Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Population Size on Seed Production and Germinability in an Endangered, Fragmented Grassland Plant

Abstract: Fragmentation and isolation of plant populations are thought to affect demographic processes such as seed production and cause reductions in fitness. I followed seed set over a 3‐year period in eight populations of the endangered Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides (Asteraceae) that differed in population size from 13 to over 5000 flowering plants. Germinability of the resultant seed was also examined to determine whether small populations had lower fitness than large populations. Seed set was significantly associated with population size in 2 of the 3 years. Small populations (<30 flowering plants) produced significantly fewer seeds per head in 1994 and 1995 than did large populations (500 to over 5000 flowering plants), which did not differ significantly from one another. There was, however, substantial variation within populations. In 1993 seed production did not follow any simple relationship with population size, possibly because environmental stress from low rainfall had an overriding impact. Differences in seed germinability between populations were largely not evident, suggesting that this aspect of fitness has not declined substantially in small populations relative to large populations. This study suggests that nongenetic, demographic factors are of immediate importance to the persistence of small populations of R. leptorrhynchoides because of their potential impacts on seedling recruitment.
Production of Belarussian soyabeans (Glycine max) in the UK: predicting time to emergence

A field experiment was carried out on soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) to measure the effect of planting date (soil temperature) on seedling emergence. Seeds were sown at weekly intervals on seven planting dates from April until the end of May in SE England in 1997. Planting date had no significant effect on final percentage emergence but had a highly significant effect on time to emergence. The coefficients of variation (c.v.) for the number of days to emergence (calendar days) were high (43–45%), and therefore not a reliable method for predicting emergence. Three accumulated heat unit (AHU) methods based on air and soil temperatures were compared with the calendar day method to determine the most reliable system for predicting seedling emergence. Accumulated soil temperatures above a base of 9·0 °C had the lowest c.v. s (8–15%) and were shown to be the most reliable predictor of emergence.
Are Better Anesthetics Needed in Fisheries

Abstract Federal, state, and private fishery workers were asked which anesthetics they used and for which fish species; how the materials were used; the disadvantages or problems associated with their use; and the desired characteristics of an ideal anesthetic. Responses were received from 66 state or provincial hatcheries, 40 federal hatcheries, 3 private hatcheries, and 74 others who did not identify themselves by category. Tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) was by far the most commonly used anesthetic (145 users), followed by quinaldine (41), and carbon dioxide (18). Carbon dioxide and MS-222 are the only registered fish anesthetics. The most cited limitation on the use of MS-222 was the 21-day withdrawal period required after treatment. The ideal anesthetic should permit a reasonable duration of exposure, produce anesthesia within 3 minutes or less, allow recovery within 5 minutes or less, cause no toxicity to fish at treatment levels, present no mammalian safety problems, and leave low tissue residue.
A Comparison of Thermocouple Psychrometer and Pressure Chamber Measurements of Leaf Water Potential in Peanuts

SUMMARY The pressure chamber method for measuring leaf water potential in peanuts was compared with the thermocouple psychrometer technique. The pressure chamber over-estimated leaf water potential by an average of 0.4 MPa over the range −0.5 to −5.0 MPa. It is suggested that the pressure chamber technique may be appropriate in comparative studies of peanut water stress. However, where absolute measurements are required, as in the calculation of leaf turgor potential, either a correction factor should be applied or, preferably, the thermocouple psychrometer technique used. If no account is taken of the discrepancy between techniques, erroneously large negative turgor potentials will result.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DECAPODID STAGE OF PLESIONIKA NARVAL (FABRICIUS, 1787) (DECAPODA: CARIDEA: PANDALIDAE) IDENTIFIED BY DNA BARCODING

