Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water uptake by safflower and wheat roots infected with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

The objective of this study was to determine if infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alters water uptake by roots under well watered to severely droughted conditions. Safflower and wheat plants were grown with and without the mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus etunicatum or G. intraradices in nutrient-amended soil under environmentally controlled conditions to yield mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants with similar leaf areas, root length densities, d. wt, and adequate tissue phosphorus and nitrogen. Specific water uptake rates (cm3 of water cm-1 root length d-1 ) were estimated non-destructively at various depths in the soil from changes in the soil water content measured using a gamma attenuation method. When soil water was severely depleted, changes in soil water potentials were also measured with soil psychrometers. Roots from both plant species extracted water at the fastest rate from the upper soil layers when the soil water content was high, and later, extracted water primarily from deeper depths as water in the upper soil layers was depleted. Mycorrhizal infection did not affect the rates at which roots extracted water from soil whether soil moisture conditions were at their wettest condition, at container capacity, or at the driest extreme when soil water potentials ranged from -1.5 to -2.0 MPa and the plants were completely wilted. Plant water relations were also largely unaffected by infection. Mycorrhizal infection did not alter the ability of plants to extract water from soil even during extreme drought.
β‐hexosaminidase immunolocalization and α‐ and β‐subunit gene expression in the rat testis and epididymis

β‐hexosaminidase is an essential lysosomal enzyme whose absence in man results in a group of disorders, the GM2 gangliosidoses. β‐hexosaminidase activity is many times higher in the epididymis than in other tissues, is present in sperm, and is postulated to be required for mammalian fertilization. To better understand which cells are responsible for β‐hexosaminidase expression and how it is regulated in the male reproductive system, we quantitated the mRNA expression of the α‐ and β‐subunits of β‐hexosaminidase and carried out immunocytochemical localization studies of the enzyme in the rat testis and epididymis. β‐hexosaminidase α‐subunit mRNA was abundant and differentially expressed in the adult rat testis and epididymis, at 13‐ and 2‐fold brain levels, respectively. In contrast, β‐subunit mRNA levels in the testis and epididymis were 0.3‐ and 5‐fold brain levels. During testis development from 7–91 postnatal days of age, testis levels of α‐subunit mRNA increased 10‐fold and coincided with the appearance of spermatocytes and spermatids in the epithelium; in contrast, β‐subunit mRNA was expressed at low levels throughout testis development. In isolated male germ cells, β‐hexosaminidase α‐subunit expression was most abundant in haploid round spermatids, whereas the β‐subunit mRNA was not detected in germ cells. Within the epididymis both α‐ and β‐subunit mRNA concentrations were highest in the corpus, with 1.5‐fold and 9‐fold initial segment values, respectively. Light microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed that β‐hexosaminidase was localized to Sertoli cells and interstitial macrophages in the testis. In the epididymis, β‐hexosaminidase staining was most intense in narrow cells in the initial segment, principal cells in the caput, and proximal corpus, and clear cells throughout the duct. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed that β‐hexosaminidase was predominantly present in lysosomes in Sertoli and epididymal cells. The cellular and regional specificity of β‐hexosaminidase immunolocalization suggest an important role for the enzyme in testicular and epididymal functions. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 46:227–242, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seasonal changes in herbage mass and nutritive value of a range of grazed legume swards under Mediterranean and cool temperate conditions

Summary Seasonal changes in herbage mass and herbage quality of legume-based swards under grazing by sheep or cattle were investigated at four locations in climatically different zones of Europe: Sardinia (Italy), southern France, northern Germany and south-west England (UK). At each location standard treatments were applied to legumes typical of species widely used in each locality: Medicago polymorpha in Italy, Medicago sativa in France, and Trifolium repens in Germany and in UK. At each site comparisons were made of two other legumes: Trifolium subterraneum and Hedysarum coronarium in Italy, Onobrychis sativa and Trifolium incarnatum in France, Trifolium pratense and Lotus corniculatus in Germany, and Trifolium ambiguum and L. corniculatus in UK. Legumes were sown in mixture with locally appropriate companion grasses, and measurements were made over two or three grazing periods. In Italy M. polymorpha swards gave the greatest herbage mass in grazing period 1 but H. coronarium was more persistent. At the French site all legumes established poorly with no significant herbage mass differences between treatments. At both the UK and German sites L. corniculatus maintained a high proportion of legume in the sward; T. repens showed poor persistence under continuous sheep grazing in UK but persisted under cattle grazing in Germany, while T. ambiguum was slow to establish in the UK, and T. pratense proved to be of comparable herbage mass to the standard T. repens-based sward in the last year of the experiment. The concentration of crude protein and in vitro digestibility of organic matter in the dry matter of herbage showed greater within-season variation than between treatments at each site. It is concluded that, in addition to currently used species, legume-based swards containing H. coronarium, O. sativa and L. corniculatus all have potential to contribute to forage production for low-input grazing and their use merits further consideration in systems of livestock production in Europe.
Alternative methods for Nondestructively determining Modulus of Elasticity in young trees

