Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth of seedlings of prairie grass and tall fescue in small swards of kikuyu at different temperatures

Seeds of prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were planted in established small swards of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst ex Chiov.). Growth of the temperate seedlings and the subtropical grass sward was measured over a period of 59 days under four temperature regimes from 14/6 to 23/20¦C (12/12 h). The capacity of the seedlings of the oversown temperate perennial grasses to establish in the sward of the subtropical kikuyu depended on temperature. At low temperature (mean daily temperature < 1l¦C) the seedlings grew faster than the kikuyu and became successfully established. At moderate temperatures (11-19¦C) the relative growth rates of seedlings were comparable with the relative growth rates of kikuyu tillers, but the latter dominated due to a greater absolute growth rate. Stature was an important component in the inter-species competition, and the taller prairie grass grew much better in competition with kikuyu than did fescue. Temperatures above 20¦C exceeded the optimum of the seedlings of the temperate species but not that of kikuyu, so that the sown species were at a disadvantage and kikuyu dominated the mixture. It is concluded that prairie grass and tall fescue can be established successfully only in swards of kikuyu when day temperatures are below 21 and 15¦C respectively, unless kikuyu is suppressed for a long period. A herbicide may be an economical means of doing this.
THE DEMOGRAPHY OF FINE ROOTS IN A NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST

The production, development, and mortality of fine roots in a northern hardwood forest was monitored for 1 yr using minirhizotrons. Roots were divided into two strata based upon their depth in the soil, 30 cm. Cohort analyses of roots produced in the spring of 1989 revealed that while almost 50% of fine roots at both depths survived after 346 d, the number of white roots in each cohort declined very rapidly. Virtually all roots had turned brown after 346 d. The probability of a surviving white root turning brown was much greater than the probability that it would die at all times of the year, and the bulk of root mortality was accounted for by brown roots. Analysis of root length production and mortality showed that total annual length mortality at the 30 cm depth. Fine root production and mortality occurred simultaneously throughout the year, and production was slightly greater than mortality at both depths. Total root length peaked in the summer at both depths, and overwinter production and mortality was rather low. Production of white and brown root length indicated that roots near the soil surface were undergoing much more rapid rates of browning than deep roots. Loss of root length between sampling dates was largely due to roots that died and rapidly decayed or otherwise disappeared.
Quantificação de fatores de crescimento na pele de equinos tratada com plasma rico em plaquetas

ABSTRACT. - Souza M.V. , Pinto J.O. , Costa M.M. , Santos E.C. , Garcia S.L. R. & Oliveira L.L. 2014. [Quantification of growth factors in horse skin treated with platelet-rich plasma . ] Quantificacao de fatores de crescimento na pele de equinos tratada com plasma rico em plaquetas . Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 34(6):599-612 . Departamento de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Campus Universitario s/n, Vicosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil. E-mail: msouza@ufv.brPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a product derived from total blood centrifugation, rich in bioactive factors, such as growth factors. Despite largely used in healing processes, there is a controversy whether the therapy is effective in promoting skin healing. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the concentrations of the factors TGF-β1 and PDGF-BB in PRP, blood plasma and skin, at different phases of the healing process of skin treated or not with PRP. Seven healthy crossbred 16 to 17-year-old geldings (16.14±0.63) were used. Three quadrangular-shaped lesions (6.25cm
Blood, intestinal and skeletal calcium dynamics during egg formation

An experiment was carried out to study the dynamics of various body-Ca pools in the hen during a single ovulatory cycle. One hundred 32-wk-old Single Comb White Leghorn hens were used. For experimental purposes the ovulatory cycle was divided into four periods: 1–6, 6–12, 12–18 and 18–24 h post-oviposition.At 0, 6, 12 and 18 h post-oviposition 25 hens each were intubated proventricularly with 15 μCi of 45Ca as CaCl2 solution. Approximately 1 mL of blood was collected from the leaf brachial vein, and the bird was subsequently placed in an individual cage. Red blood cells, labelled with 15Cr, were re-injected into the same bird from which it was collected. At 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h post-intubation with 45Ca, blood samples were taken from the right brachial vein of five hens and the birds were immediately killed, carcasses were dissected, the left femur and tibia-fibula were excised, and an egg, if present, was removed. Whole blood was assayed for 51Cr activity, and plasma, bones and shells were assayed for 45.
Fish-mediated nutrient cycling and benthic microbial processes: can consumers influence stream nutrient cycling at multiple spatial scales?

