Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Production of transgenic rice homozygous lines with enhanced resistance to the rice brown planthopper

Mature seed-derived callus from an elite Chinese japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Eyi 105 was co-transformed with two plasmids, pWRG1515 and pRSSGNAI, containing the selectable marker hygromycin phosphotransferase gene (hpt), the reporter β-glucuronidase gene (gusA) and the snow-drop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin gene (gna) via particle bombardment. After two rounds of selection on hygromycin-containing medium, resistant callus was transferred to hygromycin-containing regeneration medium for plant regeneration. Twenty-six independent transgenic rice plants were regenerated from 152 bombarded calli with a transformation frequency of 17%. Seventy-three percent of transgenic plants contained all three genes, which was revealed by PCR/Southern blot analysis Thirteen out of 19 transgenic plants containing the gna gene expressed GNA (68%) at various levels with the highest expression being approximately 0.5% of total soluble protein. Genetic analysis confirmed Mendelian segregation of transgenes in progeny. From R2 generations with their R1 parent plants showing 3:1 Mendelian segregation patterns, we identified three independent homozygous lines containing and expressing all three transgenes. Insect bioassay and feeding tests showed that these homozygous lines had significant inhibition to the rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH) by decreasing BPH survival and overall fecundity, retarding BPH development and reducing BPH feeding. This is the first report that homozygous transgenic rice lines expressing GNA, developed by genetic transformation and through genetic analysis-based selection, conferred enhanced resistance to BPH, one of the most damaging insect pests in rice.
Energia metabolizável de alimentos na formulação de ração para frangos de corte

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using the metabolizable energy (ME) of feeds, determined by different methods, on diet formulation for broilers. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with four treatments, which consisted in formulating diets using: apparent ME corrected by nitrogen and formulation using apparent ME of feeds, both determined by total excreta collection method with chicks; apparent ME corrected by nitrogen, determined by total excreta collection method with roosters; and true ME corrected by nitrogen of feeds, determined by forced feeding method with roosters. In the initial phase, the higher feed intake, body weight gain, and better feed conversion were obtained from diet based on apparent ME corrected by nitrogen (chicks). During the final phase, birds fed with diet based on true ME, corrected by nitrogen (roosters), showed higher body weight gain and feed conversion. From 1 to 49 days, birds fed according to apparent ME corrected by nitrogen (chicks) showed better performance. The treatments did not affect carcass characteristics. In diet formulation from 1 to 21 days, the apparent ME corrected by nitrogen (chicks) should be considered, and after this age, it is recommended to formulate diets based on apparent ME corrected by nitrogen (roosters) or true ME corrected by nitrogen (roosters).
Human Adult Odontometrics: The Study of Variation in Adult Tooth Size

Foreword Phillip Tobias Preface Introduction 1. Measurement of tooth size 2. Comparative odontometry 3. Odontometric trends 4. Sexual dimorphism in tooth size 5. Odontometric variability 6. Compensatory tooth size interactions 7. Fluctuating odontometric asymmetry 8. Allometric relations of tooth size 9. Odontometric appendix References Index.
Estimation of stem volume using laser scanning-based canopy height metrics

The aim of this study was to test different stem volume predictors that are capable of utilizing laser scanning-based canopy height metrics as independent variables. The three laser scanning-based methods compared were (1) a direct prediction model for the stem volume at plot level, (2) a volume prediction system based on the modelled percentiles of the basal area diameter distribution, and (3) a parameter prediction method used to determinate Weibull-based basal area diameter distributions for the plot-level stem volume prediction. The predicted volumes were also compared with field-measured volumes obtained with the Finnish conventional inventory by compartments. The best results were obtained with the first method, i.e. the model that predicts plot-level stem volumes directly, which is logical. Furthermore, the simulated reduction of point density of laser data had no effect on the accuracy of stem volume predictions. The percentile-based modelling of diameter distributions was applied, in particular, to the determination of non-homogenous stand structure; using this method, it is even possible to fit multimodal distributions. In terms of the accuracy of the predicted plot-level stem volumes, the volume prediction method based on modelled percentiles of basal area diameter distributions was the second best, whereas the volume prediction method based on the parameter prediction of the Weibull-based basal area diameter distributions resulted in slightly worse results. However, the accuracies of the three laser-based volume prediction methods tested were superior to the published results of spectral value-based remote sensing studies implemented using data collected from Finland. Furthermore, the accuracy of plot-level stem volume estimates calculated from field assessments was considerably weaker than the accuracy of the three volume prediction methods that utilized measures obtained with laser scanning.
Binding of Vigna unguiculata vicilins to the peritrophic membrane of Tenebrio molitor affects larval development

