Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF SUBURBAN SPRAWL ON RHODE ISLAND'S FORESTS: A LANDSAT VIEW FROM 1972 TO 1999

Abstract The incursion of residential and commercial development into terrestrial habitats is resulting in measurable changes to the composition and pattern of habitats and to the fauna and flora associated with them. To better understand the effects of urbanization on Rhode Island's landscape, we documented land-cover changes between 1972 and 1999 using Landsat remote sensing data. Analyses indicate land-cover changes involved major transitions of forested land to urban land-classes. For example, 14,986 hectares of forested land was converted into urban land between 1972 and 1985 resulting in a 21.0% increase in urban land-cover. Likewise, 6,551 hectares of forested land with more hectares of deciduous forest (4,806 ha) was converted into urban land between 1985 and 1999 resulting in an 18.0% increase in urban land-cover. Quantitative analyses also revealed that as forested land declined in spatial extent it declined in connectivity as the number of forest patches increased in the state, including areas defined as open space or rare and endangered species' habitat.
Afecções podais em vacas da bacia leiteira de Rondon do Pará

Foot diseases are some of the main causes of low performance in dairy cows. In order to determine the prevalence, clinical classification and to establish the epidemio-logical factors of foot diseases in cows from basin milk of Rondon do Para, 1,236 cows were evaluated and 275 had at least one type of foot injury. A total of 655 lesions was showed which a prevalence of 22.25%. Most frequent lesions were interdigital hyperplasia (80.92%), claw overgrowth (6.42%), and interdigital necrobacillosis (6.11%). Hind limbs were most frequently affected (61.83%), and lesions affecting the interdigital space were the most common in both the thoracic (36.34%) and hind limbs (48.09%). Epidemiological study showed that the environmental characteristics such as mountainous areas, newly formed grassland (with trunks and branches of trees), irregular ground, and mud and gravel in the floor of the pens may promote the development of foot lesions. In 95.5% of the farms, no measures had been taken for the control and prophylaxis of foot diseases. The specific clinical examination of the feet was efficient for the diagnosis.
A Novel Pair of HMW Glutenin Subunits from Aegilops searsii Improves Quality of Hexaploid Wheat

ABSTRACT This study involved screening of wild species of wheat in search of functionally useful seed storage proteins for improvement of breadmaking quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum). After screening of 177 disomic addition lines (DALs) of wheat belonging to different wild species, Aegilops searsii DALs were selected and studied in detail. These DALs of Ae. searsii were from chromosome 1Ss to 7Ss in the background of cultivated wheat cv. Chinese Spring (CS). By analyzing these addition lines, genetic loci of actively expressed genes for the high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) and gliadin were found on the chromosome 1Ss for the first time and have been designated as Glu-Ss1 and Gli-Ss1, respectively. Disomic addition line of chromosome 1Ss (DAL1Ss) showed improved dough strength in different generations compared with CS. SDS sedimentation value and specific sedimentation of DAL1Ss were higher than CS. Mixograph peak height and band width were higher, with no difference in mixing peak time.
BOTULISM IN BROILER CHICKENS

SUMMARY The occurrence of intoxication due to type C botulinum toxin in broiler fowl is described. The disease occurred during warm weather and appeared to be due to ingestion of carcases which had been stored for only 2 to 3 days within the poultry shed. Botulism resulted in a mortality of less than 1% of the flock but caused concern in deciding whether to submit the flock for slaughter for human consumption. The diagnosis and public health aspects of the disease are discussed.
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF GROWTH AND PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE IN TWO SPECIES OF VOLVOX (VOLVOCALES, CHLOROPHYTA) 1

