Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoplankton diversity in response to abiotic factors along Orissa coast, Bay of Bengal

The qualitative and quantitative distribution of phytoplankton with regional variation in the coastal waters of Orissa coast were presented out of the pooled data of eight stations sampled during summer season of 2008–09 and 2009–10. Significant spatial variations in temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, phosphate, silicate were monitored during the study. Total ninety five species of phytoplankton were recorded belonging to Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Haptophyceae group. Phytoplankton density ranged from approximately 8460-50720 nos./l and showed complete dominance of diatom genera (Bacillariophyceae) in both the year in all stations. The concentration of chlorophyll-a ranged from 0.45 to 7.6 mg/m3. Statistical analysis predicted that the phytoplankton population was positively related to the chlorophyll-a concentration and nutrients. The present study indicates that the phytoplankton population, diversity and species composition fluctuate significantly in relation to the various physico-chemical parameters.
Stimulation of rat pancreatic enzyme secretion by diet components.

The stimulation of pancreatic enzymesecretion by diet components was investigated with a pancreatic duct cannula in rats. The infusion of casein into the duodenumresulted in a marked stimulation of the enzymesecretion. Onthe contrary, an aminoacid mixture simulated casein composition had no effect. Someoligopeptides, starch, sucrose, glucose, soybean oil and other commondiet componentsalso did not stimulate pancreatic enzymesecretion. A dose-response relationship was observed between the protein infusion level and the stimulation intensity of pancreatic enzyme secretion. Synthetic substrates for trypsin, tosyl-arginine methyl ester and benzoyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide, and for chymotrypsin, benzoyl-tyrosine ethyl ester, stimulated the enzyme secretion as well as casein; however, a typical substrate for aminopeptidase, leucine-p- nitroanilide, had no effect. These findings suggest that the substrates for pancreatic proteases can act primarily as secretagogues amongmanydiet components. The ability as a secretagogue was more potent in casein than a-lactalbumin. Native ovalbumin was hardly digested by pancreatin in vitro. However, mild heat-denaturation of this protein considerably improved both its digestibility and ability as a secretagogue. It can be explained that mild heat-denaturation of the protein improves its availability as a substrate for pancreatic protease. Based on these results, a mechanismby which substrate protein is recognized for pancreatic enzymesecretion in the rat intestine is discussed.
Total foliar area and average leaf age may be more strongly associated with branching frequency than with leaf longevity in temperate conifers

Summary • Average canopy needle age (ΛM) is an important plant characteristic determining canopy carbon gain potential. We developed a demographic model, suggesting that ΛM depends on needle maximum age (Λmax), but also on the production rate of foliage. We studied Λmax, shoot growth and branching in three conifers to disentangle the contrasting controls on ΛM. • Abies balsamea had a Λmax of up to 16 yr, Picea abies up to 12 yr, and Pinus sylvestris up to 6 yr. Increases in branch irradiance were associated with increases in shoot length, more frequent branching, increases in the asymmetry and peakedness of shoot length distributions, and decreases in Λmax and ΛM. Our model and experimental data suggested that higher ΛM at lower irradiance resulted both from increases in Λmax and decreases in branching and extension growth in the shaded branches. • Significance of various determinants of ΛM was species-dependent, and varied with needle survivorship curves and shoot bifurcation ratio. • Our study demonstrates that total foliar area and average age may be more strongly associated with branching frequency than with leaf longevity.
Effects of Moisture on the Clover Root Borer and Red Clover Yields

Rainfall and populations of the clover root borer, Hylastinus obscurus (Marsham), were artificially controlled in pots of red clover grown under shelters in the field. Populations of clover root borer were higher under dry conditions. Although yield losses were high in borer-infested pots, yield reductions were no greater under dry than under wet conditions.
Dynamic changes in alarm call structure: A strategy for reducing conspicuousness to avian predators?

