Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Parameters Estimated for Sexual Maturity and Weekly Live Weights of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Covariance components and genetic parameters of weekly live body weight from hatching to six weeks of age and age of sexual maturation were estimated in a laying type Japanese quail line. The univariate and bivariate animal model analysis included hatching group and sex as fixed effects. Each trait was analysed with animal as random effect to fit the additive direct effect. Additional random effects incorporated in the models were changed according to the trait examined. The best model for a trait was chosen based on a likelihood ratio test, comparing the models with and without maternal additive genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. Heritability estimates of live-weight at hatch and one to six weeks of age with their standard errors were 0.22±0.088, 0.39±0.099, 0.31±0.086, 0.38±0.056, 0.46±0.055, 0.50±0.059, and 0.56±0.062, respectively. Direct heritability value of age of sexual maturation was moderate (0.24±0.055). The variances due to permanent environmental effect of dam after one week of age and maternal genetic effect after two weeks of age were not important sources of variation. The correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects were negative and ranged from high to moderate values (-0.21 to -0.83). Among the weekly live weights, genetic correlations were generally high between not only successive but also early and late weightings. It suggests that selection for final weight may be based on early weight records. Genetic correlations between age of sexual maturation and live weights were low, favourable but had high standard errors. These results indicate that selection for high weight will potentially result in lower age of sexual maturation only with accurate determination of breeding values.
Water uptake from different soil depths for halophytic shrubs grown in Northern area of Ningxia plain (China) in contrasted water regimes

In order to understand the contributions of groundwater and deep soil water to the growth of halophytes in salinity-affected area, water use strategies of four shrubes, i.e. 20-year-old Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. , three-year-old T. ramosissima. , Lycium barbarum L. , and Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. were studied under contrasted water regimes in Northwest China. The result showed that there was a vertical gradient in soil δ18O and δD profiles resulted from evaporation and irrigation. The 20-year-old T. ramosissima mainly used water from middle (40–140 cm) and deep (140–200 cm) under both water regimes indicating its phreatophytic nature. Soil water in upper profile (0–40 cm) was the dominant water source for the three-year-old T. ramosissima before irrigation. After irrigation, the three-year-old T. ramosissima and L. barbarum switched their water sources to middle soil profile. Our experiment revealed phreatophytic tendency for the three-year-old A. canescens, which was not responsive to irrigation enlighten by photosynthetic parameters and stem water potentials.
Large-scale microspore culture technique for mutation–selection studies in Brassica napus

Rapid isolation of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) microspores was accomplished by mechanical homogenization of whole racemes with buds no longer than 4.5 mm. After filtration and multiple washes, spores were incubated overnight in liquid medium at 30 °C in the dark, before plating in fresh medium at a density of 100 000 spores/mL. After 14 days in culture, gentle agitation on a shaker improved the rapid development of normal embryos and later, when transferred to light and liquid B5G medium (B5 + 0.1 mg/L gibberellic acid), further agitation enhanced the rate of maturation and germination. With this method 200–400 million spores can be processed in one batch, resulting in a final yield of several hundred thousand embryos within 3 weeks. Applications of the system for mutation–selection in B. napus are outlined.
Functional aspects of Placoid Scales: A review and update

The function of placoid scales (dermal denticles) is considered along three perspectives. Firstly, in a historical context, denticles have been modified along several functional lines, including protection from predators and ectoparasites, reduction of mechanical abrasion, accommodation of bioluminescent and sensory organs, and reduction of frictional drag. Each function selects for a unique morphology described herein. Secondly, denticles characteristic of benthic and/or sedentary sharks are re-examined through an analysis of 15 genera. Generalizations are difficult due to the wide range of variation in crown morphology and overall scale weight, but individual denticle types do reflect combined optimal characteristics for both hydrodynamics and protection, tending toward the latter. Lastly, the relationship between slight variations in regional flow dynamics over the body, and the potential impact of this relationship on the previously defined hydrodynamic scale characteristics, is examined in two pelagic carcharhinids. These findings suggest that along the anterior portion of the body, strong indications of reduced ridge dimensions (heights and spacings) on the dorsum are present and may be related to water velocity.
Effect of the Carbon Source and Inoculum Preparation Method on Laccase and Manganese Peroxidase Production in Submerged Cultivation by the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Aphyllophoromycetideae)

