Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PRIORITIZING HABITAT FOR SURVEYS OF AN UNCOMMON MAMMAL: A MODELING APPROACH APPLIED TO PYGMY RABBITS

Abstract Determining occurrence and distribution is an essential 1st step in conservation planning for rare species. Spatial habitat models can be used to increase efficiency of field surveys and to improve understanding about factors influencing animal distributions. We used a modeling approach to identify and prioritize potential habitat for survey efforts for an uncommon mammal, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), for which detailed habitat data are limited. A base map of potential habitat in Idaho was defined using vegetation type and soil depth data. Documented locations (n = 164) were used to evaluate additional habitat variables to prioritize the potential habitat for surveys. We conducted field surveys to evaluate the predicted habitat attributes and document presence or absence of the species. Newly confirmed occurrences (n = 112) and absences (n = 139) were used to assess accuracy in predicting habitat priority ratings. Overall model accuracy was 65%. Eighty-four percent of the new occurrences were located in the 2 highest priority ranks, and <0.4% were located in the 2 lowest priority ranks. We offer several examples of how survey results can be used to improve the habitat model and increase efficiency of future survey efforts.
Modification of Fatty Acid Composition in Rice Plallts by Transformation with a Tobacco Microsomal a )-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase Gene ( NtFAD 3 )

A tobacco nucrosomal (! ) ~ 3 fatty acid desaturase gene (NtFAD3) under the control of CaMV35S promoter was introduced into rice plants by the microprojectile mediated transformation. The transgenic plants grew normally and showed high seed fertility and characteristics similar to those of non transgenic plants. However, the fatty acid compositions in leaves, roots and seeds were modified by the transformation. The content of linoleic acid (18:2) was lower in the transgenic plants than in the non transgenic plants. However, the content of linolenic acid (18:3) in the root and leaf tissues was, respectively, 1.Sand I.1 fold higher in 4transgenic plant lines of the homozygous R3 progenies, than ts. The 18:3 content in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylin the non-transgenic plan ethanolamine (PE) that are the components of the extrachloroplast membrane, in the leaves of mature plants was higher in transgenic plants than in the non transgenic plants. Thus, NtFAD3 was expressed and it desaturated 18:2 to 18:3 in the endoplasmic reticulum in rice cells.
Fertilization and Nitrogen Balance in a Wheat–Maize Rotation System in North China

Over N fertilization is a common problem for the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the North China Plain. A field experiment which included control (no N), conventional N (Con. N) fertilization, and optimized N (N min ) fertilization treatments, was conducted from 1999 to 2003 near Beijing, China. Soil nitrate (NO 3 ) dynamics were measured and N balance was calculated for the period of the eight successive cropping seasons. Soil NO 3 -N in the 0- to 90-cm profile for the Con. N treatment ranged from 157 to 700 kg ha -1 during the eight successive cropping seasons, much greater than those in the no N and optimized N treatments. Large amounts of soil NO 3 -N were detected in the 90- to 200-cm layer under the conventional N fertilization treatment, especially in the summer maize season. For the N min treatment, the total amount of N applied was 511 kg N ha -1 in the eight successive crops as compared with 2400 kg N ha -1 of the Con. N treatment. Grain yields were not different between the fertilized treatments except for maize in 2003. Soil NO 3 -N in the root zone under conditions of optimized N fertilization was maintained at a relatively low level as compared with the Con. N treatment, therefore dramatically decreasing NO 3 -N movement to deeper soil profile. This study indicates that soil NO 3 movement out of the effective crop root zone is an important pathway of N losses in this winter wheat-summer maize rotation system in the North China Plain and the optimized N fertilization by an improved N min method shows high potential of reducing N-leaching losses.
VISCOSITY OF CAPRINE MILK WITH RESPECT TO FAT CONTENT, SHEAR RATE, AND TEMPERATURE

