Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of the wood anatomy of 11 species from two cerrado habitats (cerrado s.s. and adjacent gallery forest)

A comparative study of the secondary xylem (wood) anatomy of 11 species (38 specimens) occurring in cerrado s.s. and the adjacent gallery forest (both cerrado s.l. habitat) was made with the aim of identifying the anatomical characteristics of ecological value and correlating them with the environmental conditions. The anatomical features that vary, in general, between the two habitats are: growth ring distinctness (well or poorly defined); tyloses and deposits (more abundant in cerrado specimens); gelatinous fibres (more evident in cerrado specimens and in different patterns between habitats); variation in paratracheal and banded parenchyma (more abundant in cerrado); and more cells per parenchyma strand in cerrado. In general, gallery forest specimens have wider vessels, fewer vessels per square millimetre and larger intervessel pits, indicating more efficient water conduction, whereas cerrado s.s. specimens are the opposite, with low vulnerability and mesomorphy indices, demonstrating greater safety under conditions of water stress. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ••, ••–••.
EFFECT OF ENDOSPERM HARDNESS ON AN ETHANOL PROCESS USING A GRANULAR STARCH HYDROLYZING ENZYME

Granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes (GSHE) can hydrolyze starch at low temperature (32°C). The dry grind process using GSHE (GSH process) has fewer unit operations and no changes in process conditions (pH 4.0 and 32°C) compared to the conventional process because it dispenses with the cooking and liquefaction step. In this study, the effects of endosperm hardness, protease, urea, and GSHE levels on GSH process were evaluated. Ground corn, soft endosperm, and hard endosperm were processed using two GSHE levels (0.1 and 0.4 mL per 100 g ground material) and four treatments of protease and urea addition. Soft and hard endosperm materials were obtained by grinding and sifting flaking grits from a dry milling pilot plant; classifications were confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. During 72 h of simultaneous granular starch hydrolysis and fermentation (GSHF), ethanol and glucose profiles were determined using HPLC. Soft endosperm resulted in higher final ethanol concentrations compared to ground corn or hard endosperm. Addition of urea increased final ethanol concentrations for soft and hard endosperm. Protease addition increased ethanol concentrations and fermentation rates for soft endosperm, hard endosperm, and ground corn. The effect of protease addition on ethanol concentrations and fermentation rates was most predominant for soft endosperm, less for hard endosperm, and least for ground corn. Samples (soft endosperm, hard endosperm, or corn) with protease resulted in higher (1.0% to 10.5% v/v) ethanol concentration compared to samples with urea. The GSH process with protease requires little or no urea addition. For fermentation of soft endosperm, GSHE dose can be reduced. Due to nutrients (lipids, minerals, and soluble proteins) present in corn that enhance yeast growth, ground corn fermented faster at the beginning than hard and soft endosperm.
The new concept of dose adjustment in tree crops

The lack of a harmonized method to establish the suitable dose in accordance to the real orchard conditions is one of the most important constraints affecting the sustainability of the use of pesticides in tree crops. Several attempts to introduce new dosing methods, such as canopy height or LWA (Wolhlauser, 2009) have appeared in high density fruit orchards and vineyards. Nevertheless when trees are conducted in wide canopies these methods are not adopted. This affects the production of apple, pear, peach, nectarine, citrus, almond and vine in the main fruit regions located worldwide.
SPONTANEOUS FORMATION OF ACIDS IN THE NATURAL AGING OF PAPER

Abstract Until now, only acids introduced in the manufacture of paper and those absorbed from the environment have been believed mainly responsible for the degradation of paper. Experimental evidence is presented to show that significant concentrations of several organic acids are spontaneously generated in the natural aging of all cellulose-based papers, including alkaline papers. Easily detectable concentrations of formic (methanoic), acetic (ethanoic), lactic, glycolic, oxalic and a few other as yet unidentified acids accumulate within a few months of manufacture in paper stored under ambient conditions. It is proposed that the formation of weak organic acids from the oxidation of carbohydrate fragments comprises an essential element of a mechanism for the aging of cellulose. Oxidation and acid hydrolysis reactions reinforce each other in this reaction mechanism to promote an ever-accelerating degradative process. Based upon these findings, a new accelerated aging test for paper has been developed that shows a greater similarity to natural aging than presently accepted accelerated aging methods.
Phosphorus Distribution and Remobilization in Bean Plants as Influenced by Phosphorus Nutrition

