Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Group size and feeding rates of Glossy Black-Cockatoos in central New South Wales

Abstract Glossy Black-Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus lathami) feed almost exclusively on the seeds of Allocasuarina and Casuarina species. Their specialised diet and low rates of food intake may make Glossy Black-Cockatoos susceptible to even small changes in their food supply. Glossy Black-Cockatoos occupying a large cypress pine-ironbark remnant woodland in central New South Wales were studied. Food supply within the study area was known to fluctuate with climate. I studied group size and feeding rates of Glossy Black-Cockatoos and compared them at different times of the day and year and in drought and non-drought conditions. Foraging groups were larger in the morning than in the afternoon and were larger during drought, when food was less abundant, than during non-drought periods. These results are consistent with previous observations that cockatoo group size increases when food resources are limited and the theory that foraging efficiency is enhanced by associating with more experienced flock-mates or by using the presence of feeding conspecifics to assist in locating food. Age-class had a strong influence on feeding rates, with older birds processing cones at faster rates than younger birds. There was no evidence to suggest that Glossy Black-Cockatoos were able to compensate for a reduction in food supply by increasing the rate at which they processed food.
Characterization of Vietnamese banana starch and its resistant starch improvement.

Starch is accumulated in a green stage of banana and banana starch is considered to be a source of resistant starch. The aim of this study is to determine the physicochemical and functional properties of Vietnamese bananas, White Manzano (WM) and Dwarf Cavendish (DC), and investigate amount of resistant starch after debranching and retrogradation of banana starch. The isolated starch granules were smooth, elongated oval with ridges or spherical and approximately 10-50 μm in diameter, depending on banana species as seen by a scanning electron microscope. Amylose contents of WMS were 30.3%, which was higher than that of DCS (26.5%). Both of banana starches exhibited the C-type crystalline structure, low swelling power and high α-amylase hydrolysis resistant capacity. The banana starch after debranching and retrogradation had the B-type structure with significantly improved resistant starch content. The native banana starch analyzed as eaten sample contained 11.2% of resistant starch, whereas the debranched starch had significantly higher amounts of resistant starch (31.8-48.1%). As a result, the debranched banana starch can be used as a functional food with high amount of resistant starch.
Abuelas were successful and the results suggest a trend towards mothers limiting their children's LNSCI

Mexican-American children have the highest rates of childhood obesity of any ethnic group [1]. Because Mexican-American mothers follow the advice of abuelas (respected grandmothers in the Mexican-American community) more than that of health care providers [2], this pilot study evaluated the efficacy of using abuelas to deliver a motivational interviewing intervention to encourage Mexican-American mothers to limit their children's low-nutritive simple carbohydrate intake. Specific questions were whether or not 1) abuelas could deliver a motivational interviewing intervention, 2) abuelas could recruit and retain participants, and 3) mothers altered their attitudes/beliefs, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control (self-efficacy), intent and behavior of limiting their children's low-nutritive simple carbohydrate intake.
Membrane Translocation of P-Rex1 Is Mediated by G Protein βγ Subunits and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase*

P-Rex1 is a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the small GTPase Rac that is directly activated by the βγ subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins and by the lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3), which is generated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Gβγ subunits and PIP3 are membrane-bound, whereas the intracellular localization of P-Rex1 in basal cells is cytosolic. Activation of PI3K alone is not sufficient to promote significant membrane translocation of P-Rex1. Here we investigated the subcellular localization of P-Rex1 by fractionation of Sf9 cells co-expressing P-Rex1 with Gβγ and/or PI3K. In basal, serum-starved cells, P-Rex1 was mainly cytosolic, but 7% of the total was present in the 117,000 × g membrane fraction. Co-expression of P-Rex1 with either Gβγ or PI3K caused only an insignificant increase in P-Rex1 membrane localization, whereas Gβγ and PI3K together synergistically caused a robust increase in membrane-localized P-Rex1 to 23% of the total. PI3K-driven P-Rex1 membrane recruitment was wortmannin-sensitive. The use of P-Rex1 mutants showed that the isolated Dbl homology/pleckstrin homology domain tandem of P-Rex1 is sufficient for synergistic Gβγ- and PI3K-driven membrane localization; that the enzymatic GEF activity of P-Rex1 is not required for membrane translocation; and that the other domains of P-Rex1 (DEP, PDZ, and IP4P) contribute to keeping the enzyme localized in the cytosol of basal cells. In vitro Rac2-GEF activity assays showed that membrane-derived purified P-Rex1 has a higher basal activity than cytosol-derived P-Rex1, but both can be further activated by PIP3 and Gβγ subunits.
Modelling the interactions between ammonium and nitrate uptake in marine phytoplankton

