Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COMPETITION IN A VARIABLE ENVIRONMENT: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN A DESERT ANNUAL PLANT POPULATION

ABSTRACT Theoretical studies suggest that fluctuations in availability of resources should lead to related fluctuations in the intensity of competition, and that significant competition should occur only in years of severe resource scarcity. This prediction has been supported by a number of studies conducted in animal populations, but has never been tested in plant populations. In this study, we performed neighbor removal experiments in conjunction with rainfall manipulation experiments, to test how fluctuations in rainfall, the major limiting resource for desert annuals, affect the intensity of competition in populations of the desert annual Stipa capensis. In order to test for the effect of spatial heterogeneity on the relationships between rainfall and competition intensity, populations were studied in three types of habitats: slopes, depressions, and wadis. Competition intensity was quantified, for each combination of habitat and rainfall, as the percentage of potential seed yield per germinating plan.
The effects of oxygen and temperature on the physiology of hatching stage Atlantic salmon

Environmental change and its impact on the form, function and adaptive responses of fish, especially in relation to maternal effects or individual genotype, is of major interest to biologists. Oxygen levels and temperature have profound effects on the physiology of fish, and early developmental stages are particularly susceptible to environmental challenges. In this thesis the metabolic, cardiorespiratory and cellular stress responses to acute or chronic changes of these variables in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) embryos and yolk-sac alevins were investigated. Eggs and alevins matched their metabolic demand to acute changes in oxygen levels without altering cardiorespiratory function unless oxygen reached critically low levels (5 kPa). In contrast, chronic hypoxia (10.5 kPa for 15 days), but not hyperoxia (28 kPa for 15 days) resulted in functional and structural modifications that enabled metabolic rate to return to the normoxic (21 kPa) pre-exposure level while maintained in hypoxia (10.5 kPa); this indicating a metabolic compensation. On return to acute normoxia, irrespective of the measurement temperature (4, 8, 12°C), metabolic rate was elevated above the pre-hypoxic value observed in normoxia, presumably a result of the structural and/or functional modifications that occured in hypoxia. In addition, differences in metabolism and responses to hypoxia were influenced by maternal factors such as egg size, which in turn are determined by maternal body size. Egg size-dependent differences in metabolic rate of embryos were present and larger embryos from repeat spawning females exhibited increased tolerance to hypoxia, as represented by lower critical oxygen levels for hatching than observed in embryos from smaller eggs from maiden spawners (13 kPa vs. 17 kPa). This result suggests an advantage in embryos from larger eggs whereby the embryo can obtain sufficient oxygen due to the larger surface area of the egg in respect to the embryo’s metabolic rate. Genetic modification for growth (growth hormone transgenesis) or triploidy (three sets of paired chromosomes) increased metabolic rate above a diploid conspecific (both by 8%). This effect was additive in triploid transgenic alevins that also displayed an altered cardiorespiratory response to acute, severe hypoxia (5 kPa). In addition, acute hypoxia did not elicit a cellular stress response, but was associated with differential (reduced) expression of cellular stress proteins (heat shock proteins) that in one case (Hsp90) was dependent on the growth hormone transgenic genotype. Taken together, the above observations demonstrate that extrinsic as well as intrinsic factors have substantial effects on the physiology of developing fish, and that the overall response to extrinsic factors contains a temporal component. Given the associated effects are reflected in changes in metabolism, it is likely that the effects will significantly impact growth, survival and performance of the developing fish.
Nalaz protutijela za protozoon Toxoplasma gondii u ovaca u Istanbulu u Turskoj.

