Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fire and flood: Soil‐stored seed bank and germination ecology in the endangered Carrington Falls Grevillea (Grevillea rivularis, Proteaceae)

Seed germination is dependent on the interaction between the dormancy state of a seed and the presence of favourable environmental conditions. Thus, the spectacular pulse of seedling recruitment in many Australian vegetation communities following disturbances such as fire can be attributed to changes in microsite conditions and/ or the dormancy-breaking effect of the disturbance on accumulated seed banks. Grevillea rivularis is a threatened species endemic to the area immediately above Carrington Falls in the NSW Southern Highlands. Most of the population is confined to the riparian vegetation zone in woodland and heath, and is therefore subject to periodic disturbance from fire and flood. For this species, a pulse of seedling recruitment has been recorded after fire, flood and mechanical soil disturbance. The aims of this study were to examine the density and vertical distribution of the soil-stored seed bank and to investigate the role of heat and scarification as cues for germination of fresh and soil-stored seed. There was a large seed bank under the canopies of established individuals (194 ± 73 seeds m -2 ) and most seeds were found in the 0-2 cm and leaf-litter layers of the soil profile. The germination response of soil-stored and fresh seed was examined using a hierarchical series of laboratory experiments. Seeds of G. rivularis showed marked dormancy polymorphism. Thirty-six percent of soil-stored seed germinated without treatment, whereas no untreated fresh seeds germinated. Scarification or heating caused significant germination of dormant soil-stored seed, but only scarification resulted in germination of dormant fresh seeds. These results highlight important differences in the dormancy state of soil-stored and fresh seed. Thus, being a riparian species in a fire-prone environment, the dormancy mechanisms in seeds of G. rivularis suit this species to disturbance by both fire and flood.
The immunosuppressive potential of human amniotic membrane extract

Both mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and human amniotic membrane (hAM) possess immunoregulatory potential, driving several studies to focus on their application in the prevention and treatment of immunological disorders, and especially on their ability to modulate T cell responses. However there is little information regarding the concrete effects over different activation and differentiation stages of T cells. The main objective of this study was to determine whether or not a hAM extract (hAME) had a differential effect over different T cell subpopulations (CD4 + and CD8 + T naïve, central memory, effector memory and effector cells). Thus, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured in the presence or absence of hAME and stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin. Cell proliferation was evaluated through a thymidine incorporation assay and the percentages of pro-inflammatory cytokine producing T cells were determined by flow cytometry. The phenotype of hAM-derived cells was also assessed by flow cytometry. Plus, the mRNA expression of selected genes was evaluated in purified CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, regulatory T cells (Treg) and γδ T cells. The hAM-derived cells contained hAM epithelial cells and MSCs. The extract displayed an antiproliferative effect and reduced the frequency of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) producing cells, within all T cell subsets. The hAME also diminished the frequency of IL-17 and IL-9 producing T cells. The pattern of inhibition varied between CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, between T cell subsets, and depending on the cytokine under study. The hAME also produced a decrease in mRNA expression of granzime B, perforin and activating receptor NKG2D by CD8 + T cells, γδ T cells as well as an upregulation of Foxp3 and IL-10 gene expression in CD4 + T cells and an upregulation of IL-10 mRNA expression in Treg cells. These results show that the hAME differentially regulates different T cell subsets and therefore the effect of the hAME over T cells responses will depend on the T cell subpopulations involved. Still, the hAME has an overall antiinflammatory action. Universidade de Aveiro 2015 Marta Duque v GENERAL INDEX
Effect of parity and breed on some physico-chemical components of Sudanese camel milk.

