Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shrubs as foundation species in a high tropical alpine ecosystem: a multi-scale analysis of plant spatial interactions

Background: Studies on plant–plant interactions in alpine ecosystems show a strong bias for temperate vs. tropical latitudes and pay limited attention to the implications of biophysical heterogeneity beyond the local plant scale. Aims: To evaluate the effects of a dominant shrub (Hypericum laricifolium) on community organisation, integrating multiple scales of analysis, in a high Andean páramo in Venezuela. Methods: We compared plant cover, species richness and Shannon diversity between plots placed under the shrub and outside (plant scale); quantified the spatial relations of Hypericum with its conspecifics, heterospecifics and rocks at different radial distances, using covariance functions (patch scale); analysed the effects of Hypericum shrubs on total species richness in the community (site scale); and evaluated the consistency of our results among four sites within the same region (between-site scale). Results: Average species richness, Shannon diversity, and the abundance of common forbs and conspecific shrubs were consistently higher inside the Hypericum shrub, while the exotic Rumex acetosella was more abundant in open areas. However, the aggregated spatial distribution of conspecifics and other species extended beyond the local plant scale and there were no clear effects of Hypericum shrubs on community-level species richness. Conclusions: Shrubs can function as foundation species in tropical alpine environments, modifying local community structure and alpha diversity, but not necessarily the species richness of the overall community. Our results stress the need of analysing multiple spatial scales to interpret the role of plant–plant interactions (facilitation/competition) in heterogeneous alpine ecosystems.
The Effects of CO2 on the Photosynthetic Fixation of CO2 and the Activity of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase in Single-Rooted Soybean Leaves under Sink-Limited Conditions

Ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase activity of single- rooted soybean leaves was lowered under sink-limited con- ditions. The low photosynthetic and enzymatic activities of the sink-limited leaves returned to the high levels, similar to those of the control leaves, within 30 min of the treatment with high CO2. turing them under continuous light or with cooling of the root system. These results provided good evidence for the end-product inhibition of photosynthesi s, a concept that was first proposed by Boussingault (1868). A subsequent study using this model plant showed that the sink-limited condition caused a reduction in the ac- tivity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPcase) that could be extracted from the leaves. This reduction in activity was reversed by incubation of the extract with bi- carbonate in the presence of MgCl 2 (Sawada et al. 1990). Inorganic phosphate was also effective in reversing the re- duction in the activity of RuBPcase in the presence of ex- tremely low levels of endogenous CO2 (Sawada et al. 1990, 1992). It was suggested that the reduction in photosynthetic activity in the sink-limited leaves might have been due to the deactivation of RuBPcase, caused by a decrease in the level of Pj in the chloroplast stroma as a consequence of a significant increase in levels of various phosphorylated in- termediates in the photosynthetic carbon cycle. This sugges- tion is supported by the recently reported result that Pj stim- ulated the binding of activator CO2 to RuBPcase that had been purified from spinach leaves and activated this en- zyme at a physiological concentration (5-7 fjM) of CO 2 in chloroplast stroma that is in equilibrium with atmospheric CO2 (Anwaruzzaman et al. 1995).
Streptofactin, a novel biosurfactant with aerial mycelium inducing activity from Streptomyces tendae Tü 901/8c

Streptomyces tendae Tu 901/8c produces an extracellular hydrophobic peptide, termed streptofactin. The compound was isolated from conditioned agar medium and characterized. Streptofactin is a mixture of structurally related peptides with the major components ranging in size from 1003 m/z to 1127 m/z. Extracellular application of the purified peptide restored the capacity to form aerial mycelium in mutants defective in morphological development. Surface activity measurements revealed that streptofactin decreased the surface tension of water from 72.0 mN m−1 to 39.4 mN m−1 and achieved a critical micelle concentration value of 36 mg l−1. The properties of streptofactin suggest that it plays a structural role in aerial mycelium development and supports the erection of aerial hyphae by lowering the surface tension of water films enclosing the colonies. A model for aerial mycelium formation which represents a novel mechanism for the adaption to environmental changes in Streptomyces is proposed.
Bearing of Chromosome C-banding patterns on the Classification of Eurasian Toads of the Bufo bufo Complex

Distribution of NORs and C-spots in the karyotypes was compared among six forms of the Bufo bufo complex, i.e. B. j. japonicus, B. j. formosus, B. torrenticola and B. gargarizans miyakonis from Japan, and B. b. bufo and B. b. verrucosissimus from USSR. All forms invariably possessed NORs on 6q. All the 11 pairs of homologous chromosomes had constitutive heterochromatin on the centromere region in every form of toad examined. Further, each form had pericentric heterochromatin on 1p and telomeric one on 6q. Pairs 8 and 9 lacked C-bands except the centromeric spot in every form. Other chromosomes revealed unique C-spots specific to each form, and each form could be characterized from others by the banding pattern. Comparisons of the C-banding patterns of the three forms obtained with those of the published data revealed several discrepancies, but most of them were attributed to the unlike standard in recognizing spots by the different authors. Although the C-banding pattern is suggested to have some taxonomic value, systematic relationships among the six forms cannot be directly estimated by the analyses of banding patterns.
Antifungal activity of Allium, Aloe, and Solanum species