The design of many animal signals reflects the need to maximize signal efficacy while minimizing conspicuousness to eavesdroppers. The aerial alarm calls of birds have been a useful model system for exploring such evolutionary tradeoffs at the level of general call structure, but much less is known about changes in fine-scale signal characteristics over the course of an encounter with a potential predator. We analyzed variation in the alarm calls that male fowl, Gallus gallus, produced in response to raptor silhouettes moving overhead. Spectrogram cross-correlation was used to test for changes in structure over the course of a call bout. This analysis revealed that aerial alarm calls are individually distinctive and that they vary significantly from the first call to the second. We then measured single acoustic parameters, including the duration, dominant frequency and frequency bandwidth of each component in successive calls. Males almost invariably began the first call in a bout with a high amplitude broad-band pulse, which was followed by a much longer and highly variable sustained element. They then selectively reduced or eliminated the introductory pulse, while leaving other aspects of alarm structure unchanged. Recent work has shown that the introductory pulse is potentially costly because it has attributes that are readily localized by raptors. We suggest that male fowl have adaptive plasticity in alarm call structure, allowing them to manage short-term predation risk while continuing to signal to companions.
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON CHEMICAL SENSORS Gaithersburg , MD July 22-25 , 1996

The National Institute of Standards and Techn ology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, in cooperation with the 6th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors Steering Committee, held a symposium on chemical sensor science and techn ology on July 22-25, 1996 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The meeting was attended by 427 persons from 27 countries. A total of 299 oral presentations and posters were given in three concurrent sessions over a period of 3 1/2 days. The sessions were divided into the following groupings: biosensors, gas sensors, humidity sensors, novel approaches to sensing, sensing principles and mechanisms, sensor fabrication techn ologies, acousticsensors, electrochemical devices, optical devices, new materials, process control sensors, signal processing, and environmental monitoring. In addition there were four plenary lectures and two tutorial lectures. [J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. 102, 95 (1997)]
Adubação fosfatada, componentes de produção, produtividade e qualidade fisiológica em sementes de feijão

The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of doses of phosphorus applied in the soil on production components, productivity and physiological quality of cv. IAC Carioca common beans seeds. Six doses of phosphorus (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150kg.ha-1 of P2O5) were evaluated in a randomized block design, with four replications, in a "Latossolo Vermelho" with low phosphorus content (6mg.dm-3), under field conditions. At harvesting, the final stand of plants was evaluated and the first green bean insertion height, green bean length, number of green beans per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of loculus per green bean, number of empty loculus per green bean, number of loculus with seeds per green bean and mass of 100 seeds were measured. Seed productivity was determined based on the two central production lines in each plot, which had the water content adjusted to 13%. Seed physiological quality was evaluated by water content, germination test, first count of the germination test, accelerated aging, electric conductivity, seedling emergence in the field and seedling dry matter weight. Phosphorus fertilization with 150kg.ha-1 of P2O5 increased the number of green beans per plant and the number of seeds per plant. The others production components and seed productivity were nott modified by the application of phosphorus. The doses of phosphorus did not modify the physiological quality of common beans seeds, cv. IAC Carioca.
Satiation time and appetite revival of Coccinella septempunctata L. (Col., Coccinellidae), a predator of Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. (Hom., Aphididae)

After a 24 h period of starvation the Coccinella septempunctata grub satiated in 85 min after eating 31.57 ± 7.12 prey (aphids). After 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 h of prey deprivation, the grub consumed 14.31 ± 5.67, 22.05 ± 5.39, 27.10 ± 6.49, 31.57 + 7.12, 33.76 + 6.52, and 36.98 ± 8.56 prey, respectively. The voluntary intake (appetite) shows a sigmoid relationship with the time since the last meal, with an upper limit of 44.30 prey irrespective of the prey deprivation period. As maximum appetite was attained after 24–36 h of deprivation, it is recommended that C. septempunctata grubs should be starved for 24 h prior to release in the biological control programme of Lipaphis erysimi.
Screening for fire blight resistance in apple (Malus pumila) using excised leaf assays from in vitro and in vivo grown material

