Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TERRITORIALITY IN THE DRONE FLY, ERISTALIS TENAX (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE)

Abstract When male drone flies (Eristalis tenax (L.)) of the spring and summer generations stop dispersing, they settle within individual home ranges that provide them with sheltering, resting, basking, grooming, feeding, and mating sites. Away from its mating place, a resident male rarely responds to other insects. On its mating site, however, it is territorial, attacking alien species, such as bees, wasps, and butterflies, as well as conspecific intruders. Territorial duty is demanding, and resident males take rest periods outside their territories whenever they can. When prevented from doing so, either by sky conditions which confine them to the territory, or by crowding which eliminates many neutral sites, they become increasingly aggressive. Males on open, horizontal territories (e.g., in flowerbeds) are more likely to notice intruders, and therefore are more liable to attack them, than males on vertical territories (e.g., on broad-leaved shrubs). The aggressiveness of E. tenax has social and ecological ramifications beyond its own species, since bees may stop foraging and aphidophagous syrphids may not oviposit in places where drone flies are exceptionally active. Résumé Après sa période de dispersion, le mâle de la mouche Eristalis tenax (L.) issu des générations printanières et estivales s’établit dans son domaine vital. Ceci lui procure des sites pour s’abriter, se reposer, prendre du soleil, faire sa toilette, se nourrir et s’accoupler. Un résident s’en prend rarement aux autres insectes sauf s’il se trouve sur son site d’accouplement. Il devient alors territorial, attaquant tout intrus de son espèce et même, les abeilles, les quêpes et les papillions. Mais la défense du territoire est exigeante et les mâles doivent se reposer hors de leurs territoires. Ils deviennent plus agressifs quand ils sont restreints à leurs territoires par les conditions météorologiques ou par la rareté des sites neutres causée par l’encombrement. Les résidents des territoires horizontaux et ouverts, les plates-bandes p. ex. , peuvent facilement apercevoir les intrus. Ils sont donc susceptibles de réagir plus souvent que les résidents des territoires verticaux comme les arbustes à feuilles largest L’agressivité d’E. tenax a des ramifications sociales et écologiques pour d’autres espèces. Là où ils sont très actifs, les mâles peuvent empêcher le fourragement des abeilles et l’oviposition des syrphidés aphidophages.
Zur Kenntnis der Mantodeenfauna der Niederländischen Kolonien

Im September vorigen Jahres konnte ich zwei Wochen in der entomologischen Sammlung des naturhistorischen Reichsmuseums in Leiden arbeiten und nicht nur das interessante, altere Mantodeenmaterial von De Haan studieren, sondern auch die eingetroffenen Eingange bestimmen. Was damals nicht moglich war, aufzuarbeiten, erhielt ich durch die grosse Freundlichkeit von Herrn Direktor Van Oort nach Wien gesandt. Die nachstehende Arbeit beschaftigt sich nur mit diesem Material. Auch Herrn R. van Eecke, der mir wahrend meines Aufenthaltes in Leiden stets in liebenswurdigster Weise behilflich war, mochte ich an dieser Stelle herzlichst danken. Wie man sieht, sind zur Fauna des malayischen Archipels abermals mehrere neue Arten hinzugekommen. Dieser Umstand lasst es ratsam erscheinen, mit der Abfassung eines Katalogs der niederlandisch-indischen Mantodeen noch etwas zu warten, bis das noch im Mus. Leiden befindliche Material, sowie die noch in diesem Jahre zu erwartenden Sendungen meiner Freunde Dr. Karny und Dr. Fulmek aus Java und Sumatra bearbeitet sind. Im Nachstehenden sind vorwiegend indomalayische, wenige surinamensiscbe Arten beschrieben. Eine neue Gattung aus Australien habe ich im Material des Mus. Leiden auch gefunden und hier beschrieben, ebenso eine neue Phasmide der Gattung Phyllium. I. EREMIAPHILINAE. Theopompa burmeisteri De Haan. ♂ Smitau, Dr. J. Buttikofer Febr. 1894. ♂ Amboina, Hoedt 1867. ♀ Amboina, Hoedt 1864.
Resistance to bakanae or foot-rot disease in. basmati rice

