Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of gas emission and derived electrical power generation from Shiraz landfill

Landfilling has been considered as the most common method for solid waste disposal in developing countries which is faced with several issues, such as gas emission. Methane as a greenhouse gas is the main landfill gas which could be applied as a fuel for electrical power plants. In this study, the gas emission of Shiraz landfill site was predicted by using USEPA model, for this purpose, after determination of the solid waste physical composition on Shiraz landfill site, the L0 and k constants were estimated by Monte Carlo method, as well as the rate of gas collection and the rate of electrical power generation capacity were estimated under existing and ideal scenarios. The results showed that gas production would reach its peak up to 5.7A�107 m3 year-1 by 2039. The maximum electrical power generation was also similar to the pattern of gas production in the landfill and would be 2545GWh and 4019GWh for the existing and ideal conditions, respectively in 2039. Results showed that the recovery of biogas at Shiraz landfill could be a desirable alternative in different available waste management options for this city. Â© 2015 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.
Morphological and Molecular Variation in the Pumpkin Toadlet, Brachycephalus ephippium (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

Abstract A recent study demonstrated marked variation in cranial shape between a population of Brachycephalus ephippium from Jundiaí in São Paulo state and populations from Atibaia and São Francisco Xavier (São Paulo) and Macaé de Cima in the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. This result contrasts with earlier work describing differences in cranial shape between the population from Rio de Janeiro and those from São Paulo. Here, we investigate the nature and extent of variation between populations of B. ephippium using two lines of evidence. First, we reevaluate patterns of morphological variation by incorporating semi-landmarks into the quantitative description of cranial shape and by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to describe qualitative skeletal features. Second, we assess molecular variation in the mitochondrial genes cytochrome b, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA, and the nuclear Rag-1 gene, totaling 3,697 base pairs. Geometric analyses of cranial shape and SEM images of skeletal traits show that the population from Macaé de Cima and the populations from São Paulo differ markedly in morphology and diverge in the cytochrome b, 12S, and 16S rRNA genes by 9.7%, 2.8%, and 4.4%, respectively. Divergence in the nuclear gene Rag-1 is, as expected, much lower (0.6%). These results clearly demonstrate heterogeneity between populations that are all currently diagnosed as B. ephippium and point to the need for further research to ascertain the true diversity currently hidden under the name of B. ephippium.
Exploring the role of root anatomy in P-mediated control of colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Alterations of root anatomy have been largely ignored as potential mechanisms for phosphorus-mediated control of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. However, at least three anatomical traits including the proportion of root length with a suberized hypodermis, the distribution of hypodermal passage cells, and the proportion of root volume as intercellu- lar air space may influence the degree of colonization. In the present study, we determined whether these traits could be altered by variation in plant phosphorus (P) status. We grew 15 angiosperm species from 13 families, each at two P avail- abilities, and determined how P status influenced the three root traits. Of the three traits, only the distribution of passage cells was significantly affected by phosphorus status; high P plants possessed a reduced proportion of root length with pas- sage cells. Therefore, in species with passage cells, change in the proportion of root length with passage cells may repre- sent one mechanism for phosphorus-mediated control of mycorrhizal colonization. However, individual species responses to P treatment varied widely, and no single anatomical mechanism appeared to be responsible for the control of mycorrhi- zal colonization in all species.
Are Nest Exclosures an Effective Tool in Plover Conservation?

Abstract High levels of egg predation by numerous vertebrates has been implicated as a limiting factor in many avian populations. In response, ornithologists often attempt to control potential egg predators through lethal methods or large scale fencing of breeding habitat. More recently, individual nest exclosures have been employed to deter egg predators. During 1999 and 2000, we experimentally tested nest exclosure effectiveness at enhancing Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) nest success in the Great Basin, USA. We demonstrated that nests with exclosures had significantly lower daily mortality rates compared to nests without exclosures. Although nest exclosures increased Killdeer nest success in this study, it is necessary to identify predators impacting nest success prior to the exclosure design. Nest exclosures are unlikely to be equally successful among sites, and variation in exclosure design may be required across both the range of a species and/or breeding seasons at a single site. The exclosure design we used did not deter small mammals and birds, or reptiles; and we observed small mustelids killing incubating birds. However, these exclosures were effective at increasing hatching success by deterring larger predators (ravens, gulls, canids). Any benefit derived from the nest exclosure used may potentially be offset by increased predation on incubating adults. Nest exclosures are not a means of preserving biological diversity over geologic time, but rather a potential temporary site-specific tool that increases nest success while long-term conservation plans are developed.
Detecção rápida de Salmonella Enteritidis em alimentos por ensaio imunoenzimático ELISA

