Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive biology of Ophiopogon xylorrhizus (Liliaceae s.l.): an endangered endemic of Yunnan, Southwest China

Reproductive biology of Ophiopogon xylorrhizus Wang et Tai was studied from 1995 to 1997 in Mengla County of Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The small, white or pale pink flowers with stigmas above anthers appeared from late March to early April in the study years, and produced abundant pollen, but no nectar. Pollen : ovule ratios were 17 185 ± 2175. Every flower opens only once and remains functional for 10–12 h. Pollen remains viable for the same period. During anthesis, flowers were visited only by single species of thrips (Taeniothrips sp., Thripidae). No airborne pollen grains were collected throughout the blooming season, indicating that flowers are not wind-pollinated. About 28% of stigmas of unopened flowers were found with germinated pollen grains and seed set took place in single flowers that were bagged at the bud stage, which indicated autogamy and autonomous self-pollination. Ovary walls ruptured 4–5 days after fertilisation, allowing seed production to occur. About 75% of ovules were fertilised and developed into young seeds, but only 12.5% developed into mature seeds in open pollination treatments. The remainder of ovules were aborted or destroyed by insects or animals during the long developmental phase from April to December. Individuals of O. xylorrhizus commonly produced a single inflorescence with 2–24 flowers (15.3 ± 6.5, n = 33), and 1–43 seeds (12.7 ± 6.7, n = 33) during the study period. Conservation management for this endangered species is urgently required and in situ conservation is probably the best method to conserve this species.
Composition, structure and distribution of the ichthyoplankton in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

The species composition and assemblage structure of the ichthyoplankton from the Mar Menor Lagoon in south-east Spain are given. The fish larvae were sorted from zooplankton samples collected at 20 stations with a plankton net (50 cm mouth diameter and 500 μm mesh) during 36 surveys between February and December 1997. A total of 39575 fish larvae representing 14 families, 22 genera and 36 species were identified. Gobiidae was the most dominant family (77.0%) followed by Blenniidae (19.4%) and Atherinidae (1.3%). The most abundant species were Gobius niger and Gobius paganellus, which accounted for 42.7 and 19.3% of the total respectively. These species were followed in order of relative abundance by Pomatoschistus marmoratus (13.9%), Parablennius pilicornis (9.4%), Lipophrys pavo (7.7%), Atherina boyeri (1.3%) and Parablennius tentacular is (1.3%). The high species diversity (2.0-2.8 bits individual -1 for the annual diversity spectra at each sampling station) reflected a diverse assemblage of species. The main commercial species in the lagoon (Sparidae and Mugilidae) were poorly represented among the ichthyoplankton and they probably enter the lagoon on the bottom as recruits. Chlorophyll a concentration in the water column was the main factor explaining the seasonal variation in larval abundance. Spatial distribution of larvae was related to hydrographical circulation patterns in the lagoon and the movement of marine-spawned larvae through the channels connecting the lagoon with the Mediterranean Sea.
The role of textures to improve the detection accuracy of Rumex obtusifolius in robotic systems

Rumex obtusifolius is a common weed that is difficult to control in organic farming systems. Among the proposed non-chemical treatment methods, robotic systems to mechanically remove the weed have potential for its automatic detection and removal. This article considers a recently developed robot with a real-time vision system capable of detecting R. obtusifolius in a pasture with the objective of improving its detection accuracy. We show that the texture measure used by the current system is equivalent to local variance and has limited value for detecting R. obtusifolius in a complex background like pasture. To improve the system, two different sets of visual texture features corresponding to Gray level Co-occurence Matrix (GLCM) and Laws’ filter masks were investigated. Through feature selection, we determined that GLCM features of contrast, entropy and correlation were the best among the two sets of features and were 25% more accurate in estimating the taproot location than the current system. We incorporated these texture features in a new segmentation algorithm and demonstrated its robustness by testing it on a data set of 92 images with high complexity in terms of variation in illumination and weed size. The new segmentation algorithm had a detection accuracy of 90%, with an average error of 141 mm in the estimation of the location of the taproot of R. obtusifolius, compared with 308 mm with the former algorithm
Effects of Extreme Acceleration on the Germination, Growth and Cell Wall Composition of Pea Epicotyls

