Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sea lice and salmon in Pacific Canada: ecology and policy

The spread of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) from salmon farms probably contributes to declines of some native Pacific salmon populations. Migration normally protects juvenile wild Pacific salmon from the marine ectoparasite in coastal waters by separating juvenile salmon from infected wild adults that are located offshore. Farmed salmon populations dwarf natural coastal host populations, particularly in winter, leading to biomagnification of louse populations. By spring, there may be large numbers of lice on farmed salmon, and this is associated with recurrent parasite infestations of wild juvenile salmon and depressed wild salmon stocks. Abiotic (eg temperature and salinity), biotic (eg predator abundance and food availability), and management (eg periodically emptying farms and applying chemical parasiticides) factors are thought to mediate the louse threat, but none have been well studied. Policy is needed that protects undeveloped juvenile salmon habitats and that supports long-term study of salmon ecosystems, to evaluate the sustainability of wild and farmed salmon.
MICROBIAL DIVERSITY: Domains and Kingdoms

With the discovery of the eukaryote nucleus, all living organisms were neatly divided into prokaryotes, which lacked a nucleus, and eukaryotes, which possessed it. As data derived directly from the genome became available, it was clear that prokaryotes were comprised of two groups, Eubacteria and Archaebacteria. These were subsequently renamed at the new taxonomic level of Domain as Bacteria and Archaea, with the eukaryotes named as the Eucarya Domain. The interrelationships of the three Domains are still subject to discussion and evaluation, as is their monophyly. Further data, drawn from various protein sequences, suggest conflicting schemes, and resolution may not be straightforward. Additionally, Bacteria and Archaea as well as Eucarya are largely based on organisms already in culture. Investigation of the potentially enormous quantity of uncultured organisms in nature is likely to have as broad-ranging implications as the exploration of new protein sequences.
A Comparative Study of Dexmedetomidine and Esmolol on Hemodynamic Responses During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has various advantages like minimal invasiveness and quick recovery. However carbon dioxide used for pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery causes increase in heart rate, blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance. The present study compared the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine and Esmolol on hemodynamic responses during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Material and Methods: A total of 100 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly allocated in two groups, 50 in each group. Esmolol group received bolus dose of 1 mg/kg intravenous Esmolol just before pneumoperitoneum followed by an infusion of 200 mcg/kg/minand Dexmeditomidine group received bolus dose of 1 mcg/kg iv Dexmedetomidine over 10 minutes before pneumoperitoneum followed by 0.6 mcg/kg/hr in infusion. Hemodynamic parameters like Heart rate, Mean arterial pressure, Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure were recorded at different time intervals. Results: It was found that in Dexmeditomidine group there was a statistically significant decrease in heart rate before pneumoperitoneum (84.24±9.17) and 10 minutes after pneumoperitoneum (79.40±7.41)compared to Esmolol Group before pneumoperitoneum (91.40±5.98) and10 minutes after pneumoperitoneum (95.18±14.17). There was statistically significant decrease in Mean arterial pressure in Dexmeditomidine group at 30 minutes (86.53±6.13), 50 minutes (77.95±4.85) , after release of pneumoperitoneum (92.42±3.91) and after extubation (99.50±11.81) compared to Esmolol group at 30 minutes (91.23±8.97), 50 minutes (94.34±12.64) after release of pneumoperitoneum (102.5±10.44) and after extubation (112.39±11.15). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine was found to be more effective than Esmolol in attenuating the hemodynamic responses following pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Leaf phenology and freeze tolerance of the invasive shrub Amur honeysuckle and potential native competitors

