Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of the potential role of tumour-promoting compounds produced by Lyngbya majuscula in marine turtle fibropapillomatosis

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have increased in abundance and severity in recent decades. Whereas the implications for human impacts and intoxication resulting from blooms have been extensively studied, the ecological implications of these microalgae are less well understood. Many HAB species produce biologically active, secondary metabolites and the fate of these toxins through the foodweb is generally not well understood unless it culminates in extensive fish mortalities or human poisonings. This review focusses on one HAB species, the cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula, and presents a hypothetical role for its involvement in fibropapillomatosis (FP), a neoplastic disease of marine turtles. FP is expressed as benign tumours that grow both internally and externally on marine turtles, preventing vision, movement and organ function. The aetiology of FP is currently not conclusively understood, but virus material has been associated with tumours and previous studies have suggested a role for naturally produced tumour promoters. In this review, we present a hypothesis regarding the involvement of L. majuscula in FP, either through direct intoxication and action of tumour-promoting compounds or indirectly by causing seagrass loss and compromised immune function, thus leaving the turtles more susceptible to disease.
Grass Response to Picloram and Clopyralid Applied Before Seeding1

Reduction of weed competition using herbicides is critical to the successful revegetation of weed-infested rangeland. However, little is known about the influence of persistent broadleaf herbicides on the establishment of many desired grasses. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of various rates and times of application of picloram and clopyralid before seeding on two native and two nonnative grasses important to western United States rangeland. The study was conducted in 1997 and 1998 in Wyoming, Montana, and Washington. Five herbicide treatments (none, picloram at 0.14, 0.28, 0.56 kg ai/ha, clopyralid at 0.14, 0.56 kg ai/ha), three timings of herbicide application (44, 24, and 0 d prior to seeding[DPS]), and four grass species (Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, and pubescent wheatgrass) were factorially arranged in a randomized split-plot design with three blocks. The whole-plots were the seeded grass species, and the subplots were the herbicide treatments and timings of application. Treatments were performed in the spring of 1997. Treatment effects on grass vigor (1997) and biomass (1998) depended on grass species, herbicide and rate, and timing. Idaho fescue established at low densities, and it was not possible to determine the treatment effects. In general, crested and pubescent wheatgrass had higher vigor estimates and biomass than did bluebunch wheatgrass. Herbicide applied 24 or 44 DPS had less effect on grass vigor and biomass than did herbicide applied at seeding. Picloram at 0.28 and 0.56 kg/ha tended to reduce vigor and biomass more when compared with the 0.14 kg/ha rate and with both rates of clopyralid. On the basis of these experiments, applying picloram or clopyralid at rates as high as 0.56 kg/ha 24 d or more before seeding bluebunch wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass, or crested wheatgrass may allow effective weed control and long-term management through grass competition. Nomenclature: Clopyralid; picloram; bluebunch wheatgrass, Pseudorogneria spicata (Pursh.) Löve ‘Goldar’ or ‘Secar’; crested wheatgrass, Agropyron desertorum (L) Gaertn. ‘Nordan’; Idaho fescue, Festuca idahoensis Elmer ‘Joseph’; pubescent wheatgrass, Thinopyron intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey ‘Luna’. Additional index words: Integrated weed management, noxious rangeland weed, restoration, revegetation. Abbreviations: DPS, days prior to seeding.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF REPRODUCTIVE TEMPERATURE AND THE GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE OF THE MARINE WOODBORER LIMNORIA TRIPUNCTATA

1. Experimental results show that Limnoria tripunctata will feed at temperatures ranging from approximately 10° C. to 30° C. The reproductive temperature range appears to be from about 15° C. to 30° C. and the greatest population increase is in the neighborhood of 25° C. Excessive mortality results at 30° C.2. Gravidity and hence number of young produced depends upon season and does not appear to be immediately modified by the presence of favorable reproductive temperatures.3. The experimental results agree well with the known geographic range of the species.
Prey Selection By Predators Depleting a Patch; an Ess Model

