Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen isotope fractionation in amino acids from harbor seals: implications for compound-specific trophic position calculations

Compound-specific isotope analysis of individual amino acids (AA) is a rapidly growing tool in ecological studies to assess diet and trophic position (TP) in both modern and ancient foodwebs. We conducted the first controlled feeding study examining δ15N values in AAs in a marine mammal (harbor seal Phoca vitulina). The pattern of δ15N variation among AAs in seals was similar to that observed in other heterotrophs, although exceptions were found with proline and threonine. However, many δ15N changes with trophic transfer were very different than those reported for zooplankton and other lower TP marine consumers. In particular the measured trophic enrichment factor (TEF) now broadly used for TP estimation (TEFGlu-Phe) was much lower in harbor seals (~4.3‰) than the current commonly applied value (~7.5‰). Recently published data on wild marine birds (penguins) and elasmobranchs (stingrays) suggests that similar, low TEF values may also be characteristic of these taxa. Together, these data imply that marine mammals and other higher animals have different, but also diagnostic, changes in δ15N-AA with trophic transfer vs. organisms examined in previous feeding studies (e.g. zooplankton, bony fish and mollusks), possibly due to dietary protein content, trophic position, and/or form of nitrogen excretion (urea vs. ammonia). Therefore, we propose that for marine mammals, a multi-TEF calculation is required to account for variations of TEF between animals within a food web, and we demonstrate that this approach can predict accurate TP estimates for harbor seals. These results also have significant implication for the application of compound-specific isotope analysis of AAs on terrestrial ecology and trophic structure.
Drying kinetics and quality characteristics of beetroot slices under hot air followed by microwave finish drying

The experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of air temperature and microwave power level on drying behavior and quality of beetroot. The osmotically pretreated samples in sugar-salt mixed solution were further dehydrated using convective tray drier upto a moisture content of 40 to 60% db (the point where drying rate became slow) followed by microwave drying to a moisture content of 6% (bone dry conditions) to overcome the slow removal of moisture content in the end. Three levels of air temperature 55, 65 and 75°C and microwave power 540,810 and 1080 W each were selected and readings on moisture content, rehydration ratio, color, total soluble solid, water activity and hardness were taken. The results showed that osmotic pretreatment prior to hot air microwave finish drying improved the final quality of dehydrated sample. The drying took place in the falling rate drying period regardless of the drying conditions. Drying at high air temperature (75°C) followed by high microwave power (1080 W) witnessed increased drying rates and substantial shortening of the drying time. Two term and logarithmic model successfully described the drying kinetics of convectively dehydrated and microwave finish dehydrated beetroot slices respectively. Rehydration characteristics of beetroot were improved for samples dehydrated at 55°C and 1080 W, which helped in reduction of shrinkage and case hardening. A greater change in color resulted due to decreased L and b values and increased ‘a’ value with increase in both air temperature and microwave power. Sample dehydrated at high air temperature followed by high microwave power exhibited high water activity, high total soluble solids (TSS) and improved hardness as compared to fresh sample. Key words: Beetroot, air drying, microwave finish drying, quality.
Appearance of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis GUENÉE in Early Planted Rice Fields in Chikugo

コブノメイガ成虫の早植水稲への飛来を,卵・幼虫・蛹の消長および捕獲雌の生理状況と合せて,6月から7月にかけて筑後で調べた。 調査した1976年から1979年の4年間では,成虫は6月中旬以降に発見され,通常アール当たり10頭以下で,雌は雄より多かった。 圃場へ飛来した成虫は,飛来後もその圃場に定着せず,絶えず移動しているように推察された。 圃場で捕獲した雌成虫は常にそのほとんどが交尾済みで,かつ,その卵巣は発育していた。 ブラックライトへの誘殺は非常に少なく,特に6月は4年間全く誘殺されなかった。 コブノメイガはセジロ・トビイロウンカの飛来日から,1∼3日遅れて発見された。 この調査期間に9回のウンカの飛来が認められ,うち7回は本種も対応して確認された。 このことは,本種も東シナ海を越えて長距離移動飛来することを示唆する。
Reproductive character displacement in the ostracod genus Cythere

