Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FRUIT SIZE AND STAGE OF RIPENESS AFFECT POSTHARVEST WATER LOSS IN BELL PEPPER FRUIT (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)

Quality of bell peppers after harvest is largely influenced by water loss from the fruit. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fruit fresh weight, size, and stage of ripeness on the rate of water loss and permeance to water vapor. Fruit diameter was correlated with fresh weight, and surface area was associated with fresh weight and diameter. Fruit surface area decreased logarithmically with increases in fruit size, with smaller fruit showing larger changes in surface area than larger fruit. Mean water loss rate for individual fruit and permeance to water vapor declined with increases in fruit size and as fruit ripeness progressed. Fruit surface area/fresh weight ratio and rate of water loss were both highest in immature fruit and showed no differences between mature green and red fruit. In mature fruit, permeance to water vapor for the skin and calyx were 29 µmolm −2 s −1 kPa −1 and 398 µmolm −2 s −1 kPa −1 , respectively. About 26% of the water loss in mature fruit occurred through the calyx. There was a decline in firmness, water loss rate, and permeance to water vapor of the fruit with increasing fruit water loss during storage.  2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Laying dates and clutch size in the great tit

Etude du comportement reproducteur chez deux especes Parus major et P caeruleus et plus particulierement les facteurs affectants la date de la ponte et la taille des couvees. Basee sur des donnees recouvrant une periode de 40 ans, ces caracteristiques sont etudies en relation avec differentes strategies que peut utiliser l'individu
Produtividade e qualidade da framboeseira 'Batum' cultivada sobcobertura plástica e dois espaçamentos em região subtropical

Raspberry is an economically important berry crop, its fruit contains numerous phenolic compounds with potential health benefits, however ver, in subtropical areas has been low production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity of raspberry 'Batum' produced with or without plastic cover over the plant canopy and two planting densities, being 0.25m and 0.5m between plants and 3.0m between rows and cycles (2012/13 and 2013/14), in subtropical area. The experimental design was randomized blocks, factorial 2x2x2 with 6 blocks and 10 plants per plot. It was evaluated the productive plant characteristics such as number of fruits per plant, production per plant and productivity estimated. Moreover,phenological data, vegetative and physiologic analysis. The planting densities at 0.25m between plants and without plastic cover over the plant canopy result in increased productivity of raspberry 'Batum'.
Effects of endotoxin on pigs prefed ω-3 vs. ω-6 fatty acid-enriched diets

We investigated in a porcine model whether ω-3 fatty acids modify the physiological response to sepsis. For 8 days, 16 male pigs were fed a diet containing 18% fat by weight enriched with either ω-3 or ω-6 fatty acids (FA). A group of six pigs receiving their regular diet served as controls. The ω-3 FA-supplemented pigs had elevated levels of ω-3 FA in their serum-free FA, serum phospholipid (PL), and platelet PL levels compared with either of the other groups. On the ninth day, the unanesthetized pigs were injected with 0.3 mg/g of endotoxin (Escherichia coli) intravenously. The animals had a significant decrease in their arterial O 2 pressure (Pao) [from 84.4±6.8 (SD) to 64±9.4, and from 83.1±7.2 to 55.9±6.3 mmHg in the ω-6 FA and regular diet groups, respectively]
Microbiological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of chronic suppurative otitis media in a tertiary care centre

