Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progesterone levels and reproductive status of white whales (De/phinapterus leucas) from the Canadian Arctic

Serum progesterone levels were compared to the presence and size of ovaries, corpora lutea and fetuses in white whales sampled at three sites in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Generally, a progesterone level greater than 3.00 ng/ml indicated a pregnancy although there was some overlap in the range of values with mature, nonpregnant whales. This overlap may be an artifact of sample management or may indicate failed or failing pregnancies. Data are not available to test these hypothesis. Progesterone concentration was not significantly correlated with ovarian mass, corpus luteum mass or fetus mass. Ovaries of immature whales were significantly smaller than those of mature-but-notpregnant and pregnant whales.
Influence of Growth Temperature on Injury and Death of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A During a Mild Heat Treatment.

The growth temperature of Listeria monocytogenes has a pro-found effect on injury and death of washed cells that are suspended in phosphate buffer and exposed to 52°C for 1 h. The temperature of 52°C had low lethality for cells grown at 37 or 42°C, but there was a 103-104-fold increase in killing for cells grown at 28, 19, 10, or 5°C. There was little injury with exposure to 52°C of cells grown at 5, 10, or 19°C, but injury increased as the temperature of growth increased. When cells were grown anaerobically, lethality induced at 52°C increased as the growth temperature decreased, but there was more injury under anaerobic conditions than for aerobically grown cells. The results indicate that L. monocytogenes cells growing at low temperatures are more susceptible to heat induced death.
Further Studies on Proline Concentration in Grapes and Wines

Berry position in the cluster was found not to affect proline content. The relationship of sugar accumulation to proline accumulation in grape berries was demonstrated for four varieties. 9Cabernet Sauvignon9 accumulates proline at a faster rate and at lower total nitrogen levels than other varieties tested. The differences in varieties for proline concentration in wines were demonstrated by a large number of analyses of experimental and commercial wines. Fruit wines have much less proline (and total nitrogen) than grape wines. Proline concentration relates most directly to total nitrogen concentration of both grapes and wines. Saccharomyces cerevisiae will metabolize proline only under severe nitrogen starvation conditions. These conditions generally would not exist if proline were present in large amounts.
Preservation effects of melatonin on the quality and fertility of native Fars rooster semen during liquid storage

Liquid or frozen storage of poultry semen negatively affects the sperm motility and has crucial role in reducing fertility. Phospholipids in chicken sperm membrane are composed of high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are susceptible to lipid peroxidation. One of possible ways to improve semen quality is supplementing the ration with antioxidant compounds such as melatonin. In this study, seventy-two roosters were randomly divided into three equal groups. The first group (control; Group C) was exposed to 14 h light and 10 h darkness. The second group (Group M) was exposed to the same lighting period, but in combination with melatonion supplementation (3 mg/kg body weight daily). The third group (Group L) was exposed to 24 h constant light. Semen was collected using abdominal massage and stored for 6 and 12 h at 5°C. Motility, viability, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, fertility, and hatchability were evaluated before and after storage. The results showed that the percentage of viable and motile sperms was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the control samples after 6 h storage but in Group M these parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased after 12 h. The MDA concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in Group M compared with Group C after 6 and 12 h storage. The sperm membrane lipid analysis showed that the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in Group M was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in Group C. Fertility and hatchability did not change significantly (P < 0.05) both in M and L Groups compared with C Group. Melatonin administration improved semen quality and decreased lipid peroxidation during liquid storage. It also reduced the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the sperm membrane lipid composition but it did not affect fertility and hatchability.
Studies on root phenology, productivity and economics of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) as influenced by establishment methods and weed management practices

