Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
USE OF THE MOBILE NYLON BAG TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING IN SITU DIGESTIBILITY OF SOME SUPPLIES FOOD AND AVOCADO IN PIGS

The mobile nylon bag technique was used for measuring in situ digestibility of conventional feeds and avocado ( Persea americana Mills ) products in three 70 kg pigs fitted with a simple cannula in duodenum. One 3x3 Latin square was used for determining in situ digestibility of soybean, maize and sorghum meal and another 3x3 Latin square for measuring in situ digestibility of seed, peel plus seed meal and the entire Nayaritean avocado fruit of Hass type, as well as of the commercial diet given ad libitum to animals. In a preliminary test conducted with only bags containing a commercial feedstuff, it was found that in situ digestibility of DM was on average 73.01%. In conventional feeds, soybean meal samples showed higher (P 0.05) for N digestibility among avocado products, which was generally low (between 28.02 and 34.58%). In situ organic matter digestibility was linked to that of MS (r = 0.915; P<0.001), both in percent, in 42 examined samples, by the following found equation: y = 2.076 + 0.926 x. The herein described studies concerning the utilization of the mobile bag showed that it is possible to obtain a fast response in connection to the nutritive value of non conventional, tropical alimentary resources for pigs. On the other hand, the continuation of studies relative to the nutritive value of avocado products for pigs is highly recommended.
Timing of primary wing moult in sexually dimorphic passerines from the Western Cape, South Africa

SAFRING ringing data was used to investigate the differences in the timing and duration of primary wing moult between males and females of sexually dimorphic passerines from the Western Cape, South Africa. In the sunbirds, weavers and canaries that were considered, the males generally started moult before the females, whereas this was not so for other species. In the species where males started moult before the females, the standard deviation of the start of moult was generally smaller in the males and the males generally took longer to moult. These differences in the patterns of moult are discussed in the context of differences in parental care between males and females of each species and within their taxonomic groups.
Effector proteins of extracellular fungal plant pathogens that trigger host resistance

An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that plant pathogens use to successfully colonise host tissue can be gained by studying the biological activity of pathogen proteins secreted during infection. Several secreted ‘effector’ proteins with possible roles in virulence have been isolated from extracellular fungal pathogens, including three that have been shown to negate host defences. In most cases, significant effector variation is observed between different pathogen isolates, driven by the recognitional capacity of disease resistance proteins arrayed against the pathogen by the host plant. This review summarises what is known about the expression, function and variation of effectors isolated from extracellular fungal pathogens.
THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS. 82. Holcus lanatus L.

Holcus lanatus L. (velvetgrass, Yorkshire fog) is a grass of European origin, distributed widely throughout the temperate regions of the world, and is naturalized in Canada. It is a minor weed in Canada, but it is common in Nova Scotia and British Columbia. It is noticeably absent from the prairies, probably because of low summer rainfall and long cold winters. Holcus lanatus occurs as a weedy invader of pastures and rough grassland where it may suppress the growth of seeded species, and on roadsides, waste ground and woodland margins, particularly on moist sites. It is a vigorously growing species that displays a wide tolerance of edaphic factors and can be controlled by several herbicides. Its abundance is influenced by a variety of management practices.Key words: Holcus lanatus, velvetgrass, Yorkshire fog, weed biology
Land use intensification in grasslands: higher trophic levels are more negatively affected than lower trophic levels