Traditional cultural methods for the detection of Salmonella in foods is a labour-intensive and time-consuming, taking 4 to 5 days for the final results to be known. Therefore, simplified and rapid methods are required for both diagnosis of foodborne diseases and microbiological food quality control. The aim of this study was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in foods. The assay used a polyclonal detector antibody to flagelin raised in rabbit. The anti-sera obtained showed slight cross-reactions to others Salmonella serotypes and Enterobacteriaceae species tested. The method sensitivity was of 104 cells/mL of pure culture. The horseradish peroxidase conjugate was stable up to two months at 4oC and for this reason it should be used only during this period. The method also showed sensitivity of 1 cell per 25g of potato and carrot salad containing home-made mayonnaise by using only a cultural stage in buffered peptone water incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. In conclusion, the method showed to be practical and reliable to detect Salmonella Enteritidis in foods.
Relations entre le nombre de fœtus par corne utérine, la taille de portée à la naissance et la croissance pondérale des lapereaux

Au total, 246 lapines de la souche INRA0029 ont ete mises en place pour realiser deux portees en insemination artificielle. La moitie avait prealablement subi une ovariectomie unilaterale pour doubler le nombre de foetus dans une corne uterine. Le nombre de foetus implantes etait compte par endoscopie. Il existe une relation du nombre d'implants positive avec la taille de portee et negative avec le taux de survie foetale. Il y a une relation de la taille de portee positive avec le poids total des nes vivants et negative avec le poids moyen des lapereaux nes vivants. L'effet defavorable du doublement de la population dans une corne sur le taux de survie foetale (-5,2 points) et le poids moyen des lapereaux a la naissance (-2,6 g) est significatif, mais beaucoup plus faible. En deuxieme parite, les portees etaient standardisees a six lapereaux a la naissance, qui etaient peses chaque semaine jusqu'au sevrage, puis a 7 et 11 semaines pour les femelles conservees. La relation negative entre poids individuel et taille de portee a la naissance est significative quel que soit l'âge, malgre un effet favorable de la taille de portee a la naissance sur la production de lait pendant les deux premieres semaines. L'effet defavorable du groupement de tous les foetus dans une seule corne est beaucoup plus faible et de moins en moins marque quand l'âge des lapereaux augmente; l'effet defavorable sur la croissance est une consequence de l'effet sur le poids a la naissance. Il n'y a aucun effet du surpeuplement uterin ou de la taille de portee sur la croissance apres sevrage. La diminution du poids des lapereaux issus de grandes portees semble donc essentiellement due a une competition nutritionnelle pendant la gestation entre tous les foetus et non a un surpeuplement physique des cornes uterines. L'augmentation de la prolificite doit donc s'accompagner d'une meilleure couverture des besoins de la lapine gestante.
Design, calibration and calculation for flow-through respirometry systems

Flow-through respirometry systems that measure oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and evaporative water loss (EWL) require the accurate calibration of the flow meter and three separate analysers (O2, CO2 and H2O vapour). Correct measurement of VO2, VCO2 and EWL depends on the incurrent air flow (VI) and its condition (e.g. dry, CO2-free), and the excurrent air flow (VE) and its condition (e.g. dry, CO2-free), which can differ in different parts of the excurrent circuit. Usually either VI or VE is measured and the other is calculated from the gas composition. I describe here a procedure for precise calibration of CO2 and H2O analysers in a flow-through respirometry system by reference to a calibrated O2 analyser, using a small gas flame. Generic equations are derived for calculation of VO2, VO2 and EWL with a variety of configurations for a flow-through respirometry system. Procedures for selection of data from continuous records of VO2, VCO2 and EWL for calculation of minimal (basal or standard) values are briefly described. Finally, the importance of the correct order of data treatment prior to calculation is described.
Environmental and senescent related variations in Weddell seal body mass: implications for age-specific reproductive performance

Recent studies have found age-specific variations in reproductive performance amongst Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, and we hypothesized age-related variations in maternal body mass as a mechanism linking maternal age and the observed patterns of reproductive performance. We evaluated the effects of maternal traits such as age and reproductive experience and the effects of environmental variations on maternal body mass at parturition. Maternal body mass at parturition showed substantial age- and environmental-related variations. Maternal body mass increased with age through the young and middle ages, and evidence of senescent declines in body mass was found amongst the oldest ages. Additionally, body mass at parturition was strongly influenced by environmental variations during the pregnancy period, specifically sea-ice extent and the state of the El-Nino Southern Oscillation. Patterns of age-specific variations in body mass were consistent with age-specific patterns of offspring survival probability, which supported our hypothesis that changes in body mass link maternal age and reproductive performance in the Weddell seal. Further, environmental conditions during pregnancy may be an important component of Weddell seal reproductive performance.
H. diversicolor, N. succinea and P. cultrifera (Polychaeta: Nereididae) as bioaccumulators of cadmium and zinc from sediments: Preliminary results in the Venetian lagoon (Italy)