Several nondestructive technologies are briefly described that can examine wood modulus of elasticity (MOE) variation in young trees. In genetic trials nondestructive sampling is often a priority; hence sampling is limited to the use of standing tree acoustic tools or increment cores whose wood properties are subsequently analyzed. If a detailed knowledge of radial variation is required, then SilviScan presents the most suitable option. If the number of trees examined is in the low thousands, then near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy or ultrasonics may be more cost effective than SilviScan. However, information regarding MOE radial variation will be of lower resolution than SilviScan and the estimation of wood properties by NIR spectroscopy relies on suitable calibrations that need to be created and maintained at some expense. If thousands of trees need to be assessed and knowledge of radial variation is not required then time-of-flight (ToF) acoustic instruments are the most suitable.
Impact of long-term administration of saline water and protein shortage on the haemograms of camels and sheep

Abstract The effects of saline drinking water and dietary protein shortage were studied in camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) and Barki sheep. Nine females of each were divided into three groups. Each group received either tap water containing 0.28 g total dissolved salts l −1 or dilute sea water containing 7·7 and 13·5 g total dissolved salts l −1 , respectively, for five consecutive periods of 40 days each. The feed provided a percentage of the estimated protein maintenance requirement which declined progressively through the five periods. Blood and plasma specific gravity, total and differential cell counts and the concentration of selected constituents were determined periodically. There were significant changes in several blood parameters associated with salt load and protein deficiency. The results indicate that camels are more tolerant than sheep both to drinking saline water and to dietary protein shortage.
Flow variability and the ecology of large rivers

Ecological processes in large rivers are controlled by their flow variability. However, it is difficult to find measures of hydrological variability that characterize groups of rivers and can also be used to generate hypotheses about their ecology. Multivariate analyses of the hydrographs of 52 rivers worldwide revealed distinctive patterns of flow variability that were often correlated with climate. For example, there were groups of rivers that corresponded broadly with ‘tropical’ and ‘dryland’ climates. However, some rivers from continental climates occupy both extremes of this range, illustrating the limitations of simple classification. Individual rivers and groups of rivers may also have different hydrographic ‘signatures’, and attempts to combine measures of hydrological variability into indices mask biologically significant information. This paper identifies 11 relatively independent measures of hydrological variability that help categorize river types and are each associated with aspects of fish biology. Ways are suggested by which the Flood Pulse Concept can be expanded to encompass hydrological variability and accommodate differences among groups of rivers from different climatic regions. Such recognition of the complex role of hydrological variability enhances the value of the concept for river conservation, management and restoration.
Grass hosts of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis

Sixty-two isolates of Pyrenoplrora tritici-repenris were obtained from diseased leaves collected from 25 grass species. Nine species were previously unreported hosts, including Agropyron fragile subsp. sibiricum (Siberian wheatgrass), Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus (sand bluestem), Bromus biebersteinii (meadow brome), Festuca ovina (sheep fescue), Koeleria pyramidata (June grass), Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Seraria viridis (green foxtail), Stipa comata (needle-and-thread), and Thinopyrum ponticum (tall wheatgrass) (.)
Isolation of endophytic fungi from Cannabis sativa and study their antifungal potential

A systemic study of fungal endophytes associated with different plant parts of Cannabis sativa and their antifungal activity was investigated in the present study. A total of 281 plant segments, including 91 leaves, 93 stem and 97 petioles samples, were screened for the isolation of endophytic fungi. Totally, 212 (77.65%) segments were found colonised by different fungi. Highest colonisation frequency were observed in stem parts (84.94%), then leaves (82.41%) and lowest 59.79% in petiole. Total eight fungal genera belonging to 12 species were isolated. Aspergillus is recorded as the most frequently occurring genera with three species Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nidulans followed by Penicillium with two species Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium citrinum, while Phoma, Rhizopus, Colletotrichum, Cladosporium and Curvularia with single species. The antifungal potential of A. niger and A. flavus – two most frequently isolated endophytic fungi – was evaluated against two common plant pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Curvularia lunata. Different plant and fungal extracts individually and in combinations showed variations in antifungal activity against both the pathogens. The primary results obtained on antifungal activity of endophytes show their possible role in plant defence mechanism but it is a preliminary approach and more extensive research is still required.
Estimation of growth curve characteristics of Hemsin male and female sheep

