Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Plasma Metabolites to Predict Weekly Body-Mass Change in Red Knots

Abstract. The Red Knot (Calidris canutus) is a long-distance migrant breeding on tundra in the high Arctic and wintering along temperate and tropical coasts. Preflight fueling rate is a major determinant of successful migration, yet individual fueling rates are impossible to determine because Red Knots cannot be recaptured easily. These problems can be overcome by estimating changes in body mass from plasma metabolites. Plasma metabolites are, however, sensitive to stress and time since last meal, limiting studies to situations where birds can be bled almost immediately after capture. Such sampling is almost impossible in the field, where Red Knots are often captured with mist nets in darkness. This study on captive Red Knots investigates whether plasma metabolites obtained from blood samples taken up to 3 hr after capture can be used to predict individual long-term (weekly) body-mass changes during the natural spring preflight fueling period. Triglyceride decreased and &bgr;-hydroxybutyrate increased with time since capture, and these changes varied with time since start of the spring fueling period. &bgr;-Hydroxybutyrate and uric acid were correlated with weekly body-mass change, but triglyceride was not. Triglyceride was correlated with overall body mass. Weekly body-mass change was best predicted with a model including all metabolites and body mass. Time of blood sampling (immediately or 3 hr after capture) did not affect the accuracy of the predictions. The predictions were not accurate enough to allow comparisons of individuals; they should be used only to compare groups.
Small-scale succession towards fen on floating mat of a Typha marsh in Atlantic Canada

In a Typha-dominated fresh water marsh, plant species composition was strongly influenced by the thickness of the floating organic mat. The "infilling" process was negatively correlated with pH (−0.63) and positively correlated (0.85 and 0.80) with the mat thickness and water table depth, respectively. The phytosociological tabulation of species cover data and the canonical correlation analysis of 14 environmental and plant variables arranged the 48 sampling quadrats into four groups, reflecting the seral stages towards the initial conditions of relatively stable fen formation. The buildup of undecomposed organic matter seems to be the driving force for the acidification, which is further intensified by the presence of Sphagnum and other bog-forming species.
Pareto analysis of on-site productivity constraints and improvement techniques in construction industry

Productivity represents efficient and effective utilisation of scarce resources to achieve set objectives. Based on Pareto principle, this study aims to identify the nature of and improvement measures for the 20% of the factors causing 80% of the on-site productivity problems in the New Zealand construction industry. Qualitative data collected using pilot interviews formed the basis for questionnaire surveys of project managers, contractors and subcontractors in New Zealand. The quantitative data was analysed using the multi-attribute method and Pareto analysis. Results showed that the factors influencing on-site productivity comprise (in order of influence): project management/project team characteristics, project finance/cash flow, workforce characteristics, project design/characteristics, unforeseen events, technology/process, statutory compliance and wider external forces. Overall, it was found that the way a project is managed, financed and managed, coupled with the workforce and project characteristics, account for the bulk of the on-site productivity problems encountered during its implementation. The levels of impact and occurrence frequencies of the variables under the broad factor categories are reported; these are recommended as guide to optimal utilization of the available resources in addressing the constraints with a view to achieving significant on-site productivity improvement.
Effect of Pathogen Isolate, Potato Cultivar, and Antagonist Strain on Potato Scab Severity and Biological Control

Antibiotic-producing Streptomyces spp. have shown potential in biocontrol of potato scab caused by Streptomyces scabies. However, results have been inconsistent among field trials. Pathogen isolate, antagonist strain and potato cultivar were investigated as potential sources of variation in the efficacy of potato scab biocontrol. Biocontrol success varied significantly among pathogen isolates and was not correlated with in vitro sensitivity to antibiotic inhibition. Antagonists also varied in their effectiveness as biocontrol agents, and the relative effectiveness of different antagonists varied among growing seasons. Finally, biocontrol varied among potato cultivars in the field. The diverse origins of significant variation in potato scab biocontrol suggest that consistent control in the field is likely to be difficult to achieve.
Rapid recent range‐margin rise of tree and shrub species in the Swedish Scandes

