Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The occurrence of nitrogen-fixing root nodules on non-leguminous plants

At present it is known that some 13 genera of non-leguminous Angiosperms include at least some species which bear root nodules with the property of nitrogen fixation.Alnus is the best known example. To assist in the assessment of the ecological importance of these plants, the author has surveyed the relevant literature to discover how many species in each of the genera have been recorded to bear noduleS. He also provides evidence of this feature in several species not hitherto reported. Of an estimated total complement of 342 species in the 13 genera, 118 species haye so far been recorded to bear nodules. The remaining species do not appear to have been examined for the presence of nodules.
Patterns of Land Snail Assemblages along a Fine-Scale Moisture Gradient

ABSTRACT We studied changes of terrestrial snail assemblages over a gradient of soil moisture using 60 sampling plots in the White Carpathian Mountains of the south-eastern Czech Republic. We used within-site design to control for confounding effects of site characteristics other than humidity, and we directly measured soil moisture along nine transects at distinct locations. Each transect had from 4 to 16 plots, and it was laid down from wet calcium-rich spring fen habitats to semi-dry meadows in the fen surroundings. We observed a sharp moisture gradient along each transect, with the measured soil moisture varying from 97% in fen plots to 19% in semi-dry grassland plots. Altogether 29 land snail species and 4,213 live individuals were collected. Species richness of land snails varied from 2 to 11 species per plot. However, we did not observe any significant linear or unimodal response of species richness or total abundances to measured soil moisture. In contrast, sharp compositional changes along studied transects were found, suggesting differences in species preference to soil moisture conditions at fine, within-site scale. Among 21 species with the frequency higher than five, 10 (after a Bonferroni correction) showed a significant response to soil moisture. Three species expressed significant affinity to drier plots, five species were more abundant in moister plots and only two species preferred middle values. In several previous studies, both linear and hump-shaped relation between soil moisture and number of land snail species were documented. This raised questions about general response of land snails to soil moisture and the importance of possible bias caused either by using only estimated values of site moisture or sampling in distinct sites differing also in other environmental factors that might potentially overtopped importance of soil moisture for land snail distribution.
Some Comparative Anatomical and Histological Studies on the Laryngeal Cartilages of Buffaloes, Camels and Donkeys

Comparative studies concerned the upper air ways of domestic animals are few. So this study was carried out to compare between the larynx of buffaloes, camels and donkeys. The present investigation was carried out on 39 larynxes, 13 larynxes (7 males, 6 females) of each species. Ten heads from each species were used for gross anatomical study; the remained three heads were used for the histological study. Results revealed that, the laryngeal cartilages of the three species were consisted of three single cartilages; the thyroid, the cricoid and the epiglottis, and two paired cartilages; the arytenoid and the corniculate. The cuneiform cartilages were a paired cartilages present only in the larynx of the donkey. Thyroid, arytenoid and cricoid cartilages were of hyaline type, while the epiglottis, cuniform and corniculate cartilages and the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage were of elastic type. The laryngeal epithelium of aditus laryngis, greater part of epiglottis and vocal folds was lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The remained parts of laryngeal epithelium from base of epiglottis and entire parts caudal to vocal folds were lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells. The laryngeal glands of lamina propria were of mixed types in buffaloes and donkeys but in camels it was pure mucous glands. This study will fill a gap in the field of comparative anatomy and help other clinical investigation applied on these animals.
Seeds, recombinant DNA and biodiversity

Abstract There is a worldwide consensus that the production of food, biomolecules and bioenergy should be sustainably intensified within the next decades. To achieve these goals will depend on the intensification of current practices in agricultural systems fused with a wider understanding and acceptance of genomics, metabolomics, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. However, genetically modified-derived crops, including commodities and non-commodities, may contribute to establishing a new parameter in the agricultural, pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. Seeds will also play an important role in allowing large-scale production of innovative molecules prospected from biodiversity.
WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES BETTER EXPLAIN CHANGES IN ANURAN COMMUNITY COMPOSITION? A CASE STUDY IN THE RESTINGA OF MATA DE SÃO JOÃO, BAHIA, BRAZIL

