Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal population size for RFLP-assisted cultivar identification in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

La capacite des marqueurs RFLP de distinguer entre deux ecotypes heterogenes de luzerne, « Vogherese » et «Maremmana», a ete comparee avec le nombre de plantes composant un echantillon utilise aussi bien pour l'analyse sur des plantes individuelles que sur des plantes en melange («bulk»). La partition des composantes de la variance a ete comparee dans des sous-echantillons de populations independantes de 20 et 50 plantes, et les frequences de bandes ont ete aussi comparees dans des sous-populations de Maremmana constituees par 20, 50 et 100 plantes. Le degre d'homogeneite revele a l'interieur de 3 «bulks» independants, de tailles identiques a celles qui viennent d'etre mentionnees, a ete pris comme mesure de la taille optimale du «bulk». Un minimum de 50 plantes est necessaire aussi bien pour l'analyse sur plantes individuelles qu'en «bulk», alors que pour la grande majorite des bandes analysee, aucune difference significative de leur frequence n'a ete relevee entre les populations de 20, 50 et 100 plantes, a l'exception de 6 bandes sur 48. Un marqueur specifique d'un ecotype a ete trouve au moyen de l'analyse «bulk». Les resultats sont discutes dans l'optique d'une amelioration de la methodologie RFLP servant a l'identification des cultivars chez la luzerne.
High Tide Movements and Homing Behaviour of the Tidepool Sculpin Oligocottus maculosus

Tagging studies show that the tidepool sculpin Oligocottus maculosus Girard shows fidelity to specific tide pools and will return to their pools when displaced. The results indicate that the navigational ability of O. maculosus is not solely dependent upon familiarity with geographical features of the intertidal zone. It is suggested that homing behavior functions as a mechanism stabilizing the spatial distribution of this species.
Evaluation of a Method for Measuring Intragravel Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations and Survival to Emergence in Shore-Spawned Salmonids

Abstract We describe an incubation basket and a modified intragravel water sampling device used to quantify salmonid survival to emergence relative to dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in deep lacustrine habitats. Incubation baskets containing viable eggs from kokanees Oncorhynchus nerka and a shale substrate were set by divers in 2–20-m-deep spawning habitat in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah–Wyoming. Water drawn into a syringe from an intragravel pipe buried near each incubation basket was used to determine intragravel DO concentrations throughout the incubation period. A trap on each incubation basket captured emergent fry in a holding bag. The bags were exchanged weekly to determine survival to emergence and time of emergence. Water in control baskets without eggs did not have significantly greater DO concentrations than adjacent water.
Effects of colours and synthetic odours on the attraction of Glossina pallidipes and G. morsitans morsitans to traps and screens

ABSTRACT. Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw. and G. pallidipes Aust. flying around and landing on coloured screens and traps were sampled using electrocuting nets. External colour affected both attractiveness and efficiency of traps, such that yellow and green traps were unattractive and inefficient; black and red, attractive and inefficient; white, moderately attractive, and very efficient; and blue traps, attractive and efficient. The order of attractiveness of coloured screens was similar to that for traps. Landing responses were generally strongest on black surfaces, and weakest on white, but the results for blue were variable. Carbon dioxide and acetone odours improved trap catches and also eliminated most catch differences between traps differently coloured on their outer surfaces. The relative performances of traps coloured differently on inside surfaces only were not affected significantly by these odours, and in all cases black or red target areas inside the trap were required for optimum trap performance. When acetone and 1‐octen‐3‐ol odours were used, catches were improved but the relative performance of differently coloured traps and screens was not changed. There were no obvious species differences in colour responses although numbers of G. morsitans were too low for statistical comparisons.
Breeding Biology of the Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia in the Capertee Valley, New South Wales

