Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) Biotype Resistant to Aryloxyphenoxypropionate and Cyclohexanedione Herbicides in Virginia1

Field and greenhouse dose-response experiments were conducted to investigate the potential for resistance in a johnsongrass biotype from New Kent County, VA that survived repeated applications of quizalofop and quizalofop-P. During 1996 and 1997, foliar injury (30 to 60%) was initially observed on the johnsongrass at the New Kent field site, but this biotype eventually recovered and survived applications of fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and sethoxydim at twice the recommended field use rates. However, applications of clethodim at twice the recommended field use rates during 1997 provided essentially complete control of the New Kent johnsongrass biotype. In greenhouse dose-response experiments, the amount of quizalofop-P required to inhibit shoot growth by 50% (GR50) was 13.6 g/ha in the New Kent johnsongrass biotype and 0.8 g/ha in the susceptible johnsongrass biotype. In response to sethoxydim, the GR50 for the New Kent biotype was 122.5 g/ha while that of the susceptible biotype was 21.6 g/ha. Additionally, the New Kent biotype was least sensitive to fluazifop-P, which provided a GR50 value of 148.7 g/ha for the New Kent biotype and 5.1 g/ha for the susceptible biotype. As in the field trials, the New Kent biotype was sensitive to clethodim, which provided a GR50 value of 49.8 g/ha and 69.1 g/ha for the susceptible biotype. These values indicate that the New Kent biotype was 17 times more resistant to quizalofop-P, 5.7 times more resistant to sethoxydim, and 29.5 times more resistant to fluazifop-P than the susceptible biotype, and that the New Kent and susceptible johnsongrass biotypes are equally sensitive to clethodim. These GR50 values for the New Kent johnsongrass biotype are inconsistent with the much higher GR50 values most commonly observed in graminicide-resistant weed biotypes, and suggest a mechanism of resistance other than an insensitive ACCase in the New Kent johnsongrass biotype. Nomenclature: Clethodim; fluazifop-P; quizalofop-P; sethoxydim; johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. #3 SORHA; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Additional index words: Cross-resistance, herbicide resistance, ACCase inhibitors, graminicides. Abbreviations: ACCase, acetyl coenzyme-A carboxylase; APP, aryloxyphenoxypropionate; CHD, cyclohexanedione; DAT, days after treatment; GR50, dosage giving 50% reduction in shoot dry weight; WAT, weeks after treatment.
Preparation and characterization of octenyl succinic anhydride modified waxy rice starch by dry media milling

Octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modified starch from waxy rice was prepared using dry media milling. The characteristics of OSA were investigated by laser particle analyzer, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, and DSC. Degree of substitution (DS) and reaction efficiency (RE) were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by sodium hydroxide concentration, OSA concentration, and mechanical activation time. The suitable processing conditions for preparing octenyl succinic anhydride starch (OSA starch) were determined to be 0.9 g sodium hydroxide per 100 g starch, 4 g OSA per 100 g starch, and 20 h of mechanical activation. Intensities of characteristic peaks at 1724 and 1572 cm−1 in FT-IR spectrogram increased with DS, which confirmed the successful introduction of ester carbonyl groups into the starch. Size distribution analysis and XRD indicated that the increased DS and RE by dry media milling were attributed to both the decrease of starch granule size and the destruction of the crystalline structure. DSC results showed that the gelatinization temperature of the OSA starch decreased with the increase of DS.
The effects of thermal manipulations during early and late embryogenesis on body temperatures of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thermal manipulations during early embryogenesis (EE) and late embryogenesis (LE) on body temperature of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Incubation conditions from day 0 to day 17 were 37.7°C and 55% relative humidity for control group. In the thermally treated eggs during EE (EE6, EE7 and EE8 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41°C and relative humidity to 65% for 3 hours (12:00–15:00) on the sixth, seventh and eighth days of incubation. Also, in the LE stage (EL12, EL13 and EL14 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41°C and relative humidity to 65% for 3 hours (12:00–15:00) on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of incubation. Average temperature, relative humidity and total heat of indoor air were changed from 28.71 to 30.44°C, from 45.69 to 57.15% and from 14.67 to 16.16 kcal kg–1 dry air, respectively. Higher total heat of indoor air in 10–11 weeks than that of other weeks was found. Significant differences between the control (41.52±0.26°C) and manipulation groups were found, but no significant difference between the EE (41.23±0.40°C) and LE (41.26±0.37°C) groups with respect to body temperatures. Body temperatures of quails were measured as 41.55±0.31°C, 41.56±0.26°C; 41.17±0.33°C and 41.07±0.30°C at 10, 11, 12 and 13 weeks of age, respectively. In addition, differences among the weeks in point of body temperatures of quails were found to be significant (p<0.01).
Global and endemic Asian lineages of the emerging pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis widely infect amphibians in China

