Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rice Starch Diversity: Effects on Structural, Morphological, Thermal, and Physicochemical Properties—A Review

Abstract: Rice starch is one of the major cereal starches with novel functional properties. Significant progress has been made in recent years on the characterization of rice starches separated from different rice cultivars. Studies have revealed that the molecular structure and functional properties are affected by rice germplasm, isolation procedure, climate, agronomic conditions, and grain development. Morphological studies (microscopy and particle size analysis) have reflected significant differences among rice starch granule shapes (polyhedral, irregular) and in granule size (2 to 7 μm). Nonwaxy and long-grain rice starches show greater variation in granular size than the waxy starches. Rice starch granules are smaller than other cereal starches with amylose contents varying from virtually amylose-free in waxy to about 35% in nonwaxy and long-grain rice starches. Amylose content appears to be the major factor controlling almost all physicochemical properties of rice starch due to its influence on pasting, gelatinization, retrogradation, syneresis, and other functional properties. Waxy rice starches have high swelling and solubility parameters, and larger relative crystallinity values than nonwaxy and long-grain starches. However, nonwaxy rice starches have a higher gelatinization temperature than the waxy and long-grain starches. The bland taste, nonallergenicity, and smooth, creamy, and spreadable characteristics of rice starch make it unique and valuable in food and pharmaceutical applications. This review provides recent information on the variation in the molecular structure and functional properties of different rice starches.
EFFECT OF AGE ON THE FISHING ABILITY OF SANDWICH TERNS STERNA SANDVICENSIS

Summary The fishing ability of first-winter and older Sandwich Terns was compared at foraging sites used by both age-groups on the coast of Sierra Leone between January and March 1970 when first-winter birds were about 7–9 months old. The methods used for measuring various parameters of fishing ability are described. It was found that a significantly larger proportion of plunge dives by the older age-group yielded prey although the difference between the two age-groups was only slight. There were no major differences between the age-groups in diving rates or in size of fish captured. Older birds tended to dive from higher than first-winter birds. By driving shoals of small fish to the surface, predatory fish enhanced the fishing success of both age-groups on certain days. Where man's beach seining operations yielded a superabundance of small fish near the tideline, these were captured equally well by both age-groups. First-winter birds were not seen being fed by older birds, and although food-begging behaviour was observed once in late January it is clear that the first-winter birds were self-sufficient for food by the time this study was made. Some implications of the observed differences in fishing success are discussed. It is suggested that, after fledging, Sandwich Terns gradually gain the judgment and skill necessary to dive profitably from increasing heights and so learn to exploit prey in a greater range of water depth as they get older.
Long-term impacts of deer exclosures on mixed-oak forest composition at the Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania, USA1

Abstract Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman (white-tailed deer) populations at Valley Forge National Historical Park in southeastern Pennsylvania have ranged from 70 to 93 deer per square km over the last decade. In 2010, we surveyed 30 fenced (to exclude deer) and unfenced paired plots established in 1992 to evaluate differences in woody and herbaceous vegetation. In addition, a broader collection and analysis of overstory and understory vegetation data were conducted in the two dry Quercus spp. forests and one mesic Liriodendron tulipifera L. forest that contain the fenced and unfenced plots. The understory of the Liriodendron stand had 72% cover of Microstegium vimineum, (Trin.) A. Camus, an exotic grass. Across all three stands, sapling and seedling densities were low to moderate (500 and 10,000 stems ha−1, respectively) and were primarily shade tolerant Acer rubrum L. and Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. The numbers of Quercus seedlings and saplings were low to nonexistent in all stands. Similarly, the unfenced plots had low densities of seedlings and saplings, especially Quercus. The 18 year-old fenced plots contained 33,133 seedlings ha−1, but lacked tree saplings. The fenced seedlings were dominated by A. rubrum, Sassafras albidum, (Nutt.) Nees, N. sylvatica and Fraxinus americana L. in two of the stands and Quercus montana L. in one of the Quercus stands. Shrub cover averaged 51% in the fenced plots (mainly Lindera, Viburnum, Ligustrum and Lonicera) and 5% in the unfenced plots. Moreover, Microstegium cover was very low in all fenced plots, possibly due to the high shrub cover. Fenced plots also had higher plant species diversity (Shannon Index and richness). The results of this study suggest that the long-term exclusion of O. virginianus resulted in increased tree seedling number, shrub cover and diversity, and low Microstegium cover, but was inconsistent in stimulating Quercus regeneration and sapling recruitment.
The Genetic Code. The Molecular Basis for Genetic Expression