ONCEL, T. , G. VURAL: Occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep in Istanbul, Turkey. Vet. arhiv 76, 547-553, 2006. ABSTRACT This study was carried out in order to determine the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep in five districts of Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 181 sera taken from sheep were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 181 samples tested 56 (31%) were determined as seropositive. The prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies was significantly higher in adult sheep (P 0.05). These results indicate that ovine toxoplasmosis is widespread in Istanbul. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the status of T. gondii infection in sheep in Istanbul.
Cyanobacterial Picoplankton from Lake Constance

Four types of unicellular cyanobacteria were classified by pigment composition and cell size. These originated from the picoplankton fraction of Lake Constance, Germany. β-Carotene and zeaxanthin were found to be the main carotenoids of three Synechococcus isolates. In this group, coccoid forms with phycocyanin-rich phycobilisomes also produce caloxanthin and nostoxanthin, which are xanthophylls with 3 and 4 hydroxy groups, respectively. In addition, these rare carotenoids are observed in rod-forming Synechococcus isolates which contain phycoerythrin-rich phycobilisomes, but they are very low or absent in the coccoid phycoerythrin-rich isolates. Due to size and pigment content the coccoid forms are similar to Synechococcus leopoliensis (SAUG B 1402-1, formerly Anacystis nidulans) and S. rubescens (SAUG B 3.81) while the rod-forming isolates differ from S. elongatus (PCC 6716) in phycobilisome composition. The isolate BO 8402 was tentatively assigned to Synechocystis but differs in pigment composition from all strains described as yet. The green cultures exhibited a faint red glow due to an unusual high in vivo autofluorescence from phycocyanin. Neither were phycobilisomes found in a standard preparation nor was allophycocyanin present. The most abundant carotenoids are β-carotene and caloxanthin, while zeaxanthin, with 12 % of all colored carotenoids, is low. All forms described in this paper lack complementary chromatic adaptation, indicating that the pigment composition is a reliable parameter to identify these freshwater isolates.
EVIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 TO THE TISSUES OR PHYLLO-PLANE OF WHEAT, FROM CONTAMINATED SOIL, SEEDS OR WATER

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a human pathogen that can cause a wide spectrum of disease symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Escherichia coli O157:H7 illness are mainly associated with undercooked beef; however, in recent years outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce such as spinach, lettuce, and sprouts. In 2009, flour was implicated as a contamination source in the consumption of raw cookie dough resulting in 77 illness-cases. The objective of this research was to determine the possible route of transmission of E. coli O157:H7 into the phyllo-plane of wheat using contaminated seed, soil or irrigation water. Levels of contamination were 6.88 log CFU/g, 6.60 log CFU/g and 6.76 log CFU/ml of Kanamycin resistant E. coli O157:H7. One hundred plants per treatment were sown in pots trays with 50 g of sterile soil, watered every day with 5 ml of dilution water and harvested after 9 days post-inoculation. In a fourth experiment, flowering wheat heads were spray-inoculated with water containing 4.19 log CFU/ml of E. coli O157:H7 and analyzed for survival after 15 days, close to the harvest period. To detect low levels of internalization, BioTecon q-PCR detections assays were used to determine the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in the wheat plants using a Roche Applied Science LightCycler 2.0. Results showed that internalization was possible using contaminated seed, soil, and irrigation water in wheat seedlings with an internalization rate of 2%, 5% and 10% respectively. Even though this rate is low, this is the first study to demonstrate the ability of this strain to reach the phyllo-plane in wheat. In the head contamination experiment, all samples tested positive, showing the ability of E. coli O157:H7 to survive on the wheat head phyllo-plane. Although possible this research does not provide evidence for efficient uptake of E. coli O157:H7 into the internal tissue of wheat plants from a contaminated environment. However, surface contamination and the ability of E. coli O157:H7 to survive long-term on the wheat plants is an issue to be considered when addressing food safety issues in products derived from wheat. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thanks all the people who have made the completion of this thesis possible. First and foremost, I would like to thanks my advisor, Jayne Stratton. During my student formation, she has provided me with knowledge and more important, she has provided me with …
Caractersticas reprodutivas de veado-boror-do-sul ou veado-mo-curta (Mazama nana)

