Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrimination capacity in species distribution models depends on the representativeness of the environmental domain

Aim When faced with dichotomous events, such as the presence or absence of a species, discrimination capacity (the ability to separate the instances of presence from the instances of absence) is usually the only characteristic that is assessed in the evaluation of the performance of predictive models. Although neglected, calibration or reliability (how well the estimated probability of presence represents the observed proportion of presences) is another aspect of the performance of predictive models that provides important information. In this study, we explore how changes in the distribution of the probability of presence make discrimination capacity a context-dependent characteristic of models. For the first time, we explain the implications that ignoring the context dependence of discrimination can have in the interpretation of species distribution models. Innovation In this paper we corroborate that, under a uniform distribution of the estimated probability of presence, a well-calibrated model will not attain high discrimination power and the value of the area under the curve will be 0.83. Under non-uniform distributions of the probability of presence, simulations show that a well-calibrated model can attain a broad range of discrimination values. These results illustrate that discrimination is a context-dependent property, i.e. it gives information about the performance of a certain algorithm in a certain data population. Main conclusions In species distribution modelling, the discrimination capacity of a model is only meaningful for a certain species in a given geographic area and temporal snapshot. This is because the representativeness of the environmental domain changes with the geographical and temporal context, which unavoidably entails changes in the distribution of the probability of presence. Comparative studies that intend to generalize their results only based on the discrimination capacity of models may not be broadly extrapolated. Assessment of calibration is especially recommended when the models are intended to be transferred in time or space.
Biomass yield, essential oil yield and resource use efficiency in geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L. Her. ex. Ait), intercropped with fodder crops

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of intercropping of fodder crops on growth and yield attributes of the essential oil-yielding multi-harvest aromatic plant geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L. Her. ex. Ait) under field conditions during 2005–2007. In addition aggressivity, land equivalent ratio (LER), area time equivalent ratio (ATER) and land use efficiency % (LUE%) as an index of intercropping advantage were determined to assess the resource use efficiency of intercropping systems. The main crop geranium was intercropped with oat (Avena sativa L.) and berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrum L.) in different combinations. All crops were also grown in pure stands. The study indicated that the growth and yield of geranium was affected at first harvest compared to sole. But the second harvest in different intercropping systems compared to sole did not affect biomass and oil yield of geranium. Intercrops produced bonus yields over and above that of geranium. The resource use efficiency values were higher in intercropping systems over sole geranium. The study clearly showed that geranium-based intercrop treatments might provide the highest total yield as well as resource use efficiency.
Imazethapyr Co-Application Interactions in Imidazolinone-Resistant Rice

