Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Bioassay for Available Amino Acids and True Metabolizable Energy in Feedingstuffs

Abstract An experiment was made to determine if the basic methodology of the bioassay for true metabolizable energy (TME) can be applied to the measurement of available amino acids (AAA) in feedingstuffs. Administration of graded levels of glucose (0–30 g) had no effect on the excretion of 13 AA by adult roosters. Feeding graded levels of soybean meal, alone or in combination with glucose, caused linear increases in AA excretion. Methods of measuring AAA are described and the importance of correcting for metabolic and endogenous AA excretion is discussed. A bioassay for AAA which may be combined with the measurement of TME is described.
Seasonal activity of the vascular cambium in Gmelina arborea Roxb

Summary Seasonal variations in the activity of vascular cambium have been investigated in Gmelina ar­ borea from January 1978 to December 1978. The cambium is nonstoried and comprises elon­ gated fusifonn initials and isodiametric ray ini­ tials. Cambial activity initiates in the first week of March, reaches a peak in August, then de­ clines and ceases in November. The cambial zone shows marked periodical ·changes and be­ comes 4-9-layered during the dormant period (January - February; November- December) and 4-20-layered during the active period (March-October). The initiation of cambial activity is closely associated with the emer­ gence of new crops of leaves occurring in two distinct flushes. The cambium is most active in August when the tree is with mature foliage and rainfall is highest. Dormant cambium is noticed when defoliation takes place during the dry months. The differentiation of xylem and phloem starts simultaneously and the number of their immature elements reaches a maximum in August. The variations in the mean length of fusiform initials show a close relationship with that of xylem fibres.
Isolation and characterization of potassium solubilizing bacteria in some Iranian soils

The ability of a few soil bacteria to transform unavailable forms of potassium (K) to an available form is an important feature in plant growth-promoting bacteria for increasing plant yields of high-K-demand crops. In this research, isolation, screening, and characterization of six isolates of K solubilizing bacteria (KSB) from some Iranian soils were carried out. The ability of all isolates were tested in three treatments including acid-leached soil, biotite, and muscovite by analyzing the soluble K content after 5 days of incubation at 28 ± 2°C. Identification and phylogenetic analyses were also carried out by morphological, biochemical, and 16S rDNA analyses. Among the six efficient isolates, five isolates belonged to Bacillus megaterium (JK3, JK4, JK5, JK6, and JK7), while isolate JK2 belonged to Arthrobacter sp. The soluble K contents in all isolated-treatments were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than the contents in nonbacteria treatment. Herein, isolate JK2 had lower potential for K solubilization (910 mg kg−1) compared with other isolates in acid-leached soils. The six bacterial strains showed higher solubilized K in biotite treatment than other two treatments. Overall, it can be concluded that the isolates belong to B. megaterium are the most efficient KSB under in vitro condition.
The relationships of the enigmatic neogastropod Loxotaphrus (Cancellariidae)

Abstract The relationships of Loxotaphrus Harris, 1897 within Neogastropoda are discussed based on anatomical and DNA data. Sequences from 12S and 16S rDNA confirm Beu & Maxwell's placement of Loxotaphrus in the Cancellariidae, closer to Plesiotritoninae than to Cancellariinae. The nematoglossan radula of Loxotaphrus deshayesii and L. rosadoi and the elongated and spirally convoluted valve of Leiblein observed in L. deshayesii support a plesiotritonine affinity. Peculiar anatomical features include acinous rather than tubular salivary glands, accessory salivary glands fused along their posterior third and a mid-oesophageal gland placed anteriorly to the nerve ring.
Accounting for Transients When Estimating Abundance of Bottlenose Dolphins in Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida

ABSTRACT We investigated the potential for using mark—recapture models to estimate abundance of bottlenose dolphin populations in open systems (e.g., bays, estuaries). A major challenge in these systems is that immigration and emigration occur during sampling, thus violating one of the most basic assumptions of mark—recapture models. We assumed that dolphins using our study site were composed of both residents (those that used the study area almost exclusively during our study), and transients (those that passed through our study area but did not remain long), and examined several mark-recapture estimators for their ability to accurately and precisely estimate the abundance of residents and the superpopulation (i.e., residents + transients). Using simulated data, we found that a novel approach accounting for transients resulted in estimators with less bias, smaller absolute relative error, and confidence interval coverage closer to nominal than other approaches, but this novel approach required intensive sampling and that the “correct” transient pattern be specified. In contrast, classical mark—recapture estimators for closed populations often overestimated the number of residents and underestimated the superpopulation. Using photo-identification records, a model-averaged estimate of the superpopulation of bottlenose dolphins in and around Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida was 232 (SE = 13) animals. We estimated resident abundance at 179 (SE = 8), which was lower than the number of unique animals we encountered (188). Our results appear promising for developing monitoring programs for bottlenose dolphins and other taxa in open systems. Our estimators should prove useful to wildlife managers who wish to base conservation decisions on estimates of the number of animals that reside primarily in their study or management area.
A new leaf disease on Populus euphratica in south‐western Iran

Summary During the winter of 2012, a leaf spot disease was observed on Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica) in the forest areas of Khuzestan province, south-western Iran, causing significant damage in the Karun's riverside forests. Symptoms consisted of necrotic dark brown, circular to oval, 5- to 10-mm spots on both surfaces of the leaves. A fungus having distinct dictyospores similar to those produced by Alternaria spp. was observed. The morphological characteristics, as well as the phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5,8S-ITS2) region, confirmed the identity of the strains belonging to the species Alternaria alternata. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on the alive leaves of P. euphratica on the young branches, as well as on the detached leaves in Petri dishes, through inoculation with spore suspension. Target spot symptoms similar to those observed in naturally infected leaves were developed on the inoculated leaves seven to 10 days after inoculation in both the inoculation procedures. A. alternata was consistently re-isolated from the spots. Interestingly, similar symptoms were observed 7 days after detached leaf treatment with droplets of 15-day-old fungal culture filtrate, suggesting the production of pathotoxic compounds by the fungus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata causing leaf spot on Euphrates poplar in Iran.
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) Embryos Tolerate High Temperature Variations and Low Temperatures during Incubation

Abstract. Maintaining appropriate developmental temperatures during avian incubation is costly to the parents, so embryos may experience pronounced variations in temperature that can lead to embryo mortality and extended incubation periods, or that could affect the offspring phenotype in several bird species. The egg temperatures (N = 28 eggs) of free-living Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were recorded in a breeding colony in Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina. Three nests had atypical incubation patterns. Two nests experienced high temperature drops (average = 11.7°C, minimum = 6.5°C, duration = 9 h) and another nest had a broad daily temperature range (max-min), i.e. 13.9 ±0.9°C for the first egg and 14.1 ±0.8°C for the second egg (range = 8-22°C during egg laying and 18–37°C during advanced incubation). Thermal anomalies during incubation did not affect the embryonic viability, hatchling mass or fledging success. The survival of embryos despite these atypical incubation patterns may be an adaptive mechanism during the harsh weather conditions normally experienced by eggs throughout incubation.
Differential expression of β-conglycinin genes in nodulated and non-nodulated isolines of soybean