An empirically based mathematical model is presented which can simulate the major features of the interactions between ammonium and nitrate transport and assimilation in phytoplankton. The model (ammonium-nitrate interaction model), which is configured to simulate a generic microalga rather than a specified species, is constructed on simplified biochemical bases. A major requirement for parametrization is that the N:C ratio of the algae must be known and that transport and internal pool sizes need to be expressed per unit of cell C. The model uses the size of an internal pool of an early organic product of N assimilation (glutamine) to regulate rapid responses in ammonium-nitrate interactions. The synthesis of enzymes for the reduction of nitrate through to ammonium is induced by the size of the internal nitrate pool and repressed by the size of the glutamine pool. The assimilation of intracellular ammonium (into glutamine) is considered to be a constitutive process subjected to regulation by the size of the glutamine pool. Longer term responses have been linked to the nutrient history of the cell using the N:C cell quota. N assimilation in darkness is made a function of the amount of surplus C present and thus only occurs at low values of N:C. The model can simulate both qualitative and quantitative temporal shifts in the ammonium-nitrate interaction, while inclusion of a derivation of the standard quota model enables a concurrent simulation of cell growth and changes in nutrient status.
Effect of biological variables and capture period on the proximate composition and fatty acid composition of the dorsal muscle tissue of Hypophthalmus edentatus (Spix, 1829)

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a composicao quimica da musculatura dorsal de Hypophthalmus edentatus,em particular, a composicao dos acidos graxos da fracao lipidica, e relacionar esta composicao com variaveis biologicas e o periodo de coleta. Os valores de mediana para umidade, cinzas, proteina e lipidio total foram 63,15%, 1,11%, 14,27% e 17,24%, respectivamente. Na fracao lipidica foram identificados 35 acidos graxos sendo os mais abundantes: 16:0, 18:1w 9, 18:0, 16:1w 7, 18:3w 3, DHA e EPA. Os totais de acidos graxos saturados, monoinsaturados e poliinsaturados foram, respectivamente, 41,15%, 35,30% e 23,88%. A razao AGPI/AGS foi igual a 0,68 e a razao w 3/w 6 igual a 1,98. Na ACP contribuiram positivamente para formacao do primeiro eixo AGPIs de cadeia longa e, negativamente, alguns AGSs e AGMIs de 14 a 18 carbonos. A analise de variaveis canonica sugere a existencia de algum efeito de fatores biologicos (peso, estadio, sexo) e do periodo de coleta sobre a variacao de alguns dos componentes quimicos do tecido muscular dorsal de H. edentatus,principalmente, lipidios totais e alguns acidos graxos.
A comparison of species assemblages between drainage systems with and without floodgates : implications for coastal floodplain management

