Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Possum demographics and distribution after reduction to near–zero density

Abstract Demographic responses of a population of New Zealand’s foremost vertebrate pest, the introduced brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), after being reduced to very low levels, were investigated over 2.5 years in a central North Island mixed conifer-broadleaved forest. Densities 4–9 months after population reduction were estimated to be c. 0.08 possums/ha, possibly indicating that most individuals were isolated from one another immediately after population reduction. We found no evidence of inverse–density–dependent factors reducing the rate of recovery of the possum population; 87% of 23 adult females captured during the study were carrying pouch young or had recently bred. The estimated exponential annual rate of population increase during the study was 0.59. Changes in habitat used, decreased trappability with increasing time since first detection, and data from radio–collared animals all indicate that some possums were particularly mobile during the study. We hypothesise that, despite the usually sedentary nature of adult possums, adults made large-scale range shifts following population reduction, presumably to enable aggregation of the survivors into breeding groups.
Efecto de la irradiación luminosa en la aclimatación de Mammillaria carmenae Castañeda (Cactaceae) proveniente de cultivo in vitro

In vitro culture of Mammillaria carmenae was initiated using areoles of an in vivo etiolated plant as explants. Shoots were obtained from callus and were rooted. Complete plantlets were acclimatized by removing them from an in vitro condition, and transplanting them into a greenhouse under three irradiation values (50, 150 y 970 μmol m-2 s-1). The effect of irradiation during acclimatization, on the organic acids variation (titrable acidity), chlorophylls a, b and total, as well as plant survival were studied. Numerous plantlets were formed from callus. All plants had low chlorophylls concentrations. In ex vitro plants under acclimatization (50, 150 and 970 μmol m-2 s-1), changes on tritable acidity were observed, but not observed in in vitro plants. The irradiation had a strong influence in the adaptation process to normal photosynthetic activities of M. carmenae in vitro plants.
ANOMALOCARIS AND OTHER LARGE ANIMALS IN THE LOWER CAMBRIAN CHENGJIANG FAUNA OF SOUTHWEST CHINA

Abstract Five anomalocaridids are described from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang fauna of China: Anomalocaris saron sp.n. , Anomalocaris sp. , Amplectobelua symbrachiata gen. et sp.n. , Cucumericrus decoratus gen. et sp.n. , and Parapeytoia yunnanensis gen. et sp.n. Ventral trunk appendages are reported for the first time. In C. decoratus and P. yunnanensis, each appendage has a distal segmented walking leg, and a wide lateral extension of a long proximal portion forms the structure previously described as a lateral fin. Furthermore, the structure of the dorsum is elucidated. The supposed ventrolateral gills are flat scales covering the back in transverse rows. The mouth was directed backwards, as in the Middle Cambrian Opabinia regalis, and not directed ventrally as in previous reconstructions. The radial arrangement of the circum‐oral sclerites suggests that anomalocaridids were related to aschelminth worms rather than to arthropods. Hou, X. ‐g. , Bergstrom, J. & Ahlberg, P., 1995: Anomalocaris and other large .
Morfologia dos órgãos genitais masculinos e da cloaca da ema (Rhea americana americana)

