Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Null model analysis on bat species co-occurrence and nestedness patterns in a region of the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

Abstract This study aimed to test through null models analysis the co-occurrence and nestedness patterns of bat species in a region of the Atlantic Rainforest. Data from 10 communities were tabulated in presence-absence matrices. Two metrics have been used to test the co-occurrence patterns: C-Score, which calculates the “checkerboard” pattern testing the interspecific competition between pairs of species, and V-Ratio, which calculates the covariance between species. All analyses were performed with EcoSim software. For nestedness analyses, we utilized the NODF metric through the Aninhado software. None of all the C-Score results showed a significant pattern of species association, indicating a higher coexistence among bat species. For V-Ratio, three results indicated nonrandom associations of species. The communities are highly nested, with poor species sites being subsets of richer sites. The diversification in this group allows the coexistence of species, decreasing the niche overlap. Nested pattern is common in mammal communities, and the significance of our results is in accordance with the results of the co-occurrence test. Competitive interactions may lead to differences in abundance of species in communities. However, as the method of bat sampling is considered biased, the results using binary data, as in our study, seems to be the most trustful method.
Studys on the Morphology and Infraciliature of Vorticella campanula Swimmer

[Objective] The research aimed to study the living morphology and infraciliature of Vorticella campanula swimmer. [Method] The morphology and infraciliature of V. campanula swimmer were researched by living body observation and protargol impregnated technique. [Result] The living body characteristic of V. campanula swimmer was as follows: the body was wide and short-triangular pyramidal shaped and the cytoplasm was opaque; there can be seen transversal striations and lipid droplets under the high power microscopic. The characteristic of protargol impregnated specimens was: the single kinety and complex kineties entered the vestibular after they rotated 1.5 coils. the peniculus 3 composed of 3 rows of kineties, of which one near the peniculus 2 was stopped at the joint of peniculus 1 and 3 and the end of the outer row of peniculus 1 had extraversion behavior. The longitudinal fibre coarsefibred, sparse, 40-50 strips,which located between aboral ciliary wreath and polykinety and the fibers which at the bottom of the cell were connected with the longitudinal fibers, peristomial disc protruded up obviously and the peristomial disc fiber was reticular. [Conclusion] The research provided scientific basis for understanding the morphogenesis and asexual life history of ciliate.
Performance and nutrient utilization of broilers fed Malted sorghum sprout (MSP) or wheat-offal based diets supplemented with yeast culture and enzyme.

An experiment was conducted on a total of two hundred and forty day- old, unsexed Marshal Broiler chickens which were randomly allotted to 8 dietary treatment groups of 30birds each. Each treatment group was replicated 3 times with 10 birds per replicate. The experiment was a 2×4 factorial consisting of two test ingredients (MSP and wheat offal) at 4 levels (0 g kg-1 yeast and enzyme, + 0.01 gkg-1 yeast and enzyme, +0.013 gkg-1 yeast, +0.01 gkg-1 enzyme). At the end of the trial, the effect of MSP and wheat offal with 0.01g/kg-1yeast and those on 0.01 g/kg-1 yeast + 0.01 g/kg-1 enzyme inclusion showed a significant effect (P<0.05) for final live weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio and fibre retention. Broiler starter Chickens fed MSP diets had lower (P<0.05) final live weight, weight gain, feed intake and fibre retention than those fed wheat offal based diets irrespective of the additives. However, finishing broilers fed wheat offal diet supplemented with 0.01 g/kg-1 yeast and those on 0.01 g/kg-1 yeast + 0.01 g/kg-1 enzyme recorded a higher (P<0.05) final live weight, weight gain, protein retention and NDF retention than MSP diets. Conclusively, Inclusion of yeast + Enzyme improved protein retention, fat and fibre digestibility. The combination of yeast and Roxazyme enzyme improved the utilization of wheat offal (w/o) and Malted sorghum sprout (MSP) based diets by broiler chickens. It is therefore recommended that MSP supplementation with yeast + enzyme or enzyme singly could be used to improve Livestock rations for better performance.
Ethanol Fermentation of Algae Spirogyra using Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Adding Hydrogen and Nitrogen Gases to the Space Fermentor

