Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invasive plants and water resources in the Western Cape Province, South Africa: modelling the consequences of a lack of management.

1. The invasion of fynbos shrublands by woody weed species can reduce the water yield from catchment areas dramatically. We modelled the consequences of uncontrolled invasion on water yield using a geographical information system (Arc/Info). 2. Five important processes were recognized : the occurrence of fire ; the spread and establishment of alien plants after fire ; rainfall-to-run-off ratios ; growth and changes in biomass between fires ; and effects of these changes on streamflow. 3. The simulations of water yield were modelled with the Arc/Info GRID module using a 200 x 200-m grid. It was assumed that the interval between fires was 15 years and that proliferation and dispersal of alien plants took place only after fires. 4. Between fires, the model simulated the growth of the vegetation and its effects on streamflow, using relationships between rainfall and run-off, and run-off and above-ground biomass. 5. Results for the Kogelberg area in the Western Cape Province showed that alien plants invaded about 40% of the grid cells within 50 years. Cover of alien plants increased from an initial estimate of 2.4% to 62.4% after 100 years. 6. Invasion of catchment areas would result in an average decrease of 347 m 3 of water per hectare per year over 100 years, resulting in average losses of more than 30% of the water supply to the city of Cape Town. In individual years, where large areas would be covered by mature trees, losses would be much greater. 7. In addition, invasion of fynbos by alien plants will cause the extinction of many plant species, increase the intensity of fires, destabilize catchment areas with resultant erosion and diminished water quality, and decrease the aesthetic appeal of mountain areas. 8. Control of alien weed species is necessary to avert the above impacts, and the costs of control operations could be justified by the savings achieved in maintaining adequate water run-off from stable catchments in the long term.
Voluntary intake and behavior of Hokkaido native horses and light half-bred horses in woodland pasture.

To study the differences between Hokkaido native horses and light half-bred horses on woodland pasture from the nutritional and behavioral viewpoint, feed intake, grazing time, moving distance, daily staying area and distance to the nearest neighbor were measured. Voluntary dry matter intake per body weight and metabolic body weight of Hokkaido native horses were higher than those of light half-bred horses (2.0 vs 1.8%, 88 vs 86 gDM/kgMBW), and the body weight loss of Hokkaido native horses during the experimental period was smaller than that of light half-bred horses. Grazing time, total moving distance, especially the moving distance with grazing were longer for Hokkaido native horses than for light half-bred horses. The distributions of distance between the nearest neighbor horses of the same breed for both breeds were similar. The distance from the one breed to the nearest neighbor of the other breed was greater than that within the same breed (P<0.01). The mean distance from the first position of a horse to its position at 1 hr intervals for Hokkaido native horses was 162 m, which was greater than 65 m for light half-bred horses. The daily staying area of Hokkaido native horses throughout the period of observation was larger than that of light half-bred horses. The differences between the two breeds in voluntary intake and behavior seemed to be large, but these differences were not significant.
Evolution of microbial pathogens.