The current study evaluated and established the activity of Allium sativum Linn. , Aloe barbadensis Mill. , and Solanum nigrum Linn. against some common fungal species associated with superficial mycoses. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of these plants were tested to establish the antimycological effects against dermatophytes, saprophytes, and Candida species isolated from infected hospitalized patients. The in vitro antifungal activity was established by observing and measuring the zones of inhibition formed on selective nutrient media. Zones of inhibition were categorized as very high (41–50 mm), high (31–40 mm), medium (21–30 mm), and low (11–20 mm). High zones of inhibition were noted with ethanol extracts of Allium sativum, Aloe barbadensis, and Solanum nigrum.
Melanoma Cell Attachment, Invasion, and Integrin Expression is Upregulated by Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Suppressed by α Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone

We have previously shown alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone to protect melanocytes and melanoma cells from the proinflammatory actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The aim of the study was to extend this work to look into the influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on melanoma cell attachment, invasion, and integrin expression and ask to what extent alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone might protect cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulation of increased integrin expression. HBL human melanoma cells were studied under resting and stressed conditions using tumor necrosis factor-alpha as a proinflammatory cytokine. Functional information on the actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on melanoma cells was obtained by examining the strength of attachment of melanoma cells to substrates and the ability of melanoma cells to invade through fibronectin. alpha3, alpha4, and beta1 integrin expression was detected by Western immunoblotting and the ability of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone to oppose the actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was studied on HBL cell attachment, invasion, and integrin subunit expression. Our results show that tumor necrosis factor-alpha increases the number of melanoma cells attaching to collagen (types I and IV) and tissue culture polystyrene, increases ability to invade through fibronectin, and upregulates the expression of alpha3 (28%), alpha4 (90%), and beta1 (65%) integrin subunit expression. In contrast, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone reduced cell attachment, invasion, and integrin expression and opposed the stimulatory effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In conclusion this study provides further evidence of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone acting to "protect" melanoma cells from proinflammatory cytokine action. Our data support a hypothesis that an inflammatory environment would promote melanoma invasion and that the anti-invasive actions of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone are consistent with its working in an anti-inflammatory capacity.
A Population of Dwarf Coastrange Sculpins (Cottus aleuticus)

Cottus aleuticus in Cultus Lake, British Columbia, inhabits deep water, grows slowly to a maximum length of about 50 mm in 3 or 4 years, and spawns in the lake throughout the summer. It was taken abundantly from the stomachs of Dolly Varden char; other fish eat it only rarely. Its summer food is plankton and microbenthos.
MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS CONFERENCE

The goal of this paper is to present innovative image applications that will be available on future high data rate HF transmissions. Fitting in the considerations and studies carried out currently on future HF transmissions, for instance within NATO groups, these new image applications are currently under development in the EDA HDR-HF project, which aims at developing new communication technologies to offer a high bit data rate transmission system for data and multimedia military applications over HF channels. In this paper, we present the work currently on-going on these new multimedia applications, mainly focusing on JPEG 2000 and JPIP image transmission, and on image enhanced analysis such as automatic object detection, and image registration and 3D rendering.
Survival of very small macropod pouch young followingshort‐term isolation from the pouch at various environmental temperatures

There is considerable interest in the use of assisted breeding techniques as a component of conservation programmes for a variety of macropods threatened with extinction. While cross‐fostering is being conducted in some programmes in captivity, little is known about the best techniques for carrying this procedure out from wild populations. In this study we compare the success of various procedures for isolating small tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and brush‐tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) pouch young (0.4 g–410 g) for short periods (6 hours) as a first step towards establishing a methodology for recruiting endangered macropod pouch young directly from the wild for foster‐rearing in captivity. Pouch temperature and humidity were determined. Pouch young from females in experimental groups were weighed, measured and then isolated, at 30°C, 27°C or 23°C, and 100% humidity. After isolation the weight of pouch young maintained at 30°C and 27°C had declined significantly (2–17% of body weight), whereas those held at 23°C and 100% humidity lost less than 0.5% of body weight. All young were reattached to the active teat of their mother following pouch isolation and their survival and growth monitored. Pouch young from the control group and those isolated at 23°C and 100% humidity survived and grew at normal rates. Only the largest pouch young maintained in isolation at either 30°C or 27°C survived to day 7 following reattachment. Data indicated that the proportion of weight lost by pouch young as a result of isolation decreased with increasing size and age of the pouch young. These trials indicate that it would be possible to harvest very small macropod pouch young from a species in the wild with a very high probability that they would survive short‐term isolation from the pouch and reattachment to the teat. The use of this procedure in combination with cross‐fostering techniques will allow small pouch young from threatened macropod species to be recruited directly from the wild into captivity, for captive breeding or to improve genetic diversity in captive colonies. It should also act to reactivate diapause embryos in these animals and hence may accelerate breeding in wild‐based mothers.
Persistence of cyclic peptide toxins in dried Microcystis aeruginosa crusts from lake Mokoan, Australia

