Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of late-terminal drought stress on yield components of four barley cultivars.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important winter cereal crop grown in the semiarid Mediterranean, where late-terminal drought stress during grain filling has recently become more common. The objectives of this study were to investigate the growth performance and grain yield of four barley cultivars under late-terminal drought stress under both glasshouse and field conditions. At grain filling, four barley cultivars (Rum, ACSAD176, Athroh and Yarmouk) were exposed to three watering treatments: (1) well-watered [soil maintained at 75 % field capacity (FC)], (2) mild drought stress at 50 % FC, (3) severe drought stress at 25 % FC in the glasshouse experiment and (1) well-watered (irrigated once a week), (2) mild drought (irrigated once every 2 weeks), (3) severe drought (non-irrigated; rainfed) in the field. As drought stress severity increased, gross photosynthetic rate, water potential, plant height, grain filling duration, spike number per plant, grain number per spike, 1000-grain weight, straw yield, grain yield and harvest index decreased. In the glasshouse experiment, the six-row barley cultivars (Rum, ACSAD176, and Athroh) had higher grain yield than the two-row barley cultivar (Yarmouk), but the difference was not significant among the six-row cultivars under all treatments. In the field experiment, Rum had the highest grain yield among all cultivars under the mild drought stress treatment. The two-row cultivar (Yarmouk) had the lowest grain yield. In general, the traditional cultivar Rum had either similar or higher grain yield than the other three cultivars under all treatments. However, the yield response to drought differed between the cultivars. Those, Rum and ACSAD176, that were capable of maintaining a higher proportion of their spikes and grains per spike during drought also maintained a higher proportion of their yield compared with those in well-watered treatment. In conclusion, cultivar differences in grain yield were related to spike number per plant and grain number per spike, but not days to heading or grain filling duration.
Hematological profile of beef cattle with divergent residual feed intake, following feed deprivation

Abstract – The objective of this work was to characterize the hematological profilesof steers and bulls, according to residual feed intake (RFI), after feed deprivation. Twenty‑month‑old Nellore steers and bulls were fed feedlot diets for 70 and 56 days, respectively. RFI was calculated as the difference between actual feed intake and expected feed intake. More and less efficientsteers and bulls, according to RFI, were subjected to 24 hours of food deprivation. Blood was sampled prior to and following the withdrawal period. Hematological analyses included total and differential white blood cell count, red blood cell count and morphology, and plasma glucose concentration. Variation in RFI did not influenceplasma glucose concentration or blood cell profiles.Glucose concentrations -in bulls decreased from 114 to 97 mg dL1, but remained unchanged in steers, and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio increased from 0.39 to 0.57 following deprivation. Hematological profiles do not differ between more and less efficient steers and bulls, according to RFI.Index terms:
Colonization of artificial substrata by macro‐invertebrates in a stream and variations according to stone size

SUMMARY. Plastic cages containing artificial substrata were placed on the stony bottom of a stream in a section where the environmental conditions appeared to be homogeneous. The section was divided into eight equal sub-sections (A-H) and four cages were placed in each sub-section. The stone-size of the artificial substrata was similar within each cage but differed between the four cages with average diameters of 14, 24, 48 and 96 mm, respectively. The baskets were removed one month later and the catches of macro-invertebrates were recorded. Analysis of the catches (density and number of taxa in each cage) revealed no significant differences in connection with the position of the cages in the section of stream. Cages with 48-mm stones contained the least abundant fauna. The taxa which colonized cages with 14- or 24-mrn stones were more numerous than those collected from cages with 48- or 96-mm stones. Statistical analysis by laxon confirmed the preceding results. Variability in connection with the position of the cages along the section of stream was never significant. A little more than half the taxa were distributed independently of stone size but always showed a contagious type distribution. The density of the other taxa was higher, either in cages with 14- or 24-mm stones (particularly Gammarus) or only in cages with 96-mm stones (especially Hydropsyche). Only one taxon was more abundant in cages with 48-mm stones, the type of substratum in which the overall density was lowest. Catches in the cages were not the same as those taken with a Surber sampler because the two samplers did not take samples from the same habitats and also because the baskets offered a more specialized habitat than the surrounding bottom. The basket with 24-mm stones gave the least distorted picture of the natural population.
Identifying suitable restoration sites for a scarce subarctic willow (Salix arbuscula) using different information sources and methods