Abstract The non-native invasive deciduous shrub Lonicera maackii causes a reduction in plant growth and species diversity under its canopy. The mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood, but an apparent difference between L. maackii and native shrub species is its extended leaf duration. We tested the hypothesis that L. maackii has a longer leaf duration than native shrub species found in the same habitats. Leaf phenology of L. maackii and the native deciduous shrubs Asimina triloba and Lindera benzoin was observed at four sites in central Kentucky (USA) from March until December, 2007. Additionally, a late spring freeze allowed for examination of freeze tolerance among the three test species. Lonicera maackii leaf development was two to three weeks earlier than the natives in March and early April. A hard freeze in early April caused significant (P < 0.05) leaf mortality to both of the native species (60–100% leaf mortality at 3 of 4 sites) while L. maackii showed no observable damage. L. maackii had a later transition to fall color and leaf abscission than the native species, which were at a significantly later stage of development (closer to leaf abscission) for a period of four to six weeks. These data suggest two advantages for L. maackii over potential native competitors: 1) greater access to carbon via a longer leaf duration, and 2) a greater capacity to withstand freezing temperatures.
EMERGENCE OF DENDROCTONUS RUFIPENNIS (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) FROM BURIED LOGS

The spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby), causes periodic, widespread mortality of mature spruce (Picea spp.) in western North America (Massey and Wygant 1954; Schmid and Frye 1977). In British Columbia, logging of infested stands and felling of trap trees are the commonly recommended methods for preventing or suppressing spruce beetle outbreaks. Implicit in these methods is the requirement of treating infested logging residue, and removal for processing of trap trees after the attack period of the spruce beetle. The usual treatment for infested logging residue, prescribed burning, is difficult to carry out in most years because of the generally wet climate of spruce forests during the growing season and the fall period. The forest industry questioned whether burying infested logging residue would be effective in preventing emergence by the spruce beetle. The work described herein addressed this question.
In utero foetal remains of the Cretaceous ichthyosaurian Platypterygius: ontogenetic implications for character state efficacy

Abstract Ichthyosaurians provide some of the most famous examples of ‘live birth’ in the amniote fossil record based on spectacular complete skeletons of gravid females. Such remains facilitate direct comparisons between adult and foetal life stages, and thus have significant impact on phylogenetic hypotheses that require discrete character states to be ontogenetically uncoupled. This is especially true for Cretaceous ichthyosaurian taxa, the majority of which have been established using single specimens of assumed osteological maturity. Our assessment of in utero ichthyosaurian remains from the late Albian of Australia was therefore aimed at testing ontogenetic stability amongst key traits defining the most ubiquitous Cretaceous taxon: Platypterygius. Surprisingly, almost all of the salient features were identifiable in our sample of undoubtedly immature individuals. Indeed, only the proportions of the sclerotic ring, relative ossification and fusion of various basicranial elements, development of the axial skeleton, prominence of the deltopectoral crest and dorsal trochanter, and formation (but seemingly not number) of distal articular facets on the humerus were found to vary from larger-bodied members of the same species (P. australis). Ontogenetic continuity amongst the majority of other phylogenetically pertinent skeletal structures advocates their application for cladistic analyses, and suggests that many classic characters used to differentiate Platypterygius remain diagnostic irrespective of growth stage.
Interaction between hnRNPA1 and IκBα Is Required for Maximal Activation of NF-κB-Dependent Transcription

ABSTRACT Transcriptional activation of NF-κB is mediated by signal-induced phosphorylation and degradation of its inhibitor, IκBα. NF-κB activation induces a rapid resynthesis of IκBα which is responsible for postinduction repression of transcription. Following resynthesis, IκBα translocates to the nucleus, removes template bound NF-κB, and exports NF-κB to the cytoplasm in a transcriptionally inactive form. Here we demonstrate that IκBα interacts directly with another nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, hnRNPA1, both in vivo and in vitro. This interaction requires one of the N-terminal RNA binding domains of hnRNPA1 and the C-terminal region of IκBα. Cells lacking hnRNPA1 are defective in NF-κB-dependent transcriptional activation, but the defect in these cells is complemented by ectopic expression of hnRNPA1. hnRNPA1 expression in these cells increased the amount of IκBα degradation, compared to that of the control cells, in response to activation by Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1. Thus in addition to regulating mRNA processing and transport, hnRNPA1 also contributes to the control of NF-κB-dependent transcription.
Expected Economic Responses to Selection for Direct and Fetal Genetic Effects

