Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multalism between Harvester Ants and a Desert Ephemeral: Seed Escape from Rodents

The harvester ants Veromessor pergandei and Pogonomyrmex californicus modify the highly localized seed shadow of the Sonoran Desert ephemeral Datura discolor (Solanaceae) through (1) attraction to food bodies attached to seeds released beneath the parent plant, (2) immediate transport of diaspores to the ant nest, (3) subsequent removal of the food body in underground granaries, and (4) final expulsion of intact seeds onto the colony midden. D. discolor seed without food bodies are not attractive to ants and remain beneath the parent canopy. At Nude Wash, Cali- fornia, USA, diaspore removal distances are generally small, averaging 2.3 m away from the nearest D. discolor canopy in March-May 1977. Two lines of evidence indicate that this limited transport has a large effect on seed detection and utilization by rodents: (1) seeds placed in ant-proof dishes beneath the D. discolor canopy were about 10 times more likely to be removed by nocturnally foraging rodents than seeds placed in locations similar to those where ants locate their nests; (2) using D. discolor as bait, significantly more rodents were trapped beneath the plant canopy than in open areas where seeds were transported by ants. Manipulation of the density of D. discolor seed in these tests suggests that seed utilization by rodents is distance-responsive to the parent canopy rather than dependent on the density of seeds. Diaspore analyses indicate that investment in the transport system is relatively small and repre- sents <5% of the total investment in seeds.
Influence of initial stocking density on growth performance and survival of European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) larvae under controlled conditions

Krasteva, V. (2020). Influence of initial stocking density on growth performance and survival of European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) larvae under controlled conditions. Bulg. J. of Agric. Sci., 26 (1) 248–253 This paper presents the influence of initial stocking density on European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) larvae growth performance indicators. The experimental unit was a flow-through system with complete water turnover every 43 min. The research was carried out at the Institute of fisheries and aquaculture, Plovdiv in two consecutive years (2017-Experiment I and 2018-Experiment II). The experimental design includes the evaluation of three variants of stocking densities: variant A-10 ind.l-1, variant B-20 ind.l-1 and variant C-40 ind.l-1. The results from the study demonstrated that the weight gain (IWG, mg) was strongly affected by the stocking density. It is the highest in the lowest stocking density (Variant A) in both experiments. The survival rate was the highest in variant B, respectively 70.9% in 2017 and 89.9% in 2018. The specific growth rate (SGR, %.day-1) and the daily growth rate (DGR, mg.day-1) were the highest in variant A in Experiment I and Experiment II. The recorded values of food conversion ratio (FCR) were the highest in variant C (1.2) in both years.
Generation of a Constitutive Green Fluorescent Protein Expression Construct to Mark Biocontrol Bacteria Using P43 Promoter from Bacillus subtilis

Marking biocontrol bacteria is an essential step to monitor bacterial behavior in natural environments before application in agricultural ecosystem. In this study, we presented the simple green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter system driven by the promoter active in Bacillus species for tagging of the biocontrol bacteria. A constitutive promoter P43 from Bacillus subtilis was fused to an enhanced promoterless gfp gene by overlap extension PCR. The GFP expression was demonstrated by the high fluorescence intensity detected in B. subtilis and Escherichia coli transformed with the P43-gfp fusion construct, respectively. The GFP reporter system was further investigated in two bacterial biocontrol strains B. licheniformis and Pseudomonas fluorescens. When the reconstructed plasmid pWH34G was introduced into B. licheniformis, GFP level measured with the fluorescence intensity in B. licheniformis was almost equivalent to that in B. subtilis. However, GFP expression level was extremely low in other biocontrol bacteria P. fluorescens by transposon based stable insertion of the P43-gfp construct into the bacterial chromosome. This study provides information regarding to the efficient biomarker P43-gfp fusion construct for bio-control Bacillus species.
Education and the Challenge of Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria

Using Vector Autoregressive and Autoregressive Distributed Lag methods to examine the impact of education on poverty level and the interactive effect of education and economic growth on poverty level in Nigeria between 1985 and 2016, our results show that education promotes poverty level, instead of reducing it. We found significant cointegrating relationship among poverty, economic growth, education, employment rate, population growth rate, real physical capital formation, education level and real GDP. In the short-run, employment rate reduces poverty level, population growth rate increases poverty level both in the short and long-run. The results of interactive effect of economic growth and education on poverty growth show that jointly economic growth and education reduce poverty, although the results are not statistically significant. This shows that they have minimal impact on poverty level in Nigeria. Our findings may not be surprising, given the current slow-down in Nigeria educational system and the wide gap between the few rich and the larger poor. The study suggests improvement in Nigeria educational system so as promote employment and curb rising poverty level. Original Research Article Oke et al.; ARJASS, 11(1): 12-23, 2020; Article no.ARJASS. 55595 13
CORRELATION BETWEEN ABSORBANCE CHANGES AND A PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE INDUCED BY BLUE LIGHT IN NEUROSPORA

Abstract— Absorbance changes due to the photoreduction of a b‐type cytochrome are associated with many biological blue light‐controlled processes. Evidence is presented for their causal relationship with the perception of light which induced conidia formation under conditions of starvation in Neurospora crassa mutant albino band, but not with light‐induced phase shifts of conidiation bands.
Effect of Xylanase and Protease on the Performance of Growing-Finishing Pigs Fed Corn-Based Diets

Abstract Thacker, P.A. 2005. Effect of xylanase and protease on the performance of growing-finishing pigs fed corn-based diets. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 28: 17–23. Two experiments were conducted to determine if the performance of growing-finishing pigs fed corn-based diets is improved by enzyme supplementation. In experiment one, 72 crossbred pigs (32 castrates and 40 gilts) were fed one of the two corn-canola meal based diets, identical in composition except that one diet contained 0.12% of an enzyme cocktail (750 β-glucanase units and 650 xylanase units per gram). In experiment two, 64 crossbred pigs (32 castrates and 32 gilts) were assigned to one of the four corn-soybean meal based diets including an unsupplemented control diet, a diet supplemented with xylanase (200 g I tonne containing 1250 units/g of xylanase and 385 units/g of β-glucanase), a diet supplemented with protease (200 g I tonne containing 400 units I g of protease, 150 units I g of soybean meal hydrolytic activity, 360 units I g of xylanase and 165 units I g of β-glucanase) or a diet supplemented with the two enzymes in combination (125 g I tonne xylanase and 75 g I tonne protease). The addition of the enzymes did not alter (P>0.05) the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein or energy. There was no effect (P>0.05) on weight gain, feed intake or carcass traits. However, during the growing period only, feeding xylanase significantly (P<0.05) improved feed conversion. It is concluded that there is little justification for the routine inclusion of these enzymes in corn-based diets fed to swine.
The importance of treefall gaps as foraging sites for leaf-cutting ants depends on forest age

Variation in local abundance of herbivores is influenced by several abiotic and biotic factors, but it may often be determined by the local availability of plant resources (Quinn et al. 1997). Leaf-cutting ants, common defoliators of plants in the Neotropics, are more abundant in early successional forests than in old-growth forest (Jaffe & Vilela 1989, Vasconcelos & Cherrett 1995). A recent study showed that the high density of mature leaf-cutting ant nests in early successional forests was mainly determined by the availability of pioneer plant species, largely preferred by the leafcutters (Farji-Brener 2001). The dominance of pioneer species in early successional forests decreases foraging costs for leaf-cutting ant colonies, and thus these habitats can support a high density of mature colonies. On the other hand, the effective defence mechanisms of shade-tolerant species, which dominate primary habitats, could explain the low density of mature leaf-cutting ant colonies in old-growth forests (palatable forage hypothesis, see Farji-Brener 2001). According to this hypothesis, it is proposed that leaf-cutting ant colonies in old-growth forests should concentrate their foraging effort in treefall gaps, in which sun and pioneer plant species (preferred by leafcutters), are readily available (Farji-Brener 2001, Nichols-Orians 1991a, b; Wetterer 1994). However, this prediction of the palatable forage hypothesis has not yet been explicitly documented.
Creating Spatially Contiguous Yield Classes for Site‐Specific Management