The breeding biology and reproductive success of the endangered Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia were studied over three breeding seasons in the Capertee Valley, central New South Wales. Results indicate that, while severe drought may result in little breeding, the Regent Honeyeater is not limited by reproductive success which is within the expected range for Australian passerines. The breeding season started as early as July although peak egg laying was in September. Nesting early in the season usually coincided with flowering of the mistletoe Amyema cambagei in a gallery forest of Casuarina cunninghamiana. Nectar from Eucalyptus melliodoraand E. sideroxylonwas also important in supporting nesting, particularly later in the season. Renesting by both successful and failed breeders occurred in both the initial breeding territory and at distant locations. In 1995, renesting occurred c. 20 km from first nests, in remnant trees in open paddocks. Early nests produced significantly more fledglings per successful nest than later ones although overall nesting success in 1995 was greater later in the season. Site fidelity was demonstrated for some males although two birds were found breeding up to 85 km from their site of the previous year.
A METHOD FOR CALIBRATING SWIM‐SPEED RECORDERS

During the last decade time-depth recorders (TDRs) have been deployed on a majority of pinniped species as a means of studying their diving behavior and foraging ecology (see Boyd and Croxall 1996 for a list of TDR studies). In most of these studies, only the subject's diving depth versus time is re­ corded, providing a one-dimensional view of movements made in three di­ mensions. Measurement of swimming speed (Le Boeuf et al. 1992; Castellini et al. 1992; Ponganis et al. 1990, 1993; Boyd et al. 1995) adds a second dimension to dive analysis, as it enables the calculation of horizontal distance covered, helps to interpret individual dive function (i. e., Crocker et al. 1997), and facilitates the study of swimming effort and O2 consumption (Feldkamp 1987). A problem associated with measuring swim speed is calibrating the instrument. Instrument calibration can be affected by variables such as the location and angle of attachment on the animal, the condition of the turbine or paddle-wheel and the subject's size. Consequently, instruments calibrated in the laboratory and then deployed on free-ranging animals often yield un­ reasonable data, i.e., swim speeds that are lower than the animal's ascent or descent rate (as determined by a pressure transducer). For example, Le Boeuf et al. (1992) measured swim speed in an adult northern elephant seal female using a precalibrated paddle-wheel recorder. In 50% of the dives, the swim speed of the animal could not account for the observed changes in depth. Similarly, Boyd et al. (1995) had to apply an empirical correction factor to swimming speeds collected by a commercially available recorder to match them with swimming speeds of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) de­ termined in a pool and by attaching the instrument to a dead animal and towing it behind a boat. Our aim in the present paper is to: (1) present the theoretical framework for a calibration method for Row-driven swim-speed recorders, and (2) render this method easily useable with large TDR data sets by developing an auto­ matic computerized calibration program for general use. The method involves comparing revolutions per minute (rpm) from the turbine of a swim-speed TDR with changes in depth measured by the instrument's calibrated pressure transducer. The subject collects the data for calibrating the instrument it bears, minimizing errors having to do with variation in animal size, shape (i.e., interindividual and interspecific differences) and instrument position. We used a total of 46 diving records from two species of pinnipeds:
Selection of Barley Lines for Drought Tolerance in Low-Rainfall Areas