Table of Contents Part I. General Concepts of Microbial Evolution 1. Part I Overview, John J. Mekalanos 2. Studying Evolution Using Genome Sequence Data, Jeffrey G. Lawrence 3. Population Dynamics of Bacterial Pathogens, Martin C. J. Maiden and Rachel Urwin 4. The Study of Microbial Adaptation by Long-Term Experimental Evolution, Vaughn S. Cooper 5. The Contribution of Pathogenicity Islands to the Evolution of Bacterial Pathogens, Bianca Hochhut, Ulrich Dobrindt, and Jorg Hacker 6. Black Holes and Antivirulence Genes: Selection for Gene Loss as Part of the Evolution of Bacterial Pathogens, William A. Day and Anthony T. Maurelli Part II. Environment and the Evolution of Microbial Pathogens 7. Part II Overview, Roberto Kolter and Deborah A. Hogan 8. Evolution of Pathogens in Soil, Rachel Muir and Man-Wah Tan 9. Experimental Models of Symbiotic Host-Microbial Relationships: Understanding the Underpinnings of Beneficence and the Origins of Pathogenesis, Margaret J. McFall-Ngai and Jeffrey I. Gordon 10. The Evolution of Bacterial Toxins, O. Colin Stine and James P. Nataro 11. Function, Evolution, and Classification of Macromolecular Transport Systems, Paul J. Planet, David H. Figurski, and Rob DeSalle 12. The Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance, Dean Rowe-Magnus and Didier Mazel Part III. Evolution of Selected Pathogenic Species and Mechanisms 13. Part III Overview, James B. Kaper 14. Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus: Evolution, Reemergence, and Strain Diversification, Sean D. Reid, J. Ross Fitzgerald, Stephen B. Beres, Nicole M. Green, and James M. Musser 15. Evolution of Enteric Pathogens, Ruiting Lan and Peter R. Reeves 16. Mycobacterial Evolution: Insights from Genomics and Population Genetics, Alexander S. Pym and Peter M. Small 17. The Evolution of Human Fungal Pathogens, Judith N. Steenbergen and A. Casadevall
Mutational analysis of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) is a classical cytoplasmic glycolytic enzyme which, despite lacking a predicted signal peptide, has been demonstrated to be expressed and transported to the surface of numerous Gram-positive bacteria and shown to interact with host molecules and perform non-glycolytic biological functions. Genome-based studies have also demonstrated that the glycolytic pathway appears to be non-functional in the meningococcus due to absence of phosphofructokinase, one of the important enzymes in this pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether the FBA, a so-called housekeeping enzyme, is required for maximal in vitro growth of N. meningitidis . An FBA knock-out mutant was created in N. meningitidis using an inverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allelic exchange methodology. Phenotypic analysis of FBA-deficient mutant strains such as growth profiling experiments showed that the FBA-deficient mutant grew at the same rate (in broth culture and on solid media) as the wild-type strain, suggesting that FBA is not required for optimal growth of N. meningitidis under the in vitro conditions tested. No differences in either colony or bacterial cell morphology (using light microscopy) were observed. In summary, despite being a central enzyme in the glycolytic cycle, FBA is not required for in vitro growth of N. meningitidis . Key words: Neisseria meningitidis , aldolase, mutagenesis, growth kinetics, glycolytic cycle.
Inheritance of resistance to rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in soybeans.

A study was conducted to determine the inheritance of resistance to soybean rust in three soybean accessions-PI200492, Tainung 3 and Tainung 4. The results suggest that PI200492 and Tainung 3 contain the same single dominant gene for resistance, and that Tainung 4 contains two dominant genes for resistance, one of which is identical with that in PI200492 and Tainung 3.
RACES OF PERONOSPORA MANSHURICA IN THE UNITED STATES

A B S T R A C T I propose a set of 11 soybean varieties for the differentiation of races of Peronospora manshurica: Pridesoy, Norchief, Mukden, Richland, Roanoke, Illini, S 100, Palmetto, Dorman, Kabott, and Ogden. When I employed these, I found fifteen new races of Peronospora manshurica, the casual agent of downy mildew of soybeans, described them, and assigned numbers 9 through 23. Race 8 was encountered most frequently and occurred at 40 % of the locations from which seed samples were obtained. Races 1, 2, 10, 12, 18, and 23 occurred at 5-8 % of the locations sampled. Race 10 was common in the southern U. S. Of 247 soybean seed lots sampled, 73 % contained some oospore-encrusted seeds. These ranged from 12-26 % lighter than healthy seeds. The percentage of oospore-encrusted seeds occurring in seed lots ranged from 0-25 %. DOWNY MILDEW, caused by the fungus, Peronospora manshurica (Naum.) Syd. ex Gaum. , is one of the most common diseases of soybeans, Glycine max (L.) Merr. , in the United States (Dunleavy, Chaamberlain, and Ross, 1966). The fungus infects leaves, grows within the plant by establishing mycelium with haustoria, invades the pods, and covers seeds with a crust of oospores. The existence of distinct pathogenic races in the Peronosporaceae has seldom been demonstrated. Many species within this family can
Bioaccessibility of selenium from Se-rich food grains of the seleniferous region of Punjab, India as analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis

In the present study, selenium (Se) bioaccessibility was measured in rice and maize cultivated in seleniferous soil of India using in vitro gastric (GA) digestion and gastro-intestinal (GI) digestion methods. The concentration of bioaccessible Se was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The total Se was observed to be about 58.0 mg kg−1 and 29.0 mg kg−1 in flours of rice and maize, respectively. Total Se content in maize flour sample after GA and GI digestions were approximately 9.5 mg kg−1 and 15.0 mg kg−1, respectively; and in case of rice samples, the levels were about 32.0 mg kg−1 and 38.0 mg kg−1, respectively. The results indicate that the bioaccessibility of GI digestion (51% in maize and 65% in rice) was higher compared to GA digestion (32% and 52% in maize and rice, respectively). In addition, the bioaccessible levels of Se were significantly more in case of rice compared to maize.
Assimilation and metabolism of exogenous glucose by yolk-sac embryos after intraovarian preincubation and in vitro in Zoarces viviparus

The ability of yolk-sac embryos of the blenny Zoarces viviparus (L.) to assimilate and metabolize exogenous glucose was investigated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. The investigations in vivo (experiment I) were performed by simultaneously injecting 14C-labelled glucose (30 μL (5 μCi)/100 g body weight) and unlabelled carrier glucose (100 mg/100 g body weight) into the ovary (loaded group). Controls received only 14C-labelled glucose (nonloaded group). The shape of the disappearance curve for the tracer glucose in the glucose-loaded group was similar to that for carrier glucose, with a gradual decrease during the first 9 h postinjection. Half-lives were calculated to be 5.17 h for tracer glucose and 5.41 h for carrier glucose in the loaded group. Both tracer and carrier glucose levels returned to control levels after 24 h in the loaded group. Accumulation of tracer glucose was significantly higher in yolk-sac embryos from the nonloaded control group compared with embryos from the loaded group. Tracer.
Relationships of Size, Intracellular Location, and Time Required for Secretion of Milk Fat Droplets ~

Abstract Fat droplet development in rat mammary tissue was evaluated morphometrically in electron micrographs of 200 typical lactating cells. Droplets in the extreme basal area of the cells averaged . 6 μm in diameter, increased to 1.3 μm in the extreme apical region, and increased further to a totally protruding (but still connected to the cell) size of 3.5 μm. The basal to apical growth was linear with a slope of . 09. The expansion in droplet diameter during secretion also was linear (slope 1.06) and involved a 20-fold increase in volume. No droplets were observed coalescing. Massive lipid accumulation in the apical region of the cell is implied both by the growth and numbers of fat droplets in this region. Observation with the light microscope on lactating cells of three other species (rabbit, cow, and cat) also showed substantial volume increases as fat droplets were being secreted, In view of data on the time required to synthesize a milk fat droplet, droplet secretion may be a relatively slow process requiring up to several hours from the time the droplet first contacts the plasmalemma until it is completely clear of the cell.
Protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum. I. Detection in the microsomal membrane of a receptor for the signal recognition particle

Salt-extracted microsomal membranes (K-RM) contain an activity that is capable of releasing the signal recognition particle (SRP)-mediated elongation arrest of the synthesis of secretory polypeptides (Walter, P., and G. Blobel, 1981, J. Cell Biol., 91:557-561). This arrest- releasing activity was shown to be a function of an integral microsomal membrane protein, termed the SRP receptor (Gilmore, R., P. Walter, and G. Blobel, 1982, J. Cell Biol., 95:470-477). We attempted to solubilize the arrest-releasing activity of the SRP receptor by mild protease digestion of K-RM using either trypsin or elastase. We found, however, that neither a trypsin, nor an elastase "solubilized" supernatant fraction exhibited the arrest-releasing activity. Only when either the trypsin- or elastase-derived supernatant fraction was combined with the trypsinized membrane fraction, which by itself was also inactive, was the arrest-releasing activity restored. Release of the elongation arrest was followed by the translocation of the secretory protein across the microsomal membrane and the removal of the signal peptide. Thus, although we have been unable to proteolytically sever the arrest- releasing activity from K-RM and thereby to uncouple the release of the elongation arrest from the process of chain translocation, we have been able to proteolytically dissect and reconstitute the arrest-releasing activity. Furthermore, we found that the arrest-releasing activity of the SRP receptor can be inactivated by alkylation of K-RM with N- ethylmaleimide.
Bacteriophage-based biocontrol of biological sludge bulking in wastewater

