Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Field use of 32P to measure phosphate uptake by birch mycorrhizas

SUMMARY 32P was used to determine phosphorus uptake by different mycorrhizas of birch in the field. Time of year and location of the application of 32P were the dominant variables influencing uptake into the canopy. There was evidence of differential uptake by the three mycorrhizal types selected. Where Hebeloma mycorrhizas were more frequent, a significantly greater rate of phosphorus uptake per unit leaf weight occurred than where Laccaria or Lactarius were more frequent. The method shows potential for field evaluation of efficiency of nutrient uptake by mycorrhizas, although a number of factors need to be taken into account in determining uptake. In locating areas for 32P injection, it was found that the distribution of mycorrhizal types on roots did not always reflect the distribution of the corresponding fruitbodies.
Postglacial recolonization patterns and genetic relationships among whitefish (Coregonus sp.) populations in Denmark, inferred from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers

The genetic relationships among morphologically and geographically divergent populations of whitefish (genus: Coregonus) from Denmark and the Baltic Sea region were studied by analysis of microsatellites and polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) segments. The endangered North Sea houting (classified as C. oxyrhynchus) differs morphologically and physiologically from other Danish whitefish (C. lavaretus). However, limited divergence of North Sea houting was observed both at the level of mtDNA and microsatellites. The implications of these results for the conservation status of North Sea houting are discussed in the light of current definitions of evolutionary significant units. Both mtDNA and microsatellite data indicated that postglacial recolonization by C. lavaretus in Denmark was less likely to have taken place from the Baltic Sea. Instead, the data suggested a recent common origin of all Danish whitefish populations, including North Sea houting, probably by recolonization via the postglacial Elbe River system. Estimates of genetic differentiation among populations based on mtDNA and microsatellites were qualitatively different. In addition, for both classes of markers analyses of genetic differentiation yielded different results, depending on whether molecular distances between alleles or haplotypes were included.
Uso do sistema teste de Allium cepa como bioindicador de genotoxicidade de infusões de plantas medicinais

All over the world, many species of medicinal plants are used for disease treatments. However, most of them were not deeply studied; and the presence of cytotoxic or mutagenic substances in their composition or resulting from their metabolism may be harmful to human beings. The mutagenic effects caused by such substances result in chromosomal changes which are detecTable during the cell cycle of a species through cytogenetic analysis. The Allium cepa test system is widely used for evaluating the genotoxic potential of infusions (tea) made of medicinal plants, through the cell cycle analysis. The knowledge of the genotoxic potential of such species through the Allium cepa test serves as a warning and safety bioindicator for the population who uses medicinal tea quite often as the unique alternative for disease treatment of its people. In the review article, we intend to inform people about the importance of the Allium cepa test for evaluating the genotoxicity of infusions of medicinal plants.
Biochemical components of a solitary ascidian Microcosmus exasperatus Heller, 1878 (Ascidiacea: Pyuridae)

The biochemical components (protein, carbohydrate and lipid) including amino and fatty acids in a solitary ascidian Microcosmus exasperatus were analysed from Palk Bay region (southeast coast of India) in March 2009. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the nutritive value. Moisture, protein, carbohydrate, lipids and ash contents were 67.01±5.9%, 24.7±3.65%, 4.97±2.82%, 2.64±1.11% and 1.03±0.4% in dry weight, respectively. Among 18 essential and non essential amino acids, ten essential and seven non-essential amino acids were reported in ascidian muscle. In essential amino acids, leucine and in non-essential amino acids, tyrosin were recorded in maximum level. The saturated fatty acid (SAFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents ranged from 0.131 to 1.612%, 1.304 to 1.546%, and 1.021 to 1.732% of total fatty acids, respectively.
Isolated Dorsal Animal Blastomeres of Xenopus laevis Are Capable to Form Mesodermal Derivatives, while the Ventral Animal Blastomeres Differentiate into Ciliated Epidermis Only

