Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behavioral Aspects of Animal Domestication

Since the survival and well-being of humankind is so inextricably bound to our domestic animals and plants, it is important that we understand the domestication process and its biological consequences. The objective of this review is to discuss available information on the biological basis of animal domestication, with particular emphasis on behavior. Domestication concerns adaptation, which is usually to a captive environment and which is achieved by some combination of genetic changes occurring over generations, as well as by environmentally induced changes in development that recur during each generation. Genetic changes will occur in population of organisms undergoing domestication as a result of both chance and of any shift in selection pressures accompanying the transition from nature to captivity. In addition to changes in gene frequencies, adaptation to the captive environment may be facilitated by certain recurring environmental events or management practices that influence the development of specific biological traits. It is difficult to generalize about the effects of domestication on either genetic or phenotypic variability because of different selection pressures on different traits and species. However, it is apparent that, with respect to animal behavior, domestication has influenced the quantitative rather than qualitative nature of the response. The postulated loss of certain behavior patterns under domestication can usually be explained by a heightening of response thresholds above normal levels of stimulation. Conversely, lowered thresholds of response often can be accounted for by constant exposure to certains forms of stimulation. Certain behaviors may have been altered because of man's role as a buffer between the animal and its environment. One of the more important behavioral changes accompanying the domestication process is a reduction in responsiveness to changes in the animal's environment. Food provisioning and man's control over the breeding process have reduced competition for important resources, and thus have permitted selection for the retention of juvenile characteristics (neotony). Feralization is the domestication process in reverse. The capacity of domestic animals to survive in nature may depend on the extent to which the gene pool of the population has been altered during the domestication process. "Natural" gene pools should be protected when breeding wild animals in captivity for the purpose of reestablishing free-living natural populations.
Soluble Dietary Fiber

ABSTRACT: Soluble dietary fibers (SDFs) are present in small quantities in almost each and every commodity and in combination with insoluble dietary fiber contribute towards total dietary fiber. The beneficial properties of SDFs have been associated with their significant role in human physiological function. Reductions in cholesterol level and blood pressure, prevention of gastrointestinal problems, protection against onset of several cancers, which include colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer, increased mineral bioavailability, and many more are the salient features of their potential. Some of the new unexplored soluble fibers are still under investigation for their use in a variety of commercial foodstuffs. This review outlines the various SDFs available, their major sources, and their potential functional role in human health.
PREDICTION OF SIRE TRANSMITTING ABILITIES FOR HERD LIFE FROM TRANSMITTING ABILITIES FOR LINEAR TYPE TRAITS

Abstract Use of sire linear type trait transmitting abilities as indirect predictors of herd life transmitting abilities was investigated. Data consisted of 53,830 grade Holstein daughters of 617 sires evaluated during first lactation for 18 type traits and having the opportunity to survive to 72 mo. Two measures of herd life were used, true herd life was not adjusted for yield, and functional herd life was linearly adjusted for the cow's last lactation yield relative to that of herdmates. (Co)variances among the 20 traits were estimated via a multiple-trait REML algorithm. Heritabilities for linear traits ranged from . 08 to . 41. Heritability estimates for both herd life traits were . 03. The genetic correlation between the two measures of herd life was . 84. Weights to predict herd life from linear traits, estimated as a function of the sire (co)variance matrix among herd life measures and linear traits, were different for true and for functional herd life. Predictions of herd life from the weights are equivalent to those from a multiple-trait BLUP model with herd life as a correlated but unobserved trait. For the estimated parameters, indirect prediction of herd life from type had a maximum reliability (squared correlation of predicted and true transmitting ability) of . 56, but it was more reliable than direct prediction with 75 or fewer effective progeny. Additionally, linear type data are available earlier than herd life data.
Consequences of premature return by sea trout (Salmo trutta) infested with the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer): migration, growth, and mortality

Nous avons etudie le retour precoce de la truite de mer (Salmo trutta) en prelevant des poissons en remonte dans un piege installe a l'embouchure de la riviere Lonningdalselven, dans l'ouest de la Norvege. Les postsmolts remontaient la riviere en juin et les poissons plus âges en juillet. Les poissons en remonte etaient gravement infestes de poux du saumon (Lepeophtheirus salmonis), et bon nombre d'entre eux etaient en pietre condition physique. Les infestations differaient d'un groupe a l'autre parmi les truites anadromes. Les postsmolts presentaient une intensite mediane d'infestation de 206 poux, surtout juveniles. Les migrants plus âges presentaient une intensite mediane de 43,5 poux, dont une forte proportion de preadultes et d'adultes. Parmi les postsmolts en remonte, 41% sont redescendus en mer, apres un sejour median en riviere de 37,5 jours. Ces poissons s'etaient remis de la forte attaque des parasites, mais ils presentaient une baisse mediane de 23,5% de la masse corporelle et aucune augmentation de la longueur. Tous les migrants plus âges sont restes dans la riviere pour le reste de la saison. Une faible mortalite (3,6%) a ete observee chez les postsmolts en remonte precoce, mais 19,7% des migrants plus âges sont morts dans la semaine qui a suivi leur retour.
Regulation of eight avr by hrpG and hrpX in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris and their role in pathogenicity

