Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Irrigation Frequency and Brief Water Stress Before Harvest Enhances Essential Oil Yield of Rose-scented Geranium (Pelargonium capitatum × P. radens)

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation frequency and withholding irrigation during the week before harvesting on rose-scented geranium herbage yield and essential oil yield and composition. A factorial experiment with three irrigation frequencies (twice a day, once a day, and every second day) and two growth media (silica sand and sandy clay soil) were conducted in a tunnel. One week before harvest, irrigation was withheld for half of the pots in each treatment com- bination. In a glasshouse, sandy clay soil was used as growing medium, andfive irrigation frequencies (everyday, everyday with1-weekirrigation withholding period,everysecond day, every third day, and every fourth day irrigation to pot capacity) were applied as treatments. Results showed that essential oil content (percent oil on fresh herbage weight basis) increased as the irrigation frequency decreased. Both herbage yield and essential oil yield positively responded to frequent irrigation. Thus, higher herbage and essential oil yields were obtained from the highest irrigation frequency. A 1-week stress period significantly increased total essential oil yield as well as oil content per fresh herbage weight. The results highlighted that conditions of high soil water availability followed by brief waterstress justbefore harvestingwouldmaximize rose-scented geraniumessential oil yield. Citronellol and citronellyl formate tended to increase with an increase in the stress level, but the reverse was true for geraniol and geranyl formate. Other major essential oil components were unaffected by water stress.
Distribution of Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea)

The scyphozoan Pelagia noctiluca reproduces by direct development without a benthic stage. Typically, this jellyfish is found offshore with a holoplanktonic lifecycle, vertical migration and feeding behaviours. Frequent outbreaks have been well documented on the Mediterranean shores since the 19th century; however, the offshore distribution of this species remains mostly unknown. In this study, we performed a bimonthly monitoring of P. noctiluca surface density, at high resolution, from a sailboat, along a 35-km coastal to offshore transect in the Ligurian Sea, between February and October 2011. During daylight, P. noctiluca was rarely seen. At night, offshore, P. noctiluca was always present, while within 5 km of the coast, P. noctiluca was rarely observed. Pelagia noctiluca aggregations were most abundant within the Northern Current of the Ligurian Sea. Our findings suggest that P. noctiluca outbreaks observed on Mediterranean shores may result from the transport of the permanent offshore population inshore by specific hydrodynamic conditions.
β-Casein as a bioactive precursor - processing for purification.

β-casein can be regarded as a precursor for different peptides with a biological activity, such as antihypertensive, opioid, or immunomodulating activities, which are released from the protein by digestion or enzymatic hydrolysis in a technological process. Meeting the demand for highly purified β-casein, a method for small pilot-scale isolation of β-casein from micellar casein powder was developed. The objective was to maximise both, yield and purity of β-casein by constructing a set of experiments at laboratory scale in which relevant factors pH-value, CaCl 2 -concentration, temperature, and β-casein solubilisation time were varied simultaneously. Increased pH-value, solubilisation time, the interaction of pH-value and temperature as well as a decreased reconstitution temperature caused a significant (p<0.05) higher yield, whereas β-casein purity increased with decreasing solubilisation time. Optimisation of both responses was achieved at pH 11, a CaCl 2 -concentration of 50 mmol/l, a reconstitution temperature of 30°C, and a solubilisation time of 2 hours. A purity of 95%, a 15% yield of β-casein, and a recovery of 33% of total p-casein, determined by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography was achieved. Transferring the optimised extraction method from laboratory to small pilot-scale, a comparable yield (14%) and purity (90%) of the produced food-grade β-casein was obtained. The p-casein yield could be increased to 24% (53% recovery of total p-casein), accepting a purity of 77%.
Lack of mitochondrial genetic structure in the red‐legged partridge Alectoris rufa (Phasianidae)

