Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thylakoid-Bound Ascorbate Peroxidase in Spinach Chloroplasts and Photoreduction of Its Primary Oxidation Product Monodehydroascorbate Radicals in Thylakoids

Ascorbate peroxidase, a key enzyme for the scavenging of hydrogen peroxide in chloroplasts, was found in a thylakoid-bound form in spinach chloroplasts at comparable activity to that in the stroma. The activity of peroxidase was detectable in the thylakoids only when prepared by an ascorbate-containing medium, and enriched in the stroma thylakoids. The thylakoid enzyme was not released from the membranes by either 2 mM EDTA, 1 M KC1, 2 M NaBr or 2 M NaSCN, but was solubilized by detergents. Enzymatic properties of the thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase were very similar to those of the stromal ascorbate peroxidase. Thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase could scavenge the hydrogen peroxide either added or photoproduced by the thylakoids. No photoreductio n of hydrogen peroxide was observed, however, in the thylakoids whose ascorbate peroxidase was inhibited by KCN and thiol reagents or inactivated by the treatment with ascorbate-depletion. The primary oxidation product of ascorbate in a reaction of ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate (MDA) radical, was photoreduced in the thylakoids, as detected by the quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence, disappearance of EPR signals of the MDA radicals and the MDA radical-induced oxygen evolution. Thus, ascorbate is photoregenerated in the thylakoids from the MDA radicals produced in a reaction of ascorbate peroxidase for the scavenging of hydrogen peroxide.
Mycorrhizal influence on intra- and interspecific neighbour interactions among co-occurring prairie grasses

1) A strongly obligately mycorrhiza-dependent grass, Andropogon gerardii, and a less dependent species, Elymus canadensis, were grown in intra- and interspecific combination in a target-neighbour experiment with and without mycorrhizal fungi to examine their influence on competition. 2) Mycorrhizal fungi significantly influenced the competitive effects and responses of both plant species. Strong competitive effects of Andropogon disappeared in the absence of mycorrhizas indicating that its competitive dominance in tallgrass prairie is highly dependent upon its mycorrhizal associations. The influence of mycorrhizal fungi on Andropogon responses to neighbours decreased with increasing neighbour density indicating reduced host plant benefit from mycorrhizas under crowded conditions
Recidive na tbs, ISD en overige forensische zorg

In dit rapport worden voor het eerst cijfers over de strafrechtelijke recidive na uitstroom uit de hele forensische zorg (FZ) gepresenteerd. Eerder beperkte het recidiveonderzoek voor de FZ zich tot de maatregelen terbeschikkingstelling (tbs) en Plaatsing in een Inrichting voor Stelselmatige Daders (ISD), die samen slechts een klein deel van de FZ uitmaken. Voor meer dan 90% van de uitstroom uit de FZ is voor het eerst de recidive in kaart gebracht.Zie ook het voorgaande rapport: Recidive na forensische zorg; een eerste stap in de ontwikkeling van een recidivemonitor voor de sector Forensische Zorg (Cahier, 2015-3). De link staat hieronder bij: Meer informatie.
Heterogeneous currents and algal resources mediate in situ foraging activity of a mobile stream grazer

The importance of spatial heterogeneity in near-bed currents and algal ressource patchiness in regulating the movement patterns, foraging activities, and distribution of the mobile stream insect, Agapetus boulderensis Milne (Glossosomatidae: Trichoptera) was investigated with field observational studies and field experiments. Nearbed current velocities were characterized for topographically-complex substrata concurrently with spatial patterns of algal density and taxonomic composition. Activities of self-marked mobile larvae were examined in relationship to mapped current and algal resources
Water Table and Plant Species Relationships in Sierra Nevada Meadows

