Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of three species of climber on the performance of Ceiba pentandra seedlings in gaps in a tropical forest in Ghana

The proliferation of climbers can have deleterious effects on tree regeneration, especially in forest canopy gaps where climbers increase in abundance. In response to the colonization by climbers, the supporting tree can suffer a reduction in growth and its allometric relationships may be modified. We evaluated the effects of three species of climber on the performance of the pioneer tree Ceiba pentandra in a moist semi-deciduous tropical forest in Ghana. In each of three gaps, four plots were set up, each with eight Ceiba seedlings paired with a single plant of one of three climber species, planted within 5–10 cm of the tree seedling, plus a control (no climber). The climber species were: Centrosema pubescens, a nitrogen-fixing woody climber; Combretum racemosum, a woody climber and Dioscorea praehensilis, an herbaceous climber. After 12 mo, Centrosema and Combretum had about four to five times more biomass than Ceiba seedlings. There was no effect of climber competition on Ceiba biomass growth, and no relationship between climber biomass and Ceiba growth rate. Individual climber species, however, had other effects: Combretum caused a significant reduction in the height and diameter growth of Ceiba, whilst competition with Centrosema was associated with significant reduction in the crown area and increase in internode length in Ceiba. The results indicate that even very different climber species appear to cause negative effects on trees during regeneration.
Costs to Flowering of the Production of a Mechanically Hardened Phenotype in Brassica napus L.

To examine potential costs of mechanical hardening in plants, dose‐dependent effects of mechanical perturbation on the growth and development of Brassica napus were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Mechanical perturbation (stem and leaf flexure) was imposed by exposing seedlings to 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40 flexures with a bamboo rod once per day over a period of 35 d. In general, mechanical perturbation reduced plant height and root mass but increased stem diameter while decreasing pith diameter in a nearly linear dose‐dependent manner. In addition, mechanical perturbation delayed both cotyledon senescence and date of anthesis and also reduced flower number in a similar linear dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, effects of mechanical perturbation on final leaf area, leaf mass, and stem mass were not linearly related to dose, although means of these variables were smaller in plants subjected to 40 flexures per day than in all other treatments. Dose‐dependent effects of mechanical perturbation on B. napus were most noticeable as plastic changes in growth form, allometry, and development; i.e., mechanical perturbation produced increasingly shorter, radially thickened, and more compact and stronger plants with increasing dose. However, dose‐dependent delays in anthesis and reductions in flower number indicated that fitness of these plants in the field could be increasingly reduced by increasing exposure to mechanical perturbation, unless benefits gained through the development of a mechanically hardened phenotype counterbalanced costs to flower production.
The breeding biology of the Namaqua Sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua

The breeding biology of the Namaqua Sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua, was studied and its nesting success determined through the observation of 278 nests over four consecutive breeding seasons at Droëgrond, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. The normal clutch of three eggs is laid over five days (±48-hour laying interval). The incomplete clutch is left unattended overnight, but is attended during the heat of the day by the female on days when an egg is laid and by the male on alternate days. After clutch completion, the pair share incubation, with the female relieving the male 151 min (±21 S.D.) after sunrise and the male relieving the female 105 min (±21 S.D.) before sunset. The incubation period is 21 days from clutch completion, and the three chicks normally hatch within 18 hours of one another. Nesting success ranged from 5.7% to 13.5% between seasons and averaged 8.2%. Predation, primarily by small mammals, was responsible for 96% of nest losses. Estimates of annual recruitment at Droëgrond ranged from minima of 3–10% to maxima of 6–20%, and are believed to be representative of a core area of the distribution of the Namaqua Sandgrouse in South Africa. These low estimates suggest that annual juvenile recruitment may be too low to maintain Namaqua Sandgrouse populations locally. Possible reasons for the sustained low level of breeding success are discussed.
Effects of dietary soybean lecithin on gonadal development and vitellogenin mRNA expression in the female redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens) at first maturation

The effect of increasing levels of dietary de-oiled soybean lecithin (SL) on the ovarian development of female redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, was investigated. Five practical formulated diets were supplemented with 0% (Diet 1), 1% (Diet 2), 2% (Diet 3), 4% (Diet 4) and 6% (Diet 5) SL. Crayfish (initial weight: 25.64 ± 1.53 g) were fed each diet in four replicates for 8 weeks. Crayfish that were fed diets containing ≥2% SL had a significantly higher gonadosomatic index than those fed with Diets 1 and 2 (P 0.05). The fatty acid composition of the hepatopancreas is largely due to the dietary composition. Higher dietary SL yielded a higher percentage of ovarian polyunsaturated and highly unsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the higher content of linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid in diets may be more important for ovarian development in C. quadricarinatus, as these originate from the hepatopancreas. The hepatopancreatic vitellogenin mRNA expression was the highest in crayfish that received Diet 3. Our results suggest that dietary SL has a positive effect on ovarian development in C. quadricarinatus broodstock, and at least 2% SL should be supplemented in broodstock diets to enhance ovarian maturation during aquaculture.
Antipredatory Response and Food Intake in Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) under Simulated Predation Risk by Resident and Novel Carnivorous Predators

