Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological Characteristics of Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth., Acacia mangium Willd. and Pterocarpus indicus Willd. in the La Mesa Watershed and Mt. Makiling, Philippines

The physiological responses of nitrogen-fixing species (Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth., Acacia mangium Willd. and Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) were determined using 2-year-old, 10-year-old and 20-year-old age classes. Parameters obtained were stomata size and number, leaf anatomical characteristics, total leaf nitrogen and carbon concentrations, net photosynthesis rate (PN), photosynthetic nitrogen utilization efficiency (PNUE), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), water use efficiency (WUE), net CO2 assimilation rate vs calculated internal CO2 concentrations (A/Ci curve), rate of maximum Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) and photosynthetic photon flux density saturated rate of maximum electron transport (Jmax). Results showed that in all the studied species and age classes, significant differences in P were observed (P Key words: Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, exotic species, fast growing, nitrogen-fixing trees, physiological characteristics, Pterocarpus indicus, rehabilitation
Effects of Neutral Phytase Supplementation on Biochemical Parameters in Grass Carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, and Gibel Carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, Fed Different Levels of Monocalcium Phosphate

Two 8-wk studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of neutral phytase supplementation on hemato-biochemical status, liver biochemical parameter, and intestinal digestive enzyme activity of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, and gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, fed with different levels of monocalcium phosphate (MCP). The control diet was prepared with 2% MCP but without phytase (P2.0). The other three experimental diets were prepared with the addition of 1.5, 1.0, and 0.5% MCP, respectively, when supplemented with 500 U/kg neutral phytase in each diet and designated as PP1.5, PP1.0, and PP0.5, respectively. The results indicated that the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, as well as the albumin (ALB) content were increased in grass carp (P 0.05) fed with phytase-supplemented diets. Meanwhile, the serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and total protein contents of the two species of fish were increased in comparison to the control. In addition, dietary phytase inclusion did not significantly affect hepatic ALP, ALT, and AST activities in the two species of carp fed with different levels of MCP. Amylase activity increased in foregut and hindgut of both species when fed with the phytase-supplemented diets while lipase activity was reduced in the foregut and hindgut in both fish. This study suggests that neutral phytase supplementation increases serum ALP, ALT, and AST activities but does not notably affect these enzyme activities in the liver of the two species of carp when fed different levels of MCP. On the other hand, amylase activity increased while lipase activity was reduced in the intestine of the species of carp fed with phytase-supplemented diets.
Nitrogen nutrition during ontogeny of hemiepiphytic Clusia species.

This paper originates from a presentation at the IIIrd International Congress on Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia, August 2001. We investigated the nitrogen (N) nutrition of Clusia osaensis, C. peninsulae and C. valerii during the seedling, epiphytic and hemiepiphytic phase in a lowland tropical forest in Costa Rica in order to elucidate nutritional adaptations of different plant growth stages to their habitat. Although all Clusia individuals were non-mycorrhizal, excised roots of seedlings, but also of epiphytic and hemiepiphytic stages, showed a distinct preference for glycine uptake. The shift in main rooting site from canopy soil to terrestrial soil was not reflected by changes in uptake rate or preference, although N availability and the composition of the available N pool changed significantly. High foliar N concentrations indicated that epiphytic seedlings seemed to be sufficiently supplied with N by maternal seed resources and canopy soils. With development, the epiphytic plants of Clusia may face N limitation due to higher N demands with increasing growth and restricted resources in the tree crowns. 15N natural abundance data indicate that epiphytes mainly accessed atmospheric and, to a lesser extent, canopy soil N sources and, after becoming terrestrially anchored, in the hemiepiphytic life stage exploited the larger nutrient reservoir of the ground soil. In consequence, Clusia species did not show an adaptation to the different N availability situations that they experienced whether canopy or ground-rooted.
Phosphorus enrichment, silica utilization, and biogeochemical silica depletion in the Great Lakes

Our hypothesis that silica (Si) depletion in Lake Michigan and the severe Si depletion that characterizes the lower Great Lakes were induced by increased phosphorus (P) inputs was supported by bioassay experiments showing increased Si uptake by diatoms with relatively small P enrichments. We propose that severe Si depletion (Si concentrations being reduced to ≤0.39 mg SiO2∙L−1 prior to thermal stratification) results when P levels are increased to the extent that increased diatom production reduces Si concentrations to limiting levels during the thermally mixed period. Large P enrichments such as those that characterized the eastern and central basis of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in the early 1970s are necessary to produce severe Si depletion. It is clear that severe Si depletion in the lower lakes was produced by P enrichment because inflowing waters from Lake Huron have smaller P concentrations and larger Si concentrations than the outflowing waters of either Lake Erie or Lake Ontario. Severe Si depleti.
Behavioural preference of Julus scandinavius (Myriapoda) to different species of leaf litter

