Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Root Confinement and Fruiting in Peach

Fruiting and nonfruiting 'Washington' peach trees were grown in 2.4 (small) or 9-liter (large) containers to determine the influence of root confinement and fruiting on vegetative growth, fruit growth and quality, CO, assimilation (A), and carbohydrate content. Shoot length, fruit diameter, A, and leaf carbohydrates were measured weekly. Thirteen weeks after transplanting, trees were divided into roots, shoots, leaves, and fruit for dry weight measurement. The dry weight of all organs except fruit was reduced by root confinement, and only the weight of stems formed the previous season was not reduced by fruiting. Fruit dry weight was 30.0 g/tree for large- and small-container treatments, causing the yield efficiency (g fruit/g total dry wt) to be 50% higher for confined trees. Fruit red color, weight, and diameter were unaffected by root confinement, but higher flesh firmness and a more green ground color of the fruit surface from root-confined trees suggested that confinement delayed maturity. Vegetative growth was not reduced by lack of nonstructural carbohydrates in confined trees. A was reduced by root confinement on only the first of 11 measurement dates, whereas fruiting increased A on 5 of 8 measurement dates before fruit harvest. Fruit removal reduced A by 23% and 31% for nonconfined and confined trees, respectively, within 48 h of harvest. Leaf starch, sucrose, sorbitol, and total carbohydrate levels were negatively correlated with A when data were pooled, but inconsistent responses of A to carbohydrate content indicated that factors other than feedback inhibition were also responsible for the reduction in A on nonfruited trees. We hypothesized that a physiological signal originating in roots of confined trees reduced vegetativegrowth without reducing fruit growth. Effective methods of size control for stone fruit trees are currently unavailable (Rom, 1983). Recent advances in semi- dwarf peach breeding offers a potential solution (Gradziel and Beres, 1993), but high-quality fresh-market cultivars have not yet been produced. In some areas of Europe, paclobutrazol is used to control growth and increase fruit size of peach (Regnard, personal observation), but this chemical has not been approved for use in most fruit growing areas of the world, including the United States. Recent studies indicate that root confinement reduces peach tree growth, while not negatively affecting fruiting efficiency (Myers 1992; Ran et al., 1992; Williamson and Coston, 1990). In addition, confinement of the root system to a small, well-defined soil volume may have other benefits like 1) increasing efficiency of irrigation and fertilizer use by targeting applications to tree roots, 2) controlling growth through deficit irrigation (Chalmers et al., 1981) in rainy climates where this technique could not otherwise be practiced, 3) reducing herbicide use via reduction in area of the weed-free zone beneath the trees, and 4) allowing fumigation for nematode and soil- borne diseases due to the reduced soil volume that needs be treated
Sources of variation in winter basal metabolic rate in the great tit

1. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the most widely used standard measurement of the cost of living. Despite the acknowledged phenotypic flexibility of BMR, little is known about the patterns of variation in wild animal populations. 2. We studied the sources of variation in BMR of great tit Parus major (L.) among individuals from two wild populations: Oulu (northern Finland) and Lund (southern Sweden) during six consecutive years. 3. By means of a multivariate approach, we found year, locality, date, previous week average minimum temperature, age, body mass, and the interaction between locality and year were the factors retained in the final model, together explaining 71.1% of the total variation in BMR. 4. Birds from Oulu (n = 168) had a higher BMR than Lund birds (n = 156), and their BMR varied more between years than that of Lund birds. The two populations reacted in the same way to the other sources of variation examined. 5. Great tits from both populations showed a positive relationship between BMR and body mass and a negative relationship between BMR and date, previous week average minimum temperature and age. 6. This study highlights the need to standardize BMR measurements when testing predictions about metabolic rates from individuals of wild populations. (Less)
Molecular Evaluation of the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Mating System