The growth of Volvox globator L. and Volvox aureus Ehr. was measured at five temperatures and nine phosphorus concentrations. Growth rates were hyperbolically related to phosphorus concentrations for all temperatures using a Monod growth model. Optimal growth rates of 1.17 and 1.00 doublings d−1 were obtained at 20°C for V. globator and V. aureus, respectively. Neither species grew at 5°C. The half‐saturation constants for growth, Ks, were lower for V. aureus. Phosphorus uptake by both species was also dependent upon external phosphorus concentrations and temperature. At all temperatures, maximum phosphorus uptake (μmol P colony−1 min−1) was similar for both species; however, the half‐saturation constants for uptake showed significant differences between the species. Comparisons of the kinetic constants for growth and phosphorus uptake suggest that V. aureus will outcompete V. globator under phosphorus limited, conditions.
Actin in the developing stomatal complex of winter rye: A comparison of actin antibodies and Rh-phalloidin labeling of control and CB-treated tissues

Actin localization during stomatal complex formation in rye leaf epidermis was compared by three different labeling procedures. When leaf segments are fixed with formaldehyde prior to staining microfilament (MF) patterns visualized with actin antibodies and those with rhodamine-phalloidin (Rh-ph) are basically identical in controls. Likewise, on tissues treated with cytochalasin B (CB), actin antibodies and Rh-ph produce very similar labeling patterns. Compared to MF alignments in fixed samples, additional sets of MFs are observed at the very cortical regions of epidermal cells that are stained with Rh-ph without aldehyde fixation. Cortical MFs are also present in a variety of mitotic cells; MFs of meristematic cells and guard mother cells are more concentrated near the walls facing spindle poles, whereas a fine meshwork of MFs is observed along the entire periclinal surface of subsidiary mother cells. Although exactly how MFs are involved in control of the division site in higher plant cells is still to be determined, the presence of MFs during mitosis and the abnormal division observed in some stomatal cells after treatment with CB suggest that MFs are necessary for normal orientation of division in these cells, and thus normal morphogenesis.
Simultaneous encapsulation of seed and mycorrhizal fungi for long-term storage and propagation of terrestrial orchids

Ex situ conservation of threatened terrestrial orchids requires the simultaneous conservation of their mycorrhizal associations. A method for encapsulating both seed and fungi in alginate beads (known as encapsulation–dehydration) was applied to the storage and propagation of two endangered orchid species in NSW, Australia—Pterostylis saxicola D.L. Jones & M.A.Clem. and Diuris arenaria D.L. Jones. We tested the effect of storage duration and temperature on fungal recovery and germination potential in vitro, and recorded survival for seedlings subsequently transferred to potting mix. Storage at 23°C significantly reduced fungal recovery and germination for both species after only 3 months (P < 0.05), whereas storage at 4°C significantly reduced fungal recovery for P. saxicola after 6 months (P < 0.05). Storage for 6 months at −18 and −196°C had no significant effect on the fungal recovery and germination percentages of either species. All beads transferred directly from in vitro culture to potting mix resulted in the establishment of at least one seedling, and production of a healthy tuberoid, when transferred near the commencement of the natural growing season. The encapsulation–dehydration method may have a practical application for use in ex situ conservation of other terrestrial orchids, as well as their mycorrhizal fungi.
EFFECT OF THYME EXTRACT AS A NATURAL PRESERVATIVE ON THE QUALITY OF SMOKED MACKEREL FISH

Fresh and partially processed fish are subject to spoilage either by microbes or by fat oxidation, which gives a great attention to fish preservatives, especially natural preservatives, a great interest as alternatives to chemical preservatives. In this study, thyme extract has been used along with smoking and soaking fish fillets in brine solutions as an alternative method of preservation. Fish fillet samples were evaluated for their chemical composition (moisture, pH and protein contents), total bacterial count, and the numbers of isolated Salmonella spp. , Escherichia coli, S. aureus, and Pseudomonas spp. The obtained results showed a decrease in pH values and moisture contents and an increase in protein contents in smoked fish fillet soaked in brine solution alone without thyme extract or with the addition of thyme extract. The thyme extract showed a high reduction rate in Salmonella spp. , E-coli and Pseudomonas spp numbers in comparison with the control and the fish fillet samples soaked in brine solution. On the other hand, S. aureus showed high resistance rate. The results indicated that, thyme could be added to the brine solution used for the preparation of smoked fish as an antimicrobial agent.
Determining the value of Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep for the conservation process.

