Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Skull of a New Mesonychid (Mammalia, Mesonychia) from the Late Paleocene of China

ABSTRACT Cranial remains of Mesonychidae are poorly known from the Paleocene of Asia. A wellpreserved late Paleocene mesonychid skull from Anhui Province in China is described here as a new genus and species, Sinonyx jiashanensis. The new species has a primitive dental formula of 3.1. 4.3/3.1. 4.3 and distinctive cheek teeth; P3 is three-rooted, P4 lacks a metacone, the buccal cingula are distinct on P4–M3, M3 lacks a metastyle, the talonid of p3–4 is trenchant and square-shaped, and m1 and m3 lack a metaconid. Resemblances of the new genus to Ankalagon, together with the common presence of Dissacus on both continents, suggest that North America and Asia shared a common mesonychid fauna during the late Paleocene. Comparison of the new skull to Hapalodectes supports removal of Hapalodectinae from Mesonychidae, and suggests that mesonychids are closer to archaeocetes than either is to hapalodectids.
Identifying effects of toe clipping on anuran return rates: the importance of statistical power

Toe clipping is a common method of marking anurans for population studies. We re-analysed data from four published studies investigating the relationship between return rate and number of toes clipped for three anuran species: Bufo fowleri, Crinia signifera and Hyla labialis . Although these studies claimed contradictory results, a re-analysis of the data with proper attention to statistical power demonstrated a statistically significant decline of 6-18% in the probability of return for each toe removed after the first, in three of the four studies examined. The probability that the fourth study would detect a statistically significant effect of toe clipping was low unless the size of the effect was overwhelming. These results provide consistent evidence that toe clipping decreases the return rate of marked anurans, and demonstrates the importance of considering statistical power during data analysis. Use of toe clipping for mark-recapture studies may produce estimates of population parameters that are biased by the same magnitude as the return rates, unless researchers control for the effect of this marking method.
Maize physiological traits related to grain yield and harvest moisture in mid- to short-season environments

Identification of easily measured physiological traits contributing to yield under specified environmental conditions would benefit genotypic selection for maize (Zea mays L.). A field experiment was conducted to determine relationships between grain yield, harvest moisture, the ratio yield/moisture (Y/M), and 10 maize physiological traits related to development time, vegetative growth, and partitioning to the grain. Nine commercial hybrids, representing three maturity classes from 75 to 95 d, were planted at three sites with zonations, based on corn heat units (CHU), corresponding to the three maturity classes within 100 km of Ottawa, Canada ( 45° 22' N, 75° 43' W), in 1988, 1989, and 1990 [. ]
ATIVIDADE VIRAL DO VÍRUS RESPIRATÓRIO SINCICIAL BOVINO (BRSV) EM BEZERROS LEITEIROS

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is one of the major pathogens affecting the respiratory system of young cattle, causing serious economic losses. Data on its epidemiology and occurrence in animals under one-year of age are still scarce in the literature. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of viral activity in three of BRSV seropositive dairy herds (A, B, and C), by serological monitoring of calves from the first day of life until the age of one year, by virus neutralization test. Results showed that in animals from farms A and B, antibody titers increased in the first month, characterizing passive transfer of immunity through colostrums. Over time, the titers decreased till total absence in the sixth and eighth months respectively and then antibodies titration increased in the final months of the study, probably due to natural infection. On property C, although there was a similar antibodies’ dynamics to the others, a period of total absence did not occurred, suggesting that animals may have been infected in the first months of life, despite the presence of colostral antibodies. This study demonstrated fluent BRSV activity amongst animals in all properties. KEYWORDS: antibody titer; bovine respiratory syncytial virus; screening; viral activity; virus neutralization.
The relationship between echolocation-call frequency and moth predation of a tropical bat fauna

