Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anthelmintics Increase Survival of American Coot (Fulica americana) Chicks

ABSTRACT. Helminthic parasites occur at high frequencies in waterbirds, but little is known about their effects on host population dynamics. In 2004–2005, we examined the effect of helminthic parasites on fledging success of semiprecocial American Coot (Fulica americana) chicks by experimentally dosing day-old chicks with the anthelmintic drug fenbendazole (treatments) or sterile water (controls) and measuring their survival to 40 days of age using mark—resighting analyses. In 2005, we also provided anthelmintic (treatment) or plain (control) supplemental food to incubating adults to determine whether chick survival was further influenced by parasite burdens of parents. Treated offspring had approximately half as many helminthic parasites as untreated offspring, but we could not demonstrate a reduction in parasite burdens among treated adults. Chicks that received fenbendazole in 2004 had 0.510 (85% confidence interval [CI]: 0.447–0.588) cumulative survival to 40 days of age, versus 0.387 (85% CI: 0.305–0.462) survival in untreated chicks. In 2005, offspring survival to 40 days posthatch was an additive function of both offspring and parental treatment, with survival averaging 0.578 (85% CI: 0.502–0.654) when both parents and chicks were treated, 0.461 (85% CI: 0.381–0.544) when only chicks were treated, 0.452 (85% CI: 0.375–0.533) when only adults were treated, and 0.334 (85% CI: 0.254–0.424) when neither was treated with fenbendazole. Our results provide compelling evidence that treatment with anthelmintic drugs increased fledging success and suggest that parasite burdens have important consequences for offspring survival in American Coots.
Bio-oil synthesis from cassava pulp via hydrothermal liquefaction: Effects of catalysts and operating conditions

The influence of catalysts and operating conditions on the conversion and yield of bio-crude oil from CP via the hydrothermal liquefaction technique (HTL) were studied. HTL is commonly used to convert CP to bio-crude oil (BCO). Three independent factors—reaction temperatures (250–350 °C), reaction times (30–90 min), and CP concentrations (5–20 wt.%)—were investigated. Proximate analysis showed that CP comprises 84.61% volatile matter and 13.59% fixed carbon. The ultimate analysis demonstrated that CP has carbon and oxygen levels of 44.86% and 46.91%, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that CP begins to decompose at temperatures between 250–350 °C. The results show that KOH is the most suitable catalyst because it provides the highest BCO yield when compared to other catalysts under the same operating conditions. We found that the ideal operating conditions for maximizing BCO performance are 250 °C, pressure of 17.0 MPa, 90 min, 5 wt. %. Under these conditions, Fourier transforms infrared analysis showed that the most abundant chemical bonds found in BCO were CH3-O, CH3-C, and CH3. The findings of the CHNS analysis showed that BCO has an H/C ratio of 2.25, similar to that of petroleum and bio-diesel. Results from a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer indicate that a fatty acid group is the main component of BCO. ©2020. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved
The composition and diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities from an Australian Vertisol: an experimental study.

Biological diversity in soils has been linked to many functional processes. A conjoint measurement of biodiversity of all three Domains (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya) has seldom been attempted in soils. We measured biodiversity of bacteria and eukarya (fungi, micro- and mesofauna) under controlled laboratory conditions, studying the dynamics of a detrital food web in a self-mulching Vertisol from New South Wales, Australia. Previous site use history (including vetch in the rotation) had a greater impact on biotic diversity than short-term additions of stubble.
The nutritive value of normal and brown midrib-3 maize

Summary Normal and brown midrib-3 (bm3) maize plants of three genotypes (Inra 188, Inra 240 and Inra 258) were sampled at three stages of maturity. Whole crop and plant components were analysed for in vitro digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) and the concentration of neutral detergent fibre, cellulose, hemicellulose, xylose, soluble sugars, starch and total nitrogen in the dry matter. The concentrations of total nitrogen, neutral detergent fibre, cellulose, hemicellulose and xylose were similar in both normal and bm3 plants. Xylose was the main constituent sugar of hemicellulose forming 70–75% of the total hemicellulose. The higher concentration of soluble sugars and lower concentration of starch in the bm3 plants was attributed to the later maturity of the bm3 plants. The bm3 gene significantly reduced lignin synthesis in the whole plant and plant components at all harvests. The mean concentration of lignin in the normal and bm3 plants were 2·2 and 1·4%, respectively. The ferulic and p-coumaric acid concentrations in the bm3 plants were 1·31 and 0·93 mg/g D.M. compared with 1·59 and 1·16 mg/g D.M. for the normal plants, respectively. The in vitro DOMD values for the bm3 plants were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than their normal counterparts.
Some virulence properties and characterization of motile Aeromonas species from milk and white cheese