1 Recent elevational range‐margin performance of tree and shrub species was studied at a site in the Swedish Scandes. The methods included comparisons of historical and present‐day range‐margin records (m a.s.l.) in conjunction with age‐determination of newly established saplings. 2 Since the early 1950s, the range‐margins of Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa (mountain birch), Picea abies (Norway spruce), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Sorbus aucuparia (rowan) and Salix spp. (willows) have advanced by 120–375 m to colonize moderate snow‐bed communities. The non‐native Acer platanoides (Norway maple) has become established just below the birch forest‐limit. In concert with tree‐limit rises by 100–150 m in the same region, the present results suggest a shift in reproduction and a significant break in the late‐Holocene vegetation history. 3 Ring‐counting (in 2000) of a subsample of the recovered saplings revealed that, with one exception, they were aged between 7 and 12 years, i.e. they germinated after 1987. Since 1988 there has been strong and consistent winter warming, with some very warm summers, and this may ultimately have forced the vegetational changes. 4 Reduced summer snow‐retention has favoured seedling establishment and juvenile growth, and mild winters, with reduced risk of frost‐desiccation, have enhanced survivorship and height increment. 5 Certain seed‐regenerating tree and shrub species have tracked recent climate change quite rapidly and more sensitively than vegetatively propagating field‐layer species. Such species‐specific responses may give rise to novel high‐elevation vegetational patterns in a hypothetically warmer future world.
Changes in salted yoghurt during storage

Summary The study was conducted to determine the gross chemical composition and concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) and volatile compounds of salted yoghurt made from indigenous goat's milk. The effects of some chemical properties on sensory attributes of salted yoghurt were also studied. Changes in FFAs (P < 0.01) and volatile compounds were statistically significant (P < 0.05) during storage. The most abundant FFAs were 9-octadecenoic (C18:1), hexadecanoic (C16), tetradecanoic (C14) and decanoic (C10) acids, respectively. Ethanol and ethyl acetate were principal volatile compounds through the end of storage period. The storage period affected the intensity of flavour attributes and overall flavour score of salted yoghurt (P < 0.05). According to factor analysis result, chemical compounds including volatiles, FFAs up to C14, tyrosine and titratable acidity, and flavour attributes explained 86.50% and 55.33% of total variance, respectively.
Increased male sex ratio among brachypterous progeny in Melittobia femorata, a sib‐mating parasitoid wasp (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Abstract Melittobia are gregarious ectoparasitoid wasps that primarily attack various solitary bees and wasps. Characterized by high levels of inbreeding and an extremely female‐biased sex ratio, these wasps appear to satisfy Hamilton's criteria for local mate competition. However, previous studies of sex ratio have failed to take into account an important aspect of Melittobia life history, namely that every clutch represents the combined reproductive output of the initial foundress female plus as many as 37 non‐disperser short‐winged daughters. Melittobia femorata Dahms is unique among the 13 species of Melittobia in that adults emerge as two temporally distinct clutches. While the overall sex ratio of the combined progeny from both clutches (0.025 ± 0.01) is typical for that for other Melittobia species (between 0.02 ‐ 0.04 for single foundress cultures of the five other species included in this study), the sex ratio for the brachypterous first clutch of M. femorata from field‐parasitized hosts averaged about 10 times greater (0.303 ± 0.10). Laboratory experiments with single foundress M. femorata cultures on the same host species (Trypoxylon politum Say) maintained at 25°C or 30°C produced smaller first clutch sizes compared to the field‐infested hosts. While the number of brachypterous first clutch daughters was similar, significantly reduced first clutch sex ratios relative to field‐parasitized hosts (0.07 ‐ 0.10) were due to significantly fewer males being produced. Possible reasons for these differences and the elevated first clutch sex ratio in this species are discussed.
Plasmin-digest of β-lactoglobulin with antibacterial properties

The objective of the present study was to identify the antibacterial properties of plasmin digest of β-lactoglobulin (PDβ). After enzymatic treatment, PDβ was fractionated using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The antibacterial activity of plasmin, β-lactoglobulin, PDβ, fractionated peptides and nisin as a control was tested against pathogenic (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and probiotic (Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus) bacteria. Four antibacterial peptides, βL1, βL2, βL3 and βL5, PDβ and nisin as a control revealed antibacterial activity against pathogenic and probiotic bacteria tested. Finally, the identification of the antibacterial peptides was carried out using LC-Mass. Four antibacterial peptides showed molecular masses of 673.116, 819.320, 916.407 and 2410.515 Da, respectively. Two identified antibacterial peptides were βL1 and βL3, which corresponded to residues 78–83 and 83–91 of bovine β-lactoglobulin. The results showed that PDβ as a source of antibacterial peptides can be considered for controlling bacterial contamination.
Physiological responses of three northern conifers to rapid and slow induction of moisture stress

