Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anatomic Observations on Variations of the Round Window Niche and its Relationship to the Tympanic Membrane

OBJECTIVE: To study the anatomic variations of the round window niche and its relationship to the tympanic membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven dry temporal bones and 9 temporal bone specimens were studied. Visualization of the round window niche through external auditory canal, position of the round window niche opening, and relationship of the position of the round window niche to the posterior quadrant of the tympanic membrane were recorded. RESULTS: If the round window niche was visible (75% of the bones) through the external auditory canal in otologic surgery position, it was located 2.2 mm posterior to the umbo, and the round window niche was located just at the level of midportion of the posterior tympanic annulus. Anteroinferior quadrant dimension (3.4 x 3.9 mm) of the tympanic membrane was found to be narrower than the posteroinferior dimension (4.8 x 3.9 mm). CONCLUSION: From the surgical standpoint, these findings about the anatomic features of the round window niche might be important for several otologic interventions, such as ventilation tube insertions, intratympanic drug applications, and cochlear implantation. From the Department of Otolaryngology, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine (A. Aslan, . Tekdemir, K. Günhan, G. Eskiizmir) Manisa, Department of Anatomy, Ankara University School of Medicine, (A. Elhan), Ankara, Turkey
The Effects of Adding Lactic Acid Bacteria and Cellulase in Oil Palm (Elais Guineensis Jacq.) Frond Silages on Fermentation Quality, Chemical Composition and in Vitro Digestibility

The main objective of the current study was to evaluate whether oil palm frond (OPF) can be successfully ensiled without or with the additives cellulase or lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Thus, fresh OPF was ensiled either without additives or with cellulase or LAB or their combination. Ensiling was carried out by storing 2 kg samples in airtight glass jars at 25-30°C for 12 weeks. Thereafter, the silage samples were subjected to proximate analyses, an in vitro digestibility assay and measures on selected indices of fermentation. Fermentation of OPF without additives appeared to be unsuccessful as both pH and ammonia content were too high (4.9 and 9.9%, respectively). In contrast, the use of cellulase or LAB resulted in silages with a pH<4.5 and ammonia fractions <8.4%, but the lowest values were found when both cellulase and LAB were used, i.e. pH=4.1 and ammonia fraction=6.7%. In vitro digestibility of dry matter was significantly higher in the cellulase treated silages. The process of ensiling was associated with both a significant decrease of the fat content of OPF and a significant change of the fatty acid profile. However, the proportions of major fatty acids (C16:0 and C18:2n-6) were not affected by the process of ensiling. In conclusion, the use of cellulase additive appears a practical tool to safeguard the process of fermentation. Using a cellulase enzyme or its combination with LAB improves the fermentation profile and increases the nutritional value of the OPF silage.
Stable isotope analysis of soft tissues from mummified human remains

Mummies are faunal remains that include the preservation of soft tissues, such as skin, muscle, nails and hair as well as bone. These soft tissues are generally rich in collagen or keratin proteins and thus provide potentially suitable material for stable isotope studies. When preserved, such tissues can provide high-resolution information about the diet and migration of humans in the weeks and months before death. Hair, nails and soft tissue provide short-term (months) dietary information in contrast to bone which will represent 5–20 years of dietary history prior to death, depending on the bone analysed. Such high-resolution data can answer questions on the season of death, seasonality of food resources and the movement and relocation of people. This review begins with a summary of the most common isotope techniques (13C/12C, 15N/14N) and the tissues concerned, followed by an analysis of the key questions that have been addressed using these methods. Until relatively recently work has focused on bulk protein isotope analysis, but in the last 10 years this has been expanded to on-line compound-specific amino acid analysis and to a wider variety of isotopes (18O/16O, 2H/1H and 34S/32S) and these applications are also discussed.
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARASITIC WASPS SUBFAMILY EULOPHINAE (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE) OF JAVA, INDONESIA

