Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk assessment for animals: should the routine assessment of negative effects of intervention in wild animals be built into research projects?

From naked mole rats to elephants, research in wildlife biology increasingly entails interference with individual animals, and there are innumerable reasons to justify this interference for the proper management of populations. As Boyd (2002) has emphasized, however, there is a central question about the extent to which it is reasonable to intervene in a population when the species is endangered. This comment arose as part of a debate published last year in this journal on the possible harmful effects of immobilizing black rhinos and fitting them with radio-collars. Alibhai, Jewell & Towindo (2001) had prompted the debate with a discussion on the possible reduction of fertility in black rhinos caused by immobilization followed by an account of the wounding of a rhino by an ill-fitting radio-collar (Alibhai & Jewell, 2001).
Coral calcification: Use of radioactive isotopes and metabolic inhibitors to study the interactions with photosynthesis and respiration

In order to characterize the process of calcification in scleractinian corals, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted using radioactive isotopes. Labelled calcium, bicarbonate and glucose were used and the fates of the labelled tracers were followed in the skeleton and the tissue fractions of the coral Galaxea fascicularis. In addition, a variety of metabolic inhibitors were used to test the effects of various enzymes and processes on the incorporation rates. The incorporation rate of 45Ca into the coral skeleton decreased to about one-fifth upon inhibition of metabolic respiration by the specific inhibitor NaCN suggesting a major role of metabolic respiration in coral calcification, and decreased to one-half upon inhibition of carbonic anhydrase by the specific inhibitor acetazolamide indicating a role of the enzyme in the process. The results obtained have also shown that corals are able to incorporate carbon from seawater bicarbonate and added glucose in both skeleton and tissue fractions. The process of incorporation was influenced by light conditions, carbonic anhydrase, respiration and photosynthesis. The incorporation rate of 14C-HCO was reduced to about one-tenth in the skeleton, and one-fifth in the tissue, upon inhibition of carbonic anhydrase suggesting a major influence of the enzyme in the incorporation process. The inhibition of photosynthesis had more influence on the tissue incorporation rate of the tracer than the skeleton suggesting that photosynthesis is the main process responsible for tissue use of seawater bicarbonate in the coral. 14C-glucose incorporation into the skeleton was mainly affected by NaCN addition and to a lesser extent by dichlorophenyldimethylurea (DCMU) addition, while the tissue fraction was mainly affected by NaCN addition. It was concluded that respiration and photosynthesis, in addition to the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, are limiting factors for the process of calcification in the coral, and that various forms and sources of carbon can be used in coral calcification and tissue growth.
A growth study of broiler and layer chicks reared in single‐strain and mixed‐strain groups

1. The growth rate, food intake and behaviour of broiler and layer chicks were compared during their main growing period. 2. The broilers ate more and grew twice as fast as the layers. They also converted their food more efficiently, partly because they digested their food slightly better than the layers did, but also because their total energy expenditure was probably considerably less than that of the layers. They were very inactive and spent less time feeding, so presumably they could devote proportionately more food energy to growth than the layers could. 3. In the same experiment broiler and layer chicks were reared together in mixed groups, and it was found that each strain affected the other's growth and behaviour slightly. The broilers grew slightly faster in the mixed groups than in the single‐strain groups, whereas the layers grew slightly slower.
THE EFFECTS OF 2-CHLORO-6 (TRICHLOROMETHYL)-PYRIDINE (’N-SERVE’) AND N FERTILIZERS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF CANADIAN OILSEED RAPE

’N-Serve’ has been shown to reduce losses of applied N-fertilizer and thereby increase fertilizer N-utilization by plants. This study was undertaken to test the effects of ’N-Serve’ on fertilizer N efficiency in oilseed rape production and quality. Field experiments were conducted on two chernozemic soils over 4 yr in Manitoba. The oilseed rape cultivars Tower (Brassica napus L.) and Torch (B. campestris) were used in the study. Spring and fall applied ammonium nitrate, urea and fluid-N, with and without ’N-Serve’ delayed flowering and increased the herbage yield of both oilseed rape cultivars. The number of days from full pod to maturity was increased with application of N fertilizers, but the number of days from flowering to full pod was constant. Increased herbage yield and total plant N at flowering was reflected in increased seed yield and meal protein content, but decreased oil content. ’N-Serve’ applied with and without N fertilizer reduced oil content and oil yield. However, when ’N-Serve’ was app.
Kinetics of Pigment Oxidation in Beef from Steers Supplemented with Vitamin E

