Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the Enzymatic Characteristics of C4Phosphoenol Pyruvate Carboxylase

C4phosphoenolpyruvate (P-pyruvate) carboxylases have evolved from ancestral C3P-pyruvate carboxylases during the evolution of C4 photosynthesis (Lepiniec et al., 1994). To meet the requirements of a new metabolic pathway, the C4 enzymes have gained distinct kinetic and regulatory properties compared to C3 enzymes. Our interest is to deduce the structure responsible for these C4-specific properties. As a model system, the orthologous ppcA P-pyruvate carboxylases of Flaveria trinervia (C4) and Flaveria pringlei (C3) were investigated by expressing them in Escherichia coli using their cDNAs. The Km (P-pyruvate) was about ten times higher for the C4 enzyme (650 μM) than for the C3 enzyme (60 μM). The activation by glucose 6-phosphate, which was shown by a decrease in the Km (P-pyruvate), was about twice for the C4 enzyme and three times for the C3 enzyme. The C3 enzyme showed a very high sensitivity to L-malate with an I0.5 (50% inhibition) value of 80 μM malate, whereas the C4 enzyme was much less sensitive with a I0.5 value of 1.2mM malate. To locate the structural positions responsible for these differences in kinetic and regulatory properties, chimeras of these 95% identical enzymes were made. In this study, the first 437 residues of the 966-amino-acid protein were interchanged. The results showed that the N-terminal part of the enzyme was responsible for a small but significant part of the kinetic difference observed between these two isoenzymes. Additionally, the results suggest that the N-terminus was the site for glucose 6-phosphate activation and was also responsible for the observed difference in activation by this sugar phosphate. The difference in inhibition by L-malate, however, is suggested to originate mainly from the C-terminal part of the enzyme.
Genoprotective potential of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. against mercury-induced genotoxicity in Allium cepa L.

Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. is an important species of the family Brassicaceae with immense medicinal value. The main goal of this study was to investigate the antigenotoxic effects of different concentrations (0.1%-1.0%) of chloroform extract of B. juncea seeds on mercury-induced (0.75 ppm) genotoxic effects in root cells of Allium cepa. Three different modes of treatment were performed: pretreatment, posttreatment, and simultaneous treatment. For pretreatment, freshly emerged root tips were first treated with different concentrations of seed extract for 3 h and then treated with Hg for 3 h. For posttreatment, the roots were first treated with Hg and then with extract concentrations. For simultaneous treatment, different concentrations of extract were added along with the Hg. The study revealed that chloroform extract was neither toxic nor in possession of genotoxic activity. Treatment with Hg caused a decrease in mitotic index and induction of chromosomal aberrations as compared to the negative control. This effect was reversed by treatment with different concentrations of chloroform extract of seeds of B. juncea. Maximum percentage inhibition (95.3%) of genotoxic effects was observed with 1% chloroform extract (post- and simultaneous treatment). This study clearly indicates that the chloroform extract of B. juncea seeds has antigenotoxic potential against mercury-induced genotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner by evaluating A. cepa root chromosomal aberration assay.
Hepatoprotective effect of Terminalia chebula on gentamicin induced toxicity in rats.

*Corresponding Author P. Hariharan pharipharma123@gmail.com A study was carried out to analyze the hepatotoxicity induced by administration of gentamicin by analyzing liver specific parameters like alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, superoxide dismutase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in rats and to confirm the same by histopathological examination. An attempt was also made to study the possible hepatoprotective effect of Terminalia chebula on gentamicin induced toxicity and compare the same with that of silymarin. The results of this study showed that gentamicin administered at a dosage of 80 mg/kg b.wt. i/p once daily for seven days produced significant elevation of serum biochemical parameters like ALT, AST with significant reduction in the level of total protein and albumin. Administration of aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula significantly restored these parameters. The results of the present study have suggested that Terminalia chebula plant extracts can be used as a protective agent in gentamicin induced hepatotoxicity.
Morphological and Molecular Analyses of Closely Related Species In the Stygobiontic Genus Niphargus (Amphipoda)