The response of black and white spruce and jack pine to slow and rapid induction of moisture stress was evaluated during soil drying and exposure to liquid cultures containing polyethylene glycol 8000. Marked changes in water, osmotic, and pressure potentials were observed in all three species, but water potentials were the most sensitive indicators of moisture stress. Osmotic potentials were sensitive to mild stress in polyethylene glycol (−400 kPa), but they held relatively steady at higher stress intensities (−800 to −1600 kPa). Large decreases in osmotic potential were recorded in white spruce and jack pine during severe drying stress late in the drought period and these changes were accompanied by large decrements in water and pressure potentials. Significant changes in osmotic potential were not observed in black spruce prior to seedling death. Losses in pressure potential were only observed at −1600 kPa of polyethylene glycol stress, although wilting in young tissue was apparent at lower stress int.
Ribosomal DNA Sequence Divergence within Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 of the Sclerotiniaceae

Based on morphological and immunological studies, we hypothesize that there are two lineages within the Sclerotiniaceae, a family of plant-infecting ascomycetes in the order Helotiales: 1) genera producing sclerotia, which are tuberlike, melanized masses of hyphae, and 2) genera producing substratal stromata, which are mats of compact hyphae that incorporate plant tissues. We sequenced the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS 1), defined by primers ITS 1 and 2, in 43 isolates: 29 sclerotial isolates (19 species in 9 genera), 11 substratal isolates (8 species in 4 genera), and 3 outgroup isolates in the Leotiaceae (3 species in 3 genera). Direct, double-stranded sequencing yielded ca 170 bases for sclerotial isolates and ca 200 bases for substratal and outgroup isolates. MACVECTOR and MULTALIN were used for global alignment, and multiple alignment with hierarchical clustering, respectively. The Internal Transcribed Spacer showed close similarity among most of the sclerotial taxa (76 to 100% similarity to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). This supports our hypothesis that a sclerotial lineage exists and suggests that this lineage has evolved relatively recently. Isolates of the asexual (mitotic) species Sclerotium cepivorum showed 98% similarity to those of the genus Sclerotinia. Sequence divergence was greater (45 to 65% similarity to S. sclerotiorum) amongst the substratal taxa and our outgroups. Parsimony analysis produced one statistically strongly supported tree for a group of species in the genus Rutstroemia, including Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. Although such subclusters of species can be distinguished using parsimony analysis, we conclude that a substratal lineage cannot be discerned based on sequence data from the ITS. Among these more distantly related taxa, including some substratal ingroup taxa and the outgroup taxa, ITS 1 is saturated with changes and shows relatively equal dissimilarity. The variation observed in the ITS does not resolve among more distantly related taxa.
Genetic variability in freshwater and anadromous sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) of southern British Columbia

Electrophoretic variation at eight loci was compared between anadromous and freshwater populations of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) collected from 56 sites in southwestern British Columbia and northwestern Washington. Allelic frequencies at five polymorphic loci were heterogeneous among populations and the average allelic frequencies at four loci differed between anadromous and freshwater sticklebacks. The average number of polymorphic loci was greater in anadromous (4.6) than in freshwater (3.2) populations. The average heterozygosity was 0.113 ± 0.001 in anadromous and 0.117 ± 0.003 in freshwater stickleback populations. Anadromous populations were more polymorphic but less heterogeneous than freshwater populations. The standardized genetic variance indicated only moderate differentiation among anadromous populations from marine habitats, but considerable differentiation among populations from freshwater habitats. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis of postglacial polyphyletic.
Persistence and transmission of Alternaria dauci (Kühn) Groves & Skolko in the semi-arid conditions of Israel†

SUMMARY Daucus maximus, Ridolfia segetum and Caucalis tenella, members of the Umbelliferae, were found to be foliage hosts of naturally occurring Alternaria dauci in Israel. A. dauci was also isolated from Daucus maximus seed. When infected cultivated carrot petioles were stored dry for 3 months, A. dauci retained its ability to spore, which was lost, however, in alternating wet and dry conditions, an effect paralleled by the loss of mycelial viability in similar soil storage tests. A. dauci colonizing moribund foliage stayed viable longer when the foliage was on the surface than when buried in soil at depths of 10 and 20 cm. Viable thick-walled hyphae of A. dauci were found in the inner pericarp layer of Japanese seeds from which infected seedlings developed.
The effect of hypergravity on bipolar spindle formation of meiosis II in Xenopus oocytes

Full-grown Xenopus oocytes arrest at the prophase of meiosis I. The hormone progesterone induces resumption of the meiotic cell cycle, leading to maturation of the oocytes into fertilizable eggs. We have been investigating the effects of hypergravity on Xenopus oocyte maturation. Recently we reported that hypergravity did not affect the initiation of maturation, whereas the progression of maturation was affected regarding the external appearance of the white spot. The present study examined changes in spindle morphology during Xenopus oocyte maturation. Cytological examination showed that bipolar spindle formation at meiosis II was largely inhibited and monopolar (or monoastral) spindles were observed, although oocytes formed apparently normal bipolar spindle upon the entry into meiosis I. These findings suggest that hypergravity inhibits the bipolar spindle formation of meiosis ll and hence adversely affects the process of oocyte maturation in Xenopus laevis.
Delineation of Sympatric Morphotypes of Lake Trout in Lake Superior

