Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LIFE IN A FLY: THE ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF THE OLIVE FLY ENDOSYMBIONT, CANDIDATUS ERWINIA DACICOLA.

Bacterial endosymbionts of eukaryotes are generally studied in terms of their benefit or detriment to their hosts. The constraints that the host’s life history imposes on its endosymbionts are rarely considered, although bacterial genome content and size are influenced by both the biotic and abiotic factors in the environment. The host organism is the primary habitat of the endosymbiont. Thus, desecribing the environment a host provides its endosymbiont is essential for understanding the evolution of endosymbiotic bacteria. I propose a system to classify the endosymbiotic environment by three characteristics: 1) host life cycle 2) host metabolism, and 3) endosymbiont location relative to host tissues. Insect-bacterial mutualisms have been classified in terms of endosymbiont environment. The majority of insect-bacterial mutualisms currently studied involve monophagous, hemimetabolous hosts that provide a relatively constant endosymbiotic enviroment. A relatively constant environment may explain the extremely reduced genomes of their endosymbionts. In contrast, polyphagous, holometabolous hosts provide the most variable endosymbiotic environment. In this work, I examined the interactions between the polyphagous, holometabolous insect, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), and the enteric gammaproteobacterium, Candidatus Erwinia dacicola, throughout host development. Candidatus Erwinia dacicola was found in the digestive system of all life stages of wild olive flies. PCR and microscopy demonstrated that Ca. Erwinia dacicola resided intracellularly in the gastric caeca of the larval midgut, but extracellularly in the lumen of the foregut and ovipositor diverticulum of adult flies. I document the widespread distribution and high frequency of Ca. Er. dacicola in ten populations of wild
Development of Thermotolerant Acetic Acid Bacteria Useful for Vinegar Fermentation at Higher Temperatures

Thermotolerant acetic acid bacteria that can grow at 37 to 40°C were collected from places all over Thailand. They were divided into several groups according to their taxonomic and physiological properties, such as rapid ethanol oxidation, rapid acetate oxidation, cellulosic biopolymer formation, growth at 40°C, growth in 3% acetic acid, growth in 8% ethanol, formation of thermotolerant alcohol, and aldehyde dehydrogenases, etc. Though the complete taxonomic analysis has not been completed with all the strains, the majority of the acetic acid bacteria isolated have been confirmed to be classified as Acetobacter rancens subsp. pasteurianus, A. lovaniensis subsp. lovaniensis, A. aceti subsp. liquefaciens, and A. xylinum subsp. xylinum. They produced acetic acid at high temperatures such as 38 to 40°C. Even when acetic acid was initially added to 4%, they still oxidized ethanol to accumulate acetic acid, while 2% of the initial acetic acid was the upper limit for mesophilic strains*1 at higher temperatures.
A preliminary study on amphizoic amoebae with special reference to their preference for bacterial food

The present study was planned to screen the growth pattern of six different species of pathogenic and non pathogenic amphizoic amoebae viz. Naegleria fowleri, N. gruberi, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, A. rhysodes, A. polyphaga and A. glebae using six different bacterial species like Escherichia coli (Strain E1 and E2 and E. coli lactose +ve), Proteus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas as food in their in vitro growth on non-nutrient agar medium. It was observed that out of six amoebae used; the pathogenic N. fowleri and A. culbertsoni were feeding on E. coli (all the strains). Feeding these two species of bacteria, the growth of these two amoebae was luxuriant, but not so good while feeding other strains of bacteria though they fed, survived and formed cysts. The remaining four amoebae were found to feed and survive only on E. coli (all the strain) and formed cysts but showed very poor growth while feeding on other four bacterial strains. It was inferred that E. coli is the most suitable bacterial species for in vitro growth of amphizoic amoebae for various purposes. This also reiterates that there exists a complex inter-relationship between amoebae and bacteria in different habitats.
Interactive Influence of Turbidity and Light on Larval Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Foraging

