Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effective trapping methods for assessing invertebrates in vineyards

There is increasing interest in developing environmental management systems to ensure that agricultural industries are sustainable; invertebrate indicators provide one potential tool for monitoring sustainable production. As a first step in developing invertebrate indicators for viticulture, we compare the efficiency of 3 common trapping methods in assessing populations of relevant orders of invertebrates. Yellow sticky traps were more effective in trapping Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Araneae and Coleoptera; transparent sticky traps were best for Lepidoptera and Neuroptera; and pitfall traps for Collembola and the family Formicidae. Numbers collected differed among months and December was the best month, overall, for trapping. Preliminary guidelines are developed for assessing key orders. While several methods are required for assessing invertebrate biodiversity, most orders can be sampled with a single method, particularly the yellow sticky trap. Our results indicate that changes in numbers of beneficial orders, due to changes in management practices, can be detected. Power analyses suggest a relatively small number of yellow sticky traps would be sufficient to detect changes of around 30%, or greater.
Bigger is better: implications of body size for flight ability under different light conditions and the evolution of alloethism in bumblebees

1. In social insects, reproductive success and survival of the colony critically depend on the colony's ability to efficiently allocate workers to the various tasks which need to be performed. In bumblebees, workers show a large variation of body size within a colony. Large workers tend to leave the nest and forage for nectar and pollen, whereas small workers stay inside the nest and fulfill nest duties. It was speculated that size-related differences of the sensory system might contribute to alloethism found in bumblebee colonies. 2. In the first part, we investigated how body size determines eye morphology. We measured several eye parameters of Bombus terrestris workers and drones. In both, workers and drones, larger individuals had larger eyes with larger facet diameters, more ommatidia and larger ocelli. At similar body size, drones exhibited larger eyes and ocelli compared to workers. Due to theoretical considerations, we predict that large individuals with large eyes should be better able to operate in illumination conditions of lower intensity than small individuals, since ommatidial sensitivity is proportional to the square of facet diameter. 3. In the second part, we tested this prediction. In a behavioural experiment, we first caught bumblebees of various sizes in the field and then determined the lowest light intensity level at which they are just able to fly under controlled laboratory conditions. We tested workers of B. terrestris and B. pascuorum, and workers and drones of B. lapidarius. Large bumblebees were able to fly under lower light levels compared to small bees, with light intensity thresholds ranging from 1·1 to 5·5 lux. 4. Our results indicate that the increased light sensitivity of the visual system of large bumblebees allows them to fly under poor light conditions, for example, very early in the morning or late at dusk. This is of potential benefit to the survival of a bumblebee colony since flowers that open early in the morning usually have accumulated a relatively high amount of nectar and pollen throughout the night, and large bumblebees can utilize these resources earlier than most other bees. Thus, our findings have important implications for the understanding of the functional significance and evolution of alloethism in bumblebee colonies.
Fluoride Thin Films: from Exchange Bias to Multferroicity

Fluoride Thin Films: from Exchange Bias to Multiferroicity Trent A. Johnson This dissertation concerns research into the growth and characterization fluoride thin films by molecular beam epitaxy. After a discussion of relevant background material and experimental procedures in the first two chapters, we study exchange bias in magnetic multilayers incorporating the uniaxial antiferromagnet FeF2, grown to varying thicknesses, sandwiched between ferromagnetic Co layers with fixed thicknesses of 5 and 20 nm. Several bilayers with only the 20 nm thick Co layer were grown for comparative study. The samples were grown on Al2O3 (112̄0) substrates at room temperature. In-situ RHEED and x-ray diffraction indicated the films were polycrystalline. The films were determined to have low surface and interlayer roughness, as determined by AFM and x-ray reflectivity. After field-cooling to below the Néel temperature of FeF2 in a magnetic field of 1 kOe, magnetic hysteresis loops were measured as a function of temperature. We found that both layers had a negative exchange bias, with the exchange bias of the thinner layer larger than that of the thicker layer. In addition, the coercivity below the blocking temperature TB of the thinner layer was significantly larger than that of the thick layer, even though the coercivity of the two layers was the same for T > TB. The exchange bias effect, manifested by a shift in these hysteresis loops, showed a strong dependence on the thickness of the antiferromagnet. Anisotropic magnetoresistance measurements provided additional insight into the magnetization reversal mechanism within the ferromagnets. The thickness dependent exchange anisotropy of trilayer and bilayer samples is explained by adapting a random field model to the antiferromagnet/ferromagnet interface. Finally, We investigate the temperature dependent growth, as well as the magnetic and ferroelectric properties of thin films of the multiferroic compounds BaMF4, where M = Fe, Co, Ni. The films were grown to thicknesses of 50 or 100 nm on single crystal Al2O3 (0001) substrates. X-ray diffraction showed that this family of films grew epitaxially in the (010) orientation, but were twinned in the plane, with three domain orientations rotated by 120 relative to one another. Measurements of the remanent hysteresis via interdigitated electrodes showed that the compounds M = Co, and Ni were ferroelectric, but no switching behavior was observed in the Fe system at electric fields up to 400 kV/cm. Measurements of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetic moment confirmed low temperature antiferromagnetic behavior, and found new weak ferromagnetic phases induced by strain.
Metodologia alternativa para condução do teste de envelhecimento acelerado em sementes de milho

