Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The significance of petiole length, leaf area, and light interception in competition between strains of subterrranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) grown in swards

Three strains of subterranean clover differing in leaf development were grown in pure swards and in all combinations in mixtures. The strain Yarloop has relatively few large leaves held on long petioles; Tallarook has many small leaves and short petioles; Bacchus Marsh is intermediate in all these respects. The swards were grown in boxes and were sampled on four occasions during the period of vegetative growth. Leaf area in each 2 cm layer of the sward was determined separately, and for both strains in the mixed swards, and measurements of the light intensity reaching each layer were obtained. Root weights were determined for all swards and separately for each component of the mixed swards. Examination of the dry weights showed that the growth of the strain having the lesser petiole elongation was suppressed. In the extreme instance Tallarook was so suppressed when grown with Yarloop that in the final inter-sampling period it grew completely in the dark, and lost about half its dry weight. Bacchus Marsh also suppressed Tallarook, but to a lesser extent, while Bacchus Marsh was itself suppressed in competition with Yarloop. The amount of light energy intercepted by the two components of the mixed swards was calculated from the leaf area and light profiles, and confirmed the importance of the spatial distribution of leaves in plant competition. It was concluded that, in the absence of defoliation, the success of a strain under competition was associated with its potential petiole elongation.
Leucine aminopeptidase (aminopeptidase‐I), N‐acetyl‐β‐hexosaminidase and lysosomes in the mussel, Mytilus edulis L., in response to salinity changes

The intracellular distribution of aminopeptidase-I in the intestinal and digestive cells of Mytilus edulishas been shown to be the same as the lysosomal marker enzymes β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase. Activity for these enzymes was also associated with the intestinal apical cytoplasm and microvillous border where there was pronounced staining for aminopeptidase-I. Experimental alterations of salinity induced changes in both microdensitometrically and spectrophotometrically determined aminopeptidase-I activity, as an increase with raised salinity and a decrease with lowered salinity. Lysosomal hexosaminidase showed similar changes in activity with altered salinity. Cytochemically determined lysosomal stability was also responsive to salinity changes, indicative of alterations in lysosomal functional capability. The lysosomal distribution of aminopeptidase-I is discussed in terms of the function of lysosomes in intracellular protein turnover, their high concentrations of free amino acids, and the possible roles which these might play in intracellular osmoregulation in response to salinity change.
The Effects of Plasmid DNA and Immunostimulatory CpG Motifs on Immune Surveillance in Sheep Lymph Nodes

This Ph.D. dissertation examined the effects of bacterial DNA on immune surveillance in ovine lymph nodes (LN). The first study identified long-term changes in lymph nodes following exposure to plasmid DNA. Treated lymph nodes were heavier and had larger medullary areas. Furthermore, medullary cord thickness and medullary sinus width as well as germinal center size and number were increased in plasmid treated lymph nodes. To determine whether bacterial DNA altered cell trafficking through lymph nodes, the efferent lymphatic of the prescapular LN of sheep was cannulated and cells were collected. Intradermal injection of as little as 4 Jlg of plasmid DNA expressing the green fluorescent protein of jellyfish (eGFP) caused a marked increase in the cell trafficking through the prescapular lymph node. A dosedependent facet existed for this response, as the increase in cell trafficking response persisted longer with 40 J.Lg or 400 Jlg of plasmid-eGFP than with 4 Jlg. This increased cell trafficking was independent of green fluorescent protein expression as both pCAN1-eGFP and pCAN1 induced similar responses. Increased cell traffic induced by bacterial DNA was further characterized by determining whether bacterial DNA form was critical for this response. Treatment with intact plasmid (circular) DNA induced the greatest increase in cell traffic. In contrast, when plasmid DNA was digested with restriction enzymes into linear fragments of DNA, then cell trafficking was not significantly increased. Numerous studies have shown that immunostimulatory guanosine-cytosine (CpG) motifs activate cells in vitro and can improve protective immune responses in vivo. Therefore we tested the hypothesis that the presence of immunostimulatory CpG motifs within plasmids was responsible for altering cell trafficking. It was shown
Extract and leaf powder effect of Artemisia annua on performance, cellular and humoral immunity in broilers

