Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neurologie Disease in Moose Infected Experimentally with Pneumostrongylus tenuis from White-Tailed Deer

An experiment was undertaken to test the hypothesis that moose neurologic disease is cerebrospinal nematodiasis. Two moose calves (Alces a. americana) were infected with Pneumostrongylus tenuis derived from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis). Two to three weeks later both calves became lethargic and seemed unwilling to rise. This weakness and ataxia became progressively more pronounced and terminated in paraplegia. One calf was autopsied on the 40th day, the other on the 60th day. Fifth-stage P. tenuis were found in saline in which the central nervous system of the first calf had been placed. Numerous subadult worms were found in subdural spaces of the cranium and vertebral column of the second moose. Histological study revealed additional worms and traumatic damage in the central canal and dorsal horns of the cord of both calves. Focal malacia with micro-cavitation was found in all regions of the cord. Infiltrations of round cells and eosinophils in the leptomeninges, the ventral fissure and the dorsal sulcus, perivascular cuffing with round cells, petechial haemorrhages, neuron degeneration and loss, as well as swelling and disappearance of axis cylinders and myelin sheaths were observed. The known distribution and characteristics of neurologic disease in wild moose supports the hypothesis that P. tenuis is the ætiological agent.
Impact of water stress on fresh tuber yield and dry matter content of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Côte d'Ivoire.

The production and transformation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots are increasing in Cote d’Ivoire. Characteristics of cassava, at different times of planting and harvesting were studied. For the September plantings, the local cultivar produced less than the improved varieties but maintained a superior dry matter content. In the June plantings, there was no significant difference in fresh root weight. In June planting, the fresh tubers yields showed significant increases up to the harvest after 15 months (43.1 t ha-1) and declined thereafter about 37.01 t ha-1 at 18 months, while dry matter were highest from September plantings with 37.32% at 12 months and regularly reduced until 18 months about 33.18%. The highest dry matter content of cassava tubers is attained when the water stress does not exceed one period in the first 6 months. Dry roots yields were highest (15.27 t ha-1) when roots were harvested in September, but continued to decrease up to 12.59 t ha-1 in December with June planting. These findings suggest that the best time to harvest cassava is September if the aim is to transform cassava into “attieke” for example. Dry roots yield is markedly influenced by environmental conditions, especially water stress immediately before root harvest. Key words: Cassava, seasons, water stress, yields, Cote d'Ivoire.
Toxicity of monoterpenes from Pinus radiata cortical oleoresin to Diplodia pinea spores1

The effect on spore germmation and germ tube growth of Diplodia pinea produced by (+)- α-pinene, (−)-β-pinene, (+)-Δ3-carene, (−)-limonene, β-phellandrene, and terpinolene was determined over a range of vapour concentrations. Spore germination was most inhibited by A3-carene; germ tube growth was inhibited by all these monoterpenes except (−)-limonenc and s-phellandrene. In contrast to the low toxicity of (−)-limonene, (+)-limonene (not known to be present in Pinus radiata cortical oleoresin) was extremely toxic to both spore germination and germ tube growth. The results arc discussed in rotation to an earlier observation that trees free of dieback in the field had high levels of certain monoterpenes.
Lipopolysaccharide-associated resistance to killing of yersiniae by complement

Yersinia pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica share ~70 kb low calcium response (Lcr) plasmids encoding virulence factors expressed at 37°C that, except for the adhesin YadA, are repressed by Ca2+ (Lcr+). Virulence factors encoded on both the Lcr plasmid and chromosome have been reported to protect yersiniae against complement-dependent killing. In this study, LPS was isolated from yersiniae of serum-sensitive phenotypes (Lcr+ and Lcr- Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis grown at 26°C and Lcr - Y. enterocolitica grown at 37°C) and incorporated into liposomes containing radioactive chromium. These vesicles lysed with release of free 51Cr in normal but not decomplemented serum. Liposomes prepared from serum-resistant phenotypes (Lcr+ and Lcr- Y. pestis grown at 26°C or 37°C, Lcr+ and Lcr- Y. pseudotubercu losis grown at 37°C, and Lcr+ Y. enterocolitica grown at 37°C) did not undergo complement-dependent lysis. LPS from serum-resistant Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis was rough as judged by deficiency of O-groups.
Absence of a clear relationship between lipid pathway enzymes and volatile compounds in fresh tomatoes