A field experiment was conducted at farmers’ field in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India during kharif 2010 and 2011 to study the root characteristics of rice under different establishment methods and integrated weed management practices. Results revealed that the length, volume and biomass of roots were higher in SRI method followed by ICM method than CRC system at physiological maturity stage during both the years of investigation. Hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAT followed by butachlor 50 EC@1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 at 3 DAT + mechanical weeding at 20 DAT recorded higher root parameters over unweeded control during both years of field study. Maximum grain yield of rice was recorded with SRI method of establishment followed by ICM. Among the weed management practices, hand weeding twice at 20 DAT and 40 DAT recorded significantly higher grain yield closely followed by butachlor 50EC@1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 at 3 DAT + one mechanical weeding at 20 DAT. The higher net profit and B:C ratio under SRI establishment method of wetland rice could be obtained with butachlor 50 EC@1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 at 3 DAT + mechanical weeding at 20 DAT followed by hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAT. In ICM higher grain yield was recorded with hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAT.
Nest construction behaviour

‘I believe, in short, that birds do not build their nests by instinct’ (Wallace 1867). It may have taken some time but one of Alfred Russel Wallace’s lesser known ideas finally appears to be bearing fruit. There is increasing evidence that birds build nests that are more variable than once thought and that they will change the material they use to build their nests, depending on their experience. Therefore, birds do not rely entirely on instinct to build their nests. Not only would we argue that the accumulating evidence shows that nest building by birds is not all instinctual but also that the recent data on nest-building behaviour and decision-making are beginning to help us to answer a question that remains, perhaps surprisingly, unanswered, which is why birds build the nests they do. Birds are one of the best-studied taxa in the world, so it is not surprising that, for the approximately 9,000 species of bird worldwide, there is a plethora of descriptions of the nests they build (e.g. Ferguson-Lees et al. 2011). Although many fewer, there are also multiple descriptions of how different species go about building their nests. In Table 3.1 we provide examples of species for which there are detailed descriptions of the behaviours used by different species when building their nests (for more examples see Hansell 2000; Goodfellow 2011). Importantly, for our purposes, it is difficult to know whether descriptions of nestbuilding behaviours are typical for a species as usually they have been described only for just one or two individuals per species. In general, birds may either sculpt a nest by removing material from a site or assemble a nest by adding material to a site (Hansell 1984). During nest assembly, material may be piled up, moulded, stuck together, interlocked, sown or woven (for more detail and examples see Hansell 1984). Detailed experimentation investigating how birds know which building techniques to use is rare. Hence, we have little information on how they make choices of materials or whether birds copy the nest-building process and material choice of a parent. We know nothing about whether birds can learn how to manipulate building materials. From recent work, however, it is becoming clear that not only do birds within a species vary in their building behaviour but individuals can be flexible in that building behaviour, variation that can lead to significant variation in the nest produced. These data are increasingly showing that learning has an important role to play in both building dexterity, choice of nest materials and the making of a number of other nest-building decisions. These topics are covered in this chapter.
An Exploratory Research on Online Music Piracy and Consumer Behavior

This paper explores consumer behaviour associated with the possibility of online music piracy. A research model has been systematically developed to examine a number of variables in relation to consumer attitudes towards online music piracy. The model has also been tested using empirical data collected from individual consumers. The results show that music content, Internet skill, convenience and potential penalty are major factors of individual attitudes towards online music piracy. In addition, these factors together with subjective norms have significant impacts on individual intentions to obtain music products through unjustified online channels. The findings have practical implications for managing online digital music products and services.
Incorporating wood density in breeding programs for softwoods in Europe: a strategy and associated methods.

In this paper, we introduce a strategy for incorporating wood density into breeding programs in Europe. We develop some related methods, and we present the preliminary results. We used covariance analysis to study the negative relationship between volume growth and wood density and its genetic variation in two important softwood species in Europe: Norway spruce and Douglas-fir. For both species, the same proportion of the observed variability for ring density can be explained by growth traits and genetic origin (respectively 54% and 57%). But the most explanatory factors are very different among the species: in Norway spruce, the ring width variable explains most part of the density variation, while in Douglas-fir the weight of genetic variability of ring density itself is much bigger. To explore such a relationship, we used a more refined description of the ring density profile than the usual earlywood-latewood model. This method was based on wavelets decomposition. Preliminary results suggest that a part of the within-ring density variation not accounted by the earlywood-latewood model is of genetic origin. Wavelets decomposition was also used to quantify a trait often quoted, wood homogeneity. High coefficients of variation at the between-clone level for both species let expect a possible high relative genetic gain for wood homogeneity.
Involvement of two nitric oxide-associated genes, NOA1 and GSNOR, in Nicotiana attenuata's resistance to the specialist insect herbivore Manduca sexta

