Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes to investigate the occurrence and selection of sulfate-reducing bacteria in response to nutrient addition to sediment slurry microcosms from a Japanese estuary

The structures of prokaryotic communities are difficult to elucidate because of the apparent inability to culture most of the indigenous microorganisms. Here we report the use of 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes to study changes in and the identities of sulfate-reducing bacterial populations present in enriched slurry microcosms from a predominantly freshwater and a predominantly marine site from the River Tama, Tokyo, Japan. Significant enrichment of signals from different oligonucleotide probes, designed to target cultured members of several SRB genera, were observed in amended slurries. Signal from a probe designed to detect Desulfobulbus spp. gave an increased response on propionate addition to slurries from both sites. The response to a probe designed to detect Desulfobacter was increased by acetate addition to slurries from the marine site. Response to a wide specificity probe also increased suggesting that uncharacterised groups were also enriched at the marine site. Our data suggest that Desulfobulbus may be an important propionate utiliser in the estuary, while Desulfobacter is responsible for acetate utilisation at the marine site. These results are compatible with the known physiology of Desulfobulbus and Desulfobacter and provide strong support for the use of oligonucleotide probes in the study of microbial communities.
Field test of an affordable, portable, wireless microphone array for spatial monitoring of animal ecology and behaviour

1. Using arrays of microphones, biologists can monitor the position of free‐living animals based on the sounds they produce. Microphone array technology exploits differences in sound arrival times at each microphone to calculate an animal’s position. This technology provides new opportunities for studying animal ecology and behaviour and has many advantages over tracking technologies that require capturing animals and fitting them with external devices, or technologies that focus on one individual in isolation of the activities of nearby animals.
Partial purification and some properties of alcohol acyltransferase from strawberry fruits

The enzyme system concerning volatile ester formation in strawberry Fragaria ananassa×Duchessne var. Chandler was studied. Protein with alcohol acyltransferase activity was purified about 29-fold from Chandler strawberry fruits by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, and anion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme activity had a pH optimum of 8.0 and an optimum temperature of 35 o C. The apparent M r estimated by gel filtration was 70 000. The enzyme was tested for its preference in using different acyl-CoAs and alcohols. Maximum activity was obtained using acetyl-CoA and hexyl alcohol as substrates. A clear correlation was observed between substrate preference and volatile esters present in strawberry var. Chandler
Chelated chromium for stressed feeder calves

Using crossbred calves obtained at feeder sales in Ontario, we evaluated two different sources of organically complexed chromium (Cr) for supplementing corn silage. A preliminary trial was conducted with 12 unstressed steers with or without 1 mg kg−1 chelated Cr during a 56-d growing period. Chelated Cr markedly decreased (P < 0.05) serum cortisol and glucose levels. In the main trial, 72 calves, weighing 233 kg, were randomly allotted to four treatments: control, high-Cr yeast, chelated Cr, and chelated Cr plus chelated Zn, Cu and Mn for the initial 7 d. Morbidity was determined by visual detection followed by rectal temperature checks. One third of morbidity occurred by day 12; two thirds, by day 16. High-Cr yeast tended to reduce morbidity; however, chelated Cr was more effective, resulting in 16.5% morbidity, or less (P < 0.05) than one third of the control. Daily gain was 41% higher (P < 0.05) with chelated Cr during the first 21 d after arrival, mainly due to the marked reduction in number of sick c.
Testes para avaliação do vigor de sementes de sorgo com ênfase à condutividade elétrica

As pesquisas realizadas tem mostrado que o teste de germinacao nem sempre revela diferencas de desempenho entre lotes de sementes, assim, tem-se estudado metodos que permitam diferenciar os lotes utilizando-se os testes de vigor. Assim, conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de estudar a eficiencia de diferentes testes de vigor na avaliacao da qualidade fisiologica de sementes de sorgo, cultivar CMSXS 222, bem como avaliar o efeito do volume de agua e do periodo de embebicao na sensibilidade do teste de condutividade eletrica. Foram conduzidos os testes de germinacao, primeira contagem de germinacao, imersao em solucao de cloreto de amonio, envelhecimento acelerado, teste frio sem solo, emergencia de plântulas em casa de vegetacao e condutividade eletrica. A condutividade eletrica foi avaliada apos 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 24 e 48 horas de embebicao, utilizando-se quatro subamostras de 50 sementes, imersas em 50 e 75 mL de agua, a 25oC. Os resultados mostraram que o teste de germinacao detectou dois niveis de vigor, enquanto o teste de emergencia em casa de vegetacao detectou tres niveis de vigor, mostrando que o teste de germinacao apresenta algumas limitacoes no que se refere a diferenciacao de lotes. Entre os testes de vigor realizados em laboratorio, o teste de envelhecimento acelerado e teste de frio sem solo mostraram alta correlacao significativa com o teste de emergencia de plântulas em casa de vegetacao. No teste de condutividade eletrica, somente o lote de qualidade inferior foi discriminado com 2, 4 e 6 horas de embebicao em 75 mL de agua, e com 16 horas de embebicao em 50 mL de agua. Conclui-se, com este trabalho, que o teste de envelhecimento acelerado e o teste frio sem solo foram eficientes em separar os lotes de sementes de sorgo em niveis de vigor se comparados ao teste de emergencia de plântulas em casa de vegetacao. O teste de condutividade eletrica nao constitui opcao eficiente para classificacao dos lotes em niveis de vigor de sementes de sorgo, possibilitando identificar apenas lotes de baixo vigor.
METABOLIC BASIS OF DIFFERENTIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF TWO FOREST LEPIDOPTERANS TO DIFLUBENZURON