A study of the eulophid wasp subfamily Eulophinae was carried out between 2004-2006 in Java and the adjacent small islands (e.g. Bali, Madura, Nusa Barong, Sempu, Nusakambangan and Krakataus) to determine the Eulophinae fauna of Java. As a result, 23 genera and 86 species, belonging to the subfamily Eulophinae were found, from those 11 genera and 35 species are new record for Java and Indonesia. Key to genera, generic diagnostic and the available eulophine species to the islands are presented.
Non-steroidal ecdysteroid agonists: Tools for the study of hormonal action

The first non-steroidal ecdysteroid agonists are dibenzoyl hydrazines and are typified by the compounds designated RH-5849 and RH-5992. The discovery that these compounds mimic 20E in a variety of insect orders, and especially the Lepidoptera, generated great interest from the research and agricultural communities. Such compounds provide important new research tools for physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies. In addition, the potential for application to agricultural pests looks very promising, especially for RH-5992 (tebufenozide). This review evaluates the evidence on the specificity of the ecdysteroid-like actions of these materials and considers their application for research and pest management. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
Early effects of phytotoxic burdens of cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and zinc in white beans

The effectiveness of excess cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and zinc in eliciting similar early responses was studied in white beans. Each metal caused the appearance of a red–brown discoloration first in the veins of unifoliate leaves and later in petioles and stems. Cadmium, nickel, and zinc did so within 1 day, cobalt within 4 days. The effectiveness of the metals in inducing visual symptoms and in decreasing dry matter production were in the order . Within 1 day of adding excess metal, each caused the unifoliate leaves to orient themselves towards the vertical from the normal horizontal. Each metal caused premature leaf closure within the normal nyctinastic cycle.Excess cobalt, nickel, and zinc all caused abnormal starch accumulations in unifoliate leaves within 2–3 days. These metals also caused a major shift towards relatively apolar soluble phenolic components in leaves but not in roots. Cadmium, besides being most toxic, did not cause starch accumulation or a shift in the complement of soluble phenolics.
Evaluation of Argemone mexicana for Control of Root‐Infecting Fungi in Tomato

Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), a tropical annual weed, is known to be phytotoxic to many crop species. This study was designed to examine the possible impact of A. mexicana on root-infecting fungi, changes in fungal community structure and the growth of tomato. A. mexicana decaying shoots in soil provided a marked decrease in the infectivity of Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani but Macrophomina phaseolina remained unaffected. Plant height and shoot growth of tomato plants increased markedly though high concentration of A. mexicana (5% w/w) was deleterious to tomato plants. General species diversity of soil fungal communities increased in the amended soils over the controls and greater increase in diversity occurred at higher concentrations of decaying A. mexicana. Likewise, equitability and richness components of diversity increased in treatments compared to controls but declined with increasing sampling period. Aspergillus nidulans, Cephaliophora irregularis, Drechslera halodes, Paecilomyces lilacinus and Trichoderma viride were isolated exclusively from the amended soils. Aqueous extract of A. mexicana when applied in soil greatly suppressed all three of the above root-infecting fungi, and at lower concentration actually enhanced plant growth. The influence of different levels of N-fertilization with NH 4 NO 3 on the modification of the effect of decaying A. mexicana on root-infecting fungi was also investigated. N-fertilization to some extent alleviated the phytotoxicity to tomato plants while suppressing the root-infecting fungi. A. mexicana in conjunction with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, significantly suppressed root-infecting fungi with concomitant increase in plant growth. Whereas P. aeruginosa was reisolated from the rhizosphere and inner root tissues of tomato, its population slightly declined in the amended soil but not to an extent that could reduce the biocontrol and growth promoting potential of the bacterium.
Giant buttercup (Ranunculus acris L.) control in dairy pasture using a mycoherbicide based on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was applied as a dry kibbled wheat formulation to giant buttercup in trials in permanent dairy pasture in Takaka, Golden Bay. Autumn and late spring broadcast treatment resulted in 30-50% reduction in cover of giant buttercup. Spot treatment of individual plants was unsuccessful in autumn, but resulted in over 50% reduction in cover when conducted in late spring. Reasons for the success and failure of the treatments are discussed together with the future direction of the research and the integration of the technique into a practical giant buttercup management programme for dairy pasture.
Photosynthetic responses to temperature of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase type C4 species differing in cold sensitivity.

