Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphometric and meristic variability among North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

To investigate the morphometric and meristic variation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in North America, juveniles from 16 anadromous and 5 nonanadromous populations were collected from an area extending from Labrador to New York state. The findings from the analysis of these characters were supplemented by an examination of malate dehydrogenase variation on a subset of specimens from selected populations. Newfoundland – Labrador and Gaspe – Maritime populations were found to belong to distinct regional stocks. This conclusion was supported by the accuracy of the morphometric discriminant function and a discontinuity in Mdh-3,4(100) allele frequencies. The lack of a clinal relationship between morphometric characters, latitude, longitude, and number of degree-days above 7 °C also suggested a pattern of distinct regional stocks. Considerable overlap among populations was found for meristic characteristics, and these were considered unsuitable for stock identification purposes. While no somatic differences.
Disulfide-crosslinked heparin-pluronic nanogels as a redox-sensitive nanocarrier for intracellular protein delivery

Improving the efficacy of drug delivery via nanocarriers has been a major issue in the field of intravenous delivery. In this study, a polymeric nanogel was developed to enhance the stability, redox responsiveness, and the efficacy for intracellular protein delivery. The thiolated heparin-Pluronic conjugate was self-assembled and oxidized to form a disulfide-crosslinked nanogel network under a diluted aqueous condition. The disulfide-crosslinked heparin-Pluronic (DHP) nanogels with encapsulated RNase A were characterized by in vitro release and cytotoxicity tests depending on the existence of glutathione (GSH). The DHP nanogels exhibited reduced hydrodynamic size, higher encapsulation degree, and augmentable release responding to the GSH concentration. The ctotoxicity data confirmed that DHP nanogels were more effective for the intracellular delivery of RNase A compared to non-crosslinked nanogel.
Development of the strawberry bud weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in strawberry fields

The seasonal phenology and development of field populations of the strawberry bud weevil, Anthonomus signatus Say, were monitored in strawberry fields from 1983 to 1987 in southern Quebec. The results indicated a consistent 1:1 (male/female) sex ratio in spring and summer. The peak period of each life stage could be predicted by accumulated degree-days, base 0°C. The developmental period from egg to adult was ≈63 d. Measurements are given for each stage. A. signatus is a univoltine species, and the summer adults enter a reproductive diapause at the beginning of August. Spring adult emergence is not gradual but is sudden with tremendous increases within a very short period of time. Therefore, because most adults hibernate inside the strawberry field, control measures should evaluate the possibility of controlling summer populations of the weevil at its maximum summer abundance.
EFFECT OF BIOSYNTHESIS CONDITIONS ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE WATER- SOLUBLE POLYSACCHARIDES OF FAST- GROWING RHIZOBIA

Water-soluble polysaccharides of fast-growing Rhizobia strains were produced in three conditions of biosynthesis: cells growing in a yeast extract medium, cells growing in a mineral medium and cells resting. Under these three conditions, three strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum (L 1S, L2S, L3S), three strains of Rhizobium phaseoli (P2S, P7S, P8S), and two strains of Rhizobium trifolii (T7S, T15S) produced polysaccharides which were precipitated with one volume of ethanol and purified. These polysaccharides contained (in % w/w): glucose (51.7-64.8), galactose (8.9-14.7), glucuronic acid (14-23), and some pyruvic and acetic acids which varied with the conditions of polysaccharide production. The polysaccharides produced in the conditions cited above, by four strains of Rhizobium meliloti (M5N1, M11S, M1-5, L5-30) differed from those of R. leguminosarum, R. phaseoli, and R. trifolii. The polysaccharides of R. meliloti contained (in% w/w): glucose (63.7-74), galactose (8.2-11), no glucuronic acid (except for R. meliloti M11S: 1%) and some pyruvic, acetic and succinic acids which varied with the conditions of polysaccharide biosynthesis.
Syntrophus buswellii gen. nov., sp. nov.: a Benzoate Catabolizer from Methanogenic Ecosystems