Mazama nana is the least known of Brazilian deer species. The male reproductive parameters are still unknown, but apparently they did not show reproductive seasonality. In this work were used nine males of M. nana in reproductive age, kept in captivity. They were assessed for weight, height of wither, crown-rump length, the situation of horns, testicular volume and consistency. The sperm was collected by electro-ejaculation and subjected to analyses of motility, vigor and morphology. The correlation between age, weight, height of wither, crown-rump length, testicular volume and characteristics of the ejaculate (volume, motility, vigor and sperm concentration) were evaluated by the procedure Corr. , of SAS®. The mean ± standard deviation observed for weight (kg), crown-rump length (cm) and height of wither (cm) were: 15.72±1.98, 74.9±3.05, and 48.5±2.06 respectively. For primary reproductive parameters were observed: volume of ejaculate (91.46±68.24il); motility (70±8.16%); vigor (3.0±0.67); sperm concentration (1536x106 ±351x106 spermatozoa per ml). For sperm morphology was found a high percentage of abnormal cells (40.90%), with predominant defects in the tail (25.95%).
Determinants of Turkey's citrus exports: a gravity model approach

EnglishIn this paper, a gravity model approach was employed to analyse the primary factors that influence Turkey’s citrus exports to its major trading partners for the period 2007-2012. In accordance with the panel data analysis of the quantile regression that is calculated with the Bootstrap Method, more consistent results were obtained. The results indicate that international agreements, such as the trading partnership between the European Union and Turkey and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation agreement, have been observed as important determinants of citrus exports. Transportation costs, proxied by distance, are observed to have a negative influence on citrus exports. In addition, an increase in the real exchange rate in Turkey is estimated to benefit countries that produce cheaper citrus. francaisDans cet article, nous avons utilise un modele de gravite pour analyser les principaux facteurs qui ont influe sur les exportations d’agrumes de la Turquie vers ses principaux partenaires commerciaux dans la periode 2007 a 2012. Conformement a l'analyse de donnees de panel de la regression quantile, calculee par la methode Bootstrap, des resultats plus coherents ont ete obtenus. Les resultats indiquent que les accords internationaux tels le partenariat commercial entre l'Union europeenne et la Turquie et l'accord de cooperation economique de la mer Noire ont ete des determinants importants des exportations d'agrumes. Les couts de transport, correspondant a la distance, semblent avoir une influence negative sur les exportations d'agrumes. En outre, on estime qu‘une augmentation du taux de change reel en Turquie pourrait favoriser les pays qui produisent des agrumes moins chers.
Effect of shaking honey bee colonies affected by American foulbrood on Paenibacillus larvae larvae spore loads

SUMMARY Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies exhibiting clinical symptoms of American foulbrood (AFB, causative agent Paenibacillus larvae larvae) were divided into 2 groups that received different shaking treatments: (1), shaking adult bees into a new hive; and (2), shaking adult bees in front of the entrance to a new hive. Honey bee and honey samples were taken before shaking and 1, 22, 44 and 66 days after shaking. Microbiological cultures were made from honey and honey bee samples to determine P. I. larvae development. The average number of P I. larvae cfu/g honey before shaking was 89.86 ± 17.93 (x ± s.e.) and more than 500 cfu/bee for honey bee samples. Honey bee samples had more colony-forming units before shaking but differences were not statistically significant after shaking. An important reduction in the number of colony-forming units in honey bee and honey samples was detected after shaking by both methods and no significant difference was detected between them. Honey and honey bee samples were positive for the presence of P. I. larvae in every sampling but no AFB clinical symptoms were detected in the honey bee colonies after 5 months. These results allow us to conclude that both shaking methods reduce spore loads in new colonies without using chemicals and, using them with other management procedures would allow development of an integrated AFB control method.
Studies on fruit growth and development in pomegranate