This study aims to determine the effect of different types of gases (nitrogen and hydrogen), pH, and the fermentation duration to the cell biomass, pH, total reducing sugar, and total ethanol that was produced from the fermentation of algae Spirogyra hyalina hydrolysates using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fermentation process carried out in anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic condition is done by using the Hungate technique, namely by passing nitrogen gas or hydrogen gas into the fermenter. Fermentation is done by variation of pH (4, 5, 6) and the variation of fermentation duration (0 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours). The results showed that the highest levels of ethanol achieved by the presence of hydrogen gas at pH 4 with 72 hours of fermentation duration.
Genitalic structure and copulation in Paralabella dorsalis (Dermapter: Labbidae)

The genitalia of 30 females and 30 males in Paralabella dorsalis were dissected and drawn using a camera lucida. Between 1O and 20 min rrom the initintioo of copulation 20 pairs were frozen with ethyichloride, and the females were tllen dissected irnmediately to determine the location of male genitalic parts. The maJe genitalia consist of a subcylindrical penis with a single medial distru lobe, omamented arcas witn sclerotized spines in me mio section. The cloacal opening of (he female is simple with spines sUl'rounding the gonopore. rile spermatheca is a tbin, coiled tube. During copulation part of the male gemta/k teeth reach the sclerotized female spines. The tip of the virga reaches t.he opening of the spelmatheca, wnere sperm deposition occurs.
Perturbations of a rotating black hole

Decoupled, separable equations describing perturbations of a Kerr black hole are derived. These equations can be used to study black-hole processes involving scalar, electromagnetic, neutrino or gravitational fields. A number of astrophysical applications are made: Misner's idea that gravitational synchrotron radiation might explain Weber's observations is shown to be untenable; rotating black holes are shown to be stable against small perturbations; energy amplification by "superradiant scattering" of waves off a rotating black hole is computed; the "spin down" (loss of angular momentum) of a rotating black hole caused by a stationary non-axisymmetric perturbation is calculated.
Soil's potential as a sink for atmospheric carbon monoxide

The CO uptake capacity of soils was studied in the field in order to refine previous estimates of the potential of soil as a CO sink. Soils representative of most of the major vegetative regions of North America as well as roadside soils and soils under cultivation were exposed in situ to atmospheres containing initial concentrations of ca. 100 ppm CO in the air. The CO uptake capacities of the soils ranged from 7.6 to 115 mg CO/h/m 2 , with the tropical soils showing the greatest activity and the desert soils the least. Soils under cultivation were consistently less active than the same soils nearby under natural vegetation. Laboratory investigations indicate that the differences were probably not due to agricultural chemicals but rather to a lack of organic matter in the tilled soils. Roadside soils were consistently higher in CO uptake capacity than similar soils in remote regions. Laboratory studies support the idea that this increased rate was due to the constant exposure of roadside soils to high levels of CO. Data for the field studies was corrected for the influence of environmental variables based on laboratory studies and the potential capacity of the soils of the conterminous United States was estimated to be an uptake of 505 million tons of CO per year. This capacity, more than twice the estimated anthropogenic CO in the U.S. annually, indicates that potentially soil is a major sink for atmospheric CO. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1974. tb01961.x
Effects of Growing Wheat in Hypoxic Nutrient Solutions and of Subsequent Transfer to Aerated Solutions. II. Concentrations and Uptake of Nutrients and Sodium in Shoots and Roots