An important group of prey selection models are static optimal diet models in which it is assumed that a predator maximizes its instanteneous rate of gain (energy per unit of time). In these models the encounter rate with different prey types is constant. However, when predators forage in patches, depletion will occur and therefore this assumption is relaxed in this paper. As a consequence, the resource value of the habitat and the number of predators in the patch influence prey choice decisions. For this reason a game theoretical approach is used. When the quality of the habitat is high, the less profitable prey should never be accepted, independent of the number of predators in the patch. When the quality of the habitat is low, a predator searching a patch alone should always accept the less profitable prey. When searching a patch together with others, the most profitable prey are also depleted by these competitors. Thus, competition for these prey occur and the ESS is to reject the less profitable prey at first but accept them after a switch point. This ESS causes partial preference; a prey type is not always accepted or always rejected. The ESS switch point depends on the number of predators in the patch. When a large number of predators deplete a patch, the best strategy is to maximize the instantaneous rate of gain. When there are few predators, switching should occur earlier in time than predicted from instanteneous rate maximalization. It is concluded that not only the value of the less profitable prey is important in prey selection but also the number of predators in the patch and the value of the habitat. Thus, prey selection and patch time allocation are interdependent decisions for predators foraging in a patchy environment.
Spray dried animal plasma as an alternative to antibiotics in weanling pigs - a review.

Piglet health at weaning is compromised due to several stress factors. Following the ban of antibiotic growth promoters new alternatives are required to control these problems. This paper reviews the evidence available for the use of spray dried animal plasma (SDAP) as an alternative to antibiotics in weaning pigs. Data from 75 trials in 43 publications involving over 12,000 piglets (mean values) have been used to calculate the performance responses of piglets according to several factors including SDAP origin, protein source from the control diet being replaced, dose of inclusion, age and weight of the piglets at weaning, sanitary conditions and simultaneous use or not of medication. Although the use of SDAP of all origins results in positive responses, it appears that plasma from porcine origin has the highest efficacy. This could be explained by the specificity of its IgG against porcine pathogens. During the first week post-weaning the response to plasma appears to increase with the inclusion dose, although over the two-week pre-starter period an optimal inclusion level of 4-8% is suggested. SDAP improves feed efficiency more markedly when the piglets are challenged with an experimental infection or when feed does not contain medication, which could be indicative of a lower expenditure of energy and nutrients to build an immune response against the challenge. There is evidence supporting that SDAP IgG and other bioactive substances therein prevent the binding of pathogens to the gut wall and reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in the post-weaning phase. Overall, plasma can be postulated as an excellent alternative to in-feed antimicrobials for piglets in the post-weaning phase.
Influência do manejo da entrelinha do pomar na produtividade da laranjeira-'Pera'

The inter-row management of citrus orchards has undergone major changes in recent years. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of winter cover crops and rotary mower in sweet orange 'Pera' production. The experiment was conducted in two seasons (2007/2008 and 2008/2009), in a split plot design, where at the plots three species of winter cover crops (oat, lupine and radish) were sown in April and in sub-plots it was used two types of rotary mower (conventional and ecological). Natural vegetation (NV) and NV+herbicide (glyphosate) in the total area were the standard treatments of the experiment. In July (2007 and 2008) it was measured the mass of fresh and dry mass of each treatment and also after mowing. To calculate the production in August (2007 and 2008) the fruit were harvested and weighted and later it was obtained the efficiency of production. The treatments with winter cover crops showed greater production of fresh and dry mass and the use of ecological rotary mower released amount of plant material significantly higher under the canopy of sweet orange 'Pera' plants. In two seasons, higher production and efficiency of fruit production occurred in plots using the ecological rotary mower. Only lupines increased the efficiency of production of sweet orange 'Pera' in 2009. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of ecological rotary mower increases the production of sweet orange 'Pera'.
Faunistic Investigation for Marine Mollusks in Jindo Island