Summary The effects of methanolic extract and leaf powder of Artemisia annua were studied on performance, cellular and humoral immunity in 240 Cobb broiler chicks in a completely randomized design. Control group did not receive any treatment. The chicks in the second and third groups were fed with feed which contained 2000 and 4000 ppm plant extract in diet and in the groups 4, 5 and 6 chicks received 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of dietary Artemisia annua leaf powder, respectively. Daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio (performance) were measured. Skin response to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) injected intradermally on day 16 was measured 24 and 48 h after injection. The birds were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on days 8 and 22 of age and serum antibody levels produced in response to SRBC were measured on days 21, 28, 35 and 42. The weights of thymus and bursa of fabricius were also measured after slaughter. The results indicated that plant extract and leaf powder increased daily weight gain and reduced daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Plant extract and leaf powder increased cellular immunity on PHA-P injection after 24 and 48 h (P<0.05). Artemisia annua extract and leaf powder increased total anti-SRBC and IgG titer in experimental groups compared to control group (P<0.05). Thymus and bursa of fabricius weights were increased in treatment groups (P<0.05). It is concluded that Artemisia annua extract and leaf powder increases performance, cellular and humoral immunity of broilers.
Dietary conjugated linoleic acid enhances spleen PPAR-γ mRNA expression in broiler chicks

1. The anti-inflammatory effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on broilers repeatedly challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were investigated. 2. Day-old broiler chicks were allotted into three treatment groups and fed on a control diet or diets containing 5·0 or 10·0 g CLA/kg diet. Six chicks from each treatment were injected with LPS (0·25 mg/kg body weight) at 16, 18 and 20 d of age. Splenic cyclooxygenase (COX) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activities, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) production as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) mRNA expression were measured at 21 d of age. 3. Chicks fed 10·0 g CLA/kg diet had lower COX activities and PGE2 production than the controls. Dietary CLA (10·0 g/kg) did not significantly diminish LPS-induced enhancement of COX-2 activity, but inhibited the subsequent increase in PGE2 production. 4. Regulation of COX-1 activity contributed to the difference in PGE2 production. 5. CLA did not markedly attenuate the increase of iNOS activity and NO production caused by LPS challenge. Chicks fed CLA had lower iNOS activity and NO production than the controls. 6. Dietary CLA activated splenic PPAR-γ mRNA expression and increased PPAR-γ mRNA expression after LPS injection. 7. These results suggest that dietary CLA has immunomodulatory effects in the spleen by restricting basal PGE2 and NO to lower levels and enhancing PPAR-γ mRNA expression. During the inflammatory response, dietary CLA did not alleviate the increase in COX-2 and iNOS activities but enhanced PPAR-γ mRNA expression.
Asymmetrical gaits of juvenile Crocodylus johnstoni, galloping Australian crocodiles