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a common clinical condition diagnosed in ENT out patients department (OPD). There appears paucity of data on the incidence and pattern of bacterial and fungal flora in patients presenting with ear discharge. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 consecutive patients with CSOM attending the ENT OPD of a tertiary care hospital in North India were included in the study. 3 swabs were used to collect the ear discharge and were processed for isolation of bacterial and fungal organisms. The bacterial isolates thus obtained were tested for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were also tested for methicillin resistance. Fungal growth was identified and antifungal susceptibility testing of yeast isolates was done using standard recommended procedures. Results: Microbiological profile of total 180 cases revealed, bacteria alone in 68.9% cases, bacteria along with fungi in 15.6% cases and fungi alone in 8.3% cases. Amongst these, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacterium isolated (34.9%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (24.4%). Out of the fungal isolates obtained, Aspergillus nigerwas the commonest isolate (29.4%) followed by Candida albicans (19.5%). MRSA strains were 37%. Among the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, maximum resistance was found to Ciprofloxacin (74.2%) followed by GentamicinandCeftazidime. AllCandida species were sensitive to Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Voriconazole. Conclusion: Considering the emergence of bacterial resistance and the availability of wide spectrum of newer antimicrobial agents, it is important to know the pattern of infections and the antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolates.
A dieta e o consumo diário de alimento de Cichla monoculus na Amazônia Central

Information on food, feeding rhythm and daily ration of fish are useful to evaluate the relationship between growth and feeding, predation pressure, competition, and seasonal food limitation. This type of information was lacking to Cichla monoculus in its natural habitats in the Central Amazon floodplain and here it is presented data on the feeding ecology of this species during one hydrological cycle. The study included three floodplain lakes sampled between August 1997 and July 1998. The diet and feeding rhythm were evaluated with gut content analysis and the gastric evacuation rate was measured experimentally. The daily ration was estimated with Elliot and Persson's model and Egger's model. Feeding intensity was lower during the dry season. The diet consisted basically of fish, comprising 9 families of fish but one family of shrimp occurred in 20% of the samples. The gastric evacuation rate was 16.9%h-1. The daily ration was not different between seasons and averaged 2.23% bw. This is a relatively low value compared to other piscivores.
Calibration of time domain reflectometry for forest soil humus layers

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) has become a widely used method for determining the volumetric water content of soils. However, due to the differences in bulk density and surface area, the relationship between the dielectric constant and water content in organic soils is very different from that in mineral soil. It is therefore impossible to have a universal calibration suitable for all soil types. In this article we describe the relationship between the apparent dielectric constant (K a ) and volumetric water content (θ v ) for homogenized and undisturbed humus layers (Of + Oh) from forested soil using three empirical models. There was a clear relationship between the K a and θ v and this relationship was best described (R 2 = 0.968) with a logarithmic equation of the form θ = aln(K a ) - b. Accurate determination of sample volume was the main source of variation in the calibration, having a greater effect on the calibration results than differences in bulk density.
SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION IN HATCHLING LOGGERHEADS (CARETTA CARETTA) INCUBATED AT DIFFERENT CONTROLLED TEMPERATURES

A clutch of Caretta caretta eggs was divided into subgroups and incubated at constant temperatures ranging from 22? -36? C in 2? steps. Hatching occurred at 26? -34? C. At 30? C both males and females developed. Above 30? C only females resulted; below 300C only males resulted. At hatching the gonads were differentiated as ovaries with a conspicuous germi- nal epithelium, or as testes with well developed primary sex cords. The oviducts in males were not resorbed at hatching.
Macroinvertebrate drift in Amazon streams in relation to riparian forest cover and fish fauna

