Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Survival of the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) at Constant and Alternating Temperatures

Abstract Survival and development time from egg to adult emergence of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), were determined at 19 constant and 14 alternating temperature regimes from 4 to 40°C. Plutella xylostella developed successfully from egg to adult emergence at constant temperatures from 8 to 32°C. At temperatures from 4 to 6°C or from 34 to 40°C, partial or complete development of individual stages or instars was possible, with third and fourth instars having the widest temperature limits. The insect developed successfully from egg to adult emergence under alternating regimes including temperatures as low as 4°C or as high as 38°C. The degree-day model, the logistic equation, and the Wang model were used to describe the relationships between temperature and development rate at both constant and alternating temperatures. The degree-day model described the relationships well from 10 to 30°C. The logistic equation and the Wang model fit the data well at temperatures <32°C, but only the Wang model described the decline in development rate at temperatures >32°C. Under alternating regimes, all three models gave good simulations of development in the mid-temperature range, but only the logistic equation gave close simulations in the low temperature range, and none gave close or consistent simulations in the high temperature range. The distribution of development time was described satisfactorily by a Weibull function. These rate and time distribution functions provide tools for simulating population development of P. xylostella over a wide range of temperature conditions.
Observations Upon Chilomastix from Bufo vulgaris, with notes on Chilomastix aulastomi

1. Chilomastix from Bufo vulgaris has been grown in culture media but a “pure” strain was not obtained. Division and encystment occurred. 2. Two types of division were found. In one type the original cytostome and flagella persisted and a new set was formed from one pair of basal granules. In the other type the original cytostome disappeared and two new ones were formed from the two pairs of basal granules. This second type of division is similar to that of Chilomastix aulastomi from Haemopis sanguisuga. 3. It is therefore probable that two species of Chilomastix are present in Bufo vulgaris. 4. Cysts of Chilomastix from Bufo vulgaris and of Chilomastix aulastomi were studied. Nuclear division was never seen in them. I wish to offer my best thanks to Mr Clifford Dobell, F.R. S. , for kindly reading through the manuscript.
Induction Motor Thermal Analysis Based on Lumped Parameter Thermal Network

Many industry applications required the use of the induction motors. In such envirenement the electrical machines are facing of many stressed operating conditions. One of the critical creteria which decide the choice of the induction motor is the thermal behaviour under different mode operation. In this paper a study of the thermal behavior of an induction motor is presented. In order to predict the temperature in the different machine components, a model based on the lumped parameter thermal network has been developed. The geometry of the machine and the thermal properties of its various components are used to express the developed model. The joule and the iron losses are considering as the inputs. The proposed model is implemented and tested using MATLAB software. It is a simple model which could predict rapidly the different temperatures. Keywords: Induction motor, Thermal analysis, Lumped parameters thermal network, Modeling, Heat sources
Facilitators of Self-Initiated HIV Testing Among Youths: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT Background Youth experience disparities in HIV infection but have significantly low rates of HIV testing that lead to late diagnoses, increased transmission rates, and adverse health outcomes. There is limited knowledge regarding self-initiated HIV testing, which is a promising strategy for improving testing rates among youth. Purpose This study aimed to identify the facilitators of self-initiated HIV testing among youth. Method Thirty youths aged 18–24 years were recruited to participate in a qualitative descriptive study. Potential participants were recruited from a combination of HIV testing sites, including community testing events, a community-based organization, an adolescent health clinic, and a college campus. A demographic and sexual history questionnaire and audio-recorded interviews were used to collect data. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Salient themes and subthemes that explain the study findings are as follows: testing within the context of a sexual relationship (e.g., infidelity), support and influence from social relationships (e.g., family support), taking the initiative for health (e.g., signs and symptoms of infection), HIV testing preferences (e.g., free testing), and HIV testing experiences (e.g., provision of other health services). Conclusions The findings of this study advance scholarly understanding regarding the predictors of self-initiated testing and provide critical information necessary to further improve evidence-based nursing clinical practice and develop public health nursing interventions that target self-initiated HIV testing. Encouraging self-initiated HIV testing is an effective approach to increasing testing rates and, consequently, preventing new HIV transmissions in this vulnerable population.
Traits associated with high yield in barley in low-rainfall environments

