Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Simple Rapid Method To Estimate Hyaluronic Acid Concentrations in Rooster Comb and Wattle Using Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis

A simple rapid method of quantitative analysis of hyaluronic acid (HA) from comb and wattle tissues is described. The technique involves'short-time acetone drying and proteolysis of tissues, cellulose acetate electrophoresis of the digests without deproteinization, and measurement of absorbance of the solution of Alcian Blue extracted from the HA band. With this method, the determination of HA, which may take 1 week or longer with other methods, could be made within a day
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF SUCCESSIONAL VASCULAR PLANT COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL NEW YORK

Succession of vascular plant communities was studied on fields in central New York abandoned for the previous 4 to 36 yr. Changes within fields as they aged were con- sistent with the overall pattern of change between fields. Over the period covered, Phleum pratense was replaced successively as the major species by Solidago altissima, Picris hieraci- oides, and Cornus racemosa. Succession was accompanied by increased biological diversity, reduced dominance, decreased energy flow per unit biomass, and increased stability to a pulse perturbation of inorganic nutrients. Although soil phosphorus is an important factor influenc- ing community function on the fields studied, the fertilization experiment indicated a fundamental reorganization of community relationships during succession which reduces community responsiveness to fluctuations in soil nutrients. Increased diversity resulted from the partitioning of constant density and net productivity among increasing numbers of species. Accompanying the increase in diversity was decreasing seasonal synchrony of resource demands among the constituent species pool. Although successional stages could be arbitrarily recog- nized by the taxonomic identification and growth forms of dominant species, there was a gradual and continuous change in structural and functional properties of the plant community, and no objectively definable stages could be delimited. These studies indicate that a failure to determine productivities of individual species may seriously distort the evaluation of com- munity properties.
Nested species-area curves and stochastic sampling: a new theory

We have discovered a severe problem with the current theory of species-area curves (SPARs). This theory claims that we should expect SPARs with z-values of about 0.26. However, that is wrong. The correct prediction turns out to be approximately 0.77. To make this prediction, we used a stochastic sampling scheme, and constructed species-area curves from a lognormal abundance distribution, exactly as previous theory meant to do. We arrived at our prediction using two independent methods: we performed computer simulations of the scheme and we derived its analytical equation. SPARs that result from the simulations are the same as those from the equation, validating the logic of our analysis. We explain what went awry with the previous theory. However, although logically accurate, the new theory has an empirical problem: real SPARs do not have z-values near 0.77. Rather, they tend to lie in the interval 0.1-0.2. To obtain these, we added an assumption to the lognormal abundance distribution. We assumed that range size and abundance are positively correlated. This new assumption is qualitatively similar to Hanski's (1982; Oikos 38: 210-221) pattern. Finally, we derive a simple relation connecting average point diversity, average range size and species diversity for a province.
A Mechanical Method of Determining Seed-Hardness in Pomegranate

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) arils, which are the seeds with an outer fleshy pulp, are consumed; hence, consumers desire soft seeds. Accurate determination of the hardness of the pomegranate seeds would be of interest for commercial and research purposes. A mechanical system was used to measure the force needed to rupture the seeds of pomegranate. Fruits of nine pomegranate genotypes, known to differ in seed hardness, were harvested at different developmental stages, starting from 20 days after flowering (full bloom; DAF) to maturity stage (180 DAF). Hardness of seeds was measured mechanically. Mechanical force needed to rupture the seed was significantly different for soft-seeded and hard-seeded genotypes. At 20 and 40 DAF, seeds of all genotypes were soft and needed less than 150 N (Newton) force for rupturing them. While seeds of hard-seeded genotypes continued to harden, those of soft-seeded genotypes did not show much change in hardness (softness) until maturity. In the final fruit growth stage, soft-seeded genotypes required less than 150 N force to rupture, whereas hard-seeded ones needed more than 440 N. Correlation coefficients for mechanical force needed for seed rupture vs. the woody portion index, mechanical force vs. aril dry weight were 0.967 and 0.934, respectively. Aril length, seed length, and aril fresh weight were the characters that showed high negative correlations (−0.775, −0.759, and −0.749, respectively) with force needed to rupture seed. Cluster analysis based on rupture force at maturity stage categorized the genotypes into four distinct groups as follows: soft seeded (80–150 N), semi-soft seeded (200–220 N), semi-hard seeded (300–420 N), and hard seeded (450–630 N). The mechanical method was found to be an accurate quantitative assay for categorizing pomegranate genotypes for determining seed hardness for commercial and research purposes.
The Impact of Proteomic Advances on Bacterial Gene Annotation

