Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic differentiation of Wolffia globosa in China

Abstract Wolffia Horkel ex Schleid. (Lemnaceae) includes the world's smallest angiosperms. Morphologically, their bodies are extremely simplified, making classification difficult and long‐disputed. No reports about the genetic structure of these clonal‐dominant aquatic plants have been published until now. In this study, of 247 samples from 42 populations spanning representative locations in China, two chloroplast haplotypes (glo‐cp and un‐cp) and 66 amplified fragment length polymorphism genotypes were identified. Based on wide sampling, cpDNA haplotypes, and amplified fragment length polymorphism profiles, we found that there are two genetic lineages (glo‐ and un‐ lineages) of Wolffia species in China. Genotypic and genetic diversity of Wolffia species are high compared with other clonal plants (Simpson's index, D= 0.97; Nei's diversity, H= 0.1835). Different spatial structure patterns were detected between glo‐ and un‐ lineages. Positive autocorrelation at short distances (<400 km) and slightly negative autocorrelations at larger distances (>1500 km) were detected within the glo‐lineage, but no significant spatial genetic structure was detected beyond 100 km within the un‐lineage. Overall, spatial genetic analysis of W. globosa revealed significant autocorrelation within short distances, indicating that restricted gene flow might be one of the most important factors in shaping genetic structure.
Identification and distribution of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) haplotypes in Jamaica.

Collections of Jamaican whiteflies were identified using morphological characters. Those identified as Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) were further identified to esterase type using diagnostic general esterase patterns using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Over 216 B. tabaci adults from 22 Jamaican collections were identical to the B type esterase banding patterns identified first for the B biotype from Arizona, U.S.A. Of the plant species sampled in Jamaica, 86% were hosts of the B biotype of B. tabaci. Non-B esterase patterns were identified for two B. tabaci colonizing cassava and milkweed, respectively. Maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses of the mitochondrial (mt) 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequences for Jamaican B. tabaci and reference sequences for well-studied B. tabaci haplotypes indicated that the non-B B. tabaci from Jamaica were of New World origin, whereas individuals identified as the B biotype were indistinguishable from those for other B biotype collections, worldwide. Bemisia tabaci collected from cassava in Jamaica was most closely related to the monophagous Jatropha biotype described in Puerto Rico, U.S.A. , at 98.2% nucleotide identity. The collection from milkweed shared 98.4-99.6% nucleotide identity with several polyphagous haplotypes in the Americas and Caribbean region. The mt 16S rRNA sequence for the B biotype from tomato and muskmelon in Jamaica shared 99.1-99.3% nucleotide identity with the B biotype reference from Arizona. The presence of two New World haplotypes of B. tabaci in Jamaica are being reported for the first time, which may be analogous to the Jatropha and Sida biotypes (races), respectively, previously known only from Puerto Rico, and confirm that the exotic B biotype of B. tabaci is widespread in Jamaica.
Degradation of endosperm mRNAs during dry afterripening of cereal grains

Abstract The endosperm of dormant wild oat (Avena fatua L.) grains contains a number of mRNAs, including low levels of transcripts encoding avenin (AV10), puroindoline-like (AV1) and serine proteinase inhibitor-like (Z1) proteins. During dry afterripening, a period of warm dry storage that relieves dormancy, the abundance of these intact transcripts gradually declined to undetectable levels in pooled grain samples. In contrast, the three mRNAs did not decline in grains stored for the same period at −20°C, and levels of mRNA decay products derived from these transcripts did not change during afterripening. Disappearance of the three intact mRNAs was not a general phenomenon, since abundance of more than 5000 other seed mRNAs did not change during this period. Additional experiments were conducted to test the idea that the presence of these transcripts was positively correlated with seed dormancy status. First, the rate of intact Z1 mRNA decline was similar to the rate of dormancy relief during 9 months of afterripening. Second, cultivated oat (A. sativa) grains (which are not dormant at maturity) contained much lower levels of these mRNAs than did highly dormant wild oat grains. Third, levels of full-length AV1 and Z1 mRNAs remained constant in dormant grains during 6 d of imbibition. However, Northern analyses of individual grains from a partially afterripened seed lot showed that amounts of intact AV1 or Z1 mRNAs were highly variable in germinating and dormant grains and were not correlated with dormancy status. Even though loss of these transcripts occurred under the same environmental conditions that promote afterripening, a causal relationship between the two processes seems unlikely. The apparently specific mechanism(s) by which these mRNAs are degraded in endosperm tissue may represent a novel post-transcriptional process for regulating levels of certain transcripts in dry grains.
Activation of L-lysine ε-dehydrogenase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens by several amino acids and monocarboxylates

