Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Annulus Formation on Otoliths and Growth of Young Summer Flounder from Pamlico Sound, North Carolina

Abstract Summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus were collected monthly in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, and adjacent waters from May 1971 to July 1972 to determine age at first annulus (opaque ring) formation on otoliths and to estimate growth of young-of-the-year and yearling fish. The first annulus formed on yearling otoliths between January and June. It often becomes obscure as fish age, making fish older than 2 years difficult to age from otoliths. A yon Bertalanffy equation with a seasonally varying coefficient closely modeled summer flounder growth during a cohort's first 17 months: Lmax (315.8 mm) is maximum body size; Lmin (14.4 mm) is size at estuarine immigration; t is age in months; α (0.059) and θ (−3.347) are parameters describing seasonal change in the von Bertalanffy coefficient. Mean total length at the end of the first year was 167 mm for males and 171 mm for females, and differences between sexes were not significant (P = 0.24). After fish moved into the estuary in February, their body w.
Biomass allocation of chestnut oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey) seedlings: effects of provenance and light gradient

Patterns of biomass allocation were determined for seedlings of five provenances of Quercus castaneifolia from west to east of the Hyrcanian forest along a rainfall gradient. Experimental design was executed under controlled conditions at seven different light levels (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 100% full light). We quantified the biomass allocation patterns to leaves, stems and roots. For all provenances total mass increased with irradiance at low light levels, reaching an optimum at an intermediate level but decreasing at a high irradiance level. As results show, in drier provenances and at high light levels, the seedlings invest more biomass into root mass to facilitate water uptake and to alter their leaf size to prevent overheating. In contrast, at wetter provenances and low light levels, towards increased light interception, more biomass is allocated proportionally to leaves and the stems but, accordingly, less to roots. The leaf to root ratio (L/R) was negatively correlated with light, with high correlation at wetter provenances compared to drier ones. In contrast, the relationship between the root to shoot (R/Sh) ratio and light was positively correlated with light, but it was weak at drier provenances and became gradually stronger at wetter ones. Such relationships indicated that chestnut oak seedling growth strategies are different along a rainfall gradient to irradiance levels. Despite similar growth conditions in the greenhouse, different growth strategies may be the result of genetic adaptation to the ecological conditions, especially when precipitation regimes prevail in the native habitat.
Zinc Status of Some Soils of Indore

Surface soil samples from different parts of Indore district were found to have total zinc content as 40 to 131 ppm, but its availability ranged from 0.90 to 3.25 ppm. Significant correlations were found for calcium carbonate and pH versus available zinc. Positive correlations existed for total zinc and clay content versus available zinc and total zinc respectively.
Resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi among seedlings from backcross families of hybrid american chestnut

American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. ) once was a primary hardwood species in forests of the eastern United States. Sometime during the late 18th century, it is speculated that Phytophthora cinnamomi, which causes Phytophthora root rot (PRR) on many woody plant species, was introduced to the southeast region of the United States, and this pathogen spread as people moved inland from the coast (Zentmyer 1980). In the 1800s, PRR (also known as ink disease) caused extensive mortality to American chestnut trees in the southern portion of its range (Freinkel 2007, Zentmyer 1980). Then, in the early 1900s, chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, almost eliminated American chestnut trees from eastern forests (Freinkel 2007). Since 1989, The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has been producing hybrid chestnut seedlings by crossing Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima), which is resistant to C. parasitica, with American chestnut and then backcrossing progeny to C. dentata to produce resistant American-type chestnut trees. Since 2000, hybrid seedlings planted in some locations in southeastern states have died from PRR before they could be challenged by naturally-occurring populations of C. parasitica. Therefore, we wanted to determine if any of the backcross trees selected for resistance to C. parasitica were resistant to P. cinnamomi as well because Chinese chestnut also is resistant to this pathogen.
Comparing the potential production and value of high‐energy liquid fuels and protein from marine and freshwater macroalgae