Abstract We used genetic-based paternity assignments from 3 diverse populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to evaluate the long-held assumption that male reproductive success in this species is highly skewed toward a small number of mature, dominant individuals. The study populations represented a range of adult sex ratios and male age structures. Male reproductive success was distributed among a large number of males in all populations, with no evidence for highly skewed access to mating for any individual male. Surprisingly, physically immature males (1.5 and 2.5 years of age) collectively fathered 30–33% of offspring in all populations, even where mature males were present. Ecological and behavioral variables appear to constrain the ability of individual males to monopolize access to females, resulting in a wider distribution of reproductive success than expected based on previous ecological and behavioral studies of white-tailed deer. Qualitative differences in the distribution of male reproductive success among study sites suggested that demographic attributes such as adult sex ratio and male age structure might influence the degree of competition for mates. Further study incorporating known-age cohorts or integrating movements and behavior is necessary for understanding the effects of population demographics as well as the physical and behavioral attributes that confer reproductive success in diverse populations of white-tailed deer.
MALE INFLUENCE ON MATERNAL BEHAVIOR AND OFFSPRING OF CAPTIVE VOLCANO MICE (NEOTOMODON ALSTONI) FROM MEXICO

Abstract Captive male Neotomodon alstoni exhibit paternal care. We tested whether presence of the male in the nest during the postpartum and weaning periods affect maternal care and promoted survival and growth of the offspring. For captive N. alstoni pairs (n = 10) both parents were maintained in the nest until weaning of the young, and in another 10 pairs the male was removed shortly after birth of young. The presence of the male had a negative impact on the time spent by females in huddling with nursing young. In the presence of the male, females groomed and sniffed young less frequently than did females rearing young in the absence of the male. Survival of offspring (84%) and their growth (20.6 ± 4.7 g) was significantly higher when both parents reared their young. Males provide additional care of young, allowing a higher quality of care by the female during rearing.
The gametogenic cycle and life history of Nicolea uspiana (Polychaeta: Terebellidae) on the south-east coast of Brazil

The gametogenic cycle and life history of Nicolea uspiana (Nogueira, 2003) (Polychaeta: Terebellidae) was studied by taking monthly samples over a 13 month period. Each month, 10 females were sorted; 50 oocytes were removed from the coelom of each specimen, and the maximum diameter was determined. Additionally, 10 males were sorted and 100 gametes were randomly selected from each specimen to evaluate their shape and maturation stage. This species is gonochoric and exhibits slight external sexual dimorphism (in the shape of the nephridial papillae). The sex-ratio of N. uspiana was 2.4 male for each female. The initial gametic stages of both sexes are produced in special structures called nephromixia. Oogenesis is extra-ovarian, and the germ cells are clumped and surrounded by follicle cells. These cells are ovulated into the coelomic fluid, and yolk synthesis occurs in this cavity. The maximum diameter of oocytes measured, 225 µm, showed that these eggs fall into the size-range for lecithotrophy. Furthermore, N. uspiana is an iteroparous species, as the mature individuals can breed several times during their lifetime. Male gonads release germ cells early in development, and sperm maturation also occurs in the coelomic fluid. The male gametes consist of flattened plaques of germ cells attached on their anterior part by a cytophore assuming a rosette-like appearance. Following maturation of the male cells, the spermatids produce arrays of stiffly vibratile tails, assuming a morula shape. The reproductive patterns and life history of the terebellids are also discussed.
The use of camera‐trap data to model habitat use by antelope species in the Udzungwa Mountain forests, Tanzania

