Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comment — Measuring the bioenergetic cost of fish activity in situ using a globally dispersed radiotracer (137Cs)

Rowan and Rasmussen (1996) reported that mature fish have two- to four-fold higher activity than immature fish, so the former do not follow the rule that specific respiration rate decreases with increasing body mass. Their modeling results contradict Koch and Wieser’s (1983) experimental results in which gonadal synthesis drastically reduced swimming activity. We find that Rowan and Rasmussen’s results may come from an error in their model development. To make the point clear, we repeat Rowan and Rasmussen’s theoretical analyses (using their equation numbers) as follows: (2) Wt = W0e Gt where W is body mass (g), t is time, and G is the specific growth rate (g·g ‐1 ·t ‐1 ). Notice that G = (loge(Wt )‐l og e(W0))/t,
Identification of mutations in the GNPTA (MGC4170) gene coding for GlcNAc‐phosphotransferase α/β subunits in Korean patients with mucolipidosis type II or type IIIA

Mucolipidosis types II and III are autosomal recessive inherited diseases caused by a deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme N‐acetylglucosamine‐1 phosphotransferase (GlcNAc‐phosphotransferase), which adds phosphate to function as a recognition marker for the uptake and transport of lysosomal enzymes. We investigated mutations in the GNPTA (MGC4170) gene, which codes for the α/β subunits of phosphotransferase, and in the GNPTAG gene, which codes for its γ subunits in five Korean patients with mucolipidosis type II or IIIA. We identified seven mutations in the GNPTA gene, but none in GNPTAG. The mutations in type II patients included p.Q104X (c.310C>T), p.R1189X (c.3565C>T), p.S1058X (c.3173C>G), p.W894X (c.2681G>A), and p.H1158fsX15 (c.3474_3475delTA), all of which are nonsense or frameshift mutations. However, a splicing site mutation, IVS13+1G>A (c.2715+1G>A) was detected along with a nonsense or a frameshift mutation (p.R1189X or p.E858fsX3 (c.2574_2575delGA)) in two mucolipidosis type IIIA patients. This report shows that mutations in the GNPTA gene coding for the α/β subunits of phosphotransferase, and not mutations in the GNPTAG gene, account for most of the genetic mutations found in Korean patients with mucolipidosis type II or IIIA. Hum Mutat 26(4), 308–314, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Longitudinal and seasonal distribution patterns of the benthic fauna of an alpine glacial stream (Val Roseg, Swiss Alps)

1. Seasonal changes in longitudinal patterns of environmental conditions and macroinvertebrate community distributions were examined in an alpine glacial stream (Roseg River, Switzerland). 2. Physico-chemical parameters reflected seasonal changes in glacial influence via shifts in water sources and flowpaths (glacial meltwater versus ground water), and were best described by turbidity, particulate phosphorus and specific conductance. High nitrogen concentrations indicated snowmelt was the main water source in June. 3. Macroinvertebrate densities and taxon richness were highest during spring (4526 m–2 and 16 taxa, all sites combined) and late autumn/early winter (8676–13 398 m–2 with 16–18 taxa), indicating these periods may be more favourable for these animals than summer when glacial melting is maximal. Diamesa spp. (Chironomidae) dominated the fauna at the upper three sites (>95% of zoobenthos) and were abundant at all locations. Other common taxa at lower sites (1.2–10.6 km downstream of the glacier terminus) included other chironomids (Orthocladiinae, Tanytarsini), the mayflies Baetis alpinus and Rhithrogena spp. , the stoneflies Leuctra spp. and Protonemura spp. , blackflies (Simulium spp., Prosimulium spp.), and Oligochaeta. 4. Co-inertia analysis revealed a strong relationship between environmental conditions and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Furthermore, it elucidated temporal variability in longitudinal response patterns, as well as a similarity in temporal patterns among individual sites. 5. Our results suggest that zoobenthic gradients are not solely related to temperature and channel stability. Seasonal shifts in sources and pathways of water (i.e. extent of glacial influence), and periods of favourable environmental conditions (in spring and late autumn/early winter) also strongly influenced zoobenthic distributions.
Proteinograma sérico de cordeiros mestiços (Santa Inês X Dorper) do nascimento até o desmame: efeito do desenvolvimento etário e do monitoramento da ingestão do colostro

