Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth and Development of the Lactuca sativa Shoot as Affected by NaCl Stress: Consideration of Leaf Developmental Stages

The effect of salinization on development of the whole shoot and individual leaves of Lactuca sativa L. cv Black-seeded Simpson was studied nondestructively. Salinization by 80 mol m-3 NaCl (from the 10 mol m-3 control concentration) slowed shoot development. The lengthening of the plastochron because of salinization was evident in rates of leaf expansion, frequency of leaf emergence, and growth rate of the whole shoot. The plastochron effect on shoot development was sufficient to account for a 33% reduction in biomass of the shoot, equaling the entire growth inhibition measured during the first week following salinization. A second effect, reduction in maximum leaf size, could be measured after 2 more wk of plant growth. A 50% reduction in fresh weight of fully mature leaves of salinized plants was evident in leaves already beyond the most rapid phase of expansion at the time of salinization. Curtailment of the slow phase of leaf expansion seems, therefore, to reduce maximum leaf size. This cultivar lends itself to nondestructive growth study because of its rapid growth, high rate of leaf emergence, the open access to its leaves, and the absence of a significant contribution by the stem to shoot biomass. Mathematical reconstruction of the shoot allows comparison with results from destructive studies measuring growth of the bulked shoot.
Signature Systems and Kin Recognition

SYNOPSIS. This paper examines mechanisms of individual identification in the kin recognition process. In type 1 kin recognition, the individual ( e.g. , a parent) learns the identifying cues (the “signature”) of particular kin ( e.g. , offspring) at some stage when there are reliable contextual cues as to kinship ( e.g. , the parent finds the young in its nest). These kin are subsequently recognized via their signatures in situations in which contextual evidence of kinship is lacking. The primary selection pressure in this case is for a mechanism that can generate a large number of distinctive signatures, and thus permit recognition in large groups. I develop a model that predicts the necessary information capacity of a signature system, and I test this prediction for the signature call of the bank swallow ( Riparia riparia ). The measured information capacity of 17 bits corresponds well to the prediction and, moreover, is substantially greater than that of the homologous call of the similar but non-colonial rough-winged swallow ( Stelgidopteryx ruficollis ). In type 2 kin recognition, reliable contextual evidence as to kinship is absent at all times, and kin must be recognized via a signature-matching process. For example, the individual might compare its own signature to that of the unknown individual, inferring kinship if their signatures are sufficiently similar. I describe a multi-locus genetic signature mechanism that would permit discrimination of kin from non-kin, and suggest how this model might be tested
Proximate Based Comparative Assessment of Five Medicinal Plants to Meet the Challenges of Malnutrition

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the nutritional significance of some of the economically important medicinal plants species collected from Pakistan. Study Design: The study was designed in randomized block design and each analysis was performed with three replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat and duration of the study was ten months. Methodology: Present study was conducted to determine the nutritional importance of medicinal plants viz. Achyranthes aspera, Xanthium strumarium, Albizzia lebbeck, Amaranthus cruentus and Calotropis procera . Proximate compositions of these plant species (moisture, ash, fats, fiber, alcohol soluble extractive (ASE), proteins,
Watershed management in north Florida: public knowledge, attitudes and information needs

Abstract Water management policies in Florida emphasize the need for public involvement in managing watersheds, yet little is known about the environmental literacy of key stakeholders – nearby residents and recreational user groups. A mail survey was conducted to assess public environmental knowledge, attitudes, and information needs about watershed management based on a stratified random sample of 700 households in the 1683-km2 Orange Creek Basin in Florida. Most respondents had limited knowledge of the local environment and limited awareness of the local watershed as a landscape feature. Consumptive resource-users (e.g., anglers and hunters) had more knowledge of surface water features than non-consumptive users or non-users. Respondents generally held positive attitudes toward overall ecosystem management objectives. Attitudes toward specific management activities, such as aquatic plant control to improve boating access, differed among groups. Most respondents wanted to learn more about local ecology and preferred to obtain information about the local environment from television, newspapers, and direct mail. Consumptive users preferred to receive information from fish camps and sporting clubs, while non-consumptive users preferred to receive information from nature parks. On-site interpretive programming is needed throughout the basin, along with mass media outreach, to increase public knowledge of and support for sustainable watershed management.
Pharmacological Effects of Aqueous Extract from Valeriana adscendens

A purified aqueous extract of Valeriana adscendens Trel. (Valerianaceae) was investigated for its pharmacological profile. The extract did not exert significant changes on the nociceptive threshold in the hot plate and tail flick test and no effect was registered on the guinea‐pig ileum. On the other hand, the extract significantly reduced both the locomotor activity and motor coordination of mice; it also prolonged sleep induced by pentobarbital, whereas no significant cataleptic response was observed. These effects may suggest neuroleptic‐like properties.
Release in radial growth in the trunk and structural roots of white spruce as measured by dendrochronology