A study was conducted to evaluate interactions of imazethapyr co-application with propanil, thiobencarb, or a prepackaged mixture of propanil plus thiobencarb. At 7, 14, 21, and 49 d after treatment (DAT), synergism occurred for red rice treated with imazethapyr at 70 g ai ha−1 mixed with propanil plus thiobencarb at 1,680 and 3,360 g ai ha−1. A synergistic response was also observed with imazethapyr at 70 g ha−1 mixed with propanil at 1,680 g ha−1; however, all other co-applications evaluated resulted in a neutral response with no antagonism observed. At 7 DAT, antagonism was observed for barnyardgrass when treated with imazethapyr at 70 g ha−1 mixed with propanil plus thiobencarb at 1,680 g ha−1, propanil at 840 g ha−1, or thiobencarb at 840 and 1,680 g ha−1; however, a synergistic response occurred for barnyardgrass control at 14, 21, and 49 DAT with imazethapyr at 70 g ha−1 mixed with propanil plus thiobencarb at 3,360 g ha−1. The synergistic response observed for red rice and barnyardgrass control with a mixture of imazethapyr plus propanil plus thiobencarb can benefit producers by increasing control of red rice and barnyardgrass, and this mixture contains three herbicides with three different modes of action, which can be part of an overall resistance-management strategy in imidazolinone-resistant (IR) rice. Nomenclature: Imazethapyr; propanil; thiobencarb; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. ; red rice, Oryza sativa L. ; rice, Oryza sativa L. Se realizó un estudio para evaluar las interacciones de imazethapyr co-aplicado con propanil, thiobencarb, o en mezclas pre-empacadas de propanil más thiobencarb. A 7, 14, 21, y 49 días después del tratamiento (DAT), ocurrió un sinergismo en arroz rojo tratado con imazethapyr a 70 g ai ha−1 mezclado con propanil más thiobencarb a 1,680 y 3,360 g ai ha−1. También se observó una respuesta sinérgica con imazethapyr a 70 g ha−1 mezclado con propanil a 1,680 g ha−1. Sin embargo, todas las demás co-aplicaciones evaluadas resultaron en una respuesta neutral sin observarse ningún antagonismo. A 7 DAT, se observó un antagonismo en Echinochloa crus-galli tratada con imazethapyr a 70 g ha−1 mezclado con propanil más thiobencarb a 1,680 g ha−1, propanil a 840 g ha−1, o thiobencarb a 840 y 1,680 g ha−1. Sin embargo, una respuesta sinérgica ocurrió en el control de E. crus-galli a 14, 21, y 49 DAT con imazethapyr a 70 g ha−1 mezclado con propanil más thiobencarb a 3,360 g ha−1. La respuesta sinérgica observada en el control de arroz rojo y de E. crus-galli con mezclas de imazethapyr más propanil más thiobencarb pueden beneficiar a los productores al incrementar el control de estas dos malezas. Además, estas mezclas contienen tres herbicidas con tres modos de acción diferentes, lo que puede ser parte de una estrategia general de manejo de resistencia en arroz resistente a imidazolinone (IR).
Paleobotanical implications of drifted seeds and fruits from modern mangrove litter, Twin Cays, Belize

Fruits and seeds were quantitatively sampled from litter at two sites on a mangrove island off the coast of Belize. The collections indicate that a significant number of species are drifted to the island by the prevailing currents and have the potential to record the major elements of the nearby mainland coastal and streamside flora. There is almost no overlap between the drifted fruit and seed flora and the flora growing on the island, whereas the leaf litter reflects the island flora both qualitatively and quantitatively with a reasonable degree of accuracy. These observations indicate that approaches to paleoecological and paleofloristic reconstructions of ancient floras based on accumulation of organic remains can differ substantially depending on the organ type studied. Studies which can take advantage of both vegetative and reproductive fossil remains with an appropriate methodology for sampling and analyzing the data can provide information on ancient environments at more than one spatial scale.
Pre‐inoculation by an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Enhances Male Reproductive Output of Cucurbita foetidissima

Male and female reproductive output of Cucurbita foetidissima, a gynodioecious native perennial, was examined in a 2‐yr greenhouse/outplanting study. Plants were divided into three treatment groups: (1) a low‐phosphorus (P) soil mix control; (2) a low‐P soil mix with the addition of mycorrhizal inoculum (Glomus intraradices); and (3) a high‐P soil mix. Plants were outplanted after one summer of greenhouse growth and harvested in the fall of the second year. High‐P treatment plants grew best during the first year, having significantly longer vines than either low‐P treatment. By the end of the second year, however, treatment had no significant effect on either aboveground biomass or weight of the tuberous storage root. Tissue concentrations of N and P also did not differ significantly with treatment. Male reproductive output was significantly enhanced by the addition of mycorrhizal inoculum, resulting in a threefold increase over control plants in the production of male flowers. In contrast, treatment had no significant effect on aspects of female reproductive output, including number of female flowers, percent fruit set, total fruit biomass produced by the plant, or mean fruit weight. Fruit production was correlated with vegetative aboveground biomass and is likely reflective of carbon status. These results suggest that mycorrhizal colonization may differentially influence male and female components of plant reproduction.
Caracterização fitossociológica de um remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila mista em Guarapuava, PR