The biomass production and biochemical properties of marine and freshwater species of green macroalgae (multicellular algae), cultivated in outdoor conditions, were evaluated to assess the potential conversion into high‐energy liquid biofuels, specifically biocrude and biodiesel and the value of these products. Biomass productivities were typically two times higher for marine macroalgae (8.5–11.9 g m−2 d−1, dry weight) than for freshwater macroalgae (3.4–5.1 g m−2 d−1, dry weight). The biochemical compositions of the species were also distinct, with higher ash content (25.5–36.6%) in marine macroalgae and higher calorific value (15.8–16.4 MJ kg−1) in freshwater macroalgae. Lipid content was highest for freshwater Oedogonium and marine Derbesia. Lipids are a critical organic component for biocrude production by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and the theoretical biocrude yield was therefore highest for Oedogonium (17.7%, dry weight) and Derbesia (16.2%, dry weight). Theoretical biocrude yields were also higher than biodiesel yields for all species due to the conversion of the whole organic component of biomass, including the predominant carbohydrate fraction. However, all marine species had higher biomass productivities and therefore had higher projected biocrude productivities than freshwater species, up to 7.1 t of biocrude ha−1 yr−1 for Derbesia. The projected value of the six macroalgae was increased by 45–77% (up to US$7700 ha−1 yr−1) through the extraction of protein prior to the conversion of the residual biomass to biocrude. This study highlights the importance of optimizing biomass productivities for high‐energy fuels and targeting additional coproducts to increase value.
Monitoring leg problems in broilers: a survey of commercial broiler production in Denmark

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and the extent of leg problems in broiler chicks reared in conventional production systems in Denmark. The survey, which was designed as a cross-sectional study, included 28 broiler flocks (8% of the total number of flocks in Denmark); 2800 chicks in total (100 chicks per flock) were investigated for the occurrence of leg disorders in relation to animal welfare. The leg disorders included impaired walking ability, tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), varus/valgus deformations, crooked toes, foot pad burns, and asymmetrical development of the tarsometatarsus. The mean prevalence of impaired walking ability (gait score >0), tibial dyschondroplasia (TD score >0), varus/valgus deformations, crooked toes and foot pad burns was 75.0%, 57.1%, 37.0%, 32.6% and 42.0%, respectively. The risks of the occurrence of these leg problems were significantly influenced by body weight and sex of the chicks. For birds with impaired walking ability (corresponding to gait scores > 0 and >2), significant interactions were found between body weight and sex. Positive correlations (r >0.20) were found between gait score and TD score, gait score and varus/valgus deformations, TD score and varus/valgus deformations, varus/valgus deformations and body weight, crooked toes and body weight, and between varus/valgus deformations and body weight. Only weak correlations were found between the relative asymmetry in the length, thickness and diameter of the tarsometatarsus and the other leg problems measured. It was concluded that the prevalence of leg problems in broilers in conventional production systems is very high and compromises the welfare of the birds. One of the main factors responsible is their high growth rate.
ADULT PREY CHOICE AFFECTS CHICK GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN PIGEON GUILLEMOTS

Abstract Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba) are diving seabirds that forage near shore and feed their chicks demersal and schooling fishes. During nine years between 1979 and 1997, we studied chick diet, chick growth rate, and reproductive success of Pigeon Guillemots at Prince William Sound, Alaska, to determine factors limiting breeding populations. We found evidence for prey specialization among breeding pairs and detected differences in reproductive success between specialists and generalists. Pairs that specialized on particular prey types when foraging for their chicks fledged more chicks than those that generalized, apparently because they delivered larger individual prey items. Reproductive performance also varied among guillemot pairs as a function of the proportion of high-lipid schooling fishes fed to the chicks. Pairs that delivered primarily high-lipid fishes (Pacific sand lance [Ammodytes hexapterus] and Pacific herring [Clupea pallasii]) had higher overall reproductive success than pairs that delivered primarily low-lipid demersal fishes (e.g. sculpins, blennies, stichaeids, and pholidids) and gadids. The proportion of high-lipid fishes in the diet was positively related to chick growth, suggesting that piscivorous seabird chicks benefit from eating species with high-energy densities during development. The diet of Pigeon Guillemot chicks showed high annual variation from 1979 to 1997, presumably because of fluctuations in abundance of Pacific sand lance, a high-lipid schooling fish. Regression analyses suggest that the percent occurrence of high-lipid fishes in the diet affected chick growth rate at the population level. We conclude that Pigeon Guillemots benefit by specializing when selecting prey for their chicks, and that high-lipid schooling fishes enhance chick growth and reproductive success.
Effects of Herbicides and Application Timing on Woollyleaf Bursage(Ambrosia grayi)1

