Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Flexible Growth Rates on Optimal Sizes and Development Times in a Seasonal Environment

The interrelationships among development time, growth rate, and adult size are investigated using simple optimization models of a seasonal life history in which larger adults have greater reproductive output. Unlike most previous studies, our models assume that growth rate is an adaptively flexible character that can be increased at the expense of a greater juvenile mortality rate. Three components of fitness are considered: the cost of developing at a suboptimal time of the year, the reproductive advantage of larger adult size, and the increased mortality from rapid juvenile growth. The study focuses on the optimal responses of size, development time, and growth rate to changes in the amount of time available for completion of the life cycle. The models show that the optimal growth rate and size at maturity may respond in several different ways. Perhaps the most likely effect is that growth becomes faster and size smaller with less time available. It is also possible, however, for either growth rate or size (but not both) to stay constant; in other cases, less time available leads to slower growth or larger size. The effects of increased mortality on the juvenile stage are also explored; here, the optimal size is likely to decrease, but growth rate and development time may increase or decrease.
Antioxidant activities of black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as a animal feedstuff.Insect resources have been widely recognized that it exhibits its own biological activity by whole body or its metabolicintermediates. To accomplish this, its general and biological activities were measured. The present study was conductedto compare antioxidant activity of black soldier fly larva, pupa and grasshopper by examining radical scavenging activ-ity using DPPH (2,2 diphenyl 1-picryl hydrazyl). DPPH radical scavenging activity was conducted on the EtOH,MeOH, H2O fractions of black soldier fly larvae. Results showed that black soldier fly pupa on the H2O fraction con-tained the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity among the samples. FRAP assay are more suitable methods to eval-uate antioxidant activity of black soldier fly extracts. Among the samples, the FRAP value showed higher antioxidantactivity in the extracts from black soldier fly pupa extract on H2O fraction. These results suggest that black soldier flylarva and pupa extract has antioxidant activity and its fractions can be utilized to develop functional feedstuff.Key words : Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, Antioxidant activity
Long-term effects of agronomic practices on the soil organic carbon sequestration in Chernozem

The study was based on data from selected long-term field trials established at the Experimental Fields of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad (Serbia). The effect of tillage systems on SOC concentration and SOC stock was most pronounced at 0–10 cm depth. In a 0–40 cm soil layer, in a 7-year period, no-till (NT) sequestrated 863 kg SOC ha−1 yr−1 more compared to moldboard plow tillage (PT), while the effects of disc tillage (DT) and chisel tillage (CT) were not significantly different. Unfertilized three-crop rotation (CSW) compared to two-crop rotation (CW) enhanced SOC storage in a 0–30 cm soil layer by 151 kg C ha−1 yr−1 in a 56-year period. Within fertilized treatments, SOC concentration was highest under continuous corn (CC). Mineral fertilization (F) non-significantly increased the SOC stock compared to no fertilization in corn monoculture in a 32-year period. The incorporation of mineral fertilizers and harvest residues (F + HR) and mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure (F + FYM) sequestered 195 and 435 kg C ha−1 yr−1 more than the unfertilized plot, respectively, in a 0–30 cm soil layer, in a 35-year period. Irrigation did not significantly affect SOC sequestration.
Influência do estresse hídrico sobre o desempenho fisiológico de sementes de híbridos simples de milho-pipoca

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar o efeito do estresse hidrico induzido por polietileno glicol, na qualidade fisiologica das sementes de catorze hibridos simples de milho-pipoca. Para tanto, foi conduzido um experimento em que as sementes foram colocadas para germinar em substrato de papel-toalha, umedecido com solucoes de polietileno glicol (PEG 6000), nos niveis de potencial osmotico de zero (controle) e -0,3 MPa. A qualidade fisiologica das sementes foi avaliada por meio do teste de germinacao (primeira contagem e contagem final), do comprimento da raiz primaria e da parte aerea das plântulas e da biomassa seca das plântulas. A diminuicao do potencial hidrico do substrato e prejudicial a germinacao das sementes e, principalmente, ao crescimento das plântulas de milho-pipoca. Os decrescimos nas variaveis analisadas dependeram dos hibridos avaliados. Os hibridos G e K foram os que se mostraram mais tolerantes ao estresse hidrico, enquanto que o hibrido M foi mais susceptivel a seca. A tolerância ao estresse hidrico independe da qualidade inicial das sementes de milho-pipoca.
Resistance Against the Damping‐off Fungus Rhizoctonia solani Systemically Induced by the Plant‐Growth‐Promoting Rhizobacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IE‐6S+) and P. fluorescens (CHA0)

