Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the influence of endosymbionts and population genetics on the predacious ladybird Chilocorus nigritus : implications for biocontrol

The scale insect predator Chilocorus nigritus is considered as one of the most successful and important biological control agents in classical biocontrol. The ladybird is currently a commercial product, used for scale insect control in glasshouse environments, but despite widespread success in wild field releases, use of the predator in glasshouses has achieved only moderate success. This study aimed to find out which factors may affect the success of C. nigritus in glasshouse pest control. Two key factors with potential to have a dramatic impact on the predator were identified; genetic variability within and between insect populations, and male killing endosymbiotic bacteria, known to have a diverse range of effects on up to 70% of all insect species. Beetle strains were sourced from several insectaries and geographical locations. DNA sequencing determined significant genetic differences between biotypes of C. nigritus from different localities, indicating that C. nigritus exists as a series of functional biotypes across its range. All biotypes were tested for Wolbachia, Rickettsia and Spiroplasma infections, identifying Rickettsia and Wolbachia presence in most populations. Uninfected sub-lines of these strains were therefore created via tetracycline treatment. A number of bionomic characteristics of the beetle were compared across these strains and infection types in order to assess the influence of genetics and bacterial endosymbionts. Significant effects of endosymbionts were noted in fecundity and prey consumption, and genetically distinct biotypes varied in their prey consumption. A combination of biotypes and infection types also provided successful suppression of scale insects in glasshouse trials at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, and beetles were shown to produce a defence pheromone similar to hippodamine, which could potentially be another strong influence on the species’ ecology. This thesis suggests that variability within a predator population may be an asset, rather than a hindrance.
Survey of rhizosphere associated entomopathogenic fungi on small fruits and Christmas trees in the Willamette Valley, OR

approved: _____________________________________________ Denny Bruck The entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana are commercially available as microbial control agents for the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the key root-feeding insect pest in Pacific Northwest small fruits and ornamentals. Understanding habitat selection is critical to improve the efficacy, persistence and cost of these fungi as microbial insecticides. This study sought to determine the prevalence of Metarhizium and Beauveria spp. in the rhizosphere of strawberry, blueberry, grape and Christmas tree crops in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Entomopathogenic fungi were assigned to thirteen phylogenetic species based on molecular phylogenetic criteria. Four species of Metarhizium were isolated including M. brunneum, M. guizhouense, M. robertsii, and M. pemphigi. Nine Beauveria species were isolated including, Beauveria brongniartii, an undescribed species referred to as Clade C and seven morphologically cryptic phylogenetic species of B. bassiana. Strawberries and blueberries were significantly associated with M. brunneum and Christmas trees with M. guizhouense and M. robertsii. Grapes were significantly associated with B. bassiana phylogenetic species Bbas-16. All of the Metarhizium isolates screened were pathogenic to O. sulcatus larvae in laboratory bioassays but only M. brunneum and M. robertsii caused significant levels of infection. The study results suggest that certain species of Metarhizium and Beauveria are significantly associated with the strawberry, blueberry and Christmas tree rhizosphere and could potentially provide better pest control for O. sulcatus.
CORRELATION AND PATH CO-EFFICIENT ANALYSIS IN CASTOR (RICINUS COMMUNIS L.) OVER ENVIRONMENTS

Twenty nine genotypes were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications to study the correlation and path co-efficient analysis for ten quantitative characters in castor (Ricinus communis L.) under irrigated conditions during Kharif seasons of 2007–08 and 2008–09. Correlation studies revealed that seed yield was positive and significantly genotypic as well as phenotypic associated with leaf length, capsule length, length of primary spike and 100-seed weight. Path co-efficient analysis showed that leaf length, length of primary spike, number of nodes and days to 50% flowering were the most important characters manifesting large direct effects on seed yield per plant. It is, therefore, suggested that simultaneous selection for length of primary spike and leaf length would result in improvement of seed yield by phenotypic selection in castor.
New host record, new range information, and a new pattern of voltinism: Possible host races within the holly leafminer phytomyza glabricola kulp (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

The agromyzid leafminer Phytomyza glabricola is reported from the holly Ilex coriacea, a plant not previously reported to host leafminers. The known geographic range of P. glabricola is extended to include Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In these areas, it can be found feeding on sympatric populations of its hosts I. coriacea and I. glabra. Phytomyza glabricola reared from I. coriacea are univoltine, having only a single generation a year, while on I. glabra this species is multivoltine with at least two generations a year. This suggests that either this leafminer exhibits a high degree of host-associated phenotypic plasticity in life history or that host races are present.
Phenotypic quality and senescence affect different components of reproductive output in roe deer

