Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PROTECTIVE EFFECT ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Boesenbergia pandurata (ROXB.) Schlecht. AGAINST UVB-INDUCED DNA DAMAGES IN BALB/C MICE

Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schlecht. contains bioactive compounds that have a number healthy effect including anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic activity. This research was carried out to examine the protective effect of B. pandurata extract against expression of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) as marker of UVB-induced DNA damage in Balb/c mice. Dried powder of B. pandurata rhizomes was extracted by maceration method using 96% ethanol. The extract was quantified with pinostrobin as active marker using TLC scanner. Ethanolic extract of B. pandurata (EEBP) was given orally at 14 days before UV exposure with a variety doses, 0 (vehicle), 20, 40 and 60mg/kgBW/day and continuing until termination of the experiment. Following the UVB irradiation (1.4J/m 2 ), mice were sacrificed at different time points (2, 24, 48, and 72h after UVB exposure). The back skin samples were collected to analyze CPDs expression by immunohistochemical method. The result showed that EEBP (contained 5% pinostrobin) dose was 40 and 60mg/kgBW/day had protective activity against UV-induced DNA damage as indicated by the decrease of CPDs expression. Key words: Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schlecht. , UVB, DNA damage, CPDs.
Effects of nutrition on somatic growth and reproductive strategy of the sea urchin Pseudechinus huttoni

Abstract This study aimed to understand how resource allocation to somatic and gonadal tissues of the sea urchin Pseudechinus huttoni was influenced by nutritional status using several methods. Urchins in the laboratory were fed kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) four days a week as the low-quality diet group, or a mixture of kelp and cockle flesh (Austrovenus stutchburyi) once a week, as the high-quality diet group. The experiment lasted for one year. The gonad, gut, lantern, test, lantern muscle indices and gametogenic stage were measured at 3 weeks and 6 and 12 months after the start of the experiment. A high-quality diet led to higher gonad (only in females) and gut indices but lower lantern, lantern muscles and test indices. Females allocated a higher percentage of energy to the gonad when fed a high-quality diet but a higher percentage of energy to the test when fed a low-quality diet. Dietary condition had no influence on gametogenic stages; however, the urchins fed a high-quality diet had larger oocytes. The gonadal growth appears not to have priority over somatic growth in P. huttoni and more energy resources are allocated to the test when food is limited.
The relationship between community biomass and evenness: what does community theory predict, and can these predictions be tested?

Several theories of community structure make predictions of how the processes that control species diversity should change along a gradient of decreasing stress and therefore, apart from disturbance effects, along a gradient of increasing biomass. These include the theories of 'Small species pool', 'Higher extinction rate', 'Small populations', 'Reduced patchiness' and 'Competitive dominance'. This body of theory has previously been applied to species richness, giving the Humped-back model. It has not previously been applied to evenness. We do this, and show that the same theory predicts a monotonic decrease in evenness as stress decreases and biomass increases. We test this prediction, by sampling 10 distinct vegetation types in a temperate oceanic area of New Zealand. selected to cover the widest range of ecological conditions in the region. In replicate quadrats, the photosynthetic biomass of all species was determined Evenness was calculated by three recently recommended indices. Evenness was lower in sites with higher biomass, in superficial conformity with theory. However, a permutation test showed that this relation persisted when the biomass values were allocated to sites and species at random. This artefact is shown to be related to the approximately geometric distribution of abundances in most plant communities. There is no tendency in the observed data for evenness to decrease more strongly than expected under this null model. Our results therefore fail to support the 'Higher extinction rate', 'Small populations'. 'Reduced patchiness' and 'Cumulative competition' theoires on which the prediction was based.
Community structure of bacteria and fungi responsible for rice straw decomposition in a paddy field estimated by PCR-RFLP analysis

Abstract Rice straw including leaf sheaths and blades put in nylon mesh bags was placed in the plow layer of a Japanese paddy field after harvest under upland conditions and after transplanting of rice seedlings under flooded conditions. In addition, rice straw that was decomposed under the upland conditions during the off-crop season in winter was placed again in soil at the time of transplanting. The materials were collected periodically to analyze the community structure of the bacteria and fungi responsible for rice straw decomposition by PCR-RFLP analysis. The PCR products with 27f and 1492r primers designed for bacterial 16S rDNA and with EF3 and EF4 primers designed for fungal 18S rDNA were digested with four restriction endonucleases (Hinf I, Sau3A I, Hae III, EeoR I). Bacterial communities in the decomposing rice straw were different from each other between upland and flooded conditions, between leaf sheaths and blades, and between straw samples with and without decomposition under upland conditions during the off-crop season. Fungal communities in the decomposing rice straw were also different between the leaf sheaths and blades under upland soil conditions. Score plots of bacterial and fungal communities in the principal component analysis were separated from the plot of the straw materials along with the duration of the placement, indicating the succession of bacterial and fungal communities in decomposing rice straw with time.
Effects of white phosphorus on mallard reproduction