ABSTRACT The male copulatory organs of 10 Recent species of Cythere were compared and the relationship between the copulatory organ and geographic distribution was examined. For 9 pairs of species whose geographic distributions overlap each other, the copulatory organs are morphologically different. Conversely, the pairs of species whose copulatory organs are similar show either of the following characteristics: (1) their distribution areas are completely isolated, or (2) their distribution areas are very close or more or less overlap each other, but their reproductive seasons or their habitats are different. The significant morphologic differences between the copulatory organs of such sympatric pairs are thus interpreted as responsible for mechanical reproductive isolation. Examination of copulatory organs is very useful in ostracod systematics, especially for discrimination of sympatric species. However, the results do not always coincide with their phylogenetic relationship which is well reconstructed from the ontogenetic development of the distribution pattern of normal pores. In the case of Cythere, the diversification of copulatory organs does not seem to reflect taxonomic distance between species because of their function. Finally, geographic variation of the male copulatory organ of Cythere omotenipponicais shown.
Amylin-containing cells in the gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) endocrine system of the rat and humans-An immunohistochemical study

Amylin (Islet Amyloid Polypeptide, IAPP)-containing cells were immunohistochemically investigated in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract of the rat and humans with reference to its co-existence with gut hormones. Immunoreactivity for amylin was found in pancreatic islets and in endocrine cells dispersed in the pyloric antrum. The major population of islet cells in the rat was immunoreactive for amylin, being identified as B and D cells. Weak immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was recognizable in the rat B cells as reported previously. However it disappeared when the CGRP antiserum was pretreated with amylin, suggesting that the CGRP antiserum might have cross-reacted with an amylin molecule contained in the B cells. Amylin-immunoreactive cells in the pyloric antrum corresponded to gastrin (G) cells in rats and also in humans. This is in contrast to a previous study showing the amylin immunoreactivity in non-G cells of the human pyloric antrum. The amylin immunoreactivity in the pancreatic islets was recognized in rat fetuses, whereas in the pyloric G cells it first appeared on day 28 after birth. Immunohistochemistry at the electron microscopic level demonstrated that amylin was localized in the secretory granules of B, D and G cells.
Use of Different Protein Meals as Partial or Total Substitution for Fish Meal in Carp Diets.

The use of defatted soybean meal (SBM) in combination with corn gluten meal (CGM) and meat meal (MM) as a partial or complete replacement for fish meal was studied in carp. Fish meal in the control diet with 37% protein was substituted by the combination of those protein meals at levels of 56, 78, 89, and 100%. The effect of supplementation of crystalline amino acids to the 100% fish meal replaced diet was also examined. Duplicate tanks of fish (4 or 6g on average) were fed to satiation at 21±1 or 24±1°C for 9 or 5 weeks.Fish fed the control diet showed the best growth rate, feed efficiency and PER. Replacement of fish meal up to 56% with SBM and CGM gave good weight gain and feed efficiency comparable to the control, but the higher inclusion of SBM, CGM, and MM reduced growth and feed utilization. Supplementation of Lys, Met, and Thr to the 100% fish meal replaced diet markedly improved growth and feed efficiency up to about 90% of the control group.Supplementation of the EAA mixture at levels comparable to those in the fish meal control diet and twice that amount resulted in growth rates of about 87 and 94% of the control group, respectively.
The impact of changing light levels and fruit load on the pattern of tomato yields

Summary Experiments in glasshouse and controlled environment facilities investigated the effect of different fruit removal and lighting/shading treatments on the pattern of tomato yields. While the removal of flowering trusses resulted in a yield loss about eight weeks later, there was little loss in cumulative yield as assimilates were distributed to neighbouring trusses. In the growth room experiment, increased photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) for one week resulted in a period of increased yield from 4–6 weeks after the start of the treatment, followed by suppressed yields due to smaller fruits on subsequent trusses. However, neither fruit load nor assimilate availability appeared to be responsible for the fluctuations in yield recorded within the glasshouse crop. In this experiment fruit size remained fairly consistent (except when fruit removal treatments were applied), whereas the number of fruits picked per week exhibited much greater variability. This was the case even when all trusses were pruned to leave five fruits, and so was not due to a cycle in the number of fruits set per truss. The flushes in yield were found to be a consequence of a hastening of fruit maturation.
Potencial forrajero de poblaciones de maíz y relación entre atributos agronómicos con la calidad Forage potential of some maize populations and relationships between their agronomic characteristics and nutritional quality