Syntrophus buswellii, which was isolated from anaerobic digestor sludge and is present in aquatic sediments, is a motile, gram-negative, anaerobic rod-shaped organism that requires coculture with an appropriate hydrogenotroph for growth. This bacterium produces acetate, CO2, and H2 (or formate) from benzoate and, possibly, hydrocinnamate (phenyl-3-propionate). A detailed description is given.
Self-incompatibility in the Grasses

The grasses are amongst the most important families of plants. The family includes major food crops and pastures and they dominate many natural ecosystems. Self-incompatibility (SI) is common in the grasses and is under the control of two unlinked loci, S and Z. Specification of SI in this family is gametophytic and is determined by the combination of S and Z alleles in the pollen grain. Available data suggests that the two-locus SI system is common to all self-incompatible grass species of the Pooideae and possibly all members of the Graminae. Genetic studies showed the presence of the S-Z system in the Triticeae, the Poeae and the Avenae. Linkage analyses have identified common markers linked to the S-gene in grass species from all three tribes. Molecular markers have confirmed the syntenous localisation of S and Z in several species. Although this SI system is complex relative to that in other families, the importance of this family and the detailed genetic and physical data emerging from many genomics programsmakes this an important group for more detailed studies.
Occurrence of barley yellow dwarf virus and cereal yellow dwarf virus in pasture grasses and spring cereals in Latvia

Abstract The relative frequency of three viruses causing barley yellow dwarf disease (BYD) was assessed in spring cereals and pasture grasses at two regions in Latvia in 2000–2002. A total of 2589 leaf samples (367 from spring oats, 743 from spring barley, 1479 from predominant grass species) were collected from 44 fields of spring oats, 84 fields of spring barley, and 26 pastures. We found that isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV), barley yellow dwarf virus-MAV (BYDV-MAV) and cereal yellow dwarf virus-RPV (CYDV-RPV) were present in these samples of spring cereals and pasture grasses. The most common isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus were BYDV-PAV and BYDV-MAV in both grasses and cereals, but there was a great difference between years and regions. The proportion of BYD symptomatic cereal samples that reacted positively in TAS-ELISA test was 9 to 15%. The overall BYDV/CYDV incidence in pasture grasses ranged from 2 to 19%. The incidence of BYDV/CYDV infection was higher in Festuca elatior than in other grass species. Isolates of CYDV-RPV were rather rare: only found in Lolium perenne and Dactylis glomerata among six grass species tested and more frequently in barley than oats. This paper reports the first quantitative survey of selected BYD-causing viruses in spring cereals and pasture grasses in Latvia and in the Baltic states. We conclude that three selected virus species are prevalent in spring cereals and pasture grasses in Latvia, although with great variation between years. Further studies are needed to obtain knowledge of the most critical factors that determine these fluctuations.
Charaterization by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis of host proteins whose synthesis is sustained or stimulated during the course of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) gene expression is concomitant with a selective shutoff of host protein synthesis. While the synthesis of the vast majority of cellular proteins is inhibited immediately after infection, several cellular proteins continue to be synthesized, even during the late phase of infection. Because these cellular proteins may intervene in the life cycle of the virus, we undertook two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D PAGE) analyses to evaluate the proportion of cellular proteins that is represented by these particular proteins. Human cells were infected with HSV‐1. At different times after infection, proteins were labeled with 35S just prior to harvesting. The rate of synthesis of a set of 183 acidic host proteins, as well as that of ribosomal proteins, was measured during the course of infection, after separation by 2‐D PAGE. As expected, HSV‐1 induces a strong inhibition of host protein synthesis immediately after infection. However, the synthesis of basic ribosomal proteins and that of an unexpected high proportion of the sub‐set of cellular proteins analyzed is sustained or stimulated during HSV‐1 infection. A 2‐D PAGE analysis outlining the expression patterns of these proteins at different times of infection is presented.
Energy Densities of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and Its Main Prey Items in an Alpine Stream of the Slizza Basin (Northwest Italy)