Increasing land use intensity and human influence are leading to a reduction in plant and animal species diversity. However, little is known about how these changes may affect higher trophic levels, apart from simply reducing species numbers. Here we investigated, over 3 years, the influence of different land practices on a tritrophic system in grassland habitats. The system consisted of the host plant Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae), two monophagous weevils, Mecinus labilis Herbst and Mecinus pascuorum Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and their parasitoid Mesopolobus incultus Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). At over 70 sites across three geographic regions in Germany, we measured plant species diversity and vegetation structure, as well as abundance of P. lanceolata, the two weevils, and the parasitoid. Land use intensity (fertilization) and type (mowing vs. grazing) negatively affected not only plant species richness but also the occurrence of the two specialized herbivores and their parasitoid. In contrast, land use had a mostly positive effect on host plant size, vegetation structure, and parasitization rate. This study reveals that intensification of land use influences higher trophic organisms even without affecting the availability of the host plant. The observed relationships between land use, vegetation complexity, and the tritrophic system are not restricted locally; rather they are measureable along a broad range of environmental conditions and years throughout Germany. Our findings may have important implications for the conservation of insect species of nutrient‐poor grasslands.
PHENOLOGY OF TROPICAL BIRDS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: EFFECTS OF SELECTIVE LOGGING AND FOOD RESOURCES

Abstract The increasing prevalence of selective logging in Southeast Asian tropical rainforests compels much-needed studies to examine its effects on the vital life-cycle events of their resident understory birds, which are particularly sensitive to such degradation. Food abundance, which can be an important factor in avian phenology, may be affected by selective logging. Therefore, studies that compare food abundance and breeding and molting occurrence simultaneously at the same sites are important for the ecological monitoring of such logging regimes. Using bimonthly mist netting in two rainforest areas in Peninsular Malaysia, we assessed the breeding and molting occurrence and diets of understory birds and compared the abundance of food resources in unlogged forests and forests that had been selectively logged 30 years before. Our study revealed no differences between forest types in overall understory-resident bird abundance; comparative species richness; feeding-guild composition; breeding and molting occurrence and temporal variation; or arthropod, fruit, and flower abundance. The similarity in food resources could account for the similarity in avian phenological characteristics between forest types. Increased breeding corresponded with increased food abundance at the feeding-guild level, and dietary data supported these findings. Breeding cycles of sensitive indicator groups such as understory resident birds are likely to depend on food abundance and forest structure and, thus, on selective logging. Our observation of undiminished avian breeding and molting occurrence in selectively logged forests is an encouraging indication of their conservation potential. However, we emphasize that differences in selective logging practices could affect the forest structure and avifauna differently. Setting thresholds for extraction and regeneration time and subscribing to minimum-impact methods that reduce collateral damage are essential if selectively logged areas are to maintain most of their initial biodiversity. Fenología de Aves Tropicales en Malasia Peninsular: Efectos de la Tala Selectiva y los Recursos Alimenticios
Biotransformation of the fish waste by fermentation

Fish waste (viscera, backbones, heads and tails) was recovered fish merchants and ground. 50 kg of the ground fish was mixed with 10 kg of molasses and incubated in 200 kg barrels in closed plastic in a room where the ambient temperature varies between 30 and 33°C. Stumps of lactic bacteria and yeasts were used to inoculate the mixture. There was a decrease of pH from the third day which stabilized at 4.2 and a remarkable change of the number of bacteria between the initial and the finished products. The total aerobic mesophilic flora increased from 2.4 x 106 to 4.58 x 107 cfu and yeasts from 1.30 x 103 to 1.59 x 105. As for the anaerobic sulfur-reducing (ASR) bacteria, their number reduced from 1.65 x 103 to 2 x 102, the fecal coliforms were eliminated completely even though their initial number was 1.20 x 103. , Also, total coliforms went from 1.9 x 104 to zero. At the end this fermentation, the fishy smell was concealed by products of fermentation. There was total absence of nematodes and the useful products (proteins, lipids, mineral elements) can be exploited in the fertilization of soil or used as ingredient to balance the food ration of the animals especially during the periods of drought. The obtained results confirm the efficiency of our isolated inoculum and a fast, simple and less expensive fermentation process.
PHYTOMEDICINAL VALUE OF Moringa oleifera WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ANTIPARASITICS