Chemical signals left by predators are a potential source of information about the risk of predation, and small mammals are known to take them into account when making decisions. We investigated whether wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) are more likely to avoid the faeces of resident predators (red fox Vulpes vulpes and common genet Genetta genetta) vs. a novel predator (European pine marten Martes martes). Odour recognition would increase perceived predation risk and reduce food intake by individual mice. Wood mice response to predators was analysed by live-trapping using two untreated controls (baited/non-baited) and traps experimentally manipulated with three predator treatments (faeces of red fox, common genet or pine marten). Traps were baited with 4 g of toasted corn, and food intake by wood mice was determined as the amount of bait remaining in each trap. We found that traps treated with faeces of resident predators were the most avoided, and the number of captures in traps treated with pine marten faeces was similar to the control-baited traps. The variation found in food intake was explained by the interaction between the types of treatment and breeding condition. Food intake was similar in control-baited traps and in traps with faeces of pine marten, but when predation risk by resident predators (red fox and common genet) was simulated, breeders reduced food intake significantly as compared to non-breeders. These results indicate that predator recognition and feeding behaviour under predation risk depend on individual factors and the balance of costs-benefits in each particular predation risk situation at a given place and time.
Chemistry and composition of fish otoliths : pathways, mechanisms and applications

The fish otolith (earstone) has long been known as a timekeeper, but interest in its use as a metabolically inert environmental recorder has accelerated in recent years. In part due to technological advances, applications such as stock identification, determination of migration pathways, reconstruction of temperature and salinity history, age validation, detection of anadromy, use as a natural tag and chemical mass marking have been developed, some of which are difficult or impossible to implement using alternative techniques. Microsampling and the latest advances in beam-based probes allow many elemental assays to be coupled with daily or annual growth increments, thus providing a detailed chronological record of the environment. However, few workers have critically assessed the assumptions upon which the environmental reconstructions are based, or considered the possibility that elemental incorporation into the otolith may proceed differently than that into other calcified structures. This paper reviews current applications and their assumptions and suggests future directions. Particular attention is given to the premises that the elemental and isotopic composition of the otolith reflects that of the environment, and the effect of physiological filters on the resulting composition. The roles of temperature, elemental uptake into the fish and the process of otolith crystallization are also assessed. Drawing upon recent advances in geochemistry and paleoclimate research as points of contrast, it appears that not all applications of otolith chemistry are firmly based, although others are destined to become powerful and perhaps routine tools for the mainstream fish biologist.
Viscoelastic Properties of Porcine Serum-Myosin Gel and the Sausage Fortified by Porcine Serum

Heat-induced gels of charcoal-treated, freeze-dried porcine serum fortified by chicken myosin solution (2.5%, w/w), as well as pork sausage fortified by the serum, were analyzed in terms of their rheological properties by creep measurements at different protein concentrations. The creep curves of gels and sausages conformed to a six-element mechanical model consisting of one Hookean, two Voigt and one Newtonian component. The mixture of the serum and chicken myosin (5.6% total protein concentration) formed a harder gel upon heating than 6% serum alone. This indicated that interactions between porcine serum protein and myosin occurred with heating. The viscoelastic values of pork sausage increased with the addition of the serum. Moreover, pork sausage fortified by the serum had higher viscoelastic values than sausage fortified by egg white protein (p
Effect of phospholipid n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on rat lipid metabolism

