Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Factors Influencing Test-Day Somatic Cell Counts in Holsteins

Abstract Between February and December, 1977, 133,493 test-day observations of somatic cell count were taken on 27,009 Holstein cows in 676 herds on the Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service. Data were transformed to a log (natural) scale, and analyses were separate within lactation age group (≤ 2, 3, 4, 5, and≥6 yr). Joint estimates of fixed effects of month of test, age of sample at time of laboratory analysis, stage of lactation, age of cow at calving (mo) within lactation age (yr), and season of calving, and components of variance for herd, cow, and error were obtained by maximum likelihood. Patterns of month of test, age of sample, and stage of lactation were similar for all lactation ages. Somatic cell counts were lowest in May, rose through summer and autumn, and peaked in December. As age of sample increased, somatic cell count decreased. Somatic cell counts were highest shortly after freshening, declined rapidly to a nadir between 25 and 45 days in milk, and rose throughout the remainder of lactation. Effects of age at calving within lactation age were generally small. Effects of season of calving were small and were significant only for 3 and ≥6 yr olds. Within lactation repeatability of somatic cell count ranged from . 26 for≤2 yr olds to . 40 for mature (≥ 6 yr) cows and averaged . 35 over all ages.
Artemisia annua L.: agro-techniques for semi-arid environments

Artemisia annua L. is an aromatic annual plant native in Asia, probably in China, and is widespread in all temperate regions. Aerial parts contain aromatic volatile oils and non-volatile sesquiterpenes used in pharmacopoeia. The most important sesquiterpene is artemisinin and its derivatives, which are used as a remedy against malaria. In the Mediterranean region, interest in cultivating Artemisia resulted in emerging industrial activities demanding local biomass with high content of artemisinin to start new production chains. The goal of this paper was to find out appropriate agro-techniques for semi-arid climate regions to be followed by local growers in order to get convenient yield in terms of biomass and artemisinin content. The specific research objectives were to test germplasm and to develop a pilot model for A. annua , including the main agro-techniques (plant density, nitrogen supply and irrigation requirements). Results were obtained after a two-year field study carried out in an area of Salento region. The effects of the season and of the tested cultivars were not significant. The highest biomass production (36 t ha-1 of dry biomass), associated with a high percentage of artemisinin (0.97 % on dry weight), was achieved by using 7.3 plant m-2, and by supplying 60 Kg N ha-1 and 150 mm of irrigation water.
Changing Schools, Changing Counselors: A Qualitative Study of School Administrators’ Conceptions of the School Counselor Role

This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory methodology to assess the conceptions about the school counselor role held by 26 administrators employed in public elementary, middle, or high schools. The study was designed to build a deeper understanding of how school administrators conceptualized the school counselor role. Four distinctive role sets were found. They were differentiated in terms of primary work activities valued, extent of counselor-staff work role coordination, and type of specialized knowledge required. Findings suggest that there is a need for a more conscious development of counselor leadership skills and role expectations by counselors themselves and by counselor preparation programs.
Fish and Decapod Crustacean Assemblages from the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto Basin, South Carolina (1993–1999)

Abstract The spatial and temporal distributions of decapod crustacean and juvenile fish species in the Ashepoo, Combahee, and South Edisto (ACE) rivers in the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve were examined from 1993 to 1999. Nekton samples were collected monthly during slack low to early flood tide by bottom trawl from 12 fixed stations (four stations/river) along the salinity gradient in the reserve. During the 6-year survey, 79 species of fish and 26 decapod crustacean species were caught. Coastal marine species represented more than 80% of the species collected during the survey; the remaining finfish were permanent residents, freshwater, and diadromous species. Star drum (Stellifer lanceolatus), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) constituted >68% of the total number of individual fishes collected. White shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) and brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) constituted ∼87% of the total number of individual decapods collected. Fish and decapod crustacean assemblage structure in the three rivers were analyzed for spatial and seasonal patterns. Spatial distribution of the species assemblages in the estuarine systems appeared to be strongly influenced by the physiological tolerances of the individuals to salinity gradients in the study area. Seasonal variations in species diversity and abundance appeared to be related to migration and recruitment of species to the estuarine system, and there were two annual recruitment cycles: winter–spring (October to March) and summer–fall (April to September). The variations in species diversity among the stations in the mesohaline zone were driven by the abundance of the dominant species.
Caractérisation des principales variétés de dattes cultivées dans la région du Djérid en Tunisie