The genus Ganoderma includes medicinal species that belong to the group of white rot fungi due to their ability to produce extracellular ligninolytic enzymes: laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of various carbon and inoculum preparation methods for oxidative enzyme production by the medicinal mushroom G. lucidum. Mushroom growth, as well as the production of laccase and MnP, significantly depends on the inoculum age and cultivation method. Synthetic medium experiments have shown that xylose ensured the highest laccase activity of G. lucidum 447 accumulating 116 U L -1 after 12 days of submerged mushroom cultivation. In all lignocellulosic substrate experiment variants, laccase activity reached maximum after 8 days of mushroom cultivation. Analogical regularities were detected when the MnP activity was measured in submerged fermentation of ethanol production residue by G. lucidum 447. A more interesting finding is the fact that mycelium grown on solid agar medium and used as inoculum not only provided a 3-fold increase in laccase yield in submerged fermentation of both lignocellulosic substrates but also stimulated MnP accumulation by G. lucidum 447.
Effect of low soil pH on aluminum availability and on mortality of cherry seedlings

Levels of Al in leaf samples from 250 cherry orchards and the relationship between soil pH and Al levels in soil, roots and stems, and growth of 16-year-old sweet cherry (Prunus avium) trees and 1-year-old mazzard cherry seedlings were investigated. Leaf samples from commercial orchards contained 21 to 500 μg of Al per g of dry weight. Soil pH in the sweet cherry orchard was as much as 3 pH units below the recommended range (6.5 to 7.0) for optimal growth, with the concentration of available Al increasing from approximately 0.1 to 2.4 meq per 100 g with decreasing pH below pH 5.5. Levels of Al in the root system were proportional to its availability in the soil. Levels of Mg and Ca in roots decreased while Mn and Zn increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing Al concentrations. Changes in the concentrations of P, K, Fe, Cu, and B were not significant. Soil pH (3.9, 4.7, and 7.0) and Al levels (0 to 27 meq of Al per 100 g) observed in the field were simulated by applying aluminum chloride to potted seedlings in three greenhouse experiments. Seedlings receiving calcium chloride served as controls (experiment 4). All seedlings planted in soil below pH 4.7 died within 4 weeks, with or without Al or Cl treatment, and seedling mortality increased as Al treatment increased. Root (P ≤ 0.05) and plant growth in general decreased with decreasing pH. Increasing Al treatment had little effect on root growth at pH 3.9 and pH 4.7 (at which little growth took place). At pH 7.0, however, root growth was reduced (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the controls. The level of Al applied to the soil and the concentration of Al in stems of cherry seedlings was highly correlated (P ≤ 0.001). The concentrations of macro elements in the stem (P ≤ 0.05 to 0.001) and Mn and Zn increased (P ≤ 0.001) with increasing Al concentrations. The interaction effect between the level of Al applied to the soil and soil pH on seedling mortality was highly significant (P ≤ 0.001). While there was a significant interaction between soil pH and the level of Cl applied to the soil, the level of available Ca did not increase over treatments that received Al. Overall, the data suggest that low soil pH could result in seedling death in part by increasing the absorption of Al into plants to toxic levels.
Detection and Enumeration of Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria in Estuarine Sediments by Competitive PCR

The distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the sediments of the Colne River estuary, Essex, UK covering different saline concentrations of sediment porewater was investigated by the use of quantitative competitive PCR. Here, we show that a new PCR primer set and a new quantitative method using PCR are useful tools for the detection and the enumeration of SRB in natural environments. A PCR primer set selective for the dissimilatory sulphite reductase gene (dsr) of SRB was designed. PCR amplification using the single set of dsr-specific primers resulted in PCR products of the expected size from all 27 SRB strains tested, including Gram-negative and positive species. Sixty clones derived from sediment DNA using the primers were sequenced and all were closely related with the predicted dsr of SRB. These results indicate that PCR using the newly designed primer set are useful for the selective detection of SRB from a natural sample. This primer set was used to estimate cell numbers by dsr selective competitive PCR using a competitor, which was about 20% shorter than the targeted region of dsr. This procedure was applied to sediment samples from the River Colne estuary, Essex, UK together with simultaneous measurement of in situ rates of sulphate reduction. High densities of SRB ranging from 0.2 − 5.7 × 108 cells ml− 1 wet sediment were estimated by the competitive PCR assuming that all SRB have a single copy of dsr. Using these estimates cell specific sulphate reduction rates of 10− 17 to 10− 15 mol of SO4 2 − cell− 1 day− 1 were calculated, which is within the range of, or lower than, those previously reported for pure cultures of SRB. Our results show that the newly developed competitive PCR technique targeted to dsr is a powerful tool for rapid and reproducible estimation of SRB numbers in situ and is superior to the use of culture-dependent techniques.
Quality and ultrastructure of eggshell and hatchability of eggs in relation to eggshell colour in pheasants.

A total of 990 ring-necked pheasant hatching eggs were examined in relation to their shell colour –dark-brown, light-brown, olive, blue. Eggshell thickness, water vapour conductance and number of pores per 0,25 cm2 of eggshell were analysed in 285 eggs. Moreover, shell ultrastructure was examined of six eggs of each colour and three incubation sets were carried out with 681 eggs. Shells of blue eggs were found thinner, had higher water vapour conductance and showed higher density of pores than those of remaining three colours. In addition, structural abnormalities of the blue eggshells were found. Blue eggs were characterized by lower fertilization rate, greater weight loss to day 21 of incubation and poorer hatchability. It is concluded that blue-shelled pheasant eggs should be eliminated when selecting eggs for incubation.
Bird species distributions across woodland canopy structure gradients

The tree canopy characteristics of two broadleaved woods in southern England were quantified in terms of two independent measures of structure, canopy height (calculated using heights ≥ 1 m) and percentage canopy cover (derived using heights 0.90, p < 0.001), there was a positive correlation across bird species between the mean values of canopy hei.
Analysis of damage and fracture formulations in cold extrusion

In forming processes, components generally undergo large deformations. This induces the evolution of damage, which can influence material and product properties. To capture these effects, a continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model, based on the work of Lemaitre [8] and Soyarslan [13, 14] as well as different fracture criteria according to Cockcroft and Latham [2], Freudenthal [4] and Oyane [10] are implemented and in- vestigated. While the CDM theory considers the evolution of damage and the associated softening, fracture criteria do not affect the results of the mechanical finite element (FE) analysis. However, a coupling is generally possible via element deletion, but material softening cannot be depicted in the simulation. Tensile tests with notched specimens are performed in order to obtain the material parameters associated with these models by inverse parameter identification processes. The optimized set of parameters is finally ap- plied to the damage and fracture models used for the FE simulations of a cold extrusion process, which are investigated in terms of damage evolution and material failure. It is demonstrated that the CDM model predicts the evolution of damage observed for differ- ent process parameters in cold extrusion quantitatively. The prediction of the failure by the fracture criteria does not agree well with the experiments.
Metabolic response of Medicago sativa to severe nutrient imbalances and disturbances under field conditions