-Baseline information on water table fluctuation patterns was collected at Sagehen Creek Field Station, near Truckee, California, from June 1987 through November 1989. Relationships between plant community types and water table patterns were examined. Water table patterns were determined from bimonthly measurements of piezometers. Species composition was determined using a 10-point frame placed randomly near each piezometer. Four distinctive water table patterns were identified based on examination of specific water table variables during 2 growing seasons. Five plant community types were identified, designated Deschampsia caespitosa/Carex nebrascensis, Poa pratensis/Potentilla gracilis, Poa pratensis/Carex, Carex angustata/Poa pratensis and Carex angustata. These plant communities were related to specific water table patterns. The D. caespitosa/C. nebrascensis type experienced the greatest annual fluctuation in water table of any of the types. The P. pratensisl Carex plant community type occupied sites with the smallest water table fluctuation. Water table patterns associated with the P. pratensis/Potentilla gracilis community type indicated dry sites, whereas Carex angustata sites had small overall water table fluctuations and were generally wet to moist sites. The complexity of the physical and biological components of meadow ecosystems was demonstrated, suggesting site variation and changes in meadow species may be predicted by monitoring water table pattern.
An ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Bulgaria

Background: This study focuses on the wild vascular plants traditionally used for human consumption in Bulgaria and its aim is to present data about the richness and diversity of plants used as a nutrition source, about folk botanical knowledge and to give an impression about their contemporary state and development in relation to natural plant resources and traditional food culture. The study covers the period from the end of 19t h to the middle of the 20t h century. Material and Methods: The study gathered data from more than 30 ethnobotanical and ethnographical sources which provide information for the end of 19t h to the middle of the 20th century, in addition to field data collected through semi-structured interviews. Results: A total of 88 wild plant species, 25 families and 52 genera were identified as edible plants. Prevailing are representatives of Rosaceae, Amaranthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Brassicaceae, Compositae and Polygonaceae. The largest numbers of species are from Allium, Rumex and Chenopodium. Similar in number are the species which are used as leaves (43) and fruits (38), followed by young shoots (9), seeds (7), roots (4), bulbs (4) and inflorescences (2). The largest group is from plants whose aboveground parts are gathered mainly during the spring and used as vegetables. Important species are Urtica dioica, Rumex acetosa, Rumexpatientia, Chenopodium album, Atriplex prostrata and Amaranthus retroflexus. The fruits are mostly gathered from Rosaceae, Adoxaceae, Ericaceae and Vitaceae shrubs and trees. The study determined eight major food groups: fresh greens and fruits, stuffed pies, stewed and boiled greens, boiled cereals, sweets (boiled fruit products), dried fruits, snacks and lacto-fermented products. The predominant taste is salty-sour-spicy. Some of wild foods are also used for medicinal purposes and included in preventing or healing diets. Conclusions: Today's traditional diet is very different from the past. Bulgaria provides a good opportunity for ethnobotanical research into wild edible plants as there is much ethnographic data available, including food culture and botanical observations, as well as the possibility of field study in rural areas where wild food plants are traditionally used on a daily basis.
Fish occurrence in the fishpass on the lowland section of the River Elbe, Czech Republic, with respect to water temperature, water flow and fish size

Abstract. The effect of water temperature and flow on the migration of fish was observed using weekly inspections of a fishpass on the lowland section of the River Elbe (Střekov, Czech Republic) from spring to fall 2003 and 2004. The effect was examined separately for immature (up to 2 years old) and adult fish and also the most abundant species (roach Rutilus rutilus, bleak Alburnus alburnus, chub Squalius cephalus, gudgeon Gobio gobio). More than 13 thousand fish from 23 species were recorded in the fishpass during both years. The highest levels of fish occurrence in the fishpass were observed during the spring spawning migrations of adults (April–May) as well as during the late summer and fall migrations of adult and immature fish (September–November). While the total number of both fish age categories was significantly related to the interaction of water temperature and flow, however, responses of individual species and age categories differed from each other. The numbers of adult bleak, chub and gudgeon increased with higher temperature. The maximum numbers of adult bleak migrated at medium values of temperature (15–20 °C) and flow (140–270 m3 s-1). The abundances of adult chub and adult plus immature gudgeon were higher with higher flow. The numbers of immature bleak and chub decreased with increasing flow. The numbers of adult and immature roach were influenced only by water flow with maximal numbers migrating under medium values of flow. Generally, we observed that immature fish and small- and middle-sized species required lower values of water flow than adult fish or large species to facilitate their movement. The exception was gudgeon, which required higher values of flow for its migration, a feature that could be related to its bottom dwelling nature or rheophily.
Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes: Effects on in Vitro Fermentation and Methane Production of Corn Silage

