Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated level of polysaccharides in a high level UV-B tolerant cell line of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd

2 for 240 s. The cell line was named anti-UV-B cell line and proved to be a mutant from the original protoplast by RAPD tests and kept the genetic stability among different generations. Chemical analyses showed that, the anti-UV-B cell line contained excessively higher content of polysaccharides and relatively higher content of triterpenes than those from the wild-type plants and cell lines from unscreened protoplasts. To understand the possible contribution of polysaccharides to its high tolerance to UV-B radiation, the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides in this cell line was evaluated by free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results showed a significant antioxidant effect of the polysaccharides from this cell line in a concentration-dependent manner. This indicated that, the high content of polysaccharides might account for the high tolerance to UV-B radiation of this anti-UV-B B. scorzonerifolium cell line . Furthermore, this cell line displayed vigorous growth ability with high content of polysaccharides and triterpenes under artificial conditions, especially in the bioreactor, indicating it could have promising application potential for industrial production of antioxidant in medical and cosmetic areas.
Effect of larval extract medium on pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin against tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fab.

Studies on the pathogenicity of two isolates of Metarhizium anisopllae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, cultured on SDA medium supplemented with and without larval extract, were carried out against Spodoptera litura (Fab.) indicated that the virulence of both isolates increased when cultures were grown on SDA medium supplemented with larval extract. The LC50 values of Pantnagar isolate and MUCL 8237, grown on SDA medium supplemented with larval extract, were 1.08 and 1.42 × 106 conidia ml−1, 1.73 and 6.42 × 106 conidia ml, and 2.65 and 7.58 × 106 conidia ml−1 against second, third and fourth instar larvae, respectively, showing thereby higher virulence of the former in terms of LC50 and LT50 values against S. litura.
Responses of Lotus glaber (Leguminosae) cv. Chajá to defoliation in reproductive stage

Vignolio, O. R. , Fernandez, O. N. & Castano, J. 2006: Responses of Lotus glaber (Leguminosae) cv. Chaja to defoliation in reproductive stage. — Ann. Bot. Fennici 43: 284–287. Lotus glaber is a herbaceous forage legume, which became naturalized in the Flooding Pampa grasslands (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Experiments to evaluate defoliation effects on seed and shoot production were conducted in field conditions in Balcarce (Argentina). Lotus glaber plants were clipped (85% aerial biomass) at the beginning of the flowering period. Clipped plants commenced flowering again 21 days after being cut and compensated the vegetative biomass without affecting the reproduction. Clipped and control plants did not differ in seed number, pods and umbels per plant, mean seed weight and seed viability. Lotus glaber has indeterminate flowering, thus allowing to compensate vegetative and reproductive attributes under clipping conditions. Lotus glaber seed weight stability is important because this attribute is positively related to seedling vigor.
Residual Effect of Phosphate and Rhizobium inoculation in Chickpea on Succeeding Maize and Fodder Sorghum

Seed inoculation with Rhizobium and application of 40 kg P2O5 ha−1 in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) either alone or in combination enhanced the nodulation and yield significantlv over the uninoculated control for two consecutive years. These treatments also increased the yields of succeeding maize andfodder sorghum crops significantly. Inoculation alone in chickpea produced 26.3 and 32.8 per cent more yields of succeeding maize and fodder sorghum, respectively, showing a residual effect equivalent to 20 kg fertilizer N ha−1. The residual effect of Rhizobium inoculation + P fertilizer was to the tune of 30 and 40 kg N ha−1 in maize and fodder sorghum, respectively.
Going Bananas

