Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mixed Infection of Two Begomoviruses in Malvastrum coromandelianum in Fujian, China

Virus isolates were obtained from three Malvastrum coromandelianum plants showing vein thickening symptoms in Fujian Province, China. A fragment of approximately 500 bp was amplified from all the samples by PCR using the special degenerate primer pair PA/PB for begomoviruses. Sequence differences among the partial DNA-A fragments revealed that all three samples contained two virus isolates. Isolate I and isolate II share the highest nucleotide sequence identity (98-99%), respectively, with Malvastrum leaf curl Guangdong virus (MLCuGdV) and Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV). The complete nucleotide sequences of Fsl and Fs2 isolates representing each virus were determined to be 2741 and 2756 nucleotides, respectively. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that the complete DNA-A sequences of Fsl and Fs2 were most closely to those of MLCuGdV (AM503104) and AYVV (AB100305), with 90.4% and 93.3% nucleotide sequence identity, respectively. Fsl and Fs2 are considered therefore to be isolates of MLCuGdV and AYVV, respectively. This is the first report of AYVV in M. coromandelianum.
Comparison of growth performance, carcass yield and composition, and fatty acid profiles of Pekin and Muscovy ducklings fed diets based on food wastes

Pekin and Muscovy male ducklings were raised on diets based on food wastes. Three feeding systems were offered: commercial pellets (control), partial food waste (PFW) and 100% food waste (FW). For the starting, growing and finishing periods, respectively, the control system provided 25, 23 and 21% crude protein (CP) on a dry matter (DM) basis. The two experimental systems each had a dry pelleted diet and a wet mash diet offered free choice. The PFW system had two rations for the dry diet containing 23 and 22% CP for the starting and growing–finishing periods, respectively, whereas the wet diet had a single ration with 17% CP on a DM basis. The FW also had two forms of diets: dry pellets (18% CP) and wet mash (20% CP). The PFW ducks had higher (P < 0.05) body weights than those of the control system. Both breeds consumed less feed of PFW and FW than those on the control. Feed efficiency was significantly improved for PFW and FW relative to control for both breeds. The birds fed food waste diets consumed hi.
DiCE: dichoptic contrast enhancement for binocular displays

In stereoscopic displays, such as those used in VR/AR headsets, our two eyes are presented with different views. The disparity between the views is typically used to convey depth cues, but it could be used for other purposes. We devise a novel technique that takes advantage of binocular fusion to boost perceived local contrast and visual quality of images. Since the technique is based on fixed tone-curves, it has negligible computational cost and it is well suited for real-time applications, such as VR rendering. To control the trade-off between the level of enhancement and binocular rivalry, we conduct a series of experiments that lead to a new finding, explaining the factors that dominate the rivalry perception in a dichoptic presentation where two images of different contrasts are displayed. With this new inding, we demonstrate that the enhancement can be quantitatively measured and binocular rivalry is well controlled.
Phenotypes of Phytophthora infestans collected in England and Wales from 1985 to 1988: mating type, response to metalaxyl and isoenzyme analysis

In a survey of 1864 isolates derived from samples of Phytophthora infestans obtained from potato and tomato collected in England and Wales between 1985 and 1988, the A2 mating type was identified in approximately 10% of samples. There was no evidence for an overall increase in the frequency of the A2 mating type over this period. In agar culture, A2 isolates exhibited a distinct lumpy-colony morphology. Lumps were made up of intensely dichotomously branched hyphae. The incidence of resistance to metalaxyl among samples increased from 41 to 60% between 1986 and 1988. Some of the A2 isolates were resistant to metalaxyl and like other A2 isolates gave rise to progeny from in vitro matings with Al isolates. Except in one case, Al and A2 isolates were uniformly homozygous at an isoenzyme locus for glucosephosphate isomerase but isolates exhibited some variation at a peptidase locus. The source of the A2 isolates could not be established from these data.
Estimation of daily urinary potassium excretion using urinary creatinine as an index substance in prepartum dairy cows