The ecology of many species of duiker, and other African forest antelope, is poorly known and yet knowledge of the factors determining their distribution and abundance is critical to the conservation of this increasingly threatened group. Camera-trapping was used to investigate forest antelope ecology in the biologically diverse Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. The relationship between cameratrapping rates and vegetation (and other habitat variables) was investigated using generalized linear modelling. Over 630 photographs of antelope were obtained, with Harvey’s duiker being the most recorded species. The camera-trap rate of Harvey’s duiker was positively related to the species diversity of small plant stems and negatively related to an index of visibility, while that of suni antelope was negatively related to the percentage ground cover of leaf-litter. The camera-trap rate of Harvey’s duiker was also negatively related to distance to the nearest village, as predicted for a species targeted for subsistence hunting. Camera-traps also recorded bushbuck and the threatened Tanzanian endemic Abbott’s duiker, but there were insufficient captures to model habitat use for these species. Results of this study illustrate the potential of camera-trapping for modelling habitat requirements and providing guidelines for the conservation management of threatened antelope populations in forest habitats.
Potential change in lodgepole pine site index and distribution under climatic change in Alberta

We estimated the impact of global climate change on lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) site productivity in Alberta based on the Alberta Climate Model and the A2 SRES climate change scenario projections from three global circulation models (CGCM2, HADCM3, and ECHAM4). Considerable warming is apparent in all three models. On average, the increases in mean GDD5 (growing degree-days >5 °C) are 18%, 38%, and 65% by the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s, respectively. Change in precipitation is essentially nil. This results in proportional increases in dryness index. We used the dryness index to predict the potential future range and GDD5 to predict its potential productivity. Generally, lodgepole pine site index is predicted to increase steadily by 3 m for each 30-year period. Offsetting this increase is a large reduction in suitable area as drying increases. At first, the warming increases the potential range up to 67% by the 2020s but then shrinks from 34% to 58% of its current are.
Possible Factors Related to Phenotype Change from Adenocarcinoma to Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous differentiation/squamous metaplasia is a common feature associated with lung and endometrial adenocarcinomas, but is very rare in the case of colonic and gastric adenocarcinomas. Cases of squamous cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma (criteria of the Japan Lung Cancer Society) of the lung and endometrial adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiation infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) are frequently seen in Okinawa. A correlation between squamous differentiation and HPV infection was demonstrated (p<0.05) [11, 31], and the squamous cell carcinoma components are HPV-positive by in situ hybridization method. The adenocarcinoma cells adjacent to the squamous cell carcinoma components are enlarged, and are also positive for HPV. The production of high molecular weight keratin (HMK) (Moll's No. 1, 5, 10, and 14) [1, 14] and involucrin is induced in the squamous cell carcinoma component and also in adjacent enlarged cells. Further, in Okinawa, squamous metaplasia of the bronchial epithelium are occasionally positive for HPV by in situ hybridization. We postulated that HPV causes phenotype change/squamous metaplasia. We then transfected human papillomavirus 6, 16 and 18 in plasmid pBR322 into cultured adenocarcinoma cells (DLD-1 [4] and PC-14 cells) [13, 16]. DLD-1 cells were the cultured human intestinal adenocarcinoma (moderately differentiated), and PC-14 cells were cultured human lung adenocarcinoma. In our experiments, we chose these two cultured adenocarcinoma cells for following reasons. Squamous differentiation is frequently observed in the case of lung carcinomas, but rare in colonic carcinomas. We used one each of the cultured adenocarcinoma cell lines from both groups. Further, to investigate the effects of HPV transfection on apoptosis and inhibition of the growth, p53 gene mutated (inactivated) carcinoma cells [20, 34] were used. The phenotype change/squamous metaplasia was observed, and was apparent in the case of HPV 16 transfected DLD-1 cells, although in the case of human intestinal adenocarcinoma, squamous differentiation was very rare. It was considered that squamous differentiation was induced by HPV transfection regardless of the tissue type [13]. For this reason, in this report we consider HPV 16 transfected DLD-1 cells. Immunohistochemically HMK (Moll's No. 1, 5, 10 and 14) [1, 15] and involucrin [35] were strongly demonstrated in the cytoplasm of HPV transfected cells. Further, the transglutaminase I [6] and involucrin mRNA were also detected by use of RT-PCR. The growth of the HPV transfected cells was reduced, and the population of G0-G1 phase cells increased. The expression levels of the cell cycle related molecules, cdk2 and cyclin D3 decreased. On the other hand, the proportion of apoptotic cells increased, and the expression level of DNase γ also increased markedly [13]. Although the HPV E6-p53 and E7-Rb interactions have been well known, transcriptional trans-activity of HPV for other cellular genes, for example, cytokeratin and cell cycle associated genes, might be considered [13, 33].
Insecticidal Evaluation Of Some Botanical Stem Bark Powders On Cowpea Beetle callosobruchus maculatus(F.) On Stored Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdcourt.