In a previous paper, the first ever application of lytic bacteriophage (virus)-mediated biocontrol of biomass bulking in the activated sludge process using Haliscomenobacter hydrossis as a model filamentous bacterium was demonstrated. In this work we extended the biocontrol application to another predominant filamentous bacterium, Sphaerotilus natans, notoriously known to cause filamentous bulking in wastewater treatment systems. Very similar to previous study, one lytic bacteriophage was isolated from wastewater that could infect S. natans and cause lysis. Significant reduction in sludge volume index and turbidity of the supernatant was observed in batches containing S. natans biomass following addition of lytic phages. Microscopic examination confirmed that the isolated lytic phage can trigger the bacteriolysis of S. natans. This extended finding further strengthens our hypothesis of bacteriophage-based biocontrol of overgrowth of filamentous bacteria and the possibility of phage application in activated sludge processes, the world's widely used wastewater treatment processes.
Avaliação das Propriedades do Ácido Nicotínico no Desempenho e no Balanço Térmico de Frangos de Corte Durante Estresse por Calor

Four doses of nicotinic acid, added in the drinking water of broilers, were offered in order to study its effect on performance and heat production in heat stress conditions (6 h of 35° C). Doses were 15, 100, 330 and 1000 mg/L. There was no effect of dose on weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, water intake and rectal temperature. Slight changes due to the doses of nicotinic acid and heat stress in the blood parameters of the birds were noted. Heat production (kcal/h/metabolic weight) decreased in 100 and 1000 mg/L dose as compared to 15 mg/L dose. There was no benefit using nicotinic acid in those doses in heat stress alleviation.
New trends and opportunities in the development and use of inoculants for silage

Inoculants are used as silage additives to improve preservation efficiency and to enhance animal performance. In most commercially available inoculants, homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been used because they are fast and efficient producers of lactic acid, improving natural silage fermentation. Specific LAB inuculants may also have beneficial effects on animal performance even if there is no effect on fermentation. However, these types of inoculants are not always advantageous. They do not necessarily prevent sermentation by clostridia in moist silages, and they sometimes impair the aerobic stability of grass and small grain silages. Therefore, new criteria for silage inoculants should be established which consider the specific needs of the crop being ensiled. New approaches which are being taken to develop improved inoculants for silage include the following: (1) using LAB isolates which are more specific to the target crops; (2) inclusion of heterofermentative LAB to produce volatile fatty acids to inhibit yeasts and moulds upon aerobic exposure; (3) inclusion of organisms other than LAB in inoculants to inhibit detrimental microorganisms; (4) selection or engineering of LAB strains to inhibit specific microorganisms; and (5) cloning and expression of genes which would enable selected LAB strains to utilize polysaccharides in crops which are low in soluble carbohydrates. Many of these new strategies for formulating inoculants are being tested, but further research is needed to determine the most successful approaches.
JUMPING IN SPRINGTAILS - MECHANISM AND DYNAMICS

An analysis of the mechanism of the jumping organ of the cylindrical springtail Tomocerus longicornis and the globular springtail Dicyrtoma ornata is presented based on morphological examination and high-speed photography. Both species have a click mechanism involving deformation of the abdominal sclerites. Morphological and photographic evidence supports the hypothesis that eversion of the springing organ involves a hydroelastic mechanism based on haemocoel pressurization and increased tension in the abdominal sclerites. A computer model was used to analyse jump kinematics and energetics. This model accounts for the spin observed during jumping and shows how body planform (e.g. cylindrical versus globular) and tail length can influence direction, height, range and rate of spin.
Utilisation of protein by human gut bacteria

Mixed populations of human gut bacteria degraded cas casein by producing a variety of cell-bound and extracellular proteolytic enzymes. Casein was initially hydrolysed to TCA soluble peptides which were subsequently broken down to volatile fatty acids, ammonia, dicarboxylic acids and a range of phenolic compounds. Amino acids did not accumulate to any extent during casein breakdown, suggesting that the rate of peptide hydrolysis was the limiting step in protein utilisation by these bacteria. Similar fermentation products were produced from bovine serum albumin, however, the insoluble protein collagen was considerably more resistant to degradation by the colonic microflora, as evidenced by the reduced quantities of fermentation end-products formed.
Implementation of Genetic Conservation Practices in a Muskellunge Propagation and Stocking Program