As a commemorative joint survey for the 20th anniversary of the Korean Society of Systematic Zoology, molluscan fauna of Jindo Island was investigated from the materials collected from 3 localities of Jindo Island from 29th to 30th of June, 2004. A total of 77 species of 37 families were identified. Among them, 26 species of 18 families are reported for the first time in this area, including Onchidella kurodai (Taki, 1935) that is new to Korean fauna. For O. kurodai, external morphologies were described in detail with illustrations. Combining the present data with those of the previous works revealed that a total of 115 species from 43 families have been recorded in Jindo Island and its adjacent areas thus far. From a biogeographic point of view, some gastropod species (Bittium craticulatum, Mocroschisma dilatatum, Cantharidus japonicus, C. callichroa, Homalopoma sangarense, and Crepidula onyx) encountered from Jindo Island were the species previously recorded in the southern and/or eastern offshores of Korean peninsula, including Jeju Island (Choe, 1992). Along with the fact that Jindo Island contains a large number of molluscan species ranging over the Yellow Sea coast, this finding is another line of evidence supporting the Kim and Kwon (1983)'s idea that this area is an overtopping zone of marine organisms which dwell in both the Yellow sea and southern part of Korean sea waters. No comprehensive faunistic survey was not made in the present study. We expect that further supplementary study would generate more biogeographic and faunistic knowledges than what we understand through the present study.
Comparative aggressiveness of standard and variant hybrid alder phytophthoras, Phytophthora cambivora and other Phytophthora species on bark of Alnus, Quercus and other woody hosts

Pathogenicity tests were carried out on the bark of Alnus glutinosa with 19 isolates of the standard (near-tetraploid) hybrid alder phytophthora, nine isolates representing its known heteroploid variants and 11 isolates of P. cambivora, a probable parent species of the hybrid. Over a 4-year period, 12 experiments were conducted on living alder logs incubated at 20°C. Most isolates of the standard hybrid and those of the ‘Dutch variant’ were highly aggressive to alder bark. Isolates of the ‘Swedish’, ‘UK’ and ‘German variants’, and of P. cambivora, were only weakly pathogenic. Also, isolates of P. fragariae, P. cinnamomi, P. sp. ‘O-group’, P. cryptogea, P. megasperma, P. gonapodyides and P. citricola were either weakly or nonpathogenic. Rates of lesion development were greatest on logs cut during July–October, slower on logs cut between November and March and zero on logs cut during April, indicating a strong seasonal effect. Other evidence indicated that lesion development was subject to critical thresholds of host resistance. The standard hybrid was nonpathogenic to the bark of four other hardwood and two conifer species, indicating that it is relatively host specific. In contrast, P. cambivora was an aggressive pathogen on live bark of Quercus and Castanea. The significance of these results is discussed.
Predicting seed dormancy loss and germination timing for Bromus tectorum in a semi-arid environment using hydrothermal time models

Abstract A principal goal of seed germination modelling for wild species is to predict germination timing under fluctuating field conditions. We coupled our previously developed hydrothermal time, thermal and hydrothermal afterripening time, and hydration–dehydration models for dormancy loss and germination with field seed zone temperature and water potential measurements from early summer through autumn to develop predictions of germination timing for Bromus tectorum at a semi-arid site in north-central Utah, USA. Model predictions were tested with a validation dataset based on concomitant seed retrieval experiments in 2 years. Predictions were generally in agreement with observed field germination time courses, even though integration across multiple precipitation events was necessary. Success of the modelling effort hinged on two factors. First, we used a soil capacitance sensor that measured seed zone (5 mm soil depth) water content accurately over a wide range. Second, simulations were built using physiologically based threshold models that can incorporate differences in germination timing for multiple germination fractions and for multiple stages of dormancy loss. Our results suggest that simulation models using hydrothermal time concepts can predict field germination phenology accurately. Seeds in this study integrated their experiences in a widely fluctuating environment in a manner consistent with the assumptions of hydrothermal time. Such threshold-based models also have the advantage of generality, as these concepts can be applied to many different species, environments and weather scenarios.
Purification and Properties of α-Glucosidase from Bacillus cereus