Annual yield maps are spatially fragmented because of random variation caused by crop management as well as measurement errors. Two approaches for creating maps of spatially contiguous yield classes were evaluated at two irrigated sites. In the first approach, prior-classification interpolation (PCI), grid size was increased from 4, 8, 16, and 32 to 64 m by kriging interpolation before cluster analysis used for mapping yield classes. Choosing a coarse resolution (>16 m) for yield interpolation before spatial classification resulted in maps that did not accurately depict yield patterns, significant decline of the yield variance accounted for, and loss of resolution in areas of sharp yield transitions caused by irrigation or near the field borders. In the second approach, postclassification filtering (PCF), cluster analysis of mean relative yield was conducted on the smallest grid size (4 m), and the classification results were postprocessed using a spatial filtering algorithm with window sizes that were equivalent to the 8-, 16-, 32-, and 64-m grid sizes used in PCI. This procedure removed erroneous map fragmentation and created maps of contiguous yield classes while preserving the class means and general yield patterns at high spatial resolution. Window sizes for spatial filtering of yield maps should be in the 30- to 60-m range. Landscape pattern metrics may offer new potential for assessing mapping techniques as well as comparing agricultural production fields with regard to ranking their relative opportunities for site-specific crop management.
Abundance and productivity of protozoa in chalk streams

The distribution and abundance of protozoa in two chalk streams were studied. Particular attention was given to the ciliates and amoebae associated with the dominant submerged macrophyte, Ranunculus penicillatus. Highest numbers of protozoa occurred in habitats in the stream where the current velocity was reduced. Mean standing crops of ciliates, flagellates and amoebae were 32.5, 2.9 and 2.0 mg dry wt m−2 of stream bed respectively. Estimates of production and respiration rates by field populations of ciliates and amoebae were made for one type of habitat within the streams. The results are compared with published data on the productivity of protozoa in other habitats and of other invertebrates within the chalk stream ecosystem. The limitations of such productivity estimates are discussed.
Studies on insect spermatogenesis. VI. Notes on the formation of the sperm in Coleoptera and Aptera, with a general discussion of flagellate sperms

Some years ago when I was beginning my study on problems of sperm formation, Dr. J . F. Nonidez, then working in this laboratory, discovered a sperm, in the beetle Chelymorpha, whicli presented a feature of unusual interest. He found (especially in the maturing sperms) a thread running along the entire length of the elongating liead outside of the nucleus, and terminating posteriorly in the immediate neighborhood of the centrioles. A preliminary examination led him to suspect that this thread might be derived by a forward growth from one of the centrioles, the head thus possessing a filament of centriolar origin comparable to that which is supposedly present in the sperm head of Nereis and several molluscs. Last year, in studying the spermiogeriesis of Lepidoptera (Bowen, ’22 c) , I found a thread growing forward from the region of the centriole, and supposed at once that I had a condition comparable to that in Chelymorpha. Further study convinced me that this was not the case, but that the thread was actually the acrosome arid had no organic relation to the centrioles. It then appeared possible that the thread in Chelymorpha might have a similar interpretation, and as Doctor Noiiidez had dropped the matter to pursue
Responses of Lentil to Co-Inoculation with Phosphate-Solubilizing Rhizobial Strains and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the responses of lentil (Lens culinariscv. ‘Ziba’) to co-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and some indigenous rhizobial strains varying in phosphorus (P)-solubilizing ability in a calcareous soil with high pH and low amounts of available P and nitrogen (N). A factorial experiment with completely randomized block design was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions. The treatments consisted of (1) three inoculants of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains and a mixed rhizobial inoculant with an effective P-solubilizer strain of Mesorhizobium ciceri, (2) two AM fungal species, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices, (3) two P sources, superphosphate and phosphate rock. Four replications were prepared for each treatment and a related control. After the growth period of three months, the dry matter of shoots plus seeds, their P and N contents, and percent of root colonized by AM fungus were measured. The results showed that the effects of AM fungi, rhizobial strains, and P fertilizers were highly significant (p < 0.01) for all the characteristics studied. The rhizobial strain with P-solubilizing ability showed a more beneficial effect on plant growth and nutrient uptake than the strain without this ability, although both strains had similar effectiveness for N2-fixation in symbiosis with lentil. Synergistic relationships were observed between AM fungi and some rhizobial strains that related to the compatible pairing of these two microsymbionts. The P-uptake efficiency was increased when P fertilizers were applied along with AM fungi and/or P-solubilizer rhizobial strains.
A 1397-year tree-ring chronology of Thuja occidentalis from cliff faces of the Niagara Escarpment, southern Ontario, Canada.