Dried Microcystis aeruginosa Kuetzing emend. Elenkin crusts estimated to be 5–6 months old from the shore of Lake Mokoan were toxic by mouse bioassay (LD100 100–140 mg dry wt/kg mouse). Fresh bloom material from the lake was also highly toxic (LD100 25–35 mg dry wt/kg mouse). Microcystin high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of the crust and fresh material were very similar, with 24 compounds having UV spectra consistent with microcystin LR. Five of the major microcystins were purified and analysed by electrospray/mass spectrometry. The molecular weights of these microcystins [910, 924, 982, 982 (two compounds), and 986] do not correspond with known microcystins. All five compounds were hepatotoxic to mice with LD100 values ranging from 85 to 140 μg microcystin/kg mouse). Total microcystin contents (expressed as microcystin LR aquivalents) determined by HPLC correlated with the mouse bioassay analyses (crust 2.1 μg microcystin/mg dry wt; fresh 4.1 μg microcystin/mg dry wt). These results suggest that microcystin is protected from degradation while encapsulated within the dried Microcystis crusts. Leaching experiments demonstrated that re-wetting of the crust material leads to rapid release of microcystins into the surrounding water. These observations have important management implications for lakes and reservoirs where crusts of cyanobacterial material form on the shoreline. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences

The study is aimed at the clarification of the role of perceived stress in the process of developing burnout which belongs with the major research challenges in helping professions (Lloyd, King & Chenoweth, 2002). Research sample consisted of students of helping professions who completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory for students (MBI-SS) and Perceived Stress Scale and Emotional Habitual Subjective Well-being Scale. It was hypothesized that higher level of perceived stress would be linked with higher level of burnout. Burnout was expected to be correlated with frequent experiencing of negative emotions and less often experiencing of positive emotions. The side objective of the research was to examine the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the MBI SS, which was translated from the original English version by Schaufeli et al. (2002). The interpretation of other results is discussed in the paper.
Effect of microwave treatment on quality of wheat seeds infected with Fusarium graminearum

Abstract The object of this study was to investigate relationships between microwave operating conditions, degree of inactivation ofFusarium graminearumin wheat, and resulting seed quality in terms of germination and seeding vigour (% germination times plumule-radicle length in cm). The experiment was a full factorial involving initial seed moisture content (SMC=8, 14 or 20%), absorbed microwave power (AMP=0·3,0·4,0·5 or 0·6 W/g), and the time microwave power was on in a duty cycle of 1 min (TMP=20,30,40 or 50 s/min), and was replicated twice in time. The results showed that eradication of the pathogen increased with the total microwave energy imparted, but that seed viability and seedling vigour decreased accordingly. The percentage of infected seeds in the control sets (no microwave treatment) was 36%. Germination of these seeds was 100% and seedling vigour was 838·5. The results indicate that the percentage of infected seeds may be reduced to between 4 and 7%, while maintaining a seed germination rate of 85% and a seedling vigour of 670 (i.e. 80% of control). A greater range of operating conditions can satisfy these conditions when SMC is 14% rather than 8 or 20%.
Inhibition of Milk Lipolysis by Lambda Carrageenan

Lambda carrageenan inhibited lipolysis in both raw and homogenized milk. Bulk raw milk samples with and without carrageenan were subjected to both thermal and Waring Blendor activations. Acid degree values revealed that . 01 to . 05% carrageenan reduced thermally activated lipolysis by 55 to 100% and Waring Blendor activated lipolysis by 36 to 85%. Flavor evaluations by a trained taste panel confirmed the inhibition. Carrageenan (.05%) also reduced the extent of lipolysis produced by the addition of 2% raw skim milk to pasteurized homogenized milk. Carrageenan even inhibited the lipolysis induced by the homogenization of raw milk. Regardless of activation procedure, carrageenan was more effective in inhibiting lipolysis when added before rather than after activation. Addition of carrageenan after lipolysis had occurred did not reduce acid degree values. The inhibitory effect of carrageenan is at least partially from an interaction with lipase. However, it is conceivable that carrageenan may protect the substrate to some extent by partially encapsulating it.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract consumption darkens liver, lowers blood cholesterol, proportional liver and abdominal fat weights in broiler chickens