Abstract. Fish-mediated nutrient recycling influences nutrient dynamics in stream ecosystems, but its consequences for smaller-scale microbial processes in benthic habitats are not well understood. We quantified the effect of nutrient recycling by the grazing fish, Campostoma anomalum, on downstream periphyton in 12 flow-through stream mesocosms. We compared periphyton nutrient ratios and algal biomass (as chlorophyll a [chl a]) between tiles upstream and downstream of enclosures with and without fish to measure nutrient-cycling effects in streams with low (11) and high (177) surface-water dissolved N∶P molar ratios. No upstream–downstream changes in periphyton nutrient ratios were observed in low N∶P streams with or without fish. In high N∶P streams, periphyton C∶N decreased and C∶P and N∶P increased on tiles downstream of enclosures. In high N∶P streams, downstream changes in periphyton nutrient ratios were greater in streams with than without fish, and chl a significantly increased downstream of enclosures with fish. We linked nutrient-recycling effects to downstream microbial processes by comparing bacterial biomass production (BBP), photosynthesis (PS) rates, and the degree of coupling between the 2 processes on tiles downstream of enclosures. We estimated the degree of coupled production between algae and bacteria downstream of enclosures as the covariance between PS and BBP among replicates within each stream (COVPS–BBP). In high N∶P streams, areal BBP and PS rates and COVPS–BBP were higher downstream of enclosures with fish. Chl a and COVPS–BBP declined with increasing periphyton C∶N content, resulting in a positive relationship between COVPS–BBP and algal biomass across all treatments. Our results indicate that grazing fish alter stream ecosystem N and P dynamics through consumer-mediated recycling pathways, but downstream responses depend on background nutrient regimes. Fish-mediated changes in nutrient dynamics and algal biomass influence reliance of heterotrophs and autotrophs on nutrients recycled within periphyton communities to support benthic production.
Induction of systemic resistance by Bacillus cereus against tomato foliar diseases under field conditions

The ability of a rhizobacterium to protect tomato plants against naturally occurring diseases as well as to improve crop yield under field conditions was studied. The rhizobacterium was introduced to the plants through seed microbiolization. Treatments consisted of different frequencies of fungicide (Chlorothalonyl) sprayings (5, 10 or 20 applications) of tomato plants grown from either microbiolized or non-microbiolized seeds over a 90-day evaluation period. Treatment of non-microbiolized seeds without fungicide application was included as a control. The progress of the following three naturally occurring diseases was evaluated in the field and quantified: early blight (Alternaria solani), late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and septoria leaf spot (Septoria lycopersici). All treatments resulted in reduced disease severity when compared with the control treatment. Highest final fruit yields were found after treatment of plants grown from non-microbiolized seeds and sprayed with fungicide 20 times over 90 days, and for treatment of plants from microbiolized seeds that received 10 fungicide spray applications, although all treatments increased yield over that obtained in the control treatment. The results demonstrate that combined rhizobacterial and chemical treatments in the field may permit reducing fungicidal spraying frequency while at the same time increasing crop yields.
Topoisomerase inhibitors as therapeutic weapons

