Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Succession and biomass allocation as controlled by Sphagnum in an Alaskan peatland

The vascular plant vegetation on active Sphagnum hummocks, on senescent hummocks, and in hollows of an Alaskan peatland was measured in several ways. Aboveground biomass and net primary production were greatest on senescent hummocks. Growth of hummock-forming Sphagnum mosses caused a significant increase in stem density and adventitious shoot production of Ledum palustre and Andromeda polifolia, while Vaccinium vitis-idaea showed a decrease in stem density; Rubus chamaemorus was unaffected. Overgrowth of vascular plants by Sphagnum resulted in significantly higher leaf/stem ratios in most of the shrub species. In addition, leaf turnover rates of the evergreen shrubs were modified. The growth of Sphagnum hummocks leads to a developmental stage in the vascular vegetation in which a large amount of structural biomass is present relative to leaf biomass. The rate of microsuccessional change in hummock–hollow complexes appears to be relatively high, at least in comparison to those macrosuccessional processes a.
A morphological classification capturing functional variation in phytoplankton

1. A logical way of distinguishing functional groups of phytoplankton is to cluster species according to their functional traits, such as growth rate and nutrient assimilation constants. However, data for such an approach are lacking for the vast majority of the species. 2. In this study, we show that a classification based on simple morphological traits may capture much of the variability in functional properties among the phytoplankton. We used information on more than 700 freshwater species, from more than 200 lakes situated in climate zones ranging from subpolar to tropical. 3. Morphological characteristics correlated well with functional properties, such as growth rate and sinking rate, and also with the population size and biomass attained in the field. This suggests that morphology is a good predictor of the functional characteristics of species. 4. Cluster analysis was used to define seven species groups based on morphology. Although some of the clusters are taxonomically homogeneous, others include species of several separate divisions. Functional traits (not used for the classification) differed significantly among the clusters, suggesting that the clusters may indeed represent meaningful functional groups. 5. Advantages of our morphological approach to classification include its objectivity, its independence from taxonomic affiliations, and the relative ease of its application to the majority of species for which physiological traits are unknown and are not readily determined.
Can source–sink relations explain responses of tobacco to infection by the root holoparasitic angiosperm Orobanche cernua?

The achlorophyllous holoparasitic angiosperm Orobanche cernua reduced biomass accumulation of its tobacco host, such that 73-d-old plants achieved 29% of the biomass of control plants. The difference in biomass between infected and uninfected tobacco could be accounted for directly by diversion of dry matter to the parasite. Thus, the smaller infected plants were responsible for the production of as much dry matter in host and parasite as their larger uninfected counterparts. The productivity of the infected system was maintained by: (a) sustained production of leaf area (a greater leaf area ratio); (b) increased specific leaf area, and (c) delayed senescence. When tobacco was inoculated with different densities of the parasite, the amount of dry matter accumulated by the parasite was not changed, suggesting that a finite amount of resource was available to the parasite. The response of the host to infection can be explained by simple source-sink interactions and the data are discussed with respect to other parasitic angiosperm-host systems which show different types of responses.
Lower limits of Spartina densiflora and S. maritima in a Mediterranean salt marsh determined by different ecophysiological tolerances

1 Salt marshes in south‐west Spain are being invaded by Spartina densiflora, a South American introduction, although the native S. maritima still dominates many lower marshes. A transplant experiment was used to investigate the means by which physical and chemical factors may determine lower vegetation limits in the tidal frame. Both species were transplanted from a mid‐level marsh to lower, unvegetated tidal flats.
Peroxisome Dynamics: Molecular Players, Mechanisms, and (Dys)functions

Peroxisomes are remarkably versatile cell organelles whose size, shape, number, and protein content can vary greatly depending on the organism, the developmental stage of the organism’s life cycle, and the environment in which the organism lives. The main functions usually associated with peroxisomes include the metabolism of lipids and reactive oxygen species. However, in recent years, it has become clear that these organelles may also act as intracellular signaling platforms that mediate developmental decisions by modulating extraperoxisomal concentrations of several second messengers. To fulfill their functions, peroxisomes physically and functionally interact with other cell organelles, including mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. Defects in peroxisome dynamics can lead to organelle dysfunction and have been associated with various human disorders. The purpose of this paper is to thoroughly summarize and discuss the current concepts underlying peroxisome formation, multiplication, and degradation. In addition, this paper will briefly highlight what is known about the interplay between peroxisomes and other cell organelles and explore the physiological and pathological implications of this interorganellar crosstalk.
Gap dynamics in aspen stands of the Clay Belt of northwestern Quebec following a forest tent caterpillar outbreak