Photosynthetic rates, the activities of key enzymes associated with the C 4 cycle and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase), and the levels of metabolites involved in the C 4 cycle were compared between the two phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) type C 4 species Spartina anglica, which is cold-tolerant, and Zoysia japonica, which is cold-sensitive, during exposure to low temperature. Plants of both species grown outside in summer were placed in a growth chamber at 27/20 °C day/night temperatures. After 1 week, plants were exposed to 20/17 °C for 1 week and then to 10/7 °C for 2 weeks. Photosynthetic rates in Z. japonica decreased progressively to about 25% during the chilling treatments. In contrast, S. anglica exhibited a 43% increase in photosynthetic rates after exposure to 20 °C for 1 week, which remained relatively constant thereafter. Consistent with these observations, most of the C 4 enzymes and RuBPCase in Z. japonica declined. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and PCK activities declined particularly drastically during the treatments. However, the activities of these enzymes in S. anglica showed either a slight increase or decrease upon a mild cold treatment, and remained relatively constant during further chilling treatments. There was a sharp decline in phosphoenolpyruvate in Z. japonica after exposure to 10 °C. On the other hand, metabolite levels in S. anglica were largely unaffected by the chilling treatments. These results suggest that the drastic declines of both PEPC and PCK activities may be important limiting factors responsible for cold sensitivity in C 4 photosynthesis of Z. japonica.
Determinação da necessidade de adubação nitrogenada de cobertura no feijoeiro irrigado com auxílio do clorofilômetro portátil

The research showed that readings of transmittance obtained with portable chlorophyll meter can indicate timing of higher demand for nitrogen by plants, if there is need of N topdressing. This was the objective of this study. Were the following N management practices were evaluated for irrigated commum bean: M1: application of 240kg N ha-1, 80kg at sowing, 80kg 15 days after plant emergence and 80kg 30 days after plant emergence. m2: applying 120kg N ha-1 (30kg N at sowing + 45kg N 15 days after emergence + 45kg N 30 days after emergence); M3: Application of 30kg N ha-1 at sowing and N topdressing based on use of chlorophyll meter Minolta SPAD-502, and M4: control (without N). Experimental design was randomized complete plots with four treatments and five replications. Grain yield in the treatment based on the readings of portable chlorophyll meter (M3) was similar to treatment generally recommended to growers for irrigated dry bean (m2), however 60kg N ha-1 less was applied. Minimum critical levels of chlorophyll relative index to obtain 90% maximum grain yield of dry bean were 43 and 46 at 28 and 49 days after emergence of commum bean. , respectively.
An exploratory study of community expectations regarding public forests in Western Australia

Summary For much of the 20th century the management of public forests in Western Australia focused on timber production and economic outputs. Shifts in environmental attitudes over the last four decades have contributed to a much broader set of community expectations. This paper analysed these expectations regarding public forests in south-western Australia at the start of the 21st century. A two-stage survey approach included a face-to-face interview followed by a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a comprehensive list of 176 items that forests potentially provide, such as conservation, scenery, bushwalking and timber products, and respondents were asked to indicate the extent of their support for each. Those surveyed covered a range of ages and affiliations including academia, conservation, forestry, primary production, Indigenous interests and young people. Clearly evident was strong support for the aesthetic values of these forests and their natural environment, with weaker but still notable support for using forest resources. The comprehensive list of items in the questionnaire provides a novel, rapid means of assessing community expectations, with potential benefits for forestry planning and policy development.
Seasonal variation of leaf glutamine synthetase isoforms in temperate deciduous trees strongly suggests different functions for the enzymes

