Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clutch Size and Numbers of Eggs Laid by Brown-Headed Cowbirds

The evolution of reproductive rates in birds has often been explained on the basis of either one of two somewhat contrasting theories. Lack (1954), on the one hand, has maintained that the numbers of eggs laid by each species of birds has been established by natural selection to correspond with the largest number of young for which the parents can, on the average, find and provide sufficient food. Darwin (1859), on the other hand, pointed out that animal species with a high mortality rate have a high birth rate, and some Darwinian evolutionists have held recently that high mortality rates through selective action cause high birth rates. The concept that parental provision of food sets the upper limit for reproductive activity has been adopted by many ecologists who work with birds. Observational evidence in support of it is rather substantial (Lack, 1954; Lack, Gibb, and Owen, 1957; Kluyver, 1963; Perrins, 1963, 1964). The numbers of eggs laid by brood parasites provide a source of information useful in evaluating theories of the evolution of reproductive rates. One might expect brood parasites to lay more eggs than birds which have to feed their own young, if food with which the parents nourish the young is the main determinant of the numbers of eggs laid by birds. Larger clutches, more clutches, or the abandonment of laying eggs in distinct clutches are possible adaptations in the brood parasites. The present study is a report on the clutch sizes and the numbers of eggs laid by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) during two breeding seasons in Michigan.
Impact of herbicides on wild plant diversity in agro-ecosystems: a review

Plant diversity in agro-ecosystems is an important component of global biodiversity. However, wild plant diversity in agro-ecosystems is influenced by herbicide use. We reviewed recent studies on the impacts of herbicides on wild plant diversity in agro-ecosystems and the underlying mechanisms. It is found that herbicide application (i) decreases the number of plants that are sensitive to herbicides; (ii) increases the number of plants that are resistant to herbicides; (iii) changes species composition; and (iv) decreases genetic diversity and species diversity of wild plants in agro-ecosystems. Herbicide impacts simplify plant functional groups and hence add instability to communities. The underlying mechanism is that herbicides kill plants or change plant metabolism, resistance, reproduction and the habitat of plants. Furthermore, herbicides, human activities, and environmental factors have interactions. The impacts of herbicides on plants are plant-specific and the responses of various species or communities to the herbicides are also different. At present, the use of herbicides is increasing rapidly in agricultural production in China. We therefore suggest that more studies are needed on the impact of herbicides on wild plants and the underlying mechanisms, and the historical performances of herbicides use should be studied using long-term monitoring of wild plant changes carried out in China’s agro-ecosystems. Studies on policies and laws related to the use of herbicides also need to be strengthened, whicn can help to improve conservation of biodiversity in agro-ecosystem of China.
Study Progress and Perspective of Black Rot Resistant Germplasm in Sweetpotato

Sweetpotato black rot(Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis et Halsted) is one of the major restrictive factors in sweetpotato production,and which has caused serious yield losses and quality decrease in the world,it is very difficult to eradicate this disease.The integrated control systems are the main measures to prevent this disease.It was pointed out that application of the resistant varieties was most economic and effective method approach to control this disease.So studies on black rot of sweetpotato resistant were carried out for many years.Describes the identification,screening and evaluation for resistance to black rot of sweetpotato germplasm,and resistance identified inheritance pattern and the genetic character,and breeding utilization of black rot resistant germplasm in sweetpotato were introduced.The perspectives and advice of study for resistance to black rot in sweetpotato have been prospected in this paper.
A longitudinal investigation of neuropsychological and functional outcome after complicated mild traumatic brain injury