We investigated the effects of vicilins (7S storage proteins) from Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabaceae), cultivars EPACE‐10 [genotype susceptible to the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius)] and IT81D‐1045 [cowpea weevil‐resistant genotype], seeds on Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larval development. Toxicity of vicilins was investigated through the incorporation of these proteins in artificial diet offered to the larvae. Binding tests of vicilins to the peritrophic membranes (PM) were carried out by in vitro incubation of PM with solutions of vicilins. Bound proteins were desorbed from PM with 100 mm HCl. Desorbed vicilins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoprobing on Western blotting using an anti‐vicilin cv. EPACE‐10 antibody. The chitin content of the T. molitor PM was evaluated by the Von Wisselingh color test and presence of chitin in the larval PM was confirmed. Bioassays showed that both vicilins from EPACE‐10 and IT81D‐1045 genotypes were toxic to T. molitor larvae, and in vitro binding assays showed that these seed‐storage proteins were capable of binding to the larval PM.
Antibacterial and antifungal activity in three species of Siphonaria (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) collected from rocky ledge of Mubarak Village, Karachi.

In the present study hexane, chloroform, methanol, distilled water, hexane:chloroform, chloroform:methanol and methanol:distilled water extracts of three species of Siphonaria, S. ashgar, S. belcheri and S. kurracheensis were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activity. The extracts were obtained from the whole body tissue and tested against bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. Pure methanol and chloroform:methanol were the best solvents for extracting antibacterial compounds from Siphonaria species, whereas, pure hexane was the weakest solvent for the extraction. The extracts of S. ashgar showed antibacterial activity against five pathogenic bacteria, whereas, the extracts of S. belcheri and S. kurracheensis against two and three pathogenic bacteria, respectively. The only pathogenic bacterium found resistant to the Siphonaria extracts was Bacillus subtilis. The extracts of Siphonaria species showed no antifungal activity against Candida albicans, C. glabrata, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum canis and Fusarium solani.
Aspects of the phosphorus nutrition of white clover populations II. Root exocellular acid phosphatase activity

Abstract The effect of phosphorus (P) level, solution pH, aluminium (Al) level on root exocellular acid phosphatase activity of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) populations was investigated in three experiments. Lotus pedunculatus Cav. cv. Maku was also included in one experiment. Phosphatase activity increased with decreasing P and increasing Al supply, but was unaffected by the solution pH at which populations had been grown. There was usually a significant negative correlation between acid phosphatase activity and parameters measuring plant size, for plants grown at adequate P levels, but in only one of the three experiments were there significant differences between white clover populations for phosphatase activity. There was no clear correlation between the acid phosphatase activity of populations and the P status of soil from which they were collected. We conclude that root exocellular acid phosphatase activity is unlikely to be a useful character in screening for tolerance of low‐P conditions.
Resistance to aphids in immature wheat and barley

SUMMARY Resistance to Sitobion avenue and Metopolophium dirhodum was assessed in the glasshouse by releasing immature aphids on uncovered wheat and barley plants at the tillering stage. Six cultivars of winter wheat were tested with S. avenue and of these cv. Kador was resistant and cv. Maris Huntsman susceptible. Among seven cultivars of barley, cv. CI16145 was more resistant to S. avenue than any other whilst cvs Tyra and Nirakei 10 were the most susceptible, but the cultivars did not differ significantly in the numbers of M. dirhodum on them, although there were ranking differences similar to those observed with S. avenue.
Quantifying importance of marine prey in the diets of two partially anadromous fishes

