Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of degree of fatness in broilers on other carcass characteristics: Relationship between fatness and the composition of carcass fat1

1. Three trials were performed to examine the effect of degree of fatness in broilers on the composition of carcass fat. The various degrees of fatness were obtained by varying the energy to protein (E :P) ratios in conventional diets. 2. Increasing the E : P ratio caused increased fat deposition with increases in the proportions of palmitic and oleic acids and a decrease in linoleic acid. 3. Highly significant negative correlations were obtained between the degree of fatness (expressed as percentage of dry matter of the skin) and of unsaturation of abdominal fat (expressed as iodine value). 4. The same negative correlations were obtained for individuals within the same dietary treatment, especially those producing lean birds.
A survey of ectoparasites on the gills, skin and fins of oreochromis Niloticus at Bagauda fish farm, Kano, Nigeria

Six hundred and two specimens of Oreochromis niloticus from Bagauda fish farm, Kano were examined for ectoparasites. Nine hundred and fifty six ectoparasites were found on two hundred and fourteen (35.6%) specimens. Piscine parasites recovered were protozoa and trematodes namely, Ichthyophthirius spp, Myxobolus spp, Clinostomum spp and Euclinostomum spp. Gill infestation was maintained to be higher throughout the year, than that on the skin and fins, and it was found to be statistically different by DMRT at 5% level of probability. Generally trematodes had higher frequency than protozoa in both the seasons (25.58%, 36.33% and 4.30%, 11.00% respectively). Frequency of protozoa infestation is higher in wet Season 11.00% than in dry season 4.30% so is the case with the trematodes, 36.33% in wet season and 25.5% in dry season.
Brown trout spawning habitat selection preferences and redd characteristics in the Credit River, Ontario

Brown trout Salmo trutta redds in the Credit River, Ontario, were enumerated and assessed for physical, location and cover feature characteristics during the 2002 spawning season. Hydraulic habitats were classified on the basis of channel morphology and availability recorded. Combined use and availability data were used to assess habitat selection preferences and test for significant differences. Significant preferences for upstream pool and riffle habitat were found, but all available habitat types were used to some degree. Non-preferred habitat redds were significantly larger than those located in preferred habitats and more likely to be found in association with woody debris cover. Larger redds were interpreted as indicative of larger fish. The use of non-preferred downstream habitats by larger fish was further interpreted in the context of overwinter habitat requirements to reflect possible trade-offs between reproductive and adult over-winter survival requirements resulting in the selection of habitat for multiple life-history functions. Results suggest that redd density alone should not be used to infer critical autumn habitat requirements for brown trout.
Two different patterns of shell‐shape variation in the dog‐whelk Nucella lapillus (L.)

Populations of the common dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus (L.), usually show a gradation in mean shell shape related to the exposure of the shore on which they live. Enclaves from exposed headlands have shorter, squatter shells than do their compatriots in shelter. This paper describes the pattern of shell-shape variation shown by populations in the Isles of Scilly and on the north coast of Wales. In both places a gradation is present, but it is not numerically similar, the Welsh population being more elongated. It is concluded that the selective agents are the same in both places. Wave action always eliminates the most elongate-shelled whelks first, and crabs always find it easier to take the animals with the widest apertures to their shells. The reason for the observed differences between the patterns described here lies in the genetic differences between the populations: Scillonian whelks do not have the option of being as elongated as the Welsh ones, which, in turn, cannot show very short squat shells in exposure.
Reduction in branch sapwood hydraulic permeability as a factor limiting survival of lower branches of lodgepole pine

