Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prey selection and baculovirus dissemination by carabid predators of Lepidoptera

Abstract. 1 The interaction between coleopteran predators and baculovirus‐infected larvae was studied in the laboratory and the field in order to assess the potential role of predators in the dissemination of a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV). 2 Preference tests using three carabid species, Harpalus rufipes De Geer, Pterostichus melanarius Illiger and Agonum dorsale Pont, showed no evidence of discrimination between healthy and diseased larvae of the cabbage moth Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as prey items. 3 Virus infectivity was maintained after passage through the predator's gut. NPV mortality ranged from 97% to 20% when test larvae were exposed to faeces collected immediately after and 15 days post‐infected meal respectively. 4 The potential for transfer of inoculum in the environment was estimated in the laboratory by soil bioassay. Carabids continuously passed infective virus to the soil for at least 15 days after feeding on infected larvae. 5 Field experiments showed that carabids which had previously fed on diseased larvae transferred sufficient virus to the soil to cause low levels of mortality in larval populations of the cabbage moth at different instars.
Analysis of mitochondrial DNA diversity within and between North and South Atlantic right whales

DNA sequences of the mitochondrial control region of 180 North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and 16 South Atlantic right whales (E. australis) have been determined using a combination of direct DNA sequencing and single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Five haplotypes were found in E. glacialis, and 10 in E. australis, but none were shared, supporting the reproductive isolation and separate species status of the North and South Atlantic right whales. One haplotype in E. glacialis was found in only three males born before 1982 and this matriline will likely be lost soon. The nucleotide diversity estimates for the five North Atlantic right whale haplotypes was 0.6% and 2.0% for the 10 haplotypes found in the South Atlantic right whales. The average haplotypic diversity was 0.87 in E. glacialis and 0.96 in E. australis, which is consistent with other studies showing a lower level of genetic variation in the North Atlantic right whale. Phylogenetic analysis identified two major assemblages of haplotypes in E. australis from the samples collected from Peninsula Valdes, suggesting a mixing of two historically divergent populations. Using genetic distance measurements with a divergence rate of 0.5%-1.0%/myr, we estimate E. glacialis diverged from E. australis 3-12.5 mya.
Oxidative metabolism in thermogenic tissues of the swordfish and mako shark

Mitochondria isolated from the heater organ of the swordfish Xiphias gladius and the warm lateral red muscle of the mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus display respiratory control, indicating that uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation is not important in heat production. The mitochondria of the swordfish heater organ resemble those of mammalian brown adipose tissue in their substrate preferences, oxidizing pyruvate plus malate, palmitoyl carnitine, and α-glycerophosphate at high rates. The high hexokinase levels in the heater organ indicate exogenous glucose is an important energy source. The high activity of cytosolic α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and the high rates of mitochondrial oxidation of α-glycerophosphate indicate that cytosolic redox is balanced via the α-glycerophosphate cycle. Calcium stimulates mitochondrial α-glycerophosphate oxidation, and it is proposed that calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum may act as the signal coupling enhanced rates of substrate oxidation with calcium transport. Based on mitochondrial respiration rates, heat generation by the intact heater organ was calculated. Complete oxidation of glucose produces heat at a greater rate than oxidation of lipids. Nevertheless, oxidation of either substrate could produce sufficient heat to maintain tissue temperature 10°C above ambient at 20°C. The mitochondria from the red muscle of the mako shark oxidize pyruvate plus malate, glutamine, glutamate, proline, and β-hydroxybutyrate at high rates. Palmitoyl carnitine was not oxidized. The respiration rates are similar to those described for mitochondria isolated from “cold” muscle of other elasmobranchs. Therefore, it does not appear that mako shark red muscle mitochondria are specialized for thermogenesis.
Effects of an omnivorous crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) on a freshwater littoral food web

