Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age, growth and mortality of invasive sharpbelly, Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewski, 1855) in Erhai Lake, China

The sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus, an invasive species, has expanded its range throughout much of Asia and into the Middle East. However, little is known of its adaptive changes regarding life history traits such as age, growth and mortality that could possibly explain its success as an invasive species. A detailed study of the invasive sharpbelly was conducted based on 4539 samples collected from July 2009 to June 2011 in Erhai Lake, China. Standard length ranged from 4.3-19.1cm for females and 4.6-12.3cm for males. Length-weight relationships for females and males were significantly different and described as W=0.0076SL(3.2608) and W=0.0084SL(3.1901), respectively. Otoliths are ideal for age determination because of the single annulus formed each year. Based on marginal increment analysis, the total mean CV for age estimate between two readings was 3.55%. The von Bertalanffy growth curves computed by observed length-at-age data were expressed as L-t=25.6 (1 - e(-0.176 (t+1.347))) for females and L-t=16.4 (1 - e(-0.354 (t+0.819))) for males. According to the age, growth and mortality data, there are three possible reasons for H.leucisculus attaining such dominance within a short time in Erhai Lake. First, because of the simple age structure of this species: 97.58% of males were 1-2years old with a maximum age of only 3years; 93.14% of females were 1-3years old, with a maximum age of 6years. Second, females grew larger than males at any age. Third, instantaneous mortality rates were much higher for males (4.22year(-1)) than for females (1.17year(-1)).
Temperature and light adaptations of Synechococcus isolates from a hot spring microbial community

Previous molecular analysis of a well-studied microbial mat system in Yellowstone National Park revealed numerous genetically distinct 16S rRNA sequences distantly related to the 16S rRNA sequence of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus lividus. These new genotypes were shown to be contributed by the predominant cyanobacterial populations. Patterns in genotype distribution relative to temperature and light conditions suggested that these populations may have evolved through adaptive radiation to fill ecological niches. In order to test this hypothesis, Synechococcus isolates were cultivated using a dilution and filtration approach, then shown to be genetically relevant compared to natural mat populations by similarities of 16S rRNA genes and the 16S-23S intervening transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Several isolates were retrieved that were identical or closely related to predominant mat genotypes at both loci. Other Synechococcus isolates were relevant at the 16S rRNA locus, but had ITS sequences not yet found in the mat. The growth rate and photosynthetic response of one representative of each genotype was then measured under various temperature and light conditions. Isolates with predominant mat genotypes had distinct temperature ranges and optima for growth, suggesting that specific temperature adaptations exist for these organisms. Isolates with non-predominant genotypes exhibited different temperature ranges and optima that may not be representative of relevant mat populations. Isolates with non-predominant genotypes also grew more slowly, which may signify a lower fitness in situ. Temperature effects on CO2 fixation did not exactly reflect temperature relations for growth, but they were consistent with a higher upper temperature limit of the most thermally stable genotype. Growth rate and photosynthetic responses of the isolates to light did not provide conclusive evidence of light adaptation; however, there was evidence for acclimation to light.
Nonsense-mediated decay of sucrose synthase 1 mRNA with induced premature chain termination codon during cold acclimation in winter wheat

Cold acclimation induces the expression of cold-regulated genes needed to protect plants against freezing damage. Fourteen candidate genes were identified as being differentially expressed (presence/absence) between cold acclimated and nonacclimated crown and leaf tissues of 2 winter wheat lines using the cDNA-AFLP method. Two TILLING populations originating from the 2 winter wheat lines were further developed in order to create mutant forms of the candidate genes to verify their role in freezing-tolerance formation. Exon 8 of the identified differentially expressed sucrose synthase 1 (Ss1) gene was chosen for mutation detection by high-resolution melting analysis. A total of 75.68 kb of DNA was screened and 2 novel alleles of the Ss1 gene were identified, of which 1 was silent and 1 was a nonsense (premature stop codon) mutation. qRT-PCR analysis showed that premature stop codon mutation has a strong negative effect on Ss1 gene expression in nonacclimated leaves as well as in crowns and leaves collected at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of cold acclimation compared with the wild-type winter wheat line. Further work will reveal the effect of the mutation on cold tolerance of winter wheat and will enable the assessment of the role of Ss1 in the cold acclimation process.
Cryptic diversity and species assignment of large lantern sharks of the Etmopterus spinax clade from the Southern Hemisphere (Squaliformes, Etmopteridae)

Straube, N. , Kriwet, J. & Schliewen, U. K. (2010). Cryptic diversity and species assignment of large lantern sharks of the Etmopterus spinax clade from the Southern Hemisphere (Squaliformes, Etmopteridae). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 61–75.
Detection of Sugar Syrups in Apple Juice by δ2H‰ and δ13C‰ Analysis of Hexamethylenetetramine Prepared from Fructose

