Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pasture yield and composition changes in a Central Queensland black speargrass (Heteropogon contortus) pasture in relation to grazing management options

A grazing study commenced in 1988 at Calliope, Central Queensland, measured the effects of stocking rate, legume over-sowing and animal diet supplements/burning on pasture and animal production in a native black speargrass (Heteropogon contortus) pasture. This paper reflects on changes in yield and pasture composition between 1988 and 1996, during which time the seasonal rainfall was below average. At the pasture community scale, the highest stocking rate of 1 steer/2 ha reduced pasture yield but had little impact on pasture composition. The frequency of H. contortus showed no clear differences due to stocking rate although there was a slight overall trend for it to decline with time. The frequency of increaser species such asChloris divaricata was highest at the highest stocking rate. At the individual plant scale, the density of H. contortus plants declined at high stocking rate. The proportion of the sown legume Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca increased with time reaching a density of 15 plants/m 2 and contributing 33% to the total yield in the legume treatments. Burning has reduced the occurrence of H. contortus compared with that in unburnt native pasture and this may be due to the stocking rates being too high following the fire. These results indicate the stability of pasture composition across a 4-fold range of stocking rates from 1988 to 1996. This study needs to continue, at least through a period of above average rainfall, to determine further effects of stocking rate and pasture type on pasture composition.
Bioavailability of Red Wine Anthocyanins As Detected in Human Urine

Anthocyanins, which are natural plant pigments from the flavonoid family, represent substantiated constituents of the human diet. Many foods but especially red grapes and wines contain large amounts of flavonoids, which are mostly anthocyanins. The aim of our study was to determine the potential bioavailability, in human, of several anthocyanins from red wine. Six healthy, fasting volunteers, having a polyphenols-free diet, drank 300 mL of water every hour for 12 h and collected urine. Several weeks later, the same volunteers repeated the same procedure but replaced the water of the fourth drinking dose with white wine. Two weeks later, they repeated the procedure with red instead of white wine. In the 300 mL dose of red wine, the subjects received 218 mg of anthocyanins, which were detected in their urine by HPLC analysis with a photodiode array detector. Two of the compounds found among the wine anthocyanins were found unchanged in the urine. Other anthocyanin compounds, which seemed to have undergone m.
Evaluation of Immunostimulatory and Antioxidant Activities of Ginger and Moringa Extracts Against Paracetamol Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats.

The present study was conducted to investigate the ameliorative effect of both Zingiber oﬃcinale and Moringa oleifera ethanolic extracts on rats intoxicated by paracetamol through some immunological and antioxidant studies. One hundred and eighty apparently healthy male albino rats were divided into 12 equal groups, each of 15 rats. Gp. (1) kept as control, Gp. (2) was orally given paracetamol (2g/kg) for 4 weeks, Gp. (3) was orally given ginger ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, Gp. (4) was orally given moringa ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, Gp. (5) was orally given silymarin (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Gps. (6,7,8) (prophylaxis groups) were administered ginger, moringa ethanolic extracts or both extracts respectively for 2 weeks then paracetamol for another 2 weeks by the previous doses. Gps. (9, 10, 11) were firstly given paracetamol for 2 weeks then the plant extracts for the following 2 weeks. Gp. (12) was orally given paracetamol for 2 weeks then silymarin for the other 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected at the end of the 2nd and 4th week of experiment. Liver, kidney and spleen specimens were collected and immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination. The results showed lymphopenia and granulocytosis in gp. (2) all over the experiment with increase phagocytic index only at the 2nd week in addition to increase hepatic MDA and reduction in catalase levels compared to the normal control. The prophylactic groups (6,7,8) manifested good amelioration in the fore mentioned parameters in comparison to treatment ones (9-12). It could be concluded that the natural plants are effective as a prophylaxis theraby against paracetamol toxicity not as a treatment ones. Combination of plant extracts with chemical drug (paracetamol) may give a new challenge in the face of diseases.
Avaliação da reatividade cruzada entre antígenos de Leishmania spp e Trypanosoma cruzi na resposta sorológica de cães pela técnica de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI)