Cascading trophic interactions are important in many freshwater pelagic food webs, but their importance in more complex, omnivore-rich littoral-zone food webs is less well known. We tested the existence of a trophic cascade involving omnivorous crayfish (Orconectes rusticus), macroinvertebrates, periphyton, and macrophytes using 9-M2 cages in the littoral zone of Plum Lake, Wisconsin, USA. Treatments in the replicated (N = 4) experiment were crayfish enclosures, crayfish exclosures, and cageless references. During June-September, we measured macrophyte shoot numbers, macroinvertebrate numbers, and periphyton (on plastic strips) chlorophyll a, and dry mass (DM). We expected that crayfish foraging would directly reduce abundance and change species composition of macrophytes and macroinvertebrates and would indirectly enhance periphyton abundance by reducing the abundance of grazing snails. In enclosures, macrophyte and snail (but not nonsnail macroinvertebrate) densities declined significantly throughout the experiment, whereas densities of macrophytes, snails, and nonsnail macroinvertebrates increased in exclosures and cageless references. Some of the reduction in macrophytes resulted from nonconsumptive fragmentation of macrophytes by crayfish. Consistent with the cascading trophic interactions model, periphyton chloro- phyll a per unit surface area increased in enclosures, but declined in exclosures. Periphyton quality (as indexed by chlorophyll a/DM) also increased in enclosures relative to exclosures and cageless references. However, because of large reductions in macrophyte surface area (which periphyton colonizes) in enclosures, total amount of periphyton chlorophyll a in enclosures (relative to exclosures) probably declined while periphyton quantity per unit surface area and periphyton quality increased. Thus, the impacts of crayfish omnivory on periphyton, expressed in two conflicting indirect effects, confirm the possibility that om- nivory can complicate cascading trophic predictions. Overall, results support the existence of strong trophic interactions in the littoral zone, in which omnivorous crayfish control abundance of macrophytes, snails, and periphyton.
Use of mixed feeding schedules in fish culture: performance of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., on plant and animal protein based diets

A 90-day growth trial was conducted with common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. , to test the suitability of mixed feeding using a plant-based low-protein diet (16% -diet A), and two fish-meal-based diets of 26% protein (diet B) and 31% protein (diet C). Three mixed feeding schedules were tested: 1A/2B, 2A/2B and 2A/2C; numerals refer to number of days each diet (A, B or C) was offered continuously. Fish fed diets A, B or C continuously served as controls. Fish grown on diet A grew the least, while there was no significant difference between those fed on diets B or C. Of the three mixed schedules, 2A/2C produced the highest growth, which was better than that on control diets B or C. Specific growth rate (%) and food conversion ratio and protein retention were found to be good for all mixed feeding schedules. The plant protein diet resulted in poor-quality flesh as indicated by carcass composition. The study supports the view that fish can be fed alternately with animal- and plant-protein-based diets of varied protein levels. This practice would help to reduce protein input, and would contribute to the efficient utilization of low-quality, plant-protein-based diets.
Transflexive Embedded near Infrared Monitoring for Key Process Intermediates in Anaerobic Digestion/Biogas Production

This work reports an off-line method development simulating at-line anaerobic co-digestion process monitoring using a new transflexive embedded near infrared sensor (TENIRS) system as a process analytical chemistry (PAC) facility. The operative focus is on optimising anaerobic digestion biogas production with energy crops as the main feedstock. Results show that several key monitoring intermediates in the anaerobic fermentation process can be quantified directly using near infrared spectroscopy with good results, especially ammonium and total volatile fatty acids. Good feasibility study prediction validations have been obtained for total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), ammonium, acetic acid and total volatile fatty acids. The TENIRS system is a new option for real-time, at-line/on-line monitoring of biogas fermentation operations, offering a robust, low-budget PAC approach to a rapidly growing bulk volume industry.
Direct determination of citric acid in milk with an improved pyridine-acetic anhydride method.

