Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A microarray study of altered gene expression during melanoblasts migration in normal pigmented White Leghorn and hyperpigmented mutant Silky Fowl

Melanoblasts originating from neural crest cells can migrate through the mesenchyme of the developed embryo and give rise to melanocytes. Unlike the melanocytes that are confined to the integument in other vertebrates, melanocytes in Silky Fowl can reach the ventral regions of the embryos owing to differences in gene expression in the process of melanoblasts migration. In this study, we used microarray profiling to identify differences in gene expression between White Leghorn and Silky Fowl. Differential expression of 2517 microarray probes (P 2) was observed in Silky Fowl compared to White Leghorn. After filtration by cluster analysis, functional annotation and pathway analysis, eight differentially expressed genes were identified to be closely related to the development of melanocytes. Moreover, differences in expression of immune genes were also detected between Silky Fowl and White Leghorn. The differentially expressed genes associated with melanocyte development were verified by q-PCR, and results were highly consistent with the microarray data. The genes with significantly altered expression involved in melanoblast migration and development suggested that different microenvironments resulted in the abnormal melanoblast migration in Silky Fowl, although there were no big differences in melanoblast development between these two breeds. The candidate genes discovered in this study are beneficial to understand the molecular mechanism of hyperpigmentation in Silky Fowl.
Predator gut state and prey detectability using electrophoretic analysis of gut contents

Abstract. I. An investigation of the effects of position of food in the gut (gut state), time since feeding, meal size and environmental temperature on the detection of prey using the electrophoretic separation of proteins with esterase activity was undertaken. The waterbug Notonecta glauca Linn (Hemiptera/Heteroptera) was used as the model predator.
Effect of Awamori Lees on growth, serum and liver lipid concentration in rats fed a high cholesterol diet.

沖縄県の特産物「泡盛」の醸造副産物である「泡盛もろみ粕」の圧搾液汁は「もろみ酢」の原料として広く利用されているが，一方で搾汁後に残る「泡盛圧搾粕」の大部分が食品廃棄物となっている．本研究では，この泡盛圧搾粕を動物用飼料および機能性食品への転換利用を目的として，高コレステロール摂取ラットの発育状態，血清および肝臓脂質に及ぼす泡盛圧搾粕給与の影響について検討を行った．5週齢のラットに3％コレステロール食を2週間給与し，脂肪肝モデルを作製した．その後群分けし，対照食，5，25および50％泡盛圧搾粕食で4週間飼育した．ラットの体重増加量および飼料摂取量に及ぼす泡盛圧搾粕の影響は特に認められず，泡盛圧搾粕を基本飼料に50％まで添加しても順調な発育と良好な嗜好性を与えることが明らかになった．Control群の肝臓の色調は混濁した白褐色を呈し，肝臓あたりの総脂質濃度は28. 3％であったことから脂肪肝であると考えられた．25％および50％ AL群では，肝臓実重量および肉眼的色調はStandard群と差がなく，肝臓あたりの総脂質濃度は泡盛圧搾粕添加量の増加に伴って低値となり，泡盛圧搾粕摂取による脂肪肝の改善効果が認められた．TC濃度は，血清および肝臓のいずれにおいても泡盛圧搾粕の添加量の増加に伴って低い値を示し，5，25および50％ AL群のHDL濃度はStandard群とほぼ同じ値であった．さらに，血清および肝臓中のTG濃度はControl群に対し50％ AL群では有意に低下していた．排糞量および糞中総胆汁酸量はControl群の約5倍であった．以上のことから，泡盛圧搾粕は動物用飼料原料および機能性食品素材としての利用可能性があると考えられた．
Calonectria avesiculata sp.nov.

Calonectria avesiculata T. S. Schubert, N. E. El-Gholl, S. A. Alfieri Jr., et C. L. Schoulties sp.nov. is described from leaf spots on Ilex vomitoria Ait. in Florida.
Differentiation of raphide crystal idioblasts in isolated root cultures of Yucca torreyi (Agavaceae)

Excised primary roots of Yucca torreyi (L.) were cultured in various media, and development of cortical raphide crystal idioblasts was observed. Idioblasts were consistently produced, required 24 h to differentiate fully from initials in isolated root cultures, and developed normally relative to those cells in intact roots. In vacuoles of idioblast initials, we observed an electron-dense amorphous material associated with paracrystalline bodies and membranous crystal chambers. Crystallization occurs within and is apparently controlled by crystal chamber membranes. After crystal production, crystalloplastids differentiate lobed regions, and cables of tubules and mucilage form within the central vacuole. Many aspects of Yucca idioblast development are common to differentiation of similar cells in intact organs of other plants. Based on our results, we believe that isolated root cultures of Yucca will be useful for future physiological investigations of oxalate metabolism and control of idioblast cytodiffere.
Degradability of various types of starch by incubation with rumen fluid or with bacterial α‐amylase