Bare-root-dip treatment or soil drench with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IE-6S + and P. fluorescens CHA0 significantly suppressed Rhizoctonia solani and the bacterial efficacy was more pronounced in the presence of low inoculum level of the fungus. The two bacteria afforded better protection to tomato roots against R. solani during early growth stages of the roots. There was a significant difference in the level of protection between root-dip treatment and soil drench with both the bacterial inoculants. The ability of the antagonistic bacteria to induce systemic resistance against R. solani was demonstrated in split-root trials, where the root system of a single tomato plant was spatially divided into two separate parts. Root infection caused by R. solani was substantially lower in both bacterized and non-bacterized halves. However, the level of protection was greater in the bacteria-treated half compared with the bacteria-free half. Viable and dead cells of the two bacteria showed similar activity against R. solani, while the culture filtrate of P. fluorescens induced systemic resistance of a higher degree towards R. solani compared with P. aeruginosa. In general, populations of the two bacteria in the rhizosphere declined by tenfold at each harvest and colonization of P. aeruginosa was slightly greater compared with that by P. fluorescens. Initially (day 0), both the bacterial inoculants had almost a similar pattern of rhizosphere colonization, whereas at first (day 7) and second harvest (day 14) P. aeruginosa colonized more heavily than P. fluorescens. At final harvest (day 21), the two bacteria did not differ significantly in their colonization pattern. Whereas P. fluorescens specifically colonized the rhizosphere, P. aeruginosa also colonized the inner root tissues of tomato.
Do sterile females affect the sexual performance of sterile males of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)?

The release of sterile males to suppress the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) population was simulated in field cages to compare the sexual performance of sterile males with wild females in the presence and absence of sterile females. Using different release ratios of sterile and wild individuals, this study showed that the presence of sterile females negatively affected the sexual performance of sterile males in mating with wild females. We found that the sterility induced was proportional to the magnitude of the sterile/fertile ratio. These results indicate that the release of sterile males without sterile females can significantly improve the efficiency of the sterile insect technique for the control of A. ludens.
AKINETE FORMATION IN PLANKTONIC ANABAENA SPP. (CYANOBACTEFUA) BY TREATMENT WITH LOW TEMPERATURE 1

The effects of temperature, light intensity and nutrient depletion on akinete formation in seven strains of planktonic Anabaena spp. : A. mucosa TAC426; A. crassa TAC436; A. spiroides TAC443 and TAC444; A. flosaquae TAC446; and A. ucrainica TAC448 and TAC449 were examined. A Marked Pfft of temperature on akinete formation was observed at 40 μmol photons·m−2·sec−1 and nutrient‐sufficient conditions. At 20° C, akinetes did not develop in A. mucosa TAC426, A. crassa TAC436, A. spiroides TAC443, A. flos‐aquae TAC446, or A. ucrainica TAC449 but were formed at frequencies of a little over 11% (ratio of filaments with akinetes to total filaments) in A. spiroides TAC444 and A. ucrainica TAC448. None of the strains fmd akinetes or heterocysts at 30° C and 35° C. At lower temperature (10° C and 15° C), akinetes developed in all the strains at maximum frequencies of 13.4–77.4% during the late exponential phase or late exponential to stationary phases of growth. With only one exception, low light or nutrient deletion did not lead to the induction of akinete diferentiation at 20° C. Only akinete formation in A. flosaquae TAC446 was induced by nitrogen deletion with a frequency of 12.1%, similar to that induced by low temperature, but the initiation of akinete formation in the strain was delayed compared to treatment with low temperature. These results show that temperature was the most important environmental factor triggering akinete formation in these species. In A. crassa TAC436 and A. spiroides TAC443 and TAC444, akinetes developed during the late exponential growth phase even though heterocysts were formed at a 100% frequency (ratio of filaments with heterocysts to total filaments) throughout the entire growth phase. In A. mucosa TAC426, A. flos‐aquae TAC446, and A. ucrainica TAC448 and TAC449, there was a positive correlation between heterocyst and akinete formation, suggesting that the presence of a heterocyst may play a role in akinete formation.
Efeito inibidor do soro urêmico sobre o metabolismo oxidativo dos neutrófilos de cães