Plants are claimed as folk medicine for their therapeutic activity. Moringa (M.) oleifera, known as the “miracle tree”, is greatly esteemed for its unique nutritional and medicinal value. Nutritively, it contains essential, disease-preventing nutrients. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts of plants have anthelmintic activity through paralysis of helminths. The compounds found responsible so far for their anthelmintic activities include: niazirinin, glycoside, niazirin and three glycosides from mustard oil, niaziminin A, B and 4[4’-O-acetylα -L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl] isothiocyanate isolated from leaves; Dglucose, D-mannose, ascorbic acid, protein and polysaccharide isolated from mature flowers; 0-[2’-hydroxy-3’-(2’’heptenyloxy)] propylundecanoate, methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, thiocarbanates, isothiocyanate, nitriles, 0-ethyl-4-[(α-1rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl] carbamate, and β-sitosterol isolated from whole pods of M. oleifera. Parasites are one of the major causes of diseases in human and animals. Due to parasitic infections livestock industry suffers from huge economic losses. The parasites which have been treated using different parts of M. oleifera include: Dracunculiasis (guinea worm), schistosomes and trypanosomes. Plant extracts may serve as potential candidates in future to exterminate helminthiasis in human and livestock populations. Hence, isolation, characterization and in vivo and in vitro efficacy trials of M. oleifera derivatives on scientific grounds are direly needed to elucidate it as a noteworthy candidate as neutraceutical and anthelmintic.
Some Determinants of Dispersal by Crab Spiderlings

Dispersal of young from their natal sites may be determined by their numbers or by availability of hunting sites, possible correlates of maternal hunting success and habitat selection. To test these alternatives, I observed the dispersal (ballooning on silken threads, moving on threads among vegetation, walking) of second—instar crab spiders Misumena vitia (Thomisidae) from nests and experimental releases that differed in number of spiderlings and proximity to hunting sites. The probability of ballooning by young crab spiders did not differ with size of clutch, individual size, or egg size; however, substrate had a strong effect. Spiderlings often ballooned within minutes from nests not near hunting sites, but usually remained much longer, up to several days, on excellent foraging substrates, typically goldenrod (Solidago spp.) flowers. Spiderlings released on both goldenrod in bud and asters (Aster sp.) in bud left quickly, often ballooning directly from them. Spiderlings from nests within 1 m of flowering goldenrods usually moved to these flowers, ones several metres away seldom moved to them. The choice of nest sites by the spiderlings' mothers thus indirectly affected the spiderlings' dispersal behavior. The lack of a significant correlation between maternal clutch size and spiderling dispersal means that dispersal does not change maternal fitness differences originally resulting from differential success in foraging (reported elsewhere).
Ecological Analysis of Mosquito Light Trap Collections from West Central Florida

Abstract Ecological analysis was used to evaluate over 2 yr of adult mosquito surveillance data from Citrus County, Florida. The analysis was intended to demonstrate a systematic approach to make better use of the abundance of surveillance data as a prerequisite to predict future mosquito population trends. Twenty-eight mosquito species (157,600 individuals) were collected using a modified New Jersey light trap. Analysis of species dominance index revealed that the seven most dominant species comprised 84% of the total individuals captured. Three culicine mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. nigripalpus, and Cx. erraticus, showed recurring seasonal abundance peaks in July and August, while two anopheline species, Anopheles crucians and An. atropos, showed interannual abundance variability. The population of the salt-marsh mosquito, Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, consistently peaked in June and July, while that of Oc. infirmatus peaked in September and July of 1999 and 2000, respectively. With 66% Oc. taeniorhynchus, the Ozello site had the highest aggregation index (0.4975) of all the trap sites in the county. Adult mosquitoes exhibited the highest diversity (index = 2.3476) at a mixed salt-marsh and freshwater site (Homosassa). A cluster analysis provided a systematic way to gauge both similarities and dissimilarities of sites and divided the 14 trap sites into 7 basic groups. For districts that have a large number of trap sites, results of cluster analysis might be used to streamline the adult mosquito surveillance program by combining or relocating traps with very similar mosquito collections.
Disturbance of suburban Fagus forests by recreational activities: Effects on soil characteristics, above-ground vegetation and seed bank