Our experiments were focused on the metabolic footprint of mineral-nutrient availability under field conditions. While there are multiple factors potentially blurring such footprints, we hypothesized that physiological and metabolic adaptations of established plants are particularly important mechanisms under field conditions. To study respective differences between young and established plants and to study the impact of disturbances on the adaptive capacity of established plants, we analyzed Medicago sativa plants of different age from plots with marked differences in the levels of soil mineral nutrients established in a long-term fertilization experiment. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine metabolite profiles of sink and source leaves of plants in an early state of development (“young plants”), just before the first harvest (“established plants”), and a short time after the second harvest (“regrowing plants”). Metabolite profiles from young plants were markedly responsive to soil mineral nutrients and resembled respective profiles from controlled conditions, demonstrating that overall variability of growth and sampling conditions had relatively little importance for the metabolite profiles recorded. In the case of established plants, however, we observed only little impact of availability of mineral nutrients on metabolite profiles. This low metabolic responsiveness of plants was partially lost after severe disturbances (removal of the plant shoot). Metabolite profiling, in summary, is able to detect a metabolic footprint of mineral-nutrient availability in young plants under field conditions and may provide information about the ability of older plants to partially uncouple their metabolism from the environment. In addition, it is also possible to determine the impact of disturbances on this ability of the plant organism.
Complex Signal Usage By Advertising Male Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis): A Test of Assumptions

Abstract The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) has three stereotyped head bob displays (labeled A, B, and C) which it differentially uses during directed hetero- and consexual exchanges. We found free-ranging males advertise (i.e., nondirected signaling) with the same three displays in a complex but consistent manner. From videotapes of 10 adult males recorded across breeding and postbreeding seasons, we analyzed 2308 nondirected displays from two functional subsets of the advertisement context—”monitor” (stationary males signaling from monitoring sites) and “travel” (males signaling while moving between monitoring sites). Using five hypotheses to guide the analysis, we found breeding males (1) used all three display types during both monitor and travel; (2) averaged mostly C displays during monitor (ratio of C:A + B = 4:1); (3) increased A and B displays four-fold during travel (C:A + B = 1:1); (4) averaged a four-fold lower display rate during monitor than during travel (displays/min = 0.8 vs. 3.5, respectively); (5) averaged three-fold more volleys of displays (i.e., a rapid succession of displays) during monitor than during travel (ratio of volleys:singly performed displays = 1.7:1 vs. 0.5:1, respectively); (6) averaged longer volleys during monitor than during travel (displays/volley = 3.3 vs. 2.5, respectively); and (7) appended the “shudderbobbing” modifier (rapid, shallow bobs) to a third of all displays. Males maintained these seven tendencies into the postbreeding, but with much reduced frequencies. The nondirected signaling during monitor and travel are respectively similar to that of long- and short-range aggressive signaling used by contesting males, and bears little similarity to the signaling males use toward females. From our data and those of other studies, we argue that males intend their nondirected signaling for an unidentified male audience (i.e., intrasexually selected), and not for an unidentified female audience (i.e., intersexually selected).
Effects of Cassava effluent on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in a Tropical Stream in Southern Nigeria

The study of the effect of cassava effluents on macroinvertebrates along downstream reaches of the Orogodo River, the Niger Delta was carried out monthly from January to June 2006. Three study stations were selected along the river course (upstream of the cassava impacted site, the cassava-impacted site, and downstream of the cassava impacted site). The study showed that cassava effluents caused a decrease in dissolved oxygen and pH and an increase in biochemical demand (BOD) and nitrates. Significant differences in these parameters were established among the stations sampled. A post hoc test indicated that station II (the cassava impacted site) was the cause of the observed differences. A total of 55 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa with a mean of 6,116 individuals were collected from the three stations along the river. The analysis showed that the overall density of fauna differed significantly among the stations. Cassava effluents permitted the dominance of oligochaetes and dipterans at station II and th.
Molecular and morphological studies on the subantarctic genus Orceolina (Agyriaceae)

Abstract The subantarctic genus Orceolina is revised and two species are accepted, i.e. Orceolina antarctica Mull. Arg. R. S. Poulsen Søchting comb. nov. and Orceolina kerguelensis (Tuck.) Hertel. Descriptions of the species are provided. In addition the phylogeny of the genus Orceolina and allied taxa was investigated using nucleotide sequences of the LSU rRNA gene. Sequences from these regions of nine agyrialean fungi were aligned to those of four representatives of Pertusariales used as outgroup. The alignment was analysed cladistically using maximum parsimony. The two Orceolina clustered together within the Agyriaceae. The placement in the family is supported by high bootstrap values and the Kishino-Hasegawa test.
Assessing introgression of foreign strains in wild Atlantic salmon populations: variation in microsatellites assessed in historic scale collections

