Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacognostical Studies of Polygonatum cirrifolium and Polygonatum verticillatum

ABSTRACT The rhizomes of Polygonatum cirrifolium and Polygonatum verticillatum are well known as members of “Ashta-varga,” a group of eight drugs in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, and highly valued for their rejuvenating, restorative, and activating effects. These two species of Polygonatum can be differentiated from each other on the basis of color, size, microscopy, and HPTLC fingerprint profile. Dried rhizomes of P. cirrifolium are cream colored and smooth surfaced, about 0.4–0.8 cm broad, while P. verticillatum rhizomes are orange-brown in color, rough or sandy surfaced, and 1–2 cm broad. Histologically, the rhizomes are similar in both species, but the roots show a sclerenchymatous central zone in P. verticillatum that is absent in P. cirrifolium. Steroidal saponins were detected in both species, two of which can be used as marker spots to differentiate the two species.
Molecular and morphological characterisations of two new species of Rotylenchus (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) from Iran

{null=Two new amphimictic species, Rotylenchus iranicus n. sp. and R. conicaudatus n. sp. , are described. Rotylenchus iranicus n. sp. is characterised mainly by an offset hemispherical lip region with 5-6, rarely 7, annuli, stylet 39-44 μm long, vulva located at 53-65% and rounded tail with 4-9 annuli and typical smooth tip. Morphologically this species is related to R. montanus, R. provincialis and R. aqualamus. Rotylenchus conicaudatus n. sp. is characterised mainly by a slightly offset conoid-rounded lip region with four or five, rarely six annuli, stylet 27-32 μm long, vulva located at 52-63% and conoid-rounded tail with 10-16 annuli and a typical annulated tip. Morphologically this species is related to R. pumilus, R. abnormecaudatus, R. acuspicaudatus and R. provincialis. The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S and ITS1-rRNA genes confirmed the species differentiation. Phylogenetic relationships with other species were difficult to assign using D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S. However, using ITS1-rRNA, R. conicaudatus n. sp. presented a close relationship with R. unisexus, whilst R. iranicus n. sp. was closely related to R. conicaudatus n. sp. , R. unisexus, R. incultus and R. laurentinus. , en= Two new amphimictic species, Rotylenchus iranicus n. sp. and R. conicaudatus n. sp. , are described. Rotylenchus iranicus n. sp. is characterised mainly by an offset hemispherical lip region with 5-6, rarely 7, annuli, stylet 39-44 μm long, vulva located at 53-65% and rounded tail with 4-9 annuli and typical smooth tip. Morphologically this species is related to R. montanus, R. provincialis and R. aqualamus. Rotylenchus conicaudatus n. sp. is characterised mainly by a slightly offset conoid-rounded lip region with four or five, rarely six annuli, stylet 27-32 μm long, vulva located at 52-63% and conoid-rounded tail with 10-16 annuli and a typical annulated tip. Morphologically this species is related to R. pumilus, R. abnormecaudatus, R. acuspicaudatus and R. provincialis. The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S and ITS1-rRNA genes confirmed the species differentiation. Phylogenetic relationships with other species were difficult to assign using D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S. However, using ITS1-rRNA, R. conicaudatus n. sp. presented a close relationship with R. unisexus, whilst R. iranicus n. sp. was closely related to R. conicaudatus n. sp. , R. unisexus, R. incultus and R. laurentinus. }
Diel Rhythmicity of Certain Life Events of a Ladybird, Propylea dissecta (Mulsant)

The diel rhythms of certain life events, viz. mating, oviposition, hatching, moulting, pupation and eclosion were investigated in ladybird, Propylea dissecta. The peaks of activity and major portions of all life events were recorded in the scotophase. Mating, oviposition and hatching rhythms did not change with days and were thus probably endogenous in nature. The predominant occurrence of life events in the scotophase is probably owing to the foraging rhythms, which occur in the photophase as evinced by literature.
Habitat Selection and Space Partitioning among two Mediterranean Blenniid Species

The utilization of the spatial resources of two syntopic blenniid species - Blennius cunevue and Blennius incognitas - has been investigated in silu and under laboratory conditions. Both species occupy bore holes of the mussel Lithophugu in the sublittoral zone. B. cunevue dominates the more shallow zone (x= 0.68 m) and prefers smaller (x= 12.76 mm diameter) and horizontal bore holes. B. incognitus inhabits the same depth range as B. cunevue but occupies larger bore holes (x= 14.57 mm) in a deeper zone (x= 0.86 m). Individuals of B. incognitus do not prefer a special inclination angle. The two blenniid species defend territories with different intraspecific sizes: the mean territory radius of B. cunevue is 6.87 mm, of B. incognitusx= 10.95. Mechanisms to reduce competition include different activity rhythm, interspecific social dominance, and differences in territoriality. B. cunevue is the dominant species; its territories arc defended against conspecifics and against B. incognitus.
BREEDING, FORAGING, TRAPPING AND SEXING OF DAMARA TERNS IN THE SKELETON COAST PARK, NAMIBIA

