Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN E AND ANTIOXIDANT ON THE RESPONSE OF DIETARY SELENIUM BY THE CHICK AND THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SELENIUM IN FEED GRAIN

Broiler chicks were used to determine the influence of dietary selenium, vitamin E, and antioxidant on the incidence of exudative diathesis, and the activity of selenium present in feed grain in two experiments. Chicks were depleted of selenium by feeding a selenium-deficient diet for 10 days. Following the depletion period, chicks were fed different levels of selenium with and without vitamin E and antioxidant in the first experiment. Results showed that the incidence of exudative diathesis decreased as selenium was increased in the diet. The addition of vitamin E, or antioxidant, or both, reduced the incidence of exudative diathesis at each level of dietary selenium. The second experiment was an evaluation of selenium supplied by feed grain compared with dietary sodium selenite supplied at various dietary levels on the response of exudative diathesis and other response measurements in the chick. Results indicated that grain samples grown in a specific locality showed a similar selenium content irrespect.
The response of weed community in soybean with conventional and conservation tillage systems on rainfed Vertisols

A change in tillage system from conventional to conservation tillage may influence weed population, diversity and weed seed distribution in the soil profile. Therefore, a field study was conducted during 2009 through 2011 to investigate the effects of tillage system. The number of grassy weeds was least in the no-tillage (NT), reduced till (RT) and mould board plough (MB) treatments compared to the conventional till (CT) treatment. More dicot weeds were recorded in the RT and NT plots than the CT. Averaged over seasons, the CT and MB treatments had 17–30% more weed species than RT and NT treatments. Treatments NT, RT and CT had more weed seeds in 0–5 cm soil depth than the MB. The trend in 5–15 cm soil depth was MB > CT > RT = NT. Tillage systems had significant effect on soybean seed yield in one of the 3 years. Averaged over years, the CT treatment had the lowest seed yield (458 kg ha−1), significantly lower than the MB and RT treatments (522–550 kg ha−1). Seed yields were lower with one (452 kg ha−1) than two (566 kg ha−1) weeding operations. Our results indicate conservation till systems as a suitable option for soybean grown on Vertisols.
Reply:

We have read with great interest the letter of Pelz and Lownie, and we are grateful for their interesting comments regarding our paper on the WEBCAST-2 study. We wish to make the following comments in response. 1) Because Pelz and Lownie are only challenging the “high” efficacy of WEB treatment, it probably implies that they concur with the high safety profile of the WEB device reported in WEBCAST-2. This is the primary concern when dealing with aneurysm treatment, and all published results of good clinical practice studies evaluating WEB (WEBCAST, French Observatory, and WEB-IT) have indeed confirmed similar high safety results: low morbidity (between 0.7% and 3.2%) and no mortality at 1 month. For reference, the meta-analysis cited by Pelz and Lownie reports mortality of 1.7% for surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms, with the rate of unfavorable outcome at 6.7%. 2) Pelz and Lownie are probably right when they write that “high” efficacy might not be the appropriate wording to qualify WEBCAST-2 anatomical results. Still, the rate of adequate occlusion at 1 year is 80.0%, consistent with observations from other WEB good clinical practice studies. Although we know that neck remnant is rarely associated with rupture or rerupture, adequate occlusion is really what matters once safety is confirmed. It is also important to point out that patients with wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms—the target population of the WEBCAST-2 study—represent a challenging and difficult-to-treat population, regardless of the treatment technique. We actually agree that long-term follow-up is needed to properly evaluate the stability of aneurysm treatment and claim “high” efficacy. Long-term follow-up has been obtained in a small, retrospective European series, but the most important data will come from the good clinical practice studies where 5 years’ follow-up is foreseen. 3) Interestingly, Pelz and Lownie are comparing the efficacy of WEB treatment with surgical treatment. Kotowski et al report 2 interesting facts in their meta-analysis: aneurysm occlusion data are missing for 82.2% of all clipped aneurysms in the analyzed series, and there was no long-term follow-up available. With that in mind, can we scientifically consider surgical treatment “effective” from a long-term anatomic standpoint?
Use of Synthetic Ground Covers to Control Weeds in Blackberries