An experiment was conducted at five locations in Jordan (Khanasri, annual rainfall 3 150 mm; Ramtha, 225 mm; Muwaqar, 150 mm; Rabba, 350 mm; Ghweer, 250 mm) during the 1996/1997 growing season, to evaluate the yield performance and some agronomic traits of 84 barley breeding lines and three long-term checks 4 (Zanbaka, Arta and Klaxon) for drought tolerance. An a-lattice design with two replications and six incomplete blocks for each replication was used. Genotype 6 (WI2291/Tadmor) was found to be superior in grain yield, especially compared to the best check (Arta) at the two wettest locations (Rabba and Ghweer). Genotype 21 (Mo.B1337/WI2291/5/ Emir/Sb//CM67/3/F8-HB-854-23/121//148-221/4/CI08887/ CI05761) out-yielded the best check (Arta) at the driest location (Khanasri), while genotype 61 (Salmas/Arabia Aswad) produced a higher grain yield than the best check (Zanbaka) at Ramtha. The correlations amongst grain yield, biological yield, straw yield, plant height and harvest index were always significant and positive regardless of the location. The correlations amongst days to heading, days to maturity and grain yield were significant at the two driest locations only. This suggests that diAerent phonologies are required to maximize grain yield in wet and dry environments. Also, the relationship between grain yield and the length of grain-filling period was positive in the wettest location (Rabba), negative in the driest (Khanasri) and not significant at the two intermediate locations. These results emphasize the importance of selection in the target environment and the need to develop early-maturing genotypes as a way of withstanding drought and high temperatures during the grain-filling period. A high and negative correlation coeAcient was found between the drought susceptibility index and grain yield at the driest site, whereas at the wettest site the correlation coeAcient was lower and in some cases positive, indicating the existence of traits that are desirable under drought and undesirable under favourable conditions.
Equilibrium Analysis of Integrated Plant—Soil Models for Prediction of the Nutrient Limited Growth Response to CO2 Enrichment

Abstract Although higher ambient CO 2 concentration is known to promote increased plant productivity under optimal growing conditions, it is not obvious if there will be a sustained growth response in natural and plantation ecosystems, where other resources, such as nutrients, may become limiting. Comins & McMurtrie (1993, Ecol. Applic. 3 , 666-681) have constructed the G'DAY ( G eneric D ecomposition A nd Y ield) integrated plant—soil model to investigate this CO 2 —nutrient interaction, and have described an analytic method for predicting the long-term response of their model to a step change in CO 2 concentration, using the analytic "two timing" approximation. This analysis gives insights into the interactions of the numerous parameters in a comprehensive plant—soil model, and may be generalizable to other such models. The current paper explores the accuracy of the approximation, and discusses various generalizations of the basic model to which the analytic model can still be applied. The very long-term CO 2 response of G'DAY was predicted by considering the dynamics of the passive soil organic matter pool in the "two timing" approximation. It was found that the two-timing approximation underestimates the 50-100 year CO 2 response in systems that lose a very small proportion of nitrogen per recycling cycle. The other areas considered here are as follows. (i) More complex relationships between N:C ratios and carbon allocation fractions for plant organs, including variable heartwood N:C ratio (which has been identified as an important determinant of long-term CO 2 response). Typical results are presented for a range of sensitivities of heartwood N:C ratio to changes in foliar N:C ratio. (ii) Variants of the CENTURY soil model were examined, having variable N:C ratios in the soil organic matter pools and/or carbon flux partition fractions influenced by N:C ratios. (iii) Results are presented for a preliminary analysis of variable nitrogen fixation.
Introduction to C. elegans

I. THE BIOLOGICAL MODEL In 1965, Sydney Brenner settled on Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study animal development and behavior for reasons that are now well known (Brenner 1973Brenner 1988). This soil nematode offered great potential for genetic analysis, partly because of its rapid (3-day) life cycle, small size (1.5-mm-long adult), and ease of laboratory cultivation. One might imagine how the ability to grow thousands of animals on a single petri dish seeded with a lawn of Escherichia coli as the food source had a certain appeal to a bacteriophage geneticist such as Brenner. Indeed, the 300–350 progeny produced by a single animal is even greater than the burst of progeny produced by a T4 phage upon lysis of its E. coli host. The natural C. elegans mode of inbreeding by the self-fertilizing hermaphrodite combined with the ability to cross hermaphrodites with males (Fig. 1) offered conveniences previously enjoyed only in plant genetic systems such as Zea mays, in which crossing or selfing can be manipulated at will. Other key features were the nematode’s small genome (only 20 times that of E. coli ) and anatomical simplicity ( An important reason C. elegans was.
Inhibitors and Modulators of β- and γ-Secretase