Three hundred and thirty-eight samples of milk and milk products in Ankara were screened for the presence of motile Aeromonas species. The overall frequency of aeromonads in these samples was 27%. As expected, raw milk samples were more contaminated with aeromonads than were other products. Sixty-five (49.2%) of the 132 bulk raw milk samples were contaminated with aeromonads. In 35 of these samplers, populations of aeromonads from 1.5 × 10 2 to 3.0 × 10 3 cfu/mL were counted in ampicillin dextrin agar (ADA). Ten (40%) of the 25 raw milk samples sold in the street were contaminated with aeromonads. In eight of these samples, 1.2 x 10 2 -3.0 × 10 3 cfu/mL were counted. Five (16%) of the 31 pasteurized milk and 12 (8%) of the 150 white cheese samples were contaminated with Aeromonas spp. , but no countable aeromonads population was noted in ADA. The incidence of A. hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae in all samples was found to be 90.2%, 4.3% and 5.4%, respectively. The majority of the strains identified as A. hydrophila and A. sobria were able to produce haemolysin, protease and DNase, while strains identified as A. caviae were only positive for DNase. All isolated Aeromonas species (A. hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae) were positive for uptake of Congo red dye. Nevertheless, only strains identified as A. hydrophila and A. sobria showed a high rate of positive results when tested for the production of the Voges-Proskauer reaction and lysine decarboxylase. The results of this work show that motile Aeromonas spp. , especially A. hydrophila, are frequently found in these samples. As these products are usually commonly consumed in Ankara, they can pose a risk especially for children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
Short-term wind speed forecasting system using deep learning for wind turbine applications

It is very important to accurately detect wind direction and speed for wind energy that is one of the essential sustainable energy sources. Studies on the wind speed forecasting are generally carried out for long-term predictions. One of the main reasons for the long-term forecasts is the correct planning of the area where the wind turbine will be built due to the high investment costs and long-term returns. Besides that, short-term forecasting is another important point for the efficient use of wind turbines. In addition to estimating only average values, making instant and dynamic short-term forecasts are necessary to control wind turbines. In this study, short-term forecasting of the changes in wind speed between 1-20 minutes using deep learning was performed. Wind speed data was obtained instantaneously from the feedback of the emulated wind turbine's generator. These dynamically changing data was used as an input of the deep learning algorithm. Each new data from the generator was used as both test and training input in the proposed approach. In this way, the model accuracy and enhancement were provided simultaneously. The proposed approach was turned into a modular independent integrated system to work in various wind turbine applications. It was observed that the system can predict wind speed dynamically with around 3% error in the applications in the test setup applications.
Characterisation and evolution of grape polyphenol profiles of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tannat during ripening and vinification

Background and Aims: Changes in different polyphenol families during grape ripening and vinification were determined in Tannat grapes. This was done to establish a polyphenol profile for Tannat grapes during ripening and for young wines. Methods and Results: We demonstrated, by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS) analysis, that the content of flavan-3-ols in Tannat seeds was higher than that reported for a large number of other grape varieties analysed. Forty per cent of the total flavan-3-ols in seeds were galloylated compounds, whereas the flavan-3-ol profile in skins was characterised by the absence of galloylated forms. Prodelphinidins in skins ranged between 30 and 35% with very low values for epigallocatechin. Epicatechin gallate was not detected in Tannat wine and galloylated forms represented a low percentage of total flavan-3-ols. Tannat grapes had very high concentrations of anthocyanins in skins with levels increasing during ripening. Eleven phenolic acids were identified in Tannat grape skins and wines, but only gallic and protocatechuic acids were found in the seeds. Conclusions: Tannat wines were shown to have one of the highest levels of phenolic compounds reported for vinifera grape varieties. The profiles for different polyphenol families present in Tannat grapes (skins and seeds) and wines were determined. Significance of the Study: The results presented will help to better understand the phenolic winemaking potential of this variety and its functional properties within food chemistry.
Phylogenetic Studies in Alismatidae, II: Evolution of Marine Angiosperms (Seagrasses) and Hydrophily

Aquatic species represent fewer than two percent of all flowering plants, and only 18 aquatic genera have acquired true hydrophily (water-pollination) which is associated with an unusually high incidence of unisexual flowers. From the subset of submersed, hydrophilous angiosperms, only 13 genera have colonized marine habitats. The evolution of hydrophily, unisexuality, and marine habit in angiosperms was explored using estimates of phylogeny obtained by phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast (rbcL) gene sequence data. Despite what might appear to be difficult evolutionary transitions, hydrophiles are highly polyphyletic with independent origins in the monocotyledon subclass Alismatidae in addition to two derivations in the dicotyledon families Ceratophyllaceae and Callitrichaceae. Yet, even in alismatids, hydroph- ily has evolved many times. Unisexuality has also evolved repeatedly in the Alismatidae, and is ancestral to the evolution of hydrophiles and marine plants in the Hydrocharitaceae. Marine angiosperms (known only from Alismatidae) have evolved in three separate lineages. The multiple origins of hydrophilous, marine plants offer an extraordinary example of convergent evolution in angiosperms.
Antibacterial effectiveness of Tetradenia riparia extract, a plant traditionally used in the Eastern Cape Province to treat diseases of the respiratory system