Remobilization of P from vegetative tissues can be an important source of grain P in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Yet, data on the extent of remobilization of P from roots is scarce. We measured P remobilization from roots and leaves and examined the influence of P nutrition on remobilization patterns and tissue longevity. A split-root system was used to expose a portion of the root system (compartment roots) to low-P treatments independently from those imposed on the main root system. Phosphorus content of retained leaves, abscised leaves, stems, pods, seeds, and roots were observed over time. Leaf remobilization supplied over half of the pod plus seed P. Flux analysis suggested that leaf remobilization occurred earlier in low-P than it did in high-P plants. Root P content of compartment roots did not decrease with ontogeny. We compared remobilization patterns of root Pin low-P and high-P plants in a short-term experiment using 32 P applied to roots grown in either low-P or high-P compartments. Compartment roots retained over 80% of absorbed 32 P almost all cases. The exception was roots of high-P plants grown in a high-P compartment, which retained only 20% of absorbed 32 P. Together these results indicate common bean roots retain P when soil P levels are low. This behavior is in contrast to that of leaves and stems which remobilize P to the grain at both low and high levels of soil P fertility.
Glyoxalase and Methylglyoxal as Biomarkers for Plant Stress Tolerance

Glyoxalases are known to play a very important role in abiotic stress tolerance. This two-step pathway detoxifies ubiquitously present cytotoxic metabolite methylglyoxal, which otherwise increases to lethal concentrations under various stress conditions. Methylglyoxal initiates stress-induced signaling cascade via reactive oxygen species, resulting in the modifications of proteins involved in various signal transduction pathways, that eventually culminates in cell death or growth arrest. The associated mechanism of tolerance conferred by over-expression of methylglyoxal-detoxifying glyoxalase pathway mainly involves lowering of methylglyoxal levels, thereby reducing subsequently induced cellular toxicity. Apart from abiotic stresses, expression of glyoxalases is affected by a wide variety of other stimuli such as biotic, chemical and hormonal treatments. Additionally, alterations in cellular milieu during plant growth and development also affect expression of glyoxalases. The multiple stress-inducible nature of these enzymes suggests a vital role for glyoxalases, associating them with plant defense mechanisms. In this context, we have summarized available transcriptome, proteome and genetic engineering- based reports in order to highlight the involvement of glyoxalases as important components of plant stress response. The role of methylglyoxal as signaling molecule is also discussed. Further, we examine the suitability of glyoxalases and methylglyoxal as potential markers for stress tolerance.
Determinants of mesocarnivore range use: relative effects of prey and habitat properties on Pallas's cat home-range size

Abstract Ecologists have long sought to identify environmental and ecological traits influencing space use by individuals. Prey availability, habitat type, conspecific interactions, and sex are cited as determinants of carnivore spatial behavior, although empirical evidence of relationships between variables and home-range size are rare. We examined the relative importance of different ecological factors on the spatial behavior of Pallas's cats (Otocolobus manul), mesocarnivores native to the montane steppes of central Asia. Between 2005 and 2007 we estimated home-range size for 9 male and 16 female Pallas's cats. Cats used large and variable home ranges, with male home ranges 4–5 times the size of female ranges. Contrary to predictions, home-range size did not increase in response to low prey availability or seasonality. Smaller home ranges were associated with higher coverage of preferred rocky habitats in the home-range center, whereas larger home ranges were associated with higher connectivity of rocky habitats in the periphery of home ranges. This suggests that space use by Pallas's cats is a function of sex and is mediated by the distribution and availability of habitats. Because of interspecific predation pressure experienced by Pallas's cats, we argue that their spatial behavior originates from trade-offs between accessing food and maintaining proximity to habitats that provide cover from predators.
Review of the Potential Environmental and Human Health–Related Hazards and Risks from Long-Term Exposure to p-tert-Octylphenol