In the present study, the daily excretion of potassium (K) in urine (urinary K(UK)) was estimated from a 6 h urine sample using urinary creatinine (UC) as the index substance. All urine was collected from six pregnant Holstein cows at 6 h intervals for 24 h on 3 days of the 4th, 2nd and final week before the expected date of parturition. In total, 72 6 h urine samples were obtained. Daily UC excretion (mg/day per kg bodyweight (BW)) was almost the same for the three sampling days. Daily UC excretion varied among cows from 22.1 to 24.3 mg/day per kg BW with a mean of 22.8 mg/day per kg BW with no significant difference. Thus, daily UC excretion was confirmed to be constant throughout the prepartum period with no differences among individuals. The concentration ratios of K to creatinine ((UK mg/dL)/(UC mg/dL) (UK/UC)) correlated strongly to the hourly K excretions (mg/h per kg BW) (r = 0.952, P < 0.01) in the 6 h urine samples. The differences in the UK/UC ratio between sampling periods were not significant within each cow. Therefore, daily UK excretion (mg/day) can be estimated using the equation: daily UK excretion (mg/day) = daily UC excretion (mg/day per kg BW) × BW (kg) × 6 h urine sample UK/UC, where daily UC excretion can be a given value.
Reproductive biology and distribution of Syngnathus temminckii and S. watermeyeri (Pisces: Syngnathidae) in southern Africa

The reproductive biology and distribution of two species of Syngnathus (S. temminckii and S. watermeyeri) were investigated using information from museum specimens, published data, survey data and samples collected during mouth-breaching events of temporarily open/closed estuaries over the period 1950–2011. Distribution records indicate that the two species are restricted to specific habitats and bioregions in southern Africa. Although S. temminckii has marine and estuarine populations, the species is most prevalent in warm and cool temperate estuarine systems. Syngnathus watermeyeri has limited dispersal capabilities owing to life-history characteristics and is completely dependent on shallow vegetated habitat in mesosaline estuarine systems in the warm temperate region, where it co-occurs with S. temminckii. The presence of breeding individuals and juveniles indicated that the spawning period of both species occurs in spring and summer, coinciding with warmer water temperatures and enhanced food resources, with reproductive activity of S. temminckii peaking in November. The estimated lengths (standard length) at 50% maturity of males and females of S. temminckii (129 and 120 mm respectively), were larger than those of S. watermeyeri (118 and 102 mm) and similar to those for other syngnathids. Although the observed sex ratios for S. temminckii (0.5:1.0, M:F) and S. watermeyeri (0.7:1.0), were biased towards females and similar to those observed among congeners, only S. temminckii was significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio. The mean number of mature oocytes in the females (n = 379; 95% CI = 244–658) of S. temminckii was not significantly different from the mean number of eggs/embryos in the male brood pouch (n = 451; 95% CI = 270–486). The relationship between carrying capacity and size was linear and positively correlated, implying that fecundity, and hence reproductive efficiency, increases with the size of the individual. Comparative analyses indicated that these species have different life-history strategies and dispersal capabilities. However, they are both highly vulnerable as a result of anthropogenic threats to the unstable estuarine environment.
Ruminal pH and whole-tract digestibility in dairy cows consuming fresh cut herbage plus concentrates and conserved forage fed either separately or as a partial mixed ration

The objective of this experiment was to compare ruminal pH and whole-tract digestibility in cows consuming fresh cut herbage plus concentrates and silage or hay fed either separately or as a partial mixed ration (PMR). Fourteen rumen-fistulated Holstein-Friesian cows that had calved in late winter were housed in metabolism stalls for 9-day experiments in spring (97 days in milk (DIM)) and autumn (237 DIM). All cows were offered 8 kg dry matter (DM)/day of fresh cut perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) herbage, provided in two equal portions after each milking. Seven cows were assigned to each of two diets: (i) Control: 8.8 kg DM/cow.day milled wheat grain in two equal portions at milking, plus 3.2 kg DM/cow.day perennial ryegrass silage, with all cows receiving the silage portion of their diet after their grain but before their fresh herbage at the afternoon milking; and (ii) PMR: 12 kg DM/cow.day of a PMR containing similar ME as the Control supplements, but comprising maize grain, maize silage, wheat grain, lucerne hay (spring) and pasture silage (autumn). Intake and faecal output was measured on 5 days during each experiment, and ruminal pH was measured every 2 h for a 24-h period. Degradability of wheat and maize grain was measured using standard in sacco techniques. In both experiments, cows fed PMR had higher ruminal fluid pH than Control cows for at least part of the day. Apparent whole-tract digestibilities of DM, organic matter, nitrogen, neutral detergent fibre and starch were greater for Control than PMR cows in spring and not different in autumn (except starch). Ruminal pH was increased by feeding a maize-based PMR but this was not associated with increased whole-tract digestibility. We conclude that the ruminal pH in the Control cows was not low enough for long enough to compromise digestion, or that there was compensatory post-ruminal digestion.
Aromatic hydrocarbon‐degrading bacteria in the petroleum‐rich sediments of the guaymas basin hydrothermal vent site: Preference for aromatic carboxylic acids

