Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Individual and population level determinants of immigration success on local habitat patches: an experimental approach

The effect of population density on immigration success of young root voles was studied in a factorial experiment where immigrants of three different types were translocated from donor populations to recipient habitat patches with experimentally manipulated population sizes. The different types of immigrants were: (1) residents, animals that had remained in their natal patch; (2) colonists, animals that already had successfully dispersed and settled in a new patch; and (3) transients, animals roaming around in a non-habitable matrix area of the donor population. Generally, we found evidence for a negative density-dependent immigration success in terms of survival, rate of sexual maturation and body growth rate. With respect to the survival rate, the degree of density dependence differed among the three immigrant types. Our findings are discussed with respect to the degree of rescue effect immigrants may have on a recipient population depending on population density, and also its relevance concerning translocation of individuals for conserving endangered populations.
Interference of RNA (RNAi-SiRNA)

Small ribonucleic acid (RNA) can act as a specific regulator of gene expression. This discovery has been an exciting breakthrough in Biological Sciences of the past decade, climax in last year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 2006. Building on previous work mainly in plants found that exogenous double-stranded RNA can be used to specifically interfere with gene function. This event was called RNA interference (RNAi) (Kozielski et al., 2013; Nishimura et al., 2013). They also consider that organisms might use double-stranded RNA naturally as a way of silencing genes. It was then shown that RNA interference was mediated by 22 nucleotide single-stranded RNAs termed small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) derived from the longer double-stranded RNA precursors (Schott et al., 2012). The small interfering RNAs were discovered to
A new soybean cultivar 'Jinyang': yellow soybean cultivar with lipoxygenase 1,2,3 protein-free.

: Soybean is the main source of protein and oil for human and animal nutrition. However, antinutritional factors in the raw mature soybean are exist. Lipoxygenase protein is the main antinutritional factor in mature soybean seed. A new soybean cultivar, ‘Jinyang’ with yellow seed coat and free of lipoxygenase 1,2,3 protein was developed. It was selected from the population derived from the cross between ‘Jinpumkong2ho’ and GS301. ‘Jinyang’ has purple flowers, tawny pubescence, a determinate growth habit, oval leaflet shape, and light brown pods at maturity. The seed has yellow hilum and yellow seed coat color. Seed protein and oil content on a dry weight basis were 33.5% and 16.6%, respectively. It has shown a resistant reaction to soybean necrosis, soybean mosaic virus, cercospora leaf spot and blight, black root rot, pod and stem blight, and soybean pod borer. ‘Jinyang’ matured in 1 October with plant height of 65cm and a 100-seed weight of 21 g. Average yield of ‘Jinyang’ was 300 - 330 kg/10a in 2010 - 2012. ‘Jinyang’ has been registered as a new soybean cultivar (registration number: 4279, registration date: Dec. 28, 2012) by Korea Seed & Variety Service, Republic of Korea.
Site Fidelity is an Inconsistent Determinant of Population Structure in the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes Cucullatus): Evidence from Genetic, Mark–recapture, and Comparative Data

Abstract The level of site fidelity in birds is often characterized as "high" on the basis of rates of return or homing from mark–recapture data. For species that exhibit site fidelity, subsequent biological assumptions have included population structure, demographic independence, and that the extirpation of a site-faithful group might be irreversible because of low immigration. Yet several genetic studies have observed patterns of population differentiation that are incongruous with strong site fidelity, which suggests recent isolation, gene flow, or both. Using a 13-year live-recapture and dead-recovery data set, as well as nuclear and mitochondrial DNA collected across the range of the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), an obligate cavity-nester endemic to North America, we found evidence that gene flow persists across portions of the species' range even though the probability of female breeding-site fidelity is high (0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64–0.98) and disjunct breeding ranges of this species have been isolated for ≥10,000 years. By combining inferences from genetic, band-recovery, mark–recapture, and comparative data from another cavity-nesting species of waterfowl, we conclude that a high level of site fidelity should not be considered a universal proxy for population structure and demographic independence. Our results also suggest that an accurate assessment of site fidelity—and its implications for population dynamics and delineation—requires cross-species comparisons and multiple data types, such as mark–recapture and genetic information, to best infer patterns across a range of geographic and temporal scales.
Integration and function of new neurons generated from fibroblasts and adult neural stem cells in the pathological brain