A leishmaniose visceral (LV) e uma zoonose causada por protozoarios do genero Leishmania. O cao e o principal reservatorio do parasito, especialmente em areas urbanas. A Reacao de Imunofluorescencia Indireta (RIFI) e comumente empregada para o diagnostico da leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC), baseada na deteccao de anticorpos contra o parasito. Entretanto, reacoes cruzadas com Trypanosoma cruzi podem ocorrer a sorologia. Com o objetivo de avaliar as reacoes cruzadas entre os antigenos de Leishmania spp. e de T.cruzi, foram colhidas 150 amostras de sangue de caes positivos para LVC em inquerito epidemiologico e os soros foram testados pela RIFI. Os caes foram submetidos a eutanasia no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Bauru (SP), area endemica para LV. Outras 150 amostras de sangue de caes foram colhidas em Botucatu (SP), area nao endemica para LV, e os soros foram tambem testados pela RIFI. Os soros de caes procedentes de Bauru resultaram positivos, tanto para Leishmania spp. quanto para T.cruzi, demonstrando uma grande incidencia de reacoes cruzadas, reforcando a necessidade da confirmacao diagnostica por outras tecnicas. As amostras de soros de caes procedentes de Botucatu (SP), pela tecnica de RIFI, demonstraram baixa prevalencia de resultados positivos para Leishmania spp. e para T.cruzi. Entretanto, apesar do reduzido numero de resultados positivos a sorologia para ambos parasitos, a investigacao sorologica e epidemiologica para LV e doenca de Chagas em caes de Botucatu deve ser mantida, considerando a importância do cao como reservatorio domestico no contexto destas zoonoses.
Accumulated heat units and phenology relationships in wheat as influenced by planting dates under late sown conditions

The field experiments were carried out at College of Agriculture Farm Rewa and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kuthulia on Vertic haplurtalfs Soils, during rabi 1981–82, to study the influence of planting dates on Phenology and heat unit relationships under late sown conditions. The wheat cultivar sonalika was planted on 15 Dec., 23 Dec., 31 Dec. 1981 and 7th Jan. 82 at R.A. R.S. , Kuthulia and on 16 Dec., 23 Dec., 30 Dec. 1981 and 6 Jan. 82 at College of Agriculture Farm. The results indicated that the requirement of accumulated heat units decreased with delayed planting. Besides growing degree days a unit incorporated the bright sunshine hours is also utilized (H.T.U.). A phenothermal index was also introduced (the AHU per growth day). It was nearly constant irrespective of planting dates and sites. The heat use efficiency decreased from 16.29 to 12.56 × 10−3 q/ha/GDD in case of D1 to D4 respectively. A regression for predicting the maturity date for wheat crop using heat units accumulated upto flowering initiation for the Vindhyan region of Central India is developed.
Dinâmica e estoque de carbono em floresta primária na região de Manaus/AM

This study analyzed data from three forest inventories conducted in the Experimental Forest, which belongs to Embrapa Western Amazon basin and is located at km 54 on BR-174, Manaus / AM. The aim was to study forest dynamics - the rates of recruitment, growth and mortality - in addition to carbon storage in an area of primary forest, without any intervention. The surveys were conducted in the years 2005, 2007 and 2010 in 15 permanent plots of 1 hectare each. There, all trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) above 10 cm were measured. We calculated the rates of recruitment and mortality, the periodic annual increments (PAIs) in terms of DBH, basal area and volume, fresh and dry biomass above the soil and total carbon storage in the vegetation. The recruitment rates were 2.0 percent and 1.8 percent, and mortality were 0.95 percent and 1.3 percent for the periods between 2005 and 2007 and 2007 and 2010, respectively. The volume was 345.62 m3 ha-1 for the year 2005, rising to 360.67 m3 ha-1 in 2010 with PAIs of 4.32 m3 ha-1 yr-1 between 2005 and 2007 and 1.31 m3 ha-1 yr-1 between 2007 and 2010. The total carbon storage increased from 173.63 t C ha-1 in 2005 to 181.01 t C ha-1 in 2010, confirming that the forest accumulated carbon in the period, acting as a sink.
Bryozoan populations reflect nutrient enrichment and productivity gradients in rivers