We report on the effects of hypoxia (low O2 concentrations) in the nutrient solution on the net uptake of Cl-, N, P, K+ and Na+ by 26-30-day-old wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants treated with hypoxia had been grown at 0.003 mol O2 m-3 for 10 days; four consecutive samplings were taken between 10 and 14 days to assess the uptake of nutrients. After the first sampling, one group of plants exposed to hypoxia was returned to aerated solutions containing 0.27 mol O2 m-3 . Seminal and crown roots grown in hypoxic solutions showed remarkably few differences in ion relations, despite the high porosity and the fast growth of the crown roots. The exception was with K+ /Na+; a decrease in this ratio due to growth in hypoxic solutions was more pronounced for seminal than for crown roots. Concentrations of elements in the shoots were nearly always lower for plants grown at 0.003 than for plants grown at 0.27 mol O2 m-3 ; the only exception was for Na+ which increased in plants grown in the hypoxic solutions. Comparisons with published critical nutrient concentrations indicate that decreased growth at 0.003 mol O2 m-3 was not due to reduced nutrition of the plants. For N, this conclusion is supported by higher concentrations of soluble amino acids in plants at 0.003 than at 0.27 mol O2 m-3 . The reduction in net transport to the shoots of N, P, Cl- and K+ was due to a combination of decreases in root /shoot ratio and an inhibition of ion uptake per unit root weight. This inhibition was not due to permanent damage as it was reversible. A rapid restoration of concentrations of N, P, Cl- and K+ in the shoot upon transfer from 0.003 to 0.27 mol O2 m-3 was attributed to a combination of higher net rates of ion uptake by the roots compared with continuously aerated plants and a rapid expansion of the root system.
Effect of neurodevelopmental stress in animal models of schizophrenia: role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

I Acknowledgements . I Declaration . III Chapter 1: General introduction . 1 1.1. Schizophrenia . 2 1.1.1. Symptoms of schizophrenia . 2 1.1.2. Underlying brain mechanisms. 4 1.1.2.1. Brain regions affected in schizophrenia. 4 1.1.2.2. Neurotransmitter systems implicated in schizophrenia . 5 1.1.3. Treatment of schizophrenia . 7 1.2. Aetiology of schizophrenia . 8 1.2.1. Genetic factors . 8 1.2.2. Environmental factors . 9 1.2.3. The ‘two hit’ hypothesis of schizophrenia . 10 1.3. Animal models of schizophrenia . 13 1.3. 1. Animal models of aspects and symptoms of schizophrenia . 14 1.3. 1.1. Sensorimotor gating deficits: prepulse inhibition. 14 1.3. 1.2. Psychosis: Drug-induced locomotor hyperactivity. 17 1.3. 1.3. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia . 18 1.3. 1.4. Cognitive symptoms . 19 1.3. 2. Neurodevelopmental animal models of schizophrenia . 22 1.3. 2.1. Genetic models. 22 1.3. 2.2. Neonatal ventral hippocampus lesion model . 24 1.3. 2.3. Isolation rearing . 25 1.3. 2.4. Maternal manipulation . 25 1.4. BDNF. 28 1.4. 1. BDNF and schizophrenia. 31 1.4. 2. BDNF animal models in schizophrenia-like behaviour. 32 1.5. Cannabis . 34 1.5. 1. Cannabis and schizophrenia. 34
Dual effect, certainty equivalence, and separation in stochastic control

In this paper the various policies in fixed end-time stochastic control are discussed first. The emphasis is on the difference between the feedback and closed-loop policies. It is shown how the closed-loop policy has the important property that it can be actively adaptive, while the feedback policy can only be passively adaptive. The feature of being actively adaptive is possible when the control has a dual effect, i.e., in addition to its effect on the state it affects the state uncertainty. The intimate connection between the neutrality (lack of dual effect) and certainty equivalence properties for a class of problems is proved. This new result is then used to widen the class of problems for which it was previously known that the certainty equivalence property holds.
Vancomycin Therapy of Bacterial Meningitis

Vancomycin hydrochloride, administered only intravenously, is a useful agent in the treatment of certain types of bacterial meningitis. Two cases are presented: a case ofFlavobacterium meningosepticummeningitis, which promptly responded to vancomycin after unsuccessful therapy with five other antibiotics, and a case ofStaphylococcus aureusmeningitis, which did not respond to intensive therapy with methicillin sodium and chloramphenicol and was subsequently cured with vancomycin. The successful clinical results reported here suggest that adequate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels are attained with intravenous therapy alone. We recommend beginning therapy with intravenous administration of vancomycin in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day up to a maximum of 2 gm/day. Intrathecal therapy, 20 mg/day, should only be added if CSF is not sterilized after 48 hours of intravenous treatment.
Interactions Among Members of the Anolis distichus Complex in and near the Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic

Examination of contact areas between sibling species of the Anolis distichus complex at several montane sites in the Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic, and at those nearby lowland localities reported by T. P. Webster, indicates a multiplicity of interactions between species in this complex. Anolis distichus and A. brevirostris exhibit diverse interactions at the montane localities, including parapatry with dewlap similarity, syntopy with dewlap similarity, and sympatry with marked dewlap difference. No evidence of hybridization between the two species was found at any montane site. At the two lowland localities, where interspecific difference in dewlap coloration was either variable or minimal, hybridization between Anolis distichus and A. brevirostris was common, with hybrids representing 18 and 31% of the two samples. A difference in dewlap color- ation appears to be only one of several factors required for proper species recognition. Habitat and behavioral differences, as well as historical factors, also influence the present interactions between the two species.
A REVISION OF THE COMPOUND-LEAVED YAMS (DIOSCOREA, DIOSCOREACEAE) OF AFRICA

On the basis of morphological data the compound-leaved yams of Africa are shown to comprise six species; Dioscorea cochleari-apiculata De Wild. , D. dregeana (Kunth) T. Durand & Schinz, D. dumetorum (Kunth) Pax, D. knuthiana De Wild. , D. quartiniana A. Rich. and D. relusa Mast. The species are best placed in two sections: the former three in Dioscorea sect. Lasiophyton Uline, with 3 leaflets, each with 3 7 main veins, 6 stamens and capsules 31 58 mm long, and the latter three in Dioscorea sect. Botryosicyos (Hochst.) Uline, with 3 5 or more leaflets, each with a single main vein, 3 stamens, 3 staminodes and capsules 15 34 mm long.
Effect of A-PRF Application on Palatal Wound Healing after Free Gingival Graft Harvesting: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the healing effect of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) clot membranes in palatal wounds, resulting from free gingival graft (FGG) harvesting, on the reepithelization rate and on the pain experience after surgery. Materials and Methods Twenty-five patients requiring FGG have participated in this prospective cohort study. After FGG harvesting, the test group (n = 14) received A-PRF clot membranes at the palatal wound and the control group (n = 11) received a gelatin sponge. Epithelialization rate of the palatal wound, wound healing area, correspondent percentage of reduction, and postsurgical pain experience were assessed at 2, 7, 14, 30, and 90 days. Results A-PRF group had higher palatal wound reduction than the control group, at 7, 14, and 30 days of follow-up. The highest difference between the groups was attained at 30 days (91.5% for A-PRF vs. 59.0% control group). At 14 days, a significant difference in the proportion of patients showing total epithelization was found: 64.3% for A-PRF versus 9.1% for the control group. At 90 days, both groups showed total recovery. The control group experienced higher pain level and discomfort until the 14th day, being notably higher on the second day. Conclusion The results suggest that A-PRF membranes haste the healing process, and promote greater reduction along the recovery period and less painful postoperative period.
The dispersal, survival and genetic variability within Dichelobacter nodosus strains, the causal agent of ovine foot disease

Ovine footrot is an infectious disease of sheep which causes serious economic losses to countries worldwide and costs the UK £84 M per annum. For effective control of this disease which is a major animal welfare issue, it is essential to study mechanisms of transmission. One of the key aims of the project was to improve our understanding of the potential for Dichelobacter nodosus, the causal agent, transmission via the environment within a flock of ewes and lambs. Newborn lambs were free from D. nodosus presence on their feet, but rapidly became contaminated with D. nodosus within 5-13 h after birth as detected using the specific molecular markers rpoD and 16S rRNA gene. The likely source of contamination of lambs was the straw bedding from the communal pens. A diverse population of D. nodosus was observed on the feet of ewes and lambs as determined by the presence of multiple strains with variable numbers of pgrA tandem repeats in the R1 region. This was further supported by Multi Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeats (MLVA) typing of the isolates, which also indicated high variation in the alleles present on the ewes and lambs. The primary aim was to determine if multiple strains present on the ewes were vertically transmitted to the lambs. This work has clearly demonstrated that no vertical transmission occurred between ewes and lambs and some strains, but not all were shared between ewe and its lamb suggesting transmission from their mother or other ewes sharing the same lambing pen. D. nodosus was detected in a range of environmental samples such as bedding, faecal balls compacted within the interdigital space and soil suggesting that shedding into the environment is the main route of D. nodosus transmission. Survival studies provided evidence that the pathogen persisted in soil microcosms for at least 40 days with viable cells persisting for a minimum of 30 days in four soil types. A lower temperature of 5 oC and clay soil was associated with longer duration of survival. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis of isolates from the ewes and lambs indicated that two main clonal populations existed that represented two clusters α and β within clade I, a virulent clade from the recent genome study including 103 global D. nodosus strains. No UK strains grouped with the benign clade II. Previous diversity studies on the isolates indicated diversity in MLVA types, pgr alleles and pgrA tandem repeats, but these did not correlate with the clustering; clusters α and β contained a mix of pgrA and pgrB but both were in clade I. This conflicts with the role of pgrB as a non-virulent allele although pgrA expression was induced by hoof horn in vitro, whereas pgrB was not. The work reported in this thesis has improved our understanding of the environmental transmission of D. nodosus between sheep, longevity of the pathogen in soil and diversity of strains in the UK.
Studies on genetic parameters of some off-season planted gladiolus genotypes in humid sub-Himalayan region

