Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microsatellite markers for the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris

Efforts to develop molecular tools for genetic analysis and breeding of common bean in the tropics are still limited. The number of microsatellite markers available for the crop is small compared to other crops of similar social and economic importance. As part of a project to broaden the use of molecular tools in bean breeding, a genomic library enriched for AG/TC repeat sequences was constructed for Phaseolus vulgaris. Twenty microsatellite markers were initially developed and 10 were characterized using a panel of 85 representative accessions of the bean gene bank. The number of alleles per marker ranged from three to 10. The polymorphism information content (PIC) varied from 0.23 to 0.80. The results indicate that the new markers can be readily used in genetically analysis of common bean.
Evidence for Stigmatic Self-incompatibility, Pollination Induced Ovule Enlargement and Transmitting Tissue Exudates in the Paleoherb, Saururus cernuus L. (Saururaceae)

Saururus cernuus, a species belonging to the primitive herbaceous angiosperm family Saururaceae, exhibits high rates of self-sterility. We investigated the structural and functional aspects of pollen-carpel interactions following cross and self pollination to assess the tissue specific site and timing of self-sterility and factors important for successful cross pollen tube growth. Self-sterility was due to inhibition of self pollen germination at a dry stigma. Self pollination was associated with anomalous foot formation, reduced cell wall expansion and secretory activity of stigmatic papillae, and callose production in stigmatic papillae. Following germination, cross compatible pollen tubes entered a solid core of transmitting tissue and grew to the base of a short style. Entry of cross pollen tubes into the ovary was coincident with ovule enlargement which placed the micropyle in the proximity of cross pollen tube tips. Ovule enlargement also occurred following self pollination. Cross pollen tubes either entered an exudate-filled micropyle directly from the style, or growth in the ovary was localized to the epidermis of the locule and outer integument prior to entry into the micropyle. Prior to pollination, the transmitting tract was void of secretions except for exudate in the micropyle. Growth of pollen tubes on the locule and integument was associated with exudate apparently arising from transmitting cells adjacent to growing pollen tubes. The present study provides the first evidence in a primitive herbaceous species of stigmatic self-incompatibility (SI) in association with a dry stigma, pollination-induced signalling events aecting development of carpellary tissues, and micropylar exudates. # 1999 Annals of Botany Company
Antioxidant activity of polar carotenoids including astaxanthin-β-glucoside from marine bacterium on PC liposomes

SUMMARY: This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of polar carotenoids (zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and astaxanthin-β-glucoside) in free radical-mediated oxidation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes. In 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-PC liposomes, astaxanthin-β-glucoside was the most active, followed by astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene, although there was no significant difference in the antioxidant activity of these carotenoids in chloroform solution. Thus, it is suggested that the different antioxidant activity of four kinds of carotenoids found in the PC liposomes would depend not on their ability to scavenge free radicals, but on other factors such as their location and orientation in PC liposome systems and the degree of their incorporation into PC bilayers. These physicochemical properties would be strongly correlated with the structural acceptability between the PC molecule and carotenoid molecule, especially between two polar groups of the PC bilayer and the carotenoid. Furthermore, two polar groups of the carotenoid can act as trans-bilayer rivets. The tightly packed conformation of PC bilayers caused by this function of the dipolar carotenoid would also be correlated with their antioxidant activity. This was suppported by the result that cholesterol, known as acting like a peg through one half of the bilayer, also increased the oxidative stability of PC liposomes.
HUBUNGAN INTENSITAS NYERI PUNGGUNG BAWAH UNILATERAL DENGAN DERAJAT OSTEOARTRITIS LUTUT KONTRALATERA

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and recurring forms of musculoskeletal pain. In back injuries or disc degenerative diseases that cause chronic LBP will increase the burden on the knee joint, thereby triggering or exacerbating the occurrence of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
Cytotoxic Triterpene Glycosides from Far‐Eastern Sea Cucumbers Belonging to the Genus Cucumaria

