Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Root architecture of shrubs and saplings in the understory of a tropical moist forest in lowland Panama

Entire root systems of 2-3 m tall plants in tropical moist forest near Barro Colorado Island, Panama were excavated and measured. We studied 3-4 plants, each, of the canopy and subcanopy species Trichilia tuberculata (Meliaceae), Prioria copaifera (Caesalpinoideae), Hirtella triandra (Chrysobalanaceae), and Tetragastris panamensis (Burseraceae); the immature treelet Faramea occidentalis (Rubiaceae); and the mature shrubs Piper cordulatum (Piperaceae), Psychotria horizontalis (Rubiaceae), and Hybanthusprunifolius (Violaceae). Root and crown architecture of intermediate specimens was illustrated. Shrubs had shallower root systems with a higher proportion of total surface area at 0-20 cm depth than tree saplings. Shrubs also had greater root surface area, both absolutely and relative to leaf area. An analysis of Coster's data for 6-month old plants of 44 species grown in a Javanese garden confirmed that shrubs tend to have relatively shallower root systems than tree species. We examine several explanations of differing root architecture for these life forms based on adult requirements for water, support, and nutrients. We speculate that reproduction creates greater nutrient demands in shrubs than in saplings. By analogy with community patterns on very poor soils, a well developed, superficial root system increases nutrient absorption from the relatively richer upper stratum. The tradeoff appears to be reduced resistance to water stress in shrubs compared with tree species.
Substituição de fígado bovino por glúten de milho, glúten de trigo e farelo de soja em rações para pós-larvas de piavas (Leporinus obtusidens)

The objective of the study was to evaluate the corn and wheat glutens and soybean meal in partial replacement to the bovine liver in granulated rations for rearing of piava post-larvae. In the first experiment meals were elaborated with wheat and corn glutens in substitution to the bovine liver in the levels of 25, 50 and 100%. The wheat gluten was more efficient as substitute of the bovine liver, and up to 40% of replacement showed the highest fish size and survival. In the second experiment, the replacement of the wheat gluten by soybean meal in growing levels of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the 40% of inclusion of the wheat gluten obtained in the first experiment was evaluated. The substitution of the wheat gluten by soybean meal up to 75% provides the highest size for piava post-larvae, at the 21 days of age.
Fish in Reservoirs

In all reservoirs the fish fauna is recruited from their riverine antecedents. The nature of the riverine environment, created by its unstable hydrological regime, favours the evolution of generalist species. Of these species, only a few are preadapted to lacustrine conditions. When riverine fish communities are trapped in a reservoir, most of the fish stay close to the shore, the mouth of tributaries and in shallows. The pelagic and deep waters are poorly utilized and the yield of fish is below the natural productivity of these water bodies, especially in the case of deep and large reservoirs. This occurs unless the dammed river contains fish species from families which are preadapted for lacustrine conditions. A positive correlation between the percentage of pelagic fish and the total yield of fish in reservoirs indicates that the pelagial represents a vacant habitat, only seldom invaded by riverine species. This situation probably applies to the deep water of reservoirs too, although sufficient data to demonstrate this are not available. The littoral region of reservoirs is utilized by some generalists of euryoecious species derived from the indigenous riverine fauna which may be preadapted for lacustrine conditions. If such preadapted lacustrine species are not present, the introduction of lacustrine species or those preadapted for the lacustrine environment is desirable under certain circumstances. However, caution must be exercised in any introduction.
Inactivity of Certain Bacterial Endotoxins Toward Cotton Dust/Bract Rabbit Antisera

Aqueous extracts of cotton dust and bract were immunogenic for antibody synthesis in rabbits. In double diffusion the antisera cross-reacted specifically with both of these extracts, as well as with extracts of cotton leaf, cotton stem, Hax, soft hemp, and sisal. No reaction was obtained between the antisera and several commercial preparations of bacterial endotoxins believed to be present in cotton dust. None of the antigens reacted with normal (pre-immunized) rabbit serum.
Thermal Denaturation of Human Lactoferrin and Its Effect on the Ability To Bind Iron

