Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Carbohydrates in Active Osmotic Adjustment in Apple under Water Stress

Greenhouse grown 2-year-old potted 'Jonathan' apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) were subjected to various levels of water stress in February. Midday leaf water potential (ψ w), leaf osmotic potential (ψ S), soluble sugars, and starch contents of mature leaves were measured throughout the development of water stress to determine whether active osmotic adjustment could be detected and whether carbohydrates were involved. Active adjustments of 0.6 MPa were observed 3 and 5 days, respectively, after water stress was initiated. Leaf turgor potential (ψ P) could not be maintained through the osmotic adjustment when ψ W dropped below -1.6 MPa. Sorbitol, glucose, and fructose concentrations increased while sucrose and starch levels decreased significantly as water stress developed, strongly suggesting that sugar alcohol and monosaccharide are the most important osmotica for adjustment. Sorbitol was a primary carbohydrate in the cell sap and accounted for > 50% of total osmotic adjustment. The partitioning of newly fixed W-labeled photosynthates in mature leaves was not affected by water stress immediately after the 30-min 14 CO2 treatment. All the W-labeled carbohydrates decreased in the labeled leaves very rapidly after 14 CO2 labeling. The decrease in 14 C-sorbitol was greater than the decrease in other carbohydrates under both well-watered and stressed conditions. After 24 hours of water stress, however, the percentage of 14 C-sorbitol increased while the percentages of sucrose, starch, glucose, and fructose decreased significantly with increasing levels of stress. The ratio of 14 C-sorbitol in leaves with ψ ψ W = -3.5 MPa to leaves with ψ W = -0.5 MPa was significantly higher than that of 14 C-sucrose, 14
PHYLOGENY OF THE SUBFAMILIES OF THE FAMILY BRACONIDAE: A REASSESSMENT ASSESSED

Abstract— Wharton et al. (1992) provided an extensive reappraisal of the phylogenetic analysis of the subfamilies of Braconidae by Quicke and van Achterberg (1990). In this critique they drew attention to a number of errors in our data matrix and made a number of useful suggestions regarding character coding and polarization. However, they also make a number of erroneous statements that, if anything, present our work in a worse light. We therefore provide here some discussion of the comments by Wharton et al. indicating where we are in agreement and where we believe our initial interpretations were correct. We also take this opportunity to correct some additional mistakes that have subsequently been unearthed in our original data matrix.
Predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the eggs of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a Baltic Sea lagoon

We analyzed the predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the spawn of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a mesohaline lagoon of the Baltic Sea, hypothesizing a significant predation effect of a resident estuarine fish on the recruitment of an anadromous oceanic species. A predator exclusion field experiment using artificially spawned experimental units was combined with tank feeding experiments to estimate the effects of temperature and prey density on the herring egg consumption by estuarine G. aculeatus. The predator exclusion experiment showed a significant mortality of herring eggs caused by estuarine predatory fish species. A strong increase in the consumption of herring eggs by sticklebacks was observed between 11°C and 15°C (Q10 = 3.15). Additionally, we found a significant positive correlation between egg concentration per area and predation intensity. Nearly all eggs were consumed at concentrations ≥ 25 eggs cm−2, but predation was less intense at egg concentrations below that threshold. Field data on herring egg concentrations, stickleback abundances, and stomach contents were combined with the findings of the experiments to estimate the percentage of spawned herring eggs that is consumed by the local stickleback (MPS). The highest MPS (11.4%) was estimated for a week in April in the second half of the spawning season. We conclude that stickleback predation on herring eggs potentially affects the local herring year class strength.
Species variation and plasmid incidence among fluorescent Pseudomonas strains isolated from agricultural and industrial soils