In a series of in situ enclosure experiments with larval bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), we demonstrate that turbidity from suspended sediments reduces bluegill consumption of crustacean zooplankton, primarily cyclopoid copepods and copepod nauplii. However, this reduction occurred only when light intensity in parts of enclosures fell below a threshold, estimated at < 450 lx. Following recent studies demonstrating copepod diel vertical migration in response to predators, it appears that copepods in our experiments used low-light strata as a refuge. Without this apparent refuge present, larval bluegill consumption increased with increasing turbidity, but prey were smaller on average. Thus, prey biomass consumed by larval bluegill did not differ with turbidity in high-light conditions. We postulate that the shift to smaller prey across taxa at higher turbidity, when light intensity exceeded 450 lx, derives from increased prey–background contrast. In low-light conditions, larval bluegill consumed larger, but.
Rapid Detection of Salmonella in Dairy Cows Using Polymerase Chain Reaction

Salmonella is widely distributed in cattle in different countries and it is considered the most important related zoontic diseases today which have a public health and economic importance. A total of 298 faecal samples were collected from dairy cows and calves from suez canal area. All samples were subjected to bacteriological examination. Eighteen Salmonella strains were serologically identified using specific antisera. All Salmonella strains were examined using polymerase chain reaction DNA was extracted from Salmonella strains , Two oligonucleotide primers were used for detection of Salmonella invA gene . Thirty PCR cycles were performed with 56oC annealing temperature . PCR products were examined using Agarose gel electrophoresis 2% Agarose in TBE which revealed single 243 base pair amplified DNA fragment. (Journal of American Science. 2010;6(10):31-37). (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Lipids and antioxidants in groats and hulls of Swedish oats (Avena sativa L)

Concentrations and compositions oftotal lipids (TL), fatty acids, tocopherols and tocotrienols, avenanthramides and free hydroxycinnamic acids were determined in groats and hulls from single samples of seven Swedish oat cultivars. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured using the radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl as substrate. Results were evaluated by principal component analysis. Consistent differences in value of the variables analysed in groats and hulls were found, groats having higher concentrations of all compounds analysed except free cinnamic acids. Concentrations of E-vitamers (especially tocotrienols) were high in both groat and hull samples with high TL. Avenanthramides were high in hull samples with high TL, but this was not found in groats. Free cinnamic acids did not follow TL in either groats or hulls. TAC was generally higher in groats than in hulls. The within-group variation in TAC was less pronounced than that in chemical composition, especially in groats. The results did not suggest any strong relationship between TAC and individual antioxidants. Cette etude utilise l'analyse multivariable pour evaluer les variations dans la teneur en huile, la composition en acides gras, la concentration en antioxydant et l'activite correspondante dans des extraits de gruau et d'enveloppes des grains d'avoine. Des differences sont observees entre ces 2 parties du grain et les gruaux revelent des concentrations plus importantes pour tous les elements sauf en acides cinnamiques libres. Les resultats ne montrent pas de relation forte entre la capacite oxydante totale et les antioxydants individuels.
Associations between the bovine PPARGC1A gene and milk production traits

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PPARGC1A genotypes and hap - lotypes and milk production traits. The study included 181 Jersey cows. The genotypes were identified by the PCR-RFLP method. The frequencies of the most common alleles were as follows: T - 0.63 (c.1892T>C) and A - 0.88 (c.3359A>C). The frequency of the most common haplotype was TC/AA - 0.558. The results showed that there were no statistically significant associations between the individual genotypes of both S nPs and milk traits; however, individuals with the CC/AC haplotype produced significantly ( P ≤ 0.05; P ≤ 0.001) less milk and had a significantly ( P ≤ 0.001) higher protein content in milk.
No Inbreeding Avoidance by Female Burying Beetles Regardless of Whether They Encounter Males Simultaneously or Sequentially