A model was developed for the mechanistic analysis of pigment oxidation in longissimus lumborum (LL) or gluteus medius (GM) from control and vitamin E supplemented cattle. Metmyoglobin (MetMb) formation presented an induction period which generally increased with supplementation dose and duration, followed by a phase where MetMb accumulated faster than during the induction period. α-tocopherol concentration only affected length of the induction period. Color stable LL had a longer induction period than color labile GM. The model included oxymyoglobin autoxi-dation to MetMb and superoxide anion, and oxidation of oxymyoglobin to MetMb by prooxidants arising from the superoxide anion. α-tocopherol inhibition was interpreted as a competitive reaction between the antioxidant and oxymyoglobin for lipid peroxy radicals.
Selection of non-toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus for biocontrol of aflatoxins in maize in Thailand

Aflatoxin production in maize and peanuts remains a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. One promising method for combating aflatoxin formation is biocontrol using competitive exclusion, a management strategy currently being studied in maize crops in Thailand. It is important that the strains of Aspergillus flavus used in biocontrol be non-toxigenic and be incapable of reversion to toxigenicity. In the current study, 80 non-toxigenic strains of A. flavus, randomly selected from commercially produced dried maize samples from several sources in Thailand, were screened for their potential as biocontrol strains by examining the 24 aflatoxin biosynthesis genes, using a PCR assay. Assessment of the presence or absence of PCR products provides an indication of the function of pathway genes. Of the 80 strains, 78 showed no PCR products from one or more genes in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway. Twenty-three isolates showed only one failure, in the aflD (nor-1) gene, but most isolates failed to produce a PCR product for two or more genes. Nineteen isolates (24%) failed to show a PCR product in 10 or more genes. Altogether, 45 PCR product patterns were observed, usually common to only one or two isolates, indicating great diversity in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway in A. flavus isolates taken from dried Thai maize. Although the absence of a particular PCR product is not conclusive evidence that the particular gene is non-functional, the absence of several such PCR products provides reasonable evidence that the isolate in question will not revert to toxigenicity in the field.
Leaf and Tiller Identification on Wheat Plants 1

L'identification des feuilles et des talles des plants de ble, et la determination du stade de developpement de leurs feuilles, sont utiles pour detecter les stress environnementaux dans les plantules. Cette etude decrit des criteres d'identification des feuilles et des talles sur les plantes cerealieres lorsque les feuilles inferieures sont tombees
GENETIC DETERMINATION OF PATERNITY IN CAPTIVE GREY MOUSE LEMURS: PRE-COPULATORY SEXUAL COMPETITION RATHER THAN SPERM COMPETITION IN A NOCTURNAL PROSIMIAN?

Among nocturnal Malagasy prosimians, the grey mouse lemur ( Microcebus murinus ) is considered as a solitary species having a promiscuous mating system. Indirect evidence, such as the lack of sexual dimorphism, the high relative testes size of males and the high synchronism in oestrus occurrence among females, supports the presence of a sperm-based scramble competition. In captive animals, we used genetic determination of paternity to define the relationship between mating success and reproductive success of males kept in a group with several females during the mating period. Within each group, an intense sexual competition arose among males for priority of access to oestrous females. High ranking males, as deduced from the direction of agonistic interactions, displayed a significantly higher frequency of marking behaviours, chemosensory investigations of females, and sexual behaviours. A robust relationship was found between male rank and reproductive success since 16 out of the 17 litters (35 young) produced, have been sired by the highest ranked male of the group. Moreover, the finding that female aggression was related to both male sexual solicitations and to male rank, suggests that females could exert a choice. Under specific captive conditions, grey mouse lemurs, showing all traits of post-copulatory sperm-based scramble competition, exhibit a mating system relying on pre-copulatory aggression-based competition. Olfactory signals rather than morphological traits might be used, in this nocturnal primate, for both sexual co-ordination between sexes and partner choice.
Diatom aggregation in the sea: mechanisms and ecological implications

Marine snow is a ubiquitous feature of the ocean and an important agent in the transport of energy and nutrients through marine ecosystems. Diatom aggregates, which form during blooms and, to a lesser extent, by the resuspension of benthic biofilms, are a primary source of marine snow. Genera commonly found in diatom aggregates are: Nitzschia, Chaetoceros, Rhizosolenia, Leptocylindricus, Skeletonema and Thalassionema. Most fieldwork has been restricted to a limited number of locations in the Northern Hemisphere. To quantify the global impact of diatom aggregation there is a need to conduct fieldwork in a wider range of areas, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. Aggregates form when particles collide and stick together. Collisions in the water column are affected by turbulence, differential settlement and animal feeding, whereas diatom stickiness is affected by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that diatoms produce more EPS under nutrient limitation, although little is known about how limitation by different nutrients affects the quantity and composition of EPS and subsequent stickiness. EPS form three pools in the environment: cell coatings, soluble EPS and transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP). There is a need to investigate the dynamics of conversion between the pools of EPS by both abiotic and biological processes and how these conversions affect aggregate concentration and structure. Processes governing disaggregation have been largely overlooked, although they are as important as aggregation in determining the dynamics of aggregate concentrations in the water column. The biogeochemical significance of diatom aggregates as a means of transporting carbon and other nutrients from the euphotic zone to the seabed is well established. However, the internal biogeochemistry of aggregates is not well understood. Aggregates contain anaerobic microsites and further work is required to establish whether aggregates are significant sinks for nitrogen in the water column through anaerobic denitrification. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain diatom aggregation in the field, but many of these are flawed because the mechanisms and adaptive explanations proposed require natural selection to operate at the level of populations rather than genes or individuals.
Growth and morphological response of old-forest lichens transplanted into a young and an old Picea abies forest