The morphology of the decapodid stage of Plesionika narval (Fabricius, 1787) is described and illustrated based on larvae collected in the Canary Islands waters (NW Africa). Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the barcoding gene COI sequences confirmed the identity of the larvae specimens. Decapodid development of P. narval is compared with other pandalid and related genera Pandalus, Pandalopsis, Procletes, Stylopandalus, and Icotopus. Based on their morphological similarities we concluded that the nomina dubia genus Icotopus is a synonym of Plesionika and herein selected Plesionika over Icotopus as the valid name for the genus.
A stem lineage representative of buttonquails from the Lower Oligocene of Germany – fossil evidence for a charadriiform origin of the Turnicidae

A new species of the charadriiform taxon Turnipax Mayr, 2000 is described from the Lower Oligocene fossil site Frauenweiler in southern Germany. The postcranial skeleton assigned to Turnipax oechslerorum sp. nov. is very well preserved and allows the recognition of significant, previously unknown osteological details of Turnipax, especially concerning the wing and pectoral girdle bones. We provide evidence that Turnipax is a stem lineage representative of the Turnicidae (buttonquails) and synonymize Turnipacidae Mayr, 2000 with Turnicidae Gray, 1840. Turnipax is the earliest fossil representative of the Turnicidae, which otherwise have no Paleogene fossil record. Because recent molecular studies support a charadriiform origin of buttonquails, the mosaic distribution in the skeleton of Turnipax of derived features of the Turnicidae and non-turnicid charadriiform birds is of particular interest. Turnipax exhibits a more plesiomorphic morphology than extant Turnicidae, and we assume that its habitat and way of living differed from that of crown group Turnicidae, which may not have diversified before the spread of grasslands during the Oligocene and Miocene.
Persistence of the herbicides imazethapyr and imazapic in irrigated rice soil

The mixture of herbicides imazethapyr and imazapic is used to control red rice in irrigated rice crops. However, such herbicides might persist on the soil for a long period causing phytotoxicity on susceptible rice grown in succession. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of different soil tillage systems during the off-season on the residual phytotoxicity of imazethapyr and imazapic on non tolerant rice. Herbicide residues caused phytotoxicity on susceptible rice with the highest values being registered 25 days after emergence and decreasing after this period until almost disappearing 60 days after emergence. Herbicide residues affected plant stand, number of stems per m2, number of panicles per m2 and plant height, but did not affect grain yield. Soil movement decreased herbicide activity on the superficial soil layer (0-3 cm).
The Cytology and Transmission of Accessory Chromosomes in Cochlearia Pyrenaica DC. (Cruciferae)

SUMMARYA study of the meiotic behaviour and transmission of accessory chromosomes in a British population of C. pyrenaica DC. (C. alpina Wats.) has been carried out. The accessories are euchromatic but smaller than the A-chromosomes. They occur in 78% of the individuals sampled and are constant in number in all the cells of an individual. All the accessories are morphologically identical and in no cell has any association between the accessories and the A-chromosomes been observed. The accessory chromosomes behave normally at mitosis. During meiosis their behaviour differs from that of the A-chromosomes in that at metaphase I they are sometimes associated together to form accessory ‘bivalents’ or ‘multivalents’. At anaphase I the paired accessories segregate in the same way as the A-chromosomes. Unpaired accessories, however, do not divide and are generally incorporated in one of the daughter nuclei. At anaphase II the accessories divide and segregate regularly. There is a significant difference in the tr.
Nitrogen Fertilization Changes Abundance and Community Composition of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria

Th e eff ects of N fertilization rates on the abundance and community composition of NH 3 –oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are poorly understood, particularly in greenhouse-based high-N-input vegetable soils. Th e abundance and community composition of AOB from these vegetable soils under fi ve N (urea) rates in eastern China were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Th ese rates were: the conventional high N rate (N4) as 270 or 300 kg N ha −1 season −1 for cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) or tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), respectively, and 80% (N3), 60% (N2), 40% (N1), and 0% (N0) of the N4 rate. Aft er 2 yr of a cucumber–tomato rotation, N fertilization had signifi cant eff ects on the abundance and community composition of AOB. Th e abundance of AOB amoA gene was signifi cantly higher under the N2 (2.08 × 10 10 kg −1 dry weight soil) than under the N0 or N4 (8.74 or 8.75 × 109 kg −1 soil). Th e DGGE patterns were more diverse under N1 and N2 than under N3 and N4, with the greatest DGGE band numbers (15) under N2. Phylogenetic analyses of amoA gene fragments showed that AOB sequences from diff erent N fertilization rates were affi liated with Nitrosospira species and grouped into Clusters 2, 3, 8, and 12. Our results indicate that a reduction to 40% of the conventional high N rate (N4) is practical to reduce N inputs while maintaining the abundance and community composition of AOB in such greenhouse-based vegetable soils.
Vitamin D and Cartilage. II. Biological Activity of 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol and 24,25- and 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferols on Cultured Growth Plate Chondrocytes*

In order to study the effect of vitamin D3, and some of its metabolites on cartilage, chondrocytes from the proliferative zone of rabbit growth plate cartilage were isolated and grown in culture. The 35SO4 incorporation into proteoglycans extracted from the cells or into macromolecules obtained after dialysis of the culture medium was evaluated in the presence of vitamin D3, synthetic 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-(0H)D3), 24,25- and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferols (24,25-(OH)2D3 and 1,25-(OH)2D3). At concentrations between 2.4 X 10-l3 M and 2.4 x 10-10 M, 24,25-(OH)2D3) was stimulatory. l,25-(OH)2D3 was also active at 2.4 X 10-11 M and 1.2 X 10-10 M concentrations. Higher concentrations of 25-(OH)2D3) (2.5 x 10-8 M) were necessary to obtain a similar response. In contrast, vitamin D3 was inactive at concentrations ranging from 10-14 M-10-7 M. A polar derivative was obtained after incubation of chondrocytes or cartilage tissue with 25-(OH)2D3, and was presumed to be 24,25-(OH)2D3 This cartilage polar deriv.
The influence of NaCl salinity and hypoxia on aspects of growth in Trifolium species

The effects of salinity and hypoxia on growth, nutritive value, and ion relations were evaluated in 38 species of Trifolium and 3 check legume species (Trifolium fragiferum, Trifolium michelianum, and Medicago sativa) under glasshouse conditions, with the aim of identifying species that may be suitable for saline and/or waterlogged conditions. In the first set of experiments, plants were grown hydroponically at four NaCl concentrations (0, 40, 80, and 160 mm NaCl) and harvested after exposure to these treatments for 4 weeks. NaCl concentrations up to 160 mm reduced dry matter production in most species; however, there were differences in salt tolerance among species, with T. argutum, T. diffusum, T. hybridum, and T. ornithopodioides performing well under the saline conditions (dry matter production was reduced by less than 20%). Concentrations of Na+ and Cl− in the shoots increased with increasing salinity levels, and species again differed in their capacity to limit the uptake of these ions. Dry matter digestibility at 0 mm ranged from 49.8% (T. palaestinum) to 74.0% (T. vesiculosum) and decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. A second set of experiments evaluated the tolerance of Trifolium species to hypoxic conditions in the glasshouse. Shoot growth, and to a lesser extent root growth, were reduced in all Trifolium species when plants were exposed to stagnant, non-aerated conditions for 28 days, but T. michelianum, T. resupinatum, T. squamosum, T. nigrescens, T. ornithopodioides, T. salmoneum, and T. fragiferum were the least affected species. All species acclimated to the oxygen-depleted conditions by increasing the gas-filled porosity in the roots. This study has provided information that will assist in the identification of forage species for saline and/or waterlogged areas.
An endemic new species of tuco-tuco, genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), with a restricted geographic distribution in southern Brazil