Thermal stability of human milk lactoferrin was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and compared with that of recombinant human lactoferrin produced in Aspergillus awamori. Maximum peak temperature, transition enthalpy, and activation energy of lactoferrin as isolated from human milk (67.0 °C, 2276 kJ/mol, and 275.5 kJ/mol, respectively) increased significantly when lactoferrin was fully saturated with iron (90.6 °C, 3209 kJ/mol, and 387.6 kJ/mol, respectively) which indicates that the binding of iron to lactoferrin is an important factor in the stabilization of its structure. Similar results were obtained for recombinant human lactoferrin, indicating a high degree of resemblance between both proteins. The ability of human lactoferrin to bind iron after heat treatment was also studied, remaining practically intact after treatments of 72 °C for 20 s or 135 °C for 8 s, while more severe treatments reduced markedly this ability. Keywords: Human lactoferrin; thermal denaturation; iron-binding ability
The East Gippsland Silvicultural Systems Project. III: Site occupancy, species composition and growth to 12 years

Summary A major silvicultural experiment was established in lowland forest in East Gippsland in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate alternative silvicultural systems. A range of harvesting and site preparation treatments was applied in a replicated design over two seasons. Harvesting treatments were based on a series of gap sizes (0, 0.03, 0.25 and 1-ha gaps, 4 and 10-ha clearfells) and retained overwood (clearfell and 7,22,35 and 100% retained basal area). Results of site preparation by slash-burn and by mechanical disturbance are compared. A primary criterion for evaluation of these treatments was the success of eucalypt regeneration, including site occupancy, species composition and early growth. Regrowth density, species, diameter and height were measured at ages 4,5,6 and 10 y after site preparation using small, dispersed plots. All harvesting treatments had a satisfactory level of site occupancy, but the level of site occupancy was lowest in the 10- ha clearfell at age 10 y. All harvesting treatments showed a significant shift in species mix of regrowth in favour of Eucalyptus sieberi, but this shift was less pronounced in the 7% retained overwood and clearfell treatments. Thus, the more intensive harvesting treatments stand out as being superior from the point of view of maintaining species composition. Rates of diameter and height growth in the regenerating stands were reduced by increasing levels of retained overwood and decreasing gap size. Regrowth basal area and volume were measured in large plots 12 y after site preparation. It was found that the initially-lower levels of site occupancy in the 10-ha clearfell may increase the rate of merchantable volume production in the long term. Regrowth basal area and volume growth increased with increasing gap size and decreasing retained overwood. Inclusion of the growth of retained overwood increased the ranking of the 35% overwood over the 22% retained overwood treatment. The differences between site preparation by slash-burn and mechanical disturbance were marginal. Although regrowth densities varied significantly at age 10 y in favour of mechanically-disturbed treatments, this did not translate into higher basal area or volume per hectare in these coupes. The initial competitive growth advantage of the slash-burnt treatments appears not to have been sustained.
Leaf habit, phenology, and longevity of 11 forest understory plant species in Algonquin State Forest, northwest Connecticut, USA

Many functional attributes of plant species are predicated on their leaf habit. To fully understand the way that plant species coexist and respond to future conditions, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the leaf habit, phenology, and longevity of common forest plant species. I quantified these traits in 11 forest understory species in the Algonquin State Forest of northwestern Connecticut, USA, by labeling and monitoring individual leaves of three replicates of each species over a period of 3 years. While clear patterns exist within the evergreen, wintergreen, seasonalgreen, deciduous, and spring-ephemeral groupings, significant differences exist within and among these groups, including differences in the timing of leafing and senescence, and minimum leaf longevity. Because the impact of local and global disturbance is often predicated on the phenological and life-history traits of species, these differences may be important to the responses that these species have to future disturbance.
Production of NO and N2O by the Heterotrophic Nitrifier Alcaligenes faecalis parafaecalis under Varying Conditions of Oxygen Saturation