Viscosity of caprine whole milk, 2% fat milk, 1% fat milk, skim milk, and cream were evaluated using a rotational viscometer. Fat percentage level in the milk was obtained by recombining cream with skim milk. Effects of fat percentage, shear rate, and temperature on the viscosity of milk and cream were investigated. Caprine milk did not exhibit purely Newtonian flow behavior. At high temperatures (>60°C), it behaved like a Newtonian fluid. Below this temperature, the milk showed small yield stress, signifying non-Newtonian behavior. Viscosity of all the types of caprine milk and cream varied exponentially with shear rate at low temperatures (<60°C). At higher temperatures, the relationship was polynomial. Viscosity of cream, however, varied exponentially with shear rate at all temperatures. On the other hand, viscosity decreased with the increase in temperature. A polynomial relationship existed in all types of milk except skim milk, which decreased linearly with the increase in temperature. Viscosity values were found to increase with the fat content in the milk. Rheological models for the caprine milk types and cream are presented.
A Rice Diversity Panel Evaluated for Genetic and Agro‐Morphological Diversity between Subpopulations and its Geographic Distribution

Adiversecollectionof� 409� Asianrice� (Oryza sativaL.)�accessionsoriginatingfrom�79�coun- trieswasfingerprintedwith�36�simplesequence� repeat�(SSR)�markersandevaluatedfor�18�agro- morphologicaltraits. �Genetically,�theaccessions� clusteredintofiveancestralgroups�(subpopula- tions),� indica,� aus,� aromatic� (GroupV),� tropical japonica,� andtemperate japonica,� basedon� model-basedstructureanalysis. � Thirty-three� accessionswithlessthan� 60%� ancestryfrom� anysinglegroupwereidentifiedasadmixtures. � Canonicaldiscriminantanalysisidentifiedeight� agro-morphologicaltraits� (paniclenumberper� plant,� paniclelength,� plantheight,� flagleaf� width,� grainlength,� width,� length:widthratio,� andvolume)� asthemaindiscriminatorychar- actersamongthericeaccessionsandbetween� thesubpopulations. �BothSSRallele-�andphe- notypictrait-basedanalysesindicatedaclose� relationshipbetweenausandindicaandsimi- larlybetweentemperate japonicaandtropical japonica. � Thearomatic� (GroupV)� ricerepre- sentsadistinctsmallgroupthatismoreclosely� relatedtotropical japonicabasedonSSRalleles� buttoausandindicabasedonphenotype. � A� strongrelationshipbetweensubpopulations� andgeographicaldistributionwasobserved. � Thisricediversitypanelwiththeaccompanying� geneticandphenotypicinformationprovidesa� valuablefoundationforassociationmapping,� understandingthebasisofbothgenotypicand� phenotypicdifferenceswithinandbetweensub- populations,�andriceimprovementprograms.
Seed-shedding in a Scottish heath community

For a 28-week period in late 1987 and early 1988, a study of seed-shedding by several heath species was carried out at the Muir of Dinnet in northeastern Scotland. The dominant species in the heath is Calluna vulgaris. Seed-shedding in Calluna began in early September 1987 and was completed in April 1988, with the period of maximum shedding falling between early November and late December 1987. The total numbers of seeds/m2 deposited in stands of Calluna in its four growth-phases were: pioneer, 18 910; building, 169010; mature, 198580; degenerate, 33900. Substantial loss of potential seeds results from the shedding of immature flowers. A control area close to, but outside the area of Calluna dominance had a deposition rate of 770 Calluna seeds/m2, indicating sufficient seed to colonise nearby available habitats. Seed rain was also recorded for several other heathland species: Erica cinerea, E. tetralix, Carex spp. and Betula pendula. Seeds of Erica cinerea were deposited in all the Calluna stands, 32670/m2 in the pioneer stand, 17600/m2 in building, 3720/m2 in mature, 210/m2 in degenerate (120/m2 in the control area). Numbers were greatest at the start of the sampling period, declining thereafter. This applied also to Betula seeds. Erica tetralix occurred in the degenerate Calluna stand and yielded 640 seeds/m2 (400/m2 in the control area). Seeds of Carex spp. were obtained in the control: 4110/m2. The method of sampling has a significant effect on the figures obtained. A method using tube collectors, emptied frequently, is recommended.
Marker-assisted Analysis for Soybean Hard Seededness with Isozyme and Simple Sequence Repeat Loci