The allotonic frequency hypothesis proposes that the proportion of eared moths in the diet should be highest in bats whose echolocation calls are dominated by frequencies outside the optimum hearing range of moths i.e., 60 kHz. The hypothesis was tested on an ecologically diverse bat assemblage in northern tropical Australia that consisted of 23 species (5 families, 14 genera). Peak frequency of signals of bats within the echolocation assemblage ranged from 19.8 to 157 kHz but was greatest between 20 and 50 kHz. A strong positive relationship existed between peak call frequency and percentage of moths in the diet for a sample of 16 bats from the assemblage representing 13 genera (R 2 = 0.54, p = 0.001). The relationship remained strong when the three species with low-intensity calls were excluded. When the two species with high duty cycle, constant-frequency signals were removed, the relationship was weaker but still significant. In contrast to previous research, eared moths constituted only 54% of moth captures in light traps at bat foraging grounds, and eared moths were significantly larger than non-eared individuals. These results show that the pattern of moth predation by tropical bats is similar to that already established for bat faunas in subtropi- cal and temperate regions.
Responsiveness of Pseudaletia unipuncta males to the female sex pheromone

ABSTRACT. In wind tunnel experiments male response to different concentrations of synthetic pheromone varied with age. At 25°C responsiveness increased up to day 5 and then declined slightly on day 7. For any given age the level of response generally increased with an increase in pheromone concentration. Males held at 15°C (since emergence) showed a continual increase in responsiveness with age; however, overall response levels were less than at 25°C. At 25°C male response to low concentrations of pheromone (10 and 30 μg) varied markedly over a 24 h period but no differences were observed at higher concentrations (100 and 300 μg).
Roost site selection and roosting behaviour in lesser short‐tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata) in comparison with long‐tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) in Nothofagus forest, Fiordland

Abstract I studied the roosting ecology of the lesser short‐tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) during the summer months of 1997–2000 in lowland Nothofagus rainforest, Fiordland, New Zealand. Structural characteristics of communal day‐roost trees and cavities were compared with those of randomly available trees and cavities, and those used by a sympatric population of long‐tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus). I radio‐tracked 29 M. tuberculata to 20 communal roost cavities located in 16 trees. Twelve of 21 characteristics measured differed significantly between roost and random sites. M. tuberculata selected roosts in more open parts of the forest, in some of the largest red beech (Nothofagus fusca) trees and cavities available. Characteristics of trees used by the two bat species were similar. Both species roosted in large diameter, old age red beech. However, 11 of the 12 roost cavity characteristics varied significantly between bat species. Roost cavities used by M. tuberculata were significantly lower to the ground, had more entrances, and had larger entrance and internal dimensions than C. tuberculatus roosts. Nevertheless, roosts of both species were well insulated and exhibited stable internal temperatures. M. tuberculata roosting groups were dominated by females and young, and group size averaged 310 ± 88.1 bats (n = 40). Roosts were occupied for an average of 5.6 ± 6.9 days (n = 23). Group size was significantly larger than in C. tuberculatus, and roost residency time significantly longer. Differences in roost use and roosting behaviour between the two species should be considered when undertaking conservation management actions such as identifying trees for retention through logging cycles, or designating reserves.
Comparison of harbour seal diets in two inshore habitats of Atlantic Canada

We studied the composition of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) diets in two areas, the lower Bay of Fundy and along the northeastern coast of Nova Scotia, that differ in prey species diversity, bottom type, and physical oceanography. Prey remains were found in 250 of 470 harbour seal stomachs collected mainly from May to September between 1988 and 1992. Although 23 taxa were identified, four species, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), pollock (Pollachius virens), and short-finned squid (Illex illecebrosus), accounted for 84% of the estimated biomass of prey consumed in the two areas combined. Species, such as herring and squid, that dominated the diets in both habitats, also tended to be abundant in both habitats during the summer. Atlantic cod was the principal gadoid in the Bay of Fundy, whereas pollock was most important along the Atlantic coast. Differences in prey distribution and abundance appeared to account for differences in the contribution of the alewife (Alosa pseudo.
Daily tracking of the locomotion of the nudibranch Tritonia tetraquetra (Pallas 1788 = Tritonia diomedea Bergh 1894) in nature and the influence of water flow on orientation, crawling, and drag