Coastal floodplains provide essential nursery habitat for a large number of fish and prawn species, many of which are commercially and recreationally important. Human activities in coastal floodplains, such as those associated with agriculture and (or) development, can have detrimental impacts on this nursery function. We examined the potential role of flood mitigation structures, in particular tidal floodgates, in depleting estuarine and inshore fisheries stocks in eastern Australia. We compared species assemblages (abundance and biomass) in reference and gated drainage systems in the Clarence River floodplain (New South Wales, Australia) over a 1-year period. We subsequently determined which environmental variables were associated with the observed patterns in species assemblages. Our results show that abundance, biomass, and assemblages of juvenile fishes and invertebrates differed significantly and consistently between drainage systems with and without floodgates. The major environmental variables of concern in systems with floodgates were (i) presence of a floodgate, (ii) elevated concentrations of nutrients, and (iii) abundance of aquatic weeds. We discuss our findings in light of potential strategies to improve coastal floodplain management for fisheries production purposes. Resume : Les plaines de debordement cotieres servent d'habitat essentiel de nursery pour un grand nombre d'especes de poissons et de crevettes, dont plusieurs ont une importance commerciale ou sportive. Les activites humaines dans les plaines de debordement, telles que celles reliees a l'agriculture et (ou) au developpement, peuvent avoir des impacts ne- gatifs sur cette fonction de nursery. Nous examinons le role potentiel des structures de mitigation des inondations, en parti- culier des vannes de maree, dans la reduction des stocks de poissons commerciaux dans les estuaires et les eaux interieures de l'est de l'Australie. Nous avons compare les groupes d'especes (abondance et biomasse) dans des bassins versants temoins et d'autres munis de vannes dans la plaine de debordement de la Clarence (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, Australie) durant 1 annee. Nous avons ensuite identifie les variables du milieu associees aux patterns observes dans les regroupements d'especes. Nos resultats montrent que l'abondance, la biomasse et les regroupements de jeunes poissons et d'invertebres different de maniere significative et reguliere entre les bassins versants avec et sans vannes. Les princi- pales variables environnementales a surveiller dans les systemes munis de vannes sont (i) la presence de vannes, (ii) les concentrations elevees de nutriments et (iii) l'abondance de plantes aquatiques nuisibles. Nous discutons de nos resul- tats dans le contexte des strategies possibles pour ameliorer la gestion des plaines de debordement cotieres afin de fa- voriser la production des peches commerciales. (Traduit par la Redaction) Kroon and Ansell 2417
A comparative morphological study of South African avocado and mango isolates ofColletotrichum gloeosporioides

South African isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides(Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. in Penz. from avocado and mango are phenotypically as variable as isolates from other countries over the world. Colony colours ranging from pale salmon pink to dark grey green occurred. Isolates from mango were generally less variable than those from avocados. Most isolates produced appressoria terminally on germ tubes and few differences were observed between appressoria of different isolates, their mean length being 14.6 µm. Four different types of conidial shapes were found, and both avocado and mango isolates produced mainly cylindrical conidia with a tapered base and obtuse apex. Conidial length varied considerably, but width remained relatively constant. No correlation was evident between the length/width ratio of conidia and the virulence of isolates when inoculated into avocado and mango. Resume : Des isolats sud-africains du Colletotrichum gloeosporioides(Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. in Penz. , venant d'avocats et de mangues, s'averent phenologiquement aussi variables que ceux provenant de d'autres pays. Les couleurs des colo- nies vont de rose saumon pâle a gris verdâtre fonce. Les isolats provenant de mangues sont generalement moins varia- bles que ceux provenant d'avocats. La plupart des isolats forment des appressoriums terminaux a partir de leurs tubes germinatifs et on observe peu de differences entre les appressoriums formes par differents isolats, leur longueur moyenne etant de 14,6 µm. On retrouve quatre types distincts de formes conidiennes, les isolats de mangues aussi bien que d'avocats produisant surtout des conidies cylindriques, avec une base en fuseau et un apex obtus. La longueur des conidies varie considerablement, mais la largeur demeure relativement constante. Il n'y a pas de correlation evidente entre le rapport longueur/largeur des conidies et la virulence des isolats, losqu'inocules sur des avocats ou des man- gues. Mots cles : Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , conidies, morphologie, avocat, mangue. (Traduit par la Redaction) Sanders and Korsten 885
Lysine requirement of 1.5–5.5 kg pigs fed liquid diets