Abstract Questions: How does recreational disturbance (human trampling) affect soil characteristics, the performance of the understorey vegetation, and the density and species composition of the soil seed bank in Fagus sylvatica forests? Location: Suburban forests near Basel, northwestern Switzerland. Methods: We compared various soil characteristics and the performance of the understorey vegetation in six beech forest areas frequently disturbed by recreational activities with those in six undisturbed control areas, in spring 2003. In the same forest areas, the soil seed bank was investigated using the seedling emergence method. Samples were obtained from soil cores in January 2003. Results: We found substantial changes in soil compaction, above-ground vegetation and in the soil seed bank due to recreational activities. In frequently visited areas, soil compaction was enhanced which caused a decrease in cover, height and species richness of both herb and shrub layers. Compared with control areas, the number of trampling-tolerant species of the seed bank was significantly higher in disturbed areas, and total species richness tended to be higher in disturbed than in control areas. Furthermore, the similarity in species composition between the above-ground vegetation and seed bank was significant lower in disturbed than in control areas. Conclusions: The intensive use of suburban forests for recreational activities, mainly picnicking, affects the vegetation of natural beech forests. Our study indicates that a restoration of degraded forest areas from the soil seed bank would result in a substantial change of the vegetation composition. Nomenclature: Binz (1990) for plant species; Moor (1963) and Burnand & Hasspacher (1999) for forest communities.
Tree‐life history prior to death: two fungal root pathogens affect tree‐ring growth differently

1 This paper assesses whether tree‐ring patterns found in recently dead mountain pines (Pinus mugo Turra) infected by Armillaria spp. differ from those infected by Heterobasidion annosum, and determines whether and to what extent tree rings may be used as indicators of tree‐decline history (i.e. tree health conditions in relation to disease history) prior to death. 2 Dendroecological and phytopathological analyses were undertaken in the Swiss National Park. The calendar year of death of the standing dead trees was determined by cross‐dating ring‐width patterns of dead trees to reference chronologies from living trees. This procedure is not, however, exact as there may be multiple intermittent missing rings. 3 A remarkable discrepancy (up to 31 years) was found between the tree‐death year estimated through crown condition assessment (i.e. the presence or lack of green needles) and the date of the outermost tree ring (when tree‐ring production ceased). New needles may form and existing ones remain green for some years after the cambium at different heights along the stem has ceased activity and no new wood cells are being formed. 4 Ring‐patterns in trees infected by Armillaria differ from those in trees infected by H. annosum. All dead trees infected by Armillaria had a slow growth decrease indicating suppression for several decades, and suggesting that Armillaria attacked trees that were already weakened by competition. In contrast, trees infected by H. annosum died over a very short period of time, although they may have been infected a long time previously. Nevertheless H. annosum seems to infect and kill trees directly , whereas Armillaria, at this site, is a secondary pathogen. 5 This study demonstrates that tree rings may be used as indicators of the history of tree decline prior to tree death. However, the history of tree disease is difficult to reconstruct fully, e.g. tree rings do not enable the onset of infection to be dated.
Microbiome, Metagenomics, and High-Dimensional Compositional Data Analysis

The human microbiome is the totality of all microbes in and on the human body, and its importance in health and disease has been increasingly recognized. High-throughput sequencing technologies have recently enabled scientists to obtain an unbiased quantification of all microbes constituting the microbiome. Often, a single sample can produce hundreds of millions of short sequencing reads. However, unique characteristics of the data produced by the new technologies, as well as the sheer magnitude of these data, make drawing valid biological inferences from microbiome studies difficult. Analysis of these big data poses great statistical and computational challenges. Important issues include normalization and quantification of relative taxa, bacterial genes, and metabolic abundances; incorporation of phylogenetic information into analysis of metagenomics data; and multivariate analysis of high-dimensional compositional data. We review existing methods, point out their limitations, and outline future research.
Einfluß niedriger SO2‐Konzentrationen auf die Aktivität einiger Glykosidasen der Assimilationsorgane verklonter Waldbäume

