Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QTL analysis of drought-related traits and grain yield in relation to genetic variation for leaf abscisic acid concentration in field-grown maize

deficit (Zeevaart and Creelman, 1988; Bray, 1997). ABA modulates the expression of a large number of genes Abscisic acid (ABA) concentration is a quantitatively whose products may protect the cell from the harmful inherited trait which plays a pivotal role in the eVects of an excessive water loss (Bray, 1993; Close, 1996, response of plants to drought stress. A recent study 1997; Ingram and Bartels, 1996). It has been hypothesized identified 17 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling that ABA may be involved in controlling leaf expansion bulk-leaf ABA concentration (L-ABA) in a maize (Zea during water deficit via modulation of cell wall-associated mays L.) population of 80 F 4 random families tested peroxidase activity (Bacon et al., 1997). Under conditions for two years under droughted field conditions. Sixteen of water deficit, an increased ABA concentration has also of the QTL regions influencing L-ABA also harboured been shown to increase the root to shoot ratio (Sharp, QTLs for one or more of the following traits: stomatal 1996), another important trait influencing drought tolerconductance, a drought sensitivity index, leaf temper- ance. The adaptive role of an increased ABA concentraature, leaf relative water content, anthesis-silking tion is well represented by the consequent reduction in interval, and grain yield. The analysis of the effects of stomatal conductance and in water lost by transpiration each QTL region on the investigated traits indicated ( Trejo et al., 1995). Even though it has been shown that that L-ABA mainly represented an indicator of the level ABA in the xylem sap more tightly controls stomatal of drought stress experienced by the plant at the time conductance than ABA in the bulk-leaf tissue (Davies of sampling because an increase in L-ABA was most and Zhang, 1991; Tardieu et al., 1992, 1993; Jackson, commonly associated with a decrease in both stomatal 1993), the diYculty in collecting a large number of conductance and grain yield as well as an increase in samples of xylem sap has led many authors to focus on leaf temperature. Opposite results were observed at bulk-leaf ABA concentration (L-ABA). one QTL region on chromosome 7 near the RFLP locus Although the above-mentioned findings clearly indicate asg8. A model is presented to interpret these con- a positive role of ABA in increasing plant survival under trasting results in terms of pleiotropic effects. drought, it remains diYcult to predict the global eVect which genetic variation in L-ABA may have on crop
Citywide Bike Usage Prediction in a Bike-Sharing System

To operate a bike-sharing system efficiently, system operators need to accurately predict how many bikes are to be rented and returned throughout the city. In this paper, we propose a Hierarchical Consistency Prediction (HCP) model to predict the citywide bike usage in the next period. First, an Adaptive Transition Constraint (AdaTC) clustering algorithm is proposed to cluster stations into groups, making the rent and transition at each cluster more regular than those at each single station. Second, a Similarity-based efficient Gaussian Process Regressor (SGPR) is proposed to respectively predict how many bikes are to be rented at different-scale locations, i.e., at each station, each cluster, and in the entire city. Besides largely improving the training and online prediction efficiency, our regressor considers external impacted factors, addresses the data unbalance issue, and better captures the non-linearity in spatio-temporal data. Third, we design a General Least Square (GLS) formulation to collectively improve those obtained predictions via a mutual reinforcement way. GLS makes the final predictions for rent more reasonable. Considering the causality between rent and return, a Transition based Inference (TINF) method is designed to infer the citywide bike return demand based on the predicted rent demands. Experiments on real-world data are conducted to confirm the effectiveness of our model.
Avian distribution in treefall gaps and understorey of terra firme forest in the lowland Amazon