Production of NO and N 2 O by the heterotrophic nitrifier Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. parafaecalis was studied during growth in batch and continuous culture on peptone-meat extract medium. Depending on oxygen saturation level, medium redox status and amount of substrate supplied, the microorganisms produced 0.002–0.25 mg NO-N h- 1 (g protein)- 1 and 0.16–2.4 mg N 2 O-N h- 1 (g protein)- 1 . Maximum rates of nitrogen oxides production were observed during peak events initiated by sudden changes of oxygen supply in the medium and were due to combined nitrification/denitrification taking place simultaneously within the cells. Based on model simulations of enzymatic kinetics of denitrification, possible mechanisms of increased nitrogen oxides production during periods of changes in oxygen supply are suggested.
Genetic Parameters of Disease Incidence, Fertility and Milk Yield of First Parity Cows and the Relation to Feed Intake of Growing Bulls

Wassmuth, R. , Boelling, D. , Madsen, P., Jensen, J. and Andersen, B.B. (Institute of Animal Husbandry and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany and the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark). Genetic parameters of disease incidence, fertility and milk yield of first parity cows and the relation to feed intake of growing bulls. Accepted August 17, 1999. Acta Agric. Scand. , Sect. A, Animal Sci. 50: 93–102, 2000. © 2000 Taylor & Francis.
Influence of drought, salt stress and abscisic acid on the resistance of tomato to Botrytis cinerea and Oidium neolycopersici

Abiotic stress may affect plant response to pathogen attack through induced alterations in growth regulator and gene expression. Abscisic acid (ABA) mediates several plant responses to abiotic stress. The effects of drought, salt stress and ABA on the interaction of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) with the biotrophic fungus Oidium neolycopersici and the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea were investigated. Drought stress resulted in a twofold increase in endogenous ABA as well as a 50% reduction in B. cinerea infection and a significant suppression of O. neolycopersici on tomato cv. Moneymaker. Salt stress did not affect B. cinerea infection, but significantly reduced infection by O. neolycopersici, with no obvious increase in endogenous ABA. Compared with the wild type, the ABA-deficient sitiens mutant was more resistant to O. neolycopersici and B. cinerea. Exogenous ABA resulted in increased susceptibility of sitiens to both pathogens, but did not increase the basal susceptibility of wild-type plants. It is concluded that, in tomato, drought and salt stress stimulate different, but possibly overlapping, pathogen-defence pathways which may not necessarily involve ABA. Meanwhile, basal endogenous ABA levels suppress the resistance of tomato to O. neolycopersici and B. cinerea, but an ABA increase above the basal level, resulting from exogenous application, does not increase susceptibility to these pathogens.
INTERACTION OFCULTIVAR, SOWING DATE AND SOWING RATE ON LODGING, YIELD AND SEED WEIGHT OF BUCKWHEAT

Two buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) cultivars, Tokyo and Tempest, were grown in 1971, 1972 and 1973 at 8.5, 17, 34 and 68 kg/ha sowing rates and at early, mid- and late June sowing dates. Tempest lodged more than Tokyo, particularly in 1971. Yield generally declined with each delay in sowing. In 1971, yield increased with each increase in sowing rate, while in 1972 there was no difference due to rate. In 1973, yield increased to the third rate and levelled out to the fourth. Therefore, a sowing rate of over 34 kg/ha may be required to assure good yields each year. Seed weight tended to decrease with delay in sowing but was not affected by sowing rate.
Purification, Characterization and Antitumor Activity of L-asparaginase from Penicillium brevicompactum NRC 829.

