Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In situ diel cycles of photosynthesis and calcification in hermatypic corals

Diel cycles of photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification were studied in situ on two hermatypic corals, Acropora eurystoma and Favia favus, using a submerged respirometer deployed at 5‐m depth in the Gulf of Eilat, Israel. A fast‐repetition‐rate fluorometer (FRRF) was placed in front of one coral in each incubation. Net photosynthesis (PN) and calcification were positively correlated with photosynthetically available radiation (PAR). A hysteresis phenomenon occurred in both photosynthesis and calcification relative to PAR: rates were higher in the afternoon than in the morning. This hysteresis is reversed (counterclockwise) compared to that observed in other photosynthetic organisms (plants and algae); however, the quantum yield (∆F′ : Fm′) and the rate of photosynthetic electron transport per PSII reaction center (Pf) showed a regular (clockwise) hysteresis. The photosynthetic compensation point (Ic) was significantly higher in the morning than in the afternoon, ~900 and ~300 µmol photons m−2 s−1, respectively. We suggest that PN, reversed hysteresis, and lower morning compensation points are caused by higher respiration in the morning than in the afternoon. This may be a result of higher predation rates by the corals during the night, when plankton is more abundant, followed by higher respiration during the digestion of the prey. Calcification counterclockwise hysteresis was observed during high‐PAR periods (>400 and 200 µmol photons m−2 s−1 for A. eurystoma and F. favus, respectively). We suggest that high morning respiration may induce a decrease in internal tissue pH, causing lower calcification rates.
Fine-scale spatial patterns of recruitment in red oak (Quercus rubra): What matters most, abiotic or biotic factors?

ABSTRACT Seedling recruitment in temperate oaks is expected to depend mostly on biotic filters, given the relative independence from resource limitation conferred by large seed size. We investigated the magnitude and fine-scale spatial pattern of red oak (Quercus rubra) recruitment in a mature forest in southern Québec. We compared the scale of operation of experimentally assessed seed and seedling predation to that of several abiotic factors. We sought to interpret concordance or discordance between seed rain and seedling recruitment in terms of spatial heterogeneity in these environmental filters. Most of the demographic variables (adult leaf area index [LAI] and seed rain, newly emerged seedling, and recruited seedling densities) were highly heterogeneous and structured at fine spatial scales. Topography, soil moisture, and light, but not litter thickness, also showed significant spatial autocorrelation at fine spatial scales. However, most of the biotic filters (e.g., seed removal, seed germination, and seedling mortality) were not spatially structured, except for clipping by voles, which was significantly autocorrelated at small distance classes. Failure to detect autocorrelation in most of the biotic filters suggests that they may operate at scales different from that studied, e.g., at a coarser scale for seed predation, but at a finer scale for insect folivory. A path analysis revealed that a large proportion of the variance in seedling recruitment was the result of direct links between the demographic variables studied. Another path analysis, accounting for the effects of biotic filters, highlighted the critical role played by seed predators on recruitment. However, restricted seed dispersal was the major factor influencing the spatial distribution of recruits: indeed, spatial concordance between seed rain and recruit density suggested that even when they are heterogeneous at the same spatial scale, environmental filters are not strong enough to disrupt the patterns generated by primary seed dispersal. Hoarding by rodents accounted for a significant proportion of the spatially homogeneous seed removal; it also reduced potential recruitment limitation associated with microsite availability, thereby increasing the proportion of variation in the spatial pattern of recruitment accounted for by primary seed dispersal.
Species Composition and Biomass of Intertidal Seaweeds in Chuja Island

