Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On understanding variation in immune expression of the damselflies Lestes spp.

Immune ability and immune expression have been viewed as life-history traits that are influenced by such factors as the likelihood of being parasitized, intensity and costs of parasitism, and trade-offs associated with immune expression. In this paper we show that different patterns of infestation by a generalist ectoparasite, Arrenurus planus Marshall (Arrenuridae: Hydrachnida), do not fully explain the variation in immune expression across four species of sympatric damselflies (Lestidae: Zygoptera). Within species, no gender biases in immune expression were evident. Whereas both males and females of one oft-exploited species did not mount immune responses against attending larval mites, males and females of three other species showed similar immune responses, with variable expression. The im- mune response was melanotic encapsulation of mite feeding tubes, and was associated with dead mites. Of the three species showing immune expression, the species with the highest prevalence and intensity of infestation had a signifi - cantly higher proportion of individuals responding immunologically to mites. In conclusion, current infestation levels only partially predict immune investment; consideration of the timing of emergence of different species suggests that season may be an important predictor of immune investment. Resume : La capacite immunitaire et l'expression de l'immunite sont parfois considerees comme des caracteristiques de la biologie d'une espece, caracteristiques influencees par divers facteurs, tels que la probabilite, la gravite et les couts du parasitisme, de meme que les compromis associes a l'expression de l'immunite. Nous demontrons ici que les differents patterns d'infestation d'un ectoparasite generaliste, Arrenurus planus Marshall (Arrenuridae : Hydrachnida), ne suffisent pas a expliquer totalement la variation dans l'expression de l'immunite chez quatre especes sympatriques de demoiselles (Lestidae : Zygoptera). Au sein des especes, nous n'avons pas constate de tendance particuliere des mâles ou des femelles dans l'expression de l'immunite. Bien que les mâles et les femelles d'une espece souvent exploitee ne developpent pas de reaction immunitaire contre les larves d'acariens presentes, les mâles et les femelles de trois autres especes reagissent de facon semblable, mais avec des variations dans l'expression de leur immunite. La reaction immunitaire resulte en l'encapsulation melanique des tubes alimentaires des acariens, phenomene associe aux acariens morts. Des trois especes dont l'immunite s'exprime, l'espece qui a le plus haut taux de prevalence et subit les infections les plus graves a une proportion significativement plus elevee d'individus qui reagissent a la presence des acariens. Il semble donc que les taux d'infestation enregistres a un moment donne ne permettent pas de predire entierement l'investissement immunitaire; l'examen du synchronisme de l'emergence de differentes especes indique que la saison peut etre un facteur important de prediction de l'investissement immunitaire. (Traduit par la Redaction) 821
The effect of carbon dioxide concentration on respiration of growing and mature soybean leaves

Soybean plants were grown continuously at 350 and 700cm3m−3 CO2 at constant temperature. Respiration rates of third trifoliolate leaves were measured at the growth CO2 concentration for the whole dark period from 5d before through to 5d after full area expansion. The short-term response of respiration rate to the measurement CO2 concentration was also determined at each age. Respiration rates per unit of dry mass declined with age and were significantly less at a given age or RGR in leaves grown and measured at the elevated CO2. The difference in respiration rate was largest in mature leaves and resulted from the different measurement CO2 concentrations. The respiratory costs of the tissue synthesis, estimated from the elemental composition of the tissue, did not differ substantially between CO2 treatments. The response of respiration rate to carbon dioxide concentration was not strongly affected by the form of nitrogen supplied. Maintenance respiration calculated by subtracting growth respiration from total respiration was negative in rapidly growing leaves for both CO2 treatments. This indicates that CO2 efflux in the dark does not accurately reflect the average 24 h rate of energy expenditure on growth and maintenance for soybean leaves.
Branching, biomechanics and bryozoan evolution