Abstract: Woollyleaf bursage (Ambrosia grayi) is a noxious, rhizomatous perennial with an extensive creeping root system. It is found in the central and southern Great Plains of the U.S. Clopyralid alone or fluroxypyr, picloram, or glyphosate with either 2,4-D or dicamba were applied to woollyleaf bursage at anthesis and 30 d later in three field experiments. With the exception of treatments containing picloram, the effect of application timing was inconsistent. All treatments containing picloram consistently controlled woollyleaf bursage 93% or greater for 9 mo and 74% or greater for 11 mo. Control was poor or inconsistent with all other treatments. Although a rate response was seen with clopyralid, a level higher than 0.28 kg/ha may be necessary to control woollyleaf bursage. After 11 mo, control was less than 60% with treatments containing 1.7 kg/ha of glyphosate in 10 of 12 herbicide treatments and timing combinations over 3 yr. Nomenclature: Clopyralid, 3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid; dicamba, 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid; fluroxypyr, [(4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid; glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine; picloram, 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid; 2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid; woollyleaf bursage, Ambrosia grayi (A. Nels.) shinners #3AMBGR. Additional index words: Woollyleaf franseria, bur ragweed, perennial weed control.
Relationship of Embryo Weight as a Percent of Egg Weight to Efficiency of Feed Utilization in the Hatched Chick

Abstract The relationship between efficiency of embryonic utilization and efficiency of utilization of feed by the hatched chick was studied by comparing the 10-day embryo weight as a percentage of egg weight (percent embryo weight) to feed conversion ratio of their full-sibs from 1–9 weeks of age. There was no relationship between embryonic efficiency (as measured by percent 10-day embryo weight) and early (1–5 week) chick efficiency (as measured by feed conversion ratio). The correlations of . 19 and . 12 obtained for percent 10-day embryo weight and 5–7, 7–9 feed conversion also indicated a lack of relationship between embryo efficiency and latter chick efficiency. Similar low correlations between percent 10-day embryo weight and feed conversion (.12 and .16) and embryo weight with growth weight (0 and −.06) were obtained. A negative correlation of −. 46 between percent embryo weight and egg weight resulted because of the rather constant embryo weight over varying egg weights.
Universal primers for the amplification of chloroplast microsatellites in grasses (Poaceae)

Attempts to design truly universal primers to amplify chloroplast microsatellites have met with limited success due to nonconservation of repeat loci across widely divergent taxa. We have used the complete chloroplast genome sequences of rice, maize and wheat to design five pairs of primers that amplify homologous mononucleotide repeats across the Poaceae (grasses). Sequencing confirmed conservation of repeat motifs across subfamilies and a preliminary study in Anthoxanthum odoratum revealed polymorphism at two loci with a haplotype diversity value of 0.495. These primers provide a valuable tool to study cytoplasmic diversity in this extensively studied and economically important range of taxa.
Postfire carbon pools and fluxes in semiarid ponderosa pine in Central Oregon

