Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biochemical proxies for growth and metabolism in Acartia bifilosa (Copepoda, Calanoida)

Biochemical proxies are becoming increasingly common for growth assessment in zooplankton. Their suitability is often unknown, however, and proper calibration is lacking. We investigated correlations between physiological variables (ingestion, egg production, and respiration rates) and biochemical indices related to protein synthesis (RNA content, RNA:DNA ratio, RNA:protein ratio, and protein specific aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases [spAARS] activity) in copepods Acartia bifilosa exposed to different algal concentrations (0–1200 µg C L−1). All variables assayed increased with increasing food concentration either linearly (spAARS) or nonlinearly (all other variables). Egg production and ingestion rates were significantly and positively correlated with RNA content and RNA:protein ratio, whereas correlations with spAARS and RNA:DNA ratio were weaker or nonsignificant. However, when RNA:DNA ratio and spAARS activity were used as predictors of ingestion, together they had higher explanatory value than did either variable separately. As there were substantial differences in saturating food concentrations among the assayed variables, applicability of biomarkers as proxies of physiological rates will be more reliable if restricted to the nonsaturated phase of the functional response of either variable, unless both variables saturate simultaneously. These findings contribute to methodology of zooplankton growth assessment and to our understanding of biochemical processes underlying growth and metabolism in copepods.
Drivers of Contemporary Landscape Vegetation Heterogeneity in the Canadian Boreal Forest: Integrating Disturbances (Natural and Human) with Climate and Physical Environment

Abstract: This study aims to demonstrate that contemporary landscape vegetation heterogeneity is controlled by a combination of natural disturbances with other sets of explanatory variables. Integration of these drivers should be considered the key to explaining vegetation changes along ecological gradients characterizing the boreal forest. Forest inventory plots and maps produced from about 1970 to 2000 were used to characterize a large area (175 000 km2) according to 3 vegetation themes constituting distinct aspects of forest community composition (tree species, forest types, and potential vegetation–successional stages) and 4 sets of explanatory variables (climate, natural disturbances, physical environment, and human disturbances). Canonical ordinations were performed to define ecological gradients as well as the overlap between vegetation themes and sets of explanatory variables along each gradient. For each vegetation theme, we quantified the relative proportion of vegetation variation explained by unique as well as combined sets of explanatory variables. The landscape vegetation heterogeneity described by species and potential vegetation–successional stage was mostly explained by natural disturbances and climate in association with other sets of explanatory variables. The influence of physical environment was higher for landscape vegetation heterogeneity related to forest types than for the other themes, but this theme also was dominated by natural disturbances and climate. Compared to natural sets of explanatory variables, human disturbances played a secondary but significant role in the 3 vegetation themes. This research contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between vegetation and the factors underlying its development in the boreal forest and represents an important step toward ecosystem-based management.
DESKRIPSI PARAMETER CUACA DAN STABILITAS UDARA TERKAIT KEJADIAN ANGIN PUTING BELIUNG PONTIANAK (STUDI KASUS 30 AGUSTUS 2016)

On Tuesday, August 30th 2016 at 08.00 UTC, a tornado was occured in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. According to BNPB, on Indonesia tornado hazard index maps, Pontianak is an area with a low potential of tornadoes. The study is using an analytical description method for the meteorological data before and when tornado occurred. Pressure and air temperature for two days before tornado was occurred has the same pattern, but there is an anomaly when tornado occurred. Air temperature’s pattern shows decline significantly from an hour before tornado was occurred that the value is 8,2 C. Analysis of surface wind shows that wind velocity when tornado occurred is higher than 2 days before, with an anomaly of 11 knots. LI index shows that atmospheric stability is in stable condition. KI index shows medium potential of convective and the value is higher than 2 days before. TT index shows strong convective and the value is higher than 2 days before. SWEAT shows low potential of convective with stability value higher than 2 days before. CAPE shows strong potential of convective. Interpretation and analysis of DOI: doi.org/10.21009/03.SNF2017. 02.EPA. 04
Genetic parsimony: a factor in the evolution of complexity, order and emergence

