Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pollen from Lake Sedmo Rilsko reveals southeast European postglacial vegetation in the highest mountain area of the Balkans

A lacustrine sequence from Lake Sedmo Rilsko (altitude 2095 m) in the northwest of Rila Mountain, Bulgaria, was analysed on the basis of 84 pollen spectra and three 14C accelerator mass spectrometry dates. The lower part of the sequence (413–530 cm) corresponds to the Late-glacial. Three phases, two stadial and one interstadial, are characterized by the dominance of mountain–steppe herb vegetation composed of Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae, with single trees of Pinus and shrub land of Juniperus and Ephedra. The identification of pollen grains of Abies, Quercus robur-type, Corylus, Acer, Fagus and other mesophilous trees suggests that they survived the harsh Late-glacial conditions in refuges below an altitude of 1000 m, where moisture was sufficient for their growth. In the early Holocene period, Betula forests at high altitudes and, below them, closed deciduous forests with Quercus, Tilia, Ulmus and Corylus, occurred from 11800 until approx. 6700 cal. BP. The formation of the coniferous belt dominated by Pinus sylvestris, Pinus peuce and Abies alba lasted from between 6700 and 5000 cal. BP. The forest dynamics in the Subboreal and the Subatlantic ended with the invasion of Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies after approx. 4500 and 3300 cal. BP, respectively. Indications of anthropogenic activities, expansion of agriculture in the lowland foothills, and livestock grazing in the mountain meadows and pastures, are clearly evident from the pollen diagram from 2400 cal. BP onwards.
Physiological analysis of lactobacillus rhamnosus VTT E‐97800

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the physiological analysis of L. rhamnosus VTT E‐97800 and its adaptive response to osmotic stress induced by trehalose.Design/methodology/approach – Cells of L. rhamnosus E800 in the stationary phase of growth were subjected to osmotic stress induced by trehalose treatments. The effects of osmotic stress on the viability of the study strain were determined by conducting flow cytometric analysis with carboxyfluorescein diacetate (cFDA) and propidium iodide (PI) and by observing the corresponding cells growth on MRS agar plates. Osmotic‐induced changes of esterase activity and membrane integrity were monitored. Ability to extrude intracellular accumulated cF (additional vitality marker) was taken into consideration.Findings – The fluorescence‐based approach gave additional insights on osmotic induced changes of cellular events, which could not be explicitly assessed by culture techniques. Trehalose treatments caused a transient membrane permeabilization as revealed by .
Pachyrhizus ahipa roots and starches: Composition and functional properties related to their food uses

Chemical composition of two accessions (N° 11 and Local) of Pachyrhizus ahipa was evaluated and their starches were characterized from a technological and nutritional point of view. Ahipa roots were characterized by their high protein (8–9%) level compared to other roots and tubers. Accession 11 exhibited higher starch content than Local accession. Compared to cassava, ahipa starch showed lower gelatinization temperature, exhibiting accession 11 the lowest value. Ahipa starch digestibility was similar to that of other leguminous plants. Accession 11 showed higher rapidly digestible (RD), resistant (RS) and lower slowly digestible (SD) starch than cassava. Rotational rheological assays indicated that gelatinized ahipa starch suspensions present a pseudoplastic thixotropic behavior and under dynamic assays they behaved as a weak gel. Finally, ahipa can be considered a very good source of starch and might be used as a functional food, contributing to increase the RD and SD fractions.
Do flatland‐ and mountain‐dwelling species show different structuring of their experienced environment over latitude? A western vs. central‐eastern North America rodent multispecies comparison

