Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The response of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop to nitrogen fertilizer application in the absence of moisture stress.

Responses of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates and timings vary widely, because water is often limiting. Yield response to N fertilizer application during autumn, late-winter and spring, and the associated efficiency of use of these inputs, was assessed under conditions of non-limiting soil moisture during two, one-year lysimeter studies in Canterbury, New Zealand. There were significant (P < 0·05) increases in seed and herbage yields with increasing N fertilizer application. Seed yields differed with year; greatest yields were 300 g m−2 in 1996 and 450 g m−2 in 1997. Seed head numbers (r2=0·77), seeds head−1 (r2=0·92) and herbage yield (r2=0·92) were the major determinants of seed yield in both years. Irrigation required to maintain the soil between 70% and 90% of field capacity was directly related (r2=0·94 and 0·99 in 1996 and 1997 respectively) to increases in herbage yield. Seed yield, seed quality (thousand seed weight and percentage of seed > 1·85 mg), efficiency of water use, efficiency of N fertilizer use and apparent N fertilizer recovery were greatest when N fertilizer was applied at a rate of 50 kg N ha−1, 50 or 100 kg N ha−1 and 150 kg N ha−1 in autumn, late-winter and spring respectively; further increases in spring N fertilizer stimulated vegetative growth, but not seed yield. As a management strategy, applying N fertilizer to match the N requirements of the crop during the reproductive stage of growth will result in high yields of high quality seed while minimizing environmental impact.
Shelf-life of Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Southern Italy

This study investigated the effect of a 12 months storage period on quality, biochemical, and chemical parame- ters of three extra virgin olive oils (mono-cultivars Ortice and Ravece, and Bonito, a mix of different cultivars). Based on their free acidity, peroxide index, and spectrophotometric indices, all three analyzed oils produced values within the range of classification as "extra virgin olive oil". The content of total polyphenols, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol progressively decreased during their storage period in all varieties of oil, leading to deterioration in quality as a consequence of oxida- tive and hydrolytic degradations. The concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn decreased in the oils during the storage period, while it increased in the sediment that formed in the containers.
Special Issue on Knowledge Mobilization in and for Education Editorial Knowledge Mobilization in Canadian Educational Research: Identifying Current Developments and Future Directions

There are few tools that exist to measure knowledge mobilization (KMb), the process of connecting research to policy and practice across diverse organizations and sectors. This article reports on a comparison of KMb efforts of 105 educational organizations: faculties of education (N = 21), research brokering organizations (N = 44), school districts (N = 14), and ministries of education (N = 26). This study used a tool that analyzed KMb efforts along two dimensions—research dissemination strategies (e.g., products, events, and networks) and research use indicators (e.g., different types of strategies, ease of use, accessibility, collaboration, and mission)—using data available on organizational websites. Findings show that research brokering organizations and faculties of education are producing stronger knowledge mobilization efforts than school districts and ministries of education; however, even faculties and research brokering organizations often have modest efforts. Most KMb efforts are product based, with network strategies usually being the weakest KMb strategy utilized.
Genetic variation for saturated fatty acid content in a collection of European winter oilseed rape material (Brassica napus)

With 3 tables Abstract Oil quality is an important issue in oilseed rape breeding programmes. Recently, the seed oil content of saturated fatty acids has received substantial interest, because in a number of industrialized countries dietary recommendations not only limit total fat intake but also intake of saturated fatty acids. The aim of the present study was to analyse the genetic variation for saturated fatty acid content in two sets of modern winter oilseed rape cultivars (Brassica napus L.) tested in field experiments under typical German growing conditions. The results showed highly significant genetic differences among the cultivars for total saturated fatty acid content, which ranged from 6.8% to 8.1%, with a mean of 7.4%. For both sets medium to high genotypic heritabilities were found for most fatty acids and for oil and protein content. Close negative correlations between palmitic acid, the predominant saturated fatty acid, and oleic acid as well as oil content were found.
Class 1 integrons in drug-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae from blood stream infections Integronii de clas ă 1 la tulpinile de E. colii K. pneumoniae izolate din hemoculturii rezistente la antibiotice