In Papers One through Six we have investigated the function and integration of “new” neurons – new neurons born from neural stem cells in the adult brain, and new neurons in the sense that they were generated from fibroblasts. Papers One and Two focused on the new neurons generated from neural stem cells in the SVZ and SGZ after pathological insults. We investigated how the newly generated neurons migrate and integrate in the brain. These two phenomena, migration and integration are intimately linked. Without the proper migratory cues new cells exhibit ectopic placement and aberrant integration, as observed in the hippocampus after severe epileptic insults. Papers Three to Six focused on generating (and characterizing) neurons from fibroblasts. First it was crucial to investigate the functional characteristics of the newly generated neurons to demonstrate that they indeed had the properties of mature neurons. The functional properties of the new cells will determine how and importantly if they will integrate in the brain. This is of key importance if we envision using iN or iPS cells for transplantation in the future. In Paper 6 we demonstrate for the first time that transplanted iPS cells survive, migrate beyond the transplantation core, and exhibit the functional properties of mature neurons. Taken together, this thesis demonstrates that the environment encountered by new neurons will influence their migration and integration. We also demonstrate that human fibroblasts can be reprogrammed to neurons and show that fibroblast-derived neurons can integrate in the mammalian brain. Thus, fibroblasts may be a valuable source of neurons for transplantation but the environment encountered will influence their integration and function which will determine their therapeutic effect. (Less)
Grassy-shoot, a new disease of lemongrass caused by Balansia sclerotica (Pat.) Hohnel

A new disease of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) caused by Balansia sclerotica was observed in India. The systemic infection induced deformed inflorescences and grassy-shoot symptoms as a result of inhibition of growth of axillary buds and shortening of internodes. A number of ascostromata of the pathogen were produced on inflorescences of infected plants. Microscopic examination of infected host tissue revealed the presence of abundant endophytic mycelia. B. sclerotica was isolated from ascostromata and apical meristems of infected plants and its pathogenicity to lemongrass was experimentally established in three out of eighty-two seedlings raised from seeds of inoculated plants. This report is one of the rare achievements in establishing the pathogenicity of fungal endophytes experimentally.
Research Papers: Fungal Colonisation of Heterodera glycines Cysts in Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi and Missouri Soils

A survey of fungi associated with populations of cysts of Heterodera glycines from soybean field soils in four states in the Mississippi Valley and the southeastern United States indicates a generically diverse mycoflora, but one that is restricted in numbers of taxa and overlapping. Genera common in cysts from all localities include Fusarium, Gliocladium, Neocosmospora and Phoma. A species of Stagonospora, which we believe to be implicated as a significant natural parasite of H. glycines eggs, was also present in the four localities. Other fungi recovered with frequency from cysts in some, but not all soils surveyed, include species of Chaetomium, Codinaea heteroderae, Exophiala pisciphila, species of Thielavia, Verticillium lamellicola and a fungus referred to as a 'black yeast'. Several other incidental fungi were found rarely.
Development of the Laser-Induced Incandescence Method for the Reliable Characterization of Particulate Emissions

A laser-induced incandescence (LII) system has been developed for the non-intrusive and real-time measurement of soot particulate concentration and primary particle size, Fig.1. The LII system incorporates an innovative two-color pyrometry technique for accurate measurement of soot concentration. Furthermore, the LII signal decay characteristics are used to infer the primary particle size. Besides the self-calibrating feature, the instrument also uses low laser fluence and a top-hat laser beam for improved accuracy in the measurement. The system automatically maintains constant laser fluence over a wide range of environmental conditions and also attenuates the collected incandescence signal as needed to handle a large range of soot concentration. Another key feature of the instrument is its remote operation capability when it is connected to any computer network such as the Internet. This paper discusses the measurement technique, the instrumentation, and the experimental results obtained from a variety of applications including diesel and direct injection spark ignition automobile emission studies, and carbon black formation process in an industrial furnace. Figure 1: Photograph of the Artium LII system.
Physiology and Survival of Atlantic Salmon following Exhaustive Exercise in Hard and Softer Water: Implications for the Catch‐and‐Release Sport Fishery