The marine benthic algal flora and biomass of Chuja Island, southern coast of Korea, was investigated. The collections of intertidal marine algae were made at two sites, Yecho of Hachujado and Hupo of Sangchujado, from October 2006 to July 2007. A total of 162 species, including 15 green, 47 brown and 100 red algae, were identified in this study. The occurrence of species according to season was abundant during spring to summer and less in autumn. The vertical distribution of intertidal zone in Chujado was characterized by Gloiopeltis spp. , Myelophycus simplex, Ishige okamurae, Chondrus ocellatus, Grateloupia elliptica, Hizikia fusiformis and Sargassum spp. The average biomass of macroalgae was measured as 400 g wet wt m. The dominant species based on the biomass were Sargassum yezoense, S. coreanum and Hizikia fusiformis. ESG II (ecological state group) as an opportunistic species, including sheet form, filamentous form, and coarsely branched form, occurred 85.8% in the intertidal seaweeds. These results provide a baseline for future monitoring studies in the Chuja Island.
Life history strategies of aspen (Populus tremula L.) and browsing effects: a literature review

Summary Aspen ( Populus tremula L.) is associated with high biodiversity and provides high- quality forage for wild browsing herbivores in boreal and temperate ecosystems. The long-term persistence of aspen in many regions in Scandinavia has been questioned due to the historically high browsing levels. We here review the basic ecology, genetics and life histories of aspen in a browsing context. Browsers can suppress the regeneration of aspen and the relatively short lifespan of the trees result in frequent regeneration cycles and concurrent exposure to browsers. In the long term, browsing may reduce recruitment and delay maturation, increase mortality and ultimately cause a decline of aspen. Norwegian forest inventory data indicate a reduced recruitment rate of young aspen (diameter at breast height; 60 – 79 mm) during the last 25 years, but it is unclear whether this is all due to browsing. Regeneration may also be hampered by lack of disturbance. Recent genetic studies have shown that aspen may have substantial regeneration by seeds, which allows for effective migration. The main conclusion of this review is that although browsing may affect demography and local abundance of aspen, it is very unlikely to lead to the eradication of the species in Fennoscandia.
Nutritional evaluation of kale (Brassica oleracea) diets:2. Copper deficiency, thyroid function, and selenium status in young cattle and sheep fed kale for prolonged periods