Summary Specific activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were determined at green, pink, and red stages of ripeness in twelve tomato selections ripened during storage. The interrelationships among lipid-derived volatiles and the activities of these three enzymes in these twelve selections were evaluated. LOX and HPL showed highest activities at the pink stage of ripeness, whereas ADH was most active at the red stage. Variability of enzyme activity among individual fruit and of hue angle within ripeness stage was great. There were differences among the twelve lines for each of the enzyme activities, suggesting the potential for altering tomato flavor by selecting lines with different enzyme patterns. A wide difference in mean enzyme activities and concentrations of measured volatiles was noted. Predictive models were developed for hexanal, trans -2-heptanal, pentenone, cis -3-hexenal, trans -2-hexenal, cis -3-hexenol, and methanol as a function of one or more of the enzymes studied. Enzyme activity itself was not found to be a good predictor of the amount of volatiles produced suggesting that genetic modification of a single specific enzyme is not likely to produce a beneficial effect on fresh tomato flavor.
Tree Species Composition and Food Availability Affect Productivity of an Endangered Species: The Golden-Cheeked Warbler

Abstract. Vegetation characteristics affect avian reproductive success for a variety of reasons, including predators, nesting sites, song perches, and food availability. We investigated the relationship between habitat composition and prey availability and the effect these variables have on reproductive success in the Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia). Our objectives were to determine differences in pairing and fledging success of Golden-cheeked Warbler territories in two distinctive vegetation types and to explore the relationship between reproductive success and tree species composition, arthropod density, and foraging effort. We sampled in 2009 and 2010 at Fort Hood, north-central Texas, within 347 territories of two vegetation types: post oak (Quercus stellata) habitat and Texas oak (Q. buckleyi) habitat. Pairing and fledging success of territories was significantly higher in Texas oak habitat. The birds' rate of movement was considerably higher in post oak habitat, indicating a difference in prey-encounter rate. Golden-cheeked Warblers clearly switched substrates on which they foraged from oaks in April to juniper in May. Arthropod sampling revealed a correlation between preferred foraging substrates and arthropod density. Our study of foraging indicates that the interplay between tree species and the arthropod communities they support is a crucial element driving the Golden-cheeked Warbler's reproductive success.
Fenologia, exigência térmica e produtividade de videiras 'Niagara Branca', 'Niagara Rosada 'e 'Concord' submetidas a duas safras por ciclo vegetativo

This study aimed at tracking phenology, thermal demand and productivity of Niagara Branca, Niagara Rosada and Concord grapevines subjected to a dry pruning in winter and a green pruning in the end of spring, focused on obtaining two grapes harvests by vegetative cycle. The experiment was performed at Eldorado do Sul's Agronomic Experimental Station, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, during the 2007/2008 harvesting. The plants were subjected to two dates of pruning in winter (07/22/07 and 08/20/07), performed by means of a short pruning, and two green pruning dates (11/15/07 and 12/17/07), performed by pruning the shoot starting from the fourth bud above the last grape cluster. The grapevine phenological sub periods considered were the vegetative, ranging from the pruning to sprouting and from the sprouting to flowering; and the reproductive, ranging from flowering to harvesting. Such ranges were monitored based on the degree-day accumulation. The grapevine production, total soluble solids and total titratable acidity were evaluated for the two crops. Results showed that all cultivars need around 1500 degree-days to complete their cycle, for both harvests. Early winter pruning increased the duration of the phenological cycle of plants compared to pruning performed in August due to the increased phenological subperiod pruning/flowering on the grapevines with early pruning. The anticipation of the winter pruning allowed advancing the first harvest, producing early grapes with higher market value. The phenological cycle of the second harvest was shorter than the first harvest due to higher temperatures during development of plants on the green pruning. The combination between winter pruning in August and green pruning in November was the most effective to obtain a second harvest in the same grapevine vegetative cycle. Plants subjected to green pruning provided a second harvest, between March/April, offering economic benefits to the producer and expanding the availability of fruit to consumers.
Seed germination of Euterpe edulis Mart.