DNA topoisomerases (topos), which solve topological problems associated with various DNA transactions, are the targets of many therapeutic agents. Various topo inhibitors, especially the so-called topo-poisons, are drugs presently used in cancer treatment protocols. However, tumour resistance, as well as normal and non-specific tissue cytotoxicity are limitations for the successful development of these drugs as one of the primary therapeutic agents for the treatment of tumours. Major progress has been attained in recent years in the understanding of the structures of these enzymes and their main cellular functions, hopefully providing new opportunities for pharmacological interventions. Recently, new leads and derivatives of known structures have been reported and they are discussed here, highlighting the challenges to find innovative and more effective drugs. Moreover, the authors review novel and diverse approaches relevant to the development of new topo-related therapeutics other than cancer. This brief review presents the present understanding about cytotoxicity development and outlines various approaches to overcome the limitations for enhancing the efficacy of mainly topo-poison based anticancer drugs.
Factors affecting intestinal starch digestion in ruminants: A review

The process of starch assimilation in the ruminant is complex and remains an avenue by which increases in production efficiency can be gained. Ruminal starch digestion is typically 0.75–0.80 of starch intake. Starch that escapes fermentation and flows to the small intestine may be more resistant to enzymatic digestion and on average 0.35–0.60 of starch entering the small intestine is degraded there. Of the fraction that escapes small intestinal digestion an additional 0.35–0.50 is degraded in the large intestine. This suggests that limitations to small intestinal starch digestion do exist. This review summarizes available information describing the digestive and absorptive processes occurring in the small intestine with an emphasis on nutritional factors that influence these processes. A review of experiments measuring small intestinal starch digestion indicates that small intestinal digestion is either highly variable or poorly determined whereas ruminal and large intestinal digestion are much more clear.
Childhood Maltreatment Predictors of Trait Impulsivity

This chapter provides a summary of empirical evidence linking childhood maltreatment and trait impulsivity. While biological contributors to impulsivity may be substantial, this review speculates that childhood and adolescent contributors may potentially alter the developmental trajectory of this personality trait in important ways. An analysis of original data ( N = 401) regarding child maltreatment associations (childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, sibling abuse, peer bullying, corporal punishment, and exposure to domestic violence) with trait impulsivity as measured by the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 was also conducted. Adult respondents were assigned to extreme child abuse categories based on their retrospective self-reports. Co-occurrence rates for the various forms of maltreatment were modest (around 10%). While childhood sexual abuse was more closely associated with adult impulsivity among the men than the women, gender differences in these maltreatment relationships were otherwise minimal. Extreme childhood sexual abuse was a significant predictor of trait impulsivity and all other facets of the PID-5 Disinhibition domain ( d s ranging from .52 to .80). Adult impulsivity was predicted by both childhood physical abuse ( d s ranging from .23 to .28) and exposure to domestic violence during childhood ( d s ranging from .21 to .32). The relative risk of adult respondents showing an elevation (> 1.5 SD s) in trait Impulsivity was raised substantially by childhood histories of extreme sexual abuse ( RR = 8.68), physical abuse ( RR = 3.31), or exposure to parental domestic violence ( RR = 4.08). Higher order interactions between these various forms of childhood maltreatment and Impulsivity were not found. The developmental psychopathology implications of these findings are discussed along with suggested directions for future research.
Costs of Reproduction in Water Skinks

Costs of reproduction measured under laboratory conditions may have little bearing on actual costs observed in the field, because both environmental conditions and behavior can modify the manifestation of these costs. I studied survival, growth, and reproduction in a wild population of southern water skinks (Eulamprus tympanum) over 3 yr to measure costs of reproduction in females, to examine how the environment influences these costs, and to assess the extent to which females are able to reduce costs. The proportion of mature females that reproduced each year varied from 30-60%. Frequent reproduction appeared costly in terms of both survival rates and growth. Growth rates and survival rates were negatively correlated with reproduction during the 3-yr study. In the coolest and wettest year of the study, when food intake by females was relatively low, gravid females and females that had reproduced in the previous year survived less well than nonreproducing females. There was no evidence of a survival cost of reproduction in the other two years of the study. Reproduction also imposed a fecundity cost, as overall, mean growth rates of reproducing females were reduced relative to those of nonreproducing females of the same body size. Reduced growth rate translates to reduced litter size in these skinks, because fecundity increases with body size. These results suggest that reproduction can be costly in terms of both survival and future reproduction in these skinks, but that survival costs are not consistent from year to year and are mediated by environmental conditions. Females appear to adjust their frequency of reproduction to minimize these costs, as those females that skipped opportunities for reproduction were those expected to gain the greatest growth and fecundity benefit by skipping.
Using undersown clovers as living mulches: effects on yields, lepidopterous pest infestations, and spider densities in a Hawaiian broccoli agroecosystem