A total of 132 different fluorescent Pseudomonas strains were isolated from several agricultural and industrial soils. The bacteria from the two different soil environments were compared for species and biotype variation, antibiotic and heavy metal resistance profiles, ability to degrade polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and plasmid incidence. Irrespective of the soil type, the isolates belonged to Pseudomonas fluorescens biotypes I–VI and Pseudomonas putida biotype B. Except for a streptomycin resistant isolate from one of the industrial soils, all the strains had the same antibiotic resistance profile. However, there was a higher incidence of heavy metal resistance and polyaromatic hydrocarbon degradation phenotypes in the isolates from industrial soils than from the agricultural soils. Only 2 out of 68 strains from agricultural soil were found to carry plasmids, while 28 out of 64 strains from industrial soil had plasmids. A majority of the plasmids (56%) were estimated to be larger than 50 kb, indicating that they could encode transfer functions. However, transferability as indicated by the ability to mobilize an IncQ plasmid (tra−, mob+), was observed with only one plasmid. None of the plasmid(s) containing isolates hybridized to a 32P-labelled repP probe suggesting that none of the indigenous plasmids in the soil fluorescent Pseudomonas strains was related to the IncP group of conjugative plasmids commonly associated with resistance and catabolic genes.
Evolutionary trends of swimbladder sound mechanisms in some teleost fishes

Many teleosts are able to emit sounds with their swimbladder. This chapter reviews the various sonic mechanisms involving the swimbladder and the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, comparing them from a morphological, biochemical, morphofunctional and physiological point of view. Close attention is paid to the Siluriformes and Ophidiiformes in which different cases of parallelism and/or convergence are examined.
A Possible Role for Catecholamines in the Ventilatory Responses Associated with Internal Aciosis or External Hypoxia in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss

Summary Plasma catecholamine levels and gill ventilation were measured in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during acidosis and hypoxia. There was an increase in both plasma catecholamines and ventilation correlated with the acidosis. Fish exposed to hyperoxia prior to acid infusion did not show significant changes in catecholamines or ventilation. Those treated with the /3-adrenergic antagonist propranolol before acidosis showed increases in catecholamines but not ventilation. Hypoxia was also associated with increases in endogenous catecholamines and ventilation, and the increase in ventilation could be partially blocked with propranolol. This increase in ventilation during hypoxia was not inhibited by a saline injection alone. It is proposed that catecholamines act to modulate ventilatory responses in fish under both acidotic and hypoxic conditions. If a central H + chemoreceptor exists in fish to control breathing, it can be inhibited by hyperoxia or by /3-receptor blockade.
The pollination requirements of swede rape (Brassica napus L.) and of turnip rape (Brassica campestris L.)

SUMMARY The pollination requirements of eight cultivars of swede rape (Brassica napus) and two of turnip rape (Brassica campestris) grown in a glasshouse, were compared. Cultivars differed in the number of pods, and of seeds per pod set by auto-pollination. Cultivars of turnip rape yielded more when cross-pollinated than when self-pollinated by hand but those of swede rape did not, although additional pollination of swede rape increased the set of early flowers. Inadequate pollination probably limits yield in self-fertile cultivars of swede rape that auto-pollinate poorly and in turnip rape cultivars that are nearly self-sterile.
Bioavailability of heavy metals in terrestrial and aquatic systems: A quantitative approach

Speciation and bioavailability are the keywords in the relation between the total metal content of the system and the resulting effects for biota. The metal ion binding to the biotic surface is pH dependent, as is metal ion binding to soils. The binding of a metal ion to the biotic surface of an organism when present in soil can decrease with increasing pH, whereas the binding behavior of the biotic surface as such will always increase with increasing pH. The metal toxicity for plants often increases with increasing pH for water culture experiments, in which the opposite effect is observed for plants growing in soils. These seemingly contradictive observations can be explained by considering the interaction between an organism and metal ions present in soil to be the result of competition for that metal ion by all components (including the organism) present in the system. This concept is illustrated on the basis of model calculations concerning pH‐dependent copper binding to maize root cell walls, fungal mycelia, and yeast cells present in a sandy soil and concerning cadmium binding to a bacterium present in a clay and a sandy soil as influenced by pH and calcium concentration. In addition, the concept is applied for calculating the impact of algal bloom on the copper speciation in an aquatic system. The concept might be a valuable tool in predicting quantitatively the metal ion sorption to biota present in a complex system and to predict the relative change in availability due to environmental changes.
Isolation, identification and characterization of elevated phenol degrading acinetobacter sp. strain AQ5NOL 1

