Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between orchid and fungal biodiversity: Mycorrhizal preferences in Mediterranean orchids

Abstract Orchidaceae is one of the most species-rich angiosperm families, and all orchids are fully dependent on fungi for their seed germination and their life cycle. The level of specificity of the association between orchid species and fungi can be related to the number of co-occurring orchid species. To investigate orchid mycorrhizal associations in adult-photosynthetic orchids, 16 Mediterranean orchid species belonging to 4 genera (Anacamptis, Ophrys, Orchis, and Serapias) at 11 different sites were subjected to DNA-based analysis. Eighteen operational taxonomic units representing two fungal families, Tulasnellaceae and Ceratobasidiaceae, were identified. All examined orchid species associated with different mycorrhizal fungi. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between number of orchid species and number of mycorrhizal. Monospecific populations showed a lower number of fungi, while sympatric populations had a higher number of mycorrhizal fungi. Our results showed that Mediterranean orchid species associated with a higher number of mycorrhizal fungi confirming as photosynthetic orchids are typically generalists toward mycorrhizal fungi. Thus, photosynthetic orchids exhibit low specificity for fungal symbionts showing the potential for opportunistic associations with diverse fungi reducing competition for nutrient. We suggest that these characteristics could confer symbiotic assurance particularly in habitat with resource limitations or prone to stressful conditions.
Isolation and Partial Characterisation of Milk-clotting Aspartic Protease from Streblus asper

A rennin-like milk-clotting protease from the twigs of Streblus asper was purified by a factor of 65 times with 36% recovery using ethanol precipitation, ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatographic techniques. The enzyme was found to be monomeric in nature having a molecular mass of 55kDa. The enzyme acts optimally at 55°C and was stable in the temperature range of 30–40°C. Easy enzyme inactivation by moderate heating, makes this protease extract potentially useful for cheese production. The purified enzyme is an acid protease with an optimum pH of 5.5 and it retained 96% of its residual activity between pH 5.0 and 6.0. Pepstatin A inhibited the proteinase activity, whereas iodoacetamide, phenylmethyl sulphonyl fluoride, β-mercaptoethanol and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid had no significant inhibitory effect suggesting the presence of aspartic acid residue at the active site. The milkclotting aspartic protease showed predominant α-helical conformation in phosphate buffer as evidenced from circular dichroic spectroscopy.
SOME MEASUREMENTS RELATING TO OSTRICH EGGS

Summary Keffen, R. H. & Jarvis, M. J. F. 1984. Some measurements relating to Ostrich eggs. Ostrich 55:182-187. Eggs from wild Zimbabwean Ostriches Struthio camelus australis and domesticated South African hybrid birds, were compared. Formulae were tested to determine their accuracy when used to calculate egg weights, surface area and density. Calculated values were compared with some actual measurements. The main motivation for the study was the need to calculate fresh egg weights of wild Ostriches, as an aid to determining weight loss during incubation under natural conditions. Eggs from wild birds were, on average, smaller than those from domesticated birds, even though the wild adults were larger than domesticated birds. However, newly batched chicks from hybrid eggs weighed less than those from wild eggs.
Light Harvesting and State Transitions in Cyanobacteria

: Cyanobacteria are oxygenic phototrophic prokaryotes and are considered to be the ancestors of chloroplasts. Their photosynthetic machinery is functionally equivalent in terms of primary photochemistry and photosynthetic electron transport. Fluorescence measurements and other techniques indicate that cyanobacteria, like plants, are capable of redirecting pathways of excitation energy transfer from light harvesting antennae to both photosystems. Cyanobacterial cells can reach two energetically different states, which are defined as “State 1” (obtained after preferential excitation of photosystem I) and “State 2” (preferential excitation of photosystem II). These states can be distinguished by static and time resolved fluorescence techniques. One of the most important conclusions reached so far is that the presence of both photosystems, as well as certain antenna components, are necessary for state transitions to occur. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that changes in the coupling state of the light harvesting antenna complexes (the phycobilisomes) to both photosystems occur during state transitions. The finding that the phycobilisome complexes are highly mobile on the surface of the thylakoid membrane (the mode of interaction with the thylakoid membrane is essentially unknown), has led to the proposal that they are in dynamic equilibrium with both photosystems and regulation of energy transfer is mediated by changes in affinity for either photosystem.
A SCRUM-BASED SOFTWARE QUALITY MODEL TO RAISE MATURITY OF SOFTWARE IN SME(S)