The hypothesis that the uremic compounds decrease the neutrophil oxidative metabolism in dogs, as occurs in humans was tested. Whole blood from 10 dogs was incubated with uremic and non-uremic homologous sera and the superoxide production by activated neutrophils was quantified by the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT). The superoxide production generated by neutrophils in the presence of uremic serum was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in comparison with autologous and homologous sera with normal urea levels. It was concluded that the presence of components of uremic serum inhibits the ex vivo neutrophil oxidative metabolism in dogs, suggesting that, similarly to humans, dogs with renal failure may have the innate immunity response compromised.
Response of the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) to the transition between disturbed and undisturbed habitats

The relationship between social behavior, demography, and habitat selection in the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) was studied at the transition zone between disturbed (clear-cutting and strip-mine) and undisturbed (woodland) habitats. Demographic characteristics included a tendency toward overrepresentation of young mice (juvenile and subadults) in disturbed habitats and higher disappearance rates for young woodland males than for females. Home range data indicated that movements between habitats were minimal and mostly restricted to the ecotone. Behavioral interaction studies revealed that woodland mice were more likely to initiate contact and that mice from the clear-cutting responded by retreating or fleeing. During a reciprocal removal experiment, 43% of the resident population of the clear-cutting moved to woodland habitat after the original woodland population had been removed; no residents of woodland habitat moved to a disturbed site following removal. The suggestion that disturbed habit.
Effects of soil, climate and cultivation techniques on cotton yield in Central Greece, using different statistical methods

L'objectif de cette etude etait de determiner et quantifier la relation entre les variables de l'environnement et celles de la conduite de la culture sur la production du coton dans la plaine de Thessalie, en Grece centrale. 349 champs repartis sur toute la region ont ete choisis dans lesquels nous avons mesure pendant trois annees consecutives la production de coton et les variables qui caracterisent sa culture et les sols. Trois methodes statistiques ont ete utilisees (analyse de variance a un et plusieurs criteres, regression lineaire et analyse factorielle) pour identifier et confirmer l'effet des techniques culturales sous differentes conditions climatiques. L'analyse de variance (ANOVA) a montre que la categorie de sol, la composition mecanique de la couche superficielle et celle du sol en profondeur, la teneur en carbonates, le cultivar, les precedents culturaux, la defoliation et les variations spatio-temporelles du climat ont un effet significatif (P < 0.001) sur le rendement. La regression lineaire a confirme les resultats des ANOVA et suggere que 50% de la variation du rendement est liee aux variations de sol tandis que le meme pourcentage (47%) serait du aux variables de conduite de culture; l'ensemble ces deux groupes de variables expliquent 65 % de la variation du rendement. L'analyse factorielle a ete realisee de deux manieres differentes: (i) en incluant les donnees de rendement parmi les variables et (ii) en ne les incluant pas. Dans les deux analyses, dix facteurs ont ete mis en evidence, identifies par le meme groupe de variables. La premiere analyse montre que 61 % de la variance totale du rendement est representee par les 10 facteurs. F1 et F2 expliquent la moitie de cette variance tandis que F5 en explique le tiers. La regression realisee sur les facteurs extraits par la seconde analyse a montre que les facteurs F1, F2, F5 et F7 expliquent 41 % de la variance totale du rendement. Dans les deux cas le facteur F1 est determine principalement par les variables de sol, alors que F2, F5 et F7 le sont par celles liees aux techniques culturales.
Identity of Esters Produced in Milk Cultures of Pseudomonas Fragi