Extensive waterfowl mortality involving thousands of ducks, geese, and swans has occurred annually at Eagle River Flats, Alaska, USA, since at least 1982. The primary agent for this mortality has been identified as white phosphorus. Although acute and subacute lethality have been described, sublethal effects are less well known. This study reports on the effects of white phosphorus on reproductive function in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in captivity. Fertility, hatching success, teratogenicity, and egg laying frequency were examined in 70 adult female mallards who received up to seven daily doses of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg of white phosphorus. Measurements of fertility and hatchability were reduced by the white phosphorus. Teratogenic effects were observed in embryos from hens dosed at all treatment levels. Egg laying frequency was reduced even at the lowest treatment level; treated hens required a greater number of days to lay a clutch of 12 eggs than control hens. After two doses at 2.0 mg/kg, all females stopped laying completely for a minimum of 10 d, and laying frequency was depressed for at least 45 d. Fertility of 10 adult male mallards dosed with 1.0 mg/kg of white phosphorus did not differ from 10 controls, but plasma testosterone levels were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the treated males 1 d after dosing ended. These results provide evidence that productivity of free‐ranging mallards may be impaired if they are exposed to white phosphorus at typical field levels.
Variation in Clutch Size and Ovum Size of the Snubnose Darter, Etheostoma simoterum (Cope), from Two Populations in Tennessee

Abstract I studied variation in clutch size and ovum size of the snubnose darter Etheostoma simoterum from three sites in Bluewater Creek in southern Tennessee which I compared to published data for a population from Brush Creek in northern Tennessee. Females 29–44 mm standard length (SL) from Bluewater Creek (n = 54) produced 25–96 (x̄ = 63) eggs per clutch. SL-adjusted clutch sizes varied among the localities within Bluewater Creek with the largest mean clutch size being 1.14 times greater than the smallest. Mean diameter of unovulated ripe eggs in individual females ranged from 1.15–1.34 mm (x̄ = 1.24 mm diam) and mean egg mass ranged from 251–380 (x̄ = 312) μg. Both metrics showed significant correlations with SL. Females from Brush Creek produced significantly larger SL-adjusted clutches than females from Bluewater Creek, but egg diameters did not differ significantly between populations. Comparison of the two populations shows interesting geographic variation in clutch size that may result from racial or ecotypic differences. An alternative explanation is that food availability caused proximal nongenetic variation in clutch size.
Triplophysa pseudostenura, a new nemacheiline loach (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) from the Yalong River of China

A new species of nemacheiline loach, Triplophysa pseudostenura, is described from the Yalong River, a tributary of the upper Yangtze River drainage in China. Previous collectors misidentified the species as T. stenura. Triplophysa pseudostenura can be separated from T. stenura and other valid species of Triplophysa by the following combination of characters: body smooth and without scales; head tapering; lips thin and smooth; trunk and caudal peduncle slender, laterally compressed; depth of caudal peduncle tapering posteroventrally approaching caudal fin; posterior chamber of gas bladder reduced or absent; intestine short, forming a zigzag loop posterior to bottom of 'U'-shaped stomach; insertion of pelvic fins anterior to dorsal- fin origin; caudal fin deeply concave.
Egg Size and Reproductive Fitness

Abstract IT HAS been known for a long time that very large and very small eggs do not hatch as well as eggs of intermediate size (Dunn, 1922; Halbersleben and Mussehl, 1922). The results secured by Dunn (1922) suggested to him that hatchability is a function of the deviation of egg weight from the mean egg weight characteristic of the individual laying bird rather than from the mean of the population. A later study by Funk (1934) on extensive material involving three different breeds demonstrated rather conclusively that the mean weight of egg of the individual bird is also correlated in a non-linear fashion with her hatching power. Birds with an average mean egg size thus were found to produce better hatching eggs than those laid by birds at the extremes of the range of egg weights. Numerous studies on different populations and under different conditions (the most extensive summary of .
Chemical Composition of Date-Pits and Its Potential for Developing Value-Added Product - a Review