Some vigor tests are routinely used by seed industry for internal programs of seed quality control. Then, it is requested the use of efficient methods to obtain quick answers to take right decisions related to the management, discard and trade of seed lots. This research was carried out in order to study the possibility to short the period to get the accelerated aging test (AA) results, using the tetrazolium test (TZ) instead of germination test (GT) to evaluate the seed performance after the seed aging. Tem corn seed lots were used, with and without fungicide treatment. The data obtained using the alternative method (AA+TZ) were compared with those determined by the traditional one (AA+GT). There was discrimination among seed lots using the traditional AA test and aging combined with TZ test. The corn seed vigor can be evaluate using the TZ test after seed aging instead of germination test. It allows similar results with the advantage of reducing the test period from eight to three days.
Teratodiplogaster variegatae n. Sp. (Nematoda: Diplogastridae) isolated from the syconia of Ficus variegata Blume on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan

Teratodiplogaster variegatae n. sp. is described and illustrated from Ficus variegata on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan. Teratodiplogaster variegatae n. sp. is characterised by its scoop-like lip, the presence of large sac-like receptaculum seminis in the female gonads, and eight pairs of male genital papillae with an arrangement of (P1, P2, P3, vs, C, (P4, P5d), (P6, P7), P8d, Ph). It is distinguished from its close relatives T. fignewmani and T. martini by its stomatal morphology, spicule and gubernaculum morphology, structure of female reproductive organs, and the characteristic star-shaped appendage on the tail tip of males and females. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based upon near-full-length SSU and D2-D3 expansion segments of LSU corroborate a monophyletic origin of the genus Teratodiplogaster.
The Effect of Ascorbic Acid on the Growth Rate of Chicks

Abstract IT IS generally recognized that under normal conditions the chick does not have a dietary requirement for ascorbic acid. It has been found, however, that ascorbic acid may have a slight stimulatory effect on the rate of growth of chicks fed purified diets. Dietrich et al. (1949) reported that the effect of vitamin B12 on growth of chicks was enhanced by ascorbic acid and the amount of folic acid stored in the liver was higher when vitamin B12 and ascorbic acid were given together than with vitamin B12 alone. Briggs et al. (1944) suggested that, when chicks are fed a highly purified diet, they are not able to synthesize sufficient ascorbic acid to permit maximum growth. They also suggested that the action of ascorbic acid may be indirect involving utilization of other nutrients or stimulating microbial synthesis of vitamins in the intestine of the chick. Support for this latter view …
NF-κB activation can mediate inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication

