Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Nonconventional Nuclear Localization Signal within the UL84 Protein of Human Cytomegalovirus Mediates Nuclear Import via the Importin α/β Pathway

ABSTRACT The open reading frame UL84 of human cytomegalovirus encodes a multifunctional regulatory protein which is required for viral DNA replication and binds with high affinity to the immediate-early transactivator IE2-p86. Although the exact role of pUL84 in DNA replication is unknown, the nuclear localization of this protein is a prerequisite for this function. To investigate whether the activities of pUL84 are modulated by cellular proteins we used the Saccharomyces cerevisiae two-hybrid system to screen a cDNA-library for interacting proteins. Strong interactions were found between pUL84 and four members of the importin α protein family. These interactions could be confirmed in vitro by pull down experiments and in vivo by coimmunoprecipitation analysis from transfected cells. Using in vitro transport assays we showed that the pUL84 nuclear import required importin α, importin β, and Ran, thus following the classical importin-mediated import pathway. Deletion mutagenesis of pUL84 revealed a domain of 282 amino acids which is required for binding to the importin α proteins. Its function as a nuclear localization signal (NLS) was confirmed by fusion to heterologous proteins. Although containing a cluster of basic amino acids similar to classical NLSs, this cluster did not contain the NLS activity. Thus, a complex structure appears to be essential for importin α binding and import activity.
The physiological responses to fighting in pigs and the consequences for meat quality

Le profil biochimique de porcs castres et de verrats soumis a un transport montre que les parametres les plus representatifs de l'etat de stress sont les taux sanguins de cortisol, glucose, lactate et le taux d'acide ascorbique des glandes surrenales. Le pH musculaire 45 minutes apres abattage ou la couleur des carcasses ne sont pas significatifs
Effects of High Temperature Stress on Brassica Pollen: Viability, Germination and Ability to Set Fruits and Seeds

Pollen grains of Brassica juncea (L) Czern. were exposed to high temperature (45, 60 and 75°C, for 4-24 h) and their viability [using the fluorochromatic reaction (FCR) test], germination, and ability to set fruits and seeds were investigated. High temperature up to 60°C did not affect pollen viability; these pollen samples germinated on the stigma and produced fruits and seeds. There was no correlation between viability and seed set in pollen samples exposed to 75°C; they showed only about 25% reduction in viability but failed to germinate on the stigma and, consequently, to set seeds. However, these pollen samples induced parthenocarpy. A clear relationship between viability and seed-set was observed when the extent of retention of fluorescence in pollen over a 2-h period was used to assess viability. The fluorescence was retained even after 2 h in pollen samples which induced seed-set, while in those which failed to induce seed-set the fluorescence was lost in about 60 min due to the leakage of fluorescein. Thus, in stressed pollen, the extent of retention of fluorescence may give a better indication of pollen function than initial fluorescence, as is being done routinely in FCR test.
Ferulic acid impairs rhizogenesis and root growth, and alters associated biochemical changes in mung bean (Vigna radiata) hypocotyls

The present study investigated the effect of ferulic acid (FA; 0–1000 µM) on early growth, and rhizogenesis in mung bean (Vigna radiata) hypocotyls and associated biochemical changes. FA severely affected the radicle elongation and number of secondary roots after 72 h. The root and shoot length, number and length of secondary roots, and seedling dry weight of one-week-old seedlings of mung bean were decreased by 64%. The rooting potential (percent rooting, number and length of adventitious roots) of mung bean hypocotyls under in vitro conditions was significantly inhibited in response to 1–100 µM FA. At 1000 µM there was complete cessation of rooting. FA caused a reduction in the contents of water-soluble proteins and endogenous total phenolics, whereas the activities of proteases, peroxidases, and polyphenol peroxidases increased. The study concludes that FA inhibits root growth and development, and in vitro rooting process in mung bean by interfering with biochemical processes that are crucial for root formation.
Desempenho, composição da cama, das tíbias, do fígado e das excretas de frangos de corte alimentados com rações contendo fitase e baixos níveis de fósforo