Summary Simmons, R. & Braine, S. 1994. Breeding, foraging, trapping and sexing of Damara Terns in the Skeleton Coast Park, Namibia. Ostrich 65:264-273. This paper details 6 years' monitoring of breeding Damara Terns Sterna balaenarum on Namibia's northwestern coast. We report new breeding distribution records, factors limiting success on the desert coast and detail two new methods of catching terns and a new sexing technique. Nests occurred as far north as the Cunene River mouth and occurred mainly on open gravel plains up to 8 km from the coast. Eggs occurred over an 8 month period with a peak in January. Of 66 nests monitored on a daily basis, 72% succesfully hatched, and most of those failing were taken by mammals. Incubation was slightly shorter than reported previously (19.2 d), and heavier chicks emerged from larger eggs. Adult plunge diving success was low and records indicate Skeleton Coast Damara Terns brought mainly needle fish Tylosurus sp. to their nestlings. Two new methods to capture adults .
Submerged macrophytes, zooplankton and the predominance of low- over high-chlorophyll states in western boreal, shallow-water wetlands

Summary 1. Shallow-water (<2 m deep) wetlands in northern Alberta's western boreal forest tend to have either extremely high-chlorophyll, pea-green water or water that is low in chlorophyll and clear. The relative importance of top-down processes (e.g. zooplankton grazing) compared with bottom-up processes (e.g. nutrient limitation) for regulating the existence of these alternate states has yet to be explicitly investigated in these poorly studied waterbodies. 2. To assess the relationship between chemical and biological factors and the predominance of low-chlorophyll over high-chlorophyll states, a survey of 24 shallow-water wetlands in northern Alberta was conducted over the summers of 2001 and 2002. 3. In wetlands without fish, statistical analysis indicated that high- and low-chlorophyll sites could be differentiated with 82% accuracy based solely on whether submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) coverage was greater or less than 25%. Further, high-SAV lakes with zooplankton communities dominated by large cladocerans were clear 96% of the time. 4. In the few wetlands that supported stickleback populations, large cladocerans were absent. However, the development of zooplankton communities dominated by small cladocera (Bosmina) with calanoid copepods in fish-containing wetlands corresponded with a shift from high- to low-chlorophyll states. 5. Results suggest that in fishless wetlands high-SAV coverage and grazing by large, SAV-associated cladocerans promotes low-chlorophyll states. Results also suggest that suppression of macroinvertebrate predators by sticklebacks allowing Bosmina to flourish may also promote low-chlorophyll, clear-water conditions.
Australian stingless bees improve greenhouse Capsicum production

Summary Australian stingless bees contribute to the pollination of some commercially important field crops, but it is unclear whether they can increase crop production reliably in the greenhouse environment. Three 20 week trials were therefore conducted, each using a different hive of Austroplebeia australis Friese and Trigona carbonaria Smith placed in separate glasshouses containing Capsicum annuum L. A third glasshouse contained C. annuum but no bees. In the third week of each trial, the numbers of pollen grains present on stigmatic surfaces and pollen tubes growing along styles were determined. Changes in brood volume were assessed by x-ray computerised tomography at weeks 1, 10 and 20. Additionally, the hives were weighed at these times. At the end of each trial, fruit diameter and length and their fresh and dry weights were measured as were seed fresh and dry weights. Bee behaviour was recorded in the third trial. T. carbonaria foraged less sporadically on C. annuum flowers than did A. australis, and pollination by both bee species showed their potential to increase fruit yield and quality. The effects of pollination by either species were, however, not consistent among the three trials. Hive weights and brood volumes for all colonies increased, so it is considered that both species thrived whilst being able to pollinate the plants. Both species therefore have the potential to improve fruit yield and quality within the greenhouse environment. It was noted that A. australis caused damage to the styles in each trial. This may be attributed to the foraging strategies employed by this species and further work is needed to determine optimum bee to flower stocking rates.
Starch and sugar transformation during the ripening of plantains and bananas