Summary The determination of citric acid with pyridine and acetic anhydride has been investigated at reaction temperatures from 17 to 60° C. The optimum proportions of pyridine, acetic anhydride, water, and acetic acid for maximum color intensity and stability are given for each temperature. The procedure has been modified to eliminate the violent nature of the reaction, even when the analysis is done at a reaction temperature of 60° C. Details of a method for the determination of 25–200 μ g. of citric acid, at a reaction temperature of 32° C. , are presented. In comparison with previously published methods based on the reaction, the recommended technique results in improved sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility without requiring careful timing. The method has been successfully applied to the routine analysis of milk and milk products. Milk and serum can be analyzed directly, after suitable dilution. Corrections for the interference caused by fat in homogenized milk, and by trichloroacetic acid in T.C. A. serum, can be made easily. Results of direct analysis of milk were from 5 to 15% higher than those for the corresponding sera and are believed to represent the true values for the citric acid content of milk.
Cellulose acetate as a selective sorbent for limonin in orange juice

Cellulose acetate as flake or powder is an efficient and selective sorbent for removing the bitter principle limonin from orange juice. Treatment of orange juice serum with powder (10 g/litre) removed 44–70% of the limonin content in less than an hour, at the same time removing relatively negligible amounts of hesperidin and ascorbic acid. Similar amounts of limonin could be removed by agitating the whole juice with cellulose acetate flakes held in open mesh bags which allowed contact between the enclosed flakes and the juice. Other materials, including related carbohydrate derivatives and polymers, were tested but only cellulose acetate butyrate shared the unusual sorptive properties of cellulose acetate.
The Effect of Equity-Market Frictions on Default-Risk Assessment: Evidence from Short-Sale Constraints around the World

We examine how pessimistic-trading restrictions, such as short-sale constraints, affect firms’ information environments. Although prior research finds that such restrictions reduce equity price informativeness, other non-equity-market-based sources of information, such as firm’s financial statements, could offset this loss of information. We assess the availability of firm-specific information based on the accuracy of a public-information-based default prediction model. We find that, while short-sale constraints both decrease the usefulness of equity-market variables for predicting firm default and increase the usefulness of equity-market variables for predicting non-defaults, the net effect of pessimistic-trading restrictions is a reduction in the informativeness of equity-market-based default predictors. Accounting and other non-equity-market-based sources of information significantly mitigate this informational cost. However, using an exogenous shock, we document that short-sale constraints are associated with higher credit spreads, which suggests that the net effect of pessimistic-trading restrictions is a reduction in the availability of firm-specific information.
Stemwood volume increment changes in European forests due to climate change—a simulation study with the EFISCEN model

This paper presents the results of a modelling study of future net annual increment changes in stemwood of European forests owing to climate change. Seven process‐based growth models were applied to 14 representative forest sites across Europe under one climate change scenario. The chosen scenario was the HadCM2 run, based on emission scenario IS92a, and resulted in an increase in mean temperature of 2.5 °C between 1990 and 2050, and an increase in annual precipitation of 5–15%. The information from those runs was incorporated in a transient way in a large‐scale forest resource scenario model, EFISCEN (European forest information scenario). European scale forest resource projections were made for 28 countries covering 131.7 million ha of forest under two management scenarios for the period until 2050.
Caractérisation moléculaire et morphologique de deux espèces affines de Paraphlebotomus: Phlebotomus chabaudi Croset, Abonnenc & Rioux, 1970 et P. riouxi Depaquit, Killick-Kendrick & Léger, 1998 (Diptera : Psychodidae)

In 1998, the description of Phlebotomus riouxi emphasised the difficulty to differentiate the female from the closely related P. chabaudi, a suspected vector of Leishmania killicki in several foci in Tunisia. In order to be able to distinguish the females of these two species, we started a molecular study based on 37 Algerian and Tunisian specimens. The alignment of the sequences of the cytochrome b of the mitochondrial DNA and their analysis using Neighbor-Joining, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony shows the individualisation of two species including an intraspecific variability. Following a morphological approach, it is not possible to distinguish the females on the basis of their spermathecae. A new character is proposed: the presence of anterolateral teeth of the pharyngeal armature for P. chabaudi, never observed in P. riouxi. However, a molecular typing is necessary at the present time for a sure identification of the females.
Agronomic Performance of Different Pea Cultivars Under Various Sowing Periods and Contrasting Soil Structures