Abstract The present study investigates morphologically similar species in the amphipod genus Niphargus, with special emphasis on three presumably closely-related species: N. fontanus, N. aquilex, and N. schellenbergi. The distribution ranges of these species overlap in Central Europe, and ambiguity of the current diagnostic characters has likely resulted in misidentifications. To address this issue, we carried out molecular-phylogenetic analyses of Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 1 gene (COI) and 28S rDNA sequences for 34 individuals of the three species from 27 sites in Central Europe and Great Britain. We also included 14 GenBank sequences for two additional species, N. virei and N. rhenorhodanensis, to increase the resolution potential among our in-group taxa. In addition, about 100 specimens of the three species were examined for a reappraisal of diagnostic characters. Representative specimens taken from various subterranean habitat types were examined for each of the three species. A new morphological key, utilizing improved characters, is presented to clearly distinguish between N. fontanus, N. aquilex, and N. schellenbergi. Molecular-phylogenetic analysis using COI sequence data indicates geographically well-delimited clades for N. aquilex and N. fontanus. Our data suggest that some previously recorded niphargids from the Harz Mountains of Germany, initially identified as N. fontanus or N. aquilex, were all N. schellenbergi.
Potassium Nutrition in Lilium: Critical Concentrations, Photosynthesis, Water Potential, Leaf Anatomy, and Nutrient Status

The present study was conducted to determine the critical optimum and toxic concentrations of potassium (K) using segmented analysis and its relationship with some physiological, anatomical, and nutritional responses to increasing K in hydroponically grown Lilium sp. L. cv. Arcachon. Plants were fertigated with nutrient solutions containing K (Kext) at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, and 30 mmol·L L1 . Maximum flower diameter occurred when, on a dry mass basis, shoot K (Kint) ranged from 504 to 892 mmol·kg L1 ; however, a lower Kint was required to obtain maximum biomass accumulation and shoot length (384 and 303 mmol·kg L1 , respectively). Potassium increased in all plant organs as K in the nutrient solution increased. Nitrogen increased in young leaves and magnesium (Mg) decreased as Kext increased. Concentrations of Kext from 5 to 17.5 mmol·L L1 increased the size of chlorenchyma and occlusive cells; however, metaxylem vessels were unaffected. Net photosynthetic rate was higher in young leaves, whereas water potential increased in both young and mature leaves when Kext was greater than 22.5 mmol·L L1 . Critical concentrations varied according to the growth parameter. Optimum Kint ranged from 303 to 384 mmol·kg L1 for vegetative parts, whereas parameters related with flower growth ranged from 427 to 504 mmol·kg L1 . Concentration of 504 mmol·kg L1 Kint was associated with optimum growth for all the parameters assessed, whereas a Kint greater than 864 mmol·kg L1 was associated with a decline in growth; thus, these concentrations were considered as the critical optimum and critical toxicity levels, respectively. The optimum and toxicity critical Kint were estimated when Kext in the nutrient solutions was 5.6 and 13.6 mmol·L L1 , respectively.
Biology, structure, and germination characteristics of seeds of puriri Vitex lucens (Verbenaceae)

Abstract Germination behaviour of puriri (Vitex lucens) is described. Seedlings emerging from fruits from six localities at the southern range of the species in North Island, New Zealand, largely followed a normal distribution. There were distinct locality differences in fecundity. Fruits that produced at least one seedling ranged from 5 to 43% (1.3–16.1% of potential seedlings). An average of 35% of those seeds within fruits that germinated produced multiple seedlings; 22% produced 2, 6% produced 3, and 1% produced 4. Light and electron microscopy of mature seeds revealed an embryo with well‐developed cotyledons (with cells containing storage lipids) and axis. A membranous endosperm and testa encloses the embryo, the latter containing fewer and thinner cells with maturity. Seed moisture contents (SMC) and percentage germination within 25 days were recorded from seeds extracted from green (32.6% SMC, 60% germination, 25% fresh ungerminated) and red fruits (27.2% SMC, 58% germination, 14% fresh ungerminated). In addition, further seeds were extracted from red fruits, dried in a glasshouse, and germinated (1.9% SMC, 40% germination, 30% fresh ungerminated) suggesting that seeds do not exhibit recalcitrant behaviour.
Observations on the Age, Growth, Reproduction, and Feeding of Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in the Sheep River, Alberta