The increasing phenol and phenolic wastes necessitates the screening of bacteria that are able to degrade phenol. 115 bacterial isolates from several industrial sites and farms in Malaysia were screened for phenol degrading activity in minimal salt media (MSM) containing 0.5 gL -1 phenol. Thirty seven bacterial isolates exhibited phenol degrading activity and of this total, 6 isolates showed high phenol activity after 8 days of incubation. The isolate with the highest phenol degrading activity was subsequently identified as Acinetobacter sp. Strain AQ5NOL 1 based on Biolog TM GN plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. The optimum conditions for achieving high phenol degradation were 0.04% (w/v) (NH4)2SO4, 0.01% (w/v) NaCl, pH 7, and temperature of 30 o C. Acinetobacter sp. Strain AQ5NOL 1 was found to degrade phenol of up to 1500 mgL -1 concentrations under the optimized conditions. The isolation of Acinetobacter sp Strain AQ5NOL 1 provides an alternative for the bioremediation of phenol and phenolic wastes.
Daily Patterns of Avocado Bloom and Honeybee Activity

The daily course of avocado flowering and honeybee activity was studied. Daily flowering pattern was constant, differing between Type A and B cultivars. Flowering times were negatively correlated to average daily temperature. A daily self bisexual over- lapping period was observed, which became shorter with increasing temperature. Daily honeybee activity pattern on the bloom was also constant, related to the daily flowering course. On Type B cultivars it lasted 12 hours with two activity peaks; on Type A, it lasted 10 hours with only one peak. The daily flowering course may support efficient pollination in Type A cultivars and oppose pollination efficiency in Type B. The daily bee activity course strengthens close-pollination possibility of Type A cultivars and lessens it in Type B. However, it decreases Type A cross-pollination possibility and supports its high efficiency in Type B. Honeybee daily activity in the two avocado types was a partial mirror image, which may further support their mutual efficient cross-pollination.
Vernalization responses of field grown jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica), winter wheat, and spring wheat

Abstract Numerous studies have quantified the developmental responses of wheat to vernalization, but its response compared to a weedy relative, jointed goatgrass, remains relatively unknown. Six paired jointed goatgrass collections gathered from Washington and Oregon fields, and winter and spring wheat, were grown in field studies to quantify yield and germination in response to vernalization. Monthly planting dates initiated in October and concluded in March were used to vary the vernalization durations for plants sown at three Oregon locations (Corvallis, Moro, and Pendleton) over two growing seasons. Minimum vernalization requirements to produce reproductive spikes were similar among plants of six jointed goatgrass collections. Jointed goatgrass collections grown at Corvallis required a minimum of 89 and 78 vernalization days (January 17, 2003 and January 22, 2004 sowing, respectively) to produce reproductive spikes, and plants grown at Moro required 60 vernalization days (March 3 and February 23) in both years, and 48 and 44 vernalization days (March 3 and February 24) were required by plants to produce spikes at Pendleton. Jointed goatgrass spikelet and winter wheat seed yield were positively influenced by vernalization days, experiment location, and year. The strength of the interactions among these main effects differed among jointed goatgrass collections and winter wheat. The effects of vernalization on jointed goatgrass yields and seed quality were more pronounced at Pendleton, OR, a location where jointed goatgrass has adapted, compared to Corvallis, OR, where it has not adapted. The minimum vernalization days required to produce germinable seed differed among jointed goatgrass collections, winter and spring wheat. There was not a selection of spring-adapted jointed goatgrass populations in the populations tested. Yet if spring temperatures are cool, minimum conditions for vernalization may be satisfied, and the benefits of planting spring crops to control jointed goatgrass would be reduced. Nomenclature: Jointed goatgrass, Aegilops cylindrica Host AEGCY; winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L. ‘Madsen’; spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L. , ‘Penawawa. ’
Dierences in behaviour of closely related thrushes (Turdus philomelos and T. merula ) to experimental parasitism by the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus

The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus parasitizes many passerines, but some common species sympatric with the brood parasite are rarely used as hosts. Potential host species may escape brood parasitism using methods such as high rejection of cuckoo eggs or high aggressiveness towards female parasite. We tested the responses of two common species, the song thrush Turdus philomelos and blackbird T. merula, not regularly parasitised by the cuckoo, to artificial cuckoo eggs and dummies. Both species rejected model parasitic eggs (song thrush 58.3%, blackbird 66.7%). Song thrushes showed very low levels of aggression toward a stuffed dummy, while blackbirds were very aggressive. Neither species discriminated between the cuckoo and control pigeon dummies. We observed one case of intraspecific nest parasitism in the song thrush. This is probably the first documentation of intraspecific nest parasitism in this species. Both our and previously published data indicate that the rejection behaviour of Turdus species evolved as a defence against intraspecific nest parasitism. This behaviour contributes to cuckoos avoiding these potential host species. However, other nonexclusive factors (e.g. diet composition) could explain more fully why thrushes are not victimized by the cuckoo.
The Larval Stages of processa canaliculata Leach

The material upon which the following account of the development of P.canaliculata is based was mainly obtained in 1902 when working in the Laboratory at Plymouth. The larvæ were first noticed, and their identity suspected, in April of that year, and identification was made certain by keeping the larvæ in the “mysis” stage until they moulted into the post-larval form, some individuals being kept also through several subsequent moults. The intermediate stages were all taken from the plankton, since I was unable to hatch the larvæ from the egg. The only egg-bearing female seen at that time was taken on the Eddystone Ground on April 29, and her eggs were so far advanced that, although she was unfortunately killed, a few larvæ escaped from the eggs and made it possible to obtain some idea of the structure of the first zoæa. During a short stay in Plymouth during April, 1922,1 was able not only to pick out a few more specimens from the plankton then brought in, but also, by working through a large number of preserved plankton samples, to obtain a considerable amount of additional material, mainly of later stages. A few specimens have also been found in samples of plankton from the North Sea preserved at the Fisheries Laboratory at Lowestoft, for the loan of which I am indebted to Mr. A. C. Hardy. But the larvæ of this species are much rarer in the North Sea than in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, where they are quite common.
Associations between maternal periodontitis, periodontal treatment and pregnancy complications - Part 1: Potential pathogenic mechanisms and risk factors

Much attention has recently been given to possible links between maternal periodontitis and pregnancy outcome. This paper aims to explore the potential explanatory mechanisms for such links, and the evidence from both in vitro and animal studies to support these concepts. Potential mechanisms rely on the role of proinflammatory molecules involved in the normal physiological process of parturition being influenced by distant or local inflammatory processes caused by infections in maternal tissues. However, there are a number of shared risk factors that may complicate analyses of any such relationship.
Functional traits associated with nitrogen use efficiency in wheat

ABSTRACT The association between functional traits and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was investigated to assist the breeding of nitrogen (N) use-efficient bread wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum) varieties. This study combined results from a climate chamber experiment involving 41 spring wheat varieties and a field experiment involving six winter and six spring wheat varieties grown with and without the application of mineral N fertiliser. The climate chamber experiment was analysed by partial least squares (PLS) regression, with several predictors and NUE as response, to identify traits related to NUE. Specific hypotheses were then tested in the field experiment. The PLS indicated six traits of particular importance for overall NUE: leaf chlorophyll (SPAD value) of the top leaf at stem elongation, grains ear−1, ears pot−1, straw biomass pot−1, days between emergence and anthesis, and days between emergence and completed senescence. In the field experiment, the SPAD value of flag leaves of winter wheat around anthesis was positively correlated with NUE and total grain N, at both N levels. Fast development was positively correlated with high NUE and N uptake efficiency in spring wheat. Early senescence of the flag leaf was positively correlated with grain N concentration and negatively correlated with grain-specific N efficiency in winter wheat at low N fertilisation levels. The results indicate that high SPAD value of the top leaf might be a candidate trait that could be used in wheat breeding for improved NUE, while genetic variation in senescence could possibly be used to tailor varieties for different end-use quality when grown at low N. More studies are needed to validate these findings in other environments and for other genotypes.
Breeding Strategies for Adaptation of Pearl Millet and Sorghum to Climate Variability and Change in West Africa.