The Mixed Ombrophylous Forest (MOF) or Araucaria Forest was used as reference pattern for the flora of Parana. The Araucaria Municipal Park is located in Guarapuava-PR and comprises an area of 41 ha of Mixed Ombrophylous Forest. In this area, 32 10 x 10m plots were installed and 447 individuals with diameter of breast height (DBH) equal or above to 4.8 cm were measured, or an average of 1397 individuals per hectare. Forest horizontal structure is characterized by five species - Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Mart.) O. Berg, Casearia decandra Jac, Capsicodendron dinisii (Schwacke) Occhioni and Allophylus edulis (A. St. - Hil.) Radlk. ex Warm. , which added together 64.85 % of the VI total, 74.36 % of the cover value, 87.63 % of dominance and 61.07 % of sampled individuals. Three height strata were defined - inferior stratum - up to 5.99 m, medium stratum - between 6 and 10.99 m and superior stratum - higher than 11 m. The diameters of the sampled individuals ranged from 4.8 to 114.7 cm distributed in 22 diameter classes. The calculated Shannon-Weaver diversity index was 2.79 nats/individual and the Pielou index of uniformity was 0.9.
Microsporogenesis and pollen morphology in dioscoreales and allied taxa

Analyses of new morphological and molecular data have resulted in a major recircumscription of Dioscoreales. However crucial characters such as microsporogenesis type and pollen morphology are not known for some taxa, and these are investigated here, particularly in view of the revised systematics of the order. Pollen morphological characters and microsporogenesis were examined using both electron microscopy (scanning and transmission) and light microscopy (including differential interference contrast). Microsporogenesis and pollen morphology were found to provide taxonomically useful characters, particularly at the genus level. Successive microsporogenesis is plesiomorphic in monocotyledons, and simultaneous microsporogenesis in Dioscorea, Rajania, Tamus and Tacca represents a probable synapomorphy for these taxa. Simultaneous microsporogenesis also supports a close sister group relationship between Japonolirion and Petrosavia but from other characters (including molecular data), their relationship with .
Metabolic Rates and Critical Swimming Speeds of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Relation to Size and Temperature

Ten years research on metabolic rates and swimming speeds of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) ranging in weight from 2 to 2000 g, at temperatures from 2 to 24 C, is reviewed and summarized. Analysis of weight–slope relations (b values) at three temperatures, using log–log transformations, provided an overall mean of 0.88 for standard metabolism and 0.99 for active metabolism. A previously determined semilog equation for temperature effect on standard metabolic rate (at approximately 50 g) was supported by supplementary data at 2 C. Predictive graphic models in the form of isopleths of metabolic rates and critical swimming speeds in relation to weight, length, and temperature are depicted. These provide a composite presentation useful in estimating the metabolic rate and maximum sustained speed for any size and temperature.
Preliminary Study of Bacterial Isolates from Indigenous Ready – To – Eat Salad Vegetables

Introduction: Salad is a mixture of fresh vegetables and cream, which is an important source of nourishment. Salad vegetables belong to convenience, minimally processed food of ready-to-eat type. An increase in consumption of fresh vegetables has been paralleled by an increase in the number of food borne illness attributed to fresh products. Aim: This study is aimed at identifying bacteria associated with ready – to - eat salad vegetables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial isolates associated with ready – to – eat salad vegetables from Fast – food joints in Awka , Anambra state were investigated. Biochemical tests were carried out to identify the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility test to Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Cotrimoxazole, Gentamicin, Ofloxacin and Tetracycline was carried out. Results: Seventeen of the bacterial organisms recovered were found to be Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Based on the biochemical characteristics of the isolates, they were identified as Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Serratia marcescens , Pseudomonas sp. and Enterobacter sp. From the experimental observation, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens occurred most , with the frequency of 41.2% and 23.5% respectively. The Mean bacteria count ranges from 2.0×105 Cfu/g to 1.5 106 Cfu/g. Serratia marcescens was recovered in four out of the six samples investigated, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas sp. , which occurred in three of the salad samples. Antibiotic susceptibility result revealed that all the bacterial isolates except E. coli and Enterobacter sp. were susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. Overall susceptibility was highest against ofloxacin with 17(100%) while the least was recorded against cotrimoxazole with 6(35.3%). Conclusion: The identified bacteria have pathogenic potential and their presence in the ready-to-eat salad vegetables pose risk of food poisoning. High standards of personal hygiene and pre-processing disinfection should always be observed during preparation of the vegetable salad. Keyword: Salad vegetables, Antibiotic susceptibility, Bacteria, Ready-to-eat, Awka
The effect of different fertilisers on hygienic quality of lettuce