SUMMARY Results are reported from nine field trials carried out in 1985/86 and 1986/87 aimed at identifying plant traits which are associated with high yield in barley in low-rainfall Mediterranean areas. Thirtyseven two-rowed and 35 six-rowed genotypes, representing the known diversity in traits considered to be useful, were compared in trials at three sites differing in expected annual rainfall (212–328 mm) in northern Syria, and in droughted and irrigated trials at Cambridge, UK. Yield, its components and other morphological and developmental traits were measured and correlations calculated. Grain yields of the two- and six-rowed groups of genotypes were similar at all sites except in the irrigated trial in Cambridge, where the six-rowed genotypes gave the highest yield. Aside from the known difference in number of ears and number of grains/ear between two- and six-rowed genotypes, the simple correlations between grain yield and measured traits suggested that important traits for high yield in two- and six-rowed genotypes in dry environments were prostrate habit, vigorous seedling growth, good ground cover, early ear emergence, many ears/m2 and large grains. In the two-rowed genotypes, short stature and a short grain-filling period were also important, while in the six-rowed genotypes, tall stature, high straw yield, many grains/ear and long peduncles were important. Correlations of these characters with an index of drought susceptibility and with yield adjusted for yield potential and date of ear emergence supported the conclusions based on the simple correlations. The physiological basis of the correlated traits is discussed and the implications for breeding are considered.
Leishmaniasis emergence and climate change.

Spatio-temporal modelling of the distributions of the leishmaniases and their sandfly vectors is reviewed in relation to climate change. Many leishmaniases are rural zoonoses, and so there is a foundation of descriptive ecology and qualitative risk assessment. Dogs are widespread reservoir hosts of veterinary importance. Recent statistical modelling has not always produced novel general conclusions, exemplifying the difficulty of applying models outside the original geographical region. Case studies are given for transmission cycles involving both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the Old World and the Americas. An important challenge is to integrate statistical spatial models based mainly on climate with more explanatory biological models. Ecological niche models pose difficulties because of the number of assumptions. A positive association has been reported between the El Nino cycle and the annual incidence of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil, but more basic research is needed before tackling other climate-change scenarios, including leishmaniasis emergence in northern Europe.
Development of Stomata in Equisetum

Hitherto published accounts of the development of stomata in Equisetum are conflicting about the sequence of divisions and about the formation of a sub-stomatal cell from a meristemoid. The present study of the development of stomata in a species identified as E. ramosissimum subspecies ramosissimum supports the observations of Strasburger (1867) and Pant and Mehra (1964) on the basis of sections cut in various planes through internodes of the plant.
The tripartite interaction between sorghum, Striga hermonthica, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Striga hermonthica is a major biological constraint to cereal production in Africa . The intricate association between this phytoparasite and the cereal host makes management difficult. Damage to the host begins before Striga comes out of the soil. Also, infestation correlates negatively with soil fertility. Arbuscular mycorrrhizal (AM) fungi have a variety of ecological functions ranging from improved uptake of immobile nutrients, protection of host from pathogens, to soil aggregation. The question whether these beneficial micro-organisms could play a role within the Striga -cereal (patho )system was addressed. Inoculating Striga -infested sorghum with AM fungi in pots or in the field resulted in a significant reduction in the performance of Striga in terms of numbers attached to the roots, relative time of emergence, numbers emerged and dry weight of Striga shoots at sorghum harvest. AM effects on Striga were more pronounced with the Striga -tolerant S-35 sorghum cultivar compared to effects with the Striga -sensitive CK60B. Inoculation with AM fungi compensated for damage by Striga in the S-35 cultivar. This compensation was independent of AM inoculum density and was not affected by P application. Germination of preconditioned Striga seeds after exposure to root exudates from sorghum colonized by AM fungi was significantly reduced, with effects more prominent with exudates from S-35 plants. AM fungi have the potential to affect Striga during germination, attachment, emergence, and possibly subsequent growth and development. It is important to understand the kind of management practices that farmers can apply to enhance mycorrhizal performance in an integrated management system.
Age and spatial structure of Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae) in southwestern Amazon.

Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae) is a tree popularly known as andiroba. It occurs throughout the Amazon basin, preferably in low lying areas. The oil extracted from its seeds is widely used for cosmetics. Besides oil, its wood has desirable characteristics for the tropical timber market, a factor that increases the pressure on its natural populations. Our objective was to describe the structure of a natural population of C. guianensis in southwestern Amazon (Rondônia State). The work was carried out in an open rainforest with palm trees in the Porto Velho municipality (9° 47’18 “S and 66° 41’54” WGR). Two plots with 9 ha each (300 x 300 m) were marked. All individuals of C. guianensis with DBH ≥ 10cm were measured. Individuals with DBH < 10cm were sampled in 20 plots of 0.1ha (10 x10m; 10 regeneration plots/plot) randomly chosen within the plots. To estimate the population structure all sampled individuals were further subdivided into three groups: seedlings (height <1.5 m), juveniles (height ≥ 1.5 m and DBH <10cm) and adults (DBH ≥ 10 cm). For all groups we estimated the density (individuals.ha-1; mean ± standard deviation). The estimated density was of 1,100 ± 133 seedlings.ha-1 and 14.5 ± 2.28 adults.ha-1. There were no juveniles of the species in the studied plots. The density of seedlings and adults was similar to other inventories made for the same species in the Western Amazon, but our results show that the population has a serious lack of juvenile individuals.
Combining ability analysis for seed proteins, oil content and fatty acids composition in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