The Genetic Code by Dr. Woese is an important book meriting close study by students and workers in genetics and molecular biology. We are nowadays all too familiar with the concept of genetic coding. This, and terms such as DNA, m-RNA, t-RNA, are thrust at us from the television screen, in the popular press, and in scientific reviews at various levels of popularity; no book on genetics would now be thought complete without its chapter on The Code. In the midst of all this predigested pabulum it is refreshing-even startling-to find a serious textbook on the subject. This book is meant for the student of biology, using the term in its widest sense. Some previous knowledge of the subject is helpful but the reader is never confused, left feeling it is all too difficult, or palmed off with an oversimplification. It is salutary to be reminded that the various nucleic acids are not mere collections of initials but have chemical structures that can be formulated like those of other organic substances, and that this structure can and must be related, in physico-chemical terms, to the specificity for a particular amino acid or amino acid sequence. The text is clear and stimulating. The main part deals with problems of decoding, translation, and transcription, attempts to solve them, and critical evaluation of the results obtained; an early chapter on the history and the final chapter on the evolution of the genetic code are particularly thought provoking. Each chapter has a short bibliography including references up to 1967. The book is up to date in every respect; to one who cannot find time to keep up with the spearhead papers of the leaders in this field yet finds the review articles insipid and overfamiliar, this book is a godsend. The Symposium on the Genetic Code conforms to the very high standard set by previous volumes in this series. The meeting was held in June 1966, and the 350 participants included the best workers in the discipline. The 88 papers cover such topics as direction of reading, punctuation, nonsense codons, control of gene expression, infidelity of information transfer, and 159 the origins of the code. One-third of the volume is devoted to the properties and functions of transfer RNA, a recognition of the key role played by tRNA in gene expression. Our knowledge of the structure of tRNA is advancing rapidly, and several papers give complete or nearly complete nucleotide sequences for the tRNAs corresponding to different amino acids. It was only recently discovered that tRNA contains uncommon nucleotides such as thio-uridine and methylated bases on which depends the specificity of the tRNA, i.e. the accuracy with which the code is translated. The volume has an excellent index. L. I. WOOLF
Angiogenic Factors (VEGF, FGF and IGF) in the Bovine Corpus Luteum

Angiogenesis, the development of the new capillaries by endothelial cell proliferation and outgrowth from pre-existing vessels, is one of the prominent features of early corpus luteum (CL). The process of angiogenesis is an important component of normal development and function of CL. Of the numerous promoters of angiogenesis and maintenance of new established capillaries that have been identified, the most important factors appear to be vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). The biological effects of VEGF and FGF factor families are mediated by signaling through specific tyrosine kinase receptors. The VEGF, FGF and IGF family members in bovine CL are discussed with the literature available for large domestic animals. The highest expression for VEGF, VEGFR-2, FGF-2, FGFR, IGF-1, IGF-2 and IGFR1 were found during the early luteal phase (Ld 1-4) followed by a significant decrease afterwards. The VEGF and IGF-1 protein was localized predominantly in luteal cells. FGF-1 mRNA expression peaked (P<0.05) during mid-luteal stage and FGF-1 protein was localized in cytoplasm of luteal cells, but endothelial cells are always negative. FGF-2 protein during angiogenesis (d 1-5) was found in cytoplasm of endothelial cells and changed thereafter exclusively to the cytoplasm of luteal cells. In contrast, the IGF-2 protein is exclusively localized in pericytes and few endothelial cells. The results obtained (mainly in ruminant) suggest an important role of these growth factors for angiogenesis and furthermore for maintenance and function of the bovine corpus luteum.
Biological characterisation of various geographical isolates of potato virus Y inducing superficial necrosis on potato tubers