Abstract – The effect of different fertiliser types (cal-cium ammonium nitrate, fresh farmyard manure, composted farmyard manure and nettle extract) on the hygienic quality of fresh and washed lettuce was tested in two trials in summer 2004 and 2005. The hygienic quality was described by total aerobic bacte-rial count and level of coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, Enterobacteriaceae. No Salmonella Enteritidis was detected in any sample. E. coli was isolated independent of the fertiliser type in low concentrations. The total aerobic bacterial count, the levels of Enterobacteriaceae and coliform bacteria tended to be lower after application of mineral fertil-iser but on a very low level. The washing process had no significant influence on the hygienic quality of lettuce. No hygienic quality differences between in-corporated farmyard manure and farmyard manure left on soil surface or in upper soil layer were ob-served.
Soft Wheat Starch Pasting Behavior in Relation to A‐ and B‐type Granule Content and Composition

ABSTRACT Flours of two soft wheat cultivars were fractionated into native, prime, tailing, A-, and B-type starch fractions. Starch fractions of each cultivar were characterized with respect to A/B-type granule ratio, amylose content, phosphorus level (lysophospholipid), and pasting properties to investigate factors related to wheat starch pasting behavior. While both cultivars exhibited similar starch characteristics, a range of A-type (5.7– 97.9%, db) and B-type granule (2.1–94.3%, db) contents were observed across the five starch fractions. Though starch fractions displayed only subtle mean differences (<1%) in total amylose, they exhibited a range of mean phosphorus (446–540 μg/g), apparent amylose (18.7–23%), and lipid-complexed amylose (2.8–7.5%) values, which were significantly correlated with their respective A- and B-type granule contents. A-type (compared with B-type) granules exhibited lower levels of phosphorus, lipid-complexed amylose, and apparent amylose, though variability for the latter wa.
Performance of Spring Chinook Salmon Reared in Acclimation Ponds for Two and Four Months before Release

Abstract Seasonal temperature cues may play an important role in the parr–smolt transformation of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. , but salmon reared in groundwater-supplied hatcheries with seasonally stable water temperatures do not experience these cues. In this study, conducted over six release years, hatchery spring Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha that were initially reared in a groundwater-supplied hatchery were transferred to acclimation ponds supplied with surface water either in November (November transfer [NT]) or January (January transfer [JT]) for rearing at ambient water temperatures prior to release into the Umatilla River, Oregon, in early March. After stream release, we monitored out-migration travel times and survival to John Day Dam (JDD) by using passive integrated transponder tags in a subsample of each release group. Across all release groups, median travel time was slower for NT groups (51 d) than for JT groups (46 d); significant differences were observed in five of six release years.
Epibenthic colonization on an artificial reef in a stressed environment off the north coast of the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

