Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vernalization in calabrese (Brassica oleracea var. italica) - a model for apex development

Using data from an experiment in controlled environment cabinets, with temperatures between 7 °C and 23 °C, a model of vernalization was developed which predicts the change in apex diameter of calabrese with temperature. The model does not include a juvenile phase and the rate of diameter growth is maximal at 15.8 °C. When tested on field-grown crops of two cultivars, the model described apex expansion well.
THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM CONCENTRATIONS ON YEAST FERMENTATION PERFORMANCE IN HIGH GRAVITY WORTS

The response of e number of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ale) and Saccharomyces uvarum (caris-bargenaia) (lager) strains to altered starting levels of magnesium and calcium in 12°P (1048 original gravity) or 20°P (1080 original gravity) wort were investigated. In general, the same trends were observed in all 6 strains, however the extent of the response to adjusted levels of magnesium and calcium were found to be strain dependent. The results indicate that an increased ratio of magnesium to calcium causes an increase in the initial fermentation rate, the rate and yield of ethanol produced and an increase in vitality at the end of fermentation, in all strains employed. Upon increasing the calcium to magnesium ratio it was found that the initial fermentation rate was decreased, resulting in an increased attenuation time in the case of the lager strains. It was also noted that increasing the calcium to magnesium ratio led to a decreased ethanol production, maltotriose uptake, and in the case of the lager strains, maltose uptake was also adversely affected under these conditions. Altering the calcium and magnesium levels had no effect on the viability of the yeast or on glycogen levels.
Effects of predator control on behaviour of an apex predator and indirect consequences for mesopredator suppression

1. Apex predators can benefit ecosystems through top–down control of mesopredators and herbivores. However, apex predators are often subject to lethal control aimed at minimizing attacks on livestock. Lethal control can affect both the abundance and behaviour of apex predators. These changes could in turn influence the abundance and behaviour of mesopredators. 2. We used remote camera surveys at nine pairs of large Australian rangeland properties, comparing properties that controlled dingoes Canis lupus dingo with properties that did not, to test the effects of predator control on dingo activity and to evaluate the responses of a mesopredator, the feral cat Felis catus. 3. Indices of dingo abundance were generally reduced on properties that practiced dingo control, in comparison with paired properties that did not, although the effect size of control was variable. Dingoes in uncontrolled populations were crepuscular, similar to major prey. In populations subject to control, dingoes became less active around dusk, and activity was concentrated in the period shortly before dawn. 4. Shifts in feral cat abundance indices between properties with and without dingo control were inversely related to corresponding shifts in indices of dingo abundance. There was also a negative relationship between predator visitation rates at individual camera stations, suggesting cats avoided areas where dingoes were locally common. Reduced activity by dingoes at dusk was associated with higher activity of cats at dusk. 5. Our results suggest that effective dingo control not only leads to higher abundance of feral cats, but allows them to optimize hunting behaviour when dingoes are less active. This double effect could amplify the impacts of dingo control on prey species selected by cats. In areas managed for conservation, stable dingo populations may thus contribute to management objectives by restricting feral cat access to prey populations. 6. Synthesis and applications. Predator control not only reduces indices of apex predator abundance but can also modify their behaviour. Hence, indicators other than abundance, such as behavioural patterns, should be considered when estimating a predator's capacity to effectively interact with lower trophic guilds. Changes to apex predator behaviour may relax limitations on the behaviour of mesopredators, providing enhanced access to resources and prey.
WOOD THRUSH (HYLOCICHLA MUSTELINA) NESTING ECOLOGY IN RELATION TO PRESCRIBED BURNING OF MIXED-OAK FOREST IN OHIO

Abstract Prescribed burning is increasingly being used to restore and maintain oak-dominated (Quercus spp.) forests in the eastern United States. We assessed effects of prescribed burning on the nesting ecology of the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). Recent declines in Wood Thrush populations have prompted concern about their conservation status. Low-intensity surface fires in mixed-oak forests resulted in reductions in midstory vegetation, a documented habitat requirement for Wood Thrushes, but local population levels of Wood Thrushes did not differ between burned and unburned areas. Wood Thrushes inhabiting recently burned areas selected nest sites where leaf litter cover, fern cover, densities of shrubs and saplings, and moisture levels were higher and where fire intensity was lower in comparison to random sites. Wood Thrushes also placed their nests higher off the ground, and in taller and larger-diameter trees and shrubs, in burned than in unburned areas. Reproductive success did not differ between burned and unburned areas. However, successful nests were placed higher off the ground and in areas with lower densities of shrubs and saplings than unsuccessful nests in both burned and unburned areas. Prescribed burning appeared to have minimal effects on nesting ecology of Wood Thrushes, given their flexibility in nest placement, with no adverse consequences in terms of reproductive success. Local variation in fire intensity and moisture levels also maintained availability of suitable nesting habitat within burned areas. Continued monitoring would be appropriate to further assess the response of Wood Thrushes to prescribed burning, particularly in consideration of their conservation status and the uncertainty associated with potential long-term effects of habitat change.
Influence of Sowing and Harvest Time on Fibre Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in the Mediterranean Environment

