Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of research progress on cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.)

This review of cicer milkvetch includes both published and unpublished information regarding crop and seed characteristics, seed treatments, breeding, agronomic practices and nutritional value for livestock. Cicer milkvetch is a long-lived perennial, acid- and drought-tolerant crop providing high-quality forage throughout the growing season. It does not cause bloat in ruminants. Although it has caused photosensitization in ruminants, this was apparently due to specific environmental conditions and the cultivar used. Cicer milkvetch is compatible with other forage crops in mixed stands and is particularly suitable for pasture. Although the crop has many good qualities and was introduced in North America approximately 75 yr ago, it has not been utilized extensively, primarily due to slow establishment. However, stand establishment has been improved by elucidation of seed and seedling characteristics, followed by selection for heavy seed, rate of emergence, and mature plant vigor. Improved cultivars, develop.
Effect of level of oil inclusion in the diet of dairy cows at pasture on animal performance and milk composition and properties

The effect of including additional oil, incorporated as whole rapeseeds, in the diet of 64 Holstein–Friesian dairy cows (32 mid- and 32 late-lactation) at pasture on animal performance and milk fat composition and properties was followed over a continuous trial of 20 weeks duration. Within two stages of lactation (mid, 130 ± 16.2 days, or late, 231 ± 58.9 days), cows were allocated to concentrate treatments representing four levels of rapeseed oil inclusion, 0 (control), 200, 400 and 600 g oil day−1. Oil inclusion had little effect on milk yield but decreased milk fat content significantly (P < 0.01), with a mean depression of 0.40% at the highest level of oil inclusion. The content of milk protein also decreased with increasing addition of oil, but the decrease was smaller than the milk fat depression and was not statistically significant. Increasing the level of rapeseed oil in the diet to 600 g oil day−1 resulted in linear changes in milk fat and protein concentrations which were described by regression equations. For each 100 g of rapeseed oil added to the diet, milk fat content decreased by 0.068% in mid-lactation cows and 0.061% in late-lactation cows, while protein content decreased by 0.026% in mid-lactation cows and 0.028% in late-lactation cows. Total unsaturated fatty acid content of milk fat also increased in a linear fashion with increased level of oil addition, from 345.7 g kg−1 total fatty acids in control milk fat to 459.3 g kg−1 total fatty acids at 600 g oil day−1, while total saturated fatty acids decreased in the same milk fats from 640.7 to 522.2 g kg−1 total fatty acids. These changes were reflected in lower solid fat contents (SFC) in the milk fat at the lower temperatures of measurement, eg 41% SFC at 5 °C at the highest level of oil inclusion compared with 52% in the control milk fat. However, SFC at 20 °C showed little difference with increasing level of dietary oil addition, an important factor in maintaining product integrity at room temperatures. The relatively high content of the monounsaturated fatty acid C18:1 (345.5 g kg−1 total fatty acids at 600 g oil day−1) and low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (total C18:2 and C18:3 <40 g kg−1 total fatty acids at 600 g oil day−1) ensured that the oxidative stability of the treatment and control milk fats did not differ significantly. Stage of lactation had an unexplained effect of consistent magnitude on milk fat composition throughout the trial period, with late-lactation animals producing milk fats containing a significantly (P < 0.001) higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids than the mid-lactation animals. Changes in the proportions of unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat, as reflected by changes in iodine value, were established within 2 weeks of the trial commencing and persisted over the 20 weeks of the trial duration. No adverse effect on animal health from this type of dietary manipulation was identified. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
ULTRASTRUCTURE AND MINERAL DISTRIBUTION IN HEAT-DAMAGED RAPESEED