Abstract This study examined the influence of environmental water hardness (40 mg/L versus 100 mg/L CaCO3) on the physiology and survival of exhaustively exercised Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. Cannulated Atlantic salmon provided blood samples at rest and at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 h postexercise, whereas white muscle samples were acquired from noncannulated Atlantic salmon at rest and at 0 and 4 h postexercise. Exhaustive exercise resulted in significant metabolic, acid–base, and electrolyte disturbances in the blood and white muscle of Atlantic salmon in hard (about 95 mg/L CaCO3) water, although postexercise survival was 100%. For resting Atlantic salmon, the physiological status of those in softer (about 40 mg/L CaCO3) water was similar to that of those in hard water. In softer water, however, exhaustive exercise caused a significantly greater elevation in postexercise blood lactate and a larger acid–base disturbance compared with fish in hard water. Postexercise survival of Atlantic salmon in softer water w.
Mycorrhiza and carbon flow to the soil

The current extent of knowledge on the supply of carbon compounds to mycorrhizal roots and mycelia, and their subsequent distribution and cycling within the soil ecosystem is reviewed. The carbon requirements of different mycorrhizal fungi are discussed and carbon transfer from host root tissue to the fungal biomass is considered in relation to available information on the amounts and types of compounds that are translocated, as well as their ultimate partitioning. Problems of estimating mycorrhizal mycelial biomass and theoretical estimates of necessary carbon flow are discussed. The possible existence and implications of mycorrhizosphere effects and possible interactions with other microbial populations are also considered. (Less)
Management of post-harvest fruit spoilage fungi by some potential spice extracts

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the antifungal potential of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of four spices (Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Capsicum annuum) against the important post-harvest spoilage fungi isolated from diseased fruits. In total, 276 isolates of post-harvest spoilage fungi were isolated from four different fruit types (Persea americana, Musa acuminata, Citrus sinensis and Lycopersicon esculentum), out of which 183 isolates were identified while 93 isolates were remain unidentified. The most dominant post-harvest spoilage fungus was Rhizopus sp. (26.45%), followed by Penicillium sp. (19.93%), Aspergillus sp. (10.86%) and Fusarium sp. (9.06%). Results of disc diffusion assay showed that ethanolic extract of C. zeylanicum was found to be most effective against Penicillium sp. , followed by aqueous extracts of A. sativum. The ethanolic extract of C. zeylanicum in agar amended assay and minimal inhibitory concentrations were found to be very efficient (100% inhibition) against all the tested fungi. Results of in vivo study showed that pre-inoculated C. zeylanicum ethanolic extract and A. sativum aqueous extract were found effective in reducing the disease severity (6.24–13.67%) and (7.91–13.15%) against the Penicillium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus and Fusarium sp.
DORMANCY STUDIES IN SEED OF AVENA FATUA: 3. A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MALTASE, AMYLASES, AND GIBBERELLIN

Initiation of germination in excised embryos requires an exogenous energy source. Normally this is obtained from the endosperm. In dormant seeds the hydrolysis of starch is blocked despite the fact that dormant and non-dormant seeds contain similar amounts of α- and β-amylases. Alone or in combination the amylases are unable to break down raw endosperm starch granules to simple sugars in vitro. Exogenous maltase in combination with α-amylase hydrolyzes raw starch to glucose. Exogenous maltase eliminates the requirement for exogenous sugar. Examination of the maltase content of imbibed dormant and non-dormant seeds showed a marked increase in non-dormant seeds during the first 40 hours. This does not occur in dormant seeds unless they are treated with gibberellic acid. The results lead to the conclusion that an important effect of gibberellic acid is to induce the synthesis of maltase or in some way activate the preformed enzyme.
Annexin 1 Binds to U937 Monocytic Cells and Inhibits Their Adhesion to Microvascular Endothelium: Involvement of the α4β1 Integrin1

