Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Origin of Opuntia curvospina (Cactaceae)

Opuntia curvospina (n = 22) is intermediate in morphology and in ploidy level between 0. chlorotica (n = 11) and 0. phaeacantha (n = 33) and exhibits frequent meiotic aberrations and reduced pollen stainability. These data support the interpretation of 0. curvospina as a species of hybrid origin between 0. chlorotica and 0. phaeacantha. Opuntia martiniana (L. Benson) Parfitt is superficially similar to 0. curvospina, is also tetraploid (n = 22), but is distinguished by its style shape and other characters. Opuntia curvospina was described by Griffiths (1916) based on speci- mens from the hilly desert region between Searchlight, Nevada, and Nipton, California. It was subsequently reduced to synonymy, first with 0. chlorotica Engelm. & Bigel. (Britton and Rose 1919) and more recently with 0. phaeacantha Engelm. var. major Engelm. (Benson 1969a, b). Re- cent chromosome studies have directed attention to reevaluating the re-
Cloning and Differential Expression of QM-Like Protein Homologue from Maize

A full-length QM-like cDNA(designated ZmQM)was cloned from maize(Zea mays L.)leaf tissues using cDNA am- plified fragment length polymorphism(cDNA-AFLP)and rapid amplification of cDNA ends(RACE)techniques.The expression of ZmQM was examined in leaves of the Ht2 isogenic lines Huangzaosi and HuangzaosiHt2 carrying gene Ht2 for resistance to northern corn leaf blight after inoculation with race 1 of Exserohilum turcicum(Pass.)Leonard et Suggs.Gene ZmQM contains an open reading frame 738 bp in length,which encodes 245 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 27.78 kD and an isoelectric point of 10.69. Scanning PROSITE motifs indicated that the amino acid sequence of ZmQM protein includes a Ribo-somal protein Ll0e signature,an N-glycosylation site,four protein kinase C phosphorylation sites,a casein kinase II phosphorylation site,a tyrosine kinase phosphorylation site,an N-myristoylation site,and an amidation site.The nucleotide sequence of ZmQM shared 66–92%identity to QM genes isolated from other species.RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of gene ZmQM was up-regulated in Huangzaosi Ht2 at 12 h after inoculation with race 1 of E.turcicum compared with that in Huangzaosi. By inference,ZmQM protein may be involved in response of HuangzaosiHt2 to inoculation by E.turcicum race 1.
Post-release activity of captive- and wild-reared bald eagles

Rearing methods may affect behavior of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) hacked back the wild and may reduce successful releases and restoration of a population. Thus, we compared dispersal time and age, habitat use, site tenacity, sightings, and returns for captive- (n = 12) and wild-reared (n = 10) bald eagles after release and fledging from a hacking tower in northeastern Alabama. Captive- (92.2%) and wild-reared (92.5%) bald eagles were radio-located (n = 549) in predominately forest/wetland edges. Eagles moved 0.8-1.3 km away from the release tower during the first week. Captive-reared bald eagles returned closer (P<0,01) to the tower during the second and third weeks after release than wild-reared birds
A Taxonomic Revision of Tribe Ocimeae Dumort. (Lamiaceae) in Continental South East Asia I. Introduction, Hyptidinae & Hanceolinae