Gross morphology, ultrastructure and distribution of minerals in sound and severely heat-damaged, elevator-stored rapeseeds (Brassica napus L.) were studied by electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Sound seeds had surface reticulations and a thick seed coat of five layers: epidermis, palisade, crushed parenchyma, aleurone and inner crushed parenchyma. The aleurone cells in the seed coat and the embryonic cells contained many lipid droplets and protein bodies among the cytoplasmic organelles. Severely heat-damaged seeds had a more compressed, electron-dense seed coat with much surface debris which obscured the reticulations; embryonic tissues appeared distorted and shrunken. Aleurone cells in the seed coat and most embryonic cells were necrotic and had large structureless areas and abnormal protein bodies. In the coat of sound seeds, calcium, potassium, sulphur, silicon, magnesium and phosphorus were found in decreasing order of proportional amounts. In cotyledonous tissue the sequence was phosphoru.
Variabilidade genética do umbuzeiro no Semi-Árido brasileiro, por meio de marcadores AFLP

The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability distribution of umbu tree (Spondias tuberosa), within Brazilian Semi-Arid region, based on AFLP markers, in order to suggest prospecting and preservation strategies for this species. Sixty-eight umbu trees of 15 ecogeographic regions were analyzed for 141 polymorphic AFLP bands, through the UPGMA dendrogram and the multidimensional scaling (MDS), based on Jaccard's coeffi cient . Analysis of molecular variance was accomplished by total decomposition among and within ecogeographic regions. The dendrogram presented co-phenetic value of 0.96, while the MDS presented 0.25 for the badness-of-fi t. Umbu genetic variability was estimated in 0.3138, indicating a large variance among individual groups. Specifi c clusters were observed in six ecogeographic regions, and some individual pairs were observed in the other regions, with no specifi c clustering by sampling place, which indicates that the genetic variability of umbu tree is not uniformly distributed within Brazilian Semi-Arid. Strategies are suggested to set a larger number of protection areas for in situ conservation, or a smaller number of umbu individuals sampled, in various ecoregion units, for ex situ genetic variability conservation of this species.
CARACTERIZAÇÃO FITOSSOCIOLÓGICA E FITOGEOGRÁFICA DE UM TRECHO DE FLORESTA CILIAR EM ALFREDO WAGNER, SC, COMO SUBSÍDIO PARA RESTAURAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA

The understanding of floristic and structure of tree communities is essential to subside the strategies of forest restoration. In this sense, a phyto-sociological survey was conducted in a forest fragment situated along a tributary of Caete river, in Alfredo Wagner, state of Santa Catarina, in order to: i) know the structure of trees and flora in this forest, ii) classify the species found according to ecological groups and iii) compare the flora of the study area with other studies in Araucaria forest (FOM), Atlantic Rain Forest (FOD) and the transition area between FOM-FOD of Santa Catarina state. In this fragment, 10 plots of 400 m2 were allocated, where all individual trees with the circumference at breast height (CBH, measured at 1.30 m above the ground) greater than or equal to 15.7 cm were measured, marked and identified. The species were classified into the following succession groups: pioneer, climax light-demanding or climax shade-tolerant. The Rectified Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used for the floristic comparison. The structure of the tree component was described by the density, frequency, dominance and importance value (VI). The results showed elevated species richness (98 species). It was found typical species of FOM, such as Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) Kuntze, and species characteristics of FOD such as Byrsonima ligustrifolia A.Juss. , confirming the study fragment as an area of ecological tension between FOM and FOD. The species with most elevated VI were Psychotria vellosiana Benth. , Alsophila setosa Kaulf. and Guatteria australis A.St.-Hil. The species with elevated VI, for their considerable representation in the area, are important in the restoration of degraded riparian forests in the region. The species seedlings plantation should be planned observing the group successional of each species, planting pioneer and light-demanding climax species first (e.g. Psychotria vellosiana), .
Influence of site and variety on starch, hemicellulose and cellulose composition of wheats and their digestibilities by adult cockerels

Abstract 1. It has been shown that both the variety of wheat and the environment under which growth took place influenced the quantities of starch and cell wall carbohydrate contents of wheat. 2. The different varieties of wheat investigated contained different proportions of water‐soluble to water‐insoluble hemicelluloses. 3. By comparison of the arabinose to xylose ratios it was concluded that water‐soluble and insoluble arabinoxylans of wheat were branched to the same degree. 4. Starch from six wheat varieties grown in the U.K. was very well digested by adult cockerels and true metabolisable energy values of the wheats were high. 5. Small amounts of cell wall carbohydrates were digested by adult cockerels.
Studies on the Nutrition of Macropodine Marsupials. 4. Digestion in the Stomach and the Intestine of Macropus Giganteus, Thylogale Thetis and Macropus Eugenii.