Annexin 1 (ANX1), a calcium-binding protein, participates in the regulation of early inflammatory responses. Whereas some of its effects depend on intracellular interactions, a growing number of observations indicate that ANX1 may also act via autocrine/paracrine functions following externalization to the outer side of the plasma membrane. We studied the effects of ANX1 on leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells using as a model system the monocytic cell line U937 and human bone marrow microvascular endothelial cells. Exogenous rANX1, as well as endogenous ANX1 externalized by U937 differentiated in vitro, inhibited monocyte firm adhesion to vascular endothelium. Both binding of ANX1 to U937 cells and ANX1-mediated inhibition of cell adhesion involved the short N-terminal domain of the ANX1 molecule. Under experimental conditions in which ANX1 inhibited U937 adhesion to human bone marrow microvascular endothelial cells, this protein specifically colocalized with the α4 integrin, and a direct interaction between ANX1 and the α4 integrin could be documented by immunoprecipitation experiments. Moreover, ANX1 competed with the endothelial integrin counterreceptor, VCAM-1, for binding to α4 integrin. These results indicate that ANX1 plays an important physiological role in modulating monocyte firm adhesion to the endothelium.
Ranging Behavior of Marsh Rice Rats in a Southern Illinois Wetland Complex

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) inhabits wetlands that are often fragmented and isolated by upland cover types. Persistence of marsh rice rat populations and metapopulations likely depends on their ability to enter and traverse the upland matrix, yet basic information, such as home-range size and landcover use patterns, is lacking. Our goal was to quantify home-range size and habitat selection by marsh rice rats in southern Illinois. Between March and November 2011, we radiocollared 21 male rice rats (8 subadults and 13 adults) that were each located 7 to 24 times each via triangulation and homing. We estimated home-range size, compared landcover composition within kernel home ranges to what was available in the surrounding landscape, and quantified daily movement distances. Mean (±SE) home ranges were 3.53 ± 0.66 ha based on 95% kernel isopleths and 1.85 ± 0.49 ha based on minimum convex polygons. Home ranges were largest for individuals followed in early summer, but home-range sizes were similar for adults and subadults. Rice rats' use of emergent wetland vegetation was greater than availability, indicating they preferred emergent wetlands habitat at the home-range level. However, upland cover types made up >40% of each home range, on average. Daily movements averaged 46.6 ± 3.4 m (maximum: 396 m), and rice rats were located up to 464 m from the nearest wetland. Based on by far the largest sample size (in individuals and locations per individual) available for space use of the marsh rice rat, our findings support the characterization of male rice rats as highly vagile and suggest that rice rats move through upland cover more frequently than previously described.
Impact of tropical land‐use change on soil organic carbon stocks – a meta‐analysis

Land‐use changes are the second largest source of human‐induced greenhouse gas emission, mainly due to deforestation in the tropics and subtropics. CO2 emissions result from biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) losses and may be offset with afforestation programs. However, the effect of land‐use changes on SOC is poorly quantified due to insufficient data quality (only SOC concentrations and no SOC stocks, shallow sampling depth) and representativeness. In a global meta‐analysis, 385 studies on land‐use change in the tropics were explored to estimate the SOC stock changes for all major land‐use change types. The highest SOC losses were caused by conversion of primary forest into cropland (−25%) and perennial crops (−30%) but forest conversion into grassland also reduced SOC stocks by 12%. Secondary forests stored less SOC than primary forests (−9%) underlining the importance of primary forests for C stores. SOC losses are partly reversible if agricultural land is afforested (+29%) or under cropland fallow (+32%) and with cropland conversion into grassland (+26%). Data on soil bulk density are critical in order to estimate SOC stock changes because (i) the bulk density changes with land‐use and needs to be accounted for when calculating SOC stocks and (ii) soil sample mass has to be corrected for bulk density changes in order to compare land‐use types on the same basis of soil mass. Without soil mass correction, land‐use change effects would have been underestimated by 28%. Land‐use change impact on SOC was not restricted to the surface soil, but relative changes were equally high in the subsoil, stressing the importance of sufficiently deep sampling.
Lamb meat colour stability as affected by dietary tannins