Living and dead Thujaoccidentalis L. (eastern white cedar) on cliff faces and in the talus of the Niagara Escarpment, southern Ontario were sampled and measured for dendrochronological analyses. One hundred and forty-two tree-ring series were cross-dated and a 1397-year tree-ring chronology was produced spanning the period 594–1990 A.D., making it the longest in Canada. An additional 784-year floating chronology was constructed from dead debris at the base of the cliff. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the floating chronology begins approximately in 580 B.C. Correlations between the tree-ring indices and 51 climate variables indicate that growth in T. occidentalis is negatively correlated with the previous growing season's temperature. The strongest correlation was between radial tree growth and maximum temperature in the previous July and August. Extremely hot summer conditions will negatively impact tree growth in the following year. These temperature correlations are very similar to those observed for T.
Systemic lupus erythematosus with hypothyroidism as the initial clinical manifestation: A case report

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease and hypothyroidism is an organ-specific autoimmune disease. The two diseases may occur successively or simultaneously. The majority of previous studies observed that thyroid disease was more frequent in patients with SLE than in the general population, particularly those who had a higher incidence of anti-thyroid antibodies. However, there are no reported cases of SLE with hypothyroidism as the initial clinical manifestation, to the best of our knowledge. The present study reported on a case of SLE with this unusual initial clinical manifestation and reviewed the literature to estimate the prevalence of clinical hypothyroidism in patients with SLE (range, 3.0-21.4%). The case of the present study had no obvious facial erythema, photosensitivity or recurrent oral ulcers, and only had hypothyroidism as the initial clinical symptom, but the laboratory examination supported the diagnosis of SLE. The present study suggested that in the clinical diagnosis, attention should be paid to screening for connective tissue diseases when diagnosing hypothyroidism, and the importance of thyroid dysfunction should also be recognized in the treatment of SLE.
Euler–Lagrange equations for variational problems involving the Riesz–Hilfer fractional derivative

In this paper, we obtain the Euler-Lagrange equations for different kind of variational problems with the Lagrangian function containing the Riesz-Hilfer fractional derivative. Since the Riesz-Hilfer fractional derivative is a generalization for the Riesz-Riemann-Liouville and the Riesz-Caputo derivative, then our results generalize many recent works in which the Lagrangian function involving the Riesz-Riemann-Liouville or the Riesz-Caputo derivative. We also study the problem in the presence of delay derivatives and establish a version for Noether theorem in the Riesz-Hilfer sense. In order to achieve our aims we derive some formulas to integration by parts for the Riesz-Hilfer fractional derivative. In the last section, examples are given to clarify the possibility of applicability of our results. In order to clarify the significant conclusions of the paper, we refer to our techniques enable to study many different variational problems containing the Riesz-Hilfer derivative.
Moving outside the comfort zone: teacher’s experiences of development in a police academy context