The antibacterial properties of Tetradenia riparia, the most frequently used plant by the traditional healer for the treatment of chest and cough related infections was reported in this study. The plant was investigated to evaluate claims made by the users as a remedy for chest and cough related infections. Ten bacterial strains (five gram-positive and five gram-negative) were used for the antibacterial assays. All the extracts showed some activity against the bacteria tested at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 mg/ml, with the exception of dichloromethane extract which did not inhibit any of the microorganisms used. The antibacterial properties of the plant extracts were more visible with the gram-positive bacteria while gram-negative bacteria showed more resistance to the treatments especially at low concentration. The resistance of gram-negative bacteria has been attributed to the composition of their cell walls.
IFN‐α enhances CD40 ligand‐mediated activation of immature monocyte‐derived dendritic cells

Type I IFN are immune modulatory cytokines that are secreted during early stages of infection. Type I IFN bridge the innate and the adaptive immune system in humans and mice. We compared the capacity of type I and II IFN to induce the functional maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC). Extending our earlier observation that type I IFN promote DC maturation, we report that these cytokines also enhance DC differentiation by augmenting CD40 ligand (CD40L)-induced cytokine secretion by MoDC. Type I IFN alone were poor inducers of MoDC maturation as compared with other stimuli. They up-regulated the expression of HLA-DR, CD80, CD86, partially CCR7 but not CD83, partially reduced antigen-uptake function, increased the levels of IL-12p35 mRNA, and prolonged surface expression of peptide-MHC class I complexes for presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes, but did not induce migration towards CCL21 chemokine. However, type I IFN were potent co-factors for CD40L-mediated function. Here, they enhanced CD40L-mediated IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70 secretion. Furthermore, when combined with IL-1beta and/or IL-4, IFN-alpha2a type I IFN increased CD40L-mediated IL-12p70 production by 2- to 3-fold, and biased the IL-12 p40/p70 ratio towards the IFN-gamma inducing p70 heterodimer, this correlating with higher levels of IFN-gamma secretion by allogeneic T cell subsets and NK cells. Our results suggest that the rapid expression of CD40L, IFN and IL-1beta at sites of infection and inflammation can act in concert on immature DC, thereby linking innate and adaptive immune responses. In this way, type I IFN play a dual role as DC maturation factors and enhancers of CD40L-mediated DC activation.
Manganese toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster: extension of the life span by resveratrol

The effect of resveratrol was studied on the life span and motor activity of Drosophila melanogaster treated with manganese (Mn). Two days after emerging from the pupa, male wild type D. melanogaster were fed for 13 days with corn media containing 15 mM Mn. Thereafter, Drosophila were divided into six groups of 300 flies each: (1) the flies remained treated with Mn; (2) began treatment with 0.43 mM resveratrol (Mn-resveratrol group); (3) received no additional treatment (Mn-no treatment group); (4) simultaneously fed with Mn and resveratrol (Mn + resveratrol group). In addition, a control (5) with no treatment and another group (6) fed only with resveratrol after emerging from the pupa were included. All Mn-treated flies (group 1) were dead on the 25th day. The life span in the resveratrol group was 91 ± 0.33 days (mean ± S.E.M.) and in Mn-resveratrol flies was 83 ± 2 days. These two values were significantly higher than those detected in the control (5) and Mn-no treatment (group 3) flies whose life span were 68 ± 0.33 and 67 ± 2.31 days, respectively. The Mn + resveratrol-fed flies had a markedly higher life span (31 ± 1.53 days) than Mn-fed flies (23 ± 0.88 days). In the flies that received Mn (Mn and Mn + resveratrol groups), the motor activity decreased significantly with respect to control (groups 5) and the Mn–resveratrol and resveratrol groups. In conclusion, resveratrol increased significantly the life span of Mn-treated D. melanogaster.
Procurement governance and information asymmetry in waste management of India