Aim: The aims of this study were to attempt to extract, purify and characterize of Lasparaginase, an antitumor agent, from Penicillium brevicompactum NRC 829. Study Design: Testing of antitumor activity of L-asparaginase against four different tumor human cell lines.
Quantification in soil of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstakiδ‐endotoxin from transgenic plants

Transgenic plants that produce pesticidal proteins have the potential to release these products into the environment when the plants are incorporated into soil. This could result in novel exposure of soil organisms to these pesticidal proteins. There is a lack of knowledge about the fate and persistence of transgenic pesticidal products in the soil. A model system of transgenic cotton, which produces Bacillus thuringiensis kurstakiδ‐endotoxin (Bt toxin), was used to address this issue. Methods were developed to quantify Btk toxin in soil and soil/plant litter by extraction of the Btk toxin with an aqueous buffer and quantification by ELISA. The highest recovery of Btk toxin from soil was obtained with a high salt, high pH buffer. In addition, for certain soil types, addition of a non‐ionic detergent, Tween‐20, was needed for optimal recovery. Recovery of Btk toxin from soil ranged from 60% for a low clay content, low organic matter soil to 27% for a high clay content, high organic matter soil. The limit of detection of this method is 0.5 ng of extractable toxin per g dry weight soil. The method was shown to be useful in tracking over time the persistence of both purified and transgenic Btk toxin in laboratory experiments.
Export of Cadmium and Phytochelatin by the Marine Diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii

Cadmium is one of the most toxic trace metals and induces high concentrations of the metal-binding polypeptide phytochelatin, (γ-Glu-Cys)nGly where n ≥ 2, in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. Here we show that at high inorganic cadmium concentrations there is an efflux of cadmium from T. weissflogii so large that over half the cadmium taken up by the cell is returned to the medium. At high inorganic cadmium, there is also an efflux of phytochelatin from the cell. The efflux of both cadmium and phytochelatin stops when the external inorganic cadmium concentration is reduced. The efflux of phytochelatin and cadmium occurs at a molar ratio of approximately 4 γ-Glu-Cys subunits per cadmium, a stoichiometry similar to that measured in vivo for the cadmium−phytochelatin complex. We hypothesize that T. weissflogii exports the phytochelatin− cadmium complex as a detoxification mechanism. The cadmium−phytochelatin complex does not appear to be very stable in seawater once outside the cell since the cadm.
Mating system, auxosporulation, species taxonomy and evidence for homoploid evolution in Amphora (Bacillariophyta)

Mann D.G. and Poulíčková A. 2010. Mating system, auxosporulation, species taxonomy and evidence for homoploid evolution in Amphora (Bacillariophyta). Phycologia 49: 183–201. DOI: 10.2216/09-08.1 Cytological characteristics of the mitotic cycle, sexual reproduction and auxospore formation are described for three members of the type group of Amphora: A. ovalis, A. copulata and A. minutissima. All have a single lobed ventral chloroplast, nuclei with granular heterochromatin and a single nucleolus (unusually large in A. ovalis). Amphora copulata is heterothallic, with two mating types that do not differ in gamete behaviour. All three species reproduce allogamously via fusion of two rearranged gametes per gametangium to produce elongate zygotes enclosed within the volume delimited by the gametangial thecae. Pairing is strictly via the ventral sides of the cells, with tight apposition of the cells, and expansion of the auxospores is strictly perpendicular to the gametangium long axes. Comparisons are made with other Amphora species, particularly A. proteus (also belonging to the subgenus Amphora) and A. arcus. Meiosis is described in detail in A. copulata, revealing no movement of the nucleus away from the dorsal position it occupies during the mitotic cycle, a synizetic knot in early prophase, no cytokinesis accompanying meiosis II, and rapid degeneration of the supernumerary nuclei in the gametic cells; the usual two acytokinetic mitoses accompany formation of the initial epivalve (which lacks a functional raphe) and hypovalve. The potential for formation of autopolyploids is demonstrated in A. copulata. Nevertheless, chromosome counts of 2n = 34 in A. copulata, 2n = 28 or 30 in A. ovalis and an undetermined but not significantly lower number in A. minutissima, suggest that homoploid evolution is more likely than polyploid. In mixed sexualized populations of the species, no interbreeding occurs, supporting separation of minutissima from copulata. Measurements of initial cell sizes, coupled with slight differences in valve width and pattern, suggest that A. copulata may be a species complex.
Morphometric examination of the gills of walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill) and rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Observations on the gill morphology of individual gill arches of walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum and rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri suggest that the first two arches account for the highest proportion of gill filament number, secondary lamellae number, lamellae area, and gill surface area. Interspecific comparisons suggest walleye contain a larger number of gill filaments, with a lower secondary lamellae count, but a larger gill surface area than a trout of the same weight. This is partially attributed to the larger surface area of each lamella in a walleye than in a trout. A detailed examination suggests the surface area of a lamella is dependent on its position on the gill filament, and the position of the gill filament on the gill arch.
The control of bacterial blight in rain-grown cotton I. Breeding for resistance in African Upland varieties