Over the past decade the large use of genomic approaches has resulted in the impressive generation of complete genomic sequences for over 800 bacterial species. However, the use of different bioinformatic approaches to determine the presence of a gene or open reading frame (ORF) in those genomes cause divergent gene annotations, even for data generated from the same genomic sequences. The use of a correct dataset for protein identification is a key step in many fields as phylogenetics, protein expression experiments, and has an impact on the identification capacity of a proteomic workflow. In this review, we describe successful attempts performed by proteomic groups to improve gene annotation in bacteria using different bioinformatic and mass spectrometry technologies. The review emphasizes the most recent ad- vances in high resolution MS technology, which has increased the sequence coverage and peptide identification reliability by several fold. The capacity to perform deeper and more complete catalogations allows correction of several known genes, plus the discovery of protein products of regions of the genome not yet predicted to be coding areas. Recent results from our group show how such technology can be used as a guide to correct mistakes in transcriptional starting site (TSS) choices of proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, as well as to identify N-terminal peptides resulting from signal peptidase cleavages.
Legume protein precipitable phenolic and nutrient concentration responses to defoliation and ontogeny

A study was conducted to determine how total phenolic (TP), protein precipitable phenolic (PPP), C, and N concentrations, and amount of protein bound (PB) by PPP in leaves of Desmodium paniculatum (panicled tick-clover; PTC) and Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza; SL) were affected by simulated herbivory and plant ontogeny. All PTC treatments resulted in a decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in TP, PPP, C, and N concentrations and PB between vegetative and seed set stages. All SL treatments resulted in increased (P ≤ 0.05) or stable TP and PPP concentrations from vegetative stage to seed set. The amount of PB was greatest (P ≤ 0.05) in SL plants submitted to 25% defoliation, and flowering and seed set stages had greater (P ≤ 0.05) PB than the vegetative stage. Ontogenesis and defoliation did not (P > 0.05) affect SL N and C concentrations. The protein binding characteristics of PPP from PTC, but not that of SL, appear to be altered in response to stress. Results might correspond with seed dispersal strategies of the two species, with PTC's epizoochory making increased palatability at seed set beneficial.
Reptile Responses to Lantana Management in a Wet Sclerophyll Forest, Australia

Abstract Lantana (Lantana camara L., Verbenaceae) is an invasive species of global interest that threatens more than 300 Australian plant and animal species of conservation significance. Reptiles may be at high risk due to their ground-dwelling habit and reliance on microhabitat structure. We examined the effects of lantana, and its management, on reptile assemblages in a wet sclerophyll forest in southeast Queensland, Australia. We compared reptile assemblages across four treatments: (i) manual clearing and herbicide application; (ii) herbicide application followed by prescribed burn; (iii) untreated lantana thickets; and (iv) wet sclerophyll forest. Plots treated with herbicide and then burned were structurally more diverse than manually cleared sites and supported a greater diversity of reptiles. No species occurred exclusively in untreated lantana habitats; however, these plots supported relatively high abundances of rare species, particularly Challenger Skinks (Saproscincus rosei). Lantana also had a higher species richness compared to manually cleared and sclerophyll forest. The use of lantana as habitat by a number of species highlights the need to consider the importance of these habitats for fauna prior to implementing management options. Herbicide application followed by prescribed burning appears to be an ideal approach to manage lantana due to the increased heterogeneity and regrowth of native vegetation, an option which supported more diverse reptile communities. Our results caution against the whole scale clearing of lantana from invaded areas, as these habitats continue to support reptile communities including threatened species. Nevertheless, by treating lantana with herbicide and prescribed fire, reptile community structure might be maintained.
PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AMOUNTS OF LEAD AND ZINC IN PLANTS AND SOIL ON METALLIFEROUS WASTES