Nitric oxide-associated protein 1 (NOA1) is involved in various abiotic stress responses and is required for plant resistance to pathogen infections. The first chapter of this dissertation explores for the first time the role of NOA1 in plant-herbivore interactions. We created NOA1-silenced Nicotiana attenuata plants (irNaNOA1), which had highly decreased photosynthesis rates. We further examined plant defense traits against its specialist herbivore Manduca sexta by treating WT and irNaNOA1 plants with mechanical wounding and M. sexta oral secretions (OS). NOA1-silenced plants showed elevated levels of herbivory-induced jasmonic acid (JA), but decreased JA-isoleucine conjugate (JA-Ile) levels that did not result from compromised JAR (jasmonic acid resistant) activity in irNOA1 plants. Moreover, nitrogen-rich defensive compounds, nicotine and trypsin proteinase inhibitors (TPI), did not differ between WT and irNaNOA1 plants. In contrast, concentrations of most carbon-based defensive compounds were lower in these plants than in WT plants, although the levels of chlorogenic acid were not changed. Therefore, silencing NOA1 alters the allocation of carbon resources within the phenylpropanoid pathway. These data suggest the involvement of NOA1 in N. attenuata’s defense against M. sexta attack, and highlight its role in photosynthesis, and biosynthesis of jasmonates and secondary metabolites. The second chapter explores GSNOR-involvement in plant–herbivore interactions. S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) reduces the nitric oxide (NO) adduct S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and has been found to be important in resistance to phytopathogens. Using a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system, the activity of GSNOR in N. attenuata was knocked down and the function of GSNOR in defense against the insect herbivore M. sexta was examined. Silencing GSNOR decreased the herbivory-induced accumulation of plant defense regulating phytohormones JA and ethylene without compromising the activity of salicylic acid-induced protein kinase (SIPK) and wound-induced protein kinase (WIPK). Decreased activity of trypsin proteinase inhibitors (TPIs) were detected in GSNOR-silenced plants after simulated M. sexta feeding. Hence, GSNOR-silenced plants have elevated susceptibility to M. sexta attack. GSNOR is also required for methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-induced accumulation of defense-related secondary metabolites (TPI, caffeoylputrescine, and diterpene glycosides) but is not needed for the transcriptional regulation of JAZ3 (jasmonate ZIM-domain 3) and threonine deaminase, indicating that GSNOR mediates certain but not all jasmonate-inducible responses. This work highlights the important role of GSNOR in plant resistance to herbivory and jasmonate signaling and suggests the potential involvement of NO in plant–herbivore interactions.
Fibre and ergosterol contents in forage of Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata and Festulolium at the end of the growing season

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the contents of CF, NDF, ADF and ergosterol in the forage of Festulolium, Dactylis glomerata and Arrhenatherum elatius from stands harvested at the end of the growing season. The contents of CF, NDF and ADF were analysed using the ANKOM Fibre Analyzer instrument. The ergosterol content was analysed by the HPLC method. The lowest CF content was in the Festulolium forage matter (26.8%). Conversely, the highest content was in the Arrhenatherum elatius forage (30.2%). The CF content gradually increased during autumn from 28.0% to 29.4%. Likewise, the NDF and ADF contents were lowest in Festulolium (58.3% and 32.3%, respectively). The highest NDF content was in Arrhenatherum elatius (60.5%). The ADF contents in Arrhenatherum elatius and Dactylis glomerata were comparable (35.9% and 35.1%, respectively). The NDF content increased during autumn from 56.4% to 62.0% and ADF content from 32.8% to 36.4%. The ergosterol content suggests a lower infestation of the Festulo- lium forage by fungi. While this content in the Festulolium forage was 94.9 mg/kg of dry matter (DM), in the Dactylis glomerata forage it was 136.7 mg/kg DM and in the Arrhenatherum elatius forage 139.9 mg/kg DM. Forage samples taken in December contained ergosterol on a level of 248.6 mg/kg DM. The species under study and the time of use in autumn exhibited a statistically highly significant effect ( P < 0.01) on the contents of CF, NDF, ADF and ergosterol in the forage matter.
Body morphometrics, age structure, and partial migration of urban Merlins

