Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Repetibilidade de caracteres agronômicos em Panicum maximum Jacq.

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the coefficient of repeatability of some agronomic characteristics in Panicum maximum hybrids. Ten plots of sexual plants of this species were randomly distributed among 230 plots of apomitic accessions. After natural hybridization, seeds of each sexual plant constituted a half-sib family. Thirty plants of each female progenitor were evaluated in a randomized blocks design, with five plants per plot and six replications. Based on five evaluation cuts, the coefficient of repeatability was estimated by the methods analysis of variance, principal components (correlation and covariance matrices) and structural analyses. The coefficient of repeatability (r) estimated by the different methods, for all the characteristics evaluated, was high and varied from 0.51 to 0.86. The estimates of the coefficient of determination were also high. It was verified that the estimates of the repeatability coefficient for the four characteristics evaluated by the analyses of variance method were almost always smaller than the estimates obtained by the other methods. By the principal component method (based on the covariance matrix), the estimates were always the highest. Considering a level of 80 or 90% as satisfactory for the confidence in the decision of the relative superiority of the hybrids based on green matter yield, these five evaluation cuts would be sufficient for the choice of the best plant. The exclusion of the first two cuts will increase the repeatability and determination coefficients.
Participation of Neural Crest Cells in Cardiovascular Morphogenesis of Chick Embryos

Neural crest cells appear on top of the neural folds at closure of the neural tube. These cells are capable of migrating and differentiating into multiple tissues. In 1983, Kirby et al., using chimera methodology, reported that cranial neural crest cells participated in aorticopulmonary and truncal septation. Since that time, many experimental studies have been done in this field. In this paper, we report new experimental findings and review four areas of study on neural crest cells, i.e. their general characteristics, participation of neural crest cells in formation of the normal heart, cardiovascular anomalies due to ablation of the neural crest cells, and the relationship between neural crest cells and congenital malformation syndromes, especially the DiGeorge sequence.
Developmental value of chickpea, Cicer arietinum, soybean, Glycine max, and maize, Zea mays, flour for Heliothis armigera (Lep., Noctuidae) larvae 1

The development of Heliothis armigera larvae on artificial diets, having chickpea, soybean, or maize powder ingredients, has been studied. Larvae survived on all the diets offered, were able to complete development, and to emerge as normal adult moths. They passed through five successive instars on chickpea and soybean diet, and six instars on the maize diet. A significant difference in the developmental times and survival rates was observed on the different diets. Mean survival rate of larvae which were able to reach up to adult stage, was ca. 82, 53 and 12 percent on chickpea, soybean, and maize diet, respectively. Highest mortality of larvae on maize diet was detected during the prepupal stage. It appears that the factor which triggers pupation in the ultimate instar is disturbed on maize diet. The period required for the development of larvae on maize diet was about 1.5 times longer than the larvae fed on chickpea or soybean diet. Pupal duration was not very much influenced by the larval diet. The growth index value of the gram pod borer is highest for chickpea, moderate for soybean and very low for the maize diet.
Increased Rooting of 'Norton' Grape Cuttings Using Auxins and Gibberellin Biosynthesis Inhibitors

Hardwood and softwood cuttings of Vitis aestivalis Michx. 'Norton' were rooted under intermittent mist in a series of experiments using cuttings collected from two local vineyards. Hardwood cuttings treated in late March responded in a similar manner to KIBA and KNAA. Although there was little increase in the percentage rooting above 22.29 mM KIBA or 20.72 mM KNAA (5000 mg.L -1 of either auxin), root number (but not root length) increased linearly on cuttings treated with up to 44.58 mM KIBA or 41.44 mM KNAA (10000 mg.L -1 auxin). Cuttings treated with 10000 mg.L -1 auxin produced up to 4 times more roots than the nontreated controls. The gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors CCC and PAC had little effect on either hardwood cuttings or softwood cuttings that were harvested, treated and placed in the propagation bench in June. However, when softwood cuttings were collected in August, the most roots were found on cuttings treated with 50.6 mM CCC or 0.85 μM PAC. Although all hardwood cuttings were collected at the same time and stored under refrigerated conditions, rooting percentage increased as storage time increased, especially on the nontreated control cuttings. When the cuttings were stored for the longest time (six weeks), KIBA no longer caused more roots per cutting. Chemical names used: potassium salt of indole-3-butyric acid (KIBA), potassium salt of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (KNAA), chlormequat chloride (CCC), paclobutrazol (PAC).
Selective Weed Harrowing in Cereals