The current study investigated the extent to which neuropsychological and functional outcome after complicated mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) parallels that of moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery. A longitudinal design was employed to compare the neuropsychological and functional status of individuals with complicated MTBI and moderate TBI at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and at 1-year postinjury. The complicated MTBI group was comprised of 102 participants, each with an intracranial brain lesion documented via neuroimaging and a highest Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score in the Emergency Department between 13 and 15. The moderate TBI group was comprised of 127 participants, each with a highest GCS score in the Emergency Department between 9 and 12. The outcome measures of interest included the Functional Independence Measure, Disability Rating Scale, Community Integration Questionnaire, Logical Memory Test I and II, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test (A and B), Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Block Design Test. Statistical analysis revealed few differences in neuropsychological performance between the TBI groups. Qualitative examination of levels of cognitive impairment revealed less severely impaired information processing speed and verbal learning in the complicated MTBI group at rehabilitation discharge and at 1-year post-injury. Despite overall improvement across cognitive domains within the complicated MTBI group, some degree of impairment remained at 1-year post-injury on those measures identified as impaired soon after injury. No differences on measures of functional ability were found between the TBI groups at either time period post-injury, with both groups exhibiting incomplete recovery A Longitudinal Investigation v of functional status at the 1-year follow-up. Overall, sufficient parallels in outcome after complicated MTBI and moderate TBI were found to indicate that when classifying severity of TBI based on GCS scores, consideration of a moderate injury designation should be given to persons with an intracranial bleed and a GCS score between 13 and 15. A Longitudinal Investigation vi Acknowledgements A sincere thank you to my advisor, Dr. Joe Casey, for his gentle encouragement and relentless support throughout my graduate studies. I am truly honoured to have Dr. Casey as my mentor. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my dissertation committee for their thoughtful insight that helped guide this project. A special thanks to Dr. Robin Hanks for her genuine warmth and enthusiasm and for sharing her expertise. To my friends and family, I am forever grateful for your support and understanding over the past five years. In particular, a heartfelt thank you to my mom for her enduring faith in me. Lastly, I am especially grateful to my husband for his love, patience, companionship, and unwavering belief in me throughout this long and rewarding journey. A Longitudinal Investigation vii Table of
Variation of Leaf Characteristics With Level of Insertion on a Grass Tiller. III. Tissue Water Relations

Plants of a grass, green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume) were grown under controlled environmental and nutritional regimes. Throughout the growth of the plants, leaves from varying levels of insertion on the main stem were sampled at comparable physiological age (viz, when just fully expanded) and their water relations characteristics measured over a range from full turgidity to a moderately stressed condition to determine whether there were inherent differences between leaves on the shoot. Leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and pressure potential fell in a similar manner for the leaves from each insertion level as leaf relative water content declined. A small increase in the average water and osmotic potential, and also in the average matric potential component, estimated for a common reIative water content, was evident with increasingly higher level of leaf insertion. Despite marked increases in the proportion of cell wall material and a trend towards increasing lignification in leaves of higher insertion, the bulk coefficient of elasticity of the tissues showed no gradient of change, and the overall change in the matric potential component was small. Various other chemical and morphological characteristics showed definite gradients with insertion level: for example, stomatal frequency increased from 91 to 287 mm-2 from leaf 5 to the flag leaf. There was no evidence of a progressive variation with insertion level in the water status of leaves sampled fresh from the plants, and thus no support for the theory that upper leaves on a tiller develop under inherently higher water stress, which could account for their xeromorphic chemical, anatomical and morphological features. It appears that in green panic at least, the water relations characteristics measured, with the exception of stomatal frequency, exhibit no strong inherent gradients with insertion level of leaves which could seriously confound comparisons of water status between plants in different treatments.
Polymerase-Chain-Reaction (PCR) Analysis of Microsatellites: A New Approach to Studies of Genetic Relationships in Birds

ABSTRAcr. -Genomic DNA libraries of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) were screened for the presence of dinucleotide microsatellite repeats. Two thymine-guanine repeats, "(TG),," and two thymine-cytosine repeats, "(TC)n," were isolated and sequenced from the two species, respectively. Polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) analysis of 25 unrelated Barn Swallows and 10 unrelated Pied Flycatchers revealed 3 to 15 alleles per locus and heterozygosities in the range of 0.46 to 0.89. Mendelian inheritance was confirmed for all four loci in 10 Pied Flycatcher and 2 Barn Swallow families comprising a total of 240 meioses. The occurrence of nonparental alleles in offspring from two Barn Swallow families was consistent with extrapair fertilization as revealed by a parallel DNAfingerprinting analysis. A DNA amount approximately corresponding to 0.01 ;Il blood was used for PCR analysis. DNA was also prepared from feathers and approximately 1% of a preparation from a single remex or rectrix was sufficient for PCR amplification. One of the primer pairs from the Barn Swallow also amplified a polymorphic locus in the House Martin (Delichon urbica) and in the Bank Swallow (R. riparia). Received 3 October 1991, accepted 16 June 1992.
The Dynamic of Macroeconomics Elements in Malaysia: Further Insight into Causality Analysis