Abstract Eight putative avirulence genes in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) strain 8004 were characterized by Tn5gusA5 mutagenesis and gene expression analysis. The virulence test of mutants on Chinese radish showed that all mutants in individual avr genes except avrBs2 mutant were not significantly different from the wild type in virulence. The avrBs2 mutant showed reduced virulence and bacterial growth in planta. Gene expression analysis using b-glucuronidase as reporter indicated that avrBs1. 1, avrBs1, avrXccB, avrXccC, avrXccE1 were regulated by hrpG, whereas avrXccA1, avrXccA2 and avrBs2 were not. RT-PCR analysis showed that all hrpG-regulated by hrpG, whereas avrXccA1, avrXccA2 and avrBs2 were not. RT-PCR analysis showed that all hrpG-regulated genes except avrBs1 were also regulated by hrpX. In addition, it was demonstrated that avrBs1 was responsible for elicitation of a type III dependent hypersensitive reaction (HR) on nonhost plant pepper ECW-10R, and wild type Xcc 8004 was unable .
Microbial colonization and decomposition processes in rice rhizoplane. I. microbial colonization associated with lateral root emergence

Rice roots were collected sequentially during the whole period of cultivation and observed under both a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Only bacteria colonized the rice roots. The colonization was usually more active in the region of lateral root emergence than in other regions except the region with a large number of root hairs and mucigel-like substance. Bacterial colonization in the region of lateral root emergence proceeded through the following 4 stages: pre-emergence (stage 1), early emergence (stage 2), full emergence (stage 3), and post emergence (stage 4). At stages 1 and 2, the cells and tissues of the epidermal and exodermal layers were variously affected by the emergence of lateral roots. However, they were not colonized by bacteria probably due to some mechanisms preventing the affected cells and tissues from being colonized by the bacteria. At stage 3, a mucigel-like substance was present near the emerged lateral roots. Many bacterial cells were associated with this subs.
The analysis of adaptation in a plant-breeding programme

The adaptation of barley varieties was studied by the use of grain yields of a randomly chosen group of 277 varieties from a world collection, grown in replicated trials for several seasons at three sites in South Australia. For each variety a linear regression of yield on the mean yield of all varieties for each site and season was computed to measure variety adaptation. In these calculations the basic yields were measured on a logarithmic scale, as it was found that a high degree of linearity was thereby induced. The mean yield of all varieties for each site and season provided a quantitative grading of the environments; and from the analysis described, varieties specifically adapted to good or poor seasons and those showing general adaptability may be identified. The study of the adaptation of the whole population of varieties was facilitated by the use of a two-dimensional plot (scatter diagram), with mean yield and regression coefficient as coordinates for each variety. Though wide variation was evident in both mean yield and sensitivity to environment as characterized by the regression coefficient, the variation in sensitivity was proportionately less among varieties with higher mean yield, and the varieties with highest mean yield exhibited, within very narrow limits (regression coefficients close to 0.8), a similar degree of adaptation to all environments over the wide range, especially of seasonal conditions, typical of the South Australian cereal belt. Varieties from particular geographic regions of the world showed a similarity in type of adaptation, which provides a useful basis for plant introduction. Phenotypic stability and physiological and morphological characteristics of groups of varieties with specific or general adaptability are discussed in relation to plant introduction and breeding.
Characterization of the signaling pathways Regulating α2β1 integrin-mediated events by a pharmacological approach

In certain instances of developing and adult organism, epithelial cells can change morphology and transform into mesenchynial-like type in order to move through the extracellular matrix. However, because of the multiplicity and complexity of signaling pathways that contribute to these processes, their molecular dissection has remained difficult. By using a pharmacological approach on the rat bladder carcinoma cell line NBT-II dispersion system, we have identified distinct signaling events for adhesion and motility in response to collagen, both activities depending on α2β1 integrin. Treatment of cells with PKC inhibitors markedly impaired initial attachment on collagen without affecting the capacity of cells to move, suggesting that PKC activity is required for initial adhesion strength during cell translocation. Both adhesion and motility were diminished by tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin and tyrphostin whereas tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors amplified cell scattering. The collagen-induced dispersio.
Microsatellite genetic variation reveals extensive introgression between wild and introduced stocks, and a new evolutionary unit in French pike Esox lucius L.