New cytotoxic triterpene oligoglycoside disulfates, cucumariosides A3 (1) and A6-2 (2), have been isolated from the sea cucumber Cucumaria japonica. The trisulfated cucumarioside A7-3 (4) was found to be the major component in the glycoside fraction of Cucumaria miniata. The structures were assigned on the basis of extensive spectral data (NMR and MS), selective solvolysis of desulfated derivative 3 and other chemical evidence. The presence or absence of a carbonyl group at C-16 of the aglycone and of sulfate groups at C-6 of the glucose and 3-O-methylglucose units are interpreted in terms of the functional evolution of sea cucumbers in order to improve their defensive system. Both (1) and (2) are cytotoxic in vitro at IC50 = 1 μg/ml against a selection of five human and mice tumoral cell lines.
A comparative approach to examine competitive response of 48 wetland plant species

Abstract. Competitive ability can be separated into competitive effect (ability to suppress neighbours) and competitive response (ability to tolerate suppressive effect from neighbours), but little is known about the competitive response of plants. A screening trial was conducted in outdoor plant pots where competitive response was measured for 48 wetland species during four months grown with seven established sward species: Acorus calamus, Carex crinita, Eleocharis smallii, Lythrum salicaria, Penthorum sedoides, Scirpus acutus and Typha angustifolia. Competitive response was calculated as 100 (x1–x2)/x1, where x1 is the weight of the target plant grown alone and x2 the weight of the target plant grown in the swards. Despite significant differences in biomass and survivorship of the target plants between the sward species, the correspondence, W, of the rank order of the competitive response of target plants grown in the seven sward species was 0.70 (P < 0.001). The competitive response values were not significantly correlated with independent measures of competitive effect, relative growth rate or functional classification. Published competitive effect values, however, were significantly positively correlated with RGR. The results suggest a different approach towards the study of competitive response, with a conceptual model including three different response types: (1) escape; (2) foraging; and (3) persistence.
cryo-dam-The Effect of Aging/Freezing Sequence and Freezing Rate on Quality Attributes of Beef Loins ( M. longissimus lumborum )

: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different aging/freezing sequences combined with different freezing rates on quality attributes of beef loins ( M. longissimus lumborum ). Loins from 1 side of 8 beef carcasses (USDA Low Choice grade) were obtained at 2 d postmortem, cut into 10 steaks (2.54 cm), and randomly assigned into 5 treatments, where factorial combinations of 2 aging/freezing sequences (aging first then freezing/thawing [AFT] and freezing first then thawing/aging [FTA]) and 2 freezing rates (fast freezing [FF] and slow freezing [SF]) were used and compared to an aged only (AO) treatment as a control. Samples frozen using the FF condition were found to have a critical freezing time ( Tc ) of 21.5 min while the SF counterpart had a Tc of 175 min. Histological observation showed more visually enlarged gaps between muscle fibers in the SF samples, regardless of aging/freezing sequence. The SF-FTA samples had a significantly higher purge/ thaw loss followed by FF-FTA, while the loss from FF-AFT, SF-AFT, and AO were not different from each other ( P > 0.05), suggesting that freezing rate effect might be more profound when applied in FTA. Cook loss was higher in AO compared to both FTA treatments ( P < 0.05); however, it was not different when compared to AFT ( P > 0.05). A lower shear force value and higher troponin-T protein degradation were found in both AFT and FTA compared to AO ( P < 0.05), which would be attributed to the ice-crystal damage due to freezing. These results suggest that aging/freezing sequence could be an overriding factor in determining major meat quality attributes of frozen/thawed meat over freezing rate. However, fast freezing could negate some quality defects associated with the FTA process.
The performance and egg quality traits of Nigerian local hens fed varying dietary levels of palm kernel cake with added palm oil

