Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retracted: Does natural variation in diversity affect biotic resistance?

Theories linking diversity to ecosystem function have been challenged by the widespread observation of more exotic species in more diverse native communities. Few studies have addressed the key underlying process by dissecting how community diversity is shaped by the same environmental gradients that determine biotic and abiotic resistance to new invaders. In grasslands on highly heterogeneous soils, we used addition of a recent invader, competitor removal and structural equation modelling (SEM) to analyse soil influences on community diversity, biotic and abiotic resistance and invader success. Biotic resistance, measured by reduction in invader success in the presence of the resident community, was negatively correlated with species richness and functional diversity. However, in the multivariate SEM framework, biotic resistance was independent of all forms of diversity and was positively affected by soil fertility via community biomass. Abiotic resistance, measured by invader success in the absence of the resident community, peaked on infertile soils with low biomass and high community diversity. Net invader success was determined by biotic resistance, consistent with this invader's better performance on infertile soils in unmanipulated conditions. Seed predation added slightly to biotic resistance without qualitatively changing the results. Soil‐related genotypic variation in the invader also did not affect the results. Synthesis. In natural systems, diversity may be correlated with invasibility and yet have no effect on either biotic or abiotic resistance to invasion. More generally, the environmental causes of variation in diversity should not be overlooked when considering the potential functional consequences of diversity.
Effect of high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits, and subunits of gliadin on physicochemical parameters of different wheat genotypes

A identificacao das propriedades funcionais de farinhas de trigo atraves de testes especificos possibilita selecionar genotipos de trigo com caracteristicas adequadas a cada uso industrial. O principal objetivo dos programas de melhoramento genetico e melhorar a qualidade do banco de germoplasma para que seja possivel desenvolver trigos com forca de gluten e extensibilidade adequadas para producao de produtos panificaveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar 16 genotipos de trigo correlacionando as subunidades de gluteninas de alto e baixo peso molecular e as subunidades de gliadinas com as caracteristicas fisico-quimicas do grao. Foram determinados o teor de proteina, volume de sedimentacao, indice de sedimentacao e numero de queda. O peso hectolitro e massa de 1000 sementes tambem foram determinados. As subunidades de gluteninas e gliadinas foram separadas usando gel de poliacrilamida na presenca do dodecil sulfato de sodio. Os dados foram submetidos a analise de variância, correlacao de Pearson, analise de componentes principais e analise de cluster. Os genotipos IPR 85, IPR Catuara TM, T 091015 e T 091069 se destacaram dos demais, evidenciando possivel superioridade na qualidade do grao, apresentando maior volume de sedimentacao, indice de sedimentacao e peso de mil sementes, e apresentaram em sua constituicao as subunidades 1 (Glu-A1), 5 + 10 (Glu-D1), c (Glu-A3) e b (Glu-B3), com excecao do genotipo T 091069, que apresentou o alelo g em vez do b no Glu-B3.
A technique to determine the behavior of a radio-tagged animal

I describe a technique to differentiate between activities of radio-tagged animals solely from radio signals. Signal amplitude and pulse interval data are transformed with time series analysis, and variables measured from the transformation are classified with discriminant function analysis. An example is given with known reference radio signals for three behaviors from striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in which 75% of the reference signals are classified correctly. If the classification is adjusted to allow for unclassifiable signals, then 23% are unclassifiable, but of the remaining 77%, 84% are classified correctly.
Diets of Angora Goats Grazing Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)-Infested Rangeland

Angora goats have been suggested as biological control agents for leafy spurge, especially in environmentally sensitive or limited access areas. Dietary preferences and dietary nutritive content of herded Angora goats were evaluated over a two-year period in North Dakota. Relative preferences of forages were evaluated by comparing botanical composition of diets as determined by microhistological analysis of fecal samples to forage availability in the field. Leafy spurge and shrubs comprised the largest percentage of goat diets throughout each grazing season. Goats preferred leafy spurge and shrubs at all times and avoided most cool-season grass species. The nutritional requirements of Angora goats nursing kids were met throughout the grazing season. Use of Angora goats is another tool available to land managers to manage leafy spurge infestations in the Northern Plains.
A review of forest succession models and their suitability for forest management planning.