Two conjectures, drawn from Gregory Chaitin’s Algorithmic Information Theory, are examined with respect to the relationship between an algorithm and its product; in particular his finding that, where an algorithm is minimal, its length provides a measure of the complexity of the product. Algorithmic complexity is considered from the perspective of the relationship between genotype and phenotype, which Chaitin suggests is analogous to other algorithm-product systems. The first conjecture is that the genome is a minimal set of algorithms for the phenotype. Evidence is presented for a factor, here termed ‘genetic parsimony’, which is thought to have helped minimize the growth of genome size during evolution. Species that depend on rapid replication, such as prokaryotes which are generally r-selected are more likely to have small genomes, while the K-strategists accumulate introns and have large genomes. The second conjecture is that genome size could provide a measure of organism complexity. A surrogate index for coding DNA is in agreement with an established phenotypic index (number of cell types), in exhibiting an evolutionary trend of increasing organism complexity over time. Evidence for genetic parsimony indicates that simplicity in coding has been selected, and is responsible for phenotypic order. It is proposed that order evolved because order in the phenotype can be encoded more economically than disorder. Thus order arises due to selection for genetic parsimony, as does the evolution of other ‘emergent’ properties. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 88, 295–308.
Ictiofauna de la Bahía de Navidad, Jalisco, México

A check-list and the relative abundance of the ichthyofauna from Bahia de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico is presented. This poorly known area of the eastern Tropical Pacific ocean is characterized by its great fish diversity. A total of 245 fish species (163 genera, 72 families) were collected during the 1994-1995 annual cycle. Vouchers were deposited in Centro de Ecologia Costera, Universidad de Guadalajara. The most important families in number of species were Carangidae (20 species), Haemulidae (20), Serranidae (17), Sciaenidae (13) and Lutjanidae (8); 20 species represented 85 % and 80 % of relative abundance and biomass respectively. Microlepidotus brevipinnis , Caranx caninus , Caranx caballus , Kiphosus analogus and Caranx sexfasciatus, were the dominant species. Most fish species collected in Bahia de Navidad have zoogeographical affinity with the Panamic Province (65%), and in lesser proportion with the Eastern Pacific Ocean (19%), Circumtropical (7%), Mexican Province (5%), Indo-Pacific Ocean (3%) and Gulf of California (0.4%). The great ichthyological affinity between the study area and the southern Gulf of California suggests an extension of the of Gulf southern limit.
Mechanisms of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system of different organs of Catharanthus roseus for protective of cell membrane

Background & Aim: When the level of free radicals is increased and also when both the enzymatic systems and low molecular antioxidants are not sufficient to protect the organism, it seems necessary to get antioxidants from external sources. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of different parts of Catharantus roseus Experimental: The antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seed pods and seeds of C. roseus plant were measured based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation by ferric thiocyanate (FTC), and malondialdehyde inhibition by thiobarbituric acid method (TBA) against the standards: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and ascorbic acid. Results & Discussion: The phenolic content in the root (61.61 ± 2.58 µg of gallic acid per mg of dried weight extract) according to Folin–Ciocalteu
Studies on Gloeosporium musarum Cke & Massee causing storage rots of Jamaican Bananas. I. Anthracnose and its chemical control.

A form of anthracnose, caused by Gloeosporium musarum Cke. & Massee, is responsible for appreciable wastage of Jamaican Lacatan bananas. Symptoms are often evident on immature fruit after 8–10 days storage in refrigerated ships' holds. On green fruit, lesions are characteristically lenticular, having a slightly sunken, dark centre and an orange-yellow border: they rapidly increase in size as the fruits approach maturity. The fungus readily infects small scratches on the skin and, in inoculation experiments, resulted in the development of lenticular lesions after 8–10 days storage at 55° F. Many observations suggest that naturally occurring infections often originate at small abrasions acquired during handling of fruit. On the basis of histological findings, it is proposed to refer to lenticular lesions as ‘non-latent anthracnose’, thus distinguishing this form of infection from the ‘latent’ type described by earlier workers. In several experiments the antifungal antibiotic nystatin, applied as a post-inoculation fruit-dip at concentrations of 200 and 400 p.p.m. , effected good control of wound-infection by G. musarum. Percentage control was inversely related to the incubation period between inoculation and treatment, there being little or no control with periods exceeding about 30 hr.
Azolla research and development: Recent trends and priorities

A few years ago we reviewed (Van Hove and Lejeune, 1996) the history of research on Azolla and provided a description of the ten useful characteristics attributed to this plant, at least five of which are unquestionable. These include the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen, a high productivity, a high protein content, and a depressive influence on both aquatic weeds and NH3 volatilization. We also discussed the constraints, often overstated, linked to Azolla utilization and suggested strategies for helping farmers benefit from Azolla. Here we first summarize the major recent basic and applied research trends on the Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis. Some development activities are then described which indicate that, despite the declining utilization of Azolla as a green manure for rice in China and other South Asian countries, many initiatives aimed at the productive utilization of this plant are being developed in these countries and in other parts of the world. Although often unnoticed in the scientific forums, due to the essentially pragmatic objectives pursued, at least some of these programs seem very promising Based on this information we provide a description of what we consider research priorities, and suggestions are presented for creating an African coordinated research and development program which could help African farmers and therefore Africa.
Pathogen resistance and immunocompetence covary with social status in house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus)