Zusammenfassung Der Starkeabbau aus verschiedenen Starkearten nach Inkubation mit Pansensaft oder bakterieller α-Amylase Untersuchungen uber den Starkeabbau aus La Plata Mais, Rispenhirse, Sorghumhirse, Kanariensaat, Weizen, Maisflocken, Puffmais, Paselli, Mais, Maisstarke und Gerste wurden nach Inkubation mit Pansensaft (Exp. A) oder mit α-Amylase bakterieller Herkunft (Exp. B) durchgefuhrt. Als Spendertiere dienten Kuhe, die mit Heu guter Qualitat (Exp. A 1; “Heu-Kuh”) oder mit 8 kg Heu und 10 kg Kraftfutter (Exp. A2; “Kraftfutter-Kuh” gefuttert wurden. Die Inkubation mit bakterieller α-Amylase wurde mit Konzentrationen von 0,01, 0,1, 1 und 10 mg bakterieller α-Amylase (4500 SU/mg Calbiochem, San Diego, USA) in Experiment B1 und in den Experimenten B2 und B3 mit 10 mg durchgefuhrt. Der Starkeabbau nach Inkubation mit Pansensaft der Kraftfutter-Kuh war erheblich groser als der nach Inkubation mit Pansensaft der Heu-Kuh. Relativ war die Zunahme bei den schwer abbaubaren Starkequellen am grosten. Obwohl die Korrelation zwischen dem Starkeabbau nach Inkubation mit α-Amylase und Inkubation mit Pansensaft von Heu- und Kraftfutter-Kuh hoch war (jeweils 0,96 und 0,93) wurden grose Differenzen zwischen Starkeabbau durch α-Amylase und Pansensaft ermittelt. Keine Unterschiede wurden fur die α-Amylase-Aktivitat zwischen pH 5,0 und 6,5 beobachtet. Die eingesetzte Menge an α-Amylase zeigte einen grosen Einflus auf den Starkeabbau. Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen zeigen, das sowohl Starkeart als auch die Aufschlusmethode den Starkeabbau beeinflussen. Die Amylase-Aktivitat im Pansensaft wurde durch die Futterung der Spendertiere beeinflust. Es wird vermutet, das am Starkeabbau im Pansen nicht nur α-Amylase sondern auch andere bakterielle Enzyme beteiligt sind.
Terpenoid lactones with the p‐menthane system as feeding deterrents to the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus

The application of antifeedants, often in combination with other methods within integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, has proven to be a good way to control insect pests. Little is known about compounds that have antifeedant activity against the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The antifeedant properties of optically pure isomers of pulegone and isopulegol and some enantiomeric pairs of bicyclic terpenoid lactones with the p‐menthane system, derived from these isomeric starting compounds, were studied in choice and no‐choice tests with the lesser mealworm. The original monoterpenes and γ‐spirolactones were weak feeding deterrents to larvae and adults of A. diaperinus. The δ‐hydroxy‐γ‐spirolactones showed significant activity against adults, but substituting the hydroxy group with a ketone group considerably reduced the deterrent activity of the resulting δ‐keto‐γ‐spirolactones. The bicyclic γ‐hydroxy‐δ‐lactones with condensed rings and with the (1S,6R,8R)‐(+) and (1R,6S,8S)‐(–) configuration of the chiral centres, and δ‐hydroxy‐γ‐lactone (1S,4S,6S)‐(+) were very strong antifeedants to both larvae and adults. The hydroxy groups and the configuration of the chiral centres of the molecules were very important features for determining the antifeedant activity of the lactones tested. Generally, the compounds studied were better antifeedants to adults than to larvae.
On the Shedding of the Claws in the Ptarmigan and Allied Birds

