Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of seed number, seed size, seedling size and recruitment in grassland plants

In this study we analyse relationships between seed number, seed size, seedling size and recruitment success in grassland plants. The often hypothesised trade-off between seed size and seed number was supported by a cross-species analysis and by an analysis of 35 phylogenetically independent contrasts, derived from a data-set of 72 species. Apart from among-species relatedness, we also controlled for possible confounding effect of plant size that may influence both seed size and seed number. A sowing experiment with 50 species was performed in the field. The seeds were sown in a grassland and subjected to two treatments, disturbance and undisturbed sward. Evidence for seed-limited recruitment was obtained for 45 of the species. Disturbance had a significant, or nearly significant, positive effect on recruitment for 16 of the 45 species. The relative recruitment in undisturbed sward increased with increased seed size, and both recruitment success and seedling size were positively related to seed size. We suggest that a trade-off between competitive ability and number of recruitment opportunities follows from the trade-off between seed size and seed number, through a causal chain from seed size via seedling size to recruitment success. The relationships between seed size, seed number and recruitment may be an important underlying mechanism for abundance and dynamics of plant species in grassland vegetation. This is an example of a direct link between evolutionary life-history theory, and theory of plant community structure.
Seasonal variation in the nutrient composition of the foliage of pecan (Carya illinoensis)

Leaves were sampled every 2 weeks throughout the 1980-81 and 1981-82 growing seasons from a commercial pecan orchard in New South Wales. Leaf concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were highest at leaf emergence and decreased with time. Concentrations of calcium, magnesium and boron were lowest early in the season and increased with time. There was no true seasonal pattern in leaf zinc which varied in apparent response to foliar zinc spray use. These trends were similar for the cultivars Witchita and Western Schley. Minimum seasonal variation in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the main fertiliser nutrients, occurred between 1 February and 21 March. This period is therefore the most suitable for general diagnostic purposes such as the evaluation of fertiliser programs and surveys of crop nutrient status.
Características químicas y sensoriales de la carne de cerdo, en función del consumo de dietas con ractopamina y diferentes concentraciones de lisina

Se evaluaron las caracteristicas quimicas y sensoriales de la carne de cerdos alimentados con Ractopamina (RAC) a 5 ppm (Paylean®, Elanco, Mexico) y diferentes concentraciones de lisina digestible ileal estandarizada (lys-dig), en dietas con 3.3 Mcal EM/ kg y 14.5 % de proteina cruda, lo que representa un contenido de proteina de 10 % inferior al minimo recomendado por el laboratorio y la literatura. Se utilizaron 48 cerdos (peso corporal inicial 77.2±3.42 y final 110.0±3.0 kg) que fueron asignados a uno de cuatro tratamientos: C) Dieta de finalizacion Control (lys-dig 0.65%); RAL) alta en Lisina con RAC (lys-dig 1%); RNL) Niveles normales de lisina con RAC (lis-dig 0.80%); RBL) Baja en lisina con RAC (lis-dig 0.50%). Despues de 28 dias en sus respectivas dietas, los animales se sacrificaron y procesaron. De cada animal, se recolectaron cuatro chuletas (2.5 cm de grosor) y se determino grasa intramuscular y evaluacion sensorial. Los resultados indican que con la adicion de RAC, en dietas con 14.5 % de proteina, se aumenta (P 0.17), pero si detecto una mayor jugosidad de carne de cerdo (P<0.02) de animales que consumieron la dieta RBL. Es factible mejorar la calidad de la carne de cerdo mediante el uso de RAC y dietas bajas en proteina y lisina.
Toxicity of T-2 toxin and its interaction with deoxynivalenol when fed to young pigs