Macroinvertebrate drift was studied in 12 sites in 9 lowland streams (400m), three mid-altitude streams (2100 m) and three high-altitude streams (3800 m) in Ecuador. The purposes of our study was 1) to examine levels and periodicity of drift in relation to altitude, 2) to examine levels and periodicity of drift in relation to environmental site characteristics and 3) to examine the effect of deforestation and specific fish families on levels and diel periodicity of drift in the lowland streams. At all altitudes, day drift of terrestrial invertebrates was equal to or greater than that of aquatic invertebrates, while aquatic invertebrates always dominated drift at night. Mean day drift density of aquatic invertebrates was the same at the two high altitudes, while it was lower in the lowland streams. In contrast, night drift density was higher in lowland stream compared to the two highland stream groups. In all lowland streams drift of aquatic invertebrates was higher at night than at daytime (night: day drift ratio 2-45, mean: 10), while it was largely aperiodic in both groups of highland streams. In all lowland streams, drift was dominated by insects (mean 99.6 %). No significant correlations were found between drift density, drift % or periodicity and riparian forest cover, benthic macroinvertebrate densities or any other environmental site characteristic in the lowland streams. However, path analyses indicated that riparian forest had a significantly negative indirect effect on night and day drift densities, because an increase in riparian cover was associated with a decline in the abundance of fish and benthos. Species richness, density and biomass of fish were directly correlated with invertebrate drift. These parameters had no effect on total day or night drift densities or drift %, but were positively correlated with the night: day drift ratio. The night: day drift ratios were more closely correlated with the species richness of Loricariidae catfish than to any other fish family. Loricariidae are night active, benthic herbivorous-detritivorous scrapers of biofilm, and their presumed effect on drift periodicity is due to physical disturbance of benthic invertebrates during the night, and not necessarily to a behavioural response from benthic invertebrates. Drift of the dominant invertebrate families (Leptophlebiidae, Baetidae, Tricorythidae, Hydropsychidae and Chironomidae) varied among localities, but night: day drift ratios of all families were positively correlated with species richness of fish, although this pattern was only significant for Leptophlebiidae and Baetidae.
Market-Induced Rationalization and Welfare Enhancing Cartels

We show that incomplete cartels in quantity-setting oligopolies may increase welfare, without any e¢ ciencies or synergies being internalized by cartel formation. The main intuition is that the cartel has an incentive to contract output and that the rms outside the cartel react to this by expanding output. If the outsiders are more e¢ cient than the cartel rms average production costs go down. Even for relatively moderate di¤erences in e¢ ciency total welfare may increase due to this market-induced rationalization. JEL classi cation: L10, L41, D43
A revision of the genus Alectra Thunberg (Scrophulariaceae) in Madagascar, with a description of Pseudomelasma, gen. nov.

Le genre pantropical Alectra Thunberg comprend environ 30 especes. Une revision des especes malgaches est presentee dans laquelle 5 especes sont acceptees, dont 4 sont decrites comme nouvelles: A. hildebrandtii, A. humbertii, A. ibityensis et A. fruticosa. L'espece endemique Alectra pedicularioides Baker represente un genre nouveau, Pseudomelasma, qui se distingue d'Alectra par le pedicelle long et le calice accrescent sur le fruit. Il se distingue de Melasma par la corolle persistante et des deux genres par l'inflorescence prolifere et la forme des graines. Une cle pour les especes malgaches ainsi que des descriptions, illustrations et des dates de distribution sont presentees.
EVOLUCIÓN PALEOGEOGRÁFICA Y PALEOECOLÓGICA DEL SISTEMA DE FIORDOS DEL SENO SKYRING Y SENO OTWAY EN LA REGIÓN DE MAGALLANES DURANTE EL TARDIGLACIAL Y HOLOCENO