Nodulated (T202) and non-nodulated (T201) isolines of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) were cultivated in a rotated paddy field in Niigata, Japan. The pods and seeds were harvested at 7-day intervals until maturity, and the subunit compositions of seed storage proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The β-subunit of β-conglycinin could scarcely be detected in the non-nodulating isoline, T201, at any period throughout seed development, although it was a major component in T202. The accumulation of a'- and α-subunits of β-conglydnin, together with the acidic and basic subunits of glycinin, appeared about one week later in seeds of T201 than in those of T202, perhaps due to a shortage of nitrogen and growth retardation. Northern hybridization could not detect the β-subunit mRNA in immature T201 seeds, while it was pronounced in T202. These results indicate that the suppression of the β-subunit in the non-nodulating isoline T201 regulated at the level of mRNA accumulation. The α'(α)-subunit mRNAs were actively expressed in both isolines. Total nitrogen concentration was consistently lower in T201 than T202. No significant difference was observed in either the free amino acid or ureide concentrations in seeds, although the concentration of sucrose was considerably lower in T201 seeds and pods compared with T202. This result indicates the possibility that β-subunit accumulation was regulated not only directly by total nitrogen concentration but also by carbohydrate concentrations. Nitrogen regulation of storage protein subunit levels of soybean seed were evaluated using T201 and T202. Greenhouse-grown plants were subjected to different levels and timing of nitrate treatments. The culture solution (2, 5 or 10 mM NO 3 - was supplied from flowering, 42 days after planting (DAP), until maturation (137 DAP), or switched from 2 to 10 mM, or from 10 to 2 mM at 61 DAP. With a continuous 2 mM NO 3 - treatment, seed dry weight and N concentration of the T201 plants were significantly lower than those in the T202 plants due to the lack of N 2 fixation by the non-nodulated T201 plants. However, when adequate NO 3 - was supplied, N concentration and dry weight were similar in T201 and T202 seeds. When 5 mM NO 3 - was supplied, the subunit proportion of the seed storage protein was similar in non-nodulating and nodulating isolines. On the other hand, when plants received a low level of NO 3 - , (2 mM), the β-conglycinin proportion was lower in T201 than in T202. Furthermore, in the nodulating T202 plants treated with 10 mM NO 3 - the proportion of β-conglycinin increased markedly. The results indicate that non-nodulated T201 has a normal, non-defective, β-subunit gene and that limited N availability decreases accumulation of β-conglycinin, whereas high N availability increases the proportion of β-conglycinin in soybean seeds, irrespective of whether N was derived from N 2 fixation or from NO 3 - absorption.
FLAGGING: HOSTS DEFENCES VERSUS OVIPOSITION STRATEGIES IN PERIODICAL CICADAS (MAGICICADA SPP., CICADIDAE, HOMOPTERA)

Abstract Dissections of eggnests of brood XIV, 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) confirmed earlier reports that most eggs do not hatch when the host twig is so damaged that it withers, breaks and dies, i.e., “flags”. However, the proportion of eggs hatching in experimentally broken twigs is intermediate between the proportions hatching in flagged twigs and in live twigs. Evidently, the developmental stage of the egg at the time of twig breakage is the major factor reducing hatching success. Some of the vigorously growing branches respond to oviposition damage by secreting resin or forming callous tissue, which imprisons many eggs, preventing them from hatching. The data suggest that ovipositing cicadas have developed an oviposition strategy that both maximizes the number and percentage hatch of eggs laid per twig, and reduces the incidence of flagging and host defence responses. Large aggregations of ovipositing females may weaken the host plant and prevent it from responding. On the other hand these aggregations increase twig breakage. However, the proportion of twigs broken is reduced by each cicada species using somewhat different twig sizes, by the smaller species adjusting eggnest structure to fit the twig size used, and by all females positioning their eggnests along the twig in such a way as to avoid overlap. Résumé La dissection de nids d’oeufs de cigales 17-ans (Magicicada spp.) a confirmé des observations antérieures voulant que la plupart des oeufs n’éclosent pas lorsque la branche réceptrice est tellement endommagée qu’elle se déssèche, casse et meurt. Cependant la proportion des oeufs éclosant sur des branches cassées expérimentalement est intermédiaire entre celle de tiges naturellement cassées, et celle de tiges vivantes. De toute évidence, le stade de développement de l’oeuf au moment où la tige casse est le principal facteur de réduction de l’éclosion. Certaines branches croissant vigoureusement réagissent aux blessures de ponte en sécrétant de la résine ou en formant du tissu calleux qui confine les oeufs et les empêche d’éclore. Les données indiquent que les cigales ont développé une stratégie d’oviposition qui à la fois, maximise le nombre et le pourcentage des oeufs pondus sur une tige qui écloront, et réduit l’incidence de cassage et de réactions défensives de l’hôte. La ponte massive par un assemblage de femelles peut affaiblir la plante-hôte et empêcher la réaction. Par ailleurs, ces assemblages augmentent le cassage des branches. Cependant l’incidence du cassage est réduite dû aux faits que chaque espèce de cigale choisit des tiges de grosseurs quelque peu différente, que les plus petites espèces ajustent la structure des nids d’oeufs à la grosseur de tige utilisée, et que toutes les femelles placent leurs nids le long de la tige de façon à éviter le chevauchement.
Role of Lipid Peroxidation in Gastric Mucosal Lesions Induced by Burn Shock in Rats