Sixty 12-wk-old pigs were fed a corn–barley–soybean type diet in a 2 × 5 factorial experiment. Two mycotoxin, corn-based premixes were added: one with and without deoxynivalenol (DON) supplement (2.5 mg kg−1 feed) and the other with T-2 toxin at levels of 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mg kg−1 feed. After a 5-wk feeding period the pigs were killed; major organs were examined grossly and microscopically, and blood and tissue samples were taken for biochemical and hematological analyses. Lower final body weight and daily gain appeared (P > 0.05) to be associated with increasing dietary T-2 toxin content. Feed intake followed a similar trend. The performance of pigs fed the DON-supplemented diets was significantly less than for diets without the DON. There was an interaction between DON and T-2 toxin, with differences in weight gain and feed intake, at the two levels of DON, being smaller at the intermediate levels of T-2 toxin. The incidence of lesions on the mucosa of the pars esophageal region increased with .
Kupffer's vesicle in Brachydanio rerio: multivesicular origin and proposed function in vitro

Stage 16+ endomesodermal caudal explants from embryos of the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan), were maintained in vitro for up to 48 h at 24 ± 2 °C. The development of Kupffer's vesicle by multivesicular coalescence and subsequent atrophy is described. Kupffer's vesicle in the absence of periblast and epidermal ectoderm is shown to be mesodermal in origin and not a remnant of the archenteron. The vesicle similarly would appear to play no role in the mediation of nutrients from the yolk via a modified periblast under conditions of culture.
Grapevine Growth and Physiological Responses to Iron Deficiency

ABSTRACT Iron (Fe) deficiency is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting fruit tree crops growing in calcareous soils in the Mediterranean region. A better understanding of changes in the growth and physiological characteristics of grapevine plants during the development of Fe deficiency will help to improve Fe fertilizer management recommendations. An experiment was conducted in field conditions to determine the effects of Fe deficiency during vegetative growth on leaf photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, pigments, and other physiological parameters. Iron deficiency considerably decreased leaf net photosynthetic rate, leaf area, and dry matter accumulation. Depressed photosynthesis and plant growth resulted in increased fruit abscission and changes in dry matter among plant tissues. The results help explain the effects of Fe deficiency on suppression of grapevine growth and yield and provide information for improving the diagnosis of Fe deficiency in grapevine production.
Mechanismen der posttraumatischen Immundepression

Ein wesentliches Merkmal der Immundepression ist eine Monozytendeaktivierung mit verminderter Antigenprasentation und Sekretion proinflammatorischer Zytokine. Infolge dessen sind Patienten mit Immundepression besonders anfallig gegenuber Infektionen. Als mogliche Mediatoren werden antiinflammatorische Zytokin wie IL10 und TGF-beta diskutiert, deren immunhemmende Wirkung allerdings nach Ihrem Entfernen schnell reversibel ist. An der Entwicklung einer langanhaltenden Immundepression mussen demnach weitere Mediatoren beteiligt sein. Eine Studie mit Patienten nach Herz-Operationen zeigte eine Korrelation zwischen einer erhohten Anfalligkeit gegenuber Infektionen und einer Uberexpression des Hitzeschockproteins Hamoxygenase-1 (HO-1) in peripheren Blutleukozyten, dem in vielen Studien eine antiinflammatorische und cytoprotektive Wirkung zugeschrieben wird. Eine Porphyrin-induzierte HO-1 Uberexpression in humanen Monozyten korreliert mit einer verminderten MHC-II Expression. Allerdings kann eine Hemmung der HO-1-Expression diesen Effekt nicht aufheben, so dass die verwendeten Porphyrine die Antigenprasentation durch HO-1-unabhangige Mechanismen beeinflussen mussen. Wahrend sich die Hemmung der IFN-Gamma-induzierten MHC-II Expression durch eine gleichzeitig verminderte STAT-1-Phosphorylierung erklaren lasst, ist die Porphyrin-induzierte Hemmung der konstitutiven MHC-II-Expression unabhangig von STAT-1. Zudem konnte weder eine Abhangigkeit von STAT-3, noch von einer verstarkten Histonacetylierung oder PKA-Aktivierung gezeigt werden. Die Ergebnisse deuten zudem darauf hin, dass die Porphyrin-Effekte nicht uber eine Interaktion mit dem Hamoglobin-Scavenger Rezeptor CD163 induziert werden. Eine Porphyrin-Behandlung von Monozyten in vitro resultiert in einem ahnlichen Phanotyp, wie er in Monozyten von immundepressiven Patienten beobachtet wird, so dass ein verbessertes Wissen uber die beeinflussten Signalwege neue Ansatze zur fruhzeitigen Behandlung einer Immundepression liefern kann. %%%%A long lasting immunodepression is characterised by a deactivation of the function of monocytes with decreased antigen presentation and decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This may predispose patients with immunodepression to infectious complications. Although anti-inflammatory cytokines as IL-10 and TGF-beta are discussed, the mechanism that induces and sustains this long lasting immunodepression is still incompletely understood. A previous study with patients after cardiac surgery could show a correlation between over expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in peripheral blood leukocytes and an increased susceptibility to infection related complications. HO-1 is a stress-inducible heat shock protein with potent anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. A porphyrin-induced HO-1 overexpression in human monocytes correlates with decreased MHC-II expression. However, inhibition of HO-1 expression does not abrogate this effect. According to this, porphyrins must affect the antigen presentation by HO-1-independent…
Linking scallop distribution and abundance with fisher behaviour: implication for management to avoid repeated stock collapse in a recreational fishery