Abstract Isolated two dorsal animal blastomeres of 8-cell-stage Xenopus embryos differentiated in about 24% of the cases into mesodermal structures, while the two ventral animal ones formed exclusively atypical epidermis. Of special interest is the fact that most of the dorsal animal blastomeres without mesodermal structures, differentiated into atypical epidermis with large parts of cement gland. Cement glands could not be detected in the derivatives of the ventral animal blastomeres. In earlier concepts it has been suggested that the animal hemisphere of the amphibian egg is an uncommitted area, which receives its instructions for further determination and differentiation from the vegetal part of the embryo. However, the results, shown in this paper, support the view that the developmental determinants are distributed in distinct gradients already in the early cleavage stages. Although the highest concentrations of these putative determinants are located in the dorsal vegetal area (Melton, 1995) and the dorsal marginal zone, lower concentrations of these substances are thought to be present in the animal part, especially in the dorsal animal hemisphere of the egg and the early embryo. Our results indicate that dorsal animal blastomeres of early cleavage stage embryos possess the capacity to form mesodermal derivatives after their separation from the vegetal hemisphere.
Effects of Deposit-Feeder Activity on Bacterial Production and Abundance in Profundal Lake Sediment

Effects of the amphipod Monoporeia affinis, the oligochaete Tubifex tubifex and the chironomid Chironomus riparius on the production ([3H]-thymidine incorporation) and abundance (acridine orange direct counts) of sediment bacteria were studied in a series of microcosm experiments. Measurements were performed on the visually distinct sediment zonation generated by oxygen penetration and influenced by deposit-feeder activity. All three species at higher densities caused an increase in the depth of the light-colored surficial sediment layer in the microcosms. Bacterial production in surficial sediment increased by factors as high as 3.2× (Monoporeia experiment), 1.4× (Tubifex experiment), and 4.4× (Chironomus experiment) compared with controls. Physical disturbance of sediment through invertebrate activity was concluded to be the main causal mechanism for increases in bacterial production. Changes in bacterial abundance appeared to be zoobenthos species-specific, reflecting differences in feeding and/or foraging behavior of the animals. Bacterial abundance was negatively affected by mechanical stirring and by the activity of Tubifex tubifex, a subsurface deposit-feeder known to gain a large proportion of its energy demand from sediment bacteria. Monoporeia affinis and Chironomus riparius did not affect bacterial abundance; apparently their surficial feeding activity resulted in a compensation of bacterial losses. In subsurface sediment layers neither bacterial abundance nor production was affected by any of the three species.
Does habitat structure influence capture probabilities? A study of reptiles in a eucalypt forest

Pitfall traps are commonly used to examine differences in reptile communities among habitat types and disturbance regimes that differ in structure. However, capture rates and probabilities may be influenced by habitat structure, which invalidates comparisons of relative abundance among habitat types. To assess whether pitfall traps provide accurate reflections of density and whether habitat structure affects capture probabilities, we trapped at six sites in various jarrah-forest habitat types in south-western Australia, then intensively searched 150-m2 total-removal plots around each pitfall grid to obtain absolute densities of reptiles. Pitfall captures were significantly correlated with numbers on total-removal plots for Hemiergis initialis and Lerista distinguenda, indicating that pitfall traps provided accurate reflections of density for these species. Capture probabilities of H. initialis and L. distinguenda and all reptiles combined showed no significant correlations with any structural variables, indicating that capture probabilities were consistent across sites. We conclude that trapping provided accurate estimates of relative abundance for some species and that capture probabilities were not influenced by vegetation structure. Because many studies use trapping to estimate abundances among habitat types, we encourage researchers to investigate how vegetation structure influences capture probabilities, so that general patterns can be determined; we also suggest improvements for any future studies.
Nutrients in ryegrass (Lolium spp.), white clover (Trifolium repens) and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures in relation to season and stage of regrowth in a subtropical environment