ABSTRACT In the present study, energy densities of 80 adult brown trout (Salmo trutta), seasonally sampled in an alpine stream in the eastern Alps and energy densities of their main prey items, were determined. The energy density (J/g wet mass) and dry weight content (%) of fish were highly correlated (p<0.00 1) and averaged 5, 611.6 ± 857.9 J/g wet mass and 25.3 ± 2.1% dry weight, respectively. Energy density values were significantly higher in fish sampled in spring than in other seasons. No major changes in the energy content were observed due to age or sex. Macroinvertebrates. particularly Ephemeroptera and Diptera, were the major food source of brown trout in the sampled area. Their gross energy content varied within a wide range of values (1, 654–5, 110 J/g wet weight), depending on the taxa and family or genus within a given taxon.
PHOSPHATE UPTAKE AND GROWTH KINETICS OF TRICHODESMIUM (CYANOBACTERIA) ISOLATES FROM THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA 1

We compared inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake and growth kinetics of two cultures of the diazotrophic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium isolated from the North Atlantic Ocean (IMS101) and from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (GBRTRLI101). Phosphate‐limited cultures had up to six times higher maximum Pi uptake rates than P‐replete cultures in both strains. For strain GBRTRLI101, cell‐specific Pi uptake rates were nearly twice as high, due to larger cell size, but P‐specific maximum uptake rates were similar for both isolates. Half saturation constants were 0.4 and 0.6 μM for Pi uptake and 0.1 and 0.2 μM for growth in IMS101 and GBRTRLI101, respectively. Phosphate uptake in both strains was correlated to growth rates rather than to light or temperature. The cellular phosphorus quota for both strains increased with increasing Pi up to 1.0 μM. The C:P ratios were 340–390 and N:P ratios were 40–45 for both strains under severely P‐limited growth conditions, similar to reported values for natural populations from the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The C:P and N:P ratios were near Redfield values in medium with >1.0 μM Pi. The North Atlantic strain IMS101 is better adapted to growing on Pi at low concentrations than is GBRTRLI101 from the more Pi‐enriched Great Barrier Reef. However, neither strain can achieve appreciable growth at the very low (nanomolar) Pi concentrations found in most oligotrophic regimes. Phosphate could be an important source of phosphorus for Trichodesmium on the Great Barrier Reef, but populations growing in the oligotrophic open ocean must rely primarily on dissolved organic phosphorus sources.
An ecological land classification approach to modeling the production of forest biomass

Forest site classification is a prerequisite to successful integrated forest resources planning and management. Traditionally,site classification has emphasized a phytocentric approach, with tools such as the site index having a rich and longhistory in forest site evaluation. The concept of site index was primarily devised to assess site productivity of an even-aged,single-species stand. Site index has been the primary method of forest site evaluation in support of management for traditionalforest products. However, this method of site classification has been criticized as the needs, perspectives andsocial values of the public regarding forest management have changed the emphasis from timber production to multiplevalueforestry practices. There are alternative approaches to forest site classification that have the potential to meet thegrowing demands placed on forest information for inventory and modeling purposes. Ecological Land Classification(ELC), is a phytogeocentric approach that stratifies the lands.
Proceedings of the First Meeting of the Operational Research (OR) Society's Special Interest Group on Agriculture and Natural Resources (SIG-ANR)

SUMMARY This group, which represents the reformed Operational Research (OR) Society's Agriculture and Related Industries group (http://www.orsoc.org.uk), promotes the use of OR (or the application of the scientific method) in solving management and governance problems within this sector. The theme of this meeting was to look at models concerned with making better decisions for the management or governance of the agricultural and natural resource industries. This first one day meeting was at Reading University, Berkshire, UK on the 2 April when the following papers were read.
Genetic diversity of physical, nutritional and functional properties of cowpea grain and relationships among the traits