A range of selected PVY isolates that induce superficial necrosis on potato tubers, originating from several countries, were compared with standard strains of PVA, PVV and PVY. Biological properties (e.g., host range, aphid transmissibility and relationships based on cross-protection between virus isolates) were studied. PVYNN isolates differ from the normal PVYC, PVYN and PVO strains by their ability to infect Capsicum annuum but not Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa. All PVYNN isolates are transmissible by Myzus persicae, without any significant differences from one standard strain. These additional data confirm that these tuber-necrosing isolates belong to PVY. However, they could be ranged in a homogeneous and distinct group inside the PVYN group, based on the differences revealed in the host range, in addition to the specific ability naturally to induce necrosis on tubers.
Validation of the periodicity of growth increment deposition in otoliths from the larval and early juvenile stages of two cyprinids from the Orange–Vaal river system, South Africa

This study tested the hypothesis that growth increments in larval largemouth yellowfish Labeobarbus kimberleyensis and smallmouth yellowfish L. aeneus from the Orange–Vaal river system, South Africa, are deposited daily. The periodicity of increment formation was determined by regular sampling and counting of increments deposited in the otoliths collected from a total of 52 smallmouth and 41 largemouth laboratory-reared larvae. Increments were counted using a compound light microscope under transmitted light at 100–400 magnification. Linear regression models were fitted to the known age post-fertilisation and the age estimated using increment counts to test the correspondence between the two for each species. Regression models explained 89–99% of the variability in estimated age from increment counts, depending on the upper age cut-off applied to the data. The slopes of the regression models were significantly lower than 1.0, which indicated that increment counts were consistently lower than actual ages and this disparity increased for older individuals. It was, therefore, confirmed that larvae and juveniles of both largemouth and smallmouth yellowfish deposited increments on a near-daily basis, and that counts are a reliable estimate of age up to c. 100 d.
The Relative Contribution of Benthic and Suspended Bacteria to System Biomass, Production, and Metabolism in a Low-Gradient Blackwater River

We compare the relative contribution of bacteria in four suspended and benthic habitats to total system bacterial standing stocks, production, and respiration in the Ogeechee River, a sixth order, low-gradient, blackwater river. The habitats considered are water column, sandy main channel sediment, backwater sediment, and snags. Total system bacterial biomass ranged widely with a mean of 3240 mg C m-2. It was greatest during winter and early summer, and peaks were dominated by bacteria in sandy sediments where from 21 to 98% of total bacterial biomass was found. Bacterial biomass in both backwater and snag habitats remained consistently low. Dye studies revealed considerable water movement into sandy sediments, which were aerobic to the greatest depth sampled (60 cm). System bacterial production was less variable than biomass, ranging from 0.84 to 8.54 mg C m-2 n-1 >80% of which occurred in main channel sediments. System bacterial production could not account for system biomass; hence allochthonous sources of bacteria appear to be important. Bacterial respiration was calculated from rates of production and growth efficiencies measured previously in laboratory studies. The calculated contribution of bacterial respiration to measured system respiration had a modal value of 97%, but varied widely (from 9 to 161%). Benthic bacteria appear to be a major driver of system respiration, although uncertainties in these calculations point to the critical need for a better understanding of temporal variability in bacterial growth efficiency in nature.
Failure of the cobas(R) SARS-CoV-2 (Roche) E-gene assay is associated with a C-to-T transition at position 26340 of the SARS-CoV-2 genome