We observed orientation and locomotion of the nudibranch Tritonia tetraquetra in its natural habitat using SCUBA over many sequential days, in three different months. The slugs oriented significantly headfirst to tidal currents. Nevertheless, the direction of locomotion of the slugs over hours was not usually correlated with tidal flow direction (i.e. not indicative of consistent rheotaxis). We did not find evidence of consistent body axis orientation to the geomagnetic field, but the direction of locomotion of some groups of slugs over hours was significantly correlated with geomagnetic direction. Independent of direction, each slug changed position by an average of ∼2 m during a single tidal phase (∼6 h), and changed position by an average of ∼4 m over a full tidal cycle (∼25 h). Orientation to flow reduced drag, and reduced the probability that a slug will be dislodged from the soft bottom, in laboratory experiments. Slugs deprived of olfactory and flow cues exhibit a search-like pattern of multiple and frequent turns. †The species described here is Tritonia tetraquetra (Pallas 1788). In the recent modern literature, it has been referred to as Tritonia diomedea (Bergh 1894), but this name now has junior synonym status (Martynov 2006).
Mangankonzentrationen in Ovarien von Färsen gefüttert mit variierenden Manganmengen

Inhalt: Innerhalb einer Periode von 20–22 Wochen wurden 11 Farsen im Alter von 12–14 Monaten rnit einer Futterration gefuttert, die in bezug auf normalen Zuwachs suffizient war und die 20 p. p. m. Mn oder 148 mg Mn/Tag/Farse enthielt. Samtliche Farsen zeigten schwache Brunstsymptome oder Anoestrus. Nach der Schlachtung wurde bei bi-ovarialer Bestimmung der Mn-Konzentrationen ein durchschnittlicher Gehalt von 1.02 p. p. m. Mn (Trockengewicht) in den Ovavien festgestellt. Die entsprechenden Mn-Konzentrationen waren in Corpora lutea: 3.36, in Lebergewebe: 8.85 und in Haarproben: 3.35 p. p. m. Mit Ausnahme von Corpora lutea, wo die Mn-Konzentration in der zweiten Halfte der untersuchten Zyklusperiode etwas hoher war, wurden nur geringe Unterschiede festgestellt. 6 andere Farsen im gleichen Alter und uber 20–22 Wochen rnit derselben Grundfutterration gefuttert, bekamen darauf eine Mn-Beigabe von 1300 mg/Tag/Farse. Beim Schlachten von 3 dieser Farsen nach 18-tagiger Futterung zeigten die Bestimmungen der Mn-Konzentrationen in Gewebeund Haarproben steigende Werte in den Haarproben, wahrend die Steigerung in Ovarien, Corpora lutea und Lebergewebe unbedeutend waren. Bei 3 der Farsen, die nach 25-tagiger Futterung rnit Mn-Beigabe geschlachtet wurden, wurde eine erhebliche Steigerung in der Mn-Konzentration sowohl in Ovarien und Corpora lutea als auch in Lebergewebe und Haarproben festgestellt. Der Mn-Bedarf fur die optimalen Reproduktionsfunktionen des Rindes wird diskutiert.
New sources of resistance to greenbug, biotype I, in sorghum

The greenbug [Schizaphis graminum (Rondani)] has been a major pest of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] since 1968, and several biotypes have evolved. Except for PI 266965 [S. halapense (L.) Pers. , a tetraploid and Cargill hybrid 607E, all previously reported sources of resistance to the widespread Biotype E are susceptible to Biotype I, a new biotype first reported in Kansas in 1990. Greenbug is a serious pest in Russia. To determine whether Russian sorghum contains resistance to Biotype I, 110 germplasm accessions obtained from Krasnodar Province in the fall of 1991 were assessed for their reaction to Biotype I greenbug (.)
Weeds and weed management in irrigated lentil in northern Sudan

