Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biochemical and physiological responses in Wistar rat after administration of puffer fish (Lagocephalus lagocephalus) flesh

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of the puffer fish L. lagocephalus after administration to Wistar rats. For this purpose, male wistar rats were fed during two periods of treatment, 48 h and 2 months, with a standard rat diet supplemented with the L. lagocephalus flesh. Various diet compositions were tested: 100% standard rat diet (T); 10% of raw flesh of L. lagocephalus (Lcr); 10% of cooked flesh of L. lagocephalus with or without water of cooking (Lcu+b and Lcu-b respectively). The values were validated by concerning flesh of raw and cooked mule Liza aurata (Mcr and Mcu+b respectively). The evaluation of hematologic parameters showed that Lcr and Lcu+b foods induced in the rats haemolytic anaemia (for the two treatment periods) as well as macrocytic anaemia accompanied with swelling and interruption of erythrocytes maturation. For Lcu+b rats, serum analysis showed disturbance of transaminase activity (aspartate aminotransferase AST and alanine aminotransferase ALT) which could indicate an uncompensated hepatic cellular lesions. Indeed, a significant reduction of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) rate was noted after 2 months of treatment. These results were confirmed by a hyperproduction of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver tissue suggesting hepatic oxidative damages. However, the serum cholinesterase activity (AChE) showed no significant variation between rat groups, suggesting that brain was not altered. These findings were not similar to those of Lcu-b and Lcr. Hence, the cytotoxic factor of L. lagocephalus flesh seems to be water-soluble and heat-stable. In raw flesh, the extraction is less to cause only hematologic effects, whereas, in cooked flesh with the use of water of cooking, the extraction is more important and causes more effects. These results suggested that in diet containing the cooked flesh with water of cooking, the toxic effect is more pronounced than in raw flesh.
The role of melanin‐ and carotenoid‐based plumage coloration in nest defence in the Great Tit

Although plumage coloration is recognized to convey valuable information about the bearer’s parental abilities, few studies have explored the relationship between coloration and nest defence. In this study in Great Tit Parus major, we analysed the relationship between nest defence and melanin- as well as carotenoid-based plumage coloration, after controlling for ecological variables known to influence nest defence. A principal components analysis was applied to classify birds according to how vigorously they defended the nest, and the intensity of nest defence was tested against plumage coloration. Males with a large black tie defended their nests more vigorously, but no such effect was found for yellow breast coloration. This suggests that melanin-based coloration in the Great Tit is associated with aggression, including both dominanceaggression and nest defence, whereas carotenoid-based coloration is not. The challenge in future studies will be to demonstrate whether females use this trait as an ornament to assess male quality and whether they trade off between the different ornaments a male may exhibit.
Eocene Actinopterygian Fishes from Pakistan, with the Description of a New Genus and Species of Channid (Channiformes)

Abstract A collection of fossil material from Eocene deposits of Pakistan includes remains belonging to various taxa of actinopterygian fishes. The material comes from predominantly freshwater deposits, as well as a few marine deposits, in the Kuldana Formation in the Kala Chitta Hills, and from the Chorgali Formation near Gali Jaghir, in Attock District of Punjab Province. The Kuldana and Chorgali formations are early to middle Eocene in age. Isolated bones and teeth are identified as belonging to Eotrigonodontidae, Pycnodontiformes, Amiidae, Osteoglossidae, Siluriformes (cf. Bagridae), and Perciformes, as well as unidentified Teleostei. Some of the fossils are skulls of a channiform fish, which is here described as a new genus and species, Anchichanna kuldanensis. The faunal affinities of the Indo-Pakistan area during the Eocene are not clear, with previous studies suggesting it is faunally more similar to other parts of modern Asia, others as it representing a region of endemism, or even as being similar to northern Africa. The fish material reported here indicates a relationship between the Pakistan fauna in the Eocene with that of northern Africa.
RESPONSES OF INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM TO ACUTE HANDLING STRESS AND RECOVERY IN UNTRAINED AND TRAINED LEUCISCUS CEPHALUS (CYPRINIDAE, TELEOSTEI)