Most gene mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease point to the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein as potential cause. The beta- and gamma-secretases are two executioners of amyloid precursor protein processing resulting in amyloid beta. Significant progress has been made in the selective inhibition of both proteases, regardless of structural information for gamma-secretase. Several peptidic and non-peptidic leads were identified and first drug candidates are in clinical trials. This review focuses on the developments since 2003.
A rapid test procedure for estimating the amylose content of pea starch

Rapid estimation of the amylose content of pea starch is of particular importance in breeding for pea starches high in amylose. An amylose test for starch in fresh potato tubers was adapted for use with high-amylose pea flour. Wavelengths for photometric detection were slightly changed, and the iodine concentration could be reduced. Defatting of the flour was not necessary. Reproducibility of the analyses was good (s% <3; n = 95). Variability of amylose content was investigated for different potato, barley and pea varieties. An analysis of the F4-generation of a crossing experiment with peas underlined the specific suitability of this rapid test method for supporting breeders' activities.
ANTI-OVULATORY AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF MEGESTROL ACETATE 17αACETOXY-6 METHYL PREGNA 4:6-DIENE-3:20-DIONE (B.D.H. 1298)

Summary. 17cc-Acetoxy-6 methyl pregna 4:6-diene-3:20-dione (B.D.H. 1298), has been given the approved name of Megestrol acetate. It appears to be the most potent anti-ovulatory compound so far reported. It also possesses high oral progestational properties, being more active in the Clauberg assay than medroxy progesterone acetate, commercial norethynodrel and dimethisterone given orally, and progesterone subcutaneously. It is non-toxic in mice ; prolonged admini¬ stration to rats caused no adverse effects except at high doses in females where some adrenal atrophy was observed. It has no anabolic, androgenic or oestrogenic properties and no virilizing effect on the developing foetus.
Assessment of wheel traffic effect on soil compaction using a soil core sampler

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the relative physical properties of soil samples collected with a manual sampling method and a tractor‐mounted portable soil core sampler under uncompacted and compacted soil conditions, and to determine the compaction depth resulting from successive passes of a tractor wheel. The compaction of soils was induced by one, three and five successive passes of the tractor wheel. The physical properties of soil samples obtained by both methods were similar at 10–15 cm soil depth. However, the methods produced significantly different results (P < 0.01) at 30–35 cm soil depth. Traffic applications resulted in a significant effect on both soil bulk density and hydraulic conductivity at both depths. The increasing number of passes resulted in increasing penetration resistance values at the depth of ploughing. In contrast, below the 25 cm depth, passes did not affect soil compaction compared to that at shallow depths. The results revealed that the portable sampler device could safely be used to collect soil cores. However, in clay soils having a high potential for compaction, the device needs to be supplemented by extra weight.
Naturalness-based habitat quality of the Hungarian (semi-)natural habitats

Effective conservation of (semi-)natural habitats needs knowledge on the naturalness, the actual quality of a habitat or vegetation patch. Nevertheless, there are only a few studies have been published in this topic so far. During the META project, between 2002–2005, we have surveyed the semi-natural vegetation of Hungary and assessed the naturalness of the predefined 86 habitat types. In this paper we present the country scale analysis on the naturalness of these habitat types. We compared the naturalness of the individual habitat types and also habitat groups, as well as the naturalness of the physical macroregions of Hungary. Euhydrophyte habitats and habitats deserving high abiotic stress are the most natural ones, while secondary shrublands, uncharacteristic forests and grasslands are the less natural. For the forest habitats we compared and discussed the naturalness values given by the META mappers and the values gained in the TERMERD (assessing forest naturalness in Hungary) project. In case of reg.
Development of a BRET2 Screening Assay Using β-Arrestin 2 Mutants