4. Digestion in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine of the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis), the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and the eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus) fed on chopped lucerne hay freely was estimated in a slaughter experiment by reference to chromic sesquioxide added to the diet. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia, and pH, indicated that microbial activity in the forestomach and large intestine (caecum and proximal colon) was extensive. In all 3 species virtually all of the soluble carbohydrate, 17% of apparently digestible crude protein, 62 to 65% of apparently digestible organic matter and 82 to 85% of digestible acid-detergent fibre were digested in the forestomach. There was a progressive loss of dietary substrates along the length of the forestomach; readily fermentable carbohydrate was digested largely in the sacciform forestomach and cranial region of the tubiform forestomach, and the rate of apparent loss of organic matter decreased along the tubiform forestomach.
Allelic diversity in a novel gene pool of canola-quality Brassica napus enriched with alleles from B. rapa and B. carinata

Brassica napus is an amphidiploid with genome AACC and is relatively deficient in genetic diversity. The abundant genetic diversity in other A- and C-genome Brassica species is a valuable resource to expand the narrow gene pool of B. napus. Recently the Ar genomic components from Chinese B. rapa (ArAr) and Cc genomic components from Ethiopian mustard B. carinata (BBCcCc) were introgressed into B. napus through interspecific hybridisation, and the Ar/Cc components were enriched through two generations of molecular marker-assisted selection. In this study, the simple sequence repeat (SSR) allelic diversity of 29 of these new-type B. napus lines, 12 from the first generation and 17 from the second generation, was compared with 66 international B. napus varieties from Australia, China and other countries. Hierarchical clustering and two-dimensional multidimensional scaling revealed that second generation lines and a few first generation lines, all selected for high Ar/Cc components, formed a unique population that was distantly separated from international B. napus. This novel gene pool had significantly higher richness of private SSR alleles and more alleles per SSR marker than the international B. napus varieties. The new-type B. napus lines showed variation in agronomic traits beyond the canola-quality B. napus parent. Many of the lines had low erucic acid and low glucosinolates in the seed (canola quality), indicating that they could be utilised immediately in canola breeding programs.
Growth and Productivity of Antarctic Sea Ice Algae under PAR and UV Irradiances

Abstract A light perturbation experiment on sea ice at Cape Evans in 1996 found significant differences in biomass accumulation between ice algal assemblages exposed to additional UVB, UVA and PAR irradiances and those exposed to either control or elevated PAR and UVA without UVB. Sea ice with its snow cover removed (and thus exposed to additional UVB, UVA and PAR) had a 40% lower rate of biomass accumulation than sea ice with its snow cover removed but covered with UVB-absorbing mylar. Chlorophyll-specific production under PAR was up to 0.05 mg C (mg Chl a)−1 h−1 although it was approximately 0.02 mg C (mg Chl a)−1 h−1 at ambient under ice irradiances of 2–6 μmol photons m−2 s−1 PAR. UVB irradiation was found to have a greater impact on highly shade-adapted sea ice algal communities beneath thick ice with a thick snow cover than on thinner ice with less snow.
Effects of Varying Levels of Dietary Metabolizable Energy and Crude Protein on Performance and Egg Quality of Organic Laying Hens

This experiment was conducted to determine optimum dietary levels of dietary energy and protein for laying performance and egg quality in organic laying hens. In a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, 360 Hy-Line pullets (21 wk of age) were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,800, 3,080, and 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 16 and 18% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Experimental birds were raised in floor and received 14h of light throughout 52 weeks of experimental period. The birds were observed for feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, Haugh unit, shell thickness, and shell color at 30, 50, and 70 wk of age. Egg production, egg weight, and egg mass were higher (P<0.05) in hens receiving diets with 2,800 kcal/kg of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 3,080 and 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of diets. Eggshell breaking strengths were not significantly different among the dietary ME and CP concentrations. Eggshell thickness was higher (P<0.05) in hens receiving diets with 3,360 kcal of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 2,800 and 3,080 kcal of ME/kg of diets at 50 and 70 week. With increasing in dietary energy levels, the concentrations of blood total cholesterol were also significantly increased. Overall, the laying hens fed organic diet of 2,800 kcal ME/kg and 16% CP showed superior egg production than those of other dietary regimens.
In vitro sensitivity reduction of Fusarium graminearum to DMI and QoI fungicides