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance and composition of litter, tibia, liver and excreta of broiler chicks at different phases using different levels of available phosphorous (Pd) and the enzyme phytase. One thousand and two hundred one-day-Cobb-male chicks were used, distributed in a randomized complete design, using a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of four available phosphorus levels and three phytase levels - 0, 500 and 1,000 FTU phytase/kg of diet with four replications of 25 birds each. The levels of available phosphorus were obtained considering four different availabilities of total phosphorus (Pt), corn and soybean meal (34, 56, 78 and 100% availability). The performance indices were evaluated at the end of each breeding phase and at the age of 42 days. The performance parameters were affected by the reduction in available phosphorus levels in the diets and the reduction of this element to levels below 19% affected negatively the performance and the use of phytase in available phosphorus level reduced in 39% improved the performance of the broilers. In the growing phases, reduction in the available phosphorus content using the phytase enzyme influenced the performance and the litter and bone characteristics.
Can the Study of Natural Vegetation Succession Assist in the Control of Soil Erosion on Abandoned Croplands on the Loess Plateau, China?

In the Loess Plateau, China, arable cultivation of slope lands is common and associated with serious soil erosion. Planting trees or grass may control erosion, but planted species may consume more soil water and can threaten long‐term ecosystem sustainability. Natural vegetation succession is an alternative ecological solution to restore degraded land, but there is a time cost, given that the establishment of natural vegetation, adequate to prevent soil erosion, is a longer process than planting. The aims of this study were to identify the environmental factors controlling the type of vegetation established on abandoned cropland and to identify candidate species that might be sown soon after abandonment to accelerate vegetation succession and establishment of natural vegetation to prevent soil erosion. A field survey of thirty‐three 2 × 2–m plots was carried out in July 2003, recording age since abandonment, vegetation cover, and frequency of species together with major environmental and soil variables. Data were analyzed using correspondence analysis, classification tree analysis, and species response curves. Four vegetation types were identified and the data analysis confirmed the importance of time since abandonment, total P, and soil water in controlling the type of vegetation established. Among the dominant species in the three late‐successional vegetation types, the most appropriate candidates for accelerating and directing vegetation succession were King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) and Lespedeza davurica (Leguminosae). These species possess combinations of the following characteristics: tolerance of low water and nutrient availability, fibrous root system and strong lateral vegetative spread, and a persistent seed bank.
Effect of body condition at calving and level of feeding in early lactation on milk production of dairy cows

Two experiments were carried out to measure effects of body condition at calving and different levels of feeding after calving on milk and subsequent reproduction.In experiment 1, which was conducted in two consecutive years, 162 cows (77 in year 1 and 85 in year 2) were group feed so as to reach a target body condition (condition scores ranging from 3-6) four weeks before calving. During the last four weeks before calving, all cows were managed so as to maintain their individual condition scores. At calving, cows in similar condition of similar breed and with similar previous milk production were allocated to high and low levels of feeding at pasture for the first five weeks of lactation. Mean pasture intakes were 13.0 and 7.0kg dry matter (DM)/cow.d in year 1 and 15.0 and 8.5 kg DM/cow.d in year 2In experiment 2, 40 cows were offered pasture and hay from 20 weeks before calving to achieve a body condition score of either 4 or 6 by two weeks before calving. During the first five weeks of lactation, cows were individually fed in stalls on freshly cut pasture at one of three levels of intake, 7 or 10 kg DM/cow.d or . In both experiments cows were grazed as one group from week 6 to 20 of lactation.Improved body condition at calving resulted in an extra 4.0, 11.0 and 7.4 kg milk fat per unit condition score over 20 weeks of lactation, for year 1 and 2 of experiment 1, and experiment 2, respectively. Cows in poorer condition partitioned a higher proportion of feed energy to liveweight at the expense of milk production than did the cows in better condition. However, increasing the plane of nutrition in early lactation resulted in higher levels of milk production and reduced the need for cows to mobilize bodyreserves. Improved body condition at calving had a positive effect on milk fat percentage, particularly in early lactation, but did not affect milk protein percentage. Input-output relations calculated from the experimental data showed that the benefit sf to improve body condition before calving was less than that of additional feeding after calvin changes in the condition of the cows were taken into consideration (25.8 vs 1 4.6 kg DM to yi kilogram of milkfat). Improvements in condition and feeding in early lactation reduced the anoestrus interval after calving by 5.7 d for each additional condition score at calving and 1. d for each additional kgDM/cow.d fed over weeks 1-5 of lactation. The input-output relations resented will enable farmers to assess the likely consequenes of changes in their feeding management in the crucial peripartum period with a greater degree of confidence than in the past.
Clinically important enzymes in Jamunapari and Marwari goats