Summary 1 Females should adjust their reproductive effort prior to substantial investment. For roe deer, due to delayed implantation, this adjustment may occur at ovulation/fertilization during the summer rut, or at implantation in mid-winter. We investigated the effects of climate and maternal phenotype (mass, condition, age) on potential litter size (number of fertilized ovulations) and implantation failure (number of fertilized ovulations less number of fetuses) of 818 individual roe does from nine populations across Britain. 2 Potential litter size varied from 1 to 4, with 0–100% of does per population polyovulating. Among prime-aged does, 16.7–54.5% subsequently failed to implant at least one blastocyst. 3 Individual fecundity was determined by the combined effects of maternal phenotypic quality and age, but acting at different stages of the reproductive process: potential litter size increased with increasing maternal body mass; implantation failure was independent of phenotypic quality, but varied in relation to maternal age, being lowest for prime-aged does, somewhat higher for yearlings, but higher still for senescent females. 4 Implantation failure increased with increasing initial potential litter size, perhaps related to physiological malfunction. Implantation was often an all-or-nothing process, with females either implanting all or failing to implant any of their fertilized blastocysts. 5 Climatic factors were not consistently correlated with individual female fecundity within populations, but between populations implantation failure increased with climatic severity. 6 For species such as roe deer, where females rely on food intake rather than fat reserves for reproduction, we suggest that a two-step process shapes patterns of reproductive output: body mass first sets an upper limit to potential litter size at conception, then reproductive output is limited mainly by senescence and climatic severity through implantation failure.
Parasitoid communities: their size, structure and development

In this chapter the authors first consider the literature on host-parasitoid associations and its limitations. They then review ideas that have been applied to the study of parasitoid communities. The authors develop a system of categorizing parasitoids, based on a fundamental dichotomy in their biology, which allows them to make predictions about host range. The size of parasitoid complexes and differences in composition between those of taxonomically related hosts can then be discussed in terms of host life history and parasitoid biology.
Incorporating the overmodulation range in space vector pattern generators using a classification algorithm [PWM invertors]

Operating voltage pulse width modulated (PWM) inverters in the overmodulation region extends their voltage and power range and improves their dynamic performance. This paper is a contribution to the extension of the operating range of the classification algorithm for the implementation of space vector modulation (SVM) in the pulse dropping region. Two different schemes are proposed to continuously increase the output voltage up to the maximum attainable value in a controllable manner. Mathematical analysis and experimental results verify the validity of the proposed schemes.
Utilisation of fish or crab silage protein for cobia (Rachycentron canadum) – effects on digestion, amino acid distribution, growth, fillet composition and storage quality

The present study was carried out to test the ability to utilise fish silage to feed cobia (Rachycentron canadum) in aquaculture in Vietnam. All four experiments of the present study were carried out over 13 months from June 2006 to June 2007 at Nha Trang University in Vietnam. The experiments involved making acid-silages and testing the effects of silage-based diets on digestion, amino acid absorption, growth and the nutritional quality of the cobia fillets and their shelf life. The local by-catch fish, lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis) and blue crab (Portunus pelagicus), were used to prepare 12 uncooked or cooked silages in study I. Different amounts of formic acid (85%) were mixed with the minced fish and crab and the silages were stored at ambient temperature (30 ± 2 C) for 60 days. The antioxidant effect of adding ethoxyquin was also investigated. At the end of the experiment, the nutritional quality of all silages was stable. However, cooked silages showed a tendency for spoilage, particularly cooked crab silages. The antioxidant effect was only observed in fish-silage groups in which the TBARS values were significantly higher in the silage without addition of ethoxyquin than in the silage with it. Generally, the composition of raw materials was reflected in the composition of the silages. There were significant differences in composition between different raw material-based silages and between uncooked and cooked silages, particularly levels of ash, crude protein (CP) and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) at the end of the trial (for ash: 3.7 – 4.7% in fish vs. 10.7 – 11.5% in crab; for CP: 16.3 – 21.3% in fish vs. 8.6 – 9.0% in crab; and for NPN: 76.5 – 81.1% in uncooked fish silage vs. 20.0 – 21.3% in cooked fish silage, and 80.1 – 88.9% in uncooked crab silage vs. 54.7 – 57.3% in cooked crab silage). It was concluded that uncooked materials are more suitable for prolonged storage than cooked materials and it is probably not necessary to add antioxidants to silages made from materials with a low lipid content. All three growth experiments were conducted at the Institute of Aquaculture Research in Cam Ranh, Nha Trang University, Vietnam. Studies II (cobia size about 24 g) and III (size about 100 g) were conducted for 6 and 3 weeks,
Delineation of larval instars in field populations of rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walk.)