SUMMARY A total of 120 local hens at the point of lay were randomly assigned, 2 per cage, with 10 replicates per diet in a completely randomized design, to 6 palm kernel cake (PKC)-based layer diets that contained 20% CP and 2,700 kcal of ME/kg of feed. The PKC was included at levels of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% in diets 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Diet 1 without PKC served as the control. To make the diets isocaloric, 0.5, 1.48, 3.35, 5.22, 7.11, and 8.98% palm oil was added to diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Feed and water were offered ad libitum for 12 wk. The hen-day production (53.8 to 63.3%) peaked at dietary PKC levels of 20 to 40%. Feed conversion ratio was also the lowest in hens fed the 20 to 40% PKC-based diets, but it was poorer than the control diet for those fed 50% PKC. The least hen-day production was obtained for birds on the 50% PKC-based diet. The albumen height (3.16 to 3.73 mm) was highest for eggs laid by hens fed the control and 10% PKC diets. The egg yolk indexes obtained for hens fed 0 to 10% dietary PKC (0.2) were significantly higher than those obtained for hens fed 20 to 50% PKC (0.13 to 0.15). The yolk color score increased significantly (P
The effects of elevated CO 2 on root respiration rates of two Mojave Desert shrubs

Although desert ecosystems are predicted to be the most responsive to elevated CO2, low nutrient availability may limit increases in productivity and cause plants in deserts to allocate more resources to root biomass or activity for increased nutrient acquisition. We measured root respiration of two Mojave Desert shrubs, Ambrosia dumosa and Larrea tridentata, grown under ambient ( 375ppm) and elevated ( 517ppm) CO2 concentrations at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility (NDFF) over five growing seasons. In addition, we grew L. tridentata seedlings in a greenhouse with similar CO2 treatments to determine responses of primary and lateral roots to an increase in CO2. In both field and greenhouse studies, root respiration was not significantly affected by elevated CO2. However, respiration of A. dumosa roots o1 month old was significantly greater than respiration of A. dumosa roots between 1 and 4 months old. For both shrub species, respiration rates of very fine (o1.0mm diameter) roots were significantly greater than those of fine (1‐2mm diameter) roots, and root respiration decreased as soil water decreased. Because specific root length was not significantly affected by CO2 and because field minirhizotron measurements of root production were not significantly different, we infer that root growth at the NDFF has not increased with elevated CO2. Furthermore, other studies at the NDFF have shown increased nutrient availability under elevated CO2, which reduces the need for roots to increase scavenging for nutrients. Thus, we conclude that A. dumosa and L. tridentata root systems have not increased in size or activity, and increased shoot production observed under elevated CO2 for these species does not appear to be constrained by the plant’s root growth or activity.
Flight performance and visual control of flight of the free-flying housefly (Musca domestica L.) II. Pursuit of targets

The pursuit behaviour of houseflies has been analysed by the evaluation of movie films. On the floor, males, but not females, turn towards passing targets. Males as well as females pursue targets in the air. Male chasing seems to be functionally different from female tracking. Males attack targets in the air from below. They sometimes retract from the target fly after an approach. Thus, a chase may be divided into attacks, periods of pursuit and retreats. Males catch females, but not other males. The pursuer is therefore able to discriminate between the sexes. Close approach or contact with the target fly seems to be necessary to obtain the information. During pursuit both sexes increase the rate of turning. The male but not the female target fly performs evasive translatory reactions to the attacks (figure 4). Females do not catch other flies. They often react with a single turn in the direction of a passing object. They seldom follow the target, which is then normally positioned below the tracking fly. The rotations about the vertical and transverse axis (yaw and pitch) are visually controlled in both sexes. The horizontal and vertical error angle, as well as the horizontal and vertical retinal target velocity, influence the turning behaviour. At least in males, further, hitherto unknown, cues seem to be additionally involved in the control of the rotatory movements. The male control systems operate more precisely than those of the females. Rotations are characterized by steplike changes in angular orientation (`turns') at high angular velocity. Smooth rotations at angular velocities less than about 200 deg s^(-1) seem not to play any role either in males or in females. `Sideways' tracking, most probably mediated by rolling about the long axis, occurred in a single sequence only. A correlation between the translation velocity and the distance between pursuer and target is observed in the pursuit sequences of both sexes. This correlation is interpreted as a by-product of the organization of the flight motor. Therefore, neither males nor females control the translation velocity by the distance to the target. The discussion concentrates on the problems in characterizing the control systems and a comparison with data from optical and electrophysiological measurements. The behavioural differences between hoverflies and houseflies are attributed to the different flight motors.
Survival and infection probabilities of anthropophagic anophelines from an area of high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in humans.