The importance of marine prey sources for partially anadromous fishes has received little study and is complicated by considerable plasticity in life history. We determined proportional contributions of marine, freshwater benthic, and freshwater pelagic prey to anadromous and resident Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from several partially anadromous populations in the Canadian Arctic. Bayesian mixing models (MixSIR) applied to δ34S and δ13C ratios in lake-specific models indicated that marine prey accounted for 90%–91% of anadromous Arctic char diet and 60%–66% of anadromous lake trout diet. When these estimates were combined with proportion of anadromous individuals in partially anadromous populations, marine food sources accounted for 31%–44% of Arctic char population productivity and 16%–26% of lake trout population productivity. Although future research is needed to refine and quantify variability around these estimates, our results will allow better predictions .
The Natural History of Inbreeding and Outbreeding: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives

Inbreeding, the mating of close kin, and outbreeding, the mating of distant relatives or unrelated organisms, have long been important subjects to evolutionary biologists. Inbreeding reduces genetic diversity in a population, increasing the likelihood that genetic defects will become widespread and deprive a population of the diversity it may need to cope with its environment. Most plants and animals have evolved behavioral and morphological mechanisms to avoid inbreeding. However, today many endangered species exist only in small, very isolated populations where inbreeding is unavoidable, so it has become a concern for conservationists. In this volume, twenty-six experts in evolution, behavior, and genetics examine the causes and consequences of inbreeding. The authors ask whether inbreeding is as problematic as biologists have thought, under what ecological conditions inbreeding occurs, and whether organisms that inbreed have mechanisms to dampen the anticipated problems of reduced genetic variation. The studies, including theoretical and empirical work on wild and captive populations, demonstrate that many plants and animals inbreed to a greater extent than biologists have thought, with variable effects on individual fitness. Graduate students and researchers in evolutionary biology, animal behavior, ecology, and conservation biology will welcome this wide-ranging collection.
Synthesis of condensed tannins. Part 9. The condensation sequence of leucocyanidin with (+)-catechin and with the resultant procyanidins

Molar equivalents of synthetic (2R,3S,4R or S)-leucocyanidin and (+)-catechin condense with exceptional rapidity at pH 5 under ambient conditions to give the all-trans-[4,8]- and [4,6]-bi-[(+)-catechins](procyanidins B3, B6) the all-trans-[4,8:4,8]- and [4,8:4,6]-tri-[(+)-catechins](procyanidin C2, and novel isomer), and the presumed all-trans-[4,8]-linked tetraflavanoid analogue in the proportions 10:1:12:1:3. The facility and sequence of these condensations correlate with the observed absence of leucocyanidins (flavan-3,3′,4,4′,5,7-hexaols) and also the dominance of related condensed tannins in plant extracts.
Insectos asociados con flores de malezas del Jardín Botánico de Santiago de Cuba, con énfasis en Hymenoptera