Ripening changes were studied in plantains of three cultivars, two Horn types and one French type, and compared with those in bananas ripened under the same conditions. Bananas contained 1% starch when fully ripe and none when overripe, whereas plantains contained about 9% starch when fully ripe and 3% when overripe (composition expressed as percentage fresh weight). Total sugar content was 23% in fully ripe and overripe bananas but in plantains it increased from 20% when fully ripe to 27% when overripe. The ratio of glucose:fructose was approximately unity for bananas and plantains at all stages of ripeness. Sucrose comprised more than 70% of the total sugars in fully ripe bananas and plantains and about half of the total sugars in overripe fruits.
Intertidal barnacle distribution : a case study using multiple working hypotheses

The roles of larval supply, selection of habitat, availability of space, larval physiological condition, and early post-settlement mortality in determining vertical distribution patterns of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides (L.) were simultaneously examined in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. Pump samples and settlement surveys showed that about 60% of planktonic cyprids were collected from 1.5 to 4.0 m depth, while over 90% of newly settled cyprids colonized low intertidal levels. Selection of habitat by cyprids and patterns of settlement were studied using precolonized planks that had been previously placed to obtain various periphyton gradients. These planks precolonized at the low, mid-, and high intertidal levels and placed in different orientations, induced variations in the distribution of newly settled cyprids. For example, vertical planks turned upside down had fewer settlers at low intertidal levels compared to surfaces maintained in the same orientation at the same level. When placed horizontally at the same level, sections precolonized at the low intertidal level collected more larvae than sections initially placed at the high and mid-intertidal levels. We used the triacylglycerol/cholesterol ratio (TAG/CHOL) as a measure of physiological condition in planktonic and newly settled cyprids, and newly metamorphosed spat. The TAG/CHOL ratio in planktonic cyprids decreased over the sampling period, but there was no variability with position in the water column. For newly settled cyprids and newly metamorphosed spat, the TAG/CHOL ratio increased with decreasing intertidal level. Quadrats freed of conspecific adults were colonized by more cyprids than were uncleared controls. Early post-settlement mortality was greater in uncleared than in cleared quadrats, but this effect varied with intertidal level. Early post-settlement mortality increased with increasing intertidal level in cleared quadrats, while it did not significantly vary in uncleared controls. The present study shows that the vertical distribution of S, balanoides on the shore results from a complex relationship involving larval supply, selection of habitat, availability of space, and early post-settlement mortality. We also present the first evidence of correlations between larval physiological condition and early vertical distribution in S. balanoides.
The effects of sward height and nitrogen fertilizer application on changes in sward composition, white clover growth and the stock carrying capacity of an upland perennial ryegrass/white clover sward grazed by sheep for four years

Perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures grazed by sheep and receiving either no fertilizer N (No) or 120 kg N ha−1 year−1 (N0) were maintained with surface heights of 2·5, 3·5 and 5·0 cm for over four years. The treatments were replicated. The white clover (WC) population was greatest in the N0treatment, and declined during the study. Between-year variation in WC was negatively related to rainfall and positively related to temperature, WC as a proportion of the total plant population decreased during the summer in the Nl treatment. The perennial ryegrass (PRG) population was greater in the Nl treatment, declined during the study and both within and between years was positively related to temperature. The population density of the unsown grasses was highest in the N-fertilized treatment and in the swards maintained at the lowest heights (these treatments also had the highest stocking rate); it increased during the study, within-years being positively related to temperature and between-years being positively related to rainfall. The WC stolon extension rate was largely unaffected by N fertilizer application and was greatest in the taller swards. Leaf appearance rate was unaffected by N fertilizer application and sward height; it was positively related to temperature and negatively related to rainfall. Branching rate was greater in the N0 treatment with significant sward height effects confined to a negative relationship with local sward height within treatment plots on one occasion; it was negatively related to rainfall. The ground level red:far red light ratio was negatively related to local sward height. The total live weight of sheep carried in the No treatments was 0·7 of that in the N1 treatments. Expected photomorphogenic responses by we were confined to stolon extension. It was concluded that on the poorly drained clay-loam soil used in this study the effects of sheep, in interaction with climatic factors, had an overriding effect on clover branching rate and the ultimate species composition.
Down‐Regulation of Procollagen α1[I] Messenger RNA by Titanium Particles Correlates with Nuclear Factor κB (NF‐κB) Activation and Increased Rel A and NF‐κB1 Binding to the Collagen Promoter