Delayed and immediate oocyst rates; parous rates and sporozoite rates were obtained in Anopheles gambiae Giles, A. arabiensis Patten and A. funestus Giles from two villages in the Kilombero Valley, southern Tanzania during the wet season of 1991. Collection methods included light trap, indoor resting collection and nets with holes cut in their side. Mosquito survival estimates from parous rates obtained from light trap collections, were compared with estimates from capture-recapture experiments and from that obtained during a population decline. Methods of estimating the proportion of feeds infectious to mosquitoes, K, were also compared. This proportion varied between villages and species and was highest in the village with the greatest proportion of A. gambiae. We propose that absolute estimates of K should be obtained by determining the immediate oocyst rate and measuring the parous rate using the same host seeking mosquitoes. This estimate was only available from one village and ranged from 1.9% for A. gambiae s.l. to 3.4% for A. funestus.
Potential distribution of orchid bees outside their native range: The cases of Eulaema polychroma (Mocsáry) and Euglossa viridissima Friese in the USA (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Aim This study aimed to evaluate the probability of suitable habitats in the USA for two adventive orchid bee species (Eulaema polychroma (Mocsáry) and Euglossa viridissima Friese), one of which has become established in southern Florida despite the absence of its associated orchid hosts.
Effects of dietary copper, citric acid, and microbial phytase on digesta pH and ileal and carcass microbiota of broiler chickens fed a low available phosphorus diet

SUMMARY An experiment was conducted to study the effects of microbial phytase (PHY), citric acid (CA), and Cu proteinate supplementation in broiler chickens (13 to 42 d of age) fed a low available P diet (0.25%) on ileal and carcass microbiota of broiler chickens. A factorial arrangement of treatments (2 × 2 × 2) was used to evaluate 2 levels of PHY (0 and 750 units/kg), Cu (0 and 250 ppm), and CA (0 and 3%). A total of 10,080 birds were placed into 48 floor pens (210 birds per pen) and fed a commercial broiler starter diet until 13 d of age. Addition of 750 phytase units of PHY significantly reduced the log10 counts for total anaerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and coliform bacteria in the ileal digesta of chicks (0.28, 0.22, and 0.59 log10, respectively). Copper supplementation had no effect on pH or microbial counts in the ileal contents. However, Cu supplementation significantly increased the populations of Staphylococcus (P < 0.01) and lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.001) on the carcass. Citric acid supplementation significantly decreased ileal coliform contents (P < 0.05) but increased the populations of Staphylococcus (P < 0.05), Campylobacter (P < 0.05), and lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.001) on the carcasses. In conclusion, neither 3% CA nor Cu supplementation of broiler diets reduced the numbers of pathogenic bacteria in the ileum or on the carcass, but PHY supplementation might effectively decrease ileal pathogenic bacterial populations and beneficially affect gut health. Future research on how PHY affects the intestinal bacteria of a bird might provide new approaches for microbial mitigation in poultry.
The chemotaxonomic significance of laricytrin and medicagenic acid in the tribe Trigonelleae