Seven juvenile individuals of the Australian species Crocodylus johnstoni from the Frankfurt Zoological Park were filmed on high-speed video, at 250 fields s −1 , whilst freely moving at various speeds in a long corridor. The sequences of locomotion were analysed to determine the various space and time parameters to characterize limb kinematics. We found that the animals use diverse patterns of asymmetrical gait, revealing great flexibility in limb co-ordination. In all these gaits, the forelimb strikes the ground first, in the couple made by diagonally opposite fore- and hindlimbs. Among these gaits, rotary gallop offers probably a high level of manoeuvrability, whereas transverse gallop resulted in a higher level of stability. Speed increase is achieved by half-bound and bound, the latter being the only gait used at velocities > 2 m s −1 . Speed was increased mainly by increasing the stride length of the fore- and hindlimbs by simultaneously increasing both its components, the step and swing lengths. However, in bound, the step length of each forelimb increased more than the swing length, resulting in a stronger thrust action, whereas swing length increased more than step length for the hindlimb, causing the centre of mass to accelerate forwards during its ballistic phase. The asymmetrical gaits of crocodiles such as Crocodylus johnstoni are probably not functionally equivalent to the transitional asymmetrical gaits exhibited by lizards when building up into a bipedal run. These gaits are also not entirely equivalent to mammalian gaits, despite the use of vertical movements of the vertebral axis in these crocodiles, favouring an erect dynamic posture.
Are the AgriTech Technologies Available, Adaptable and Practical to YoungFarmers? Lessons from Tomato farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in particular mobile phone applications and internet are transforming how agribusiness is carried out in some parts of developing countries including Kenya. The spread of information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially mobile phones, in developing countries has been both extensive and rapid creating a need to assess its efficiency and the rate of adoption. This study aimed at examining how farmers in the county integrate technological innovations in the production and marketing stage of tomato in the sampled area. The objective of the study was to examine how small scale farmers are integrating social media marketing platforms, digital credit, agricultural value addition and artificial intelligence in their production and marketing stages in the agricultural value chain. The results indicate statistically significant positive effects of AgriTech Technologies on farm income (t-prob 0.000<0.05). The results notably indicate that using social media marketing platforms has the highest positive contribution to a unit change in farm income (β= 3.84). Smallholder farmer’s ability to access knowledge, networks, and institutions essential for improving productivity, food security, and employment opportunities is a big challenge especially in rural areas where internet connectivity and poverty levels are alarming.
Scale‐dependence and mechanisms of dispersal in freshwater zooplankton

Communities of organisms form as a result of both interspecific and abiotic interactions within local habitat patches and dispersal among patches in a region. Local processes are expected to play a dominant role when dispersal occurs much more often than extinction. We performed two field experiments to examine rates and mechanisms of dispersal in freshwater pond zooplankton communities. First, we tested the effect of distance from a source on the rate of colonization of artificial habitat by placing wading pools at 5, 10, 30 and 60 m from two natural fishless ponds and observing the succession of zooplankton. Seventy-eight percent of the species in the source ponds that were capable of living in the pools colonized at least once during the experiment. A new species was found in the pools on average once every four days, suggesting that colonization events occur on the order of days to weeks for many species. Colonization rates declined further from the source at one pond but not the other, and the effect of distance was relatively weak at both ponds. This suggests that many species disperse broadly over short distances. The second experiment tested the role of animal vectors for zooplankton dispersal by restricting access to the pools. Eight treatments were imposed that excluded potential animal vectors along a body size gradient from large mammals to small insects. While the treatments affected zooplankton colonization, many species invaded even when all animals larger than 1 mm were excluded. Animal vectors may therefore be less important for dispersal than wind. Our results suggest that zooplankton are highly effective dispersers over short distances, and can disperse via several mechanisms. Local interactions should therefore play a dominant role in structuring these communities at small regional scales.
How mosquito-eating jumping spiders communicate: complex display sequences, selective attention and cross-modality priming

1 Chapter 1: Introduction 2 Chapter 2: Display and mating behaviour of Evarcha culicivora, a jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) from East Africa 21 Chapter 3: The influence of body size in the mate-choice decisions of Evarcha culicivora, a mosquito-eating jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) from East Africa 76 Chapter 4: Odour-mediated decisions by Evarcha culicivora, a mosquitoeating jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) from East Africa 89 Chapter 5: Cross-modality priming effects of conspecific, prey and plant odour on the mate-choice behaviour of Evarcha culicivora, a mosquitoeating jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) 122 Chapter 6: Discussion 137 Acknowledgements 154
Genetic parameters for calving ease, gestation length and stillbirth in three endangered Austrian blond cattle breeds