Abstract A new species of tuco-tuco, genus Ctenomys, is described from sandy soils on the western slopes of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. This species is distinguished from other named members of this South American endemic genus by several characteristics. Diagnostic traits for this proposed species are a diploid number of 50 chromosomes and an autosomal fundamental number of 68 arms, with the 1st pair much longer than in other related species. Qualitative and quantitative (geometric morphometrics) analyses of the skull morphology and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene support species status, especially when compared with phylogenetically related and geographically neighboring species. Populations of this species have a narrow geographic distribution in a small area (∼500 km2) that has been suffering from anthropogenic pressure from soybean, pine, and eucalyptus plantations, as well as desertification. This scenario suggests that this species could be characterized as endangered. Resumo Uma nova espécie de tuco-tuco, gênero Ctenomys, é descrita para a região de solos arenosos no oeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Esta espécie distinguiu-se das demais espécies do gênero, endêmico da América do Sul, através de diversas abordagens. O número diplóide 2n = 50 (número de braços autossômicos ou número fundamental NF = 68) com o primeiro par consideravelmente maior que outras espécies relacionadas, são características diagnósticas para a nova espécie. Análises qualitativas e quantitativas de morfologia do crânio, utilizando morfometria geométrica, bem como análises filogenéticas do gene mitocondrial citocromo b, suportam este status, principalmente em comparação com outras espécies do gênero relacionadas filogeneticamente e próxima geograficamente. Com área de ocorrência restrita à aproximadamente 500 km2, esta espécie encontra-se extremamente ameaçada devido à intensa produção de soja e silvicultura na região, além de processos de desertificação. Este cenário sugere que a nova espécie seja categorizada como ameaçada.
Effects of the sequence wildfire-clearcutting-thinning on nutrient export via streamflow in a small E. globulus watershed in Galicia (NW Spain).

An experimental study was carried out between 1987 and 1999, to assess the effect of the sequence wildfire-clearfelling-coppice sprout selection thinning, on streamflow nutrient export in a Eucalyptus globulus Labill. watershed in Galicia (NW Spain). The effects of such a sequence on nutrient export via streamflow had not been previously evaluated. A wildfire in 1989 caused a significant increase in nutrient exports in streamflow during the following two years. No significant effect was observed the third year after wildfire. After clearfelling in 1992, inputs via precipitation compensated for nutrient exports in streamflow, except for K the first year following harvest and NO3- during the three years after this operation. Coppice sprout selection thinning in 1995 had less effect on nutrient exports than wildfire or harvest. The results presented here could may help in evaluating the effects of current intensive forest management and perturbations that affect eucalypt stands in NW Spain.
Mapping QTLs for salt tolerance with additive, epistatic and QTL × treatment interaction effects at seedling stage in wheat

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for salt tolerance with additive, epistatic and QTLxtreatment interaction effects at seedling stage in wheat were identified. A set of 131 recombinant inbred lines derived from cross Chuan 35050 x Shannong 483 were evaluated under salt stress and normal conditions. Wide variation was found for all studied traits. A total of 18 additive and 16 epistatic QTLs were detected, among which five and 11 were with significant QTLxtreatment effects. Ten QTL clusters were identified, and each may represent a single gene or closely linked genes. The locus controlling shoot K+/Na+ concentration ratio and shoot Na+ concentration on chromosome 5A may be identical to Nax2. The interval Xgwm6-Xgwm538 on chromosome 4B for total dry weight was also identified in a previous study, both near the marker Xgwm6. The marker Xgwm6 may be useful for marker-assisted selection. Six pairs of homoeologous QTLs were detected, showing synteny among the A, B and D genomes. These results facilitate understanding the mechanisms and the genetic basis of salt tolerance in wheat.
Branching and Micro-Morphology of the Actinomycetes Physiological and Genetic Analysis of the Impact upon Industrial Fermentations