We compared the bird distributions in the understorey of treefall gaps and sites with intact canopy in Amazonian terra firme forest in Brazil. We compiled 2216 mist-net captures (116 species) in 32 gap and 32 forest sites over 22.3 months. Gap habitats differed from forest habitats in having higher capture rates, total captures, species richness and diversity. Seventeen species showed a significantly different distribution of captures between the two habitats (13 higher in gap and four higher in forest). Gap habitats had higher capture rates for nectarivores, frugivores and insectivores. Among insectivores, capture rates for solitary insectivores and army ant followers did not differ between the two habitats. In contrast, capture rates were higher in gaps for members of mixed-species insectivore flocks and mixed-species insectivore–frugivore flocks. Insectivores, especially members of mixed-species flocks, were the predominant species in gap habitats, where frugivores and nectarivores were relatively uncommon. Although few canopy species were captured in gap or forest habitats, visitors from forest mid-storey constituted 42% of the gap specialist species (0% forest) and 46% of rare gap species (38% forest). Insectivore, and total, captures increased over time, but did so more rapidly in gap than in forest habitats, possibly as a response to gap succession. However, an influx of birds displaced by nearby timber harvest also may have caused these increases. Avian gap-use in Amazonian terra firme forests differs from gap-use elsewhere, partly because of differences in forest characteristics such as stature and soil fertility, indicating that the avian response to gaps is context dependent.
Latitudinal gradients in phylogenetic relatedness of angiosperm trees in North America

Aim To test two predictions of the phylogenetic niche conservatism hypothesis for the latitudinal diversity gradient: (1) species in colder regions tend to be more phylogenetically related to each other (i.e. greater phylogenetic clustering) than those in warmer regions, and (2) clades are younger in colder regions. Location North America. Methods Correlation analysis was used to relate richness, mean clade age and phylogenetic relatedness (measured as phylogenetic species variability and net relatedness index) of angiosperm trees in 1175 regional assemblages (each with 12100 km 2 ) to latitude and minimum temperature. The analysis was conducted for North America north of Mexico as a whole as well as for each of the three longitudinal bands (eastern, central and western) of North America. Results Species richness and mean clade age are negatively correlated with latitude and positively correlated with minimum temperature. Tree species in regional assemblages tend to be more phylogenetically related (clustered) in regions at higher latitudes with lower temperatures. Main conclusions The results of this study support two of the major predictions of the phylogenetic niche conservatism hypothesis for the latitudinal diversity gradient: species tend to be more phylogenetically clustered and ages of clades tend to be younger in colder regions, compared with those in warmer regions.
Isolation and physiological characterization of indigenous yeasts from some Algerian agricultural and dairy products

The purpose of this study was to isolate yeasts that may express original characteristics notably in terms of flavour from traditional Algerian agricultural and dairy products. A total of eighteen yeast isolates were recovered from dates, melons and gherkins, and from milk of camel, goat, sheep and cow. Molecular taxonomy based on the sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S ribosomal RNA gene, grouped these isolates into nine yeast species. The identification of Clavispora lusitaniae, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Kodamaea ohmeri, Pichia kudriavezii, Zygosaccharomyces baili, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Yarrowialipolytica was in accordance with the physico-chemical characteristics of agricultural and dairy products analyzed. The P. kudriavezii species showed resistance to ethanol and osmotic stress, as well as production of alcohols that was remarkably higher than the laboratory S. cerevisiaestrain CEN.PK. In conclusion, this study draws attention to the use of this yeast species for biotechnological application in the field of flavour production. Key words: Yeast taxonomy, microbial physiology, stress, fermentation, flavours.
Ameliorative Effect of Watermelon rind ingestion on the Pancreas of Diabetic Female Albino Rat (Histological, immunohistochemical and morphometric study).