The failure of passive immunity transfer, which has been a major obstacle in the sheep industry, is an important cause of neonatal diseases and mortality. In search of an effective management measure to solve this problem, the effects of the age and the monitoring of colostrum administration on the dynamics of the serum proteins were evaluated. Forty-four lambs were used and divided into two groups: monitored colostrums intake (MO), with 8 animals, and non-monitored colostrums intake (NM), with 36 animals, along with clinical evaluation, hemogram and total serum protein assessment and its electrophoretic fractioning, 24-72h after birth, at 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days of age. The MO group was followed in two additional times: before and six hours after colostrum intake. Total protein and gammaglobulin (g/dL) in the MO group presented the minimum values right after birth (3.62 ± 0.70 and 0.32 ± 0.12) and the maximum 24-72 hours after birth (7.98 ± 1.95 and 3.39 ± 1.13). Such concentrations also showed the same behavior in the NM group, with lower values (5.57 ± 1.45 and 1.80 ± 0.95), and with significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between groups. Between 15 to 30 days, the values of these variables decreased in both groups, and increased up to 90 days. In all experimental moments, the MO group showed higher values of gammaglobulin than NM group. The conclusions of this paper are that most of protein fractions, mainly total protein and gammaglobulin, undergo changes with the age development, and that the monitoring of colostrum intake increased significantly the levels of gammaglobulin. KEYWORDS: Endogenous antibodies, failure of passive immunity transfer, immunoglobulins, neonatal period, serum proteins.
Land-use and isolation interact to affect wetland plant assemblages

Different management regimes imposed on similar habitat types provide opportunities to investigate mechanisms driving community assembly and changes in species composition. We investigated the effect of pasture management on vegetation composition in wetlands with varying spatial isolation on a Florida cattle ranch. We hypothesized that increased pasture management intensity would dampen the expected negative effect of wetland isolation on native species richness due to a change from dispersal-driven community assembly to niche-driven assembly by accentuated environmental tolerance. We used native plant richness, exotic plant richness and mean coefficient of conservatism (CC) to assess wetland plant assemblage composition. Sixty wetlands were sampled, stratified by three levels of isolation across two pasture management intensities; semi-native (less intensely managed; mostly native grasses, never fertilized) and agronomically improved (intensely managed, planted with exotic grasses, and fertilized). Improved pasture wetlands had lower native richness and CC scores, and greater total soil phosphorus and exotic species coverage compared to seminative pasture wetlands. Increased wetland isolation was significantly associated with decreases in native species richness in
Technological properties and temperature response of interspecific Saccharomyces hybrids

Hybrids obtained by crossing cryotolerant and non-cryotolerant strains of Saccharomyces were studied. The hybrids, all sterile, are more vigorous and competitive than their parents over a wide range of temperatures. They develop well both at low temperatures (6°C) and at high temperatures (36°C) and have an optimum temperature range of 27–33°C. Minor fermentation compounds are always produced in medium quantities (while the parent are highly differentiated in this regard): this is true of glycerol, succinic acid, acetic acid and 2-phenylethanol. The hybrids are able to synthesise malic acid but to a lesser extent than their cryotolerant parents. The results regarding cryotolerant and non-cryotolerant parents and their respective hybrids were processed using a one-way analysis of variance and exhibited significant differences. The hybrids are of great enological interest both for their characteristics of competitiveness and stability and for their fermentation products. © 1997 SCI.
Protein kinase C mediation of Ca2+-independent contractions of vascular smooth muscle