Two Laboratory trials were conducted at the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria to evaluate the efficacy of five plants species. Anogeissus leiocarpus Guill. and Per. , Antidesma venosum Tull. , Maranthes polyandra (Benth.) Prance. Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) Kuntze. and Vitex madiensis Olive. , for their leaf powders at two levels of concentrations (5.0 and 10.0 g/100 g seed) as protectant against Callosobruchus maculatus F. infesting stored bambara groundnut. Actellic dust 2% at 2.0 g/100 g seed (treated check) and untreated control were placed alongside with these plant powders to serve as checks. Treated and untreated experiments were infested with adult C. maculatus under prevailing storage conditions. Anogeissus leiocarpus, Antidesma venosum and Mitragyma inermis leaf powders at 10 g/100 g seed recorded over 45% adult C. maculatus mortality at 24 hours of treatment. All the plant leaf powders considerably reduced oviposition of C. maculatus as compared to untreated control. Vitex madiensis leaf powder at 10 g/100 g seeds of Bambara groundnut maintained low F1 –F3 progeny emergence for the 12 weeks of observation while Antidesma venosum and Maranthes polyandra all at higher concentration levels maintained low F1 and F2 progeny emergence for 8 weeks of observation. The leaf powders of Vitex madiensis, Antidesma venosum and Maranthes polyandra seem promising in inhibiting progeny emergence of C. maculatus for 2 months of treatment. The Bambara groundnut seed qualities were not adversely affected by the leaf powdered treatments of the botanicals. These plants have potential insecticidal properties which can further be researched upon to serve as alternatives of synthetic insecticide.
Effects of the fairy ring fungus Agaricus arvensis on nutrient availability in grassland

SUMMARY Agaricus arvensis Schaeff. ex Fr. produced a pattern (a fairy ring) in the vegetation consisting of three concentric zones of scorched or reddened foliage alternating with zones of more vigorous growth. The outermost zone contained active mycelium; the inner zones were thought to represent the positions of the mycelium in previous years. Soil samples were taken from the various zones of affected vegetation, and from outside and inside the rings. Concentrations of total nitrogen, phosphorus (total and acetic acid extractable), potassium and magnesium were highest in the active zone; concentrations of these nutrients inside the zones were lower than those outside. Leaf blades of Agrostis capillaris L. in all zones of affected vegetation had enhanced concentrations of nitrogen. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations in leaves were reduced within the fairy rings, especially in the zones of reddened foliage. It is concluded that the growth habit of the fungus allows it to accumulate nutrients very effectively and may cause nutrient deficiencies in higher plants. The investment of potassium in sporophores was equivalent to 23 % of that in the soil volume exploited by the mycelium in 1 year. For phosphorus the corresponding percentages were 1–3 of total soil phosphorus and 63 % of acetic acid-extractable phosphorus. However for nitrogen, calcium and magnesium the quantity in the sporophores was & 1 % of that in the soil.
Review: Radiation-related brain damage and growth retardation among the prenatally exposed atomic bomb survivors