The role of lipid peroxidation in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer was investigated in a rat model produced by burn shock. After the immersion of rats in 80°C water for 10min, blood pressure was significantly decreased, and serum levels of lysosomal enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase were significantly increased. These findings indicate that the burned rats were in shock states. Blood flow of the gastric wall was significantly decreased and hemorrhagic erosions were seen in the body of the stomach. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, an index of lipid peroxidation, in the serum and the gastric mucosa were significantly increased after the burn. These changes appeared before the severe injury of the gastric mucosa, indicating that lipid peroxidation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of the gastric mucosal lesions induced by burn shock.
Description of the Flavour of Comté Cheese

Resume Description of the Flavour of Comte cheese Before 1990 it was impossible to describe the flavour complexity of Comte cheeses because of a lack of appropriate terminology. The attribute ‘fruity’ was often used to cover this complexity. Describing and sorting the different aromatic notes yielded a list of 91 flavour attributes arranged within seven aromatic groups: lactic, fruity, vegetal, roasted, animal, spicy and ‘others’. The cheeses, from 20 different cheese plants and from different seasons were profiled by a trained sensory panel. The statistical analysis of these sensory data demonstrates that every aromatic group is required for the description of the Comte flavour. Although the correlations between the attributes were not very high, it was possible to establish a list of 28 key attributes. Those were the attributes most often quoted or characteristic of a given cheese. The aromatic map of the cheeses, drawn from this list of 28 key attributes, was mostly defined by the fruity character and by the intensity of flavour, both of them appearing to be fairly independent. Decrire la richesse aromatique du fromage de Comte etait impossible avant 1990, faute de vocabulaire adapte. Le mot ‘fruite’, a la fois courant et partiel, etait employe dans presque toutes les situations. La description des aromes et leur classement dans des categories ont abouti a la constitution d'une liste de 91 descripteurs d'aromes ordonnes en sept familles: lactique ou lacte, fruite, empyreumatique ou torrefie, vegetal, animal, epice et autre. Les Comtes de 20 fromageries ont ete plus particulierement etudies, au cours de differentes saisons, grâce a un jury local entraine. L'etude statistique des resultats des degustations montre que toutes les familles de descripteurs sont necessaires pour decrire l'arome du Comte et qu'il existe une diversite intra-famille. Cependant, les associations existantes entre les 91 descripteurs, bien que peu intenses, suggerent qu'il est possible de reduire cette liste sans trop perdre d'information. Une selection des descripteurs les plus cites en moyenne et de ceux tres representatifs d'au moins un Comte, a mene a une liste de 28 descripteurs-clefs. La carte aromatique du Comte, dressee a l'aide de cette liste, permet de distinguer le caractere fruite d'un fromage de l'intensite de l'arome.
Within- and among-year variation in the levels of herbivory on the foliage of trees from a Mexican tropical deciduous forest.