Successful breeding for gladiolus cultivar suitable for humid sub-Himalayan region would require definite information on the nature of inheritance and variation of the plant characters. Seven released varieties were grown during December-May in the year 2003-04 under low cost polyshade. Observations were recorded on eight plant and corm characters influencing flower and corm quality. Significant variability was observed for all the characters studied. High genotypic variance, heritability and genetic advance were recorded for corm weight, post-harvest life, and corm thickness indicating role of additive gene action for these characters. All the characters studied showed high heritability. High significant associations were observed between corm weight and corm diameter as well as between spike length and number of florets per spike. Post-harvest life was found to be positively correlated with number of florets per spike and spike length but showed negative relationship with days to flower bud initiation. Breeding for higher post harvest life should, therefore, aim at early flowering genotypes with large spike and more number of florets per spike for off-season gladiolus.
Crop-weed competition and weed management studies in direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa)

Field experiments were conducted during 2006-07 and 2007-08 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Madurai, Tamil Nadu under the Zonal Project Directorate, Bangalore to study the critical period of crop weed competition and develop an integrated and effective weed control practices, combining chemical, manual and mechanical methods, for di- rect seeded rice ( Oryza sativa L.). It was found that first 40 days after sowing was the most critical period for crop weed competition. The crop grown under weed free condition for 40 days after sowing gave the maximum grain yield (2.93 t/ha). Hand-weeding followed by foliar application of urea was significantly superior to rest of the treat- ments and gave maximum grain (4.33 t/ha) and straw yields (8.17 t/ha). Post-emergence application of propanil @ 3.8 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing and soil application of urea was most effective in increasing the crop yield and minimizing the crop weed competition. Highest weed control efficiency of 88.1% was recorded in crop given propanil @ 3.8 kg/ha + hand weeding within rows and hoeing at 40 DAS and it closely followed by the application of butachlor @ 2.5 kg/ha + hand weeding within rows and hoeing at 40 DAS. In the integrated approach, post- emergence application of propanil @ 3.8 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing followed by hoeing between the rows and hand weeding within rows at 40 days after sowing minimized crop weed competition, increased uptake of N, P and K by crop and maximized grain yield and economical returns significantly.
Twist reflector design using E-type and H-type modes

A complete solution of plane wave scattering from a twist reflector of infinite extent for arbitrary incidence is presented. The solution is accomplished through the use of an E -and H -type modal representation of the fields in the twister and free space regions. The equivalent circuits for strip and parallel plate twister gratings are derived by transforming E and H mode results [5] to appropriate type mode parameters. The modal reflection coefficients \Gamma' and \Gamma'' are determined from these equivalent circuit parameters and together with the use of a type mode description of the incident and reflected fields lead to two simple conditions for an optimum design; one geometric, namely \tan \phi = \sec \theta and one electrical, \Gamma"/\Gamma' = - 1 . The computed performance of this optimum twist reflector in terms of a cross-polarized suppression ratio versus incidence angle for various planes of incidence represents the best that can be done with any physical structure. A design procedure including design formulas and curves is given from which twist reflector dimensions can be determined. Experimental verification for two specific implementations, parallel plates and parallel strips twist reflectors, is described.