Objectives/Goals To experimentally determine if the ripening of a banana is effected by the environment. Methods/Materials First I put the bananas in three different bags. Bag #1 had an unripe banana and a ripe banana, bag #2 had a unripe banana, and in bag #3 there was two unripe bananas. Next I measured each banana with a measuring chart every other day for five days. I when I was measuring I let them out for two minutes each exactly so that the time that I left out the bananas of the bag would not effect my experiment. My materials were three paper bags, four unripe bananas, one ripe banana, and one measuring chart. Results The environment does effect the ripening of the banana, bag #1 ripened the a complete ripening stage of 7 in five days, bag #2 ripened to a stage 5.5 in five days, and bag #3 ripened to a stage 5 in five days. Conclusions/Discussion The environment does effect the ripening of the banana. The reason why is ethylene. Ethylene is a gas that is produced by ripened fruit or ripened bananas. That is why bag #1 ripened the fastest, because of ethylene. When ethylene is produced and comes in contact with an unripe banana the unripe banana starts to ripen. So a unripe banana is ripened by a ripe banana.
Gross and histomorphology of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in dogs

GALT in one month old pups was comprised of DPPs, CPP and SLNs. While first two forms were distributed over small intestines, the third was limited to large intestine. The DPPs were arranged mainly on either side of mesenteric attachment. A single long band like CPP was present in the terminal part of ileum. The SLNs were present as small oval or round nodules in caecum and rectum. Some follicles of ALNs possessed domes covered with special FAE devoid of globlet cells. The SLNs were devoid of dome areas.
Common lambsquarters photosynthesis and seed production in three environments

Abstract Research was conducted in 1998 and 1999 to characterize common lambsquarters photosynthesis and seed production as influenced by biotic (crop environment) and abiotic (climate) factors. Treatments were common lambsquarters in soybean, in corn, and in common lambsquarters monoculture. Common lambsquarters net photosynthesis was variable among treatments and differed between years. In 1998, early-season common lambsquarters net photosynthesis did not differ in soybean, corn, or common lambsquarters monoculture. In 1999, early-season common lambsquarters net photosynthesis was greater in corn than in soybean, but did not differ from that of common lambsquarters in monoculture. By midseason in both years, common lambsquarters net photosynthesis was less in soybean than in corn or in common lambsquarters monoculture. By late season in both years, common lambsquarters net photosynthesis was greater in common lambsquarters monoculture than in soybean or corn. Common lambsquarters seed production per plant was greater in common lambsquarters monoculture than in soybean or corn. Common lambsquarters seed production was variable among plants and between years. Practical applications of models to predict weed fitness that are based on photosynthetic capacity will be limited until variability in net photosynthesis and in seed production are better understood. Nomenclature: Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Dekalb DK493SR’; soybean, Glycine max L. Merr. , ‘Asgrow AG2101RR’.
Offspring food allocation by parents and helpers in a cooperative mammal

In cooperatively breeding species, helpers and parents commonly face two decisions when they find a food item: first, whether to feed the item to a young group member or to eat it themselves; and second, which offspring to feed. Little is known about the factors that influence these decisions in cooperative mammals, though optimal foraging theory provides a basis for a range of predictions. In this article we describe pup feeding behavior by helpers and parents in a cooperative mongoose, the meerkat (Suricata suricatta). When meerkat pups begin accompanying the group, they beg food from older group members, who dig up dispersed prey items. As predicted, the probability of a prey item being fed to a pup shows a positive relationship with prey size and a negative relationship with pup distance. Meerkats apparently follow a ‘‘feed the nearest pup rule’’ and are more likely to feed the nearest pup if it is hungry. Hungrier pups beg more and follow older group members more closely. Across all age categories, females feed pups more frequently than males, both in terms of the relative frequency of feeds, and the proportion of prey biomass found by each individual that is fed to pups. Females also feed female pups significantly more than male pups, while males feed pups of both sexes equally. These sex biases in feeding contributions may result from female group members benefiting more than males from higher pup survival, and in particular higher female pup survival, because females are the philopatric sex. Key words: cooperative breeding, group augmentation, kin selection, meerkat, offspring feeding rules, sex-biased parental care. [Behav Ecol 12:590–599 (2001)]
Genetics of yield and its component traits in early cauliflower