Background: Subarctic willow scrub is an extremely restricted habitat within the UK. Restoration efforts are now targeted at expanding current populations and establishing new stands. Aim: Selecting suitable target sites for restoration has to be cost-effective. Efficacy can be ensured through the development of habitat suitability models with high predictive ability but these have to be efficient in using only a small part of the resources of a restoration project. Location: The study was concentrated on the Lochan na Lairige catchment at Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, Perthshire, Scotland. Additional data were collected from three other sites in the Southern Highlands; Fireach na Moine, Meall Ghaordie and Meall na Samhna. Methods: This research compared the merits of using vegetation or environmental parameters, and a combination of both, to build habitat suitability models for a scarce species of upland Britain, Salix arbuscula. In addition, models derived from three different statistical methods (generalised linear models, linear discriminant analysis and classification and regression trees) were compared. Results: Models based on either vegetation and environmental parameters were very similar in predictive ability, though there was only moderate agreement on which sites were suitable for restoration. The combination of both sets did not improve predictive ability, and hence only one set of parameters is necessary to develop a cost-effective method of identifying suitable replanting sites for S. arbuscula. The models developed by generalised linear modelling were consistently and significantly higher in predictive ability than those developed using the other methods, but there were considerable differences in which sites were highlighted as suitable for restoration between the different methods. Conclusions: Predictive models for suitable restoration sites for S. arbuscula could be assembled cost-effectively from just one parameter set, with a GLM approach providing the most effective statistical approach. However, as there was only moderate consistency between modelling approaches a model averaging approach could be profitably employed in site selection.
Function and pathology of the human retinal pigment epithelium

Background: To determine level, variability and functional annotation of gene expression of the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a key tissue involved in retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Macular RPE cells from six selected healthy human donor eyes (aged 63-78 years) were laser dissected and used for 22K microarray studies (Agilent technologies). Data were analyzed with Rosetta Resolver, the web tool DAVID and Ingenuity software. Results: In total, we identified 19,746 array entries with significant expression in the RPE. Gene expression was analyzed according to expression levels, interindividual variability and functionality. A group of highly (n=2,194) expressed RPE genes showed an overrepresentation of genes of the oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthesis and ribosome pathways. In the group of moderately expressed genes (n=8,776) genes of the phosphatidylinositol signaling system and aminosugars metabolism were overrepresented. As expected, the top 10 percent (n=2,194) of genes with the highest interindividual differences in expression showed functional overrepresentation of the complement cascade, essential in inflammation in age-related macular degeneration, and other signaling pathways. Surprisingly, this same category also includes the genes involved in Bruch’s membrane (BM) composition. Among the top 10 percent of genes with low interindividual differences, there was an overrepresentation of genes involved in local glycosaminoglycan turnover. Conclusions: Our study expands current knowledge of the RPE transcriptome by assigning new genes, and adding data about expression level and interindividual variation. Functional annotation suggests that the RPE has high levels of protein synthesis, strong energy demands, and is exposed to high levels of oxidative stress and a variable degree of inflammation. Our data sheds new light on the molecular composition of BM, adjacent to the RPE, and is useful for candidate retinal disease gene identification or gene dose-dependent therapeutic studies.
AUDIT COMMITTEE ATTRIBUTES AND AUDITOR BRAND NAME OF LISTED COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

This paper examines the effect of audit committee attributes on auditor brand name proxy by the Big 4. The study utilizes 88 listed firms in Nigeria through 440 firm-year observations ranging between the years 2012 to 2016. The data for the study were extracted from the firms’ annual reports and Thompson Reuters DataStream. A panel logistic regression was employed to estimate the model of the study. Consistent with complementary hypothesis the findings demonstrate that audit committee attributes (audit committee independence, audit committee financial accounting experts, audit committee legal expert, female audit committee member and audit committee stock ownership) are positively related to auditor brand name. The findings also support the substitution hypothesis perspectives by revealing an inverse relationship between audit committee meetings, audit committee tenure, audit committee chair and auditor brand name. Our findings offer an initial insight on the effect of audit committee legal expert, and audit committee stock ownership on auditor brand name. Thus, the findings can benefit existing and prospective shareholders who are the direct users of financial reports. This study can also help policy-makers and regulators by allowing them to better recognize the importance of these distinctive audit committee attributes in enhancing the quality of audits, which is one of the most vital elements of improving financial reporting quality. Keywords:Audit committee, Audit quality, Audit size, Gender diversity, Ownership
Effect of spacings and fertility levels on growth, yield and quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) hybrids under rainfed condition

