Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The intrinsic rate of natural increase and reproductive effort in primates

The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rmax) is calculated for 58 primate species. It is found that this parameter is negatively correlated with body weight, so that larger primate species consistently have a lower rmax than do smaller species. Although there is no apparent link between the raw value of rmax and environmental predictability, a relationship between a high rmax, relative to body weight, and an unpredictable environment is found to exist. However, there is no relationship between a predictable environment and either the raw value of rmax, or the relative rmax. After body size effects are removed, rmax is not correlated with basal metabolic rate (BMR). Pre-natal maternal investment (MI) is found to correlate highly with BMR, even after the removal of body weight effects. MI does not correlate either with rmax or with environmental predictability. Diet appears to have little influence either on rmax on MI, but there is some indication that folivores have both a high relative rmax and a high relative MI. These results are discussed in the light of theories of life-history strategy evolution.
Development of microsatellite markers by ISSR-suppression-PCR method in Brassica rapa

Microsatellites or simple gequence repeats (SSRs) consist of repeated arrays of short nucteotide motifs l-4 bp in length,Theseregionsareinterspersedthroughouteukaryotic genomes (Hamada et at. 1982, Tautz and Renz ]984, Tautz 1989), and are generally embedded in unique DNA sequences. Microsatel1itesarecharacterizedbyahighdegreeofpoLymorphism, most ofwhich results from the variation in the repeat
The Organization, Function, and Evolution of Gene Clusters in Eucaryotes

Present genetic and biochemical evidence suggests that two basic types of gene clusters occur in eucalypts. The first type encodes an enzyme aggregate (multienzyme complex). In an increasing number of instances, such gene clusters have been shown to be cluster-genes, i.e., single genes encoding multifunctional polypeptide chains, typically associated as homopolymeric aggregates. In several instances, evidence supports a channeling role for such enzyme aggregates, i.e., the aggregate serves to sequester intermediates in a particular biochemical pathway and to prevent competition between two potential competitive pathways. Gene clusters are considered to have evolved by retroevolution involving successive tandem gene duplications followed by functional divergence. Apparently, natural selection has often resulted in the further evolution of such gene clusters into cluster-genes by the process of gene fusion, especially in eucaryotes. The second (and apparently less frequent) type of gene cluster in eucaryotes is a true cluster of contiguous but separate genes which do not encode an enzyme aggregate. Certain of these clusters appear to have operon-like characteristics. However, in the absence of evidence for polycistronic mRNA production, at least one of these clusters (the qa cluster in Neurospora) appears to be maintained by natural selection because it contains a gene encoding a regulatory protein which is primarily cis acting.
Hydrogen Peroxide Production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii Subsp. Lactis I at 5°C

Cells of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis I produced hydrogen peroxide at 5°C in sodium phosphate buffer (0.2M, pH 6.5) with or without glucose. However, if the cells were starved by preincubation in buffer alone, glucose or sodium lactate were necessary to cause hydrogen peroxide production at 5°C. Hydrogen peroxide production by nonstarved cells was confirmed to be in part due to a NADH oxidase. The production of hydrogen peroxide by starved cells in buffer plus glucose in the early stage of incubation was associated with the production of a small portion of lactic acid which disappeared upon further incubation. Additional experiments revealed that hydrogen peroxide was produced in buffer containing sodium lactate added in place of glucose. Results suggested the presence of a lactate oxidase in the organism which used D-lactate to produce hydrogen peroxide.
Taxonomic distinctness as a measure of diversity applied over a large scale: the benthos of the Norwegian continental shelf