A phylogeographic analysis of the control region of mitochondrial DNA was done in 346 individuals of the red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa (Linnaeus 1758), sampled throughout the species distribution range. The analysis indicated that there is no distinct intraspecific phylogeographical structure, in contrast to earlier studies with lower number of samples. The results are not in accord with the expected distribution of three A. rufa subspecies based on morphological characters (A. r. rufa, A. r. intercedens and A. r. hispanica). The results do not provide statistical support for the five groups (or management units) proposed in some earlier papers because the variation within populations is greater than that found among populations. The absence of a population structure might be a consequence of management activity, consisting of release into the field of individuals bred in farms with no control of their genetic identity and geographic origin. Only the north-west Iberian populations show a weak population structure, suggesting that A. r. hispanica may have suffered less human influence. Resumen Se ha realizado un analisis filogeografico de la region control del ADN mitocondrial en 346 individuos de perdiz roja, Alectoris rufa (Linnaeus 1758), procedentes de la mayor parte del rango de distribucion geografica de la especie. El analisis indica que no hay distincion intraespecifica en la estructura filogeografica, en contraste con estudios previos con un menor numero de muestras. Los resultados no encajan con la distribucion esperada de las tres subespecies de A. rufa descritas en base a caracteres morfologicos (A. r. rufa, A. r intercedens. y A. r. hispanica). La variacion genetica encontrada dentro de las poblaciones es mayor que la encontrada entre poblaciones, por lo que los resultados no proporcionan soporte estadistico para los cinco grupos (o unidades de gestion) propuestos en un articulo anterior por otros autores. La ausencia de estructura poblacional podria ser consecuencia de la actividad de gestion cinegetica, consistente en la liberacion en el campo de individuos criados en granjas sin control genetico. Unicamente las poblaciones del noroeste iberico muestran una debil estructura genetica, lo que sugiere que la subespecie A. r. hispanica podria ser la que ha sufrido una menor influencia humana.
Contrasting patterns of biomass allocation in dominant and suppressed loblolly pine

We investigated above- and below-ground biomass allocation and allometric relationships of canopy dominant and suppressed loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) trees from a range of diameters at breast height (DBH = 3.5-35.6cm) to determine if shifts in allocation may influence the growth and persistence of suppressed trees in the understory. Using mass and volume conversions from harvested trees (15 dominant and 15 suppressed), we developed regressions to predict total and component biomass from DBH. Bole, branch, needle, and total mass differed between dominance categories (ANCOVA, P < 0.10). For a representative size (15cm DBH), dominant trees allocated 63.4, 13.2, 11.3, and 12.0% of biomass to bole, branch, needle, and root tissue compared with 75.9, 6.7, 5.6, and 11.7% for suppressed trees. At any given DBH, suppressed trees were also taller than dominant trees and had a greater porportion of heterotrophic (bole plus branch plus root mass) to autotrophic (needle mass) tissue. Percent carbon and nitrogen of t.
Inheritance of AFLP Markers and Their Use for Genetic Diversity Analysis in Wild and Domesticated Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal]