Late Cretaceous and early Tertiary radiations in cheilostome bryozoans gained major impetus from the evolutionary development of rigidly erect, branching growth habits from ancestral encrusting forms. Consideration of the skeletal strength, branching morphology, and behaviour in water flow of living and fossil arborescent cheilostomes suggests that: (1) the earliest species of the Cretaceous depended on high-strength skeletal material to resist failure, but were limited in growth by weak designs resulting from inability to thicken branches and thus augment skeletal cross sections toward the colony base; (2) with increasing ability to enhance design through branch thickening, a growing number of Cainozoic species have become capable of avoiding failure in likely régimes, even though they commonly have skeletons of weaker material; and (3) concurrently with the waning importance of mechanical limitations, spatial constraints have become more significant, so that most species now have branches diverging at angles that minimize crowding as a colony reaches maximum size. Morphological data from a total of 70 species ranging from the Cenomanian to the present provide statistically significant support for these trends. Preliminary data on detailed changes through time suggest that the trends arose through selection among species of generally advantageous morphological differences that are species-specific and fluctuate randomly within species.
Trophic relationships: integrating meiofauna into a realistic benthic food web

Summary 1 This paper summarises the most important contributions on trophic relationships of lotic meiofauna. In contrast to marine research, the few quantitative studies of the freshwater meiobenthos have shown that these invertebrates not only take up particulate/fine organic matter, but also dissolved organic substances attached to organic particles. In lotic ecosystems, further estimates of grazing rate and bacterial/algal ingestion rate are needed, particularly in situ measurements. 2 The effects of macroinvertebrate predators upon meiofauna are still under debate. Depending on the type of experiments (laboratory vs. field) it seems that macrofauna may or may not affect meiofauna. Field samples and analyses of gut contents of larval tanypod chironomids have shown that the impact upon meiofauna was low and larvae were nonselective predators. Predation amounted to 2.2% of the combined prey density and prey consumption averaged 1.3 individuals per predator individual per year. 3 Adding taxonomic resolution by including the meiofaunal component within lotic food webs distinctly increases the number of total species and, as a consequence, changes food web statistics. Webs that included meiofauna revealed that these metazoans contributed substantially to the percentage of intermediate species (species with predators and prey). The resolution of dietary analyses of major consumers of macro- and meiobenthos showed that many stream invertebrates feed on meiofauna.
Preliminary Evidence of the Importance of ENSO in Modifying Food Availability for White‐tailed Deer in a Mexican Tropical Dry Forest 1

The influence of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on rainfall and its possible effect on availability of food for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a tropical dry forest in the Pacific coast of Mexico was studied. From 1977 to 2003 there were three significant El Niño and La Niña events. During El Niño years rainfall decreased during the wet season ( June to October) and increased during the dry season (November to May), with the opposite effect during La Niña years. Plant diversity was monitored in permanent plots during the wet and dry seasons of 1989–1993. The results provide evidence that ENSO events affect deer food availability, particularly in the dry season.
Advances in Higher Level Mammalian Relationships

Traditionally, living members of the class Mammalia have been subdivided into two subclasses, Prototheria and Theria, with the latter further subdivided into the infraclasses Eutheria (placentals) and Metatheria (marsupials) (Simpson, 1945). Today, the class is represented by 26 extant orders containing a total of approximately 4629 species (Wilson and Reeder, 1993). Although not as speciose as other vertebrate classes, the uniqueness of mammals is associated with the complex array of specializations that have allowed mammals to exploit a broad range of environments, resulting in an almost worldwide distribution. The earliest fossils representing most mammalian orders appeared rather suddenly in the late Paleocene to early Eocene, and many evolutionary biologists use these orders as a classic example of adaptive radiation that followed the extinction of the dinosaurs. Clearly, morphological specializations associated with this adaptive radiation occurred at different rates, resulting in several lineages characterized by only a few apomorphies (e.g., Lipotyphla and Carnivora) and others (e.g., Cetacea and Chiroptera) by many special features. Despite some of the marked morphological differences among these major mammalian clades, evidence suggests that these clades are separated by rather short divergence times, impeding efforts to resolve higher
Phenotypic plasticity for dispersal ability in the seed heteromorphic Crepis sancta (Asteraceae)