Milk samples from 60 she-camels (Camelus dromedaries) in different parity numbers (one to fifth) and in different breed (Anafi n=10, Keneana n=20, Daili n=12 and Arabi n=18) were randomly collected to investigate the effect of parity and breed on some physico-chemical components of camels milk. Milk yield, fat, solid not fat (SNF) and protein were affect by parity number (P<0.05). Significant differences (P<0.05) of breed types were recorded in freezing point, conductivity, milk yield, fat, lactose, ash, SNF and protein. The results showed strong positive correlation (P<0.01) in density, freezing point, fat, SNF, lactose, ash and protein. But between fat and lactose, fat and ash were positively correlated (P<0.05). The correlation of each parameter with the added water and conductivity was negatively highly significant (P<0.01). The study concludes that parity and breed had significant effect on some physico-chemical components of camel milk.
Differential Response to Al‐Toxicity of Two Populations of Avena sterilis L.

Negative correlation between Al concentrations and root and shoot growth was detected in two populations of Avena sterilis L. investigated [one from a bauxite area (1) and the other (2) from a pasture area]. Al solubility and Al content of plant tissue depend on pH levels of nutrient solution. Population-1 although in all treatments contained greater amounts of Al in its roots, was grown better than population-2, suggesting that population-1 is more tolerant than population-2. Al content of shoot and root of both populations was greater at pH 10.0 than at pH 4.5, a fact that may indicate that Al ions in alkaline medium are preferentially absorbed than Al ions in acid medium. The better growth of both populations observed in all Al concentrations at pH 10.0, where Al content of plant tissues was greater, may indicate that Al forms predominant in acid nutrient medium are more harmful than Al forms in alkaline nutrient medium.
Effects of disturbance on an urban river food web

SUMMARY 1. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are influential factors in river ecosystems. Lowland rivers that cross urbanised areas experience direct disturbance due to urbanisation, affecting suitability for many vertebrate and invertebrate species and with important implications for ecosystem functioning and stability. In addition, lowland rivers are potentially subjected to major flood events, whose effects may be exacerbated by urbanisation in the river basin. A greater understanding of the combined effects of flood disturbance and urbanisation is needed if we are to preserve riverine ecosystems and improve management strategies. 2. We characterised macroinvertebrate, detritus-based food webs upstream and downstream of Rome (Italy) before a period of exceptional flooding and at intervals until 71 days following the final flood event. We studied community and food-web characteristics, combining carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis with macroinvertebrate population census data. 3. The flood altered the species assemblage at both upstream and downstream locations. The food webs shifted towards a more complex configuration, with increased trophic generalism, linkage density and mean chain length. However, the food web at the upstream location gradually recovered its pre-flood configuration, whereas at the downstream location, where flood effects were stronger, the food web showed little capacity for recovery within the time span of the study. The contrasting food-web responses can be explained with reference to differences in resource availability for detritivores and predators and in water turbidity, which in turn reflect an interaction between flood disturbance and river basin urbanisation. 4. The description of short-term variations in food-web properties may help to improve ecosystem monitoring and the management of freshwater bodies and can be used to assess short-term and long-term effects of disturbance. A better understanding of the negative effects of urban pressure on macroinvertebrate community stability should help to define appropriate measures for the conservation and restoration of urbanised river areas, especially given that extreme flood events are expected to increase due to climatic change.
Potential role of prey in the recovery of American martens to Wisconsin

The American marten (Martes americana), the only state-listed endangered mammal in Wisconsin, has undergone serial reintroductions within the state. Recovery has been slower than anticipated and the limiting factors remain unidentified. The lack of basic knowledge on marten foraging in the Great Lakes Region led us to quantify the diet of martens inhabiting the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) in northern Wisconsin using a dual approach of scat and stable isotope analyses. We collected marten scat at winter rest sites within the CNNF from 2000–2011. We identified prey items based on morphological characteristics of indigestible prey remains and calculated percent occurrence for each prey item. We sampled marten hair from museum specimens, and opportunistically from carcasses within the CNNF for isotopic analysis. We collected hair and feather samples from potential prey species in the CNNF in 2010–2013. Our concurrent analyses revealed that shrews and deer were most important to the diet of martens in Wisconsin. These findings contrast with studies conducted elsewhere that report voles as the principle diet items, and shrews as one of the least used prey items. Consequently, such a strong reliance on secondary, less profitable or high-risk prey could be contributing to the delayed recovery of martens in Wisconsin. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Effect of enzymatic fish-scrap protein hydrolysate on gel-forming ability and denaturation of lizard fish Saurida wanieso surimi during frozen storage

: Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was prepared from fish scrap of five marine species by enzymatic treatment for the effective utilization of fish wastes. The major components of the FPH were peptide (82.3–85.8%) with other nitrogenous compounds (11.5–16.3%). Lizard fish Saurida wanieso surimi containing FPH (5.0%, dried weight/wet weight) was stored at −25°C and the suppressive effects of FPH on the decrease in the gel-forming ability, unfrozen water content and Ca-ATPase activity were determined during the frozen storage. FPH maintained a high gel-forming ability and Ca-ATPase activity were determined during the frozen storage. FPH also suppressed the decrease of unfrozen water content of surimi. These results suggest that FPH can be used as a cryoprotectant to suppress the denaturation of muscle protein of lizard fish surimi during frozen storage.
"In situ" Sporulation of "Phaemoniella chlamydospora" in the Vineyard

Summary. The fungus Phaeomoniella chlamydospora causes black goo decline of grapevines and is associated with esca, but little is known about its epidemiology. Sporulation was rarely observed on transversely-cut surfaces of naturally-infected roostocks and cordons of ten-year-old ‘Pinot Noir’ on ‘Ramsey’ grown near Geelong, Australia, over the winter months of 2000. However, abundant sporulation of the hyphomycete and pycnidial synanamorphs of P. chlamydospora were observed on protected wood surfaces inside deep cracks at the trial site. Sporulation in cracks was also observed on several grapevine varieties from other regions of south eastern Australia. Collembolans and mites were usually associated with the sporulation, but it is not known whether they have a role in dissemination of conidia.
Preliminary Observations on the Biology of a Marine Cladoceran Pleopis ("Podon") schmackeri (POPPE)

ウミオオメミジンコ、Pleopis("Podon")schmackeri(POPEE)はインド-西太平洋暖水域に分布が限られる相異な海産枝角類であり、その生物学的知見はほとんどない。 本研究は、1973年夏期 四国南東部沖合の太平洋沿岸域で採集された動物プランクトン標本中の本種について計数ならびに生物学的測定を行ったものである。 表面から50m深までの分布密度は低く、ほとんどの定点で10個体・m⁻³以下であり、最高は17. 1個体・m⁻³であった。 単為生殖雌の標準体長は0. 29-0.43mm、全長0. 25㎜. 抱卵数は2-5個(平均3、73個)であった。 8月に採集された標本中に耐久卵をもつ雌が1個体確認されたが、これは本種の有性生殖個体についての最初の記録である。
Olfactory response towards its prey Frankliniella occidentalis of wild and laboratory‐reared Orius insidiosus and Orius laevigatus

Orius species are important biological control agents of thrips in protected crops. Rearing conditions in mass production facilities may affect their performance in the crop when searching for the target prey. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the search behaviour and orientation towards prey of two Orius species, O. laevigatus (Fieber) and O. insidiosus (Say) that have been reared in the laboratory under different conditions, with wild (field‐collected) individuals. Adult predator females were placed in a Y‐tube olfactometer and offered a choice between the odours released by plants of different species (cotton, common bean, sweet pepper and cucumber), which were either non‐infested or infested with Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) adults.O. laevigatus and O. insidiosus responded to odours from thrips‐infested plants and these responses were influenced by the origin of the colonies. A larger percentage of laboratory‐reared O. laevigatus females (42%) did not made a choice between thrips‐infested or clean plants, compared with wild individuals (17%). Of those females that did respond to plant odours, a smaller percentage of laboratory‐reared O. laevigatus females (34%) responded to the odours from thrips‐infested plants compared with wild insects (76%). No significant differences were found inO. insidiosus females that did not make a choice between thrips‐infested or clean plants (14% for wild vs. 17% for lab individuals). Also, no significant differences were found between O. insidiosus females that selected thrips‐infested plants at the corresponding proportion of wild (75%) and laboratory‐reared (70%) individuals. We propose that the olfactometer test could be a complementary evaluation aspect to the already developed quality criteria for performance of mass‐reared Orius predators.
Laboratory Food Choice Trials to Explore the Potential of Common Weeds to Reduce Slug Feeding on Oilseed Rape