The insect visitors of flowers in nine weeds species were studied in the Botanical Garden of Santiago de Cuba, Eastern Cuba, during 1993 (March – June, spring season) and 1994 (January – March, end of winter and beginning of spring season). About 50 hours of collecting efforts were made at three times (0900-0930 hr in 1993; 0900-0930 hr, 1200-1230 hr and 1500-1530 hr in 1994). More than 140 species of at least 37 families were found; Hymenoptera dominated (with more than a half of specimens), followed by Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Among Hymenoptera, bees (Apoidea) were the largest group, especially Apis mellifera L; followed by wasps (Vespidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidae) and ichneumon flies (Ichneumonidae); Microhymenopterans were not sampled. Hymenopterans of each weed were compared for diversity, similarity, dominant and subdominant species, visitation time, sampling efficiency, etc. Each plant species had a particular Hymenoptera complex, almost one third of which were natural enemies of agricultural pests, and most are believed to be potential pollinators. Closely related species showed similar patterns of daily activity, with a peak at 0900 – 0930 hr for all plant species. Second grade polynomial equations were the best fitted models to describe the relationships between number of species and number of specimens, and between total number of species and number of samples (R2 = 0.9734 and R2 = 0.9573, p < 0.01). The role of weeds in the biodiversity of the agroecosystems is analyzed; as well as the effectiveness of this collection method to study Hymenoptera.
Improving Nitrogen‐Use Efficiency in European Maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars with improved N-use efficiency would be beneficial for low-input production systems. Our objective was to estimate quantitative genetic parameters to optimize breeding programs for improving productivity under low N levels. Results of 21 field experiments with European breeding materials belonging to the flint and dent gene pool are presented. The study was performed during 1989 and 1999 at several locations in typical maize growing regions of Germany and France. All experiments were conducted at high (HN) and low (LN, no N fertilizer applied) N levels. Average grain yield was reduced by 37% at LN compared with HN. Coefficients of genotypic correlation between HN and LN were variable with an average of r G = 0.74 for grain yield and generally high for grain dry matter content. For grain yield, analyses of variance were computed from relative data, where plot values were expressed as percentage of the trial mean. Variances caused by genotype (G), G x location (L) interaction, and error effects were higher at LN compared with HN, with similar heritabilities at both N levels. For the untransformed data, components of variance were higher at HN than at LN. Genotype x N as well as G x L x N level interaction variances were significant in most experiments. Efficiency of improvement of grain yield at LN through indirect selection at HN was 70% compared with direct selection at LN. A trend toward increased efficiency of direct selection under LN conditions was evident with decreasing grain yield at LN.
Storage protein gene expression in zygotic and somatic embryos of interior spruce

Storage protein gene expression was compared between zygotic and somatic embryos of interior spruce (Picea glauca/engelmanii complex). Somatic embryos, grown on medium containing 40 μM or 10 μM abscisic acid (ABA), and zygotic embryos accumulated IIS legumin, 7S vicilin and 2S albumin storage proteins. Zygotic embryos displayed a rapid, transient period of storage protein accumulation, while somatic embryos differentiated on 40 μM ABA displayed a more prolonged, gradual accumulation, with some accumulation still evident after 9 weeks of maturation. Somatic embryos on 10 μM ABA accumulated storage proteins initially, but these were rapidly degraded as the embryos germinated precociously. Legumin, albumin and vicilin transcripts were detectable in torpedo stage zygotic and somatic embryos, and increased during embryo development. Transcript levels in zygotic embryos increased during cotyledon development, but following maximum dry weight accumulation and moisture loss, transcripts declined rapidly to low levels. In contrast, somatic embryos on 40 μM ABA had high transcript levels for a prolonged period. These levels were still present after 9 weeks of maturation. A decline in storage protein transcripts similar to zygotic embryos was apparent following a mild drying treatment. These results suggest that a decline in storage protein transcripts is stimulated by embryo drying during the later stages of conifer embryogenesis. Low levels of storage protein transcripts also appeared in somatic embryos on 10 μM ABA, but declined during precocious germination. Osmotic stress induced storage protein and storage protein transcript accumulation. This could be partially inhibited by inclusion of the ABA biosynthetic inhibitor, fluridone. However, endogenous ABA levels did not differ significantly between embryos cultured in the presence or absence of fluridone.
Systems Biology: At Last an Integrative Wet and Dry Biology!