Summary The apple cultivars Greensleeves and Novole and somaclones derived from Greensleeves were tested for resistance to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) using excised leaf bioassays. Cv. Greensleeves was consistently susceptible to fire blight in in vitro, and in glasshouse and excised leaf bioassays whilst cv. Novole was resistant. Greensleeves somaclones, identified as having intermediate levels of fire blight resistance in glasshouse and in vitro screening tests, also showed intermediate levels of resistance in excised leaf bioassays. The length of leaves and the inoculum concentration employed affected the severity of symptoms observed. Excised leaf bioassays were unsuitable as tests for fire blight resistance using field grown material.
Temperature-stress tolerance of asparagus seedlings through symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.

Temperature-stress tolerance through symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi [Gigaspora margarita (GM) and Glomus sp. R10 (GR)] in seedlings of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L., cv. Mary Washington 500W) was investigated. Seven weeks after inoculation under a bed soil kept at 25°C/20°C (day/night) under a 16-hr photoperiod, AM fungus-infection levels in a root system reached 63.0% in GM and 20.0% in GR. AM fungus-infected plants were taller, produced more shoots, accumulated more dry matter and attained higher P concentration in both shoots and roots than the noninoculated plants. Under a constant 15°C bed soil for 4 weeks followed by an elevation to 25°C/20°C, shoot elongation was promoted in AM fungus-infected plants, especially after the third emergence ; the effect was more pronounced in GR than in GM plots. Eleven weeks after inoculation, AM fungus infection levels reached 48.9% in GM and 58.9% in GR. Plant height, no. of shoots, no. of crowns, dry weight, and phosphorus concentration in shoots and roots became greater in AM fungus-infected plants than in noninoculated ones. When bed soil was heated to 30°C, shoot growth after the fourth emergence became restricted in noninoculated plants, whereas shoot emergence and elongation were promoted, especially after the fifth and fourth emergences in GM and in GR plots, respectively. Eleven weeks after inoculation, AM fungus infection levels reached 66.3% in GM and 36.7% in GR. All measured parameters in AM fungus-infected plants were larger than in the noninoculated plants ; the effect appeared significantly greater in GM than in GR plots. These results reveal that the asparagus seedlings infected with AM fungus tolerated greater temperature stress through symbiosis and that the degree of tolerance differed with the fungal species.
Response of four American engraver bark beetles, Ips spp. (Col., Scolytidae), to synthetic racemates of chiral pheromones

The enantiomer composition of terpene alcohol pheromones produced by host selecting males of 4 American Ips spp. was determined as (S)‐(‐)‐ipsenol (> 99% [S]‐[‐]) in I. grandicollis, as (S)‐(+)‐ipsdienol (90% [S]‐[+]) in I. avulsus, as an enantiomer mixture of 77% (R)‐(‐)‐ and 23% (S)‐(+)‐ipsdienol in I. calligraphus calligraphus and as (S)‐(+)‐ipsdienol (> 99% [S]‐[+]) and (S)‐(‐)‐ipsenol (99% [S]‐[‐]) in I. paraconfusus. Field experiments were carried out to investigate the beetles' response to baits containing different concentrations of commercial (±)‐ipsdienol and (±)‐ipsenol, respectively. The tests revealed the following response pattern: a) I. c. calligraphus catch numbers increased with (±)‐ipsdienol concentrations but were reduced by (±)‐ipsenol; b) in contrast, I. grandicollis response was reduced by (±)‐ipsdienol but enhanced by (±)‐ipsenol; c) I. avulsus catch numbers increased with concentrations of racemates of both terpene alcohols; d) I. paraconfusus barely responded to traps baited with the synthetic racemates. The later phenomenon obviously was based on the inhibitory effect of non‐natural (R)‐(‐)‐ipsdienol which rendered the racemic test material an inhibitor for I. paraconfusus.
Charting the Evolutionary History of Life