Successful implementation of ecosystem management requires strategic forest management plan- ning, including the ability to forecast future forest composition. With advances in ecological modeling, many forms of succession models are available. In this review, we provide a broad synthesis of the methods used to model forest succession and discuss their suitability for strategic forest management planning. Qualitative models underpin theoretical understanding of forest succession but require expression in more formal quanti- tative forms to be applicable to strategic planning. Quantitative modeling methods can be differentiated as empirical or mechanistic. Empirical models rely on observational data of successional change. Mechanistic models rely on knowledge of underlying ecological processes to simulate succession. Hybrid mechanistic models represent a compromise in ecological modeling between empirical robustness and theoretical understanding. With their increased flexibility for scenario planning and enhanced representation of ecosystem processes, hybrid models are well suited to addressing the multiple environmental and social factors increasingly being considered under ecosystem management. However, empirical models still remain a suitable and practical alternative because hybrid models require increased resources to initialize, operate, and interpret; emphasize understanding rather than prediction; and assume that the modeled processes they represent are adequately understood. FOR . S CI. 55(1):23-36.
Non-Linear Models for Growth Curves in Large White Turkeys

The present work aimed to model the growth curves of male and female turkeys with respect to their live weight-age relationships and to determine a non-linear model explaining their growth curve better. For this purpose four different non-linear models were used to define growth curves of turkeys, namely Gompertz, Logistic, Morgan-Mercer-Flodin (MMF), and Richards. The coefficients of determination for these models were 0.9975, 0.9937, 0.9993, and 0.9966 for females and 0.9974, 0.9933, 0.9993, and 0.9969 for males, respectively. Considering model selection criteria, Gompertz, Logistic and Richards models seen to be suitable models for explaining Large White turkey growth.
Use of factor scores in multiple regression analysis for estimation of body weight by several body measurements in brown trouts (Salmo trutta fario).

This study was conducted to estimate body weight from several biometrical traits viz. total and fork lengths, body height, head length, adipose fin width and adipose fin length of Salmo trutta fario trouts. A sample of 140 Salmo trutta fario trouts (70 male & 70 female) was used in this investigation. First, only multiple regression analyses were applied to the data on each gender that caused to multicollinearity problem. In order to eliminate multicollinearity problems, multiple regression analysis after factor analysis was used for each fish gender data. Thus the problems were removed by using factor scores in multiple regression analyses. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett’s test of sphericity were used to prove whether factor analysis was appropriate for analysis of both genders. According to these two criteria, the data were fit for application of factor analysis. Three factors with eigenvalues greater than one were selected as independent variables for multiple regression analysis. It was concluded that fish body weight increased when total length, fork length, body height, head length, adipose fin width and length increased. Use of biometrical measurements such as total and fork lengths body height, head length, adipose fin width and length for breeding purposes might provide valuable information on improvement of body weight. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers
Hypervariability in Gene Copy Number for the Glucose Transporter Genes in Trypanosomes

The copy number of the gene encoding the carrier protein responsible for the uptake of glucose in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei (THT1) was investigated in the genome of 55 different members of the subgenus Trypanozoon. The gene is present in multiple copies in tandem arrays on two homologous chromosomes in these organisms, and copy number varies both intra‐ and interspecifically. Variability is also apparent in the number of genes encoding a second hexose transporter (THT2) which is the only isoform expressed in procyclic organisms. Multiple copies of THT2 are conserved in representatives of the non‐tsetse transmitted species, Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma equiperdum.
NUTRITIONAL AND CONTRACTILE REGULATION OF HUMAN MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: ROLE OF LEUCINE AND CITRULLINE

iii Acknowledgements . v List of Tables . ix List of Figures . x Format and organization of this thesis . xiii Contribution to papers with multiple authors . xiv Chapter 1: General Introduction . 1 1.
The Behaviour of Minnows in Relation to Light Intensity