Delineation of larval instars of an insect is important in morphological and physiological studies. We applied Dyar's rule to morphometric measurements of larval instars from field populations of the yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas (Walk.) collected on two paddy cultivars over three seasons. The conventional head capsule width (HCW) measurement was compared with mandibular width (MW) of larvae from both field and laboratory populations. Frequency distribution of HCW showed seven peaks with size overlaps indicating seven instars in field populations. Distinct size classes were observed in MW with means of 0.042, 0.083, 0.125, 0.166, 0.208, 0.250 and 0.291 mm for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th instars, respectively, in the field population. However, size classes fell into five instars from HCW and MW measurements of larvae reared on cut paddy stems under constant temperature (25 ± 1°C) and humidity (60± 5%) indicating two additional, late larval instars under variable field conditions. For the same instar, mean HCW size slightly varied and was overlapping while mean MW size was identical between field and laboratory populations for each of the first five common larval instars.
REPORTING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: AT THE PURSUIT OF LEGITIMACY - A LITERATURE REVIEW

Since one of today’s business buzzwords is “Sustainability”, an increasingly large number of companies aim to generate a lasting competitive advantage by balancing the value creating process with the social and environmental challenges. Therefore, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) appears as the assertive voice in which corporate governance is expressed in terms of sustainable development. The widespread adoption of sustainability reporting (SR) confirms companies' growing awareness of their social responsibilities. The researches previously conducted present mainly two drivers for sustainability reporting. Firstly, it is seen as a communication technique. Secondly, it is a legal obligation, driven by national and international laws. Thus, the credibility of sustainability reporting seems to be relevant to question. The literature review reveals that scholars and practitioners have largely focused on the determinants of this form of communication, used media, content and recipients. Although the reliability of the information has often been questioned, it is the least studied empirically. By adopting internal control mechanisms and privileging external audits, an arsenal of arrangements is used in order to improve the credibility and the transparency of social and environmental information. Through a theoretical and empirical synthesis of the literature exploring the SR research field, this paper answers two major questions: what value for the sustainability reporting and how can their legitimacy be assured? The findings imply that, subjected to various institutional and regulatory pressures, companies tend to adopt societal reporting practices. It is mainly intended to guarantee trust and reliability in the information transmitted to the public.
How Are Individual Differences in Schizotypy Related to Type 1 (Automatic/Heuristic) and Type 2 (Reflective/Effortful) Thinking Processes?

Background: Human reasoning is often conceptualised within ‘dual process’ frameworks, comprising Type 1 (automatic/heuristic) and Type 2 (reflective/effortful) processes, as well as ‘thinking styles’. These processes have not yet been comprehensively investigated in relation to schizotypy; a continuum of normal variability of psychosis-like characteristics and experiences. This could provide insights into thinking processes associated with psychosis-related phenomena, bypassing the limitations of psychiatric diagnosis and the confounding factors associated with clinical populations. Aims: This study sought to investigate whether individual differences in schizotypy (‘unusual experiences’ and ‘introvertive anhedonia’) were related to thinking processes and thinking styles. Another aim was to examine how schizotypy, thinking processes and thinking styles were related to cognitive reflection, informed by dual process theories. Method: The study employed a cross-sectional design and data was collected through an online survey. A large sample (n = 1,512) completed several measures pertaining to personality and reasoning. Correlations examined the association between schizotypy and reasoning processes. Regression analysis was used to further examine predictors of cognitive reflection, and multiple mediation models tested whether thinking styles and processes mediated the association between schizotypy and cognitive reflection. Results: Schizotypy was associated with greater reliance on intuitive thinking, less reliance on deliberative thinking, as well as a hastier, less reflective reasoning style. Unusual experiences, thinking processes and thinking style were independent predictors of cognitive reflection, and schizotypy contributed to significant additional variance in reflection over other predictor variables. Thinking processes and thinking style had a small mediating effect on the relationship between schizotypy and cognitive reflection. Conclusion: These findings add novel and meaningful contributions to the literature on schizotypy and decision making, and potentially allude to similar reasoning processes to those reported in psychosis. Clinical implications include potential useful targets for therapy, and several promising avenues for future research are suggested.
Economic feasibility of water soluble fertilizer in drip irrigated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Response of water soluble fertilizer with drip irrigation was tested to study effects on growth, yield and quality of hybrid tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Vaibhav and compared with conventional method for 3 years (2008 to 2010) at the Research Farm of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri (Maharashtra), India. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven treatments replicated three times. Application of water soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation at 100, 80 and 60% of recommended dose in fourteen equal splits at 8-days interval saved 20–40% fertilizer as compared to the farmer’s practice where nitrogen was applied in two equal splits (at planting and 1 month thereafter). Similarly, 14.6% increase in yield with 58% water saving in tomato as compared to farmer’s practice was obtained when only drip irrigation is used. The 80% recommended dose of fertilizer through drip showed 40% increase in yield over surface irrigation. The quality of tomato was improved significantly due to fertigation through drip. The study indicated that yield of tomato can be increased sizably by applying only ‘N’ through drip irrigation and P and K as per conventional practice than only drip irrigation. The continuous availability of nutrients in splits throughout the growth period of tomato resulted into superior yield and quality of tomato. The fertigation resulted into maximum net seasonal income, total net income and net extra income over control and maximum water productivity when 100% fertilizers were applied through drip, however it were on par with the economical parameters obtained at 80% fertilizer application.
Tree ring dynamics in mountain birch