Abstract Hydrocarbon‐degrading bacteria in freshly collected petroleum‐rich Guaymas Basin sediments were enumerated on mineral base media separately containing naphthalene, biphenyl, or the aromatic carboxylic acids benzoate, p‐hydroxy‐benzoate, mandelate, salicylate, phenylacetate, phthalate, or hydrocinnamate. The total numbers of bacteria were about 2 orders of magnitude higher on the carboxylic acid media than on the two aromatic hydrocarbons, averaging 105 versus 103 bacteria per gram of sediment. Of 151 isolates of aerobic, mesophilic marine bacteria, 124 grew exclusively on one or more of the aromatic carboxylic acids. The remaining 27 isolates used either naphthalene, biphenyl, dibenzofuran, toluene, or phenanthrene and various combinations of aromatic carboxylic acids. A similarity analysis of 135 of the isolates on the basis of substrate use, sodium chloride requirement, and growth on complex organic marine media identified 91 metabolically different bacterial strains: 21 belonging to the group .
In Vitro Replication of Nosema algerae (Microsporidia), a Parasite of Anopheline Mosquitoes, in Human Cells above 36° C

Microsporidia form a large and ubiquitous group of obligately intracellular parasitic eukaryotes, increasingly recognized as pathogens in humans. Transmission of invertebrate microsporidia to mammals has been considered impossible because temperature seemed to be a limiting factor for development. Nosema algerae, a microsporidian of anopheline mosquitoes, was cultured in human muscle fibroblasts at temperatures of 31° C and 38° C. This is the first record of an invertebrate microsporidian developing in human cells at a temperature above 36° C. The ultrastructure of N. algerue growing in human muscle fibroblasts is similar to that of Bruchiola vesicularum, a microsporidian species previously described in the muscle of an AIDS patient.
Germination ecophysiology of the woodland herb Osmorhiza longistylis (Umbelliferae)

Osmorhiza longistylis is an herbaceous perennial that grows in woodlands of eastern and central North America. In northcentral Kentucky seeds ripen in early to mid July, and dispersal begins in September and October. Although most ofthe seeds are shed during late autumn and winter, some remain on the dead shoots for up to 18 months. Seeds are dormant at maturity due to an underdeveloped embryo. Embryos grew at low (5 C) temperatures, but only after seeds were given a period of warm (30/15 C) stratification. With an increase in the length of the warm treatment, there was an increase in the number of embryos that grew to full length during a 12-wk period at 5 C and an increase in the percentage of seeds that germinated. Seeds given 12 wk of warm stratification required more than 8 wk at 5 C to overcome dormancy. Embryos in freshly-matured seeds averaged 0.60 mm long, but those in seeds given 12 wk warm plus 12 wk cold stratification averaged 8.86 mm. Lengths of embryos of seeds kept moist at 30/15 and 5 C for 24 wk averaged 0.63 and 0.89 mm, respectively. Regardless of age and dispersal time, imbibed seeds must be exposed to high (i.e., summer or autumn) and then to low (i.e., winter) temperatures before they will germinate. Consequently, germination occurs only in spring.
Insetos galhadores associados a duas espécies de plantas invasoras de áreas urbanas e peri-urbanas