Bakanae disease of rice, also called foot-rot in India, is an important disease throughout much of the world's rice growing areas (4). The disease is present in many basmati rice fields nearly ever}' year, throughout the Gurdaspur district (Punjab) and has become an important constraint to basmati rice production. The recommended cultivars of basmati rice being grown in the region appear to vary in their reaction to foot-rot but their evaluation in artificial epidemics is lacking. The cultivar Basmati 385 has frequently been more severely infected as compared to the cultivars Basmati 386, Basmati 370 and Pusa Basmati No.1 under natural field infection (Table I). Artificial inoculations are necessary to obtain accurate evaluation of basmati rice germplasm for reaction to foot-rot disease. The objective of this research was to identify sources of resistance to Fusarium foot-rot in basmati rice after artificial infection in the field. Eighty five genotypes of basmati rice comprising of four recommended varieties and entries from advanced co-ordinated varietal trials, viz., 31 entries of Initial Yield Trial, IYT-BT (1997); 17 entriesof Advanced Yield Trial, A YT-BT (1997) and 33 entries of observational Yield Trial, OYT-BT (J 997) were evaluated against foot-rot disease after artificial inoculation in the field during the 1997 and 1998 Kharif seasons. Each year inoculum was prepared from 3-4 isolates of Fusarium moniliforme that had been collected from different locations in the Gurdaspur district. The isolates were grown on fresh potato-dextrose agar (PDA) for a week and then multiplied on sterilized wheat grains in 250 ml conical flasks for three weeks. Cultures of isolates were blended together to form a concentrated suspension of spores and hyphae. This inoculum suspension was used for inoculating the seedlings. Forty day old seedlings of the different lines were inoculated by dipping their roots in a concentrated conidial suspension of F. moniliforme for 16 hours, before transplanting in 3 rows of two metre length each of 15x20 cm spacing in the puddled field. A randomised complete block with three replicates was used each year. The crop was raised using recommended package of practices.
The Impact of Acanthaster on Corals and Coral Reefs in the Eastern Pacific

The movement of surface currents and the availability of coral prey are probably not responsible for the discontinuities in the distribution of Acanthaster (the Crown-of-thorns Starfish or Sea-star) in American waters. Temperature and salinity conditions are critical in development, and it is possible that these parameters are effective locally, for example in the Gulf of Panamá. There is a strong possibility that continuing field work will show that Acanthaster has a significantly more widespread distribution in the eastern Pacific than is currently known. Adult Acanthaster and several species of coral prey exhibited an unusually high tolerance to varying conditions of temperature and salinity. The possibility of step-wise colonization to new areas, mediated by resistant adult populations that can become established during favourable seasons, should be considered in any plans to alter the existing freshwater canal in Panamá. For introductions can be environmentally dangerous. The highest population densities of Acanthaster so far observed in the eastern Pacific, 1 individual/40 m2 to approximately 1 individual/100 m2, are comparable to population sizes in the Indo-Pacific region that are not considered to have a serious impact on coral communities. Coral destruction by Acanthaster can be significant in certain limited areas, but is usually less than that caused by other corallivores. An analysis of coral community structure in relation to Acanthaster density failed to show a significant correlation with (a) number of species, (b) number of live coral colonies, (c) species diversity (H'), or (d) species evenness (J'). Prey preference data indicate that Acanthaster selectively destroys rare corals. Replacement of rare, predated corals by fast-growing species (Pocillopora spp.) has been observed in the field, showing that Acanthaster could have a negative effect on species diversity.
EFFECTS OF MUTAGENS ON POLLEN FERTILITY IN MUNGBEAN (