1. Data on soft-sediment macrobenthos from the Norwegian continental shelf (56-71°N) was used to examine the use of average taxonomic distinctness (Δ+, a measure of the average degree to which species are related to each other) as a diversity measure. 2. Δ+ for all taxa combined decreased with both latitude and depth. In contrast Δ+ for annelids and crustaceans (71% of the fauna) was positively correlated to latitude and depth, whereas molluscs (20.1% of the fauna) were not related to latitude or depth. Depth explained most of the variance in Δ+ for annelids and crustaceans. Neither latitude nor grain size appeared to be important in explaining large-scale patterns in the taxonomic breadth of the three dominant phyla. In contrast latitude rather than depth explained most of the variance in Δ+ of all taxa combined. 3. The finding that molluscs showed different patterns of Δ+ than the two other dominant phyla shows that the biodiversity of different phyla responded differently to environmental gradients and that one phylum cannot be used as a surrogate for others in such studies. The most likely explanation for the inconsistency in Δ+ is because the taxonomic classification system also varies between different phyla, and taxonomically related biodiversity measures might be more meaningfully applied to a single phylum than to all taxa combined. 4. Δ+ and species richness (S) displayed different patterns of biodiversity. Thus Δ+ is not a surrogate for species richness. Species richness of all taxa combined and annelids were highest in the middle depth range, and lowest in the shallowest and deepest parts of the shelf. Most of the variance in species richness is accounted for by depth, followed by latitude and grain size for all three dominant phyla and all taxa combined.
Sources of nutrients driving production in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia: a shallow tropical shelf system.

The tropical Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, has recently been identified as one of the world’s least impacted marine areas, presenting a unique opportunity to understand the nutrient drivers of productivity. The present study examined the nitrogen (N) sources and transformations in this pristine area and the role of N in fuelling primary productivity, principally based on summer data. The N budget estimates on a whole-of-Gulf basis suggest that river N inputs are unlikely to be major contributors to primary productivity. In the deeper waters of the Gulf, beyond the coastal boundary current, the main source of N is estimated to be N fixation by cyanobacteria, principally the abundant genus Trichodesmium. The present study measured high N fixation rates and depleted δ15N–N ratios in the particulate matter in the water column during a summer bloom. During summer, bottom N concentrations increased and δ15N–N ratios were depleted, suggesting that benthic mineralisation is occurring. It is therefore likely that detrital material from N-rich Trichodesmium is an important contributor to benthic processes. During winter, wind-driven mixing results in N from the bottom waters reaching the euphotic zone, and fuelling primary productivity. Therefore, Trichodesmium has an important direct and indirect role in contributing to primary productivity in this pristine tropical ecosystem.
The effects of physical support and density on biomass production and size hierarchies of Galium aparine populations

We assessed the growth and size inequality of experimental populations of Galium aparine at different densities with and without physical support. Those plants for which support was provided gained more weight than those unsupported. The presence of support increased the relative growth rate of the plants and reduced mortality at the highest densities. The biomass of the population was also higher in the case of supported plants. The size inequality of the population was not 'affected by the support-treatment but varied with density. Since density-dependent mortality took place at higher densities, and the variation of the relative growth rate increased with density, dominance-suppression could be assumed (.)
RESPONSES OF MYZUS PERSICAE AND BREVICORYNE BRASSICAE TO LEAF AGE AND WATER STRESS IN BRUSSELS SPROUTS GROWN IN POTS

Although intermittent water stress is largely beneficial and continuous water stress largely detrimental to the reproduction and survival of Myzus persicae and Brevicoryne brassicae feeding on Brussels sprouts, there are differences between the species on different leaf ages. During intermittent water stress in the old leaves, the normal feeding stratum of M. persicae, this aphid is relatively more successful than B. brassicae. During continuous water stress in the young leaves, the normal feeding stratum of B. brassicae, this aphid is relatively more successful than M. persicae. The high suitability of old leaves for M. persicae and, to a lesser extent, their low suitability for B. brassicae, are also apparent on turgid plants, in terms of reproduction, survival and the proportion of alate progeny. For M. persicae substrates which permit greater reproduction also promote fewer alatae but this is not always so for B. brassicae. However, crowding was not controlled in these experiments.
Evidence for niche similarities in the allopatric sister species Lepus castroviejoi and Lepus corsicanus