Species occurrence databases and climate databases were used to examine differences in patterns of species experienced climate across latitude for wide‐ranging rodents in the central‐eastern and western North America. The accumulated data were used to address three questions: (1) Do rodent species in the central and eastern region of North America select habitat at range edges to remain closer to climate conditions at the range core? (2) Is there a trend toward species having greater experienced climate variation consistent with smaller effects of orbitally controlled climate oscillations in the south vs. north? (3) How do species experienced temperature, precipitation, and elevation means and variation in this region compare to rodent species in the adjacent but more heterogeneous western North America? Results showed that central‐eastern North American species occur in as wide a range of environmental conditions as available throughout their ranges. These patterns are different from previous findings for rodents in the adjacent western USA and highlight major differences in current structure of species experienced environmental means and variation over latitude for species in spatially heterogeneous, mountainous areas vs. those that occupy flatter lands. The differences are likely important for determining differential response to climate changes.
Sexual dimorphism and gonadal development of the Australian longfinned river eel

The sex and stage of gonadal development of longfinned river eels Anguilla reinhardtii, captured from nine river catchments in New South Wales, Australia, between 1999 and 2001, were determined macroscopically. Sex was verified by histology. Histology was also necessary, however, to accurately define stages of gonadal development, particularly in individuals <600 mm in total body length. Anguilla reinhardtii displayed asynchronous gamete development. The most advanced cells present in migrating male and female A. reinhardtii were spermatocytes and pre-vitellogenic oocytes, respectively. Gonadal development stages were positively correlated with body size in both sexes. Females, however, were significantly larger than males and their gonads matured over a broader size range. Size at sexual differentiation (42–60 cm for males and 50–76 cm for females) was much larger than for most other anguillids that have been studied, with the exception of the New Zealand longfinned eel Anguilla dieffenbachii. Corresponding with its large range in size at sexual differentiation was a relatively large range in size at migration for both males (44–62 cm) and females (74–142 cm).
Control of parasite burdens in wild red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus through the indirect application of anthelmintics

Summary 1 Red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus populations in Britain exhibit cyclic fluctuations in abundance with periodic population crashes. Substantial evidence exists to suppose that parasitic worms are the major factor causing these population crashes. 2 This experimental study was undertaken between 1996 and 2000 on two areas of moorland in the north Pennines, UK, to evaluate the efficacy of the indirect application of anthelmintic drugs in the control of the caecal nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis. 3 On one area, grouse were given access to anthelmintic drugs incorporated into grit (medicated grit) to control T. tenuis numbers, while on the second control area the birds had access to grit without anthelmintic drugs incorporated (plain grit). In the winter of 1998–99 the treatment was reversed between the two areas. 4 Adult grouse from the experimentally treated area had significantly lower infections of T. tenuis than grouse from the control area. Hen grouse, which had access to anthelmintic drugs, did not produce significantly more eggs or have a greater hatching success than hens with access only to plain grit. Chick survival was significantly greater on the medicated grit areas, with a significant difference in breeding success. Hens that had access to anthelmintic drugs reared more than twice as many chicks as control hens. 5 No significant difference was found in red grouse survival between grit treatments. 6 The increase in grouse numbers arising from the use of medicated grit enhances the viability of red grouse shooting because the cost of treatment appears to be low relative to the return from an increased harvest.
Effects of Temperature on the Growth and Development of Lemna minor, under Conditions of Natural Daylight

The effects of temperature on the growth and development of Lemna minor in the open have been studied in the east of Scotland by means of four water baths constructed to maintain constant water temperatures of 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, and 27.5 °C when subjected to natural insolation. Experiments were conducted at weekly intervals between August and November in 1958 and May and July in 1959. At the beginning of every experiment, for all temperature treatments, 134 fronds were placed in each of six containers. From the initial and final samples, the weights of roots and fronds together with frond (leaf) area were measured, so that weekly values for net assimilation rate, leaf-area ratio, and relative growth-rate could be calculated. Daily solar radiation was recorded by means of bimetallic radiation recorder. In 1958 linear regressions of a satisfactory fit were obtained when the data for net assimilation rate, leaf-area ratio, and relative growth-rate were calculated on the logarithms of the radiation for each temperature. Since radiation remained relatively constant in 1959 it was not possible to evaluate very reliably the effects of radiation on the growth parameters but only occasionally, notably for the final leaf-area ratio (12.5 °C) were the lines for 1958 and 1959 significantly different. Single lines were fitted to the points for both years. In all the regressions, apart from that for final leaf-area ratio (12.5°C) the proportion of the variation accounted for ranged from 87 to 97 per cent. The results showed that the net assimilation rate was positively linked with radiation and was optimal at 17.5 °C, though the rise from 12.5 to 17.5 °C was not significant. At the higher temperatures (22.5 and 27.5 °C) there was a significant negative effect of temperature on the net assimilation rate. The leaf-area ratio and relative growth-rate were positively dependent on radiation and reached the highest values at the highest temperatures. The maximum growth-rate recorded amounted to no less than 0.39 g.g−1 day−1. The results are discussed in relation to those for other aquatic and terrestrial plants.
Densities of Ecological Replacement Herbivores Required to Restore Plant Communities: A Case Study of Giant Tortoises on Pinta Island, Galápagos