Insects have been considered as important bioindicators of environmental changes and habitat quality. In spite of its sessile habit, easy localization, abundance and host specificity, insects that induce galls have not been utilized in studies of this nature. It was investigated the suitability of gall-inducing insects associated to two ruderal host plant species (Baccharis dracunculifolia and Vernonia polyanthes: Asteraceae) as bioindicators of habitat quality. The following questions were addressed: (i) is gall-inducing insect diversity influenced by different types of land use? ; (ii) are the responses of galling insect communities different between host plants? ; (iii) how does the biotic and physical features of the biotope influence the gall-inducing insect diversity? It was found 6,226 galls, belonging to six galling insect species on V. polyanthes and 11 galling species on B. dracunculifolia. No difference was found in galling species richness among land use types. Nevertheless, gall-forming insect abundance was statistically different among the biotopes studied. Insect galls were more numerous in biotopes with lower urbanization levels. Gall abundance showed a strong and positive relationship with the percentage of vegetal cover. Gall-forming insect communities on both host species showed differential responses to the different land use types. The results suggest that three factors may be involved with galling insect diversity in urban areas: (i) habitat structure in the biotope; (ii) resource abundance (host plant abundance and distribution); and (iii) frequency and intensity of management in reserves, parks, city squares, wastelands found at a given urban area.
Determinação de idades e crescimento do linguado branco Paralichthys patagonicus (Jordan, 1889) no sul do Brasil

A idade e o crescimento do linguado-branco Paralichthys patagonicus (Jordan, 1889) foram estudados a partir de amostras obtidas da pesca comercial no sul do Brasil entre 1989 e 1991. As idades foram determinadas sobre cortes transversais de otolitos de 460 exemplares. A analise do tipo de bordo e dos incrementos marginais dos otolitos mostrou que, a cada ano ocorre a formacao de uma zona translucida e uma zona opaca nos otolitos. As "remeas atingem maiores tamanhos e idades (630 mm, 13 anos) do que os machos (527 mm, 11 anos). Os parâmetros da equacao de von Bertalanffy que representaram o crescimento em comprimento total das remeas foram: CT∞,= 623,0 mm, K= 0,279 e to= -0,243 anos; dos machos: CT∞,= 534,1 mm, K= 0,214 e to = -1,589 anos e dos sexos agrupados: CT∞, = 609,1 mm, K = 0,255 to = - 0,462 anos. Os incrementos anuais em peso por idades aumentam ate o final do quarto ano de vida quando a maioria ja atingiu a primeira maturacao sexual e ambos sexos alcancaram cerca de 30% do peso e 70% do comprimento assintoticos. Esta especie e susceptivel a sobrepesca de crescimento porque o redirecionamento do metabolismo do crescimento somatico para a reproducao e gradativo e o potencial de crescimento apos a maturacao sexual e relativamente alto.
Movement of tagged juvenile tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix) in Moreton Bay, Queensland

Large quantities of tailor, Pomatomus saltatrix, are caught by recreational and commercial fishers in coastal waters off New South Wales and Queensland. Juvenile tailor were subject to increasing fishing mortality in Moreton Bay (Queensland) in the mid 1980s. A tagging programme, involving State Government fisheries biologists and amateur fishing clubs, was established in 1986 to examine the movement, growth rate and fisheries exploitation of juvenile tailor (<270 mm fork length) in Moreton Bay. Of 2173 juvenile tailor tagged in Moreton Bay during February-July and December 1987, 237 were recaptured over a period of 30 months, representing a recapture rate of 11%. This was a high recapture rate compared with those in similar finfish tagging studies carried out in Moreton Bay. The recaptured fish moved relatively short distances (mean plus or minus s.d., 10.2 plus or minus 15.0 km; maximum distance, 85 km). Growth data were unreliable. Estuaries such as Moreton Bay function as nursery areas for tailor prior to their movement onto open surf beaches as adult fish. A legal minimum length for tailor was introduced on the basis of this study.
NOTES ON SEED-BORNE FUNGI: II. ALTERNARIA