1. Minnows kept in a tank are active during the day and quiet at night. Their behaviour is reversed if they are given hollow bricks in which they take cover and so avoid bright light. When cover is available they are very active at sunrise and sunset. 2. Minnows have no inherent daily rhythm of locomotory activity. 3. Blind minnows respond to daily variations in light intensity, and are more active at night than during the day. 4. Minnows will not cross a light-dark boundary when the intensity on the light side is greater than 0.17-0.08 m.c 5. A minnow shoal disperses between intensities of 0.024 and 0.0034 m.c. 6. Minnows catch Dapknia better in bright light than in the dark. The change from visual to ‘dark’ feeding takes place between 0.0007 and 0.00007 m.c. 7. Minnows appear to avoid bright light by a comparison of intensities if the light-dark boundary is sharp, but they may also respond to light photokinetically. 8. It should be noted that these results, obtained in the laboratory, may not be true for minnows under natural conditions.
Evaluation of Karyotype Status of Musa L. Somaclonal Variants (Musaceae: Zingiberales)

Tissue culture regenerated materials of Musa L. spp. (banana and plantain) along with their somaclonal variants were assessed for karyotype abnormalities to be used as indicators for rapid cytological marking. The results show that although slight variations were noted in karyomorphometric characters, like chromosome number, arm length, total chromosome length, and total chromosome volume, these were not significant (P £ 0.05). Therefore, chromosomal abnormalities may not be accurate markers for somaclonal variation in these species. The need to not overemphasise chromosomal instability resulting from culture techniques was highlighted. Other possible causes of somaclonal variations were proposed to explain this phenomenon in Musa spp.
Encroachment of open grasslands and Acacia drepanolobium Harms ex B.Y.Sjöstedt habitats by Euclea divinorum Hiern in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

Euclea divinorum, a fast establishing, unpalatable, and fire resistant bush is considered an invasive species in some parts of its range. In Ol Pejeta Conservancy (OPC), Kenya, E. divinorum bushes cover ˜27% of the total area (˜9470 ha.) and has been expanding in coverage and encroaching into A. drepanolobium woodlands, a key woody habitat for the endangered black rhino. Between 2006 and 2010, we assessed the spatial distribution, annual rates of spread and recruitment of E. divinorum in OPC. We used data from satellite imagery and belt transects laid at the transition between E. divinorum habitat and other habitats. Density of E. divinorum seedlings increased by 27% annually over five years, with more seedlings establishing in grassland habitat (56.6%) than in A. drepanolobium woodland (43.4%). Within the infection frontier, the number of seedlings was high at the ecotone and reduced predictably with an increase in distance into the infection zone. Increase in rainfall facilitated recruitment and survival of E. divinorum seedlings and also reduced damage on trees and seedlings by mega-herbivores, especially elephants. This study confirms the encroachment of E. divinorum bushland into other habitats. This has been accelerated by burning and damage to A. drepanolobium habitat thus opening it up to encroachment by E. divinorum. Resume Euclea divinorum est un buisson qui s'installe rapidement, d'un gout desagreable et resistant au feu. Il est considere comme une espece invasive dans certaines parties de son aire de repartition. Dans l'Ol Pejeta Conservancy (OPC), au Kenya, les buissons d'E. divinorum couvrent quelque 27% de la superficie totale (env. 9470 ha) et ils s'etendent encore et envahissent les forets a A. drepanolobium, un habitat forestier crucial pour le rhinoceros noir qui est une espece en danger. Entre 2006 et 2010, nous avons evalue la distribution spatiale, le taux de dispersion annuel et le recrutement d'E. divinorum dans l'OPC. Nous avons utilise des donnees de l'imagerie satellitaire et des belt-transects traces sur la ligne de transition entre l'habitat d'E. divinorum et les autres habitats. La densite des jeunes plants d'E. divinorum a augmente de 27% par an durant ces cinq ans, et il y avait plus de jeunes plants qui s'etablissaient dans un habitat de prairie (56.6%) que dans la foret a A. drepanolobium (43.4%). A la frontiere des envahissements, le nombre de jeunes plants est eleve dans l'ecotone et se reduit comme attendu avec l'augmentation de la distance par rapport a la zone d'infection. Une augmentation des chutes de pluie facilitait le recrutement et la survie des jeunes plants d'E. divinorum et reduisait aussi les degâts causes aux arbres et aux jeunes plants par les mega-herbivores, specialement par les elephants. Cette etude confirme l'envahissement des buissons d'E. divinorum dans d'autres habitats. Ce phenomene a ete accelere par les feux et par les degâts causes a l'habitat a A. drepanolobium qui s'est ainsi ouvert a l'envahissement d'E. divinorum.
Lack of intermediate‐scale disturbance data prevents robust extrapolation of plot‐level tree mortality rates for old‐growth tropical forests