A field study was conducted to examine the influence of undersowing broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) with living mulches (cover crops grown concurrently with a primary crop) on lepidopteran pest and spider densities and crop yield. In the present study, broccoli was grown in bare ground or undersown in strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), or yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis L.). Lepidopteran egg and larval densities were significantly greater in broccoli monoculture compared with broccoli – living mulch habitats during the latter part of the broccoli growth cycle. Although spiders were found more frequently on bare ground broccoli during early crop growth, during the ladder growth period, spiders counts were significantly higher on broccoli in living mulch habitats. Lepidopteran contaminants of harvested broccoli heads were significantly fewer in undersown than in monoculture broccoli. Broccoli heads were of similar size in living mulch and bare ground habitats. Yellow sweetclover gave the earliest and greater coverage among the living mulches, but broccoli heads were significantly smaller in these plots compared with white clover and strawberry clover plots. We discuss the reasons for variation in arthropod population responses to habitat types and the implications of the current findings on the future use of living mulches to depress insect pest populations.
Tolerance of extreme salinity in two stem-succulent halophytes (Tecticornia species).

Communities of Tecticornia on the margins of ephemeral salt lakes in Australia often exhibit species zonation, such as at Hannan Lake (Western Australia) where Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens (Nees) K.A. Sheph. and Paul G.Wilson occupies the less saline dune habitat on lake margins and Tecticornia pergranulata (J.M.Black) K.A. Sheph. and Paul G.Wilson subsp. pergranulata occupies both the dunes and the more saline and moist lake playa. Here we tested the hypothesis that these two species differ in tolerance to extreme salinity. Plants were grown in drained sand cultures with treatments of 10-2000mM NaCl for 85 days. Both species were highly salt tolerant, maintaining growth at treatments of up to 2000mM NaCl, although the death of two replicates of T. indica at 2000mM NaCl suggests this salinity is close to the species tolerance limit. Both Tecticornia species maintained a favourable gradient in tissue water potential via osmotic adjustment as external salinity increased, also with reduced tissue water content at very high external salinity. Regulated accumulation of Na+ and Cl-, maintenance of net K+ to Na+ selectivity, high tissue concentrations of glycinebetaine and presumed cellular solute compartmentation, would have contributed to salt tolerance. The growth rate of T. pergranulata was 11-29% higher than T. indica suggesting, in addition to these moderate differences in salinity tolerance, other factors are likely to contribute to species zonation at salt lakes. The higher water use efficiency of the C4 T. indica compared with the C3 T. pergranulata may provide an advantage in the drier dune habitat on salt lake margins. An additional experiment confirmed the hypothesis that survival of T. pergranulata seedlings is enhanced by the duration of reduced salinity after germination, as would occur following significant rainfall, as older seedlings maintained higher growth rates during subsequent increases in salinity.
A spin trap, N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone extends the life span of mice

To characterize the pharmacological effects of N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnirone (PBN) on life span, we administered PBN in drinking water to 24.5-month-old mice, and the survivors were counted. Their water consumption and body weights were measured as biological markers. PBN-treated animals as compared with control animals had prolonged mean and maximum life spans. Their water consumption decreased but no significant change was found in their body weights, indicating that the metabolism was improved. Results showed that PBN indeed affects physiological functions and extends life span. We propose that nitric oxide release from PBN may be involved in altering the aging process.
A chamber for the simulation of radiation freezing of plants