Most studies of amphibian communities are restricted to aquatic environments, which precludes sound descriptions of changes in composition throughout entire habitats. Moreover, few works focus on the environmental processes that shape the composition of these communities, particularly in tropical ecosystems. In this study, we investigated which environmental variables were able to predict the main changes in anuran community composition in a shrub-to-forest Restinga on the northeastern coastline of Bahia State, Brazil. In 30 plots (60 × 25 m) along a continuous Restinga area, we determined, over two consecutive rainy seasons, the abundances of anuran species and 20 primary environmental variables. We represented the main environmental gradients of the Restinga using the first axes derived from a principal component analysis (PCA) of the matrix of environmental variables. We represented the main changes in community composition using a synthetic axis built by applying the nonmetric multidimensional scaling technique (NMS) on the matrix of species abundances. We then evaluated, using a multiple linear regression test, which environmental gradients, if any, were able to explain changes in community composition. We recorded 737 anurans, belonging to 8 families, 17 genera, and 30 species. Five orthogonal environmental gradients were extracted, representing ca. 80% of the variance of the matrix of environmental variables; the first PC represented the covariation among the amount of leaves in the stratum from 6 to 10 m high, percentage of leaf litter, percentage of terrestrial bromeliads with direct sunlight, number of terrestrial bromeliads, and soil moisture. The NMS axis explained 50% of the variance of the abundance matrix and ordered the plots through the sequence (1) beach zone, (2) arboreal vegetation with temporary ponds and/or permanent lakes, (3) arboreal vegetation with rivers or streams, and (4) arboreal vegetation without bodies of water. Only PC1, which represented a shrub-to-forest gradient, was significantly related to the NMS axis. The change on plant communities, allied to soil moisture and type of water body, was the most important environmental factor acting on the structure of the anuran community herein studied.
Terminal phase of cytokinesis in D-98S cells

The events leading to the completion of cytokinesis after the formation of the midbody and intercellular bridge in D-98S cells were studied with light and electron microscopy. Pairs of daughter cells corresponding to different stages of cytokineses, as determined previously form time lapse films, were selected from embedded monolayers for serial sectioning. Separation of daughter cells is preceded by the reduction in diameter of the intercellular bridge from 1-1.5 μm to approx. 0.2 μm. Two processes contribute to this reduction: (a) The intercellular bridge becomes gradually thinner after telophase; a progressive breakdown of midbody structures accompanies this change; and (b) the more significant contribution to reduction in bridge diameter occurs through the localized constriction of a segment of the intercellular bridge. The microtubules within the constricted portion of the bridge are forced closer together, and some microtubules disappear as this narrowing progresses. The plasma membrane over the narrowed segments is thrown into a series of wavelike ripples. Separation of daughter cells is achieved through movements of the cells which stretch and break the diameter-reduced bridge. The midbody is discarded after separation and begins to deteriorate. Occasional pairs of daughter cells were found in which incomplete karyokineses resulted in their nuclei being connected by a strand of nuclear material traversing the bridge and midbody. Such cells do not complete cytokinesis but merge together several hours after telophase. This merging of daughter cells coincides with the nearly complete breakdown of the midbody.
PRINCIPALES TIPOS DE VEGETACIÓN DE “LA CEIBA” (GUAINÍA), GUAYANA COLOMBIANA

