Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age and growth of Schizothorax waltoni (Cyprinidae: Schizothoracinae) in the Yarlung Tsangpo river, China

ABSTRACT To better understand the biology of Schizothorax waltoni, the age structure and growth characteristics of S. waltoni were examined. The standard length (SL) range was 41–642 mm and the body weight (BW) range was 1.1–3788.1 g. Otoliths continually grew with increasing SL and increasing age, but asymmetrically over time. One annulus was formed each year, between April and July. Estimated age range was 4–37 yr for males, 4–40 yr for females, and 1–9 yr for those of undetermined sex. The SL–BW relationship was described as BW = 1.365 × 10−5 SL2.984 for females, BW = 1.238 × 10−5 SL2.999 for males, and BW = 3.664 × 10−5 SL2.800 for undetermined specimens. The von Bertalanffy function was used to model the observed length-at-age data as Lt = 644.3 {1 − exp [−0.084(t − 0.247)]} for females, and Lt = 586.2 {1 − exp [−0.084(t + 2.250)]} for males. Females grew faster than males. Knowledge of this species’ characteristics of slow growth and a long life will be useful for establishing reasonable management practices for its conservation.
Analysis of the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activities of Soybean Extracts from Different Regions and Cultivars

Phenolic compounds such as isoflavones contribute to the antioxidant properties of soybean. This study investigated differences in the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of ten soybean cultivars grown in two different locations in Korea. We observed a wide range of variation in total isoflavone and phenolic content by location and cultivar. The total isoflavone content of cultivars grown at Pyeongchang (sub-highland) was significantly higher than that in cultivars grown at Gangneung (lowland). In contrast, the total phenolic content of cultivars grown at Gangneung was greater than that of cultivars grown at Pyeongchang. The radical scavenging activity of DPPH was similar to that of the total phenolic content rather than that of the total isoflavone content. These results suggest that antioxidant activity of soybean was associated with phenolic compounds rather than isoflavones. To identify the individual antioxidant components, we used an on-line HPLC-ABTS + -based assay system, ESI/MS, and NMR. The results showed that the strongest antioxidant activity was linked to epicatechin.
Photosynthetic activity, and lipid and hydrocarbon production by alginate-immobilized cells of Botryococcus in relation to growth phase

Whole-cell immobilization of the hydrocarbon rich microalgae, Botryococcus braunii and B. protuberans, in alginate beads under air-lift batch cultures resulted in a significant increase in chlorophyll, carotenoid, dry weight, and 1ipid contents at stationary and resting growth phases, as compared to free cells. Photosynthetic activity in both the species, of Botryococcus was enhanced, relative to free cells, at any growth phase of cultures. Immobilization exerted a protective influence on ageing of the cultures as reflected by higher chlorophyll and dry weight contents. Entrapment also stabilized the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents even at stationary and resting phases as compared to free cells in both the species.
Meal sizes and feeding rates of Christmas Shearwaters and Phoenix Petrels on Christmas Island, Central Pacific Ocean

Meal size and feeding frequency of Christmas Shearwaters and Phoenix Petrels on Motu Tabu, Christmas Island, Central Pacific Ocean, were determined by weighing chicks at 4-h intervals throughout 24-h periods. Most feeding occurred between 1600 and 2400 hours. Meal size was estimated by the mass increment between visits. Positive increments were summed over 24 h (SUM) to provide an index to the total mass of food received. Over two nights, 10 of 17 Phoenix Petrel chicks had SUMs exceeding 25 g (max. 110 g), indicating large meals. Four SUMs of 5 and 10 g were discounted as either weighing errors or inconsequential meals. Assuming that members of a pair fed their chicks independently, this indicates a probability of feeding of 0.36 per parent per night, i.e., every third night on average. Twenty-six of 30 Christmas Shearwater chicks had SUMs exceeding 35 g (max. 95 g), suggesting a feeding probability of 0.63 per parent per night. The means of SUMs were 54.8 + 23.5 SD for the Christmas Shearwater (16.1% of chick mass) and 37.1 ? 36.8 SD for the Phoenix Petrel (13.6%). Estimated masses of meals delivered by each parent were 48.2 g + 9.1 SD (14.2% adult mass) and 49.4 g ? 21.5 SD (18.2%), respectively. Net mass gains by chicks over 24 h were significantly related to SUM with slopes of 0.42 g g-1 ? 0.07 SE and 0.77 g g-' ? 0.11 SE, respectively. These data are consistent with the suggestion of Ashmole and Ashmole (1967) that the Phoenix Petrel feeds more pelagically than the Christmas Shearwater and delivers a meal with a higher energy content and less water. In general, mass increments can be analyzed to describe components of variation in meal size and feeding rate for comparison among pelagic seabirds. These data may also allow one to infer aspects of feeding ecology and the resource environment of the chick.
Unraveling the genetic background of bovine milk fat composition