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on in vitro(rumen) fermentation of corn silage.Corn silage as a substrate was added without(control) or with 5 different cellulases(CEL-1,CEL-2,CEL-3,CEL-4 and CEL-5) at 30 units endoglucanase per g of substrate or 6 different xylanses(XYL-1,XYL-2,XYL-3,XYL-4,XYL-5 and XYL-6) at 40 units xylanase per g of substrate using reading pressure technique in a single factor experiment.The results showed as follows: the addition of cellulases resulted in the decreased potential gas production(P0.05) but the increased rate of gas production(P0.05) with the highest improvement of the rate of gas production being 82.5% observed in CEL-1 compared with the control group.The addition of xylanase did not affect the gas production parameters(P0.05) except that the addition of XYL-3 significantly decreased potential gas production(P0.05). Degradation rates of dry matter,neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were enhanced by the addition of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes(P0.05) except that the addition of XYL-4 did not significantly affect the degradation rate of acid detergent fibre(P0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentration was increased by the addition of XYL-1,XYL-4 and CEL-5(P0.05),the molar proportion of acetate and the ratio of acetate to propionate were significantly decreased(P0.05),and the molar proportion of propionate was significantly increased(P0.05),but only the addition of XYL-4 significantly increased the molar proportion of butyrate(P0.05). The enzymes showed various effects on methane production after 6 and 12 h of incubation,but no effects after 24 h of incubation.It is indicated that addition of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes can increase the degradation rates of dry matter,neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of corn silage,and change methane production at the earlier stage of incubation.
Modelling persistence in dynamic landscapes : lessons from a metapopulation of the grasshopper Bryodema tuberculata

1. The grasshopper Bryodema tuberculata requires open and dry habitats. In Central Europe, it survives only on gravel bars along braided rivers in the Northern Alps. Even there, many populations of B. tuberculata have become extinct in the last 50 years. 2. The dynamics of braided rivers are characterized by succession and floods. Catastrophic floods occur at irregular intervals. They are capable of washing away entire gravel bars and of building new, vegetation-free gravel bars. Succession eventually leads to an almost complete loss of habitat suitable for B. tuberculata on each single gravel bar. 3. Bryodema tuberculata can persist only as metapopulations, i.e. when local extinctions due to succession or flood events are compensated for by colonization of newly created gravel bars. 4. A simulation model was used to examine how the spatial and temporal dynamics of succession, flood regime and colonization determine the ability of B. tuberculata to survive in flood-plains. 5. The results show that small populations on relatively old gravel bars are important to the persistence of B. tuberculata, even though they usually only survive for a short time, due to demographic noise. 6. The effect of catastrophic floods is ambivalent: persistence is low if time intervals between floods are too short or too long. If floods are too frequent many subpopulations are extinguished at the same time and if floods are to infrequent, local populations are eliminated by succession. 7. It is concluded that most extinctions of B. tuberculata populations in the Northern Alps are due to changes in the flood regime caused by humans. 8. Many other spatially dynamic animals and plants occupy successional habitats. We suggest that the form of model outlined in this paper, based on a dynamic habitat mosaic, be used for such organisms.
Assessment of interactions between glutamine and glucose on meat quality, AMPK, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of broilers under acute heat stress