Forest fire dramatically affects the carbon storage and underlying mechanisms that control the carbon balance of recovering ecosystems. In western North America where fire extent has increased in recent years, we measured carbon pools and fluxes in moderately and severely burned forest stands 2 years after a fire to determine the controls on net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and make comparisons with unburned stands in the same region. Total ecosystem carbon in soil and live and dead pools in the burned stands was on average 66% that of unburned stands (11.0 and 16.5 kg C m−2, respectively, P<0.01). Soil carbon accounted for 56% and 43% of the carbon pools in burned and unburned stands. NEP was significantly lower in severely burned compared with unburned stands (P<0.01) with an increasing trend from −125±44 g C m−2 yr−1 (±1 SD) in severely burned stands (stand replacing fire), to −38±96 and +50±47 g C m−2 yr−1 in moderately burned and unburned stands, respectively. Fire of moderate severity killed 82% of trees <20 cm in diameter (diameter at 1.3 m height, DBH); however, this size class only contributed 22% of prefire estimates of bole wood production. Larger trees (> 20 cm DBH) suffered only 34% mortality under moderate severity fire and contributed to 91% of postfire bole wood production. Growth rates of trees that survived the fire were comparable with their prefire rates. Net primary production NPP (g C m−2 yr−1, ±1 SD) of severely burned stands was 47% of unburned stands (167±76, 346±148, respectively, P<0.05), with forb and grass aboveground NPP accounting for 74% and 4% of total aboveground NPP, respectively. Based on continuous seasonal measurements of soil respiration in a severely burned stand, in areas kept free of ground vegetation, soil heterotrophic respiration accounted for 56% of total soil CO2 efflux, comparable with the values of 54% and 49% previously reported for two of the unburned forest stands. Estimates of total ecosystem heterotrophic respiration (Rh) were not significantly different between stand types 2 years after fire. The ratio NPP/Rh averaged 0.55, 0.85 and 1.21 in the severely burned, moderately burned and unburned stands, respectively. Annual soil CO2 efflux was linearly related to aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) with an increase in soil CO2 efflux of 1.48 g C yr−1 for every 1 g increase in ANPP (P<0.01, r2= 0.76). There was no significant difference in this relationship between the recently burned and unburned stands. Contrary to expectations that the magnitude of NEP 2 years postfire would be principally driven by the sudden increase in detrital pools and increased rates of Rh, the data suggest NPP was more important in determining postfire NEP.
Comparison of Four Hydroacoustic Frequencies for Sampling Pelagic Fish Populations in Lake Texoma

Abstract Dual-beam and echo integration data were collected with 38-, 120-, 200-, and 420-kHz hydroacoustic systems from a single boat in August 1991 to estimate pelagic fish distribution, density, and mean lengths at three study sites of Lake Texoma, Texas–Oklahoma. Areal and volumetric densities were estimated for randomly selected transects in each of the study areas. Density varied among frequencies and sites, and between day and night sample periods. Density estimates were highest in Big Mineral and lowest in the Central Pool site, Calculation of sample sizes required to obtain coefficients of variation of the mean equal to 20% indicated that fewer samples would be required for night sampling (range, 2–14) than day sampling (8–54) and that fewer samples would be required in Big Mineral (2–3) than in Central Pool (3–6) or Little Mineral (7–14) at night. Pelagic fish in Big Mineral were closer to the surface than in Little Mineral or Central Pool. Wavelength scattering characteristics of the four frequ.
Effects of litter, distance, density and vegetation patch type on postdispersal tree seed predation in old fields

Because the fate of seed rain is critical to understanding the invasion of old fields by trees, we investigated spatial and temporal variation and difference among six tree species in seed predation. Very few Juniperus virginiana seeds were lost to predation but predation for all other test species was reduced by additions of Quercus litter and solidago litter. Carya tomentosa seed predation was also reduced by increasing distance from the forest edge. In addition to litter and distance effects, differing starting densities of Acer rubrum seeds significantly affected predation rates but Fraxinus americana rates were not affected (.)
Virus-driven evolution of an antiviral gene in deep and shallow time