Summary Isovalerate and acetate esters were the principal esters detected in the steam distillate of a milk culture of Pseudomonas fragi . In an analysis of the acids present in similar culture distillates, isovaleric acid was the most prominent acid detected which was not present in the uninoculated control milk. Ethanol was the only alcohol detected in the cultured milk and was not found in the control milk. Supplementation of sterile milk with ethanol, prior to culturing, stimulated rapid production of esters by the organism. In such cases, the isovalerate ester was most prominent. Four of a panel of six judges were able to detect as little as 0.01 p.p.m. of ethyl isovalerate in a series of milk samples, and all described the aroma of milk dilutions of this ester as very similar to that of P. fragi milk cultures. Evidence is presented which indicates that the production of esters responsible for the fruity aroma in milk cultures is markedly affected by the previous nutrition and/or incubation temperature of P. fragi cells used as inoculum. The role of leucine as a probable substrate in the production of the isovalerate ester by P. fragi is discussed.
Is there something wrong with the bootstrap on phylogenies? A reply to Hillis and Bull

Hillis and Bull (1993) presented simu? lations on the behavior of the bootstrap method of assigning P values to the pres? ence of groups in phylogenies, as advo? cated by one of us (Felsenstein, 1985). They found that the P values are less extreme, sometimes considerably so, than the prob? abilities that the groups are correct. Among groups that have a value of P = 0.85, for example, >95% of them may be correct groups. Thus, the value of P is conservative in their simulations, sometimes extremely so. This raises the question of whether there is some flaw in the logic of the bootstrap. We do not at all dispute the results of Hillis and Bull's simulations, which are very thorough and helpful exercises. We instead comment on where the phenom? ena that they found originate. We argue that these phenomena are not a result of using the bootstrap but are a result of sum? marizing the evidence for a group by using a P value. Hillis and Bull's phenomena are rather precisely duplicated in a much sim? pler model of estimating where the mean of a normal distribution is, a model having no bootstrapping. As in empirical studies, we can often get a clearer picture by con? sidering a simple example. Finally, we show that there is another straightforward meaning of the P value that is not invali? dated by Hillis and Bull's criticisms and that can be taken as the "real" meaning of the bootstrap P value. Recently, Zharkikh and Li (1992) pro? vided a careful and detailed theoretical
Observations on the spawning seasons of East African reef fishes

Between 1974–1977 the gonads of a number of commercial reef fishes were examined during a study of gear improvement and stock assessment along the East African Coastal waters. Different methods of fishing ranging from modern methods of trawling to local methods of traps were used. Twenty-one families with a total of 73 species were examined. The spawning of these species occurred throughout the year with two peaks in January to March and September to November. The highest peak of breeding was in October, corresponding to the time of the South East Monsoons, and to the highest water temperature.
An Improved Redox Dye-Staining Method Using 5-Cyano-2,3-Ditoryl Tetrazolium Chloride for Detection of Metabolically Active Bacteria in Activated Sludge

A fluorochrome-staining method using 5-cyano-2,3-ditoryl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) was improved to enhance the sensitivity of detection of metabolically active bacteria in activated sludge. The highest efficiency of CTC staining was obtained with 6 mM CTC in MOPS buffer at pH 6.5. CTC staining efficiency was also increased by adding a substrate mixture (0.05% peptone, 0.05% yeast extract and 1 mM glucose), Meldola's Blue as an electron transfer mediator and KCN. The bacterial counts detected by the CTC staining method thus improved accounted for 41-76% of the total counts in activated sludge with the average value being 54%. This value was approximately two-fold higher than those obtained by the traditional CTC staining assay which has been performed in phosphate buffer or phosphate-buffered saline without any addition of external substrate or electron transfer mediator. There was a high positive correlation between CTC-stained direct counts and the plate counts of aerobic chemoorganotrophic bacteria or viable cell counts measured using a LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability kit. The viable population in the activated sludges as measured by BacLight staining and plate counting accounted for 73±7.6% and 8.7±4.7% of the total population, respectively. These data suggested that most of the "viable but nonculturable" bacteria (i.e., BacLight-positive but unculturable population) potentially existing in the sludge system were so metabolically active as to be detectable by the improved CTC staining method.
Heat tolerance in winter wheat. I, Hardening and genetic effects on membrane thermostability