The influence of sedimentation and turbidity caused by the pluviometric precipitation and by the Paraiba do Sul River during the summer was investigated on an artificial reef along the north coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four recruitment and four cumulative plates were removed monthly (January 2002 to February 2003) from the external surface of the concrete reef modules. Empty space was not a limiting factor the recruitment. Turnover rate and structural difference index were higher in the first months and reflected low change in the species dominance during almost the entire study period. The high correlation between the precipitation and the empty space suggested that rain influence the recruitment and the succession. The recruitment was possible despite stress factors such as sedimentation, turbidity, abrasion, strong bottom currents and a lack of natural consolidated substrate. Changes in the community structure reflected the substrate colonization history of a few resistant species and their subsequent interactions.
Antileishmanial activity of nerolidol-rich essential oil from Piper claussenianum

Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases, representing a group of parasitic diseases worldwide spread, occurring in 88 tropical and subtropical countries. Approximately 350 million people live in areas of active transmission of leishmaniasis, with about 1-2 million estimated new cases occurring every year. More than 90% of the cutaneous cases appear in developing countries. Efforts to improve the therapeutic arsenal against leishmaniasis have led to the search for new and cheap range of drugs. In this study, the nerolidol-rich essential oil from Piper claussenianum (Miq.) C. DC. , Piperaceae, was assayed on arginase activity of Leishmania amazonensis. The effect of this essential oil on arginase activity levels showed an enzyme inhibition of 62.2%. This result stimulates the scientific interest about the potential value of this plant species on neglected diseases as potential new natural product source of pharmacological interest for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Evaluating exotic plants as evolutionary traps for nesting Veeries

ABSTRACT Human-induced rapid environmental change, such as the introduction of exotic species, can create novel species interactions that might be detrimental to native organisms. For birds, introduced plant species may represent potentially attractive, but dangerous, locations to place a nest. If the environmental cues that birds use to select safe nest sites are unreliable when they apply to nonnative plant species, these plants could act as evolutionary traps: preferred nest substrates that confer the poorest reproductive outcomes. We tested this possibility by assessing reproductive consequences of nest substrate preference in the Veery (Catharus fuscescens). We followed the fates of nests in native plants and in three nonnative plants associated with reduced nest success in previous studies (Amur honeysuckle [Lonicera maackii], multiflora rose [Rosa multiflora], and Japanese barberry [Berberis thunbergii]). Veeries preferred to locate nests in nonnative plants and in denser patches of vegetation more dominated by nonnative plants. Nests placed in nonnative plants were more visually concealed. We found no evidence that these preferences were maladaptive, as there was no difference in the daily survival probability of nests based on nest-site characteristics. Veeries were not victims of an ‘oviposition trap' in this forest system during the period of our study, but rather were facultatively exploiting nonnative plants to their reproductive advantage.
Three-dimensional natural scene statistics: dependencies between luminance and range contrasts

Computing relative or absolute range (egocentric distance) is difficult because, of course, neither is specified in any direct way by the 2D retinal image. If, however, there was a relationship between range and luminance or color, perhaps it could be exploited to yield fast, initial estimates of range from the retinal image per se. We studied the statistical dependence between range (and disparity) contrast and luminance contrast across random point-pairs in natural scenes, and found that changes in range and luminance are highly dependent. We collected high resolution range maps of natural scenes co-registered with luminance (RGB) images using a Riegl terrestrial scanner, co-mounted camera, and in-house software. Various alternative preprocessing stages were used to simulate the early stages of visual processing (e.g. foveation). Our basic approach was to randomly sample pairs of points in the scenes to determine if the change in range or luminance or both exceeded some criterion. We then 1) compared the conditional density of range edges given luminance edges to the (unconditioned) density of range edges and 2) compared the joint distribution of range and luminance contrast to the product of their marginal distributions. We found a robust statistical dependence between range and luminance. Additionally, we computed difference surface maps (between the joint distributions and product-of-marginals predicted by independence). These difference surfaces reveal which regions of luminance and range change exhibit the strongest statistical dependencies.The statistical dependence between luminance and range allows the construction of models where one can assign a probability of occurrence of a range edge given a luminance edge at a particular point in a scene. In principle, such a mechanism could also be used by biological visual system to serve as priors when reconstructing the 3D environment from 2D image data.