Abstract The ecology of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in the upper Sheep River was studied during 1972 and 1973. Mountain whitefish spawned from late September to mid-October in shallow, fast, midstream areas. The number of spawning fish on each spawning site was small (two to 20 fish per site). Absolute fecundity (eggs/fish) increased as the females became older; however, relative fecundity (eggs/g of fish) remained comparatively stable for all age classes. The linear regression of absolute fecundity (Y) on fork length (X, in mm) is described by the formula: Y = 4347.6 + 50.7 (X – 301.5). Growth is rapid except in the older age classes of 7 and 8. The weight (Y, in g) length (X) relationship (sexes combined) is described by the formula: log Y = 2.1967 + 3.2108 (log X – 2.3710). The relationship of body (Y) to scale (X) growth is described by: log Y = 2.0891 + 0.9542 (log X – 2.4367). Recruitment into the population of the upper Sheep River appeared to be at 3 years of age with an annual natu.
Control de la autopolinización, germinación del polen y crecimiento del tubo polínico en mandarina ‘Montenegrina’

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el efecto de distintas combinaciones, concentraciones y numero de aplicaciones de GA3, CuSO4 y ANA en la germinacion de polen in vitro , crecimiento del tubo polinico en flores tratadas individualmente y la induccion de partenocarpia en campo de la mandarina autocompatible ‘Montenegrina’. El polen se colecto y sembro en medio de cultivo, conformandose nueve tratamientos de distintas dosis y combinaciones de los tres productos. Se seleccionaron botones florales previo a antesis y se les aplico ANA (200 mg l-1), GA3 (100 mg l-1), GA3 + CuSO4 (100 mg l-1 c/u), CuSO4 (100 mg l-1) y control sin tratar. A los 0, 5 y 10 dias post-aplicacion se colectaron las flores y se cuantifico en microscopio con fluorescencia el crecimiento del tubo polinico. En campo se seleccionaron 30 arboles y se les aplicaron cinco tratamientos: una y dos aplicaciones de CuSO4 (100 mg l-1), una y dos de GA3 (100 mg l-1) y control. Todos los productos aplicados en el medio de cultivo inhibieron la germinacion de polen in vitro y en flores individuales, el crecimiento del tubo polinico con respecto al control. A los 10 dias de realizadas las aplicaciones, en ninguno de los tratamientos el avance del tubo polinico supero el 30% de la longitud del estilo y el GA3 (100 mg l-1) impidio su avance mas alla del estigma. De los tratamientos a planta entera, el unico que resulto eficiente fue la doble aplicacion de GA3 que redujo de nueve a siete el numero de semillas por fruto en relacion al control.
Habitat utilization and preferences in juvenile atlantic salmon (salmo salar) in streams

Young Atlantic salmon appear to occupy similar suitable stream habitats year round. The salmon is stationary, often associated with “home stones”. At low water temperatures in winter, the fish seek shelter in the substrate, which has to be coarse enough to provide interstices for the fish to hide in. In summer, salmon select habitats within tolerable ranges of habitat variables, rather than narrow optima. It is suggested that a genetic basis to habitat evaluation allows incorporation of the full range of behavioural responses. This is important as partially different habitats may be selected in diverse streams. Habitat availability influences both habitat use and habitat preferences. Suitable summer habitats have depths in the range 5–90 cm; mean water velocities 10–80 cm s−1, and gravel-to-boulder substratum. Fish size affects habitat use, as young of the year are found in the more shallow habitats closer to the stream banks, whereas the older parr use a wider range of habitats. In the absence of brown trout, the Atlantic salmon parr, and especially young of the year, use habitats otherwise inhabited by brown trout. Water velocities are in many cases the principal physical habitat variable determining the distribution of Atlantic salmon in streams, but other variables are also important. Depth is more important in small streams than in large streams.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE PARAMETERS OF SUGARCANE VARIETY HOTH -300 AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NPK APPLICATIONS