Weeds are a major constraint to increasing production of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) in Sudan. Field studies were conducted to determine the yield loss due to weeds, to identify the critical period of weed interference, to evaluate the activity of different herbicide mixtures in controlling weeds and their selectivity for lentil, and to evaluate different methods of weed control for developing an integrated weed management practice. At Rubatab, unrestricted weed growth accounted for up to 84% loss in yield. The critical period of weed control was between 2 and 4 weeks after sowing. However, a weeding regime experiment at Dongola, a cooler location with a longer growing season, indicated that the critical period was between 4 and 6 weeks after sowing, suggesting that the critical period might vary with the environmental conditions. The herbicides imazethapyr (0.05 kg a.i. ha -l ), terbutryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha -1 ) and prometryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha -1 ), each in a tank mixture with pendimethalin (1.2 kg a.i. ha -1 ), were tolerated by lentil, controlled weeds effectively and significantly increased yields at Wad Hamid. Their efficacy in controlling weeds at Rubatab was low, however, because of the presence of Tephrosia apollinea (Del.) DC. and Melilotus indica (L.) All. , which tolerated these herbicides. Efficacy was also reduced in heavier soils. One supplementary hand-weeding at 4 weeks after sowing enhanced the performance of these herbicides under such conditions. A tank mixture of oxyfluorfen (0.24 kg a.i. ha -1 ) with either terbutryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha -1 ) or prometryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha -1 ) also provided good weed control and increased yield of lentil at Wad Hamid. Application of a higher dose (1.5 kg a.i. ha -1 ) of terbutryn and prometryn caused phytotoxicity. Irrigation before seed-bed preparation reduced grass and broad-leaved weeds by 58% and 40% respectively, and gave a 30% increase in grain yield over no irrigation. Pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen (0.24 kg a.i. ha -1 ) and a supplementary hand-weeding at 4 weeks after sowing gave excellent control of weeds and increased lentil yield by 57% over the weedy control. Thus, use of presowing irrigation, pre-emergence herbicide and one hand-weeding form an effective integrated package for controlling weeds in northern Sudan.
Update on Protein Bodies and Quality Control Protein Quality Control Mechanisms and Protein Storage in the Endoplasmic Reticulum. A Conflict of Interests?

More than 30 years ago it was observed that the storage proteins of maize (Zea mays) seeds accumulate as ‘‘bulges or localized dilatations along the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae’’ of developing endosperm cells (Khoo and Wolf, 1970). It later became evident that, whereas the widespread seed storage proteins of the 7S and 11S classes travel from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi complex and are then deposited in vacuoles, a number of cereal storage proteins instead form electron-dense, round-shaped structures with diameters of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, termed protein bodies, within the ER lumen (Herman and Larkins, 1999). These large aggregates are then either permanently stored in the ER or delivered to storage vacuoles by unconventional protein traffic pathways. Today, the mechanisms by which some of the most important proteins for human nutrition form protein bodies within the ER remain a fascinating but still puzzling issue in cell biology. This developmentally programmed use of the ER to store vast amounts of specific proteins in highly condensed forms has been found only in plants. On the other hand, aggregation of newly synthesized proteins in the ER, due to stress or genetic defects, is usually treated by the cell as a pathology that must be avoided by disposing of the misfolded proteins (Sitia and Braakman, 2003). Many ER resident proteins indeed have the role of preventing protein aggregation, maintaining nascent and newly synthesized polypeptides in a state that is compatible with further structural maturation or, for defective proteins, with degradation. Thus, proteins destined for storage in the ER must have evolved to condense in a controlled fashion and thus to avoid both export from the ER and degradation. How this might be achieved is the topic of this update. The ER is part of the endomembrane system, which also includes the Golgi complex, vacuoles, and the plasma membrane as major components. The system hosts the secretory pathway, which synthesizes and delivers to the correct location most of the proteins of the above-mentioned compartments and of the cell wall. These proteins are collectively termed secretory proteins. The ER plays the role of a protein nursery, assisting in the folding and assembly of newly synthesized secretory proteins before they traffic to the Golgi complex and then the vacuoles or the cell surface (Vitale and Denecke, 1999). Many residents of the ER have signals that promote their localization in this compartment (Vitale and Denecke, 1999), but storage proteins that accumulate within the ER do not carry any of these known signals. How do they form stable structures in the ER? To try answering, we need to take into consideration many aspects of ER functions and their regulation.
Registration of the Flyer × Hartwig Recombinant Inbred Line Mapping Population

The Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) released a genetic map of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] in May 2006, FxH92 (Reg. No. MP-3, NSL 441378 MAP). The mapping population was constructed using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population from the cross ‘Flyer MAP’ (PI 642421 MAP) by ‘Hartwig MAP’ (PI 642422 MAP). Hartwig has been used extensively. The population was released by the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) in May 2006. ‘Flyer’ was registered as PI534646 by McBlain et al. (1990) and ‘Hartwig’ was registered as PI 543795 by Anand (1992). The FxH92 population was related to ExF96 (Lightfoot et al., 2005) in that ‘Forrest’ was the recurrent parent used to develop Hartwig (Anand 1992), and ‘Essex’ appeared to share many alleles with Flyer (Yuan et al., 2002). Like ExF96 morphological traits do not vary greatly (Table 1). The FxH92 RIL population has been used extensively to confi rm quantitative trait loci (QTL) detected in ExF96 (Table 1) and to map genes underlying additional biochemical and physiological traits (Kazi and Lightfoot, unpublished data, 2006). The genetic marker data encompass hundreds of polymorphic markers and sequence-tagged sites (STS) that were collected at SIUC by Dr. Lightfoot’s group (Table 2). Several genetic maps of FxH92 have been constructed (Prabhu et Registration of the Flyer × Hartwig Recombinant Inbred Line Mapping Population
Comparative Study on Flexibacter maritimus Strains Isolated from Farmed Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in France

Following severe outbreaks of a disease with dermal necrosis, several bacterial strains were isolated from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) reared on French coasts. A phenotypic study revealed that the isolates closely resembled Flexibacter maritimus. Nine selected strains were compared to 8 F. maritimus reference strains from other geographical origins and to the type strain NCIMB 2154T. DNA base composition of the strains tested was in the G + C range of 30.6 to 32 mol%. A study on the DNA relatedness among the strains by the S1 nuclease DNA-DNA hybridization method showed that the 12 strains tested formed a tight genomic species with DNA homologies above 74%. The profiles obtained from API ZYM galleries, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole-cell proteins, and fatty acids analysis revealed that F. maritimus is a very homogeneous bacterial species. This is the first identification of this fish pathogen in France and its first isolation from sea bass.
Nutritive value of raw, parboiled, stabilised and deoiled rice bran for growing chicks

The proximate analysis of different types of rice bran (raw, parboiled, stabilised and deoiled) showed wide differences in the oil, fibre, ash and available carbohydrate contents. Free fatty acids in the fat extracted from the raw, parboiled and stabilised rice brans were 500.6, 277.8 and 163.1 g kg−1 respectively. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids constituted about 94.5% of the total fatty acids in oils extracted from those rice bran types. In chick growth trials, the average metabolisable energy of raw, parboiled, stabilised and deoiled rice brans was found to be 12.34, 11.67, 12.11 and 9.08 MJ kg−1 DM, respectively. The bodyweight gain of broiler chicks over a period of 6 weeks was depressed by 183, 79, 49 and 200 g when the level of the respective brans was raised from 200 to 400 g kg−1 in the diet. However, the food and protein conversions were significantly depressed at both levels of rice bran in the diets.
An updated angiosperm classification

DAHLGREN, C, 1989. An updated angiosperm classification. A new two-dimensional diagram, reflecting the system of classification of the angiosperms, is presented. It combines the dicotyledon diagram in G. Dahlgren (1989) and an adapted monocotyledon diagram after that in Dahlgren (1985) in a single diagram. An updated monocotyledon taxonomy is presented and the classification is appended.
Cabbage : a new host of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum for Pakistan

SUMMARY Sclerotinia rot of cabbage was detected at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad in the experimen- tal vegetable field during 1983. Heads of the affected cabbage plants were covered with white mycelial growth associated with large black sclerotia of different size (2-10 mm). On the basis of cultural and sclerotial characte- ristics, the causal organism was identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and its pathogenicity was also determined by fulfilling Koch’s postulates.
Physicochemical, mineral and sensory properties of set‐type yoghurts produced by addition of grape, mulberry and carob molasses (Pekmez) at different ratios

This study investigated the effects of adding grape, mulberry and carob molasses (Pekmez) at 6%, 10% or 14% on titratable acidity, pH, viscosity, whey separation, water holding capacity (WHC), gel firmness, acetaldehyde, volatile fatty acids, colour values, mineral profile and sensory properties of set-type yoghurts. Increasing concentration of the molasses decreased whiteness value, viscosity and WHC, but increased redness/greenness and yellowness/blueness values, whey separation and mineral contents of the samples significantly (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the yoghurts produced by adding grape molasses had the highest points in the sensory evaluation, followed by mulberry and carob molasses.