Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positional distribution assessment of essential fatty acids in several fats and oils including plant, fish, and microbial sources and subcutaneous fat of Galician horse

In this work, several oils and PUFA-producing species have been analyzed to know the positional distribution of fatty acids within the triacylgycerol structure. Positional distribution was determined in terrestrial oils by means of enzymatic hydrolysis, while 13C-NMR was used for marine and processed oils, which contain long-chain PUFA. In addition to several already known sources, other new ones have been characterized; i.e., α-linolenic acid was high in the subcutaneous fat of Galician horse (34.5% of total FAs in sn-2); γ-linolenic acid in Echium gentianoides and Symphytum caucasicum (47.7 and 40.1% of total FAs in sn-2, respectively); stearidonic acid in E. plantagineum (20.8% of total FAs in sn-2); eicosapentaenoic acid in cod liver oil (13.7% of total FAs in sn-2); docosahexaenoic acid in salmon, cod liver, hake roe, DHASCO© and MARINOL© oils (23.0, 20.9, 19.7, 47.0 and 55.9% of total FAs in sn-2, respectively); and arachidonic acid in ARASCO© oil (53.0% of total FAs in sn-2). Bioavailability of some valuable PUFA has been shown to be high in some of the studied samples compared to commonly consumed oils, according to their triacylglycerol positional distribution values. Practical applications: The positional distribution of PUFAs on the glycerol backbone of triacylglycerols is crucial for their bioavailability, since PUFA esterified at sn-2 position are better absorbed than those located at sn-1,3 positions. In this work, we have assessed the positional distribution of essential fatty acids in several fats and oils, both obtained from traditional sources as well as from edible species not yet prospected. Some of them might be exploited to be used as dietary PUFA sources. The positional distribution (PD) of essential fatty acids (EFAs) within the triacylglycerol structure determines their bioavailability, since EFAs esterified at sn-2 position are better absorbed than those located at sn-1,3 positions. In this work, the PD of EFAs in several fats and oils, obtained from traditional sources as well as from edible species not yet prospected, has been assessed. Bioavailability of valuable EFAs has been shown to be high in some of the newly studied oils compared to commonly consumed oils, as their triacylglycerol PD indicates.
Control of Coelaenomenodera minuta Uhlmann with Crematogaster species.

Abstract Coelaenomenodera minuta Uhlmann is one of the major pests of the oil palm, Elaeis gulneensis Jacq, in West and Central Africa. An epidemic by this leaf miner pest reduces oil palm yields by as much as 30%. A leaf miner outbreak on oil palms at Lobe (Cameroon) was first recorded in 1972. Since then over $US200 000 were spent annually on insecticides to eradicate the pest, but it was never brought under permanent control. Results indicate that leaf miner parasites were either rare or missing, and that the fauna of the Crematogaster species was very poor. These findings led to the conclusion that the natural enemies of the pest were under pressure of insecticides. The deployment of Crematogaster species led to a decline of the leaf miner pest population in all treated fields. The reduction in the pest population was mainly due to the destruction of the larval galleries resulting in the exposure of larvae to unfavourable temperatures, heavy rains and attacks by parasites and predators. A system for m.
Gliding Flight in the Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista leucogenys

Field observations of gliding and quadrupedal locomotion in the Japanese giant flying squirrel Petaurista leucogenys were made at five shrine groves with different topographies, tree densities and canopy heights. The main mode of locomotion was gliding, although arboreal quadrupedal locomotion was preferred to gliding flight in forests with a canopy height of less than 10 m, presumably because gliding was not energetically advantageous. The mean horizontal length of glides varied from 17.1-33.1 m among the study areas. Short glides of less than 10 m were infrequent. The longest glide recorded was of 115 m, but such long distance glides were rare and normally limited to circumstances where no intervening trees were available. Even when long distance glides were topographically possible, the animals tended to repeat glides of less than 50 m. Squirrels were found capable of gliding at a glide ratio (horizontal distance/vertical drop) of 3.5, but such extremes were not normal. More typically, glide ratios were found to be within the range of 1-3. Both glide ratio and speed tended to increase in longer glides, and horizontal gliding speeds ranged from 7.0-13.3 m/sec. The reasons why glides rarely approach the maximum capacity are discussed in relation to 1) wind velocity, 2) small home ranges, and 3) necessity of buffering landing impacts.
Analysis of the Non-Genetic Factors Affecting the Growth of Segureño Sheep