Ecology Letters (2009) 12: E22–E25 Abstract Lloyd et al. (2009) question the methods, concepts and conclusions of Fisher et al. (2008). We address these assertions, and place our work into a broader context. We demonstrate the veracity of Fisher et al., and further show that lack of data for intermediate-scale tree mortality disturbance events for old-growth tropical forests might prevent robust extrapolation of forest plot biomass accumulation data, and accurate estimates of distribution parameters such as power-law exponents (α).
Rhopalostroma brevistipitatum sp. nov. from Thailand with an extended generic description for Rhopalostroma

Rhopalostroma species were collected from Northern Thailand and subjected to morph-molecular analysis . One species possessed small, clavate stromata, with short and stout stipes, asci with an amyloid apical apparatus and ellipsoidal, dark ascospores with germ slits. Morphology and combined phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, β-tubulin and RPB2 sequence data, showed it to be a new Rhopalostroma species introduced herein as R. brevistipitatum. A nodulisporium-like asexual morph was produced in culture. A morphological description and photographs of R. brevistipitatum are provided in this paper, with amendments to the generic description.
Vaccination with Tumor Peptide in CpG Adjuvant Protects Via IFN-γ-Dependent CD4 Cell Immunity1

The low frequency of tumor Ag-specific T cells in vivo has made it challenging to directly measure their clonal sizes and cytokine signatures. We used a new generation ELISPOT approach to study the constitutive immunogenicity of the RMA tumor in syngeneic B6 mice and adjuvant-guided immunity against an MHC class II-restricted RMA peptide, H11.1. The RMA tumor was found to activate cells of the innate immune system and to induce a type 1 polarized, RMA-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell response. With clonal sizes ∼10/106, the magnitude of this constitutively induced immune response did not suffice to control the tumor cell growth. In contrast, immunization with H11.1 peptide, using an immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotide or CFA as adjuvant, engaged ∼25- or ∼10-fold higher clonal sizes of type 1 polarized CD4 cells, respectively. Therefore, the CpG oligonucleotide functioned as a stronger type 1 adjuvant and, unlike CFA, elicited protective immunity. The protection was IFN-γ dependent, as it was not inducible in IFN-γ knockout mice. Therefore, CpG adjuvant-guided induction of type 1 immunity against tumor Ags might be a promising subunit vaccination approach.
Isozyme analysis for characterization of Ganoderma strains from south-east Asia.