The progress of the molecular biosciences has been so enormous that a discipline studying how cellular functioning emerges out of the behaviors of their molecular constituents has become reality. Systems biology studies cells as spatiotemporal networks of interacting molecules using an integrative approach of theory (mathematics, physics, engineering), experimental biology (genetics, molecular biology, physiology), and quantitative network-wide analytical measurement (analytical biochemistry, imaging). Its aim is to understand how molecules jointly bring about life. Systems biology is rapidly discovering principles governing the functioning of molecular networks and methods to model and measure them. The application of the conceptual strength of systems sciences such as physics and engineering are opening up new ways of experimentally studying the design and functioning of molecular networks. Typically, in such studies models are used to highlight principles, design experiments, or to act in a predictive mode to specifically modify cellular behavior. In this trend article, theoretical approaches being applied in systems biology will be discussed. A number of books have recently appeared that deal with theoretical aspects of systems biology. In this article they are highlighted to facilitate the communication of systems biology to a broader audience.
Comparação entre as técnicas de imunofluorescencia indireta e PCR Multiplex para detecção de vírus respiratórios

Respiratory viruses are the main etiological agents of respiratory infections outbreaks that attack all the age groups. In this way, a surveillance epidemiological system must be effectively for the respiratory syndromes monitoring and the laboratory diagnostic is important in order to identify the etiological agent. The objective of this study was to compare the methodologies and the results obtained by the techniques of indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) and kit Virus Panel IFA (Biotrin, Dublin, Ireland) and PCR multiplex with the kit RV12 ACE Detection (Seegene, Seoul, South Korea) in the samples of nasopharingeal aspirate (ANF) received in the Lacen/PR of the Surveillance of Influenza virus of the Health Ministry (SIVEP-Gripe) in the year of 2011. 295 samples of ANF were received in the Lacen/PR, 286 samples were analysed by IFI and 284 samples by PCR. The IFI determined in 4 hours the results of 7 viruses (AdV, FLU A, FLU B, PIV 1, PIV 2, PIV 3 and RSV) and the PCR determined in 6 hours the results of 12 respiratory viruses (AdV, FLU A, FLU B, PIV 1, PIV 2, PIV 3, RSV A, RSV B, hRV A/B, hMPV, hCoV 229E, NL63, HKU1 and OC43). The IFI detected virus in 24 % of the samples whereas the methodology of PCR in 48 % of the samples. The comparison of the results of both methodologies showed agreement of 98 %. The method of PCR appeared more sensitive than the technique of IFI. The methodology of PCR showed benefits for the monitoring of respiratory viruses for SIVEP Gripe, for the easy interpretation of the results and the possibility of investigate more respiratory viruses than IFI. Descriptors: respiratory virus; laboratory diagnostic; polymerase chain reaction; indirect immunofluorescence.
Aspen lichens in agricultural and forest landscapes: the importance of habitat quality

The amount of aspen Populus tremula, has declined in the boreal forest landscape. This decline is especially marked in young and intermediate stands due to the lack of regeneration. Aspen regeneration is nowadays mainly restricted to abandoned agricultural land. The decrease of aspen is of particular concern as it has more hostspecific species than any other boreal tree species. The main question addressed is whether regenerating aspen stands in agricultural habitats can compensate for the deficiency of young stands in the forest. Data on epiphytic macrolichens show that cyanolichens increased, in number and frequency, with stand age in the forest landscape, and that there was a striking difference in species composition between stands in the two landscapes. Lichens with cyanobacterial and green-algal photobionts dominated in the forest and agricultural stands, respectively. Notably, cyanolichens were not found in stands younger than 50 yr in the forest, and stands younger than 100 yr in the agricultural landscape. This difference between the landscapes cannot be explained by stand age, stand size or isolation. Instead, differences in habitat quality, due to differences in the physical environment associated with the presence of conifers in the older forest stands, appear to be involved. We suggest that in order to conserve cyanolichens that are confined to aspen, active management practices have to be adopted that promote the regeneration of aspen in the forest landscape, and the establishment of conifers in areas where aspen regeneration is confined to the agricultural landscape. In addition, until new aspen stands with appropriate physical environments have been established, these measures must be combined with the preservation of existing old-growth stands, which can provide appropriate source populations.