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of non-genetic factors on the growth behaviour of Segureña sheep breed. Growth related data (early weaning weight, late weaning weight and weight at 80 days of age) were taken from 59,704 lambs belonging to historical data from National Association of Segureño Sheep Breeders (ANCOS) during a period of 11 years. Statistical analyses were performed by using the multifactorial analysis of variance of IBM SPSS Statistics v.19 software. The model included non-genetic factors – lamb sex (S), birth season (N), herd (H), birth year (A) and birth type (P) – as main effects, the dam’s age at lambing and the lamb’s age when weighed as covariables, and the interactions between these factors. Results showed that all weights at developmental stages were significantly (P<0.001) affected by all factors, except for A and the covariable age of dams at lambing on lambs aged 80 days. Double interactions H×A, H×P and H×N were significant (P<0.001) for all variables, as well as the triple interaction H×A×P. Non-genetic factors have a very important role in the development and growth of the Segureña sheep breed, at different ages or growth stages, therefore a correction is necessary to increase the accuracy of direct selection on lamb weight at early weaning, late weaning and at slaughtering (80 days of age).
Two decades of change in vegetation in Adirondack spruce-fir, northern hardwood and pine-dominated forests1

Abstract In 2004 we remeasured trees in 42 permanent vegetation plots that had been established in Adirondack spruce-fir, northern hardwood, and pine-dominated stands in 1984. Over the 20-yr interval, live basal area (BA) in red spruce and/or balsam fir-dominated plots decreased by 15%. Blowdown was a major cause of balsam fir, but not red spruce mortality in two plots. Excluding the two blowdown plots, balsam fir live BA increased by 17%, while red spruce live BA decreased by 42% (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in the overall live BA of northern hardwood plots. However, excluding beech, the pooled northern hardwoods showed a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in live BA over the 20-yr interval. In contrast to the spruce-fir and northern hardwood plots, the live BA of pine-dominated plots increased by 19% over the 20-yr interval (P ≤ 0.01). Changes in sapling densities in the spruce/fir plots were not significant, though fir in the 2–9.9 cm dbh class reached densities of > 3000 stems ha−1 in four plots where they filled large gaps. There was a trend toward increased red spruce sapling density (P ≤ 0.10) in the upper northern hardwood zone (600–950 m). Sugar maple sapling density and BA decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in the northern hardwood plots during the twenty-year interval.
The Ecology of the Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia

Abstract Glyptemys insculpta (Wood Turtle) is listed as imperiled in West Virginia and designated as endangered under the IUCN Red List. We studied a population of Wood Turtles in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia from May 2010 to July 2011. We captured 25 turtles at 2 sites: 12 males, 9 females, 3 juveniles, and 1 hatchling. We fitted 10 adults with radio transmitters, 9 of which also received temperature-data loggers. Our 249 total observations include the 10 initial captures of the equipped turtles with 218 subsequent radio locations, and 15 unequipped turtles that were captured, and then recaptured 6 times. Morphometrics of Wood Turtles at the study location were similar to those reported for another West Virginia population. The home range for both males and females was approximately 6 ha; there were no significant intersexual differences. Turtles entered hibernacula in late October when temperatures were approximately 10 °C and remained inactive until mid-March when temperatures were approximately 5 °C. Our study provides a baseline assessment of the Wood Turtle in an unstudied upper-elevation Eastern Panhandle location.
Grain crops and forage yield resulting from the use of phosphates in integrated production system