The purposes of this study were to identify maize populations with high forage quality and to determine associations between agronomic and forage quality variables. Five genetic groups made up by 19 populations and six commercial hybrids were evaluated at Pabellon, Ags. , and Torreon, Coah. , Mexico, in split plot tests with three replications each and densities of 80,000 and 75,000 plants ha-1 respectively. Dry matter production (TDM), forage nutritive quality and estimated milk production per hectare were assessed. A significant interaction (P<0.01), was detected for populations within groups x locations only for ear dry matter percentage (EDMP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro digestibility (IVD); whereas all variables, except acid detergent fiber (ADF) were significant for groups. Hybrids had the highest TDM and estimated milk production with 20.3 and 12.5 t ha-1 respectively; while the earliest populations derived from highland germplasm showed the highest nutritive value with 49.7, 26.4 and 72.4 % of NDF, ADF and IVD respectively. The top populations for forage production and quality within groups were Pop 800, Lucio Blanco, Pop42 ETO IL, CPAB3, P3066WF 2 , A7597F 2 and the hybrids Pantera and AS900. Days to harvest, NDF and ADF content, were the variables which showed stronger correlation (P<0.01) to IVD with coefficients of –0.74, -0.74 and –0.81 respectively; while TDM, EDMP and NDF showed more correlation to estimated milk production, with coefficients of 0.78, 0.84 and 0.55, respectively.
Structure Characteristics of 5'Flanking Region of Growth Hormone Gene of Guizhou Pony and Ili Horse

The DNA sequence of 5' flanking region of growth hormone gene from Guizhou ponies with 4~5 years old and Ili horses with 7~8 years old was cloned and analyzed to study the structure characteristics of 5' flanking region of growth hormone gene from different horse types and probe the regulation mechanism for growth and development of Guizhou pony.The results showed that: 1)The sequence of 5' flanking region of growth hormone gene with 711 bp was successfully cloned from the genome;2)There were TATA box,CCAAT box,GC box and Octamer euckaryote promoters in 5' flanking region of growth hormone gene of Guizhou pony and Ili horse;3) G→C transversion occurred at 30 bp mutation site of 5' flanking region of growth hormone gene from Ili horse,which resulted in a new transcription factor upstream stimulatory factor(USF)binding site;4) 58 transcription factor binding sites including MZF1,CdxA,Nkx-2,AML-1a,c-Myc and so on were discovered in 5' flanking region of growth hormone gene from Guizhou pony and Ili horse.In conclusion: There are many transcription regulatory elements in the cloned 711 bp gene sequence from Guizhou pony and Ili horse.
Host range determination of Myrothecium verrucaria isolated from leafy spurge

Yang, S. -M. , and Jong, S. C. 1995. Host range determination of Myrothecium verrucaria isolated from leafy spurge. Plant Dis. 79:994-997. The host range of Myrothecium verrucaria (ATCC 90310) isolated from leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) collected in China was determined to be 54 plant species in 42 genera and 11 families following artificial inoculation. The number of plant species infected was influenced by the dew temperature or invert emulsion (IE, water-in-oil) carrier for the inoculum. Of 46 plant species inoculated with an aqueous conidial suspension and incubated for 18 h in dew chambers at 15, 20, 25, and 30°C, 1, 6, 15, and 39 plant species, respectively, developed disease. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) was killed by this pathogen only when the plants were inoculated with IE carrier plus conidia, but not when atomized with an aqueous conidial suspension and incubated in dew chambers at 30°C for 18 h. Disease severity on thistle (Carduus spp.) and starthistle (Centaurea sp.) was greatly affected by the use of the IE carrier; high inoculum levels of M. verrucaria were needed to kill older thistle plants. Myrothecium verrucaria has potential as a mycoherbicide against annual weeds.
Mammals of the Phanerozoic South-West Kimberley, Western Australia: Biogeography and Recent Changes