Summary. On the subtropical north coast of New South Wales, Australia, kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), biennial ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and mixed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)–white clover (Trifolium repens) pastures grazed by dairy cows were plucked pregrazing to simulated grazing height, every 2 weeks for 2 years to determine seasonal changes in various nutrients and in sacco organic matter and nitrogen (N) degradability. Changes in nutrients during regrowth were determined in the ryegrass component of a mixed perennial ryegrass–white clover pasture by sequentially cutting pasture at 3- or 4-day intervals to 5 cm stubble height and non-structural carbohydrates in kikuyu by cutting at 4-day intervals in February–March. There was a significant effect of season on water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) content of perennial ryegrass with regrowth time, resulting in an 8-fold fall in the CP : WSC ratio from the 1 to 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth in mid winter, a 2-fold difference in mid spring but with no discernible difference in late spring. The metabolisable energy (ME) values for biennial ryegrass exceeded 11.9 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) from July to September and then fell markedly to <10 MJ/kg DM in November, coinciding with reproductive development. In perennial ryegrass–white clover pastures, mean ME was above 11 MJ/kg DM from May to September, but fell to < 9 MJ/kg DM in December while in kikuyu, the mean ME, over the recognised growing season, was 8.5 MJ/kg DM but in winter it was 9.5 MJ/kg DM. Fibre content in all pasture types showed a significant seasonal trend with the content of acid detergent fibre (ADF) in biennial ryegrass at 17% from May to August while the mean neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was 37%. In perennial ryegrass–white clover, the mean ADF was <21% from May to August. The NDF content of kikuyu grass was about 60% during the growing season but 40% in winter. The calcium (Ca) : phosphorus (P) ratio in perennial ryegrass rose from <1 : 1 at the 1 leaf/tiller stage to 2.2 : 1 at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth due to a simultaneous fall in P and a rise in Ca. A fall in potassium (K) and a rise in magnesium (Mg) and Ca content in perennial ryegrass gave a very significant linear fall in K/(Mg + Ca), on a percentage basis, from 8 at the 1 leaf/tiller stage of regrowth, to 2.5 at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth. In kikuyu, the level of P changed significantly with season falling as the species became dormant. A fall in P and a rise in Ca content resulted in a high Ca : P ratio (2.5 : 1) in spring. The findings of this study give some insight into the reason why the content of various nutrients change in pasture and the implication of this for providing a balanced diet to dairy cows. A knowledge of these changes should provide the opportunity to balance nutrients in pasture by adjusting time of grazing and/or providing supplements of appropriate quality.
Evaluation of various fungicides for the management of late blight of potato (Phytophthora infestans).

Potato cultivars grown in Pakistan have low levels of general resistance to late blight. Mostly the commercial potato farmers rely on fungicide applications for control of Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight. Field trials were conducted during the year 2008 at the Vegetable Research area of the Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to evaluate the effectiveness of three fungicides viz. Tazoline (Mancozeb + Metalaxy), Flint Max (Trifloxystrobin) and Kocide (Copper cxychloride) application on eight potato varieties. Application of fungicide treatments considerably reduced (P≤0.05) late blight disease progress, with a corresponding decrease in disease index. The highest reduction in disease was achieved by applying Tazoline in the cultivar SH-103, followed by Kocide and least by Flint Max at an intervals of 07, 14, 21 and 28 days. Over all our results demonstrated that weekly sprays were more economical and feasible for the management of late blight of potato.
Tillage Effects on Soil Temperature, Shoot Dry Matter Accumulation and Corn Grain Yield

Shoot dry matter data from a multi-year experiment with four tillage treatments (conventional (MB), chisel (CH), ridge till (R) and no-till (NT)) conducted on two sites at Ottawa, Canada (45°23'N, 75°43'W) were analyzed to determine to what extent tillage differences influenced shoot growth over the vegetative period. Over three years the ranking of corn shoot dry matter at 6-leaf, 12-leaf and silking stages was MB > CH > R > NT. Tillage effects were only statistically significant (P ≦ 0.05) at early vegetative stages. Phenological data indicated a greater delay in silking than in reaching the 6-leaf stage under conservation tillage. Thermal units (growing degree days, base temperature 10°C) in the seed bed (0.05 m) were also ranked MB > CH > R > NT for development between planting and the 6-leaf stage. By the 12-leaf and silking stages, tillage treatment had little effect on soil temperature. Soil temperatures at the 0.20 m depth were unaffected by tillage treatment. Shoot growth gradually became a funct.
Larval trematodes [Digenea] in molluscs from small water bodies near Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