We determined the genomic regions of wild soybean (Glycine max subsp. soja) carrying quantitative trait loci (QTL) for hard seededness, a distinct character between the wild and cultivated soybeans. The segregation of hard seededness, as evaluated using seed coat permeability (SCP), was examined in the progeny of a cross between wild and cultivated soybeans. The high parent-offspring correlation coefficient between F 2 and F 3 indicated that SCP was a highly heritable character. A marker-assisted analysis of five isozyme and 131 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci revealed that at least two major and one minor QTL were involved in controlling the trait. The QTL near an SSR marker (Satt459) in molecular linkage group D1b+W had the greatest effect on SCP, and accounted for 23.8 and 38.5% of the phenotypic variance observed in the F 2 and F 3 mean, respectively. Seed coat color, determined by a locus inhibiting seed coat color (I) and a pubescence color locus (T), was also closely associated with SCP in F 4 to F 6 , although seed coat color did not appear to be associated with SCP in the F 2 . The results of this and a previous study suggest that different sets of QTL contribute to the phenotypic difference of seed coat permeability in wild and cultivated soybeans to different degrees.
GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF EGGPLANT (Solanum melongena L.) AS AFFECTED BY IRRIGATION INTERVALS AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SOME ANTITRANSPIRANTS.

For facing acute problem of fresh water scarcity in the future to face the increasing population problem and also for cultivating newly reclaimed lands. So, two field experiments were conducted in the open field at farm Meat Salseil near Mansoura, City Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during two successive early summer seasons of 2012 and 2013 on clay loam soil to investigate the effect of two treatments of irrigation intervals (10 and 20 days) and four treatments of foliar application from antitranspirants (control, Kaolin, Potassium silicate and dyriton ) as well as their interactions on growth, fruit quality, yield and its components of eggplant (Solanum melomgena L.) c.v Black Beauty. The experimental design was a split plot, where irrigation intervals were in the main plots and antitranspirants source allocated in the sub plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results obtained from this work could be summarized as follow:  The effect of interaction between irrigation intervals and foliar antitranspirants had significant effect on all plant growth parameters during both seasons.  The foliar application of antitranspirants, significantly enhance fruit quality compared with control treatment except acidity in the 1st season. As soon as spraying dyriton (4 %) under short irrigation intervals (10 days) recorded the highest values of T.S. S % and V.C.  Also, the obtained results showed that application of antitranspirants were significantly increased on the most of yield parameters. The highest values were recorded with sprayed dyriton 4 % compared with the other treatments.  The interaction between irrigation intervals (10 and 20 days) and different foliar antitranspirants caused an increment on the most mentioned parameters of yield during both seasons.  Generally, it could be concluded that the importance of determine the interactive effects between irrigation intervals and antitranspirants, to find out the optimum combinations for maximum early, total yield and fruit quality. It was found that irrigation intervals under 10 days with 4 % dyriton sprayed as antitranspirants, had the best combination and it is recommended for eggplant grown under similar field condition in order to get higher economical yield.
PATTERNS OF MUSCLE, BONE, AND FAT ACCRETION IN THREE BIOLOGICAL TYPES OF FEEDLOT BULLS FED THREE DIETARY ENERGY LEVELS

The effect of three types of diet on the carcass composition of 71 feedlot bulls of three biological types (Dairy Cross (DX), Hereford Cross (HX), and Beef Cross (BX)) was studied over a 2-yr period. Diets consisted of pelleted alfalfa with 0, 35 or 85% grain. Serial slaughter and carcass dissection into eight wholesale cuts and component tissues were carried out over an age range of 392–636 days. Interactions of biological type with diet-year were generally not significant for actual weight of muscle, bone and fat, or for weight of these tissues at a constant side subcutaneous fat weight of 16 kg. There were few significant effects of biological type or diet-year on the ratio of actual weight of subcutaneous to intermusclar plus body cavity fat. HX bulls had significantly less muscle and less bone than BX or DX, based on actual weights, but the rate of tissue accretion relative to side subcutaneous fat was the same for the three biological types. Animals on the lowest level of dietary energy had less wei.
THE INFLUENCE OF ANATOMICAL LOCATION WITHIN THE LONGISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLE ON OVERALL TENDERNESS AND ON THE CONCENTRATION AND SOLUBILITY OF INTRAMUSCULAR COLLAGEN