The rhea (Rhea americana americana) is a bird that belongs to the group of the Ratitas, order Rheiforme and family Rheidae. Macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the male genital organ (testes, epididymis, deferent ducts, and phallus) and the cloaca were analyzed in 23 emas, four chicken (2 weeks old), young (3 to 10 months old), and twelve adult ones (3 years old), from Cooperativa Emas do Brasil, RS and from CEMAS, Mossoro, RN. The testis of rhea had elongated shape and were located inside coelomatic cavity, in dorsal region of abdominal cavity, with medium length and width of 7.6±1.2cm and 2.6±0.7cm at adult animals; 4.5±1.5cm and 0.9±0.4cm at young animals; and 0.8±0.3cm, and 0.2±0.1cm at chicken. The testis were recovered by the tunica albuginea and its parenchyma had seminiferous tubules composed by spermatogenic epithelium and by sustentation cells, and also interstitial tissue, with interstitial endocrine cells, connective tissue and vessels. At the adult animals were observed all the cells from spermatogenic lineage, whilst at the youngs with 3 months the seminiferous tubules had a smale lumen with spermatogonia and undifferentiated sustentacular cells. The efferents ductus were composed by a cubic ciliated epithelium, while the epididimydis duct had a columnar epithelium. The epididymis was elongated and fusiform closely to medial testis board. The deferent duct had sinuous stretch at adult animals, rectilineae at young animal, convolute at its medium portion, decreasing its sigmoid shape at caudal portion, next to cloaca. The epithelium was pseudostratified ciliated, irregular lumen at adult animal, and circular at young animal, closely with urether. The cloaca was divided into three segments: coprodeum, urodeum and proctodeum. At urodeum the deferent ducts discharged into papillas at the ventral side wall, next to fibrous phallus's insertion. The phallus was a lymphatic fibrous organ, located at ventral wall, at the cloaca floor, and was composed by two portions: one rigid forked and twisted, and another simple spiraled and flexible, which normally was inverted. In forced exposition, the phallus had 14 cm in length. In a general way the Rhea genital organs shared the morphology from others birds, mainly those described to the ostrich.
Distribution patterns of Chilean shallow-water sea anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia); with a discussion of the taxonomic and zoogeographic relationships between the actinofauna of the South East Pacific, the South West Atlantic and the Antarctic

The first complete zoogeographical analysis of Chilean shallow water sea anemones (Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) and their taxonomic relations with neighbouring faunas is provided, based on extensive recent sampling in combination with a literature review. Between 1994 and 2004, we collected more than 1000 specimens of 32 distinct species of Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia at more than 100 sites along the Chilean coast between Arica (18°30’S; 70°19’W) and the Straits of Magellan (53°36’S 70°56’W). Sampling was done in the intertidal during low tides and in the subtidal by means of SCUBA diving down to depths of 40 m. The northern part of the Chilean fjord region showed the highest number of species (23). Our results contradict an abrupt general change in the marine faunal composition at 42°S, instead showing the continuation of species of the exposed coast and the joining of fjord species due to the availability of additional habitats in the richly structured fjord region south of 42°S, and also to eurybathy. The southern distribution limits of the species we found in northern and central Chile show only one significant concentration around the Peninsula Taitao (approx. 48°S). This either indicates a zoogeographic barrier for shallow water species at the Peninsula Taitao, or is a sampling artifact caused by poor data from the region between the Peninsula Taitao and the Straits of Magellan. According to the literature, 18 of the 63 described Chilean sea anemones (Pacific Ocean) can also be found in Argentina (Atlantic Ocean) and 13 in the Antarctic. However, many records and statuses of the common species of the South East Pacific and the South West Atlantic/Antarctic are uncertain or doubtful and need revision or confirmation.
Growth, photosynthate partitioning and fructan accumulation in plants of Vernonia herbacea (Vell.) Rusby under two nitrogen levels

The effect of two nitrogen concentrations on fructan accumulation and plant growth was analysed in plants of Vernonia herbacea during a year period. Plants of this species accumulate inulin-type fructans in the underground reserve organs (rhizophores). The plants were cultivated in glasshouse conditions and received weekly nutrient solutions containing 1.3 mmol.L-1 NO3- (N-limited) or 10.7 mmol.L-1 NO3- (N-sufficient). Plants treated with N-sufficient solution presented an increase in total growth with higher biomass, more but smaller leaves resulting in higher total leaf area, higher net assimilation rate, specific leaf mass and higher biomass allocation to aerial organs. In addition, these plants presented higher contents of reducing sugars and lower fructan contents. In contrast, N-limited plants showed reduced total growth with lower biomass, higher biomass allocation to underground organs and higher fructan contents. Therefore, although N-limited plants presented a higher fructan concentration, the amount of fructan produced per plant was similar in both N treatments.
Use of stable isotopes to quantify nitrogen, potassium and magnesium dynamics in young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