Genetic parameters were estimated for stillbirth, calving ease and gestation length in three endangered Austrian blond cattle breeds, Carinthian Blond, Murboden and Waldviertel Blond. REML analysis based on an animal model including direct and maternal genetic effects was applied. Direct heritability estimates for calving ease, stillbirth and gestation length varied from 0.003 to 0.111, 0.006 to 0.044 and 0.235 to 0.512, respectively, while maternal heritabilities ranged from 0.001 to 0.007 for calving ease, 0.005 to 0.014 for stillbirth, and 0.002 to 0.063 for gestation length. All pairwise genetic correlations for direct traits were generally moderate to high except for stillbirth-calving ease (−0.077, Carinthian Blond). The genetic correlations of all pairs of the 3 direct traits were positive for Murboden (0.520 to 0.700) and Waldviertel Blond (0.253 to 0.707) while negative genetic correlations were detected for Carinthian Blond (−0.077 to −0.943). Close positive genetic correlations were found between direct stillbirth and calving ease of Murboden (0.700) and between direct calving ease and gestation length of Waldviertel Blond (0.707), while a close negative genetic correlation was found between direct calving ease and gestation length of Carinthian Blond (−0.943).
TERRESTRIAL RHIZOPHYTES AND H+ CURRENTS CIRCULATING OVER AT LEAST A MILLIMETRE : AN OBLIGATE RELATIONSHIP ?

summary Circulating ionic currents are apparently ubiquitous in growing and differentiating eukaryotes. In many the current is carried by H+, in which case the medium around the apex of growing organs is alkalinized while the medium adjacent to subapical portions is acidified. These two zones may help in, respectively, molybdenum acquisition and reduction of aluminium toxicity, and phosphorus and iron acquisition, by rhizophytic plants. An analysis of the taxonomic distribution of H+-borne circulating current shows that all rhizophytes (terrestrial, freshwater and, probably, marine) except those in the green algal class Ulvophyceae have such currents; the Ulvophyceae have circulating currents carried by Cl−. The Ulvophyceae do not seem to have any alternative means of causing pH zonation in the rhizosphere. Their marine habitat, with the possibility of molybdenum acquisition from the alkaline bulk water phase, may mean that the Ulvophyceae are not disadvantaged by the absence of rhizosphere acid-alkaline zonation as would be a land plant; similarly, they are less likely to suffer aluminium toxicity to the growing zone of rhizoids. Ulvophyceae do not occur as terrestrial plants; this may relate not only to the absence of rhizosphere pH zonation in these organisms but also to mechanical problems related to their coenocytic habit, which in turn results from their inability to produce plasmodesmata.
Effects of dietary aluminum sulphate on reproductive success and growth of Ringed Turtle-Doves (Streptopelia risoria)

Elevated levels of aluminum have been reported in surface waters and in certain aquatic organisms including aquatic insects. Toxic effects have been demonstrated in fish and it has been suggested that aluminum affects avian reproduction. In this study Ringed Turtle-Doves were assigned to a control group fed a diet reduced in calcium and phosphorus and to a treated group fed the same diet supplemented with 0.1% aluminum. A 4-month feeding period with aluminum sulphate did not result in any effect on egg production, fertility, or hatchability. Egg permeability was decreased initially but subsequently recovered to a normal level. Dietary aluminum sulphate did not affect plasma calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium of adults nor did it affect the pattern of growth and the final weight of chicks feeding on the same diet. Bone aluminum levels of breeding females averaged twice those of the controls (P < 0.05). The pattern of accumulation between the two sexes was significantly different (P < 0.05). Growth of juveni.
Large‐scale geographical variation in prokaryotic abundance and production in meso‐ and bathypelagic zones of the central Pacific and Southern Ocean