Autochthonous Pramenka (Zackel) sheep has been recognized as an important element of regional agro-biodiversity, relevant to the tradition that encompasses the cultural heritage of Serbia. The recognition that locally adapted animal breeds gained genetic resistance and adaptability through evolution; modern sustainable farming practices are far more attuned to the need for preserving and utilizing Zackel sheep types. The risk factors leading to rapid and severe decline in Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep population have been described in the paper. The objective of the study was to obtain the data necessary for development of conservation and sustainable use strategies of Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep. Determination of the conservation value upon characteristics of the breed was performed, in aim to identify priorities in accordance with the criteria of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The positive and negative characteristics of the Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel sheep, opportunities for utilization, as well as ambiental challenges that affect the breed were analyzed in the paper. The importance of this breed for maintenance of cultural tradition, landscape preservation and longterm rural development by in-situ conservation through utilization is also discussed in the paper. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31085]
Fractionation, Purification and Some Properties of Proteolytic Enzymes from Stem Bromelain

The heterogeneity of the proteolytic enzymes in the stem bromelain was investigated by the isoelectric focusing with carrier ampholytes. The isoelectric focusing of the stem bromelain demonstrated the presence of two types of proteolytic enzymes which were dis-tinguishable from each other by their isoelectric points. One of these was a basic protein having an isoelectric point of 9.45. This basic enzyme comprised almost all of basic pro-tein which are found in stem bromelain. The other was an acidic protein having an isoelectric point near pH 4.7. This was a minor compooent. The purification of the two enzymes was carried out by use of chromatographics on Chi-Sephadex, DEAE-Sephadex and Sephadex at pH 7.0.
Características da carcaça de vacas de descarte abatidas com diferentes pesos

Avaliaram-se as caracteristicas da carcaca de 43 vacas de descarte da raca Puruna com idade media de 68,02 ± 17,36 meses em diferentes pesos de abate. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado e os pesos de abate avaliados foram de 401; 434; 461; 476 e 522 kg. A elevacao do peso de abate de 401 para 522 promoveu aumento do peso e rendimento de carcaca quente e fria de 34,7; 36,6; 2,1 e 5,13, respectivamente. A espessura de gordura subcutânea (mm) aumentou linearmente com o avanco do peso de abate, passando de 1,11 para 4,79 mm. A area do Longissimus dorsi expressa em funcao do peso de carcaca fria variou de forma quadratica com o avanco do peso de abate, com o menor valor estimado para o peso de abate de 440 kg. A quantidade de musculo, gordura e osso aumentaram 300; 330 e 69 g a cada quilograma a mais no peso de abate, respectivamente. A porcao comestivel da carcaca aumentou 34,1% com a elevacao do peso de abate de 401 para 522 kg. A elevacao do peso de abate representa grande potencial para o aumento da producao de carne no pais, dado ao numero expressivo de femeas de descarte que sao abatidas anualmente. No entanto, para o sistema de producao, considerando o atual metodo de remuneracao, o peso de abate de vacas de descarte nao deve exceder as exigencias minimas dos frigorificos, tendo em vista a reducao da eficiencia alimentar com o avanco da deposicao de gordura corporal.
Feeding by black fly (Diptera:Simuliidae) larvae causes downstream losses in phytoplankton, but not bacteria