Summary 1. Juvenile Leuciscus cephalus L. were forced to swim against a current of 25 cms" 1 (3-5 body lengths s" 1 ) intermittently for more than 2 months. Their metabolic responses to acute handling stress and recovery were compared to those of untrained L. cephalus. 2. The concentrations of glycolytic intermediates, malate and phosphocreatine were determined in whole-body homogenates of different fish before and immediately after mechanical stimulation leading to exhaustion, as well as after 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min of recovery. 3. The time course of recovery was described by fitting a bi-exponential equation. In untrained fish glycolytic metabolites, except pyruvate, showed maximum concentrations immediately after termination of the stress period, whereas in trained fish these maxima were delayed. 4. In trained L. cephalus the concentrations of all metabolites investigated returned to pre-exercise levels much faster than in untrained fish. Most characteristically, lactate was removed about four times faster from the tissues of trained than from those of untrained L. cephalus. 5. It is argued that anaerobic recovery, a well-known characteristic of exercise physiology in man and other vertebrates, is the driving force of accelerated recovery of trained L. cephalus.
Domoic acid production and elemental composition of two Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries strains, from the NW and SW Atlantic Ocean, growing in phosphorus- or nitrogen-limited chemostat cultures.

Here we compare cell physiology and domoic acid (DA) production for two strains of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries originating from two opposite latitudes: Canada (CA) and Brazil (BR). The algae were grown as chemostat cultures at 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 day ―1 under nitrogen (N)- and phosphorus (P)-deficient conditions. The level of deficiency significantly affected the atomic C:N, C:P, C:Si and N:P ratios in both strains. In both strains, P per cell was 2―4 × higher in the N- than in the P-deficient cultures. The opposite was not found for N in the P-deficient cultures, as shown by the N:P ratios and C:N ratios. The C:N and C:P ratios were significantly lower in the CA strain, and this did not change due to the level of deficiency. The concentration and production of DA per cell per day were significantly higher for both strains under P deficiency as expected since the toxin is rich in N. However, DA was also produced by both strains during continuous cell division under N deficiency. High or low bacterial densities associated with P. multiseries did not increase or decrease DA production. Our data imply that more attention needs to be given to the N:P ratios and concentrations in the waters where these algae occur, as both N and P deficiencies affect DA production and cellular DA concentrations.
Developmentaltrajectoriesingeographicallyseparated populationsofnon-marineostracods:morphometric applicationsforpalaeoecologicalstudies

Developmental trajectories refer here to patterns of size and shape changes in ostracod valves during the sequence of post-embryonic growth stages. The information obtained from the study of such patterns has significant applications for evolutionary biology and/or (palaeo) ecology. Using geometric morphometrics methods, we describe the developmental trajectories of three ostracod species with valves retrieved from the sediments of lakes Mondsee (Austria), Hancza (Poland) and Iseo (Italy). Size and shape data result in distinct developmental trajectories. Ontogenetic changes agree with predictions of Prizbram’s and Brooks’ laws. Patterns of valve shape change provide information which might be of use to the taxonomic defini tion of evolutionary lineages and to the development of studies of allometry and heterochrony in nonmarine ostracods.
Experimental evidence for interference competition in oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus. II. Free-living birds

Interference competition, the immediately reversible decrease in per capita foraging success with increasing forager density, has important implications for the distribution of foragers. Theoretical models predict the strength of interference at different prey densities for birds differing in dominance. Observational studies have been used to validate the theoretical predictions, but there is reason to believe that these nonexperimental studies suffer from confounding factors. We therefore manipulated forager density of oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus foraging on live cockles Cerastoderma edule (low density: 1 bird per 50 m-super-2 and high density: 2 birds per 50 m-super-2) in a unique experimental facility closely mimicking natural feeding conditions. In the high-density situation, the intake rate was on average reduced by 36% compared with the interference-free intake rate. However, this effect depended on status with intake rate of subordinates being more strongly reduced than intake rate of dominants ( - 45% vs. - 25%). We could not investigate all possible mechanisms, but we observed that birds actively avoided each other, possibly to avoid kleptoparasitism. Our experiment shows that the decline in intake rate with increasing density of conspecifics is at least partly due to direct interactions between birds and possibly also to indirect interactions via prey depression but not to an unidentified confounding factor that covaries with intake rate and bird density, as may have been the case in nonexperimental field studies. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.
La résistance du VIH aux inhibiteurs de l’intégrase