Heterotrophic production and abundance of prokaryotes (i.e., Bacteria and Archaea) in meso‐ (200‐1000 m) and bathypelagic (> 1000 m) zones were measured at 31 stations along meridional transects of the central Pacific and Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean, covering a latitudinal range from 67.5°S to 53.6°N. Prokaryotic production and biomass in the mesopelagic zone displayed strong regional variation, generally consistent with model‐based estimates of sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) flux patterns. In the bathypelagic zone, the prokaryotic abundance distributions reflected sinking POC flux patterns, whereas the prokaryotic production distributions were complex and unrelated to sinking POC fluxes. In general, the prokaryotic carbon consumption (PCC) was accounted for by the POC flux, within a factor of three, except in the bathypelagic zone of the subtropical region, where PCC exceeded the POC flux at 1000 m by up to seven times. Our results generally support the notion that prokaryote abundance and production distributions in the ocean's interior display consistent vertical patterns among distant locations and generally reflect the POC flux regime over a large scale, although complex prokaryotic production distributions in the bathypelagic zone might indicate the presence of links between regional hydrographic features and organic carbon delivery in deep waters.
Cutaneous schwannoma in a cow.

Schwannoma is a peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST), commonly found as a spindle cell tumor of autono mic nerves and rarely involving the skin of cattle. The present report describes the histopathology and im munohistochemistry features of a localized (solitary) benign PNST with final diagnosis of cutaneous schwannoma in a 4-yea r-old female Holstein bovine. The dome-shaped, well circumscribed, firm, non-smooth surfaced mass was composed of spindle-shaped cells arranged predominantly in interlacing fascicl es or streams with a moderate to strong intervening collagenous stroma. Histopathologic changes included typical hypocellul ar areas with pale scant eosinophilic cytoplasm (An toni B pattern) similar to myxomatous tissue, and hypercellular are as with deeply eosinophilic cytoplasm (non-typical Antoni A pattern) without nuclear palisading or Verocay bodies format ion. Immunohistochemical reactions for S-100 protei n, a Schwann cell marker, and vimentin were strong in the neoplastic cells. Other markers as desmin, neuron specific en olase (NSE), CD34, and p53 were all negative. It was concluded that c oncurrent evaluation of both histological and immun ohistochemical features are required for the final diagnosis of sc hwannomas in domestic animals.
Nuclear hormone receptor-dependent regulation of hepatic transporters and their role in the adaptive response in cholestasis

1. Hepatobiliary transport systems are essential for the uptake and excretion of a variety of organic anions including bile acids and bilirubin. Perturbation of this vital liver function can result in pathological conditions such as cholestasis, where the formation of bile at the canaliculus is impaired resulting in the intrahepatic accumulation of toxic bile constituents. 2. Members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily are important mediators of the adaptive response during cholestasis controlling the expression of transporters and other proteins with the aim to limit tissue damage. Bile acids are the endogenous ligands for these nuclear hormone receptors and therefore directly participate in the control of their own transport and metabolism. 3. Adaptive events include repression of bile acid uptake and de novo bile acid synthesis as well as a concomitant induction of alternative efflux routes and bile acid detoxification. Importantly, the adaptation also extends to other organs such as intestine and kidney to facilitate elimination of bile acids from the body. 4. This review provides an overview of the transcriptional regulation of bile acid transporting proteins and metabolizing enzymes mediated by nuclear hormone receptors. Furthermore, the complex networks between nuclear hormone receptors and regulated genes are illustrated and implications of targeting these receptors for the treatment of cholestasis are discussed.
Economic Integration of Aircraft Building Enterprises in the Context of the Transactional Approach

The theoretical concept of the study of economic integration within the framework of the neo-institutional paradigm is developed. The structure of the transaction costs of a corporation according to the sequence in which they arise during the implementation of transactions is substantiated. The drivers of the integrative development of modern aircraft building enterprises are studied and the content-related basics of their economic integration are formulated. Besides, the necessity of the formation of a mechanism for optimization of transaction costs of economic integration in the context of the transactional approach in the creation of an aircraft building holding company is substantiated. Distinctive and characteristic features of the functioning of aircraft production as a single complex of R&D and batch production that affect transaction costs are singled out and a typology of transaction costs of aircraft building corporations is proposed. A methodical approach to minimizing transaction costs in the creation of an aircraft building holding company is proposed based on the thesis that rational economic integration of aircraft building enterprises is carried out by changing the ownership relations and the transaction system within the framework of the creation of a holding type aircraft building corporation.