Yield variability of spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) in farmers' fi elds is mainly due to soil compaction at sowing and abiotic stresses during the reproductive period. Winter peas fl ower earlier, and thus should be less sensitive to abiotic stress at the end of the cycle, but because of their sensitivity to frost they must be sown late in autumn when soils are very wet. Pea breeders are working on new winter cultivars that are more resistant to frost and highly sensitive to photoperiod and that could be sown earlier in autumn under better soil conditions. Our aim was to measure crop growth, development, and seed yield of diff erent types of pea cultivars using factorial experiments that evaluated the eff ect of soil structure, sowing period, and cultivar at two sites in France. Compaction reduced seed yield by 18% at Grignon and 6% at Estrees-Mons, but had no signifi cant eff ect on crop development. November sowings resulted in increased seed yield of about 1 t ha–1 at both sites compared with spring sowings, and were associated with larger numbers of reproductive nodes and seeds m–2. Cultivars exhibited contrasting characteristics in terms of mean seed dry weight, seeds m–2, and number of reproductive nodes, but fi nal seed yields were similar within sowing periods. Th e ability of the crop to convert crop gro
Phylotaxonomic position of Tianzhu white yak (Poephagus grunniens) based on nucleotide sequences of multiple subunits of cytochrome c oxidase

To estimate the phylotaxonomic position of Tianzhu white yak (Poephagus grunniens), multiple subunit genes of cytochrome c oxidase (cox) were sequenced: 1545 bp of cox1 (JF946751), 684 bp of cox2 (JN008944) and 781 bp of cox3 (JF946752). Sequence divergences of cox genes between yaks and cattle/zebus (5.7% in cox1, 7.7% in cox2 and 6.45% in cox3) were higher than those between yaks and American bisons (2.4% in cox1, 3.0% in cox2 and 2.1% in cox3). Molecular phylogenetic analysis with these genes also found that yaks and American bisons firstly clustered in one clade, indicating there was higher genetic comparability than that of cattle/zebus. The findings sustained the idea that in the choice of nomenclature yaks belong to the subgenus of Poephagus. According to the nucleotide substitution rate of cox genes among species of Bovinae, the speculated divergence time of yaks from cattle/zebus, American bisons, European bisons, Asian buffaloes/African buffaloes was 1.05–1.50 million years ago (MYA), 2.85–3.89 MYA, 2.90–3.70 MYA, 6.85–7.50 MYA, respectively. The sequential evolution of Bovinae members could be predicted that buffaloes were first to be domesticated during the end of Miocene and the early of Pliocene. In the end of Pliocene, the Bovinae genera were evolved to Bos, Bison and Poephagus. Poephagus was the latest evolved genera among the species of Bovinae.
A New Variety of Salvia sericeotomentosa (Lamiaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract Salvia sericeotomentosa Rechinger f. (Lamiaceae) was first collected by A. Eig and M. Zohary in 1932 and was described in 1952 by K. H. Rechinger, but since that time it has not been collected again from its type locality. Among specimens collected from the Amanos Mountains near Hatay Province, Turkey, in 2006, the taxon was rediscovered on the basis of two different populations growing at low altitudes. These populations provide the type for the new variety S. sericeotomentosa var. hatayica Celep & Doğan, which differs from the typical variety by having densely sericeous-tomentose and short glandular-pilose inflorescences. A full description of the new variety is also provided, as well as its conservation assessment.
Colonizing ability in the Echinochloa crus-galli complex (barnyard grass). I. Variation in life history

A comparison of life history traits in four taxa of the Echinochloa crus-galli complex (barnyard grass) which differ in colonizing ability and weediness was made under various environmental conditions. The taxa were the alien var. crus-galli, a cosmopolitan weed; var. oryzicola, a crop-mimic restricted to rice fields; var. frumentacea, a crop domesticate; and E. muricata, a native of wetland habitats. Populations studied were from the Central Valley of California where the four taxa are sympatric but ecologically differentiated. All comparisons were made under uniform glasshouse conditions to isolate the genetic component of life history variation. Measurements of the patterns of dry weight allocation, time to flowering, reproductive effort, and seed production were made on individuals grown during different periods of the year under "stress" and "nonstress" conditions utilizing randomized multi-harvest designs.Developmental plasticity in allocation patterns and reproductive phenology occurred in all taxa.
Tolerance and Antiplasmodial Screening of Ritchea longipedicellata in Plasmodium berghei