Weed control in blackberries (Rubus spp.) is a serious problem for organic producers and those who wish to reduce their reliance on herbicides. Three landscape fabrics and one industrial grade white on black plastic were evaluated for weed control in conjuction with newly planted ‘Kiowa’ root cuttings in Feb. 2006 at a site near Monte Alto, Texas (26°N Lat.). In the no-fabric treatment, weeds were controlled mechanically by hand. The reflectant white plastic and weave weed barriers reduced mid-summer soil temperatures at 10 cm and reduced the magnitude in soil temperature fluctuation. Field plant vigor and plant height measured in 2007 (only) were improved by use of weed barriers. The time required for plot weed removal was shortest for white plastic and longest for bare soil. White plastic improved the average cumulative season yields in both years (6.46 t/ha) compared to yields from plants grown in bare soil (4.58 t/ha), P = 0.003, and also when contrasted against all other weed control methods (P = 0.0003). In 2007, fruit from bare soil plants showed the greatest decline in average fruit size during the picking season. In 2007, fruit from plants grown in bare soil were lowest in soluble solids and sugar:acid ratio compared to fruit from weed barrier treatments. Similar, though non-significant, fruit quality trends existed in 2008 harvested fruit. In both years, fruit grown over white plastic had the highest mean soluble solids concentration (11.3%) compared to bare ground-grown fruit (9.8%).
Biocontrol of root-rot disease of Coleus forskohlii and Coleus amboinicus by using plant extracts as antifungal agents

Different plant extracts were screened for their potential antifungal activity against Fusarium chlamydosporum causing root rot of Coleus amboinicus and Coleus forskohlii; the aqueous and 50% ethanol extract of Annona squamosa, Azadircta indica, Eucalyptus Spp. , Ocimum sanctum, Lawsonia inermis, Allium schoenoprasum, Cinnamomum verum Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum, Calendula officinalis species were found to be effective. Both aqueous and 50% ethanol extract of the aforementioned plants showed a significant inhibition.
An assessment of Haraldiophyllum (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta), including H . crispatum (J.D. Hooker et Harvey) comb. nov. from New Zealand based on rbc L and LSU sequence analysis and morphological evidence

Over thirty species from around the world are currently placed in Myriogramme, very few of which have been compared with the type species, M. livida from southern South America and the Falkland Islands. An investigation of two of these, Myriogramme crispata and M. denticulata from New Zealand, demonstrates that they comprise a single morphologically variable species, Haraldiophyllum crispatum (J.D. Hooker et Harvey) comb. nov., that is separable from Myriogramme. A morphological and molecular study of the New Zealand species, together with the type species of Haraldiophyllum, H. bonnemaisonii, from the British Isles, establishes that the genus is correctly placed in the tribe Myriogrammeae. It differs from Myriogramme in having sympodially developed solitary terminal carposporangia, rather than primary carposporangia borne in chains, and sterile-group cells that fuse during carposporophyte development rather than remaining separate. Sequence analyses of the rbcL gene revealed that a range of forms of H. crispatum from the North, South and Stewart Islands, New Zealand were identical and that H. crispatum was sister to H. bonnemaisonii. A sister relationship between Haraldiophyllum and Myriogramme was moderately supported in maximum parsimony analyses of the large subunit rDNA (LSU) and was strongly supported in a Bayesian analysis. Even though rbcL sequence analysis did not support a close relationship between Haraldiophyllum and Myriogramme, alternative topologies enforcing a sister relationship between the respective genera were not rejected by Shimodaira Hasegawa tests. Our studies indicate that many species with similar morphologies placed in Haraldiophyllum, Myriogramme and Nitophyllum require re-investigation.
Use of a Commercial Pectolytic Enzyme to Extract Juice from Frozen Mayhaw (Crataegus opaca Hook.) Fruit