ABSTRACT Food choice trials with the slug pests Arion lusitanicus and Deroceras reticulatum were carried out in the laboratory, using seedlings of rape, Brassica napus and several weed species. The attraction of the weeds to the slugs was compared with rape and, subsequently, the potential of the presence of weeds to reduce slug feeding on young rape was assessed. Capsella bursa-pastoris and Taraxacum officinale (only for A. lusitanicus) were very attractive weeds and rape was not significantly more defoliated than C. bursa-pastoris and T. officinale when tested with these two weed species. Moreover Veronica persica (A. lusitanicus) and C. bursa-pastoris (D. reticulatum) reduced the number of killed rape plants significantly. Therefore these weeds, sown in high quantities into fields of oilseed rape, could potentially prevent young rape plants from severe slug damage.
Implications of the mastoid anatomy of larger extant felids for the evolution and predatory behaviour of sabretoothed cats (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae)

Muscle attachments in the mastoid region of the skull of extant felids are studied through dissection of two adult tigers Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Pocock, 1930, a lion Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) Pocock, 1930 and a puma Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) Jardine, 1834, providing for the first time an adequate reference for the study of the evolution of that region in sabretoothed felids. Our study supports the inference by W. Akersten that the main muscles inserting in the mastoid process in sabretooths were those originating in the atlas, rather than those from the posterior neck, sternum and forelimb. Those inferences were based on the anatomy of the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, 1869) Milne-Edwards, 1870, raising uncertainties about homology, which were founded, as revealed by our results. The mastoid muscle insertions in extant felids differ in important details from those described for Ailuropoda, but agree with those described for domestic cats, hyenas and dogs. The large, antero-ventrally projected mastoid process of pantherines allows a moderate implication of the m. obliquus capitis anterior in head-flexion. This contradicts the widespread notion that the function of this muscle in carnivores is to extend the atlanto-cranial joint and to flex it laterally, but supports previous inferences about the head-flexing function of atlanto-mastoid muscles in machairodontines. Sabretooth mastoid morphology implies larger and longer-fibred atlanto-mastoid muscles than in pantherines, and that most of their fibres ran inferior to the axis of rotation of the atlanto-occipital joint, emphasizing head-flexing action. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 140, 207–221.
Reproductive Fitness and Pathogenicity of Eight Radopholus similis Isolates on Banana Plants (Musa AAA v. Poyo)

Eight isolates of Radopholus similis were compared for their reproductive fitness and pathogenicity on banana (Musa AAA cv. Poyo) under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. Five isolates were originally collected from African countries (Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Guinea) and the 3 others from Guadeloupe, Queensland, and Sri Lanka. The African isolates, and particularly the one collected in Uganda, had the highest reproductive fitness. Strong negative correlations were observed between nematode numbers in roots 6 and 8 weeks after inoculation and fresh root and shoot weights 12 weeks after inoculation. These results suggest that differences in pathogenicity on banana among R. similis isolates are a direct consequence of differences in reproductive fitness on banana tissue, and consequently that the relative virulence is roughly similar for all isolates considered. This study increases our knowledge of the biological intraspecific diversity of R. similis throug
Changes in Rubisco and Rubisco activase gene expression and polypeptide content in Pinus halepensis M. subjected to ozone and drought