Extracellular pectinase isozymes were determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) for isolates of Ganoderma collected from a range of hosts and environments in south-east Asia. Findings indicate these techniques to be of use in the differentiation of strains isolated from different hosts and environments. Average linkage cluster analysis of pectinase isozyme banding patterns separated isolates according to host of origin.
Benzothiadiazole-primed defence responses and enhanced differential expression of defence genes in Vitis vinifera infected with biotrophic pathogens Erysiphe necator and Plasmopara viticola

Benzothiadiazole (BTH), a salicylic acid analogue, strengthens plant defence mechanisms against a broad spectrum of pathogens. The role of pre-treatment with BTH in enhancing resistance against infection with various isolates of downy and powdery mildews (Plasmopara viticola and Erysiphe necator) was investigated in grapevine leaves. Tools were developed to better assess the defence status of the plant. In compatible interactions amongst a set of 19 genes, more than 57·2% of differentiated transcripts from P. viticola infected-leaves (Pv-infected leaves) and 90% from E. necator-infected leaves (En-infected leaves) were down-regulated at 24 h post-inoculation (hpi), indicating a manipulation of host responses by the pathogens. BTH treatment enhanced grapevine defences, with pathogen growth inhibited by 61–98%, depending on the pathogen isolate. Treatment also triggered up-regulation of pathogenesis-related protein genes such as PR-1, PR-2, PR-3, PR-8 and PR-10 in Pv-infected leaves, and PR-3, PR-6 and PR-10 in En-infected leaves. Treatment with BTH also led to regulation of indole pathway transcripts; in particular, anthranilate synthase was down-regulated at 24 hpi in all infected leaves, then strongly up-regulated afterwards according to the rate of pathogen development. Quantitation of polyphenols and stilbenes showed that pterostilbene was specifically accumulated in pre-treated leaves and associated with biological efficacy and significant increases in PR protein gene transcripts. The temporal evolution of defence-related genes in pre-treated infected leaves suggests that grapevine responses vary depending on the inter- or intra-species variability of pathogens.
Options-Implied Probability Density Functions for Real Interest Rates

This paper constructs options-implied probability density functions for real interest rates. These use options on TIPS, which were launched in 2009. Data availability limits us to studying short-maturity probability density functions for intermediate- to long-term TIPS yields. The PDFs imply high uncertainty about real rates. I also estimate empirical pricing kernels using these option prices along with time-series models fitted to real interest rates. The empirical pricing kernel implies that investors have high marginal utility in states of the world with high real rates.
Intensive fishing has not forced dietary change in the South American fur seal Arctophoca (=Arctocephalus) australis off Río de la Plata and adjoining areas

South American fur seals (Arctophoca australis) inhabiting the Rio de la Plata plume and adjoining areas are known to forage upon a wide range of prey (i.e. pelagic, demersal and benthic species). Since the 1960s, trawlers have operated in the area, targeting primarily demersal and benthic species. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios from 54 adult male fur seals dead stranded along the coast of southern Brazil from 1994 to 2011 were analysed to investigate whether the intensification of fishing in Rio de la Plata and adjoining areas since the mid-1990s has reduced the availability of benthic and demersal prey to the growing population of South American fur seals. No significant correlation between δ13C or δ15N values and stranding year was found, thus revealing that fur seals maintained a steady diet over 17 years. Reconstruction of the isotopic landscape of the study area using potential prey of fur seals showed a spatial segregation, with prey from southern Brazil typically enriched in 13C and depleted in 15N compared with those from northern Argentina. Most adult male fur seals relied mainly on small pelagic fishes and squid captured on the continental shelf, whereas medium pelagic and demersal–benthic prey played a minor role in the diet. It is concluded that South American fur seals rely on pelagic resources (i.e. small pelagic fish and squid) more strongly than previously thought and that their diet does not reflect the varying abundance of demersal–benthic resources in the area. As long as small pelagic fish remain under-exploited in the area, competition between fisheries and fur seals is not expected. However, it is difficult to foresee how changes in the structure and dynamics of the ecosystem caused by fisheries may affect South American fur seal conservation in the long term. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.