Branch sapwood hydraulic permeability, tracheid size, and earlywood to latewood ratio of annual rings were examined in lower and upper branches of closed-canopy and open-grown lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) trees. Hydraulic permeability, expressed on either a leaf area or sapwood area basis, was lower in lower branches (0.16 × 10-5 and 5.82 × 10-5 m2, respectively) than upper branches (0.26 × 10-5 and 10.47 × 10-5 m2, respectively) and was related to narrower tracheids in the sapwood of lower branches. Earlywood/latewood ratio declined in the lower branches of shaded trees. The hydraulic conductivity of upper and lower branches in closed canopy trees was reduced by drilling small holes radially through the stem. Stomatal conductance was lower, and after a growing season there was greater foliage mortality in drilled lower crown branches than in similarly treated upper branches, suggesting that the hydraulic conductivity of lower branches was closer to the lower limit required to maintain .
Tobacco curly shoot virus isolated in Yunnan is a distinct species of Begomovirus

Virus isolate Y1 was obtained from tobacco showing curly shoot symptoms in Baoshan, Yunnan Province. Whitefly transmission test and virion morphology observation showed that it is a begomovirus. In reactions with 14 monoclonal antibodies raised against begomoviruses, Y1 was readily differentiated from begomoviruses reported in China, Pakistan and India. The complete nucleotide sequence of DNA-A was determined, it contains 2746 nucleotides, with two ORFs in virion-sense DNA and four ORFs in complementary-sense DNA. Comparisons with total DNA-A, intergenic region and deduced amino acid sequences of individual ORFs showed that Yl is a distinct Begomovirus species, for which the name Tobacco curly shoot virus (TCSV) is proposed. The total DNA-A of TCSV is most closely related to that of Tomato leaf curl virus from India (85% sequence identity). In contrast, the deduced coat protein of TCSV is most like that of Cotton leaf curl virus 72b isolate from Pakistan (98% amino acid sequence identity).
Taxonomic valué of hairiness in Centranthus calcitrapae (L.) Dufresne fruits ( Valerianaceae )

Two different phenotypes have been observed with regard to fruit hairiness in Centranthus calcitrapae throughout the Iberian Peninsula, Baleario Island and France: hirsute and glabrous fruits. In this paper the inheritance of this character in two Andalusian populations has been inferredby using artificial crossings. It has been shown that fruit hairiness is based on a simple two-allele mendelian locus being hairiness dominant over the recessive glabrous fruits. Therefore,this character should not be used for separation of taxa.
PCR detection of MLOs in quick decline-affected pear trees in Italy

Summary Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, using primers derived from the 16S rRNA gene, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with Alu I restriction endonuclease was used to detect myc-oplasma-like organisms (MLOs) associated with pear decline. MLOs were consistently detected in pear trees that suddenly wilted and died within a few days during summer, as well as in pears of the same orchards with symptoms similar to the slow form of pear decline. In both cases the same RFLP pattern was obtained. Declining pear trees were 5 to 8-yr-old cvs Williams, Kaiser and Max Red Bartlett grafted on to Pyrus communis seedling rootstocks. All the orchards affected by quick decline had severe attacks of pear psyllid (Cacopsylla pyri) during the year this study was performed and during the previous year. The results showed the suitability of DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of pear decline MLOs and established that MLOs can be detected in infected tissues of dead trees.
Evaluation of different Pleurotus hybrids for their growth requirements in-vitro.

Interspecific hybrids between Pleurotus sajor-caju , P. djamor , P. florida and P. flabellatus were evaluated in vitro for their growth on various culture media, pH and temperature requirements. Among six different media tested, PSEDA (paddy straw extract dextrose agar) was found as most suitable medium for all the strains and minimum growth was observed on MEA (malt extract agar) medium. Parental strains and their hybrids were evaluated for their performance at six pH levels (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) on potato dextrose agar medium. All the fungal cultures grew fastest at pH 7.0 of PDA. Among six temperature conditions tested, i.e. 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40oC, all hybrids and parental species exhibited maximum growth at 25oC, slowest at 15oC and almost no growth at 35oC and above.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN THE MOUSE, IN RELATION TO NATURAL PERIODS 1)