Triennial field trials were carried out at Viterbo. central Italy, to investigate the influence of the sowing time, nitrogen fertilization and harvest dates of the two fibre flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties Belinka and Ariane. Our results showed that warm and dry weather conditions, prevailing from late spring onwards, caused excessive shortening of the growing cycle of spring crops, with negative consequences for seed and fibre yield and quality. However, autumn sowings gave interesting results. Stem dry weight ranged between 5.6 and 6.7 t ha -1 for autumn sowings and between 1.9 and 4.1 t ha -1 for spring sowings. In autumn sowings, plant height and seed yields were also increased. Seed germinability was good even for early harvest dates. Stem dry weight remained constant at harvest dates following yellow-green ripening, indicating that biomass was no longer allocated to the stems after that phase.
The Physical and Psychosocial Outcomes of a Psychosocial Home-Based end-of-Life Care Intervention in Hong Kong

Objective Living the final days of life being cared for at home is a preference expressed by many. The data on the effectiveness of home-based end-of-life care (EoLC) intervention to improve the holistic conditions of terminally ill patients are scanty. This study sought to evaluate a psychosocial home-based EoLC intervention for terminally ill patients in Hong Kong. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted, applying the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) at 3 timepoints (service intake, 1-month, and 3-months after enrollment). A total of 485 eligible, consenting terminally ill people (mean age = 75.48, SD = 11.39) were enrolled, with 40.21% (n = 195) providing data at all 3 timepoints for this study. Results Decreasing symptom severity scores were observed for all IPOS psychosocial symptoms, and most physical symptoms, over the 3 timepoints. Improvements in depression and practical concerns had the highest omnibus time effects (F > 31.92, P < .01) and T0 to T2 paired comparison effects (Cohen's d > 0.54, P < .01). Physical symptoms of weakness/lack of energy, poor mobility, and poor appetite also showed significant improvements at T1 and T2 (Cohen's d: 0.22-0.46, P < .05). Bivariate regression analyses showed that improvements in anxiety, depression, and family anxiety were associated with improvements in physical symptoms of pain, shortness of breath, weakness/lack of energy, nausea, poor appetite, and poor mobility. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were not associated with changes in symptoms. Conclusions The psychosocial home-based EoLC intervention effectively improved the psychosocial and physical status of terminally ill patients, irrespective of their clinical characteristics or demographics.
Nest site relationships among cavity-nesting birds of riparian and snowpocket aspen woodlands in the northwestern Great Basin

We examined nest-site and nest-cavity characteristics for six species of cavity-nesting birds in montane riparian and snowpocket aspen (Populus tremuloides) woodlands in the northwestern Great Basin. Live trees and snags with DBH >24 cm were favored as nest sites by all species. Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) and Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) provided different sizes of nest cavities for a suite ofnonexcavator species. Flickers preferentially nested in snags; sapsuckers nested primarily in live trees, but used live trees and snags in proportion to their availabilities. Relative abundances of excavators and nonexcavators were associated positively with numbers of cavities. Nest-site variables overlapped extensively among species; Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) relied heavily on sapsuckers for provision of nest cavities, European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) primarily used flicker-excavated cavities, and House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) used nest cavities across the broadest range of nest-site characteristics. Compass orientation of nest-cavity entrances was strongly bimodal, with most facing east or southwest. Cavity entrances of species that foraged largely outside of riparian woodlands were oriented toward woodland edge, in contrast to nest cavities used by species that foraged largely within riparian woodlands. Snowpocket woodlands were much more extensive than riparian aspen, but birds strongly preferred riparian aspen stands as nesting habitats, presumably due to the scarcity of large aspen in snowpockets. Nest cavities appear to be a limiting resource with high potential for interspecific nest-site competition in these woodlands. Decades of livestock overuse and fire suppression have greatly diminished the availability of large aspen in riparian habitats throughout the region.
Eyeless arthropods of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador: composition and origin of the cryptozoic fauna of a young, tropical, oceanic archipelago.