Sixth instar Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman and 5th instar Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDunnough) were fed ring‐labelled 14C‐diflubenzuron coated on Douglas‐fir needles. After ingestion the gut was purged of radioactive needle residues with artificial diet. Radioactivity in body and frass extracts and residues were measured. Diflubenzuron in extracts were separated from metabolites by thin layer chromatography.
Breeding for Quantitative Traits in Plants

Plant breeding Revolvy November 19th, 2018 Plant breeding The Yecoro wheat right cultivar is sensitive to salinity plants resulting from a hybrid cross with cultivar W4910 left show greater tolerance to high salinity Plant breeding is the science of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics 1 It has been used to improve the quality of nutrition in products for humans and animals 2
Logging and forest edges reduce redundancy in plant–frugivore networks in an old‐growth European forest

Seed dispersal by frugivores is the basis for regeneration of fleshy‐fruited plants in forest ecosystems. Previous studies have reported a decrease in forest specialist frugivores due to logging and forest edges. Forest generalists appear less sensitive and may even increase at forest edges. Such changes in the abundance of frugivores may have consequences for consumer/resource ratios and competition in plant–frugivore networks. Optimal foraging theory predicts an increase in dietary specialization of animals at low consumer/resource ratios due to reduced competition. A decrease in forest specialists in logged forests should cause decreased consumer/resource ratios, increased dietary specialization and reduced redundancy, whereas an increased abundance of forest generalists at edges may compensate for a loss of specialists. In Europe's last old‐growth lowland forest (Białowieża, Eastern Poland), we recorded fruit removal by frugivores from fleshy‐fruited plant species in the interior and at edges of logged and old‐growth forests for 2 consecutive years. The abundance of forest generalists increased at forest edges, whereas specialists were unaffected. Conversely, logging resulted in a decrease in abundance of forest specialists but had no effect on the abundance of generalists. Accordingly, consumer/resource ratios increased from interior to edges and were reduced in the interior of logged forests compared with the interior of old‐growth forests. As predicted by optimal foraging theory, a decrease in consumer/resource ratios coincided with increased dietary specialization and a loss of redundancy in the interior of logged forests. Despite low dietary specialization, redundancy was reduced at forest edges as forest generalists dominated plant–frugivore interactions. Synthesis. We show that a shift in frugivore assemblages at forest edges and increased dietary specialization of frugivores in the interior of logged forests involved a loss of redundancy compared with continuous old‐growth forests. This suggests that seed dispersal services in secondary forest habitats depend on an impoverished subset of dispersal vectors and may suffer reduced adaptive potential to changing environmental conditions. Thus, our study highlights the value of old‐growth forests for the conservation of frugivore‐mediated seed dispersal processes.
Growth and Lipid Metabolism of the Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei at Different Salinities

ABSTRACT Juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (1.98 ± 0.28 g) were fed a commercial diet for 8 wk in triplicate to investigate growth and lipid metabolism at 3 salinities (3, 17, and 30). Shrimp weight gain and survival at 3 were significantly less than that at 17 and 30. No differences were found in whole-body proximate composition. Linolenic acid (18:3[n-3]) and (n-3) long-chain unsaturated fatty acid levels in the hepatopancreas, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid level, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5[n-3]) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6[n-3]) in muscle at 3 were significantly greater than at other salinities. Fatty acid synthase, hormone sensitive lipase, lipoprotein lipase, adipose triacylglycerol lipase, acyl-CoA, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2, elongase of very long-chain fatty acid 6, and &Dgr;5 and &Dgr;6 fatty acid desaturase activity was detected and showed a negative trend with an increase of salinity, and no significant differences were found among salinity groups (P > 0.05). The results indicate that the low salinity of 3 decreases the growth of L. vannamei. Although L. vannamei could not synthesize either DHA or EPA de novo, it possibly has the potential ability to convert linolenic acid to DHA and EPA regardless of salinity. However, the factors influencing this ability remain unknown and need further study.
Farming in 2031