ABSTRACT The efficacy of a commercial pectinase enzyme preparation was evaluated for juice yield and quality of mayhaw (Creategus opaca) fruit pulp. The use of pectinase in the extraction procedure increased juice color, reduced juice browning—assayed as absorption at 420 nm enhanced color density and increased percent soluble solids. Yield of mayhaw fruit juice significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved with increasing concentrations of pectinase enzyme from 0.2% to 6.4%. Juice yield of the untreated controls was about 64% (w/w) as compared to yields of 77.2-80.4% from pectinase-treated fruit macerate. Mean soluble solids content of pectinase treated mayhaw fruit juice ranged from 6.6 to 10.4 total Brix (23.4°C), soluble solids content of the untreated mayhaw juice was 6.5%. A significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the efficacy of pectinase occurred at a holding temperature of 32°C and 0.20 (% w/w). Enzymatic concentration levels ≥ 0.20% w/w and a reaction temperature of 2°C for 24 hours, treatment effects observed on juice yield, percent soluble solids and CIE* color were similar (P ≤ 0.05).
EFFECT OF DAYLENGTH ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT

Leaf area per plant, total number of leaves and tillers, and total plant dry weight increased with increasing daylength over the range 8 to 24 h. The increase in the net assimilation rate and relative growth rate with increasing daily total radiation was similar to that obtained by raising the intensity of light given to plants grown under continuous illumination.During the vegetative phase of growth, the leaf area ratio decreased with increasing daylength, mostly because of an increased leaf thickness, again dependent on the level of total daily radiation. During the later stages of growth, earlier floral initiation at long daylengths caused an early decline in the leaf area ratio because of the rapid growth of the stem associated with inflorescence formation. This was a photoperiodic effect independent of the level of total daily radiation, as shown by supplementing an 8-h daylength with 8 h of low-intensity illumination.
Spontaneous occurrence of cytomixis and syndiploidy in Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub

The genus Cyamopsis D. C. belongs to the tribe Galegeae of Papilionaceae (Fabaceae). Three species have been recorded from East India, Afghanistan, Arabia and tropical South Africa (Hutchinson 1964). Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. (Syn. C. psoralioidis, D. C.), locally known as "cluster bean" or 'Guar', is a cultivated species of considerable economic importance specially in Western districts of Uttar Pradesh. Young pods are eaten as vegetable and the plant as such is used as cattle feed. Its distribution extends from upper Gangetic plains to Punjab southwards and is believed to occur in wild state in Rawalpindi, Paksitan. Afghanistan is given as one of its habitat and it may have brought into India from that direction. The detailed Cytogenetical studies in C. tetragonoloba (Sarbhoy 1977) re vealed 7 and 14 as haploid and diploid chromosome numbers to corroborate the findings of Rangaswamy Ayyanger and Krishnaswamy (1933), Frahm-Leliveld (1962), Srivastava and Naithani (1964), and Bir and Sidhu (1967). There are isolated reports (Vig 1964, 1965a, b, Kinnmann et al. 1969, and Sarb hoy 1977) of the occurrence of various meiotic anomalies such as binucleate pollen mother cells (PMCs), reciprocal translocations, inversion heterozygosity and lag gards in this species. The present communications is the first record of the spontaneous occurrence of cytomixis and syndiploidy in this species.
A new species of Perezia (Microsporida: Pereziidae) from the Argentine grasshopper Dichroplus elongatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

The new microsporidium (Microsporida: Pereziidae), Perezia dichroplusae n. sp. , infects the epithelial cells of the Malpighian tubules of the Argentine grasshopper Dichroplus elongatus. Characteristics of the pathogen include the following: development in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm; bi-, tetra-, and sometimes multinucleate diplokaryotic meronts, rounded or elongate in shape; unikaryotic sporonts and sporogonial plasmodia, elongate in shape; sporoblasts and spores uninucleated; spores highly variable in size (1.6–6.7 by 1.0–2.7 μm, x= 3.5 ± 0.09 by 1.5 ± 0.02, n = 100) with eight or fewer polar tube coils and showing a posterior electron-dense inclusion body.
Does the migration programme constrain dispersal and range sizes of migratory birds?