SUMMARY Animals fed sole diets of kale (Brassica oleracea) were compared with animals fed ryegrass-clover pasture grown on the same soil type in two experiments. In Expt 1 young cattle grazed the two forages for 24 weeks, with supplementary copper and iodine being administered by injection. In Expt 2 young sheep were individually fed the two forages indoors at equal D.m. intake. Animals grazing kale in Expt 1 showed the characteristic symptoms of haemolytio anaemia from ruminal fermentation of S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide (SMCO) (Smith, 1974). This was most severe over the first 6 weeks, during which live-weight gains were very low (250 g/day). In the absence of copper supplementation animals grazing kale showed symptoms of copper deficiency. This was characterized by live-weight gain remaining low throughout the experiment (mean 280 g/day), rapid depletion of liver copper reserves, progressive reductions in serum copper concentration, reductions in erythrocyte copper and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations and a massive hepatic accumulation of iron. Copper deficiency only slightly lowered heart muscle copper concentration in kale-fed cattle, and this was counteracted byheart hypertrophy. The major effects of copper deficiency in kale-fed cattle were in erythrocytes, and a metabolic diagram is presented showing these effects to be biochemically similar to those produced by ruminal fermentation of SMCO. Copper supplementation of animals grazing kale increased live-weight gain (mean 425 g/day), reduced Heinz body formation, allowed the animals to recover gradually from the haemolytic anaemia and prevented other symptoms of copper deficiency. In contrast, animals grazing ryegrass-clover pasture showed only a very mild depletion of copper, there being no response in live-weight gain to copper supplementation. Activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in whole blood was dependent upon blood selenium concentration in cattle fed both diets. In cattle fed on kale, bub not on pasture, reductions in erythrocyte GSH due to ruminal fermentation of SMCO and to copper deficiency were also associated with depressed blood selenium status. Glucosinolates were present in the kale (11μM/g D.M.) but absent from the pasture diet. Despite this, neither T4 production from the thyroid gland nor the conversion of T4 to T3 appeared to be impaired by kale feeding in either Expt 1 or Expt 2. In Expt 1 serum T3 concentration was better relatedto live-weight gain than was serum T4 concentration, in accord with T3 being the active form of the thyroid hormone. It is concluded that supplementation with copper but not iodine is essential where growing cattle are fed sole diets of kale for periods in excess of 12 weeks
Prevalence and Correlates of Co-occurring Substance Use Disorder among Patients with Severe Mental Disorder at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction: Substance use disorder occurs significantly in patients with severe mental disorders. When substance use concurrently occurs with severe mental disorders, it is associated with poor treatment outcomes, more frequent use of hospitals, treatment noncompliance, more frequent suicidal attempt, frequent and longer episodes, and poor over all adjustments, violent behavior and greater risk of HIV infection. However; little is known about the prevalence of co-occurring substance use disorders in patients with severe mental disorders in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of co-occurring substance use disorder among patients with severe mental disorders at Amanual mental specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted in June, 2014. Study Participants were recruited by using systematic random sampling technique. Substance use disorder was assessed through face to face interviews by trained psychiatry nurses using Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV (SCID). Correlates for substance use disorder were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Results: A total of 260 schizophrenic and 261 bipolar patients were included in the study. About 84.4% (bipolar) and 82.7% (schizophrenic) patients were life time substance users, while 77.4% (bipolar) and 75% (schizophrenic) patients were current substance users. Of all substance users, 49.8% (bipolar) and 48.1% (schizophrenic) were poly substance users. When we adjusted for the effect of potential confounding variables Age [AOR=2.32, CI= (1.18-4.56), history of hospitalizations [AOR=3.12, CI= (1.20-8.27)] and history of relapse [AOR=3.35, CI= (1.13- 8.83)] were more likely to have substance use disorder as compared to schizophrenic patients who were in age group of 38 AOR=2.32, CI= (1.18-4.56), history of hospitalizations [AOR=1.75, CI= (1.07-4.37) ] and history of relapse [AOR=5.18, CI=(1.72-15.64)] were more likely to have substance use disorder as compared to bipolar patients who were in age group of <27, no history of hospitalizations and no history of relapse respectively. Conclusion and recommendation: In general, prevalence of co-occurring substance use disorder among patients with severe mental disorder is high. Patient’s age, history of hospitalization and relapses were associated with substance use disorder. Early identification and integrated management of co- occurring substance use disorder in patients with severe mental disorders is vital.
Foliar Raffinose and Sucrose in Four Conifer Species: Relationship to Seasonal Temperature

Foliar raffinose and sucrose concentrations in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.), Leyland cypress (xCupressocyparis leylandii Dallim.), and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana L.) were measured monthly over 2 years. During cold weather, foliage of white pine and redcedar contained higher concentrations of raffinose and sucrose than did Leyland cypress and Virginia pine. Rafflnose concentrations were highest during winter and were best correlated with the frequency of occurrence of daily minima ≤ 1.7C during the 30 days before sampling. Sucrose concentrations, which also reached maximum levels during the winter, were best correlated with the frequency of occurrence of daily minima ≤ 7.2C in the prior 30 days. Sucrose concentrations were relatively high during fall and spring. Raffinose and sucrose concentrations increased in response to recurring low temperature, with correlations highest for raffinose. In the fall and winter, foliar raffinose concentration increases in conifers (Little, 1970; Parker, 1959). Raffinose accumulates in Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. ) in response to low temperature and short days (Mitcham-Butler et al., 1986). This response is not confined to higher plants. A brief cold treatment (4C) of algae (Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck) induces an accu- mulation of raffinose, and concentrations decrease when the algae are transferred to warmer temperatures (Salerno and Pon- tis, 1989). In general, high foliar raffinose concentrations are associated with greater cold hardiness (Kandler and Hopf, 1980; Parker, 1959). Fraser fir Christmas trees that are harvested after experiencing low temperatures have higher foliar raffinose concentration and exhibit better postharvest needle retention than trees precondi- tioned with higher temperatures (Mitcham-Butler et al., 1986). Although raffinose increases in the foliage of several conifers during the winter and might be involved in cold hardiness, there are no studies that compare seasonal sugar levels of different conifer species growing in the same environment. Thus, com- parisons among species from available data are difficult. Our research had two objectives: 1) determine seasonal raffinose and sucrose concentrations in the foliage of four conifer species that differ in hardiness and are important to the Christmas tree in- dustry and 2) determine if foliar raffinose and sucrose concen- trations are correlated with the occurrence of different baseline (daily minimum) temperatures during the week or month pre- ceding sampling.
STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON SOIL POLYSACCHARIDE