This paper explores the implications of a large-scale transition to sustainable agriculture in Canada. As one component of a broader sustainable society scenario, the study reaches conclusions about the ability of an alternative food production system to meet the food needs of Canadians. The results suggest that Canada can be self-sufficient in grains, oilseeds and pulse production. There is also sufficient land for forage and hay production. Apparent shortages in feed crops could be subsidized with grains currently allocated for food. Canada will continue to depend on imports of fruits and vegetables, although urban production of these crops can significantly increase domestic supplies. With careful planning and management of land resources, the country could maintain a comfortable level of self-reliance for most foods under a sustainable agricultural system.
Exclusion of herbivores slows down recovery after experimental warming and nutrient addition in an alpine plant community

Global change, such as climate warming and nitrogen deposition, has been predicted to induce non‐reversible regime shifts in natural ecosystems. However, we lack knowledge of the potential for recovery from global change perturbations and factors influencing the recovery rate. We examined the recovery of an alpine plant community from a combined warming and nutrient addition experiment, which initially caused profound changes in plant community composition and diversity. We also examined whether the recovery process was affected by herbivory, as the presence of herbivores has been shown to modify the response of plant communities to global change. Many aspects of the alpine plant community had not recovered from experimental warming and nutrient addition 6 years after cessation of the treatments. A persistent shift in vascular plant species composition seemed to inhibit recovery and maintain a community dominated by highly competitive grasses at the expense of the previously dominating dwarf shrub Dryas octopetala, lichens and bryophytes. The exclusion of herbivores decreased the community recovery rate by maintaining unfavourable conditions for lichens and bryophytes. Synthesis. Our findings suggest that a shift in dominance hierarchies in arctic and alpine plant communities due to global change is not readily reversible. Herbivory may, however, facilitate plant community recovery.
The feeding ecology of bagrid species in River Ase, Niger Delta, southern Nigeria

The feeding ecology of seven bagrid species was studied between March, 1982 and February, 1984. A summary of the food items and condition factors (kf) in relation to sized groups were described for all the seven species while feeding intensity are to sized groups, diel and monthly variations in feeding intensity are provided only for Chrysichthys auratus longifilis (Geoffrey St. Hilaire, 1908) and C. nigrodigitatus (Lacepede 1803) due to data. Variations in food items between dry and rainy seasons were not remarkably different. There were differences in the feeding habits of different sized groups in C. auratus longifilis while in C. nigrodigitatus , all the sized groups consumed mainly detritus. Both C. auratus longifilis and C. nigrodigitatus fed both day and night. Feeding intensity was highest in C. auratus longifilis from 2100 to 2400 (h) and from 2400 to 0300(h) for C. nigrodigitatus . Based on the food items, Bagrus bayad macropterus Pfaff, 1933 was mainly piscivorous in diet while B. domac niger Daget, 1954 fed on fish and decapod crustaceans. C. auratus, C. nigrodigitatus, C. furcatus (Gunther, 1864) and Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Cuvier and Valencienness, 1840) were omnivorous bottom feeders. Clarotes laticeps fed on fish and detritus. The feeding ecology of bagrid species has been discussed and compared with the findings of earlier studies conducted elsewhere. Key Words: Bagridae, feeding ecology, Niger Delta, diets, seasonality Tropical Freshwater Biology 11 (2002) 47-68
Ebb and Flow of Encroachment by Nonnative Rainbow Trout in a Small Stream in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Abstract Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis is the native salmonid species of streams in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The present distribution of this species, once widespread from headwaters to lower reaches of large streams, is restricted to mostly headwater areas. Changes in the distribution of native brook trout in the presence of' nonnative rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have been documented in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When rainbow trout were first found in a tributary (Rock Creek) in the park in 1979, a study was begun to assess changes through time in distribution and abundance of rainbow trout in Rock Creek and to compare the brook trout and rainbow trout associations in Rock Creek with associations found in other park streams. Abundance of brook trout was low in the downstream sections of Rock Creek in 1979–1993. Brook trout abundance was highest in the steep-gradient, pool-dominated headwater section which was only 2 km from the confluence of Rock Creek and Cosby Creek. Rain.
The 14-3-3 Proteins μ and υ Influence Transition to Flowering and Early Phytochrome Response1[C][OA]

14-3-3 proteins regulate a diverse set of biological responses but developmental phenotypes associated with 14-3-3 mutations have not been described in plants. Here, physiological and biochemical tests demonstrate interactions between 14-3-3s and the well-established mechanisms that govern light sensing and photoperiodic flowering control. Plants featuring homozygous disruption of 14-3-3 isoforms υ and μ display defects in light sensing and/or response. Mutant plants flower late and exhibit long hypocotyls under red light, with little effect under blue or far-red light. The long hypocotyl phenotype is consistent with a role for 14-3-3 υ and μ in phytochrome B signaling. Yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation assays indicate that 14-3-3 υ and μ proteins physically interact with CONSTANS, a central regulator of the photoperiod pathway. Together, these data indicate a potential role for specific 14-3-3 isoforms in affecting photoperiodic flowering via interaction with CONSTANS, possibly as integrators of light signals sensed through the phytochrome system.
A Comparative Study of the Gametophytic Generation in the Polystichum aculeatum Group (Pteridophyta)