Species inventories of the main biogeographical areas in the far north of Western Australia are presented. It is shown that the mammal fauna of the Phanerozoic South-west Kimberley reflects the area's intermediate climate, its geographical location between, and its geomorphic continuity with both the sub-humid North Kimberley and the arid Great Sandy Desert. Available data on changes in the mammal fauna of the area since the middle Holocene and since the advent of a pastoral industry in 1890 are presented and discussed.
A feasibility study of dynamic verification for tumor target delineation and dose delivery using a six degrees of freedom motion phantom

Background: The dynamic phantom is one of the best tools to study the impact of motion on tumor target delineation and absorbed dose verification during dose delivery. Materials and Methods: this study, a 6-DOF (degrees of freedom) phantom was designed following the stacked serial kinematics and assembled by six commercial motion stages to generate 6-DOF motion, which were RotX (pitch, around X), RotY (roll, around Y), TransZ (anterior–posterior), RotZ (yaw, around Z), TransY (superior–inferior) and TransX (left–right). Tumor targets were designed by six plastic spheres for the delineation test. Also, an ionization chamber array detector and RW3 solid water were combined to measure the absorbed dose for dose verification tests. Results: The maximum translation speeds for LineX and LineY were 50mm/s and 35mm/s for LineZ, while the maximum rotation speeds for RotX, RotY, RotZ were 5.33° per second, 6° per second and 15° per second respectively. Spiral-CT and 4D-CT images acquired in the static and dynamic states successfully showed the influences of tumor motion on target delineation. In the absorbed dose verification, all cases did not pass the gamma test; the pass rate for the 6-DOF motion case was only 34.2% and the pass rates of all other cases were less than 90%. Conclusion: The phantom designed in this study is able to simulate complex tumor motion and can be used to study the influence of tumor motion in radiotherapy.
Molecular systematic reassessment of Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) in Korea using four gene regions

Abstract Sargassum is an ecologically and economically important brown alga in East Asia. A total of 28 species are listed in the available literature for South Korea. To identify the species and evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of Korean Sargassum, we analyzed ITS2, rbcL, psaA, and cox3 sequences from a subset of 50 specimens assigned to 22 Sargassum species; sequences of Korean-collected Myagropsis myagroides and Coccophora langsdorfii were also included. We reconstructed the phylogeny of Sargassum using the concatenated dataset. The Korean Sargassum species fell into two subgenera: 19 species were assigned to S. subgen. Bactrophycus and three species to S. subgen. Sargassum. The species in the S. subgen. Bactrophycus represented the sections Halochloa, Hizikia, Spongocarpus, and Teretia, whereas those of S. subgen. Sargassum represented the sections Binderiana and Sargassum. All Korean Sargassum species identified in the present study are part of the East Asiatic complex of species co-occurring in Japan and surrounding areas. Our four-gene dataset was highly resolved at the sectional level and confirmed recently proposed revisions within the genus. The present study is the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Sargassum using four molecular markers.
Spatial distribution of cattle in arid rangelands as detected by patterns of change in vegetation cover

Patterns of change in vegetation cover, as measured by multitemporal remote sensing using the LANDSAT Multispectral Scanner, were used to model domestic cattle distributions in the arid rangelands of central Australia. Model assumptions that paddock shape and waterpoint layout have no effect on rate of cover change (and thus cattle distribution), other than through changes in the area of a paddock and the individual landscape types within it, at each distance from water seem justified. Model assumptions that rate of cover change in a particular landscape type at a given distance from water is unaffected by the mix of other landscape types around it also seem justified. Land degradation appears to have only a limited effect on the distribution of cattle compared with differences in grazing preference for individual landscape types and the number of cattle present in these rangelands. Generalized cattle distribution models can be derived for broad landscape types on the basis of distance from water and grazing preference. These models can be applied irrespective of the number of cattle present. The models have potential for incorporation into decision support systems for paddock design and waterpoint layout. Such systems could ensure the effective and sustainable utilization of arid rangeland vegetation by cattle.
Maintenance of Variation in Cone Morphology in California Closed-Cone Pines: The Roles of Fire, Squirrels and Seed Output