Fifty-six species of eyeless and reduced-eyed (obligately cryptozoic) macroscopic arthropods are now known from the Galapagos Islands. These occupy cave, ground water, and soil-litter habitats. Sixteen soil-inhabiting species have become established after their probable inadvertent introduction by humans. The number and diversity of the remaining 40 native and endemic species are remarkable because of the geologic youth (about three million years maximum) and oceanic isolation of the islands. Soil habitats contain ten species whose ancestors naturally arrived on the islands in an already eyeless condition, demonstrating that such taxa have greater powers of overwater dispersal than is generally thought. Caves and soils are inhabited by ten eyeless or reduced-eyed species which have related fully-eyed epigean (sister? ) species, usually on the same island, indicating relatively recent (possibly parapatric) adaptive radiation into subterranean environments. Another 20 species have no dose Galapagos relatives, and 15 of these are probably relicts of lineages which became extinct in epigean terrestrial habitats, probably because of repeated periods of intense aridity during the Pleistocene. Similar evolutionary patterns exist in the eyeless arthropods of the Hawaiian and Canary archipelagos, indicating that there are common processes in the origins of such eyeless tropical oceanic island faunas.
Detection of antimicrobial drug residues in Kenyan milk

The improved Dutch tube diffusion test was used to study the occurrence of inhibitory substances in raw bulk milk samples within the Nakuru District in Kenya. Initially the detection limits of the method were verified using milk standards spiked with selected antibiotics. Addition ofpenicillinase to inhibitor-positive samples was used for preliminary identification of penicillin G-type antibiotics and residue levels were estimated against a standard curve constructed by means of a B. stearothermophilus disc assay. The two-tube test was used to screen 1109 field samples of which 229 (21%) were suspect positive. The identification procedure confirmed 165 samples (14.9%) to contain penicillin G-type residues of which 118 contained levels exceeding the established EU MRL for penicillin G (4 μg/kg). This study indicates that antibiotic residues are prevalent in milk within the Nakuru district of Kenya. It suggests that the improved tube diffusion test in combination with a multiplate system could be useful for qualitative and quantitative identification of antimicrobial drug residues in milk. Le test de diffusion en tube est utilise pour etudier l'occurence de substances inhibitrices dans des echantillons de lait cru du district de Nakuru au Kenia. Sur 1109 echantillons testes, 229 (21%) sont suspectes positifs. La procedure d'identification confirme que 165 (14,9%) d'entre eux contiennent des residus de penicilline de type G dont 118 presentent des teneurs superieures au taux residuel maximum de 4μg/kg autorise par l'Union Europeenne.
The effect of agitation system, temperature of the spray liquid, nematode concentration, and air injection on the viability of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are a group of potentially effective bio-insecticides to which Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, an active ingredient of several commercialised products, belongs. The application of the spray liquid with a motorised hydraulic sprayer introduces several stress factors to EPNs that may reduce their viability. Therefore, the effects of the agitation system, initial temperature of the spray liquid, EPN concentration, and additional air injection on the viability of EPNs were studied. The results clearly illustrate that the hydraulic agitation caused significantly more reduction in viability than the mechanical agitation. A lower temperature of the initial spray liquid, however, yielded a significantly higher EPN viability compared to a higher temperature after hydraulic mixing and so did air injection while EPN concentration did not significantly influence viability. Thus, the results clearly suggest that, with hydraulic agitation, both the re-circulation stress and the temperature increase significantly decreased the EPN viability, while air injection significantly improved it. Therefore, specific application conditions of living organisms in sprayer design and during application should be considered. Furthermore, spray water of less than 20°C should be used to keep temperature under control.
Salinity effects on CO2 assimilation and diffusive conductance of cowpea leaves