Semi-arid and subhumid West Africa is characterized by high inter-annual rainfall variability, with variable onset of the rainy season, somewhat more predictable endings, and drought or excess water occurrence at any time during the growing season. Climate change is predicted to increase this variability. This article summarizes options for plant breeders to enhance the adaptation of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) to climate variability in West Africa. Developing variety types with high degrees of heterozygosity and genetic heterogeneity for adaptation traits helps achieving better individual and population buffering capacity. Traits that potentially enhance adaptive phenotypic plasticity or yield stability in variable climates include photoperiod-sensitive flowering, plastic tillering, flooding tolerance, seedling heat tolerance and phosphorus efficiency. Farmer-participatory dynamic gene pool management using broad-based populations and diverse selection environments is useful to develop new diverse germplasm adapted to specific production constraints including climate variability. For sustainable productivity increase, improved cultivars should respond to farmer-adoptable soil fertility management and water harvesting techniques. Larger-scale, on-farm participatory testing will enable assessments of varietal performance under evolving climatic variability, provide perspective on needs and opportunities and enhance adoption. Strengthening seed systems will be required to achieve sustainable impacts.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND IRRADIANCE ON GROWTH OF HAEMATOCOCCUS PLUVIALIS (CHLOROPHYCEAE) 1

The growth characteristics of Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow were determined in batch culture. Optimal temperature for growth of the alga was between 25° and 28°C, at which the specific growth rate was 0.054 h−1. At higher temperatures, no cell division was observed, and cell diameter increased from 5 to 25 μm. The saturated irradiance for growth of the alga was 90 μmol quanta · m−2·s−1; under higher irradiances (e.g. 400 μmol quanta·m−2·s−1) astaxanthin accumulation was induced. Growth rate, cell cycle, and astaxanthin accumulation were significantly affected by growth conditions. Careful attention should be given to the use of optimal growth conditions when studying these processes.
Reduction of small arteries contractility with improving the relaxation properties by Ginkgo biloba extract

The effect of ethanolic Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract (GE) on vascular smooth muscle contractility and endothelium-dependent relaxation were investigated in this study. Direct applications on isolated vessels from Wistar rats as well as animal feeding with the extract (dosage of 0.32 ml/kg for 10 days) were used. Vascular contractility of small isolated mesenteric arteries of the animals was examined using wire myography. The extract significantly suppressed the vascular contraction to KCl in dosedependent mode (4  10 -3 mg/ml of phenolic compounds (PC) – up to 82%; 4  10 -2 mg/ml of PC – 37%, p < 0.01; and 0.4 mg/ml of PC – 4%, p < 0.001). Ten (10) days of administration of the extract for the animals in drinking water resulted in slight decrease of contractility to KCl (95%) and phenylephrine (88%). Both the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were slightly improved by shifting the dose–response curve leftward with the significantly improved maximum relaxation (86.39 ± 3.61 to 60.84 ± 12.45%, p < 0.05 with 1 mM acetylcholine and 82.86 ± 8 to 55.86 ± 10.85%; p < 0.05, with 1 mM SNP). These results suggested that GE improved and revealed the vasorelaxant effects mainly attributed to smooth muscle involving mechanisms without impairment of the endothelium-depended relaxation.