Deux inhibiteurs de l’integrase du VIH1 sont actuellement utilises dans des essais cliniques chez des patients infectes par le VIH1 et pretraites. Les resultats d’efficacite antiretrovirale de cette nouvelle classe en cours de developpement (autorisation temporaire d’utilisation de cohorte pour le raltegravir et phase II pour l’elvitegravir) sont tres positifs. En revanche, comme pour les autres antiretroviraux, des mutations sur le gene de l’integrase ont ete mises en evidence in vitro comme associees a la resistance aux inhibiteurs de l’integrase du VIH1. Pour les differentes molecules testees, 42 mutations ont ete repertoriees sur l’ensemble du gene mais les profils de mutation different selon le mecanisme d’action des inhibiteurs. Les etudes de polymorphisme de l’integrase et les essais cliniques ont confirme l’importance de certaines de ces mutations significativement associees a l’echec virologique d’un traitement comportant des inhibiteurs de l’integrase. Cela a permis, en juillet 2007, l’inclusion d’un profil de resistance au raltegravir dans l’algorithme de l’ANRS. Mais ces donnees de resistance sont preliminaires et doivent etre confirmees par de nouvelles etudes incluant un grand nombre de patients. Ces etudes permettront de repondre aux questions concernant la resistance croisee entre les differents inhibiteurs d’integrase et la vitesse d’apparition des mutations de resistance chez des patients infectes et traites par ces medicaments.
High-temperature-induced Electrolyte Leakage from Excised Leaves and Roots of Three Hollies

Membrane thermostability of 'Needlepoint' Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta Lindl. & Paxt.) , 'Albo-marginat a' English holly (Ilex aquifolium L.), and 'Nellie R. Stevens', an Ilex aquifolium × Ilex cornuta hybrid, was determined by measuring electrolyte leakage in excised leaves and roots. The critical midpoint heat-killing temperature (T,) after a 30- min exposure was 54.4 ± 0.4C for 'Nellie R. Stevens' leaves and was ≈ lC higher than that for Chinese (52.9 ± 0.3C) or English holly (52.9 ± 0.4C). The T m for English holly roots (53.9 ±_ 1.5C) was higher than that for either 'Nellie R. Stevens' (51.7 ± 0.3C) or Chinese holly (50.1 ± 0.3C). The results of this study suggest that English holly and 'Nellie R. Stevens' leaves and roots can withstand direct heat injury equal to or greater than that of Chinese holly.
Resource partitioning between low-density and high-density grazers : sable antelope, zebra and buffalo

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv DEDICATION. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii LIST OF FIGURES . x INTRODUCTION. 1 The need for the study. 1 Literature review. 3 Rare and low density species . 3 Spatial scale of resource partitioning among large herbivores . 5 Competition. 7 Research design . 9 Thesis outline . 10 References. 12 CHAPTER ONE . 19 Precision versus tolerance in food niche of low-density and high-density grazers: sable antelope, zebra and buffalo . 19 Abstract . 19 Introduction. 20 Methods. 23 Study area. 23 Research design . 25 Field data collection. 27 Data analysis . 30 Results. 36 Distinctions between grazers in the availability and acceptance of grass species . 36 Distinctions between grazers in grass features influencing the acceptance of grass species . 38 Distinctions between herbivores in tolerance of grass features . 39. 19 Introduction. 20 Methods. 23 Study area. 23 Research design . 25 Field data collection. 27 Data analysis . 30 Results. 36 Distinctions between grazers in the availability and acceptance of grass species . 36 Distinctions between grazers in grass features influencing the acceptance of grass species . 38 Distinctions between herbivores in tolerance of grass features . 39
Desiccation tolerance and natural cold acclimation allow cryopreservation of bryophytes without pretreatment or use of cryoprotectants