ABSTRACT Selective harrowing is introduced as a new concept in weed harrowing. It is defined as inter-row harrowing in late growth stages of the crop. Selective harrowing is expected to operate with a high selectivity, which means that a high degree of weed control can be obtained without associated crop damage resulting in crop yield reductions. Two questions with respect to weed harrowing in cereals are emphasised: How can selective harrowing be complemented with other principles of weed harrowing in order to achieve efficient weed control with a low number of passes; and how can the selectivity between crop and weeds be improved? Experiments in spring barley and winter wheat showed that high degrees of weed control could be achieved with weed harrowing giving results comparable to herbicide spraying. An increase of the row distance from 12 to 20 cm improved the selectivity of harrowing carried out in early growth stages whereas the selectivity of selective harrowing was unaffected by row distance. The .
Nestbox Design Influences Territory Occupancy and Reproduction in a Declining, Secondary Cavity-Breeding Bird

Nestboxes are a popular measure to support populations of endangered secondary-cavity breeding birds. Yet, studies of the impact of nestbox abundance and design on bird breeding ecology in intensive farmland remain scarce, We experimentally studied nestbox preferences in a Wryneck Jynx torquilla population in SW Switzerland. Initially designed for the larger Hoopoe Upupa epops, voluminous nestboxes installed at 269 locations within the study area were checked for Wryneck breeding since 2002. In 2008, we installed smaller sized, Wryneck compatible nestboxes at 135 locations (50%) randomly selected from these 269 locations. We recorded the nestbox design preferences of Wrynecks, and measured reproductive output, nestling body mass and tarsus length, while assessing patterns of intra- and interspecific competition. Wrynecks settled in territories equipped with the more suitably designed nestboxes more than expected by chance and preferentially used them for raising their broods. The number of fledged young did not depend on nestbox design, although nestlings were slightly heavier in the smaller nestboxes, probably due to reduced interspecific competition with Hoopoes. This study shows that in particular territory attractiveness can be enhanced when artificial cavities with an appropriate design are provided. Nestbox provisioning is an efficient conservation measure for endangered bird species but attention should be paid to nestbox design which has to be tailored to species-specific requirements.
Pulsed signal properties of free‐ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the central Mediterranean Sea

This study describes pulsed signals from bottlenose dolphins of the central Mediterranean Sea. Data were collected during 2011 and 2012 in 27 surveys in the Sicilian Channel, during which 163 animals were sighted. Based mainly on the pulse repetition rate, the signals were classified as Low-frequency click (LF; single clicks without a regular pulse rate), Train click (TC; with a interclick interval of 80 � 2 ms), Burst (with a interclick interval of 3.4 � 0.2 ms), or Packed click (with a lower number of clicks per train and median interclick interval of 3.2 � 0.0 ms). The measured parameters were peak sound pressure level (SPLpk); signal duration; the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd peak of frequency; number of peaks frequency; bandwidth; centroid frequency; and the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of the power spectrum distribution. Most of the parameters were significantly different among the groups, reflecting the different functions of these signals. LF clicks showed a lower peak frequency and percentiles and a longer duration and could be used to explore a wide area without a specific target focalization and with less resolution. The TC showed a higher SPLpk, higher peak frequency, lower duration, and lower number of secondary peaks frequency, showing a better resolution to investigate a specific target.
First record of Longosomatidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Iceland with a worldwide review of diagnostic characters of the family