Os danos causados pela giberela em trigo, no Brasil, podem chegara a 39,8%. Ainda nao estao disponiveis cultivares resistentes para o controle da doenca; desse modo, a curto prazo, o controle da doencas e baseado no uso de fungicidas. O primeiro passo para melhorar a eficacia do controle e monitorar a sensibilidade do fungo aos fungicidas para obter o manejo mais eficiente da doenca. Experimentos foram conduzidos in vivo para avaliar a concentracao inibitoria (CI50) de fungicidas tanto para o crescimento miceliano como para a germinacao de conidios de dez isolados de Fusarium graminearum. Os seguintes fungicidas inibidores da desmetilacao (IDM) foram testados: metconazol, protioconazol e tebuconazol. Tambem, foram testados os fungicidas inibidores da quinona externa (IQe) estrobilurinas, piraclostrobina e trifloxistrobina, bem como suas misturas contendo metconazol + piraclostrobina, protioconazol + trifloxistrobina, e tebuconazol + trifloxistrobina. A media geral da CI50 para o crescimento miceliano dos isolates foi: metconazol 0,07, protioconazol 0,1, e tebuconazol 0,19 mg/L. Para as misturas foi: protioconazol + trifloxistrobina 0,08, tebuconazol + trifloxistrobina 0,12, e metconazol + piraclostrobin 0,14 mg/L. Em relacao a inibicao da germinacao dos esporos, a CI50 para protioconazol + trifloxistrobina foi 0,06, para o tebuconazol + trifloxistrobina, 0,12 mg/L, e para os IQes isolados piraclostrobina, 0,09, e para a for trifloxistrobina, 0,28 mg/L. Demonstrou-se haver um diferenca na sensibilidade entre os isolados e confirmou-se a elevada fungitoxicidade do protioconazol, metconazol e tebuconazol a F. graminearum.
Accuracy, Precision, and Observation Rates of Global Positioning System Telemetry Collars

Abstract We addressed concerns regarding performance of various Global Positioning System (GPS) collar configurations for describing habitat use by Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) in rugged, forested terrain. We tested 8 GPS collars (Lotek Wireless, Newmarket, ON, Canada) in 4 different model and equipment configurations at 2 reference points (an open hilltop and a forested ravine) to determine habitat-specific differences in performance among collar configurations. We then placed individual collars at 60 additional points that were stratified randomly among 4 canopy-cover classes and 3 classes of available sky. All collars exhibited a locational bias of 4 m horizontally west and of 10 m vertically below a reference standard established by position-averaging with a handheld receiver (Garmin 12MAP) calibrated at National Geodetic Survey benchmarks. The GPS collar models that were programmed for longer satellite-acquisition times provided greater location precision than models that had been programmed for short acquisition times to preserve battery power. Canopy cover and available sky had a greater effect on collar location precision and observation rates than slope, slope position, aspect, conifer basal area, tree height, canopy depth, or elevation. Researchers should test collars at known reference points to confirm that location precision and rates of observation are adequate for their particular study objectives. Manufacturers of GPS collars should inform clients of their programming criteria for acquisition time so that customers can make informed decisions regarding trade-offs between precision of locations, data quantity, and battery life.
Pursuit of a natural classification of diatoms: An incorrect comparison of published data