Se presentan los resultados del estudio de la vegetacion en los alrededores de “La Ceiba”, la cual hace parte de la Guayana colombiana. Mediante un analisis de ordenacion y clasificacion con los programas estadisticos DCA y Twinspan, se diferenciaron trece tipos de vegetacion: siete para la vegetacion lenosa y seis para la vegetacion herbacea, de los cuales son descritos por primera vez los bosques de Protium opacum y Dacryodes chimantensis, los bosquecitos con Mollia speciosa y Burdachia prismatocarpa var. prismatocarpa, las sabanas de Monotrema xyridoides y Syngonanthus cf. amapensis y las sabanas de Paepalanthus dichotomus y Xyris cryptantha. Se analizo la relacion entre las variables ambientales y la distribucion de la vegetacion y se propone la zonacion fisionomico-fisiografica de la vegetacion asi: a) los bosques medianos de planicies aluviales bajas, que incluye las comunidades de Manilkara bidentata subsp. surinamensis y Gustavia augusta, y de Mollia grandiflora y Memora schomburgkii; b) los bosquecitos y matorrales de ribera de canos en planicies aluviales bajas y en las terrazas bajas a medias, que comprenden las comunidades de Mollia speciosa y Burdachia prismatocarpa var. prismatocarpa, de Byrsonima coniophylla y Licania wurdackii, de Mauritia carana y Clusia insignis, y de Pagamea thyrsiflora y Humiria balsamifera var. subsessilis; c) los bosques altos de las terrazas medias de tierra firme con Protium opacum, Dacryodes chimantensis y Clathrotropis macrocarpa; d) las sabanas arboladas y arbustivas de planos aluviales, que incluye las comunidades de Mesosetum loliiforme y Licania wurdackii, y de Monotrema xyridoides y Syngonanthus cf. amapensis; e) las sabanas abiertas y arbustivas de terrazas bajas a medias, que comprende las comunidades de Monotrema xyridoides y Syngonanthus cf. amapensis, de Panicum granuliferum y Ocotea sanariapensis y de Paepalanthus dichotomus y Xyris cryptantha; f) por ultimo las sabanas abiertas de altillanuras con Abolboda macrostachya y Schoenocephalium teretifolium. La region constituye una zona de interes fitogeografico que representa la transicion entre la Amazonia y la Orinoquia colombiana, que pertenece al Distrito Atabapo-Ventuari de la provincia fitogeografica Guayana Occidental.
Protective effect of melatonin on sperm motility parameters on liquid storage of ram semen at 5°C

Oxidative damage to sperm resulting from reactive oxygen species generated by the cellular components of semen during liquid storage is possibly one of the main causes of the decline in motility during storage. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of melatonin as an antioxidant on sperm motility parameters in liquid storage of ram semen at 5°C. A total number of 24 ejaculates were collected using the artificial vagina from four chal rams and three replicates of the ejaculates were diluted with a Tris-based extender with melatonin at the doses of 0.1, 1 and 3 mM and an extender containing no melatonin (control). Diluted semen samples were cooled from 37 to 5°C. A computerassisted sperm motility analysis was used to analyze sperm motion characteristics. The sperm motility parameters such as progressive motility, straight linear velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), head displacement (ALH), sperm track straightness, (STR) and linearity (LIN) were determined in the storage of semen at 5°C for a period of 48 h. The extender supplemented with 1 mM melatonin led to higher percentages of progressive motility and LIN (46.4 and 58.9, respectively) and higher value of VSL and VAP (78.4 and 91.1 µm/s, respectively) in comparison to the control (P 0.05) effect in ALH and STR of the whole semen compared to the control sample. The results indicated that supplementation of melatonin to the semen extender can improve the semen motility.
Trochochaeta mexicana, a new species from an unusual family of Polychaeta, with comments on the world distribution of Trochochaetidae

The small, monogeneric family of polychaetes known as Trochochaetidae has been exclusively collected in the northern hemisphere, mainly in temperate–cold environments. Nine species have been described so far including Trochochaeta mexicana sp. nov. described herein, while one species remains unnamed. Only two species had previously been recorded in the eastern Pacific, so T. mexicana sp. nov. is the first record for the family in the tropical Mexican Biogeographic Province. The new species is characterized by having a pair of eyes, acicular neurochaetae on chaetigers 2 and 3, a small knob-like antenna and a nuchal crest projecting through chaetiger 1. Trochochaeta mexicana sp. nov., together with Trochochaeta kirkegaardi, Trochochaeta diverapoda and Trochochaeta cirrifera are the only trochochaetids that have been found exclusively in warm environments.
Increasing Water Use Efficiency in Vegetable Crop Production: From Plant to Irrigation Systems Efficiency