: The activation of lysine epsilon-dehydrogenase [EC 1.4. 1. ] by L-lysine was dependent on lysine concentration and was accompanied by association of the dimeric enzymes to a tetramer. The lysine concentration required for the half-maximal activation was 0.28 mM, which was lower than the Km value for L-lysine. In addition to L-lysine, several compounds, which were neither substrates nor inhibitors, activated the enzyme. The compounds which activated the enzyme have common structural characteristics: they have both a carboxyl group and a hydrophobic side chain. These activators also induced the association of the enzyme. The activation of the enzyme occurred well over the pH range 5.0 to 7.5, and the maximal activation was obtained by preincubation for 5 min at 30 degrees C and pH 7.4, when 5 mM L-lysine or 6-aminocaproate was used as an activator. NADH binding experiments indicated that about 2 mol of NADH bind to 1 mol of the tetrameric enzyme: the dimeric enzyme has one catalytic site. Binding experiments with n-[1-14C]heptanoate and L-[U-14C]lysine showed that approximately 2 mol of ligands bind to 1 mol of the dimeric enzyme and L-lysine could not bind to the catalytic site of the enzyme in the absence of NAD+. These results indicate the presence of one catalytic site and two activator binding binding sites in the dimeric enzyme.
PCR detection of Kashmir bee virus in honey bee excreta

SUMMARY Using direct RT-PCR, Kashmir bee virus (KBV) was detected in the faecal material of worker and queen honey bees (Apis mellifera). This occurrence implies that KBV could be transmitted horizontally in bee colonies without involving the suspected mite vector, Varroa jacobsoni. The molecular techniques described in this study can be used to certify KBV-free queens sold to beekeepers.
The western palaearctic species of Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803, (Diptera, Tipulidae) Part 1

Part 1 of this study deals with the western palaearctic species of the cornicina group (Savchenko, 1973b). For each taxon the references, type-material, material examined, description, biology and distribution are presented and discussed. Six taxa are new to science (lempkei, appendiculata pertenua, theowaldi, fontana, exastigma and sardegniensis), one is redefined (astigma) and one is given a new status (surcoufi). The females of beckeri, saccai, forcipata and schaeuffelei are described for the first time. Thirty-seven names are known in the literature for twenty-six taxa discussed.
Evaluation of Wheat Polyphenol Oxidase Genes

ABSTRACT Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) present in mature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) kernels have been implicated in the undesirable darkening of cereal products such as Asian noodles. To accelerate the functional characterization of wheat PPOs and allow the identification of those PPO genes that are primarily involved in food biochemistry, several basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) searches of expressed sequence tag (EST) databases were performed using a known wheat PPO sequence as a search argument; identified ESTs were resequenced and aligned. Results from this study suggest the presence of at least six PPO genes in hexaploid wheat, falling into two clusters with three similar sequences each. Based on the tissues used for cDNA library preparation, three genes (all members of one cluster) are expressed during kernel development and may therefore influence cereal product quality; the remaining three genes (belonging to the second cluster) were isolated from nonkernel cDNA libraries and may not be ex.
Identification of tissues showing the lowest tolerance to freezing in larvae of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis

Abstract. Even though overwintering larvae of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, are freeze‐tolerant, they cannot survive below −30 °C. Furthermore, nondiapausing larvae cannot survive freezing. However, the cause of death due to freezing is unclear. To identify the cause of death by freezing in larvae, those tissues most injured by low temperatures are identified using the vital stain trypan blue. In overwintering larvae, the midgut of dead larvae stains blue, and remarkable colour density differences between dead and surviving larvae are observed in the midgut. In nondiapausing larvae incubated at −10 °C for several hours, the fat body of dead larvae is strongly stained. Furthermore, increases in mortality with treatment time correspond with increases in the area of the fat body stained. Sterile nondiapausing larvae with lower supercooling points, below −20 °C, do not freeze at −10 °C and survive the treatment. However, all the larvae die when subjected to inoculative freezing at −10 °C, and the fat body stains blue. These results suggest that the midgut in overwintering larvae and the fat body in nondiapausing larvae have the lowest tolerance to freezing.
Potential of forages to diversify cropping systems in the Northern Great Plains

Cultivated forage crops are grown on almost 12 million ha on the northern Great Plains. This paper reviews the benefits of diversifying annual crop rotations with forage crops and highlights innovations in forage systems.Agronomic benefits of rotating forage crops with annual grain crops include higher grain crop yields following forages (up to 13 yr in one study), shifts in the weed population away from arable crop weeds, and improved soil quality. Perennial legumes in rotation also reduce energy requirements by adding significant amounts of N to the soil. Soil water availability may limit the extent to which forages benefit following crops. Under semiarid conditions, forages can actually reduce yields of the following crops, and as such, tillage practices that conserve soil water have been developed to partially address this problem. Forages in rotation provide environmental benefits, such as C sequestration, critical habitat for wildlife, and reduced NO 3 leaching. A wider range of annual plant species are now used in forage systems in an effort to extend the grazing season and to maximize use of water resources. Intensive pasture management using cultivated forages is on the increase as is the use of alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) in grazing systems; in some cases, bloat-reduced alfalfa cultivars are used. Pasture-based systems appear to provide benefits for both animal and human health and arguably the health of the environment. Pasture systems are less nutrient exhausting than hay systems. As a result, nutrient management strategies will differ in the following crop. Additional research is required to optimize the role of cultivated pastures in grain-based cropping systems.
Effects of Variable Mortality and Recruitment on Performance of Catch-Curve Residuals as Indicators of Fish Year-Class Strength

Abstract We built a simulation model to assess the performance of catch-curve residuals as an index of year-class strength for a short-lived and a long-lived fish life history type across a range of assumed values for the variation in recruitment (CV R ) and fishing mortality (CV F ). The magnitude of CV R strongly influenced the utility of catch-curve residuals in assessing year-class strength. The probability of finding a significant correlation between catch-curve residuals and true recruitment values exceeded 0.9 when CV R was greater than 0.5 for the long-lived and greater than 1.0 for the short-lived life history types. This suggests that larger recruitment values have a greater probability of being successfully “tracked” through the age structure. Conversely, the magnitude of interannual variation in fishing mortality weakly influenced the performance of catch-curve residuals. The inspection of individual catch-curve residuals relative to the known recruitment values that produced them showed consi.
Slow growth in vitro conservation of Zizyphus jujuba Mill.