Software process improvement (SPI), and by extension Software Quality Assurance (SQA), is the approach to understand the software development process lifecycle and implement necessary changes to the processes to achieve a high-quality, maintainable product. Small software enterprises face enormous challenges to gain a competitive advantage in the software industry, especially with the presence of large conglomerates. Much of these small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) adopt agile models such as Scrum to quickly react to clients’ demands. However, agile methodologies lack direct addressing of maturity in process, project and product that larger enterprises are capable of. It is important for the software engineering community to aid in enabling SMEs to have process maturity without compromising agility. In this paper, we use the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) – a world-renowned software quality assurance methodology, to address some shortcomings in the Scrum model. Specific practices are selected out of eighteen process areas based on both literature research and field study from the second and third levels of maturity to address missing elements. The proposed model prototype keeps Scrum intact while allowing small enterprises to produce high-quality software without compromising agility or going over budget, thus reducing the ‘low-quality’ stigma attached to small software developers around the world.
A remote sensing and GIS based study in assessment of the degradation risk of the Kolonnawa marsh

A majority of the Sri Lankan wetlands is under threat of degradation mainly due to urbanization, population pressure and industrialization. This study was conducted to detect the changes and to assess and map the degradation risk of the Kolonnawa marsh located in the Western Province of Sri Lanka by analyzing the data collected through field surveys, remote sensing and GIS techniques. A questionnaire survey was conducted within 11 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions around the marsh to obtain information on household characteristics, interactions with the marsh, awareness on marsh degradation and marsh conservation. According to the temporal change assessment performed with Landsat TM (1992), Landsat ETM+ (2002) satellite images, 32 % of the marsh area has been reduced in 1992 - 2002 period. According to Worldview 2 image, the total marsh area including the associated waterways in 2010 was 144.56 ha. A risk index was formulated considering the risk factors prevailing in the study area. Risk mapping, which was carried out based on the risk index resulted in three risk classes; moderate, high and very high. Mapping based on the risk index was helpful to identify the severity of the degradation risk of the marsh at GN Division level. The study identified that all surrounding GN Divisions pose risk on degradation of the marsh while the highest impact was reported from the Obesekarapura GN Division. The risk matrix was identified as an important tool in prioritizing the areas for conservation. J.Natn. Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2013 41 (4): 327-335 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v41i4. 6256
Radiological resolution of nutritional rickets with mega dose of vitamin D - “Stoss Therapy”: a hospital-based study

Background: Nutritional rickets is one of the most common metabolic disease of bone. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of Vitamin-D in children with rickets and establish that rickets in India is due to Vitamin-D deficiency and to compare and analysed the preand post –treatment radiographic parameters in nutritional rickets being treated by Stoss therapy. Interventional study, done at Central Institute of Orthopaedics, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India between October 2015 and May 2017. Material and Methods: A total of 44 patients in the age group of 6 months to 16 years with signs of active rickets participated in the study. All the participants received Stoss therapy (mega dose of vitamin D) and the response to treatment was observed and recorded at regular follow up with clinical, biochemical and radiological parameters. Thacher’s score was used for radiological evaluation. Results: After starting treatment, 4 subjects out of 44 had zero score at 3 weeks. whereas at 6 weeks, 3 month 10 subjects and 17 subjects had score zero respectively. At 6 month all subject had score zero. Conclusion: The Stoss therapy is very effective and safe regimen for the treatment of rickets. The 10 points Thacher’s scoring method for assessing the severity of rickets shows promise as a useful tool for researchers and clinicians.
Effect of weaning on the capacity of pig intestinal villi to digest and absorb nutrients