This study has focused on enhancing the signal generated from the interaction between a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and β-arrestin 2 (β-arr2), measured by the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET2) technology. Both class A (β2-adrenergic receptor [β2-AR]) and class B (neurokinin-type 1 receptor [NK1-R]) GPCRs, classified based on their internalization characteristics, have been analyzed. It was evaluated whether the BRET2 signal can be enhanced by using (1) β-arr2 phosphorylation-independent mutant (β-arr2 R169E) and (2) β-arr2 mutants deficient in their ability to interact with the components of the clathrin-coated vesicles (β-arr2 R393E, R395E and β-arr2 373 stop). For the class B receptor, there was no major difference in the agonist-promoted BRET2 signal when comparing results obtained with wild-type (wt) and mutant β-arr2. However, with the class A receptor, a more than 2-fold increase in the BRET2 signal was observed with β-arr2 mutants lacking the AP-2 or both AP-2 and clathrin binding sites. This set of data suggests that the inability of these β-arr2 mutants to interact with the components of the clathrin-coated vesicle probably prevents their rapid dissociation from the receptor, thus yielding an increased and more stable BRET2 signal. The β-arr2 R393E, R395E mutant also enhanced the signal window with other members of the GPCR family (neuropeptide Y type 2 receptor [NPY2-R] and TG1019 receptor) and was successfully applied in full-plate BRET2-based agonist and antagonist screening assays.
Identification of a protein associated with circulative transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus from cereal aphids, Schizaphis graminum and Sitobion avenae

Using 2-D electrophoresis and virus overlay assay, a 50-kDa protein (P50) exhibiting specific binding to purified virus particles of BYDV-GAV was found in the protein extracts from Schizaphis graminum and Sitobion avenae, two aphid species transmitting BYDV-GAV. P50 in the extracts of S. graminum was isolated by preparation electrophoresis and electro-eluted proteins from the gel slices for antiserum preparation. After feeding the antiserum through membrane, the transmission efficiencies of S. graminum and S. avenae for BYDV-GAV decreased significantly. It was suggested that P50 should be related with transmission process. Location of P50 was found at the plasma membrane surrounding the accessory salivary gland (ASG) in the head tissues of S. graminum by immunogold-labelling experiment. The ascertainment of the protein associated with virus transmission has a significance influence on further understanding the transmission mechanism and genetic engineering for resistant to vector transmission.
Phylogeographic structure and gene flow in the scale‐eating cichlid Perissodus microlepis (Teleostei, Perciformes, Cichlidae) in southern Lake Tanganyika

One of the most fragmented habitats in freshwater lakes is the rocky littoral zone, where the already richly structured habitat is frequently interspersed with more pronounced barriers such as sandy bays, river estuaries and deep slopes. Although habitat fragmentation generally constrains the dispersal of specialized rock‐dwelling species, patterns of population structure vary in sympatric taxa due to species‐specific traits. In the present study, we examine the phylogeographic and population genetic structure of Perissodus microlepis, a presumptively highly mobile scale‐eating cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika with a lake‐wide distribution in the rocky littoral zone and no obvious geographical colour variation. Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of six populations in the southern end of the lake suggests isolation by distance along rocky shoreline. Across a large muddy bay, a phylogeographic break indicates that environmental barriers restrict gene flow even in this highly mobile species. Restricted dispersal across the bay is not necessarily a consequence of an intrinsic propensity to avoid sand, but may be connected with the association between P. microlepis and other rock‐dwelling fish, which the scale‐eaters mimic and intermingle in order to be able to approach other fish to rip off scales from their bodies.
On the Vitamin K Requirement of Turkey Poults

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION THE existence of a dietary vitamin K requirement for species of birds other than Gallus gallus has been recognized for considerable time (Dam et al., 1937). Although Almquist stated in 1939 that turkeys were subject to vitamin K deficiencies, no data appear to exist comparing the turkey poult’s requirement with that of the chick. Exact measurements of vitamin K requirements are made difficult by the presence of residual amounts of the vitamin in the experimental rations, by coprophagy, and possibly by intestinal synthesis of vitamin K. As considerable experimental work has been done with the chick, comparisons of the requirements of the two species would appear to be of interest. The experiments reported in this paper have been undertaken in order to obtain an estimate of the requirement of turkey poults for vitamin K, and the efficiency of a water- and a fat-soluble form when compared by a curative .