The regulation of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxlase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and Rubisco activase was followed for 3 months in an experiment studying the effects of ozone and water stress on Aleppo pine. Rubisco activity was shown to be reduced by 30% in the presence of ozone, whereas no significant effect of water stress was noticed. The effect of combined stresses on Rubisco activity was similar to the effect of ozone. The changes in protein quantity of Rubisco large subunit (LSU) and Rubisco activase (RCA), compared with control plants, were similar to that of the Rubisco activity. Using homologous probes obtained by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), rbcL and rca transcript quantities were quantified during the course of the experiment. RbcL and rca mRNA quantities decreased in ozone and after drought. Changes in rbcL transcript quantity in needles subjected to the combination of ozone and drought were similar to the ones detected when drought was applied alone. On the contrary, the pattern of rca changes under the combination of the two stresses was similar to that of ozone applied alone. A positive correlation existed between the effects of ozone on Rubisco activase and Rubisco LSU protein quantities, which was not so obvious by comparing transcript quantities. This could suggest a potential post-transcriptional coordinated regulation of the two proteins under stress-imposed conditions.
Survey on Hierarchical Cluster Routing Protocols of WSN

Approaches in wireless sensor network (WSN) technology has gained the availability of small and low-cost sensor nodes with sensing capability of various types of physical and environmental conditions, data processing, and wireless communication. In wireless sensor networks have conduct to many new protocols particularly designed for sensor networks where energy awareness is an essential issue? Most of the observation, however, has been given to the routing protocols since they just differ depending on the application and network architecture. This paper surveys recent routing protocols for sensor networks and presents a classification [2] for the various approaches pursued. There are three main types data-centric, hierarchical and location-based.the only one type explored in this paper is hierarchical. Each hierarchical routing protocol is described.
Effects of brooder machine rearing method in the first week on fattening performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and some blood parameters of Pekin ducks.

Bu calismanin amaci erkek ve disi Pekin ordeklerinde ilk hafta ana makinesinde buyutmenin besi performansi, karkas ozellikleri, et kalitesi ve bazi kan parametreleri uzerine etkilerini belirlemektir. Calismada toplam 120 adet (60 erkek ve 60 disi) pekin ordegi palazi kullanilmistir. Her cinsiyet grubu rastgele iki farkli yetistirme grubuna ayrilmistir. Birinci gruptaki (ana makinesi) palazlar besinin 1-7. gunleri arasinda ana makinesinde daha sonra altlikli sistemde buyutulmustur. Ikinci gruptakiler (altlik/kontrol) ise besinin 1-42. gunleri arasinda altlikli sistemde buyutulmustur. Besinin 41. gununde her yetistirme ve cinsiyet grubundan 5 ordek rastgele secilerek kan ornekleri alinmistir. Besinin 42. gununde ordekler ozel bir kesimhanede kesilmistir. Karkas randimani, organ agirliklari ve karkas ozellikleri belirlenmistir. Gogus ve but etlerinde pH, kul, yag ve ham protein duzeyleri tespit edilmistir. Altlikli sistemde buyutulen ordeklerde toplam canli agirlik artisi, karkas randimani ve gogus eti yuzdesi ana makinesinde buyutulen ordeklere gore daha yuksek (P<0.01; P<0.001; P<0.05) olmustur. Besi sonu but ve gogus eti yag orani ilk hafta buyutme yonteminden etkilenmistir ve bu degerler altlikli yetistirme sistemindeki ordeklerde daha yuksek (P<0.01) bulunmustur. Kan degerlerinden sadece kreatin kinaz seviyesi, altlikli yetistirme sisteminde daha yuksek (P<0.05) oldugu tespit edilmistir. Cikim agirligi, toplam canli agirlik artisi, toplam yem tuketimi, but ve gogus eti kul orani ile gogus eti protein orani cinsiyetten etkilenmistir (P<0.01). Sonuc olarak, Pekin palazlarinda ilk hafta uygulanan altlikli buyutme yonteminin besi performansi, karkas randimani ve gogus yuzdesini olumlu yonde etkiledigi belirlenmistir