1. The hypothesis that nutrient enrichment will affect bryozoan abundance was tested using two complementary investigations; a field-based method determining bryozoan abundance in 20 rivers of different nutrient concentrations by deploying statoblast (dormant propagule) traps and an experimental laboratory microcosm study measuring bryozoan growth and mortality. These two methods confirmed independently that increased nutrient concentrations in water promote increases in the biomass of freshwater bryozoans. 2. Statoblasts of the genus Plumatella were recorded in all rivers, regardless of nutrient concentrations, demonstrating that freshwater bryozoans are widespread. Concentrations of Plumatella statoblasts were high in rivers with high nutrient concentrations relative to those with low to moderate nutrient concentrations. Regression analyses indicated that phosphorus concentrations, in particular, significantly influenced statoblast concentrations. 3. Concentrations of Lophopus crystallinus statoblasts were also higher in sites characterised by high nutrient concentrations. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of L. crystallinus statoblasts was significantly associated with decreasing altitude and increasing phosphorus concentrations. This apparently rare species was found in nine rivers (out of 20), seven of which were new sites for L. crystallinus. 4. Growth rates of Fredericella sultana in laboratory microcosms increased with increasing nutrient concentration and high mortality rates were associated with low nutrient concentrations. 5. Our results indicate that bryozoans respond to increasing nutrient concentrations by increased growth, resulting in higher biomasses in enriched waters. We also found that an important component of bryozoan diets can derive from food items lacking chlorophyll a. Finally, bryozoans may be used as independent proxies for inferring trophic conditions, a feature that may be especially valuable in reconstructing historical environments by assessing the abundance of statoblasts in sediment cores.
Regime Legacies and Governance in Post-Communist States

Although the bulk of the essays in this issue are focused on an assessment of democratization in post-communist politics, in this essay, I focus not so much on ＂democratization＂ as on characteristics of ＂governance. ＂ The basic contention, here, is that regime legacies are critical factors in explaining the emergence of the rule of law, effective governance, and personalism. The results from the analysis suggest that legacies, and particularly the legacies of the previous communist regimes, matter a great deal when accounting for the development of ＂good governance. ＂ Using panel data from 1996 to 2013 for twenty-nine post-communist states, there is support for the notion that previous bureaucratic authoritarian and national consensus communist regimes have been better able to develop the rule of law and government effectiveness than countries that emerged from patrimonial communist regimes. However, there is no relationship between the communist legacies and the extent to which personalism has characterized the post-communist regimes. Implications of this analysis are then discussed.
The conflict between vervet monkeys and farmers at the forest edge in Entebbe, Uganda

Forty-seven property owners in Entebbe, Uganda were questioned about vervet monkey activities on their property. Our main objective was to investigate the interactions between humans and vervet monkeys in an agricultural area adjacent to a forest zone. Other studies have reported that farms located within 300 m of a forested boundary probably incur the greatest risk of crop-raiding. Two other factors that may influence susceptibility to vervet crop-raiding were also examined: the types of crops grown and the types of direct preventative measures used. The effect of these two factors on vervet crop-raiding is not straightforward. However, the distance a property is located from the forest edge is an important factor influencing vervet crop-raiding. Surveyed gardens 200 m from the forest edge received significantly less crop-raiding than farms located 100 m or 50 m (P = 0.040, < α = 0.05). We suggest that the development of nonagricultural activities on land directly adjacent to forested areas may reduce vervet crop-raiding by deterring vervets from travelling greater distances from the forest edge due to increased obstacles or risks. Resume On a interroge quarante-sept proprietaires terriens a Entebbe, en Ouganda, au sujet des activites des grivets dans leurs proprietes. Notre principal objectif etait de chercher les interactions entre les hommes et les grivets dans une region agricole proche d'une zone forestiere. D'autres etudes avaient fait remarquer que les fermes situees a moins de 300 m d'une lisiere forestiere etaient celles qui risquaient le plus de subir des degâts dans leurs recoltes. On a aussi examine deux autres facteurs qui pouvaient influencer la vulnerabilite aux degâts causes par les grivets : la nature des cultures pratiquees et le type de mesures preventives utilisees. L'effet de ces deux facteurs sur les degâts causes par les grivets n'est pas evident. Mais la distance qui separe la propriete de la lisiere forestiere est un facteur qui influence l'importance des degâts. Les jardins etudies qui se trouvaient a 200 m de la foret subissaient significativement moins de dommages que les fermes situees a 100 ou 50 m (P = 0,040, < a = 0,05). Nous suggerons que le developpement d'activites non agricoles dans la zone directement adjacente a la foret pourrait reduire les degâts causes par les grivets en les dissuadant de parcourir de plus grandes distances, remplies d'obstacles et de risques.
Estimating combining ability for yield and yield contributing traits in cucumber