Introduction: Type II diabetes is a multifactorial metabolic disorder that affects more than 348 million people worldwide. The pathway of type II diabetes is characterized both by insulin resistance in muscle, fat, and liver in addition to a relative failure of pancreatic cells. CitrullusLanatus (Watermelon) is one of the few foods naturally rich in amino acids citrulline and lycopene which decrease serum glucose concentration in diabetic rats.Aim of the study: To study the structural changes in diabetic pancreas and the possible role of watermelon rind ingestion in ameliorating the pancreatic changes in experimentally-induced type II diabetes mellitus in rats.Materials and methods: Eighteen female adult albino rats weighing 170g-200g were randomly divided into three equal groups. Diabetes was induced in all the rats except GI by intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg.b. wnicotinamide, followed by streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 60mg/kg.b. w. 15 minutes later, to induce type 2 diabetes. Rats were divided into three groups: namely GI control, GII diabetic, GIII diabetic watermelon rind juice treated. The mean values of body weight and the blood glucose levels were assessed. Histological study of the different experimental groups was done using H&E, Mallory trichrome, Orcein, and immunohistochemical stain for detection of eNOS positive endothelial cells. Data obtained by morphometric and statistical studies were discussed in relation to the microscopic findings. Results: Diabetes caused harmful effects on the structure of the pancreas. In addition, watermelon rind improved the histological findings if compared with the diabetic untreated group. Also, watermelon rind treatment showed strong immunohistochemical expression for eNOS. Conclusion: Watermelon rind ingestion in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic female albino rat resulted in ameliorating the structural changes in the pancreas.
The efficacy of organic minerals in poultry nutrition: review and implications of recent studies

The aim of this review paper is to update, present and discuss the current research findings from recent studies regarding the efficacy of organic sources of microelements in poultry nutrition. Most intensively evaluated in poultry feeding studies have been organic forms, i.e., proteinates and amino acids complexes and chelates, of such microelements as Zn, Mn and Cu. The results of these studies are not always consistent, particularly in regard to performance indices; however, the majority of the findings from recent experiments indicate that organic minerals are an effective source of microelements, and can replace, with some advantages, inorganic forms of minerals in poultry diets. One of the main benefits is the option to use lower inclusion levels of minerals added in organic forms, which may reduce the mineral content in the resulting poultry excreta.
Practical information: Who and where

8.1 Research contacts Researchers interested in participating in the LIPPS group and the LIDES database are advised to contact the Steering Committee. A list of e-mail addresses is provided below. ¥ Penelope Gardner-Chloros: <p.gardner-chloros@app-ling.bbk. ac.uk> ¥ Roeland van Hout: <roeland.vanhout@kub.nl> ¥ Melissa G. Moyer: <melissa.moyer@uab.es> ¥ Mark Sebba: <m.sebba@lancaster.ac.uk> There is also an e-mail distribution list for the system. The address of this list is: <mailserv@cc.uab.es>. Anyone interested in having their name added to the list should send the following message to that address: “subscribe lipps-lidesgroup-l” (the last character is lower case L not Figure 1), leaving the subject line blank. More information can be found on the LIPPS homepage on the World Wide Web. These pages are still under construction, but meanwhile the URL for the LIPPS homepage is:
Prospect of Oyster Culture in Pakistan: Pathology Assessment of Two Commercially Important Oyster Species

Abstract Nine different species of oysters belonging to the genera Crassostrea, Saccostrea, and Ostrea occur naturally along Pakistan's coastline in the northern Arabian Sea. At the present time, no commercial harvesting or hatchery culture of oysters exists in Pakistan. The world's oyster aquaculture industry is seriously affected by diseases caused by parasites, such as Bonamia ostrea in the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis, and Haplosporidium nelsoni or Perkinsus marinus in the Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. Pathogens may be endemic or recently introduced and may cause epizootic mortalities and catastrophic economic losses. To evaluate if there are parasites or diseases in Pakistan's oysters that could limit prospective aquaculture development, histopathological analyses were performed on two oyster species, Ostrea nomades and Crassostrea belcheri. Oysters were sampled year-around, and fixed and processed for histology. Slides (217 cases for O. nomades and 76 cases for C. belcheri) were examined for the presence of parasites or pathological changes. Ostrea nomades was infected by a protozoan parasite, Nematopsis sp. Sneider, 1892 (Apicomplexa, Porosporidae), at 67% prevalence, and C. belcheri at 1.3% prevalence. Nematopsis spp. did not induce pathological changes in the oysters. Stegotricha-like ciliates (Thigmotrichida, Ancistrocomidae) were present in the stomachs of O. nomades with a prevalence of 1%, and 25% of C. belcheri presented ceroid deposits in their tissues. Historically, Ostrea and Crassostrea genera have been associated with epizootic diseases, but in the present samples, no known, economically important parasites or diseases were found. Absence of any pathology in these samples projects a positive future for oyster aquaculture in Pakistan. These oyster populations should be protected from nonendemic bivalve importations, which could transmit new parasites to these potentially susceptible, previously unexposed, native oysters.
Diversity and plant growth-promoting ability of endophytic fungi from the five flower plant species collected from Yunnan, Southwest China