This paper intends to explore the causality effect between Growth Domestic Product (GDP), population and unemployment in Malaysia. Based on the observation of Malaysia’s historical data, there is a distinct movement in each of these individual macroeconomics components over the years. Past literature within the same area has illustrated various patterns on the possibility of a causal relationship that each variable has on one another. Several stages of analysis are conducted to verify the presence of causality effect from Malaysian economic perspective, which includes unit root test that employs the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF), Phillips-Perron (PP) and Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin (KPSS) procedures, followed by Johansen and Juselius test of cointegration and Granger-causality test based on Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) using E-views software. Each procedure is conducted using Malaysia’s time series data for each of the three elements from 1980 to 2013 obtained from Malaysia’s Department of Statistics. Our findings revealed that there is one cointegration detected for the tested variables; whereas the results indicate that population can Granger cause unemployment in the short run. Furthermore, it is found that unemployment solely bears the effect from short run adjustment to bring about the long run equilibrium within the tested framework. This study is important for the policy maker to understand the reason behind the causality effect that could jeopardize the rate of unemployment in Malaysia. As the attention is given specifically to three variables particularly GDP, population and unemployment, this study is aimed at broadening the prospect for further investigation within the same area of macroeconomics.
Screening Pheromone Analogues by EAG Technique for Biological Activity on Males of Earias insulana, Heliothis armigera , and Spodoptera littoralis

Candidate mating inhibitors for 3 lepidopterous cotton pests were screened out of 90 synthetic pheromone-like compounds, using the electroantennogram recording technique. ( E )- and ( Z )-9-tetradecen-1-ol formate, ( Z,E )-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol formate and ( Z )-3-dodecen-1-ol formate, were most stimulatory to male Earias insulana Boisduval, ( Z )-9-tetradecen-1-ol formate and ( Z )-11-hexadecenal were most stimulatory to Heliothis armigera (Hubner) and ( Z )-9-tetradecen-1-ol acetate was, next to the natural pheromone ( Z,E )-9,11-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate, most stimulatory to Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval. In field tests ( Z )-9-tetradecen-1-ol formate and ( Z )-9-tetradecen-1-ol acetate, released from virgin female baited traps, were equally effective in inhibiting male capture in all 3 species.
Headbob Display Analysis of the Grand Cayman Anole, Anolis conspersus

Headbob displays from 22 adult male Anolis conspersus of three "color morphs" (green, brown, and blue) were videotaped in the laboratory. Frame-by-frame coordinates of the vertical head mo- tions were used to generate display-action-pattern (DAP) graphs. Field observations had revealed that only one type of headbob display ("Type A") was performed when males displayed to nonspecific audiences while moving around their territories ("male-alone context"). During staged male encounters in the lab ("male-male context"), Type A displays and a second type of display ("Type B") were produced. The two types of displays were partitioned into units that were compared among the color morphs. We then trans- formed the display units with principle components analysis and used one-way ANOVAs to test statistically for differences among the color morphs at the "unit" level. Finally, we used discriminant function analysis to test for color morph differences at the "display" level. Graphical visualization and statistical analyses showed that, like body coloration, the green and the brown morph are more distinctive from each other than either is from the blue morph, although the differences in display units among the color forms are subtle. Given that A. conspersus is a member of the seven-species Anolis radiation on Jamaica, we compare the structure of one of its displays (Type A) with that of its closest relative, Anolis grahami. Last, we speculate on the possible origin of the unusual display structure observed in the A. conspersus Type B display.
Economics of tillage systems and herbicides in lowland rice production at Makurdi, southern guinea savanna, Nigeria