Studies on fruit growth and development in pomegranate were conducted to ascertain the proper stage of maturity under sub-tropical conditions. The fruits of Kandhari, Nabha and and Ganesh cultivars showed sigmoid pattern of growth. The size and weight of the fruit increased upto 150 days after anthesis and then a marginal increase was observed up to 160 days. Specific gravity of the fruit decreased during development from anthesis to maturity. The initial elongated oval shape of immature fruit changed to round at harvest maturity. Texture of the fruit remained smooth during the period of growth. Fruit colour changed from light green to deep red in cv. Kandhari and from light green to yellow green with light red tinge in Nabha and Ganesh at maturity. The fruits of pomegranate cvs. Kandhari, Nabha and Ganesh took 140 days after anthesis to attain harvest maturity.
The shared influence of phylogeny and ecology on the reproductive patterns of Myrteae (Myrtaceae)

1. Many factors shape plant reproductive patterns including climate, competition or attraction of pollinators and seed dispersers, flower and fruit morphologies and phylogenetic relationships. South American Myrtaceae (Myrteae) were chosen to evaluate hypotheses on how abiotic and biotic factors, morphology and phylogeny influence plant reproductive phenology.
The effect of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) interference on the growth of four common Australian crop species.

Lolium rigidum (annual ryegrass) is a ubiquitous weed of southern Australia infesting the majority of winter crops. This paper considers the role of allelopathy in the interactions between L. rigidum and the associated crop species to improve the understanding of why L. rigidum is such a successful weed. Four crop species, i.e. lupin, barley, wheat and canola, were exposed to root exudates of L. rigidum to determine the extent of variation in growth responses. At high L. rigidum densities, root lengths of all crop species were inhibited. Increasing the duration of L. rigidum growth in the agar medium before introduction of the crop species further reduced crop growth. However, growth responses differed between crop species. Canola was the most affected by L. rigidum interference (67% root inhibition) followed in declining order by wheat (56% root inhibition), barley (37% root inhibition) and lupin (31% root inhibition). Activated carbon and removal of L. rigidum plants prior to crop sowing were used to verify the presence of putative inhibitory chemicals.
Serphides des Îles Philippines

Quatre mteurs, \Yestwood, ;ishmead, Brown et Crawford se sont occu@s des Serphides (Proctotrypides) des iles Ph~lippines. Le nombrc dcs espkces ohservkes par eux cst de -6,dont I Cera~~llronide, i snvolr i'cnrphro~j iltrrnif<~i s h n ~ . , I ; :icelionicles, q u ~ so11 t : S ~ e i i o philjppinrtt ri.i :\shm. , H(;(irurro/ils ~icr: i p s i i s h ~ l . , li. ph/ippit~r.rrsi~ . \sI~m. , L'flrfj~sct~lio t~btiurr? rts CraLvf. , :Mtrcrutt.i'<,ttr A " ~ , J . ~ L ~ T ~ Craivf. , -11. m,rr~iLct~sir :\>h111. , . If. xtri~rt~z~e~rtris Cr,twt. ii'rbro/t. /ci(~ R~ozol! i Cra\vT. H~,plofclt.i<r p,rrri~. ,r Ashm. O / U ~ / L ~ I < ~ I I ; I : I ' I , ~ 71i~{~? 0~i~l~ ' , l ! ~l : \ i l l l . , ,d'. df/t~ / / l f ? l f c ~ Cr:l\vf. , HOp i u s ~ ~ j ~ o n i<uht~r! t Cmwf. ct H . s/ri(rtirrp.r Crawf. , I P1;ltygastCride : rlnoprtii~rs lrizurr~nsis Ashm. , 6 Dapriidcs : Lobosceliiiin
Comparison of Different Mathematical Models for Describing the Complete Lactation of Akkaraman Ewes in Turkey.