Abstract Biodiversity of threatened species can be preserved in cryopreservation repositories, allowing storage of biological information and future re-introduction to the wild. The success of ex situ programs for species conservation relies on using simple and efficient cryopreservation techniques. Bryophytes may be classified as stress-tolerant plants, but a large fraction worldwide is nevertheless threatened by extinction to various degrees. The aims of this study were to investigate how to exploit natural stress tolerance of bryophytes in the development of simple cryopreservation protocols without the use of cryoprotectants or pretreatment. We studied regeneration capacity of bryophytes found at different moisture and light conditions in vivo (reflecting varying levels of plant desiccation tolerance), both sampled from herbarium specimens of varying ages and also collected in situ during winter season and thus naturally cold acclimated. Furthermore, to identify optimal samples for direct cryopreservation we investigated how the ability to regenerate corresponds to the fragment size. We show that young samples (≤ 7 yrs) of the most desiccation tolerant species regenerate via protonemata, where shoot tips regenerate better than small plant fragments. Herbaria can therefore represent a source of samples for direct cryopreservation when using desiccation tolerant species, stored for a limited time. Conversely, all species sampled in situ regenerated, mainly through budding. In these plants, the number of regenerated samples is positively correlated to desiccation tolerance, and they show a higher frost tolerance than previously reported. Cryopreservation without pretreatment or cryoprotectants of cold acclimated bryophytes can therefore be used as a simple and efficient method for storage of bryophyte tissue.
An algal pigment ratio as an indicator of the nitrogen supply to phytoplankton in three Norfolk broads

SUMMARY. A pigment ratio representing the ratio of carotenoid pigments to chlorophyll-a was calculated by dividing the optical density at 480 nm by that at 664 nm for a 90% acetone extract of phytoplankton. Its seasonal variation in three Norfolk broads was examined and, except for nitrogen-fixing species, it was found to vary independently of the algal species composition. A good inverse correlation with the particulate nitrogen to carbon ratio was found. The seasonal variation in the pigment ratio was considerably affected by measurable lake concentrations of inorganic nitrogen supplied from ttie catchment. Other sources of nitrogen such as nitrogen fixation and release from the sediment were also indicated by changes in the ratio. By comparison with the distinctions of extreme, moderate and no nitrogen deficiency drawn by Healey (1975) for the nitrogen/carbon ratio, values for the pigment ratio of 2.4 were found to indicate no, moderate and extreme nitrogen deficiency respectively in the phytoplankton. The relation ship is attributed to the measurement of secondary carotenoids in response to nitrogen deficiency.
Effect of Magnetic field on the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Magnetic fields with two densities (1200 , 3200)gauss experminted on two kinds of bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in Nutrient broth media . The field subjected for (1,2,3) weeks, and the growth monitored using optical density (OD) method. The results shows greatest effects of 3200 gauss than 1200 gauss on bacteria growth comparing with control sample after third week. The OD resulte of bacteria Escherichia coli (0.3) with 3200 gauss and (6) with 1200 gauss comparing with control sample(175.4) and bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (1) with 3200 gauss, and (10) with 1200 gauss comparing with control sample (174.4).
Cloning, expression and purification of cold adapted acetate kinase from Shewanella species AS-11

A psychrotrophic bacterium, Shewanella sp. AS-11 was isolated from a buccinid (shell) Neobuccinum living in the Antarctic ice-covered sea. An open reading frame of 1203 bp, coding for acetate kinase gene, called ack, was amplified, cloned into the expression vector, pETY-16b, and the enzyme was overproduced by using T7 system in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). After extraction of crude recombinant acetate kinase, the desired enzyme was able to be purified on a Blue Sepharose CL-6B and Super-Q affinity column chromatography. The molecular mass of the enzyme is about 86 kDa, which is associated with two monomers. In respect of pH, the enzyme was stable between 6 to 8 and maximum activity was obtained at 7.5. The purified enzyme was stable at 30°C but ligand bound enzyme was stable at 40°C. The structural comparison to mesophilic and thermophilic acetate kinases demonstrates that the psychrophilic one contains lower number of salt bridges and cation-pi interaction. So, it can be suggested that the enzyme is cold adapted with thermolabile and flexible structure. Keywords: Acetate kinase, thermolabile, cold adapted, flexible, activity African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 11(29), pp. 7454-7463, 10 April, 2012
Inheritance of resistance to yellow vein mosaic virus in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