We used a new technique to examine the response of the trunk and structural roots of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) to an increase in wind exposure. Ring widths were measured in the roots and trunks of trees located within a 120-year-old, boreal mixedwood stand (control) and at the edge of a road built through the stand 16 years before sampling (released). The observed ring widths were divided by widths predicted from regression to produce ring indices. Response indices were produced by subtracting the ring indices of control trees from those of released trees. Allocation indices were produced by subtracting the ring indices of trunks from those of roots. A final index, quantifying the change in allocation to the root and trunk after road clearing, was produced by subtracting allocation indices of control trees from those of released trees. Following the road clearing, the rate of trunk diameter growth remained unchanged for 3–9 years, while root diameter growth increased. These observations sug.
Membrane Association and Protein Conformation of α-Synuclein in Intact Neurons

Two missense mutations (Ala-30 → Pro and Ala-53 → Thr) in the gene encoding α-synuclein are associated with rare autosomal dominant forms of familial Parkinson's disease. In addition, α-synuclein is an abundant component of Lewy bodies in sporadic Parkinson's disease and diffuse Lewy body disease. However, the normal conformation of α-synuclein, its cellular localization in neurons, and the effects of the mutations remain to be determined. In the present study, we examine these questions using sensitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer techniques. Transient transfection of α-synuclein expression constructs into primary cortical neurons and counterstaining with the lipophilic fluorescent marker, DiI, demonstrates a close association between α-synuclein and cellular membranes. Both the N- and C-terminal regions of α-synuclein are tightly associated with membranes. A weak interaction also occurs between the N and C termini themselves. The Parkinson's disease-associated mutations have no effect on membrane interaction; however, the Ala-30 → Pro mutation alters the three-dimensional conformation of α-synuclein, as measured by significantly increased fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the N and C termini.
Differential contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to plant nitrate uptake (15N) under increasing N supply to the soil

The objective of this study was to determine how the uptake and transport of nitrate by two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is affected by its concentration in the medium and by the age of the AM symbiosis. Tracer amounts of 15N nitrate were applied at two plant growth periods to mycorrhizal or nonmycorrhizal lettuce plants, which had been grown in soil supplied with nitrate to provide a total of 84, 168, or 252 mg N/kg. At both injection times, Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe and Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe reached the highest values of nitrogen derived from the fertilizer (NdfF) at 84 mg N/kg. Glomus mosseae also reached the highest values of labeled fertilizer N utilization at 84 mg N/kg, whereas G. fasciculatum reached the highest values at 168 mg N/kg in the medium. The highest N level in the medium (252 mg N/kg) had a negative effect on % NdfF and % labeled fertilizer utilization for all mycorrhizal plants. Regarding the time of 15N fert.
Atlantic Coast Migration of Large Striped Bass as Evidenced by Fisheries and Tagging

Abstract During studies of Atlantic coast striped bass, Roccus saxatilis (Walbaum), by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and co-operators from 1955 to 1959, 478 large fish ranging in weight from 6 to 54 pounds and in age from 3 to 18 years were tagged. Tagging locations were the North Carolina coast, where 81 fish were tagged; Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River, North Carolina, where 97 fish were tagged; and Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, where 300 tags were applied. Catches by commercial and sport fisheries indicated that large striped bass concentrated on the coast of North Carolina in late fall and winter, on or near spawning areas for striped bass in North Carolina and Chesapeake Bay in late winter and spring, and along the coast north of Chesapeake Bay as far as Massachusetts in the summer and fall. Recaptures were made of 19 fish tagged on the North Carolina coast; 23 tagged in Albemarle Sound and the Roanoke River, North Carolina; 27 tagged in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; and 1 tagged in t.
Abstract

Percutaneous fine-needle biopsies of deep thoracic and abdominal masses in dogs and cats Bonfanti, U. , Bussadori, C. , Zatelli, A. , De Lorenzi, D. , Masserdotti, C. , Bertazzolo,W. , Capobianco, R. & Caniatti, M. (2004) ulations. Genetics Percutaneous fine-needle biopsy of deep thoracic and abdominal masses in dogs and cats. Journal ofSmallAninal Practice 45, 191–198
Innate and learned colour preference in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