ABSTRACT This paper examines police educators’ descriptions of development, building on an area of research investigating teachers’ perspectives of their practice. The aim of this study was to describe the variation in police educators’ teaching development experiences, with these results being used to inform development towards learner-centred practice. The research method of phenomenography informed the data collection and analysis process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with police educators across five Australian police academies. Comparative analysis of the transcripts led to the construction of three qualitatively different categories representing variation from less to more complete experiences. The results demonstrated a teacher-centred experience focused on content knowledge, a transitional experience concerned with engaging students and a learner-centred experience with a strong focus on determining what works for students’ learning. When compared with a sample of development experiences from the broader educational field, the results contributed new insights into how teachers deal with comfort when becoming more learner-centred.
Descriptive Analyses of Deficiency Symptoms in Calla Lily Plants

The objective of this work was to describe the nutrition deficiencies symptoms in calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica). Seedlings were maintained in complete nutrition solution and with omission of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), boron (B), and manganese (Mn), totalizing 10 treatments. The first deficiencies symptoms appeared in plants cultivated in N omission, followed by treatments with omission of S, B, K, Fe, P, and Ca. Individual omissions of N and B prevented blooming, while S and K deficiencies resulted in production of small and greenish inflorescences with deformities. Reddish spots in leaves were observed in plants growing in solution with omission of P. Root development was affected either by omission of B or S. Death of the apical bud and formation of a “black center” in calla lily rhizome was caused by B deficiency. Nitrogen, B, and S are the most required nutrients for calla lily plants. The mineral composition of calla lily leaves is affected by nutritional deficiencies
Beyond Amplitudes: Multi-Trace Coherence Analysis for Ground-Penetrating Radar Data Imaging

Under suitable conditions, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements harbour great potential for the non-invasive mapping and three-dimensional investigation of buried archaeological remains. Current GPR data visualisations almost exclusively focus on the imaging of GPR reflection amplitudes. Ideally, the resulting amplitude maps show subsurface structures of archaeological interest in plan view. However, there exist situations in which, despite the presence of buried archaeological remains, hardly any corresponding anomalies can be observed in the GPR time- or depth-slice amplitude images. Following the promising examples set by seismic attribute analysis in the field of exploration seismology, it should be possible to exploit other attributes than merely amplitude values for the enhanced imaging of subsurface structures expressed in GPR data. Coherence is the seismic attribute that is a measure for the discontinuity between adjacent traces in post-stack seismic data volumes. Seismic coherence analysis is directly transferable to common high-resolution 3D GPR data sets. We demonstrate, how under the right circumstances, trace discontinuity analysis can substantially enhance the imaging of structural information contained in GPR data. In certain cases, considerably improved data visualisations are achievable, facilitating subsequent data interpretation. We present GPR trace coherence imaging examples taken from extensive, high-resolution archaeological prospection GPR data sets.
Leaflet Anatomy of Phaseoleae (Leguminosae:Papilionoideae) and Its Relation to Taxonomy

Leaflet anatomy of the tribe Phaseoleae was studied by light microscopy of cleared material and by scanning electron microscopy of leaflet surfaces. Anatomical results compared favorably with the recently revised subtribal classification of the tribe. The following taxonomically useful characters were found: (1) Bulbous-based and vesicular glands are restricted to the subtribe Cajaninae; (2) hooked hairs are present in three generic groups: (a) Phaseolus, Alepidocalyx, and Minkelersia, (b) Clitoria, Periandra, Clitoriopsis, and Centrosema, and (c) one species each of Canavalia and Camptosema; (3) glandular hairs are particularly well developed in the Diocleinae, Phaseolinae, and Kennediinae; (4) branched (two- to several-armed) hairs are restricted to Erythrina; (5) paraveinal mesophyll is widespread in the tribe; and (6) peculiar, paired epidermal crystals occur in Canavalia.