W e are part of a tree of life that germinated at the dawn of evolutionary history and encompasses a vast diversity that we are only beginning to understand. Since the advent of molecular techniques for studying phylogenies, there has been active and sometimes acrimonious debate concerning the relative reliability and accuracy of the molecular and fossil records. These debates have involved not only questions of phylogenetic relationships but also the dating of the origins of the major branches of the tree. As more data accumulate from both sources, there are encouraging signs of rapprochement, as discussed by Benton and Ayala (p. [1698][1]). One of the most elusive nodes of the tree has been the origin of the eukaryotes. Molecular phylogenetic data have largely resolved the systematics of the eukaryotes, but, as Baldauf shows (p. [1703][2]), the latest data are suggesting a radical reinterpretation of the position of the root of the eukaryote branch of the tree. This identity crisis has been further fueled by the recent discovery of ultrasmall eukaryotes. But the question remains of how best to come up with phylogenies, particularly ones that link vast numbers of organisms. Indeed, just identifying all the species that constitute the twigs of this grand tree of life is a daunting task; even conservative estimates of the number of unknown species approach 4 million. A few enterprising researchers are coming up with ways to simplify and speed up this much-needed assessment of biodiversity. Others have pushed their colleagues into new ways of thinking about creating phylogenies, as they build ever-larger trees on their way to the one grand tree of life (see News story by Pennisi on p. [1692][3]). A sketch of the tree of life itself is shown on p. [1694][4]. Far from a final answer, it illustrates how complex a unified tree of life will be. This cataloging of life is not an empty exercise, but one that has practical implications. At various points in evolutionary history, the tree of life has lost limbs in major extinction events. As humans wield the ax, Mace et al. (p. 1707) consider the consequences and discuss how phylogenies might help us assess the priorities for conservation. The cross-talk between evolution and genomics has been so fruitful for each field that a new field has emerged: “phylogenomics” (Eisen and Fraser, p. 1706), which is providing insights into areas so seemingly removed as the evolution of metabolic pathways (Chothia et al. , p. [1701][5]). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1077795 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1085544 [3]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.300. 5626.1692 [4]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.300. 5626.1694 [5]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1085371
An In Vitro Study of Adhesion of Various Lactobacillus Species

Forty strains from 20 different species of Lactobacillus were examined for their surface characteristics. Large variations in adhesive abilities of strains were found in all the assays. Adhesion to polystyrene (ranging from - 1.0 per cent to 12.5 per cent) and cell surface hydrophobicity (ranging from -6.5 per cent to 90.2 per cent) were significantly correlated ( P 85 per cent of adhesion. Adhesion to buccal epithelial cells (ranging from -0.2 per cent to 1.4 per cent) and the net cell surface charge (ranging from -0.89 to 0.23) were significantly correlated ( P < 0.001). Only 4/40 strains showed a net positive cell surface charge. Bacterial adhesion to hydroxyapatite varied between 0.4 per cent and 53.5 per cent. Hydroxyapatite adhesion was correlated with adhesion to polystyrene ( P < 0.001), and cell surface hydrophobicity ( P < 0.001). Coating hydroxyapatite with clarified whole saliva caused a significant reduction in adhesion ( P < 0.001). Adhesion to salivacoated hydroxyapatite varied between 0.3 per cent and 8.6 per cent. Only 13/40 strains were aggregated by saliva to an extent greater than 10 per cent. The results indicate a relationship between the adhesive capabilities of lactobacilli and the cell-surface phenomena of hydrophobicity and surface charge. Keywords: Adhesion; Hydrophobicity; Lactobacillus; Surface charge; Hydroxyapatite; BEC; Aggregation; Saliva.
Plant Chitinases: Genetic Diversity and Physiological Roles