It has been demonstrated that the amount and type of dietary fat are factors involved in the risk of arteriosclerosis and coronary or cerebral artery disease through lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of phospholipids (PLs) containing n-3PUFAs on lipid metabolism in rats. PLs containingn-3PUFAswereprepared fromsquid(Todarodespacificus)mantlemuscle. GroupsofmaleWistar rats were fed AIN93G diet containing soybean oil (SO, 7%), fish oil (1.2%) þ SO (5.8%), soybean PLs (1.8%) þ SO (5.2%), or PLs containing n-3PUFAs (1.8%) þ SO (5.2%). The following indicators were assayed as indexes of lipid metabolism: TAG and cholesterol in serum and liver, fecal cholesterol, bile-acid excretion, and liver mRNA expression levels of genes encoding proteins involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Serum and liver TAG contents decreased significantly in the group fed PLs containing n-3PUFAs as compared to other groups, accompanied by a significant decline in the expression level of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c. The decrease in cholesterol content in the group fed PLs containing n-3PUFAs was due to the increase in fecal cholesterol excretion and the increase of mRNA expression levels of ATPbinding cassette (ABC) G5 and ABCG8 in liver. Practical applications: PLs containing n-3PUFAs decreased serum and liver TAG contents compared with that induced by soybean PLs. Further, PLs containing n-3PUFAs can induce a reduction in serum and liver cholesterol concentrations as well as the triglyceride-reducing effect of conventional n-3PUFAs containing TAG. In other words, dietary n-3PUFAs contained in PLs can prevent life-style diseases such as hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis and coronary, or cerebral artery disease more effectively than TAG containing n-3PUFAs. Therefore, it is expected that the risk of lifestyle diseases would be decreased if PL containing n-3PUFAs can be supplied routinely. In this study, PLs containing n-3PUFAs were prepared from squid mantle muscle. On an industrial scale, such PLs can be produced from various unused resources and waste materials of fisheries. We conclude that highly functional foods could be developed based on the findings of this study, and would be available for health promotion worldwide.
The Significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection and Biofilms to the Cystic Fibrosis Patients: The Need for the Development of New Therapies

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a motile, Gram-negative, bacillus bacterium of the Pseudomonadaceae family [1]. PA is found extensively in nature and is known to inhabit most natural and man-made environments [2]. PA is robust, with many features enabling continued survival under both favourable and hostile conditions [3]. One such feature is PA’s minimal nutritional requirements and the ability to utilise a diverse range of foods for energy. PA is classed as a facultative anaerobic organism [4]. As such, the self-production of ATP to meet metabolic demand can be met and sustained in the presence or complete absence of oxygen. PA also has the ability to convert to a mucoid or biofilm forming phenotype, resulting in the hyper-production of secreted alginate. This situation enables PA to establish a biofilm mode of growth, offering additional protection from environmental factors, enhancing survival [5,6].
A new species of Coprosma Sect. Acerosae (Rubiaceae) endemic to the South and Stewart Islands of New Zealand

Abstract A new endemic addition to Coprosma Sect. Acerosae, Coprosma elatirioides, is described from New Zealand. The new species is a common shrub of mid to oligotrophic wetland habitats along the West Coast and in the southern third of the South Island, and on Stewart Island. Previously, Coprosma elatirioides was included within a broad circumscription of C. brunnea, from which it is distinguished by its non‐flexuous branching habit, comparatively large, conspicuous and persistent calyces and a deeply divided corolla on female flowers, and restriction to wetland habitats. Coprosma elatirioides is most similar to C. inter‐texta, from which it is distinguished by its subscandent, trailing growth form, shortly sheathing and conspicuously denticulate stipules, fleshy coriaceous, adaxially pubescent leaves with obtuse apices, and ecology. C. elatirioides is further distinguished from C. brunnea, C. intertexta, and the other coprosma species of Sect. Acerosae by nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and external transcribed spacer (ETS) sequence differences.
Red Sea Phyllidiidae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia), with descriptions of new species

All the known Red Sea nudibranchs of the family Phyllidiidae are described and their taxonomic positions discussed. The genus Fryeria Gray, 1853, is regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Phyllidia Cuvier, 1797, and Reyfria gen. nov. is introduced to describe those species differing from Phyllidia primarily in the position of the anus. Of 12 species described here from the Red Sea, four are new to science. Phyllidia arabica Ehrenberg, 1831, is distinguished from Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801, and Phyllidia sp. is described as the third species confused with this group. A subspecies of P. ocellata Cuvier, 1804, is described and illustrated, as are three new species: P. melanocera, P. monacha and P. multifaria.
The effect of delayed emergence on infectivity of juveniles of the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis .

The potential infectivity of second stage juveniles of Globodera rostochiensis was influenced by the amount of their lipid reserves at the time of hatching. Scanning microdensitometry showed that stimulation of hatch by potato root diffusate increased lipid utilization by the unhatched juvenile and late hatching individuals had a significantly reduced lipid content at eclosion. Late hatching juveniles had impaired infectivity and delayed development compared with juveniles emerging from the same cysts soon after stimulation. This effect was not caused by initial differences in lipid content. The results are discussed in the context of the significance of delayed hatching in G. rostochiensis.
Application of AI and Soft Computing in Healthcare: A Review and Speculation