total proteins, oil content and fatty acids composition. Among parental lines, CMS-64, CMS-53, CMS-H55-2-2-1 and CMS-53 were the best general combiners for seed total proteins, oil content, oleic and linoleic acid, respectively. Among males, C-206-R, SF-187R, RHA-295 and RHA-854 were the potential parents exhibiting desirable GCA for seed total proteins, oil content, oleic and linoleic acids, respectively. Among the F hybrids, 1
PCR revisited: a case for revalidation of PCR assays for microorganisms using identification of Campylobacter species as an exemplar

We re-examined the sensitivity and specificity of 31 PCR assays (including four commercially available and developed in-house methods) for the identification of Campylobacter species, with particular reference to taxa described since 2004, which are closely related to C. jejuni and C. coli, the pathogenic species of most interest. Each of the assays was used by at least one of the participating nine laboratories in eight countries. The sensitivity and specificity of these PCR assays examined varied considerably and ranged from 100% to 0% for sensitivity and 100% to 55% for specificity. None of the three assays examined for C. lari were successful in detecting all strains of this species, possibly reflecting its complex taxonomy. A number of assays for C. jejuni, C. coli, and a subgroup of enteropathogenic campylobacters, were found to yield false positive results for Campylobacter species described since PCR tests were reported, including C. cuniculorum, C. subantarcticus, C. peloridis and C. volucris. Our study supports the need for attention to detail in initial PCR assay design and evaluation, and also for on-going revalidation of laboratory assays to ensure that diagnoses are correct. Recommendations to guide the revalidation process are presented.
The Influence of Fe on the Structure and Hydrogen Sorption Properties of Ti-V-Based Metal Hydrides

Ti-V-based metal hydrides have decent overall performance as hydrogen storage materials, but V is expensive and it is therefore tempting to replace it by less expensive ferrovanadium containing about 20% Fe. In the present work we have investigated how Fe influences the structure and hydrogen storage properties of (Ti0.7V0.3)1−zFez alloys with e r r o r t y p e c e z ∈ { 0 , 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3} using synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and manometric measurements performed in a Sieverts apparatus. The alloys form body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structures for all considered values of z, and the addition of Fe causes the unit cell to contract. When exposed to hydrogen gas, the bcc alloys form face-centered cubic (fcc) hydrides if e r r o r t y p e c e z ≤ 0 . 1 while other hydrogen-containing phases are formed for higher Fe-contents. The hydrogen capacities of the fcc hydrides at 20 bar are not significantly influenced by the addition of Fe and reach 3.2(3) wt% in (Ti0.7V0.3)0.9Fe0.1H1.6(2). For higher Fe contents the hydrogen capacity is decreased. The absorption kinetics are fast and the reactions are complete within minutes when the alloys are exposed to 20 bar H2 at room temperature. Increasing Fe content reduces the desorption enthalpy, onset temperature and activation energy.
Of sheep and rain: large-scale population dynamics of the red kangaroo

1. We analysed time-series data from populations of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus, Desmarest) inhabiting four areas in the pastoral zone of South Australia. We formulated a set of a priori models to disentangle the relative effects of the covariates: rainfall, harvesting, intraspecific competition, and domestic herbivores, on kangaroo population-growth rate. 2. The statistical framework allowed for spatial variation in the growth-rate parameters, response to covariates, and environmental variability, as well as spatially correlated error terms due to shared environment. 3. The most parsimonious model included all covariates but no area-specific parameter values, suggesting that kangaroo densities respond in the same way to the covariates across the areas. 4. The temporal dynamics were spatially correlated, even after taking into account the potentially synchronizing effect of rainfall, harvesting and domestic herbivores. 5. Counter-intuitively, we found a positive rather than negative effect of domestic herbivore density on the population-growth rate of kangaroos. We hypothesize that this effect is caused by sheep and cattle acting as a surrogate for resource availability beyond rainfall. 6. Even though our system is well studied, we must conclude that approximating resources by surrogates such as rainfall is more difficult than previously thought. This is an important message for studies of consumer-resource systems and highlights the need to be explicit about population processes when analysing population patterns.
PLANT COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO SIMULATED ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AT A HIGH ARCTIC POLAR SEMI-DESERT

