Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution of total phenolics and antioxidant activity in fruit, leaf, stem and root of Monsonia burkeana

Monsonia burkeana, widely used as ‘special tea’, is harvested unsustainably due to insufficient information on the accumulative abilities of its organs on the secondary metabolites. Using phenolics and antioxidants as focus chemical compounds, an investigation was carried out to (1) determine the accumulative abilities of organs of M. burkeana on phenolic and antioxidant compounds, and (2) determine whether phenolic acids and antioxidants in M. burkeana had density-dependent relationship patterns. Ten plants per plot, with three replicates, were harvested whole, oven-dried, separated into the four organs and quantified for phenolics and antioxidant components using the Folin Ciocalteau method and the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay, respectively. Generally, reproductive and vegetative organs had high levels of phenolic and antioxidant compounds when compared to roots. The saturation factor suggested that more than 90% antioxidants were derivatives of the phenolic compounds. Optimum levels of antioxidant activity were attained at 5.39, 5.49, 4.36 and 4.13 mg/ 100 g of phenolics in fruit, leaf, stem and root, respectively. In conclusion, vegetative and reproductive organs are good sources of phenolic and antioxidant compounds inM. burkeana. Key words: Phenolic, antioxidant, saturation factor, optimum.
Indopottia irieandoana sp. nov. (Pottiaceae) from Doi Inthanon, northern Thailand

Abstract Indopottia irieandoana H.Akiyama sp. nov. is reported on the basis of two specimens from Doi Inthanon, northern Thailand, as a second species of a genus recently described from southern India. The lack of a peristome precludes unambiguous familial placement based on morphology, but phylogenetic analyses of sequences from a chloroplast and a mitochondrial locus place the new taxon, with strong support, in the Pottiaceae. Its epiphytic habitat on a tree trunk and a branch near the crown of an emergent tree and a strangler tree, respectively, along with morphological features such as spatulate leaves, a single dorsal stereid in the leaf costa, smooth laminal cells, long rostrate opercula, and eperistomate, upright capsules point to a close relationship to Indopottia zanderi. The morphology is compared with that of related genera. A key to similar genera and species is provided.
PUMA ENERGETICS: A RECALCULATION

Abstract I used estimates of energetic requirements of pumas (Puma concolor) to estimate prey requirements for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). This estimate might help explain the impact pumas may have on deer populations. Accepted daily energy demands of pumas result in estimates of annual kill rates per puma of 44 to >100 mule deer/yr. However, recent studies of puma activity indicate that the methods used to calculate these earlier values may have been flawed. To test this possibility, I used a more recently developed allometric equation to calculate energy demand of pumas based on movement data from a radio telemetry study in south-central Idaho and northwestern Utah. I calculated energy demand for 20 adult female and 8 adult male pumas based on their movements during 95 monitoring blocks of 24 hrs. I then calculated prey requirements for individuals and for low and high population estimates from the study area. I estimated that daily energy demands for male pumas (3,143.7 ± 120.1 kcal; 13,203.5 kilojoules; kJ) and female pumas with kittens (2705.4 ± 57.0 kcal; 11,362.7 kJ) were substantially lower than previously reported estimates of approximately 5,500 kcal/day (23,100 kJ/day) for males and females with an average (2.6 kittens) litter size. The resulting estimated annual kill rates (19.4 deer/yr for males, 39.6 deer/yr for females with kittens) were also substantially lower than previous estimates (44 deer/yr and 73 deer/yr respectively). I demonstrated that the earlier energy demand estimates were based on overestimations of puma activity for these 2 social groups and that my estimates of activity, and thus energy demand, are more biologically reasonable for pumas. I discuss the need for a reassessment of the impact pumas can have on deer populations in light of these new energy calculations.
Cutting Edge: Protective Response to Pulmonary Injury Requires γδ T Lymphocytes

γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes are thought to coordinate responses to pathogens that penetrate the epithelial barrier. To directly test this, mice were inoculated with Nocardia asteroides. At doses that were nonlethal for control mice, γδ-deficient mice became severely ill and died within 14 days. Histologic examination of these lungs demonstrated the presence of severe tissue damage and unimpeded bacterial growth in the γδ-deficient mice compared with neutrophilic lesions and clearance of the organism in control mice. Interestingly, ozone exposure that targets a comparable lung region also resulted in diffuse epithelial necrosis associated with a similar lack of neutrophil recruitment in γδ-deficient mice. These data demonstrate that γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes can protect the host from pathogenic and nonpathogenic insults by targeting the inflammatory response to epithelial necrosis.
Weedy rice (Oryza sativa) II. Response of Weedy Rice to Seed Burial and Flooding Depth

Abstract Weedy rice is a serious problem of cultivated rice in most of the rice-growing areas in Asia, causing increased production costs and yield losses in rice. A study was conducted to determine the response of weedy rice accessions from India (IWR), Malaysia (MWR), Thailand (TWR), and Vietnam (VWR) to seed burial and flooding depths. The greatest emergence for each weedy rice accession (97% for IWR, 82% for MWR, 97% for TWR, and 94% for VWR) was observed in seeds placed on the soil surface. Seedling emergence decreased with increase in burial depth. For the IWR accession, 0.5% of the seedlings emerged from 8-cm depth, whereas for the other three weedy rice accessions, no seedlings emerged from this depth. When seeds were sown on the soil surface, flooding depth ranging from 0 to 8 cm had no or very little effect on seedling emergence of different weedy rice accessions. On the other hand, flooding decreased seedling emergence in all weedy rice accessions when seeds were sown at 1 cm deep into the soil. Compared with seedling emergence, flooding had a more pronounced effect on seedling biomass for all weedy rice accessions. A flooding depth of 2 cm reduced seedling biomass by an amount greater than 85% of each weedy rice accession. The results of this study suggest that emergence and growth of weedy rice could be suppressed by deep tillage that buries seeds below their maximum depth of emergence (i.e., > 8 cm for the accessions studied) and by flooding fields as early as possible. The information gained from this study may help design cultural management strategies for weedy rice in Asia. Nomenclature: Weedy rice, Oryza sativa L. ORYSA.
Effects of treatments for electrical penetration graph recordings on behaviour and biology of Aphis craccivora (Aphididae)

Abstract. Two laboratory studies were conducted to investigate effects of treatments for direct “current electrical penetration graph (DC‐EPG) recordings or ‘tether effect’, on behaviour and reproductive performance of cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch. The experiments constituted a control study in application of DC‐EPGs to analyse cowpea aphid feeding behaviour and host plant resistance mechanisms. Resistant (ICV‐12) and susceptible (ICV‐1) cultivars of cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp were used. EPG treatments included two groups of aphids: tethered aphids that were exposed to DC electricity via an attachment of a thin, flexible gold wire on their dorsum using a droplet of adhesive silver paint, and ‘free’ (untethered) aphids with a dorsal spot of silver paint only. EPGs of the tethered aphids were recorded continuously for c. h, whereas from the ‘free’ aphids recordings were done only for brief periods of 2–5 min, by temporarily contacting a gold wire to the spot of silver paint. Waveform signals generated from resistance fluctuations and electromotive forces, and representing aphid stylet penetration behaviour were recorded. A separate experiment was conducted to investigate effects of EPG treatments on aphid survivorship and population growth. Overall, EPG treatments did not significantly affect aphid stylet penetration behaviour or life‐table parameters. However, effects of crop cultivar on those characteristics were significant. Waveform E2, which denotes aphid ingestion in phloem sieve elements, and non‐penetration behaviour were important indicators of aphid resistance in ICV‐12. Also, apart from the number of aphid generations, other life‐table parameters were useful indicators of ICV‐12 resistance. Thus, DC‐EPGs provided a reliable technique for studying aphid stylet behaviour, and investigation of aphid resistance in cowpeas.
Fish assemblages in floodplain lakes in a Neotropical river during the wet season (Magdalena River, Colombia)