This experimental study focuses on why old-forest lichens such as Lobaria scrobiculata and Platismatia norvegica are scarce in younger spruce stands. Understanding the factors limiting the distribution of species is important for developing appropriate methods for forest management aiming to maintain biodiversity. A successful growth of L. scrobiculata and P. norvegica was found in the young planted stand as the rate of growth did not differ between the young stand and the old spruce forest where they naturally occurred, during 14 months of transplantation. In the young forest environment, L. scrobiculata showed a significantly higher specific thallus weight, and a slightly higher water-holding capacity. This morphological response is probably due to a higher light exposure in the young stand and consequently a higher rate of desiccation. The ubiquitous species Platismatia glauca showed a significantly higher rate of growth in the young forest than in the old forest, and a positive relationship between growth rate and light exposure was found. This transplant study has shown that the environmental conditions in younger planted forests are not necessarily unfavourable for growth of old-forest lichens. Other factors, such as limited dispersal ability and poor diaspore production, are probably important for explaining the species scarcity in younger stands.
A comparative greenhouse gas emission analysis of oilseed crops for biodiesel production in Greece

SUMMARY Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) are considered as the most suitable crops for biodiesel production in the Mediterranean basin. Soybean (Glycine max L.) could also be used, under certain conditions. In Greece, the farming practice adopted in each region varies significantly, leading to significant differences in the levels of emitted greenhouse gases (GHG). Greenhouse gas emissions were estimated during the cultivation phase as grams of carbon dioxide equivalents (g CO2e) per megajoule (MJ), followed by emission savings (%) estimation when fossil fuels are replaced by biodiesel. Crop and region comparisons provided important information towards promoting sustainability. Overall, sunflower demonstrated the lowest average emissions, 53·8 g CO2e/MJ, followed by rapeseed and soybean. Furthermore, rapeseed achieved the lowest emission saving level required by European legislation in most cases studied, with an average value of 37%. Irrigation and nitrogen fertilization were the operations mostly contributing to the total quantity of GHG emissions. More specifically, the highest GHG emissions were found for soybean irrigation (34%) and rapeseed nitrogen fertilization (68%).
Effects of water-level fluctuations on the littoral benthic fish community in lakes: a mesocosm experiment

Changes in the water level of lakes, either natural or man-made, are important environmental perturbations for eulittoral benthic fish communities. In outdoor mesocosm experiments, we tested the effects of decreasing shelter availability due to autumn lake-level decrease on the behavior and the growth of two littoral benthic dwellers, the juvenile burbot and the stone loach. The two species showed significantly different changes in behavior when shelter availability decreased. Burbot built up a distinct hierarchy when shelter became sparse, with larger fish being significantly more successful in competing for suitable shelter than smaller conspecifics. The hierarchy, however, ceased when shelter availability decreased below a certain level. The largest fish then increasingly abandoned shelter use, while smaller fish persisted with their sheltering behavior. Stone loach, in contrast, showed no hierarchical order or size-related shelter use. Only burbot showed a significant relationship between the ability to occupy the preferred shelter and the somatic growth. These two species provide an example of different strategies to deal with environmental perturbations like lake-level decrease, with the stenoecious, dominant strategy of the burbot and the euryoecious, evasive strategy of stone loach. The results demonstrate the importance of conducting behavioral studies under as natural conditions as possible. Copyright 2005.
The Fire That Comes from the Eye

One of the earliest ideas about vision is that it depends on light that streams out of the eye and detects surrounding objects. This view was attacked in its own time and finally disproved more than 2000 years later. Yet the idea of a beam leaving the eye persisted in beliefs both about the evil eye and the power of a lover's gaze. It is still widely held among both children and adults. NEUROSCIENTIST 5:58-64, 1999
A field and storage rot of onion caused by Pseudomonas marginalis

Abstract Pseudomonas marginalis (Brown 1918) Stevens 1925 isolated from infected leaves of onion (Allium cepa L.) in the field and from diseased bulbs in store, was confirmed as a soft rot pathogen of onion by Koch's postulates. The first official record of P. marginalis on onion in New Zealand is attributed to Hale in Pennycook 1989. This paper documents the evidence for that record.
Australian freshwater assimineids, with a synopsis of the Recent genus-group taxa of the Assimineidae (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Rissooidea)

The morphology of the two species of Australian freshwater assimineids is described in detail. A new genus and species of Assimineinae, Aviassiminea palitans, is named from freshwater springs in north Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Austroassiminea letha Solem et al., 1982 from coastal springs in south Western Australia is also described and the original anatomical account is corrected in several important details. This taxon is shown to be a member of the Omphalotropidinae and is the only other non-marine assimineid known from Australia. All of the described assimineid genus-group taxa are listed in an appendix, with an assessment of their status, and their known diagnostic characters.
Changes in genetic diversity of U.S. flue-cured tobacco germplasm over seven decades of cultivar development.