Williams and Kociolek (2007: Eur. J. Phycol., 42: 313–319) have presented an opinion paper in which they review some principles of classification and criticize the most recent classification of the diatoms by Medlin & Kaczmarska (2004: Phycologia, 43: 245–270). In their critique of paraphyletic groups, they failed to consider one paraphyletic relationship that is most frequently revealed by molecular data, which in part justifies the recognition of paraphyletic taxa among certain diatom genera. In their criticism of the most recent classification system of the diatoms, they have misinterpreted and misrepresented much of the molecular data that they have used as evidence against this classification system and thus have made incorrect comparisons among published phylogenies of the diatoms.
CHANGES OF GROUND-WATER REGIME IN WET MEADOWS

SUMMARY Statistical analysis of ground water table measurements showed that significant differences could be assessed in ground water regimes of the following plant communities: Caricetum gracilis typicum. Caricetum curto-echinatae typicum, Cirsio-Molinietum peucedanetosum and Senecioni-Brometum racemosi caricetosum nigrae. Drainage induced changes in a Cirsio-Molinietum vegetation, were studied during 12 years. The results were compared with changes in the ground water regime. Measurements of the ground water table during a five year period, preceding an interference in hydrology, were compared with measurements of a succeeding seven year period. Significant differences were obtained in median and mean ground water levels, not in extreme values. However, the vegetation responded to extreme ground water levels quite clearly. Therefore it is concluded that semi-natural vegetation can be sensitive to changes in ground water levels that can hardly be proved. It is suggested not to concentrate on mere conditional relationships in field studies. but to consider positional relationships as well.
Spatial patterns of radial oxygen loss and nitrate net flux along adventitious roots of rice raised in aerated or stagnant solution.

Roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in stagnant de-oxygenated solution contain a 'tight' barrier to radial oxygen loss (ROL) in basal zones, whereas roots of plants grown in aerated solution do not. It is generally accepted that the barrier to ROL involves anatomical modifications in the apoplast of cell layers exterior to the aerenchyma. A possible drawback of this adaptation is a reduced capacity for nutrient uptake. Whether or not induction of a barrier to ROL influences the capacity of adventitious roots of rice to take up NO3- was determined in the present study, using NO3--selective microelectrodes. When transferred into O2-free root medium, ROL from positions at 30-50 mm behind the tip of adventitious roots of plants raised in stagnant solution was only 4-6% of the rate from roots of plants raised in aerated solution, indicating the barrier to ROL was induced by growth in stagnant solution. For plants transferred into aerobic nutrient solution containing 0.1 mM NO3-, net NO3- uptake by these root zones, with or without a barrier to ROL, was the same. It is concluded that induction of a barrier to ROL had no effect on the capacity of adventitious roots of rice to take up NO3- from aerobic solution.
Gyne development in the Argentine ant Iridomyrmex humilis: role of overwintering and queen control

Abstract A possible stimulatory effect of overwintering on gyne development in Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr) was investigated. Although gyne‐potent larvae are present in the nest throughout the year, small queenless colony fragments composed of freshly overwintered ants (collected in late winter or early spring) produced 3–8 times more gynes than comparable fragments made up of non‐freshly overwintered ants (collected at other times of the year). Apparently, this stimulatory effect of overwintering acts on both the developmental potential of larvae and the tendency of workers to rear sexually competent larvae as gynes; queenless colony fragments in which either the brood or workers were freshly overwintered produced more gynes than fragments composed of non‐freshly overwintered workers or brood but fewer than fragments containing both brood and workers freshly overwintered. This increased sexualization potential of larvae due to overwintering is enough to overcome weak pheromonal inhibition of queens associated with low queen number; a single queen in a large freshly overwintered colony fragment is insufficient to inhibit gyne development, whereas ten queens are totally inhibitory. In non‐freshly overwintered colony fragments one queen is completely inhibitory. Variability in egg developmental potential according to queen age does not appear to play a major role in the seasonal production of gynes, because at least some eggs of very young queens (less than 3 weeks old) are capable of gyne development. In the field this stimulatory effect of overwintering is superimposed on a seasonal fluctuation in the combined strength of pheromonal queen control. In southern France, gynes are produced only in spring where they arise primarily from overwintered larvae just after a sharp drop in queen number, and presumably the total level of inhibitory queen pheromone, due to the massive execution of queens by workers.