Chitinase proteins are widely distributed across diverse biological systems. Chitinases hydrolyze chitin, chitosan, lipochitooligosaccharides, peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan and glycoproteins containing N-acetylglucosamine. Analyses of genome-wide sequence and microarray expression profilings show that chitinase genes are represented by large families and the individual member genes are expressed in diverse conditions. Chitinase proteins are members in the group of the pathogenesis-related proteins that are strongly induced when host plant cells are challenged by pathogen stress and thus chitinases constitute an important arsenal of plants against fungal pathogens. Transgenic plants have been produced that overexpress chitinases alone or in conjunction with other defense-related proteins. The phenotype analyses of such plants have shown enhanced disease resistance in large number of cases. Apart from defense against pathogen stress, chitinases are implicated in relationships between plant cells and fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae associations) and bacteria (e.g., legume/Rhizobium associations). Chitinases are also involved in plant abiotic stress responses as noted for osmotic, salt, cold, wounding and heavy metal stresses. Chitinases play a role in developmental aspects of plants too (i.e., regulation of plant embryogenesis process). A detailed account of the genetic diversity and functional aspects of plant chitinases is presented in this review.
Accumulation of phosphorylated α‐synuclein in dopaminergic neurons of transgenic mice that express human α‐synuclein

Parkinson's disease is neuropathologically characterized by the presence of Lewy bodies, whose major component is α‐synuclein. We had previously generated transgenic mice that expressed human α‐synuclein carrying an Ala53Thr point mutation (hα‐syn140m) under the control of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase promoter and found that hα‐syn140m was localized not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nuclei of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. In the present study, we carried out immunohistochemical analysis of the brain of Tg mice using anti‐PSer129, an antibody that specifically recognizes α‐synuclein phosphorylated at Ser129. The antibody detected only phosphorylated hα‐syn140m, whereas phosphorylation of endogenous α‐synuclein, if any, was below the detection limit of the method employed. The analysis showed that approximately one‐third of the hα‐syn140m‐positive neurons in the midbrain of heterozygous Tg mice were concomitantly reactive to anti‐PSer129. The ratio almost doubled in homozygotes, indicating that the phosphorylation level depends directly on the amount of substrate. In addition, the ratio did not change at least up to 48 weeks of age. These data strongly suggest that hα‐syn140m underwent constitutive phosphorylation and that the phosphorylation level was maintained to a certain level until the aged stages. Remarkably, hα‐syn140m localized in the nuclei seemed to be preferentially phosphorylated compared with that in the cytoplasm. Among kinases that have been reported to be involved in the phosphorylation of α‐synuclein, the β subunit of casein kinase‐2 was detected in the nuclei by immunohistochemistry. These data imply that at least casein kinase‐2 is involved in the phosphorylation of hα‐syn140m in the Tg mice. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes and prostaglandin E2 in gastrointestinal tract mucus are associated with decreased faecal dry matter in Merino rams during nematode infection

Immune-mediated scouring in sheep is a mucosal hypersensitivity response incited by infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes in the southern half of Australia and in New Zealand, regions characterised by a Mediterranean, winter-rainfall climate. To gain insights into the underlying mechanism(s), this study investigated the relationship between nematode infection of sheep in pens, faecal dry matter and release of inflammatory mediators in the intestinal tract. Six worm-free, immune rams received a dose of 3000 Trichostrongylus third stage larvae (L3) and 3000 Ostertagia L3 per week for 6 weeks, after which they were euthanased. Three rams acted as uninfected controls. Faecal dry matter was significantly lower in the infected group from the first week of infection until the end of the trial. Concentrations of cysteinyl leukotrienes and prostaglandin E2 were higher in mucus from both the abomasum and the small intestine of infected rams compared with controls. Within the infected group, concentrations of both mediators were higher in mucus from the small intestine than from the abomasum. There were greater numbers of eosinophilic granulocytes and mucosal mast cells in abomasal and small-intestinal tissue sections from infected rams compared with the controls. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that nematode infection causes an inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal mucosa, characterised by increased fluid secretion.