ABSTRACT Para-tert-octylphenol (OP) is an important chemical intermediate mainly used for production of phenolic resins and lacquers. OP has weak estrogen-like activity in vitro, with induction of vitellogenin in fish hepatocytes and competitive estrogen receptor binding and estrogen-responsive gene expression in mammalian systems. Induction of vitellogenin in fish plasma and liver, in vivo, has also been measured and weak estrogen-like activity in rodent screening assays occurs but at much lower potency than predicted by the in vitro activity. Conventional aquatic wildlife toxicity testing shows effects on survival, growth and development, and reproduction occurring at concentrations lower than the estrogen-like responses predicted from screening assays. Studies in rodents have provided evidence of metabolic saturation at high doses of OP, and a multigeneration reproductive study confirms the lack of estrogen-like activity below this metabolic saturation as well as the lack of reproductive toxicity. This article reviews the weight of evidence for the aquatic and mammalian data and compares the results of the definitive assays to those of the screening tests. The results show that the estrogen-like activity in screening tests is not predictive of results from definitive testing, and that risk assessment decisions should be made using conventional toxicity endpoints.
Status of some fishery resources in a tropical mangrove estuary of Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract This study was carried out to assess the fishery resources of the Sibuti River estuary, Sarawak, Malaysia. Data were collected from the study area for a period of one year in different seasons. The estuary is relatively species-rich and a total of 4675 individuals of 32 families from 60 species of fish (55), crab (four) and shrimp (one) were collected. Coilia dussumieri was the dominant species (22.63%) followed by Nemapteryx caelata (11.85%), Otolithes ruber (7.85%) and Ilisha elongata (5.80%). Marked seasonal variations were found among most of the hydrobiological factors; however, seasonal variations were not significant for the diversity indices such as Shannon–Wiener, Margalef and Evenness. The number of fish taxa caught in different mesh size gill nets was 1 inch (42 species) > 2 inch (36 species) > 4 inch (25 species), suggesting that smaller mesh nets are more suitable for assessing the diversity of fishery resources. SIMPER analysis showed that Coilia dussumieri was the most abundant species in the dry (10.3%) and intermediate (8.1%) seasons, whereas N. caelata was most abundant in the wet season (7.1%). Significant differences (ANOSIM and nMDS) were observed in the species community structure between dry–intermediate and dry–wet seasons; however, species compositions were not significantly different between intermediate and wet seasons. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that most of the species assemblages were positively correlated with turbidity and chlorophyll a, followed by phosphate, nitrate and zooplankton density. The findings suggest that the Sibuti mangrove estuary is productive in terms of diversified fishery resources, which are influenced by the hydrobiological factors.
The influence of ripening and crop year on quality indices, polyphenols, terpenic acids, squalene, fatty acid profile, and sterols in virgin olive oil (Koroneiki cv.) produced by organic versus non-organic cultivation method

Summary The chemical composition of virgin olive oil is determined by numerous factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the olive ripening stage, and crop year on the quality indices of Koroneiki cv. virgin olive oil of organic vs non-organic cultivation. Drupes of organic and of non-organic cultivation were sampled at four successive ripening periods in crop years 2000 and 2004. Quality indices, total and simple polyphenols, terpenic acids, squalene, fatty acid profile, and sterols were measured. Statistical analysis demonstrated that peroxide value differed according to cultivation method and according to crop year. Organic Koroneiki cv. olive oils exhibited higher total phenols content. Total phenols differed mainly according to crop year and maturation phase, but also according to cultivation method. Total unsaturated and saturated fatty acids differed according to cultivation method, crop year and maturation. Oleic and palmitoleic acids varied according to cultivation method and according to maturation process. Cholesterol, campesterol and stigmasterol differed according to maturity, while β-sitosterol differed according to crop year. Overall, olive oil from organic cultivation was of superior quality compared to non-organic, while composition of olive oils was greatly variable during maturation, whereas it was also affected by the crop year.
EXPRESSION AND DIVERSITY OF ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE EHAP1 IN EMILIANIA HUXLEYI (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) 1

Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) W. W. Hay et H. Mohler is a cosmopolitan coccolithophore species that forms massive blooms in low phosphorus seawater, partly due to its ability to utilize organic phosphate via extracellular alkaline phosphatase (AP). A novel AP gene, ehap1, was identified from the strain CCMP374. In this study, we examined the expression of ehap1 in various E. huxleyi strains and its genetic diversity in those strains and field populations. Two EHAP1 proteins (EHAP1a, 75 kDa and EHAP1b, 110 kDa) with virtually identical sequence were expressed under P limitation in all strains except one; a third protein (EHAP1c, 115 kDa) was expressed in a few strains. The correlation between AP activity and protein abundance suggests that EHAP1b is inactive and probably the precursor of EHAP1a. The transcript of ehap1 was induced by P depletion in all strains. The ehap1 gene sequence is highly conserved in these strains and field populations with <3% nucleic acid substitution. Most of the ehap1 sequences from one site in the English Channel and three sites in the Gulf of Alaska were essentially identical to one another. No EHAP1‐like protein can be detected in other phytoplankton species tested via Western blot analysis. The rapid induction and high activity of EHAP1 in E. huxleyi suggest that it plays a significant role in P regeneration in the oligotrophic ocean where E. huxleyi is abundant. The EHAP1 antibody and gene‐specific primers are well suited to study the dynamics of P limitation in field populations of E. huxleyi.
ESTIMATION OF THE LARGE MAMMAL DENSITIES, BIOMASS AND ENERGY EXCHANGE IN THE TARANGIRE GAME RESERVE AND THE MASAI STEPPE IN TANGANYIKA

Summary An account is given of the transect system of game counting used in this study, including the use of a visibility profile to determine the absolute area covered. Monthly density figures derived from the transect counts over four years are given for each of the common species separately and for the large mammal population as a whole. Direct aerial counting and total counting on the ground were employed to provide checks on the transect results and the former method was also used to obtain an overall population estimate of the Tarangire Game Reserve. The application of statistical analysis to the numerical data obtained is discussed and, because of the time-serial correlation of the monthly values, a non-parametric method is employed to confirm the significance of as many as possible of the density fluctuations indicated. Within the Tarangire Reserve, the annual density of large mammals varied between c. 60 animals per square mile in the rains and c. 250 animals per square mile during the dry season concentration. Aerial and ground survey and counting of the dispersed animals in the Masai Steppe provided data on the extent and the routes of the dispersal of animals after they leave the Reserve in the rains, and indicate a dispersal density of 2.5 animals per square mile (as compared with 80–140 animals per square mile in the similar country of the Serengeti Plains). The lowness of this density is attributed to human activity over the last 50 years, particularly to the removal of dry season water supplies. The seasonal fluctuations in numbers in the Tarangire Reserve, due to the movement of some species, are discussed and the ungulates are classified as residents and immigrants. The residents are further divided into those which have partial dispersal in the rains and those which do not. Impala numbers fluctuate seasonally but with a phasing which is the opposite of that of the immigrant species. A further element in the population consists of passage migrants which occur irregularly in the Tarangire Reserve as they move from one part of the dispersal area to another in the rains. Estimates of the biomass and of the metabolic energy expenditure rate in the transect-area population indicate that the total varies between 16,000 Calories per hour per square mile (16,000 lbs weight: 60 animals per square mile) in the rains, and 170,000 Calories per hour per square mile (207,000 lbs weight: 250 animals per square mile) in the dry season. The results confirm the very high carrying capacity of African Acacia savanna game range.
Repeated vital imaging reveals Schwann cells induce and guide nerve sprouting and regeneration of neuromuscular junctions