The tribe Ocimeae is fully revised for continental South East Asia (Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam). In all, 77 taxa including 70 species and 14 varieties are recognised under 9 genera: HyptisJacq. , Siphocranion Kudo, Isodon (Schrad. ex Benth.) Spach, Anisochilus Wall. ex Benth. , Plectranthus L'Her. , Basilicum Moench, Orthosiphon Benth. , Ocimum L. and Platostoma P. Beauv. This first part of the revision includes a general introduction covering the Ocimeae in SE Asia and taxonomic accounts of the Hyptidinae (Hyptis) and Hanceolinae (Siphocranion and Isodon). Descriptions, full synonyms relevant to South East Asian Floras, maps, line drawings, information about ethnobotany, distributions, habitats, ecology, endemism and conservation, selected specimen citations and an index to accepted names and synonyms are given. In all parts, 16 new species (including 11 validated names) and 3 new varieties are described in the genera Anisochilus, Isodon, Orthosiphon, Plectranthus and Platostoma. In this part, Isodon colaniae S. Suddee & A. J. Paton is validated and Isodon meeboldii (W. W. Sm.) S. Suddee is presented as a new combination. Two floristic elements are identified here: the Indo-Burmese and Sino-Himalayan elements that enter the area from the northwest and north, and the Indo-Chinese element that enters the area from Indo-China. Most species of Platostoma, the largest Indo-Chinese element, especially section Mesona and section Ceratanthus, are concentrated along the Mekong River in the Indo-Chinese peninsula around the Bolovens-Langbian plateaus. In all, there are 33 (43%) taxa endemic to the area of study. Seventy-four taxa were assessed according to IUCN red list criteria. Fourteen taxa were assessed as threatened. Two, Plectranthus tomentifolius and Orthosiphon truncatus are believed to be extinct.
Frequency of Reflection and Absorption of Ultraviolet Light in Flowering Plants

Flowers of 300 plant species representing 61 families were surveyed for their degree and pattern of reflection of near-ultraviolet (UV) light. Flowers were ranked in terms of four degrees of UV reflection and absorption. Yellow and violet flowers have the highest probability of reflecting UV, while white and green flowers generally reflect UV poorly. Pollination guides were generally nonreflective, independent of visible color. While independent of floral symmetry, UV reflection appears to be positively correlated with flower size. Although UV reflection probably occurs in all plant families, it appears to be more common in certain taxonomic groups. Like other floral colors, UV reflection and absorption seem to depend on both the physical structure and chemical composition of the petals.
Body size, breeding season length, and life history tactics of lagomorphs

Patterns of reproduction were investigated for 22 species of lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, pikas). Neonatal body mass, gestation time and maternal reproductive effort during gestation scaled allometrically with body mass of adult females. In keeping with their relatively altricial state at birth, Sylvilagus (Gray) exhibited shorter gestation periods and lighter neonatal body masses than comparable size-independent values for Lepus (L.). Much of the variation in reproductive characteristics of lagomorphs was explained by body size and phylogeny. However, analysis by principal components revealed reproductive parameters that were largely independent of body size. Examination of these second-order strategies showed that lagomorphs differ regarding rates of development and the manner in which offspring are produced (i.e., litter size, maternal investment). Breeding season length is a primary determinant of this differentiation. Selection has favored a reproductive strategy in highly seasonal environments characterized by fewer, larger litters, whereas long breeding seasons permit increased productivity via reduced age at first reproduction and increased iteroparity. The mean fetal growth rate of lagomorphs was more rapid than rates of other orders of eutherian mammals, but maternal reproductive investment during gestation was similar among orders.
Amylase Determination Using Insoluble Substrates

Three insoluble substrate amylase methods are compared. There is good correlation between the three procedures and with a saccharogenic procedure. Correlation with the starch-iodine method of Caraway is poor. Insoluble substrate methods are very suitable for the routine determination of amylase activity, and their advantages compared with saccharogenic and starch-iodine procedures are detailed.
A new extracellular laccase of Cryphonectria parasitica is revealed by deletion of Lac1

The biological function of the extracellular laccase (Laccase 1) of Cryphonectria parasitica was investigated by deletion of Lac1 using recombinant DNA techniques. Lac1 is one of the genes of this fungus which is down-regulated by the hypovirulence-causing dsRNA virus, CHV1. This virus causes a variety of symptoms of the fungus, including hypovirulence, reduced sporulation, and reduced pigmentation. A transforming vector for gene deletion was constructed by replacing the structural gene of laccase with the hygromycin B resistance gene (hph) from Escherichia coli. The Lac1 null mutation was found to have no effect on fungal virulence pigmentation, conidiation, conidial germination or sexual crossing capability. A previously unknown inducible extracellular laccase, however, was detected when the mutant strain was grown in tannic acid. The observed lack of phenotype associated with deletion of Lac1 may be the result of compensation by this newly discovered extracellular laccase.
Cellulase Activity of Symbiotic Bacteria from Snails, Achatina fulica