An experiment was conducted to define the lysine requirement of neonatal pigs fed a liquid diet up to 5.5 kg bodyweight (BW). Neonatal pigs, 1–2 days old, with an initial bodyweight of 1.63 ± 0.04 kg, were randomly allotted to 10 isocaloric diets varying in lysine concentration from 0.76 to 1.62 g lysine/MJ gross energy (GE). Diets were formulated using whey protein concentrate and casein as protein sources and contained similar balance of indispensable amino acids. On day 1 of the experiment, pigs were fed 350 g liquid diet/kg metabolic bodyweight (BW0.75) according to the average BW of all pigs. On day 2, feeding rate was increased to 400 g/kg BW0.75. Increments were 100 g/kg BW0.75 per day for the subsequent 3 days until pigs reached 700 g/kg BW0.75 on day 5. Thereafter, feed was offered to pigs at a common feeding level of 700 g/kg BW0.75 each day until they reached 5.5 kg BW. Feed intake and BW were measured daily. Concentration of fat in the carcass decreased (P < 0.05) and the ratio of crude protein (CP) to fat in the carcass increased (P < 0.05) linearly as lysine inclusion increased. Both average daily gain and CP accretion increased (quadratic, P < 0.05), whereas fat accretion decreased (quadratic, P < 0.05) as lysine inclusion increased. Using the maximum point of the quadratic function, the estimated dietary lysine required for maximal growth (271 g/day) and CP accretion (45.2 g/day) was 1.41 and 1.32 g lysine/MJ GE, respectively. The dietary lysine required, estimating the requirement at the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval for CP accretion of 42.9 g/day, was 1.12 g lysine/MJ GE. Gross efficiency of CP deposition (CP deposition/CP intake) achieved a maximum of 0.85 at 1.01 g lysine/MJ GE.
Induction of apoptosis in rat olfactory neuroepithelium by synaptic target ablation

The olfactory system provides a useful in vivo model for studying the influence of synaptic targets on the survival of relay neurones. The bipolar sensory neurones located in the olfactory mucosa project synaptically onto the ipsilateral olfactory bulb, and their survival depends on the integrity of this connection. We demonstrate here that the retrograde neuronal degeneration induced by olfactory bulb removal involves apoptosis. As revealed by typical nucleosome-sized fragmentations of the genomic DNA, the apoptosis rate reaches a maximum 32 h after bulbectomy. A transient c-fos mRNA accumulation was detected, peaking 16 h after bulbectomy, suggesting that c-fos is involved in the early steps of programmed cell death.
Sap flow, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of container-grown cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) trees subjected to repeated cycles of soil drying

Summary. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an emerging horticultural crop in tropical northern Australia. Supplementary watering is required during the dry season to achieve high yields but irrigation guidelines are not well defined. As an introduction to large-scale field experiments which will aim to define the irrigation requirements for cashew, this experiment was conducted on small, container-grown cashew trees to examine their response to drying soil and to evaluate a range of techniques for measuring tree water use and photosynthesis with possible application in the proposed field experiments. Measurements of sap flow, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange were made on all trees throughout the experimental period. The water use of trees in drying soil was measured using Granier’s sap flow system. Sap flux density (L/dm2 sapwood area . h) of drying trees declined progressively over a 4-day period to a minimum level that was only 10% of the sap flow in the well watered trees. Measurements of leaf gas exchange showed similarly large reductions in photosynthesis and transpiration which were associated with a low (0.05 mol/m2 . s) stomatal conductance in the drying trees. After rewatering, sap flow and leaf gas exchange recovered to the high levels of the well watered trees over 3–4 days. Similar behaviour was observed during the second drying period. Measurements of the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence, Fv : Fm, an indicator of photoinhibition, were made on dark-adapted leaves before dawn and during the day. Fv : Fm was in the range 0.65–0.80 with no large or sustained differences between drying and well watered trees. When stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate progressively declined during the period following irrigation, the quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in photosystem II, ΦPSII, remained almost constant. It is possible that by providing a pathway for electron flow as an alternative to CO2 assimilation during this period, photorespiration played an important role in avoiding photoinhibition.
Reproductive constraints, not environmental conditions, shape the ontogeny of sex‐specific mass–size allometry in roe deer