Lepus castroviejoi and Lepus corsicanus are sister species with allopatric distributions that share extensive phenotypic and genetic variation. Under the framework of niche conservatism, we assessed whether these species have similar ecological niches, which could provide insights into their mode of divergence, conservation, and taxonomic status.
Plankton and Chemical–Physical Development in Six Swedish West Coast Lakes under Acidic and Limed Conditions

Increases in pH from 4.5–5.3 to 7–7.6 after liming (1978–85) in six acidified lakes in the west coast area of Sweden caused increased concentration of humic compounds and decreased transparency compared with levels before liming. Concentrations of total P increased markedly whereas those of NO3-N decreased. The phytoplankton composition changed completely in all lakes shortly after liming, but a species richness similar to that in unacidified lakes was not reached until after 2–5 yr, and in the previously most acidified lakes, several species remained absent. The composition of the phytoplankton indicated increased primary production. The volumetric dominance within the zooplankton shifted generally from Eudiaptomus–Holopedium to Cyclops–Daphnia. The occurrence of Rotatoria and Cladocera species increased and the composition became similar to that in unacidified lakes 2–5 yr after liming. The biotic development is largely explained by chemical–physical changes such as increased pH, reduced Al concentratio.
Partial characterisation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyase isozymes in 6 strains of Emiliania huxleyi

We characterised and compared dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyase isozymes in crude extracts of 6 axenic Emiliania huxleyi cultures (CCMP 370, 373, 374, 379, 1516, and strain L). This enzyme cleaves DMSP to form dimethyl sulfide (DMS), acrylate and a proton, but the function of this reaction in algae is still poorly understood. Most of the cultures produced high concentrations of intracellular DMSP, which was constant over the growth cycle and ranged from 157 to 242 mM, except for 1516 which had 50 mM DMSP cell-1. Extracts of all strains produced DMS from exogenous DMSP in vitro. DMSP lyases appeared constitutive, but enzyme activity and behaviour varied greatly among strains, and did not correlate with intracellular DMSP concentration. Strains 373 and 379 showed high DMSP lyase activities (12.5 and 6.1 fmol DMS cell-1 min-1, respectively), whereas DMS production was more than 100-fold lower in 370, 374, 1516 and L. This difference was intrinsic and the general pattern of high- and low-activity strains remained true over more than a 1 yr cultivation period. The cleavage reaction was optimal at pH 6 in the strains with high lyase activity and pH 5 was optimal for 374, 1516 and L. Strain 370 showed increasing activity with increasing pH. Experiments with additions of 0.125 to 2 M NaCl indicated halotolerant DMSP lyases in 373, 379 and 374. However, the halophilic DMSP lyases in 370 and L required 1 M NaCl addition for optimal DMSP cleavage, and 1516 showed optimal activity at 2 M NaCl. These results suggest that there are several structurally different DMSP lyase isozymes within E. huxleyi. However, it cannot be ruled out that varying concentrations of DMSP lyase per cell may have contributed to the differences in enzyme activity per cell. Comparison with other algal taxa indicates several families of DMSP lyases, hinting at possibly different cellular locations and functions, and varying DMS production under natural conditions.
Circannual Cycle of Seawater Adaptability in Oncorhynchus nerka: Genetic Differences between Sympatric Sockeye Salmon and Kokanee

Anadromous sockeye salmon and nonanadromous kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawn sympatrically in locations across British Columbia, yet remain genetically distinct. To investigate the possibility that these differences are maintained by selection against hybrids of the two forms owing to differences in seawater adaptability, we raised pure and reciprocal crosses of Shuswap River sockeye and kokanee in controlled hatchery conditions and tested their seawater adaptabilities nine times over 2 yr. Sockeye, kokanee, and reciprocal hybrids all showed a seasonal cycle in their seawater adaptability, which was lowest in midwinter and highest in the spring. However, clear differences were evident among cross-types in the spring of their second year. Sockeye were the first to show increased seawater adaptabilities, hybrid groups next, and kokanee last. The observed differences could not be attributed to tank effects, or to differences in size, sex, or state of maturity.
Fatty Acid Digestibility in Lactating Cows Fed Increasing Amounts of Protected Vegetable Oil, Fish Oil or Saturated Fat