Inbreeding avoidance reduces the probability that an individual will mate with a related partner, thereby lowering the risk that it produces inbred offspring suffering from inbreeding depression. Inbreeding avoidance can occur through several mechanisms, including active mate choice, polyandry and sex-biased dispersal. Here, we focus on the role of active mate choice as a mechanism for inbreeding avoidance. Recent evidence suggests that the experimental design used in mate choice experiments (i.e. simultaneous versus sequential choice) can have a strong impact on the strength of the reported mating preferences. In this study, we examine whether similar effects of experimental design also apply in the context of inbreeding avoidance. To this end, we designed two experiments on the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides that matched two different contexts under which females encounter potential mates in the wild; that is, when females encounter males simultaneously and sequentially. We found that females were as likely to mate with related and unrelated males regardless of whether they encountered male partners simultaneously or sequentially. Thus, our study provides no evidence for inbreeding avoidance in this species, and suggests that the number of mates present did not influence the degree of inbreeding avoidance. We discuss potential explanations for the lack of inbreeding avoidance through mate choice, including lack of mechanisms for recognizing close relatives, low costs and/or low risks of inbreeding and the presence of other inbreeding avoidance mechanisms, such as sex-biased dispersal and polyandry coupled with post-copulatory mate choice.
Bioline International Official Site (site up-dated regularly)

Crop management (CM) research conducted in Ethiopia has tended to quantify yield gains and losses associated with single management factors, making it difficult to determine the relative importance of main effects and interactions among factors. During 1987 and 1988, exploratory trials examining several CM factors for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) production were conducted at four research centres situated in the priority wheat production zones of Ethiopia. In the two cropping seasons of 1990, five similar trials were executed in south-eastern Ethiopia to examine the differential responses to four CM factors between farmers' fields and a research site. All 13 trials examined differences between local and improved bread wheat varieties, and response to fertiliser and hand weeding. A fourth factor of local significance such as fungicide, insecticide, or sowing date was added at each site to complete a 24 design. Treatment main effects exerted the predominant influence on grain yield (GY). Relative to unimproved traditional germplasm, GY increments from modern varieties ranged from 13 to 315%. Fertiliser application reduced GY by 9% in one trial due to enhanced lodging, but, in nine others, increased yield from 20 to 88%. Hand weeding increased GY in nine trials; the increases ranged from 17 to 94%. Fungicide increased GY by 5% in two trials, primarily by increasing the yield of a susceptible semi-dwarf variety under a heavy epidemic of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis). Seed treatment with insecticide for control of shoot fly (Delia arambourgi) increased GY by 13 to 46% in four trials. Two way interactions involving variety emphasised the greater responsiveness of modern varieties to improved management and higher levels of inputs. Overall, the interactions demonstrated the beneficial impact of combining improved production practices in one cultural package. From the comparison of on-farm and on-station results, it was apparent that station conditions differ dramatically from farmers' circumstances in terms of heat crop response to hand weeding, fertiliser application and insecticidal seed treatment. This has obvious implications for the extrapolation of research results generated on station to the surrounding small-scale farming community.
One Hundred Years of Recovery of a Pine Forest in Northern Wisconsin

Abstract Following logging and fire during 1890–1897 in an old-growth pine (primarily Pinus strobus and P. resinosa) stand near Found Lake in northeastern Wisconsin, the pattern and rate of forest succession was determined between 1950 and 1997. The original forest was reconstructed from analysis of stumps remaining in 1950. The study of stumps was a feasible retrospective approach to a detailed analysis of the variability and patchwork nature of the original (Before White Settlers, BWS) pine forests in northern Wisconsin. White birch (Betula papyrifera) and aspen (Populus spp.) dominated the Found Lake stand for about 80 y following logging and fire. Based on the Importance Value of trees and saplings, and basal area of trees, white pine (P. strobus) and especially red pine (P. resinosa) have begun to re-emerge as dominant species in the study area some 100 y after catastrophic disturbance. The abundance of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) trees has increased dramatically in recent years in the study area. Although variable, radial tree growth peaked consistently at 2–5 mm ring increment/y during the middle decades (1925–1960) of recovery for aspen, white birch, white pine and red oak (Quercus rubra borealis). Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), sugar maple and white spruce (Picea glauca) are now (1997) predominant in the understory of the forest stand as saplings. This composition of the sapling layer suggests that in the absence of fire in the future the pines would eventually give way to balsam fir, sugar maple and white spruce.
VEGETATION OF THE MARITIME CLIFF‐TOPS OF THE LIZARD AND LAND'S END PENINSULAS, WEST CORNWALL