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) produces the largest fruit native to the United States. Six linkage groups were identifi ed for A. triloba using the interspecifi c cross (PPF1-5 (A. triloba) × RET (A. reticulata Shuttlw. ex Chapman)), covering 206 centimorgans (cM). A total of 134 dominant amplifi cation fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers (37 polymorphic and 97 monomorphic) were employed for estimating the genetic diversity of eight wild populations and 31 cultivars and advanced selections. For the wild populations, the percentage of polymorphic loci over all populations was 28.1% for dominant markers and Neiʼs genetic diversity (He) were 0.077 estimated by 134 dominant markers. Genetic diversity and the percentage of polymorphic loci estimated using only polymorphic dominant AFLPs were 0.245 and 79%, respectively, which are comparable with other plant species having the same characteristics. Estimated genetic diversity within populations accounted for 81.3% of the total genetic diversity. For cultivars and advanced selections, genetic diversity estimated by 134 dominant markers was similar to that of wild pawpaw populations (He = 0.071). Thirty-one cultivars and advanced selections were delineated by as few as nine polymorphic AFLP dominant loci. Genetic relationships among wild populations, cultivars and advanced selections were further examined by unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) of Neiʼs unbiased genetic distance. The genetic diversity estimated for wild populations using the clustered polymorphic markers was lower than the result estimated using the nonclustered polymorphic markers. Therefore, this study indicates that the number of sampled genomic regions, instead of the number of markers, plays an important role for the genetic diversity estimates. The North American pawpaw produces the largest fruit by any tree native to the United States, but its fruit remains largely under-exploited. Pawpaw has long been appreciated for its oblong- shaped, green-skinned fruit with buttery, yellow fl esh and unique tropical fl avor that can be described as a blend of banana (Musa ×paradisiaca L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), and pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. ) with a mild, pleasant fruit aroma. Pawpaw fruit is an excellent food source that exceeds many com- mon fruits in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and food energy values (Jones and Layne, 1997). Pawpaw trees also produce natural defense compounds (annonaceous acetogenins) in leaf, bark, and twig tissues that have highly effective anti-tumor and pesticidal properties (McLaughlin, 1997; Oberlies et al., 1997a,
Radiation biology of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Eldana saccharina W alker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is indigenous to Africa. It has become a major pest of the sugar industry in southern Africa since the 1970’s resulting in it being the subject of much research at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI). Current control recommendations are not adequate and SASRI has shifted its focus to Area-W ide Integrated Pest Management. The use of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is part of an area wide approach. Eldana saccharina was assessed as a suitable candidate for SIT. The biology of E. saccharina was reviewed. Controlled studies were completed on laboratory reared E. saccharina to assess fecundity, fertility and male and female mating frequency. Mean fecundity was 518 ± 27.5 (mean ± SE) and females laid up to a maximum of 798 eggs. Mean fertility was 63.2 ± 4.2%. The majority (56.7%) of females mated once but on average mated 1.5 ± 0.1 times (max = 3). Males mated up to six females but a single male mated on average 3.3 ± 0.72 females. Most mating occurred on the first (90%) and second (93%) night after male emergence. The majority of the total eggs laid (49.9 ± 3.9%) were laid on the second night after emergence. A SIT programme requires sterilised marked adults to be released and the marker should not be detrimental to their biology. Sudan Red 7B and Calco Red N1700, were incorporated into different diets used to rear E. saccharina. Sudan Red reduced adult emergence by 38% and fecundity by 70%, and significantly prolonged development time compared to the control. Calco Red, in contrast, had no significant effect on the development and reproductive biology of E. saccharina, and is therefore a suitable marker. Both dyes marked E. saccharina red. To determine E. saccharina radiation biology, laboratory reared males and females were exposed to increasing doses of radiation and crossed as follows: radiation treated males (T♂) mated with untreated females (N♀) and radiation treated females (T♀) mated with untreated males (N♂) at radiation doses of 0, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350
Monthly Vertical Occurrence of Some Copepods in a Pond in Rajshahi City

A weekly study on the m onthly vertical occurrence of some copepods in a pond in R ajshahi city was conducted for a period of 10 months from D ecember, 2001 to Se ptember, 2002. Four genera of copepods, Cyclops sp. , Mesocyclops sp. , Merocyclops sp. And Diaptomus sp. were obse rved. Dominancy of Cyclops sp. was noted. They showed di fferent pattern of vertical movements. Each type of copepods was always found t o be abundant near the surface during morning and e vening. They were found t o be in lesser number in the noon samples. On t he seasonal basis these we re f ound in w inter. The roles 2 of water temperature, p , dissolved oxygen (DO), free CO and a lkalinity in the abundance of copepods H
Strengthening Invasion Filters to Reassemble Native Plant Communities: Soil Resources and Phenological Overlap