Summary 1Social status has striking effects on individual physiology, but the extent to which it influences pathogen resistance has rarely been explored. Here we examine how social status within groups of wintering house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) relates to immunocompetence and susceptibility to an infectious disease. 2We assayed cellular and humoral components of the immune response, then quantified symptom severity in response to experimental infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a naturally occurring bacterial pathogen that causes periodic epidemics in social aggregations of house finches across North America. 3Socially dominant house finches mounted stronger immune responses to phytohaemagglutinin but weaker antibody titres to sheep red blood cells. Dominant males, but not females, showed significantly lower symptom severity and proportion of time symptomatic when inoculated with M. gallisepticum. 4Individual condition was not associated with social status before or after infection, but infection with M. gallisepticum created disparities in resource access across social status. Infected dominant birds of both sexes fed for significantly more time intervals than infected subordinate birds following infection. 5Changes in resource access may partly underlie observed relationships between social status and disease severity, but the detected sex-specific interactions suggest a role for endocrine–immune relationships that warrant further study. Overall, our results indicate that social behaviour can influence both immunocompetence and resistance to an infectious disease of broad impact in the wild, highlighting the importance of considering the social context of individuals in studies of disease in natural populations.
Comparación entre el diagnóstico serológico y el diagnóstico por reación en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) para Escherichia Coli enteropatogénica (EPEC)

Introduccion. En los laboratorios clinicos la identificacion de EPEC se basa en la determinacion de serotipos especificos por tecnicas de aglutinacion utilizando antisueros O y H. Actualmente la identificacion del gen de intimina (eaeA) por PCR es el metodo diagnostico de eleccion para EPEC. Objetivos. Comparar el diagnostico por serologia con el diagnostico por PCR de cepas de EPEC. Materiales y Metodos. Se recolectaron cepas identificadas como EPEC en base al antigeno O, de 4 laboratorios clinicos de Lima, procedentes de muestras de diarrea de ninos menores de 5 anos. En estas cepas se buscaron genes relacionados a virulencia mediante un PCR multiple a tiempo real para las E. coli diarreogenicas. Resultados . Se recolectaron 113 cepas; 82% de ninos menores de 2 anos. Unicamente 15 cepas (13.3%) presentaron el gen de intimina con un diagnostico confirmatorio de EPEC. Adicionalmente se encontraron 3 cepas enterotoxigenicas (ETEC), 3 productoras de shiga-toxina (STEC), 1 enteroagregativa (EAEC) y 1 enteroinvasiva (EIEC). Conclusiones. Para la identificacion correcta de EPEC se debe usar el PCR. Sin embargo, los metodos moleculares aun no estan facilmente disponibles en los laboratorios clinicos a nivel mundial.
Fire effects on aquatic ecosystems: an assessment of the current state of the science

Fire is a prevalent feature of many landscapes and has numerous and complex effects on geological, hydrological, ecological, and economic systems. In some regions, the frequency and intensity of wildfire have increased in recent years and are projected to escalate with predicted climatic and landuse changes. In addition, prescribed burns continue to be used in many parts of the world to clear vegetation for development projects, encourage desired vegetation, and reduce fuel loads. Given the prevalence of fire on the landscape, authors of papers in this special series examine the complexities of fire as a disturbance shaping freshwater ecosystems and highlight the state of the science. These papers cover key aspects of fire effects that range from vegetation loss and recovery in watersheds to effects on hydrology and water quality with consequences for communities (from algae to fish), food webs, and ecosystem processes (e.g., organic matter subsidies, nutrient cycling) across a range of scales. The results presented in this special series of articles expand our knowledge of fire effects in different biomes, water bodies, and geographic regions, encompassing aquatic population, community, and ecosystem responses. In this overview, we summarize each paper and emphasize its contributions to knowledge on fire ecology and freshwater ecosystems. This overview concludes with a list of 7 research foci that are needed to further our knowledge of fire effects on aquatic ecosystems, including research on: 1) additional biomes and geographic regions; 2) additional habitats, including wetlands and lacustrine ecosystems; 3) different fire severities, sizes, and spatial configurations; and 4) additional response variables (e.g., ecosystem processes) 5) over long (>5 y) time scales 6) with more rigorous study designs and data analyses, and 7) consideration of the effects of fire management practices and policies on aquatic ecosystems.
Temperature‐related increases in grass growth and greater competition for food drive earlier migrational departure of wintering Whooper Swans