Cellulase is the key enzyme in the use of cellulose-based biomaterials. Because of its structure, cellulose is difficult to be degraded by enzymes. In order to utilize cellulose-based biomaterials efficiently, evolutionary wisdom of how to use enzymes accurately and harmoniously in a biological system is needed, such as the cellulose digestive system in animals. In this study, the symbiotic bacteria from snails, Achatina fulica, were identified and their cellulase activity was evaluated. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis of 100 aerobic bacteria showed that they belonged to 9 genus and almost half of the bacteria were Lactococcus spp. Among 100 identified strains, only two Aeromonas sp. strains showed cellulase activity. Aeromonas sp. KMBS020 had both endo-β-glucanase and β-glucosidase activities but Aeromonas sp. KMBS018 had β-glucosidase activity only. None of the 100 bacterial colonies had any cellobiohydrolase activity.
VR/AR Head-mounted Display System-based Measurement and Evaluation of Dynamic Visual Acuity

This study evaluated the dynamic visual acuity of candidates by implementing a King–Devick (K-D) test chart in a virtual reality head-mounted display (VR HMD) and an augmented reality head-mounted display (AR HMD). Hard-copy KD (HCKD), VR HMD KD (VHKD), and AR HMD KD (AHKD) tests were conducted in 30 male and female candidates in the age of 10S and 20S and subjective symptom surveys were conducted. In the subjective symptom surveys, all except one of the VHKD questionnaire items showed subjective symptoms of less than 1 point. In the comparison between HCKD and VHKD, HCKD was measured more rapidly than VHKD in all tests. In the comparison between HCKD and AHKD, HCKD was measured more rapidly than AHKD in Tests 1, 2, and 3. In the comparison between VHKD and AHKD, AHKD was measured more rapidly than VHKD in Tests 1, 2, and 3. In the correlation analyses of test platforms, all platforms were correlated with each other, except for the correlation between HCKD and VHKD in Tests 1 and 2. There was no significant difference in the frequency of errors among Tests 1, 2, and 3 across test platforms. VHKD and AHKD, which require the body to be moved to read the chart, required longer measurement time than HCKD. In the measurements of each platform, AHKD was measured closer to HCKD than VHKD, which may be because the AHKD environment is closer to the actual environment than the VHKD environment. The effectiveness of VHKD and AHKD proposed in this research was evaluated experimentally. The results suggest that treatment and training could be performed concurrently through the use of clinical test and content development of VHKD and AHKD.
Anguina paludicola sp. n. (Tylenchida: Anguinidae): The nematode associated with Rathayibacter toxicus infection in Polypogon monspeliensis and Lachnagrostis filiformis in Australia

Anguina paludicola sp. n. is described from Polypogon monspeliensis from southeastern South Australia and Lachnagrostis filiformis from northern New South Wales, following an examination of nematode populations by allozyme electrophoresis and morphological analysis. Genetic differences were consistent with those expected from conspecific allopatric populations and were based on geography rather than host. Morphological differences between nematodes from P. monspeliensis and L. filiformis were inconsistent and varied between different gall types on the same host plant. The new species is characterised by adults with irregular and variable tail termini, which appear lobed; females may have a process of vestigial ovary extending from the post uterine sac towards the tail; males are dorsally curved with a single reflexed testis; and the haploid chromosome complement is n=18.
Homology Modeling of Chemokine Receptor CXCR3: A Novel Therapeutic Target against Inflammatory Diseases