A study with 160-day-old broiler chickens was conducted to investigate the effects of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) extract in drinking water on plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), proportional abdominal fat, liver weights and liver color index. The chickens were divided into four groups and received 0 (ZT), 0.2 (LT), 0.4 (MT) or 0.6% (HT) thyme extract from day one to day 42 of age. All the birds receiving the Thyme extract had lower plasma total cholesterol, LDL-c concentrations and proportional liver weights compared with the control birds (P<0.05). Liver absolute weight of MT birds and proportional fat weight of HT birds were lower than those of ZT birds (P<0.05). Liver color index of HT and MT birds was higher than that of ZT birds. In orthogonal comparisons, thyme extract supplementation diminished (P<0.05) the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-c and VLDL-c, decreased the proportional and absolute liver weight and proportional abdominal fat weight and increased the (P<0.05) liver colour index as compared to control. Significant negative correlation (P<0.01) was found between the thyme extract supplementation and plasma cholesterol, proportional abdominal fat weight and liver proportional weight, and a positive correlation (P<0.01) between the thyme extract supplementation and liver colour index. In conclusion, Thyme consumption in broiler chickens could improve the carcass quality to the consumers and net returns of the producers.
INTRASPECIFIC RESPONSE TO VARIATION IN FOOD RESOURCES BY ATTWATER'S POCKET GOPHER'

We examined the effect of variation in availability of dietary resources on demographic variation among seven populations of Attwater's pocket gopher. Pocket go- phers were live-trapped to assess demographic parameters, and additional individuals were used to determine detailed reproductive information and dietary habits. Attwater's pocket gopher exhibited variation in population density, ovulation rate, pre-implantation mor- tality, proportional loss of young, and total recruitment, but not in litter size, sex ratio, or age structure among the seven populations. Dietary analyses revealed that annual dicots were avoided in a habitat where their proportional occurrence was high, but the preferred dietary item (perennial dicots) was consumed in proportion to its occurrence. Population density (carrying capacity) was limited by availability of resources, primarily availability and dispersion of preferred perennial dicots. Predictability of density of pocket gophers by dietary resources was low, - 12%, compared to that of terrestrial herbivores. Low population density was associated with low total recruitment, low survival of young, and longer movement by individuals through the habitat. We propose an hypothesis for regulation of population density. As availability of pe- rennial dicots decreases, pocket gophers move greater distances to obtain this resource. Increased movement increases the probability of aggressive, intraspecific encounters. These encounters increase aggression levels in the population, result in greater loss of young through dispersal or mortality, and generally decrease recruitment. Loss of individuals decreases population density to a level set by availability of resources and level of aggression decreases.
Field studies of the diet of Rhabdosargus holubi (Pisces: Teleostei: Sparidae)

Rhabdosargus holubi is a marine teleost endemic to south east Africa. The juveniles occur mainly in estuaries but the adults are largely confined to the sea. Stomach contents of over 2000 juvenile R. holubi were examined from fish captured in the open Kowie and Msikaba estuaries, and from the closed West Kleinemond and Kasouga estuaries. Juvenile R. holubi feed mainly on aquatic vegetation. The fish cannot, however, digest the vegetation eaten due to the absence of a cellulase or a method of breaking up the plant tissue. Therefore, the plant material is passed out in an undigested state. Epiphytic diatoms and sessile ectoprocts (Bryozoa) are, however, removed from the macrophytes or multicellular algae in the stomach, and are subject to digestion. Diatoms may form up to 50% of the dry weight of the plants consumed. A variety of animals was also eaten. Maximum total food consumption was estimated at 1·9% of body weight per day although this is probably an underestimate. Feeding only took place during daylight hours. The teeth of juvenile R. holubi are specialized for grazing aquatic plants and differ from those of adult R. holubi. Adults consume mainly bivalves and large crustaceans. It is suggested that the different food requirements of the adults and juveniles determine at what stage this species enters and leaves estuaries.
Spawning Success of Bull Trout Transported above Main‐Stem Clark Fork River Dams in Idaho and Montana

Abstract Three main-stem dams have fragmented the Clark Fork River in Montana and Idaho for nearly 100 years. Since 2001, Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus collected below the farthest downstream dam, Cabinet Gorge Dam, have been manually transported upstream so that they can return to natal spawning tributaries and contribute gametes to numerically depressed populations upstream from the dams. Although redd counts and radio telemetry data suggest that these adults attempted to spawn after upstream transport, spawning success has not been documented or quantified. We used genetic parentage assignments to determine whether adult Bull Trout were successfully spawning after being transported upstream. Parentage data were also used to examine reproductive success and spawning behavior of fish transported upstream (transports) as well as Bull Trout that spawned in the same tributaries but were not transported upstream (nontransports). We genotyped 1,362 juvenile Bull Trout collected in two Clark Fork River tri.