Abstract Fatty acid digestion was studied in three dairy cows cannulated in the rumen, duodenum and ileum. Cows were fed encapsulated fat sources (vegetable oil, saturated fat and fish oil). A preperiod diet was fed with no added fat. In a graeco-latin design nine diets comprising three levels of each of the three fat sources were fed. The preperiod diet contained 230 g fatty acids (FA), whereas the three other fats were fed at about 550, 850 and 1150 g FA/day. The feed-ileum true digestibility of total FA was 95, 47 and 86% for vegetable, saturated and fish fat, respectively. The true digestibility of FA was for all fat sources independent of fat level. The FA digestibility of C16:0 was higher than that of C18:0. The experiment supports the theory that unsaturated FA has a synergistic effect on the digestibility of saturated FA. Bile acid secretion was estimated to be 282–550 g/day, with the lowest secretion for fish fat diets. Secretion was independent of the amount of fat fed.
The Structural Determination of the Agaroid Polysaccharides from Four New Zealand Algae in the Order Ceramiales by Means of 13CNMR Spectroscopy

The structures of agaroid polysaccharides from four New Zealand seaweeds were determined primarily by means of CNMR Spectroscopy. The following substitutions occurred at the primary hydroxyls of the 3linked residues: Euptilota formosissima, total substitution by methyl ether; Streblocladia glomerulata, total substitution by sulfate ester; Polysiphonia strictissima, mainly substitution by sulfate ester; Polysiphonia abscissoides, 70% substitution by sulfate ester, approximately 11% by methyl ether. The natural polymers of Euptilota formosissima, Streblocladia glomerulata, and Polysiphonia abscissoides also contained L-galactosyl6-sulfate residues at between 10-20% levels that were converted to 3,6-ahydrogalactosyl residues by alkali treatment, while that from Polysiphonia strictissima appeared to contain 4-linked-L-galactosyl residues, and also xylosyl residues at levels detectable by NMR Spectroscopy.
Sex ratios and hermaphroditism in nemipterid fish from northern Australia

Of 13 nemipterid species from coastal waters around northern Australia, nine show size-related differences in sex ratio with males predominating at larger sizes. Histological examination of gonads shows that in Scolopsis monogramma S. taeniopterus and S. bilineatus this size-related skew in sex ratio results from protogynous hermaphroditism and not from sexually differentiated growth rates as has been reported for other nemipterid species. There is also evidence that, in two other species, Nemipterus peronii and Pentapodus porosus, hermaphroditism may occur. Although the mechanism by which the gonads are transformed in S monogramma and S. taeniopterus differ markedly, there is evidence to suggest that in both species sex change is a post spawning event, successful initiation of which may require females to have achieved an advanced stage of vitellogenisis.
Follicular thyroid carcinoma: Chromosome analysis of 19 cases

Short‐term cultures of 19 follicular thyroid carcinomas were examined cytogenetically. Clonal chromosomal changes were detected in 12 tumors. Two follicular carcinomas had only numerical alterations: one with a hyperdiploid karyotype with trisomies/polysomies of chromosomes 7 and 12, similar to the karyotypes previously identified in a sub‐group of benign thyroid lesions, and the other with monosomy 20. In the remaining ten cases several structural chromosome anomalies were found. Loss of the short arm of chromosome 3 was observed in one tumor. In two widely invasive and metastasizing follicular carcinomas there was a t(7;8)(p15;q24) as the sole abnormality in one case and a der(8)t(7;8)(p15;q24) together with other cytogenetic alterations in the other case. This finding suggests that t(7;8)(p15;q24) may be related to an aggressive behavior of follicular thyroid carcinomas. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 21:250–255, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Halocins: salt-dependent bacteriocins produced by extremely halophilic rods