Aim Panzootic chytridiomycosis caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the proximate cause of rapid amphibian declines across diverse biomes. While the origin of Bd remains unclear, increasingly the global trade in amphibians is associated with the spread of the infection. Global samples of Bd genotypes from previously unsampled regions are essential to test this hypothesis. In this paper, we present a study of the prevalence and phylogeny of Bd in both invasive and native amphibian species in markets and in the wild in ten provinces of China.
Unsupervised maritime target detection

The unsupervised detection of maritime targets in grey scale video is a difficult problem in maritime video surveillance. Most approaches assume that the camera is static and employ pixel-wise background modelling techniques for foreground detection; other methods rely on colour or thermal information to detect targets. These methods fail in real-world situations when the static camera assumption is violated, and colour or thermal data is unavailable. In defence and security applications, prior information and training samples of targets may be unavailable for training a classifier; the learning of a one class classifier for the background may be impossible as well. Thus, an unsupervised online approach that attempts to learn from the scene data is highly desirable. In this thesis, the characteristics of the maritime scene and the ocean texture are exploited for foreground detection. Two fast and effective methods are investigated for target detection. Firstly, online regionbased background texture models are explored for describing the appearance of the ocean. This approach avoids the need for frame registration because the model is built spatially rather than temporally. The texture appearance of the ocean is described using Local Binary Pattern (LBP) descriptors. Two models are proposed: one model is a Gaussian Mixture (GMM) and the other, referred to as a Sparse Texture Model (STM), is a set of histogram texture distributions. The foreground detections are optimized using a Graph Cut (GC) that enforces spatial coherence. Secondly, feature tracking is investigated as a means of detecting stable features in an image frame that typically correspond to maritime targets; unstable features are background regions. This approach is a Track-Before-Detect (TBD) concept and it is implemented using a hierarchical scheme for motion estimation, and matching of ScaleInvariant Feature Transform (SIFT) appearance features. The experimental results show that these approaches are feasible for foreground detection in maritime video when the camera is either static or moving. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for five test sequences and the Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) was analyzed for the performance of the proposed methods. The texture models, without GC optimization, achieved an AUC of 0.85 or greater on four out of the five test videos. At 50% True Positive Rate (TPR), these four test scenarios had a False Positive Rate (FPR) of less
Timing of breeding in tropical birds: mechanisms and evolutionary implications

– Appropriate timing of breeding is an important component of reproductive success for almost all animals world-wide that live in seasonally fluctuating environments. A precise temporal regulation of reproduction is achieved by intricate physiological processes that sense variations in environmental conditions, integrate them with internal information and regulate the reproductive state accordingly. Most of our knowledge of the physiology underlying avian reproductive strategies has come from studies in
Caracterização de ninhos e tamanho de colônia de Acromyrmex rugosus (F. Smith) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Attini) em restingas de Ilhéus, BA, Brasil