Abstract Moisture, protein, oil and carbohydrate contents of date-pits varied from 3.1-12.5, 2.3-6.9, 5.0-12.5 and 70.9-86.9 g/100 g date-pits, respectively. BET-monolayer (i.e. strongly bound) moisture content, solids-melting peak (at moisture: 6.7 g/100 g date-pits), and melting point of oil were 4.3 g/100 g dry-solids, 106oC, and 1.8oC, respectively. The major fatty acids were lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids and polyphenol content varied from 21.0-62.0 mg/g date-pits depending on the varieties, types of solvent and temperature used for extraction. Date-pits showed effectives in animal and poultry feeds and it could be used as value added products, such as: dietary fibres, functional polysaccharides, caffeine-free drinks (similar to coffee), oil (biofuel or cooking oil), and other functional or medicinal products. Date-pits powder and activated carbon from date–pits showed effective in purifying water by removing different types of pollutants, such as heavy metals, boron, dyes, phenolic compounds, and pesticides. Date-pits also showed effective to be used as ingredient for composed, biomass, and fermentation processes.
Carcass Traits and Fatty Acid Composition of Subcutaneous, Intramuscular and Liver Fat from Iberian Pigs Fed in Confinement only with Acorns or a Formulated Diet

Twenty castrated male Iberian pigs were divided into two groups of 10 pigs each according to the experimental diet received daily during the fattening period in confinement (acorn fed ad libitum or 4 kg of a formulated diet rich in C18:1 n—9). Dietary effects on performance, carcass characteristics and backfat, intramuscular, and liver fatty acid composition were assessed. Pigs fed only with acorns ate less, leading to a lower growth performance and carcass quality than pigs fed the formulated diet. Pigs fed acorns had lower C16:0 proportions in outer, inner, and subinner subcutaneous backfat layers. The C18:1 n—9 proportions in the inner and subinner subcutaneous backfat layers were higher in pigs fed acorns than in those fed the formulated diet. Pigs fed acorns had higher C18:2 n—6 proportion than those fed the formulated diet in outer subcutaneous backfat layer. The diet did not affect outer, inner, and subinner subcutaneous backfat melting points. Except a higher C18:0 in intramuscular fat polar lipids and higher C16:1 n—9 in the liver polar lipid fraction in pigs fed acorns, the diet had no significant effect on intramuscular and liver fatty acid composition.
A forest management planning tool to create highly diverse uneven-aged stands

Summary A new model for computing the allowable cut for uneven-aged stands is described. The model is focused on the Gini index against basal area and the target structure of stand volume on diameter classes, assumed to be achieved by the end of transformation period from even-aged to the uneven-aged structure. The real structure of the stand is characterized by a given Gini index while the target structure is characterized by a benchmark Gini index. In order to determine the benchmark Gini index, the model allows the establishment of target structure of the stand based on a new idea: target structure of trees number in diameter classes for a particular stand corresponds to a certain target distribution of volumes on diameter classes. According to the difference between the two mentioned Gini indices, a certain period for directing the real structure to the target structure is further chosen while the computation of the allowable cut is based on the assumption of Gaussian distribution of volume against diameter classes. Eventually, the computation of allowable cut takes into account the stand growth, the differences between the real and the target growing stock, the adopted transformation period and the management goals.
TOXICITY OF SOME INSECTICIDES ON THE HAEMOCYTES OF RED PUMPKIN BEETLE, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas

In this project, toxicity of some insecticides, viz., Advantage 20EC, Match 50EC, Tracer 240SC, Deltaphos-R 10+350EC in field concentrations, was observed against the haemocytes of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas. The experiment was repeated four times by using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and the data were subjected to the statistical analysis. In these studies, five types of haemocytes were identified, viz., prohamocytes, plasmatocytes, oenocytoids, granulocytes and coagulocytes in the haemolymph of red pumpkin beetle Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas. Total haemocyte count was 4372 cells/mm 3 as an average in the haemolymph of red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas). The major abnormalities observed in the haemocytes of red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas) after the application of these insecticides were distortion of the shape of blood cells, abnormal staining of the cells, enlargement, denucleation, rupturing of the cells and rupturing of the wall of cytoplasm.
Structure and function in two tropical gallery forest communities: implications for forest conservation in fragmented systems

1. Composition, growth and turnover of trees in two species-rich tropical gallery forests were examined to evaluate what community reorganization may be needed to transform recently created tropical forest fragments into stable refugia for regional forest biotas. 2. Rates of tree growth and turnover over a 5-year interval were comparable to those recorded in continuous forests and in both communities there had been some tree species turnover in the measured stem size classes during the 5-year interval. 3. The more abundant tree species in both communities formed three functional groups along gradients between streams and forest edges: edge-concentrators, core-concentrators and generalists. 4. Soil fertility showed no consistent increase close to streams and neither tree growth nor recruitment rates were increased in this zone. In contrast, forest edge zones exhibited increased rates of tree growth and recruitment indicating that growth processes in these forests are light-limited rather than soil-limited, and that forest edge zones are generally favourable habitats for tree populations. 5. Both communities showed signs of past fire incursions, and the tendency of a subset of tree species to concentrate in the more growth-limited core habitats is attributed to their fire sensitivity. 6. Rapid development of an edge zone of fire-insensitive tree species is considered to be essential to the survival of forest community fragments in the fire-prone landscapes of the tropics, and the edges of gallery forests are recommended as potential sources of species with which to fashion these protective ecotones. 7. Preservation of a diverse forest biota in the fire-protected interiors of fragments will require natural or artificially enhanced immigration rates that are sufficient to offset local extinctions.
Effect of Ginger Powder (Zingiber Officinale) on Plasma Lipid Profile and Liver Enzyme Activities of Hypercholesterolemic Rats