The scallop fishery in southern Tasmania is one of the oldest in the world with harvest records dating back for over a century. This fishery has been plagued by episodic boom and bust cycles, a feature common to many fisheries targeting sessile marine invertebrates. In 2005, after a closure of 12 years, the fishery was once again opened to harvest, but access was only granted to recreational fishers and conservative management arrangements were implemented with an expectation of providing longer-term sustainability for the fishery. This study used dive surveys combined with telephone surveys of licenced fishers to monitor the fishery and resource status over between 2005 and 2009. Results indicated that, despite the conservative management approach, scallop stocks declined markedly over the study period, in part because of serial depletion of dense beds by recreational diving effort. This was set against the perception by the majority of divers who had participated in the fishery for multiple years that the stock levels had been maintained if not improved over the 4 years. This misperception reflects a shifting baseline phenomenon whereby divers progressively moved into new areas and switched target species, overlooking the lack of scallops in areas fished previously.
Morphogenesis of sense organs and behavioural changes in larvae of the brown-marbled grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål)

The morphogenesis of sense organs and related behavioural changes in the hatchery-reared brown-marbled grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus larvae were examined to gain better understanding of its early life history because ecological field observations for grouper species is difficult. The newly hatched larvae (2.1 mm total length) had developing eyes and otic vesicles, a pair of free neuromast on the head and ciliated olfactory epithelium. At 3 days post hatching (dph), the eyes became fully pigmented with pure-cone retinae, the semicircular canals formed in the inner ear, and the larvae (2.8 mm) were able to swim horizontally, preying on rotifers. Retinal rods and the intra-oral taste buds at pharyngeal appeared next. The olfactory lamellae and the head lateral line system then formed, and the inner ears developed completely in the larvae during the metamorphosis period (15–40 dph; 5.1–18.1 mm). At settlement (50 dph; 32.8 mm), the fish possessed taste buds in the mouth entrance region, and the lateral line system developed completely. The sensory development correlates well with the known aspects of its life history at sea whereby the larvae can feed early and avoid predators during the passive drift, are able to swim shoreward to search nursery ground along the metamorphosis stage and survive in seagrass beds at settlement.
EFFECTS OF FARMING SYSTEMS ON SPECIES COMPOSITION, NUTRIENT CONTENT AND DIGESTIBILTY OF FORAGES OF THE NATURAL PASTURE OF ASSOSA ZONE (WESTERN ETHIOPIA)