An improved procedure for determining 13C and 2H isotope ratios, using gas chromatography−isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC−IRMS), has been developed for identifying the addition of low cost commercial sugar syrups to apple juices and related products. Isotopic techniques are commonly used to identify the addition of low cost sugars to fruit juices and are difficult to circumvent as it is not economically viable to change the isotopic ratios of the sugars. The procedure utilizes the derivative hexamethylenetetramine, which is produced through chemical transformation of a sugar degradation product and provides position-specific 13C and 2H ratios that relate to the parent sugar molecule. The new procedure has advantages over methods using nitro-sugar derivatives in terms of analysis time and sensitivity. The differences between the δ2H‰ and δ13C‰ values of the 100 authentic apple juices and beet and cane commercial sugar syrups permit their addition to be reliably detected. Keywords: Apple juice; authenti.
Behavioral Responses of Wintering Great Crested Grebes to Dissuasion Experiments: Implications for Management

Abstract Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) wintering on prealpine lakes of north Italy are considered to cause economic damage to fish, reducing the stock of native Bleak (Alburnus alburnus). We experimentally investigated the effectiveness of three deterring actions (gas-cannon, crackers and shooting) in four study sites at Lake Como, by comparing the time-budget and space-use of wintering grebes in absence and presence of disturbance. All dissuasion methods affected grebe behavior and position on the lake, but some resulted more effective than others. The gas-cannon detonations had little effect, but, crackers and shooting caused significant changes in grebe behavior. Grebes spent less time feeding, resting and preening, but more time moving/swimming during dissuasion than in the control situation. Moreover, birds also moved away from the areas with bleak shoals, resulting in a significant decrease in grebe numbers with either dissuasion methods. Although dissuasion reduced feeding of grebes in areas with shoals of Bleak (Alburnus alburnus), and probably reduced grebe predation on immature fish at localized areas, it involves intensive effort, in terms of man-days.
PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN NATRIUM KLORIDA (NaCl) DAN WAKTU PERENDAMAN BUFFER FOSFAT TERHADAP PEROLEHAN CRUDE PAPAIN DARI DAUN PEPAYA (CARICA PAPAYA, L.)

Papaya ( Carica papaya L .) is one of the fruits of commodities internationally, either in the form of fresh fruit or as processed products. The leaves are green still not fully utilized. Papaya leaves contains papain enzyme which is a protease enzyme that very helpful for the industry. Papain is a protease enzyme contained in papaya latex, whether in fruit, stems and leaves, as an enzyme capable of solving the protein molecules, current papain into products that are beneficial to human life, either at home or industrial ladder. This study aims to determine the effect of the degree of saturation of sodium chloride and phosphate buffer to yield soaking rough papaya protease. This study varying the time of immersion phosphate buffer and saturation levels of sodium chloride. Analysis of protease activity was performed using UV-Vis spectrophotometer to measure the wavelength and absorbance values​​. The best research results obtained at 12 h immersion phosphate buffer with a concentration of sodium chloride 60% is 272.8222 unit / ml. In the analysis of the rendemen obtained by the best condition at the time of immersion phosphate buffer for 36 hours at a concentration of 90% is 43,5152%. In the analysis of moisture content obtained the best condition at the time of immersion of 36 hours at a concentration of 90% is 37.4266%.
Genetic variation for seed yield in Caucasian clover

The seed production potential of 34 lines of Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.Bieb) representing a range of 2x (diploid), 4x (tetraploid) and 6x (hexaploid) material together with ecotypes from the Caucasus region were established in a trial at Lincoln, Canterbury (43”38’S) in October 1993. Measurements were made from individual plants during summer 1994-95. The diploids were earliest to flower followed by the tetraploids and finally the hexaploids, which reached peak flowering in mid December. The hexaploids produced the most florets per inflorescence (115, 101, 96 from 6x, 4x, 2x respectively) , the most inflorescences per plant (162, 101, 129 from 6x, 4x, 2x) and the highest seed yield(g) per plant (26, 9, 11 from 6x, 4x, 2x). There was large variation for all the seed production components within the three ploidy levels. For example, the hexaploid cultivar Endura consisted of plants that varied from 25-510 inflorescences per plant. The seed yield components of plants were associated with active spring growth. There was evidence of wide spreading plants producing lower numbers of -inflorescences-per-m2-andseed-yield-per-unit-area; The hexaploid material produced the greatest potential seed yields (1330,685, 1000 kg/ha from 6x, 4x, 2x respectively) . There was a 5-fold difference between the lowest-yielding 6x cultivar, Prairie (570 kg/ha), and the highest-yielding KZ2 (2720 kg/ha), a selection from Monaro. Major gains are possible through selection but it is important to select for improved seed yield per plant (not just flowers) and to maintain a wide genetic base. Commercial crops yield approximately half that attained from research plots, whtch suggests a commercial yield of 900 kg/ha is possible from Endura. This compares favourably with other legumes but requires development of crop management practices that ensure consistently high seed yields.
Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) Causing Ringspot Disease on Papaya in Bali

