glass container and each infested with a male and female C. maculatus that were reared in the laboratory. The set up was left in the laboratory until 30 days after infestation. The total number of weevils that emerged and the developmental period were recorded. The susceptibility index was determined for each variety based on the total number of F1 adults that emerged and their developmental periods. Susceptibility indices were 17.58 ± 1.16, 16.75 ± 1.81, 15.81 ± 2.08, 14.02 ± 0.62, 12.84 ± 0.53 for Bengpla, Asontem, Soronko, Asetenapa and Adom respectively. Mean developmental period was highest in Adom (26.70 ± 0.49), followed by Asontem (26.30 ± 1.20), Asetenapa, (25.5 ± 0.89), Bengpla (23.90 ± 0.40) and Soronko (23.50 ± 0.00). To reduce post-harvest losses of cowpea, it is recommended that the cultivation of Adom which was the least susceptible amongst the five varieties be encouraged. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 10 (2) 2008: pp. 85-92
Cytogenetical Studies on Insectivora. III

Karyotypes of two Japanese insectivorous species, Crocidura dsinezumi chisai (2n=40, FN=52) and C. horsfieldi watasei (2n=26, FN=48), are investigated by G- and C-banding pattern analysis. Based on the G-banding patterns it is suggested that the 7 meta- or submetacentric pairs observed in C. h. watasei have been developed by the Robertsonian fusion of 10 acrocentric pairs, and also the centromere-telomere translocations between two subtelocentric and acrocentric pairs included in the C. d. chisai karyotype.