Summary. Frost injury to plants can occur following episodic radiation frosts. In the UK this is particularly important to spring sown crops such as potatoes. Most laboratory based frost studies simulate freezing using either conductive or convective freezing chambers. Such frost tests do not simulate overnight freezing events adequately. A freezing chamber based on radiative cooling is described which mimics overnight radiative freezing. The chamber is rectangular in design (1 m × lm × 2 m high) with a radiative cooling plate at the top of the chamber cooled to -40°C to -45°C using HFC coolants, which acts as a cold black body. The sides of the chamber are also cooled to variable temperatures down to -5°C in order to prevent the chamber walls radiating to the plant material during testing. Using thermocouples to measure air temperature and plant temperature the chamber has been characterised to simulate the radiative cooling conditions found in the UK during autumn and spring. Exotherm detection upon plant freezing is simplified by virtue of the reduction in temperature fluctuation normally experienced at the plant surface during natural freezing. Radiation frosts and subsequent frost damage to potatoes have been recorded in the temperature range -4°C to –5°C. The equipment is recommended for studies of frost damage to plants normally caused by episodic radiation frost events.
The Effect of Antigen Stimulation on α4, β1 and β7 Chain Integrin Expression and Function in CD4+ Cells

Background: The α4 integrin, as α4β1 (VLA-4) or α4β7, is critical for T cell migration and proliferation, although its functional modulation remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that increased receptor density, based on new receptor chain synthesis, was one such mechanism. We examined the surface receptor density of the α4 and β1 chains on CD4+CD45RO+ cells, and the mRNA expression of these and the β7 chain in response to allergen and nonallergen antigen stimulation. Methods: Flow-cytometric analyses for CD49d, CD29, and CD45RO were performed on T cell lines specific for timothy, tetanus, and Candida from atopic and nonatopic donors. RNA was extracted from cells sorted to select CD4+/CD49d-positive cells before and after stimulation. Equivalent amounts of cDNA for β-actin, α4, β1 and β7 were used in PCR, and the products were quantified using phosphoimaging. Results: CD49d expression is heterogeneous on T cell lines and is upregulated by antigen stimulation on CD4+ T cells. The surface expression on CD4+CD45RO+ timothy allergen or tetanus toxoid T cell lines is at least double that found on CD45RO– cells. Antigen stimulation upregulated CD49d expression on the CD4+CD45RO+ subpopulation of both cell lines although it was not as significant as in the case of all CD4+ T cells. CD29 surface expression behaves similarly. Candida had no effect on CD49d or CD29. Messenger RNA expression for the α4 chain (CD49d) is significantly upregulated 48 h following the addition of timothy or tetanus. β7 chain expression also rises significantly on both cell lines. β1 chain expression increases, but not significantly. Conclusions: The surface expression of the CD49d is heterogeneous and much higher on CD4+CD45RO+ cells than on CD4+RO– T cells. The CD49d integrin chain on CD4+ T cells is upregulated following antigen exposure. However, the CD4+CD45RO+ subpopulation is only partially responsible for this increase suggesting other T cells to have this receptor expression upregulated. CD29 expression behaves similarly. Messenger RNA expression increases coordinately for α4, β7, and not significantly for β1 in these cells. These observations provide a potential mechanism for the selective accumulation of T cells at sites of inflammation, and suggest an important point of intervention for allergic and inflammatory disease.
Favorable day and night temperature combination for the fruit growths of Delaware grapes and Satsuma oranges

2. The effect of day and night temperature combination on the fruit growth was observed with Delaware grapes and Satsuma oranges at the stage of fruit enlargement. Day and night temperatures of 15°, 20°, 25° and 30°C were combined with one another, by keeping plants in the growth chambers (so-called Koitotron). The fruit growths of both species in diameter or weight were always superior in the combinations of 20°C day-20°C night, 25°C-25°C and 25°C-20°C. This fact suggests that the optimum temperature for the fruit growth ranges from 20° to 25°C and that no difference of temperature between day and night is needed for the best growth of fruits. However, from the practical point of view the daily change of temperature at the stage of fruit enlargement will be desirable to be 25°C day -20°C night . 3. When the two kinds of day and night tem-