A total of 2802 molluscs from two fishponds and one swamp in the vicinity of Ceske Budějovice, South Bohemia, were examined between 1998 and 2000. A total of 12 species of molluscs were infected (33.9%, n = 951) with larval trematodes of 28 species (26 species were represented by cercariae, 8 species by metacercariae; 6 species were found both as cercariae and metacercariae). The dominant species found as cercariae were Tylodelphys excavata (Diplostomidae), Plagiorchis elegans (Plagiorchiidae), Echinostoma spiniferum sensu Nasincova (1992) and E. revolutum (Echinostomatidae). Three cases of double infections with cercariae were found; metacercariae often occurred together in one snail (up to five species). The most infected hosts were Planorbarius corneus (78.2%, n = 662), Lymnaea corvus (65.5%, n = 55) and Lymnaea stagnalis (47.1%, n = 473). Most of the trematode species reported mature in birds and are widely distributed in other parts of Europe. The common species found as cercariae are illustrated.
A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF DETACHED EPIDERMIS IN STUDIES OF STOMATAL PHYSIOLOGY

Summary Although several workers have published accounts of stomatal studies with detached epidermis, there has not been general agreement as to whether the stomata continue to respond to environmental factors as they do in the intact plant. This paper reports a critical examination of the value of the technique, experiments having been carried out on material from Vida faba and two species of Commelina. The nature of the incubating medium was found to exert a considerable influence on the behaviour of the stomata. In Commelina, the presence of monovalent cations (K+, Na+) stimulated opening, but divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) had an antagonistic effect suppressing opening or even preventing it altogether. In Vicia faba cations exerted less noticeable effects. pH changes affected aperture, but in Commelina the changes were of much smaller magnitude than those induced by the different cations. Factorial experiments were performed to determine the effect of detaching epidermis on the stomatal responses to environmental factors. In Vicia faba the light effect was very apparent on attached epidermis, but on detached epidermis the effect was largely obscured by stomatal opening that occurred in darkness; effects of CO2 concentration were detectable on epidermal strips, particularly in darkness, but were of smaller magnitude than those on attached epidermis. On the other hand, in Commelina, effects of both light and CO2 were of considerable magnitude when strips were immersed in media containing the cations that stimulated opening. The theory that the opening stimulated by monovalent cations is the outcome of their being actively taken up into the guard cells is discussed, and it is concluded that while this might apply to epidermal strips in media, there is inadequate evidence that such a mechanism is responsible for opening in the intact plant; there was no stimulation of opening on attached epidermis when pieces of leaf were immersed in media containing monovalent cations. Attempts are made to explain the difference in behaviour between Vicia faba and Commelina on the basis of the course of ion uptake into the cells of the epidermis; evidence of a possible difference in uptake was obtained from studies of the penetration by neutral red. It is concluded that epidermal strips from both species of Commelina are suitable for studies of stomatal responses to Hght and CO2 so long as they are incubated in a suitable medium. Epidermal strips from V. faba are unsuitable for studies of the light responses, and less satisfactory than Commelina for the responses to CO2.
The Optimization of Beirut Airport’s Check-in and Luggage System

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport’s ground handling processes lack efficiency. This inefficiency leads to high cost, low productivity, and low customer satisfaction. Therefore, we will tackle two major operations at the airport: the check-in and the luggage handling systems. This paper will present different tools and techniques used to analyze the current systems, and propose some improvements that aims to optimize the processes. According to several studies, an improvement in the airport processes can help boost tourism which is one of the most developed sectors in Lebanon. This can in return positively impact the Lebanese economy. In addition, the luggage operators carry excessively heavy loads for long periods of time, leaving them prone to injuries. Our team decided to study these operations which will consider the worker’s safety and will make every traveler’s life easier. Finally, this project would help our country achieve lower operations costs, and higher tourist’s revenues.
Transformation of abandoned farm fields into coniferous plantations: Is there enough vegetation structure left to maintain winter habitat of snowshoe hares?