ABSTRACr. -Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has both a dense urban breeding population of Merlins (Falco columbarius) and a large wintering population. We censused Merlins in the city to determine population size. Individuals were trapped to identify banded birds and to obtain sex, age, and body-measurement data. We collected data during the breeding seasons and winters of 1985 to 1988. The wintering population, which varied from 22 to 38 birds, consisted almost entirely of locally hatched birds; only 4 of 303 Merlins seen during the four winters of this study were confirmed to be unbanded. Males predominated in the winter-trapped sample (32 of 55) but not significantly so. There was a significant difference in the age distribution of the sexes. Most males (29 of 32) were 3 years old or younger, and most females (12 of 23) were 4 years old or older. Body mass of adults trapped in winter was significantly higher (10.0% for males, 5.3% for females) than those of nonmigrants trapped during the breeding season. Yearling males were 7.6% heavier than breeding yearlings. Yearling female masses were significantly lower (8.7%) in winter than during the breeding season. Of 45 birds trapped in winter, 20 subsequently bred in the city. These birds occupied preferred nesting sites (those showing more consistent occupancy) more often than would be expected by chance. Nests involving a nonmigratory male tended to be more productive than those with a presumed migratory male. We suggest that increased familiarity with the breeding area may convey some advantage to nonmigratory males. Recruitment into the breeding population did not vary at a statistically significant level with migrant/nonmigrant behavior. Only 1 of 15 yearling males, and 0 of 9 yearling females, caught in winter obtained a breeding territory the next spring, even though yearlings made up 21% of the breeding population during our study. Wintering Merlins had a much greater tendency to have offspring that also wintered; individuals presumed to be migratory did not. This implies a genetic component to the development of a resident nonmigratory population. Received 10 January 1989, accepted 3 July 1989.
The deep-sea lysianassoid genus Eurythenes (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Eurytheneidae n. fam.)

Eurythenes gryllus est redecrit a partir de l'holotype de Gammarus gryllus Lichtenstein in Mandt, 1822 ; de l'holotype de Lysianassa magellanica H. Milne Edwards, 1848 ; et d'un des specimens utilises par Lilljeborg (1865a) pour etablir le genre Eurythenes. Eurythenes obesus (Chevreux, 1905), est redecrit et un neotype est etabli. Du nouveau materiel d'E. gryllus et d'E. obesus est mentionne des eaux d'Australasie. Eurythenes thurstoni n. sp. est decrit et la famille Eurytheneidae n. fam. est etablie pour ce genre dans les Lysianassoidea.
Downstream emissions of CH4 and CO2 from hydroelectric reservoirs (Tucuruí, Samuel, and Curuá-Una) in the Amazon basin

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) generated in reservoirs are released downstream of dams, and few studies have considered these downstream emissions. Fluxes downstream of 3 Amazon hydroelectric reservoirs (Tucuruí, Samuel, and Curuá-Una) are reported here. Degassing through turbines was calculated as the difference between intake and outflow concentrations. Additional releases along the Tocantins, Jamari, and Curuá rivers were measured at downstream sites over a distance of 30 km. About 50% of the CH4 and 30% of the CO2 emitted downstream of the dam were liberated at the turbine outflow. The total downstream emissions are sufficiently large to require consideration in assessments of greenhouse gas emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs.
Effect of Wetting/Drying Cycles on Dissipation Patterns of Bioavailable Imazaquin