Irrigation is a vital component of the world agriculture. It is practiced worldwide on 270 million hectares and it consents to produce 40% of our total food. Agricultural water consumption accounts for 70% of total freshwater use. The competition for this precious resource is increasing tremendously. Therefore, it is becoming critically important to optimize agricultural water use efficiency (WUE) defined as the ratio of crop yield over the applied water. This requires a shift from maximizing productivity per unit of land area to maximizing productivity per unit of water consumed. To maximize WUE it is necessary to conserve water and to promote maximal crop growth. The former requires minimizing losses through runoff, seepage, evaporation, and transpiration by weeds. The latter objective may be accomplished by planting high-yielding crops/cultivars well adapted to local soil and climatic conditions. Optimizing growing conditions by proper timing of planting and harvesting, tillage, fertilization, and pest control also contribute to improve crop growth. Most of these techniques refer to proven technology, whose implementation and/or fine-tuning in current farming systems may tremendously improve water management efficiency. In this paper, after discussing the importance of irrigation in agriculture, we will introduce basic concepts that define crop WUE and will finally review the means to improve irrigation efficiency in field vegetable crop production.
STUDY THE BIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ENTEROTOXIN

The aim of this study was to investigate the purification of Staphylococcus aureusA20-L2 enterotoxin which induced clinical and sub clinical mastitis in dairy cattle in Sulaimani province. The production of enterotoxin types A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I and J were also tested by PCR technique. Among 246 CoPS isolates, 125 (50.8%) were found to be positive for production of one or more of enterotoxin types A, B, C and E, while none of the CoNS isolates had the ability to produce enterotoxin. Ion exchange-chromatography and gel filtration chromatography were used for the purification of enterotoxin from one isolate of S.aureus which was A20-L2. The molecular weight of the purified enterotoxin was approximately equal to 28.2 kilo Dalton determined by gel filtration chromatography whereas sodium dodecyle sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a single band which was approximately equal to 26 kilo Dalton. Isoelectric focusing was used to determine the isoelectric point (pI) value and it was estimated as 7.
Orphanage Voluntourism in Nepal and its Links to the Displacement and Unnecessary Institutionalisation of Children

This article argues that orphanage voluntourism fuels the displacement and trafficking of children from their families in Nepal and their unnecessary institutionalisation. It shows that the displacement of children from their families into institutions initially arose in response to forced conscriptions of children into the Maoist rebel army and a desire of the families for their children to have quality education. After the conflict ended, this phenomenon became more about a desire by the poor rural families to have their children educated and thus escape the poverty trap. After an international embargo on inter-country adoptions was put in place by the Western nations in 2010, the trafficking agents and orphanage managers lost a major source of income. They adapted their business model to instead use children as poverty commodities to solicit financial donations from well-intentioned but naive foreign volunteers and donors. The article shows how institutional care has become a first priority over family-based care in many cases in Nepal. It provides evidence and case studies to illustrate how child displacement, trafficking and institutionalisation are being fuelled by orphanage voluntourism and foreign donors. It explores the concept of international voluntourism and considers why it has become so popular and how it can be used more positively. It explores the concept of ‘ethical voluntourism’ by examining cases of global good practices in this area that do not harm children. The article concludes by advising against orphanage voluntourism as not being in the best interests of children, and making recommendations for ways to expand ethical voluntourism practices in Nepal. In doing this, the unnecessary displacement, trafficking and institutionalisation of children can be reduced.
Seasonal shifts in nest temperature can modify the phenotypes of hatchling lizards, regardless of overall mean incubation temperature