Aim It is generally believed that the migration programme constrains the dispersal and hence range sizes of migratory bird species. This conclusion is based on analyses of breeding ranges of migratory versus non‐migratory (resident) terrestrial bird species, and rests on the assumption that there are no ecological or evolutionary constraints on extending the non‐breeding range. To investigate this assumption, the abilities of migrant and resident terrestrial species to colonize new wintering areas were compared.
Single-molecule transport kinetics of a glutamate transporter homolog shows static disorder

Single-molecule detection of transport turnovers shows a distribution of rates with fast transporters favored by mutations. Kinetic properties of membrane transporters are typically poorly defined because high-resolution functional assays analogous to single-channel recordings are lacking. Here, we measure single-molecule transport kinetics of a glutamate transporter homolog from Pyrococcus horikoshii, GltPh, using fluorescently labeled periplasmic amino acid binding protein as a fluorescence resonance energy transfer–based sensor. We show that individual transporters can function at rates varying by at least two orders of magnitude that persist for multiple turnovers. A gain-of-function mutant shows increased population of the fast-acting transporters, leading to a 10-fold increase in the mean transport rate. These findings, which are broadly consistent with earlier single-molecule measurements of GltPh conformational dynamics, suggest that GltPh transport is defined by kinetically distinct populations that exhibit long-lasting “molecular memory. ”
From asymmetrical to balanced genomic diversification during rediploidization: Subgenomic evolution in allotetraploid fish

Allotetraploid cyprinids have a unique strategy for balancing subgenomic stabilization and diversification in rediploidization. A persistent enigma is the rarity of polyploidy in animals, compared to its prevalence in plants. Although animal polyploids are thought to experience deleterious genomic chaos during initial polyploidization and subsequent rediploidization processes, this hypothesis has not been tested. We provide an improved reference-quality de novo genome for allotetraploid goldfish whose origin dates to ~15 million years ago. Comprehensive analyses identify changes in subgenomic evolution from asymmetrical oscillation in goldfish and common carp to diverse stabilization and balanced gene expression during continuous rediploidization. The homoeologs are coexpressed in most pathways, and their expression dominance shifts temporally during embryogenesis. Homoeolog expression correlates negatively with alternation of DNA methylation. The results show that allotetraploid cyprinids have a unique strategy for balancing subgenomic stabilization and diversification. Rediploidization process in these fishes provides intriguing insights into genome evolution and function in allopolyploid vertebrates.
Potassium dependence and phytoplankton ecology: an experimental study

1. Unialgal cultures of three species common in the freshwater phytoplankton were used to test limitation of specific growth rate and final yield in defined media of low K + concentration (range <0.3-6 μmol L -1 or mmol m -3 ). 2. Growth rate of the diatom Asterionella formosa was independent of K + concentration above 0.7 μmol L -1 . Final yield was dependent on initial concentration when accompanied by K + depletion below this concentration, but not by lesser depletion with more residual K + . Analyses of particulate K in the biomass indicated a mean final cell content of 2.8 μmol K 10 -8 cells, approximately 1.0% of the organic dry weight. 3. Less detailed work with the diatom Diatoma elongatum showed no dependence of growth rate or final yield upon the initial K + concentration in the range 0.8-3.2 m mol L -1 . The phytoflagellate Plagioselmis nannoplanctica suffered net mortality in the lowest concentration tested, 0.8 μmol L -1 . 4. Comparison with the range of K + concentration in natural fresh waters, including a depletion induced by an aquatic macrophyte, suggests that K + is unlikely to limit growth of phytoplankton. Nevertheless, there can be correlation of K + with lake trophy.
Observations on the Bionomics of the Apple-blossom Weevil, Anthonomus pomorum, Linn

SUMMARY. 1The life history of the Apple-Blossom Weevil, Anthcmomus pomo-rum, a serious pest in apple-growing districts, has been worked out and is herein described. 2The adult, of which a full description, including that of the alimentary and genital systems, is given, spends the winter hibernating in or near apple orchards. 2In spring the adults leave their winter quarters and, prior to mating, feed by piercing the fruit buds and sucking the juices. 3Egg laying is performed when the development of the buds is in the stage known as “Cluster-bud. ” The egg is thrust into the centre or the young flower by the ovipositor of the female. 4The stages, oval, larval, and pupal are described followed by a discussion of the habits of the young adult which is shown to feed on the under surfaces of the leaves. 5Natural enemies, including birds, insects and fungi, are shown to play an important part in limiting the extent and distribution of the weevil.
Dental anomalies in the atlantic population of south american sea lion, Otaria byronia (Pinnipedia, Otariidae): evolutionary implications and ecological approach