Abstract Experimental removal of early instar black fly larvae from 3 oligotrophic lake-outlet streams in southern Quebec showed that larvae reduced phytoplankton biomass, but had little effect on bacterioplankton biomass. The rates of decline in bacterioplankton and phytoplankton biomass with distance downstream from 6 lake outlets were determined before the insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis was used to remove black fly larvae from 3 of the streams. The rates of decline in bacterioplankton and phytoplankton biomass were measured again after the larvae were removed, and the differences in the rates of decline between before and after were used as indicators of the rates of biomass ingestion by the black fly larvae. The proportion of bacterioplankton ingested/m stream length was <0.081%/m in all streams, but the proportion of phytoplankton ingested/m stream length was 0.35%/m and 0.24%/m in 2 of the 3 manipulated streams. Downstream declines in both bacterioplankton and phytoplankton persisted in the absence of black fly larvae. Factors other than black fly feeding (such as biofilm adhesion and ingestion by other filter-feeders) were responsible for 50 to 90% of the total downstream loss rate of bacteria, whereas factors other than black fly feeding were responsible for 0 to 55% of the total downstream loss rate of phytoplankton. Apparently, free-living bacteria were not ingested to a great extent by black fly larvae in these oligotrophic lake-outlet streams, and the link between bacteria in the plankton and their potential black fly predators seemed weak. The relative importance of algivory over bacterivory is expected to be greater in eutrophic lake-outlet streams, where the ratio of bacterial C to phytoplankton C is smaller than in oligotrophic lake-outlet streams, and in systems with a greater abundance of later-instar larvae, which are less efficient at capturing bacteria than early instar larvae.
Laboratory shelf-life of oil-formulated conidia of the locust and grasshopper fungal pathogen Metarhizium flavoviridae Gams & Rozsypal, in mixtures with the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin

The addition of 20 ppm lambda-cyhalothrin pyrethroid insecticide to Metarhizium flavoviridae (Fungi: Deuteromycetes) dry conidia in oil kept germination above 80% for 2 and 12 months at temperatures of approximately 30 and 8°C respectively. At 30°C, conidia in oil alone maintained viability for only a few weeks, but this was doubled at 8°C. Even dry conidia retained good viability for only 5 months at the higher temperature. The extended viability of conidia given by adding the pyrethroid to the oil formulation is regarded as very valuable for areas where the fungus is to be used against locusts and grasshoppers.
Effect of fish size and temperature on the utilization of different protein sources in two catfish species

Two sets of feeding trial were conducted to determine the effect of size and temperature on the utilization of different protein sources in two catfish species. In both the experiments, the fish were fed to apparent satiation daily at 08.00 and 18.00 hours, and faecal matter collected through slow siphoning. The first experiment was designed to study the effect of fish size on apparent digestibility coefficients for plant and animal proteins in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). Three size classes (105–109 g; 780–830 g; 1250– 1300 g) of fish were stocked in triplicate sets of 600-L plastic pools fitted with a flow-through system (2 L min−1). Within each size class, the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) for protein varied significantly with the source and quality of protein used. Soybean meal and fishmeal protein were utilized with greater efficiency, whereas rice bran protein was least digestible. An increase in ADC protein was apparent with increase in fish size for high protein sources such as soybean meal, full-fat soybean, laboratory-prepared fishmeal, steam-cooked brown fishmeal and dried fish. ADC protein for other ingredients decreased with increase in size. In the second experiment, the influence of varying temperature on ADC for protein was determined in the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) (6–8 g). Triplicate groups of 25 fish were kept at three different ambient temperatures (18, 28 and 38 °C), in 70-L polyvinyl indoor flow-through (1–1.5 L min−1) circular tanks (water volume = 55 L). The trend in utilization of protein from different sources remained similar at the three temperatures. For each ingredient, digestibility values obtained at 18 °C were significantly lower than those obtained at 28 °C and 38 °C. Optimal protein utilization in H. fossilis was measured at 28 °C.
ROOT DYNAMICS AND SPATIAL PATTERN IN PRAIRIE AND FOREST