In the present study, we examined the suitability of seven asymptotic nonlinear models to describe body weight growth of Hemsin male and female sheep from birth to 36 months of age and, using the selected functions, to provide a biological interpretation for this growth. The weight–age data for this study were obtained from records of 108 Hemsin female and male sheep held in variety breeder flocks of Artvin province in Turkey. The sheep records were collected between 2008 and 2010 with measurements taken at birth, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th, and 36th months of age. Body weight–age data from Hemsin sheep were used to obtain a growth pattern for sheep, with the use of Negative exponential, Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, Bertalanffy, Richards, and Janoschek nonlinear functions. Comparisons between these functions were based on coefficients of determination and residual squared error. The R2 values of the models ranged from 0.971 to 0.989 for males and from 0.951 to 0.991 for males. In both sexes, the Brody, Richards, and Janoschek models, with equal R2 as 0.99, were superior to the others. However, the Brody was precise on its parameters and easy to interpret than Richards and Janoschek functions.
Increased per-capita investment in egg production by female apple snails in the presence of predatory common carp

We hypothesized that apple snails would change life-history traits in the presence of common carp to reduce or avoid predation risk. Carp of about 150 mm body length were released in small plots set in a rice field in southern Japan at 0, 0.2, or 0.6 carp/m 2 . Egg-mass size, proportion of hatched eggs, and duration of hatching of the snail were measured once or twice a week from July to September. Snails collected in traps were used to estimate both snail density by the Jolly-Seber mark-recapture method and distribution of shell lengths in each plot. The weight of the snail was regressed on a size-weight equation, and the snail biomass was determined by multiplying the estimated density and the regressed weight. The reproductive effort of the snails was calculated as the number of eggs divided by the biomass of adult females. The egg mass size and reproductive effort were significantly increased in the presence of carp. These increases were considered as life-history changes of apple snails in the presence of a predator.
Confirmation of the spawning area of the striped marlin, Tetrapturus audax, in the so-called core area of the eastern tropical Pacific off Mexico

We report the presence of striped marlin larvae in coastal waters of the mouth of the Gulf of California, collected during seven oceanographic cruises during 1990 to 1993. From 169 sampled stations, 30 produced a total of 68 larvae of 2.4–30.5 mm total length. Most of the larvae were about 3 mm, indicating a recent spawn. The sea surface temperature at the sampled stations ranged from 19.4°C to 32.0°C, but larvae were caught at stations with temperatures between 27.8°C and 31.5°C. These results clarify the existence of a spawning area of striped marlin in the eastern Pacific, located closer to the coast than previously believed, during several months of the year.
Preliminary description of new Tertiary mammals

THE present communication is a continuation of the article in the preceding num bel' of the Journal (p. 122), in which were described some of the new mammalian remains discovered bv the Yale College expeditions to the Rocky Mountain regioD'. Among the animals briefly described in the present paper are several which nppear to be Marsupials, the first fossil species of the group detected in this country, and hence of much interest.
Comparative cytogenetic and genetic study of two Italian populations of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus L. (Sciuromorpha: Gliridae)

Abstract The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus is a polytypic species that shows remarkable chromosomal variation (2n = 48, 50, 52, 54). Furthermore, among 2n = 48 populations of the species, distributed mainly in the circum-Mediterranean area, different populations may exhibit distinctive karyotypes. Here we analyse samples of E. quercinus from Sicily, the insular population so far barely studied, compared to the samples from the Central Apennines. The two populations show the same cytotype (2n = 48, NFa = 86), matching G- and C- chromosome banding patterns, and identical chromosome locations of major ribosomal genes (rDNA) and interstitial telomeric sequences (ITS). The samples from the two Italian populations show low genetic divergence (1.2%) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence analysis, which suggests that both populations belong to the same taxon – E. quercinus pallidus. In addition, we compare the present results to karyological data reported in other 2n = 48 populations and identify possible chromosomal rearrangements.
A survey of seed-borne Fungi associated with seeds of rice (oryzae sativa l faro 12, 15, and 29) in storage and the field in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

A survey of seed-borne fungi associated with the seeds of three varieties of rice Faro 12, 15, and 29 both in storage and in the field for three years was undertaken, and their percentage seed germination determined. The result obtained showed that Fusarium moniliforme, Bipolaris oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Chaetomium globosum, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus , Alternaria tenuis and Penicillium sp were isolated from seeds of three varieties of rice in storage. Fusarium moniliforme, Bipolaris oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Chaetomium globosum, Curvularia lunata and Trichoderma harzianum were isolated from the seeds of the three varieties from the field. Fusarium moniliforme was more prevalent than the other fungi. Key words: Disease, Incidence, Pathogens, Rice, Seed-borne, Yield.
Population Ecology of Aphis nerii on Oleander