SUMMARY A comprehensive study of how age and weaning affect intestinal structure and enterocyte ability to digest and absorb nutrients has been carried out in 4- and 6-week-old piglets. Villus length, which did not change significantly in unweaned piglets 4–6 weeks after birth, was halved 5 days after weaning. Crypt depth, which increased normally in unweaned piglets, is further increased by weaning in both 4- and 6-week-old animals. Lactase activity, which decreased normally with age, was inhibited more than a-glucosidase by weaning. Weaning of 6-week-old piglets also caused a significant increase in maltase II and III activities. Alkaline phosphatase activity was unaffected by age or weaning in 4- and 6-week-old piglet intestine. Na-dependent alanine transport was reduced in 6- compared with 4-week-old unweaned piglet intestine. Weaning inhibited Na-dependent alanine transport in 4- but not 6-week-old pigs. Na-independent alanine transport, which was considerably less than that found in the presence of Na, was not noticeably affected by age or weaning. Weaning-induced problems in intestinal function appear from the present results to be caused more by changes in intestinal structure and specific loss of digestive enzymes rather than by any gross change in absorptive function. The possible role of immune as well as nutritional factors in causing these weaning-dependent changes in intestinal function is discussed.
Leaching of nitrate and other nutrients from a grazed pasture

Abstract The object of this study was to determine the amounts of nitrate (NO3 -) and other nutrients leached from an intensively grazed pasture over 1 year. Concentrations of NH4 +, NO3 -, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO4 2-, PO4 3-, and Cl- were measured in samples of water percolating through soil (Ruatangata friable clay) under cattle grazed pastures receiving 0 or 172 kg N/ha per year as urea. Elemental concentrations varied greatly with both site and time of collection. The equivalent concentrations of NO3 - and Ca2+ were highly correlated (r 2 = 0.96) and could be used for estimating the equivalent concentrations of the other ions. For each unit increase in the concentration of NO3 -, the equivalent concentration of cations increased in the order: Ca > Mg > Na > K. The amount of element leached was calculated as the product of measured concentration and estimated drainage volume. Leaching losses over 1 year (kg/ha nil-N treatment; kg/ha +N treatment) were thus estimated as N (88; 193); Ca (154; 216); Mg (3.
Obtaining low water line contour value for enclave claim regime 12 nautical miles on Hatohobei Island Republic of Palau against the Republic of Indonesia in according with UNCLOS 1982 using satellite-derived bathymetry

UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of The Sea) 1982 gives the authority to coastal state to make claims on their sea regime. An island that is more than 125 nautical miles from the mainland where the baseline to draw a territorial line is drawn is given the right to claim the maritime regime by enclave method 12 nautical miles maximum. In determining enclave claims, Low water line contour points are needed through satellite-derived bathymetry using the Lyzenga bathymetry algorithm. The data used in this study is a multispectral planet scope imagery with 3 meters resolution, where the imagery was acquired at the 07th April 2019 and depth sample from NGA nautical chart of the Hatohobei Island and Hellen reef region. To normalize the depth value, tidal correction is done by extrapolating from BIG tides data during 29 days of tides data prediction. The Lyzenga bathymetry is applied using intercept (24.422094) and the coefficient for each band result by Ordinary Least Square regression, where the R2 value obtained is 0.194075. That variable is applied in Lyzenga Bathymetry Formula. The results of the Lyzenga bathymetry algorithm are converted into contour lines to obtain low water line contour, and buffer 12 nautical miles is carried out. The result of this study shows the areas which can be claimed by Hatohobei Island (Republic of Palau). The claim of the maritime space that can be given to Tobi Island is 1634.39 km2.
Comparative tissue distribution of butyltin compounds in common cormorants (phalacrocorax carbo) from Japan