1. This paper consists of a descriptive study of the post-natal behavioral development of the house mouse, with particular emphasis on its social aspects. 2. Observations were made on ten litters, including 60 mice from four different inbred strains, up to the age of 30 days. Nine litters were raised in transparent laboratory mouse boxes, and the tenth was raised in a larger box with a more complex environment. 3. Important developmental changes which affect the nature of social relationships were found at 4 days, 12 days, and approximately 25 days. On this basis the early development of the mouse was divided into four natural periods. 4. These periods are described in detail from the viewpoint of sensory, motor, and psychological capacities, and the appearance of important patterns of social behavior. 5. During the Neonatal Period (I) the mice are naked and largely helpless, and the predominant activities are ingestive and contactual behavior. There is no reaction to sound or sight, nor an indication of learning capacity. 6. The Transition Period (II) is characterized by rapid development of sensory, motor and psychological capacities which provide the basis for future change in social behavior patterns. The period is marked by the appearance of epimeletic behavior (grooming) and an increase in investigative behavior. Other social behavior patterns remain much as before. 7. The Socialization Period (III) begins with all sense organs functional, so that the animal is for the first time in complete contact with the social environment. Motor development is rapid, and the animals give evidence of great sensivity to frightening stimuli. All the characteristic social behavior patterns of adults appear in some form during this period, and at its end one of the last neonatal patterns, nursing, disappears. The dominant behavior patterns are investigative and epimeletic (grooming). 8. During the Juvenile Period (IV) fighting behavior appears, and its end is marked by the first appearance of adult sexual behavior. 9. Certain physiological changes are correlated with overt changes in behavior. Reactions to electroshock change at 4 and 12 days. Changes in the growth curve occur with changes in ingestive behavior, which in turn is correlated with the opening of the eyes at about 12 days. 10. There is evidence that reactions to sound appear early in the Transition Period, but the startle reaction does not appear until near its close. 11. Further study is needed of the development of the capacity for simple associative learning, which on present evidence may appear early in the Transition Period. 12. When the mouse is compared with other forms it is found that the order of behavioral events varies considerably between different species, and that the order appears to be correlated with the nature of social organization typical of the species. 13. The development of behavior in the mouse is discussed with reference to possible critical periods in the development of social relationships.
Dynamics of PCBs in the Food Web of Lake Winnipeg

ABSTRACT The bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is examined in the food web of Lake Winnipeg using measured contaminant concentrations, stable isotopes of nitrogen, and a food web model. Measured concentrations of the sum of 103 PCB congeners are higher in south basin water, sediment, and biota compared with the north. The trophic positions of the top predators as well as the extent of biomagnification of PCBs per unit trophic level do not differ significantly between the north and the south basins. We therefore conclude that the higher PCB concentrations in the south basin are due primarily to higher PCB loadings via riverine sources to the south rather than food web processes. In contrast, the data from the north basin suggest lower total loadings of which a higher fraction is from atmospheric deposition. We find that rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) are not associated with elevated exposure of contaminants to top predators of the north basin. This surprising result is attributed to their reduced fitness in this relatively shallow and warm system, which may prevent them from feeding at an elevated trophic level compared with other forage fish. Finally, we hypothesize that high nutrient associated DOC in water decreases PCB bioavailability to lower trophic level organisms and hence the entire food web.
Competitive Displacement and Biological Control in Parasitoids: A Model

California red scale, an insect that is a worldwide pest of citrus, is controlled in many areas by parasitoids of the genus Aphytis. In southern California, Aphytis lingnanensis provided inadequate control of red scale in inland valleys. Aphytis melinus was introduced, competitively displaced A. lingnanensis within a few red scale generations, and caused satisfactory biological control. Aphytis melinus can obtain female offspring from smaller-sized scale than A. lingnanensis, and we present a stage-structured parasitoid-host model in which the two parasitoid species are the same except for A. melinus's size-dependent advantage in sex allocation. This model can account for the competitive displacement of A. lingnanensis in such a short time and the improvement in biological control. Aphytis melinus can also obtain an additional female egg from larger red scale, and this increases its advantage in competition, the speed of displacement, and the degree of host suppression. We examine the effects of other model parameters and discuss the implications of our findings for a predictive theory of biological control.
Estimating mixtures of leaf functional types using continental-scale satellite and climatic data