Cowpea is traditionally important as an affordable source of protein and minerals and of cash income in sub-Saharan Africa, especially for small-scale farmers who have limited options for food and cash crops. The development and deployment of cowpea varieties with improved nutrition and quality that meet the needs of farmers and consumers should enhance cowpea consumption and production in the region. We have identified genetic diversity in various grain quality-related traits of cowpea and relationships among the traits. Wide genetic variation and strong correlations among crude protein, Fe and Zn contents suggest the possibility of improving the concentrations of these nutritional factors simultaneously. Low associations among physical and nutritional properties of grain indicate the possibility of introgressing favorable traits utilizing identified genetic resources. However, narrow variation in amino acid (AA) composition suggests a lesser possibility of improving the contents of specific AAs in cowpea, but it gave a reliable nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 5.45 for the estimation of crude protein content. Several improved breeding lines were identified with low concentrations of flatulence-causing oligosaccharides and various favorable agronomic traits and nutrient contents. TVu-12802 had the highest contents of crude protein and high contents of micronutrients, with a low ratio of phytic acid to Fe and Zn contents.
The influence of prawn trawling on sessile benthic assemblages in Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia

Most experimental studies on the effects of trawling on the benthos use remote sampling techniques and are conducted in recently trawled areas. Thus it is difficult to determine the effects of trawling on previously unfished areas, and the fates of individual animals cannot be followed. In this study, I follow the fates of individuals of several sessile taxa when exposed to experimental trawling in areas that have not been trawled for some 1520 years. Although there was a significant trawling by location effect for all multivariate analyses and most individual taxa, I found that trawling had an overall negative effect on the benthos. Epifauna at trawled sites decreased in abundance by 28% within 2 weeks of trawling and by another 8% in the following 23 months (compared with control sites). Seasonal seagrasses were also less likely to colonise trawled sites than untrawled sites. The persistence of most taxa declined significantly in trawled areas compared with untrawled areas. In contrast to this, the re.
Trans fatty acids in dairy and meat products from 14 European countries : the TRANSFAIR study

The fatty acid composition of dairy products and meat from 14 European countries was analyzed with particular emphasis ontransfatty acids. In cow's milk, butter, and cheese the proportions oftransfatty acids ranged between 3.2 and 6.2% of fatty acids. C18:1 isomers comprised about 60% and C16:1 and C18:2 isomers about 15% each of totaltransfatty acids. Goat's and sheep's milk and cheese contained between 2.7 and 7.1%transfatty acids. Summer milk contained up to 57% moretransfatty acids, both C18:1 and C18:2 isomers, morecis-unsaturated and less saturated fatty acids than winter milk. Ice-cream with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils contained between 21 and 31%transfatty acids and low-transmodified-fat ice-cream between 0.2 and 0.9%. The high-transice-cream samples contained morecis-unsaturated and less saturated fatty acids than most dairy-fat and low-transproducts. Beef contained 2.8-9.5% and lamb meat 4.3-9.2%transfatty acids whereas pork (0.2-2.2%) and chicken (0.2-1.7%) and meat from other nonruminants were lower intransfatty acids. With very few exceptions, sausages contained pork and showed lowtransfatty acid levels. In conclusion, ruminant fats contained moderate amounts oftransfatty acids, mainly C18:1 isomers. There were considerable differences both between and within the countries, probably due to seasonal factors and differences in feeding practices and the age of the animals. © 1998 Academic Press.
Effect of extrusion processing on the utilization of soybean meal diets for rainbow trout

The effect of extrusion processing by a twin screw extruder on the nutrient utilization, and the availability of defatted soybean meal (SBM) as partial protein source were studied with rainbow trout of about 4-5g. In Expt. I, fish were fed the control and 30% SBM diets with and without extrusion processing for 6 weeks. In Expt. II, fish were fed ordinary steamed dry pellets (DP) containing 30% SBM or 30% extruded SBM (ExSBM) as a partial substitute for fish meal, and extruded soft-dry pellets (SDP) with 30% SBM for 8 weeks.Expt. I: There was no marked difference in growth or feed efficiency between the control and 30% SBM diets. Their dietary values and growth rate were not significantly improved by the extrusion, although the digestibility of starch was markedly elevated. The digestibility of dietary protein was not influenced by extrusion processing, ranging between 88 to 91%. Expt. II: Of the 30% SBM diets, SDP with a higher energy content produced higher growth, PER, protein, and energy retention than DP. Feed consumption was slightly lower in SDP with the higher energy level, leading to improved feed efficiency. Replacement of 30% SBM with the same level of ExSBM did not result in any nutritional improvement of DP.
Spectroscopic Analysis of Folate Binding to Thymidylate Synthase Active Site