In polygynous mammals, sex-specific patterns of body growth are linked to divergent selection pressures on male and female body size, resulting in sexual dimorphism (SD). For males, reproductive success is generally linked to body size, hence, males should prioritise early growth. For females, reproductive success is linked to resource availability, so they may adopt a more conservative growth tactic. Using longitudinal monitoring of known-age animals in two contrasting populations and an allometric approach to disentangle the relative contribution of structural size and physiological condition to SD, we addressed these issues in the weakly polygynous roe deer. Despite very different environmental conditions, we found remarkably similar patterns in the two populations in the mass–size allometric relationship at each life history stage, suggesting that relative allocation to structural size and physiological condition is highly constrained. SD in structural size (indexed by hind foot length) involved sex-specific growth trajectories governed by a single mass–size allometric relationship during the juvenile stage, such that males were both bigger and heavier than females. In contrast, SD in physiological condition (indexed by the allometric relationship between body mass and hind foot length, expressed as body mass for a given body size) developed markedly during the sub-adult stage in relation to sex differences in the timing of first reproduction. Among adults, males were heavier for a given size than females, suggesting that, relative to females, males express a capital breeder tactic, accumulating fat reserves to offset reproductive costs. By the senescent stage, SD in physiological condition had disappeared, with both sexes governed by a single allometric relationship, suggesting more rapid senescence in males than females. Individuals born into poor cohorts were generally lighter for a given size, indicating growth priority for skeletal size over physiological condition in both sexes. However, sex differences in cohort effects among sub-adults resulted in lower size-specific SD in poor cohorts, indicating that body condition of sub-adult females is buffered against environmental harshness. We conclude that sex-differences in reproductive tactics impose constraints on the ontogeny of SD in roe deer, leading to sex-specific trajectories in structural size and physiological condition.
Feeding activities of soil organisms at four different forest sites in Central Amazonia using the bait lamina method

A recently developed technique in soil ecology is the use of the bait lamina method, for assessing the feeding activity of soil animals in situ. Here the bait lamina method (slightly adapted to tropical conditions) was used for the comparison of four closely situated sites (a primary rain forest, a secondary rain forest and two mixed-species tree plantations) in the Brazilian Amazon (project SHIFT ENV-52). The total feeding activity (portion of empty apertures in a set of laminae) and the vertical distribution of the feeding activity were evaluated for differences between the sites. The feeding activities in the primary and secondary forest were at the same level and significantly lower than in the two plantations. Feeding activity in subplots where surface litter has been experimentally removed was significantly lower than in the controls with the litter layer intact, at all four sites. The abundance of soil macrofauna or Enchytraeidae was not correlated with the results of the bait lamina tests, while the abundance of mesofauna (probably mainly Oribatida) was consistent with the pattern of feeding activity. The feeding activities as determined with bait laminae did not correlate with the decomposition activities determined with litterbags. Due to the easy applicability in combination with its feasibility for statistical evaluation and its consistent responses to site differences in experimental treatments we consider the bait lamina method to be a promising approach for the biological assessment of tropical soils.
Can genomics clarify the origins of Boreioglycaspis melaleucae in California, USA?

Abstract The Australian psyllid Boreioglycaspis melaleucae is a biological control agent of Melaleuca quinquenervia in Florida (USA) but was observed attacking M. quinquenervia trees in southern California (USA). Genotyping revealed the California population matched three of eight Australian haplotypes and all three Florida haplotypes. It remains unclear if the California psyllid population arrived directly from Australia or via Florida.
Catching, handling and loading of poultry for road transportation

Manual catching, handling and loading of poultry prior to transportation to slaughter have been identified as major sources of stress and trauma to the birds. Whilst extensive but generalized legislation and advice pertaining to the design and maintenance of containers exist in some countries, the complex logistics and demands of modern intensive poultry production exacerbate many of the fundamental difficulties associated with animal handling. Methods of removal of laying hens from cages of current design are often associated with overt injuries including fractures and dislocations problems addressed in new UK guidelines. Modifications of cage structure and the mechanical conveying of birds may additionally prove beneficial in this context. Depopulation of broiler houses involving manual catching at rates of up to 1500 birds per man hour may also have a negative effect on bird welfare. Current practices require significant improvement, including operative education. Mechanized broiler harvesting offers an important and viable alternative procedure and its potential benefits are discussed.