PurposeThe effect of the chosen procurement model on the contractual performance is an important but less researched area in governance literature. Therefore, the aim is to study the ramifications of procurement options on the contractual hazards emanating due to information asymmetry.Design/methodology/approachFour Indian MSW case studies provided the necessary evidence for the present study. Cross case analysis was conducted from the perspectives of information asymmetry, contract management skills of urban local bodies (ULBs), and uncertainty.FindingsThe findings suggest that bundling of MSW supply chain would increase the uncertainty of the project, and that contract management skills have a detrimental effect but more in a bundled project. Accordingly, occurrences of information asymmetry and related contractual hazards are more in bundled projects.Practical implicationsThe present understanding of the ULBs is not realistic enough to consider the full complexity of the strategic interactions between agents who are privately informed in an ill-developed institutional setting of the MSW sector. The current study will help untangle these complexities in keeping with the procurement model. Thereby the ULBs can focus on the steps required to address the residual uncertainties.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations concerning generalizability of the findings to other projects, sectors, and geographical settings apply to this study.Originality/valueThis study provides significant practical directions on the sources of information asymmetry and its relation to the chosen procurement model, which is ignored thus far by the researchers and practitioners.
Observation of Leukocytes and First Report of Basophils in Young Sturgeon Beluga (Huso huso) from Intensive Culture

Presence of any kind of stressors has an important role especially in sturgeon aquaculture and monitoring of stressors is very important to avoid of any diseases in fish. One of the important tools for assessing the health status in sturgeon species is haematological investigation with study on leukocytes as part of cellular immunity system. At the present study, blood of one hundred reared beluga (Huso huso) from intensive culture was evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy (LM and TEM). Results showed more numerous numbers of nucleuses in comparison with myelocyte and metamyelocyte in nutrophilic and eosinophilic granulocyte. The most percentage of basophile has been reported in the blood.
Relative addition rate and external concentration; Driving variables used in plant nutrition research

Abstract An increasing literature accounting for various types of experiments indicates that far lower external nutrient concentrations are required by plants than is usually thought to be the case. It is concluded that the ion uptake capacity of the roots, as described by the carrier concept, is high compared to that required for maintenance of the internal concentration. Serious errors in experimental conclusions are associated with insufficient and constant nutrient addition rates. The main errors are caused by non-steady states of the plants both with regard to the internal nutrient concentrations and the relative growth rate. A dynamic concept has been proposed for direct use as the treatment variable within the range of sub-optimum nutrition. The nutritional factor is expressed as a flow, the relative nutrient addition rate in laboratory studies and the nutrient flux density in the field. The experimental use of the relative addition rate has led to steady-state nutrient status and relative growth rate and the interpretation of plant responses which differ fundamentally from accepted views. Thus, for instance, deficiency symptoms disappear, as in natural conditions, when the internal nitrogen concentration is stable, independent of level. The nutrition/growth relationships are very different from those observed when external concentration is varied. The regression line of relative growth rate on relative addition rate passes near to the origin at an angle close to 45 to the axes, which implies that the obtained relative growth rate approximates closely the treatment variable. A striking example of observed differences is the positive effect on nitrogen fixation exerted by high relative nitrogen addition rates compared to the well-known negative effect of increasing external nitrogen concentration. The application of fertilizer on the basis of the nutrient flux density concept provides the possibility of supplying fertilizers corresponding to the consumption potential of the vegetation and to the natural flux density resulting from mineralization in the soil. Nitrogen utilization is high under such conditions and the resulting feedback of nutrition on the mineralization rate suggests that there will be a long-term increase in fertility.
Tunable polaritons of spiral nanowire metamaterials

The tunable spiral nanowire metamaterial design at optical frequency is presented, and the surface polaritons are theoretically studied. It was found that the dispersions of the polaritons could be tuned by varying physical dimensions of the spiral nanowire metamaterial. This geometry is unique. Doing so, one may dynamically control the properties of surface polaritons. In addition, the Ferrell–Berreman modes can be excited that is impossible with the regular nanowire metamaterials having the circular cross-section of the nanowires. Herein, the presence of Ferrell–Berreman branches is confirmed by the performed analysis of the metamaterial band structure. It is worthwhile noting, that existence of Ferrell–Berreman modes is possible without epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) regime. The design of devices where Ferrell–Berreman modes can be exploited for practical applications ranging from plasmonic sensing to imaging and absorption enhancement is possible because of the propagation constant revealing subtle microscopic resonances.
Drought-induced mortality of Scots pines at the southern limits of its distribution in Europe: causes and consequences

Abstract: Several severe drought events have been reported in southern Europe during recent decades. Drought has been found to increase the mortality of the southernmost populations of Scots pine forests in Mediterranean countries and in dry inner-alpine valleys. Therefore the ongoing global climate change is likely to endanger Scots pine in future decades. Carbon starvation might be the main cause of the increasing mortality rate due to less carbon uptake and consequently to high susceptibility to biotic attacks. Forest management, in particular, thinning and shrub removal could decrease the intensity of drought stress by decreasing competition for water resources and thus increasing carbon uptake. The ongoing climate change and adaptive forest management will both play an important role for the sustainability of this specie across southern regions of Europe.