The inheritance of resistance to yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) in okra was studied in crosses involving three resistant parents (Arka anamika, Punjab padmini and Arka abhay) and three susceptible parents (Pusa sawani, Local and Pusa makhmali). The parents, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations were groWn along with Pusa makhmali as spreader rows. Artificial inoculation under field conditions with okra YVMV was done through the bud grafting. The inheritance pattern studies by χ1 test suggested that resistance to YVMV was controlled by two complementary dominant genes in susceptible x susceptible (S x S) and susceptible x resistant (S x R) crosses whereas in resistant x resistant (R x R) crosses by two duplicate dominant genes.
Plant Species Coalition Groups of Zion National Park: An Individualistic, Floristic Alternative to Vegetation Classification

Abstract. Vegetation surveys at Zion National Park (Zion), Utah, have contributed to our understanding of plant community patterns and their relationship to environmental factors. Previous authors used vegetation plot data to characterize vegetation types at Zion following conventional procedures that emphasize spatial discreteness and dominant species. We developed and applied an alternative approach for community characterization that emphasizes nondiscrete presence-absence patterns and is compatible with the individualistic concept. We reanalyzed existing plot data from Zion using coalition clustering, an algorithm that identifies groups of positively-associated species referred to as coalition groups. Each species and plot in the data set was linked to each coalition group via an “affinity” value obtained through weighted averaging. Affinity values were used to characterize environmental affinities of coalition groups through regression tree modeling and predictive mapping. We also identified species that frequently co-occurred with coalition groups (affiliate species) and those that frequently co-occurred with high cover (dominant-affiliates), viewing these as alternatives to conventional prevalent and dominant species. Following this approach, we identified 10 coalition groups at Zion that overlapped compositionally and spatially to differing degrees. Mesic environments on a gradient from low-elevation riparian zones through mid-elevation narrow canyons to high-elevation plateaus were represented by 3 overlapping groups. Two groups occupying slickrock and sand environments were detected on the Navajo Sandstone, as well as 2 on mesa tops above it. At lower elevations, 3 intergrading xeric coalition groups were distinguished. When previously classified associations of the National Vegetation Classification were clustered based on shared affinities to coalition groups, the arrangement differed from existing classification schemes but was environmentally interpretable. Although these patterns are contingent on conditions at the time of data collection, they provide a baseline that could be used for evaluating and predicting plant community change in the park. With proper attention to sampling and analysis issues, our community characterization approach could be applied in other settings as an alternative or supplement to conventional vegetation classification.
Heterosis and inbreeding depression in okra

In this study done on 10 diverse cultivars of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), heterosis over superior and economics parents in 45 F1 and inbreeding depression in 45 F2 progenies were estimated. Considerable heterosis was observed for fruit yield and its components. Best five crosses, KS405 x KS404, PK x KS404, PK x KS405, PS x PK and PK x KS401, can be explvited for increasing yield over standard variety PK.
Social Encounters Between Male Brown Spiders, Loxosceles gaucho (Araneae, Sicariidae)

Abstract Twenty-two interactions between males of Loxosceles gaucho Gertsch 1967 were investigated in order to study its intrasexual interactions and level of aggressiveness. Aggression by lunges or bites was observed in just 22.7% of the trials and three behaviors were identified as aggression-attenuating mechanisms: a hug; fleeing, and a postural pattern (POS). Interactions took place in 59.1% of the trials and the pairs interacted using one or two behavioral patterns (vibratory and/or postural). The vibratory pattern (VIB) consisted of foreleg vibration, palpal drumming, and abdominal pulsation and was used by both resident and intruder opponents. The postural pattern (POS) was used exclusively by resident males and it was similar to the behavioral pattern of sexually receptive L. gaucho females; in these cases the intruder male responded using the VIB. In conclusion, the interaction between adult L. gaucho males is usually non-aggressive. The behaviors described in this study possibly promote group-living and help to explain the gregarious populations of recluse spiders. Intra-specific sexual mimicry can occur in these interactions, but this hypothesis requires further investigation.