summary Two-yr-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings were grown in sand culture for 1 yr with a generous supply of a balanced nutrient solution. Trees were repotted into clean sand in February 1998 and given either a reduced or adequate nutrient supply containing enriched "&N, %"K and #’Mg to label nutrient uptake during spring 1998. Trees doubled their biomass during the experiment. Whole-tree net photosynthesis was reduced by 43% after 95 d in trees that received the lower nutrient supply (P ! 0‐001), although dierences in biomass between the two treatments were less pronounced. Remobilization contributed 83, 82 and 52% of the N, K and Mg, respectively, used to support growth of new tissues in trees that received reduced nutrient supply. Those receiving the higher nutrient supply still obtained 44‐59% of nutrients used for spring growth of new tissues from remobilization. Current nutrient supply had no significant eect on the amount of N or Mg remobilized to new tissues but K remobilization was less in trees that received the lower nutrient supply (P fl 0‐025). The importance of remobilization in young trees and problems associated with quantifying internal cycling of nutrients are discussed.
Notice of release of Majestic Germplasm and Spectrum Germplasm western prairie clover: selected class of natural germplasm

Two natural-track selected germplasms of western prairie clover (Dalea ornata (Douglas ex Hook.) Eaton & J. Wright [Fabaceae]) have been released for use in revegetation of semiarid rangelands in the western US. Western prairie clover is a perennial leguminous forb that occurs naturally in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. Majestic Germplasm western prairie clover originates from seed collected from indigenous plants near Sherar's Bridge in Sherman County, Oregon, whereas Spectrum Germplasm western prairie clover originates from seed collected from indigenous plants near Succor Creek Natural Area in far eastern Oregon in Malheur County, Oregon. Common-garden and DNA data for 22 collections of western prairie clover were used to develop these releases on a genetic basis. Majestic Germplasm was selected to represent the genetic diversity structure of western prairie clover from the western Columbia Plateau and western Blue Mountains Ecoregions. Spectrum Germplasm was selected to represent the genetic diversity structure from the central and eastern Columbia Plateau, central and eastern Blue Mountains, Northern Basin and Range, and Snake River Plain Ecoregions. This is a new species in the commercial seed trade, and these are the first releases of this species.
A revision of the African mygalomorph spider genus Allothele (Araneae, Dipluridae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2794

The African diplurid genus Allothele, containing species which have been erroneously placed in the American genus Euagrus, is redefined to include those diplurids with fully setae-lined spermathecal trunks, a non-terminal male tibia II mating apophysis with stout toothlike apical and subapical spines, and a male metatarsus II mating apophysis without multiple keels. A cladogram, key, diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations, scanning electron micrographs, locality records, and map are provided for the five known species of Allothele. Euagrus regnardi Benoit is transferred to Allothele. One new species, A. malawi, is described.
Long bone scaling and limb posture in non-avian theropods: Evidence for differential allometry

ABSTRACT Long bone allometry has been analyzed in a large sample of non-avian theropod dinosaurs spanning almost the entire size range of known adult species. Theropod long bone allometry closely parallels the trends observed in extant mammals. Like mammals, large theropods scale with significantly lower regression slopes than do smaller species. As in extant mammals non-avian theropods are neither geometrically nor elastically similar. Large non-avian theropods tend to be elastically similar, whereas small species approach geometric similarity. As in extant mammals non-avian theropods appear to show a size dependent change in limb posture, aligning the individual long bones more steeply to vertical with increasing size, thus probably reducing the mass specific amount of force necessary to counteract moments about the joints. The main difference between non-avian theropods and mammals appears to be the retention of very long limbs among large non-avian theropod species, which, however, is not unparalleled.
CHANGE OF QUALITY IN SUGAR CANE (Saccharum officinarum) JUICE