Observation de la germination de pois cultives pendant cinq jours a l'obscurite et simultanement soumis a des accelerations continues atteignant 1000 xg. Correlation negative entre l'acceleration et l'elongation des epicotyles et des racines. Inhibition de la croissance des racines laterales. Modification de la composition des parois cellulaires en sucres et en lignine. La germination n'est pas entravee par les hautes accelerations
Assessing MHC class I diversity in dairy cattle populations

The gene dense major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, present in all jawed vertebrates, encodes molecules involved in self-non-self discrimination and the binding and presentation of antigenic peptides to T cells during the adaptive immune response. Variation in MHC genes is thought to be driven largely by pathogen-mediated selection, with diversity at MHC loci believed to benefit populations by allowing responses to rapidly evolving disease pathogens. However, in economically important dairy cattle, there are concerns that intensive selection for production and fitness traits may override natural selection. It had been hypothesised that these focussed dairy breeding practices may lead to a reduction in MHC diversity and leave cattle populations susceptible to new disease pathogens. The purpose of this study was to estimate current levels of MHC class I diversity in the UK Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle population, primarily through the assessment of diversity in bull populations with genetic input into the UK herd. In a sample of Canadian Holstein bulls, levels of class I allelic diversity were low given the size of the population sampled, but no significant loss of diversity over a twenty year period of selection was detected. Simulations of gene flow implicated trait selection as an influential force shaping diversity in the Canadian Holstein bull population. Haplotypes detected at high frequency were often negatively associated with selection traits indicating the action of heterozygote advantage. A SNP-based assay has been designed to facilitate rapid detection of common haplotypes and thus enable breeders to make more efficient selective breeding decisions whilst also maintaining MHC diversity in cattle populations. Investigations of class I diversity were expanded to incorporate the British Friesian bull population which were shown to have a markedly different pattern of class I diversity to that observed in the Canadian Holstein sample. A number of novel allele sequences and haplotypes were detected in the British Friesian bulls, the characterisation of which has contributed to our knowledge of the mechanisms driving diversity in the cattle class I region. MHC class I typing data from two bull populations and statistical analysis of trait associations with MHC haplotypes provides a comprehensive picture of MHC class I diversity in the wider UK herd and the selective forces integral to shaping diversity.
Genotoxic Effects of three Benzodiazepine Tranquilizers in Mouse Bone Marrow as Revealed by the Micronucleus Test

SUMMARYDiazepam (DZ), chlordiazepoxide (CDZ) and nitrazepam (NZ), three widely consumed benzodiazepine group of tranquilizers, were tested for their potential cytogenetic effects on the bone marrow cells of mice using the micronucleus test. For each drug mice of the age group 10–12 weeks were treated with a dose of 10, 20 or 40 mg/Kg twice at an interval of 24h via oral route. Untreated animals served the purpose of control. Bone marrow smears made at 6h after the second treatment were examined for the occurrence of micronuclei in polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes and nucleated cells. At the highest and intermediate dose levels both DZ and CDZ produced significantly higher incidences of micronuclei; but NZ failed to produce any response at any dose level. Both clastogenic and spindle poisoning effects of DZ and CDZ contributed to the production of micronuclei.
Foraging behavior of adult butterflies and its semiochemicals as olfactory signals

チョウ成虫の多くは花蜜を食物としており, 花色は訪花 (採餌) 行動の解発因子として重要である。 同様に花香も訪花行動に作用するが, 解発因子は物質レベルで明らかにされていなかった。 吸蜜植物の花香成分に対する応答を調べたところ, モンシロチョウやアカタテハは特定の芳香族化合物に高い選好性を示し, 口吻伸展反射や賦香造花への定位行動が観察された。 これらの花香成分は様々な植物に含まれており, チョウの訪花行動を刺激する普遍的な嗅覚情報物質と考えられる。 一方, 花香成分には訪花行動を抑制するものもあり, キンモクセイに含まれるγ―デカラクトンをモンシロチョウの忌避物質として同定した。 滲出樹液や腐敗果実を食物とするルリタテハやアカタテハは, エタノールや酢酸など発酵産物の臭いを頼りに採餌行動を行った。 花蜜しか利用しないタテハチョウは発酵産物の臭いに対する選好性が低く, チョウは食性によって異なる嗅覚情報物質を利用することがわかった。
Primary production and vegetative cycle in Posidonia oceanica when in competition with the green algae Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa racemosa

