Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age structure and growth of the Mesopotamian Spiny Eel, Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Banks & Solander in Russell, 1974) (Mastacembelidae), in southern Iran

Abstract The age structure and growth of the Mesopotamian Spiny Eel, Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Banks & Solander, 1974), in the Helleh and Dalaky rivers (Boushehr province in southern Iran) were studied in samples caught between February and March 1999. The maximum total lengths were 425 mm in females (n=59) and 432 mm in males (n=61). Age determination based on scale, opercle and vertebra readings shows that the population has 6 age classes. The growth of both sexes was allometric (b=2.54 males; b=2.73 females). The highest growth rate was observed between age 2 and 3 in both sexes, but afterwards it dropped quickly.
Crown condition, needle mass, and sapwood area relationships of Norway spruce (Picea abies).

Crown-condition assessment, hypothesized to estimate needle losses following damage from several sources, one of which might be air pollution, suffers from the subjective notion of a standard "healthy" tree. On the other hand, the foliage biomass - sapwood area ratios are reported to depend on a number of factors, e.g., site quality, stand density, crown class, and tree ring width conductivity. The authors hypothesize that early sapwood area might help to even better estimate needle biomass of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) and to help standardize crown-condition assessment. Thirty-six Norway spruce trees at two Austrian sites, from three age-classes, three crown classes, and two crown-condition classes were felled. Needle mass, cross-sectional area, sapwood area, and early sapwood area (i.e., sapwood area excluding latewood) were measured. The results of this study indicate that indeed early sapwood area is a good estimator of foliage, independent of site, age, crown class, and crown condition.
Oats: characteristics and quality requirements

Abstract: Oats are a versatile grain for food, animal feed, and non-food products due to its unique grain qualities compared to other cereal grains. Known as nature’s functional food, oats for human consumption are responsible for a number of health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Although the consumption of oat food products has increased dramatically over the last 25 years due to these health benefits, the highest proportion of the oat crop is utilised as animal feed. Recent research has identified grain quality traits that improve the nutritive value of oats as an animal feed compared to many other cereals. Historically oats have been used for non-food products, but expansion in the food use of oats will increase the value of the crop. Improvement of oat varieties for food, animal feed, and non-food grain quality traits by plant breeding will create new opportunities for the future of this crop.
Ensamble peridomiciliario de carábidos (Coleoptera: Carabidae) en un talar del sudeste bonaerense, Argentina

Our purpose was to perform a research on the peridomestic carabid diversity in a Celtis tala Guillies ex Planch forest, at Laguna Nahuel Ruca, Mar Chiquita district. A species inventory and the comparison of the seasonal variation of cumulative species richness, as well as community structure and functional groups were carried out. During one year (March 2008-March 2009), 2588 carabids belonging to 63 species were collected, representing the 84%-93% of the estimated richness. Cumulative species richness during spring and summer was higher than in autumn and winter (p<0.05). Two species, Argutoridius bonariensis (Dejean) and Pachymorphus striatulus (Fabricius), represented a total of 47% of captures and were dominant in all seasons. Concerning trophic guilds, zoophagous represented more than 50% of the assemblage in all seasons, while phytophagous and omnivorous remained at low percentages in autumn-winter (<10%); the former reached a peak in spring (20%), and the latter in summer (34%). Regarding humidity affinities, mesophilous species conformed more than 70% of the assemblage and hygrophilous and xerophilous reached less than 20%. We discuss the probable causes of such higher carabid diversity wandering through the talar stand and their simplified surroundings, as well as the influence that these factors exert on composition and structure of the ground beetle assemblage.
The relation between the passage of time and the secretion of milk in the ewe

The rate of milk secretion during 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hr intervals between milkings was estimated in 24 ewes. The intervals were applied in a double 6 x 6 Latin square in which the second square was a mirror image of the first. Intervals were repeated four times per treatment in each square. There were no intervening periods either between the four repetitions of any given interval or between different treatment intervals. Residual milk was removed by intravenous administration of oxytocin after every milking. The milking was carried out by machine, and the stripping by hand. The experiment lasted 28 days. The secretion rates of milk, water, total solids, solids not fat, and fat increased up to 12 hr and then declined. Both ascending and descending phases were significant. There was a significant increase in milk yield when a given interval was repeated (taken over all treatments). The secretion rates of milk and of all the measured constituents increased following milking intervals of 4–12 hr, and decreased after intervals longer than 12 hr. No significant differences were found between the respective rates of milk secretion by day and by night. The variation in an estimate of the rate of milk secretion became significantly smaller as the interval became longer. The oxytocin removal of residual milk was shown to have a strong galactopoietic effect.
The North American P group of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. is widely distributed in Pinus pinea forests of the western coast of central Italy