α-Glucosidase has been isolated from Bacillus cereus in ultracentrifugally and electrophoretically homogeneous form, and its properties have been investigated. The enzyme has a sedimentation constant of 1.4 S and a molecular weight of 12,000. The highly purified enzyme splits α-d-(1→4)-glucosidic linkages in maltose, maltotriose, and phenyl α-maltoside, but shows little or no activity toward polysaccharides, such as amylose, amylopectin, glycogen and soluble starch. The enzyme has α-glucosyltransferase activity, the main transfer product from maltose being maltotriose. The enzyme can also catalyze the transfer of α-glucosyl residue from maltose to riboflavin. On the basis of inhibition studies with diazonium-1-H-tetrazole, rose bengal and p-chloromercuribenzoate, it is assumed that the enzyme contains both histidine and cysteine residues in the active center.
Variabilidade genética de feijão-caupi de porte ereto e ciclo precoce analisada por marcadores RAPD e ISSR

O conhecimento da variabilidade genetica e de fundamental importância para a identificacao de genotipos superiores no inicio de um programa de melhoramento genetico das culturas em geral. Objetivou-se avaliar a variabilidade genetica em 38 genotipos de feijao-caupi de porte ereto e ciclo precoce por meio de marcadores RAPD e ISSR. O material foi proveniente do Banco de Germoplasma da Universidade Federal do Ceara e do programa de melhoramento genetico de feijao-caupi da Embrapa Meio Norte. As extracoes de DNA foram realizadas de acordo com o protocolo de Doyle e Doyle. Dez iniciadores RAPD geraram 71 bandas polimorficas (88,75%) com 7,1 marcadores por iniciador, ja nove iniciadores ISSR produziram 47 bandas polimorficas (75,81%) com 5,22 marcadores por iniciador. Pela analise de agrupamento, o genotipo CE-748 apresentou-se distinto dos demais e os genotipos AU 94-MOB-816 e UCR 95-701 apresentaram o maior grau de similaridade entre os avaliados. Os marcadores RAPD e ISSR foram eficientes em detectar o polimorfismo entre os genotipos de feijao-caupi de porte ereto e ciclo precoce.
NEW PARISH RECORDS OF COPTOTERMES FORMOSANUS (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) IN LOUISIANA

The Formosan subterranean termite (FST), Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), is 1 of 9 termite species currently present in Louisiana (Messenger 2002). The FST is a destructive, introduced pest species indigenous to Southeast China. Its transport from the Pacific theater following WWII resulted in the establishment of this economically important pest in multiple port cities, including New Orleans and Lake Charles, LA (Spink 1967). Since its original introduction, the distribution of the FST has increased both within the state of Louisiana and throughout the southern United States (Messenger et al. 2002; Woodson et al. 2001). Populations of FST have been reported to be established in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, and Tennessee (Su & Tamashiro 1987; Sponsler et al. 1988; Scheffrahn et al. 2001; Woodson et al. 2001; Messenger 2003). Although some increase in range is expected via seasonal nuptial flights (Messenger & Mullins 2005), human transport of infested materials has been implicated as the primary cause of its rapid increase in distribution (La Fage 1987; Scheffrahn et al. 2001; Messenger et al. 2002; Jenkins et al. 2002). In areas where it is established the FST is capable of supplanting native subterranean termites as the primary structural pest species (La Fage 1987). Formosan subterranean termites also routinely attack standing live trees and can cause extensive damage resulting in the weakening of the tree potentially to the point of failure (Osbrink et al. 1999). Because this insect poses an economic threat to wooden structures and live trees, it is imperative to document its increasing distribution throughout Louisiana and other southeastern states.
Hematological parameters of Pimelodus maculates (Osteichthyes: Pimelodidae) from polluted and non-polluted sites in the Itajaí-Açu river, Santa Catarina State, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i2.3267