A field investigation was performed to evaluate the suitability of three nereid polychaetes species as biomonitors for sediment contamination by Cd and Zn in the Venetian lagoon (Italy). With regard to the treatment and subsequent chemical analysis of the animals, a specific methodology was set up. Metal concentrations in sediments and tissues were compared for 20 stations. Cd bioaccumulation was detected in all species, although bioaccumulation factors and the concentration trends were different. This finding could be explained by a difference in the metal bioavailability or in the accumulation strategy of species. Zn results have confirmed the presence of a regulation strategy in the nereid polychaetes, as previously reported.
Increasing mycorrhizal colonisation does not improve growth and nutrition of wheat on Vertosols in south-eastern Australia

Most crops host arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Canola and other brassicas are some of the few exceptions. This study examined AM fungal colonisation, uptake of phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn), growth, and yield of wheat following brassicas and crops that host AMF in 5 crop-sequence experiments in southern New South Wales and Victoria. All experiments were on alkaline Vertosols, similar to soils in the northern wheatbelt on which low AM fungal colonisation of wheat following canola, or long-fallow, has been reported to induce poor crop growth. Soils with a broad range of extractable P concentrations were chosen. AM fungal colonisation of wheat was generally lower following brassicas than hosts of AMF, although this varied with year and location. The effect on wheat AM fungal colonisation levels did not vary between brassicas with differing levels and types of root glucosinolates. Low AM fungal colonisation did not affect early wheat growth, pre-anthesis P and Zn uptake, or yield. A positive relationship between AM fungal colonisation and grain Zn and P concentrations occurred in one experiment. High levels of colonisation by AMF did not protect crop roots from damage by root pathogens and high levels of pathogen damage made interpretation of results difficult in some instances. As these findings are consistent with results from an experiment on an acidic Kandosol in southern New South Wales, it appears farmers do not need to consider the degree to which wheat will be colonised by AMF when planning crop sequences in south-eastern Australia.
Effects of ocean acidification on Posidonia oceanica epiphytic community and shoot productivity

Biological interactions can alter predictions that are based on single‐species physiological response. It is known that leaf segments of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica will increase photosynthesis with lowered pH, but it is not clear whether the outcome will be altered when the whole plant and its epiphyte community, with different respiratory and photosynthetic demands, are included. In addition, the effects on the Posidonia epiphyte community have rarely been tested under controlled conditions, at near‐future pH levels. In order to better evaluate the effects of pH levels as projected for the upcoming decades on seagrass meadows, shoots of P. oceanica with their associated epiphytes were exposed in the laboratory to three pH levels (ambient: 8.1, 7.7 and 7.3, on the total scale) for 4 weeks. Net productivity, respiration, net calcification and leaf fluorescence were measured on several occasions. At the end of the study, epiphyte community abundance and composition, calcareous mass and crustose coralline algae growth were determined. Finally, photosynthesis vs. irradiance curves (PE) was produced from segments of secondary leaves cleaned of epiphytes and pigments extracted. Posidonia leaf fluorescence and chlorophyll concentrations did not differ between pH treatments. Net productivity of entire shoots and epiphyte‐free secondary leaves increased significantly at the lowest pH level yet limited or no stimulation in productivity was observed at the intermediate pH treatment. Under both pH treatments, significant decreases in epiphytic cover were observed, mostly due to the reduction of crustose coralline algae. The loss of the dominant epiphyte producer yet similar photosynthetic response for epiphyte‐free secondary leaves and shoots suggests a minimal contribution of epiphytes to shoot productivity under experimental conditions. Synthesis. Observed responses indicate that under future ocean acidification conditions foreseen in the next century an increase in Posidonia productivity is not likely despite the partial loss of epiphytic coralline algae which are competitors for light. A decline in epiphytic cover could, however, reduce the feeding capacity of the meadow for invertebrates. In situ long‐term experiments that consider both acidification and warming scenarios are needed to improve ecosystem‐level predictions.
Phylogeny of xanthopygine rove beetles (Coleoptera) based on six molecular loci

The rove beetle subtribe Xanthopygina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini) is a species‐rich group of 27 neotropical genera that contains some of the largest and most brightly coloured of all staphylinid beetles. The monophyly of the subtribe has never been tested before, using a large dataset of taxa and genes. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses are used on individual genes (COI, 28S rDNA, wingless, arginine kinase, CAD and topoisomerase I) and the partitioned concatenated dataset to test for monophyly and examine the relationships among Xanthopygina genera. Xanthopygina (excluding Philothalpus) are shown to be a monophyletic group with strong support values. The genus Philothalpus is removed from Xanthopygina and placed in the tribe Staphylinini as incertae sedis. Four distinct clades of Xanthopygina genera are recognized. The origin of Xanthopygina is hypothesized to be in the Late Cretaceous or later and the origin of myrmecophilous adaptations is discussed.
Learning pronunciation variants in a second language: Orthographic effects