Los sistemas de terrazas evidencian que el Seno Otway y Skyring y el fiordo de Ultima Esperanza, formaron el mayor sistema lacustre proglacial interconectado de la Patagonia Austral (5.700 km2) durante la deglaciacion temprana (< 18 a 14 ka BP). Este sistema drenaba por el este del Seno Otway hacia el Atlantico. El retroceso de los glaciares desde el Canal Jeronimo alrededor de 14,0 cal kyr causo un mega evento de desague (320 km3), que bajo 95 metros el nivel lacustre en el Seno Otway e inicio una transgresion marina, asi como una intensa erosion a largo plazo de las lineas de costa que quedaron expuestas alrededor del Seno Otway. Entre 11 a 10 ka BP se produjo una transgresion marina mas limitada en el sector oriental del Seno Skyring, probablemente a traves del Canal Gajardo. Esto fue causado por el retroceso de los glaciares alrededor del Gran Campo Nevado (GCN) durante el Maximo Termal del Holoceno Temprano en el Hemisferio Sur (despues de 12 ka BP). Las salinidades del Seno Otway (28-30 psu) y Seno Skyring (17-21 psu) se mantuvieron bajas durante todo el Holoceno. Sin embargo, ocurrieron acotadas variaciones de salinidad debido a nuevos cambios isostaticos en la entrada de agua marina, asi tambien por cambios en la interrelacion entre precipitacion / evaporacion. Estos afectaron la floculacion de los minerales de arcilla, el transporte de sedimentos y tambien a los ecosistemas acuaticos. En particular, el avance de los hielos neoglaciales modificaron el grado de la transgresion marina en este sector andino debido al cierre de los fiordos y a efectos isostaticos. Los glaciares cerraron el Canal Gajardo y la salida de Lago Munoz Gamero al menos varias veces en los periodos de 3,0-2,2 y 1,0-0,1 ka BP, dejando algunas huellas caracteristicas de arcilla glacial en los sedimentos de los Senos Otway y Skyring. Las regiones de fiordos con pendientes mas pronunciadas al oeste de los Senos Skyring y Otway tambien se vieron afectados por los eventos de flujo de masa regulares, en parte provocados por terremotos y eventos de precipitaciones extremas.
The Role of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills on Labour Market Outcomes in Indonesia

This study aims to examine the influence of cognitive and non-cognitive skills on labour market outcomes in Indonesia. The research employs the modified Mincerian model that considers the role of cognitive and personality traits of noncognitive capacities on earnings. This study relies on the data of the fifth wave Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) using sample of 8,810 individuals. The IFLS was conducted in Indonesia in 2014. The research data use cross section data covering 13 provinces in Indonesia. The results show that cognitive capacities measured by schooling and noncognitive aspects of personality traits determine the labour market outcomes. Attending higher degree of education explains higher performance of labour. In addition, extraversion personality is a strong predictor of workers’ performance particularly for upper income groups. Furthermore, the contributions of marital status and personality traits are varied between male and female workers. Labour market and education policies should consider the development of both cognitive and non-cognitive skills to improve labour market outcomes.
Contemporary evolution and parasitism alter the ecological impacts of an invasive crayfish

by Lindsey S. Reisinger Invasive species can substantially alter ecological communities and ecosystem processes. I examined whether contemporary evolution (evolution that occurs on ecological timescales) and parasitism within the invaded range affect the success and impacts of an invasive species, the rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus). Previous research indicates that both contemporary evolution and parasitism can be important; however, community ecologists still lack a broad understanding of how these factors affect communities. My research on contemporary evolution indicates that growth rate has diverged between the native and invaded ranges since O. rusticus were introduced to north temperate lakes. Rapid individual growth, which leads to increased reproduction in crayfish, may be selected for in invasive populations because crayfish are introduced at low densities. Faster growth in the invaded range contributes to the impacts of O. rusticus by allowing them to reach high densities and replace congeners. These findings suggest that including evolutionary potential in risk assessments may enhance our ability to predict invasion success and impacts. Lindsey S. Reisinger My research also indicates that parasitism affects O. rusticus invasion success and impacts. I found that trematode parasites (Microphallus spp.) were associated with declines in O. rusticus population growth. I also examined the behavioral effects of Microphallus on crayfish feeding, aggression, shelter use, and predator avoidance. Infection substantially altered crayfish behavior, and had different effects on O. rusticus and its congeners. In a mesocosm experiment to test how these parasite-induced behavioral changes impact the benthic aquatic community, infected O. rusticus had a greater per-capita impact on macrophytes and macroinvertebrates than uninfected O. rusticus when fish were present, likely due to increased boldness. Finally, I used a survey of anglers to investigate whether a change in Missouri policy to prevent crayfish introductions would have the intended consequences of protecting game fish populations and the fishing industry. I found that banning crayfish from the bait trade is unlikely to reduce angler spending, but instead could increase the revenue generated by the fishing industry by protecting game fish populations. Overall, my dissertation provides new information about the importance of contemporary evolution, parasitism, and human behavior in controlling invasion success and community composition.
Mesozoic avian bone microstructure: physiological implications