This study evaluated the hematological response of Pimelodus maculates captured in two environments with different levels of pollution in the Itajai-Acu river, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. One of them, hereby named reference site, is a water captation site that supplies the city of Blumenau, in which the riparian forest is preserved and there is no sewage discharge. The other, denominated polluted site, is characterized by discharge of domestic sewage. After water quality analysis, fish were captured, transported to the laboratory and anesthetized for the hematological exam. In the polluted site, the most probable number of fecal coliforms and water transparency were respectively higher and lower than that observed at the reference site. The main results were an increased percentage of hematocrit and reduced numbers of lymphocytes and monocytes in the differential counting in fish from the polluted site. Red blood cells, total white blood cells and total counting of thrombocytes did not vary between environments. The number of neutrophils remained at high levels in fish from both environments. This study demonstrated that water quality might affect the hematological parameters in free-living fish.
Effects of Family Housing on Behaviour, Plasma Cortisol and Performance in Adult Female Mink (Mustela vison)

Various behavioural, physiological and production-related parameters were examined in 200 adult female pastel and pearl mink either family housed in three-room cages with no weaning or housed singly in one-room cages after normal weaning procedures. Scanning observations of behaviour and use of the cages were performed in the nursing period and several parameters related to reproduction were registered. The adult female mink were weighed when kits were 16 weeks old (September) and again at pelting time (November). Blood samples were collected from all adult female mink in September at which time the teat condition and fur damage were evaluated. After pelting, bite marks on the leather side of the skin were counted, fur damage was graded after severity and the fur size was measured. Some positive consequences of being family housed were revealed. The familyhoused adult female mink showed a lower level of stereotypes and a higher level of defensiveness and curiosity than the adult female mink in one-room cages during the nursing period. In September and November, family-housed adult females were heavier than singly housed adult females. However, most of the physiological or production-related parameters pointed in a negative direction for familyhoused adult female mink. Reproductive success was somewhat reduced, although not significantly. Plasma cortisol levels were elevated in September, indicating higher levels of stress in these females. They showed a generally poor teat condition in September, with a high proportion of swollen or bitten teats. A high proportion of these adult females showed fur damage in both September and November, and a high number of bite marks was found on the leather side of the skins of these females, indicating that family housing had a high cost for the adult female mink. In conclusion, there seem to be some benefits, at least on the behavioural level, in keeping adult female mink in three-room cages during the nursing period, but both physiological and production-related parameters indicated that the welfare of the adult female mink was threatened if she was continuously cohoused with her litter past the normal age of weaning.
Seed rain and soil seed bank of Picea asperata Mast. in subalpine coniferous forest of western Sichuan, China

Abstract Dragon spruce (Picea asperata Mast.) is widely planted on clear-cuts from natural subalpine coniferous forests in western Sichuan. To assess the natural regeneration potential of this species in spruce plantations of different ages, field studies on the seed rain, seed bank, and seedling recruitment were conducted in 20-year, 30-year, and 60-year plantations, and in a retained natural forest ca. 150 years old for comparison. Moreover, a series of temperature and light regimes were also designed in March 2003 to test germination/dormancy responses of the P. asperata seeds to different conditions. In the plantations considered, both the densities of seed rain and soil seed bank increased with increasing stand age, whereas they were both low beneath the natural forest partially due to low adult density of P. asperata adult trees. P. asperata has a transient seed bank, and ca. 60% of seeds were found in the litter layer. Seed decay and seed predation were the two most important factors affecting soil seed bank dynamics, which caused a number of seed losses from the soil. Only a small fraction germinated and produced seedlings, and the indices of the losses from the seed bank via germination in the 30-year plantation, 60-year plantation and natural forest were 4.75, 5.10, and 2.80%, respectively. High seedling mortality was observed after seedling emergence, and most of the germinated seedlings died out within one growing season. The P. asperata seeds showed a high percent germination and no significant differences under most light and temperature regimes except for full sunlight or temperature below 5°C. In conclusion, despite a substantial number of seed produced, the high depletion of soil seed, the low seedling output, and high seedling mortality may obscure the natural regeneration potential of this tree species.