Forest tent caterpillar (FTC; Malacosoma disstria Hubner) outbreaks represent an important natural disturbance in broadleaf-dominated stands; however, their effects on forest gap dynamics are not well understood. To describe such effects on canopy gaps and tree recruitment patterns, we investigated 20 trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) dominated stands defoliated severely over 0 to 3 years during the last outbreak (1998–2003) in the northwestern Clay Belt of Quebec. Results show that canopy opening more than tripled (12.3%–43.7%) from 0 to 3 years of severe defoliation, and mean gap size was more than 12 times greater (7.2–87.5 m2) over the same gradient. Regeneration patterns suggest that aspen recruitment is not sufficient to completely restore closed canopies in stands defoliated 0, 1, and 2 years, whereas it should be sufficient in stands defoliated 3 years, where large gaps allow trembling aspen establishment. Our results clearly indicate that FTC outbreaks represent an important factor of .
Effect of colchicine on the Golgi apparatus and the lysosmal system in osteoclasts

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of colchicine on the osteoclastic bone resorption. Male Wistar rats, weighting 120g on average, were injected intravenously with colchicine at the dose of 1.0 mg/kg. The control rats were injected with physiological saline. They were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours after the injection. Osteoclasts located in the proximal metaphysis of tibia were examined with an electron microscope. Some specimens were stained for acid phosphatase. After the colchicine injection, the number of microtubules in the cytoplasm decreased and the Golgi apparatus moved from the circumunclear area and spread throughout the cytoplasm. Acid phosphatase-positive trans Golgi network became difficult to detect in the dislocated Golgi apparatus. In the central area of the cell, clusters of small vacuoles and vesicles which contained various quantities of amorphous material appeared. Acid phosphatase activity was detected in these vacuoles and vesicles. The structure of the ruffled border was disturbed. In the organ culture of mouse calvaria, colchicine inhibited PTH-enhanced bone resorption and the release of β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase dose dependently. The results obtained in this study suggested that the disturbance of microtubules by colchicine causes a functional inhibition of both the Golgi-lysosomal system and the ruffled border and subsequently reduces the bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts.
Floral morphogenesis of Caltha and Trollius (Ranunculaceae) and its systematic significance

The floral morphogenesis of Caltha palustris L. and Trollius buddae Schipcz. was observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The primordia of all floral organs initiate spirally and centripetally and develop centripetally. The spiral initiation sequence may be a basic pattern in Ranunculaceae. The primordia of bracts, sepals, and other floral organs are different in shape: the bract primordia are triangle, the sepal primordia crescent, and the petal (in Trollius), stamen, and carpel primordia hemispheric. This may indicate that the bracts, the sepals and other floral organs are different in origin. The petals are retarded in early developmental stages in Trollius buddae Schipcz, and have purses at the base. The retarded petals are very common in Ranunculaceae and the purse of the petal is similar to that of some Aquilegia species. The microspores in a longitudinal series of stamens develop centripetally in Caltha and Trollius; this may be a basic pattern in Ranunculaceae. The carpel primordia are plicate. In the developmental process of the carpels, the stigmatic tissue appears from the apex of the style and is decurrent along the ventral suture in Caltha, but there is no obvious stigmatic tissue in Trollius. Based on floral morphogenesis characteristics as well as the results from molecular systematics, comparative morphology and palynology studies, we consider that Caltha is not closely related to Trollius and that these two genera should not be treated in the same tribe.
Occurrence of Cyanobacterial Blooms in the Baltic Sea in Relation to Environmental Conditions

Cyanobacterial blooms occur regularly in summer in central parts of the Baltic Sea. They are mainly composed of Aphanizomenon sp. and Nodularia spumigena. Both species have almost similar ecological requirements and can roughly be considered a uniform functional group. In order to identify factors that might favour bloom development, water quality data from monitoring programmes were compared with bloom distribution. A salinity from 3.8 to 11.5 PSU proved important for the spatial distribution of the bloom development. The bloom's onset was triggered by temperatures approximating 16°C provided that global radiation was > 120 W/m2 (daily mean) and wind speed was < 6 m/s. Nutrient concentrations decreased immediately before the bloom. The bloom's development ceased with poor weather conditions characterized by low irradiation or high wind speed.
Testosterone treatment can increase circulating carotenoids but does not affect yellow carotenoid‐based plumage colour in blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus

A number of mechanisms are responsible for producing the variation in natural colours, and these need not act in isolation. A recent hypothesis states that carotenoid-based coloration, in addition to carotenoid availability, is also enhanced by elevated levels of circulating testosterone (T). This has only been tested for carotenoid-coloured bare parts in birds. We performed an experimental manipulation of T levels and examined the effects on the yellow carotenoid-based breast plumage in captive yearling blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus, of which half received a diet supplemented with carotenoids. T treatment resulted in elevated plasma T compared to controls and carotenoid supplementation strongly increased plasma carotenoid levels. T treatment resulted in an additional increase in plasma carotenoid levels but only in the carotenoid-supplemented males. Carotenoid supplementation resulted in more intense breast colour (carotenoid chroma), as expected. However, there was no effect of testosterone on plumage coloration at either dietary carotenoid level. Our results suggest that T can cause an increase in plasma carotenoid concentration, but that this does not necessarily lead to improved carotenoid-based plumage coloration
Effect of variation in the composition of milk supply on the composition and quality of farmhouse Cheshire cheese