Preventing invasion by exotic species is one of the key goals of restoration, and community assembly theory provides testable predictions about native community attributes that will best resist invasion. For instance, resource availability and biotic interactions may represent “filters” that limit the success of potential invaders. Communities are predicted to resist invasion when they contain native species that are functionally similar to potential invaders; where phenology may be a key functional trait. Nutrient reduction is another common strategy for reducing invasion following native species restoration, because soil nitrogen (N) enrichment often facilitates invasion. Here, we focus on restoring the herbaceous community associated with coastal sage scrub vegetation in Southern California; these communities are often highly invaded, especially by exotic annual grasses that are notoriously challenging for restoration. We created experimental plant communities composed of the same 20 native species, but manipulated functional group abundance (according to growth form, phenology, and N‐fixation capacity) and soil N availability. We fertilized to increase N, and added carbon to reduce N via microbial N immobilization. We found that N reduction decreased exotic cover, and the most successful seed mix for reducing exotic abundance varied depending on the invader functional type. For instance, exotic annual grasses were least abundant when the native community was dominated by early active forbs, which matched the phenology of the exotic annual grasses. Our findings show that nutrient availability and the timing of biotic interactions are key filters that can be manipulated in restoration to prevent invasion and maximize native species recovery.
Effect of Feather Meal and Blood Meal Supplementation on Performance of Dairy Cattle

Abstract Twenty early lactating dairy cattle were used in a lactation study to compare responses to five total mixed ration diets containing various combinations of protein supplements (DM basis): 1) control diet, 18.8% soybean meal (SBM); 2) 4.0% feather meal (FM) + 12.0% SBM; 3) 8.0% FM + 5.9% SBM; 4) 4.0% FM + 4.0% blood meal (BM) + 5.0% SBM; or 5) 4.0% FM + 4.8% SBM. Diets 1 to 4 contained 17.0% CP and diet 5 contained 14.0% CP (low protein diet). Dry matter intake was depressed (P
Co‐evolutionary patterns in congeneric monogeneans: a review of Dactylogyrus species and their cyprinid hosts

Patterns associated with the evolution of parasite diversity, speciation and diversification were analysed using Dactylogyrus species (gill monogeneans) and their cyprinid fish hosts as a model. The aim of this study was to use this highly specific host-parasite system to review, (i) the diversity and distribution of Dactylogyrus species, (ii) the patterns of organization and structure of Dactylogyrus communities, (iii) the evolution and determinants of host specificity, and (iv) the mode of Dactylogyrus speciation and coevolutionary patterns in this Dactylogyrus cyprinid system. Dactylogyrus are a highly diverse group of parasites; with their biogeography and distribution clearly linked to the evolutionary history of their cyprinid hosts. The coexistence of several Dactylogyrus species on one host is facilitated by increasing niche distances and the differing morphology of their reproductive organs. The positive inter-specific and intra-specific interactions seem to be the most important factors determining the structure of Dactylogyrus communities. Host specificity is partially constrained by parasite phylogeny. Being a strict specialist is an ancestral character for Dactylogyrus, being the intermediate specialists or generalists are the derived characters. The evolution of attachment organ morphology is associated with both parasite phylogeny and host specificity. Considering larger and long-lived hosts, or hosts with several ecological characters as the measures of resource predictability, specialists with larger anchors occurred on larger or longer-living fish species. Intra-host speciation, a mode of speciation not often recorded in parasites, was observed in Dactylogyrus infecting sympatric cyprinids. Sister parasite species coexisting on the same host occupied niches that differed in at least one niche parameter. However, intra-host speciation was not observed in Dactylogyrus species of congeneric hosts from geographically isolated areas, which suggested association by descent and host switching events.
Insights into the microbial physiology of bacteria capable of degrading pollutants in contaminated groundwater ecosystems

The goal of this work is to elucidate how environmentally relevant anaerobic bacteria metabolize carbon sources in the environment. Proteomes of Geobacter metallireducens and Desulfitobacterium hafniense Y51 expressed at conditions resembling natural (extreme low growth rates or various limitations) were investigated relative to exponential growth. The obtained results suggest that low growth rates might “remind” the studied bacteria of their natural habitats with typical carbon and energy sources where they are prepared to utilize alternative substrates.
Increase in the constitutive innate humoral immune system in Leach's Storm‐Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) chicks is negatively correlated with growth rate