Abstract: A number of studies have pointed out that abiotic factors and recolonization dynamics appear to be more important than biotic interactions in structuring river–fish assemblages. In this paper, we studied the fish assemblages in 27 floodplain lakes, with perennial connection to the river, in the middle section of the Magdalena River (Colombia), to examine spatial pattern in freshwater fish diversity in relation to some environmental parameters. Our objective was to examine relationships between floodplain-lake fish communities and environmental variables associated with lake morphology, water chemistry and river–floodplain connectivity in a large river–floodplain ecosystem. During the study, a total of 18 237 fish were caught from 50 species (regional richness; 17 were migrants and 33 residents). In the present study, the most diverse order was Characiformes with 20 species, followed by Siluriformes, with 19 species. Characidae and Loricaridae were the richest families. The range of species richness (local richness) varied between five and 39 species. Similarity of local assemblages (using the presence–absence data) depends on the distance between lakes. A positive relationship was observed between the Ln of the total abundance of each species and the number of lakes where they were found. Out of all the environmental parameters taken in the lakes, only the size (Log Area) and relative perimeter length are significantly related to local assemblage species richness. It has not been possible to demonstrate that the connectivity (distance) from lakes to the main river can be considered a predictor of the local richness.
Comparison of different methods to validate a dataset with producer-recorded health events.

This study is part of a larger project whose overall objective is to develop genetic evaluations for resistance to mastitis and other diseases in Canada. Health data recorded by producers were available from the National Dairy Cattle Health System. Eight diseases are recorded by producers on a voluntary basis: mastitis, displaced abomasum, ketosis, milk fever, retained placenta, metritis, cystic ovaries and lameness. Data validation is an important part of analysis of producer-recorded health data. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of 5 data validation methods on genetic evaluations for mastitis resistance in first lactation Canadian Holstein cows. As expected the number of usable herds and the number of records were increased with a less stringent data validation, whereas mastitis frequency was decreased. For genetic analyses, univariate and bivariate linear sire models were fitted. Heritability of mastitis was decreased with a less stringent data validation with estimates ranging from 0.013 to 0.026. Lactation mean somatic cell score was highly correlated with mastitis (0.65-0.69) independently of the applied data validation method for mastitis. Pearson correlations between sire breeding values for mastitis resistance based on the different data validation methods were all higher 0.95. Overall, the present study showed that genetic evaluations for mastitis resistance stay similar independently of the applied data validation method. However, there is evidence for some underreporting of mastitis cases in the Canadian health recording system. Therefore, future work is necessary to increase data quality in the Canadian health recording system.
The effect of water column mixing on phytoplankton succession, diversity and similarity

The lake number was used to describe the mixing condition for three consecutive years (1992-1994) in Lake Tegel, Berlin, and compared to the successions of diatoms, dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria, the main phytoplankton groups in the lake, as well as to diversity and similarity indices. Using both diversity and similarity indices in juxtaposition provides an indication of the growth type of prevailing species (ror K-strategists) and the degree of competition in the aqua-ecological system. A genera] pattern of these indices can be recognized as three phases: (i) high diversity—during spring, summer and autumn, interrupted by (ii) phases of low diversity during the late spring clear-water phase as the number of spring species plummeted, and (iii) during the late summer, climax populations of K-strategists. On a smaller time scale, similarity and diversity proved to react sensitively to disturbances at frequencies intermediate in relation to the generation times of the phytoplankton. This supports the 'intermediate disturbance hypothesis', as proposed for phytoplankton by Padisak et al. [(eds) Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis in Phytoplankton Ecology. Kluwer Academic, 1993]. Diversity may remain quite high even for extended periods during summer climax situations, in conjunction with a high degree of similarity, if deeper mixing of the epilimnion occurs at time intervals of 2-3 weeks, as during the summer of 1993. This enables the prevalence of 'ruderal' species, together with some motile K-strategists who actively seek optimal depths for photosynthesis. During such summer situations described by frequent occurrences of lower lake numbers, the epilimnion of Lake Tegel is mixed deeply enough to support ruderals, but not too vigorously to counteract competitive advantages of motile species. Thus, vertical niche separation enhances diversity.
REDISCOVERY OF A CRYPTIC SPECIES AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUBSPECIES IN THE MYRMECIZA HEMIMELAENA COMPLEX (THAMNOPHILIDAE) OF THE NEOTROPICS