The activation of NF-κB has long been considered a positive factor for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication. The HCMV immediate-early promoter, the initial transcriptional element in the HCMV replication cycle, is activated by the transcription factor NF-κB, and several HCMV gene products have been demonstrated to activate this transcription factor. However, the role of NF-κB in the full replication cycle of the virus has not been carefully examined. A series of experiments that demonstrate an important inhibitory role of NF-κB for HCMV replication in fibroblasts is presented here. Using both genetic and pharmaceutical methods, it was shown that blocking NF-κB activation in cell culture does not inhibit HCMV replication, but rather leads to a modest increase in replication. Two cytokines inhibitory for HCMV, tumour necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ, no longer inhibit HCMV when NF-κB activation is blocked. Furthermore, forced expression of the NF-κB activating IκB kinase β (IKKβ), but not a kinase inactive mutant, also inhibits HCMV replication. In addition, it was shown that NF-κB signalling is essential for the production of an anti-viral factor in the supernatant of HCMV-infected fibroblasts, and identified interferon-β as this factor. Thus, the role of NF-κB in fibroblasts is to activate a host defence against HCMV.
Physio-Biochemical and Microsatellite Based Profiling of Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Landraces for Osmotic Stress Tolerance

Global climate changes accelerate a wide range of abiotic stresses leading to a series of physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that adversely affect the growth and productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.). In this background, there is limited knowledge and profiling reports of lowland, less popular rice landraces in relation to their osmotic stress tolerance. Laboratory mediated physiological and biochemical screening for a selected set of 20 lowland rice landraces was done in induced drought and salinity stress conditions. Varietal genetic diversity and inter-relatedness were assessed by using osmotic stress tolerance linked forty-five rice microsatellite markers. For representing the allelic diversity of the studied microsatellite loci across the selected genotypes, a microsatellite panel was constructed and PIC values of all used microsatellite markers were calculated. The obtained database can be used for varietal identification, characterization and genetic information in relation to osmotic stress tolerance.
Biochemical Systematics, Biogeography and Evolutionary Rates in Species of the Mediterranean Genus Tyrrhenoleuctra (Plecoptera, Leuctridae)

The western Mediterranean stonefly genus Tyrrhenoleuctra traditionally includes 3 species: T. minuta (Spain, North Africa, Balearic Islands), T. tangerina (Spain, North Africa), T. zavattarii (Corsica and Sardinia). Since the traditional morphological characters display great and overlapping variation, allozyme electrophoresis was used to clarify taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within the genus and to discuss biogeographical implications. The results clearly discriminate at least four entities: the Corso-Sardinian unit, for which the name T. zavattarii can be used; the Balearic population, representing an undescribed species; at least two Iberian peninsular species. However, more data on topotypic populations are needed to define the taxonomic status of the Iberian species (including definition of the currently used names T. minuta and T. tangerina). The presence of Tyrrhenoleuctra in Sardinia and Corsica is likely due to an old vicariance event following separation of the Sardinia-Corsica microplate from the Iberian Peninsula. Calibration of the molecular clock (genetic distances vs. Corso-Sardinian plate split from Iberia) resulted in a very low evolutionary rate (0.008 D/my), lower than those found in taxonomically distant groups (including stoneflies) with similar distribution.
Genealogical Concordance between Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNAs Supports Species Recognition of the Panamint Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii stephensi)

Abstract The Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) is a polytypic taxon presently composed of five subspecies that range across southwestern North America, including the Baja Peninsula and islands in the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés. The principles of genealogical concordance were employed to test the taxonomic status of three of the five subspecies (C. m. mitchellii, C. m. pyrrhus, and C. m. stephensi). We used two molecular marker systems: mitochondrial (mt) DNA ATPase 8 and 6 genes (675 base pairs, bp), and introns 5 and 6 of the nuclear (n) DNA ribosomal protein (RP) gene (449 bp). These markers were evaluated across 104 individuals of C. mitchellii: C. m. mitchellii (n = 3), C. m. pyrrhus (n = 83), C. m. stephensi (n = 18), with Sistrurus c. catenatus as the distant outgroup. Deep phylogenetic splits were detected in the subspecies of C. mitchellii, with 5.0–6.4% mtDNA sequence divergence (SD) separating C. m. mitchellii and C. m. pyrrhus, while C. m. mitchellii and C. m. stephensi had SD values of 6.4–7.3%. Similarly, C. m. pyrrhus and C. m. stephensi had SD values of 5.2–6.7%. In addition, C. m. mitchellii and C. m. pyrrhus were identical in all 449 intron bp, but C. m. stephensi differed from both at a single nucleotide polymorphism. Our molecular results diagnose C. m. stephensi as sister to mainland subspecies of the C. mitchellii complex, a result consistent with certain head scalation characters and its northernmost geographic distribution in this complex. Furthermore, four morphological synapomorphies (supraocular scales prominently ridged and/or creased, contact between rostral and prenasal scales, ground coloration of tail congruent with that of body, and black rings in the distal 15% of the tail) also diagnose C. m. stephensi from all other subspecies of C. mitchellii. We hypothesize that the northern distribution of C. m. stephensi likely resulted from two vicariant events: Pliocene expansion of the Sea of Cortés as the Salton Trough, and Pliocene development of the lacustrine Bouse Embayment along the Colorado River drainage. Despite earlier conclusions based on morphology, our molecular results showed no evidence of intergradation between C. m. pyrrhus and C. m. stephensi. Based on the principles of genealogical concordance, we advocate that C. m. stephensi be elevated to a full species, which renders a minimum of two species within the C. mitchellii clades we examined.
Pollen morphology of some Acanthaceae from West Africa