Identification of genomic regions, and preferably individual genes, responsible for genetic variation in bovine milk fat composition enhances the understanding of biological pathways involved in fatty acid synthesis and is expected to increase opportunities for changing bovine milk fat composition by means of selective breeding. This thesis aimed to unravel the genetic background of bovine milk fat composition by detection, confirmation and fine-mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for milk fatty acids in Dutch Holstein Friesian cattle. In addition, causal relations between fatty acids were explored. For this study roughly 2,000 dairy cows were genotyped with 50,000 DNA markers and phenotyped for individual fatty acids in both winter and summer milk samples using gas chromatography. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) showed that milk fat composition has a complex genetic background with three major QTL that explain a relatively large fraction of the genetic variation of several milk fatty acids, and many QTL that explain a relatively small fraction of the genetic variation. Results from the GWAS for summer milk fatty acids confirmed most associations that were detected in the winter milk samples. Moving from linkage analysis toward GWAS confirmed and refined the size of previously detected QTL regions and resulted in new QTL regions. Performing GWAS based on individual fatty acids resulted in additional QTL as compared to GWAS based on fat percentage or yield. This shows that refinement of complex phenotypes into underlying components results in better links between genes and phenotypes. By increasing the marker density, the QTL on BTA19 was refined to a linkage disequilibrium block that contained 2 genes: coiled-coil domain containing 57 and fatty acid synthase. A search for causal relations between fatty acids resulted in a pathway from C4:0 to C12:0, which resembled the de novo synthesis pathway. Causal relation between the QTL on BTA19 and de novo fatty acids showed that the QTL affects C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0 and C14:0 directly, while C12:0 was indirectly affected by the QTL through its effect on C10:0. The potential of GWAS based on MIR predicted fatty acids was explored but failed to detect some QTL and resulted in additional QTL that were not detected based on GC measurements. Therefore, MIR predicted phenotypes add complexity to the genotype-phenotype relationship, and renders MIR predicted phenotypes less appropriate to identify candidate genes and to infer the biological background of traits.
Allergens and intestinal damage induced by soybean antigen proteins in weaned piglets

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soybean antigen proteins on serum cytokine levels and claudin-1 distribution in the intestine of weaned piglets. Seventy piglets (24 d of age) were randomly divided into seven groups. Piglets in group A were fed a basal diet, in groups B, C and D were fed the basal diet supplemented with β-conglycinin; and in groups E, F, G were fed the basal diet supplemented with glycinin. Blood samples were collected and analysed for IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 levels on day 24, 26, 28 and 30. At the end of the trial, five piglets per group were sacrificed and the small intestine was collected to evaluate intestinal claudin-1 distribution and OD of the relative staining positivity. β-Conglycinin and glycinin decreased the growth performance in piglets by decreasing ADFI, ADG and increasing F/G. Serum levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 in β-conglycinin and glycinin groups ranged from 126.067 to 144.067 ng • L−1, 31.798 to 44.360 ng • L−1 and 36.360 to 40.482 ng • L−1 on day 24, 26 and 30. However, serum IFN-γ levels were negatively correlated with soybean antigen proteins supplementation levels ranged from 6.956 to 15.361 ng • L−1. The treatment groups had lower OD values of claudin-1 than those of the control group. The β-conglycinin groups had lower distribution and OD values than the glycinin groups at similar antigen protein supplementation levels. These results suggest that β-conglycinin and glycinin damage the intestinal mucosal immune barrier in weaned piglets.
Serum metal evaluation in a small cohort of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients reveals high levels of thiophylic species