Projects carried out in the Lake Province of Tanganyika for breeding Upland cotton resistant to bacterial blight are described. A programme in which Albar 51 was used as resistant parent was more successful than one in which an attempt was made to transfer the major gene B6m to breeding stocks. Backcrossing was found to be of limited value as a breeding technique with rain-grown cotton, line breeding in segregating stocks being preferred. It is demonstrated that resistant types can be synthesized by the systematic exploitation of residual genetic variability in locally adapted populations. Correlations between stem, boll andleaf resistance are discussed and some deviations attributable to environmental effects described. It is inferred that there is a basic resistance mechanism in all tissues which is under the same genetic control but that results may be confused by genotype-environment interactions and by other factors operating in particular tissues. The approach to resistance breeding is discussed in relation to the evolution of resistance in African Upland cotton. It is concluded that improvement by straight selection should be given equal emphasis with improvement by hybridization in resistance breeding programmes.
The flea epifauna of a suburban fox (Vulpes vulpes) population

Five hundred and thirteen fleas, of eight different species, were collected from a sample of 252 foxes killed in suburban London. 25–8% of foxes carried fleas, with a mean of 204 fleas per fox. Levels of infestation of male and female hosts did not differ significantly. Possible sources of the fleas infesting foxes are discussed with respect to their seasonal occurrence and fox prey composition. No evidence was found to support the suggestion that foxes obtain the majority of their fleas from prey items, although occasional heavy infestations of some flea species were probably derived from recent meals. Although Pulex irritans, Paraceras m. melis and Ctenocephalides canis, which contributed 35 % of the flea epifauna, could be considered parasitic on the fox, it seems probable that foxes pick up the majority of their fleas from the habitat through which they move. Thus, two particularly heavily infested categories of foxes were found: (1) juveniles during July-September, their fleas probably being accumulated during exploratory and play activities, and (2) all animals during the period October-December.
Visual recognition in infant pigtailed macaques after a 24‐hour delay

Comparative studies of memory in monkey and human subjects suggest similarities in visual recognition memory across human and nonhuman primates. In order to investigate developmental aspects of visual recognition memory in monkey infants, the familiarization‐novelty procedure, developed for use with human infants, was employed with pigtailed monkey infants to study long‐delay recognition memory. Subjects were familiarized with a black‐and‐white abstract pattern. Twenty‐four hours later they were tested with the familiar pattern paired with a novel one. Results indicated a significant visual preference for the novel stimulus, providing evidence for recognition memory. These results parallel those obtained with human infants, suggesting further similarities in the development of visual recognition memory.
Life cycle of Apion ulicis (Coleoptera: Apionidae), and gorse seed attack around Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract Around Auckland, New Zealand, the gorse seed weevil (Apion ulicis Forster) has retained 1 generation per year, as in the United Kingdom, its country of origin. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) bushes produce 2 crops of seeds annually, but only seeds of the second crop (July—December) are attacked by the weevil. During this time more seeds are found per pod than during the first crop (February—May). In this study weevil attack effectively reduced the viable seeds from around 3 per pod to 1 per 4 pods. However, only a relatively small proportion of seed pods were attacked by A. ulicis.