Serum samples (176) from Jamunapari and Marwari bucks were evaluated to estimate activities of 5 clinically important enzymes, viz., acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate - pyruvate transaminase (OPT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The overall mean values were 1.23 ± 0.04 King Armstrong's Units/dl, 11.75± 0.42 King Armstrong's Units/dl, 51.62± 0.70 Kannen's Units/ml, 16.84 ± 0.50 Karmen's Units/ml and 308.52 ± 6.71 International Units/litre respectively. The activity of AKP was significantly (P 0.05) different between the breeds.
Lakeshore and littoral physical habitat structure in a national lakes assessment

Abstract Near-shore physical habitat is crucial for supporting biota and ecological processes in lakes. We used data from a statistical sample of 1101 lakes and reservoirs from the 2007 US Environmental Protection Agency National Lakes Assessment (NLA) to develop 4 indices of physical habitat condition: (1) Lakeshore Anthropogenic Disturbance, (2) Riparian Vegetation Cover Complexity, (3) Littoral Cover Complexity, and (4) Littoral–Riparian Habitat Complexity. We compared lake index values with distributions from least-disturbed lakes. Our results form the first US national assessment of lake physical habitat, inferring the condition (with known confidence) of the 49,500 lakes and reservoirs in the conterminous United States with surface areas >4 ha and depths >1 m. Among the physical and chemical characteristics examined by the NLA, near-shore physical habitat was the most extensively altered relative to least-disturbed condition. Riparian Vegetation Cover Complexity was good in 46% (±3%), fair in 18% (±2%), and poor in 36% (±2%) of lakes. Littoral–Riparian Habitat Complexity was good in 47% (±3%), fair in 20% (±2%), and poor in 32% (±2%) of lakes. In every ecoregion, habitat condition was negatively related to anthropogenic pressures. Gradients of increased anthropogenic disturbance were accompanied by progressive simplification of littoral and riparian physical habitat. Nationwide, the proportion of lakes with degraded near-shore physical habitat was equal to or greater than that for excess nutrients and much greater than that for acidic conditions. In addition to better management of lake basins, we suggest an increased focus on protecting littoral and riparian physical habitat through better management of near-shore anthropogenic disturbance.
Remediation/Restoration of Degraded Soil: I. Impact on Soil Chemical Properties

Nutrient dynamics in the calcareous eroded soils of the western United States may react differently than the acid soils in the eastern United States. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of tillage practices and N treatments on changes in soil nutrient constituents. The eroded study was initiated in 2006 at the Agriculture Research Center, Hays, KS, on an Armo silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Entic Haplustolls). Tillage practices were no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). Beef manure (M) and urea, as commercial fertilizer (F) at low (L) and high (H) rates were applied as N sources. The control (C) treatment, with no N added, was included under both tillage practices. Annually (2006–2011) spring soil samples were taken at 0- to 15-cm and 15- to 30-cm depths. Soil chemical properties were influenced by N treatments and sampling depths, but not by tillage. Soil acidity (pH) was reduced in 2011 compared with 2006. Relative to control, more reduction in soil pH was observed with HM (21%) compared with HF treatment. Soil EC with HM and HF was approximately 2.2 times greater than LM and LF. Soil extractable P with HM substantially increased, 45.9 mg kg, compared with LM, 18.3 mg kg, at the surface 0 to 15 cm. The change in soil organic carbon (ΔSOC) associated with M was 36-fold higher than F treatments. In general, the use of M as N source improved soil nutrient dynamics in this eroded site compared with F.
A Bayesian model for studying urban air pollution and respiratory symptoms in children