SUMMARY The lead and zinc contents of shoot material of Agrostis tennis, Festuca ovina and Minuartia verna and of the soil in which they were growing at an abandoned lead-mining area on Grassington Moor, Yorkshire, England were determined. The relationship between the zinc contents of shoot material and soil was broadly linear. There was little increase, however, in the lead content of the shoot material over the range 500-20000 μg g−1 lead in the soil. Above this value the lead content of the shoot material increased markedly. There were large differences between samples in the metal contents of the shoot material collected from soils having the same metal contents. Possible reasons for this variation are discussed and specific suggestions for future comparative work are made.
Phagocytic Effects of β-Glucans from the Mushroom Coriolus versicolor are Related to Dectin-1, NOS, TNF-α Signaling in Macrophages

The mushroom Coriolus versicolor contains biologically active polysaccharides, most of which belong to the β-glucan group. Diverse physicochemical properties, due to different sources and isolated types of β-glucans, can induce distinct biological activities. We investigated the effects of β-glucans from C. versicolor on phagocytic activity, nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α production, and signaling of dectin-1, a well-known β-glucan receptor, in macrophages. β-Glucans increased phagocytic activity and TNF-α and NO-iNOS/eNOS production. Laminarin, a specifi c inhibitor of dectin-1, showed strong inhibitory effects on phagocytosis and subsequent TNF-α, iNOS, and eNOS production increased by β-glucans, indicating that β-glucans reacts with dectin-1 receptors. We examined whether the aforementioned cytokines were involved in the signaling pathway from the dectin-1 receptor to phagocytosis, and found that the inhibition of iNOS, eNOS, and TNF-α receptors signifi cantly decreased β-glucan-induced phagocytosis. In conclusion, our study showed that dectin-1 signaling, triggered by β-glucans, subsequently elicited TNF-α and NO-iNOS/eNOS production, and that these molecules seem to act as secondary molecules that cause eventual phagocytosis by macrophages. These fi ndings suggest that C. versicolor could be used as a nutritional medicine that may be useful in the treatment of infectious disease.
Single spore infections with sunflower downy mildew.

A technique was developed to select vital zoospores of Plasmopara haistedii after zoosporogenesis for the infection of sunflower leaf disks. Successful infections were performed with samples containing several zoospores originated from a single sporangium as well as with samples containing only one single zoospore. Infections were indicated by spontaneous sporulation at the surface of inoculated sunflower leaf discs and were secured by transfer to whole seedlings. Using this method it was possible to generate unithallic infections and genetically homogenous strains of sunflower downy mildew. Zusammenfassung Es wurde ein Verfahren zur selektiven Gewinnung einzelner, frisch geschltupfter Zoosporen von Plasmopara halstedii fur die Infektion von Blattscheiben der Sonnenblume entwickelt. Erfolgreiche Infektionen wurden einerseits mit Proben erhalten, die mehrere, gemeinsam entstandene Zoosporen aus einem einzelnen Sporangium enthielten, als auch mit solchen, in denen sich nur eine einzige Zoospore befand. Die Infektionen zeigten sich durch spontane Sporulation an der Oberflache inokulierter Blattscheiben und wurden danach auf Sonnenblumenkeimlinge ubertragen. Die Methode erlaubt die Erzeugung unithallischer Infektionen und die Herstellung genetisch einheitlicher Stamme und von Plasmopara halstedii.
Effect of Certain Micronutrients on Some Agronomic Characters, Chemical Constituents and Alternaria Leaf Spot Disease of Faba Bean