Mungbean is a self-pollinated crop, mutation breeding is an important sources of creating genetic variability. Induced mutation provided a modern and fruitful tool in crop plants for creating genetic variability (Swaminathan ,1969; Gottschalk, 1972 and Khan, 1988.) Success of plant breeding including chemomutagenesis is directly dependent on the genetic variability in the source population. The major break through in plant breeding was made when man realized that main source of genetic variability was gene mutation and recombination. Most of the plant attributes of interest to a plant breeder are qualitative Characters which are controlled by polygenic interaction. In such situation the efficiency of selecting the desire mutant is generally lower than for specific characters which are controlled by a single gene. Micromutations produce genetic variability in qualitative characters of the crop plants. Hence, they deserve full attention of plant-breeders. Such mutation should be useful for improving qualitative inherited traits (e.g. grain yield ) without disturbing the major part of the genotypic and phenotypic architedure of crop. In the present study three different chemical mutagens and two varieties of mungbean were taken to see the effect on pollen fertility. The pollen fertility is one of the most important, stable and genetically controlled character which may be considered for hybridization as well as to study the cytological effects to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of mutagens. (
Distinctive Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles in Oribatid Mites (Acari: Oribatida)

Abstract. Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of representatives of different groups of oribatid mites (Mixonomata: Steganacarus carinatus, Collohmannia gigantea; Desmonomata: Hermannia gibba; Brachypylida: Zetorchestes falzonii) were investigated by gas chromatography — mass spectrometry. In general, cuticular extracts showed a series of straight chain alkanes being arranged in two (or three, respectively) distinctly different patterns: 1) a pattern with a gaussian quantitative distribution of alkanes from C23 to C36 was noticed in extracts of C. gigantea and H. gibba, with C29 – C32 being most abundant. 2) A pattern exhibiting a saw-tooth-like quantitative distribution of alkanes — with only odd-numberd alkanes being abundant — appeared to be characteristic for S. carinatus. 3) Extracts of Z. falzonii showed no hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons are considered to origin in a lipid layer which is covering the cuticle: this layer is regarded to represent the inner — and in some cases the only — layer of the oribatid cerotegument. The differences in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles among oribatid species may represent a promising point of attachment for further chemosystematic studies.
Costs of social dispersal in a polygynous mammal

Evaluating the costs and benefits of dispersal on individual life history is critical to understanding its importance to ecology and evolution. In feral horses (Equus ferus caballus), females may permanently move among breeding groups (bands) during their lifetime (termed social dispersal). Here, we assess costs and benefits of adult female social dispersal using 7 years of movement and life history data from an individual-based study of feral horses on Sable Island. Using path and survival analyses, we explored relationships between social dispersal, female reproduction, and survival of offspring. Dispersal negatively correlated with a female’s next reproduction (probability to produce a living foal that was observed during our summer census) and reproductive success (RS) over the longer term (probability of producing foals in subsequent years). Females that dispersed had longer latency before next reproduction than nondispersing (philopatric) females. We could not measure costs in terms of induced abortions or neonatal survival, but we observed no evidence of infanticide during our summer censuses. Furthermore, overwinter survival of foals to 3 years of age was not affected by either dispersal of its mother before conception or as pregnant. Despite a 10% higher rate for foals dispersing with mothers to survive to 3 years compared with those of philopatric females, the difference was not statistically significant. Overall, our results suggest that dispersing individuals have lower RS that may be a cost of social dispersal on future reproduction.
Feeding schedules for broiler chickens

The traditional feeding programmes and nutrient requirements of broilers, as established by the NRC, are usually based upon age and fixed growing duration. This is despite the fact that broiler growth pattern characteristics have changed enormously over last decade. Such classical approaches have been questioned as to their effectiveness, and it has been argued the NRC recommendations are no longer applicable to the present methods of production, and need to be re-evaluated. The short comings of traditional or classical fixed duration of feeding phases have led many investigators to suggest and introduce alternative feeding programmes in replacement, including alternative, phase, sequential, choice, dual and subsequent feeding. The effectiveness and shortcomings of such methods are analysed in this review.
Tissue-specific expression of a FMR1/β-galactosidase fusion gene in transgenic mice

Fragile X syndrome is one of the most common genetic causes of mental retardation, yet the mechanisms controlling expression of the fragile X mental retardation gene FMR1 are poorly understood. To identify sequences regulating FMR1 transcription, transgenic mouse lines were established using a fusion gene consisting of an E.coli beta-galactosidase reporter gene (lacZ) linked to a 2.8 kb fragment spanning the 5'-region of FMR1. Five transgenic mouse lines showed lacZ expression in brain, in particular in neurons of the hippocampus and the granular layer of the cerebellum. Expression of the reporter gene was also detected in Leydig cells and spermatogonia in the testis, in many epithelia of adult mice, and in the two other steroidogenic cell types, adrenal cortex cells and ovarian follicle cells. Embryonic tissues which showed strong activity of the reporter gene included the telencephalon, the genital ridge, and the notochord. This expression pattern closely resembles the endogenous one, indicating that the 5' FMR1 gene promoter region used in this study contains most cis-acting elements regulating FMR1 transcription.
Spatial distribution of leaf water‐use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination within an isolated tree crown