Six genetical populations of early cauliflower (P, P, F, F, BCand BC) developed by crossing different advanced breeding lines and varieties (IIHR-223, IIHR-302, IIHR-217-1-4-6-12, IIHR-73-24, IIHR-Sel-5 and First Early) were studied for estimation of gene effects for ten quantitative parameters, namely days taken for 50% curd initiation, days taken for 50% curd maturity, total plant weight, leaf number, leaf weight, stalk length, stalk weight, curd diameter, curd size, curd yield per plant.The results indicated that all the parameters studied were governed by dominant gene action and thus heterosis breeding can be employed for the improvement of these parameters in early cauliflower.
The impacts of deep-sea fisheries on benthic communities: a review

Deep-sea fisheries operate globally throughout the world's oceans, chiefly targeting stocks on the upper and mid-continental slope and offshore seamounts. Major commercial fisheries occur, or have occurred, for species such as orange roughy, oreos, cardinalfish, grenadiers and alfonsino. Few deep fisheries have, however, been sustainable, with most deep-sea stocks having undergone rapid and substantial declines. Fishing in the deep sea not only harvests target species but can also cause unintended environmental harm, mostly from operating heavy bottom trawls and, to a lesser extent, bottom longlines. Bottom trawling over hard seabed (common on seamounts) routinely removes most of the benthic fauna, resulting in declines in faunal biodiversity, cover and abundance. Functionally, these impacts translate into loss of biogenic habitat from potentially large areas. Recent studies on longline fisheries show that their impact is much less than from trawl gear, but can still be significant. Benthic taxa, especially the dominant mega-faunal components of deep-sea systems such as corals and sponges, can be highly vulnerable to fishing impacts. Some taxa have natural resilience due to their size, shape, and structure, and some can survive in natural refuges inaccessible to trawls. However, many deep-sea invertebrates are exceptionally long-lived and grow extremely slowly: these biological attributes mean that the recovery capacity of the benthos is highly limited and prolonged, predicted to take decades to centuries after fishing has ceased. The low tolerance and protracted recovery of many deep-sea benthic communities has implications for managing environmental performance of deep-sea fisheries, including that (i) expectations for recovery and restoration of impacted areas may be unrealistic in acceptable time frames, (ii) the high vulnerability of deep-sea fauna makes spatial management—that includes strong and consistent conservation closures—an important priority, and (iii) biodiversity conservation should be > balanced with options for open areas that support sustainable fisheries. ; ;
Germination and seedling growth of five tree species from tropical dry forest in relation to water stress: impact of seed size

The impact of seed size on germination and seedling growth, as affected by water stress, was studied for five tree species from tropical dry forest of India, viz. Albizia procera, Acacia nilotica, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia chebula. Germination tests were conducted under five osmotic potential levels. Seedlings from large (LS) and small (SS) seeds were grown at four soil moisture levels. Observations were made on height, leaf area, biomass and other growth traits such as relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), specific leaf area (SLA), and root:shoot (R:S) ratio. Seeds of pioneer species and large seeds, within species, germinated earlier, and with increasing water stress, per cent germination and germination velocity declined. RGR was inversely related with drought tolerance. R:S ratio increased, RGR and SLA declined, but NAR increased with water stress. Notwithstanding successional status, the slow-growing species registered minimum reduction in biomass due to water stress. The response of LS and SS seedlings also differed for some of the growth variables. Increase in NAR could be a compensatory response to water stress, and the marked allocational plasticity could help maximize capture of the limited resource. Seedlings from smaller seeds, particularly of fast-growing species, would be able to cope with mild drought by morphogenetic and physiological plastic response in a better way than those from large seeds. However, seedlings from large seeds had greater survival than those from smaller seeds under intense water stress.
Title of Thesis: Nitrogen Uptake and Physiology of Dinoflagellate Blooms in the East China Sea