Abstract Palynological observations were carried out on some West African species of Acanthaceae with the aim of improving knowledge of the palynology in this family which presents a very variable pollen morphology. Information about visiting insects is also given in an attempt to contribute towards the comprehension of the pollen/pollinator relationship.
Human TcRγδ+ lymphocyte response on primary exposure to Plasmodium falciparum

In 29 patients experiencing their first P. falciparum malarial attack. blood levels of TcRγδ+ lymphocytes were studied from the onset of infection to up to 6‐9 months later. Blood TcRγδ+ lymphocytes, revealed using the TcRδ1 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) were increased both in absolute and relative numbers. Alterations lasted for up to 3‐4 months following the attack. A TiγA/ BB3 reactive Vγ/9 subset was preferentially amplified, in vitro, TcRγδ+ lymphocytes from both malaria‐sensitized and unprimed donors responded to P. falciparum schizont extract (PhSE). PFSE‐stimulated polyclonal T cell lines consisted principally in TcRγδ+ cells with a TiγAd+/BB‐3+ phenotype. Several TcRγδ+ T cell clones obtained from patients recovering from acute malarial attack were maintained in the presence of PFSE and autologous irradiated PBL. They belong to the Vγ9 subset. In long‐term cultures. TcRγδ+ clones progressively lost their capacity to react to PFSE antigen while they were able to proliferate and to exert cytotoxic activity in response to autologous TcRγδ+, PFSE‐specific T lymphocyte clones. This suggests that regulatory interactions occur between activated TcRγδ+ and TcRγβ+ cells generated by P. falciparum. Sequential variations in blood TcRγδ+ and TcRγβ+ lymphocyte levels after primary exposure to P. falciparum suggest that such regulatory interactions may occur in vivo.
A survey of breeding Wood Warblers Phylloscopus sibilatrix in Britain, 1984–1985.

Wood Warblers were counted by tetrad within 10 km squares chosen from those occupied in The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland. ¸ About 80% of the planned coverage was achieved. The male population was estimated to be 17 200 with a 95% confidence range of +l- 1370. Range changes are mapped; they show no consistent pattern. As a by-product of an unrelated study, single visit counts were shown to be similar to actual numbers of males because some birds may be counted more than once. Song output was fairly constant for the period of the survey because males sing while their mates incubate. Data showing regional variations of density are mapped and tabulated by 10 km squares and by estimated area of broadleaf woodland. Wood area was a poor predictor of Wood Warbler abundance. Habitat associations in 6 separate studies were not totally consistent. Oakwoods with high canopy cover and limited herbaceous vegetation were preferred to more varied stands with more open canopies and stronger shrub and herb.
The utilization of dietary energy by steers during periods of restricted food intake and subsequent realimentaion