Population ecology of Aphis nerii B.d. F.on oleander ( Nerium oleander L.) in northern California was assessed. A native generalist, Lysiphlebus testaceipes Cresson, was the only primary parasite reared from A. nerii , and in certain cases, it was able to control the host population. However, parasitization by L. testaceipes was an inverse-density-dependent factor and thus not a significant mortality factor at high aphid population densities. The latter populations were apparently regulated through intraspecific mechanisms (e.g., competition). Outbreaks of A. nerii occurred only at urban sites where plants were regularly pruned and watered. These cultural practices resulted in an increased proportion of new, actively growing terminals (preferred by A. nerii ) which led to increased density of aphids feeding on such terminals. Relevance of these studies to insect ecology in urban environments is discussed.
Comparative Rates of Pollination and Fruit Set in Widely Separated Populations of a Rare Orchid (Cypripedium fasciculatum)

The rare orchid Cypripedium fasciculatum offers no reward to the small wasps that pollinate its flowers. Nonrewarding species typically suffer from low rates of pollination and fruit set, yet they appear frequently in the Orchidaceae. In order to understand the dynamics of pollination and fruit set in nonrewarding orchids and to evaluate whether a conservation strategy for C. fasciculatum should include managing for pollinator service, we evaluated factors influencing reproductive success in three widely separated populations. The percentage of open‐pollinated flowers maturing fruit varied greatly among populations, equaling 69% in Oregon, 29% in Idaho, and 18% in Colorado. These values are greater than is typical for a nonrewarding orchid. Thus, managing for pollinator service may be unnecessary, especially in the Oregon population. Like many nonrewarding orchids, the species appears to have a self‐compatible breeding system; fruit set did not differ between flowers receiving self pollen and flowers receiving cross pollen ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $$Z=0.81$$ \end{document} , \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $$P> 0.1$$ \end{document} ). Within‐season fruit set may be pollen limited, however, since supplemental hand pollination with cross pollen significantly increased fruit production by ca. 4.5 times in Colorado and 1.5 times in Idaho in comparison with open pollination. Even so, many pollinated flowers failed to mature fruit. Pollen tube growth was studied using fluorescence microscopy, and the percentage of pistils with germinated pollen at the end of the flowering season was found to exceed significantly final fruit set by a rate of approximately two in both Idaho and Colorado.
Effects of chum salmon redd excavation on benthic communities in a stream in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract We studied effects of redd excavation by wild chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta on insect communities in a stream in the Pacific Northwest. During the salmon redd excavation, the total mean insect densities in the spawning reach decreased to 10.8–14.7% of their predisturbance values. Mean densities of the major taxa, mayflies Baetis spp. and Cinygmula spp. , midges Orthocladiinae, stoneflies Paraperla spp. , and black flies Simuliidae, in the spawning reach were 0.4–55.1% of the predisturbance values during redd excavation. Densities of these taxa in the spawning reach were 1.1–46.6% of densities in the nonspawning reach during salmon redd excavation. Twenty-nine days after redd excavation, the densities of Baetis spp. , Orthocladiinae, and Simuliidae in the spawning reach exceeded the values of the same taxa in the nonspawning reach. Statistical analyses revealed that the presence or absence of spawning salmon was significantly associated with the distances (or dissimilarities) among stream insect comm.
Male hynobius leechii (amphibia: Hynobiidae) discriminate female reproductive states based on chemical cues

Abstract A series of no‐choice olfactory response tests using water pre‐conditioned with females, with intact and surgically removed ventral glands, at various reproductive states were conducted to determine whether male Hynobius leechii discriminates among females in different reproductive states based on chemical cues. Similarly, ventral gland extracts were tested, and ventral glands were examined histologically. Males’ responses to putative odors of females in four (ovulating, ovulated, ovipositing, and oviposited) reproductive states were independently measured by: i) the latency time to initiate male behavioral response, ii) the arrival time at a fixed point of putative odor source, and iii) the staying time close to the odor point source. Male salamanders showed significant olfactory responses to recently ovulated and ovipositing female odors by quickly arriving at odor sources and staying longer at the origin of the source, but the olfactory responses to the earlier staged ovulating females and the later stage of already oviposited females were not different from controls. Olfactory responses of test males to water preconditioned by intact females or females with ventral glands excised were not different. In addition, ventral gland extracts did not induce significant olfactory responses of test males although the lumens of alveoli in ventral glands of oviposited females were smaller than those of ovulated females. These results indicate that male H. leechii recognizes ovulated and ovipositing females based on chemical cues released but not from the ventral glands.