In a survey of papaya plantation in Tabanan, Bali, some papaya cultivars were found showing papaya ringspot disease symptomps i.e. yelowing and mottle on leaves; and ring spot on fruits. The analysis of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of symptom leaf with papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) antiserum shown the disease was corresponding to the PRSV. The test results showed that PRSV infected papaya in Bali and detected in Tabanan. Previously, there has been no reports of the existence of this disease in the area of ​​Bali. The objective of the study were to observe the variations of disease symptoms caused by PRSV, mapping the disease spread in Bali, and determine the molecular character of PRSV Bali isolate. Surveys were conducted to observe the variations of disease symptoms and mapping the disease spread. Molecular method was used to determine the coat protein (CP) sequence. Analysis of leaf samples from diseased plants by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted using a pair of primers specific to PRSV. Study result shown the disease was detected in Bangli village, Tabanan regency with the infection index 73,33% (11/15), whereas samples from other survey sites not found infected with PRSV. On samples that infected with PRSV were found yelowing and stunting on leaves; and ring spot on fruits. Amplicons of 905 bp were successfully amplified. Result from BLAST and sequence alignments showed that Bali isolate had considerable homology to the China (Accession No. KF 033092.1) isolate (99.45% na-level). Results of phylogenetic analysis using Maximum Parsimony approaches with 1000 bootstrap replications indicates that Bali isolate is in a clade with the China isolates (Accession No. KF 033092.1, KF 033089.1, KF 033078.1). Keywords : papaya , symptom, infection index, disease spread, molecular character .
Vitrification of Buffalo Oocytes: Current Status and Perspectives

The present study was undertaken with the objectives of sequence characterization and studying the genetic variation in leptin gene locus 2 nd exon and 3 rd exon in Murrah buffalo by PCRRFLP. The leptin gene was amplifi ed by PCR using oligonucleotide primers standardized for Bos taurus species. 289 bp fragment comprising of exon 2 and 405 bp fragment containing exon 3 of leptin gene were amplifi ed and digested with Alu I , AciI, MspI, Sau3AI, HphI restriction enzyme using a cattle specifi c primer. The sizes of the amplifi cation products were similar in cattle and buffalo. The leptin gene in buffalo reveals monomorphism since no variation was found. The result indicates strong conservation of DNA sequence between cattle and buffalo. Nucleotide sequence variations observed in the leptin gene between Bubalus bubalis and Bos taurus species revealed 97.0% nucleotide identity. Sequence comparison of buffalo with cattle reveals variation at eight nucleotide sequences at positions 983, 1083, 1147, 1152, 1221, 1371, 3318, 3333 when all the SNPs are synonymous resulting in no change in amino acids. The milk production traits namely milk yield and fat yield could not be associated with buffalo leptin genotypes due to their monomorphic haplotype.
Traditional Agriculture in America

Agriculture presents a fertile field for the analysis of technological change for a number of reasons, including our strong concern about the future adequacy of food supplies. In our highly urbanized world, human beings are no less dependent on the land than they were in the past, but we now have only tenuous connections to it; it is natural to wonder whether things are being done properly out there. At present, as in the past, the merits of old and new directions in agriculture are actively discussed, and words such as traditional, appropriate, alternative, and sustainable are used to characterize views that contrast with contemporary (i.e. modern or conventional) agriculture. Few of these terms have precise definitions. Schultz provides something of a foundation when he writes: "Farming based wholly upon the kinds of factors of production that have been used by farmers for generations can be called traditional agriculture" (83, p. 3). He had in mind the differences between a modem agriculture with inputs and management based on scientific knowledge, and primitive, labor-oriented systems without scientific knowledge. Since many "modern" practices have survived for hundreds of generations, a better definition would be based on measures of efficiency or intensity. Some of the terms represent beliefs in the need for less demanding life styles while recognizing that science is necessary in some degree. Others represent political or religious ideologies with elements of antiscience, including the proposition
Kaempferitrin improves meat quality of broiler chickens.

Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (A NGPTL3) may promote adipose formation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of kaempferitrin, a 3,7-diglycosyl flavone, on meat quality in broiler chickens and the mechanisms involved. One thousand two hundred broiler chickens were offered commercial diet that was supplemented with 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.3, or 0.9% kaempferitrin, respectively. After 42 days, kaempferitrin (0.3 or 0.9%) treatment significantly increased the lightness of meat colour. Kaempferitrin (0.3 or 0.9%) supple- mentation decreased breast muscle drip loss, breast muscle crude fat, breast muscle malondialdehyde level, and hepatic ANGPTL3 mRNA expression. The present results suggest that kaempferitrin improves meat quality by decreasing expression of ANGPTL3 in broiler chickens.
Dynamics of filter feeding in Corbicula fluminea (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae)

Filtration rates of Corbicula fluminea were measured using 2-μm microspheres from three riverine habitats which differed in ambient suspended particle concentration; rates were measured at particle concentrations spanning the range for the three habitats. Filtration rates were significantly different across the three habitats, and were inversely correlated with the mean ambient suspended particle concentrations: 66.4 mL/h for 11 mg/L, 100.2 mL/h for 7 mg/L, and 144.9 mL/h for 4 mg/L for the Tombigbee, Ouachita and Tangipahoa rivers, respectively. However, the weight of particles filtered by clams from the three rivers was not significantly different. These results indicate that C. fluminea can make physiological adjustments to its filtration rate to achieve some "optimal" rate of particle removal. Within each habitat, particle concentration had a significant effect on filtration rates for the Tombigbee River and Tangipahoa River populations; maximal filtration rates were observed in the range of ambient p.
HEALTH SECURITY IN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES THROUGH NUTRACEUTICAL LEAFY VEGETABLES

Until just recently, analysis of food was limited to the flavor of food and its nutritional value. However, there is growing evidence that other components of food may play an integral role in the link between food and health. There are large numbers of nutraceutical vegetables growing in the State of Jharkhand which are regularly consumed by the ethnic communities. These plant resources grow profusely on wasteland, free of insecticides/pesticides and give new palatable taste. These vegetables are lesser- known to the common people or they feel inferiority to accept these vegetables in their dietary menu. In the present investigation 20 leafy vegetables have been described with their biochemical evaluation on account of nutrients and secondary metabolites to prove their nutraceutical status. The phytochemical analysis of all the studied plants revealed carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers as nutritional components, whereas the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and phlobatanins, support therapeutic properties. The consumption of such important plant resources should be encouraged and popularized as these could be beneficial resources for prevention, management and treatment of chronic diseases of the modern age.
Breaking dormancy of Stylosanthes humilis seeds with selenium compounds

Abstract The soluble selenium (Se) compounds selenic acid, selenious acid, selenium dioxide, selenium tetrachloride, selenomethionine, selenourea, sodium selenate and sodium selenite broke the dormancy of scarified seeds of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis HBK). Given the chemical diversity of all these molecules, it could be deduced that Se may act as a dormancy-breaking agent of Townsville stylo seeds. Se-stimulated seeds produced great amounts of both ethylene and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, which correlated with the process of germination. As specific inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis and action largely depressed this Se-stimulated germination, it was concluded that Se broke dormancy by triggering ethylene production by the seeds.
Functional Role of Caspases in Heat-Induced Testicular Germ Cell Apoptosis1

Abstract In the present study, we determined whether a pan caspase inhibitor could prevent or attenuate heat-induced germ cell apoptosis. Groups of five adult (8 wk old) C57BL/6 mice pretreated with vehicle (DMSO) or Quinoline-Val-Asp (Ome)-CH2-O-Ph (Q-VD-OPH), a new generation broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, were exposed once to local testicular heating (43°C for 15 min) and killed 6 h later. The inhibitor (40 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 1 h before local testicular heating. Germ cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and quantitated as number of apoptotic germ cells per 100 Sertoli cells at stages XI–XII. Compared with controls (16.8 ± 3.1), mild testicular hyperthermia within 6 h resulted in a marked activation (277.3 ± 21.6) of germ cell apoptosis, as previously reported by us. Q-VD-OPH at this dose markedly inhibited caspase 3 activation and significantly prevented (by 67.0%) heat-induced germ cell apoptosis. Q-VD-OPH-mediated rescue of germ cells was independent of cytosolic translocation of mitochondrial cytochrome c and DIABLO. Electron microscopy further revealed normal appearance of these rescued cells. Similar protection from heat-induced germ cell apoptosis was also noted after pretreatment with minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline that effectively inhibits cytochrome c release and, in turn, caspase activation. Collectively, the present study emphasizes the role of caspases in heat-induced germ cell apoptosis.