Tumour-promoting phorbol esters induce slow, sustained contractions of vascular smooth muscle, suggesting that protein kinase C (PKC) may play a role in the regulation of smooth muscle contractility. In some cases, e.g., ferret aortic smooth muscle, phorbol ester induced contractions occur without a change in [Ca2+]i or myosin phosphorylation. Direct evidence for the involvement of PKC came from the use of single saponin-permeabilized ferret aortic cells. A constitutively active catalytic fragment of PKC induced a slow, sustained contraction similar to that triggered by phenylephrine. Both responses were abolished by a peptide inhibitor of PKC. Contractions of similar magnitude occurred even when the [Ca2+] was reduced to close to zero, implicating a Ca(2+)-independent isoenzyme of PKC. Of the two Ca(2+)-independent PKC isoenzymes, epsilon and zeta, identified in ferret aorta, PKC epsilon is more likely to mediate the contractile response because (i) PKC epsilon, but not PKC zeta, is responsive to phorbol esters; (ii) upon stimulation with phenylephrine, PKC epsilon translocates from the sarcoplasm to the sarcolemma, whereas PKC zeta, translocates from a perinuclear localization to the interior of the nucleus; and (iii) when added to permeabilized single cells of the ferret aorta at pCa 9, PKC epsilon, but not PKC zeta, induced a contractile response similar to that induced by phenylephrine. A possible substrate of PKC epsilon is the smooth muscle specific, thin filament associated protein, calponin. Calponin is phosphorylated in intact smooth muscle strips in response to carbachol, endothelin-1, phorbol esters, or okadaic acid. Phosphorylation of calponin in vitro by PKC (a mixture of alpha, beta, and gamma isoenzymes) dramatically reduces its affinity for F-actin and alleviates its inhibition of the cross-bridge cycling rate. Calponin is phosphorylated in vitro by PKC epsilon but is a very poor substrate of PKC zeta. A signal transduction pathway is proposed to explain Ca(2+)-independent contraction of ferret aorta whereby extracellular signals trigger diacylglycerol production without a Ca2+ transient. The consequent activation of PKC epsilon would result in calponin phosphorylation, its release from the thin filaments, and alleviation of inhibition of cross-bridge cycling. Slow, sustained contraction then results from a slow rate of cross-bridge cycling because of the basal level of myosin light chain phosphorylation (approximately 0.1 mol Pi/mol light chain). We also suggest that signal transduction through PKC epsilon is a component of contractile responses triggered by agonists that activate phosphoinositide turnover; this may explain why smooth muscles often develop more force in response, e.g., to alpha 1-adrenergic agonists than to K+.
Renovation of pastures containing paspalum 3. Effect of defoliation management and irrigation on ryegrass growth and persistence

Abstract Ryegrass seedlings were introduced into areas with high (Pa) or low (NPa) contents of paspalum. Their growth and persistence was monitored from August 1981 until May 1982. The effects of grazing interval, irrigation, and competition from resident species on growth of the introduced ryegrass plants were determined. Total losses of ryegrass plants were highest in summer (75%) and ‘animal effects’ (i.e., severe grazing, ‘pulling’, dung and urine deposition, trampling) accounted for 51% of the total losses. Clipping resident herbage surrounding introduced ryegrass plants increased their size (tillers/plant) by 230 – 300% from January to April. This was accompanied by a three-fold reduction in plant deaths during summer — autumn. Summer irrigation did not improve ryegrass survival. Plants grazed at short intervals over spring — summer were smaller and suffered more damage and deaths than did plants grazed at long intervals. During late summer more deaths of ryegrass plants occurred in Pa than NPa plot.
Dispersal of Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae pollen in the atmosphere of Extremadura (SW Spain)

A study over six consecutive years of the pollination dynamics of the Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae in Badajoz, and a comparative study over three years with stations in Mérida and Cáceres showed that there were different factors affecting this process. Thus, the proximity of croplands was found to be important in determining the magnitude of the concentrations, and this was also confirmed with a study of the concentrations measured directly in the croplands. Autumn and summer rainfall was found to affect, and also to have a certain influence on the length of the flowering period. The daily variations in pollen levels were studied in relation to meteorological parameters, finding a correlation that was positive with respect to temperature and negative with respect to atmospheric humidity and the distance travelled by the wind, i.e. airflow measured in hm with a revolving-cup anemometer. These correlations were the same in all three of the localities studied. The direction of the wind, however, was found to have different effects according to the locality studied. This is explained by their positions relative to the irrigation zones in the region. The pattern of diurnal pollen release from these taxa shows the greatest levels to be reached between 10:00 and 12:00 hours in Mérida as well as in Badajoz. In Cáceres, however, the distribution throughout the day was very even, with few hourly variations. This may be due to the sparse representation of these species in the neighbourhood of the Cáceres trap, with the pollen having been transported from sources that were farther away.
Efeito do calcário e do fósforo na produtividade de grãos e seus componentes nos cultivares de trigo