ABSTRACT The fluorescence properties of folate binding to thymidylate synthase (TS) were analyzed. Two antifolates with different binding modes to the TS active site were the ligands. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence was used to evaluate the binding of both antifolates to the wild-type TS and a mutant Escherichia coli TS (K48Q) that is impaired in folate binding. During titration of wild-type TS with PDDF, tryptophan fluorescence was quenched at 330 nm, which was accompanied by an increase in emission at 379 nm, suggesting an energy transfer process from a tryptophan in the TS active site to the folate analogue. Energy transfer was not observed with the mutant TS, as expected. Tryptophan emission is a very useful tool to test for substrate-like inhibitors with biological activity.
Weight and Fat Content of Adipose and Nonadipose Tissues in Broilers Selected For or Against Abdominal Adipose Tissue

Abstract After two generations of divergent sib selection for or against abdominal adipose tissue (AT) in broilers, combined with within-family selection of males for body weight, a difference of approximately 100% in the weight of the abdominal AT was found between the high-fat (HF) and low-fat (LF) lines at 9 weeks of age. The weight and fat concentration of five AT (abdominal, gizzard, sartorial, neck, and mesenterial) were determined in 4- and 9-week-old chicks from the two lines. The relative weight (g/100 g body weight) of all the AT, except mesenterial AT, was significantly higher in the HF than in the LF line at the two ages. The line differences in adiposity increased further in the S3 generation. In the HF line, AT relative weight either increased with age or remained unchanged. In the LF line, a decrease in the relative weight of some of the AT was observed. Low and nonsignificant correlations were found between body weight and the weight of the various AT within each line-sex group. Abdominal AT was highly correlated with the other AT studied. The concentration of fat in all the AT was 5 to 10% larger in the HF than in the LF chicks. Similar differences were found between ages and sexes; they could be related to the degree of development of the AT. Liver and blood plasma of the HF chicks had higher fat concentration than those of the LF chicks. The fat concentration of the breast muscle and the empty carcass was not affected by the selection. Breast weight, as percentage of body weight, was significantly higher in the LF chicks.
Seasonal movements of grey-headed flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus (Chiroptera : pteropodidae), from two maternity camps in Northern New South Wales

Seasonal movements of 22 Pteropus poliocephalus, from two maternity camps in north-eastern New South Wales, were monitored from January to June 1989 using radiotelemetry. The animals moved independently in time and space among various communal roosts located 8-610 km from the maternity camp sites. Generally, P. poliocephalus from a camp near rainforest (Currie Park, Lismore) remained within 50 km of the maternity site. These localised movements were attributed to the continued availability of fruits in the rainforest throughout the study. Animals from a maternity camp surrounded by sclerophyll forest (Susan I., Grafton) undertook long migrations south (median distance 342.5 km, n = 11) to camps containing up to 200 000 P. poliocephalus of both sexes. These large aggregations formed during the mating season and comprised individuals drawn from various previous sites. Thus, P. poliocephalus in northern and central N.S. W. appear to function as a single breeding population and should be managed as such. After mid-May, animals from Susan I. returned to north-eastern N.S. W. There was high correlation between movements of P. poliocephalus from the camp at Susan I. and the flowering patterns of certain species of Myrtaceae and Proteaceae. It is hypothesised that flowering attractive to apiarists is also attractive to P. poliocephalus and that information from apiarists could be used by wildlife managers to predict large aggregations of the animals.