Objective. The aims of our study were to assess the presence of class 1 integrons in drug-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae from blood stream infections (BSI) and to analyze their association with epidem iological and clinical characteristics. Methods We retrospectively studied BSI, classified as commu nity-acquired (CA), health care associated (HCA), and hospital-acquiredcaused by antibiotic-resistant E. coli and K . pneumoniae strains from patients admitted to three hospit als in Bucharest between January 2009 and May 2011. Patient characteristics were also collected and analyzed. T he susceptibility testing was performed with disk-d iffusion and automated methods. Integrons were detected by P CR targeting the integrase gene. Results. Three hun dred and twenty-five Gram negative BSI isolates were ide ntified. Of these, the most common species were 163 E. coli (50%), and 67 K. pneumoniae (20%). Class I integron s were identified in 42 of 77 drug-resistant E. coli and 18 of 26 K. pneumoniae drug-resistant isolates. The pr esence of integrons in E. coli and K. pneumoniae BS I isolates was significantly associated with trimethoprim-sulf amethoxazole resistance (p<0.01 respectively 0.01). Integronpositive isolates were also more likely to be multi -resistant. The int1 gene was detected among 17 (50 %) CA, 17 (59%) HCA and 24 (67%) HA infections. Conclusion. The proportions of drug resistance in class 1 integ ron-positive strains were higher than in those not carryin g integrons, for both E. coli and K. pneumoniae. In tegrons were significantly associated with trimethoprim-sul famethoxazole resistance. Most of resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolated either in CA, HCA or HA bactere mias are carrying class 1 integrons, which are easi ly transferable.
Early contact with patients is beneficial

definitive product. The IVmal system is one way of prioritising plant species for future research. Plants that are used to treat malaria in several different areas are more likely to be effective. There are some drawbacks though. Plants may be prepared in many ways; so it might be more useful to discuss the IVmal of a particular remedy rather than of a plant species. The IVmal is also limited by the geographical distribution of plants and by the extent of ethnobotanical studies. In many areas no ethnobotanical study has been undertaken, and research in these areas is a priority. Traditional medicines are being forgotten with the death of healers who have no successors to their knowledge. Clinical observations on traditional remedies are feasible and useful. Some herbal remedies may be safe and effective for the treatment of malaria, as shown by the studies reviewed here. Nevertheless, better evidence from randomised clinical trials is needed before herbal remedies can be recommended on a large scale. As such trials are expensive and time consuming, it is important to prioritise remedies for clinical investigation according to existing data from sociological, ethnobotanical, pharmacological, and preliminary clinical observational studies. In remote settings with poor resources where modern antimalarials are not steadily available, research can provide an evidence base for traditional medicine, to inform local treatment choices. Preventing children’s deaths is the key objective of any malaria control programme. Once a remedy has been shown to be safe and effective for uncomplicated malaria in adults, studies on mortality in children would be the necessary next step. It has already been shown that mortality can be reduced in the under 5s by training mothers to recognise malaria and to give early treatment. The evidence summarised in this article, together with the guidelines proposed, should not only assist researchers already working in this specialty but also inspire other researchers and funding bodies to give serious consideration to the potential of traditional remedies for malaria.
Phylogenetic relationships of Icacinaceae focusing on the vining genera