Abstract Expected responses in direct and fetal genetic values due to selection of heifers or bulls were computed for various combinations of heritabilities of direct and fetal effects, genetic correlations, economic weights, and kinds of relatives' records. If the economic weights are 1:3 for direct and fetal effects, then records of mates of the sire should be used for selection of both heifers and bulls for the heritabilities . 16 to . 32. If the economic weights are 1:1, use of records of the mates does not appear important for selection of bulls or heifers. Reliable estimates of genetic covariance and variances of direct and fetal genetic effects are required to decide whether fetal effects need to be considered in selection programs.
Clinical and Laboratory Picture in Calves in Rearing with IncidenceBluetongue

The aim of the study was to analyze clinical and laboratory findings in calves after birth and on the fifth day of age in the farm with the occurrence of bluetongue disease. Presence of a disease has been confirmed in heifers that were imported to Slovakia from France. In August 2008 a total of 132 heifers were imported to Slovakia. Based on serological examinations, presence of antibodies reactive to the virus was proved. In 5 heifers without the presence of virus reactive antibodies, virus was diagnosed. Of 120 calves born, 13 were virologically positive. 10 calves born in the farm were in- cluded in the survey. 2 of them were virologically positive, born to serologically negative dams. In 8 control calves born in the same time no antibodies were detected after birth. During clinical examination no clinical signs typical for blue- tongue disease were observed. Laboratory examination in the monitoring period showed increase in hepatic profile pa- rameters in virologically positive calves. In virologically negative calves we have detected increased hepatic profile pa- rameters on the 1st day of life. On the 5th day in this group some of the parameters decreased to the physiological levels. Alterations in the selected biochemical parameters that we have detected in virologically positive and negative animals were likely not influenced by infection with bluetongue.
Burmannia champion Thwaites (Dioscoreales: Burmanniaceae), a new addition to the flora of Karnataka

Burmannia championii Thwaites, is a small saphrophytic herb of family Burmanniaceae. This has been discovered from two locations in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka in southern India. Present report of Burmannia championii Thwaites forms a new addition to the flora of Karnataka.
Impact of Cuscuta australis infection on the photosynthesis of the invasive host, Mikania micrantha, under drought condition

Cuscuta species (dodders) are widespread stem holoparasites that depend on host plants for their entire mineral and water and most carbohydrate requirements. Dodders negatively affect host photosynthesis but precise information on their impact on hosts in the presence of environmental stress factors (i.e. drought) is little known. In a pot experiment, the leaf traits, gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence of the invasive climber, Mikania micrantha, parasitized by Cuscuta australis, were investigated in order to study variations of host photosynthesis in response to parasitism and drought. The results showed that the concomitant presence of C. australis infection and drought significantly impacted the leaf traits (i.e. increased leaf dry mass content), gas exchange (i.e. decreased stomatal conductance and transpiration rates and increased water-use efficiency) and quantum yield of chlorophyll a fluorescence of M. micrantha. The presence of a single stress factor (C. australis infection or drought), however, only significantly affected the leaf traits and gas exchange of M. micrantha. These results suggested that the combined additive effects of C. australis parasitism and drought significantly suppressed the photosynthesis of M. micrantha in relation to both stomatal and non-stomatal limitation of host photosynthesis. This study provides insights into Cuscuta–host interactions under drought conditions in the tropics.
Food selection by calanoid copepods in response to between-lake variation in food abundance

SUMMARY 1. Food selection experiments were conducted by acclimating calanoid copepods (Eudiaptomus spp.) in suspensions of natural seston and then adding pairs of dual-labelled (14C/32P) algae. Each feeding trial measured selectivity between a small, high-quality reference alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardii, and a test alga that differed in size and/or food quality. The influence of food concentration on food selection was tested by using seston from two lakes with contrasting food abundance and by including treatments with filtered lake water ('starved’) and seston diluted with filtered water or enriched with cultured algae. 2. Copepods that had been starved or acclimated to natural seston with low food abundance preferred the larger of two labelled algae, regardless of the nutritional quality of the algae. In agreement with the predictions of an optimal diet model, however, copepods that were acclimated to high food conditions discriminated against low-quality foods, including digestion-resistant algae and dead algae. 3. Selectivity coefficients showed excellent agreement with a previous study involving the same taxa of copepods and labelled algae but in which the copepods had been acclimated to pairs of cultured algae rather than natural seston. Thus, these comparisons emphasize the importance of food availability in modulating copepod selectivity for foods that differ in nutritional quality and suggest that such behaviour occurs in nature.
The morphology-diet relationship and its role in the coexistence of two species of annual fishes