Understanding the departure decisions of migratory birds is critical for determining how changing climatic conditions will influence subsequent arrival times on the breeding grounds. A long-term dataset (1972‐2008) of Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus departure dates from a wintering site in Ireland was used to assess the factors determining the timing of migration. Early and late migrating swans showed different departure patterns. Earlier wintering ground departure was more pronounced for the first 50% of the population than the last 10% of departing individuals. Earlier departure was associated with an increase in February temperatures at the wintering site for all departure phases except the date when the last individual departed. The date by which the first 50% of Swans had departed was earlier with increasing numbers of wintering Swans, suggesting that competition on the wintering grounds may further influence the timing of departure. The results also suggested that departure is mediated by the influence of spring temperature on food resources, with increased February grass growth in warmer years enabling earlier departure of migrating Swans. To determine why arrival dates in the breeding ground have altered, environmental conditions in the wintering grounds must be taken into account.
Determination of Activity Profiles of the Main Commercial Enzyme Preparations Used in Winemaking

There are many enzymatic preparations available on the French market for wine production. Evaluations of enzymatic activities are performed by the manufacturers or distributors. In this study, methods were developed to measure the different enzymatic activities (pectolytic, hemicellulolytic, cellulolytic, and glycosidasic), which were then applied to 41 commercial enzymatic preparations. The major differences, considering the enzymatic profiles of the 41 preparations, are among the preparations labeled for color extraction, clarification, sedimentation, pressing, or polyvalent action and the preparations labeled for aroma release. The differences are as much qualitative as quantitative, without presuming the effectiveness of all these preparations.
Concentration of proteins and protein fractions in blood plasma of chickens hatched from eggs irradiated with low dose gamma radiation.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of egg irradiation by low dose gamma rays on the concentration of total proteins and protein fractions in the blood plasma of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs. The eggs of heavy breed chickens were irradiated with a dose of 0.15 Gy gamma-rays ( 60 Co) before incubation. Blood samples were taken from the right jugular vein on the 1 st and 3 rd days, or from the wing vein on day 7 after hatching. The total protein concentrations in the blood plasma was determined by the biuret method using Boehringer Mannheim GmbH optimized kits. The protein fractions (albumin, α1-globulin, α2- globulin, β- and γ- globulins) were estimated electrophoretically on cellulose acetate strips. The total protein concentration was signifi cantly decreased in the blood plasma of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs on days 3 (P<0.05) and 7 (P<0.001). The albumin concentration in the blood plasma of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs was signifi cantly decreased on the 7th day (P<0.001), and the concentration of α2-globulin was decreased on days 1 (P<0.05) and 7 (P<0.001). β- and γ-globulins concentration was signifi cantly decreased on the 7 th day of life (P<0.05). The obtained results indicate that a low dose of gamma radiation has an inhibitory effect upon the concentration of total proteins and protein fractions in the blood plasma of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs before incubation, during the fi rst week of their life.
Compensation of visually simulated wind drift in the swarming flight of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria)

1.The visual control of translatory movements in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria was investigated under open-loop conditions. When locusts were flown tethered in a wind tunnel, wind drift, visually simulated by ground pattern motion either in line with or transverse to their long body axis, induced a modulation of yaw-torque, thrust and lift correlated with the reversal of the direction of motion. 2.Yaw-torque and thrust responses were independent of each other. Spontaneous modulation of amplitude and differences in the time course of these responses indicate that a gain control mechanism is involved in the conversion of the visual stimuli to a behavioural response. 3.Two opposing types of response were observed for each flight parameter and they were found equally often. They were elicited by either transverse or longitudinal pattern motion. The polarity of yaw-torque, thrust or lift responses was thus either positively or negatively correlated with the direction of pattern motion and was preserved throughout an experiment or reversed repeatedly. 4.The yaw responses revealed a tendency for locusts to orient either upwind or downwind under the same stimulus situation. Modulations of thrust and lift confirm that locusts compensate for deviations of the retinal image flow from a preferred value by adjusting both air speed and altitude in free flight. They either speed up or slow down and either increase or decrease flight altitude under the same stimulus situation. 5.The visually induced turning tendency often interacts with a variable internal turning tendency. The internal turning tendency might be responsible for the orientation menotactic to wind seen in the field. 6.The threshold of optomotor responses in the visual control of translation is below 0.15°s −1 for both transverse and longitudinal pattern motion, indicating that wind-related orientation can occur at altitudes of several hundred metres. 7.The orientation behaviour of locusts subjected to visually simulated wind drift depended on the transverse and longitudinal components of pattern motion and on internal factors. The observed variability of response is assumed to result from the locust9s ability to modulate independently the gain and sign of the optomotor responses for yaw-torque, thrust and lift.