To study the effects of foliar application with micronutrients on yield and yield components of faba bean (c.v. Misr 1), an experimental research was conducted in complete randomized block design by three replications during the two growing seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 in Etay El-Baroud Agricultural Research Station, El-Behera Governorate. Results shwoed that , spraying with Fe+Zn+Mn increased plant height, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, number of seeds/plant, 100 seed weight and seed yield /faddan in the combined data. Also, chemical constituent, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, reducing sugars and the non reducing sugars significantly increased in all treatments spray with micronutrients compared with non-treated (control). Meanwhile, Altermaria leaf spot incidence on treated plants significantly decreased 18.2% - 60.5% compared with non-treated control plants.
The composition and distribution of metal clusters in the MoFe protein from a nifZ deletion strain (DJ 194) of Azotobacter vinelandii

Through the anaerobic chromatography on the columns of DEAE 52, Q-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200, a nitrogenase MoFe protein (ΔnifZ Av1) was obtained from a nifZ deleted mutant of Azotobacter vinelandii (stain DJ194). The results of Western blotting after anoxic native electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE showed that ΔnifZ Av1 was similar to wild type MoFe protein (OP Av1) at the electrophoretic mobility, molecular weight and subunit composition. Furthermore, ΔnifZ Av1 was also similar to OP Av1 at the molybdenum content, EPR signal (g ≈ 4.3, 3.65 and 2.01), and the molar extinction coefficient (Δε) of circular dichroism (CD) at 660 nm region. All of these indicated that, besides having the same α2β2 composition as OP Av1, the ΔnifZ Av1 also contained equal amount of reductive FeMoco in the spin state of S=3/2 to OP Av1. However, the iron content and substrate (C2H2, H+ and N2)-reduction activity of ΔnifZ Av1 were 74% and 46%–50% of those of OP Av1, respectively. Furthermore, the Δε at around 450 nm, which reflects P-cluster in Av1, was obviously lower than that of OP Av1. It suggested that the difference between ΔnifZ Av1 and OP Av1 resulted from P-cluster rather than FeMoco, and from the half number of P-cluster in ΔnifZ Av1, but the composition or redox state of P-cluster in ΔnifZ Av1 were not changed. Thus it could propose that ΔnifZ Av1 is composed of two different αβ subunit pairs. One is a FeMoco- and P-cluster-containing pair, and the other is a P-cluster-deficient but FeMoco-containing pair. Since the deletion of nifZ gene leads to the deficiency of only one of two P-clusters in a α2β2 tetramer, the assembly of P-cluster may not simply depend on one gene product, and so a possible mechanism of NifZ is supposed here.
Adaptation and Phylogeny as Determinants of Egg Size in Echinoderms from the Two Sides of the Isthmus of Panama

Theoretical models and empirical observations have attempted to determine selective pressures that influence the egg size of marine invertebrates. Both approaches generally assume that egg size is free to evolve toward an evolutionarily stable point without any constraints imposed by phylogeny. The size of eggs in 22 species of echinoids and 2 species of asteroids from the two sides of the Isthmus of Panama was determined in an effort to assess the rate at which differences between species can accumulate. Of these 24 species, 14 belong to pairs of geminate species, presumed to have been divided by the rise of the isthmus 3.1-3.5 million years ago. Comparisons between egg size in related species evolving in separate environments for the same period of time, and in related and unrelated species living in the same environment, were used to evaluate the relative importance of adaptation and phylogeny in determining the egg size of a species. In 12 of 13 comparisons, the mean egg size of each species was significantly different from that of all other species of the same genus, whether allopatric or sympatric. In 6 of 7 pairs, the Pacific member had eggs that were smaller than those of the Atlantic one, a pattern attributed to adaptation to the higher levels of primary productivity in the eastern Pacific. Therefore, shifts in mean egg size are possible in three million years of independent evolution. However, there was no egg size characteristic for each ocean, and (except for the sand dollar Clypeaster, in which one species has evolved a facultatively planktotrophic larva) the differences between congeneric species were small compared with the differences between members of different genera. Thus, though adaptation to different environments can push egg size in a particular direction, differences in the basic biology of genera, accumulated over the course of their phylogenetic history, either constrain the possible sizes to be attained by each genus or cause selective regimes within the same environment to be dissimilar.
Recruitment Characteristics of the White Cypress Pine (Callitris Glaucophylla) in Arid South Australia.