In several species of Asteraceae with seed heteromorphism, the proportion of seeds equipped with wind-dispersal structure decreases plastically under stressful conditions. This contradicts the adaptive expectation that the dispersal rate should increase with stress. Alternatively, developmental constraints related to the ontogeny of the capitulum may explain these observations, as they may explain the effect of senescence on seed morph proportions. In the present paper, we report on an experiment investigating the effect of stress and senescence on the seed heteromorphic Crepis sancta (Asteraceae). Plants were subjected to one of four different treatments: control, simulated herbivory, nutrient depletion, and simulated herbivory plus nutrient depletion. Plants experiencing herbivory produced more fecund seed heads immediately after the application of stress, which was later compensated by a decrease in fecundity per seed head. Environmental stress increased the proportion of seeds with dispersal structures. Though senescence had large effects on fecundity, it had no effect on seed morph proportions in nonstressed plants. These findings agree with adaptive expectations about the effect of stress on dispersal ability, and contrast with results obtained in other seed heteromorphic Asteraceae. Our results cast doubts on the existence of strong developmental constraints acting on the seed morph proportions in Crepis sancta.
Rapid Separation and Quantification of Major Caseins and Whey Proteins of Bovine Milk by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract A rapid polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic method was developed for separating and quantifying major proteins in casein and whey protein fractions of bovine milk. For casein separation, best results were achieved by an 8% polyacrylamide gel containing 4 M urea and a top layer of large pore sample gel; for whey protein the most satisfactory separation was with 12% polyacrylamide gel in the absence of urea and a large pore gel. Electrophoretic conditions for separation of whey protein were also applicable for identifying genetic variants of β -lactoglobulin. Densitometric tracings were used to resolve and quantify protein peaks from stained bands in the gels. Casein was resolved into three major fractions with relative proportions of 50:30:15 for α s1 - and α s2 -casein, β -casein, and κ -casein. Whey protein was resolved into four major fractions with relative proportions of approximately 60:20:7:13 for β -lactoglobulin, α -lactalbumin, serum albumin, and immunoglobulin.
Genetic analysis of the Australian whipbirds and wedgebills illuminates the evolution of their plumage and vocal diversity

Abstract Morphological and vocal diversity among closely related species reflects a combination of shared ancestry and recent species-specific adaptations. A small group of Australo-Papuan passerines in the core Corvoidea, the whipbirds and wedgebills (Psophodes, Androphobus), provide an opportunity to explore this. Vocally, the Western Whipbird (Psophodes nigrogularis sensu lato) is very similar to the two species of wedgebills, whereas the sibilant whipcrack-like song of male Eastern Whipbirds is distinctive among the group. Using phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA we show that Australian whipbirds are not sister taxa but that the Eastern Whipbird is sister to the wedgebills and that the Western Whipbird is sister to the other three members of the group. Wedgebills are nested within the whipbird clade, supporting their current inclusion in Psophodes. The topology and reconstruction of ancestral states suggests the similarity in vocalisation among wedgebills and the Western Whipbird is a result of shared ancestral character states, whereas the whipcrack-like song of the Eastern Whipbirds is autapomorphic.
The effects of heavy metals exposure on reproductive systems of cyprinid fish from Kor River