Summary 1The thermal regimes experienced by a reptilian egg can influence phenotypic traits (size, sex, shape, locomotor performance, etc.) of the hatchling that emerges from that egg. Natural nests of the oviparous scincid lizard Bassiana duperreyi in the Brindabella Range of south-eastern Australia show strong seasonal shifts in temperature: first and last weeks of incubation often differ by >5 °C. 2Eggs of B. duperreyi were incubated under thermal regimes with identical overall mean values for average temperature and diel range, but differing in the sequence of temperatures. Some eggs were kept at 18 ± 5 °C throughout incubation; others went gradually from cool (16 ± 5 °C) to warm (20 ± 5 °C); and others from warm (20 ± 5 °C) to cool (16 ± 5 °C). 3These treatments significantly modified not only incubation periods (stable mean temperatures delayed hatching), but also hatchling traits: progressively decreasing temperatures yielded hatchlings with a higher incidence of deformities, smaller body size, relatively longer tails, and reduced locomotor performance than siblings from increasing temperatures. 4Seasonal shifts in incubation temperatures are widespread, and may generate important variation in hatchling phenotypes. Sensitivity to such shifts may influence phenomena such as nest-site selection, the seasonal timing of nesting, and the evolution of viviparity.
LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP, SPAWNING SEASON AND FOOD HABITS OF SIX COMMERCIAL FISHES IN KUWAITI WATERS.

Information COIliCeIffiing the feeding habits, spawning season, ,age and growth, and the environmental requirements necessary for produo~ion of viabLe populations ,and sustainable yields is urgently needed in order ·to maintain and manage this vital resource. Also, since the Kuwait Istitute foc Scienrtific Research is under,taking an ambitious progr.amme to detCll'1Iline the fe1asibility, methodology and economics of aquacultu:re, it ils necessary to know the biology of the important commercial species, especially those aspects 'r,elated to production and feeding in order to develop culture methods ~or large-scll'le larvae and fingerling production.
Phytoplankton spring blooms in the southern Baltic Sea—spatio-temporal development and long-term trends

The seasonal and long-term development of the phytoplankton spring bloom in different regions of the southern Baltic Sea was investigated on the basis of monitoring data. The development of a spring bloom starts when the upper mixed layer becomes shallower than the euphotic zone, as proved also by a mesocosm experiment. This already happens in March in Mecklenburg Bight and the western part of the Arkona Sea, leading to a diatom bloom, but only in April in the Bomholm Sea, increasingly giving rise to a dinoflagellate bloom. The new production of the spring phyto- plankton may be calculated from the decrease in nutrients during spring. In comparison with the Redfield ratio, phosphorus is taken up in excess (N:P = 9.2-10.2). The consumption of silicate in spring has been reduced in the southern Baltic proper since 1989, pointing to a decline in diatoms. The increase in chlorophyll a in the Bornholm and the southern Gotland Seas is related to eutrophication, whereas the decrease in diatoms in favour of the dinoflagellates is related to mild winters. The lack of deep-reaching circulation after mild winters may be one reason for the suppression of the non- motile diatoms.
Growth estimates from otolith increment widths of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) reared in changing environments

For otolith increments to provide useful estimates of fish growth, otolith growth must covary closely with somatic growth. We reared groups of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum) for 70 days, changing ration or temperature during a 20-day treatment period. Restricted rations halted somatic growth, however increment widths decreased gradually; somatic growth was overestimated from increment width. Otolith growth followed changes in water temperature more closely than changes in ration, supporting a hypothesized effect of metabolic rate on otolith growth. Increment growth was only loosely coupled to fish growth rate, and may also be affected by past growth histories. For juvenile fish, increment widths may not be sensitive indicators of short-term changes in growing conditions.
Influence Of Temperature And Photoperiod On Flowering And Tuberous Root Formation Of Pachyrrhizus Tuberosus

Pachyrhizus tuberosus was an intermediate-day plant with regard to flowering and a short-day plant with regard to tuberization; it set tubers in <16-h photoperiods and flowered only in 9- to 16-h photoperiods. High temp. (30/25°C in 13/11-h days) completely inhibited tuberization and delayed and reduced flowering. The most suitable thermal regimes were 25/20° and 20/15° in 13-h photoperiods