ABSTRACTEFFECT OF LIME AND PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION ON WHEAT CULTIVARS’ GRAIN YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS The knowledge of the interactions among wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.)and factors that affect grain yield (lime, fertilizer, water) is important for an adequate choiceof cultivars and definition of a proper fertilization. The objective of this work is to study thevariability of grain yield and yield components among wheat materials in response to limeand phosphorus application. The experiments were carried out annually, from 1987 to 1995,at the Itarare Experimental Station, Instituto Agronomico, Campinas, State of Sao Paulo,Brazil under dryland condition. A complete randomized block design in a split-split plotarrangement with 4 replications was used. The main plots contained three rates of lime(0; 6.5, and 13 t.ha -1 ), the split plots three rates of phosphorus (0, 30, and 90 kg.ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ),and the split split plots four wheat genotypes (‘IAC-5’, ‘IAC-24’, ‘IAC-60’, and ‘Anahuac’). The results showed that in acid and low-fertility conditions, the IAC-60 and IAC-5 geno-types surpassed the other materials in relation to grain yield, ear length, components of thegrain yield and harvest index. The genotype IAC-60 was more responsive to lime and phos-phorus. Grain yield, ear length, grain yield components and harvest index were more af-fected by P than by lime application. Grain yield correlated better with number of grains byear than with other evaluated features. Considering grain yield, the genotype IAC-60 wasmore productive and more responsive, IAC-5 more productive but less responsive and IAC-24 and Anahuac less productive. The use of genotypes tolerant to soil acidity and adapted tolow fertility but responsive to lime and fertilizer can make feasible wheat cultivation in low-fertility soils with less investment.Index terms: wheat, lime, phosphorus, grain yield, wheat yield components.
Improving the stock-recruitment relationship in Icelandic cod (Gadus morhua) by including age diversity of spawners

The size of the Icelandic cod stock has been gradually declining since the middle of this century. Recruitment has been poor over an extended period of time and much below the long-term average since 1985. Except for the concurrent decrease in stock size and recruitment during this period, the stock size - recruitment relationship is weak. This relationship is improved by including the age composition of the spawning stock. Spawning stock age diversity in each year from 1955 to 1992 was estimated with the Shannon index using the number of mature fish in each age group. By including information on age composition, 31% of the total variation in recruitment was accounted for by the model with stock size, age diversity, and the interaction between the two, compared with less than 15% by single factor models of either age diversity or stock size. These results indicate that age diversity is an important component in stock-recruitment models and that one of the management goals for fish species should be to mai.
Sorbic Anhydride as Antimycotic Additive in Polyethylene Food Packaging Films

Sorbic anhydride, the acid anhydride form of sorbic acid, was incorporated into polyethylene films. The incorporation was confirmed by FT-IR spectra and by recovery of sorbic acid from pH 3.5 buffer and potato dextrose agar after the resulting films were suspended in the buffer solutions or contacted with the media. The inhibitory effect of the films against fungal growth was also demonstrated.
A Hydrodictyon reticulatum bloom at Loe Pool, Cornwall

An extensive bloom of Hydrodictyon reticulatum was observed on Loe Pool, a eutrophic coastal freshwater lake in Cornwall. In previous years the Pool has experienced cyanobacterial blooms, but in 1993 Hydrodictyon became dominant for the first time. It was estimated that approximately 24% of the Pool was covered by Hydrodictyon and dissolved oxygen saturations were observed to range between 220% and 34% within a mat of Hydrodictyon. The reason for the shift in algal dominance remains unclear, though large numbers of zooplankton were observed sheltering around the stands of Hydrodictyon. These may have restricted the growth of phytoplankton once the Hydrodictyon had become established. It is concluded that further study is required to determine the causal mechanism which may be responsible for the explosion in Hydrodictyon. The possibility of the growth of a more vigorous strain cannot be discounted.
Invertebrate responses to short‐term water abstraction in small New Zealand streams