Discrete (i.e., one-time) measurements of the levels of herbivore damage on the foliage of trees (16 species) were made for three consecutive years in the Chamela dry forest. There was a marked similarity in the overall levels of damage despite the fact that there were considerable climatic differences among years and that some of the species showed at least one significant among-year difference. In one of the three years of study, long-term measurements of damage (i.e., on individually marked leaves) were also made to assess within-year variation (by calculating the rates of herbivory early and late in the wet season) and to assess the reliability of the discrete measurements. With this type of measurement the mean leaf area loss of the studied species was 17 percent. This value is higher than the values commonly reported for tropical forests. An outstanding example of defoliation was that of Jatropha standleyi, with 73 percent leaf area eaten. There was a very marked within-season variation in the rates of herbivory: during the early part of the rainy season the mean rate (0.352% leaf area eaten per day) was considerably higher than late in the season (0.097). Analyses of leaf nitrogen and water content early and late in the season indicated that these components of the nutritional quality of the foliage decrease as the season progresses. The discrete measurements of herbivory underestimated the true (long-term) values of leaf damage. A discrepancy ratio long-term/discrete measurement varied considerably among species with an overall mean of 1.99. Thus, in general, discrete measurements underestimated herbivory by half. It appears that the major cause of the underestimates of the discrete measurements is that the leaves of some species are eaten completely and thus missed in a one-time measurement. Another disadvantage of the discrete measurements is that information on the timing of damage is lost. This study showed that folivory is not only concentrated to the season of leaf availability, but that it occurs within an even more restricted period.
THE STUDYOF IN‐SITU MARINE PHOTOSYNTHESIS USING A LARGE PLASTIC BAG

It is possible that other workers may find fact that the presence of cusps and other the simple wooden rods useful for measurirregularities produce local variations in ing profiles of beaches to determine seasonal profile which are greater than the error of and other cyclic changes with respect to measurement by the rods. waves, to relate slope to grain size of sand, and for other purposes. For most such obK. 0. EMERY
Responses of the Indian major carp Labeo rohita to deltamethrin at acute and sublethal concentrations

The effects of deltamethrin at acute and sublethal concentrations on some hematological and biochemical profiles in the Indian major carp Labeo rohita have been examined. The lethal concentrations (LC50) of deltamethrin for 24 and 96 h were found to be 0.44 and 0.38 mg L−1, respectively. During acute treatment (24 h), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values were significantly increased compared to control group. Plasma glucose, protein, cholesterol, albumin, globulin, triglyceride, and glycogen in gill and muscle were significantly decreased. Upon sublethal treatment (0.044 mg L−1, 10th of 24 h LC50), RBC and the biochemical parameters, except glucose and cholesterol, decreased significantly, while MCV, MCH, and MCHC values increased up to the 28th day and then declined. Cholesterol level was significantly increased throughout the study period. A biphasic response in the levels of Hb, Hct, WBC, and glucose were observed during sublethal treatment.
Prediction of trace metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in wheat grain from unpolluted agricultural soils

Abstract Regression modelling and statistical correlations are often developed to aid reasonable predictions of metal solubility and free metal ion in terrestrial ecosystems. In the present study, we test how regression model predictions of metal solubility and free metal ion correlate with metal concentrations in plants. We previously optimised a model for the prediction of metal solubility and free metal ion concentrations in soil solution from sites collected in the Danube basin of Eastern Croatia, containing total metal concentration (concentrated HNO3), soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as model parameters. In the present study, we report how our optimised models correlate with metal concentration in plants reported by Lončarić et al., which was based on a study from a smaller part of the same sampling area. Our default regression model and further optimised model predicted metal solubility and free metal ion concentrations. These predictions correlated well with Fe, Mn, Zn and Cd concentrations in wheat grain, but the different extraction methods and parameter optimisations affected the significance of correlations differently. Due to the low concentrations of total metal concentrations in soil and little variation in SOM, the soil pH was the only variable, in addition to the total metal controlling the metal solubility, free metal ion in soil water and also the concentrations in wheat grain. Results show that after optimisation for the few most important soil chemical variables regression models can predict metal concentrations in plants fairly well. For this particular study, optimisation for total metal, soil pH and perhaps also SOM and DOC are sufficient.