Certains criteres physiques et physico-chimiques de 21 varietes de dattes cultivees au sud de la Tunisie, dont la Deglet Nour, ont ete etudies. Cela a abouti au classement des cultivars en fonction de criteres de qualite specifiques de l'industrie dattiere. Des caracteres morphologiques particulierement interessants (dimensions des fruits et teneur en pulpe) ont ete trouves pour les varietes Menakher, Boufagous et Trongea. Sept acides amines sont present dans la pulpe des dattes a une teneur significative, mais les taux d'acides amines totaux sont tres variables selon les varietes (de 82 a 700 mg/100 g de matiere seche). Les varietes qui ont les pIus fortes teneurs en acides amines sont les moins aptes a une bonne conservation. Les fortes teneurs en malate ont ete relevees chez les dattes seches et pourraient expliquer en partie leur faible valeur aromatique
Biotic interactions and the population dynamics of the long-lived columnar cactus Neobuxbaumia tetetzo in the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico

The giant columnar cactus Neobuxbaumia tetetzo (Coulter) Backeberg is the dominant species of a vegetation type locally called "tetechera" that occupies ca. 400 km2 in the Tehuacan Valley. As a way to analyse the role of biotic interactions on the population dynamics of this species, we conducted an elasticity analysis, using matrix models elaborated from field data, to determine the finite rate of increase and the critical stages of the life cycle that were related to the biotic interactions occurring during these stages. Although the estimated finite rate of increase did not differ from unity there were significant differences between the actual and predicted size distributions. Elasticity analysis showed that survivorship was the most important life-history parameter to the finite rate of increase. Because survivorship depends on the presence of nurse plants, our results emphasise the importance of positive interactions on the population dynamics of long-lived columnar cacti.Key words: biotic interacti.
Bioleaching of copper, aluminum, magnesium and manganese from brown shale by Ganoderma lucidum

The present study was done to check the bioleaching feasibility of brown shale for the recovery of copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) ions using Ganoderma lucidum. Different experimental parameters were optimized for the enhanced recovery of metals ions. Effect of different substrates like glucose, molasses, saw dust and cotton seed cake on the recovery of metals ions was investigated under shaking as well as non-shaking conditions. Significant difference in leaching of metal ions by G. lucidum was observed under shaking and non shaking conditions. Maximum leaching of Al (90.7%), Mg (96.46%), Mn (66.3%) and Cu (73.45%) was observed using glucose under shaking conditions with 5, 3, 4 and 3% pulp densities respectively. The results show that maximum solubilization up to 68.89, 77.03 and 38.37% was achieved for Cu, Al and Mg ions respectively using molasses as substrate, whereas, 57.74% recovery of Mn was achieved with saw dust. The recovery of metal ions indicated that this low grade discarded ore may be a potential source of metal ions in future.
Variation Across Years in Rumen-Reticulum Capacity and Digesta Load in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Abstract How gut capacity and digesta loads vary with unpredictable forage quality and abundance has not been examined in ruminants. Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) should have greater rumen-reticulum capacity during drought years to accommodate heavier digesta loads due to diets that contain a greater fraction of indigestible material. In contrast, in years with above-average precipitation, digesta loads should be lighter due to a greater fraction of digestible material in the diet which would result in less need for a large rumen-reticulum capacity. Data were collected from White-tailed Deer obtained during October, 2006–2008, from a 214-ha enclosure at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Mason County, TX. Digesta load, liver weights (used as a proxy to indicate metabolic workload), empty rumen-reticulum organ weights, and rumen-reticulum volume were measured. Findings, adjusted for body weight, indicated that in the year with above-average precipitation, liver weights and rumen-reticulum capacity were less than in drought years. Although the influence of year on rumen-reticulum organ weight, adjusted for body weight, was not statistically significant, graphical representation did show a trend that followed yearly precipitation. Digesta loads, adjusted for body weight, progressively increased over the study, which did not coincide with changes in precipitation. Overall, this study provided information on how rumen-reticulum attributes change with environmental heterogeneity across years.
Productivity, Oil Content, Composition, and Bioactivity of Oil-bearing Rose Accessions