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the sources and levels of surface-applied (broadcast) phosphorus (P) when sowing the winter annual forages on phosphorus accumulation and yields of maize, soybean, black oat and annual ryegrass crops in a crop-livestock integration system over three years. The experiment was established in April 2009, in the municipality of Castro, Parana, Brazil. The treatments consisted of the broadcast application when sowing the winter forages of four doses (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 year-1) of total P2O5 as triple superphosphate (TSP), rock phosphate (RP-Arad) and magnesium termophosphate (MTP). The dry matter yields of black oat (2009 and 2011), annual ryegrass (2010), maize (2009/10 and 2011/12) and soybean (2010/11) and the accumulation of P in these crops were assessed. TSP provided the highest yield of total dry matter (TDM) and P accumulation only for black oat in the first year of cultivation. In the second year, MTP resulted in higher P accumulation than occurred with the other P sources in annual ryegrass and soybean, and both MTP and TSP provided higher P accumulation and grain export. In the third year, MTP provided a higher TDM yield and P accumulation for both the black oat and maize crops, resulting in the greatest residual effect over time.
Application of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Phosphorus Fertilization Improved Growth, Yield and Nodulation of Soybean in the Sub-humid Hilly Region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Two separate experiments (pot and field) were conducted to examine the response of soybean to Bradyrhizobium japonicum and phosphorus (P) fertilization. Different treatments were i) Rhizobium strains (0, S377, S379, and the mixture of S377 + S379 i.e. S0, S1, S2, S3); ii) phosphorus (field only, 0, 50, 100 kg ha-1i.e. T0, T1, T2) and iii) two soils (pot only) i.e. autoclaved (A1) and non-autoclaved (A0). A soybean cultivar NARC-1 was tested for estimating growth traits, nodule number and mass, root development and yield traits. In the pot experiment, total number of nodules both in the A0 and A1 were negligible but increased significantly following the application of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the field experiment, number of nodules increased from 6 in the control treatment without strains to a maximum of 86 in S3T1. Shoot dry weight increased significantly from 11.8 g plant-1 in the control soil to 15.6 g plant-1 in S3T1. Root length was increased but root mass was unaffected. Soybean seed yields ranged between 615 and 1003 kg ha-1 against 543 kg ha-1 in the control soil indicating a maximum of 85% increase over control. Shoot dry weight and seed yield had significant correlation with nodulation (R2 = 0.91). The results of experiments revealed significant positive effects of rhizobium inoculation and P fertilization on growth, nodulation and yield of soybean and, generally, mixture of strains (S3) was more effective than the strains S1 and S2. Results also indicated that high application of P (100 kg P2O5 ha-1) reduced the efficiency of inoculants for nodule mass and seed yield.
High-frequency direct somatic embryogenesis in thin layer cultures of hybrid seed geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum)

Thin layer explants from the hypocotyls of young seedlings of geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum Bailey) produced somatic embryos in response to thidiazuron (TDZ) or a combination of indoleacetic acid and N6-benzylaminopurine, but the number of embryos was much less in the latter than with TDZ. The development of somatic embryos in cultures of thin layers was rapid and the number of embryos was about eightfold higher than in cultures of whole hypocotyl explants. Thin layer explants of 1-week-old seedlings produced a high number of somatic embryos than those obtained from older seedlings. The cultivar Scarlet Orbit Improved showed better regeneration potential than 'Sprinter Scarlet'. There were no visible differences in total number of somatic embryos produced in the medium containing sucrose or glucose. The addition of glutamine to the induction medium further improved the number of somatic embryos that developed. Regenerated somatic embryos developed into complete plantlets within 6 to 8 weeks of culture i.
Meat Quality of Lambs Fed Different Saltbush Hay (Atriplex Nummularia) Levels

Climate changes have increased soil and water salinity, compromising animal production especially in dry areas where scientists have become more interested in halophyte plants, like saltbush. The effects of saltbush hay levels (30, 40, 50 and 60%) were evaluated based on physical-chemical, nutritional and sensory parameters of Santa Inês lamb meat. Thirty-two 8-month-old castrated Santa Inês lambs, with initial weights of 22±1.97 kg were used; they were slaughtered after 60 days in the feedlot. The pH, colour, moisture, protein and cholesterol contents did not differ among treatments. Panelists observed a greater intensity of lamb smell and flavour (P=0.0035) in the meat of animals that received more concentrate in the diet. An increase in the inclusion of saltbush increased ash percentage (P=0.0232), total saturated (P=0.0035) and polyunsaturated (P=0.0287) fatty acids and reduced the lipids (P=0.0055) and the n-6:n-3 ratio (P=0.0058) of the meat. Therefore, saltbush hay can be used as a feeding resource in regions with problems of water and soil salinity because it does not impair the physicalchemical, nutritional and sensory quality of sheep meat.
TGFβ1 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition, but not myofibroblast transdifferentiation of human kidney tubular epithelial cells in primary culture