Title of Thesis: Nitrogen Uptake and Physiology of Dinoflagellate Blooms in the East China Sea Ji Li, Master of Science, 2008 Directed By: Patricia M. Glibert, Professor Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences Program Frequent and large scale harmful algal blooms have developed in the highly eutrophic water in the Changjiang River estuary and East China Sea coast in the past decade. Sampling and experiments were conducted during late spring and early summer of 2005 to study the dinoflagellate blooms in this region when large scale (> 15,000 km) mixed dinoflagellate blooms developed. Karenia mikimotoi was the dominant harmful algal bloom (HAB) species in the first stage of the bloom and was succeeded by Prorocentrum donghaiense approximately 2 weeks later. Samples were collected from different stations along both north-south and west-east transects during 3 cruises. Nitrogen (N) uptake experiments were conducted during the time period that covered pre-bloom, bloom development and bloom decline. Kinetics of N uptake by phytoplankton assemblages were measured as a function of substrate concentration (4 N sources, NO3, NH4, urea, glycine) with N isotope techniques. The bloom progression was related to the change in available N and phosphorus (P) composition. Reduced N, especially NH4 and urea, were preferentially taken up during the blooms. Both the biological availability of reduced N and the N:P ratio were suggested to be important factors for the bloom development. High inorganic nitrogen loading from the river and phosphorus from coastal water supported the bloom development. Relatively high organic nitrogen levels, and low DIN:DIP led to a succession of dinoflagellates. The temporal and spatial variability in kinetics parameters were reported as N-specific maximum uptake rates (Vmax, h), absolute maximum N uptake rates (ρmax, μM h) and half-saturation constant (Ks, μmol L) during the bloom progression. The results of comparison these indices with ambient nutrients and bloom progression confirmed the preferentially taken up of N by different species during the blooms. Remarkable correspondence was found about the nutrient ratios and specific uptake rates of urea between blooms in the East China Sea and in analogous blooms on the West Florida Shelf. Similar N uptake rates were also shown between the East China Sea and the Chesapeake Bay. These findings suggest that there may be general relationships between these blooms species and the availability of different nutrients and the N:P ratio. To more firmly estimate these relationships, additional laboratory experiments and more comparison among different ecosystem will be required. Such relationships will contribute to our understanding of, and ability to model, these bloom dynamics. NITROGEN UPTAKE AND PHYSIOLOGY OF DINOFLAGELLATE BLOOMS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA
Effect of planting time and spacing on the yield performance of bushbean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the eastern hilly area of Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted in split plot design with six spacing and three planting time of dwarf French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) during the period from October, 1998 to March, 2000. Earlier (October, 15) planting took longer time for flowering and fruiting while late planting (December, 15) gave early flowering but number of pod and pod yield decreased. Wider spacing gave higher number of pod and pod yield per plant but closer spacing gave higher number of pod and pod yield per unit area. The highest yield (24.16 t/ha) was obtained from 25 x 10 cm spacing of mid-November planting. Plant height, number of branches, foot and root rot disease infestation was higher in earlier planting and was minimum in late planting.
Effects of eutrophication on bioeroding sponge communities with the description of new West Indian sponges, Cliona spp. (Porifera: Hadromerida: Clionidae)

Pieces of coral rubble (Porites porites), collected from across 3 fringing reefs that lie along a eutrophication gradient, were examined for the presence of clionid sponges. A similarity analysis of species composition showed that reef zone had less effect on clionid community composition than did other factors affecting the reefs as a whole. Except on the back reef, the Zones, distances, and depths within the reefs had no significant influence on the number of clionid invasions. Reef comparisons demonstrated that clionid abundance increased with increasing eutrophication. Clionids were found in 41% of the pieces collected from the most eutrophic site vs. 24% from the least eutrophic. Because clionids are the principal bio-eroders of coral reefs, any increase in their abundance will likely result in greater bioerosion rates. The mean abundance of Type 3 corals (in which fragmentation is the primary mode of propagation) is positively related to the frequency of boring sponge invasion. suggesting that increased bioerosion may be partly responsible for community shifts toward Type 3 corals in polluted waters. Cliona cf. vastifica, found for the first time in Barbados, flourishes on the most eutrophic reef and may become an important bioeroder under the highly eutrophic conditions that have begun to plague West Indian reefs. Two new species of Cliona (Porifera: Hadro-merida: Clionidae) are described.
Hydrodynamics and the spatial distribution of plankton and TEP in the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Iberian Peninsula).