Summary The polysaccharide extracted by alkali from a Countesswells series soil has been fully methylated and the hydrolysis products identified by GC-MS. The parent neutral sugars are galactose, glucose, mannose, arabinose, xylose, fucose and rhamnose and these constitute about 40 per cent of the polysaccharide. The analysis shows that hexose components are predominantly present in 1 3 and 1 4 linkages and pentose sugar in 1 4 linkages. About 20 per cent of the residues were in branching positions. From the number of non-reducing terminal groups present the average molecular weight of the methylated material has been calculated to be about 1460 compared with a value of 2700 obtained by vapour pressure osmometry. This contrasts with much higher values reported for unmethylated soil polysaccharides. The mixture of derivatives obtained supports the concept that soil polysaccharide originates in both plants and microorganisms.
Productivity of Cinta Senese and Large White x Cinta Senese pigs reared outdoor on woodlands and indoor. 1. Growth and somatic development

Abstract Twenty-nine Cinta Senese (CS), 12 Large White (LW) and 29 LWxCS pigs were reared indoor and group fed on commercial mixtures in pens averaging 6 animals according to genetic type and sex. Seventeen CS and 16 LWxCS pigs were reared outdoor on woodland pastures (Quercus ilex, Castanea sativa) with minimum commercial mixtures supplementation. Both males and females were castrated. Since the age of 100 days morphological measures were recorded bimonthly (height at rump, body length, chest girth, width at shoulder, width at rump). To perform a statistical analysis, factors such as regression on age and allometric relationship on weight were taken into consideration, together with the fixed effect of genetic type x rearing system. In the indoor system, CS pigs reached 140 kg of live weight 30 and 100 days later than LWxCS and LW pigs, respectively. Moreover, CS conversion index was worse than that of LW pigs (i.e. 4.54 vs. 3.77 feed/gain) and CS backfat thickness was higher. During spring and summer, the outdoor system worsened the growth of backfat in both genetic types, as a consequence of scarce feed availability. However, cross pigs showed higher growth rate than CS breed. Allometric relationships analysis pointed out that CS pigs were taller, narrower at shoulder and at rump and shorter than LW pigs. Moreover, CS breed had higher chest girth than LW and the difference became more evident at higher weights. Crossbred pigs showed intermediate behaviour compared to parental breeds. Outdoor reared Cinta Senese pigs differed from those indoor in the evolution of body proportion, due to older age at a given weight and to the grazing activity. No differences were found with respect to for width values at rump, but outdoor CS pigs presented higher growth for width at shoulder and for chest girth. Thus, the outdoor system seems to intensify the development of the body forepart in Cinta Senese breed, already emphasised in this breed.
Natural Distribution and Abundance of Forest Species and Communities in Northern Florida