Loss of native herbivores and introduction of livestock in many arid and semi‐arid ecosystems around the world has shifted the competitive balance from herbaceous to woody plants, leading to biodiversity loss, reduced plant productivity, and soil erosion. To restore functions of these ecosystems, ecological replacements have been proposed as substitutes for extinct native herbivores. Here we predict how an ecological replacement giant tortoise population (Chelonoidis spp.) would interact with woody plants on Pinta Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, where a small group of replacement tortoises was introduced in 2010 to initiate restoration of the island's plant community. We developed an individual‐based, spatially explicit simulation model that incorporated field‐derived tortoise behavior and tortoise–plant interaction data to test whether tortoise introductions could lead to broad‐scale changes in the plant community and, if so, at what tortoise densities. Tortoises reduced vegetation density in most (81%) 50‐year‐long simulations if the tortoise density was at least 0.7 per hectare, a value well below typical densities. In a smaller proportion of simulations (30%), tortoises increased local vegetation patchiness. Our results suggest that even moderate‐density tortoise populations can reverse woody plant encroachment. Deployment of ecological replacement giant tortoises may therefore be a viable approach for restoring other arid and semi‐arid ecosystems where a native herbivore that previously had strong interactions with the plant community has gone extinct.
Arthropods in the nests of the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Arthropods in the nests of the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) In 2008 we analyzed nest material from 25 nests of the Common Kestrel nesting in the residential and rural areas of Bratislava. 4486 arthropod individuals were determined, belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, Astigmata, Oribatida, Diptera and Siphonaptera. The arthropod fauna in the nests of the Common Kestrel can be classified into 4 groups: mites, dipteran larvae, adult beetles and dipterans. Three families of avian ectoparasites were present, comprising 26% of the total arthropod abundance. The remaining 74% of arthropod abundance in the nests comprised coprophagous and nidicolous species. Článkonožce v hniezdach sokola myšiara (Falco tinnunculus) Počas roku 2008 sme analyzovali hniezdny materiál z 25 hniezd sokola myšiara hniezdiaceho v intraviláne a extraviláne Bratislavy. Determinovaných bolo 4486 jedincov článkonožcov z radov Coleoptera, Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, Astigmata, Oribatida, Diptera a Siphonaptera. Faunu článkonožcov v hniezdach sokola myšiara môžeme rozdeliť na 4 skupiny: roztoče, larvy dvojkrídlovcov, imága chrobákov a dvojkrídlovcov. Ektoparazity vtákov boli zastúpené 3 čeľaďami a predstavujú 26 % abundancie článkonožcov v hniezdach, zvyšných 74 % tvoria koprofágne a nidikolné druhy.
On the evolution of shape and size divergence in Nebria (Nebriola) ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Ground beetles include many species of rather recent evolutionary origin that are extremely similar in their external morphology. We used geometric morphometrics to quantify the relative degree of morphological divergence in three closely related polytypic alpine species of the genus Nebria, subgenus Nebriola (Nebria cordicollis, N. laticollis and N. fontinalis). To examine evolutionary patterns, we adopted a hierarchical design, using both shape and size to discriminate between species, subspecies within species, and populations within subspecies. A semilandmark-based approach was used to describe the pronotum, elytron and median lobe of the aedeagus. The three closely related species diverged significantly in shape and size. There were clear interspecific differences in the shape of external traits (elytron and pronotum) and of the median lobe of the aedeagus. Furthermore, species also diverged in body size, and in the relative size of traits (evaluated by computation of their static allometries). Shape differences among subspecies and populations were more limited. However, the three subspecies of N. cordicollis considered, N. c. cordicollis, N. c. kochi and N. c. winkleri, showed three distinct body sizes and differences in relative size of the elytron. A few size differences were also evident between distinct populations. These results seem to suggest that size may diverge more rapidly than shape in Nebriola ground beetles. Both at the species and subspecies level, body size order was not reflected in the relative size order, indicating that body size and relative size of traits do not necessarily evolve in concert.
Is digestive capacity limiting growth at low temperatures in roach