During a summer cruise in the Gulf of Cadiz area (Southern Iberian Peninsula), an upwelling episode off the eastern coast of Cape Santa Maria was noted. The observed temperature field data suggested an anticyclonic circulation from NW to SE and a velocity of the associated surface currents ranging between 10 and 15 cm s ‐1 was estimated. Research was carried out on the physical‐biological coupling by analysing the influence of these hydrodynamic patterns on the mesoscale distribution of several chemical and biological variables. During the cruise, nitrate concentration, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll (>20 µm), phaeopigments and TEP bulk concentration were measured. The distribution of biological variables appears to be organized by physical forcing. The upwelling area acts as a notable disturbance in the area. A sequence of maxima of different variables classified as bloom phases was observed, arranged in the same direction as dominant currents. A clear frontal structure in radial transects was also apparent. Discussion focusses on the variability of the hydrodynamic patterns observed in the framework of previous observations and the role of physical forcing, moulding the biological distributions and altering their spatial correlations. Special reference is made to TEP, as this variable is scarcely analysed in extensive field studies. The distribution of TEP patches in the area was heterogeneous, which has been discussed in the framework of current theory. Chlorophyll (>20 µm), phaeopigment ratio and TEP concentration maxima had no direct spatial correlation with chlorophyll maxima. The sequence of typical processes in phytoplankton bloom phases and the influence that hydrodynamics has both on environmental suitability for growth and on displacement of patches, could explain the distribution of these biological variables in the area. Subsequent studies on hydrodynamics variability are suggested as a valuable tool for the future understanding of biological processes in the region.
Restoration in applied ecology: editor's introduction

1. The need to rehabilitate and restore ecological resources degraded by overuse was already established when the Journal of Applied Ecology was launched in 1964. In the intervening 40 years, submissions on restoration have increased and now contribute at least 8–12% of the papers published annually. Examples from subjects such as conservation biology, pollution ecology and ecological modelling show that notions of restoration or recovery are now implicit in the philosophy of applied ecology. 2. The terminology of restoration ecology is increasingly clear, but there is still debate about the definition of restoration end-points. Although restoration constitutes the process of assisting recovery, success ultimately depends on whether populations, communities and ecological functions attain limits typical of un-degraded reference systems. With evidence increasing that the removal of stressors is not always sufficient to guarantee restoration success, the true arbiters will be the organisms and processes at which restoration is aimed. Stringent appraisal on these ecological criteria will be required if restored systems are to conserve biodiversity and deliver ecosystem services to the extent that many restoration ecologists believe is possible. 3. Botanical systems have figured most prominently among the Journal's restoration papers, but there is increasing emphasis on the restoration of individual populations or species, often invertebrates or vertebrates such as birds. 4. Recent contributions on restoration to the Journal of Applied Ecology include projects seeking the ideal technical solutions to specific restoration problems. Other papers are distinguished for their seminal value and often show that intervention is preferable to natural succession in delivering a successful outcome. Examples range from species and ecosystem-level restoration to real evidence that large-scale restoration can be achieved by policy instruments such as agri-environment. Papers published in the Journal also show how restoration can bring ecological value to urban locations, where many people now gain their first-ever wildlife experiences. 5. Synthesis and applications. This special profile of five papers follows these themes in developing the assessment of restoration end-points, in understanding the restoration process, and in identifying factors that promote success or bring failure. Restoration ecology offers yet another example where the application of ecology simultaneously provides academic leadership and solutions to real environmental problems. In an era in which the adverse economic and ecological consequences of environmental degradation are increasingly unacceptable, restoration ecology is emerging as one of the most important disciplines in the whole of environmental science.