). Em condicoes naturais, as sementes de palmiteiro germinam lenta e esporadicamente, principalmente em certos periodos do ano. Foi notado que sementes postas para germinar em julho, so a partir de dezembro comecaram a emergir do solo, ao passo que as plantadas em fins de novembro, ja no inicio de janeiro atingiram aquele es­tadio. A polpa oleaginosa, que e mantida em torno do endocarpo fibroso da semente, contribui para baixar a porcentagem de germi­nacao nas condicoes normais, constituindo-se em rico substrato para o desenvolvimento de microrganismos prejudiciais a viabilidade da germinacao. Considerando as sementes que sao comidas e destruidas por animais e insetos, apenas uma porcao bastante reduzida conse­gue germinar e atingir a idade de um ano. Essa lenta e desuniforme germinacao do palmiteiro e reconhecida como um serio problema pratico para o estabelecimento de plantios racionais dessa cultura. Na ausencia de propagacao vegetativa, o estabelecimento de planta­coes de palmiteiro depende exclusivamente da obtencao de mudas com desenvolvimento vegetativo homogeneo, em grande numero e prontas para plantio no inicio da estacao chuvosa. Devido aos fatores acima mencionados foi estabelecido um en­saio, com o objetivo de verificar a possibilidade de diminuir o periodo de dormencia, em condicoes naturais, visando obter maior viabili­dade, rapidez e uniformidade de germinacao. Material e metodos — As sementes provieram de palmiteiros adultos, existentes na Reserva Florestal de Aguas da Prata, SP, e de palmiteiros em primeira floracao, existentes em Barueri (SP). Por escassez de material na epoca da montagem do ensaio (30-11-73) ele foi delineado em blocos casualizados, com 10 tratamentos e quatro blocos, sendo que em dois deles usaram-se sementes de Ba­rueri, e nos outros dois blocos foram utilizadas sementes de Aguas da Prata. O material proveniente de Barueri era de tamanho bas­tante reduzido, quando comparado com o de Aguas da Prata: en­quanto as sementes de Barueri apresentavam diâmetro medio de 0,7 cm a 0,8 cm, as de Aguas da Prata chegavam a alcancar diâmetro de 1,3 cm a 1,5 cm. Usando o material citado e baseando na anatomia e morfologia da semente do palmiteiro, procurou-se, atraves de 10 tratamentos, verificar se a dormencia natural da semente era devida ao embriao, bastante rudimentar, ou se as deficiencias enzimaticas ou a qualquer outro impedimento mecânico que dificultasse a pene­tracao de agua no embriao, atrasando a sua germinacao.
On the radiated noise of the autosub autonomous underwater vehicle

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) can be very quiet platforms from which to make observations of marine living resources. With few moving parts and very low propulsion power they should have a very low underwater radiated noise signature. The purpose of this paper is to describe measurements on Autosub to test this assumption. The measured noise level and spectrum are compared to the ICES proposal for the radiated noise of fisheries research vessels. Integrated over the band 100 Hz to 5000 Hz the AUV source level, at 124 dB relative to 1mPa at 1 m, was about 39 dB below of the ICES specification and about 30 dB quieter than the noise-reduced vessel "Scotia". Autosub is in fact exceedingly quiet. The difficulties of making measurements of the underwater radiated noise of a quiet submerged vehicle are discussed and suggestions are made for improvements in techniques.
The relic population of forest elephants near Lac Tumba, Democratic Republic of Congo: Abundance, dung life span, food items and movements

A survey of forest elephant was conducted in the southern Lake Tumba region, using both transect and forest reconnaissance methods. Three focal areas of elephants were discovered in the region stretching from Ngombe down to the region of Malebo. Due to insufficient data, only relative abundances were calculated and varied among these three different locations: 0.03 dung-piles/km (Ngombe–Lake Tumba), 0.04 dungpiles/km (Mbanzi–Malebo) and 0.33 dung-piles/km (Lukolela). Elephant trails in the Malebo–Mbanzi area were traversed 0.52 passages/day, within the range [0.50–3.0], indicating a permanent presence of elephants in the zone. Dung-piles in the dry and rainy seasons yielded an overall mean dung lifespan of μ = 109 days within the range [42–182] and seasonal mean lifespan μ = 127.6 days within [70–182] and μ = 87.33 days within [42–126] respectively. Dung-pile heights decreased following the equations y = -4.8818lnx + 16.278 and y = 26.025e -0.3734+x respectively. Seed counts on elephant dung-piles indicated that Dysplasia dewevrei, Klainedoxa gabonensis, Treculia africana and Anonidium mannii constituted ca 70% of seeds found in elephant dung-piles. Elephant movements were suspected by the layout of trails but their confirmation would need a more detailed study.
Ctenophore kairomones and modified aminosugar disaccharides alter the shadow response in a larval crab