SUMMARY The composition of the diet fed to cows, the composition and coagulating properties of the milk produced by them and used for cheesemaking, the cheesemaking methods and the chemical composition, texture and grade of Cheshire cheese obtained from four farmhouse producers during the period December to June 1982–83 were investigated. The presence of pockets of loose fat in the cheese structure, which can lead to downgrading in the late winter and spring, was not related to the chemical composition of the milk and may arise from the handling of the milk before cheesemaking. Generally the composition of the forage and the milk varied with date, but not between the different farms, whereas the composition and properties of the cheese were dependent on the manufacturers but were fairly constant during the period of study.
Feeding Regimen, Dietary Vitamin E, and Genotype Influences on Immunological and Production Traits of Broilers

Abstract Many functional changes occur during the first 2 wk after a broiler hatches, a period that continues to be an increasing proportion of a broiler's life. Breeding programs are designed to produce a broiler with high potential for growth, yield, and feed efficiency, traits that may compromise health status under husbandry designed to maximize this genetic potential. This experiment compared performances of two broiler lines differing in growth and yield, when reared to 12 days of age under full and diluted feeding regimens containing three dietary levels of vitamin E. Traits measured included body weight (BW), feed efficiency, and allomorphic measures of breast, shank, spleen, bursa, heart, gizzard, ceca, and lung. For bilateral traits, asymmetries were measured. Data were obtained for mortality, response to sheep red blood cell antigen, heterophils, lymphocytes, and response to an E. coli challenge. Responses to dietary feed restrictions and levels of dietary vitamin E during the first 12 days after hatch were noted at market age. There was a trade-off between growth- and health-related traits with responses to husbandry programs, age, sex, and genetic line.
Ferox trout, Salmo trutta L., and chair,Salvelinm alpinus (L.), in Scottish lochs*

Although the ferox of Scottish Highland lochs (lakes) have long captured the interest of both laymen and scientists, no previous investigation of their biology or ecology has been undertaken. This paper is based on 141 ferox from 22 lochs collected during the last 22 years and the results from a recent investigation into their status and distribution. When the features of their environment and the distribution of what is apparently their main food source, the arctic charr, were investigated, two essential conditions governing the occurrence of ferox emerged and a third appeared to be important: (i) oligotrophic waters; (ii) the presence of charr and (iii) a large loch (over 100 ha in extent). Typically, ferox grow slowly during the first third of life but on reaching what may be a critical length enter into a phase of rapid growth and may eventually reach a size and age very much greater than that of the individuals in the normal trout population from which they arise. This pattern of growth contrasts markedy with that of large, fast growing brown trout from eutrophic waters in Scotland which do not reach the same extremes of age or size.
Correlation between the kernel structure and the quality parameters on some Hungarian winter wheat varieties

Introduction The kernel hardness have great effect on the baking properties of the resulting flour. Flour, which is made from hard wheat generally have a medium to high protein content and stronger gluten than flour, which is made from soft wheat. The Hardness-locus on chromosome 5D is the main determinant of grain texture in bread wheat. Puroindoline-a (pin-a), puroindoline-b (pin-b) and Grain Softness Protein (GSP) genes are tightly linked at this locus and their products are the predominant components of friabilin, a 15 kDa endosperm protein complex. The friabilin protein complex determines the kernel hardness. Generally, when the amount of the friabilin is high, the kernel hardness is soft and when the amount of the friabilin is low the kernel hardness is hard (Acsne, 2001). We can sort in these two groups the kernel hardness. Hardness in wheat is largely controlled by genetic factors but it can be affected by the environment. (Gyimes, 2004). The transgenic expression of wild type Pina sequence in the Pina null genotype gave soft grain with the characteristics of soft wheat including increased starch bound friabilin. The results of Martin et al (2006) support the hypothesis that both wild type Pin genes need to be present for friabilin formation and soft grain. Vitreousness is also have impact on Middle-European. A recent French study allowed distinguishing consequences of hardness and vitreousness. Hardness is suggested to influence the adhesion forces between starch granules and protein matrix whereas vitreousness would rather be related to the endosperm microstructure (Grefeuille et al, 2006). The high gluten, hard wheat flour generally contains about 12,0-13,0 % (or more) crude protein under Mid-European conditions. The relationship between wheat protein content and kernel texture is usually positive and kernel texture influences the eg during milling. Hard textured wheat grains require more eg than soft textured grains. The aim of our research was to determine the relationships between kernel hardness and other technologically important traits in wheat varieties widely used in the Hungarian agriculture (Veha, 2005.)
Distribution of Pleistocene Terrestrial Vertebrates and their Migration to the Ryukyus.