A study was conducted on a 8 × 8 diallel set of cucumber excluding reciprocals to find out the extent of combining ability for yield and yield attributing characters. The magnitudes of variance due to general as well as specific combining ability were highly significant indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene action. Among parents, gynoecious line GBS-1(P1) showed maximum g.c. a effects in desirable direction for node number of first female flower, days to first female flower anthesis, days to fruit set from opening of first female flower, days to first fruit harvest, number of fruits per plant, and vine length. The parent P5 (Pusa Uday) exhibited highest positive g.c. a effect for fruit length, fruit diameter, average fruit weight and yield per plant. In order of merit the gynoecious hybrids P1 × P5 (GBS-1 × Pusa Uday) and P1 × P6 (GBS-1 × Punjab Naveen) followed by monoecious hybrid P3 × P5 (GS-4 × Pusa Uday), which exhibited highest s.c. a effects for number of characters including total fruit yield per plant. In case of yield and other yield contributing characters like node number of first female flower, days to first female flower anthesis, days to fruit set from opening of first female flower, days to first fruit harvest, number of fruits per plant and yield per plant where specific combining ability component of variance (s2s) is more than general combining ability component of variance (s2g), which indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action. Hence, an improvement programme based on heterosis breeding would be appropriate for improving different traits under study.
Phylogenetic relationships and rate of early diversification of Australian Sphenomorphus group scincids (Scincoidea, Squamata)

The Australian Sphenomorphus group is a morphologically and ecologically diverse clade of lygosomine scincids, collectively comprising more than one-half of the Australian scincid fauna. A previous phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA, and ND4 and adjacent tRNA sequences for a series of Australian Sphenomorphus group scincids recovered several well-supported, major clades, although these were generally separated by relatively short branches associated with low support values. Applying a recently described methodology for inferring lineage-level polytomies, I employ ATP synthetase-β subunit intron sequences and the existing mitochondrial (mt)DNA data set (with sequences for additional taxa) to assess the hypothesis that the poorly resolved basal relationships within the Australian Sphenomorphus group are a consequence of the major clades having originated essentially simultaneously. Phylogenetic analyses of the separate mtDNA and intron sequence data reveal a number of congruent clades, including Anomalopus, Calyptotis, Ctenotus, Lerista, the Eulamprus quoyii group, the Glaphyromorphus crassicaudis group (including Glaphyromorphus cracens, Glaphyromorphus darwiniensis, and Glaphyromorphus fuscicaudis), Glaphyromorphus gracilipes + Hemiergis, Coeranoscincus reticulatus + Ophioscincus truncatus + Saiphos, and Eulamprus amplus + Eulamprus tenuis + Gnypetoscincus + Nangura. The relationships among these clades indicated by the two data sets, however, are generally incongruent. Although this may be partially ascribed to error in estimating phylogenetic relationships due to insufficient data, some incongruence is evident when uncertainty in inferred relationships is allowed for. Moreover, the congruent clades are typically separated by very short branches, several having a length insignificantly different from zero. These results suggest that initial diversification of Australian Sphenomorphus group scincids was rapid relative to the substitution rates of the mtDNA and intron fragments considered, if not essentially simultaneous. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 92, 347–366.
Phenotypic correlation between yield components of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar qual e o componente principal do rendimento de graos de feijao comum que apresenta menor sensibilidade ao efeito do ambiente, e que propicia maior consistencia na expressao dos resultados, quando avaliados em diferentes locais. Os dados experimentais utilizados nas analises sao provenientes de Ensaio de Valor cultivo e Uso (VCU) conduzidos nos municipios de Lages e de Chapeco. Os caracteres observados foram estande final de plantas; numero de legumes por planta; numero de graos por legume; massa de 1.000 graos e rendimento total de graos em kg ha -1 . O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repeticoes. As estimativas das correlacoes fenotipicas foram obtidas pelo metodo proposto por STEEL e TORRIE e particionadas em efeitos diretos e indiretos mediante a analise de trilha. Correlacao inversa foi obtida para os caracteres massa de 1.000 graos e numero de grao por legume, revelando que os mesmos devem ser selecionados conjuntamente para obter ganho no carater rendimento de graos. Quando a selecao tem por objetivo aumentar o rendimento de graos, para as condicoes ambientais de Chapeco a caracteristica massa de 1.000 graos pode ser utilizada, enquanto que em Lages o mais apropriado e utilizar o caractere numero de legume por planta, pois apresentam consistencia e estabilidade no desdobramento dos coeficientes de trilha.
Conservation research presence protects: a case study of great ape abundance in the Dja region, Cameroon