: The crisis of healthcare resources in terms of man and machine in our society is the crucial issues. The calamity well observed at outbreak especially in rural areas where sufficient resources for healthcare management is very difficult to manage. The rural people are not getting proper treatment due to the lack of doctors and they most of the instance committed death due to improper diagnosis by the chock doctors. The question is how to minimize this calamity? The answer to this query is to grow technological consciousness in the glove that is the motivation of these reviews article. It has been observed that in healthcare system could not go ahead a single step without soft computing (SC) and it highly related to Artificial Intelligence in this AI-era. The aim of this article is to highlight and resolve these issues by the reviewing the recent development of artificial intelligence (AI). The paper finds link of AI and soft SC techniques in the field of medical diagnosis and healthcare management. This article reviews the methodology and application of each sub-component of AI-SC in the field of medical healthcare system. It encompasses most of the AI-SC recent development techniques to acquire the knowledge about this domain under a single umbrella. The goal of this review is to explore the application of AI-SC that could enhance diagnosis process of the critical diseases in terms of minimal cost as well as maximal crisis management.
In situ eutrophication caused by fish farms in the northern Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba) is beneficial for its coral reefs: a critique

In their recent paper, Bongiorni et al. (2003a) claimthat nutrients released from fish farms (Fig. 1A) at Eilat(Red Sea) ‘may not necessarily lead to the demise ofcoral reefs as is commonly presumed’ (p. 137). Theirstudy, aimed at assessing the ‘impacts of a commercialfish farm near Eilat, Israel, on some life-history para-meters of selected coral species’ (p. 138), showed that7 mo after experimentally suspending branches of
The human papillomavirus confers radiosensitivity in oropharyngeal cancer cells by enhancing DNA double strand break

Background: Patients with Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has better outcomes than those with HPV-negative OPSCC. This may be related to its enhanced radiosensitivity. This study examined the effect of HPV and its E6 oncoprotein on the morphology, radiosensitivity, and repair of radiation-induced DNA damage. Materials and Methods: HPV-negative UM-SCC4 with and without transfection of HPV E6 oncoprotein, HPV-negative UPCI-SCC-089 and HPV-positive UPCI-SCC-099 cell lines were used in this study. The radiosensitivity and morphological changes after radiation were determined by clonogenic assay. Radiation-induced double-strand breaks in the DNA was measured by γ-H2AX foci immunofluorescent assay. Results: The survival fraction after 10 Gy was significantly lower for the HPV-positive SCC-099 cells than for the HPV-negative cells (p = 0.03). The levels of γ-H2AX foci formation and retention were time and cell line-dependent. The γ-H2AX level started to increase at 1 hour and peaked at 4 hours after 10 Gy radiation in the HPV-negative SCC-089 and UM-SCC4 cells before reducing to negligible level (p = 0.0001). In contrast, the HPV-positive UPCI-SCC-099 cells displayed persistent γ-H2AX activity; the expression of γ-H2AX remained high at 48 hours post radiation (p = 0.001). Transfection with the E6 oncoprotein prolonged γ-H2AX formation up to 24 hours in HPV-negative SCC4 cells. HPV-positive SCC-099 cells were more likely to show the classical apoptotic changes of increased cell thickness and increased motility after radiation. Conclusions: This in vitro study confirmed that HPV-positive OPSCC was more radiosensitive. Transfection with the E6 oncoprotein enhanced the radiosensitivity in HPV-negative OPSCC by impairing the DNA repair mechanism and enhancing apoptotic cell death.
Effect of the Combined Probiotics on Inhibiting PathogenicEscherichia coli Prolification

The study on the combined probiotics to replace antibiotics becomes more and more important because the by-effects and appearance of “superbug” from abuse of antibiotics in human life and animal production. In order to get the effective combined probiotics for replacing antibiotics and inhibiting pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) prolification, 3 strains of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis, named as B1, B2 and B3) were used to determine the pre-combination with experimental design (3 factors×4 levels), and then the pre-combination of B. subtilis was combined with Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) and Hansenula anomala (H. anomala) to achieve the most effective combined probiotics with the same design. The results indicated that the pre-combination ratio of B1, B2 and B3 was 0:1:1, and the most effective combination ratios of the pre-combination, L. casei and H. anomala were 0:1:1, 1:3:0, 2:2:3, 2:3:2, respectively (P<0.05). In addition, the incubating groups containing L. casei had better effect on inhibiting E. coli prolification than those without Lactobacillus, indicating that Lactobacillus had the best effect on inhibiting E. coli prolification, compared with other bacteria.
The occurrence of larval Digenea in ten species of intertidal prosobranch molluscs in Cardigan Bay.

Summary The percentage infection with fifteen species of larval Digenea is described in ten species of littoral prosobranchs in Cardigan Bay. In some host species percentage infection varies with the position on the shore in relation to the height above chart datum and to exposure to wave action. These variations are attributed, partly to the behaviour of the host species, to the effects of environmental conditions on the susceptibility to infection of the first intermediate host and on the free-living stages of the parasite and to the physiological or genetical resistance of the first intermediate host.