Changes in the activities of leaf glutamine synthetase (GS) isoforms were followed in four temperate deciduous trees from full leaf expansion to senescence (May to November). In the early part of the season, total GS activity was high in all species, with values ranging from 90 to 200 μmol h−1 g−1 fw. During this early period this activity comprised only the activity of the chloroplastic (GS2) isoform in all species. These high GS2 activities are consistent with the role of GS2 in the re-assimilation of photorespired ammonia. The early high values also coincided with high nitrate reductase activity in one of the species, the highly nitrophilous species Sambucus nigra, with values of up to 16μmol h−1 g−1 fw. This indicates that GS2 is also important in the assimilation of ammonia produced from nitrate reduction. From mid- to late-season, the cytosolic isoform (GS1) was detected in all four species and became increasingly more active in comparison to GS2. By the time of senescence it was the dominant enzyme of the two forms in both S. nigra and Carpinus betulus. The results provide strong support for recent findings that GS1 is an important enzyme for the mobilization of nitrogen for translocation or storage.
The induction of pregnancy in the anoestrous ewe by hormonal therapy III. The use of repeated progesterone-pregnant mare's serum therapy

Following preliminary work conducted in Part II of this series, an attempt was made in the anoestrus of 1958 to provide further information on the conception percentage which follows hormonal induction of a ‘repeat’ oestrus. Two hundred and twenty-one ewes, seventy-six of which were lactating (lambs 8 weeks or older), were available in seven farm flocks. Ewes were of several different breeds and ages but excluded yearling or maiden animals. The trial was conducted during anoestrus over the period starting 26 April and ending 2 August. Treatment consisted of the repeated application of the following injection sequence: three doses of 50 nig. progesterone in oil solution, given at intervals of 3 days, with a dose of 750 i.u. p.m.s. administered 2 days after the final progesterone dose. This therapy was repeated after an interval of 7 days; a 15-day-period therefore separated the two administrations of p.m.s., i.e. approximating to one ovarian cycle. Rams were joined at the cessation of therapy; in most flocks, one ram was allowed for every ten ewes injected. Two hundred and six of the ewes came in oestrus (93·2%) over the period 2–8 days after the final p.m.s. dose. The oestrous response varied little among flocks, the percentage in oestrus rangingfrom 85 to 100%. One hundred and forty-one conceived at the induced ‘repeat’ oestrus (63·8%) and produced a total of 207 lambs (1·47 per ewe). As a percentage of ewes mating, 68·4 conceived. In none of the flocks did the conception percentage fall below 50; lactating ewes conceived as readily as ‘dry’ sheep. The period during which autumn lambings occurred varied from 4 to 8 days among the flocks. The results strongly suggest that a much higher conception percentage is likely to follow this extended treatment than follows normal progesterone-p.m.s. treatment. From the practical viewpoint, the technique has the disadvantage that eight injections are necessary and that treatment is prolonged to a 24-day period.
Identification of 15 new psoriasis susceptibility loci highlights the role of innate immunity

To gain further insight into the genetic architecture of psoriasis, we conducted a meta-analysis of 3 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and 2 independent data sets genotyped on the Immunochip, including 10,588 cases and 22,806 controls. We identified 15 new susceptibility loci, increasing to 36 the number associated with psoriasis in European individuals. We also identified, using conditional analyses, five independent signals within previously known loci. The newly identified loci shared with other autoimmune diseases include candidate genes with roles in regulating T-cell function (such as RUNX3, TAGAP and STAT3). Notably, they included candidate genes whose products are involved in innate host defense, including interferon-mediated antiviral responses (DDX58), macrophage activation (ZC3H12C) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling (CARD14 and CARM1). These results portend a better understanding of shared and distinctive genetic determinants of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders and emphasize the importance of the skin in innate and acquired host defense. © 2012 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
Avaliação do comportamento agronômico da planta e valor nutritivo da silagem de diferentes híbridos de milho (Zea mays, L.)