Aim Recent research has shown that much of the variability in leaf gas exchange and leaf longevity can be related to variations in the surface: volume ratio of leaves. The aim of this paper was to develop a theoretical framework and a practical method to extend that result to the vegetation at the continental scale. Location The study was conducted in Australia. Methods We propose that vegetation is composed of a mixture of three basic leaf types, 'turgor' (T), 'mesic' (M) and 'sclerophyll' (S) leaves. Changes in the relative proportions of T, M and S leaves within a vegetation type are visualized using a ternary diagram and differences in vegetation structure are shown to be easily mapped onto the ternary diagram. We estimate the proportions of T, M and S leaves using readily available data. The total amount of PAR absorbed by the vegetation (fPAR) is estimated using continental-scale satellite observations. The total fPAR is then decomposed into that absorbed by T, M and S leaves. The relative absorption of PAR by T leaves is estimated from the temporal dynamics in the satellite signal, while the relative proportions of M and S leaves are estimated using climatic (solar radiation,
Termination of parental care in male giant waterbugs, Belostoma flumineum Say (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) is associated with breeding season, egg pad size, and presence of females

Reproductive effort and/or success sometimes increase with the age of a parent. We found that reproductive effort was greatest in older egg-brooding male giant waterbugs, Belostoma flumineum Say. Consistent with previous studies, males with large egg pads were unlikely to discard them unhatched under any condition. However, males with small egg pads were significantly more likely to discard the eggs unhatched in the autumn (when breeding adults are young) than in the spring. By brooding smaller pads, older males invested more heavily in each offspring. Males bearing small egg pads were also significantly less likely to discard them in the presence of females. Three kinds of hypotheses have previously been proposed to explain why reproductive investment and/or success might increase with age: selection hypotheses predict differential survival of better parents; experience hypotheses predict that more experienced parents achieve greater success without additional cost per offspring; and residual reproduction hypotheses predict that older parents invest more per offspring. It is difficult to experimentally untangle these hypotheses, but the results of this study provide cautious support for a residual reproduction hypothesis that older males with few remaining reproductive opportunities invest more heavily per offspring by retaining small egg pads.
Effect of matric potential, pH, temperature, and clay minerals on bacterial colonization of conidia of Cochliobolus sativus and on their survival in soil

Conidia of Cochliobolus sativus were incubated in soil held within filter membrane pockets (FMP), retrieved periodically, examined microscopically for their colonization by bacteria and for lysis, and tested for their ability to germinate in V8 broth. Conidia that had been held within FMP with 10 μm pore size were colonized by bacteria shortly after they were introduced into the soil while those held within FMP with 0.2 μm pore size were colonized only after 40 days in soil. Comparison between the two groups of conidia showed that the former underwent lysis and more rapidly lost their ability to germinate. High temperatures (32°C), alkaline conditions (pH 8.0), and high matric water potentials (0 to 150 cm water suction) enhanced the colonization of bacteria on surfaces of conidia in soil. Under these conditions the conidia appeared to undergo lysis, and to lose more rapidly their ability to germinate. The bacterial colonization was partially restricted at a matric potential of 300 cm water suction or low.
SPATIAL CONVERGENCE PROCESSES ON THE EUROPEAN UNION’S LIFE INSURANCE MARKET