The genetic variability of 11 French pike Esox lucius populations from rivers or extensive aquaculture ponds was analysed using seven microsatellite markers. The fish stocking of eastern European pike in French rivers is widespread, so five supplementary populations from this region were also analysed. Genetic variability within the French population was small, and similar to that previously found in Europe for this species. French populations from stocked rivers and extensive farms formed a genetically homogeneous group, and did not diverge from most eastern European samples, which may reflect either ancestral polymorphism or a complete introgression of French populations by introduced stocks. Bayesian analysis of the admixture between populations enabled identification of the French populations that were likely to be affected by introduced stocks (of local or foreign origin). Three genetically distinct evolutionary branches were identified: continental Europe, Danube basin, and south-western France. The last is a new finding in the species which needs to be further explored by comparisons with wild populations at other sites.
Survival and oviposition of a western corn rootworm variant feeding on soybean

The role of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merril (Fabaceae), in the circumvention of crop rotation was evaluated by observing the effects of soybean herbivory on western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) survival and oviposition. Field collected D. virgifera adults resistant to annual rotation of corn, Zea mays (L.) (Poaceae), and soybean were given the opportunity to feed on a soybean pre‐treatment diet prior to diet combinations of corn, soybean, and/or water. The number of days that the adults survived after removal of the diet combinations was used as a measure of insect vigor and diet quality. Willingness to feed on a soybean foliage pre‐treatment did not indicate greater ability to benefit nutritionally from soybean herbivory. Adult D. virgifera previously feeding on corn, soybean, or water survived starvation for 8.3 ± 0.15 days, 5.1 ± 0.13 days, and 3.9 ± 0.14 days, respectively. Diabrotica virgifera recover from 2 days of starvation or poor diet if subsequently given access to corn tissues for 2 days. Eggs were laid within 1 day of access to poor diet or starvation. Other D. virgifera, captured as they flew from a cornfield into a soybean field, were maintained on soybean foliage or only water until they died. Of the beetles with access to soybean foliage, 24% fed within 24 h after capture and survived 1 day longer than insects given only water. Only 20% of these D. virgifera were able to lay eggs without consuming additional corn prior to death. Few D. virgifera enter soybean fields capable of immediate oviposition. Female reproductive status and diet quality influence the likelihood of oviposition following exposure to stress. The effects of soybean herbivory may contribute to the proximate mechanism of resistance to crop rotation.
Yellowstone grizzly bear mortality, human habituation, and whitebark pine seed crops

The Yellowstone grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) population may be extirpated during the next 100-200 years unless mortality rates stabilize and remain at acceptable low levels. Consequently, we analyzed relationships between Yellowstone grizzly bear mortality and frequency of human habituation among bears and size of the whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) seed crop. During years of large seed crops, bears used areas within 5 km of roads and 8 km of developments half as intensively as during years of small seed crops because whitebark pine's high elevation distribution is typically remote from human facilities
Seasonal oscillation in shore attendance and transience of New Zealand fur seals

The New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) appears to show regular shore attendance in the form of seasonal oscillations. This phenomenon should be quantified to properly interpret counts of fur seals >1 year old (i.e., non-pups). Here we test the predictability of peaks in the annual shore-attendance oscillation on Otago Peninsula using an autoregressive sine model and >2 years of intensive survey data. We predicted that the peak in fur seal numbers ashore would lie between 14 January - 4 April (1996) and 8 Januar y-2A pril(1997), although this low predictability is undesirable when attempts are made to monitor population trends. Estimating population size from counts of non- pups also requires knowledge of the rate of turnover of individuals. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that tagged animals from other colonies are immigrants to Otago Peninsula. With sightings on Otago Peninsula of fur seals tagged elsewhere in New Zealand, we used a Monte Carlo approach to simulate the expected frequency of single and multiple sightings of individuals. We found that the observed frequency of multiple sightings was significantly less than predicted by the model (P < 0.0001), indicating that tagged animals were transients. We also discovered that the sex ratio of tagged animals varied with breeding colony of origin (G1 = 52.07, P < 0.0001), suggesting that the impetus for emigration differs among colonies. We concur with the view that counting pups is the only way to estimate the relative abundance of New Zealand fur seals. In addition, we showed that counts of non-pups cannot be used to estimate population size because an unknown proportion of individuals is transient. However, counting of pups does not address the issue of estimating relative abundance for locations with large numbers of nonbreeding individuals and few or no breeders. With few or no pups it is impossible to estimate relative abundance using counts of pups.
Diversity of Pharmacological Properties in Chinese and European Medicinal Plants: Cytotoxicity, Antiviral and Antitrypanosomal Screening of 82 Herbal Drugs