Seven species of Alternaria, of which six are definitely pathogenic, have been isolated from agricultural seeds. Cruciferous plants are attacked by three distinct species; A. Brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. , A. oleracea Milbr. , and A. Raphani n. sp. The latter has been isolated only from radish seeds. Two species occur on carrots, A. Dauci (Kuhn) n. comb. , and A. radicina Meier, Drechsler, and Eddy. A species close to A. Dauci has been isolated from flax and is described as A. linicola n. sp. The name A. tenuis auct. is used to include the generally saprophytic forms that have been isolated from seeds of a wide variety of plants. They exhibit many variations in cultural characters, spore markings, etc., but all have spores falling within the range 20–50 × 10–16 μ.
Compartmentation of Zinc in Roots and Leaves of the Zinc Hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens J & C Presl

Thlaspi caerulescens is a metallophyte that is able to hyperaccumulate Zn. In the present study the subcellular compartmentation of Zn was investigated in roots and leaves of this species by means of X-ray microanalysis. Leaves accumulated higher average Zn concentrations than roots. In roots of plants exposed to 10 μM Zn, Zn concentrations in the apoplast were similar to those in vacuoles, while in plants treated with 100 μM Zn considerably higher Zn concentrations were detected in vacuoles than in the apoplast. In epidermal and sub-epidermal cells of leaves of plants from both treatments, Zn mainly accumulated in vacuoles and, to a lesser extent, in the apoplast. In vacuoles from plants exposed to 100 μM Zn, high Zn concentrations were associated with variable amounts of P, Ca and K. In leaves, the highest Zn concentrations (13,600 μg g−1 d.m.) were found in globular crystals present in many vacuoles of epidermal and subepidermal cells. Smaller deposits with a variable Zn concentration between 1,000 and 18,300 μg g−1 d.m. were observed in the epidermal and subepidermal cells of roots. Both the high Zn/P element ratios found in the crystals and the absence of Mg indicate that, in contrast to other plant species, myo-inositol hexaphosphate (phytate) is not the main storage form for Zn in Thlaspi caerulescens.
Elastic structures in the back and their rôle in galloping in some mammals

A study of Fallow deer (Dma dama) and Domestic dog (Canis familiaris) leads to identification of an aponeurosis in the back as an important elastic strain energy store in galloping. Kinetic energy lost by the body, as the forelegs end their backward swing and the hind legs end their forward swing, is stored briefly as elastic strain energy, and recovered in an elastic recoil. Thus energy is saved, making galloping the most economical gait for high speeds. Some strain energy is also stored in muscle fibres and in the vertebral column. Mechanical tests on the aponeurosis and vertebrae lead to estimates of the quantities of energy involved.
An Integrated Case Study for Evaluating the Impacts of an Oil Refinery Effluent on Aquatic Biota in the Delaware River: Sediment Core Studies

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if historical exceedences of oil and grease concentrations above the limits allowed in the National Pollution Elimination Discharge System permit for the wastewater treatment facility of Motiva Enterprises LLC Refinery, Delaware City, Delaware, could be determined from the sedimentary records of the Delaware River and, if so, (2) were the concentrations of contaminants high enough to be toxic to aquatic biota. Eighty-four surficial sediment samples, both within and outside the influence of the Refinery's discharge plume, were initially evaluated for their appropriateness for coring. Seven stations were ultimately selected for the historical core studies. Based on sediment type, radionuclide (Pb-210, Cs-137 and Be-7) geochronologies, and proximity of the cores to the Refinery, two cores were selected for more detailed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analyses. The rapid accumulation area of one core (located in the near-field of the discharge plume) had maximum total PAH (TPAH) concentration peaks at depths of 4 cm (1997; 3100 ng/g dw) and at 8.5–9 cm (1993; 3200 ng/g dw); the second core (located on the far-field periphery of the plume) had a maximum TPAH peak at 6.5 cm (1997; 3200 ng/g dw). In all cases, the maximum TPAH concentrations were below NOAA's Effects Range-Low concentration of 4022 ng/g dw for sediment biota toxicity. A chemical fingerprinting analysis of the PAHs in the two cores showed, however, that the PAHs present in the cores were predominantly pyrogenic PAHs consistent with Delaware River background PAHs. The core results are consistent with historic sediment PAH inputs in an industrial river system. PAH from the Refinery, if present, exist as a non-detectable increment to a high PAH baseline from many sources.