Zoea larvae of the estuarine crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould) descend in the water column upon sudden decreases in irradiance, which serves as a shadow response for the avoidance of zooplankton predators such as ctenophores. This study tested the hypotheses that (i) kairomones from either the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi or the fish Fundulus heteroclitus increase the shadow-response sensitivity by reducing the minimum decrease in irradiance necessary to evoke the response (i.e. threshold); and (ii) a similar increase in shadow-response sensitivity as occurs with ctenophore kairomones is also induced by the external mucus of ctenophores and modified aminosugar disaccharide hydrolysis products of acidic mucopolysaccharides. Light-adapted R. harrisii Stage I zoea were conditioned to chemical treatments for 3 h, and their photoresponses were tested in an apparatus that mimicked the underwater angular light distribution. In clean sea water, the shadow response was induced by a 50% reduction in irradiance (threshold). The threshold decreased to 30% in sea water with fish kairomones and 9% in sea water with ctenophore kairomones. A minimum concentration of 1.0 g wet weight ctenophore mucus l -1 was required to reduce the shadow-response threshold. Chondroitin sulfate A disaccharides had an effect similar to kairomones and mucus in reducing the threshold, with the greatest effect at a concentration of 10 -6 M. Tests with other disaccharides indicated that only acetylamine-containing aminosugars were effective. The test hypotheses were supported; predator kairomones, ctenophore external mucus, and purified aminosugar disaccharides having acetylamine functionality reduced the threshold decrease in irradiance needed to evoke shadow responses in crab larvae.
Amplification and restriction endonuclease digestion of the Pr1 gene for the detection and characterization of Metarhizium strains

A method is described for identifying strains of Metarhizium suitable for use in field experiments. It involves the restriction endonuclease digestion of a PCR product derived from the PrI protease gene and the analysis of the fragments by electrophoresis. Using this technique, 40 Metarhizium strains produced 15 different profile types and were clustered into four groups. Correlation between the profile of restriction fragments and geographic origin was observed for certain groups of strains. This PCR strategy allowed the identification of fungal strains, using as samples spores scraped from the surface of single insects killed by the fungus or single whole dead insects with external mycelium. The sequence of the PrI PCR product from two strains revealed that Prl gene has at least three introns.
Mechanical characterization of Linear Friction Welded Titanium alloys

The mechanical properties in terms of tensile behaviour, fatigue strength and toughness of Linear FrictionWelded (LFW) Titanium (Ti) alloys were studied and compared to the parent materials' (PM) behaviour. LFWis a solid state joining process that could be used for assembling heavily loaded structures in the aerospaceindustry. Since the Weld Centre Zone (WCZ) of a similar Ti6242 LFW joint exhibited overmatching strength,its fracture mechanisms and ductility were investigated by micro-tensile tests using notched specimens. Theyrevealed some ductility and a mixture of brittle and ductile fracture mechanisms. Local strain and normalizedstrain rate fields on smooth samples were assessed by Stereo Digital Image Correlation (SDIC) and showedan early plastic activity at yielding in the vicinity of the WCZ, attributed to residual stresses. For the target lifeof 105 cycles, the fatigue strength was slightly reduced but compromised by a strong scatter that was relatedto prior to welding contamination. The LFW self-cleaning mechanism also failed to extrude the contaminantsat the weld interface of a dissimilar Ti17-Ti64 LFW joint that led to pseudo-brittle fracture at a defect layerin the WCZ. For a pre-cleaned dissimilar Ti17-Ti64 LFW joint, ductile rupture was observed sometimes atthe Ti64 PM and sometimes at the Ti17 thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), due to a depletion ofthe strengthening alpha phase. Fatigue cracks initiated at the weak Ti17 TMAZ with a reduced fatigue strengthcompared to the PM. Fracture toughness was significantly reduced and the fracture surface at the TMAZhighlighted unexpected clusters of parallel and elongated voids. These trends were also observed for a similarTi17 LFW joint. Comparable mechanical properties to those of the Ti17 PM were successfully regained bymeans of a post-weld heat treatment.
Therapeutic properties of whey used as fermented drink