Vegetative annual cycle and primary production were described in the sea grass Posidonia oceanica in competition with two Ulvophycea, Caulerpa taxifolia (Cap Martin, France) and Caulerpa racemosa (Antignano, Italy). Sampling was performed at three stations exhibiting increasing levels of interaction with Caulerpa. Significant differences were observed as a function of the Caulerpa species, season and level of interaction. For each interaction, the different parameters have some seasonal variations. Any effects of the two Caulerpa species has been detected on the seasonal variability of our parameters. For all seasons, with increasing levels of interaction, the P. oceanica adult and intermediate leaf lengths, leaf index and mean age of the leaves always decrease whereas percentage of leaves having lost their apices, epiphyte biomass per unit surface area, mean number of leaves produced per shoot and per year always increase. Conversely, mean number of leaves per shoot or below-ground tissue production do not seem to be affected by Caulerpa. Finally, primary production of P. oceanica, by an increased turnover of the foliar tissues, was greater in the case of high interaction.
Effect of dietary palm oil on growth and carcass composition of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings

This study investigated the effects of dietary palm oil (PO) on growth performance and carcass composition of Heterobranchus longifilis with the goal of replacing dietary fish oil with palm oil. In this study triplicate groups of H. longifilis fingerlings were fed the experimental diets for 8 weeks. Five isonitrogenous (45% crude protein), isoenergetic (20 KJg-1) experimental diets were made containing either 6.0% FO and 0% PO, 4.5% FO and 1.5% PO; 3.0% FO and 3.0% PO; 1.5% FO and 4.5% PO; or 0% FO and 6.0% PO using soybean and fish meal as the protein source. Dietary palm oil had no significant effect on growth rate or feed conversion ratio. Similarly, No significant differences were observed between dietary treatments for moisture, protein and ash content in H. longifilis fingerlings. However, fillet saturated, monounsaturated fatty acids and liver lipid deposition were significantly (P0.05) higher in fish fed 6.0% PO diet. This study suggests that the replacement of cod liver oil by palm oil as lipid supplement in the diet permitted a clear improvement of growth and FCR of H. longifilis. This indicates that PO can effectively replace FO in the diet of the fish without compromising fish growth and feed efficiency.
Yucatan Current variability through the Cozumel and Yucatan channels

Ocho meses de observaciones simultaneas de la variabilidad del flujo que atraviesa los canales de Yucatan y Cozumel revelaron que la parte de la corriente de Yucatan que cruza el canal de Cozumel esta principalmente correlacionada con el flujo en la parte central del canal de Yucatan, dentro del nucleo de la corriente de Yucatan (definido en este estudio como velocidades mayores que 0.6 m s–1). El transporte medio observado en el nucleo de la corriente fue de 9 Sv, que corresponde aproximadamente al 40% del transporte registrado para toda la seccion a traves del canal de Yucatan. La posicion de maxima velocidad de la corriente se mantuvo oscilando dentro de la posicion promedio del nucleo en el canal de Yucatan, moviendose hacia el este cuando la corriente se intensificaba en el canal de Cozumel y hacia el oeste cuando esta se debilitaba, indicativo de un comportamiento de la corriente dominado por inercia en lugar del control topografico. Los fenomenos de mesoescala, tales como los remolinos que cruzan por la region, parecen estar asociados con la variabilidad en ambos canales, lo que proporciona una explicacion coherente del comportamiento observado en la corriente
Developmental responses to fluctuations in environmental conditions in echinoid echinoderms