Virus-driven evolution of an antiviral gene in deep and shallow time Alex A. Compton Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Affiliate Professor Michael Emerman Microbiology The emergence of AIDS in the early 20 th century has provoked studies to better understand the evolutionary history of viruses and the factors that govern their spread. Pandemic Human Immunodeficiency Virus-type 1 (HIV-1), which currently infects 34 million people worldwide, emerged following the transmission of a lentivirus between chimpanzees and humans. A growing list of apparently nonpathogenic, species-specific simian strains (known as Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) has now been characterized in dozens of African primates, suggesting that primate lentiviruses are older and more widespread than originally thought. To estimate the extent to which primates and lentiviruses have coexisted, and to determine whether past and present lentivirus infections exhibit pathogenesis, we tracked the interaction between host and virus on a molecular level over evolutionary time. Specifically, we characterized the lentivirusdriven evolution of host restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G) in Old World Monkey (OWM) species. We found that residues 128 and 130 of A3G, which determine susceptibility to antagonism by the lentiviral accessory protein Vif, are undergoing recurrent adaptive evolution in both ancestral and contemporary primate populations. We used a broad panel of SIV Vif isolates to demonstrate that natural variation in OWM A3G confers resistance to Vif-mediated degradation, suggesting that adaptive variants of
Selection indexes for improved weaning and marketing body weights of the Burundi local rabbits

Abstract. Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for growth-related traits involving body weights at 4, 6 (weaning), 8 and 10 (marketing) weeks of age and average daily gains from 4- to 6- and 6- to 10-weeks of age (postweaning daily gain) were computed on 193 males of the Burundian local rabbits . Estimates were then used for constructing thirteen selection indexes, involved body weights at 4, 6 and 10 weeks of age and daily gains, to improve body weights of rabbits at weaning and marketing. The use of weaning weight in an index combined with body weight at 4 weeks of age (W4) and posuveaning average daily gain (index12) or postweaning daily gain solely (index2) resulted in a relative efficiency of about 100 % as using weaning weight combined with body weights at 4 and 10 weeks of age (index,) or with marketing body weight (index2) or W4 (index3). The accuracy of selection (rTI) using these indexes ranged between 0.890 and 0.906. They lead to a progress in weaning weight from 77–79 g and in marketing weight from 54–56 g. However, from a practical stand point, selection on index 3, including W4 and weaning weight, or on index 5, including weaning weight alone, could be recommended for improving both weaning and marketing weights of Burundian local rabbits.
EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE VARIABILITY ON EGG MASS AND CLUTCH SIZE IN GREAT TITS

Abstract Models of climate change generally predict rising mean global temperatures combined with greater variability in some regions. While relationships between mean temperature and several reproductive parameters are well documented, the effect of day-to-day variation in ambient temperature has received little attention. In our study, temperature variation had no significant effects on clutch size in a wild population of Great Tits (Parus major). In contrast, egg mass tended to be smaller when ambient temperatures during the week prior to laying were more variable. We suggest that variable temperatures may be disadvantageous to an egg-laying bird. Thermal variability should therefore be considered as a discrete factor, distinct from mean temperature, when assessing the consequences of climate changes for breeding birds. Efectos de la Variabilidad de la Temperatura sobre la Masa del Huevo y el Tamaño de la Nidada en Parus major Resumen. Los modelos de cambio climático generalmente predicen un aumento en la temperatura media global, junto con una mayor variabilidad en algunas regiones. Mientras que la relación entre la temperatura media y varios parámetros reproductivos está bien documentada, el efecto de la variación de la temperatura ambiente de un día a otro ha recibido poca atención. La variación en la temperatura no tuvo efectos significativos en nuestro estudio del tamaño de la nidada en una población silvestre de Parus major. En contraste, la masa del huevo tendió a ser menor cuando las temperaturas ambiente durante la semana previa a la puesta fueron más variables. Sugerimos que las temperaturas variables podrían ser desventajosas para un ave que está poniendo huevos. La variación térmica debería por lo tanto ser considerada como un factor discreto, diferente de la temperatura media, cuando se evalúan las consecuencias del cambio climático para las aves reproductivas.
BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CYPRINUS CARPIO (LINNAEUS) CULTURED IN CAGE IN RELATION TO MATURITY

The muscle, liver and gonad of Cyprinus carpio in difiEerent maturity stages cultured in cages were analysed for their moisture, protein, lipid, glycogen and ash contents in relation to maturity. The protein, glycogen and minerals required for gonad development were found to be mobilized from either muscle or liver in boih the sexes. No correlation bet^veen eerm-building and fat content was seen, especially in females