The association between traffic–related air pollution and long–term respiratory health problems has been extensively studied. In this work we evaluated the effect of traffic–related air pollution on respiratory symptoms in children living in Florence, Italy. Children were selected from different schools part of the Italian Studies on Respiratory Disorders in Children and the Environment 2. Exposure to traffic air pollution was assessed through a dispersion model and weighted by distance using four different criteria. A Bayesian hierarchical logistic regression model was specified to assess the impact of traffic air pollution on cough or phlegm and asthma. Potential confounders were included in the analysis. Familiarity of asthma and exposure to second–hand smoking showed the strongest positive association with respiratory symptoms. No evidence of increasing risk of asthma with urban air pollution was found, while some evidence of an association was observed for carbon dioxide and cough or phlegm.
Intercontinental variation of Sclerospora graminicola

SUMMARY Collections of S. graminicola were made from local pearl millet crops in West Africa and India. Asexual inoculum was derived from the collections in Polythene tunnels and used to infect pearl millet cultivars from both continents. Analysis of deviance of the incidence of disease was performed on the logit scale using GLIM. The host × pathogen interactions were interpreted by use of the Finlay-Wilkinson regression technique widely used in the study of genotype × environment interactions. While the West African collections were consistently more pathogenic than the Indian ones, West African hosts were potentially more susceptible to Indian than to West African pathogen isolates; conversely some Indian hosts were more vulnerable to West African than to Indian isolates. There was a fairly stable relationship between incidence of disease and relative pathogenicity of West African isolates but the Indian isolates were more variable in their susceptibility to changing background levels of disease. These results could influence resistance breeding strategies in pearl millet improvement programmes. The methods of analysis could be valuable for application to other complex and ill-defined pathosystems.
Kin-biased territory overlap and food sharing among Atlantic salmon juveniles

Summary 1 Based on kin selection theory, it has been predicted that close relatives should aggregate to accrue inclusive fitness advantages. However, studies of genetics have failed to find convincing evidence of kin association in wild populations of territorial fish such as juvenile salmonids, despite laboratory evidence of reduced aggression among siblings. In these genetic studies, calculations of the degree of kin association have been based on the assumption that the geographical distribution of individual fish is fixed over space and time. By comparison, recent work suggests that patterns of spatial distribution are fluid and that home ranges overlap considerably. Therefore, it is possible that benefits of kin selection depend not on the juxtaposition of fish per se, but on how they interact on the occasions when they associate. 2 To explore this issue, an experiment was conducted to test whether dominant fish in pairs of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (L.) juveniles were more likely to share food in high quality feeding patches with kin than non-kin and also whether kin-biased intimidation from dominant to subordinate fish was sustained in the absence of the dominant individual. 3 Siblings shared high-quality feeding territories for twice as long as pairs of non-kin. The food intake of dominant fish did not vary with relatedness of subordinate conspecific. However, once dominant fish were satiated, subordinate individuals consumed a greater proportion of food items when paired with kin than non-kin. 4 When dominant fish were removed from half the pairs of salmon, subordinate fish that had been paired previously with dominant kin increased their feeding activity to greater levels than subordinate fish that had been paired previously with dominant non-kin. 5 These findings indicate that subordinate fish in wild populations may gain twofold foraging advantages by close association with dominant kin: (i) by increased territory sharing, and (ii) by reduced time for food patch acquisition when dominant fish move from patches shared with subordinates. 6 We suggest that in territorial animals, the acquisition of kin selection benefits need not be dependent upon the fixed association of kin in adjacent territories, but can be accrued during occasional associations within a more fluid pattern of overlapping home ranges.
NEST MONITORING AND PREDATOR VISITATION AT NESTS OF BANDED DOTTERELS