1. Genetic variation at five microsatellite loci was analysed in a collection of scales (1970–97) sampled from Atlantic salmon adults returning to the Nivelle River (South France). 2. Native and foreign fish (from an allochthonous Scottish stock introduced into the river to increase population size) were clearly identified as all foreign individuals released in the river were physically marked. 3. Introgression of foreign genes into the native gene pool has occurred, although the reproductive success of foreign Atlantic salmon in the wild was lower than that of native individuals. 4. The utility of old scale samples for investigating the impact of foreign stocking on wild fish populations is demonstrated in this work.
The Chemical Composition and Ensiling Characteristics of Sweet Corn Processing by-Products

To investigate the nutritive and ensiling characteristics of sweet corn processing by-products, the chemical compositions of corn bracts and cobs were analyzed and the effects of wilting and additives on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability were measured. The research results showed: Corn bracts and cobs had low fiber content and high nitrogen free extract content (> 61% DM)，with high nutritive value; Corn bracts and cobs were of high water soluble carbohydrate contents (> 10% DM), low buffering capacity (< 150 mE/kg DM), more lactic acid bacteria (> 107 cfu/g FM), they might be well preserved without any treatments, but their aerobic stability was poor; Barn and lactic acid bacteria addition had few effect on the fermentation except for reducing butyric acid content, wilting tended to increase lactic acid content and reduce the contents of volatile fatty acids.
Static Behavior of the Respiratory System

The sections in this article are: 1 Lung Volumes 2 Volume-Pressure Relations of Respiratory System During Relaxation 2.1 Total Respiratory System 2.2 Chest Wall and Lung 2.3 Effects of Gravity and Posture 2.4 Changes Throughout Life Span 3 Volume-Pressure Relations of Respiratory System During Static Muscular Efforts 3.1 Alveolar Pressure 3.2 Abdominal and Thoracic Pressures 4 Factors Limiting Volume Extremes 4.1 Upper Volume Extreme 4.2 Lower Volume Extreme
Assisted revegetation trials in degraded salt-marshes

Summary 1. At coastal sites adjacent to the Hudson Bay lowlands, intensive foraging by increasing numbers of lesser snow geese Anser caerulescens caerulescens has converted salt-marsh swards to hypersaline mudflats largely devoid of vegetation. Assisted revegetation trials were undertaken in order to determine the ability of plants to establish in degraded salt-marsh sediments. 2. Soil plugs of the former dominant graminoids, Puccinellia phryganodes and Carex subspathacea, were transplanted into plots of hypersaline bare soil. Some plots were treated with fertilizer and peat mulch to determine if ameliorations enhance plant growth. 3. Transplants of P. phryganodes established in degraded sediments, but those treated with fertilizer and peat showed significantly higher growth than those in bare soil after two growing seasons. The ratio of the mean basal area of plants in treated plots compared with bare plots was between 1·7 and 4·0 : 1 at different sites. Transplants of C. subspathacea did not establish readily in degraded sediments and no growth enhancement was observed with soil amendments. 4. Growth rate and mortality of plants both varied between sites and years, reflecting variation in the frequency of hot, dry weather from late June to early August of each year, and the salinity and water content of soils during that period. The potential for revegetation of mudflats is discussed in the context of the soil degradation processes. Fine-grain variation in soil conditions presents a major challenge for the restoration of plant assemblages in these coastal marshes. 5. The extent of soil degradation and of vegetation loss makes it unlikely that unassisted revegetation will occur at some sites, even in the absence of goose foraging, without erosion of consolidated sediments and the establishment of plant assemblages in fresh unconsolidated sediments.