THE fact of the ptarmigans shedding their claws regularly every summer, seems not to have been observed personally by any of the many excellent American ornithologists, and has, therefore, been comparatively little known to them. It may consequently not be without interest to demonstrate this process, as I have material at hand which shows the procedure very plainly. The late Professor Sven Nilsson, the famous Swedish zo6logist, was the first to discover this peculiarity in the ptarmigans. His countryman, Professor W. Meves, afterward confirmed his observations, and at the same time proved that this singular shedding of the claws also occurs in other birds of the family Tetraonidaw, as, for instance, in both sexes of Bonasa bonasia, Uroga/lus urogallus, and also, in the female at least, of Lyrurus tetrix. As will be seen in the specimens of the Lagopus ridgwayi (a new species which I was fortunate enough to detect on the Commander islands, near Kamtschatka), shot in June and August, before shedding, the middle claw measures I8^20mm' while in the specimen shot on the 23d of August, and which has just thrown the old ones off, the length of the new claw is only i imm1 More instructive still is a male, shot on the same day, as it has the claws only partially shed. The old claws have become loosened from their base and are forced 2-3mm out, still covering the tip of the new ones, except on two toes, from which they have already dropped off. Hence it is obvious that the process is not a pathological one, in which the nail drops off as soon as it is perfectly separate from its bed, and has ceased to receive nourishment hrough the blood-vessels. Most conclusive however, is a specimen of a quite different species, Lagopus a/ba, a specimen collected by Dr. Bean, on Unga, one of the Shumagin islands, Alaska. About this specimen Dr. Bean remarks in his " Notes on Birds collected in Alaska," etc., in the Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. , i882, p. i63, as follows: " This specimen (shot on July 2Ist) corresponds very closely in most respects with number 33,548, a female from Norway, collected July 2,
Angiosperm Endozoochory: Were Pterosaurs Cretaceous Seed Dispersers?

Endozoochory-the consumption of fleshor pulp-covered seeds and subsequent dispersal of those seeds by animals-has been an important feature of the reproductive biology of seed plants since Carboniferous times (Tiffney 1984, 1986). Pulp-covered diaspores (hereafter called "fruits" on functional grounds) appear to be primitive reproductive characteristics of both gymnosperms and angiosperms (Doyle 1977; Stebbins 1981; van der Pijl 1982), and endozoochory has sometimes been cited as one of the key characteristics that led to the evolutionary success of the angiosperms beginning in the Lower Cretaceous 130 million yr ago (Regal 1977; Burger 1981; Crepet 1984; Doyle and Donoghue 1986). Herrera (1989), however, has disputed the importance of endozoochory as a major factor behind angiosperm success by pointing out that a higher proportion of gymnosperm than angiosperm families are endozoochorous (64% vs. 28%), that in both groups endozoochorous families are not more species rich than families using other dispersal methods, and that endozoochory does not appear earlier in the angiosperm fossil record than other dispersal methods. Despite disagreement over its general evolutionary importance, angiosperm endozoochory clearly has had a profound influence on the evolution and ecology of plants and animals, particularly in species-rich tropical ecosystems (Fleming 1991). Its long geological history and independent evolution in many phyletic lines of seed plants (van der Pijl 1982) suggest that endozoochory has had positive selective value in a wide variety of ecological settings. This mutualistic plant-animal interaction is probably the product of diffuse coevolution (Janzen 1980) in which groups of plants have evolved with groups of animals. The end product of this process has been the evolution of rather generalized fruit "syndromes" characterized by morphological and nutritional traits that reflect he morphological, behavioral, and physiological characteristics of particular groups of vertebrates (van der Pijl 1982; Howe 1986). The most important consumers and dispersers of modern gymnosperm and angiosperm fruits are birds and mammals (esp. bats and primates) whose major adaptive radiations did not begin until relatively recently in geological history (i.e., in the Paleocene or later; Feduccia 1980; Hill and Smith 1984; Fleagle 1988). The evolution of modern frugivores thus occurred well after the initial radiation of angiosperms, in which at least four of the 11 extant subclasses (Magnoliidae, Hamamelidae, Rosidae, and one subclass of Liliopsida) and several clades within these groups had differentiated by earliest late Cretaceous (i.e., 90-100 million yr B.P.; Raven and Axelrod 1974; Crane and Lidgard 1989). Frugivorous birds
A survey of reflectivity in silvery teleosts