The family Longosomatidae Hartman, 1944 (Annelida: Polychaeta) is newly reported for Icelandic waters. The diversity, taxonomy and ecology of this poorly-known monogeneric family are reviewed based on material collected during the BIOICE project. Two species of the genus Heterospio are recorded and redescribed: Heterospio longissima Ehlers, 1874 sensu Hartman (1965) and Heterospio reducta Laubier, Picard and Ramos, 1972–73. Several body structures of high taxonomic relevance in the genus are reviewed and discussed.
Distribution-free estimation and testing of nonstationary AR processes with application to crack growth

This article investigates the application of depth estimators to crack growth models in construction engineering. Many crack growth models are based on the Paris-Erdogan equation which describes crack growth by a deterministic differential equation. By introducing a stochastic error term, crack growth can be modeled by a non-stationary autoregressive process with Lévy-type errors. A regression depth approach is presented to estimate the drift parameter of the process. We then prove the consistency of the estimator under quite general assumptions on the error distribution. By an extension of the depth notion to simplical depth it is possible to use a degenerated U-statistic and to establish tests for general hypotheses about the drift parameter. Since the statistic asymptotically has a transformed χ21 distribution, simple confidence intervals for the drift parameter can be obtained. In the second part, simulations of AR(1) processes with different error distributions are used to examine the quality of the constructed test. Finally we apply the presented method to crack growth experiments. We compare two datasets from independent experiments under different conditions but with the same material. We show that the parameter estimates differ significantly in this case.
An Allometric Study on Relating the Growth of the Follicle to That of the Oocyte in Dairy Cows with Ovarian Cyst(s)

Four hundred fifty-one oocytes were recovered from 115 Holstein cows with ovarian cyst(s) and 159 oocytes were recovered from 36 noncystic normal Holstein cows, respectively. The oocytes recovered from cystic cows were classified as healthy or degenerative by cumulus investment and by nucleus configuration, as well. The relative growth relating follicle diameter to the oocyte diameter in each classification was examined by using regression models. The best fitting models in each group were the hyperbolic regressions with R2 values of 0.994 to 0.999. The growth rates of the oocyte calculated from the differentiated equations of the hyperbolic equations were found to be an asymptotic depression into zero less than 0.5 μm since the follicle grew more than 6.0 mm in diameter. The linear regressions for the growth of the follicle more than 6.01 mm in diameter in relation to that of the oocyte in each abovementioned group all indicated that the true slopes (β)=0 lay somewhere in the 95% confidence intervals of these regressions by the statistical analyses. These results corroborated that the oocytes did not grow but the follicles grew more than 6.0 mm in diameter in both normal and cystic cows. There was no difference between the growth patterns in cystic cows from which healthy and degenerative oocytes were recovered. This was regardless of the judgment by either cumulus investment or nucleus configuration.
Breakdown of introduced and native leaves in two Indian streams

The decomposition of leaves of Ficus benghalensis. Anacardium occidentale. Acacia auriculiformis and Eucalyptus globulus was followed during 16 weeks in two streams in the Western Ghat forest region of Karnataka, India. The concentration of nitrogen increased during decay; the levels of phosphorus, soluble phenolics and calcium decreased. Fungal colonization of the leaves was followed by counting the numbers of conidia released during aeration. Highest conidium production was found on leaves of Ficus: benghalensis. Daily exponential decay coefficients κ where not significantly different between leaf species or streams and varied between −0.0063 and −0,0090. Correlation analyses between κ and initial leaf parameters (N, P, Ca, and phenolics) did not yield any significant values, but there was a significant linear correlation between κ values and log (maximum sporulation rate).
Evaluating the effectiveness of biofertilizer on salt tolerance of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