This study is undertaken to develop a protocol for in vitro conservation of Zizyphus jujuba Mill. using different methods for mid-term storage. This specie is very important for the pharmacological values of fruits and leaves, and has a very common use in food industry and for its fragrance. For this reason, it would be of interest to use a method available for in vitro multiplication and mediumterm germplasm conservation, which involves strategies to slow plant growth through chemical and environmental manipulation of in vitro conditions. Shoot tips, used as primary explants, were cultured onto MS medium supplemented with MS vitamins, BAP (6-benzilaminopurine) 1 mg l -1 , IBA (3-indole bytiric acide) 0.05 mg l -1 , 3% sucrose and 0,57% agar-agar. The pH value was established in 5.6. Three different methods of short and mid-term conservation were examined using in vitro grown plant cultures: 1Effect of reduced sucrose and MS salts concentrations; 2Combination of low temperature and light regime; 3Absence of phytohormones or growth regulators in the growth media. Maintenance in these conditions reduced microcuttings growth. Were evaluated the survival and regeneration rate for different periods. To test the regeneration of the conserved cultures, they were transferred onto fresh culture medium. The examined methods differed significantly in the survival rate of the explants. The effect of low temperature (4 o C) combined with reduced light regime is the most effective method of medium term preservation. The optimal time of conservation without subculture on 4 o C was 10 months.
Three important endoparasites of laboratory woodchucks (Marmota monax) caught in the wild: Capillaria hepatica, Ackertia marmotae, and Taenia crassiceps

Wild animals kept in laboratories are potential carriers of viruses, bacteria and parasites. These might be a risk to people who have contact with those animals. We demonstrate this by the example of the American laboratory woodchuck (Marmota monax) which has been kept in our laboratory for 6 years (n=155). Beside Capillaria hepatica , the filaria Ackertia marmotae and the cestode Taenia crassiceps have been found. These three species were recognised outside the routine monitoring for parasites. As C. hepatica and T. crassiceps are human pathogens, the potential for transmission to humans and other woodchucks is estimated. Precautionary measures such as treatment to eradicate and hygiene instructions are discussed.
Shoot and Root Growth Response of Perennial Ryegrass to Fertilizer Placement Depth

A better understanding of turfgrass growth responses to the vertical placement of nutrients in the soil is needed if growth responses are to be maximized. This greenhouse work examined the shoot and root growth responses of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to placement of N-P-K fertilizer at various depths in a sandy clay loam and in a sand-peat mixture. Fertilization at the 5-, 10-, and 15-cm soil depths produced greater verdure and total root mass than fertilization at 0 cm in both the sandy clay loam and sand-peat. Root mass increases occurred within the 5- to 35-cm zone of the sandy clay loam and the 10- to 35-cm zone of the sand-peat with subsurface fertilization
Fish Viscera Silage as a Protein Source for Poultry

Abstract Fish viscera silage was evaluated as a protein source for chicks and hens on the basis of content and digestibility of amino acids and nitrogen, effects on growth and meat quality in chicks, and effects on egg production and egg and meat quality in hens. The experiments comprised several viscera products; fresh, acid preserved, ensiled, and ensiled concentrated viscera. Acid preservation and ensiling did not affect the content of most amino acids and the amino acids were highly digestible. The tryptophan content was, however, reduced and the digestibility of this amino acid was low. Viscera products constituted up to 40% of protein in chick diets. Chicks fed viscera diets performed as good as, or better, than chicks fed the control diets. A low fat content of the viscera products seemed to be a prerequisite for good quality of chick meat. Egg production and feed efficiency were not affected by diets containing 20% of protein from concentrated viscera silage. Hens fed 40% of the protein from silag.
SUBSOIL NITROGEN DYNAMICS AS AFFECTED BY PLANTED COPPICING TREE LEGUME FALLOWS IN EASTERN ZAMBIA