Flavonoids from fresh flowers of 35 species and medicagenic acid from leaf tissue of 44 species of the tribe Trigonelleae Schulz (Fabaceae) were examined using thin-layer chromatography. Moreover, medicagenic acid glycosides in the leaf tissue were also analyzed by the hemolytic test. Compounds tentatively identified as kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, laricytrin, and medicagenic acid were present in hydrolysates of all species of the genus Medicago, including five species of debated taxonomic position, M. radiata, M. hybrida, M. cretacea, M. arborea, and M. lupulina. Laricytrin and medicagenic acid, while rarely occurring in the plant kingdom, may be regarded as chemical markers that distinguish the genus Medicago in Trigonelleae and may further support the placement of the five questionable species into Medicago. Laricytrin and medicagenic acid were also found in hydrolysates of three species of the section Buceras of the genus Trigonella (T. monantha, T. monspeliaca, and T. polyceratia) and were not f.
Micro-organisms of the Leaf Surface: Estimation of the Mycoflora of the Barley Phyllosphere

SUMMARY: During a 17-day period the mycoflora of the barley phyllosphere was assessed by microscopic observation of leaf impressions. The frequency of fungal colonies detected was 0.1 to 17.2 per cm2 of leaf. In favourable conditions the leaf area occupied by each colony was about 0.05 mm2. The total surface of colonization could thus reach 2 mm2/cm2, but generally varied between 0.002 and 0.774 mm2. Only a limited range of species was observed, predominantly Cladosporium spp. The highest active populations coincided with a period of massive emission of pollen. The quantitative results obtained bore little relation to those from leaf-washing counts: the reasons for this are discussed.
Acoustic communication in a noisy world: can fish compete with anthropogenic noise?

Anthropogenic (man-made) noise has changed the acoustic environment both on land and underwater and is now recognized as a pollutant of international concern. Increasing numbers of studies are assessing how noise pollution affects animals across a range of scales, from individuals to communities, but the topic receiving the most research attention has been acoustic communication. Although there is now an extensive literature on how signalers might avoid potential masking from anthropogenic noise, the vast majority of the work has been conducted on birds and marine mammals. Fish represent more than half of all vertebrate species, are a valuable and increasingly utilized model taxa for understanding behavior, and provide the primary source of protein for >1 billion people and the principal livelihoods for hunderds of millions. Assessing the impacts of noise on fish is therefore of clear biological, ecological, and societal importance. Here, we begin by indicating why acoustic communication in fish is likely to be impacted by anthropogenic noise. We then use studies from other taxa to outline 5 main ways in which animals can alter their acoustic signaling behavior when there is potential masking due to anthropogenic noise and assess evidence of evolutionary adaptation and behavioral plasticity in response to abiotic and biotic noise sources to consider whether such changes are feasible in fish. Finally, we suggest directions for future study of fish acoustic behavior in this context and highlight why such research may allow important advances in our general understanding of the impact of this global pollutant.
Agroclimatic conditions in Europe under climate change

To date, projections of European crop yields under climate change have been based almost entirely on the outputs of crop‐growth models. While this strategy can provide good estimates of the effects of climatic factors, soil conditions and management on crop yield, these models usually do not capture all of the important aspects related to crop management, or the relevant environmental factors. Moreover, crop‐simulation studies often have severe limitations with respect to the number of crops covered or the spatial extent. The present study, based on agroclimatic indices, provides a general picture of agroclimatic conditions in western and central Europe (study area lays between 8.5°W–27°E and 37–63.5°N), which allows for a more general assessment of climate‐change impacts. The results obtained from the analysis of data from 86 different sites were clustered according to an environmental stratification of Europe. The analysis was carried for the baseline (1971–2000) and future climate conditions (time horizons of 2030, 2050 and with a global temperature increase of 5 °C) based on outputs of three global circulation models. For many environmental zones, there were clear signs of deteriorating agroclimatic condition in terms of increased drought stress and shortening of the active growing season, which in some regions become increasingly squeezed between a cold winter and a hot summer. For most zones the projections show a marked need for adaptive measures to either increase soil water availability or drought resistance of crops. This study concludes that rainfed agriculture is likely to face more climate‐related risks, although the analyzed agroclimatic indicators will probably remain at a level that should permit rainfed production. However, results suggests that there is a risk of increasing number of extremely unfavorable years in many climate zones, which might result in higher interannual yield variability and constitute a challenge for proper crop management.