The gametophytic generation of the allotetraploid Polystichum aculeatum and its diploid parents, Polystichum setiferum and Polystichum lonchitis, was studied in order to compare their morphology, gametangial ontogeny, and breeding system. Six populations, two of each species, were selected for spore collection. Germination, gender expression, and antheridiogen experiments were established on agar and soil culture media. Germination percentage in the tetraploid was higher, and the only morphological difference was found in the length of marginal hairs that were also longer in P. aculeatum. Gender expression in the allotetraploid was a mixture of the diploids. Differences in gender expression of both diploids, with many male prothalli in P. lonchitis and many female ones in P. setiferum, may favor the formation of the hybrid that originated the allotetraploid. An antheridiogen system was observed in both P. aculeatum and P. setiferum, and each species responded to one another’s antheridiogen. In contrast, exudates from P. lonchitis failed to induce precocious maleness within the species but did induce an antheridiogen response in gametophytes of P. setiferum.
Breaking the metal ceiling : female entrepreneurs who succeed in male-dominated sectors in Uganda

Worldwide, female entrepreneurs tend to experience lower productivity and profit than their male peers. One reason for this is that women tend to be concentrated in less profitable businesses. This mixed methods study from Uganda investigates a range of factors that may hinder or help female entrepreneurs move into male-dominated sectors, where they are as successful as men, and significantly more successful than women who remain in traditionally female sectors. This analysis finds that information gaps about the relative profitability of male-dominated businesses play an important role, as do the types of role models influencing youth as they determine their career paths. Informational campaigns, as well as apprenticeship and mentorship programs, present potential policy options.
Novel Variation in Tomato Species Hybrids

Several novel variants that appeared in F2 populations of hybrids between L. esculentum and the self-incompatible species L. peruvianum and L. chilense are described. The deviating phenotypic features of these variants are completely outside the normal range of variation of their respective F2 families and were not known to be present in the parental species. Tests of inheritance, where performed, indicate that one or more recessive genes is responsible for the abnormal condition. Conclusive genetic evidence was obtained only for the variant having old-gold flowers derived from the hybrid of L. esculentum x L. chilense, indicating the action of a single recessive gene, og, of major effect. Appropriate test crosses demonstrated that og is present in heterozygous condition in the chilense parent and that, furthermore, it gains phenotypic expression within that species equal to that in the F2 or backcross with L. chilense. Information concerning the origin of the other novelties is not so conclusive, yet the available facts are in keeping with an explanation like that for og-namely, fixation, on selfing the F1 hybrid, of recessive genes present in heterozygous form in the self-incompatible parental species. Limited experience in inbreeding L. peruvianum and L. chilense reveals a great wealth of recessive genes of major effect that would be expected on the basis of this hypothesis. For reasons presented, hypotheses based on high mutation rates induced by hybridity and on complementary interaction of normal alleles of the parents are considered less likely to explain the origin of the variants. Certain other instances of aberrant segregates in the F2 of species hybrids reported in the literature might also possibly be explained by recessive genes derived from the self-incompatible parents.
Relações de causa e efeito em espigas de milho relacionadas aos tipos de híbridos

The weight of grains is one of the decisive components of the income of corn yield, and presents complex relationships with several morphologic characteristics of the maize spikes. The objective of this research was to verify if the grain weight of the maize spikes is related directly or indirectly with the morphologic characteristics of the spikes and if this relationship depends on the type of hybrid: single, triple or double. The maize experiment was accomplished in the year 2004/2005, in Santa Marias Federal University, with six treatments, that were composed of two single hybrids, two triple hybrids and two double hybrids. The experiment design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The plot was of two lines with five meters length with 0.8m between lines and density of 55,000 plants ha-1. The correlations between the morphologic characteristics of the maize spikes and the weight of grains were outspread in direct and indirect effects. The number of grains lines by spike is correlated with grains weight just in the double hybrid (0.5298) and this correlation is due to the positive indirect effect of the number of grains by spike (0.8875) and negative for weight of 100 grains (-0.3795). The selection of spikes with larger weight of 100 grains and larger number of grains by spike has direct effect on the increase of the grain weight by spike for single and triple hybrid, but in the double hybrid, the number of grains by spike just has direct effect on grains weight. The relationships among the maize spikes characteristics are dependent of the genotypes, what should complicate a little more the job of the crop breeding when selecting genotypes for larger grain weight by spike.