Nitrogen (N) is a major nutrient that limits crop production in southern Africa. We hypothesized that coppicing tree legumes, which are integrated in cropping systems, would intercept leaching nutrients and could also increase topsoil N in nutrient-depleted soils. This hypothesis was verified in three ongoing experiments at Msekera (experiments 1 and 2) and Kagoro (experiment 3) in Zambia. Planted tree fallows of Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia angustisma, and Sesbania sesban were compared with natural fallows and with continuous maize cropping with or without fertilizer (no-tree) controls. Top and subsoil samples were taken in the tree treatments and in the no-tree controls to establish short and long-term tree effects on soil N dynamics. 15N was introduced at various soil depths down to 2 m to determine the vertical root-reach of coppicing trees. Samples taken on two different dates showed that planted trees are capable of capturing subsoil N. The amounts retrieved by trees in experiment 2 did not vary with depth or dates except for A. angustisma which retrieved more N from the top 0.20 m than from the subsoil. L. leucocephala and G. sepium had similar characteristics in terms of coppice biomass production and N content, and both species rooted to at least 2 m. G. sepium in a mixture with S. sesban, retrieved more applied N than when planted alone, implying that mixed fallows may be effective in resource capture. There was more inorganic-N in the topsoil of coppiced fallows was significantly higher than in unfertilized maize plots. Subsoil N accumulation was evident under fertilized maize plots. There was less subsoil nitrate-N beneath planted trees than beneath mono-cropped maize plots indicating that trees probably retrieved subsoil N. Maize yields subsequent to coppicing tree fallows were at least 170% higher than unfertilized controls indicating improved soil fertility status in the tree systems.
A Comparison of Genomic Predictions Using Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and GBLUP Methods

Genomic selection (GS) involves estimating breeding values using molecular markers spanning theEntire genome. Accurate prediction of genomic breeding values (GEBVs) presents a central challenge tocontemporary plant and animal breeders. The existence of a wide array of marker-based approaches for predictingbreeding values makes it essential to evaluate and compare their relative predictive performances to identifyapproaches able to accurately predict breeding values. We compared the Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and GBLUP Methods for the computation of genomic prediction of genetic merit using simulated data.Genomic accuracies of genomic prediction in generation of 1001-1007, considering the number of QTLs 5, 10 and 20 and the number of markers 100 and 1000 for the traits with heritability of 0.25 and 0.5 were compared. By increasing the number of markers the genomic accuracy is increased and by decreasing it the accuracy decreases. The genomic accuracy in the target generations (1002 to 1007) using both of SVM and GBLUP methods decreases across the generations. The results were shown that applying SVM in comparison to GBLUP was resulted to increasing the accuracy of genomic evaluation as well as its persistency across generations.
Cytokine Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Lymphopoiesis

Large numbers of blood cells need to be continuously replaced in order to sustain the crucial functions of the immune system, oxygen transport and blood clotting. The large diversity of cell types required to maintain the integrity of the blood system are all produced from blood forming or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs have the unique property of self renewal, ensuring life-long replenishment of all the blood cell types. Hematopoietic growth factors, so called cytokines, have previously been demonstrated to be important for the survival and proliferation of committed progenitor cells and development of different blood cell lineages. However, their potential role in regulating HSCs remains to a large degree unresolved. Herein, we provide data that establish the adaptor protein LNK as an important negative regulator of postnatal HSC expansion, acting as an inhibitor of the cytokine Thrombopoietin, known to be important for HSC maintenance and/or expansion. Furthermore, whereas previous studies demonstrated that another cytokine, fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor 3 (FLT3) ligand (FL), is an important regulator of B cell progenitors but has a redundant role in steady state maintenance of mature B cells, we here demonstrate that FL plays a crucial role in the regeneration of not only B cell progenitors but also mature B cells after bone marrow (BM) transplantation and chemotherapy. In addition, through studies of FL-deficient mice we show that FL plays an important role in maintaining conventional B cells with age, but is redundant in maintaining a normal compartment of fetally/postnatally derived B1 and marginal zone B cells. It has been disputed whether FL also is important in HSC regulation. Our present findings establish that FL is not important for regulating HSC maintenance or expansion neither during fetal development or in adult steady state hematopoiesis, nor following BM transplantation or chemotherapy-induced BM ablation. Finally, through identification of a multipotent progenitor in adult BM, with sustained granulocyte-monocyte and lymphocyte potential, but little or no megakaryocyte and erythroid potential, we provide evidence for a strict separation of myelopoiesis and lymphopoiesis, not being the first lineage commitment step of HSCs.