This study was carried out to investigate the use of three different mathematical models (Wood, Quadratic and Cubic) for describing the lactation curve of Akkaraman ewes. Data were collected from 42 ewes that were three years of age and from the same flock raised in The State Farm of Gozlu in Konya Province. All ewes lambed in March. They were hand milked twice daily and the first milk test was performed with in the first month after lambing (mean = 27.8 day, SD = 4.26) in an attempt to describe the peak yield. The differences between estimated total milk yields by the models were not significant. The models were adequate for describing total milk yield. The differences between peak yields were not significant. The Wood model estimated the time of peak yield earlier than the other models and observed values (p<0.01). Especially the Cubic model's peak time was very close to really peak time (34.30 vs. 35.33 days). R 2 values of the models ranged from 85.85% to 96.20%. The Cubic model gave the best R 2 value (p<0.01). Correlation coefficients between descriptive values of the models changed from 0.32 to 1.00. Total milk yields of the models were highly correlated (above 0.99) with the total milk yield calculated by the Fleischmann method (p<0.01). As a result the Cubic model showed the best fit to the data collected from Akkaraman ewes and allowed a suitable description of the shape of the lactation curve.
DO PLASTID‐RELATED CHARACTERS SUPPORT THE CHROMALVEOLATE HYPOTHESIS? 1

According to the idea of secondary endosymbiosis, plastids with three and four envelope membranes have evolved from either red or green algal endosymbionts engulfed by phagotrophic protozoans. Although this hypothesis is nowadays commonly accepted, the number of secondary endosymbioses still remains controversial. One of the models, known as the ”chromalveolate” hypothesis, postulates that the 4 membrane‐bound plastids of Chromista and the 3 or 4 membrane‐bound plastids of Alveolata result from a single secondary endosymbiosis involving a rhodophyte as the endosymbiont. Although this model has found many followers, a variety of data clearly contradict it. The ideas that became the direct inspiration for formulation of the “chromalveolate” hypothesis are also now questionable. In this comment, I discuss all these problems in the light of the most recent phylogenetic, cytological, and genomic data.
QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE ASSESSMENT OF SNACK FOOD PREPARED FROM CO-PRECIPITATE

This research was conducted to assess the physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of snack food prepared from co-precipitate and stored under room temperature condition. A recipe for snack foods was standardized containing co-precipitate, corn flour, salt at 75, 25 and 1.5% respectively. The Standardized recipe of snack food was taken as control; Treatment-I (1.5% chilli powder) and Treatment-II (1.5% masala powder) were added. Results revealed that, the snack food prepared with 1.5% chilli powder was found to be optimum with physico-chemical, and sensory attributes, so which was further subjected to assess the microbiological properties at ambient temperature for 10days. The protein content has showed progressively raising trend whereas fat content was significantly (P<0.01) reduced in all the preparation of snack foods. The microbiological properties of the control and treated product had showed significant (P<0.01) difference and the product is microbiologically safe upto 10 days at room temperature.
The effects of precommercial thinning and midstory-control on the flora and fauna of young longleaf pine plantations

66 INTRODUCTION.67 STUDY AREA AND METHODS.68 RESULTS.71 DISCUSSION . 72 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.73 LITERATURE CITED.73 5 STUDY CONCLUSIONS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS . 84 LITERATURE CITED.86
Evaluation of serum iron and iron binding capacity in cows with paratuberculosis

Summary Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the results of routine haematological, serum iron and iron binding capacity analyses in cattle with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Material and methods: Thirty-eight cows were included in the study. An ELISA for MAP, intradermal Johnin test and microscopic examination of the animals faecal smears for acid fast organisms were performed. According to the results 19 cows (4–8 years old) were found positive and 19 cows (4–7 years old) from the same herd were negative and served as control group. In all cows routine haematological values as well as serum iron level and iron binding capacity were evaluated. Results: When compared with control animals, routine haematological values including haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocyte counts were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in positive cows. Also serum iron level (p < 0.01) and iron binding capacity (p < 0.01) were significantly lower in positive cows than in the control group. Conclusion: As a result, these parameters can be important for the mechanism of the pathogenesis of paratuberculosis.