The spatial variations in the stable carbon isotope composition ( δ 13 C) of air and leaves (total matter and soluble sugars) were quantified within the crown of a well-watered, 20year-old walnut tree growing in a low-density orchard. The observed leaf carbon isotope discrimination ( Δ ) was compared with that computed by a three-dimensional model simulating the intracanopy distribution of irradiance, transpiration and photosynthesis (previously parameterized and tested for the same tree canopy) coupled to a biophysically based model of carbon isotope discrimination. The importance of discrimination associated with CO 2 gradients encountered from the substomatal sites to the carboxylation sites was evaluated. We also assessed by simulation the effect of current irradiance on leaf gas exchange and the effect of long-term acclimation of photosynthetic capacity and stomatal and internal conductances to light regime on intracanopy gradients in Δ . The main conclusions of this study are: (i) leaf Δ Δ can exhibit important variations (5 and 8‰ in total leaf material and soluble sugars, respectively) along light gradients within the foliage of an isolated tree; (ii) internal conductance must be taken into account to adequately predict leaf Δ , and (iii) the spatial variations in Δ Δ and water-use efficiency resulted from the short-term response of leaf gas exchange to variations in local irradiance and, to a much lesser extent, from the long-term acclimation of leaf characteristics to the local light regime.
Antimicrobial properties of skin mucus from four freshwater cultivable Fishes (Catla catla, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Labeo rohita and Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The fishes are living in the medium rich in pathogenic microbes. The mucus secreted by the skin of fish showed more antimicrobial properties. The mucus collected from the two exotic fishes and two indigenous fishes were tested against the five pathogenic bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa) and five pathogenic fungi namely (Mucor globosus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger). The fishes are living in media rich in pathogenic microbes which secrete substances against them. The mucus secreted by the skin of fish showed more antimicrobial properties. More antibacterial and antifungal activity were observed in an indigenous fishes (Catla catla and Labeo rohita) than exotic fishes (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Ctenopharyngodon idella). Key words: Antibacterial, antifungal, fish mucus, exotic, indigenous fish.
Changes in bacterial densities and hemocyte parameters in eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, affected by juvenile oyster disease

Resume Juvenile oyster disease (JOD) in the eastern oyster, Crus.rosrrea virginica, is characterized by a conchiolin deposit on the inner surface of the valves. Similarities to pathological syndromes affecting other oysters (pearl oyster mortality) and clams (brown ring disease), has suggested an infectious origin and a possible bacterial etiology. Bacteriological analysis (Total Heterotrophic Bacteria, THB and Total Vibrio sp., TVS) of oyster soft tissues, shell fluid and inncr shell surfaces were monitored during the course of JOD onset and development. A significant increase in THB (but not TVS) occurrcd in shcll fluid and at the surface of the inner shell of JOD affected oysters. At the same time, changes in cytometric parameters (Total Hemocyte Counts, THC; Differential Hemocyte Counts, DHC) in hemolymph and shell fluid were documented in symptomatic oysters. THC in the shell fluid showed a decrease in late-stage JOD oysters. The disease was also correlated with altered ce11 ratios in both hemolymph and shell fluid, resulting in an increase in the percentage of the granulocytes in both locations. Our results have showed that main pathological changes associated with JOD occurred in extrapallial region rather than in the soft tissues. The disease was transmitted in the laboratory by extracts from diseased oysters: anomalous conchiolin developed within 4 weeks and the prevalence was higher when two inoculations were performed rather than one. A number of bacterial strains were found at high levels in diseased oysters and isolated. However, none produced the JOD deposit when injected into asymptomatic oysters. The bacterial etiology hypothesis for JOD should be explored further, expanded beyond the family Vibrionaceae, and should include consideration of a multiple etiology.
Climate Warming and Calling Phenology of Frogs near Ithaca, New York, 1900–1999