Callitris glaucophylla is a long lived tree which has had limited spasmodic recruitment in the South Australian arid zone in recent years. Domestic stock and rabbit grazing have been implicated as major factors limiting its regeneration. Factors influencing the recruitment and death of C. glaucophylla in the Roxby Downs region were investigated. The survivorship of C. glaucophylla seedlings, which germinated following flooding rains in March 1989, was monitored at three rabbit densities, with and without the protection of tree guards. Despite above average rainfall in 1989, all the monitored seedlings succumbed to desiccation within 18 months of germination. Grazing by rabbits had no impact upon regeneration. In an analogous study, the height distributions of young established C. glaucophylla groves were measured and used to assign groves to cohorts representing past recruitment events. Rainfall history was compared with the estimated age of C. glaucophylla stands. Successful regeneration of C. glaucophylla in the Roxby Downs region was dependent on uncommon prolonged periods of above average rainfall. Most successful C. glaucophylla recruitment occurred in distinct groves on deep sand.
Les produits de l'anacardier : caractéristiques, voies de valorisation et marchés

Introduction. Originaire du Bresil, l'anacardier est largement present dans la zone intertropicale. Une synthese sur les interets economiques et les differentes voies de valorisations des produits de cet arbre a ete effectuee. L'anacardier. De part sa resistance, notamment aux periodes de secheresse, l'espece Anacardium occidentale (anacardiacee) est adaptee a de nombreuses zones tropicales. Malgre sa tolerance aux attaques parasitaires, elle peut etre sensible a certains insectes et attaques fongiques comme l'oidium. Les rendements moyens obtenus pour la noix sont d'environ 600 kg × ha-1 × an-1 ; ils sont susceptibles d'etre ameliores grâce a la selection varietale. La noix de cajou. Elle est le fruit de l'anacardier au sens botanique du terme. L'amande est riche en lipides et contient environ 20 % de proteines. En 1999, les principaux producteurs mondiaux de noix de cajou ont ete l'Inde, le Nigeria, le Bresil et la Tanzanie, qui ont produit chacun plus de 100 000 t × an-1 . Apres concassage de la coque et emondage, ce produit a forte valeur ajoutee est le plus souvent exporte. La pomme de cajou. Elle correspond au pedoncule hypertrophie de la noix qui possede a maturite une chair juteuse et sucree. Ses principales caracteristiques sont son astringence et sa teneur elevee en vitamine C (200-300 mg × 100 g-1 ). La pomme de cajou est assez peu valorisee sauf en Inde et au Bresil, notamment sous forme de jus de fruit. Autres productions. Le baume de cajou est une production secondaire assez originale : extrait des coques de la noix, ce liquide corrosif, riche en composes phenoliques, est utilise dans l'industrie chimique. Conclusion. La culture de l'anacardier, avec sa diversite de produits et notamment avec la noix qui est bien integree aux marches internationaux, semble pouvoir constituer une source interessante de revenus pour les zones tropicales seches. Neanmoins, la pomme meriterait d'etre mieux valorisee car elle reste encore un sous-produit de l'industrie de la noix de cajou.
An unusual ecology among whiptails: the case of Cnemidophorus lacertoides from a restinga habitat in southern Brazil

We studied the ecology of Cnemidophorus lacertoides at a restinga habitat in southern Brazil. Peak activity occurred between 12.00 and 15.00. The mean body temperature of active lizards (35.0 ± 2.9°C) was relatively low compared with other whiptails and was significantly influenced by environmental temperatures. Mean snout–vent length and mean body mass of individuals were 56.5 mm and 4.4 g, respectively. Male and female C. lacertoides were not significantly different in body size. Cnemidophorus lacertoides consumed 12 types of prey, with ants and spiders being the most important items. Unexpectedly, lizards did not consume termites, which tend to be very important items in the diets of most whiptails. We conclude that the population of Cnemidophorus lacertoides we studied deviates from the typical whiptail ecology because many of its ecological features differ from those of most other cnemidophorines of similar size.