Two trials were conducted in 2008 and 2009 cropping season, with the principal objective of comparing the effects of tillage systems and herbicides on the yield as well as the economics of these systems in lowland rice production. The ten treatments used consist of nine (9) glyphosate at three levels (1.44, 2.16 and 2.88 kg a.i/ha) that was either followed by 2 4-D (360g/l), propanil (360g/l) or propanil (360 g/l) + 2,4-D (720 g/l) at – 3WAP and a control [conventional tillage + 2, 4D {720 g/l) + propanil (360/l at 3 weeks after planting (WAP)]. The experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications using a rice variety Faro 44 (SIPI 692033). Generally throughout the period of observation (3, 6 and 9 WAP) all the zero tillage treatment recorded lower weed cover score. However, crop vigour score was highest from conventional tillage system that was followed by a mixture of 2, 4-D and propanil 3 WAP. Rice stand at 4 WAP was not significantly affected by the tillage systems as comparable results were obtained from both the zero and conventional systems. The number of grains per panicle and grain yield increased as the amount of pre-plant herbicide increased. Conventional tillage recorded the highest number of grains per panicle (145.62) and grain yield (266.63 kg/ha) that was comparable to the zero tillage with glyphosate at the rate of 2.88 kg a.i/ha that was followed by a combination of 2,4-D and propanil both at the rate of 1.44 kg a.i/ha. The economics analysis (zero and conventional tillage systems) indicated that pre-plant glyphosate used at the rate of either 2.16 kg a.i/ha and 2.88 kg a.i/ha that was followed by either a mixture of 2, 4-D and propanil or used singly, gave benefit-cost ration of 4.55 – 4.75. The highest benefit-cost of 4.48 was obtained in the conventional tillage.
Can Everyday AI be Ethical? Machine Learning Algorithm Fairness

Combining big data and machine learning algorithms, the power of automatic decision tools induces as much hope as fear. Many recently enacted European legislation (GDPR) and French laws attempt to regulate the use of these tools. Leaving aside the well-identified problems of data confidentiality and impediments to competition, we focus on the risks of discrimination, the problems of transparency and the quality of algorithmic decisions. The detailed perspective of the legal texts, faced with the complexity and opacity of the learning algorithms, reveals the need for important technological disruptions for the detection or reduction of the discrimination risk, and for addressing the right to obtain an explanation of the automatic decision. Since trust of the developers and above all of the users (citizens, litigants, customers) is essential, algorithms exploiting personal data must be deployed in a strict ethical framework. In conclusion, to answer this need, we list some ways of controls to be developed: institutional control, ethical charter, external audit attached to the issue of a label.
Fruit Quality of Red Raspberry as Affected by Salinity

Summary The effect of increasing concentrations of NaCl in nutrient solution on the antioxidant capacity and other fruit quality attributes of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) was investigated. The plants were grown in perlite under protected cultivation and at pink fruit stage were supplied with Hoagland nutrient solution supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 60 mM NaCl for a period of 10 days, following another 10 d without the addition of NaCl. During application of NaCl, the antioxidant capacity, vitamin C content, total phenolics, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity and dry matter content of fruits increased but the increase was not proportional to the salt concentration in the solution. During the post-application period these characteristics were reduced to the level measured in the non-saliniszed plants except for ascorbic acid content and total phenolics, which remained at significantly higher levels. Also antioxidant capacity was only reduced at the end of the post application period. The anthocyanin content was not influenced by the salinity treatments. Results suggest that salinity, especially at low levels, may enhance the production of antioxidant substances in raspberry fruits and therefore their potential health benefits.
Bitki Gelişimini Teşvik Eden Bakteri Uygulamalarının Bitkilerde Kuraklığa Toleransı Artırmadaki Etkileri