In the present study, the effectiveness of biofertilizer containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria was evaluated on growth and physiology of cotton under saline conditions. Cotton plants were exposed to different levels of NPK (50%, 75%, and 100% of recommended levels) along with coating with biofertilizer under saline (15 dS m−1) and non-saline conditions. It was observed that the biofertilizer seed coating improved growth, physiological (relative water content and chlorophyll content index), and ionic (K+/Na+) characteristics under saline and non-saline conditions. However, shoot growth (shoot fresh and dry weight) and leaf gas exchange characteristics (CO2 assimilation rate, A; intercellular CO2 concentration, Ci; transpiration rate, E; stomatal conductance, gs) were decreased by biofertilizer coating under saline condition. Increasing levels of NPK fertilizer increased shoot growth, whereas root growth was maximum at 75% NPK level under saline conditions. The results of the study indicate that the biofertilizer application was very effective for cotton plant in non-saline conditions but not very effective in saline conditions.
Control of Development in the Bifurcating Branch System of Tabebuia rosea: A Computer Simulation

A computer model, simulating geometry and development of the branch system of Tabebuia rosea DC, was constructed. Early in development there is a transition from symmetric bifurcation and exponential increase in branch number to asymmetric branching, manifest in the morphological differentiation into leaders and lateral shoots and in the progressive reduction of increase in branch numbers. This reduction is an inherent geometric property of botanical trees and similar, branched systems. It results from the discrepancy between the increase in crown surface with the second power of branch order and the exponential increase in branches supplying the surface. In symmetric branching, mother and daughter branches are arranged in the same plane; in asymmetric branching, branch planes of leaders and laterals are inclined against each other. Development was assumed to be controlled by flux distribution within the tree: (1) Flux supplied to a terminal branch determines its vigor and branching potential. (2) Asymmetric branching results from asymmetric flux distribution. (3) Feedback interaction between main and lateral branches causes "apical control," i.e., enhanced growth of leaders as compared with lateral branches. (4) Growth of the branch system as a whole is limited by the sigmoid increase with time in flux to the tree. Reiteration of the set of geometric and developmental rules simulates time-dependent changes during normal development and regeneration of the branch system, which are strikingly similar to those observed in growing Tabebuia trees, suggesting that simulated controls are similar to those operating in real trees.
Efeito da freqüência de pastejo e da época do ano sobre a produção e a qualidade em Panicum maximum cvs. Tanzânia e Mombaça

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of three grazing frequencies (28, 38 and 48 days) on forage mass, dry matter (DM) accumulation rate and leaf:stem ratio in Tanzania and Mombaca, from September 1995 to May 1996 period. A split plot experimental design was used, with grazing frequency as main plots and period of the year as subplots. The forage mass per grazing was greater when the grazing frequency was small, however did not have an effect on the DM accumulation in the Tanzania and Mombaca cultivars. The rates of forage accumulation for the two cultivars were greater in January/February; so we should work with greater grazing frequency or stocking rate. The leaf:stem ratio of the two cultivars was small, mainly during the reproductive phase, indicating that we should work with greater grazing frequency (grazing at each 28 days or less) in order to control the stems development.
Efeito do Grupo Genético e da Heterose nas Características Quantitativas da Carcaça de Vacas de Descarte Terminadas em Confinamento

ABSTRACT - Quantitative carcass traits of cull cows from two breeding systems, straightbreds (Charolais - C and Nellore - N)and crossbreds F1 1 / 2 CN and 1 / 2 NC, were evaluated. The cows were feedlot finished and fed with a 10% crude protein diet with 65%roughage, sorghum silage, and 35% concentrate. Objective and subjective measurements were taken from the cold carcasses. Charol aisfemales showed higher slaughter weight (522.6 vs 462 kg) and cold carcass weight (255.8 vs 237.5 kg), conformation score (10.7 vs 7.76points) and Longissimus dorsi area (64.08 vs 55.92 cm 2 ). Whereas the Nellore were superior in dressing percentage (51.31 vs 48.93%)and subcutaneous fat thickness (8.22 vs 4.59 mm). Crossbred F1 females were superior to the straightbreds for slaughter weight (525.7vs 492.3 kg), cold carcass weight (269.8 vs 246.6 kg), dressing percentage (51.3 vs 51.12%), conformation score (9.84 vs 9.24 p oints) andsubcutaneous fat thickness (7.77 vs 6.40 mm), being the heterosis values 6.78, 9.41, 2.35, 6.49, and 21.40%, respectively. Cros sing Charolaisand Nellore resulted in cull cows with carcasses with high weight, good conformation and high degree of subcutaneous fat.Key Words:
Effects of dietary (n-3) and (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio on the immune response of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