Plant breeding methodologies have been applied to fl ue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) for approximately seven decades. As has been observed in several other crops, stringent quality requirements have resulted in use of conservative breeding strategies in the development of new cultivars. The impact of breeding practices on genetic diversity within U.S. fl ue-cured tobacco germplasm has not been investigated. In this study, we genotyped 117 tobacco cultivars from eight sequential time periods with 71 microsatellite primer pairs. A total of 294 alleles were scored. Only a fraction (48%) of alleles present in the initial germplasm pool was represented in cultivars released during the 1990s and 2000s. Only 13 and 18 alleles were detected in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively, which were undetected in the initial gene pool. The overall trend was one of gradual reduction in allelic counts at microsatellite loci, indicating a reduction in diversity over time at the gene level. Average genetic similarity was highest among cultivars of the 1990s and 2000s, refl ecting a reduction in genetic diversity at the population level. This observed narrowing of the U.S. fl ue-cured tobacco germplasm base in combination with low rates of genetic gain for yield in the last 20 years may point to a need for diversifi cation of parental materials used in future breeding crosses. Reported genetic relationships among the group of genotyped cultivars may be valuable for future strategic germplasm choices.
Effects of balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) tannins and low molecular weight phenolics on microbial activity in taiga floodplain soil: implications for changes in N cycling during succession

The transition from alder (Alnus tenuifolia) to balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) is a critical turning point in primary succession on river floodplains in interior Alaska. Associated with the change in plant species are large changes in N cycling. N-fixation and nitrification decrease and the system becomes N-limited, with NH4+ dominating the inorganic N pool. Balsam poplar leaves contain large quantities of tannins and low molecular weight phenolic compounds. We evaluated the effect of these compounds on microbial respiration and N cycling in laboratory assays on soils from an alder-dominated site. Plant compounds were purified and applied to silica gel as an inert carrier. Both tannins and phenolics caused net N-immobilization over a 30-day assay. However, tannins inhibited respiration while phenolics stimulated it. There were no specific effects on nitrification. Thus, tannins acted as a general microbial inhibitor, while phenolics acted as a growth substrate. By inhibiting mineralization while stimulating immobilization, poplar secondary compounds may reduce soil N-availability during the transition betwen alder and poplar stages in
Characterization of Plasma Vitellogenin and Sex Hormone Concentrations during the Annual Reproductive Cycle of the Endangered Razorback Sucker

Abstract Population declines of the endangered razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus in the Colorado River basin have been attributed to predation by and competition with nonnative fishes, habitat alteration, and dam construction. The reproductive health and seasonal variation of the reproductive end points of razorback sucker populations are currently unknown. Using nonlethal methods, we characterized the plasma hormonal fluctuations of reproductively mature female and male razorback suckers over a 12-month period in a hatchery by measuring their vitellogenin (VTG) and three sex hormones: 17β-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and 11-ketotestosterone (KT). Fish were identified as reproductive or nonreproductive based on their body weight, VTG, and sex hormone profiles. In reproductive females, the E2 concentration increased in the fall and winter, and increases in T and VTG concentrations were generally associated with the spawning period. Mean T concentrations were consistently greater in reproductive femal.
Heparina e Na2EDTA como anticoagulantes para surubim híbrido (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum x P. corruscans): eficácia e alterações hematológicas

The effect of heparin 100IU and Na2EDTA in concentration of 3%, 5% and 10% on the blood coagulation and hematological parameters of hybrid surubim catfish were evaluated. We used ten fish weighing 386,7±24,3g and average length of 38,7±6,4cm for collection of blood samples and determination of the percentage of hematocrit, plasma total protein content and osmotic fragility erythrocytes test (OFE). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and averages compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Coagulation was efficiently inhibited when used the Na2EDTA, while the samples with heparin coagulate ten hours after collection. There was an increase in osmotic fragility of erythrocytes (P<0.01), especially when using Na2EDTA 10% and 5%, with no difference between control and heparin. In hematocrit and total plasma protein content were not observed statistical differences. The Na2EDTA 3% is safe and effective anticoagulant for hybrid surubim catfish, preventing clotting for more than 10 hours causing slight effect on the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.