Overall tenderness and the concentration and solubility of intramuscular collagen of muscle samples from various locations along the longitudinal axis of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of 12 steer carcasses were determined. Results indicated that neither overall tenderness nor the concentration of intramuscular collagen differed among the anatomical locations evaluated. However, regression analysis showed that the percent soluble collagen increased with location anterior to posterior. Thus, the present study indicates that anatomical locations can differ in percent soluble collagen without differing in either total collagen content or overall tenderness. Key words: Beef, anatomical location, tenderness, collagen content, collagen solubility
Great Green Macaws and the annual cycle of their food plants in Ecuador

The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is one of the largest New World parrots and is considered endangered with extinction. Their precarious decline in western Ecuador has been attributed to food scarcity, among other pressures. To understand the effects of food abundance on macaw behavior, phenological patterns of a community of food plants were documented in a dry tropical forest in southwest Ecuador from June 1999 to May 2000. Edible biomass was estimated weekly for 100 trees representing 10 species of macaw food plants. Simultaneously, we conducted a census of macaws. Of the plants studied, little food was produced during nearly 4 consecutive months (February–May). Food availability was unrelated to macaw abundance, but was positively correlated with the amount of time macaws spent in the study area. One plant species (Cynometra bauhiniifolia) produced more food than nine other species combined and was responsible for the correlation. Additional study of macaws foraging on C. bauhiniifolia and other plant species is needed, with special attention paid to those species with both large crops and large seeds. Although the diet of Great Green Macaws remains poorly known, our study illustrates the potential importance of quantifying differences in food production by plant species consumed by threatened granivores. SINOPSIS El Guacamayo Verde Mayor (Ara ambiguus) es un de los loros mas grande del Nuevo Mundo y es considerado amenazada on la extincion. Su declinacion ha sido abrupta en el Occidente del Ecuador y atribuido a la escasez de alimento, entre otras presiones. Para entender los efectos de la abundancia de comida en relacion al comportamiento de los guacamayos, documentamos los patrones fenologicos de un grupo de arboles en un bosque seco tropical en el suroeste del Ecuador entre Junio 1999 y Mayo 2000. Nosotros estimamos la oferta de biomasa comestible cada semana en 100 arboles pertenecentes a 10 diferentes especies. Simultaneamente, un monitoreo de los guacamayos fue realizado. De las plantas que estudiamos, poca comida fue producida durante casi cuatro meses consecutivos. La disponibilidad de alimento no fue relacionada con la abundancia de los guacamayos, pero si fue positivamente correlacionada con el tiempo que los guacamayos pasaron en el sitio. Una especie (Cynometra bauhiniifolia) produjo mas comida que las otras nueve especies combinadas y fue la responsable de la correlacion. Se carece de estudios adicionales de los guacamayos forrajeando la C. bauhiniifolia y otras especies de plantas, con atencion especial a aquellos especies que combinan cantidades importantes de semillas con un tamano individual grande. Aunque la dieta de esta poblacion de guacamayos es aun escasamente conocida, nuestro estudio ilustra la importancia potencial de cuantificar la produccion de comida de especies consumidas por las granivoras amenazadas.
Survival of trees after low-intensity surface fires in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The importance of bark thickness, diameter, and growth rate in determining tree survival following low-intensity surface fires was examined in xeric pine and oak forests of western Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bark thickness at breast and ground levels increased with dbh, and tree survival of low-intensity surface fires increased with bark thickness. Equations relating bark thickness, survival, diameter, and diameter growth rate were used to estimate the time required to grow a tree with a 50% chance of surviving a low-intensity surface fire. The mean prepark fire return interval of 10 yr favored fast-growing, thick-barked tree species over thin-barked, slow-growing species. Fire suppression since 1940 has allowed thin-barked, slow-growing species to grow into size-classes that are resistant to fire. This indicates that restoration of the prepark fire interval alone will not restore the prepark forest structure.
Isolation of Nucleoli from the Cellular Slime Mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, Strain A-3