Starting from the idea that interactions exist in the European Union, we have implemented Spatial Econometrics methods to assess the occurrence of absolute, conditional or club β-convergence on the EU life insurance market. The life insurance density was used as a proxy for the development of the life insurance market in our analysis for 27EU countries, during the period 2002 – 2014. The absolute β-convergence was accepted by the spatial regression analysis. Spatial influences were accounted for by using the longitude and latitude as exogenous variables, together with the spatially lagged variable for the dependent. From all the economic, cultural and institutional determinants considered in our analysis, only the Hofstede’s uncertainty avoidance index proved to be statistically significant. The positive correlation coefficient between this cultural dimension and the growth rate of life insurance density in the European Union proves that countries with a higher level of uncertainty avoidance will experience higher growth rates.
DIVISION OF IL-2 RECEPTOR EXPRESSING LYMPHOCYTES IN MURINE EMBRYONIC THYMUS

Upon activation with antigens or lectins, a transient expression of mature T lymphocytes cell surface molecules specifically binding to interleukin-2 (IL-2), one of the growth factors, is induced (2, 5, 20, 23). The molecules are designated as interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R). Interaction of the receptor with IL-2 provides an universal signal for T cell proliferation, resulting in clonal expansion of the activated T cells. In the physiological condition without specific antigen stimulation, proliferation of lymphocytes is prominent in the thymus, particularly in the embryonic thymus, in which we have previously found IL-2R expression of immature lymphocytes (4, 10, 22). Is the IL-2R expressing lymphocytes responsible for the cell proliferation in the thymus as is for the peripheral T lymphocytes? Based on the finding that during the period of gestation, the proportion of IL-2R positive (IL-2R+) cells in the thymus decreases but the cell number of IL-2R+ cells moderately increases, one may postulate that the IL-2R+ cells may be slow growing lymphocytes. Alternatively, it may be postulated that the IL-2R+ cells die in the thymus (27) and that the IL-2R expression of newly arrived lymphocytes, which is induced immediately after their migration into the thymus, contributes to the increase in the number of IL-2R+ cells in vivo. In this paper, proliferation of IL-2R+ cells within the embryonic thymus was examined in the organ culture system in which the mouse embryonic thymus lobes were cultured on a floating membrane to prevent cell migration from extrathymic sites.
Interpopulation signaling via N-acyl-homoserine lactones among bacteria in the wheat rhizosphere

The biological control bacterium Pseudomonas aureofaciens 30-84 utilizes an N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecule to control phenazine antibiotic production in the wheat rhizosphere (D. W. Wood and L. S. Pierson III, Gene 168:49-53, 1996). In this study, we demonstrate that naturally co-existing, non-isogenic bacterial populations interact with strain 30-84 at the level of gene expression via the exchange of diffusible signals on wheat roots. Wheat plants from three geographic locations were used to generate a random library of 700 rhizobacterial isolates. Roughly 8% of the isolates from each location restored phenazine gene expression to an AHL-deficient strain of 30-84 in vitro. Five of these isolates were further tested for their ability to influence gene expression of an AHL-deficient reporter of strain 30-84 on wheat roots. All five, isolated from different geographic locations, restored phenazine gene expression by the reporter to wild-type levels. This suggests that in vitro assays can id.
The Florida scrub jay : demography of a cooperative-breeding bird

Florida Scrub Jays are an excellent example of a cooperative-breeding species, in which adult birds often help raise offspring not their own. For more than a decade Glen E. Woolfenden and John W. Fitzpatrick studied a marked population of these birds in an attempt to establish a demographic base for understanding the phenomenon of "helping at the nest. " By studying both population biology and behavior, the authors found that habitat restraints, rather than kin selection, are the main source of the behavior of Florida Scrub Jays: the goal of increasing the number of close relatives other than descendants in future generations is of relatively minor importance in their cooperative-breeding behavior. The Florida Scrub Jay lives only in the Florida oak scrub. All acceptable habitat is constantly filled with breeders. Each year about half of the pairs are assisted by one to several nonbreeding helpers. This book provides extensive data on fecundity, survivorship, relatedness, and dispersal to establish the demographic milieu and to address questions arising out of observed helping behavior--whom, how, when, and why the helpers help.