Phylogenetic relationships of the pantropical and polyphyletic family Icacinaceae were investigated, focusing on the Old World vining genera. Plastid ndhF, rbcL and matK sequences from taxa representing 32 of the 36 currently recognized genera were analysed with maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods. As in previous studies, our results show that the family is divided into several poorly resolved groups. An evaluation of the traditional tribal classification revealed Iodeae as polyphyletic and the monogeneric Sarcostigmateae as sister to a monophyletic Phytocreneae (with the inclusion of Rhyticaryum). In Iodeae, the monospecific, eastern Malesian Polyporandra was embedded in the Old World Iodes. A strongly supported clade containing Phytocreneae plus Rhyticaryum was present in the Icacina group. The tropical African genera Chlamydocarya and Polycephalium were embedded in the Old World Pyrenacantha. Further relationships in the family and potential synapomorphic characters of the clades are discussed. New combinations are made for Polyporandra and Chlamydocarya/Polycephalium spp. , which are formally synonymized with Iodes and Pyrenacantha, respectively. Conclusions about family-level relationships (and circumscription) cannot be reached with these data because of several weakly supported inter-relationships between some clades, such as Cassinopsis, Platea/Calatola and the Emmotum group. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 176, 277–294.
New records of Cynomops planirostris (Peters, 1865) (Chiroptera, Molossidae) for the state of Amazonas and its updated distribution in Brazil

Cynomops planirostris is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, with records extending from Panama to northern Argentina. In Brazil, C . planirostris was recorded in 17 states, with few records in the Amazon basin. Herein we report new records of C . planirostris from the state of Amazonas.
Evidence for a volume-controlling mechanism

Duck erythrocytes were incubated in hypotonic media at tonicities which do not produce hemolysis. The cells' response can be divided into two phases: an initial rapid phase of osmotic swelling and a second more prolonged phase (volume regulatory phase) in which the cells shrink until they approach their initial isotonic volume. Shrinkage associated with the volume regulatory phase is the consequence of a nearly isosmotic loss of KCI and water from the cell. The potassium loss results from a transient increase in K efflux. There is also a small reduction in Na permeability. Changes in cell size during the volume regulatory phase are not altered by 10 - 4 M ouabain although this concentration of ouabain does change the cellular cation content. The over-all response of duck erythrocytes is considered as an example of "isosmotic intracellular regulation," a term used to describe a form of volume regulation common to euryhaline invertebrates which is achieved by adjusting the number of effective intracellular osmotic particles. The volume regulatory phase is discussed as the product of a membrane mechanism which is sensitive to some parameter associ- ated with cell volume and is capable of regulating the loss of potassium from the cell. This mechanism is able to regulate cell size when the Na-K exchange, ouabain-inhibitable pump mechanism is blocked.
Maternally determined adaptation to acidity in Rana arvalis : are laboratory and field estimates of embryonic stress tolerance congruent?

Geographic variation indicating local adaptation, as well as its quantitative genetic basis, is commonly investi- gated in common garden experiments in the laboratory. However, the applicability of laboratory results to the complex conditions experienced by populations in the wild may be limited. Our previous laboratory experiments showed maternally determined local adaptation in embryonic acid-stress tolerance (viz. survival) of the moor frog, Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842. Here we tested whether this laboratory finding holds even when embryos are exposed to acid stress in the wild. We conducted reciprocal crosses between an acid-origin population and a neutral-origin population of R. arvalis and trans- planted the embryos to an acid site (pH ~4) in the field. Embryonic survival was much lower in the field experiment than in previous laboratory experiments, but, consistent with laboratory work, embryos from acid-origin females had threefold higher survival than embryos from neutral-origin females. These results suggest that laboratory tests can provide appropri- ate estimates of among population variation, as well as the quantitative genetic basis of acid-stress tolerance in amphibians. Resume ´ : Les experiences de jardin commun en laboratoire servent souvent adeterminer la variation geographique qui est le reflet de l'adaptation locale, ainsi que la base genetique quantitative de cette variation. Toutefois, l'applicabilitedes re ´- sultats de laboratoire aux conditions complexes dans lesquelles les populations vivent en nature peut etre limitee. Nos ex- periences anterieures en laboratoire ont montrel'existence d'une adaptation locale d'origine maternelle de tolerance (survie) embryonnaire a un stress acide chez la grenouille des champs, Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842. Nous verifions mainten- ant si ces resultats de laboratoire s'appliquent aussi lorsque les embryons sont exposesaun stress acide en nature. Nous avons procedea des croisements reciproques entre des populations de R. arvalis issues de milieux acides et neutres et avons transplanteles embryons dans un site acide (pH ~4) en nature. La survie des embryons est beaucoup plus faible lors de l'ex- perience de terrain que durant les experiences anterieures en laboratoire, mais, en accord avec les resultats de laboratoire, les embryons provenant des femelles de milieu acide ont une survie trois superieure acelle des embryons issus de femelles de milieu neutre. Ces observations indiquent que les tests de laboratoire peuvent fournir des estimations pertinentes de la variation entre les populations, ainsi que la base genetique quantitative de la tolerance au stress acide chez les amphibiens. (Traduit par la Redaction)
Diversity and abundance of insect visitors to flowers of trees and shrubs in a South African savannah