Summary The maritime cliff-top vegetation of the Lizard and Land's End, West Cornwall, is described in a traditional phytosociological manner. Six new associations are described, together with a number of other noda. The noda are related to environmental factors and the zonation on the cliffs is found to be determined by the amount of exposure to maritime influence, with further variation due to differences in soil depth and moisture content and to the geology of the underlying rocks. A strongly marked relationship between the percentage of maritime species in a nodum and the sodium-organic ratio is noted.
Epiphytism on Blades of the Edible Kelps Undaria pinnatifida and Saccharina latissima Farmed under Different Abiotic Conditions

The kelps Undaria pinnatifida and Saccharina latissima are economically valuable edible seaweeds. Although epiphytism is a major problem affecting the productivity and quality of farmed seaweeds, studies of its effects on kelp aquaculture are scarce. We investigated the effects of epiphytism in two U. pinnatifida and S. latissima culture grounds located in two different parts (exposed and sheltered) of a bay (ria) in Galicia (NW Spain). Epiphytic organisms on blades were identified and their abundance was documented. The percentage of the total blade covered with epiphytes was measured for both kelp species in order to estimate the blade biomass that must be discarded during processing for human consumption. Algae, hydroids, and crustaceans were the most common epiphytic organism on kelp blades; colonies of the hydroid Obelia geniculata and harpacticoid copepods were the most abundant epiphytes. Abundance of epiphytes on the blades of both kelps was significantly higher for fronds growing in the sheltered area of the bay compared to those farmed at the exposed location. Different environmental conditions and other factors, such as the proximity of mussel cultures to kelp cultures, may be important contributors to epiphytism. The results presented here can be used to devise better ways for kelp aquaculture facilities to diminish the negative effects of epiphytism.
Response of N, P and K on Vegetative Growth, Flowering and Corm Production in Gladiolus Under Mango Orchard

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of fertilizer levels on vegetative growth, flowering and corm production attributes in gladiolus cv. White Friendship under mango orchard. Significantly maximum number of leaves per plant and number of florets per spike remaining open at a time, were recorded with treatment N50 P25K25 g/m2, whereas significantly maximum plant height was obtained by application of N40 P20 K20 g/m2. Treatment N10P5K5 g/m2 advanced the time for showing colour in the first floret. Application of N40P20K20 g/m2 significantly increased spike length, number of florets per spike, diameter of first floret, life of spike as well as durability of whole spike under field and thus found as optimal dose for these floral characters. A gradual, steady and significant increase in corms produced per plant, corm size and weight as well as number of cormels per plant was observed with increasing fertilizer levels recording highest values at N50P25K25 g/m2.
Limits to the Negative Logarithmic Relationship Between Moisture Content and Longevity in Conidia of Metarhizium flavoviride