Abstract Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has often been associated with improper/altered metal metabolism. Analysis of thiophylic metals in serum from a small and geographically restricted cohort of ALS patients indicates contents of Pb and Ni much higher in patients than in controls (Ni, 5-fold; Pb, 2-fold). Se levels are also higher in the patients’ group, which has instead lower As levels than controls. Thiophylic metals may impair biogenesis of FeS clusters or substitute for iron, even in folded proteins; Se may non-functionally replace S. Thus, improper assembly/ function of FeS proteins could represent another possible issue to be considered in ALS pathogenesis.
Inferring community assembly processes from trait diversity across environmental gradients

Abstract: Environmental filtering and competitive interactions are important ecological processes in community assembly. The contribution of the two processes to community assembly can be evaluated by shifts in functional diversity patterns. We examined the correlations between functional diversity of six traits (leaf chlorophyll concentration, dry matter content, size, specific leaf area, thickness and wood density) and environmental gradients (topography and soil) for 92 species in the 20-ha Dinghushan forest plot in China. A partial Mantel test showed that most of the community-weighted mean trait values changed with terrain convexity and soil fertility, which implied that environmental filtering was occurring. Functional diversity of many traits significantly increased with increasing terrain convexity and soil fertility, which was associated with increased light and below-ground resources respectively. These results suggest that co-occurring species are functionally convergent in regions of strong abiotic stress under the environmental filtering, but functionally divergent in more benign environments due to resource partitioning and competitive interactions. Single-trait diversity and multivariate functional diversity had different relationships with environmental factors, indicating that traits were related to different niche axes, and associated with different ecological processes, which demonstrated the importance of focusing niche axes in traits selection. Between 9% and 41% of variation in functional diversity of different traits was explained by environmental factors in stepwise multiple regression models. Terrain convexity and soil fertility were the best predictors of functional diversity, which contributed 30.5% and 29.0% of total R2 to the model. These provided essential evidence that different environmental factors had distinguishing impacts on regulating diversity of traits.
ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL ACTIVITY AND CYTOTOXICITY EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF PEANUTS (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)

Peanut skin and peel, a low economic value by-product of the peanut industry, is rich in potentially health promoting compounds. This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different organic solvents such as, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and aqueous extract for extraction of (total phenolics TP, total flavonoids TF and total tannins TT) from the peanut skin and peel. For each solvent, the content of total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins was determined. Antioxidant activity of different extracts was screened using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH  ) radical scavenging, metal chelating activities, reducing power, and ABTS assays. The results showed that 80% acetone is the best solvent for the extraction of total phenolics (436.88 ± 0.71mg/g DW), flavonoids (340.00 ± 1.11mg/g DW) and tannins (184.63 ± 1.95 mg/g DW) and lower in peanut peel aqueous extract (135.5 ± 1.05 mg/g DW), (163 .15 ± 0.67mg/g DW) and (90.55 ± 3.63 mg/g DW). The results revealed that all extracts of the peanut skin and peel exhibited variable antioxidant activity. The highest DPPH  scavenging activity (IC50=52.18 ± 0.47µg/ml) was achieved with acetone extracts of peanut skin compared to acetone extract of peanut peel (IC50=70.51 ± 0.45µg/ml). Antioxidant as measured by Fe 2+ -chelating revealed the highest activities with methanolic extract of peanut skin (86.10%) compared to peel extract (74.94%). ABTS + showed the highest value with peanut skin and peel methanol extract. While the acetone skin extract showed the highest activity by reducing power assay. The present study suggests that a skin peanut acetone extract contained higher antioxidant components and potential as compared to the peel. Peanut skin acetone extract exhibited potential as an anticarcinogenic activity, but needs further investigation. It is concluded that acetone and methanol are polar among the solvent used and play a vital role in the extraction of the plant constituents. Therefore these results suggested that peanut skin might be beneficial as a potent antioxidant and anticancer agents and effectively employed as an ingredient in food applications.
Factors affecting the occurrence of middle spotted and great spotted woodpeckers in deciduous forests - : a case study from Poland