A survey has been made of reflecting layers in the integument of selected fishes, including silvery sea lamprey and various silvery and partially translucent teleosts. Lamprey and juvenile rockling have only a stratum argenteum. Other silvery teleosts have a layer of oriented reflecting platelets lying outside the stratum argenteum; these lie more or less parallel to the vertical to the surface of the water.In dace, herring, and salmon parr the platelets on the upper flanks are tipped slightly upwards; but in some pelagic fishes, e.g. the mackerel and gar-fish, the platelets here are tipped downwards. Smelt, sand smelt, half-beaks, found in shallow or coastal waters, are partially translucent, partially silvery. The implications of these arrangements of reflecting layers are discussed. Both in clear oceanic waters, away from the surface, and in shallow or turbid rivers or ponds, light is distributed almost symmetrically about the vertical to the surface, and the greatest intensity is directed downwards. Under these conditions the reflecting layers diminish thevisibility of the fish from most fields of view because they reflect light approximately equal to the background light against which the fish is seen. On the lower flanks, when the surface is sloping, the reflected light tends to be spread and to beless intense than the incident light. Thin fishes, dark above with vertically reflecting sides, are effectively camouflaged except for the ventral extremity. The lower flanks of tapering or rounded fishes are well camouflaged by reflexion from below and behind because the platelets slope inwards towards the tail, and the projected area of incidence relative to reflexion is thereby increased.
Effects of Thinning Regime on the Wood Properties and Stem Quality of Picea abies

Abstract Seven thinning trials in stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) planted on highly productive sites in southern Sweden were investigated. Cross-sectional weighted basic density was not affected by a thinning regime characterized by several thinnings from below compared with naturally thinned stands. Heavy thinnings decreased basic density. However, the decrease was moderate compared with those reported in earlier investigations, probably owing to the lower stand density prior to first thinning which affected competition between trees and crown differentiation. Thinning from above resulted in a higher basic density, mainly because trees with decreased growth ring development up until the time of the first thinning were favored. Dry matter production was not decreased any more than volume production by any of the treatments except for the very heavy thinning from below. Generally, thinning decreased the juvenile wood content of the stand. As a consequence of selection, thinning from above.
The Size, Number, and Fluorescence Intensity of 5HT-Immunoreactive Axon Terminals in the Aged Rat Lumbar Spinal Cord Motor Nucleus as Revealed by Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy and Computerized 3D Image Analysis

Abstract In this paper we describe changes in the morphology and distribution of serotoninergic (5HT)-like immunoreactive (IR) axon terminals In the aged rat spinal motor nucleus by use of immunofluorescence labeling and a computerized 3D analysis of image stacks recorded with a beam-scanning confocal microscope. The results are compared with corresponding data from young adult rats. 5HT-IR axonal profiles In the aged rat often had an altered morphology, with large, irregularly outlined profiles. Some of the 5HT-IR terminals in the aged rat had a complex appearance and extended numerous small processes; this may suggest that axonal proliferation also occurs. In several tissue samples the morphology of the axon profiles was altered to such an extent that they did not lend themselves to quantitative analysis. Quantitative analysis was performed on tissue samples showing moderate changes in the 5HT-IR axon plexus in the spinal cord of the aged rat. The results showed that the number of axon terminal-like objects was smaller by about 20% in the aged rat. The diameter of the terminals was, on average, 20% larger in the aged rat and the summed volume of axon terminal-like objects in a tissue stack was almost twice as large as that in young adult rats. The aggregated fluorescent signal of the axon terminals In a tissue stack, however, was similar in young adult and aged rats. Detailed analysis revealed that for most axon terminal diameter sizes, the fluorescent signal recorded in young adult rats was stronger than that recorded in aged rats.
Impact of red : far red ratios on germination of temperate forest herbs in relation to shade tolerance, seed mass and persistence in the soil

Summary 1The effect of the ratio of red : far red light (R : FR) on seed germination of herbaceous species from northern temperate deciduous forest has received little attention. Here for 27 such species, we investigated the relationship between seed mass and the suitability of micro-sites for germination. Germination in light and in darkness was compared after cold stratification, and for the light-requiring species, the germination response to R : FR was determined. In addition, seed bank persistence was monitored over 4 years. 2With increasing seed mass, germination became less dependent on light and seed bank persistence decreased. Furthermore, for the light-dependent species, there was a significant negative relationship between the R : FR that resulted in 50% germination and seed mass. 3These data suggest that small-seeded species only germinate in micro-sites with a high R : FR, which signals the absence of over-topping vegetation or leaf litter. Such micro-sites are comparatively rare, which may necessitate persistence in the soil seed bank. 4For small-seeded species, we propose that a key benefit from restricting germination to high R : FR is a reduction in the time-frame over which the initially small seedlings remain small and hence highly vulnerable to mortality: high R : FR is likely to indicate high-light levels which would facilitate rapid seedling growth.
Small-scale distributional pattern in Xiphophora gladiata (Labillardiere) Montagne ex Kjellman (Fucales, Phaeophyta)