Greenhouse experiments determined differences in imazaquin bioavailability over time under various soil moisture regimes. All soils were initially fortified with 63 ppb (w/w) of commercially formulated imazaquin. Treatments consisted of maintaining at field capacity for 15 wk (FC), maintaining air-dry for 15 wk (AD), soil that was maintained air-dry for 2 wk and then wet to field capacity at 2 wk intervals (2WAD), and soil that was wet to field capacity at the initiation of the experiment and at 2 wk intervals (2WFC). Little dissipation of imazaquin occurred in the AD soil over the 100 d of this study. Rapid dissipation over the first 35 d occurred for the other three treatments. Imazaquin half-life ranged from 17 to 18 d for the FC, 2WAD, and 2WFC soils. Imazaquin concentration increased or only slightly decreased in samples taken after the second watering in both the 2WAD and the 2WFC soils. Due to differences in adsorption/desorption of imazaquin with changing soil moisture levels, bioassays may not determine the dissipation of the actual concentration of imazaquin contained in soil.
Immunohistochemical assay for detecting estrogen receptors in canine mammary tumors.

OBJECTIVE To determine the estrogen receptor (ER) content of canine mammary gland tumors by use of immunohistochemical (IHC) examination of formalin-fixed sections. SAMPLE POPULATION 21 mammary gland tumors from 20 adult dogs. PROCEDURE ER were detected in formalin-fixed tissues, using an avidin-biotin alkaline phosphatase IHC assay and were quantified on fresh-frozen tumor samples, using a modified dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) assay. RESULTS 7 of 21 tumors had visually detectable nuclear ER by use of IHC staining, whereas 8 of 21 tumors were positive for ER by use of the DCC assay. The ER-positive cells in 5 IHC-positive tumors were epithelial cells with histologic criteria of early malignancy. The remaining 2 ER-positive tumors detected by use of IHC had ER-positive mast cells within areas of connective tissue around the tumor. CONCLUSIONS Immunohistochemistry is an additional method for detection of ER in canine mammary tumors. The major advantage of this type of assay is that it may be performed on formalin-fixed tissues, and individual ER-positive cells may be identified. Discovery of ER-positive mast cells by use of IHC is of concern, particularly if the ER status of a tumor is based on DCC results alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Because most canine mammary tumors are fixed in formalin prior to histologic evaluation, an IHC assay that identifies ER-positive cells is desirable. Adjunctive antiestrogen therapy could be administered to dogs with ER-positive tumors.
Influence of Rootstock and Pruning on Productivity, Growth, and Fruit Size of European Plum Cultivars

Effects of annual mechanical summer shearing on growth and productivity of six European plum cultivars (Prunus domestica L.) were studied. The cultivars were grown for 15 years on three clonal plum rootstocks and trained to modified leader system. The annual summer shearing reduced growth, yield, and yield efficiency index but did not affect mean fruit weight compared to the trees dormant-pruned annually and trained to modified leader system. Trees that were annually dormant-pruned from 1974 to 1984 yielded similarly when grown on ‘Brompton’ (P. domestica L.) and ‘St. Julien A’ (P. insititia Bailey) and ‘Myrobalan B’ (P. cerasifera Ehrh.). Yields of ‘Verity’ and ‘Valor’ were higher than ‘Iroquois’ and ‘Italian’, which had the lowest cumulative yield. ‘Bluebell’, ‘Stanley’, and ‘Valor’ had intermediate yields. Mean fruit weight was the same for all rootstocks trained to modified leader systems, but, after 7 consecutive years of shearing, pooled mean fruit weight from trees on ‘Myrobalan B’ was smaller than that of other roots. Trees with ‘Myrobalan B’ root were larger than trees grown on ‘Brompton’ and ‘St. Julien A’.