The effect of ginger powder at 5% and 10% level in hypercholesterolemic rats was investigated. Rats were divided into four groups: A, B, C and D. Group A was fed normal diet, Group B was fed hypercholesterolemic diet (20% fat + 1% cholesterol). Group C and D were fed hypercholesterolemic diet + 5% or 10% ginger powder respectively. At the end of six weeks feeding period, plasma was collected and analysed for Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) and Triglyceride concentrations. Also activities of Aspartate and Alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were monitored in the plasma and liver. The post treatment of hypercholesterolemic rats with 5% and 10% ginger powder Zingiber officinale significantly reduced (P < 0.05) body weight, Total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-Cholesterol. Also significant reduction in the activities of AST, ALT and ALP was also observed. It is concluded that the consumption of ginger powder at the 5% and 10% level had significant hypocholesterolemic effect in rats and that the nutritional insult imposed on the liver by the hypercholesterolemic diet appears to be reversed.
SOME RELATIONS OF ESTUARINE ORGANISMS TO SALINITY

Collectors often ignore salinity while carefully gathering other data with locality records of estuarine organisms, although there has been a great deal of work showing that salinity is a limiting factor to the distribution of many marine organisms, especially as it varies downward, and these limits are often quite sharp. Some recent evidence is reviewed. Hypersalinities are not common in the sea, but where such areas are found on certain coasts, high salinities also limit biotic distributions. The endemic fauna of estuaries is largely sessile. There are a few endemic motile species, chiefly fishes and crustaceans, but the motile fauna is made up mostly of the young of species which spawn offshore in high salinity water and these are sometimes present in vast hordes. Examples are menhaden, mullet, croakers, blue crabs and penaeid shrimp, which all support major fisheries in the United States. Estuaries may be characterized as nursery grounds. They are not refuges for spent races. There are three known types of biological gradients that correspond with salinity gradients. Sessile or only slightly motile marine organisms have optimal salinity ranges for best growth and when the salinities vary away from the optima, either upward or downward, the populations become stunted. A second correlation is between the size of motile organisms and the salinity. In general the smaller and younger ones initially distribute themselves in lower salinity water and migrate towards the sea as they grow larger; thus, the correlation between salinity and size is direct. This correlation is probably dependent upon intrinsic physiological conditions, but more information is needed. The greatest numbers of species of marine plants and animals are found in the photic zone of the shallow sea in full sea water and not in estuaries, as has sometimes been stated. All marine organisms and most estuarine organisms can withstand full sea water, but some of them cannot withstand lowered salinities and thus the species numbers decline with the salinity gradient decline in estuaries. The same thing is noted with the salinity gradient rise in hypersaline areas. The reasons for this situation are not clear, but it shows similarities to the warm to cold decline in numbers of species, away from the tropics, which holds both on land and in the sea. This temperature-species gradient has been explained on the basis that the colder regions of the earth are relatively new and organisms have not yet had time to populate them fully. That explanation is probably not valid, for a parallel situation holds over shorter distances in estuaries, which are not new in terms of the Earth’s history.
Population genetic studies on the australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor (Crustacea: Parastacidae) using allozyme and RAPD markers

Allozyme and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation was surveyed in the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor Clark, an ecologically and commercially important species that is widespread throughout the freshwater systems of central Australia. At the intra-population level, allozymes revealed a similar level of variation to that found in other freshwater crayfish; RAPDs showed less diversity than allozymes, which was unexpected. At the inter-population level, both techniques revealed significant population structure, both within and between drainages. RAPD results were consistent with phylogeographic patterns previously identified using mtDNA. Although allozyme data showed little geographic pattern in relation to genetic variation based on multidimensional-scaling (MDS) plots on matrices of genetic distance, results of AMOVA and Mantel tests indicated significant population structuring. Each of the mtDNA lineages proposed in a previous study also showed significant genetic structure at similar levels as revealed by RAPDs but different levels by allozymes. These results reject hypotheses previously put forward on genetic homogenisation within the species due to wide-scale translocation. The implications of the findings for conservation and aquaculture of C. destructor are also discussed.