The diversity and plant growth-promoting ability of endophytic fungi associated with the five flower plant species growing in Yunnan, Southwest China, were investigated. A total of 357 culturable endophytic fungi were isolated from 1000 segments of healthy leaves and stems of the five plant species. Based on the morphological characteristics and the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis, the isolates were identified to 24 taxa, of which Alternaria, Phomopsis, Cladosporium, and Colletotrichum were the dominant genera. The Sorenson's coefficient similarity indices of the endophytic fungi from the five flower plant species ranged from 0.36 to 0.80. It was found that the similarity index between two cultivated flowers (0.8) or the similarity index between two wild flowers (0.71–0.76) was higher than the similarity index between one cultivated flower and one wild flower (0.36–0.48). The Shannon indices (H) of the endophytic fungi from the five plant species ranged from 1.73 to 2.45, and the diversity indices of the wild flowers were higher than those of the cultivated flowers. The plant growth-promoting tests indicated that some isolates could improve the host plants' growth more efficiently when compared with the control (p < 0.05, least significant difference test).
Removal control of the highly invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki and effects on its population biology: learning by doing

Abstract Context. For the success of future conservation and management programs, it is necessary to better understand the resilience mechanisms of invasive species and their invasive potential. In this sense, the study of the effects that management actions have on their biological traits is essential. Aims. The present study aimed to assess the effects of removal control on the abundance and biology of an isolated population of the top invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish). Methods. Experimental removal control with traps and handnets was carried out on a population of mosquitofish inhabiting a small semiarid stream in south-eastern Spain. Mosquitofish were periodically captured for more than 3 years. Temporal variations in abundance, fish somatic condition and reproductive investment, percentage of mature females, size at maturity and population recruitment were analysed. Key results. Individuals of the 1+ age class increased their reproductive investment when population abundance was lower, thus increasing recruitment rate during the first months of the recruitment period. Individuals of the 0+ age class were responsible for expanding the reproductive period in conditions of low fish abundance. Conclusions. The mosquitofish population showed variations of reproductive parameters that could indicate a compensatory density-dependent phenotypic response under diminished abundance conditions. However, its removal by the constant use of a combination of active and passive capture methods, reinforced by increased extraction effort according to its local biology, has led to an eradication of the population. The target mosquitofish population showed distinct ecological features that may have contributed to the effectiveness of local control, namely, low initial fish density, isolation in a headwater stretch and the prevalence of individuals in sunlit shallow ponds. Implications. The compensatory mechanisms of this invasive species in low-density conditions should be considered in the design of management programs. Moreover, further research into removal control methods for mosquitofish or similar species is also needed.
Laser speckle imaging of rat retinal blood flow with hybrid temporal and spatial analysis method