Previously, we showed that exposure of human osteoblasts to titanium particles stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP), activates the transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), and causes an approximately 50% decrease in the steady‐state messenger RNA (mRNA) level of procollagen α1[I]. In this study, we identify three NF‐κB binding sites within the human procollagen α1[I] gene promoter, show that titanium particles stimulate their binding of the NF‐κB subunits Rel A (p65) and NF‐κB1 (p50), and find NF‐κB activation correlates with collagen gene suppression by titanium particles in osteoblasts. Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, which significantly reduce the suppressive effect of titanium particles on collagen gene expression, inhibited NF‐κB binding activity showing that titanium particle stimulation of PTK signals in osteoblasts are critical for both NF‐κB activation and collagen gene expression. The antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which also inhibits the titanium particle suppression of collagen, abrogated the titanium particle activation of NF‐κB, suggesting the involvement of redox signals in NF‐κB‐mediated collagen gene expression. The RNA polymerase II inhibitor actinomycin D (Act D) decreased procollagen α1[I] mRNA expression and effectively blocked the titanium‐induced suppressive effect, suggesting that titanium particles activate a cascade of signals in osteoblasts, which result in a suppression of procollagen α1[I] mRNA. Collectively, these results show that titanium particles can activate NF‐κB signaling in osteoblasts and suggest that NF‐κB binding to the collagen gene promoter has a functional role in the down‐regulation of procollagen α1[I] gene transcription.
Crystallization and X-ray analysis of native and selenomethionyl β-mannanase Man5A from blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, expressed in Pichia pastoris

The glycohydrolase family 5 β-mannanase Man5A from Mytilus edulis has been expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified in a form suitable for X-ray crystallographic analysis. Crystals were grown by the hanging-drop technique at 293 K using polyethylene glycol 5000 monomethylether as precipitant and dioxane as additive. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 61.8, b = 64.8, c = 90.7 A. Diffraction to 1.4 A resolution has been obtained at 100 K. Expression was also performed in the presence of selenomethionine. The incorporation of SeMet was estimated at 40% by amino-acid analysis and its presence in crystals was confirmed from the X-ray absorption scanning spectrum.
Population Genetics of the Three Endemic Land Snails of Genus Discula (Pulmonata: Hygromiidae) on the Archipelago of Madeira

Abstract: The population structure of three endemic land snail species of the genus Discula (Lowe,1831) on the archipelago of Madeira were studied. Ten allozyme loci were screened in 13 populations (11 from Madeira Island and two from the adjacent Desertas Islands) of D. polymorpha (Lowe, 1831), two populations of D. attrita (Lowe, 1831) and one population of D. calcigena (Lowe, 1831) from Porto Santo Island. All populations, except those from the Desertas, showed high levels of genetic variability. Deviation from Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium due to heterozygote deficiency was detected in all D. polymorpha populations from Madeira and populations of D. attrita. This deficiency was mainly attributed to inbreeding within the populations. No heterozygote deficiency was found in D. calcigena, probably due to the larger population size of this species in the recent past. The FST values were significant in many pairwise comparisons between the populations of D. polymorpha, with the highest values occurring between populations from Deserta Grande and the peninsula of Madeira. All interspecific FST values were highly significant. FST values between populations of D. polymorpha from Deserta Grande and the Madeiran peninsula were comparable to observed interspecific values. Based on the factorial analysis all Madeiran populations grouped together, the populations from Deserta Grande formed a separate group, while the two populations of D. attrita show clear structuring.
Influence of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations on Plant Nutrition

The rising levels of atmospheric CO2 are likely to increase biomass production of C3 species in both natural and managed ecosystems because photosynthetic rates will be higher. The greatest absolute increase in productivity will occur when nitrogen and phosphorus availability in the soil is high. Low nitrogen does not preclude a growth response to high CO2, whereas some C3 species fail to respond to high CO2 when phosphorus is low, possibly because insufficient phosphorus is available to maintain maximum photosynthetic activity at high CO2. C3 plants response to high CO2 because the flux of carbon through the photoreductive cycle is increased and photorespiration is suppressed. This change in metabolism appears to alter the foliar nutrient concentration required to promote maximum productivity (critical concentration). Higher phosphorus concentrations are needed at elevated CO2, whereas the nitrogen requirement is reduced by CO2 enrichment. Since critical concentrations are used to evaluate nutrient status of crop and forest species and to manage fertiliser programs, they will need reassessing as the atmospheric CO2 concentration rises. Another consequence of the altered nutrient requirement at high CO2 is that the nitrogen concentrations of foliage, roots and grain are consistently lower in plants grown at elevated CO2, irrespective of availability of nitrogen in the soil. In natural ecosystems, the lower nitrogen to carbon ratio of the litter may alter rates of nutrient cycling. For farmers, the rising CO2 concentrations could cause reductions in grain nitrogen, and therefore protein content. This could have important implications for baking quality of hard wheats as well as affecting the nutrient value of grain such as rice.