Bioconversion of whey for preparation of beverage was standardized by utilizing yoghurt cultures. The product, wheyghurt drink, made with 4% yoghurt cultures inoculated in deproteinized whey (4.8% lactose, 0.66% ash, 0.46% fat and 0.40% protein adjusted to pH 6.4) and incubated at 42oC for 8h had all the technological requisite and dietetic criteria required in the product. The factors affecting the antibacterial activity of wheyghurt drink against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae and Bacillus cereus were determined. There was a significant variation (P<0.05) in the antibacterial activity of wheyghurt drink with different levels of inoculum (1,2,4, and 8%) and concentration of sugar at 37, 42 and 45oC. Incubation at 42oC with 4% culture in whey exhibited highest inhibitory activity. The product stored up to 5 days under refrigeration was of acceptable organoleptic quality and requisite amount of microbial population (108 cfu/ml) to be potentially beneficial.
Higher acidification rates in fens with phosphorus enrichment

ABSTRACT Question: Why is bryophyte succession in eutrophicated fens faster than in natural fens? Location: Mineral-rich fens in The Netherlands and NW Europe. Methods: Literature review on the ecology of four bryophyte species in various successional types as observed in Dutch fens. Results: Bryophyte succession in eutrophicated fens from the brown moss Calliergonella cuspidata to Sphagnum squarrosum is much faster than in natural fens with species shifts from Scorpidium scorpioides to Sphagnum subnitens. Under P-poor conditions, the brown moss stage is stabilized as long as mineral-rich water is supplied. This is because S. scorpioides is tolerant of rainwater, is a strong competitor and can counteract acidification to some extent while S. subnitens is intolerant to groundwater and has low growth rates and low acidification capacity. In contrast, the Sphagnum stage is stable after rapid succession from rich-fen mosses under P-rich conditions. Calliergonella cuspidata has suboptimal growth in rainwater, possibly due to ammonium toxicity, while the high growth rates of S. squarrosum in nutrient-rich and highly acidic groundwater allow early establishment and rapid expansion. Conclusions: If measures to improve fen base status occur in environments of increased nutrient (P) availability, the management may not lead to the desired restoration of brown moss stages, but instead to rapid acidification by S. squarrosum. Nomenclature: Smith (1978) for bryophytes; van der Meijden (1996) for vascular plants. Abbreviations: EC = Electrical conductivity, IR = Ionic ratio
The genus Bathysciola Jeannel, 1910 in the Iberian Peninsula and Pyrenees, taxonomic revision of sections IV, VI and VII (Jeannel, 1924) (coleoptera, cholevidae, leptodirinae)

The taxonomy of the Iberian and Pyrenean species of Bathysciola Jeannel, 1910 (sections IV, VI and VII of Jeannel, 1924) is revised. The proposed ordenation is based on the study of the genital structures of both sexes, in particular the sclerotised shield of the internal sac of the aedeagus. According to the different models of internal sac were identified the following species groups in the genus Bathysciola Jeannel, section IV: aubei group of Peyerimhoff (1 taxon): B. aubei (Kiesenwetter); madoni new group (2 taxa): B. madoni Jeannel and B. penicillata Jeannel; zariquieyi new group (2 taxa): B. zariquieyi zariquieyi Bolivar and B. zariquieyi serratensis Coiffait; section VII or ovata group of Perreau (8 taxa): B. asperula asperula (Fairmaire), B. asperula subasperata (Saulcy) (= intermedia Jeannel), B. ovata ovata (Kiesenwetter), B. ovata aragonica Coiffait, B. ovata catalana Coiffait, B. ovata gabasensis Hustache, B. simonis (Abeille de Perrin) and B. talpa (Normand); section VI: lapidicola new group (4 taxa): B. arcuatipes Jeannel, B. lapidicola lapidicola (Saulcy), B. lapidicola rectipes Coiffait and B. lapidicola simplex Coiffait; meridionalis new group (3 taxa): B. finismillennii sp. n. , B. grenieri (Saulcy) and B. meridionalis (J. Du Val) (= nitidula Normand); larcennei new group (2 taxa): B. convena Jeannel new rank and B. larcennei (Abeille de Perrin); schiodtei group of Perreau (9 taxa): B. bigerrica Jeannel new rank (= convexa Coiffait n. syn.), B. breuili Bolivar (= azuai Bolivar n. syn.), B. diegoi Salgado & Fresneda, B. fauveli Jeannel, B. grandis (Fairmaire), B. obermaieri Bolivar, B. parallela (Jeannel), B. rugosa (Sharp) and B. schiodtei (Kiesenwetter) (= navarica Coiffait). Incertae sedis: Bathysciola aranensis Coiffait and Bathysciola minuscula (Abeille de Perrin).