Cultured plants are often exposed to some environmental stresses such as salinity, drought, high or low temperature, which either restrict or negatively affect the productivity. These stress factors greatly limits productivity at agricultural production in the world and our country. Traditional breeding methods, biotechnological approaches, molecular marker and transgenic technologies and applied to cope with stress conditions, and development of tolerant species and genotypes are among the most efficient solutions in plant growth. However, these methods can usually be time consuming, expensive and rather complicated. Recently, scientists have intensively studied the use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in conferred tolerance to plants growing under stress conditions. It was concluded that increasing N fixation of PGPB, the solubility of phosphorus, water use efficiency and phytohormone production (e.g. auxin, cytokinin or gibberellin), and activating the uptake of nutrients by plants or decreasing ethylene levels through enzymatic methods put a positive effect on growth and yield of plants growing under abiotic stress conditions. In this review, possibilities of using and the effect of PGPB on growth and crop yield of plants grown under drought stress conditions were evaluated
Foraging Ecology and Prey Size in the Mangrove Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata compressicauda

We report on the foraging ecology of a population of mangrove water snakes, Nerodiafasciata compressicauda, from central Florida. Quantitative estimates of available prey allowed us to evaluate prey selection ontogenetically. Large snakes were more discriminating among prey sizes than were small snakes. To estimate snake gape, we used the general formula for calculating the circumference of an ellipse whose major and minor axes corresponded to jaw length and jaw width. The computed gape index was used to evaluate size of ingested prey relative to size of the predator. Large snakes ingest smaller prey relative to computed gape size. Lastly, we consider several alternative explanations for our findings; we conclude that a major benefit of modifications of the snake skull is the reduction in time spent foraging and hence exposure to potential predators.
On the development of clamps and pairing of diporpae in Diplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea).

Carp (average body Length 7.1cm) was experimentally infected with oncomiracidium of Diptozoon nipponicum. The development of diporpae and their pairing were observed followingthe infection for 7 days at 25°C. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th pair of clamps were first confirmed 2, 3, 7days following infection, respectively. The ventral sucker was first observed after 3 days. Pairing of two diporpae occurred after 4 days, as a result of formation of the ventral sucker, an essential organ for pairing. All the paired diporpae had three, less often four, pairs of clamps, indicating that diporpae with 3rd clamp were ready for pairing.
Repressive Effect of Dietary Fiber Fractions in Unpolished Rice on the Increase in Cholesterol and Triglyceride

日常の砂糖摂取量が30 (g/day) 以下, アルコールの摂取習慣のない健康な成人男子 (年齢20～25歳) 10名を, 体位がほぼ同じような2集団にわけ, 1集団は10日の実験期間中の主食を玄米, 他の集団は白米とし, この2集団の対象者全員に砂糖を毎日50 (g/day) 摂取させた。 栄養摂取量は実験開始前の総カロリー1, 992.2 (kcal/day) を実験中2, 520.2 (kcal/day) とした。 こうした条件下で上昇するTC, TGに対する食品中, とくに玄米中の食物繊維の抑制作用について検討し, 次のような結果を得た。 1) 2集団の食物繊維摂取量は, 1人平均玄米集団で33. 3 (g/day), 白米集団で9. 9 (g/day) であった。 このうち玄米のみからは26. 7 (g/day), 白米のみからは3. 3 (g/day) を摂取していた。 2) 血清総コレステロールは, 実験開始前玄米集団138. 6 (mg/100ml), 白米集団145. 8 (mg/100ml) であったが, 5日後玄米集団では11. 0 (mg/100ml) の上昇があったのに対し, 白米集団は116. 6 (mg/100ml) の上昇をしめした。 3) 白米集団においてとくに上昇したコレステロールは, 動脈硬化症発症の原因の一つとされる, TC-HDL-Cであった。 4) トリグリセライドについては, 実験終了時において, 玄米集団では14. 2 (mg/100ml), 白米集団では21. 6 (mg/100ml) の上昇がみられた。 これらはいずれも正常値の範囲内における変化であったが, 玄米集団におけるトリグリセライドのほうが白米集団よりその上昇度合が低かった。 5) 以上の実験結果より, 玄米中の食物繊維による血清コレステロール, トリグリセライドの上昇抑制作用が認められた。