SUMMARY Groups of Bos indicus (Boran) and Bos taurus (Hereford) × Bos indicus steers were kept at constant live weights of 185, 275 and 450 kg for periods of up to 24 weeks. Maintenance of these live weights was achieved by control of the daily ration of a diet having an energy concentration of 10·477 MJ metabolizable energy (ME)/kg d.m. AS time progressed it was noted that less of the diet had to be fed daily to maintain constant live weight. Body composition of steers slaughtered at 0, 12 and 24 weeks showed that the live weights had been maintained by the compensating effect of empty body weight gains and digestive tract content-weight losses. No significant differences were found between slaughter groups for the energy values of the boneless carcass meat nor the internal deposits of empty digestive tract, omental and mesenteric fat. It was therefore concluded that there had been a progressive increase in the efficiency of energy utilization for the production of edible meat. The percentage reduction of daily food intake from 3 to 24 weeks necessary to maintain the prescribed live weights ranged from 51·8% for the 185 kg Borans to 17·9% for the 450 kg ¾ Boran × Hereford cross-breds. Comparison with published estimates for maintenance of live weight showed that after 24 weeks at constant live weight the 185 and 275 kg Borans and the 450 kg ¾ Borans needed 50·5, 37·9 and 34·2% less and the 275 kg Hereford × Boran cross-breds and 450 kg ¾ Herefords 40·8 and 37·9% respectively less food than estimated. Correction for age effects on the fasting metabolic rates of the 185 and 275 kg weight groups reduced the difference between theoretical and actual maintenance requirements from 50·5, 37·9 and 40·8% to 37·3, 29·3 and 33·8% respectively. Attention is drawn to the need to differentiate between the live-weight maintenance needs of fast and slow growing animals which may be of similar live weights but differing ages.
Optimization of Rapid‐Visco Analyser Test Conditions for Predicting Asian Noodle Quality

ABSTRACT A variety of Rapid-Visco Analyser (RVA) operating conditions have been tested with starch, flour, and wholemeal for predicting the quality of wheats for the manufacture of Japanese white-salted noodles. Using starch as the substrate, an initial temperature of 60°C has been found to be optimum, and the best heating time from this initial temperature to the peak temperature of 95°C was ≈6 min. Significant correlations were found between peak viscosity of starch pastes and noodle quality under these operating conditions. For flour and wholemeal samples, the correlations were not as high as for isolated starch. The correlations with wholemeal or flour and noodle quality could be improved by the addition of α-amylase inhibitors. Measuring RVA viscosity of flour or wholemeal in the presence of silver nitrate gave viscosities which showed highly significant correlations with noodle quality. These correlations were similar to those obtained with isolated starch. It appears that the improvement is due to .
Small mammal succession is determined by vegetation density rather than time elapsed since disturbance

Abstract We examined post-fire responses of two sympatric Australian rodents, Pseudomys gracilicaudatus and Rattus lutreolus, as coastal wet heath regenerated following two high intensity wildfires. Pseudomys gracilicaudatus, an early serai-stage species, recolonized an area burnt in August 1974 after one year, but took only 3 months to recolonize another area following a wildfire in October 1994. Rattus lutreolus, a late serai-stage specialist, took approximately 3.6 years to recolonize following wildfire in August 1974, but had recolonized after only 4 months following wildfire in October 1994. We suggest that this apparent anomaly is associated with the rate of recovery of vegetation density. When the relative abundance of each species was plotted as a function of vegetation density, the trajectories following the two wildfires were concordant. An implicit relationship exists between time since wildfire and vegetation density. We make this relationship explicit by quantifying cover requirements for each species, and show that it is the resource continuum borne of regenerating vegetation (rather than time per se) that is important in determining the timing of small mammal successional sequences.
Distribution of chemical constituents in the plant parts of six tropical-origin forage grasses at early anthesis

The distribution of chemical constituents in the plant parts of six tropical forage grasses at early anthesis was studied. The forage grasses were guinea grass Panicum maximum (Jacq.); angleton grass Dichanthium aristatum (Poir.); gamba grass Andropogon gayanus (Kunth); buffel grass Cenchrus ciliaris (L.); birdwood grass Cenchrus setigerus (Vahl.); and rhodes grass Chloris gayana (Kunth.). Apart from ether extract, which generally decreased from the inflorescence down to the basal culm, and crude fibre, which increased from the inflorescence down to the basal culm, no clear gradient of constituents within the plants could be established for any of the forage grass species.