Roseoilproductionworldwideisbasedondifferentoil-bearingRosaspecies.This 4-year study determined the essential oil content, constituents, and morphologic/pheno- logic characteristics of 25 varieties, chemotypes, and hybrids belonging tofive Rosaspecies (R. damascena Mill., R. gallica L., R. centifolia L., and R. alba L.). Limits of variation of theseindiceswereestablishedforeachvariety,chemotype,andhybridgroup.Theessential oil content of R. damascena varied from 0.032% to 0.049% and that of hybrid roses from 0.037% to 0.05%. The highest essential oil content was found in R. damascena accession Svejen 74 and the lowest in R. alba. Within R. damascena, the weight of single flowers varied from 2.09 to 3.44 g, the number of petals from 22to 28, the height of the plants from 61 to 128 cm, and the diameter of bushes from 53 to 118 cm. R. centifolia had the largest flowers. The essential oil of the various species showed moderate to no antimicrobial activity at 50 mg/mL and no significant antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmania, or antimalarial activity at this concentration. All the tested species and accessions could be grown in Bulgaria (and possibly in southeastern Europe and the northern Mediterra- nean)andprovidecomparableproductivitytothetraditionalspeciesR.damascena. Wide variations occurred in essential oil content and constituents and morphologic/phenologic characteristics of the tested Rosa species and accessions. The availability of various species and chemotypes within specific species offer an opportunity for production of oil- bearing roses and essential oils to meet market requirements of specific rose oils.
The butterflies of El Questro Wilderness Park, with remarks on the taxonomy of the Kimberley fauna, Australia

El Questro Wilderness Park comprises a relatively large privately owned wilderness area in the monsoon tropics of the eastern Kimberley, north-western Australia. Targeted surveys for butterfl ies were conducted between 2009 and 2012 during the dry season. Fifty-three species were recorded; a further two species are recorded in the literature, bringing the total list of butterfl ies for El Questro Wilderness Park to 55 species (or 68% of the Kimberley fauna). Comments are made on their occurrence, relative abundance, habitat preference and larval food plant associations. Several species represent new records for the eastern Kimberley, most of which comprise signifi cant range extensions from previously known coastal localities in the northern and/or western Kimberley. Taxonomic remarks are made for fi ve species listed for the wider Kimberley region for which there is considerable uncertainty. One of these, Telicota ancilla baudina Evans, 1949, is shown to comprise a junior synonym of Telicota augias krefftii (W.J. Macleay, 1866); the others comprise taxonomic misidentifi cations (Pelopidas agna, Theclinesthes serpentatus) or there is doubt regarding their authenticity (Delias mysis, Danaus plexippus). The exclusion of these taxa brings the revised total number of species of butterfl ies recorded for the Kimberley to 81, of which only one is endemic to the region.
The role of seeds and airborne inoculum in the initiation of leaf blotch (Rhynchosporium secalis) epidemics in winter barley