Natural forests will likely be unable to sustainably fulfill society needs for wood fibers and intensively managed plantations could be an alternative source of timber in the future. Abandoned farm fields are often targeted for conversion, as they are already disturbed sites; however, they also represent high-quality habitat for species such as snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben 1777), a keystone mammal in the boreal forest. We evaluated the effect of converting abandoned farm fields (n = 22) to conifer plantations (n = 19) on habitat use by snowshoe hares, using pellet counts and snow-tracking surveys. Both survey techniques yielded similar results: winter habitat use by hares is mostly affected by vegetation cover rather than habitat type. In the short term, plantations do not offer less protective cover than the one found in abandoned farm fields. However, upon reaching a certain height (≥7 m), plantations are mechanically pruned and lose their protective quality. Promoting silvicultural techniq.
FREQÜÊNCIA DE CÃES INFECTADOS POR Babesia spp. EM CAMPOS DOS GOYTACAZES, RJ

The canine babesiosis is transmitted by the Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick and caused by the intracytoplasmatic protozoa of the Babesia genus, being the B. canis and the B. gibsoni the etiologic agents. Normally there are hemolytic anemia, fever and lethargy, anorexy, hematuria and splenomegaly, with the pathogenesis related mainly to the multiplication of these parasites in the erythrocytes of the hosts. In the present work 2,031 stained thin capillary blood smears made from an ear prick of 2,031 dogs were microscopically examined for the presence of hemoparasites. The diagnosis was based on the direct demonstration of the etiologic agents in the erythrocytes. 30 dogs (1.47%) had been considered infected with Babesia spp. , confirming the presence of this parasite in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, where the climate is favorable to the development of the natural vector. KEY WORDS: Babesia spp. , dog, hemoparasite, occurance
MICROPROPAGATION OF LYSIMACHIA LAXA BAUDO

An in vitro regeneration protocol was developed for Lysimachia laxa Baudo. Maximum number of shoot (9.10±0.32) was induced by culturing nodal explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 17.76 μM benzyladenine (BA) and 5.37 μM α – naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Elongated shoots were best rooted, with 100% rooting efficiency, in MS medium containing 2.85 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Among the two explants (nodal and shoot tips) used, nodal explants were found to be the best option for in vitro regeneration of Lysimachia laxa. Rooted plantlets thus developed were hardened in 2 months time by growing in root trainers containing potting mixture of a 1:1 mix of garden soil and leaf mould. The established plants were then transferred to earthen pots and subsequently transferred to field condition.
Screening the Spanish Barley Core Collection for disease resistance

The Spanish Barley Core Collection comprises 159 landrace-derived inbred lines and 16 cultivars adapted to Southern European conditions. The collection was screened for resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis), scald (Rhynchosporium secalis), leaf rust (Puccinia hordei), net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. teres), Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and Barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV). Resistance to powdery mildew was outstanding, with 58 lines presenting mean overall resistance, among them seven landrace-derived lines resistant to all seven isolates tested. About 26% of the Spanish lines were resistant to scald. Resistance to leaf rust and to net blotch was scarce, though a few accessions showed resistance levels as good as the checks. Thirteen accessions (12 Spanish) were totally resistant to BaMMV and c. 20% of accessions showed moderate tolerance to BYDV. Landrace-derived lines from the Mediterranean Coast and Southern regions of Spain were the most resistant to powdery mildew and leaf rust, but the most susceptible to viruses. Potential sources of resistance might be preserved in some accessions subjected to selective pressure in the region of origin.