In the Californian representatives of the Subsection Oocarpae (Pinus attenuata, P. muricata and P. radiata), there is variability in several cone characters. The cones range from being thin-scaled and attached to branches at relatively right angles, to having very thick scales and prominent apophyses on one side and attached to branches at acute angles. Thick-scaled cones provide more protection for the seeds from the high temperatures of fires than do thinscaled cones and may deter attacks from the squirrels Tamiasciurus and Sciurus. These cones carry fewer seeds per given weight of cone which is energetically less efficient for the squirrels to harvest. Squirrels are known to selectively feed on cones carrying more seeds per cone. Thin-scaled cones yield more seeds per given cone weight. This is energetically advantageous to reproductive success but may make them favorite targets for squirrel feeding. Consequently, individuals with thin-scaled cones can only be favored in areas where fires are not too hot and where squirrels are rare or absent. Such conditions seem to be met for pine populations on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Guadalupe and Cedros Islands, and San Vicente and Ensenada, Baja California. It is precisely in these populations where cones with thin scales are most frequent. In areas where fires may be expected to be hotter and squirrels more common, individuals with thick-scaled asymmetric cones predominate. The cones of a number of pine species show a great deal of variability in cone shape, structure, scale thickness and angle of attachment to branches. This is true of jack pine Pinus banksiana Lamb. (Rudolph et al. 1957) lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Dougl. (Critchfield 1957) and the closed-cone pines of California, P. radiata D. Don P. attenuata Lemmon and P. muricata D. Don (Duffield 1951; Newcombe 1962; Forde 1964; and others). In his discussion of the genus Pinus, Shaw (1914) suggested that thick-scaled, serotinous cones, closely appressed to branches, were adaptations for protection of the
Inversion Polymorphisms in Anopheles Arabiensis (Patton) in Five Selected Localities from East, South and Southwest Ethiopia

Cytogenetic studies in indoor resting An. gambiae s.l. complex in five selected localities from east, south, and southwestern parts of Ethiopia were conducted. An. arabiensis was the only cyto-species found. Close examination of the inversion polymorphisms revealed the existence of two more polymorphisms in the 2Ra and 2Rd inversions, in addition to those previously reported viz. 2Rb and 3Ra, by Mekuria et al. (1982) and White (1974). The study covered wide ecological and altitudinal ranges and the karyotype frequencies were in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg expectations. However, it was not possible to correlate the relationship between the 2Rb inversion and altitude as has previously been reported by Mekuria et al. (1982). The adaptive value of the 2Rb to increase in altitude (Mekuria et al., 1982), in view of diverse ecological and climatic conditions in An. arabiensis in Ethiopia is open to question. RésuméEtude cytogenetic & Anopheles gambiae s.l. complexe, restent à l’intérieur dans cinq localité selecté à l’Est, Sud et Sud-Ouest d’Ethiopia était conduite. An. arabiensis était le seule cytoespèce trouvé. Examination minutieux du polymorphisme inverse à révéler l’existence de deux plus polymorphism dans les 2Ra et 2Rd inversions en suplémentaire de ceux précédemment rapporter (2Rb et 2Ra) par Mekuria et al. (1982)) et White (1974). Bien que cette étude couvre une large region de différent écologie et altitude, et les fréquences des karyotype était en accord avec le Hardy-Weinberg attente, il n’était, toutefois, pas possible de mettre en corrélation le rapport de l’inversion 2Rb avec altitude comme précédemment rapporter par Mekuria et al. (1982). La valeur adaptive de l’augmentation de 2Rb en altitude vis-à-vis des divers écologique et climatique condition en ce qui concerne An. arabiensis en Ethiopia est une question non réglé.