High-temperature stress during the grain-fill period of wheat is one of the major constraints to increased production. The objective of this work was to determine the relationship between membrane thermostability (MT) and other agronomic traits of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Hardened seedlings of 137 F 5 genotypes (derived from crosses of heat-tolerant and sensitive parents) and seven cultivars were evaluated for MT and the results expressed as relative injury (RI). The same 144 genotypes were grown at three field sites in eastern Colorado and evaluated for maturity (days to anthesis), grain yield, grain volume weight, and yield components. Relative injury varied significantly (P<0.01) among the 144 genotypes, with a range of 31 to 78%. Based on RI values, the genotypes were separated into three groups: heat-tolerant (HT), intermediate (I), and heat-sensitive (HS). Accordingly, 27 genotypes were classified as HT, 71 as I, and 46 as HS. There were no differences in maturity among the three groups, indicating no association between maturity and RL. At one site, the HT group produced 9 and 19% more yield than the I and HS groups, respectively, and the trend in yield among the three groups was similar at the other two sites. Additionally, grain voluyme weight and kernel weight were greater for the HT vs. I or HS groups at all three sites. Thus, heat tolerance, as evaluated by the Mt test, was associated with grain yield and quality. These results suggest that the MT test would be a suitable procedure for selecting heat-tolerant winter wheat genotypes in a breeding program
Impact of Deferred Rotation Grazing on Stream Characteristics in Central Nevada: A Case Study

Abstract Three central Nevada streams were selected to study the watershed-scale effects on stream morphology and bank stability of deferred rotation cattle grazing, complete rest from grazing, and the presence of road crossings. The streams had gravel substrates, and their entrenchments, width : depth ratios, sinuosities and gradients were moderate. Based on statistical analysis of 1980 stream survey results, geologic basin features, and the occurrence of similar flooding, we concluded that the three streams had similar conditions at the start of the grazing treatment. Since 1980, deferred rotation grazing allowed much improvement of aquatic and riparian habitats but the improvement was limited by the presence of roads, which apparently added sediment to the streams. Complete rest from grazing without the presence of roads allowed the most improvement. Of the variables measured in the 1980 survey, streambank soil stability, type and amount of vegetation cover, and quality of pools improved most in all th.
The Biology of Upogebia pusilla (Petagna) (Decapoda, Thalassinidea) I. The Burrows

The biology of the thalassinidean shrimp Upogebia pusilla was studied on a tidal flat in the Lagoon of Grado (Northern Adriatic). Burrows were investigated using in situ resin casting and with additional in situ and laboratory observations. Burrows show a basic pattern consisting of a U or a double U with turning chambers and a vertical shaft. Mean burrow diameter depends on animal size, it is smaller than the rigid carapace of the animal. Dimensions, distance between openings, depth of U, total depth, volume and surface are size dependent. The burrow wall is smooth and oxidized. Burrows are always inhabited by a single shrimp. Although they overlap, they are never interconnected. They are mainly constructed by compression of the sediment and are relatively permanent structures. A comparison of the burrows of Thalassinidea with regard to shape, number and appearance of openings, dimensions, properties of the burrow wall and dynamics is given.
Antioxidative Activity of Corn Bran Hemicellulose Fragments

Antioxidative compounds were solubilized from an insoluble dietary fiber, refined corn bran (RCB), by enzymatic hydrolysis. Antioxidative activities (AOA) of 5-O-feruloyl-L-arabinofuranose (FA) and O-(6-O-feruloyl-α-L-arabinofuranosyl)-(1→3)-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-xylopgranose (FAXX) were slightly stronger than that of ferulic acid. AOA of high molecular fraction were stronger than those of ferulic acid, FA, and FAXX. Diferulic acid was an active constituent among the alkaline hydrolysate of high molecular fraction. AOA of ferulic acid sugar esters, FA, and FAXX were stronger than that of free ferulic acid in the microsomal lipid peroxidation system