Michaela de Vial A highly branched hyphal morphology was observed in early stage (high nutrient availability) batch liquid culture and high dilution rate chemostat culture of Saccharopolyspora erythraea and Streptomyces coelicolor. In contrast, nutrient exhausted batch cultures and low dilution rate chemostat cultures contained unbranched mycelia. Formation of un-branched mycelia is thought to have evolved to expedite rapid "searching" of the soil environment, in order to locate nutrients. The increased frequency of branching is assumed to provide a structure that can exploit nutrient rich micro-habitats (once located) effectively. Cultures consisting of discrete, highly-branched mycelial micro-colonies were more Newtonian, and less viscous, than those consisting of longer, un-branched hyphae per unit biomass, so induction of the latter form will require more agitation energy to effect aeration in bioreactor culture and have a potentially significant effect on the product cost. Microarray analysis identified a number of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis and nutrient catabolism that correlated with branch rate and/or nutrient availability. Mutants, resistant to inhibitors of various stages of peptidoglycan biosynthesis exhibited alterations in branch rate, compared to the un-mutated strain. Bacitracinresistant mutants had an increased branching rate and tunicamycin-resistant mutants a decreased branching rate. These observations are consistent with a hypothesis that increasing the rate of movement the lipid carrier step in peptidoglycan biosynthesis prevents branching whereas increasing the rate of binding of precursor onto the carrier increases branching rate. Experiments, examining the effect of peptidoglycan inhibitors on the un-mutated strain produced results that were consistent with this hypothesis.
Light Interception Efficiency and Light Quality Affect Yield Compensation of Soybean at Low Plant Populations

Greater understanding of how soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] yield compensation occurs across plant populations would aid research aimed at reducing optimal plant population. Objectives were to determine how net assimilation rate (NAR) and leaf area index (LAI) contribute to crop growth rate (CGR) equilibration across low, medium, and high plant populations during the vegetative (emergence-R1) and early reproductive periods (R1-R5). Determinate cultivar Delta Pine 3606 (Maturity Group VI) was planted at an optimal planting date during 1995 and 1996 at low (80 000 plants ha -1 ), medium (145 000 plants ha -1 ), and high (390 000 plants ha -1 ) plant populations on a Commerce silt loam near Baton Rouge, LA (30°N). Yield was unaffected by plant population. Equilibration of CGR for low vs. higher plant populations near R1 was achieved through greater NAR for the low plant population during the vegetative period, created by greater light interception efficiency (LIE, light interception per unit leaf area). Although NAR equilibrated to minimal levels across plant populations near R1, low population maintained CGR parity with higher populations until R5 through greater relative leaf area expansion rate (RLAER) during the late vegetative and early reproductive periods. Higher relative leaf area expansion rate for low vs. higher plant populations resulted from increased partitioning of dry matter into branches, probably induced by greater red/far red light ratios within the canopy. In conclusion, a possible genetic characteristic conducive to low optimal plant population is greater partitioning of dry matter into branches.
The Impact Of Source Code In Software On Power Consumption

Writing sustainable, power efficient and green software necessitates understanding the power consumption behavior of a computer program. One of the benefits is the fact that developers, by improving their source code implementations, can optimize power consumption of a software. Existing power consumption models need to be improved by taking into account more components susceptible to consume energy during runtime of an application. In this paper, we first present a detailed classification of previous works on power consumption modelization. Then, we introduce TEEC (Tool to Estimate Energy Consumption) model in order to estimate the power consumed by CPU, memory and disk due to the execution of an application at runtime. The main goal is to guide developers to improve their source code for optimizing energy consumption. TEEC enables determining the part of the code consuming the highest power. This will help to obtain a less energy consuming software with the same functionalities.
Strategies for vaccination against Epstein–Barr virus-associated diseases

The association of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) to diseases with high morbidity and mortality provides evidence for the necessity of a vaccine to prevent infection or to reduce the burden of infection. Vaccine prototypes such as recombinant subunit vaccines, peptide epitope-based vaccines, recombinant virus vector-based vaccines, DNA vaccines, and EBV life vaccines have been developed for protective vaccination as well as for therapeutic vaccination and successfully tested in vitro and in animal model. Phase I and phase II human trials have been performed for a few of these strategies with no significant adverse effects being observed. Sterile immunity and prevention of infection were not achieved so far, but efficiency against EBV-associated diseases could be demonstrated.