To examine the influence of the dietary ratio of (n-3) to (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the immune system of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. , two dietary trials were carried out in which parr were maintained on diets containing either fish oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 5.2] or sunflower oil [(n-3)/(n-6) PUFA = 0.3] and assessed for differences in immunological parameters. There were no significant differences in blood cell counts, differential leucocyte counts or haematocrit values between dietary groups, and while no apparent differences were observed in the non-specific immune parameters measured, there was a significantly higher number of B cells responding to Aeromonas salmonicida, in the kidney and spleen of vaccinated fish maintained on high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFAs diets. There was also a significant difference (P≤ 0.01) between the dietary groups in trial 1 and trial 2 when non-vaccinated fish were challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum, respectively, with the (n-6) group succumbing to the bacterium before the (n-3) group. The results suggest that Atlantic salmon fed diets with a low ratio of (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA may be less resistant to infection than those fed diets containing lipid with a high (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA ratio.
Comparison of compensatory growth responses of juvenile three‐spined stickleback and minnow following similar food deprivation protocols

The compensatory growth responses of individual juveniles of two co-existing species were compared after identical periods of starvation to determine inter-specific similarities and differences. The carnivorous stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus was compared with the omnivorous minnow Phoxinus phoxinus. Both species experienced 1 or 2 weeks of starvation before being re-fed ad libitum. The two species differed in their response to the starvation periods, with minnows showing a lower weight-specific loss. Both species showed compensatory responses in appetite, growth and to a lesser extent, growth efficiency. Minnows wholly compensated for 1 and 2 weeks of starvation. At the end of the experiment, sticklebacks starved For 2 weeks were still showing a compensatory response and had nut achieved full compensation. The compensatory responses of the sticklebacks showed a lag of a week before developing in the re-feeding phase, whereas the response of the minnows was immediate. Analysis of lipid and dry matter concentrations suggested that the compensatory response restored reserve lipids while also bringing the fish back to the growth trajectory of continuously fed fish. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.
High-Volume Business News: Detecting Topic-Specific Sentiments to Account for Brand Ratings and Stock Returns

Due to the highly voluminous, heterogeneous, and unstructured nature of global business news streaming at a fast pace, it has become increasingly difficult for marketing executives, corporate communications managers, and market analysts to make sense and track news media stories addressing the company and its brand. This paper responds to this challenge by developing an integrated methodology for identifying and tracking company-specific news topics as well as topic-specific sentiments from news media text data. The main contribution and novelty of the methodology lies in its ability to identify not only company-specific news topics but also to track the topic-specific sentiments (i.e. positive vs. negative tone/valence) over time. This extends prior methods and models, which have only focused on the identification of either topics or aggregate sentiments from news text data, not being able to identify and track the disaggregated topic-specific sentiments (i.e., whether the news media stories treat the firms in a positive vs. negative tone for each separate topic, over time). In addition to developing the integrated topic-sentiment model, we demonstrate the utilization value of the methodology for executives, in terms of its predictive ability for firm performance metrics. That is, we demonstrate, with a set of time-series regression models, that the topic-specific sentiments identified by the model (on Thomson Reuters Newswire data with over 300,000 news items) have the ability to predict firm performance in terms of brand ratings as well as stock returns.