Summary The distribution of the North American P group of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. , recently reported from a Pinus pinea forest in the surroundings of Rome, was studied using mating tests and DNA fingerprinting (mitochondrial DNA, random amplified microsatellite technique and two group-specific markers). This fungus is present in several forests and small plantations along the Tyrrhenian coast of the Italian peninsula, within an area approximately 100 km long, extending from Fregene in the north to the National Park of Circeo in the south, and 27 km wide including the city of Rome. In pine forests of Castelporziano, Castel Fusano and Anzio, where US troops resided during the Second World War, the North American P group is more frequent than the European P group. The low number of mating alleles in the Italian population of the North American P group supports the hypothesis of its origin from a small number of introductions. The near 100% sexual compatibility between the North American and European P groups, together with inconsistencies in results obtained with different identification methods of these groups, suggests that hybridization between the North American and European P populations occurs occasionally.
RETIRADA DO SUPLEMENTO MICROMINERAL-VITAMÍNICO, REDUÇÃO DE FÓSFORO INORGÂNICO E ADIÇÃO DE FITASE EM RAÇÕES DE SUÍNOS NA FASE DE TERMINAÇÃO

The experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of mineral-vitamin supplement withdrawal associated to inorganic phosphorus and phytase addition on swine performance and carcass characteristics in finishing phase. 48 hybrid swine females with initial average weight of 66,34 kg and final average weight of 106,14 kg were housed in 24 stalls for 38 days and allotted to a completely randomized experimental design with six treatments (T1 – basal feed; T2 – basal feed without mineral vitamin supplement; T3 – basal feed without mineral vitamin supplement with phytase; T4 – basal feed without mineral vitamin supplement less1/3 of inorganic phosphorus with phytase; T5 - basal feed without mineral vitamin supplement less 2/3 of inorganic phosphorus with phytase and T6 – basal feed without mineral vitamin supplement and inorganic phosphorus with phytase) with four replications of two animals each. Daily weight gain, total average weight gain and feed:gain ratio were determined and carcass characteristics were evaluated: loin eye area, backfat depth, carcass length, carcass weight and carcass yield. Although reduction in inorganic phosphorus levels or phytase addition had no influence in carcass characteristics (P>0,05), there was significant effect in performance (P<0,05), resulting in less average feed intake, weight gain and feed:gain ratio. Likewise, reduction in inorganic phosphorus levels or phytase addition under the conditions of this trial did not improve economic efficiency when compared to basal feed. KEY WORDS: Finishing phase pig, phosphorus, phytase.
Clonal Micropropagation of Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.)

ABSTRACT Clonal micropropagation was optimized for Roman chamomile, Anthemis nobilis L. (Compositae), through shoot tip culture. Apical and axillary buds produced multiple shoots in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium supplemented with BA (0.5 mg/liter) and IAA (0.5 mg/liter). A positive effect of 0.1 percent yeast extract on shoot multiplication and growth was detected. Roots were induced on shoots using an MS-medium without BA. Rooting was stimulated by the addition of 0.1 mg/liter of IBA or IAA to the culture media. The in vitro multiplication gave rise to healthy plantlets that were successfully established in soil and had normal development and morphology.
Supernumerary Teeth: Review of the Literature with Recent Updates

A supernumerary tooth (ST) is defined as any tooth or odontogenic structure that is formed from tooth germ in excess of usual number for any given region of the dental arch. They may be single or multiple and unilateral or bilateral in distribution and can occur in any region of the dental arch. These may occur in primary and permanent dentition. Supernumerary teeth are more frequent in males. They are classified based on form, morphology, location, and occurrence. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the occurrence of ST. However, combination of environmental and genetic factors has been proposed. Supernumerary teeth cause a range of complications like crowding, displacement, dilacerations, cyst formation, and so forth. Early identification and appropriate treatment plan should minimize the potential complications caused by ST.
Genetic diversity and conservation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) landraces in Nilgiris