Throughout the Ryukyu Islands, many Pleistocene terrestrial vertebrate remains occur from the fissure and cave deposits which were formed in the early to late Pleistocene Riukiu Limestone. The remains are found from about one hundred localities and are composed of 51 species of 39 genera. This report deals with Minatogawa Fissure in case of fissure deposits and Jibu-do Cave, Futenma-gu Cave, Shimoji-baru Cave, and Pinza-abu Cave in case of cave deposits, in Okinawa Prefecture. In addition to the remains from these localities, those from other three localities such as Teruma, Sonan, and Imadomari are discussed from the paleontological and geologic viewpoint. Also the migration to the Ryukyus of the fossil animals is discussed.
The comparative anatomy of the blood‐supply of the mammalian testis

Summary. The vascular patterns in the testes of 49 different species of mammals have been examined, chiefly by the methods of arteriography and microarteriography. It is found that these patterns show a considerable morphological stability in different groups of mammals, and may thus be of some taxonomic importance. The literature is reviewed and suggestions made as to the functional importance of the pattern of the vascular supply of the testis as part of a thermo-regulatory mechanism
Shell Eggs and Salmonella Enteritidis in Various Seasons in Japan

We investigated the resistance of shell eggs stored under various conditions of temperature and storage periods in summer, autumn and winter in Japan to the growth of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). SE (5-20 cells/egg) was inoculated at a point in the egg white near the egg yolk. In autumn and winter, stored shell eggs were more resistant to the growth of inoculated SE. Shell eggs inoculated with SE on d 0 of storage in these three seasons showed slight growth of SE at a high frequency. These results showed the necessity of controlling shell egg temperature and storage period in all seasons.
Variability and correlation studies for nutritional and cooking quality traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Thirty genotypes of chickpea were studied to find out the variability for seed characters, nutritional components and seed yield. Interrelationships have also been found for these physico-chemical traits and seed yield to help breeders to find suitable strategy for quality improvement in chickpea. “Kabuli” types had highest mean of 100-seed weight (32.62 g), 100-seed volume (25.1 ml), solid dispersion after cooking (21.4%), hydration capacity (0.33 g/seed), hydration index (1.02), swelling capacity (0.32 ml/seed) over “desi” chickpea groups. However, highest seed yield (2038.9 kg/ha) and tryptophan (0.54 g/100 g protein) were recorded in “desi” medium bold group. “Desi” bold (23.7%) and “kabuli” types (23.3%) were on a par in protein content. Correlation analysis revealed that, irrespective of any group, an increase in 100-seed weight reduced cooking time and increased seed volume, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index while an increase in hydration capacity and swelling capacity significantly decreased seed yield in kabuli chickpea. The study revealed significant variation for physico-chemical, nutritional and cooking quality attributes.
ECOLOGICAL ENERGETICS OF GEOLYCOSA GODEFFROYI (ARANEAE: LYCOSIDAE) WITH AN APPRAISAL OF PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY IN ECTOTHERMIC ANIMALS

SUMMARY (1) This study derives a series of energy budgets for the burrow inhabiting wolf spider Geolycosa godeffroyi (Koch) in the Australian Capital Territory. (2) It examines the relationship between energy budgets derived by the extrapolation of various laboratory measurements of respiration rate with those derived independently by measuring consumption in the field in addition to production. (3) The lowest possible respiration rate (resting metabolic rate) is determined over the entire size and temperature range found in the field and takes account of the sophisticated behavioural thermoregulation shown by the spiders. (4) The increase in respiration rate due to a number of variables is determined. These include nutritional state, reproductive condition, size, temperature cycles, season, acclimation and sex. The increase in respiration due to many of these factors is cumulative. (5) On extrapolation to field conditions using actual spiders' temperatures the estimated metabolic heat loss varied by at least 2 5 times according to the type of respiration data used. (6) From a knowledge of the effect of some variables on respiration rate it is argued that the respiration rate in the field should be about three times the resting metabolic rate. (7) Budgets derived using field measurements of both production and consumption give respiration estimates between 3 and 4 times the resting metabolic rate. (8) Budgets derived using the higher respiration rates are in accord with those for other spiders derived by different techniques. (9) The effect of different types of respiration estimates on published energy budgets is considered in detail. (10) It is suggested that the methodologies used to derive energy budgets have a gross influence on the estimates of metabolic heat loss and introduce considerable bias. (11) When the methodologies are considered it is doubtful that some of the generalizations about production efficiency that have been proposed can be substantiated.