The concentrations of butyltin compounds were determined in the kidney, liver and ventral feathers of common cormorants from two different population groups in Lake Biwa and Sinobazu pond, Japan. The Lake Biwa cormorants exhibited relatively higher contamination levels in the kidney than those in the Sinobazu pond. The ventral feathers of adult and juvenile cormorants from the Sinobazu pond showed elevated concentrations while in chicks liver accumulated the increased levels. Monobutyltin accumulated preferentially in feathers suggesting a specific binding capacity or higher metabolic rate during the physiologically active periods such as moulting and breeding. Total butyltin levels in the kidney were significantly correlated (r = 0.761, p < 0.0005) with those in liver. The accumulation of butyltin compounds (BTs) in ventral feathers showed a significant positive correlation with those in the internal tissues (kidney + liver) (r = 0.700, p < 0.001) of adult birds. This suggested that the body feathers can.
Morphology and pathogenicity of Alternaria panax isolated from Panax schinseng in Japan and Korea

Morphological variation of the conidia of Alternaria panax isolated from Panax schinseng and its pathogenicity were studied. The conidia of the isolates formed in natural habitats usually had long beaks and were more uniform in size than those produced in vitro. In aging or axenic growth, excessive cellular swelling was recognized characteristically in the fungus. Surface structure of the conidia and chain formation also varied with the culture media and the age of the colony. Based on the review of the literature and the result of the experiments, it is concluded that the description of the fungus described by Nakata and Takimoto in Korea and Japan does not coincide with A. panax. The isolates of A. panax incited foliar diseases not only in P. schinseng but also in other members of the Araliaceae tested. On the leaves of P. schinseng, Aralia elata and Schefflera arboricola, severe leaf spots and blights developed after artificial inoculation, but on the leaves of Fatsia japonica, symptoms were produced only around the wounded part and slowly enlarged. A. elata and F. japonica were found to be new hosts of the fungus.
Assessment about the Influence of Petroleum FDI on Nigerian Economic Enlargement

: FDI contributes to the industrial development of a developing country as a result of its accompanying transfer of advanced technology, human capital development and employment creation, make the local industries more competitive and promote backward and forward linkages. FDI in Nigeria is largely in the Petroleum sector. This study investigates the impression of FDI in Petroleum sector on economic enlargement in Nigeria. Having tested for stationarity of the variables of which some were found to be stationary at difference and others at first difference, to produce both long term as well as short term coefficients the Autoregressive Distributed lag Model has been applied. It has resulted 23.9% adjustment in the case of a deviation from the long run. Finally, minimum but positive influence has been observed in the area of Nigerian economic development. The recommended policies include the provision of an enabling environment, the need for investment policies that will be favorable to local investors, formulation and implementation of favorable exchange rate policies as well an improved state of infrastructures in the country amongst others.
From efficiency to reduction: Tackling energy consumption in a cross disciplinary perspective

This book presents the results of the international research project CODALoop: Community Data Loop for Energy Conscious Lifestyles. It dissects the energy practices that make urban households demanding energy in their daily life and reveals the pathway towards reducing this energy demand. To unpack energy practices, the authors of this volume move away from efficiency problems studying the interaction between human and new technologies. Instead, they use a repertoire of different analytical instruments to study how interaction between humans, and between humans and data, change the social norms that shape energy needs. The volume offers a synthesis of a cross- disciplinary study of energy reduction carried out in three different countries through multiple methodological approaches. The project at the source of the book was funded under the Joint Program Initiative 'Urban Europe' and the ERA-net framework.
A 15N tracer method for the measurement of dissolved organic nitrogen release by phytoplankton