The effect of NaCl salinity at concentrations of 43–173 mM in nutrient solution on net gas exchange of attached cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp cv. California Black-eye No. 5 (CB5)] leaves was investigated under both greenhouse and growth chamber conditions. There was a marked decrease in leaf conductance to water vapor after exposure to low salinity levels and a slighter decrease when salinity levels were higher. The decrease in net assimilation was much more gradual throughout the entire salinity range. The altered responses of net assimilation and leaf conductance to salinity were more evident at a high light intensity. A decrease in intercellular partial CO2 pressure [p(CO2)] was found at the low and intermediate salinity levels but not at the high level. These findings suggest that CO, assimilation was mainly controlled by stomatal conductance and the fixation of CO, might have been increased due to stimulated biochemical activity or to higher chlorophyll concentration per unit leaf area. A decrease in assimilation was already found one day after salinization and pro-ceeded up to 4 days when it was inhibited by 50% at 43 mM NaCl and up to 85% at 173 mM. The decrease in transpiration was larger than the decrease in net assimila-tion, and both were attributed to osmotic stress. Partial recovery was found thereaf-ter and new steady-state rates, in the range of 55 to 100% of the control, were then obtained for salinity levels between 43 and 130 mM. Inhibition of net CO, assimila-tion at this stage was attributed partly to a specific sodium effect and partly to plant water status. A linear relationship between leaf sodium content and net photosynthe-sis was also evident at this stage. Net CO, assimilation recovered more completely than transpiration when salt stress was removed, but at 173 mM NaCl recovery was neglible.
FSTL3 Promotes Tumor Cell Proliferation, Invasion, Survival and Associates with Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Follistatin like‐3 (FSTL3) is a potent inhibitor that antagonizes TGF‐β family ligands including activin, myostatin and bone morphogenetic proteins. Though usually a secreted glycoprotein, nuclear FSTL3 expression had been noted in several cell types, suggesting the existence of specific intracellular functions of this protein. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignant tumors worldwide. Its strong metastatic ability and chemoresistance tendency is a major obstacle in clinical treatment. In large cohort survival analyses, we have found that FSTL3 has a significant prognostic predictive power in colorectal cancer at both RNA and protein level. Immunohistochemistry staining of CRC specimens revealed that patients with high FSTL3 expression are significantly associated with poor survival. Our study further showed that knockdown of FSTL3 inhibited the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells and reduced tumorigenesis in vivo. Conversely, ectopic over‐expression of FSTL3 elicited the opposite effects in CRC cells. In addition, the overexpression of FSTL3 was found to confer the resistance to 5‐fluorouracil in CRC cells. mRNA profiling analyses suggested that FSTL3 drives CRC tumorigenesis through various carcinogenesis‐related pathways. Our results unveil the significance of FSTL3 in the oncogenesis of CRC, with implications for its potential use as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker and also a candidate for therapeutic target in this disease.
Male‐infant relationships in semifree‐ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) of affenberg salem/FRG: Testing the “male care” hypothesis

The infant‐directed behavior of Barbary macaque males was analyzed in order to determine whether it is essential for an infant's survival during the first year and whether males interact selectively with closely related infants. Dyadic male‐infant contacts were recorded in a large group of semifree‐ranging Barbary macaques. Data collected during the first 12 weeks of life on each infant born in 1983 (n = 36) were analyzed. All adult and almost all subadult males established strong relationships with at least one infant. Almost two‐thirds of the infants (22) had frequent contacts with one or several males. Males showed no preference for closely related infants. Sexual associations with an infant's mother during the preceding mating season had no significant effect. Natal males did not prefer infants of their own matrilineage. There was no evidence that contacts with males had a positive influence on infant survival or that other benefits to the infants resulted from these contacts. Instead, excessive carrying by males and females led to starvation of some very young infants and was a major cause of neonatal deaths in this population. Males interacted preferentially with infants that were born early in the birth season, had a high‐ranking multiparous mother, and were male. Younger males established strong relationships with male infants only, while mother's rank was more important for older males. It is suggested that certain mothers prevented early contacts between their infants and males so that the observed preferences for certain infants were also a result of easier access to them. All results suggested that males interacted with infants for their own benefit.
Utilisation of leucaena leaf meal by broilers

Abstract 1. The effect of including Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf meal (LLM) in broiler diets was investigated employing LLM at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg diet. Experiments were also conducted to investigate whether reduced food intake of diets containing LLM is responsible for the growth depression. 2. LLM appears to be a good source of protein and calcium. 3. Food intake was not significantly affected (P>0.05) with dietary LLM inclusion up to 200 g/kg. 4. Inclusion of LLM up to 150 g/kg diet did not influence significantly (P>0.05) the performance of broilers in terms of body weight gain and food efficiency. However, inclusion of LLM at 200 g/kg diet had an adverse effect on weight gain and food efficiency, when compared to other dietary treatments. The profitability over food costs was low with the 200 g LLM/kg diet compared to those of other diets. 5. It may be inferred from these experiments that LLM can safely be included in broiler diets up to 150 g/kg. 6. Studies using force‐feeding and .
Avaliação do desempenho e da qualidade dos ovos de codornas de corte de dois grupos genéticos

An experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the performance and quality of eggs from meat quails from two genetic groups during 84 days of experiment. A total of 98 birds averaging 258 kg and 40 days old was assigned to a completely randomized design with two genetic groups (A and B) and seven replications of seven birds each. The evaluated characteristics were: diet consumption (g/bird/d), average egg weights (g), laying per bird per day (%) and per lodged bird (%), percentage of viable eggs produced, percentage of viable eggs/bird/d, egg mass (g/bird/d), conversion by egg mass (kg/kg), conversion by egg dozen (kg/dz), specific gravity (g/cm3), egg yolk weight (g), albumen and shell, percentage of yolk, albumen and shell, height and diameter of eggs (mm), viability of birds (%), initial and final weight (g) and weight gain (g). The genetic group B showed lower initial weight at 40 days old, higher weight and percentage of shell and better specific gravity of eggs. The other characteristics did not differ between the genetic groups. Both evaluated genetic groups have satisfactory performance in the period from 40 to 124 days old.