The terminal Schwann cell processes that cover the neuromuscular junction sense neuromuscular transmission and modulate synaptic activities in normal muscles (Son et al., 1996; Robitaille, 1998). Recent researches show the terminal Schwann cell participates in the maintenance and repair of neuromuscular junctions. Reynolds and Woolf (1992) found that in response to muscle denervation, the terminal Schwann cell extends long processes. Based on static observations of rat neuromuscular junctions, Son and Thompson (1995) proposed that Schwann cell processes extended following nerve crush guide regenerating axons to grow beyond endplates, generating so called “escaped” fibers. Further, they found that some Schwann cell processes formed Schwann cell bridges interconnecting two endplates and these Schwann cell bridges guided escaped fibers to innervate adjacent endplates. These results however were from static observations; direct evidence is necessary to better understand Schwann cell functions during nerve regeneration. Repeated vital imaging developed by Lichtman and his colleagues (Lichtman et al., 1987) on double transgenic mice allows us to better study dynamic processes of this guidance and more Schwann cell functions during nerve regeneration through direct observation. In these
Effect of Salinity Stress on Yield, Component Characters and Nutrient Compositions in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Genotypes

Abstract Crops growing in salt-affected soils may suffer from physiological drought stress, ion toxicity, and mineral deficiency which then lead to reduced growth and productivity. Eight rapeseed genotypes were evaluated at control and two salinity levels of irrigation, i.e. ECe=0 dS m-1 (control), 6 and 12 dS m-1. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with 4 replications was considered for evaluation of 24 treatments. Significant mean square of the salinity levels and genotypes were exhibited for 1000-seed weight, pod length, seed yield, Mg, K and Cl, indicating significant differences of genotypes for the traits at three salinity levels. Pods per plant and Mg had lowest variations among the genotypes at the high salinity levels. Hyola401, LRT1 and KRN1 with seed yield of 3.09, 2.78 and 2.30 g/plot, respectively were considered as salt tolerant genotypes. Stress (12dsm-1 ) to control ratio (S/C) which is indicating of salinity tolerance was high for seed yield of DSM12 and Hyola401.Significant positive correlation of seed yield with K and Cl, indicated that these shoot ions can be considered as good indicators for seed yield improving at saline environment.
Heritability and genetic correlations of wood characters of Upper Ottawa Valley white spruce populations grown in Quebec

The degree of inheritance and the genetic correlations of white spruce wood characters were studied from 39 half-sib families of eight populations from the Upper Ottawa Valley, 19 years after planting. The results indicated that these characters differ significantly among half-sib families. Furthermore, the study showed that white spruce wood characters are genetically related. Strong genetic correlations exist between the characters of inner wood and those of outer wood. Moderate to strong genetic control of outer wood characters was found while inner wood characters were found to be much more influenced by environmental factors. Expected genetic gains from a sequential two-step selection strategy were calculated.
Bacterial pathogens of oyster larvae (Crassostrea gigas) in a Tasmanian Hatchery

Diseases causing high mortality occurred in a hatchery for rearing juvenile oysters, C. gigas, at Bicheno, Tasmania, during 1980. Outbreaks of the disease characteristically showed three peaks: in 7-10-day- old larvae, in older larvae several days before setting, and in spat 1-2 weeks after setting. Various marine bacteria were cultivated from inactive larvae and other hatchery specimens, and the predominant strains were identified. When given to normal young larvae at doses of 1 × 105-5 × 105 or 1 × 10-5-5 × 107 bacteria (total dose), seven strains (five strains of Vibrio, two strains of Alteromonas) caused fatal infections in most animals. This is the first report of pathogenic marine bacteria in an Australian shellfish hatchery.