The origin and fate of renal interstitial myofibroblasts (MFs), the effector cells of renal fibrosis, are still debated. Experimental evidence suggests that renal MFs derive from tubular epithelial cells throughout the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Primary human tubular epithelial cells (HUTECs) were cultured for 4 and 6 days on plastic or type I collagen‐coated plates with 1, 5, 10 and 50 ng/ml of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). The EMT process was monitored by morphology and immunophenotyping for αSMA, cytokeratin 8–18, E‐cadherin, vimentin and collagen III. Quantitative comparative RT/PCR and real‐time PCR were used to evaluate the expression of collagen III and IV, fibronectin, tenascin, MMP‐2, CTGF, E‐cadherin and cadherin 11 genes, as well as those of the Smad signalling pathway. TGFβ1 was found capable of reactivating the mesenchymal programme switched off during tubulogenesis, but it induced no de novo expression of αSMA gene or myofibroblast phenotype. We demonstrate that the EMT process is conditioned by the extracellular matrix and characterized by TGFβ1‐driven Smad3 downregulation. Our study results suggest that TGFβ1 could function as a classic embryonal inducer, initiating a cascade of de‐differentiating events that might be further controlled by other factors in the cellular environment.
RUBISCO ADAPTATION TO LOW TEMPERATURES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN PSYCHROPHILIC AND MESOPHILIC UNICELLULAR ALGAE

Some properties of the ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO) from two psychrophilic Chloromonas species have been investigated in relation to their adaptation to cold environments. Contrary to the situation usually encountered with psychrophilic enzymes, the carboxylase activity of both purified “cold” RUBISCO enzymes was lower at low temperatures than that found with the enzyme of the mesophilic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard. Moreover, the apparent optimal temperature for RUBISCO carboxylase activity was similar for psychrophilic and mesophilic enzymes. Psychrophilic RUBISCOs, however, showed a greater thermosensitivity than the C. reinhardtii enzyme. Genes encoding small and large subunits of RUBISCO from one psychrophilic isolate were sequenced. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences to those of higher plants and green algae revealed the substitution of a very highly conserved residue (cysteine247→ serine in the large subunit) that could be responsible, at least in part, for the increased thermosensitivity of the “cold” enzyme. Interestingly, the relative amount of RUBISCO subunits found in the psychrophilic isolates was about twice as high as the amount observed in C. reinhardtii and five other mesophilic algae. The high production of a key enzyme to counterbalance its poor catalytic efficiency at low temperature could constitute a novel type of adaptive mechanism to cold environments.
SUBMERGENCE EXPERIMENTS ON NINE SPECIES OF SEMI-AQUATIC POLYGONUM

A B S T R A C T Cloning experiments were carried out in growth chambers to determine responses of members of the genus Polygonum (sect. Persicaria) to aquatic submergence. By using both external morphology and anatomical modifications, comparisons were made among 23 populations with respect to their preadaptations after a rise in water level. Varieties of P. amphibium L. responded quite differently to submergence, offering more evidence to the theory that there is a cline of phenotypic plasticity in the species which corresponds roughly with the gradient in morphology. Other than P. amphibium, the species most well adapted to aquatic conditions was P. densiflorum Meisn. , a member of the P. punctatum Ell. complex. Populations of P. hydropiperoides Michx. showed a dichotomy of response which appeared to correlate with the habitats in which they were collected. A few species of Polygonum did not survive well after inundation, but most were capable of underwater growth, and were at least half as well adapted to aquatic conditions as was the most plastic variety, P. amphibium var. stipulaceum Colem. MEMBERS of the genus Polygonum exhibit a broad spectrum of morphological and anatomical preadaptation to changes in moisture conditions. Especially within section Persicaria, properties which show variation due to phenotypic modification have often been used inappropriately as diagnostic characters in systematics. With the exception of amphibious Polygonum, little attention has been devoted to the ephemeral nature of certain "key" characteristics of members of the group. The smartweeds also provide an excellent group in which to study evolutionary trends toward the aquatic habit in a family which is primarily terrestrial. This paper reports some of the results of experiments designed to determine the nature and extent of structural modifications which occur in Polygonum tissues when the plants become inundated. Although Gliick (1924) reported on one submergence study with P. hydropiper L. , experimentation has been largely restricted to garden
Kinetic parameter determination of vegetable oil oxidation under Rancimat test conditions