In an extensive screening, the antiviral, antitrypanosomal and anticancer properties of extracts from 82 plants used in traditional Chinese medicine and European phytomedicine were determined. Several promising plants that were highly effective against hepatitis B virus (HBV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)—a flavivirus used here as a surrogate in vitro model of hepatitis C virus, trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei) and several cancer cell lines were identified. Six aqueous extracts from Celosia cristata, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Houttuynia cordata, Selaginella tamariscina, Alpinia galanga and Alpinia oxyphylla showed significant antiviral effects against BVDV without toxic effects on host embryonic bovine trachea (EBTr) cells, while Evodia lepta, Hedyotis
Extrapolating from Individual Behavior to Populations and Communities in Streams

Biological processes, such as predator-prey or competitive interactions, occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales, but their impacts on the distribution, abundance, and fitness of organisms may only be detectable at some scales. This is because 1) small scale (local) processes may be constrained by large-scale (regional) processes, 2) the influence of organism movement changes with spatial scale, and 3) multiple small-scale processes may interact and produce variation that obscures large-scale patterns. Most ecologists would like to know the relevance of small-scale observations and experiments for large-scale patterns and processes acting over long time periods. In this paper we consider whether patterns of individual behavior translate in a straightforward way to patterns in population dynamics, community structure, or individual fitness at larger spatial and longer temporal scales. We illustrate our discussion with data from communities living in high altitude streams in western Colorado, coastal streams in southern California, and streams on the South Island of New Zealand. We describe patterns of individual behavior including selective predation, predator-avoidance behavior, and competitive interactions. Our examples indicate that large scale patterns of distribution and abundance of organisms sometimes deviate from those expected from patterns of individual behavior. We hypothesize that such discrepancies are often due to multiple confounding factors, including abiotic disturbances, that have effects on populations and communities at larger scales. Similarly, our data illustrate that present behaviors may not have measurable fitness consequences over longer time scales. We emphasize that only by studying all life history stages of organisms with complex life cycles can we interpret the long-term fitness consequences of individual behaviors. We conclude that our ability to extrapolate from individual behaviors to populations and communities in streams will improve when we consider the repercussions of individual behaviors and environmental factors over broader spatial and temporal scales.
Birds on edge: avian assemblages along forest‐agricultural boundaries of central Victoria, Australia

Habitat clearance generally produces fragmented landscapes. A major consequence is the creation of large amounts of new ‘edge habitat’, often of a kind not previously existing, such as abrupt forest‐ agricultural land interfaces. Much work from around the world suggests that proliferation of edge habitat seriously affects birds reliant on large forest blocks to persist, and the intrusion of edge specialists into areas they did not previously occupy. These processes often generate avifaunal gradients in which assemblages change from the interior to the edge. This effect is explored in the largest remnant block of box‐ironbark forest of central Victoria, Australia (about 30,000 ha). Eight radially oriented survey lines were established around the periphery of the block. Along each survey line, five transects with long axes oriented parallel to the edge were positioned with midlines at 40 m, 160 m, 280 m and 400 m into the forest, and one transect 80 m into the agricultural land, yielding a total of 40 transects. Six identical transects were located deep within the forest (> 2 km). There was little evidence of a change in the avifauna from interior to edge, although mean richness was depressed in the edge habitats compared with forest interior transects. These results were essentially the same for ‘all species’ or ‘forest dependent’ species. Thus, there is little evidence for marked edge effects on the avifauna of these large forest blocks, although work in intermediate sized remnants (100‐1000 ha) is needed to identify thresholds at which edge effects begin to be manifested.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Concentrations in Developing Maize Grains

A 2-year (1989, 1990) experiment was conducted in the Carpathian Basin near Keszthely, Hungary to evaluate the course of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations in the developing grain. Two maize hybrids were grown at four rates of N application (0, 50, 150 and 250 kg N ha-1). Plots had been fertilized at these levels since 1983. As a result of the long-term N treatments, stocks of P and K in the soil decreased as the rate of N application increased. As expected, concentrations of N in the mature grains were higher at high doses of N, whereas the rate of N application had little impact on the P and K concentrations in the ripe grains. Only in 1989, when grain yield showed a relatively stronger response to applications of N than in 1990, were the concentrations of P and, to a lesser extent, K reduced by additions of N. These results illustrate that P and K concentrations in the grain are well-buffered against increments in grain yield resulting from the application of N and are also relatively insensitive to low supplies of P and K in the soil. In both hybrids, concentrations of N, P and especially K declined considerably with ongoing grain filling, irrespective of N treatment. Differences in concentrations of P and K for hybrids existed but were not consistent across years.