Effect of low SO2-concentrations on the activities of some glycosidases in the foliage of clonal forest trees. The aim was to find an early indicator of latent SO2 injuries in a beech and a spruce clone. After exposure to 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 ppm for several weeks in outdoor fumigation chambers, the activities of β-glucosidase in the beech and β-galactosidase in the spruce clone and β-l,3-glucanase in both species were significantly raised. As the beech clone was very sensitive to SO2, an indication of latent injury could be ascertained only in the 0.05 ppm treatment where the rise of the β-glucosidase activity appeared some days before necroses. Contrary to beech, the spruce clone was tolerant to all SO2-treatments and the enzymatical changes could be used as early indicators of latent injuries.
Diseases and medical management of wild passeriformes

Diseases of wild Passeriformes are varied and difficult to quantify. Veterinarians who treat these birds as part of their practice can provide a significant contribution by assisting in the documentation of these diseases. In doing so, a "flock history" is developed for local populations that will aid in future disease investigations. This article discusses some of the diseases that have been documented in wild passerines and provides management suggestions for practitioners who work with these birds.
OPTIMIZATION OF THE MICRO-CLONING SYSTEM OF THREATENED Moringa oleifera LAM.

For the efficient mass propagation of Moringa oleifera, an in vitro regeneration protocol was optimized through direct and indirect regeneration. The callus was initiated within four days on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L of 2,4-D, from cotyledonray explants. IAA and NAA took more days (18.17±1.17 and 17.80±0.90, respectively) to initiate callus as compared to 2,4-D and TDZ (7.98±0.41 and 9.15±0.55, respectively). 2,4-D and Kinetin in-combination also initiated callus earlier (9.75±0.52 days). In direct regeneration, the maximum shoot length (7.0±0.58 and 6.27±0.41cm) and number of leaves (12.0±1.15 and 16.0±0.50) were recorded in hypocotyl explants when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L of Kinetin, respectively. On average nodes produced more number of shoots (1.65±0.21) as compared to hypocotyl explants. The number of roots (3.83±0.40 and 3.67± 0.21) and the root length (7.15±0.62 and 9.33±1.14) by node and hypocotyls was good on MS and the half MS media as compared to the other auxins used in this study. While the hypocotyl explants gained maximum root length (9.33±1.14) and the number of roots were higher (3.83±0.40) than node explants. The 85% plantlets were acclimatized successfully for the field conditions.
Analysis of genetic diversity of teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) germplasm in Ecuador.

Teak (Tectona grandis) is a native species of Indochina that was introduced in 1950 into Ecuador, where it is currently in high demand in the timber industry. There are few local studies on population genetics and on the improvement of economically important forest species in this country, despite the fact that such studies are essential to find out about the diversity of and the relationships between populations and seed sources, as well as to identify the specimens that are resistant to adverse conditions, since these are the most suitable for the obtainment of specimens with a higher productivity and yield through the use of biotechnological tools. The purpose of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity of and relationships between ten teak populations (six from Ecuador, three from Costa Rica, and one from Honduras) with RAPD markers. The data analysis pointed at the formation of two population groups -one of which included the populations from Ecuador, while the other comprised those from Costa Rica and Honduras. The Ecuadorian populations probably come from those of Pichilingue (INIAP) or Granada, which are the oldest and the richest in genetic diversity in the country. Later introductions of the species from Central America had no kinship with those previously established. The results evince the variability of teak as the product of the ongoing free natural pollination, as well as of the introduction of new gene sources.