Abstract We used videocameras to monitor 39 nests of the Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus), a ground-nesting plover endemic to New Zealand that suffers from predation by introduced mammals. To test whether monitoring nests increased the chances of nests being visited by predators, 22 of the video-monitored nests were approached on foot daily to simulate conventional monitoring and 17 unapproached nests were monitored using videocameras only. The proportions of approached nests (46%) and unapproached nests (41%) that were visited by predators did not differ significantly, nor was there any evidence that predators used human scent trails to locate nests. This study provides some evidence that monitoring Banded Dotterel nests by regularly checking them does not influence their risk of predation. Control de Nidos y Visita de Depredadores a Nidos de Charadrius bicinctus Resumen. Usamos cámaras de video para controlar 39 nidos de Charadrius bicinctus, un ave endémica de Nueva Zelandia que anida en el suelo y es depredada por mamíferos introducidos. Diariamente nos acercamos a pie a 22 de los nidos controlados con cámaras para simular el modo convencional de seguimiento, y controlamos 17 nidos usando sólo las cámaras y sin acercarnos a ellos con el fin de examinar si el control convencional de nidos incrementa la probabilidad de visita de depredadores. La proporción de nidos personalmente examinados (46%) y no examinados en persona (41%) que fueron visitados por depredadores no difirió significativamente, y no hubo evidencia que los depredadores usan rastros de olores humanos para localizar los nidos. Este estudio sugiere que controlar regularmente los nidos de Charadrius bicinctus no influencia su riesgo de depredación.
Occurrence of Yersinia ruckeri infection in farmed whitefish, Coregonus peled Gmelin and Coregonus muksun Pallas, and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in northern Finland

Yersinia ruckeri, the aetiological agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), is now generally recognized to be distributed worldwide. The pathology and epizootiology of the disease was first described by Rucker (1966) and although rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, has been the most frequently affected species, all salmonids are now considered to be potential hosts for the organism (McDaniel 1979). The present paper reports the first confirmed occurrence of Y. ruckeri infection in farmed whitefish and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. , in Finland, with the known host range being extended to include the whitefish Coregonus peled Gmelin and Coregonus muksun Pallas . The outbreaks of infection involved two fish farms on the Oulujoki and Iijoki rivers in northern Finland (Fig. 1). Infection in whitefish Yersinia ruckeri infection was first identified in July 1982 in a mixed population of 3500 C. peled and C. muksun broodstock fish held in a single 1000-m 2 earthen pond at farm A. The organism was isolated from only one of four diseased C. muksun examined bacteriologically at this time and mortalities during the summer months were light (0 .5-1 .0%) for both species. The following year Y. ruckeri was isolated from the internal organs of both C. peled and-C. muksun on a number of occasions during the period from June to August, but again mortalities remained at a low level (0 .5—F5%) throughout. In 1984 infection was confirmed in C. peled but not C. muksun broodstock (Fig. 2). The low levels of mortality associated with the Y. ruckeri infection are similar to those recorded for diseased brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), and landlocked Atlantic salmon in Australia where a Y. ruckeri-like organism was isolated (Llewellyn 1980) and in an ERM outbreak in rainbow trout in Canada (Wobeser 1973). Diseased whitefish showed loss of scales, haemorrhages on the body surface and paired fin bases, and petechiation in the peritoneum and visceral fat. Some affected fish. also exhibited severe inflammation of the distal portion of the intestine and vent. Saprolegnia
The male effect in indigenous Muzaffarnagari sheep. 1. Behavioural and ovarian responses of anoestrous ewes to male introduction

In order to study the ‘male effect’ in postpartum anoestrous Muzaffarnagari ewes, 18 ewes were divided as per age, body weight, body condition score and body size into three equal groups, viz., teased with ram; buck and none (E; control). Teasing was done for 15 days at 122.3±50.1 days postpartum by intact, sexually experienced and aproned males. The ram was significantly (P<0.05) more effective in inducing oestrus than buck in respect of number of ewes in heat and increasing oestrus intensity score. The present study confirmed that the ‘male effect’ existed in Muzaffarnagari sheep.