Control of the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic requires accurate laboratory testing to identify infected individuals, while also clearing essential staff to continue work. At the current time a number of RT-PCR tests have been developed to identify SARS-CoV-2, targeting multiple regions in the viral genome. In comparison to other RNA viruses the mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 is moderate, however given the large number of transmission chains it is prudent to monitor circulating viruses for mutations that might compromise these tests. Here we report the identification of a C-to-T transition at position 26340 of the SARS-CoV-2 genome which is associated with failure of the cobas(R) SARS-CoV-2 E-gene assay. This variant was detected in four health care workers from the same team. Whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 showed all four to carry genetically identical viruses. Examination of viral genomes deposited on GISAID showed this mutation has arisen independently on three occasions. This work highlights the necessity of monitoring SARS-CoV-2 for the emergence of SNPs which might adversely affect the RT-PCRs used in diagnostics. Additionally, it argues that two regions in the SARS-CoV-2 should be targeted in RT-PCRs to avoid false negatives.
Fermentation Characteristics and Feeding Value of Enzyme-Treated Alfalfa Haylage

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of cellulase and amylase additions to alfalfa haylage on feed intake, digestion, and milk production. In Experiment 1, 20 heifers were assigned to two groups. The treatment group alfalfa haylage treated with . 95 kg/metric ton of a cellulase preparation. The control group untreated haylage. Silos were filled over 2 d because of time required to fill each silo. Dry matter losses of haylage harvested on d 2 were 8.4% for untreated haylage to 4.9% for treated haylage. Losses were relatively low and there were no differences due to treatment for wetter haylages made on d 1. Treatment had no effect on average daily gain on DM intake of heifers. In Experiment 2, the effect of feeding the alfalfa haylage treated with cellulase was determined with 10 lactating cows past peak production. Moisture concentration of haylages made in large plastic silos averaged approximately 45%. Haylage pH was 4.4 for the untreated and 4.2 for the treated haylage. There were no differences in DM intake, DM digestibility, milk production, or composition due to enzyme-treated alfalfa haylage fed to lactating dairy cows.
Historical relationships among areas of endemism in the tropical South America using Brooks Parsimony Analysis (BPA)

Areas of endemism are the smallest units of biogeographical analysis. One of its definitions is that these areas harbor organisms with restricted distributions caused by non random historical factors. The aim of this study was to examine historical relationships among areas of endemism in the Neotropics using Brooks Parsimony Analysis (BPA). We applied BPA to 12 unrelated taxa distributed within two sets of endemic areas in order to: (1) compare the proposed endemic area classifications; (2) examine whether Amazonia and Atlantic Forest are true biogeographic units and, (3) examine whether the inclusion of open area formations influence area relationships of the surrounding forests. General area cladograms revealed a basal split between Amazonian and Atlantic forests, suggesting that these areas have been isolated for a long period of time. All Atlantic forest endemic areas formed a monophyletic cluster, showing a sequence of vicariant events from north to south. The hypothesis that Amazonia is a composite area, made up of different historical units, is herein corroborated. When Cerrado and Caatinga (grasslands and savannas) are included, internal area relationships within Amazonia change, indicating that area classification schemes comprising forests and open formations should be preferred given the complementary history of these areas.
Insects as food: an ecological, social and economical approach.

More than 1000 species of insects that are edible at a certain stage of their life cycle have been identified worldwide. The orders Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera represent the highest number of species, the first two being mainly consumed in immature stages of their life cycle. Nutritional value and population size of some of these species represent two advantages, which mean they should be considered as an alternative source of food for the human diet, mainly in developing countries. Some species of Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera that are considered as pests are at the same time used for human consumption in different parts of the world. These species can be controlled if management techniques specially oriented to the sustained maintenance of the crop as well as of the insects are applied. On the other hand, some other species of insects with small population sizes and that are overexploited in their pre-reproductive phases show serious demographic problems, including extinction risk. For these species, it is necessary to apply management methods in order to conserve the natural populations and to develop culture or breeding techniques. For many countries with economical and social problems, owing to a deficiency in food supply or production, such strategies could be considered by their governments as priorities. In this work, the economic and social potential of the sustained exploitation of some insect species are analysed. Also, the ecological advantages of this type of management in agricultural and natural systems are reviewed.
Movement and stock structure of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel as indicated by parasites