Quantitative estimates of the distribution and abundance of trees in northern Florida prior to extensive land development are summarized from Public Land Survey (PLS) records. The PLS data on 127 653 trees at 48 831 sample locations, collected between 1822 and 1854 and tabulated from original field notes, are summarized here to examine the abundance and distribution of major tree species and plant associations. These results are compared to another early, quantified estimate of vegetation published in 1914. These two records of vegetation were compared within 20 vegetation zones in northern Florida. Both data sets describe the vegetation of northern Florida as strongly dominated by pine and similarly describe regions more heavily represented by upland hardwood or forested wetland trees. The data sets differ predominantly in that the PLS data indicate: (1) more pine; (2) less cypress, gum, and sweetgum than the early 20th-century survey; and (3) that, in contrast to major upland hardwood taxa, the representation of major taxa typical of pinelands and forested wetlands is only loosely correlated between data sets. The PLS records were used to map the distribution of species and community types across northern Florida. The PLS data support, and quantify, previously published accounts of the over- whelming dominance of pine in the presettlement vegetation of northern Florida. This abundance of pine refutes various hypotheses that mixed hardwood vegetation dominated upland habitats in northern Florida.
Coumarin Isolated from Tagetes lucida Cav. Exhibits Larvicidal Activity in Aedes aegypti (L.)

Aedes aegypti (L.) was eradicated successfully in Latin America in the 1950s-1960s, but explosive outbreaks occurred in the 1980s. Environmental, chemical, biological, and integrated control methods were previously used to eradicate this vector (Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud 1995). The control of mosquitoes is complicated by certain species demonstrating resistance to some conventional insecticides, causing indiscriminate use of these insecticides and potentially damaging the environment and thereby requiring alternative control methods (Perich et al. 1995). Additionally, the wide utilization of synthetic insecticides for domestic and agricultural use, as well as for vectors of human diseases, has caused concern because of the toxicity and environmental impact of some of these agents (Mulla and Su 1999). Bautista (1996) demonstrated that products extracted from plants have great potential for being used in alternative control methods for mosquitoes. Some of the most protective extracts are derivatives of plants from the genus Tagetes (Asteraceae). There are about 40 species in the genus, and all species originated in the Americas. Tagetes patula L. , T. erecta L. , and T. minuta L. possess larvicidal activity against third-instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and Anopheles stephensi Liston (Perich et al. 1994). Insecticidal components of these three Tagetes species were isolated and evaluated, and it was determined that four thiophenes were potentially responsible for the toxicity against mosquitoes. Tagetes lucida A. Cavanilles, native to Mexico and Guatemala, is one of the medicinal plants most frequently reported (Giron et al. 1991), and the smoke resulting from the burning of its leaves is used traditionally in Mexico as a mosquito repellent (Gonzalez 1998). T. lucida has been investigated for its phytochemical and biological properties, and its extracts have been reported to have different activities: as a sedative (Linares 1986), as an enterobactericidal agent, for the treatment of respiratory diseases (Caceres 1990, 1991), and as a bactericidal agent (Salgado 2000). The aim of this study was to evaluate extracts and isolated components of T. lucida for larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti. ________________________ Laboratorio de Entomologia Medica, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Ap. Postal 109-F, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L. Mexico, adrflores@fcb.uanl. mx
Eficiência do uso da água na produção do coentro em hidroponia de baixo custo

The increase of water use efficiency in crop production is a clear need in areas with restricted access to this resource and, in these cases, the adoption of forms of cultivation contextualized to local conditions are essential. Thus, the implications of the variation in the amount of seeds per cell (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g) and spacing between cells (7.0, 10.0 and 15.0 cm) on variables related to consumption and water use efficiency for the production of coriander (cv. Tabocas) in a low-cost hydroponic system, an alternative for semiarid regions, were evaluated. A completely randomized experimental design, analysed in 4 x 3 factorial scheme with three replicates, was adopted, and the data were subjected to analysis of variance at 0.05 probability level. It was found that the reduction in the spacing between cells has a better cost-benefit ratio with respect to water consumption, biomass produced and cost of seeds. Therefore, it is recommended the adoption of a spacing of 7.0 cm between cells and the use of 1.0 g seeds per cell; this configuration promoted efficiency of 81.59 g L-1 in shoot green mass production and total mass of 62.4 g coriander bunches.