Both airborne spores of Rhynchosporium secalis and seed infection have been implied as major sources of primary inoculum for barley leaf blotch (scald) epidemics in fields without previous history of barley cropping. However, little is known about their relative importance in the onset of disease. Results from both quantitative real-time PCR and visual assessments indicated that seed infection was the main source of inoculum in the field trial conducted in this study. Glasshouse studies established that the pathogen can be transmitted from infected seeds into roots, shoots and leaves without causing symptoms. Plants in the field trial remained symptomless for approximately four months before symptoms were observed in the crop. Covering the crop during part of the growing season was shown to prevent pathogen growth, despite the use of infected seed, indicating that changes in the physiological condition of the plant and/or environmental conditions may trigger disease development. However, once the disease appeared in the field it quickly became uniform throughout the cropping area. Only small amounts of R. secalis DNA were measured in 24 h spore-trap tape samples using PCR. Inoculum levels equivalent to spore concentrations between 30 and 60 spores per m3 of air were only detected on three occasions during the growing season. The temporal pattern and level of detection of R. secalis DNA in spore tape samples indicated that airborne inoculum was limited and most likely represented rain-splashed conidia rather than putative ascospores.
Two New Plioplatecarpine (Squamata, Mosasauridae) Genera from the Upper Cretaceous of North America, and a Global Phylogenetic Analysis of Plioplatecarpines

ABSTRACT A new plioplatecarpine taxon, Latoplatecarpus, gen. nov., is proposed here to incorporate two species, L. willistoni, sp. nov., and L. nichollsae (comb. nov.). The new genus is currently restricted in distribution to the lower middle Campanian of North America. Phylogenetic analysis incorporating 97 morphological characters and 17 ingroup taxa indicates that (1) Ectenosaurus clidastoides is the basal-most member within the Plioplatecarpinae; (2) Platecarpus planifrons is generically distinct from P. tympaniticus; (3) Latoplatecarpus willistoni, gen. et sp. nov., constitutes the basal-most member within the clade that is sister to Platecarpus tympaniticus; and (4) as many as 17 unequivocal character changes support the clade comprising the three post-middle Campanian Plioplatecarpus species. Plesioplatecarpus, gen. nov., is erected to establish Plesioplatecarpus planifrons (comb. nov.). Further, we propose that the North American specimens referred to Platecarpus somenensis pertain to Latoplatecarpus nichollsae, based on the available phylogenetic, ontogenetic, biostratigraphic, and paleobiogeographic data and interpretations. Consequently, the current study recognizes 11 species within seven genera to constitute the Plioplatecarpinae. Of anatomical note, we suggest that quadrates in most plioplatecarpine taxa including Latoplatecarpus were tilted anteriorly in life, as a result of the suspensorial articulation forming along the distomedial portion of the long suprastapedial process that typifies quadrates in plioplatecarpine mosasaurs.
Biology and seasonal incidence of leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Hemitpera: Cicadellidae) on okra

Biology of Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) and its seasonal incidence in relation to biotic and abiotic factors on okra was studied at College of Agriculture, Shimoga, India. The developmental periods of egg, first, second, third, fourth and fifth instar were 6.42 – 0.37, 1.49 – 0.33, 1.19 – 0.22, 1.16 – 0.15, 1.60 – 0.39 and 1.97 – 0.29 days, respectively. The total nymphal period was 7.41 – 0.48 days. The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods were found to be 3.52 – 0.34, 16.54 – 0.37 and 3.85 – 0.24 days, respectively. The fecundity varied from 14.00 to 20.00 with an average of 16.60 – 1.98 eggs per female. The average longevity of male and female adults was 22.85 – 1.87 and 26.66 – 1.92 days, respectively. The highest incidence (16.44 leafhoppers/plant) was observed during March second fortnight, while the lowest (0.25 leafhoppers/plant) was observed during December second fortnight. The leafhopper population had a significant positive correlation with the maximum temperature and a significant negative correlation with rainfall. But relative humidity had no significant effect.
Impact of Management Treatments on Waterfowl use of Dense Nesting Cover in the Canadian Parklands