The tolerance and antiplasmodial activity of methanolic root extract of R. longipedicellata in P. berghei infected mice was investigated. Extract was administered to mice at 1500mg/kg for 30days and liver and kidney parameters were analysed. Mice were infected with P. berghei and administered the extract and reference drugs 2hrs and 5days post-infection for suppressive and therapeutic activities respectively. At 1500mg/kg dose, R. longipedicellata extract exhibited a significant decrease (p 0.05) in ALP, GOT, GPT and Creatinine. Bilirubin showed no significant change while PCV was increased (p 0.05). Inhibition in suppressive activity at 50 and 100mg/kg doses of the extracts were 86.8% and 65.43% while artesunate (120mg/kg) and chloroquine (8mg/kg) were 100%. Clearance rate in therapeutic activity for 50 and 100mg/kg dose of R. longipedicellata extract were 36.73% and 64.60%, lower than chloroquine (80.85%) and artesunate (100%). Longest survival period was observed in 50mg/kg suppressive group than all the groups treated with R. longipedicellata methanolic root extract. This study suggests that the methanolic root extract of R. longipedicellata is well tolerated and possesses antiplasmodial activity in mice infected with P.berghei.
The effect of increased energy demand through walking exercise on intake and ruminal characteristics of sheep fed a roughage diet

Summary Sheep were exercised on a treadmill to study the effect of increased energy demand on roughage intake and ruminal characteristics. The experiment consisted of a pre-exercise period during which exercise sheep walked for 30 min/day at 2 km/h against a gradient of 0° followed by a full exercise period during which they walked a total of 9 km/day at 3 km/h against a 10°gradient during six daily sessions of 30 min each. Control sheep received no exercise but were treated similarly to exercise sheep in all other respects. The mean values obtained during the pre-exercise period for the exercise and control groups and during the full exercise period for the exercise and control groups respectively were 1347, 1125; 1177 and 1114 g/day for organic matter (OM) intake; 956, 921; 803 and 848 g for rumen OM contents; 11·8, 13·6; 12·2 and 12·3 h for rumen retention time of water; 17·5, 20·2; 16·8 and 17·6 h for rumen retention time of fermentable OM; 27·3, 28·2; 26·4 and 26·7 h for rumen retention time of unfermentable OM and 46·9, 48·1, 44·4 and 45·9 kg for empty body weight. Only the decline in OM intake from pre-exercise to full exercise period differed significantly between exercise and control groups. It is concluded from these results that an increase in the difference between energy demand and supply per se is not responsible for the apparent increase in the upper limit to OM accumulation in the rumen and concomitant increase in roughage intake observed during other situations of increased energy output such as lactation and severe cold.
The effects of diet and stocking density on the growth and behaviour of pond pre-reared pikeperch under intensive conditions

Summary Experiments were carried out between 1999 and 2001 on pikeperch fingerlings using two feeds at four stocking densities to evaluate the success of training 35-day-old pond-reared pikeperch, Stizostedion lucioperca L. , to lifeless feed in intensive culture. Training periods of 28 days for each of three cohorts (1999–2001) were applied to introduce pikeperch from zooplankton to minced feed. In a preliminary study (1999), two feeds (live prey and minced fish meat) were compared at two stocking densities. Two higher densities were investigated in 2000 and 2001 and matched with the minced fish diet. Different feeds had significant effects on feed consumption and, as a consequence, on body weight gain; fish fed live prey showed highest growth rates. Unexpectedly, the stocking density had no significant effect on growth, and at the highest density there was a significantly betterfeed conversion rate. Stocking density and feed type significantly influenced the feeding behaviour. Three characteristic foraging techniques are described.