Based on published data on 117 deciduous forest sites studied in Poland, relationships between habitat factors (size of study plot, type and age of forest stands) and breeding of great spotted and middle spotted woodpeckers were examined. As compared with middle spotted woodpeckers, great spotted woodpeckers occupied twice as large a number of studied plots (97 vs. 41) and were characterized by lower area demands. Great spotted woodpeckers avoided young forest stands and residual alluvial forests, preferring oak-dominated forests. Middle spotted woodpeckers selected the oldest, oak-dominated forests. Logistic regression revealed that the presence or absence of great spotted woodpeckers could be predicted from the age of forest stands, and the occurrence of middle spotted woodpeckers was positively correlated with the plot size and type of forest. My results stress the importance of old, sufficiently large (> 15 ha) oak dominated forests conducive to the presence of middle spotted woodpeckers.
Effects of low-dose gamma radiation on shelf-life and microbiological safety of pre-cut/prepared vegetables

Pre-cut bell pepper and carrot were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes, and the effect of irradiation (1 kGy gamma rays) on its viable cell counts and its changes during post-irradiation storage (within the range of 1 to 16 °C) were studied together with the naturally contaminating bacterial flora (aerobic plate count, presumptive lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae counts). Microbiological shelf-life estimations based on times elapsed until the aerobic plate count reached the 10 8 CFU/g level were compared with keeping qualities based on appearance of the vegetables. In case of bell pepper the microbiological shelf-life was doubled by the radiation treatment. The visual appearance of the vegetable deteriorated faster than the microbiological quality. Listeria monocytogenes grew readily on this produce, however, the radiation treatment reduced its viable counts by several log-cycles. Considering this extent of decontaminating effect, good manufacturing practice coupled with I kGy irradiation could practically eliminate this pathogen from this product. The microbiological shelf-life of unirradiated carrot cubes was shorter than the shelf-life based on appearance. Irradiation reduced drastically the load of spoilage bacteria, improving thereby the microbiological shelf-life and extending the sensorial keeping quality. The antilisterial effect of fresh tissue of carrots was confirmed. Irradiation complemented efficiently this specific effect. The radiation dose of 1 kGy caused 12 % loss of ascorbic acid content of bell pepper, further loss of ascorbic acid was less than 10 % during the shelf-life in both untreated and irradiated samples. After 10 days of storage, β-carotene content of irradiated samples was somewhat higher than that of untreated samples.
Anomalous ecosystem dynamics following the apparent collapse of a keystone forage species

: Major groundfish populations in the western Atlantic north of Georges Bank/West-ern Scotian Shelf experienced near-total population collapses beginning in the late 1980s−early 1990s. Explosive increases in the abundance of their pelagic fish and invertebrate prey (notably capelin, sand lance, herring, shrimp and snow crab) generally followed. However, several investi-gators have concluded, based on the results of annual acoustic surveys, that the lightly exploited capelin stock in the Newfoundland/Labrador (NL) region experienced a sudden 6.8 Mt (98%) decline in biomass from 1990 to 1991 coincident with the groundfish collapse. Given the enormity, duration and unexpected nature of this decline, it was characterized as a collapse. The contrasting response of this capelin stock to the groundfish collapse relative to other North Atlantic (NA) ecosystems prompted us to undertake systematic analyses of the NL ecosystem. The reported capelin collapse in NL should have induced significant responses of trophically linked species, as have been reported in other NA ecosystems. We found little evidence of changes in the population abundance, diet and condition of marine mammals, cod, seabirds and zooplankton, in indexes of the areal occupancy and spawning biomass of capelin, or of environmental effects. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the reported collapse did not occur. Profound seasonal distribution changes, a fixed in time and space acoustic survey in a restricted portion of the distributional range of capelin, and the possibility that NL capelin stock has become less migratory provide a more robust and consistent explanation of the observations.
Inter-nesting migrations by leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the west indies