Strains of halophilic rods, presumably halobacteria, produce substances that inhibit the growth of other halobacteria but not halococci or moderate halophiles. The spectrum of action of these substances, called "halocins," was determined on 39 halobacteria or presumed halobacteria. The properties of halocin H4, produced by strain R-4, were studied using Halobacterium halobium as an indicator organism. Halocin H4 is adsorbed by the indicator organism and causes both death and lysis. It is a high molecular weight substance(s), destroyed by heat or exposure to low salt concentrations or treatment with a protease. Experiments are presented to show that it is not a virus.
Diel changes in bacterial biomass and growth rates in coastal environments, determined by means of thymidine incorporation into DNA, frequency of dividing cells (FDC), and microautoradiography

During 4 diel cycles in a Danish coastal environment, bacterial growth rates were estimated by several methods. 3H-thyn~idine incorporat~on ~ n t o DNA gave results of the same order of magnitude as data obtained from frequency of dividing cells (FDC). In contrast to minor die1 changes in cell numbers and bacterial secondary production, marked diel changes were observed in the percentage of active bacteria determined from microautoradiography using 3H-thymidine. Between 20 and 80 % of the bacteria were active. Increases in percent activity were frequently but not always found in the morning. Attempts to estimate specific activity of thymidine nucleotide pools by isotope dilution procedure suggested that there was less intracellular dilution than expected from literature data; however, it seemed to be an underestimate and results were often difficult to evaluate. Results from biomass changes sometimes revealed appreciably higher production rates than those obtained from thymidine incorporation, whether or not the thymidine data were separately adjusted for presumed isotope dilution. Based on the assumption that all dividing bacteria were active, bacterial biomass and FDC were corrected according to the percent active bacteria determined from autoradiography. Corrected bacter~al production rates were on average 28 % (range 4 to 169 %) higher than those obtained from standard FDC procedure.
Effect of Three Bycatch Reduction Devices on Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin Capture and Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Harvest in Delaware Bay

Abstract In recent years, reduction of the taking of nontarget species in fisheries worldwide has received considerable attention. Bycatch mortality in pot fisheries has led to severe declines in local populations of the diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin along the U.S. East Coast. We conducted a 4-year study between 1997 and 2000 to investigate the impact of four bycatch reduction devices (BRDs), wire rectangular devices fitted into the entrance of crab traps, on diamondback terrapin bycatch mortality as well as its effect on the harvest of blue crabs Callinectes sapidus in the Delaware River estuary. A total of 52 sets consisting of five replicate blue crab pots for each BRD treatment (5.0 × 10.0, 5.0 × 12.0, 4.5 × 12.0, and 3.8 × 12.0 cm) and controls were deployed at random in 10 tidal tributaries and inland bays within the Delaware estuary. During this study 372 diamondback terrapins and 3,522 legal-size blue crabs were caught. The 5-cm × 12-cm BRD was the only treatment for which the reduction.
SOURCES OF CARBON FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF PROTEIN AMINO ACIDS IN ATTACHED PHOTOSYNTHESIZING WHEAT LEAVES

Attached, rapidly growing wheat leaves were allowed to photoassimilate C14O2 and C12O2 alternately. Samples of leaves were collected after each period of photosynthesis and were analyzed for amounts and total activities of soluble sugars and amino acids, and protein amino acids. The leaves were also analyzed for protein nitrogen and amounts and total activities of respired carbon. Samples of roots were also collected and the amounts, total activities, and specific activities of their soluble compounds were determined. It was possible to calculate from these data the proportions of carbon entering some protein amino acids which came either from soluble amino acid pools or by a direct route from photosynthate, bypassing the soluble pools. More than half of the carbon entering protein-bound serine and glycine was derived from newly assimilated CO2, while protein glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alanine derived more of their carbon from the soluble amino acid pools. Analysis of the data from roots indicated .