Abstract: Because ambient temperature strongly influences reproduction in frogs, the seasonal timing of frog calling provides a sensitive index of biotic response to climate change. Over the last century, daily temperatures increased during 5 of the 8 months key to gametogenesis in frogs and toads near Ithaca, New York ( U.S.A.). Earliest dates of calling frogs recorded by Albert Hazen Wright between 1900 and 1912 near Ithaca were compared to those from the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project for 1990–1999 for the three counties surrounding Ithaca. Four species are now calling 10–13 days earlier, two are unchanged, and none is calling later. The data suggest that climate has warmed in central New York State during this century and has resulted in earlier breeding in some amphibians—a possible first indication of biotic response to climate change in eastern North America.
BORDERLINE AND UNRESECTABLE PANCREAS CANCER

Expert Panel on Radiation Oncology–Gastrointestinal: William Small Jr, MD; John P. Hayes, MD; W. Warren Suh, MD, MPH; May Abdel-Wahab, MD, PhD; Ross A. Abrams, MD; Nilofer Azad, MD; Prajnan Das, MD; Jadranka Dragovic, MD; Karyn A. Goodman, MD; Salma K. Jabbour, MD; William E. Jones III, MD; Andre A. Konski, MD, MBA, MA; Albert C. Koong, MD, PhD; Rachit Kumar, MD; Percy Lee, MD; Timothy M. Pawlik, MD; Joseph M. Herman, MD, MSc.
Constraints on Mechanized Treatment Significantly Limit Mechanical Fuels Reduction Extent in the Sierra Nevada

With air quality, liability, and safety concerns, prescribed burning and managed wildfire are often considered impractical treatments for extensive fuels reduction in western US forests. For California’s Sierra Nevada forests, we evaluated the alternative and analyzed the amount and distribution of constraints on mechanical fuels treatments on USDA Forest Service land. With the use of current standards and guides, feedback from practicing silviculturists, and GIS databases, we developed a hierarchy of biological (i.e., nonproductive forest), legal (i.e., wilderness), operational (i.e., equipment access), and administrative (i.e., sensitive species and riparian areas) constraints. Of the Sierra Nevada Bioregion’s 10.7 million acres in USDA Forest Service ownership, 58% contains productive forest and 25% is available to mechanical treatment. National forests in the southern Sierra Nevada have higher levels of constraint due to more wilderness and steeper, more remote terrain. We evaluated different levels of operational constraints and found that increasing road building and operating on steeper slopes had less effect on increasing mechanical access than removing economic considerations (i.e., accessing sites regardless of timber volume). Constraints due to sensitive species habitat and riparian areas only reduced productive forest access by 8%. We divided the Sierra Nevada Bioregion into 710 subwatersheds (mean size of 22,800 acres) with 25% Forest Service ownership as an approximation of a relevant management planning unit for fire or “fireshed. ” Only 20% of these subwatersheds had enough unconstrained acreage to effectively contain or suppress wildfire with mechanical treatment alone. Analysis suggests mechanical treatment in most subwatersheds could be more effective if it established a fuel-reduced “anchor” from which prescribed and managed fire could be strategically expanded. With potential future increases in wildfire size and severity, fire policy and forest restoration might benefit if mechanical thinning is more widely used to leverage and complement managed fire.
Capital Structure and Its Effect on the Financial Performance of Nigerian Insurance Industry

This study examines the effect of capital structure on the financial performance of Nigerian insurance industry. Secondary data was used for this study which was derived from the audited financial statements of the six (6) selected insurance companies for the period of 20122016. This study also made use of books and other related materials especially the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact Book (2016). Some of the annual reports that were not available in the NSE fact book were downloaded from their corporate websites. Panel data methodology was adopted because it combines time series and cross sectional data. The methods of analysis were descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques. The result reveals that capital structure measured by debit ratio and debit-equity ratio has negative relationship with financial performance measured by ROA and ROE. Result also establishes that age has positive impact on the financial performance of Nigerian insurance industry. Subsequently, the study recommends that insurance companies should not rely on debt financing but to strike a balance between their choices of capital structure.