Variation in ring width in tree ring series of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) was analyzed and related to climate and herbivory. The effects of different defoliation levels were studied from natural outbreaks of the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) and from experimental defoliations. Short-term variation in ring width was mainly positively correlated with the current year July followed by June temperature. A warm May resulted in wider rings, probably due to earlier budburst. Low defoliation levels (<12%) and 50% experimental defoliation had no effect on ring widths. The remaining foliage in the experiment showed increased photosynthetic capacity related to increased nitrogen content; this is presumably an important factor in maintaining growth performance after defoliation. Even after a defoliation level of 84% only a one-year reduction in stem growth was observed, but a slightly higher defoliation level (93%) resulted in a growth reduction during at least 4 years, which indicates that the defoliation-growth relationship is non- linear. Tree ring series display long-term dynamics characterized by regular periods of increased growth. These growth increases are preceded by outbreaks of Epirrita with complete defoliation and mortality of old stems and branches, and subsequent rejuvenation by means of sprouts at the tree base and new branches in the crown. This results in a long period of better growth of the surviving and new stems. The period of rapid growth is followed by a growth decline. Competition between stems within trees seems to be an important factor causing this decline, together with other consequences of tree size. It is suggested that an increased stem and branch surface area/leaf area ratio makes old stands susceptible for Epirrita outbreaks.
Early Childhood: Motivation and Stress

Unfortunately stress is part of the everyday life. However it is especially sad when it is a part of the lives’ of many young children. This stress is often so burdensome to children that they find it difficult to meet their many required tasks whether they are of academic in nature and just daily routine. The authors address the needs of many children from both theoretical and from personal communications with teachers who are in the classroom on a daily bases with children. Many of the factors which seem to be the roots of the problems have been uncovered in this work as well as the effect these have on the
Variación espacial en número de especies, abundancia y diversidad de peces en las Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, México

Los peces arrecifales estan adaptados a diferentes caracteristicas de su habitat, por lo tanto, las diferencias en composicion y estructura pueden ser resultado de factores intrinsecos de cada sistema. En este trabajo se determino el numero de especies, abundancia y diversidad de la ictiofauna de las bahias de San Agustin, Riscalillo, Chachacual, Cacaluta, Maguey, Organo, Violin y La Entrega. La caracterizacion de las comunidades de peces se realizo a traves de la tecnica de censos visuales, se realizaron 351 transectos de 10 metros de longitud cada uno, entre enero 2009 y diciembre 2010. El analisis del numero de especies, abundancia y diversidad de la ictiofauna revelo que los valores maximos fueron caracteristicos de las bahias Maguey, La Entrega, Organo y Violin; mientras que los valores minimos fueron propios de San Agustin, Riscalillo, Chachacual y Cacaluta. Se detectaron diferencias significativas en la diversidad (Kruskal-Wallis=18.71, P=0.0091), asi como en la composicion y estructura de la ictiofauna entre bahias (ANOSIM= 0.278; P = 0.001). Se observo relacion del numero de especies de peces con el numero de especies coralinas (Spearman=0.591, P<0.05), no siendo asi para el numero de especies y abundancia de peces respecto al area coralina. El numero de especies coralinas y disposicion de la cobertura coralina en parches, determinan habitats de mayor complejidad estructural, influyendo en el numero de especies de peces. En las localidades que poseen infraestructura turistica, se observo la influencia que ejercen las actividades acuaticas recreativas sobre el comportamiento, abundancia y diversidad de la ictiofauna. La informacion de esta investigacion puede contribuir a la integracion y mejora de estrategias de manejo, conservacion y proteccion de los recursos naturales de la region.