Over a period of 17 months, 11th instar female Julus scandinavius (Latzel) were fed on ash, sycamore, birch, beech and oak leaf litter in variable states of decomposition to determine food preferences. Leaves of different species and of different age were compared with rotten wood, and preferences were expressed as relative number of leaf and wood faecal pellets. It was shown that each leaf species had to attain a certain age (different for different species) before it became palatable to the animals. Preference decreased on both sides of these optima; it also increases in the series ash sycamore birch beech oak. Animals respond to the food by searching until a suitable food substance is found, when feeding supervenes. The time spent in searching was not significantly correlated with the palatability of food while the time spent in feeding clearly was.
Tillage and Crop Rotation Effects on Corn Agronomic Response and Economic Return at Seven Iowa Locations

Corn yield (Zea mays L.) and economic return with different tillage systems and crop rotations are highly influenced by regional soil and climate conditions. This study was conducted at seven locations in Iowa from 2003 to 2013. The experiment design was split-plot with tillage as the main factor, which included five tillage systems (no-tillage, NT; strip-tillage, ST; chisel plow, CP; deep rip, DR; and moldboard plow, MP). Three crop rotations of corn–soybean (Glycine max L.), C–S; corn–corn–soybean, C–C–S; and corn–corn, C–C were subplots in a completely randomized block design in four replications. The objectives were to: (i) investigate seasonal variability in corn yield as affected by tillage and crop rotation, (ii) identify appropriate tillage for each crop rotation and location, and (iii) evaluate the magnitude of crop rotation effect on corn yield. Corn yields varied from 2.5 to 15.8 Mg ha–¹ with no detectable increase over time. The results showed northern locations have yield of 1.9 Mg ha–¹ and economic return of US$329 ha–¹ advantage over southern locations. Yield and economic returns for the three rotations were as follow: C–S > C–C–S > C–C. Yield and economic penalty were greater with NT than conventional tillage in the northern locations (poorly-drained soils) than locations with well-drained soils. The corn yield penalty associated with C–C was location specific and varied from 11 to 28%. The findings suggest a location specific adoption of tillage and crop rotation for achieving optimum yield.
Optimizing the Production of Bacterial Cellulose in Surface Culture: Evaluation of Substrate Mass Transfer Influences on the Bioreaction (Part 1)

The interest in cellulose produced by bacteria from surface cultures has increased steadily in recent years because of its potential for use in medicine and cosmetics. Unfortunately, the low yield of the production process has limited the commercial usefulness of bacterial cellulose. This series of three papers dealing with the production of bacterial cellulose using (batch) surface culture, firstly present a complete and complex analysis of the overall system, which allows a fundamental optimization of the production process to be performed. This material has many applications but the low yield of the process limits its commercial usefulness. In part 1, the effect of the rate of mass transfer of substrate on the microbial process, which is characterized by the growth of the bacteria, product formation, and the utilization of the substrate by the bacteria, is studied. A fundamental model for the diffusion of glucose through the growing cellulose layer is proposed and solved. The model confirmed that the increase in diffusional resistance is indeed significant but other factors will also need to be taken into account.
An overview of the living marine resources of Namibia

This paper gives an overview of the main living marine resources of Namibia. It focuses on the scientific research conducted during the past decade as input to the management of these resources. The distribution and habitats of the most important harvested species and the main seabird populations are briefly described and discussed. The life histories of the major exploited species are summarized, with emphasis on spatial and temporal spawning patterns, dispersal of early life stages, migration patterns of recruits and adults, and diet, the latter particularly as it relates to potential competition between species. A number of commercially important species, such as the hake Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus, deep-sea red crab Chaceon maritae, West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii, skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis, southern albacore Thunnus alalunga and to a lesser extent Cape horse mackerel Trachurus capensis, southern African sardine Sardinops sagax and Cape anchovy Engraulis capensis, are distributed across national boundaries, requiring regional cooperation in research and management. The history and current status of the major fisheries is discussed. Over the past 30–40 years total annual catches have declined from a peak of around 2 million tons in the late 1960s to less than a million tons in the 1990s. This decline has been due, mainly, to a collapse in the sardine stock in the late 1960s and 1970s, and a reduction in the catches of hake and horse mackerel under a conservative management strategy in the past decade. Changes in the abundance and distribution of commercially important species, as determined by acoustic and trawl surveys and catch-based analytical methods, are presented. The effect of major environmental anomalies on the distribution and abundance of the resources in recent years is discussed. The most dramatic anomaly in recent years was the wide-scale advection of low-oxygen water into the northern Benguela from the Angola Dome in 1994, and the subsequent Benguela Niño of 1995, which appear to have severely impacted the Namibian sardine population and many other resources. The present socio-economic value of the Namibian fishing industry is given together with the broad policy, legislation and formal structures for managing the living marine resources.
O gênero Phyllanthus L. (Euphorbiaceae) na Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil

This paper presents a taxonomic treatment of the species of Phyllanthus L. from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia. Eleven species are recognized: P. amarus Schumach. & Thonn. , P. angustissimus Mull. Arg. , P. claussenii Mull. Arg. , P. flagelliformis Mull. Arg. , P. heteradenius Mull. Arg. , P. klotzschianus Mull. Arg. , P. niruri L. , P. orbiculatus Rich. , P. scoparius Mull. Arg. , P. spartioides Pax & K. Hoffm. and Phyllanthus sp. A key to the species, as well descriptions and illustrations are provided for each one of them.
Níveis de energia metabolizável para frangos de corte de 1 a 21 dias de idade mantidos em ambiente de alta temperatura

Four hundred and fifty Avian Farms male broilers chicks with 48±0.3g of live weight were used in an experiment carried out at climatic chambers to evaluate the effect of the metabolizable energy levels (2850; 2925; 3000; 3075 and 3150 kcal of ME/kg), from 1 to 21 days, maintained at high environmental temperature (34oC and 60% RH). A completely randomized design, with five treatments (ME levels), nine replicates and ten birds per experimental unit, was used. Performance and carcass composition were evaluated and the metabolizable energy requirement of the birds were obtained by linear or quadratic regression, according to the best fit. Weight gain, metabolizable energy intake, and protein and fat depositions in the carcass increased while the feed:gain ratio of the chicks linearly decreased with the treatments. The carcass yield of the birds was not influenced by the dietary ME levels. The dietary ME levels affected the carcass composition and increased the abdominal fat weight of the broiler chicks. The broilers chicks from 1 to 21 days of age, kept under high environmental temperature, require at least an energy:protein ratio of 13.6:1 for better performance and protein deposition in carcass.
Comparison of the effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) and gotu kola (Centella asiatica) extracts on healing of open wounds in rabbits.

This study investigated the eff ects of topically applied oily homogenized and powder forms of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) (MC) and ointment formulation of gotu kola (Centella asiatica) (CA) extract and compared the results with untreated control and pure olive oil groups on wound healing in rabbits. A total of 30 New Zealand rabbits were divided into five equal groups (oily homogenized form of MC, powder form of MC, ointment of CA, control, pure olive oil). Full-thickness 5x5 cm skin wounds were created on the right mid-dorsum area and experimental groups were treated daily with the above mentioned extracts. Wounds were observed daily. Planimetry was performed for the unhealed wound area and the percentage of total wound healing on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Median time for the first observable granulation tissue was shorter in all experimental groups than in the control group (P<0.05). Filling of the open wound to skin level with granulation tissue was faster in the oily homogenized form of MC and ointment of titrated extract of CA groups (P<0.05). The average time for healing was shorter in the oily homogenized form of MC and ointment of titrated extract of CA groups than in other groups (P<0.05). The results demonstrate that topical application of the oily form of MC and ointment form of CA results in significant improvements on wound healing in rabbits.
Dermatological Manifestations in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

Background and Objective: Chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis face va rious cutaneous problems. Common problems are xerosis, pruritus, pallor, pigmentatio n changes, hair changes and nail changes. We planne d to look for cutaneous alterations in our patients on maintenanc e dialysis. Material and Methods: We included all patients on maintenance hemodialysis. We recorded their demographic profile and relevant investigations. All patie nts were examined by department of medicine and findings were confirmed by dermatologist. Specific investigatio ns like skin biopsy, culture and sensitivity for bacterial infec tions, Gram's stain, potassium hydroxide mount and fungal culture were done where indicated. Results: There was one hundred forty patients. Mean age of patients was 38.7±7.4 years. Gender ratio was 1.32:1 (male: female). Mean duration of d ialysis was 11.7±5.6 months. All patients had at le ast one cutaneous manifestation. Thirty four (24.28%) patients had tw o cutaneous manifestations. Twenty one (17.85%) patients had three or more cutaneous manifestations. Xerosis was seen in 74.8% patients. Pigmentary changes were seen in 43.57% patients. Nail changes were seen in fifty seven patients. Hal f and half nail was seen in twenty six (18.57%) pat ients. Hair changes were seen in forty nine (35%) patients. Cutaneous i nfections were seen in forty six patients. Most com mon infection was dermatophytosis in twenty eight patients (20%). Conclusion: CKD patients on dialysis suffer with multiple skin problems. Early detection of these problems like xe rosis, cutaneous infection, and pruritus might resu lt in improvement in quality of life.
Rice yield enhancement by elevated CO2 is reduced in cool weather