Genetic diversity was studied among 20 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces collected from different traditional farming villages of Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India, with Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Evaluation of genetic diversity is essential for conservation, management and to trace the hybrids. Thirteen RAPD primers were selected from an initial screening with 72 primers. The PCR product revealed 102 bands, out of which 63 were found to be polymorphic (63.5%). Jaccard's pair-wise similarity coefficient (0.50 to 0.95) indicating an intra-specific genetic variation prevails in landraces of common bean in the Nilgiris biosphere reserve. No two accessions had a similarity of one or a distance of zero, showing that there were no duplicate entries. A dendrogram of the relationship of accessions constructed based on Jaccard's coefficients of 102 RAPD markers using the average distance method (UPGMA), separated the accessions into two major clusters, A and B, with Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools respectively. Principal coordinate analysis of the same dataset revealed similar results as those of the dendrogram, with the first two components accounting for 61.8% of the total variation. Among the 20 landraces, seven were Mesoamerican origin, 11 Andean origin, and two were possible recombinants between the two gene pools. A correlation was observed between RAPD dendrogram clustering and seed weight. The common bean population of the Nilgiris is highly diverse and the Nilgiris can be considered as a secondary centre of genetic diversity of common bean. A better knowledge of genetic aspects of common bean will help in genetic improvement and conservation programmes for its endangered landraces in the Nilgiris.
Estimation of dominance genetic variances for reproductive traits and growth traits of calves in Japanese Black cattle

The dominance genetic effects for reproductive and calf growth abilities in the practical Japanese Black populations were examined using average information (AI) algorithm restricted maximum likelihood (REML) under animal models. The reproductive traits were observed in Japanese Black cattle maintained at Tottori and Okinawa prefectures, and growth traits of calves were observed in cattle at Okinawa. The average of dominance relationships in Tottori ranged from 0.2 to 0.4%, while the level in Okinawa was lower and sparse compared with Tottori. The proportions of the dominance variances to sum of additive and dominance variances () were all 0.02 for reproductive traits in Tottori. In contrast, the proportion was 0.02–0.64 in Okinawa regardless of the level of dominance relationships. These proportions suggested that the dominance might affect the expression of calving interval, days open and gestation length in Okinawa, where breeding units were spread over many islands. Although the dominance variances could not estimate birthweight, w as 0.34 for calf market weight and 0.27 for average daily gain from birth to calf market in Okinawa. These values also suggested that the dominance might affect the early growth of calves. In the near future, genetic relationships will become more complicated with continuation of the current selection and mating systems. Therefore, genetic evaluation accounting for dominance effects would be necessary for particular traits and populations.
The Goblin Spiders of the New Endemic Australian Genus Cavisternum (Araneae: Oonopidae)

Abstract The new endemic Australian goblin spider genus Cavisternum, gen. nov., is described with 19 new species: C. bagleyae, C. barthorum, C. bertmaini, C. carae, the type species C. clavatum, C. digweedi, C. ewani, C. foxae, C. gatangel, C. heywoodi, C. hughesi, C. ledereri, C. maxmoormanni, C. mayorum, C. michaelbellomoi, C. noelashepherdae, C. rochesterae, C. toadshow, and C. waldockae. A key is provided for all Cavisternum species known to date. Males of the genus Cavisternum possess a highly modified sternum, which is strongly concave and covered with clavate setae, and the cheliceral fangs are elongate with broad tips. The genus is found in tropical northern Australia and shows high endemicity, with most species recorded from a single location.
Influence of partial replacement of NaCl with KCl and CaCl2on microbiological evolution of dry fermented sausages

The survival of lactic acid bacteria, Micrococcaceae, and pathogens in dry fermented sausages produced with a mixture of 1·0% NaCl, 0·55% KCl and 0·74% CaCl2compared to a control product (2·6%NaCl) was studied. Hygienic quality was guaranteed in the modified products by an adequate process of desiccation and acidification. These products showed a higher acidification than the control during the entire ripening process.Lactobacillus and Micrococcaceae counts were not affected by the NaCl reduction. Enterobacteriaceae disappeared by the fifteenth day in both types of products. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing clostridia counts in final products were acceptable in both types of products. These results indicated that the applied mixture of salts did not affect the development of the starter culture and guaranteed the hygienic quality of the products.
Propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas da madeira de cedro australiano cultivado em Corupá, SC

O cedro australiano ( Toona ciliata M. Roem) e uma especie de elevado valor comercial, com caracteristicas similares ao mogno e cedros nativos, que vem se destacando em plantios florestais no Brasil, cuja madeira produzida deve ser alvo de pesquisas tecnologicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as propriedades fisicas, quimicas e mecânicas desta especie em plantio com 18 anos. Foi observada massa especifica baixa (0,330 g cm 3 ), estabilidade dimensional media baixa (anisotropia: 2,22), teor de extrativos elevado (10,33%) e propriedades mecânicas moderadas: MOR e MOE a flexao: 498 kgf cm -2 e 66.163 kgf cm -2 ; MOR e MOE a compressao paralela: 258 kgf cm -2 e 100,813 kgf cm -2 ; cisalhamento: 82 kgf cm -2 , e dureza media: 208 kgf.
Collembola (Insecta) from Is. Chin-do, Korea