CXCR3 is a C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3 also known as GPR9 and CD183. CXCR3 is a G-Protein coupled chemokine receptor which interacts with three endogenous interferon inducible chemokine`s (CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) and is proved to play a vital role in the Th1 inflammatory responses. CXCR3 has been implicated to be associated with various disease conditions like inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, type I diabetes and acute cardiac allograft rejection. Therefore CXCR3 receptor is found to be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Inorder to decipher the biological function of a CXCR3, 3D structure is of much important but the crystal structure for CXCR3 has not yet been resolved. Hence, in the current study Homology modeling of CXCR3 was performed against various templates and validated using different parameters to suggest the best model for CXCR3. The reported best model can be used for further studies such as docking to identify the important binding site residues.
Habitat Dynamics of the Virginia Opossum in a Highly Urban Landscape

Abstract As urban habitats vary in composition and structure along the urban to rural gradient, different degrees of urbanization likely result in a diversity of landscape responses from wildlife. We investigated this relationship with the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), an urban adapted species that is both common and understudied in highly metropolitan landscapes. We investigated which landscape factors affect opossum occupancy, colonization, extinction, and detection by using a large system of motion-triggered camera traps in the Chicago metropolitan area over 10 seasons from spring 2010 to summer 2012. Opossum patch occupancy rates were highest near natural water sources regardless of urbanization, whereas occupancy rates in patches ≥1000 m from natural water sources decreased with increasing urbanization. Our results suggest opossums have relaxed habitat needs at intermediate levels of disturbance, as the ability to locate anthropogenic water sources may allow them to occupy previously uninhabitable patches.
Incorporation of 14C-amino acids into nocardicin A by growing cells.

The biosynthesis of nocardicin A by Nocardia uniformis subsp. tsuyamanensis was studied. L-Tyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, DL-p-hydroxymandelic acid and L-p-hydroxyphenylglycine have stimulatory effect on the production of nocardicin A. In feeding experiment with 14C-amino acids, L-tyrosine-U-14C, L-serine-U-14C, glycine-U-14C and L-homoserine-U-14C were incorporated into nocardicin A. Tyrosine was incorporated into the two aromatic rings of nocardicin A, serine into the β-lactam ring and homoserine into the 3-amino-3-carboxypropoxy moiety. Thus the precursors of nocardicin A are tyrosine, serine and homoserine.
QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) Analysis in Guava

QTL analyses have been performed in three guava mapping populations ('Enana' × 'N6'; MP1, 'Enana' × 'Suprema Roja'; MP2 and 'Enana' × 'Belic L-207'; MP3) based on the interval mapping method. Sixteen different traits related to leaf and fruit morphology, fruit characteristics, fruit quality, plant height and yield were recorded in the parents and progeny genotypes of the three mapping progenies. Sufficient variation was available for all characters allowing an efficient QTL analysis. The coefficients of variation (CV) depended strongly on the particular trait under evaluation and ranged from 5.7 to 65.2%. Several significant correlations were detected within leaf, fruit and yield traits which were generally similar in the different progenies. QTLs were detected for all traits under study. A total of 75, 56 and 59 QTLs were detected in populations MP1, MP2 and MP3, respectively. QTL numbers per trait varied between two and seven. Individual QTLs explained between 2.6 and 31.6% of the variance. Total variance explained by the sum of all detected QTLs varied between 6.6 for only one detected QTL and 68.3% between traits and populations. QTLs were integrated in the corresponding linkage maps. QTLs for different traits are co-located in these maps, reflecting the observed correlations between characters. Some of the QTLs are also co-located or closely linked to SSR markers, which will allow an efficient selection for marker assisted breeding in different genetic backgrounds.
Revision of the Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skinks (Egernia depressa species-group) from Western Australia, with descriptions of three new species