Three leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting grounds on two islands in the northeastern Caribbean Sea were patrolled simultaneously (1984-1986). Two of 62 turtles (3.2%) strayed from the nesting beach of initial choice and deposited eggs at another nesting ground in 1984; four of 70 (5.7%) did so in 1985. No straying was observed in 1986. No turtle was recorded nesting in more than two of the three study areas. The proportion of strays per population ranged from 0-27.3% per annum. Turtles traveled between Manchenil Bay Beach and Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix (approximately 30 km), between Sandy Point and Isla Culebra, Puerto Rico (approximately 90 km), and between Isla Culebra and Manchenil Bay (approximately 110 km). We evaluate the results in light of published records of straying by other species of sea turtle and conclude that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that leatherbacks show weaker repro- ductive philopatry than do other sea turtles.
The role of mental translation in learning and using a second/foreign language by female adult learners

Abstract The purpose of this study is to ponder some theoretical considerations concerning a predominant phenomenon of mental translation (MT) observed by second language teachers and learners in learning and using a second/foreign language. The sample available to the researcher consists of seven female adult learners speaking different languages. The choice of the sample is not related to the age level of the learners, but their English level (5-6) according to the Canadian Language Benchmarks. The research instruments used in this study are two compositions written on two occasions, during 2013-2015 and in 2016, a personal questionnaire, a strategy questionnaire, and a structured face-to-face interview. The results show that learners use mental translation as a strategy to compare and establish similarities and differences between first language (L1) and second language (L2). The learners create a translational zone where they put the results of the comparisons between L1 and L2 (MT product). The MT product becomes a procedural knowledge, stored in the long-term memory. To write in L2, the learners retrieve the information from their translational zone automatically and without awareness. The type of errors made in both written compositions shows how the influence of the mother tongue prevails despite the time living in the second language country, or the study within an academic system or with tutors. The use of mental translation as a strategy and as a product can explain the errors made by the learners in the second language and the prevalence of the influence of L1 in learning and using L2.
Xylem conductivity of petioles and primary stem tissues at stem terminals of herbaceous plant species1

Abstract Shoot apical meristems produce stem tissues, produce leaves, and produce flowers. Cell proliferation characteristics of meristems are dependent upon cell maturation processes and the functions of newly formed cells. Cells of stem terminals depend upon water availability from other plant portions. Inadequate moisture availability to stem terminals reduces shoot growth rates and leaf production rates. Xylem conductivity measurements of terminal shoot meristems and small leaves were approximated using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation to determine relationships between xylem contributions to leaves versus xylem conductivity within stems. Analyses of petiole and stem xylem conductivities for the 23 herbaceous plant species were confined to stem terminals that only had primary xylem cells in stems and only five leaves or leaf pairs. Among stem segments (10 mm to 64 mm in length) among species, the largest leaf areas ranged from 2.34 cm2 to 54 cm2, stem diameters ranged from 0.82 mm to 3.83 mm, and maximum leaf petiole and stem xylem conductivities were 0.12 g cm MPa−1 s−1 and 0.35 g cm MPa−1 s−1, respectively. For pooled samples, petiole xylem conductivity was well scaled with leaf area of largest leaves (r2 = 0.76). For pooled samples, stem conductivity was well scaled with cumulative petiole conductivities (r2 = 0.94). When the largest diameter stem sections from each species were considered, stem xylem conductivity was well scaled with mean radius of conduits (r2 = 0.82). Overall, stem xylem conductivities were strongly linked to petiole conductivities as leaves developed. Petiole xylem conductivity was well scaled with stem conductivities for all 23 species with markedly different leaf areas.