Animals that reside, reproduce, and develop in nearshore habitats are often exposed to strong fluctuations in abiotic conditions, including temperature and salinity. We studied the developmental responses of five echinoid echinoderms (sea urchins and sand dollars) to increased temperature and reduced salinity. We aimed to document two recently described phenomena: delay of hatching (DOH) and polyembryony. First, we found that DOH is a widespread response to reduced salinity. Hatching was delayed by 79% in Echinarachnius parma, 26% in Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, 22% in Lytechinus variegatus, and 17% in Dendraster excentricus. Only embryos of Arbacia punctulata failed to delay hatching in response to reduced salinity. Second, we observed polyembryony in both of the irregular echinoids studied (E. parma and D. excentricus). In D. excentricus, we tested the competency of twinned and normal embryos to reach metamorphosis. We found that twin embryos generated from a single egg are both capable of reaching metamorphosis. To investigate the mechanisms underlying polyembryony, we tested whether reduced Calcium levels in low salinity seawater reduce cell-cell adhesion and allow cells to separate and develop as multiple embryos within a fertilization envelope. We also tested whether osmotic stress caused swelling of the fertilization envelope, allowing embryos more room to produce multiples, or delay hatching into a later, larger stage. However, neither reduced Calcium levels nor osmotic stress alone appears sufficient to induce polyembryony. We currently hypothesize that early suppression of the hatching enzyme plays a major role in the delaying hatching and that the swelling of the hyaline layer within the fertilization envelope may facilitate polyembryony.
In vitro degradation and in vivo passage kinetics of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde along the gastrointestinal tract of piglets

BACKGROUND: The essential oils (EO) carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde have well-documented antimicrobial properties and offer therefore an alternative for the antimicrobial growth promoters in pig feeds. The aim of this work was to determine the degradation and kinetics of these EO along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of piglets, which is necessary information for correct application in pig feeds. RESULTS: None of these compounds was significantly degraded in in vitro simulations of pig gastric fermentation. Carvacrol and thymol were not degraded in jejunal simulations, but significant losses of up to 29% were found in caecal simulations. Eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde showed a more pronounced degradation in jejunal and caecal simulations. A single dose mixed with feed (13.0, 13.2, 12.5 and 12.7 mg kg−1 body weight for carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde respectively) was given orally to piglets. Half-lives in total digestive tract ranged between 1.84 and 2.05 h, whereby trans-cinnamaldehyde showed the fastest disappearance. All of these EO were mainly and almost completely absorbed in the stomach and the proximal small intestine. Plasma concentrations (sum of free and conjugated compound) peaked at 1.39, 1.35 and 0.83 h for carvacrol, thymol and eugenol respectively and this was accompanied by high concentrations in urine. CONCLUSION: The four compounds were in vitro poorly degraded in the proximal segments of the GIT of piglets, but degradation is expected in more distal segments. In vivo, the EO were mainly and almost completely absorbed in the stomach and the proximal small intestine. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Plant Successions About Douglas Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan

1. The Douglas Lake region is located in the northern part of the overlapping zone between the Northeastern Coniferous Forest Province and the Central Deciduous Forest Province in the extreme northern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. 2. The former distribution of the most widely distributed plant associations is presented in a map of the region. 3. The intricate successional relationships between the plant associations which exist today are shown in six diagrams.
Shifting seas: the impacts of Pleistocene sea‐level fluctuations on the evolution of tropical marine taxa

Pleistocene glacial cycles reduced global sea level by up to 130 m below present levels. These changes had profound impacts on coastal marine life, including a reduction of habitable area, changes in ocean currents, and shifts in water column thermal dynamics. We provide a comprehensive review of the impact of glacial sea‐level changes during the Pleistocene on tropical coastal marine life and a set of maps showing how coastlines worldwide changed during periods of low sea levels.
Rainfall and rats: Climatically‐driven dynamics of a tropical rodent population

A five-year mark-recapture study of dusky rats (Rattus colletti) on the Adelaide River floodplain, within the Australian wet-dry tropics, revealed substantial spatial and temporal variation in demographic characteristics (abundance, condition, and rates of survival, growth, and reproduction) of the rats. Our data suggest that annual variation in the intensity and timing of monsoonal rainfall during the 'wet-season' is the main factor driving the demography of the rats. When total rainfall figures are modified to reflect the magnitude and duration of inundation of the floodplain each year, a link is evident between rainfall patterns and the rat population dynamics. Minor spatial variations in elevation (and hence, in the duration of inundation) across the floodplain engender large differences in rat growth rates, condition factors, survival rates, and the duration of reproductive activity each year. Because these rats have very high reproductive rates, small rain-induced differences in the duration of their reproductive season (i.e. number of litters per year) can cause massive differences in subsequent rat abundances. Hence, rat numbers can be predicted from rainfall patterns during the preceding wet-season. Similar links between rainfall, the duration of breeding, and fluctuations in abundance may typify many rodent populations in tropical and arid regions of the world.
Exposure to biological fungicides, environmental microorganisms and oils in forestry harvesting