We report on the bone microstructure of the Late Cretaceous birds Patagopteryx deferrariisi and members of the Enantiornithes. These birds represent the most primitive birds ever studied histologically. The occurrence of growth rings indicating alternating periods of slowed and fast growth suggests that these basal birds had slower growth rates, and differed physiologically from their modern relatives. Our findings also call into question previous ideas suggesting that nonavian theropods developed a full avian degree of homeothermic endothermy, which was later inherited by birds. On the contrary, our findings suggest that birds developed classic endothermy relatively late in their phylogenetic history.
Studies on Insect Pest Complex of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and Management of Fruit Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Studies on insect pest Complex of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and management of fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner)” submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (Entomology) of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur is a record of the bonafide research work carried out by Mr. Sachin Sayade under my guidance and supervision. The subject of the thesis has been approved by the Student’s Advisory Committee and the Director of Instruction.
Freezing tolerance of winter wheat as influenced by extended growth at low temperatures and exposure to freeze–thaw cycles

Abstract: As the seasons progress, autumn-planted winter wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) first gain then progressively lose freezing tolerance. Exposing the plants to freeze–thaw cycles of -3/3 °C results in increased ability to tolerate subsequent freezing to potentially damaging temperatures. This study was conducted to determine to what extent the length of time that a plant is grown at low temperatures influenced the effectiveness of this freeze–thaw enhancement of freezing tolerance. Plants from six winter wheat lines were grown at 4 °C for 1–18 wk, exposed to 0–2 cycles of freezing to -3 °C for 24 h, then thawed for 24 h at 3 °C, then tested for their ability to tolerate freezing to -10 °C to -17 °C. The freeze–thaw treatments resulted in increased freezing tolerance after 6–12 wk of growth at low temperatures, but had no significant effect before or after that time period. Two cycles of -3/3 °C freeze–thaw was consistently more effective than one cycle. Variation in the extent and timing of the effectiveness of the freeze–thaw treatments was found among the wheat lines, suggesting genetic variation that may be useful for prolonging freezing tolerance further into the winter months could be found in winter wheat.
The role of the chromatin protein HU in organization of transcription foci and coordination of genomic transcription in Escherichia coli

The process of transcription is intimately linked to the overall structure and superhelicity of DNA in the context of bacterial nucleoid. The structure of the nucleoid in Escherichia coli depends in part on the composition of nucleoid-associated proteins, which is changing with growth phase. In order to understand the influence of the nucleoid structure on gene expression, studies of genomic transcript profiles of mutants lacking nucleoid proteins have to be complemented by approaches revealing the mechanistic basis of nucleoid-shaping processes. In this study, the localization of RNA polymerase in several mutants of nucleoid-associated proteins was investigated and found to be dependent on the major nucleoid-associated protein HU. The HU mutant showed a spatial defect in coordinating gene expression. More specifically, genes located within a large region comprising OriC and bordered by the last ribosomal RNA genes on both arms of the chromosome were expressed stronger than in wild type. This defect is most easily explained by disturbances of effective DNA supercoiling - a variable modulating promoter activities - in the mutant lacking HU. This work proposes a holistic model explaining the HU-dependent spatial localization of RNAP and coordination of gene expression by means of gross DNA structures formed upon cooperative binding of HU, as opposed to the classical perspective emphasizing the rearrangements of interactions within a "digital" regulatory network. Defects in the transcriptional response of HU mutant to stress are easily accommodated in our general model. Moreover, this model proposes a novel autoregulatory mechanism implicating a self-organizing nucleoid structure in coordinating genomic transcription. By assuming the role of structural autoregulation of the entire bacterial genome in coordination of global transcription, this model may also provide insights into the mechanistic basis of cell differentiation in multicellular organisms.