In this research, five different vegetable oils were oxidized at four different temperatures (373, 383, 393, and 403 K) under Rancimat test conditions. An increasing rate of oxidation could be observed as temperature increased. The natural logarithms of the kinetic rate constant (k value) varied linearly with respect to temperature, with the temperature coefficients (TCoeff) ranging from 6.95×10–2 to 7.40× 10–2 K–1 for the vegetable oils. On the basis of the Arrhenius equation and the activated complex theory, frequency factors (A), activation energies (Ea), Q10 numbers, activation enthalpies (ΔH++), and activation entropies (ΔS++) for oxidative stability of the vegetable oils were calculated. The A, Ea, Q10, ΔH++, and ΔS++ values for the vegetable oils ranged from 6.38×103 to 28.03×103 h–1, from 86.86 to 92.42 kJ/mol, from 2.08 to 2.18, from 83.64 to 89.20 kJ/mol, and from –116.66 to –104.35 J/mol K, respectively.
Exploring the roles of CYCD3s and AINTEGUMENTA in the control of plant growth and development

Regulation of higher plant growth and development involves the control of cell growth and division, since plant cells are immobile. A key point of plant cell cycle control is the G1 to S transition, which is promoted by CyclinD/CDK complexes. Several subgroups of D-type cyclins exist in higher plants, and the genes encoding these proteins appear to be under environmental and developmental regulation. In Arabidopsis, the CYCD3 subgroup consists of three members. The roles that these genes play in growth and development are explored, and the interaction between these genes and other factors controlling plant growth and development are investigated. A role for CYCD3;1 and its putative regulator ANT in root auxiliary meristem development is shown. However, whilst ant and cycd3;1 mutants shared some phenotypes, such as increased petal cell size, reduced leaf cell number and reduced root thickness, double mutants exhibited additive phenotypes, suggesting that there is not a strong regulation of CYCD3;1 by ANT. Supporting this, a physical interaction between ANT and a putative ANT-binding site from the CYCD3;1 promoter was not detected, and evidence of CYCD3;1 transcription regulation by ANT was weak. Supporting an alternative hypothesis, evidence of coregulation of ANT and CYCD3;1 by cytokinins in roots is provided. The expression of these genes in roots required cytokinins and appeared to be correlated. Roles for all three CYCD3s and the ERECTA (ER) kinase in the regulation of primary vascular tissue development are described, and genetic evidence of a link between CYCD3s and ER is provided. These genes appear to be required for cell division events in the procambium lineage. Furthermore, ER was also found to regulate secondary growth. Thus five novel regulators of root development have been identified, and important knowledge regarding mechanisms of lateral aerial organ size control has been gained.
Effects of Precursor and Thidiazuron on Triterpene Saponin Biosynthesis in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban

Plants have been known to accumulate a very diverse range of triterpene saponins. We have investigated the regulation of saponin biosynthesis in higher plants using Centella asiatica (L.) Urban as a model plant. Effects of a feeding precursor on asiaticoside production from leaves and on the level of two-type OSCs mRNA were investigated. As a feeding precursor, squalene negatively affected the levels of CYS and bAS mRNA, but it also decreased the production of asiaticoside from whole plants. Plant hormones regulate secondary metabolism, and in plant tissue cultures they could affect both culture growth and secondary metabolite production. Although enhancement of asiaticoside production from whole plant cultures by addition of TDZ (thidiazuron) has been reported, the positive effect of TDZ on the levels of OSCs transcripts was not observed.