Eight nests of Acromyrmex rugosus were excavated aiming to study their structure and to estimate their population. These nests were always found hidden by plants; presented a small heap of sandy soil and had 1 or 2 nest entrances; one of this had the shape of an inverted "U". Internally, the number of chambers was variable and the volume of fungus small (X=196 ml). The total nest population amounted, on the average, to 895 individuals.
Evaluation of different methods for assessing the reproductive mode of weeping lovegrass plants, Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees

Weeping lovegrass is a forage grass cultivated in semiarid regions of the world that reproduces mainly by apomixis (diplospory), a process that involves the formation of asexual seeds and bypasses the processes of meiosis and fertilisation. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare different techniques (cytoembryology, callose deposition, flow cytometry and progeny tests) to determine the reproductive mode of weeping lovegrass. Typical sexual and apomictic processes were clearly differentiated using cytoembryology, and different callose deposition patterns were observed in sexual and apomictic genotypes. Previous studies indicated that presence of callose on the cell wall of the megaspore mother cell is associated only with sexual processes. Nevertheless, our results also found callose deposition in apomictic genotypes, although clearly different from the pattern found in sexual processes, allowing discrimination between sexual and apomictic plants. Flow cytometry seed screening using individual seeds did not differentiate between sexual and apomictic plants as the embryo : endosperm DNA content ratio was similar in sexual and apomictic plants. Progeny tests using molecular markers showed uniform patterns in offspring from apomictic plants and variable patterns among the progeny of sexual plants. The results obtained from cytological studies and progeny tests were similar, indicating that both methods provide useful tools for determination of reproductive mode. However, the callose test with aniline blue was faster and easier to use than other techniques.
La larve de Micrasema setiferum Pictet (Trichoptère brachycentridae) description et données écologiques

Comme suite a une recente revision des larves des Brachycentridae (Trichoptere) de la faune de France effectuee par H. DECAMPS (1970), l'auteur decrit la larve aquatique de Micrasema setiferum Pict. consideree jusqu'a present comme douteuse pour l'ensemble des « Westliches Mittelgebirge » (in « Limnofauna Europea » ) . Il donne ensuite la repartition de l'espece dans le reseau hydrographique du Doubs (Massif du Jura), definit le biotope ainsi que la biocenose representative des stations a M. setierum et propose des elements ecologiques relatifs a la typologie des eaux courantes.
Effect of temperature on the pH of skim milk

The increase in acidity of milk produced by heating is an effect which has been recognized for many years (Whittier & Benton, 1926). Heating of milk at high temperatures (> 100 °C) has been well investigated owing to its relevance in UHT treatment and in the coagulation of milk (e.g. Sweetsur & White, 1975; Fox & Morrissey, 1977). On heating milk, and especially freshly drawn milk, to a high temperature, an initial rise in pH caused by loss of CO2 occurs. This is followed by a drop in pH due to the Maillard reaction (Clark & Whittier, 1935). Relatively little work has been done to measure the extent, and to study the mechanism, of the pH changes occurring in milk over short time intervals and in the temperature range 0-100 °C. Dixon (1963) reported a temperature coefficient of 0-009 pH units/°C between 0 and 30 °C. Hege & Kessler (1983, 1986) observed a drop of 0-6 units in the pH of milk between 20 and 85 °C during the preheating of milk for UHT treatment. It is the aim of this work to extend these measurements and to investigate one possible contributing factor to the effect of heating on the pH of milk in this range of temperatures.
Human platelets contain estrogen receptor α, caveolin-1 and estrogen receptor associated proteins

Venous thrombosis is a risk factor for oral estrogen treatment in men and women. Platelet responses mediated through estrogen receptors may be involved in these processes. However, expression of estrogen receptors and estrogen receptor-associated protein have not been defined clearly in human platelets. Therefore, the present study was designed to characterize estrogen receptors and estrogen receptor-associated proteins in human platelets. Platelets were obtained from normal female and male blood donors between the ages of 25 and 65 years. Estrogen receptors (ER f and ER g ), heat shock proteins (hsp70 and hsp90), endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOS), caveolin-1, -2 and -3 and calmodulin were analyzed in total platelet lysate by immunoblotting. Expression of ER f and ER g , hsp70, hsp90, eNOS, calmodulin, and caveolin-1 were observed in both sexes. Expression of all proteins was similar in platelets from males and females. Results of the present study suggest for the first time that both estrogen receptors f and g , caveolin-1 and other proteins associated with estrogen receptors and production of nitric oxide are present in platelets of both males and females.
Bigger eggs in subterranean Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae, Pisces) : Their significance and genetics