Conservation of genetic resources is a challenging issue for agencies managing popular sport fishes. To address the ongoing potential for genetic risks, we developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to conserve genetic diversity of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) in Wisconsin, and evaluated the extent to which the recommendations can be implemented. Although some details are specific to Wisconsin's muskellunge propagation program, many of the practical issues affecting implementation are applicable to other species and production systems. We developed guidelines to restrict future broodstock collection operations to lakes with natural reproduction and to develop a set of brood lakes to use on a rotational basis within regional stock boundaries, but implementation will require considering lakes with variable stocking histories. Maintaining an effective population size sufficient to minimize the risk of losing alleles requires limiting broodstock collection to large lakes. Recommendations to better app.
The Use of Natural Carotenoids and Growth Performance, Skin Pigmentation, and Immune Response in Fancy Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Fancy carp were fed seven dietary treatments with natural pigment sources (tea, mulberry, cassava) at a specific rate to achieve a total carotenoid (TC) concentration in the diet of 25 mg/kg. Growth performance among treatments was not significantly different (p ≥ 0.05). TC and skin redness (a*) of fish fed tea leaves was higher than the other treatments (p ≤ 0.05). Fish fed with tea extract and cassava leaves had higher serum astaxanthin concentrations than the other groups (p ≤ 0.05). This group also retained serum astaxanthin and red color better than other groups two weeks post treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Phagocytic activity was significantly greater in fish fed carotenoid supplements compared with the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Therefore, dietary supplementation with 25 mg/kg tea leaves is sufficient to obtain good coloration in fancy carp as well as enhance immunity.
Involvement of Proteasome-Ubiquitin System in Wound-Signaling in Tobacco Plants

Treatment of wounded tobacco leaves with a protea-some-specific inhibitor lactacystin resulted in; (1) enhanced expression of proteasome subunit genes, (2) suppressed expression of proteasome activity, (3) induced accumulation of Ub-conjugated proteins, and (4) suppressed expression of wound-inducible genes, indicating that the Ub-proteasome system is involved in wound-signaling in plants.
Estrutura e desenvolvimento dos tricomas secretores em folhas de Piper regnellii (Miq.) C. DC. var. regnellii (Piperaceae)

Piper regnellii has two types of trichomes: pearl glands and sac-like trichomes. Both secretory trichomes originate from the protoderm of the leaf primordium and reach maturity in the young leaves found in the shoot apex. The pearl glands are more abundant on the abaxial surface, while the sac-like trichomes cover completely both young leaf blade. The density of both trichomes decreases during blade expansion, being scarce in the adult leaf. The pearl glands are composed of a basal cell and an apical cell whose shape ranges from semi-globular to spatula-like. Secretion release occurs after rupture of the distended cuticle. The sac-like trichomes are composed of a basal cell, 1-2 stalked cells and an apical conical cell parallel to the leaf surface. The secretion is accumulated in minute subcuticular spaces. No cuticular ruptures have been observed.
Morphological sperm abnormalities of different breeds of AI bull and its impact on conception rate of cows in AI programme

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of genetic groups of bulls on morphological characteristics of spermatozoa in relation to conception rate of first inseminated cows. For this purpose, 1390 ejaculates of semen were collected from 71 bull of six genetic groups at Central Cattle Breeding Station and Dairy Farm (CCBSDF), Savar, Dhaka; Rajabarihat Dairy Cattle Improvement Farm (RDCIF), Rajshahi, and District Artificial Insemination Centre, Rajshahi, from January 1997 to March 2002. A total of 20936 cows were inseminated by 40 technicians of different AI Sub-centre or points under the District Artificial Insemination Centre, Rajshahi, and pregnancy was confirmed on rectal palpation at 90 to 120 days after insemination. The average values of total head abnormalities, free loose head, mid-piece, tail abnormalities, proximal and distal cytoplasmic droplets, total tail abnormalities and total sperm abnormalities were 5.45%, 2.44%, 1.19%, 6.19%, 0.74%, 0.57%, 11.16% and 16.38%, respectively. Genetic groups of bull had significant (p Key words: Spermatozoa; abnormalities; bull; genetic group; AI; conception rate doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i2.2555 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (2): 129-135