Impacts of climate change were simulated over five summer seasons in a high arctic polar semi-desert at Ny Alesund, Svalbard, by using polythene tents to increase temperature, and by increasing precipitation and soil nutrient (NPK) availability. The effects of these treatments on vegetation cover were assessed at the start of the 1991, 1993, and 1995 field seasons, and at peak biomass in the same years. Over the first season of the experiment (1991), changes in percentage total living vegetation cover were significantly greater, and changes in dead vegetation cover significantly lower, in the tented treatments. In subsequent seasons, changes in total living cover were also greater under treatments simulating climate change, although the significant factors and interactions were year- specific. Between years, at both the early and mid-season sampling periods, the fertilizer application had the strongest effect on changes in plant cover, significantly decreasing cover of living Dryas octopetala, Saxifraga oppositifolia, and bare ground between 1991 and 1995, while increasing cover of bryophytes, Salix Polaris, Polygonum viviparum, and total dead vegetation. Although cover of D. octopetala was greater during the first three years of fertilizer addition, marked winter injury occurred in this species on fertilized plots during winter 1993-1994. This resulted in reductions in total live cover and D. octopetala cover and an increase in total dead cover (by up to 22%) in watered and fertilized plots between 1991 and 1995. Seedlings of nitrophilous "immigrant" species were established naturally on bare ground in fertilized plots in the third year of the study and subsequently increased in number, so that after five seasons the community tended more toward bird-cliff vegetation rather than polar semi-desert vegetation. The tent treatment and the simulated increase in summer precipitation had little effect between seasons on the plant community, in com- parison with the fertilizer treatment.
Topographic shading and wave exposure influence morphology and ecophysiology of Ecklonia radiata (C. Agardh 1817) in Fiordland, New Zealand

Patterns in morphology, pigment concentration, and light saturation kinetics of Ecklonia radiata reveal great morphological and physiological variability among individuals from sites spanning strong gradients in topographic shading and wave exposure among the 14 fjords in southwestern New Zealand. Morphology of E. radiata varies from relatively narrow (85 ± 4.7 mm) (mean ± standard error), thick (3.2 ± 0.30 mm) blades from the well‐illuminated, wave‐exposed outer coast sites to wide, undulate (460 ± 36.8 mm,) and thin (0.46 ± 0.059 mm) blades from quiescent, topographically shaded inner fjord sites. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration of blades (0.084‐1.34 µg g−1 of tissue) and the ratio of fucoxanthin to Chl a (0.33 to 0.56) also increased along this gradient, indicating photoacclimation within the inner fjord populations. In situ measurements of light saturation kinetics indicate maximum photosynthetic rates at lower irradiance (Imax = 43.7 vs. 257 µmol quanta m−2 s−1) for algae at inner fjord sites relative to well‐lit outer fjord locations. Individuals exhibiting characteristically photoacclimated relative electron transfer rate curves had more deplete δ13C (‐13.35% to ‐22.35%) than individuals with higher Imax. There was no significant association between the kelp morphology or geographic location and the observed recombinant DNA diversity of ITS sequences that would indicate the presence of two Ecklonia species in the fjords. E. radiata occupies a wide range of habitats in Fiordland and displays variability in morphology and photo‐physiological responses to low light that coincide with gradients in wave exposure and topographically shaded light conditions.
Serum concentration of calcium, phosphate and 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D 3 in goats (Capra hyrcus): daily rhythms

Summary The goal of the present study was to investigate the daily rhythms of calcium, phosphate and 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2 D3) in the blood serum of goats. Blood samples from six Girgentana breed goats were collected via an intravenous cannula inserted into the jugular vein at four-hour intervals over a 48-hour period (starting at 08:00 hours on day 1 and finishing at 04:00 on day 2). The serum concentration of calcium and phosphate was measured by photometric test and of 1,25-(OH)2 D3 by HPLC. All parameters were expressed as mean ± SEM. The one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant differences. ANOVA showed a highly significant effect of time in all the parameters studied. The application of the periodic model and the statistical analysis of the Cosinor enabled us to define the periodic parameters and their acrophases (expressed in hours) during the 2 days of monitoring: all the studied parameters exhibited diurnal acrophases, which were within 12:44 and 17:28 hours. The results obtained led us to reveal the existence of a daily rhythm for the parameters considered and their temporal physiological values are useful for their implications in the formulation of therapeutic and nutritional protocols in the goat.