We analyzed 63 cases of dental anomalies from 62 specimens of a total sample of 516 specimens of the Atlantic population of South American sea lions, Otaria byronia de Blainville, 1820. The anomalies were represented by 53 cases of missing upper post-canine 6 (second molars), seven cases of maxillary or mandibular extra teeth, two cases of 'dentes geminatis'; and one case of reduced teeth. Considering a phylogenetic framework where all otariid species and basal Pinnipedimorpha are included, missing post-canine 6 could be related to evolutionary trends in Otariidae towards a progressive reduction and loss of teeth (agenesis). The occurrence of the upper post-canine 6 in Otaria Peron, 1816 as in Phocarctos Peters, 1866 is usually regarded as a primitive character. Alternatively, when adopting another cladistic procedure, this could be interpreted as a taxic atavism at the base of Otaria/Phocarctos clade. Extra-mandibular teeth are related to a concrete case of spontaneous atavism in the dentition of Otaria byronia , in retrogression to ancient groups like the Miocene pinnipediform Pteronarctos Barnes, 1989. The other anomalies - maxillary extra teeth, 'dentes geminati'; and reduced teeth - are caused by some disturbance on the epigenetic system underlying dental morphogenesis leading to duplication, coalescence or duplication and reduction of the dental germ, respectively. Dental formula in Otaria byronia shows a high degree of variability and this variability must be considered in the light of their phylogenetic relationships and their evolutionary history. The ecological approach suggests that dental anomalies do not affect longevity, and are unrelated to dietary items or environmental disturbances, but these points need more careful studies.
Nitrogen-Fixing Activity of Root Nodules in Relation to Their Size in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract The nitrogen-fixing activity of root nodules was examined with reference to the nodule size in peanut. Root nodules of field-grown peanut were collected at flowering through harvesting stages and classified into five groups of size using a circle template. Then acetylene reduction activity was measured to evaluate nitrogen-fixing activity for respective size groups. In addition, the diameter of the cross-section of each root nodule and rhizobium-infected areas on the cross-section were measured. The results showed that the nitrogen-fixing activity of root nodules is closely related with their size. In the root nodules in the medium size group (1.5− 2.0 mm in diameter), nitrogen-fixing activity per unit fresh weight of nodule was highest at the flowering stage and rapidly decreased thereafter. The nitrogen-fixing activity of root nodules larger than 2.0 mm in diameter did not vary significantly with their size. Colors of rhizobium-infected zones varied with their size: white in small nodules; red in medium-sized nodules; and greenish in larger nodules, which suggests that the concentration of leghemoglobin is highest in the medium-sized nodules. Nitrogen-fixing activities of the medium-sized nodules might determine the amount of nitrogen fixation in the whole root system during pod-filling because medium-sized nodules had high activity and were large in number. Classification of root-nodule size based on the circle template is a simple, rapid, and useful method to evaluate nitrogen-fixing activity of root nodules.
Effect of molecular size on physical properties of wheat arabinoxylan

A water-soluble wheat arabinoxylan was fractionated by molecular sieve chromatography into five polysaccharide fractions with limiting viscosities of 8.5 (F1), 6.2 (F2), 4.3 (F3), 3.8 (F4), and 3.4 (F5) dL/g. Compositional, 13C NMR, and 1H NMR analyses revealed very little structural variation among these fractions. The flow behavior of arabinoxylan fractions in dilute and concentrated solutions showed two critical concentrations (c and c). Oxidative gelation of the arabinoxylan fractions, involving intermolecular cross-linking via feruloyl residues, was followed by dynamic rheometry. Almost linear relationships between the storage modulus (G') of the gel network and polymer concentration were found for all fractions. However, while G' values of F1 and F2 increased very rapidly with increasing polymer concentration, F3, F4, and F5 exhibited much less concentration dependence of G'. Positive linear relationships between rigidity (G') of cross-linked arabinoxylan gels and intrinsic viscosity [171 of arabinoxylan fractions were found. The effectiveness of cross-linking reactions, ne(exp)/ne(theor) (ratio of cross-link density experimentally determined to the theoretical value), increased with increasing molecular size of the arabinoxylan fractions. Fractions that formed networks with a high density of cross-linking (F1 and F2) were the most effective in their ability to entrap and hold water. The arabinoxylan fractions were also effective in stabilizing protein foams against thermal disruption in the order F1 > F2 > F3 > F4 > F5.