Abstract The recording in 1992 of an unknown antbird loudsong initiated a journey of discovery that led to the resolution of the conflict between John Zimmer (1932) and Melvin Carriker (1934) regarding the taxonomic standing of the population of Myrmeciza hemimelaena, a widespread southern Amazonian antbird, that occurs in lower Andean elevations in San Martín, Peru. Zimmer had described a new subspecies, M. h. castanea, from the Moyobamba Valley, but Carriker, on the basis of specimens he collected at the same elevation in an adjoining valley, could not find morphological differences between his specimens and the widespread nominate form of M. hemimelaena. Both authors were correct. Two cryptic sister taxa coexist in the foothills of San Martín. Diagnostic vocal and morphological characters and syntopy confirm their status as distinct species. Myrmeciza hemimelaena castanea Zimmer is revived and raised to species status. Concurrently, analysis of the vocalizations and morphology of the lowland population north of the Río Marañón in Peru, the loudsong recording of which initiated the project, revealed that this population was closely related to M. castanea of which it is described as a subspecies, M. c. centunculorum, under the biological species concept. The discovery that there are two cryptic species in the Myrmeciza hemimelaena complex exemplifies the continuing need to pursue field knowledge and analysis of avian species limits in the Neotropics required for the development of conservation strategies as well as phylogenetic understanding.
Efficacy of Copper Supplementation in the Prevention of Molybdenosis in Cattle

Abstract Revegetation and sustainable cattle grazing are major objectives in the reclamation of mine tailings at the Highland Valley Copper mine in British Columbia, Canada. A total of 150 cows with their calves grazed forage extremely high in molybdenum (Mo) for 5–6 weeks in the summer and fall for 3 consecutive years (2002–2004). The average stocking rate was 0.89 ha per animal unit month. The animals' diet consisted primarily of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) containing 100–400 ppm Mo. Each year, the herd was divided into 2 groups of approximately 25 cow–calf pairs. One group was supplemented with 2.5% copper sulphate (CuSO4·5H2O) in loose salt, and the other group was only given loose salt. Clinical signs of Mo toxicity, including lameness, diarrhea, and a faded hair coat, were significantly reduced in the supplement cows compared to control cows, which demonstrated the efficacy of the copper supplement treatment. Cattle also developed a tolerance to grazing high-Mo forage, as lameness and diarrhea were reduced in cows that had previous exposure to the site. However, lameness, the primary sign, and diarrhea were resolved in all cows by the end of each trial without treatment and hair coats returned to normal by the following spring. Only 4 calves showed signs of lameness or diarrhea in the 3-year study. Cattle grazing is a viable option for the end land use plan for Highland Valley Copper, provided a CuSO4·5H2O supplement is available to counteract the toxic effects of the high-Mo forage. As well, animals with previous exposure to the site should be utilized, as they appear to develop a tolerance to the Mo in the forage.
A scientific note on the lack of nepotism in queen larval feeding during emergency queen rearing in a naturally mated honey bee colony

Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies consist of many patrilines (Estoup et al., 1994) and workers can potentially increase their inclusive fitness during queen replacement if they can favour a full-sister offspring queen (Visscher, 1998). There is evidence of preferential rearing of some patrilines in emergency queen rearing (Tilley and Oldroyd, 1997; Osborne and Oldroyd, 1999; Châline et al., 2003), although the reason for this is unclear. Some patrilines could act nepotistically or a “royalty allele” could make some larvae more attractive to workers (Osborne and Oldroyd, 1999). Early studies on behavioural interactions and larval preferences during queen rearing used colonies with limited numbers of patrilines or cross-fostering of larvae between unrelated colonies with naturally mated queens. They showed weak or no evidence of nepotism (Breed et al., 1984; Noonan, 1986; Page et al., 1989). To avoid the problem of unnaturally low number of patrilines and the use of artificial insemination, we used microsatellites to analyse the kinship of feeding workers and queen larvae during emergency queen rearing, for the first time in a colony with a naturally mated queen. The experiment was carried out in double blind in a queenless observation hive containing individually marked bees. This was done by marking bees emerging from two brood combs of the test colony over 6 consecutive days. Before the experimental colony set-up, the marked bees were returned to their mother colony to ensure a normal ontogeny. Twentyfour hours before the set-up, 50 queen cells were initiated in a queen rearing colony by grafting larvae from the test colony. Thirteen of these were then attached to a brood comb from the test colony and transferred in an observation hive with 2000 of the marked workers. During the experiment, three additional queen cells were built naturally. Each queen cell was observed individually for 1/2 h every day until capping. The total observation time was 2130 min. The bees feeding each queen larvae were recorded, as this seemed the best behaviour for the
Recovery of pasture seed ingested by ruminants. 1. Seed of six tropical pasture species fed to cattle, sheep and goats

This study examined the effects of different species of ruminants and pasture plants on the passage of ingested seed. Penned cattle, sheep and goats were fed a basal diet of 80% lucerne hay and 20% milled wheat. After 14 days on the basal diet a mixture of known numbers of pasture seeds (Brachiaria decumbens, Axonopus afinis, Neonotonia wightii cv. Tinaroo, Trgfolium semipilosum cv. Safari, Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano and S. scabra cv. Seca) was fed on 1 day. Faeces were collected for 6 days after feeding the seed while animals remained on the basal diet. Seed samples of each species were tested for germination and hardseededness (or dormancy) both prior to feeding and on seed washed from a subsample of the faeces. Other subsamples were kept moist and emerging seedlings were removed over a 104 week period. Cattle digested less seed than did sheep and goats, but the germination characteristics of the recovered seed were similar for the different animals. The mean recovery of viable seeds ingested was 42, 10 and 19% for cattle, sheep and goats, and 39, 39, 23, 21, 12 and 8% for Safari, Tinaroo, Seca, Axonopus, Brachiaria and Verano. Most of the seeds excreted were recovered on the second and third days following feeding. For sheep and goats, the percentage recovery of ingested legume seed as emerging seedlings was similar to recovery calculated from washing out seed followed by germination testing. However, there was a lower recovery, as seedlings, for the seeds ingested by cattle. This was partially due to the larger number of hard seeds remaining in cattle faeces after the 104 week germination period.
In vitro and field evaluation of biocontrol agents and fungicides against wilt of cumin caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini.

Fungal antagonists and fungicides were evaluated for the management of wilt of cumin(Cuminum cyminum) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini at Jobner (Rajasthan). On thebasis of in vitro studies, Trichoderma harzianum isolate I6 and carbendazim were the best treatmentsin inhibiting the growth of the pathogen. The promising fungal antagonist and fungicideswere tested in the field at different combinations and the most effective combination was seedtreatment with carbendazim (2 g kg -1 seed) in combination with T. harzianum isolate I6 (108spores ml-1). This treatment combination resulted in significantly lowest disease incidence(11.7%) and highest yield (6.17 q ha-1).
Interaction effects of corporate hedging activities for a multi-risk exposure: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment

This study analyzes the interaction effects of corporate hedging activities of electric utility firms facing a manifold risk exposure consisting of several market price risks. We employ 16 recent introductions of markets for trading electricity derivatives as a quasi-natural experiment. The results show that electric utilities generally favor domestic markets for trading electricity derivatives, which might be reduced to their usual high market power and the related good predictability of electricity prices. As a consequence, electricity output hedging eliminates a major part of overall market risk. Further, we identify several spillover effects of electricity output hedging: The sensitivities to input commodity prices decrease, while the sensitivities to foreign exchange rates and interest rates increase. Furthermore, electricity output hedging increases debt capacities and the availability of internal funds. These results are relevant for electric utility firms, market operators, and policy makers, since the selective presence of derivatives markets might let financing policies globally diverge.