Abstract The small-scale distributional pattern of a subtidal macroalga, Xiphophora gladiata (Labillardiere) Montagne ex Kjellman, at two sites on the coast of Tasmania, Australia, was examined using underwater survey to millimetre accuracy. Analysis by Morisita's index of dispersion, Iδ, showed clumping at scales of 100, 200 and (at one site) 400 mm, only the last of which could readily be explained by variations in the physical environment. It is suggested that formation of the smaller clumps is caused by biotic interactions.
Boat traffic affects the acoustic behaviour of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis

In this study, the indirect (i.e. boats not involved in dolphin viewing activities) impacts of boat traffic on the acoustic behaviour of Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa chinensis, were assessed in Moreton Bay, Australia. Humpback dolphin acoustic behaviour is affected by transiting boat traffic. Boats' passage did not affect the rates at which dolphins produced click trains and burst pulse vocalizations. However, dolphins significantly increased their rate of whistling immediately after a boat moved through the area. This increase occurred only when boats were less than 1·5 km from the groups. Groups including mother–calf pairs showed an increase in whistles in response to boats' passage. Groups with no calves produced significantly fewer whistles. This evidence suggests that the noise from transiting vessels affects dolphins' group cohesion. Mother–calf pairs appear to be most disturbed by transiting vessels, and exhibit an increased need to re-establish vocal contact.
Stability of partial and complete resistance in rice to Pyricularia grisea under rainfed upland conditions in Eastern Colombia

Two sets of experiments were conducted to compare the relative stability of partial and complete resistance in rice to Pyricularia grisea (causal agent of the rice blast disease) in a disease hot spot in eastern Colombia. In the first set of experiments, 186 breeding lines selected at the site over the F 2 to F 4 generations, ranging from completely to partially resistant in the F 4 , were evaluated under heavy disease pressure at the site every season from 1987 to 1990 (two seasons per year). A set of 92 lines from the International Rice Blast Nursery (IRBN) with initial evaluations of resistant (standard evaluation system [SES] ≤ 5), also ranging from completely to partially resistant, were evaluated under the same conditions. Locally developed materials were rated as susceptible less frequently than lines from the IRBN set. In both sets, significantly fewer lines initially scored as highly resistant (SES = 1 to 3) were later scored as susceptible (SES > 5) or showed any increase in susceptibility to local pathogen populations compared to those initially rated as partially resistant (SES = 4 to 5). In the second set of experiments, locally developed and exotic lines were grouped according to partial (few susceptible-type lesions [SES type 5]) and high resistance (few resistant-type lesions [SES type 1 to 3]). After three seasons of evaluation, lines with high levels of resistance had a significantly lower rate of change to susceptible levels. The rice cultivar Oryzica Llanos 5 was selected at this site from a line with complete blast resistance and was released for commercial cultivation in blast-prone eastern Colombia. It is grown on approximately 5 x 10 4 ha/year and has remained resistant to blast over 10 consecutive growing seasons, both in experimental blast nurseries and in farmers' fields where blast normally is a severe problem. This cultivar also showed uniformly high levels of blast resistance when evaluated at seven high blast level sites in four Asian countries in blast nurseries with 72 other cultivars with differing levels and origins of blast resistance. The results suggest that selecting high levels of resistance when diverse sources are combined can be used to develop cultivars with stable resistance to rice blast.
Responses of free-ranging house sparrows to feed containing primary and secondary repellents

Abstract We recorded the responses of free-ranging house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to various concentrations of primary repellents and a secondary repellent. Wheat treated with either lime or neem oil was consumed by sparrows at the same rate over 24 hours as plain wheat at all doses. d-pulegone significantly reduced wheat consumption from day 1 onwards throughout the 4 days. Avex™ (containing the secondary repellent anthraquinone) did not significantly reduce wheat consumption on day 1 of exposure, but sparrows ate progressively less repellent wheat over the following days. For both d-pulegone and Avex™, there was a negative relationship between wheat consumption and repellent concentration. In experiment 2, the highest concentrations of Avex™ + d-pulegone combined reduced daily wheat consumption significantly more than Avex™ alone and the effect lasted throughout the 10-day test. These results demonstrate the potential of primary and secondary repellents, presented alone or in combination, for modifying the feeding behaviour of sparrows.