This study presents the results of a landscape-scale survey for insect floral visitors in the Skukuza Ranger District, Kruger National Park, South Africa. Floral visitors were sampled from flowering trees and shrubs along linear transects spanning the entire district. Six plant species were sampled in the late dry season (Acacia grandicornuta Gerstner, A. nigrescens Oliver, Cassia abbreviata Oliver, Combretum hereroense Schinz, Combretum zeyheri Sonder, Euclea divonorum Hiern), and eleven plant species were sampled during the rainy season (Acacia exuvialis Verdcourt, A. grandicornuta Gerstner, A. nilotica (L.) Willdenow, A. tortilis (Forsskal) Hayne, Dichrostachys cinerea Miquel, Flueggea virosa (Roxburgh) Baillon, Grewia bicolor Jussieu, G. flava De Candolle, G. flavescens Jussieu, G. monticola Sonder, and Peltophorum africanum Sonder). Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera comprised the majority of floral visitors, while species of Blattodea, Diptera, Hemiptera and Neuroptera also occurred on flowers. Known or likely pollinators include bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Halictidae and Megachilidae) and scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). These plant species appear to have generalist pollination systems, with the exception of species of Grewia L. , which appear to be pollinated primarily by bees. A provisional plant–pollinator food web is presented for the eleven species of trees and shrubs which flower during the rainy season. Resume Cet article presente les resultats d’une etude, realisee a l’echelle du paysage, des insectes qui visitent les fleurs dans le Skukuza Ranger District, dans le Parc National Kruger, en Afrique du Sud. Les insectes butineurs ont ete preleves dans des arbres et des arbustes en fleurs le long de transects lineaires qui traversent tout le district. On a echantillonne six especes vegetales en fin de saison seche (Acacia grandicornuta Gerstner, A. nigrescens Oliver, Cassia abbreviata Oliver, Combretum hereroense Schinz, Combretum zeyheri Sonder et Euclea divonorum Hiern), et 11 pendant la saison des pluies (Acacia exuvialis Verdcourt, A. grandicornuta Gerstner, A. nilotica (L.) Willdenow, A. tortilis (Forsskal) Hayne, Dichrostachys cinerea Miquel, Flueggea virosa (Roxburgh) Baillon, Grewia bicolor Jussieu, G. flava De Candolle, G. flavescens Jussieu, G. monticola Sonder, et Peltophorum africanum Sonder). Coleopteres, hymenopteres et lepidopteres composaient la majorite des insectes qui visitaient les fleurs et l’on voyait aussi sur les fleurs des especes de blattodees, de dipteres, d’hemipteres et de neuropteres. Les pollinisateurs connus ou supposes incluent des abeilles (Hymenopteres : Apides, Halictides et Megachilides) et des scarabees (Coleopteres : Scarabeides). Ces especes vegetales semblent avoir des systemes de pollinisation generalistes, a l’exception d’especes de Grewia L. qui semblent etre fertilises d’abord par les abeilles. Un reseau alimentaire provisoire plantes-pollinisateurs est presente pour les 11 especes d’arbres et d’arbustes qui fleurissent pendant la saison des pluies.
Are nutrient availability and acidity-alkalinity gradients related in Sphagnum-dominated peatlands?