ABSTRACT The inhibition process m ethod of sucrose degradation in sugar cane juice was studied by adding kawao root and mangosteen bark. These two preservative agents were traditionally often used to inhibit degradation process of sugar juice. This research was conducted to characterize sugarcane juice and preservative agent (kawao root and mangosteen bark) and to analyze quality change of the juice during incubation. The results showed that the amount of sucrose was higher (10.29%), reduction sugar was 2.43% of glucose and 0.94% of fructose, acid value was 62.5 mleq and pH value was 5.1. Kawao root and mangosteen bark consist of alkaloid, flavonoid, triterpenoid and glycoside in large portion and saponin, fenolic, triterpenoid and steroid in small portion. Changing quality of sugarcane as sucrose content showed that the preservative agent addition can inhibit sucrose degradation, specifically after 80 minute. Preserved sugarcane juice quality is better than those without preservative in terms of reduction sugar content, acid total and pH value. Keywords: kawao root, mangosteen bark, sugarcane juice, inhibition, degradation.
Agronomic performance of two intercropped soybean cultivars

Broader environmental tolerance associated with mixed population of soybean (Glycine max Merr.) cultivars may increase soybean yield potential and play a significant role in yield stability. A field study was carried out to assess whether intercropping of two commonly used cultivars of soybean with different morphological characteristics may increase seed yield in Iran. A split-plot design was used with three replications. The main plots were 3 densities; 23.8, 33.3, and 55.5 plants m -2 . Sub-plots consisted of intercropping ratios row by row of 100:0 (pure stand of Harcor), 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 (pure stand of Bonus) of Harcor and Bonus cultivars, respectively. The results indicated that the highest seed yield was obtained from 50:50 ratios of the cultivars which had land equivalent ratio (LER) above 1.11. Calculation of LER revealed that seed yield in treatment HBHB was 11% higher than the pure stand. The superiority of intercropping over pure stands occurred only in the highest plant density. Intercropping ratio showed no significant effect on any of yield components. However, pod number per plant was decreased with increasing plant density.
Oxalate production by fungi : its role in pathogenicity and ecology in the soil environment

Oxalate secretion by fungi provides many advantages for their growth and colonization of substrates. The role of oxalic acid in pathogenesis is through acidification of host tissues and sequestration of calcium from host cell walls. The formation of calcium oxalate crystals weakens the cell walls, thereby allowing polygalacturonase to effect degradation more rapidly in a synergistic response. There is good correlation between pathogenesis, virulence, and oxalic acid secretion. Solubility of soil nutrients is achieved by soil-living species, when cations freed by oxalate diffusing in clay layers increases the effective solubility of Al and Fe. Oxalate retained in hyphal mats of mycorrhizal species increases phosphate and sulphate availability. The formation of calcium oxalate crystals provides a reservoir of calcium in the ecosystem. The ability of oxalate to bind divalent cations permits detoxification of copper, particularly evident in wood preserved with copper salts. Oxalate plays a unique role in lign.
Making sense of heritability

Introduction 1. The nature-nurture debate: a premature burial? 2. A tangle of interactions: separating genetic and environmental influences 3. Lost in correlations? Direct and indirect genetic causes 4. From individuals to groups: genetics and race 5. Genes and malleability 6. Science and sensitivity 7. Conclusions.
Properties of a new isolate of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2