The Kor River (Fars province) was divided into three parts and water and fish specimens were collected monthly and the concentrations of four heavy metals were determined using the Induction Coupled Plasma Method. As middle sampling zone was the main entrance and discharges of industries into the River, the concentrations of heavy metals in tissue of fish from this zone were significantly higher (p 0.05) were detected between the two sexes and species. Maximum concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium in fish tissues were higher than the permissible levels for human consumption. Significant changes in the concentrations of steroid hormones were also noticed between the middle and two other sampling zones. Also in middle sampling zone, pathological changes in blood cells, liver, and kidneys of fishes were significantly higher. So heavy metals exposure can effectively decrease estrogenic and androgenic secretion in fish. The results confirmed exposure of fishes to heavy metals not only disrupts reproductive hormones’ secretion, but also induces some pathological changes.
Comparative effects of pure spirulina powder and other diets on larval growth and survival of green tiger shrimp, Peneaus semisulcatus

This experiment was carried out in Bandargah Station in Bushehr province. Peneaus semisulcatus larvae were fed on Spirulina platensis as supplementation microalgae. In order to use spirulina platensis in this study, we have to produce biomass and dry production of this microalga. Determination of length and survival rate of Peneaus semisulcatus larvae was carried out as the objective of the study. Treatments including Z plus (as a supplementation without spirulina), M.C. F (as an imported enriched spirulina), the powder combination of Spirulina platensis with Z plus and Spirulina platensis as live food were compared to Cheatocerus microalgae as a control. The experiment was carried out from nauplii stage to early post larvae. The results of the experiment indicated that the powder combination of Spirulina platensis with Z plus treatment has the most survival rate (76.5%). The maximum of length (4.3mm) observed in control (Cheatocerus spp.). The maximum mortality was observed in zoa stage in spirulina microalgae treatment, because the spiral filamentous of spirulina sp.was large.
The Mechanisms of Filter Feeding: Some Theoretical Considerations

We enumerate the five basic mechanisms by which any biological or manmade filter can remove particles from a fluid. These mechanisms are: (1) direct interception, (2) inertial impaction, (3) gravitational deposition, (4) motile-particle deposition, and (5) electrostatic attraction. For these mechanisms we present dimensionless indexes that indicate which measurable characteristics of the filter, the particles, and the flow affect the intensity of particle capture. By comparing the magnitudes of these indexes it is possible to determine the main mechanism a filter is using to capture particles. Awareness of these mechanisms and their interrelationships will provide insights for those investigating the efficiency of various modes of filter feeding and the mechanisms of size-selective suspension feeding.
Analysis of carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth in China

This study examines the nexus of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, energy consumption (EC) and gross domestic products (GDP), using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds test approach of co-integration and error-correction model (ECM) for the period 1971–2015. The aim of the research is to i) examine the relationship between CO2 and GDP as “cross-coupling, relative decoupling, or absolute decoupling,” and validate the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis; ii) detect causality between CO2 emissions, EC, and GDP, and scrutinize their impacts. The ARDL results confirm a long-run and short-run co-integration relationship between the variables. The relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP is “relatively decoupling,” and the EKC exists in China. Its CO2 emissions are more explained by EC and contribute twofold of GDP. In the long run, there was significant negative causality from CO2 emission and GDP to EC. This indicates Chinese economic development structure should be re-designed towards energy-saving and decarbonized economic structure. Moreover, the central and provincial governments of China should synchronize optimal energy utilization and green economic structure to mitigate environmental deterioration and climate change.
Effect of Parenting Training on Neurobehavioral Development of Infants

Background Early interventions have been believed to have a positive influence on the neurodevelopment of infants. Our Child Health Center has carried out parenting training for parents of infants for several years to promote the neurobehavioral development of infants at an early stage. Material/Methods We enrolled 117 families with term infants age 0–3 months who had completed a parenting training class at the Child Health Center of the Department of Pediatrics, the Third Xiangya Hospital. Parenting training included 4 parts: nursing, intelligence, social contact, and physical ability. A nurse practitioner demonstrated procedures to parents, who then performed them at home for 1 month. The Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) was used to evaluate infants before and 1 month after parenting training. Results In the comparative analysis before and after parenting training, there was a significant increase in the NBNA scores. For the infants whose parents received parenting training, the NBNA scores in total score (33.74±0.19 before parenting training vs. 36.69±0.20 after 1 month), neonatal behavioral capacity (10.19±0.14 before parenting training vs. 11.26±0.10 after 1 month), passive muscle tension (7.28±0.07 before parenting training vs. 7.82±0.04 after 1 month), and initiative muscle tension (4.29±0.08 before the parenting training vs. 5.61±0.13 after 1 month) were significantly higher one month before (P<0.01). Conclusions Term infant neurobehavior was associated with participation in parenting training, suggesting that these practices of parenting training support better early neurobehavioral development of infants.
Effect of Gamma irradiation and frozen storage on microbial quality of Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet

The effect of gamma radiation (1, 3 and 5 kGy) on microbial quality of farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets which were stored under frozen conditions (-20° C) was studied by measuring microbiological changes in 5 months. Gamma irradiation and increasing of frozen storage time had significant effects (P<0.05) on the reduction of microorganism's population. The total count showed that all samples maintained acceptable microbiological quality until the end of the fifth month of frozen storage. The lowest microbial load at the end of the fifth month of frozen storage was related to irradiated samples at 3 kGy (2 Log CFU/g). Yeasts and molds were below the detection levels in both irradiated samples at 1 and 5 kGy until the end of the third month and in irradiated samples at 3 kGy throughout the frozen storage. The population of yeasts and molds increased in irradiated samples at 1 and 5 kGy in the fourth and fifth month of frozen storage. Growth of coliform bacteria and Salmonella wasn't observed in control and irradiated samples due to good hygienic quality of fish breeding, fishing, handling, filleting and packaging and also effect of freezing on elimination and inactivation of mesophilic microorganisms.
Pharmacokinetics of Sulphamethazine and its Acetyl Metabolite in Chickens

Abstract Rajaian, H. , Symonds, H.W. and Bowmer, C.J. 2001. Pharmacokinetics of sulphamethazine and its acetyl metabolite in chickens. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 19: 85–96. The aim of this study was: first, to establish the basic pharmacokinetic characteristics of sulphamethazine following single intravenous, intramuscular, intracrop and oral dose to chickens; and second, to determine the kinetic behaviour of its main metabolite, N4-acetyl sulphamethazine. Each group of five Hi-Sex chickens was given a bolus dose of sulphamethazine (100 mg kg−1) by the above routes. Blood samples were collected at various time intervals for up to 48 h after dosing and were assayed spectrophotometrically for the presence of sulphamethazine and its metabolite. The results suggest first, that the blood clearance (≈0.06 L h−1 kg−1) and elimination half-life (≈9 h) of sulphamethazine in chickens are independent of the route of administration and second, the extent of acetylation of sulphamethazine in chickens may be influenced by the route by which the drug is administered and is low for the intramuscular route.
Microbiological and physicochemical properties of dry-cured neck inoculated with probiotic of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12

Summary The effect of inoculum level of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 probiotic strain and ripening period on the quality of dry-cured neck was studied. The microbiological parameters (Enterobacteriaceae, LAB and TVC) and physicochemical attributes (pH value, aw, TBARS index, colour) were determined directly after fermentation at 15 °C for 3 weeks, after 6 and 12 months of ripening at 4 °C. The highest LAB count and a lower pH value were found in the meat inoculated with probiotic strain at 6.6 log cfu g−1 (B2) followed by inoculation with probiotic strain at 6.3 log cfu g−1 (B1). Level of inoculation had not had an influence on water activity, TBARS index and total colour parameters. Changes of fat oxidation during half-year of ripening were limited in probiotic meat samples compared to naturally fermented control meat (C). Based on the results, it can be concluded that the most favourable physicochemical and microbiological parameters of the dry-cured neck were obtained after 6 months of ripening. At that time, the Bifidobacterium BB-12 at both levels is a good potential starter for meat fermentation.