Many studies of prenatally exposed survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have shown that exposure to ionizing radiation during gestation has harmful effects on the developing human brain. Data on the occurrence of severe mental retardation as well as variation in intelligence quotient (IQ) and school performance show significant effects on those survivors exposed 8-15 and 16-25 weeks after ovulation. Studies of seizures, especially those without a known precipitating cause, also exhibit a radiation effect in survivors exposed 8-15 weeks after ovulation. The biologic events that subtend these abnormalities are still unclear. However, magnetic resonance imaging of the brains of some mentally retarded survivors has revealed a large region of abnormally situated gray matter, suggesting an abnormality in neuronal migration. Radiation can induce small head size as well as mental retardation, and a review of the relationship between small head size and anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, sitting height and chest circumference, shows that individuals with small head size have smaller anthropometric measurements than normocephalics. This suggests that radiation-related small head size is related to a generalized growth retardation. Finally, the issue of a threshold in the occurrence of one or more of these effects, both heuristically and from a regulatory perspective, remains uncertain. Simple inspection of the data often suggests that a threshold may exist, but little statistical support for this impression can be advanced, except in the instance of mental retardation.
Prey Selection by Rhinolophus hipposideros (Chiroptera, Rhinolophidae) in a Modified Forest in Southwest Europe

The knowledge of the diet of endangered species provides information on ecology and behaviour that is essential for the adequate management of their populations. Population decline may be indeed associated with diet specialization and unavailability of feeding resources, especially in modified environments. We studied the diet and prey selection of Rhinolophus hipposideros Borkhausen, 1797 in a modified Mediterranean landscape in Portugal, where this species is classified as vulnerable. Diet composition was evaluated by analyzing faecal pellets collected in a breeding colony of R. hipposideros, and the available arthropods were sampled using a light trap set outside the roost. The most consumed prey were Lepidoptera, Tipulidae (Diptera), Hymenoptera, Diptera and Neuroptera. Arthropod diversity remained fairly constant in the diet, but not in terms of prey availability. Our results show that R. hipposideros is a generalist species that feeds on a great number of prey species. However, our data suggest that, within the broad dietary niche, R. hipposideros is not opportunistic, actively selecting Diptera as a preferred food item. Despite the marked differences in foraging habitats, our results are closely match to those of studies done in Western and Central Europe, suggesting that R. hipposideros feeds on similar taxa all across Europe. However, as many studies indicate, this species selects broadleaved woodlands and riparian vegetation to forage, so conservation measures should take into account the protection of native forest and the maintenance of forest corridors among them, as R. hipposideros seems to avoid crossing open areas.
Effect of the fungicide phosphite on pollen fertility of perennial species of the Eucalyptus marginata forest and northern sandplains of Western Australia

The fungicide phosphite was shown to affect pollen fertility in a range of perennial species from the south-west of Western Australia. Phosphite was applied to perennial species of the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest by spraying to run-off with 2.5, 5 and 10 g L–1 phosphite in either autumn or spring. Pollen fertility of Dryandra sessilis was reduced by phosphite for up to 35 and 60 weeks after spraying in spring or autumn, respectively. Trymalium ledifolium pollen fertility was reduced by phosphite 38 and 61 weeks after spraying in spring or autumn, respectively. Lasiopetalum floribundum was less affected with a reduction in pollen fertility being observed for up to 3 weeks after spraying in spring. Other perennial understorey species of the jarrah forest, Adenanthos barbiger, Boronia cymosa, Hovea elliptica and Phyllanthus calycinus were also shown to have reduced pollen fertility after treatment in autumn or spring, as did Comesperma calymega, Eremaea astrocarpa and Hibbertia hypericoides, species of the northern sandplains when sprayed in summer.
Survival of Brevibacterium linens (ATCC 9174) after Spray Drying, Freeze Drying, or Freezing

The objectives of this work were to: (1) contrast spray drying, freeze drying and freezing for large-scale preservation of B. linens, (2) determine the thermal resistance curves, and (3) measure the storage stability. When B. linens was freeze-dried and frozen in feed suspensions containing 3% (w/v) cell paste and 25% (w/w) total solids, survival was 100%. During spray drying, lethal thermal injury was the main cause of loss of viability. Accordingly, by extrapolation, 100% viability would be possible at an outlet-air temperature of 57°C. Spray-dried and freeze-dried cells were stable during storage at 4°C in the absence of oxygen and moisture.