A new isolate of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2-H4) was recovered by mechanically inoculating herbaceous hosts with concentrated tissue extracts from a North American accession of Vitis rupestris. Contrary to the Semillon isolate of GLRaV-2, isolate H4 elicited necrotic local lesions in Nicotiana clevelandii and infected systemically N. occidentalis inducing very severe symptoms. The migration rate of dissociated capsid protein of GLRaV-2-H4 in SDS-PAGE differed slightly from that of GLRaV-2-Sem. The coat protein sequence of GLRaV-2-H4 differed by about 12 % at the nucleotide level from capsid proteins of the other two GLRaV-2 isolates that have been sequenced to date. No serological differences could be detected. Isolate H4 is a biological variant of GLRaV-2, which can be distinguished from other mechanically transmitted isolates of the same virus because of differences in type and reactions of the herbaceous host range and in molecular traits of the coat protein cistron.
Effects of transport stress and rest before slaughter on blood parameters and meat quality of ducks

Zhu, Z. , Chen, Y. , Huang, Z. , Zhang, Y. , Xu, Q. , Tong, Y. , Zhai, F. , Chang, G. and Chen, G. 2014. Effects of transport stress and rest before slaughter on blood parameters and meat quality of ducks. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 595-600. Ducks have been transported to be slaughtered at centralized locations since the 2013 avian influenza A (H7N9) epidemics in China. It is unavoidable that a certain amount of stress will occur during the transportation. We investigated the effects of transport stress and rest before slaughter on blood parameters and meat quality in ducks. Pekin ducks (42 d old) were randomly divided into six groups. Each group had five replicates, with four ducks in each replicate. The experimental design included the variables transport time and rest time before slaughter. Transport distance categories were short-distance (1 h transport; n=20), medium-distance (2 h transport; n=20) and long-distance (3 h transport; n=20) transport. Rest time was categorized as short (0.5 h; n=20) or long (2 h; n=20) periods of rest. Blood samples and meat samples were collected after transport or after the post-transport rest period. Blood indicators (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, insulin, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, and glutathione peroxidase) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Meat quality characteristics (meat component, pH, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl) were also measured. Triiodothyronine, thyroxine, aminotransferase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, creatine kinase, glutathione peroxidase, pH, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl values changed significantly in ducks exposed to the medium-distance transport treatment. Stress indicators improved and meat quality returned to normal by the end of a 2-h pre-slaughter rest. These results indicate that a 2-h transport causes serious stress in ducks. A 2-h rest before slaughter mitigates these adverse effects.
Effect of inoculation with a thermotolerant plant growth promoting Pseudomonas putida strain AKMP7 on growth of wheat (Triticum spp.) under heat stress

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of plant growth promoting thermotolerant Pseudomonas putida strain AKMP7 on the growth of wheat plants to heat stress. The results indicated the superior performance by P. putida strain AKMP7 in improving survival and growth of wheat plants under heat stress. The bacterium significantly increased the root and shoot length, dry biomass, tiller, spike let and grain formation of wheat over uninoculated plants. Inoculation reduced membrane injury and the activity of several antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, APX and CAT under heat stress. Inoculation improved the levels of cellular metabolites like proline, chlorophyll, sugars, starch, amino acids, and proteins compared to uninoculated plants. Scanning electron microscopy studies confirmed the colonization of the organism on the root surface. This result suggests the possible role of microorganisms in mitigating adverse effects of climate changes on crop growth and may lead to development of microbe based climate- ready technology.
A complex quota-managed fishery: science and management in Australia's South East Fishery. Introduction and overview

The stock assessment process in the South East Fishery involves scientists, industry, fishery managers, economists and non-government organizations. A comparison with such processes in other countries, where stakeholder involvement ranges from government scientists only to involvement of scientists, industry and conservation non-government organizations, suggests that Australia is the only country in which fishery managers are active and integral stock-assessment participants. In Australia, as in several other countries, the form of advice is comparative (consequences of alternative decisions) rather than prescriptive. Although all approaches have advantages and disadvantages, the South East Fishery process has advantages that appear to clearly outweigh the disadvantages. The advantages include better communication among interest groups, improved ownership of and hence support for outcomes and better interactions among groups. The disadvantages include the cost of the process, lack of consistency among assessments, vulnerability of scientists and the frustrations of industry.