One epigean and five cave populations of Astyanax fasciatus were compared with respect to egg and embryo size as well as yolk volume 12 h and 24 h after fertilization. All cave fish have significantly bigger eggs and embryos with more yolk than the epigean ancestor. There are no differences in the chemical composition of cave and surface fish eggs. The genetic analysis of yolk content reveals an additive polygenic mode of inheritance. Zusammenfassung Dotterreichere Eier bei unterirdisch lebenden Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae, Pisces) Eine oberirdische und funf unterirdische Populationen von Astyanax fasciatus wurden in Hinsicht auf Ei- und Embryogrose und auf Dottervolumen 12 h und 24 h nach der Befruchtung unter-sucht. Alle Hohlenfische haben signifikant grosere Eier und Embryonen mit mehr Dotter als der oberirdische Verwandte. Dagegen bestehen keine Unterschiede in der chemischen Zusammenset-zung der Eier ober- und unterirdischer Fische. Die genetische Analyse zeigt, das das Dottervolumen additiv polygen vererbt wird.
Strategies for lipase‐catalyzed production and the purification of structured phospholipids

This work provides different strategies for the enzymatic modification of the fatty acid composition in soybean phosphatidylcholine (PC) and the subsequent purification. Enzymatic transesterification reactions with caprylic acid as acyl donor were carried out in continuous enzyme bed reactors with a commercial immobilized lipase (Lipozyme RM IM) as catalyst. Operative stability of the immobilized lipase was examined under solvent and solvent-free conditions. The long reaction time required to have a high incorporation, combined with rapid deactivation of the enzyme, makes the solvent-free transesterification reaction unfavorable. Performing the reaction in the presence of solvent (hexane) makes it possible to have high incorporation into PC and deactivation of the lipase is less pronounced as compared to solvent-free operations. For solvent-free operation, it is suggested to recycle the reaction mixture through the packed bed reactor, as this would increase incorporation of the desired fatty acids, due to increased contact time between substrate and enzyme in the column. Removal of free fatty acids from the reaction mixture can be done by ultrafiltration; however, parameters need to be selected with care in order to have a feasible process. No changes are observed in the phospholipid (PL) distribution during ultrafiltration, and other techniques as column chromatography may be required if high purity of individual PL species is desired. LC/MS analysis of transesterified PC revealed the presence of 8:0/ 8:0-PC, showing that acyl migration takes place during the acidolysis reaction.
Nest predation and breeding activity of songbirds in riparian and nonriparian black spruce strips of central Quebec