1 Using a simple technique for assessing constitutive innate immune function recently adapted for use in wild populations, we characterize changes in avian immune system development by repeated measurements of individuals over the period of nestling growth in a wild population of Leach's Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). 2 We measured levels of natural antibodies (NAb) during the early, middle and late phases of storm-petrel development and related these levels and NAb rate of change to mass and wing length growth. We used natural variation in nestling growth to assess the influence of nutritional status on the development of innate immunity. 3 NAb levels increased over the first 50 days of chick development; however, rate of increase was inversely proportional to wing growth. 4 Initial titre levels were inversely proportional to rate of change in NAb levels over the first 50 days of immune development. This suggests that individuals with low initial NAb levels accelerate immune development to reach adult levels, whereas individuals with high initial levels do not. 5 As in previous studies, our results demonstrate an inverse relationship between growth rate and development of components of the avian immune system. While such a relationship is consistent with the idea that immune function development involves trade-offs, the processes involved are more complex than simple energy allocation.
Acidity controls on dissolved organic carbon mobility in organic soils

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in surface waters have increased across much of Europe and North America, with implications for the terrestrial carbon balance, aquatic ecosystem functioning, water treatment costs and human health. Over the past decade, many hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon, from changing climate and land management to eutrophication and acid deposition. Resolution of this debate has been hindered by a reliance on correlative analyses of time series data, and a lack of robust experimental testing of proposed mechanisms. In a 4 year, four‐site replicated field experiment involving both acidifying and deacidifying treatments, we tested the hypothesis that DOC leaching was previously suppressed by high levels of soil acidity in peat and organo‐mineral soils, and therefore that observed DOC increases a consequence of decreasing soil acidity. We observed a consistent, positive relationship between DOC and acidity change at all sites. Responses were described by similar hyperbolic relationships between standardized changes in DOC and hydrogen ion concentrations at all sites, suggesting potentially general applicability. These relationships explained a substantial proportion of observed changes in peak DOC concentrations in nearby monitoring streams, and application to a UK‐wide upland soil pH dataset suggests that recovery from acidification alone could have led to soil solution DOC increases in the range 46–126% by habitat type since 1978. Our findings raise the possibility that changing soil acidity may have wider impacts on ecosystem carbon balances. Decreasing sulphur deposition may be accelerating terrestrial carbon loss, and returning surface waters to a natural, high‐DOC condition.
Chromosome instability induced in the cell progeny of human T lymphocytes irradiated in G0 with γ-rays

We report the occurrence of chromosome instability in human T lymphocytes irradiated in vitro with gamma-rays and cultured for several generations before analysis. The delayed effects of gamma-radiation have been evaluated by conventional and molecular (chromosome painting) cytogenetics in preparations obtained from long-term bulk cultures or clonal cultures. The results indicate that the cell progeny of gamma irradiated human T lymphocytes can be characterized by a higher rate of chromosome damage, but this effect depends on the individual donor response to ionizing radiation. Evidence has been collected about a differential involvement of chromosomes 7, 9 and 19 in the induced chromosome rearrangements, and this effect is equally visible as an immediate or delayed response of human T lymphocytes to ionizing radiation.
Phytate Reduction in Oats during Malting

To reduce phytate in oat products and thereby increase mineral bioavailability, optimal conditions for phytate degradation in oats were investigated. The effects of malting and incubation on phytate reduction in oats were determined and compared with phytate degradation in wheat, rye and barley. Studies of incubation temperatures showed an optimum for phytate reduction in oats between 37–40°C which differed from that in wheat (55°C). Malting of oats for 5 days at 11°C and subsequent incubation for 17 hr at 37–40°C reduced phytate by 98%. Addition of malted rye also reduced the phytate content of oats to low levels.