Abstract Gradients in acidity-alkalinity and nutrient availability were studied in 2 Sphagnum-dominated peatlands on the southeastern Italian Alps. Decreasing concentrations of most mineral elements (Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Al3+ and Si4+) in pore water indicated a progressively lower influx of mineral-soil water from the slightly minerotrophic conditions in the peatland margins to ombrogenous conditions in the central part of the peatlands. This was paralleled by decreasing concentrations of ash, bulk density, Ca, Fe and, partly, Mn in the peat. The nutrient gradient, as defined by pore water concentrations of N and P, was largely independent of the acidity-alkalinity gradient: NO3− and PO43− had similar concentrations throughout the gradient, whereas NH4+ concentrations increased with increasing pore-water pH. In contrast, the peat nutrient gradient coincided with the acidity-alkalinity gradient, with total concentrations of N and P decreasing from the margin to the centre. Bryophytes and vascular plants had different responses along the acidity-alkalinity gradient and the nutrient gradient. Bryophyte distribution reflected the acidity-alkalinity gradient both in pore water and in peat. Vascular plant distribution was mainly influenced by variations in nutrient availability. Nomenclature: Pignatti (1982) for vascular plants; Frahm & Frey (1987) for bryophytes.
The invasive tropical scyphozoan Rhopilema nomadica Galil, 1990 reaches the Tunisian coast of the Mediterranean Sea

The alien Erythraean jellyfish Rhopilema nomadica was first recorded in Tunisia waters (Gulf of Gabes) in 2008. Subsequently it was sighted in the Bizerte Channel and Gulf of Tunis where it has been regularly observed since 2010 during summer and autumn months.
Synopsis of biological data on the Nassau grouper, Ephinephelus striatus (Bloch 1792), and the Jewfish, E. itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)

Information on the biology, fishery resources, explotiation patterns, management, and conservation status of two species of grouper-the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, and the jewfish, Epinephelus itajara-is compiled, reviewed, and analyzed. (PDF file contains 68 pages.)
Biogeographical patterns in the fauna associated with southern African mussel beds

ABSTRACT Macrofauna communities colonizing intertidal mussel beds were sampled at seven sites between Swakopmund (Namibia) and Salt Rock (KwaZulu-Natal). Mean mussel cover, length, biomass and bed depth were all low in the southeast (former Transkei). Faunal abundance and biomass were minimal along the south coast, increasing up both west and east coasts. Species diversity and richness showed the reverse trends, peaking at south coast sites and dropping off to the west and east. Multivariate analysis grouped the faunal communities into four distinct clusters, corresponding to the recognized Namib, Namaqua, Agulhas and Natal biogeographical provinces. The low mussel biomass and cover in the Eastern Cape can be attributed to intense human exploitation, but the low faunal abundance and biomass along the south coast was unexpected, as was the negative correlation between faunal abundance and diversity. Over recent decades intense exploitation has resulted in marked declines in mussel cover along the east coast, while the M. galloprovincialis invasion has resulted in dramatic increases in mussel cover to the west. The results given here indicate how these changes might have affected the wider intertidal communities in these regions.
Characterization of microsatellite loci in the Jamaican fruit‐eating bat Artibeus jamaicensis and cross‐species amplification

Artibeus jamaicensis is one of the most common bat species in the neotropics, with a welldefined polygynous social structure in caves. In order to study behaviour and to examine patterns of paternity and relatedness between different harem groups, we developed 14 microsatellite loci from two different enriched genomic libraries. We screened 125 individuals from two different bat colonies and found that polymorphism ranged from five to 13 alleles. Heterozygosity ranged from 63 to 95%. The primers amplified across 14 bat species, indicating their potential utility for population-level studies in several closely related bat species.