We present a new method for separation of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in marlne samples which permlts the measurement of DO'*N production during DII5N uptake and regeneration experiments. Ion retardat~on resin was used to separate DI1'N from DOI'N and the isolated D0I5N was subsequently analyzed by mass spectrometry Variat~on in D0I5N atom % enrichment in duplicate samples, determined w ~ t h the ion retardation column method, was less than 4"0 . We also separated the low n~olecular weight (LMW) DO"N from total D015N using ultrafiltration and found the ratio of these variables to be a useful index in determining what release processes were likely occurring in a given sample. Examples are presented from 2 types of experiments conducted in Chesapeake Bay waters: first, a 6 h time-course of D015N release from both "NH,' and I5NO3uptake, and second, a series of short-term (0.5 h) release measurements from 15NH,* uptake over the course of a day. In the former, total DO1% release rates resulting from 15NH,* uptake were several-fold higher than those resulting from IsNO3uptake due to extremely low rates of incorporat~on of "NO? into cellular organic material. The release of LMW DOI'N resulting from I5NH,+ uptake decreased from 78 to 21 % of total D0I5N release during the 6 h incubation which suggests that processes other than direct release by phytoplankton (e.g. sloppy feeding, cell lysis) likely became more important as the incubation progressed In the latter expenment, LMW DO'% release was 0 to 16 % of total D0I5N release, which indicates that, in this case, also, processes other than direct release by phytoplankton were dominating the flux of DON from phytoplankton.
Exploring Strategic Role of Innovation Strategies on Performance of Investment Cooperatives in Kenya

The link between innovation strategies and organizational performance is a key issue in the field of strategic management that contributes towards the overall performance and objectives. The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of innovation strategies on performance of investment cooperatives in Kenya. The study was anchored on innovation diffusion theory. The study used descriptive research design. The target population was 40 respondents and adopted stratified sampling technique. The study purposively sampled finance managers, investment managers. Semi structured questionnaire was the main instrument of collecting primary data. Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively using SPSS version 24 and Microsoft excel. The study utilized multiple regressions analysis and correlation analysis to the nature of relationships. The study findings revealed that organization has adopted mobile applications, portals, and mobile money services to facilitate the speedy delivery of services to the customers that has led to the improvement in performance. The study recommends that relationship between innovation strategies and performance of investment cooperatives in Kenya should be enhanced to improve overall performance.
SCALING OF THE PIECES OF THE ARISTOTLE'S LANTERN IN FIVE SPECIES OF STRONGYLOCENTROTUS (ECHINODERMATA: ECHINOIDEA)

The lengths of the demipyramids and rotules and the weights of the demipyramids, rotules, epiphyses, compasses, and teeth of the Aristotle's lantern from Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, S. franciscanus, S. intermedius, S. nudus and S. purpuratus over a size range of 46–76 mm horizontal diameter were measured. The rates of increase in size of the lantern pieces of S. franciscanus when scaled with increase in body size are greater than those of the other species. The growth of S. franciscanus to a much larger body size and its continued increase in relative gonadal production at a size at which it ceases in S. intermedius and S. purpuratus may result from a greater feeding capacity related to the size of the lantern pieces.
Functional design and burst-and-coast swimming in fishes

A simple hydromechanical model is employed to determine the influence of overall body form on intermittent (burst-and-coast) swimming in fish. The optimum fineness ratio with respect to maximizing the distance covered per burst-and-coast cycle for given volume, mass, initial, and final velocities is about 5. Frequent burst-and-coast swimmers (e.g., Gadidae, Clupeidae) are characterized by fineness ratios of 4.0–6.5. Forms of low fineness ratio (< 2, e.g., Tetraodontidae, Diodontidae) do not swim in the burst-and-coast mode. The current view that fish are optimally designed for either high steady or unsteady swimming performance is questioned. It is suggested that the body form of many pelagic and nektonic fishes reflects a compromise appropriate for good burst-and-coast swimming performance.