Annual fishes, which inhabit temporary pools with extremely limited habitat complexity and niche availability, display remarkable sexual dimorphism, rapid growth, and enormous investment into reproduction, all traits associated with high energy requirement. This study tests three hypotheses for two syntopic annual fishes (Austrolebias minuano and Cynopoecilus fulgens) found in six wetlands of southern Brazil: (i) considerable morphological differences result in low dietary overlap, (ii) sexual dimorphism in both species leads to intraspecific diet segregation, and (iii) dietary richness increases during ontogenetic development, and is narrower in C. fulgens than A. minuano due to morphological limitations imposed by reduced size. The diet of 82 A. minuano and 211 C. fulgens individuals was analyzed over two annual cycles. The morphology was characterized by 26 measurements covering the entire body of both species. There was no evidence of morphological specialization related to food competition and the diet of A. minuano and C. fulgens showed high overlap. High food availability, high predator abundance, and high connectivity of adjacent wetlands are likely the main mechanisms allowing coexistence of both species. Within species, sexual dimorphism did not result in a decrease in dietary overlap, which reinforces the idea that morphological differences between the sexes did not evolve as a mechanism to decrease food competition. Large A. minuano did not have a more diverse diet than the smaller C. fulgens; however, increase in body size allowed both species to ingest larger prey. Morphological variability in both species was mainly related to ontogenetic development and reproduction.
A Nation at Risk

* Letter of Transmittal * Members of the National Commission on Excellence in Education * Introduction * A Nation At Risk * Findings * Recommendations * Appendices + Appendix A: Charter--National Commission on Excellence in Education + Appendix B: Schedule of the Commission's Public Events + Appendix C: Commissioned Papers + Appendix D: Hearing Testimony + Appendix E: Other Presentations to the Commission + Appendix F: Notable Programs + Appendix G: Acknowledgments * Ordering Information
REVISION OF THE GENUS BENTHOBIA (CAENOGASTROPODA, PSEUDOLIVIDAE)

A revision of the genus Benthobia Dall, 1889, which inhabits deep waters worldwide, is provided. In addition to B. tryonii, which inhabits the North Atlantic, four new species are described: B. atafona, from southeast Brazil; B. complexirhina from the Tasman Basin, Australia; B. tornatilis, from the Coral Sea, Australia and B. sima, from Madagascar. Species separations are based on conchological and anatomical features. An anatomical diagnosis for the genus is provided, leading to a discussion of the systematics of the family. Distinguishing anatomical characters for the genus include: eyes lacking; posterior furrow in foot sole; horseshoe-shaped attachment to operculum; single, massive, muscular and hollow accessory salivary gland with narrow duct; salivary gland separated into two parts; closed pallial sperm duct; penis with closed penial duct and broad, sub-terminal, dome-shaped papilla; pallial oviduct generally with a posterior seminal receptacle, and terminal, muscular bursa copulatrix positioned between vestibule and pore, partly attached to pallial floor. Most of the remaining features are typical of muricoideans. A discussion on the possible validity of Nux alabaster, from the Atlantic coast of South Africa, is provided; based on conchological, opercular and radular characters, it is concluded that it is closely related to Benthobia.
Biohydrogenation and digestion of long chain fatty acids in steers fed on different sources of lipid