Data from permanent parasites (juvenile trypanorhynchs and anisakids) indicated that Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson from four sites on the west coast of Australia, Abrolhos, Shark Bay, Exmouth and Onslow, intermingled and were probably all drawn from the same stock. Fish from Broome, Kupang (Indonesia), Groote Eylandt-Torres Strait and the cast coast of Australia had distinct faunas of permanent parasites and probably each belonged to a different stock. There was evidence of movement of fish between Broome and the west coast. Abundances of temporary parasites (gill copepods and monogeneans) suggested that males and females on the west coast migrated separately because in several cases the parasite fauna of one sex was more similar to that of fish in an adjacent area than to the opposite sex in the same area. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.
Interaction of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes with Pseudomonas pseudomallei.

The interaction of Pseudomonas pseudomallei with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) has been eamined. Human PMNs ingested P. pseudomallei after incubation for 60min in the presence of normal serum. The bacteria were however relatively resistant to phagocytosis by human PMNs in the absence of serum or in the presence of heat-inactivated serum (56° for 30min). Rapid intracellular killing of P. pseudomallei was observed in the presence of 10% normal human serum; but killing efficiency was reduced in the presence of heat-inactivated serum. Killing in the leukocyte bactericidal assay was shown to be predominantly due to the PMN bactericidal effect; not to the 10% normal serum contained in the incubation mixture. Ingestion of the bacteria was accompanied by a 2-fold stimulation of the hexose monophosphate pathway (HMP). In the absence of phagocytosis, however, the bacteria failed to show a marked enhancement in the HMP-shunt activity. Electron microscopic evidence showed that degranulation and bacterial morphologic changes occurred within 1hr after the organism was ingested. Our data suggest that human PMNs kill P. pseudomallei efficiently after ingestion of the organism in the presence of thermolabile serum opsonins. The occasional chronic nature of the disease caused by P. pseudomallei, therefore, could not be explained simply by the ability of the organism to survive within PMNs.
Crocodylus johnstoni in the McKinlay River Area, N.T. I. Variation in the Diet, and a New Method of Assessing the Relative Importance of Prey.

The stomach contents of 153 C. johnstoni were examined by a modification of the method for stomach contents removal described by Taylor et al. (1978). Prey are analysed on the basis of taxonomy, although more emphasis is placed on prey equivalents, using a concept termed 'target size'. The relative importance of different taxa and prey equivalents is determined by a number of methods, and a ranking method is preferred. The most important prey are aquatic and terrestrial insects, fish and crustaceans. The most important sized organisms are target size 5, animals presenting a maximum area of 1.0-4.0 cm2. With regard to size of prey eaten, three size groups of C. johnstoni (16-25, 26-55 and 56-129 cm snout-vent length) were homogeneous within themselves but were significantly different from each other. With increased body size there was a significant increase in the proportion of aquatic prey eaten. Secondary ingestion did not appear a major bias. C. johnstoni ate appreciably more during the wet season than during the dry season, although seasonal comparisons were restricted due to the samples not coming from the same pools. Vegetation was found in 39.9% of crocodile stomachs, and its presence varied with season but not with crocodile size. Stomach parasites were present in 43.8% of animals, and the number of infected crocodiles varied with season and site. Stones were present in 88.2% of crocodiles; however, when compared with those of C. niloticus the stone loads were relatively small. Most data indicate that C. johnstoni is very much an opportunistic predator at the water's edge, which feeds primarily on small aquatic prey, although it may also take substantial numbers of terrestrial prey organisms. During the wet season there is a major shift in the importance of different prey taxa eaten, although the importance of prey equivalents remains largely unchanged.