Summary 1. Small permanent streams are coming under increasing pressure for water abstraction. Although these abstractions might only be required on a short-term basis (e.g. summer time irrigation), the highest demand for water often coincides with seasonal low flows. 2. We constructed weirs and diversions that reduced discharge in three small streams (<4 m width) to test the hypotheses that short-term water abstractions would decrease habitat availability and suitability for invertebrates, resulting in increased invertebrate drift, reduced taxonomic richness and decreased benthic invertebrate densities. 3. We sampled benthic invertebrates, invertebrate drift and periphyton at control (upstream) and impact (downstream) sites on each stream before and during 1 month of discharge reduction. 4. Discharge decreased by an average of 89–98% at impact sites and wetted width decreased by 24–30%. Water depth decreased by 28–64% while velocity decreased by 50–62%. Water conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen showed varying responses to flow reduction among the three streams, whereas algal biomass and pH were unaffected in all streams. 5. The densities of invertebrate taxa tended to increase in the impact reaches of these streams, even though invertebrate drift increased at impact sites in the first few days following discharge reduction. There were a higher proportion of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies at the impact site on one stream after flow reduction. There were no changes to the number of taxa or species evenness at impact sites. 6. Our results suggest that for these small streams, the response of invertebrates to short-term discharge reduction was to accumulate in the decreased available area, increasing local invertebrate density.
A conservation auction for landscape linkage in the southern Desert Uplands, Queensland

Conservation auctions are a type of market-based instrument (MBI) that can achieve a more cost-efficient allocation of public funds than approaches such as devolved grants. In this paper, the conduct of a multiple round conservation auction to improve biodiversity management in a rangelands area is outlined. The auction was designed to develop a wildlife corridor across the southern Desert Uplands bioregion in Queensland and to improve management of rangelands areas. The conservation auction incorporated two important new design features. First, there was a need to promote landholder cooperation so that proposed areas for better land management were aligned and connected across the region. The second innovative design feature was to hold multiple bidding (three) rounds, which differs from the standard application of a single bidding round. The auction outcomes resulted in conservation contracts covering 85 000 ha of remnant vegetation awarded at an average cost of $2* per hectare per annum. Although complete landscape connectivity across the Desert Uplands was not achieved, over 70% of the successful bids, accounting for over 62 000 ha (77% of the total bid area), were part of a group that formed a distinct corridor or landscape linkage with only single or part-property gaps. The results also indicate that multiple bidding rounds improved auction efficiency (for the government), although there was little improvement in connectivity. Sixty-six percent more environmental benefit units could be purchased for the given budget of $350 000 between rounds one and three.
Differences in the host resistance of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., stocks to the monogenean Gyrodactylussalaris Malmberg, 1957

The susceptibility and resistance of hatchery-reared salmon parr, native to the rivers Neva (U.S.S.R. Baltic Sea), Alta (northern Norway) and Lone (western Norway) (both eastern Atlantic Ocean), to Gyrodactylus salaris from Norway, was examined. The level of resistance to the parasite was assessed from counts, made on anaesthetized salmon, ofthe numbers of G. salaris after an initial experimental exposure (2 weeks) to G. salaris-infected salmon. Three experiments, all in water at c. 12° C, were carried out: (1) 50 Alta and 50 Neva salmon, initial mean parasite intensity c. 12; (2) 50 Lone and 50 Neva salmon, initial mean parasite intensity c. 60; (3) 10 Lone and 10 Neva salmon individually isolated, initial intensity one gravid G. salaris. In both the Norwegian salmon stocks, the G. salaris infrapopulations steadily increased during the experimental period of 5 weeks, in contrast to a prominent decline in the Neva salmon stock, after, respectively: (Exp. 1) week 3, average peak intensity 32.6; (Exp. 2) week 2, average peak intensity 58.7; and (Exp. 3) week 3, average peak intensity 6.3. The hatchery-reared Baltic Neva stock demonstrated both an innate and an acquired resistance towards G. salaris, in contrast to the highly susceptible, Norwegian Alta and Lone salmon stocks.