The black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) forests of Quebec are often harvested according to a single- pass system where clearcuts are separated by 20- to 60-m-wide forest strips. Little is known about the suitability of these strips as habitats for breeding birds. We selected five nonriparian strips, five riparian strips, and five forest con - trol sites located in a forested area of central Quebec. During 1997-1998, we monitored the predation of artificial bird nests baited with a common quail (Coturnix coturnix L.) egg and a plasticine egg and the breeding activity of adult songbirds in strips and controls. Artificial nest predation was high in all sites (72%). The most common predators were specialists of mature coniferous forests: gray jays ( Perisoreus canadensis L.) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben). In forest-dwelling bird species, the number of breeding pairs was lower in strips than in con - trols. We conclude that the small number of forest-dwelling breeding birds observed in strips is not related to an in - crease in predation pressure following harvest of adjacent forests and that forest strips are not suitable breeding habitats for these species. Resume : Les forets d'epinettes noires (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) du Quebec sont souvent recoltees selon un sys- teme a un seul passage, ou les aires de coupe sont separees par des lisieres boisees de 20 a 60 m de largeur. On ignore la qualite de ces habitats pour les oiseaux nicheurs. Nous avons selectionne cinq separateurs de coupe, cinq ban- des riveraines et cinq massifs temoins dans une foret du centre du Quebec. En 1997-1998, nous y avons mesure la predation de nids artificiels d'oiseaux contenant un oeuf de caille des bles ( Coturnix coturnix L.) et un oeuf de plasti- cine ainsi que l'activite reproductrice des oiseaux chanteurs adultes. La predation des nids artificiels etait elevee partout (72 %). Les principaux predateurs etaient des specialistes de forets de coniferes matures : des mesangeais du Canada (Perisoreus canadensis L.) et des ecureuils roux (Tamiasciurus hudsonicusErxleben). Le nombre de couples reproduc- teurs d'oiseaux forestiers etait inferieur dans les lisieres comparativement aux massifs. Nous concluons que le nombre inferieur d'oiseaux forestiers reproducteurs observe dans les lisieres n'est pas du a une pression de predation accrue apres la coupe et que les lisieres boisees laissees apres coupe ne constituent pas des habitats de reproduction de qualite pour ces especes.
Characterisation of the vegetable rennets used for ‘Torta del Casar’ cheesemaking by a protein profile method

The purpose of this work was to develop a cheap, easy and fast procedure, based on protein analysis, that can be used in the characterisation of coagulants from thistle species, which can be used in Torta del Casar cheesemaking. Sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed high efficiency in the identification of Cynara cardunculus from other thistle species and in discriminating between the technological properties, milk-clotting and casein degradation activities of the vegetable rennets used in this study. This technique allowed for the grouping of aqueous extracts from the flowers of C. cardunculus into five different groups, which exhibited variable ability to degrade milk caseins.
Invisible invaders: Insect-transmitted viruses threaten agriculture

The vast movement of people and agricultural products between distant geographical regions has created unprecedented opportunities for introducing plant viruses and the insects that carry them (vectors) to new areas. Outbreaks of new viruses may be favored in these agroecosystems by crop susceptibility, the presence of particular weeds and certain agricultural practices. In some cases, conditions in these ecosystems may be ideal for the emergence of altered plant viruses and new virus/vector relationships. This may result in the appearance of insect-transmitted plant viruses in crops and regions where they have not been seen before. Because plant viruses and their insect vectors are intimately linked, the status of both must be considered in formulating strategies to prevent or slow their introduction, as well as to manage any invasions. To illustrate these points we highlight two situations that could threaten California agriculture. First, a devastating plant virus, tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus, is not present in California, but an insect (the silverleaf whitefly) that transmits it is present. Second, the brown citrus aphid is not present in California, but a citrus virus (citrus tristeza closterovirus) that this insect efficiently spreads, is present.
Molecular characterization of 16S ribosomal DNA and phylogenetic analysis of two X-disease group phytoplasmas affecting China-tree (Melia azedarach L.) and Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Argentina

Two phytoplasmas closely related to the X-disease group were associated with China-tree (Melia azedarach L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) decline diseases in Argentina. The present work was aimed at studying their phylogenetic relationship based on molecular characterization of the 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. Phytoplasma DNAs were obtained from naturally infected China-tree and garlic plants from different geographical isolates. The results from analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms and nucleotide sequences of the 16S rDNA showed the affiliation of China-tree and garlic decline phytoplasmas to the 16SrIII (X-disease group), subgroups B and J, respectively. Both organisms had high sequence similarities in the 16SrDNA nucleotide sequence with the Chayote witches broom phytoplasma from Brazil. The phylogenetic tree, constructed by parsimony analysis, grouped the Garlic decline, China-tree decline, Chayote witches broom and Clover yellow edge phytoplasmas into a cluster separated from the other phytoplasmas of the X-disease group.