Forage species of the natural pasture of Assosa Zone of Benshangule-Gumuz (Western Ethiopia) were identified and their chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) determined. Data were collected from two farming systems (shifting cultivation: SC and permanent farming system: PFS) and two grazing types (communal grazing land: CGL, riverside grazing land: RSGL). 18 grasses, 2 legumes, sedge, 2 forbs and 17 trees/shrubs were identified from the natural pasture of both farming systems. Hyparrhenia rufa had significantly lower (P<0.05) NDF and Eleusine floccifolia and Pennisetum catabasis had significantly lower (p<0.05) ADF than those of other grasses. IVDMD of E. floccifolia and Pennisetum catabasis were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of Chloris pycnothrix, H. rudis, H. rufa, H. collina1, H. collina2 and Sporobolus pyramidalis. Crude protein (CP) content of E. floccifolia was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of other species except H. hirta. The DM and CP contents of Bauhinia farea were highest (P<0.05) among browse species. Grasses such as C. pychnotrix, H. collina, Digitaria abyssinica, H. hirta, H. rudis and S. pyramidalis were dominant in the study area. Herbaceous biomass production of the CGL in SC was 2,495 kg/ha and that of the RSGL in PFS was 1,244 kg/ha. Continuous overstocking of RSGL decreased the proportion of desirable forage species and encouraged invasion with unpalatable species such as S. pyramidalis and H. collina. It is suggested to study the nutritive value of dominant species, distribution and conservation of highly palatable species and designs for appropriate management interventions.
Surface ultrastructure of the plagiorchid trematode Glossidium pedatum Looss, 1899 from bagrid fish in Egypt

The present study concerned the morphology and surface ultrastructure of a plagiorchid, Glossidium pedatum, from bagrid fish of the river Nile in Egypt. Adult G. pedatum have an elongate body, tapered towards the anterior and posterior ends. Their oral sucker is small, sub-terminal and rounded, measuring 0.200 mm in diameter. Sensory papillae around the oral sucker usually occur in small clusters of three to eight each. The ventral sucker is large, situated at the anterior end of the second third of the body, 0.299 mm in diameter, and is surrounded by three pairs of sensory papillae. Both suckers have rounded rims covered by tegumental spines. On the anterior part of the ventral surface of the body tegumental spines are small, pointed and closely spaced. A small triangular area of tegument anterior to the ventral sucker is devoid of spines. Tegumental spines on the mid-region of the body slightly increase in size and number, especially towards the lateral aspects and posterior to the ventral sucker. Towards the posterior end of the body the spines progressively decrease in both size and number. The dorsal side exhibits similar surface features but the spines are less numerous and slightly smaller.
Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions: Consequences of trait changes in host–parasitoid interactions in insect communities

2 Perspective: kinds of trait-mediated indirect effects in ecological communities. A synthesis Thomas W. Schoener and David A. Spiller 9 3 Consequences of trait changes in host–parasitoid interactions in insect communities F. J. Frank van Veen and H. Charles Godfray 28 4 The impact of trait-mediated indirect interactions in marine communities Jeremy D. Long and Mark E. Hay 47 5 Trait-mediated indirect interactions in size-structured populations: causes and consequences for species interactions and community dynamics Volker H.W. Rudolf 69 6 Trait-mediated effects, density dependence and the dynamic stability of ecological systems Robert D. Holt and Michael Barfield 89 7 Plant effects on herbivore–enemy interactions in natural systems Kailen A. Mooney and Michael S. Singer 107
Níveis de lisina digestível para poedeiras Lohmann LSL na fase de 16 a 25 semanas de idade

In this experiment, the effects of digestible lysine levels on performance, nitrogen balance and fat digestibility in Lohmann LSL hens 16 to 25 weeks of age were evaluated. Four levels of digestible lysine (0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9% in ration) were assessed by utilizing 160 16-year-old laying hens 16 to 25 weeks of age. The diets were isonutritive with 17% CP and 2800 (pre laying) and 2750 (pre peak) kcal/kg. A completely randomized design was used with four lysine levels assessed in four replicates. The lysine levels did not influence weight gain, feed intake, protein and energy intake, age at first egg laying, egg production, egg weight, feed conversion indexes, egg mass, nitrogen balance or crude fat. There was positive linear increase on lysine intake according to the dietary levels of digestible lysine. Lysine levels do not influence the performance or the nutrients balance, and 0.6% of lysine per kilogram of feed is recommended.
Respon Antibodi Antikapsid pada Mencit yang Divaksin Vaksin Limpa dan Vaksin Kultur Virus Penyakit Jembrana