In roach Rutilus rutilus growth ceases below a temperature threshold of 12°C. This cessation of growth is accompanied by a reduction in feeding. Do roach decrease feeding in the cold because of reduced energy demand, caused by the decelerating effect of low temperature on metabolism and growth, or is feeding directly limited by low temperatures, leading to reduced growth rates? It was found that at low temperatures the intake and digestion of food may be limited by reduced activities of digestive enzymes. Trypsin, amylase and γ-glutamyl transferase showed a negative compensation with respect to temperature, resulting in very low activities at acclimation temperatures of ≤ 12°C. Trypsin activity, falling from 400.5 ± 131.2 Ug 1 fresh mass of the gut at 27°C to 12.5 U g -1 fresh mass at 4 °C. displayed the strongest linear cor relation with growth rates, suggesting that trypsin activities may set a limit to growth in the low temperature range. If protein digestion is liniiting at low temperatures, this should be reflected in reduced concentrations of amino acid in the white muscle. The size of the total amino acid pool was not affected by temperature acclimation and ranged between 19.2 ± 6.2 and 25.2 ± 3.6 μmol g fresh mass of the white muscle. A decrease, however, was found of several amino acids, mainly of threonine and glutamine, in the low temperature range. Low concentrations of the essential amino acid threonine (0.14 ± 0.03 μmol g -1 fresh mass at 12°C and 0.12 ± 0.05 μmol g -1 fresh mass at 4°C) were probably due to nutritional or digestional limitations and may therefore have resulted from reduced trypsin activity in the cold. The non-esential amino acid glutamine, however, can be endogenously synthesized and its low level observed at 4 C (0.16 ± 0.09 μmol g -1 fresh mass) was not necessarily a result of low trypsin activities. It is more likely that low temperatures impair glutamine synthesis. The possibility that glutamine concentrations may be down regulated under conditions when anabolic processes are not advantageous is discussed.
Yield and quality characteristics of some pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties harvested at different growing stages.

This research was conducted to determine yield and quality characteristics of some pea varieties called Kirazli, Ulubatli, Golyazi and Urunlu. harvested at different growing stages These varieties were harvested at four growing stages (1. Stage: Full flowering; 2. Stage: Seeds are trace in lower pods; 3. Stage: Seeds are medium in lower pods; 4. Stage: Seeds are full size in lower pods). This research was carried out in two years (2008-2010) at Uludag Agricultural Faculty, Agricultural Research and Application Center. According to the two-year experimental results, the best quality hay, seed and the highest seed yield was obtained from Golyazi variety. Also, plants could be harvested at growing stages 2. (seeds are trace in lower pods) or 3. (seeds are medium in lower pods) for the best quality hay. ∗ Bu makalenin bir kısmı 12-15 Eylül 2011 tarihlerinde Bursa’da gerçekleştirilen IX. Tarla Bitkileri Kongresi’nde sunulmuştur.
Comment on: MTT assay instead of the clonogenic assay in measuring the response of cells to ionizing radiation