During 2006-07, the field experiment was conducted at NSCRI, Thatta to observe the effect of different levels of nitrogen; phosphorus and potassium applications on the yield and quality of sugarcane variety HoTh-300. In this study fertilizer levels of 80 and 160 kg ha P2O5 and K2O, were tested in combination with 200 kg ha nitrogen. The experiment was laid out according to Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications and nine treatments. Significant differences for cane yield and yield contributing traits were observed among the treatments. Highest average cane yield of 123 t hawas recorded in T 9 which was followed by 121, 120 and 113 t ha average cane yield in T8, T6 and T5, respectively. Moreover, the plots receiving T7, T4, T3 and T2 displayed average cane yield of 100, 98, 95 and 93 t ha, respectively. However, the lowest average cane yield of 86 t ha was recorded from T1 (control). As regards the cost benefit ratio, it was observed that fertilizer dose @ 200+80+80 kg N+P2O5+K2O ha was suitable fertilizer treatment for obtaining maximum cane and sugar yield in genotype HoTh-300.
Larval ecology of prosobranch gastropods and its bearing on biogeography and paleontology

The larval ecology of prosobranch gastropods, which ranges from long pelagic plankto-trophic life histories to directly developing lecithotrophic ones, has a strong influence on larval dispersion. Because of low migrative ability in the post-larval stage, gastropod distribution must depend fundamentally on larval dispersion. It is probable that the modes of larval dispersion relate importantly to the mechanism by which prosobranch populations become isolated, and consequently to their modes of speciation. This idea is applicable for analysis of fossil material, for both biological and oceanographical information.
A note on isolation of Pasteurella multocida in a Sambar Rusa unicolor.

23 Pasteurella multocida is an important primary and opportunistic pathogen as well as a commensal of the upper respiratory tract of various domestic and wild animals. It can cause acute infectious disease under stress conditions like environmental changes, transportation, starvation or over-crowding etc. Pasteurellosis has also been reported in several species of deer (Sinha 1975; Parihar 1979; George 1986; Chakraborty et al. 1995). This paper describes isolation of Pasteurella multocida from a sporadic case of Pasteurellosis in a Sambar Rusa unicolor.
Annual dynamics of glycogen, lipids and proteins during the sexual cycle of Perna perna (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from south-western Morocco

Field investigations on Perna perna were carried out in 1999 in an unpolluted site (Cap Ghir) and a wastewater-polluted site (Anza) to determine the contents of glycogen, lipids and proteins in mussel samples collected every month. Sample analyses were made using the entire soft masses of male and female mussels or their gonads only. Compared to unpolluted P. perna, the glycogen and lipid concentrations found in polluted mussels showed significantly quantitative variations throughout the year; in contrast, insignificant differences were only found for protein concentrations. Female gonads contained higher rates of lipids than male ones, whereas protein contents were similar. In contrast, in entire mussels, females were richer than males, whatever the biochemical parameter considered. Apart from protein rates in December, most of highest concentrations were noted from October to November. Contrary to unpolluted mussels (of which storage components were constituted by glycogen and lipids), a different reserve strategy, mainly based on the use of lipids, followed by that of proteins would exist in the P. perna from the polluted bed.
Role of domestic shipping in the introduction or secondary spread of nonindigenous species: biological invasions within the Laurentian Great Lakes