Noninvasive monitoring of blood flow in retinal circulation will reveal the progression and treatment of ocular disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. A non-invasive and direct BF measurement technique with high spatial-temporal resolution is needed for retinal imaging. Laser speckle imaging (LSI) is such a method. Currently, there are two analysis methods for LSI: spatial statistics LSI (SS-LSI) and temporal statistical LSI (TS-LSI). Comparing these two analysis methods, SS-LSI has higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) and TSLSI is less susceptible to artifacts from stationary speckle. We proposed a hybrid temporal and spatial analysis method (HTS-LSI) to measure the retinal blood flow. Gas challenge experiment was performed and images were analyzed by HTS-LSI. Results showed that HTS-LSI can not only remove the stationary speckle but also increase the SNR. Under 100% O2, retinal BF decreased by 20-30%. This was consistent with the results observed with laser Doppler technique. As retinal blood flow is a critical physiological parameter and its perturbation has been implicated in the early stages of many retinal diseases, HTS-LSI will be an efficient method in early detection of retina diseases.
Morphometric Studies in Inbred and Hybrid House Mice. V. Directional and Fluctuating Asymmetry

Directional and fluctuating asymmetry were assessed for 10 paired osteometric traits in inbred and hybrid house mice primarily in order to test five separate hypotheses. Hypothesis (1) stated that directional asymmetry (DA) would be relatively low for these characters, especially those directly involved in locomotion. The DA for most characters was nonsignificant or negligible in importance, including that for the posterior limb bones most used in locomotion. Hypothesis (2), that the heritability of DA would be low, was confirmed, averaging only 2% in inbreds and 4% in hybrids. Hypothesis (3) was that fluctuating asymmetry (FA) would be moderate in magnitude. The average contribution of FA to the total variance was in fact considerable, 18% across populations and characters. Hypothesis (4) proposed that the inbreds should show more FA than hybrids, particularly for those characters with high heritabilities. FA did exhibit statistical significance for heterosis, and there was a significant positive association of heterosis with the magnitude of heritability of each trait. Hypothesis (5) stated that there should be a populationwide association of FA values among the characters (a "population asymmetry parameter"), and Kendall's coefficient of concordance suggested that this was the case.
Acceptability of Rapeseed Proteins in Diets of Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Weight gain and feed consumption results showed that rapeseed protein concentrate (RPC) and rapeseed meal (RM) can be substituted for soybean meal (SM) and perhaps partially for herring meal (HM) in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) control (SM–HM) diet and thus have economic benefits. Rapeseed flour (RF) was a poor source of proteins due to its greater effect on thyroid function. Rapeseed proteins have little effect on liver weight, body moisture, liver and body lipid, liver and body sterol content, visual and histological appearance of liver, heart and visceral tissues, or on the flavor, but caused yellow pigmentation of the skin. The levels of individual fatty acids in the diets directly affected the levels of individual fatty acids in the liver and body, while the type and level of dietary rapeseed proteins appeared to have no effect. The levels of fatty acids, 20:1 and 22:1 (includes erucic acid), were lower in the body and even lower in the liver compared with the diets. All test diets, except RPC–HM .
Monograph of the moss genus Macrodictyum (Broth.) E.H.Hegew. (Dicranaceae)

Abstract Macrodictyum is a small acrocarpous moss genus of three species (M. latifolium (E.B.Bartram) M.J.Price, M. proliferum (Mitt.) E.H. Hegew. , M. wrightii (Sull.) E.H. Hegew. ). It grows in tufts and mats on trees or rocks at 450–1500 m in the Neotropics. The genus has a restricted distribution within the Neotropics and is currently known from only a few localities in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and southeastern Brazil. Macrodictyum is characterized by four main features: 1) appressed, non-crispate, ovate–oblong, lingulate to ligulate or linear leaves; 2) large, rhomboidal, thin-walled cells in the upper leaf; 3) large, irregular, multicellular apical teeth; and 4) guide cells that are ventral at and above mid-leaf. These features are atypical of the Dicranaceae. However, Macrodictyum shares pseudautoicous sexuality, sheathing perichaetial leaves, and peristome structure with the large pantropical Dicranaceous genus Holomitrium Brid. In these two genera the peristome consists of 16 single, triangular, entire or weakly divided, fenestrate, striate teeth that are papillose throughout on both the inner and outer surfaces. Macrodictyum is retained in the Dicranoideae (Dicranaceae), close to Holomitrium, based on its pseudautoicous sexuality, sheathing perichaetial leaves, and peristome structure.