New chemicals have been introduced into forestry harvesting during the past decade. In field experiments five harvesters and their operators were used to study exposure to biological fungicides, biodegradable oils and log colour-coding agents. Respiratory exposure to the biological fungicide Phlebiopsis gigantea, other basidiomycetes, environmental microorganisms and endotoxins was assessed using samples taken from the workers’ breathing zone. Exposure to biological fungicide was also estimated by antibody determinations from serum samples. Dermal exposure to biodegradable oils and biological fungicides was studied using a fluorescent tracer method and digital photography. Dermal exposure to log colour-coding agents was observed visually. The field survey indicated that respiratory and dermal exposure to biological fungicides, log colour-coding agents and hydraulic and chainsaw oils was insignificant during normal harvester operations. Skin contamination may occur during maintenance work such as the sharpening of chains or the handling of hydraulic hoses.
Aspectos fenotípicos, genotípicos e de diagnóstico da bactéria A. pleuropneumoniae

Swine pleuropneumonia is responsible for severe losses in swine breeding farms around the world. The aethiological agent, A. pleuropneumoniae, is classified according to different degrees of pathogenicity in 15 serotypes. The correct identification and serological classification of this bacterium is very important for the adoption of control measures. The diagnosis of swine pleuropneumonia is performed by conventional microbiological techniques, however problems in A. pleuropneumoniae identification have been reported. In Brazil, some studies applying molecular tests have been developed specially in isolates from swine herds with subclinical and chronic infections. In this review, we discuss the results on molecular characterization of A. pleuropneumoniae and related species from herds with or without pleuropneumonia. Moreover, we also discuss the perspectives to development early diagnostic methods and to improve understand of pathogenesis mechanisms of these bacteria.
SOME ASPECTS OF THE

The Juno group of Iris (Mathew, 1981) have been treated taxonomically as a section (sect. Juno), as a subgenus (subg. Scorpiris) and as a separate genus (Juno). Whatever its status, the group, comprising some 57 species, is a morphologically convincing assemblage, occurring in the Mediterranean region eastwards into western and central Asia. The distribution, habitat and characteristics of the group are described.
DNA Amounts in Two Samples of Angiosperm Weeds

Abstract Of the world's 250000 angiosperm species, only about 200 are recognized as important weeds. 4C nuclear DNA amounts were estimated for 39 such species. Success for many important weeds is suggested to reflect several traits known to correlate with low DNA C-value, so such weeds may have smaller DNA C-values than other species. Our work tests this hypothesis, comparing DNA amounts in 156 species recognized as important world weeds or British garden weeds, with 2685 other species. DNA amounts did not differ significantly between the two weed samples, but weeds showed highly significant differences from other species. For example, nuclear DNA amount in weeds (mean 11.74 pg) was smaller than in other species (mean 28.13 pg), and restricted to the lowest 20% of their range. Similarly, DNA amount per genome in weeds (mean 3.79 pg) was smaller than in other species (mean 12.14 pg), and restricted to the lowest 10% of their range. As significant differences between weeds and other species remain for almost all sub-samples tested, this contrast is widely distributed. So it is important to ask how selection against high nuclear DNA amount and genome size in weeds operates. The probability of a species being a weed fell significantly with increasing nuclear 4C DNA amount, and mean genome size, reaching zero just above 100 pg, and 19 pg, respectively. Moreover, polyploidy was significantly more frequent in weeds (51%) than in other species (27%), increasing with nuclear DNA amount in both, reaching 100% in weeds with the highest 4C DNA amounts, but only 41% in other species. Thus, selection for polyploidy in weeds may partly reflect their increased genetic variability, independent of DNA amount. However, such selection pressure grows strongly with rising nuclear DNA amount, and this may act mainly on correlated factors including faster development.