Plants under closer spacing of 60 x 60cm (S 2 ) produced significantly more LAI, seed cotton yield, crop profitability, crop productivity and PFP N over wider plant spacing (90 x 60cm), respectively, whereas 9.86% higher lint index was recorded under wider spacing. However, wider spacing produced significantly higher growth attributes viz. dry matter, CGR and RGR at 120 DAE and 150 DAE, respectively over closer spacing. Significantly higher dry matter (46.95 and 88.54 g/plant), CGR (0.468 and 1.386g/day/plant), RGR (0.016 and 0.028g/g/day/plant at120 DAE and 150 DAE, respectively), leaf area index, seed cotton yield, crop profitability and crop productivity was produced by MLCH-318 over VBCH-2231 and PKV Hy-2. Among fertility levels the significantly higher dry matter, CGR, RGR, LAI, seed index, seed cotton yield, crop profitability and crop productivity were produced under application of 62.50-31.25-31.25kg N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O/ha (F 3 ) over the rest of NPK levels, whereas lowest response to added nitrogen i.e. PFPN (15.55 kg/kg N) was obtained with highest level of nitrogen applied in F3 treatment. When hybrid MLCH-318 sown at closure spacing and fertilized with F 3 (62.50-31.25-31.25 kg N-P 2 O 5 K 2 O/ha) recorded significantly higher moisture depletion, consumptive use and WUE.
Conserving Waste Rice for Wintering Waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Abstract Rice lost before or during harvest operations (hereafter waste rice) provides important food for waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, USA, but >70% of waste rice is lost during autumn. We conducted experiments in 19 production rice fields in Arkansas and Mississippi during autumns 2003 and 2004 to evaluate the ability of common postharvest practices (i.e., burn, mow, roll, disk, or standing stubble) to conserve waste rice. We detected a postharvest treatment effect and a positive effect of initial abundance of waste rice on late-autumn abundance of waste rice (P ≤ 0.022). Standing stubble contained the greatest abundance of waste rice followed by burned, mowed, rolled, and disked stubble. We recommend standing stubble or burning to maximize waste rice abundance for wintering waterfowl.
Lipidomics Analysis of Postmortem Interval: Preliminary Evaluation of Human Skeletal Muscle

Background: Biochemical determinations of human postmortem interval have focused on acute biomarkers of alterations in metabolites and in microbial generation of amino acids, organic acids, and volatile amines and acids. The need for a reliable biomarker of tissue deterioration on a longer time scale is clear. To determine if structural glycerophospholipids might be of value in this regard, we undertook a lipidomics evaluation of human skeletal muscle at several intervals postmortem. Methods: Human anterior quadriceps muscle was excised at 1, 9, and 24 days postmortem. Tissue was extracted with tert butyl methylether and methanol and the extracts submitted to shotgun lipidomics analysis. Results: Sterol sulfates, very-long-chain fatty acids, choline plasmalogens, ethanolamine plasmalogens, and phosphatidylglycerols all were found to decline over the 24 day postmortem period. Free fatty acids were found to increase over the same time period. Conclusion: Tissue degradation over time postmortem appears to be reliably monitored by the decline in complex structural glycerophospholipids. The contribution of microbes to this degradation remains to be defined. These preliminary data support further evaluations of this lipidomics approach.
Classification of the "Rhodochrous" Complex and Allied Taxa Based upon Deoxyribonucleic Acid Reassociation

The degree of binding was determined between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) preparations from nocardiae and “rhodochrous” strains and uracil-labeled DNA from three reference strains, Nocardia asteroides N668 and rhodochrous strains N11 and N54. In all cases, good congruence was found between the DNA reassociation data and that from numerical phenetic studies. Only a small degree of nucleotide sequence homology was found between the N. asteroides reference system and the other taxa studied, and there was evidence that N. asteroides is genetically heterogeneous. The moles percent guanine plus cytosine for the rhodochrous strains was within the range 58 to 67; the corresponding range for nocardiae was 64 to 68 mol%.
Effects of season and breed on sow performance in the seasonal-equatorial climate of Southern Nigeria

Summary Preweaning litter traits of 289 Large White (LW) and of 167 Landrace (LR) litters born between 1 January, 1967 and 31 December, 1969 were analysed for seasonal effects. The month during which farrowing occurred exerted highly significant effects on the average piglet weight at birth and at weaning, as well as on the preweaning piglet weight gain (P <0·001). Piglet weight at birth was higher during the hot and dry months of the year, while the preweaning piglet weight gain was greater during the cooler season. The heaviest piglets at weaning were those born in August, the coldest month of the year. Piglet weight at birth was negatively correlated with the mean relative humidity of the month of farrowing (r = -0·79; P <0·01). The percentage of stillborn piglets was high in litters born during March and April (P < 0·005), and the positive correlation between the mean physiologically effective temperature and the percentage of stillborn piglets (r = +0·57) approached significance (P < 0·10). The considerable variations in litter size and litter weight at birth and at weaning as well as the variations in preweaning mortality were not significant. The two breeds differed significantly (P < 0·005) in piglet weight at birth (LW: 2·8 lb; LR: 3·0 lb), in litter weight at birth (LW: 24 lb; LR: 28 lb), and in the percentage of stillborn piglets (LW: 4·5%; LR: 7·5%).
Molecular studies on transmission of mung bean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) by Bemisia tabaci Genn. in Mungbean