The invasion of grasslands by woody plants is related to increased heterogeneity in soil resources. At the northern edge of the Great Plains, the amount of heterogeneity in soils reciprocally transplanted between prairie and aspen forest can change within a single growing season, suggesting that heterogeneity is strongly influenced by vegetation. Here we examine several mechanisms by which fine roots could influence soil resource heterogeneity. We measured the total length, spatial pattern, and turnover of fine roots in both prairie and forest using minirhizotrons installed horizontally 10 cm below the soil surface. The total length of fine roots in forest (0.7 cm/cm2) was significantly less than that in prairie (1.4 cm/cm2), which may contribute to more spatially variable resource uptake in forest. The coefficient of variation of root length was significantly higher in forest (92%) than in prairie (65%). Semivariograms showed that the scale of patchiness of root length was significantly greater in forest (8–12 cm) than in prairie (3–4 cm). Lastly, the rate of fine root turnover was significantly higher in forest (49%) than in prairie (20%). Turnover may contribute to spatial variability because a system with high rates of root turnover would appear to have high spatial variability at any given time. Root mortality was also significantly higher in forest than prairie. In summary, many aspects of root distributions and dynamics were consistent with relatively high heterogeneity in forest soil resources. The greater total root length in prairie may account for the significantly higher intensity of root competition in grasslands than forests and contribute to the exclusion of woody plants from prairies. Trees may be able to overcome this resistance by both causing and benefiting from higher levels and scales of soil resource heterogeneity.
Mortality patterns of white-tailed deer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

We radiotracked 95 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, all age classes) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula between January 1992 and January 1995 for a total of 38,888 deer-days. Fifty-eight deer died: 12 due to predation, 6 due to malnutrition, 14 due to other or unknown sources, and 26 killed by hunters (including 1 that was poached). Analysis of mortality indicated rates of annual nonhunting mortality were 0.19 (SE = 0.09) for adult females, 0.00 (SE = 0.05) for adult males and yearling females, and 0.16 (SE = 0.07) for yearling males. Hunting mortality was 0.04 (SE = 0.10) for adult females, 0.72 (SE = 0.12) for adult males, 0.12 (SE = 0.09) for yearling females, and 0.47 (SE = 0.10) for yearling males. Hunting mortality was higher among males in both age classes (P < 0.01) though nonhunting mortality was equivalent (P ≥ 0.05). Seasonal mortality rates of males and females differed during the fall (P < 0.001), coincident with Michigan's hunting seasons. Hunting mortality was significantly higher for yearling and adult males due to hunting regulations that limited harvest of antlerless deer; consequently, adult sex ratios were skewed towards females.
XXVI.—A Comparative Study of the Stem Structure of the Genus Clematis, with special reference to Anatomical Changes induced by Vegetative Propagation

The investigation of which the results are embodied in this paper was undertaken in an attempt to gain an insight into the problem of the propagation of Clematis by means of stem cuttings. In order to be able to interpret the phenomena of regeneration induced by isolating portions of a plant, it is essential to investigate the normal anatomy in some detail. In any severed portion of a plant, the first signs of abnormal cell activity in the tissues depart only slightly from the normal, and unless they can be detected and identified at their initiation, it is impossible to define exactly the time and place of origin of the new growth. Accordingly the first part of the paper will deal with the normal stem-anatomy of the genus. The second part, with the changes in the anatomy resulting from vegetative propagation, and the third part with some experimental modifications of the regeneration-response.
The consequences of clutch size for incubation conditions and hatching success in starlings

1. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) clutches were manipulated so that sibling eggs were incubated within either natural-sized clutches, or clutches that had been experimentally enlarged but were still within the natural range of variation. Thus the consequences of incubated clutch size for hatching success were investigated. 2. Eggs incubated within enlarged clutches hatched less successfully than eggs incubated within natural-sized clutches, suggesting that clutch size affects the conditions experienced by embryos during incubation. 3. Eggs incubated in enlarged clutches may have hatched poorly because clutch enlargement altered nest microclimate, causing increased water loss during the incubation period. 4. There was no evidence that enlargement altered nest microclimate by energetically constraining parents from incubating effectively. Instead, intrinsic physical properties of enlarged clutches affected clutch temperature directly. 5. Parents that had incubated experimentally enlarged clutches subsequently fledged fewer chicks than control parents, suggesting that constraints imposed during incubation may influence the optimal number of eggs that parents should lay. 6. Future studies should investigate whether parents laying naturally large clutches can minimize the problems of incubating many eggs by adaptively tailoring the shape and composition of their eggs to their expected clutch size.