Summary The most effective way to manage invasive species is to prevent their introduction via vector regulation. While progress has been made in the management of transoceanic ballast water, domestic vessels operating within smaller geographic regions such as the Laurentian Great Lakes, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea or Baltic Sea are often exempt from regulations. We randomly surveyed unmanaged ballast water moved by domestic vessels within the Laurentian Great Lakes and compared the results with that of exchanged ballast water from transoceanic vessels to assess invasion risk of zooplankton transported by these two types of vessels. Total abundance and species richness were significantly different between the two vessel types with mean abundance being two magnitudes greater, and species richness being threefold higher in domestic vessels compared with transoceanic vessels. Abundance of restricted taxa – cumulatively the Great Lakes' indigenous and nonindigenous species (NIS) which do not occur in all five lakes – was also significantly higher in domestic vessels (mean densities were 24 170 and 3421 individuals per m3 for domestic and transoceanic vessels, respectively), whereas the abundance of NIS did not differ between vessels (median densities of 2015 and 850 individuals per m3, respectively). We documented 89 species transported by domestic vessels of which 31 had restricted distribution and eight were NIS. While most NIS were already established in all five lakes, Cercopagis pengoi, a NIS of global concern, and Nitokra hibernica have not been identified from Lake Superior, and both were sampled from ballast water destined for discharge in Lake Superior. Beside the risk of spread of NIS between lakes, domestic shipping can act as a vector for homogenization of indigenous taxa, with at least 21 native species (99 events) being moved outside their historical distribution. Synthesis and applications. Our study indicates that management of invasive species should consider ecological, not geographical or political boundaries. Domestic vessels operating within a limited geographic region have high potential to introduce or spread species with restricted distribution, demonstrating importance of intraregional ballast water management. Results presented here should interest policy makers and environmental managers who seek to reduce invasion risk.
Partitioning the variation in stream fish assemblages within a spatio-temporal hierarchy

This paper describes the relative influence of (i) landscape scale environmental and hydrological factors, (ii) local scale environmental conditions including recent flow history, and (iii) spatial effects (proximity of sites to one another), on the spatial and temporal variation in local freshwater fish assemblages in the Mary River, south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Using canonical correspondence analysis, each of the three sets of variables explained similar amounts of variation in fish assemblages (ranging from 44 to 52%). Variation in fish assemblages was partitioned into eight unique components: pure environmental, pure spatial, pure temporal, spatially structured environmental variation, temporally structured environmental variation, spatially structured temporal variation, the combined spatial/temporal component of environmental variation and unexplained variation. The total variation explained by these components was 65%. The combined spatial/temporal/environmental component explained the largest component (30%) of the total variation in fish assemblages, whereas pure environmental (6%), temporal (9%) and spatial (2%) effects were relatively unimportant. The high degree of intercorrelation between the three different groups of explanatory variables indicates that our understanding of the importance to fish assemblages of hydrological variation (often highlighted as the major structuring force in river systems) is dependent on the environmental context in which this role is examined.
Tree age is a key factor for the conservation of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes in beech forests.

Questions: What factors limit the distribution of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes at plot and tree level in beech forests? At what ages do epiphytic species, and species of conservation concern in particular, occur along a chronosequence of beech? Location: South-west Sweden. Method: Five hundred and seventy-one age-determined trees from 37 plots distributed among 29 beech-dominated stands were surveyed along with a number of environmental (16) and substrate (seven) variables in a landscape of ca. 550 ha. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and indicator species analysis (ISA) were used for data analysis. Results: Plots containing old trees, confined to the base of slopes and with low impacts of recent forestry (thinning), generally had a high richness of species of conservation concern. Richness of common species and red-listed bryophytes were mostly related to the surveyed bark area. At tree level, primary factors explaining both species richness and composition were age, diameter at breast height and moss cover. There was a gradual replacement of tree age ranges for 58 lichens and 37 bryophytes along the chronosequence of beech. Red-listed lichens favoured damaged beech trees (≥180 years), whereas red-listed bryophytes were found on old and young stems in dense stands. Conclusions: Tree age exerts a profound influence on epiphytic lichens and bryophytes growing on beech. Many of the habitat specialists were found mainly on old beech because they inhabit specific substrates that occur on older trees. The association to high tree age commonly excludes red-listed lichens from conventionally managed beech forests with a 100- to 140-year rotation period.