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn. is an important pest worldwide because of its ability to cause damage by direct feeding and its role as a vector of plant viruses including geminiviruses. Yellow mosaic virus (MYV) is a serious disease of pulse crops including mungbean, blackgram, frenchbean, pigeonpea and soybean. Yellow mosaic diseases are one of the most important viral diseases in mungbean caused by mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) which lead to severe yield reduction and it necessitates development of MYMV resistant lines for improved crop yield. Basic studies were carried out to elucidate the characteristics of MYMV transmission by its vector, B. tabaci. Artificial transmission experiments with B. tabaci were conducted under greenhouse conditions using cylindrical nylon cages with wire mesh tops. After 24 h acquisition access period (ASP) on agroinfected mungbean plants, B. tabaci collected from these agroinfected mungbean plants were considered viruliferous and transferred to a separate cage with healthy mungbean plants as confirmed via agroinoculation. After 24 h inoculation access period (IAP), B. tabaci were removed and the plants were sprayed with an insecticide and kept for observations of symptom development for 10 to 25 days in insect cages. Studies concluded with mungbean accessions using ten whitefly adults with 24 h of ASP and IAP resulted in transmission of virus of 70.50, and percent in MYMVR 111 (At VA 221), MYMVR 29 (At VA 239) and MYMVR 29 (At VA 221) respectively. Ten viruliferous whitefly adults did not cause MYMV symptom in KMG 189 (At VA 221), ML818 (At VA 239) and MYMVR 57 (At VA 221). Twenty viruliferous whitefly adults were able to cause MYMV after 48 h ASP and 24 h IAP and resulted in the maximum transmission efficiency in MYMVR 55 (At VA 221) (85.00%) and MYMVR 55 (At VA 239) (83.50%). The virus was proven to be a persistent discrete fragment of 703 bp using the polymerase chain reaction method on viruliferous whitefly adults, while no bands were obtained from non-viruliferous B. tabaci adults reared on CO2 brinjal host. Key words: Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV), transmission, vector, Bemisia tabaci.
FOTOSSÍNTESE, CONDUTÂNCIA ESTOMÁTICA E TRANSPIRAÇÃO EM PUPUNHEIRA SOB DEFICIÊNCIA HÍDRICA

Research results on physiological aspects of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), a native fruit tree from tropical America, are scarce. Trying to fill this gap, a water deficit experiment was performed under nursery conditions during 13 days, utilizing 12 months old plants. The main objective was to evaluate peach palm responses to water deficit. The measured variables were: CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and leaf water potential. Data were collected daily in a laboratory, under a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 1200 mm-2 s-1, and studied by variance and regression analysis. Significant decreases of leaf water potential values and gas exchange rates were verified when water was withhold for more than six days. The smallest values were found at the tenth day without water replacement, with a reduction of 92% of the net photosynthetic rate, 87% of the stomatal conductance and 70% of the transpiration. By that time, the smallest measured leaf water potential was ¾1. 9 MPa. Recovering from water stress was accomplished two days after rewatering, except for stomatal conductance. The partial closing of the stomata (decrease in stomatal conductance) and the reduction of photosynthesis, suggest the existence of an acclimation mechanism of the peach palm, diminishing water loss under moderate stress.
Replacement of fishmeal by canola protein concentrate in diets fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A dephytinized protein concentrate prepared from canola seed (CPC) was assessed for nutrient digestibility and performance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The apparent digestibility coefficients of CPC were: dry matter, 817 g kg−1; crude protein, 899 g kg−1; gross energy, 861 g kg−1; arginine, 945 g kg−1; lysine, 935 g kg−1; methionine, 954 g kg−1; threonine, 893 g kg−1. A 9-week performance trial assessed 7 diets. Fishmeal provided 940 g kg−1 of the protein in the control diet. Test diets consisted of CPC or water-washed CPC replacing 500 and 750 g kg−1 of fishmeal protein; and CPC plus an attractant replacing 500 and 750 g kg−1 of fishmeal protein. No significant differences in performance were observed (P > 0.05). A subsequent 9-week performance trial evaluated the effect of adding CPC into compound diets containing fishmeal/soybean meal/corn gluten meal. Five diets were prepared: fishmeal provided 670 g kg−1 of the protein in the control diet, in the remaining diets CPC was incorporated into commercial-like trout diets at 100, 200 and 300 g kg−1 replacement of fishmeal protein, the fifth diet included an attractant in the 300 g kg−1 replacement diet. No significant differences in performance were obtained (P > 0.05). These studies show that dephytinized canola protein concentrate has potential to replace substantial levels of fishmeal in diets for carnivorous fish without compromising performance.