Receiver biases towards specific sensory signals have been demonstrated in insects, birds and fish, both in the context of foraging and mate choice. In some cases, signals important in sexual selection appear to have evolved by exploiting a pre-existing bias in the sensory system. For instance, female preferences for male nuptial colouration may have arisen from selection on foraging practices. Using the zebrafish (Danio rerio), a species in which red is not a factor in mate choice, we tested for a foraging bias towards the colour red. We further investigated the plasticity of foraging biases by raising groups of fish on diets consisting solely of red, blue, green or white food. When we subsequently tested their colour preferences in a foraging context, each group responded most strongly to red, irrespective of the colour of food with which they had been conditioned. We also detected a significant effect of conditioning on colour preferences; fish responded more strongly to the colour that matched diet colour than to other colours. The observed receiver bias towards red may have evolved as an adaptive preference for carotenoid compounds in their diet. While the bias to red appears to be innate, our results indicate that learning is also important in shaping foraging biases.
Determination of apparent amylose content, pasting properties and gel texture of rice starch by near‐infrared spectroscopy

For breeding rice with improved quality, apparent amylose content (AAC), rapid visco analyser (RVA) pasting viscosities and gel texture properties may be routinely measured. As a direct measurement is time-consuming and expensive, rapid predictive method based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is useful for measurement of these quality parameters. In this study, calibration models were developed using modified partial least-squares regression with different mathematical treatments based on the grain and flour spectra of non-waxy rice alone or in combination with waxy rice. The results showed that calibration models built with flour spectra are more robust than those with grain spectra, and with total rice including waxy rice are superior to those with only non-waxy rice. Some starch quality parameters, such as AAC, setback viscosity (SB), pasting temperature (PT), hardness (HD) and cohesiveness (COH) could be predicted with sufficient accuracy by NIRS based on flour spectra, whereas only AAC and PT could be predicted with sufficient accuracy based on grain spectra. All the models reported here are usable for rough sample screening (cold paste viscosity and breakdown viscosity), sample screening (SB, PT and COH) and for most applications (AAC and HD) for routine screening of a large number of samples in the early generation selection in breeding programs. However, for accurate assay of the pasting viscosity and gel textural parameters, direct instrumental measurement should be employed in later generations. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Correction

Patients eligible for the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) intervention are old (>75 years), face a high risk of mortality, and generally have multiple comorbidities. Healthcare consumption of this group of patients can, therefore, be expected to be high. 3 As a consequence, life extension in this group would probably result in additional healthcare consumption in so-called life years gained. Healthcare consumption in life years gained could be due to treatment of a large variety of diseases related to old age and/or consumption of long-term care due to disabilities. In the article by Watt et al, only a limited set of cost categories is included, which results in too favourable estimates of the cost effectiveness of TAVI. Current NICE guidelines do not advocate the inclusion of medical costs in life years gained of diseases not directly related to the intervention under study. Ignoring costs that are relevant for the NHS is difficult to defend using scientific arguments. It also results in favouring interventions that primarily increase length of life over interventions that mainly improve quality of life. Broadening the perspective beyond the NHS, as Watts et al suggest, would probably result in even less favourable cost-effective estimates, as the target group of TAVI does not participate in the labour market anymore and, therefore, consumes more than they produce. While there may be uncomfortable implications of including more cost categories that warrant discussion, this can never be a reason to exclude foreseeable costs.
CHROMOSOME ANALYSIS IN THE TRIBE ASTEREAE

オキシキノリン法を用いてノコンギク族11種および4変種について染色体数を決定し, 核型分析を行なった. 既報の77種, 20亜種, 14変種および1品種とあわせ合計127種類の本族植物について倍数性と核型変化の傾向とを考察した.
Distinct Tyrosine Kinase Activation and Triton X-100 Insolubility upon FcγRII or FcγRIIIB Ligation in Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes.

Two tyrosine kinase-dependent pathways exist for activation of the respiratory burst by polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) immunoglobulin G Fc receptors. Direct ligation of FcγRII activates the respiratory burst, but ligation of the glycan phosphoinositol-linked FcγRIIIB does not. Instead, this receptor and the integrin complement receptor CR3 synergize in activation of the respiratory burst (Zhou, M.-J., and Brown, E. J. (1994) J. Cell Biol. 125, 1407-1416). Here we show that direct ligation of FcγRII leads to activation and Triton X-100 insolubility of the Src family kinase Fgr, without effect on the related myeloid Src family member Hck. In contrast, adhesion of PMN via FcγRIIIB leads to activation and Triton X-100 insolubility of Hck but not Fgr. The exclusive association of FcγRIIIB with Hck activation and Triton insolubility is not solely a result of its glycan phosphoinositol anchor, since decay accelerating factor (CD55), another prominent glycan phosphoinositol-anchored PMN protein, is associated with Fgr insolubility to a greater extent than Hck. Ligation of decay accelerating factor, with or without coligation of CR3, does not activate the PMN respiratory burst. Coligation of FcγRIIIB with FcγRII overcomes the pertussis toxin inhibition of H2O2 production in response to direct ligation of FcγRII. These data support the hypothesis that activation of Hck upon FcγRIIIB ligation has a role in generation of the synergistic respiratory burst.
Flowers and Insects. XIII