Six speices of Collebola are collected from Is. Chin-do , They are Crossodonthina koreana Yosii and Lee, 1963, Homidia minuta n,. sp. , H, munda munda Yosii, 1956,H. mediaseta Lee and Lee, 1981, H. vigintiseta Lee and Park , 1984 , and Lepidocyrtus Koreanus n.sp.
Aquatic habitats and diffusion constraints affecting microbial coexistence in unsaturated porous media

Evidence suggests that the diversity of microbial life in the vadose zone exceeds diversity found in all other compartments of the biosphere. Such rich diversity is believed to be promoted by complexity of resource and microenvironments and by fragmentation of aquatic habitats in unsaturated soils that limit diffusion pathways and form physically isolated niches capable of supporting diverse species within small soil volumes. We investigated the role of heterogeneity of substrate diffusion through loosely connected water films in promoting coexistence of species that otherwise would not coexist under homogeneous conditions. The mesoscale modeling approach employed in this study tracks nutrient diffusion and consumption within a domain inhabited by microbial communities that expand and move about in response to spatial and temporal variations in nutrients and hydration conditions (termed active walkers). Numerical results on hypothetical rough surfaces support the hypotheses concerning the role of diffusion limitations in sustaining nutrient gradients and sheltering less competitive species, thereby promoting coexistence in heterogeneous domains.
The effects of stream substratum composition on the emergence of salmonid fry

Sternecker K, Geist J. The effects of stream substratum composition on the emergence of salmonid fry. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 537–544. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Salmonid fishes are target species for the conservation of freshwater habitats, but their natural reproduction is often insufficient. The emergence of fry is a crucial phase in the life cycle of salmonids and the stream substratum is the key habitat which regulates the emergence success. In this study, brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) eggs were exposed to different sediment textures and the emergence and the postemergence survival and growth were observed under constant water chemical conditions in the laboratory. In both species, textural effects on emergence rate, chronology of emergence, survival rate after emergence and growth after emergence were detected. Fine-textured substratum (5–8 mm) formed a physical barrier to the posthatch migration of salmonids from the interstitial zone to the open water. The time period between the first and the last emerged fish was shorter in treatments with fine texture compared with coarse substratum. The survival rate was higher in treatments of coarser sediment. The effects of different textures on the growth of fry after emergence differed between brown trout and Danube salmon, which can be explained by different life history strategies. These results suggest that physical characteristics of substratum texture can have strong effects on salmonid emergence, and ultimately on the persistence of salmonid populations. They also suggest that biodiversity conservation in stream ecosystems can greatly benefit from an inclusion of the physical characteristics of the stream bed into catchment-based management plans.
Water stress on native vegetation during the drought of 1965

During the first half of 1965 an unprecedented drought caused widespread wilting of native trees from southern Queensland to the New South Wales-Victorian border. The reaction of some of the native vegetation in parts of the Australian Capital Territory and Monaro Region has been studied. Rainfall from January 1 to June 30 was less than one-quarter of the normal, and by the end of March signs of water stress were apparent over a wide area. The communities most severely affected were dry sclerophyll forests, especially on shallow, stony soils on northerly and westerly aspects. The ability of Eucalyptus spp. to withstand sustained severe dehydration is shown by the fact that the relative moisture content of living leaves could be reduced to 40-45 %, and maintained at these levels for long periods. The prolonged period of dehydration caused general drying out of the trees, rather than leaf and twig desiccation only. In the most severe cases, shrinkage and fissuring of the bark of E. rossii, with ultimate separation at the cambium, was observed. It is suggested that so-called ineffective summer rain in south-eastern Australia is both effective and essential for the native communities on soils of low water-holding capacity. The role of drought in the distribution of native communities is discussed.
The Role of Kindlin-3 in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Homeostasis and Mature Effector Cells

The liver has a unique regenerative capability, which involves extensive remodelling of cell-­‐ cell and cell-­‐matrix contacts. Surprisingly, however, the roles of different integrins in liver regeneration have not been determined. Here we used Cre/loxP-­‐mediated gene deletion or intravenous delivery of siRNA formulated into nanoparticles to efficiently ablate β1-­‐integrin expression in hepatocytes of mice. While short-­‐term loss of β1-­‐integrin was not detrimental for the non-­‐challenged liver, severe liver necrosis and reduced hepatocyte proliferation were observed after partial hepatectomy. Mechanistically, loss of β1-­‐integrin in hepatocytes impaired the ligand-­‐induced phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor receptors and down-­‐stream signalling in vitro and in vivo. These results identify a crucial role and novel mechanism of action of β1-­‐integrins in liver regeneration and demonstrate that protein depletion by nanoparticle-­‐based delivery of specific siRNA is a powerful strategy to study gene function in the regenerating liver. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________