O experimento foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar o comportamento agronomico produtivo da planta e as caracteristicas quimico-bromatologicas e fermentativas da silagem de diferentes hibridos de milho (Zea mays, L.): Agroceres AG-5011, Braskalb XL-344 e Cargill C-806. Para as avaliacoes agronomicas dos hibridos, utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado e, para a avaliacao das silagens, o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, sendo o criterio de bloqueamento o periodo de utilizacao da silagem. O hibrido C-806 foi o mais precoce, com intervalo de 100 dias da semeadura a colheita para ensilagem, enquanto o hibrido XL-344 foi o mais tardio, com intervalo de 121 dias. As caracteristicas fenotipicas da planta de milho determinaram o potencial produtivo dos hibridos, tendo o hibrido AG-5011 apresentado a maior altura de planta e potencial produtivo de materia verde e materia seca por hectare, em relacao aos hibridos C-806 e XL-344. Verificou-se, nos hibridos AG-5011 e C-806, maior populacao final de plantas em relacao ao hibrido XL-344. O hibrido C-806 apresentou menor proporcao de graos em relacao a planta inteira. Com base nos teores de MS e DIVMS, as silagens dos hibridos AG-5011, C-806 e XL-344 sao classificadas como de boa qualidade. Com relacao as caracteristicas fermentativas, N-NH3/NT e pH, as silagens dos tres hibridos sao classificadas como de muito boa qualidade.
Changes in fertilizer‐induced direct N2O emissions from paddy fields during rice‐growing season in China between 1950s and 1990s

Nitrogen fertilizer‐induced direct nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions depend on water regimes in paddy fields, such as seasonal continuous flooding (F), flooding–midseason drainage–reflooding (F‐D‐F), and flooding–midseason drainage–reflooding–moist intermittent irrigation but without water logging (F‐D‐F‐M). In order to estimate the changes in direct N2O emission from paddy fields during the rice‐growing season in Mainland of China between the 1950s and the 1990s, the country‐specific emission factors of N2O‐N under different water regimes combined with rice production data were adopted in the present study. Census statistics on rice production showed that water management and nitrogen input regimes have changed in rice paddies since the 1950s. During the 1950s–1970s, about 20–25% of the rice paddy was continuously waterlogged, and 75–80% under the water regime of F‐D‐F. Since the 1980s, about 12–16%, 77%, and 7–12% of paddy fields were under the water regimes of F, F‐D‐F, and F‐D‐F‐M, respectively. Total nitrogen input during the rice‐growing season has increased from 87.5 kg N ha−1 in the 1950s to 224.6 kg N ha−1 in the 1990s. The emission factors of N2O‐N were estimated to be 0.02%, 0.42%, and 0.73% for rice paddies under the F, F‐D‐F, and F‐D‐F‐M water regimes, respectively. Seasonal N2O emissions have increased from 9.6 Gg N2O‐N each year in the 1950s to 32.3 Gg N2O‐N in the 1990s, which is accompanied by the increase in rice yield over the period 1950s–1990s. The uncertainties in N2O estimate were estimated to be 59.8% in the 1950s and 37.5% in the 1990s. In the 1990s, N2O emissions during the rice‐growing season accounted for 8–11% of the reported annual total of N2O emissions from croplands in China, suggesting that paddy rice development could have contributed to mitigating agricultural N2O emissions in the past decades. However, seasonal N2O emissions would be increased, given that saving‐water irrigation and nitrogen inputs are increasingly adopted in rice paddies in China.
Kin recognition in the larvae of a solitary insect: the cue is in the plug

The production of cues that indicate the identity of the sender represents an important aspect of recognition because it may mediate kin recognition and altruism. Although kin recognition cues have often been studied in social insects, only a few studies have reported kin recognition in solitary insects. Furthermore, contrary to cues used for parent--offspring recognition, cues involved in sibling recognition in solitary insects have received far less attention. Here we report that the solitary parasitoid larvae of a non--social insect, Aleochara bilineata Gyll (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), use a chemical cue to recognize their sibs. This cue is present on the plug placed by resident larvae on the host puparium during the parasitization process. When plugs from sib larvae or unrelated larvae are placed on healthy hosts, larvae preferentially parasitize hosts bearing unrelated larvae plugs. When plugs are washed in hexane, larvae no longer display any preference between sib and unrelated larvae plugs. The extraction of the kin recognition chemicals is confirmed by the larval recognition of healthy hosts bearing a hexane extract of sib-parasitized pupae. This nonpolar chemical cue is short lived and is no longer recognized 24 h after having been deposited on the host puparium by larvae. The longevity of the cue used in kin recognition fits precisely the period when a larva may superparasitize a host. The adaptiveness of this cue and its potential source in the larvae are discussed. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.