Egernia depressa is an extremely spiny species of scincid lizard that occurs in several populations with highly variable morphology in western Australia. Using a combination of fi xed morphological character differences and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, we found evidence for four species level groups within the complex. We restrict E. depressa to the log-inhabiting population from south-western Australia and resdescribe the species, and describe three new species from the arid zone: two from the Pilbara and one from the central ranges. In addition to the genetic differences, the species differ in head size, limb length, tail shape, colouration and scalation. Many of the morphological characters appear to be adaptations to log or rock-dwelling, with the log-dwelling E. depressa having brown colouration, large head, limbs and tail and long thin spines on the body and tail. The two Pilbara species are not each other's closest relatives, yet they resemble each other the closest, probably owing to a suite of characters adapted for living in rock crevices such as yellow to reddish colouration, smaller head and limbs, narrower tail and short strong spines on the body and tail. The central ranges species appears to have a combination of characters from log and rock-dwelling forms and is the most isolated of the four species.
Effect of replacement of de-hulled barley with water-soaked barley in corn–soybean meal-based diet on growth performance, blood characteristics, and meat quality in finishing pigs

ABSTRACT A total of 144 crossbred pigs [(Yorkshire Landrace) × Duroc] with an average initial body weight (BW) of 61.7 kg were used to assess the effect of replacement of de-hulled barley (DB) with water soaked barley (WB) in corn-soybean meal-based diet on growth performance, blood characteristics, and meat quality in finishing pigs according to their BW and sex (12 replicates per treatment and 4 pigs per pen). The dietary treatments were: DB, basal diet containing 5% DB; WB1, basal diet + 5% WB (0–8 weeks of feeding); WB2, basal diet + 5% WB (4–8 weeks of feeding). At the end of week 4, the IgG concentration (p<.05) was higher in WB1 than DB and WB2. At the end of week 8, lymphocyte percent was higher (p<.05) in DB than WB1 whereas IgG concentration was higher in WB1 and WB2 than DB. The sensory evaluation of colour scored higher (p<.05) in WB1 and meat marbling scored higher (p<.05) in WB2 than in DB. A higher (p<.05) yellowness and drip loss (day 1 and day 5) was observed in DB than in WB1. In conclusion, replacement of DB with WB had a positive impact on blood characteristics and meat quality of finishing pigs.
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD-BASED INDOOR POSITIONING USING BACK-PROPAGATION NEURAL NETWORKS

Abstract. High-precision indoor positioning in complex environments has always been a hot research topic within the positioning and robotic communities. As one of the indoor positioning technologies, geomagnetic positioning is receiving widespread attention due to its global coverage. Additionally, geomagnetic positioning does not require special infrastructure configuration, its hardware cost is low, and its positioning errors do not accumulate over time. However, geomagnetic positioning is prone to mismatching, which causes serious problems at the positioning points. To tackle this challenge, this paper proposes an indoor localization method based on spectral clustering and weighted back-propagation neural network. The main research contribution is that in the offline phase, the spatial specificity of geomagnetism is used to define the similarity between fingerprints. In addition, a clustering-based reference point algorithm is proposed to divide the sub-fingerprint database, and a positioning prediction model based on back-propagation neural network is trained. Subsequently, in the online stage, the weights of different positioning prediction models are calculated according to the defined fingerprint similarity, weighted average prediction coordinates are obtained, and thereby the positioning accuracy is improved. Experimental results show that, in comparison with other neural network-based positioning methods, the positioning error of our proposed algorithm is reduced by approximately 26.6% and the positioning time is reduced by 24.7%. Experimental results show that the average positioning error of the algorithm is 1.81m.
Seasonal dynamics of Daphnia and algae explained as a periodically forced predator-prey system

The classical seasonal sequence of events in lake plankton is an early spring bloom of algae followed by a peak of zooplankton, typically of the genus Daphnia, grazing down algal biomass resulting in the spring clear-water phase around early June. Subsequently, Daphnia numbers usually remain low and algal biomass increases until autumn when a second small Daphnia peak can cause another drop in algal biomass. In this paper we show that this entire scenario with the right timing of events comes out naturally from a minimal model of the Daphnia-algae interaction if we simply vary the parameters of the model sinusoidally over the year to mimic the effect of seasonal variation in temperature, light and predation pressure from planktivorous fish. The model also reproduces the observation that in lakes where fish biomass is low, Daphnia peaks can continue to occur regularly throughout the summer, while in lakes with very high fish biomass Daphnia can be virtually absent throughout the season.