The projected increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) is expected to increase rice yield, but little is known of the effects of [CO2] at low temperature, which is the major constraint to growing rice in cool climates. We grew rice under two levels of [CO2] (ambient and elevated by 200 μmol mol−1) and two nitrogen (N) fertilization regimes in northern Japan in 2003 (cool weather) and 2004 (warm weather) in the field in a free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) system. Elevated [CO2] significantly increased grain yield in both years in both N regimes, but the magnitude of the increase differed between years: 6% in 2003 vs. 17% in 2004, with a significant interaction between [CO2] and year. This difference resulted from responses of spikelet number and ripening percentage to elevated [CO2]. Enhancement of dry matter production and N uptake at heading by elevated [CO2] was smaller in 2003 than in 2004, although at maturity there was no difference between years. No significant interaction between N regime and [CO2] was detected in yield and yield components. The results suggest that yield gain due to elevated [CO2] can be reduced by low temperature.
Ruminal Disappearance of Crude Protein and Dry Matter in Feeds and Combined Effects in Formulated Rations

Abstract Disappearance rates for feedstuffs were determined by suspension of feed-stuffs in polyester bags into a fistulated rumen of a lactating cow fed a corn-silage concentrate ration. Percent residual nitrogen and dry matter were measured at 2, 12, 24, 36, and 48h, and fractional disappearances per hour were ascertained for all feedstuffs. Two-hour disappearance rates for feedstuffs ranged from . 279 to . 029 for nitrogen and from . 259 to . 023 for dry matter. Extended nitrogen disappearance ranged from . 146 to . 008 and dry matter from . 088 to . 007. Nitrogen disappearance rate before 2h was uncorrelated with rate after 2h while dry matter disappearance before and after 2h was correlated . 81. Nine rations were formulated for 30,45, and 60% degradable nitrogen with three physical forms (ground, chopped, and all concentrate) and subjected to ruminal degradation in polyester bags. Of individual feedstuffs, degraded nitrogen was more predictable in rations containing no forage and least in rations containing ground forage. Measured degradable nitrogen agreed most in rations containing 30, followed by 60, then 45% predicted degradable. Solubility or short term nitrogen degradation appears invalid for predicting ruminally degradable nitrogen and especially in mixed rations.
Antibody Responses to GAT by (Responder × Nonresponder)F1 Spleen Cells Stimulated by Parental GAT-Macrophages

The development of IgG PFC responses specific for the random terpolymer of l-glutamic acid60-l-alanine30-L-tyrosine10 (GAT) by virgin and immune (responder C57BL/10 × nonresponder DBA/1)F1 spleen cells after stimulation with responder and nonresponder parental or F1 GAT-pulsed macrophages (GAT/Mϕ) in vitro was investigated. Virgin F1 spleen cells developed comparable primary responses to GAT-MBSA and to both parental and F1 GAT-Mϕ. F1 spleen cells from mice immunized with responder or nonresponder parental GAT-Mϕ developed secondary responses only after stimulation with the parental GAT-Mϕ used for immunization or F1 GAT-Mϕ. These observations are consistent with previous observations that spleen cells from mice immunized with syngeneic or allogeneic GAT-Mϕ develop secondary responses only with GAT-Mϕ syngeneic at the I-A subregion of the H-2 complex with the M-ϕ used for priming. By contrast, F1 spleen cells from mice immunized with GAT-MBSA or F1 GAT-Mϕ developed secondary responses after stimulation with either parental or F1 GAT-Mϕ.
Effects of Inoculation with Rhizobium on Seed Yield and Yield Components of Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

The effects of inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum on seed yield and yield components of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) were evaluated under Black Sea Coastal Region conditions, Turkey, in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 growing seasons using common vetch cultivars Kubilay, Urem, Karaelci, Uludag, Emir, Cubuk and Nilufer. The experiment was established as a split block design with 3 replications. Inoculation increased seed yield and all yield components of common vetch cultivars. It was observed that inoculated common vetch cultivars gave higher biological yield (8.5%), seed yield (7.6%), straw yield (10.4%), pod length (25.5%), number of seed per pod (16.2%), number of pods (28.4%), main stem length (3.5%) and thousand seed weight (5.5%) compared to non-inoculated cultivars. While the highest biological and straw yields were determined in the inoculated cultivar Kara elci, the highest seed yield was obtained from the inoculated cultivars Emir. Among the inoculated cultivars Emir had the greatest number of pods, thousand seed weight and the shortest maturity day, and Uludag showed the highest main stem length and pod length. The highest number of seed per pod was found in the inoculated cultivar Kubilay. Based on these results, the cultivars Emir, Uludag and Kubilay can be recommended for similar ecological conditions because of their better seed yield and yield components.