Rumen biohydrogenation of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is a significant limitation on any attempt to manipulate the PUFA content of ruminant products (meat or milk). This study examined rumen biohydrogenation of PUFA, the effects of PUFA on other aspects of rumen metabolism and fatty acid flow to and digestion in the small intestine of steers fed on different sources of lipid. Animals were fed ad libitum on grass silage and one of four concentrates (60:40 forage:concentrate on a dry matter basis) containing differing sources of lipid: megalac (rich in C16:0; M), linseed (rich in C18:3n-3; L), fish oil (rich in C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3; FO) and a mixture of linseed/fish oil (LFO). Diets were formulated so that total dietary oil intake was approximately 60 g/kg of the DM intake, approximately half of which was from the experimental test oil. Rumen NH3-N (P = 0·09) and total VFA concentrations (P = 0·007) were higher on L, FO and LFO compared to M. Dry matter intakes did not differ across treatments and averaged 7·2 kg/day. Intake and flow of fatty acids to the duodenum was 323, 438, 344 and 381 (S.E.M. 9·1; P < 0·001) and 432, 489, 412 and 465 (S.E.M. 18·5; P < 0·1) g/day for M, L, FO and LFO, respectively. Biohydrogenation of C18:1n-9 was lower than all the other unsaturated fatty acids and it was lower of FO and LFO compared to M and L, on average 66·1 and 72·2 %, respectively. Biohydrogenation of C18:2n-6 averaged 89·8 % across treatments and was lower (P < 0·05) on M compared to L and FO. Biohydrogenation of C18:3n-3 averaged 92·1 % across treatments and was lowest on M (88·8 %) and highest on L and LFO (94·3 %). Biohydrogenation of C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 averaged approximately 91 and 89 % across the treatments, respectively. Small intestinal digestibilities of all fatty acids were high. In conclusion, feeding different sources of lipid with different fatty acid composition had significant effects on rumen function. The PUFA in whole linseed were only partially protected from biohydrogenation by the seed coat and in contrast to previous reports the C20 PUFA in fish oil were biohydrogenated to a large extent.
Conversion of Progesterone to 5α-Pregnane-3,20-dione and 3α-Hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one by Rat Medial Basal Hypothalami and the Effects of Estradiol and Stage of Estrous Cycle on the Conversion

Tissue slices of rat medial basal hypothalami (MBH’s) from various stages of estrous cycle were incubated with 3H-progesterone. Regardless of the stage of the estrous cycle, most of the recovered tissue radioactivity was present in the 1000 × g pellet after subcellular fractionation. The radioactivity associated with the 1000 × g pelletafter subcellular fractionation. The radioactivity associated with the 1000 X g pellet was isolated and identified on the basis of reverse isotopic dilution techhniques by purification to a constant specific activity. With all incubations the 2 major metabolites identified were 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione and 3αhydroxy- 5α-pregnan-20-one. Other metabolites of progesterone, if any, appear to be present in very small amounts (2–3%). Although no qualitative changes in metabolism of progesterone were observed with respect to the stage of the estrous cycle, quantitative variations were evident. Higher accumulations of 3H-5αpregnane- 3,20-dione as compared to 3H-3α-hydroxy- 5α-pregnan.
Age Assignment to Individual African Lions

Assigning ages to lions (Panthera leo) requires the use of subjective and objective criteria, and is useful for conservation decision-making in that age distributions can be defined from which demographic profiles can be extracted. We collated all age assignment criteria and found that a constraint of most objective criteria is that they require Immobilized or dead specimens to measure. Furthermore, nearly all criteria used lions with assumed ages to construct relationships or narrative descriptions. We show that digital photogrammetry provides digitally-derived measures of shoulder heights similar to that of linearly derived measures. In addition, such shoulder heights did not differ between captive and free ranging lions, or between different regions in Africa. Variation in shoulder height is primarily associated with sex-specific age. Age, using the von Bertalanffy growth curve, explained 92% and 97% of the variation in female and male shoulder height, a skeletal measure not strongly affected by resource availability. Simulations suggest that age assignment is relatively accurate for females and males with shoulder heights up to 70 cm and 95 cm, respectively. Thus for lions younger than two years of age objective criteria gives most precise estimates, while subjective criteria are more suitable for older lions. Key words: African lion, age assignment, growth, shoulder height.