MTT and clonogenic assays are widely used to calculate cell survival after exposing them to ionizing radiation. Recently it has been reported that, the survival curves derived from MTT tests are in a good agreement with those of the clonogenic tests. However, before using these assays, some important cautions should be taken specially in using suitable materials and methodology.
Nutrient uptake and growth of fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) on reclamation soils

Forest land reclamation after oil sands mining requires the re-establishment of self-sustaining boreal forest ecosystems consisting of native forest plant species. This greenhouse study examined germination, growth, and nutrient uptake of fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub), a circumpolar species common to the boreal forest. Fireweed was grown on a variety of reclamation soil types that varied widely in nitrogen and phosphorus contents and which were subsequently amended with different fertilizer formulations. Germination, initial root growth, and aboveground growth without fertilizer were greatest on the forest floor – mineral mix soil. With fertilization, the best fireweed growth occurred with nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilization, but with N-only or PK-only fertilization, the growth response was dependent on the soil type, indicating that site-specific fertilizer blends may be necessary for maximizing plant growth. Nutrient uptake with no fertilizer amendment was greatest in the f.
Resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity after different suckling manipulation treatments in primiparous beef cows

The aims of this experiment were to study suckling manipulation strategies, such as early weaning, suckling inhibition with nose plates or temporary weaning for 5 days, on resumption of ovarian cyclicity in anoestrous beef cows. Seventy-four primiparous Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cows with a mean body condition score of 3.8 ± 0.1 (mean ± s.e.m, 1–8 scale) grazing together on rangeland were used. At 71 days postpartum (Day 0) animals were assigned to one of four groups as follows: (1) suckling group (S, n = 14): cows were suckled throughout all the experiment; (2) nose plates group (NP, n = 20): nose plates were placed to calves for 14 days; (3) temporary weaning group (TW5d, n = 20): calves were isolated from their dams for 5 days; (4) early weaning group (EW, n = 20): calves were definitely weaned. After treatments, weekly serum progesterone concentrations were measured for 9 weeks. EW and NP cows had shorter intervals between treatments and resumption of ovarian cyclicity (19.6 ± 1.7 and 24.5 ± 3.3 days versus 40.6 ± 3.5 and 37.5 ± 4.0 days for EW, NP, TW5d and S, respectively, P < 0.01). A higher proportion of the EW group showed luteal progesterone concentrations the first week after treatments (20 versus 5, 0 and 0% for EW, NP, TW5d and S, respectively, P < 0.05), then proportions of EW and NP cows resuming postpartum cyclicity were similar throughout the remainder of the study. Temporary weaning for 5 days showed no effects on ovarian cyclicity resumption. When body condition score is not very limiting, restricting suckling over 14 days with nose plates is a useful strategy to induce postpartum cyclicity in range cow herds with effects similar to early weaning.
The Cross River Gorillas: A Distinct Subspecies, Gorilla gorilla diehli Matschie 1904

Abstract This study presents the results of a new set of measurements made on museum specimens of gorilla skeletons from the Cross River headwaters. It provides a review of the taxonomy of Cross River gorillas and describes their distribution and related aspects of their natural history. Considering their distinctiveness and geographic isolation, Cross River gorillas are best regarded as a distinct subspecies, G. g. diehli. Compared to other western gorilla populations, Cross River gorillas have smaller dentitions, smaller palates, smaller cranial vaults, and shorter skulls. Although Cross River gorillas do not seem to differ from other western gorillas in either body size or limb long bone lengths, measurements from a single male suggest that they may have shorter hands and feet and a larger opposability index than other western gorillas. Marked variation in the habitats of Cross River gorillas and insufficient data on behavior frustrate attempts to directly associate morphology with ecology. Many of their distinguishing characters, however, are parts of an adaptive complex that in most primates is characteristic of increasing terrestriality. A subspecific designation for Cross River gorillas correlates with other biogeographic patterns, since many primate species and subspecies inhabiting the Cross River area are distinct from their counterparts further south where other western gorillas occur.