Abstract Three morphotypes of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush are recognized in Lake Superior: lean, siscowet, and humper. Absolute morphotype assignment can be difficult. We used a size-free, whole-body morphometric analysis (truss protocol) to determine whether differences in body shape existed among lake trout morphotypes. Our results showed discrimination where traditional morphometric characters and meristic measurements failed to detect differences. Principal components analysis revealed some separation of all three morphotypes based on head and caudal peduncle shape, but it also indicated considerable overlap in score values. Humper lake trout have smaller caudal peduncle widths to head length and depth characters than do lean or siscowet lake trout. Lean lake trout had larger head measures to caudal widths, whereas siscowet had higher caudal peduncle to head measures. Backward stepwise discriminant function analysis retained two head measures, three midbody measures, and four caudal peduncle measu.
Relationship between leaf apoplast pH and iron chlorosis of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract A hypothesis has been presented and tested that bicarbonate (HCO3) and nitrate (NO3) are the most important anions inducing iron (Fe) chlorosis because these anions increase the pH of leaf apoplast which in turn depresses ferric‐iron [Fe(III]) reduction, and hence, the uptake of Fe into the symplasm. Experiments with young sunflower (Helianthus annuus) plants showed that nutrition with NO3 as the sole nitrogen (N) source induced chlorosis whereas ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) did not. Monohydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate) also favoured the development of chlorosis. The degree of chlorosis was not related to the Fe concentration in the leaves. Both anion species, NO3 and HCO3, increased the pH of the leaf apoplast which was measured by means of the fluorescence dye 5‐carboxyfluorescein. A highly significant negative correlation between leaf apoplast pH and chlorophyll concentration in the leaves (r = ‐0.97) was found. Ferric‐Fe reduction in the apoplast—measured by means of ferrocene—provided evidence .
Laboratory spawning, larval development and metamorphosis of the marine snail Nassarius reticulatus (L.) (Caenogastropoda, Nassariidae)

Summary The reproduction of Nassarius reticulatus (L.) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Prosobranchia) was studied in the laboratory, and egg deposition and development through metamorphosis were recorded. Individuals were reared in aquaria to observe the deposition of egg capsules. Animals attached their triangular egg capsules to the glass of a small aquarium. All adult individuals laid several egg capsules in the same area, with the same orientation. Chemoreception may play an important role in the selection of spawning sites for various species of mud snails and our observations confirm this finding for N. reticulatus. Each egg capsule contained 100–120 lecithotrophic embryos, which developed until the veliger stage was reached. The effect of different diets was tested on swimming larvae development. Various phytoplanktonic foods were unsuccessful, as previously observed in other species of gastropods, since the availability of an effective larval food has limited the descriptions of gastropod development in the lab oratory. However, a compound food, a liquid suspension for filter-feeder organisms, allowed us to observe complete larval development and metamorphosis in 35 days. All phases of the larval development were observed, along with their morphology (in light microscopy) and ultra-morphology (SEM). Settled juveniles were fed on commercial granulated food and observed over a period of 45 days.
An overview of research into conservation practice effects on soil and water resources in the Upper Washita Basin, Oklahoma, United States

The Fort Cobb Reservoir Experimental Watershed (FCREW) and Little Washita River Experimental Watershed (LWREW), located within the Upper Washita Basin (UWB) in Oklahoma, are part of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Benchmark Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)–Watershed Assessment Studies locations. The CEAP was created in 2003 by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with USDA ARS and many other partners to quantify the environmental effects of conservation practices (CPs) and programs and to develop the science base for managing the agricultural landscape for environmental quality. The ultimate goal of this study was to present CPs that are expected to work at respective spatial scales, based on the findings of research that has been carried out in these CEAP and other watersheds within the UWB in the last 15 years. A summary of research findings indicates that the effects of CPs on soil and water resources were simulated at various spatial scales. At the large watershed scale, average annual suspended sediment yield at the 786 km2 (303 mi2) FCREW outlet was reduced by 86% based on multiple CPs implemented from the 1950s to 2008 by NRCS. Specific quantified effects of studied CPs are presented herein. With the exception of red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) removal, single CPs were expected to show improvement of soil and water resources in smaller-scale watersheds. Practices that are expected to improve soil and water resources include grassland conservation from red cedar encroachment (brush control), combined streambank stabilization practices, riparian and filter strip buffer practices, and conversion of cropped area to Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.).