Nuceloli were isolated from the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, strain A-3 without treating the cells with detergent. Electron microscopy showed that the nucleoli were clean and free of contamination by other subcellular organelles. The nucleoli were not surrounded with nucleolus-associated chromatin, but were tightly attached to the nuclear envelopes. The nucleoli contained very little DNA (1.2 %), but contained considerable RNA (16.3 %). Analysis of the protein components on a SDS-polyacrylamide gel showed many protein bands in a range of molecular weight between. 10, 000 and 50, 000 daltons that are related to ribosomal proteins in the cytoplasm. The phosphorylation profile in vitro indicated that most of the nucleolar proteins were labeled to some extent with [32P]. [5-3H]UTP incorporation into the nucleoli in vitro was inhibited by actinomycin D, but was completely insensitive to α-amanitin; thus, the isolated nucleoli were morphologically intact, and were engaged in ribosomal RNA synthesis.
Population ecology of Suillus variegatus in old Swedish Scots pine forests

Spatial characteristics of Suillus variegatus populations, including the size, distribution and number of genets, were measured in four naturally regenerated stands of Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris in Sweden that were more than 100 years old. In the oldest forest, a continuous tree-layer had been present at least since the last forest fire in 1647. Genets were identified based on somatic incompatibility reactions performed on mycelial cultures from sporocarps. In total, 38 genets were identified from 120 tested sporocarps. The maximal extension of a genet, as reflected by its outermost sporocarps, was 27 m in the oldest stand and ranged between 10 and 17 m in the other stands. On average, genet size was 20 m in the oldest stand and 10 m in the other stands. Other genets were not found within the domains of established genets. The closest detected distance between genets was 1–5 m, and the average distance was 4 m. The number of genets ranged between 56 and 74 ha − at the studied sites. Possible reasons for the high degree of resemblance in characteristics in old forests between S. variegatus , the dominant bolete in mature forests, and S. bovinus when present, more a characteristic for younger forests and only scarcely occurring in older forests, are discussed.
Current Concepts of Play in Animals

PRESENT-DAY understanding of animal play is regrettably limited, and current views on the subject are considerably confused. On the one hand, there are the hundreds of observations made by naturalists, by animal breeders and by nearly every one who has kept a household pet to indicate that animals of many species do exhibit various types of behavior which, if they were observed in humans, would undoubtedly be called play. On the other hand stands our undeniable ignorance as to the essential nature of play, its causes and its results. The richness of the observational evidence is in sharp contrast to the poverty of scientific knowledge. It is significant hat authors of several recent American text-books on comparative or physiological psychology have failed to make any mention of play in animals, or have skipped over the subject as lightly as possible (Warden, Jenkins and Warner, 1936; Maier and Schneirla, 1935; C. T. Morgan, 1943). Their reluctance or inability to treat the topic undoubtedly derives from the exclusively observational character of available data and the obvious inadequacy of existing interpretations. It is not the purpose of this paper to present new data pertinent to the problem under consideration, or to propose any original, all-inclusive theoretical interpretation. Instead it is hoped that a survey of existing knowledge and an evaluation of the theories presently available may point the way toward profitable lines of future work which will lead to a more complete understanding of the subject.
EFFECT OF TIME OF APPLICATION OF HERBICIDES ON YIELD OF THREE WINTER WHEAT CULTIVARS

In field experiments at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, herbicides were applied in the fall or spring on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to determine effect on yield. Application of 2,4-D or the mixture 2,4-D/mecoprop/dicamba in the fall gave significantly lower yields than when spring-applied on the cultivar Lennox. The herbicides MCPA, bromoxynil, dicamba, mecoprop, chlorsulfuron, MCPA/dicamba, and MCPA/bromoxynil had no adverse effect on yield of Lennox at either time of application. A further study on the cultivars Lennox, F29-76, and Borden using the herbicides MCPA, bromoxynil, MCPA/dicamba, chlorsulfuron, and dicamba showed no detrimental effects on 1000 kernel weight, or percent winter survival from fall or spring application. Yield losses were noted for spring application of dicamba but not for MCPA/dicamba and all cultivars responded similarly to all herbicide treatments.Key words: Wheat (winter) cultivars, fall versus spring application, 2,4-D, MCPA, dicamba, bromoxynil, chlorsulfuron