Abstract Conidia of Metarhizium flavoviride were hermetically stored at 50 °C and 14 moisture contents between 2.5 and 31.8% (fresh weight basis) for up to 146 d, and tested for germination on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar at 25 °C for 24 h. Survival of conidia conformed to cumulative negative normal distributions and all 14 survival curves could be constrained to a common origin. There was a negative logarithmic relation between longevity and conidia moisture content, but limits to the relation were detected: the lower-moisture-content limit was 4.6% [in equilibrium with 10.7% relative humidity (RH) at 20 °C], below which value further reduction in moisture content did not increase conidia longevity; and an upper-moisture-content limit between about 21.2 and 31.8% moisture content (between 77 and 90.0% equilibrium RH at 20 °C) above which conidia longevity no longer decreased. The observations could also be described by a negative semi-logarithmic relation between conidia longevity and equilibrium relative humidity. In this model, each reduction in equilibrium relative humidity by 11.2% within the range 10.7 to 80% RH doubled conidia longevity. The similarities in these relations, and the limits to these relations, between the conidia of this entomopathogenic fungus and the orthodox seeds of higher plants are discussed.
Cold shocks: a stressor for common carp

The stress response of common carp Cyprinus carpio was studied by evaluating plasma cortisol, glucose and lactate after single or multiple rapid temperature drops (ΔT: 7, 9 or 11°C). All three amplitudes used induced a significant rise in plasma cortisol levels. Peaks occurred within 20 min after onset of the cold shock. No stress-related secondary metabolic changes were observed in any of the experiments described: plasma glucose levels remained unaffected and plasma lactate levels dropped. Carp of 60 days old showed a significant stress response, although plasma cortisol levels were lower than those observed in carp of 120 days. Furthermore, fish that had experienced multiple cold shocks showed an overall lower cortisol response than fish experiencing a single cold shock, indicating that habituation to this stressor occurred. (C) 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.
Effect of rice (Oryza sativa) straw management on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted at Jorhat, Assam during 2004-05 and 2005-06 to find out an effective prac- tice of rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw management in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) as a compo- nent of integrated nutrient management. Straw was incorporated @ 5 tlha with different decomposers, viz. starter N (one-third recommended dose of N), cellulose-decomposing microorganisms (CDM), earthworms culture (EC), EC + FYM, CDM + EC, FYM and starter N+ CDM + EC + lime. These decomposers significantly improved the yield and yield components in wheat compared with straw removal. Incorporation of rice straw @ 5 Vha under dual in- oculation of cellulose-decomposing microorganisms and earthworms improved the grain yield by 2.46 Vha. These also increased the nutrient uptake, available N, P, K in soil at harvest and benefit : cost ratio. Straw incorporation increased the organic C in the soil by 2-1 1% compared with straw removal. It also increased the microbial popula- tion in soil substantially irrespective of the decomposer used. Inoculation with CDM led to build-up of microbial population in the soil. Thus, rice straw incorporation with cellulose decomposing micro-organisms and earthworms resulted in higher yield, increased nutrient uptake, improved residual soil fertility and soil microorganism status and ultimately higher benefit : cost ratio of wheat.
Abundance indices for long-lived tropical snappers: estimating standardized catch rates from spatially and temporally coarse logbook data

The Northern Demersal Scalefish Fishery has historically comprised a small fleet (≤10 vessels year−1) operating over a relatively large area off the northwest coast of Australia. This multispecies fishery primarily harvests two species of snapper: goldband snapper, Pristipomoides multidens and red emperor, Lutjanus sebae. A key input to age-structured assessments of these stocks has been the annual time-series of the catch rate. We used an approach that combined Generalized Linear Models, spatio-temporal imputation, and computer-intensive methods to standardize the fishery catch rates and report uncertainty in the indices. These analyses, which represent one of the first attempts to standardize fish trap catch rates, were also augmented to gain additional insights into the effects of targeting, historical effort creep, and spatio-temporal resolution of catch and effort data on trap fishery dynamics. Results from monthly reported catches (i.e. 1993 on) were compared with those reported daily from more recently (i.e. 2008 on) enhanced catch and effort logbooks. Model effects of catches of one species on the catch rates of another became more conspicuous when the daily data were analysed and produced estimates with greater precision. The rate of putative effort creep estimated for standardized catch rates was much lower than estimated for nominal catch rates. These results therefore demonstrate how important additional insights into fishery and fish population dynamics can be elucidated from such “pre-assessment” analyses.