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine and glucose on pectoralis major meat quality in broilers under acute heat stress. Three hundred 35-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Broilers in the positive control group were kept in a thermoneutral environment (23 ± 1°C, RH 45%–55%) and fed a basic diet, whereas the experimental (2 × 2) group was exposed to acute heat stress (34 ± 1°C, RH 65%–75%) for 12 h and fed the basic diet that contained glutamine (0 and 10 g/kg) and glucose (0 and 10 g/kg). Compared with the positive control group, acute heat stress without glutamine and glucose supplementation increased (P
Riparian canopy type, management history, and successional stage control fluxes of plant litter to streams

The food webs of forest stream ecosystems are based primarily on cross-boundary flows of terrestrial plant litter (PL). As such, changes in the composition of riparian forest canopies can alter flows of PL, affecting the ecosystem functioning of adjacent streams. We measured seasonal changes in PL fluxes to 20 small streams flowing through temperate rain forests in southwestern British Columbia to determine how riparian forest type and riparian management history influence resource availability in these systems. Differences in PL fluxes among the four riparian forest types studied were most pronounced in the summer, when PL fluxes from clearcuts < riparian reserve strips and coniferous forests, and PL fluxes from deciduous-dominated forests < riparian reserve strips. PL fluxes also varied among seasons (spring < summer < autumn). Fluxes were similar in riparian reserve strips and coniferous forests of similar age, indicating that reserve strips maintain this crucial ecosystem process. Clearcutting of ripa.
A New Variety of Arisaema (Araceae) from Western Ghats of India

The genus Arisaema Mart. comprises c. 170 species (Mayo et al. 1997), 210 species (Govaerts & Frodin 2002) or c. 150 species (Gusman & Gusman 2002). In addition, Govaerts & Frodin (i.c.) recognized 9 subspecies and 24 varieties whereas Gusman & Gusman (i.c.) recognized 12 subspecies, 8 varieties and 2 formas. The genus extends from Central and East Africa to southeast Asia, via Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Himalayan range, India, China, Korea, Japan, Siberia and North America. In India, the genus comprises 44 species and 9 varieties (Karthikeyan et al. 1989), 38 species and 6 varieties (Govaerts & Frodin 1.c.) and 36 species, 1 subspecies, 1 variety and 1 form (Gusman & Gusman, 1.c.) During a floristic survey of Junnar Taluka, Pune district, Maharashtra State, India, an Arisaema plant was collected with the spathe tube purple-lavender in its upper half, the spathe limb purple and the appendix dark purple in the lower portion and white in the upper portion. After study of relevant literature (Sivadasan 1982; Sasikala 2000; Gusman & Gusman, 1.c.) and comparison with herbarium collections at BSI and K and our own field observations, we are of the opinion that this plant is distinct, and we therefore describe it here as a new variety of Arisaema murrayi (J. Graham) Hook. , a species endemic to Peninsula India (Gujarat, Nagar haveli, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala).
Exploration of Pressure Field Around the Human Head During Speech

The pressure spectrum of average speech has been measured at 80 different positions about the head of a speaker, thus showing the directional properties of the mouth and head as a sound radiator. The direction of strongest radiation was found to the front, but varying from somewhat above the horizontal, to 45° below, depending upon the frequency region studied. The results are directly applicable to problems of microphone placement, and of speech intelligibility in different directions. They also permit a more accurate estimate of the spectrum of total speech power than has been possible by older methods. Pressure measurements close to the lips were found to require special precautions, due to extraneous frequencies introduced when the air‐stream from the lips strikes the microphone. For the same reason, reproduction from a close pick‐up will sound unnatural, unless similar precautions are observed.
4th generation HIV testing false positivity by Siemens ADVIA Centaur® XP: a retrospective study