Bali cattle are one of Indonesia national asset which need to be conserved as they have many advantages. They are however susceptible to many infections diseases such as jembrana disease. Currently, the disease is prevented by vaccination using vaccine derived from jembrana disease virus (JDV)-infected bali cattle. An alternative vaccine using JDV-infected lymphocyte culture is expected to increase the virus yield and is therefore likely to increase the antibody response in the vaccinated animals. A study therefore was therefore conducted to compare the anti-capsid antibody response of Balb/c mice immunized with vaccine derived from the spleen of infected cattle (spleen vaccine) and those immunized with vaccine derived from infected lymphocyte culture (culture vaccine). As many as 16 female Balb/c mice were divided into two groups, Each group was vaccinated 4 times weekly respectively with spleen and culture vaccines. The antibody response against the capsid protein of JDV was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the absorbance reading of mice sera from each group was compared. Tstudent and univariate analysis showed that the average absorbance reading sera of sera derived from mice vaccinated with spleen vaccine (0.15) was not significantly different from those vaccinated with culture vaccine (0.18). It appears that culture vaccine is able to induce anti-capsid antibody response as high as spleen vaccine.
Targeting different end uses of cassava: genotypic variations for cyanogenic potentials and pasting properties

Summary Cassava flour has potential for multiple applications in the food industry. To develop cassava varieties for targeted household and industrial uses, it is necessary to evaluate the varietal and environmental variations in fresh root yield, cyanide potential and physicochemical properties. A total of 303 and 379 cassava varieties were grown at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture research farm, Nigeria in 2000 and 2001, respectively, and harvested at 12 months after planting. The genotypic variations in cyanide content as well as the genotype × year interactions on the cyanide contents were significant (P < 0.01). There were significant (P < 0.05) genotypic variations in all the pasting properties except peak time and pasting temperature in 2001. The observed wide varietal differences in pasting properties indicate that cassava genotype can be targeted for use in different food products, feed and industries. The clones were screened and characterised for food, feed and industrial applications.
Computer Simulation of the Asymmetric Cell Division in Early Development of C. elegans Embryo Using E-CELL System

In early development, egg cleavage is a very well-coordinated process under genetic regulation. The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the leading organisms for study of the embryogenesis [4]. During early development of the worm, asymmetric cell divisions produce different type of cells with asynchronous cell cycle time and these cells are essential for determining the subsequent developmental fates. In 1998, the genome of C. elegans has been sequenced [5], and a set of refined genetic tools are becoming available. We have constructed a computer model of the cell cycle in the C. elegans development using E-CELL simulation system. In the simulation environment, unreplicated DNA content of each cell is a key to determine accurate timing of cell division. Combination of the both simulations, cell cycle and DNA synthesis in the early development may explain the asymmetric cell divisions in C. elegans.
Pyramiding different alien chromosome segments in durum wheat: Feasibility and breeding potential

Wheat chromosome engineering, i.e., the transfer of alien chromosome segments from various Triticeae species into cultivated wheats, is greatly benefiting from the recent advancements in molecular genetics, cytogenetics, and genomics. Powerful tools are currently available that make selection of desired genotypes far more pre- cise and effective than in the past, thus giving this transfer strategy considerable po- tential for meaningful practical achievements. Such tools were successfully applied to engineer the durum wheat genome with small alien segments containing genes for disease resistance and quality traits, including Lr19 (leaf rust resistance) and Yp (yellow endosperm pigmentation) from Thinopyrumponticum, Pm13 (powdery mildew resistance) from Aegilops longissima, and the Glu-D3 and Glu-D1 glutenin subunit genes from Triticumaestivum. Targeted segments with such genes, all being of minimal size, were first separately incorporated into durum wheat by ph1-induced homoeologous recombination. The positive performance of selected recombinant lines from each transfer project encouraged attempts to develop multiple alien seg- ment combinations. The results obtained with double and also triple recombinants indicate a good tolerance of the durum wheat genome even toward such complex manipulations, which thus appear to offer good prospects for simultaneously enrich- ing durum wheat germplasm with several valuable traits from related Triticeae.