Research programmes have been shown to exert a positive impact on faunal communities, but few studies provide empirical evidence. In this study, we surveyed three neighbouring sites, differing in terms of official protection status and level of active management, in the Dja Conservation Complex, southeast Cameroon. We recorded signs of human activity and anthropogenic pressures and found that they significantly differed by site. We assessed chimpanzee and gorilla relative abundance using nest count surveys. We found that chimpanzee nest abundance was related to the presence of active management, but both active management and availability of suitable habitat affected gorilla nest abundance. Our results suggest that gorillas are more tolerant of human activity. We also provide evidence that the presence and activities of the conservation research project Projet Grands Singes served to actively deter poachers and limit hunting of great apes as a result of researcher presence, community sensitization and of valuing living apes and intact forests by local people. Such empirical evidence for the positive effect of research activity on biodiversity preservation should encourage continued investment in such programmes as part of a landscape‐wide, multi‐stakeholder conservation management of great ape habitats.
Ethnobotany of Gomortega keule, an endemic and endangered Chilean tree

Gomortega keule (Mol.) Baillon, known locally as queule, is an endangered tree endemic to Chile. The literature states that the main uses of this species are fruit consumption and exploitation of the wood, but there are no in-depth references to other uses. Some references mention that the fruit produces a putative psychoactive effect. Because non-documented ethnobotanical knowledge may still be maintained by local people, this study aimed to gather information on traditional knowledge and uses of this tree. Local inhabitants in five localities were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The main uses of the species already published were confirmed and detailed as more in-depth. Additionally, uses not previously described were found: for flavouring, dye and marbles. These uses are discussed, including the controversy about the inebriating effect of the fresh fruit.
Activity patterns, movements and burrows of platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in a sub-alpine Tasmanian lake

Adult male and female platypuses were radio-tracked in summer and winter at Lake Lea, north-western Tasmania. They appeared to exhibit greater diurnality, particularly during winter months, a greater degree of overland movement and more frequent use of non-earth refuge sites than do animals inhabiting mainland water bodies. Individuals foraged continuously for up to 16 h, with longer foraging bouts observed during the winter tracking period. Foraging range varied between 2 and 58 ha, with no significant differences observed between the sexes or seasons. All platypuses foraged predominantly in the lake; however, a number of animals were observed moving overland to and from waterbodies and burrows. Burrows were located on lake, creek and pool edges. A high percentage of burrows (25%) were located within dense sedge tussocks and scrub vegetation. Both the terrestrial activity and more opportunistic burrow-site selection may be related to reduced predation pressure in Tasmania.