Abstract Twenty-one male Comisana lambs were divided into three groups at 45 days of age and were individually penned for 60 days. Seven lambs were fed a concentrate-based diet (C), seven lambs received the same concentrate with the addiction of tannins from quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii; T), whereas the remaining animals were fed exclusively fresh vetch (Vicia sativa; H). Colour descriptors (a*, b* and H*) and metmyoglobin (MMb) percentages were measured on minced semimembranosus muscle over 14 days of refrigerated storage in a high oxygen atmosphere. Regardless of dietary treatment, meat redness decreased, while yellowness and hue angle increased (P < 0.001) over storage duration. However, higher a* values, lower b* values and lower H* values were observed in meat from both H- and T-fed animals as compared to meat from C-fed lambs (P = 0.012; P = 0.02; P = 0.003, respectively). Metmyoglobin formation increased over time (P < 0.001), but H diet resulted in lower metmyoglobin percentages than C diet (P = 0.007). We conclude that the inclusion of tannins into the concentrate improved meat colour stability compared to a tannin-free concentrate. Moreover, the protective effect of tannins against meat discolouration was comparable to that obtained by feeding lambs fresh herbage.
The Theory of Island Biogeography

Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols Used xiii 1. The Importance of Islands 3 2. Area and Number of Speicies 8 3. Further Explanations of the Area-Diversity Pattern 19 4. The Strategy of Colonization 68 5. Invasibility and the Variable Niche 94 6. Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange 123 7. Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization 145 8. Prospect 181 Glossary 185 References 193 Index 201
Phylogenetic analysis of the Panochthini (Xenarthra, Glyptodontidae), with remarks on their temporal distribution

Zamorano, M. & Brandoni, D. , 2013. Phylogenetic analysis of the Panochthini (Xenarthra, Glyptodontidae), with remarks on their temporal distribution. Alcheringa 37, 1–10. ISSN 0311-5518. To test the monophyly of Panochthini, a phylogenetic analysis including all the species traditionally referred to the tribe was conducted. The matrix included 16 species of Glyptodontidae and 35 characters, from which 14 correspond to the skull, four to the dentition, two to the cephalic armour, nine to the dorsal carapace and six to the caudal sheath. Propalaehoplophorus australis (Propalaehoplophorinae) was used to root the trees. Four most parsimonious trees were obtained (Tree Length = 75, CI = 0.65, RI = 0.70). The strict consensus tree (Tree Length = 77, CI = 0.64, RI = 0.68) has the following topology: Propalaehoplophorus australis (Glyptodon reticulatus (Hoplophorus euphractus (Panochthus jaguaribensis, P. intermedius (P. frenzelianus, P. tuberculatus (P. subintemedius, P. greslebini)))) ((Pseudoplohophorus absolutus, Plohophorus figuratus) (Nopachtus cabrerai, N. coagmentatus, Propanochthus bullifer, Stromaphorus compressidens, Phlyctaenopyga ameghini))). The results indicate that: 1, Panochthini is not a natural group but polyphyletic; 2, Panochthus is monophyletic and, concordant with recent proposals, Hoplophorus euphractus is its sister group; and 3, Nopachtus and Propanochthus are more closely related to species traditionally referred to ‘Plohophorini’ than to Panochthus. Nopachtus and Propanochthus, as the ‘Plohophorini’, are recorded from the latest part of the Neogene, whereas Panochthus and Hoplophorus euphractus are restricted to the Quaternary. [Martín Zamorano [marzamorano@fcnym]unlp.edu. ar], Departamento Científico Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque, s/n, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. CONICET. Diego Brandoni [dbrandoni@cicyttp.org. ar], Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICYTTP-CONICET), Matteri y España, E3105BWA Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina. Received 25.10. 2012; revised 11.1. 2013; accepted 18.1. 2013.