The present study investigated the effect of orthography on the learning and subsequent processing of pronunciation variants in a second language. Dutch learners of French learned reduced pronunciation variants that result from schwa-zero alternation in French (e.g., reduced /ʃnij/ from chenille 'caterpillar'). Half of the participants additionally learnt the words' spellings, which correspond more closely to the full variants with schwa. On the following day, participants performed an auditory lexical decision task, in which they heard half of the words in their reduced variants, and the other half in their full variants. Participants who had exclusively learnt the auditory forms performed significantly worse on full variants than participants who had also learnt the spellings. This shows that learners integrate phonological and orthographic information to process pronunciation variants. There was no difference between both groups in their performances on reduced variants, suggesting that the exposure to spelling does not impede learners' processing of these variants.
Far‐eastern strains of bean common mosaic virus and methods of their immunodiagnostics

The paper presents data of investigation on the physico‐chemical and antigenic properties of capsid proteins of the Bean common mosaic virus isolated from Phaseolus plants in the Russian Far East (BCMV‐R) and from China (BCMV‐C). A method for isolation of the virus preparation was selected. The purified preparations of two isolates BCMV have been obtained. The presence of one polypeptide in structural proteins of virions was established and their molecular masses determined (BCMV‐R ‐ 31,6 kD; BCMV‐C ‐ 32,1 kD). Polyclonal antiserum was obtained with titre 1:12800 and the indirect and “sandwich"‐variants of ELISA were developed to detect this virus. The allied relationships were established with the bean yellow mosaic virus and with the type representative of the genus Potyvirus ‐ PVY. Based on the data of physico‐chemical and antigenic properties it was concluded that isolates BCMV‐R and BCMV‐C are two independent strains of this virus. The presence of strain‐, virus‐ and genusspecific epitopes of capsid proteine was revealed as a result of comparison of antigenic characteristics of the Russian Far Eastern and Chinese strains of BCMV. A high antigenic activity of capsid protein of the Russian Far Eastern strain was observed.
Evidence for a Short Form of α1(IV) as a Major Polypeptide in Bovine Lens Capsule

: The extracts from bovine lens capsule with acetic acid contained, after reduction, three major collagenous polypeptides with M(r) = 180k, 175k, and 160k, which were specifically immuno-stained with anti-type IV collagen polyclonal antibody. The biochemical properties of 180k and 160k polypeptides were akin and were distinct from that of 175k polypeptide [J. Biochem. (1993) 114,358-362]. In the present study, evidence that the 160k and 180k polypeptides from bovine lens capsule both originated from alpha 1(IV) was obtained on the basis of reactivity with a monoclonal antibody that recognizes alpha 1(IV) chain at the collagenous sequence contained in [KGEPGLPGRGFPGFP]. The epitope-bearing sequence was identified from the following three experiments. Pepsin-solubilized polypeptides from human placenta were purified by affinity chromatography on the antibody-coupled column and sequenced. The restriction map of the clones positively reactive with the monoclonal antibody from human placenta cDNA library was superimposed on that of human alpha 1(IV) cDNA at a specific region. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the sequence were assayed for inhibitory activity against the reaction between epitope-bearing pepsin fragments and the antibody. The 180k and 160k polypeptides showed similar intensities in protein staining as well as in immuno-staining with the monoclonal antibody. In contrast, the 175k polypeptide did not react with the monoclonal antibody, indicating that it is a genetically distinct type IV collagen chain, presumably alpha 2(IV) from its abundance. The 160k, a major type IV collagen polypeptide, is a short form of alpha 1(IV) present as a tissue form in bovine lens capsule.
Effects on egg production of including high residual lipid copra meal in laying hen diets

Abstract 1. The effects on egg production of including copra meals of 220.9 (Copra‐1) and 205.0 (Copra‐2) g residual lipids/kg, in laying hen diets at up to 400 g/kg, were examined in two feeding trials. In a separate experiment, the dry matter retention and ME of a 400 g Copra‐2/kg diet were determined between 6 to 9, 9 to 12 and 12 to 15 d of feeding. 2. Food intakes, egg output and efficiencies of food utilisation (g eggs/g food) of hens fed on Copra‐1 at 100 and 200 g/kg diet were not significantly different from controls; while food intakes at 400 g Copra‐1/kg diet were similar to controls, egg output (6.0% lower), efficiency of food utilisation and body weights of hens were significantly reduced. Hens fed Copra‐2 at 400 g/kg diet had 5.0 and 6.9% lower food intakes and egg output, respectively, and lost body weight compared to controls; however, egg output increased to that of the control group by the 11th week of feeding. 3. Initially, dry matter retention of the 400 g Copra‐2/kg diet was similar t.