4th generation HIV assay evolved to include both HIV antibodies and p24 antigen. There has been much recent debate to use this new chemiluminometric assay for primary testing in low prevalence populations. Higher false-positive and false-negative rates were also obtained from this assay pointing out the p24 portion of the test. This paper describes a retrospective evaluation of patient records for HIV positivity from Siemens ADVIA Centaur® XP 4th generation assay in a physical medicine and rehabilitation training and research hospital. The HIV positive results were compared with another 4th generation HIV assay (Roche Diagnostics HIV combi assay). Furthermore, Western Blot analysis was performed if a suspicious result was obtained.
Microhabitat Characteristics of Hydropsyche (Trichoptera:Hydropsychidae) and the Importance of Body Size

The effects of sedimentation, microhabitat velocity and flow patterns, and larval body size on the distribution of four species of net-spinning hydropsychid caddisflies (i.e., Hydropsyche betteni, H. sparna, H. cheilonis, and H. bronta) were examined in Jordan Creek, Illinois. Significantly more larvae occurred in hydraulically calibrated concrete artificial substrate notches with little or no sedimentation. Accumulation of sediment did not appear to adversely affect the larvae during the study, however, because no significant differences were found between the distributions of larvae and the distributions of notches among four categories of sedimentation. Most larvae were found inhabiting microhabitats with rapidly spiralling flow vortices reflecting the importance of microhabitat flow pattern on Hydropsyche larval distribution. No significant differences were found in the distributions of the four species among the microhabitat velocities inhabited, although some fifth-instar H. betteni, the largest of the four species studied, were found inhabiting velocities up to 35 cm/s, whereas the other species were restricted to velocities less than 25 cm/s. Within a species, larger larvae were found at higher velocities than smaller, less mature, larvae. These results suggest that larval body size and microhabitat flow pattern, rather than capture-net mesh size, influence the distribution of Hydropsyche larvae in Jordan Creek.
Predator-induced changes in life history in two anuran tadpoles: Effects of predator diet

We studied effects of the non-lethal presence of a predator on behaviour and larval life history of two species of anuran tadpoles, common frog, Rana temporaria, and common toad, Bufo bufo. We manipulated predator diet to study whether differences in chemically perceived predation risk affect the tadpoles. Tadpoles of both species were raised at two food levels either in the absence of the predator or in the presence of an insect-, frog- or toad-fed larval dragonfly Aeshna juncea, R. temporaria tadpoles lowered their activity in the presence of a predator and also avoided the predator spatially. Furthermore, they showed the strongest response to tadpole-fed predators. The number of days elapsed since the last provisioning of food affected the behaviour of both species. In R. temporaria, differences in activity level between predator treatments vanished as the food resources were depleted. In B. bufo, activity was lower in the presence of a toad-fed predator shortly after food had been added to the containers. Spatial avoidance of predators by B. bufo was stronger in the presence of a toad-fed predator than when an insect- or frog-fed predator was present. In both tadpole species growth rate was higher at the high food level but remained unaffected by the predator treatments. In both species individuals at higher food level metamorphosed earlier and at larger size. The metamorphic responses to predator treatments differed between the species. R. temporaria metamorphosed later and at larger size in the presence of tadpole-fed predators than in the control treatment or in the presence of an insect-fed predator. B. bufo metamorphosed earlier in the presence of a toad-fed predator, but this was only slightly correlated to metamorphic size. Manipulations of predator diet affected tadpole life history in both species. However, predator effects on larval life history were not mediated by tadpole behaviour in either species.
Seasonal Reproduction of Captive Himalayan Tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) in Relation to Latitude

We obtained 1,117 birth dates of captive Himalayan tahrs held in 25 zoological institutions located between 43°32′S and 60°10′N, from the International Species Information System. The birth season was not longer near the equator, and it did not begin earlier at higher latitudes. As expected, the birth seasons in northern and southern hemispheres occurred 6 months apart. We suggest that photoperiod, environmental, and physiological factors, could influence the onset and duration of the mating season of captive Himalayan tahrs.