DODECATHEON MEADIA L. -American cowslip, shootingstar. In his arrangement of floral mechanisms Delpino (2) recognizes a class of pendulous nodding or horizontal flowers upon which the visitors cling (apparrecchi prensili), which he divides into the borrage and the verbascum types (tipo borragineo, tipo verbascino). The former includes such flowers as Dodecatheon, Cyclamnen, and Solanumn, which the bees clasp in such a way as to receive the pollen upon the undersides of their bodies, and the latter contains flowers like Verbascumn and Tradescantia, which are provided with hairs which afford a foot-hold. Kerner (I) regards the reflexed petals as facilitating access to nectar and pollen, and this is true as regards the legitimate visitors. Intruders are much more effectually excluded than would be the case if the petals were less strongly reflexed, as in the flowers of Erythronium.2 The approximation of the anthers in a compact cone also gives the flower a signal advantage over such a flower as Ribes gracile,3 whose stamens being of the ordinary form permit the visits of a number of insects which the flower cannot utilize. The reflexed petals also render the nodding flowers much more conspicuous and attractive than they would be if the expanded petals faced the ground. Loew (3) has figured and thoroughly described Dodecatheon integrifoliun Michx. (=D. Meadia L.), D. 7effreyi Moore (=-D. Meadia var. iancifoliumn Gray), and an unnamed species from material growing in the Berlin Garden. To this I shall add an account of D. Meadia as observed under natural conditions in Illinois. The plant is common in prairies and open woods, where it grows in rather large patches. The scapes rise from 3 to 6dm and bear numerous, handsome flowers, which are white or rose color. The corolla has a short tube, which for
Studies on Influence of Emitter Discharge Rate, Irrigation Supplies and Planting Pattern on Tomato in Heavy Soils Of Central India

Studies on Influence of Emitter Discharge Rate, Irrigation Supplies and Planting Pattern on Tomato in Heavy Soils Of Central India Field experiments were conducted during two post rainy seasons at J.N. Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, India, to evaluate the effect of emitter discharge rate, drip irrigation supplies and planting pattern on soil moisture distribution patterns and yield of tomato in heavy soils. In the experiments during 1998, irrigation was applied through emitters (2, 4 lhr-1) and micro-tubes (6 lhr-1) to conventional and paired-row plantings of tomato (var. ACC - 99). While, in the experiments during 2000, four irrigation supply levels (0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 times crop evapo-transpiration) combined with paired-row, four-row plantings of tomato (var. Pusa ruby) were applied. Observations revealed that fulfillment of 100 per cent of tomato crop evapo-transpiration need utilizing micro-irrigation (micro-tubes of rated discharge - 6 lhr-1) combined with four-row plantings of tomato achieved a cost saving of 35.21 per cent on initial investment with significant gain in yield over paired-row planting in the heavy soils of central India.
The Relationships among Polygyny, Male Parental Care, and Female Breeding Success in the Indigo Bunting

The reproductive success of males and females in a polygynous, territorial bird species is affected by the ability of the male to provide care to some or all of the young and by the benefits of pairing polygynously (Orians 1969, Patterson et al. 1980, Muldal et al. 1986). The benefits to males of attracting a second mate will be reduced if the pursuit of additional females affects a male's ability to care for present young (Maynard Smith 1977). For female reproductive success the benefits of nesting on the territory of an already-mated male will also depend in part on that male's ability to care for the female's young. To understand the evolution of polygyny, it is critical to know the effect of male parental care on the reproductive success of both males and females and how polygyny determines the levels of male parental care. In many species polygynous males feed the young infrequently in some or all of their broods (reviewed by Verner and Willson 1969, Wittenberger 1981). Usually, the young in these neglected broods suffer increased mortality either before or after fledging (Patterson 1979, Muldal et al. 1986). In other populations males show-no parental care (Orians 1961, Payne 1969, Patterson et al. 1980), but presumably the number of surviving young would be increased if males helped feed the young even in these species. Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) males are occasionally polygynous (Carey and Nolan 1979, Payne 1982) and reportedly provide little help with the care of the offspring (Verner and Willson 1969, Carey and Nolan 1979). In breeding Indigo Buntings studied in detail by Carey and Nolan (1975,1979), males showed little tendency to feed young. This lack of male care made the effects of polygyny on female reproductive success appear negligible. In a separate population with a similar frequency of polygyny (Payne 1982), however, I found that some males feed nestlings and over a third feed fledglings (Westneat 1988). This difference between populations led me to study the effect of male parental care on male and female reproductive success and to investigate the role polygyny might play in determining the levels of male parental care in this second population. I collected data as part of a larger study on the mating behavior and parental care of Indigo Buntings (Westneat 1987a, b, 1988). The study was conducted in May-August 1983-1985 along an active railroad line 5 km northeast of Niles in Cass Co., Michigan.