ABSTRACT Periodic treatment of established stands of dense nesting cover (DNC) is a recommended practice to maintain cover quality, but little information exists on the magnitude and duration of treatment effects on nesting waterfowl. During 1998–2001, we examined the effect of management treatments on vegetative characteristics and waterfowl nest success and density in fields of DNC seeded to introduced and native grass and forb mixes in the parklands of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We measured vegetation height—density and litter depth within fields and located and monitored 1,927 duck nests within 33–42 fields/yr ranging in size from 6 ha to 62 ha. We considered a series of models examining the influence of grass type and management treatment (GTMT) and years post-management (YPM) on vegetative characteristics, nest success, and nest density while including covariates potentially affecting these response variables. Visual obstruction and litter depth were lowest in native-burned fields and greatest in introduced-hayed fields. Visual obstruction was low the year following management, peaked 2–3 YPM, and remained at intermediate levels through ≥6 YPM. Litter depth remained low for the first 3 YPM and increased thereafter. Nest success and nest density varied little among GTMT. Nest success was high (14.3%) the year following a management treatment, low (6.5%) at 2 YPM, and moderate thereafter. Nest success decreased with percent cropland in the surrounding landscape. Nest density was 0.7 nests/ha the first year following management, increased to approximately 1.3 nests/ha in years 2–3, and declined back to approximately 0.7 nests/ha for ≥6 YPM. Nest density decreased with field size and increased with the area of small wetlands, percent cropland, and percent wetland within surrounding landscapes. Nest density tracked vegetation density as expected and our results indicate a possible trade-off between nest density and nest success. Given ancillary data on small mammal and insect prey in our study fields, and evidence from other studies, we speculate that DNC fields may act as prey reservoirs during years of peak vegetative density with a consequent reduction in nest survival. Therefore, management to increase waterfowl production based on our results needs to consider the interaction of treatment effects, competing habitats, and surrounding landscape composition.
Phytochemical screening and potential of natural dye colourant from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the most dominant pigment of pomegranate explants for natural color coatings and detect the presence of phytochemical constituents and comparison of the antioxidant activities. Design/methodology/approach – Extracts of leaf, stem, peel and seed of in vitro and in vivo growth cultures were prepared for phytochemical constituent and antioxidant activity. The supernatant from 95 per cent methanol was mixed with 15 per cent polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with the ratio of 1:1 to form a coating system. Findings – Although glycosides was not found in this species, tests for tannins and flavonoids were positive in all samples. The IC50 values were also comparable to commercial antioxidant ascorbic acid with 34.92 per cent inhibition. Chlorophyll a and b were detected in stem and leaf using UV-photospectrometer in 420 and 645 nm wavelengths ranges. The effects of heat and salt on the stability of natural dye colorants mixed with polyvinyl alcohol to form a basic coating.
An evaluation of Australian escott natural Zeolites to isolate bacteria and viruses from water

Assessment of public health risk due to waterborne disease is delayed by the inability to rapidly isolate microorganisms from water for their detection. Australian Escott natural zeolites (natural zeolitized tuffs - NZs), modified by either a silanisation (SZ) or surfactant modification (SMZ) procedure were investigated to rapidly isolate Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and bacteriophage MS2 from water. It was hypothesised that microorganisms would bind to the NZ’s added as a powder with particle size <75 μm to water, be separated by sedimentation and detected by culture or molecular-based assays. Binding to the NZ’s was fast (within 10 minutes) and the NZ-microorganism complex was easily separated by sedimentation. However, microorganism isolation varied in different water chemistries and with different chemical modification of NZ surfaces. Isolation by SMZ, which had been described previously, was achieved at low levels (less than 10%) presumably because chemical inactivation prevented microorganism detection. For SZ, more than 60% of bacteria and 30% of MS2 bacteriophage (seeded at 103 cfu or pfu/ml) were isolated and detected after agitation in various solutions and in rainwater, bottled water and seawater. Selective isolation of E. faecalis was also enhanced using a novel phage endolysin recombinant protein attached to SZ, increasing isolation to greater than 85%. Furthermore, pyrosequencing analysis revealed that SZ isolated the most representative population of environmental bacteria from rainwater compared to SMZ and NZ. The process of isolation to detection was completed within three hours and did not require electricity, making NZ-isolation practical for field-based applications. The main drawback was lack of sensitivity as consistent isolation of very low numbers of microorganisms in water (< 102 cfu or pfu/ml) was not achieved. Nonetheless the isolation of live bacteria and viruses by SZ is a novel approach and could potentially be used in combination with molecular-based assays to detect waterborne pathogens.