Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors involved in host discrimination by Epidinocarsis lopezi and Leptomastix dactylopii (Hym., Encyrtidae)

The factors involved in host discrimination by two Encyrtid Hymenoptera, Epidinocarsis lopezi and Leptomastix dactylopii, parasitoids of the mealybugs Phenacoccus manihoti and Planococcus citri (Pseudococcidae) respectively, were compared in a behavioural study. Females of both species can discriminate between unparasitized and parasitized hosts whatever the time elapsed since first oviposition. Discrimination is based on several stimuli which act either simultaneously or successively. In E. lopezi, the rejection of parasitized hosts occurred either after a simple antennal contact, as a result of the defense behaviour of the parasitized host, or after the insertion of the ovipositor. In the latter the parasitoid probably detects a modification in the composition of the haemolymph due to the presence of the developing parasitoid. In L. dactylopii, parasitized hosts were rejected mainly after antennal palpation, the possible markers identified being either an external pheromone or the physical marker provided by the egg stalk emerging from the surface of the parasitized host. After 3 days of infestation, the use of the ovipositor is sometimes necessary.
β-Conglycinins in Developing Soybean Seeds

The temporal sequence of development of the major proteins of seeds of soybean (Merr.) has been studied during development of cotyledons from flowering to maturity. A well-defined difference occurred in the times of appearance and the periods of maximum accumulation of α, α′-, and β-subunits of betaconglycinin. Whereas α- and α′-subunits appeared 15 to 17 days after flowering, accumulation of β-subunit did not commence until 22 days after flowering. Such alterations in subunit composition infer that changes also occurred in the amino acid composition of betaconglycinin during maturation, particularly in the content of methionine which is low in the β-subunit.
High Levels of Free Gossypol in Hen Diets: Effects on Body Weight, Feed Consumption, and Egg Production

ABSTRACT EVIDENCE has been presented by a number of investigators in recent years showing that the toxic effects of cottonseed meal are due to its free gossypol content. The experiments with growing chickens by Lillie and Bird (1950) are in agreement with the above statement; and the results obtained by Heywang, Denton and Bird (1949) and Heywang, Bird and Altschul (1950), in separate experiments, indicated that free gossypol in cottonseed fed to hens is responsible for the decreased hatchability of their eggs, and that gossypol in the feed is related to the discoloration of eggs. Unpublished experiments in this laboratory have shown that pure gossypol injected into laying hens in the form of an oil solution is highly toxic and eventually produces death. A number of papers have appeared in recent years on the role of gossypol in cottonseed in the nutrition of growing chickens and laying hens. However, little work .
Effect of Dietary Supplemental Zinc on Serum Zinc, cAMP, Testosterone Concentration and Histological Architecture of Testis in Male Weanling Pig

A total of fifteen numbers of weaned piglets (10.60 ± Kg body weight; 60 days of age) were used to study the supplemental effect of dietary zinc in three levels viz:-100ppm (group A), 200ppm (group B) and 300ppm (group C) consisting 5 piglets in each groups for a period of 3 months.The experimental animals were kept under intensive system of rearing as per routine standard farm managemental practices.Blood was collected from the anterior vena-cava at monthly interval from start to end of the experiment. Testis was collected at five (5) months of age by open method of castration.At 5 months of age significantly higher (P<0.05) level of serumzinc and testosterone concentration was recorded in B and C groups. As the concentration of supplemental zincincreased (A < B < C) the serum cAMPactivitiesalso found to be increased.The histological section of testis reveals that, section of B, C had compact healthy seminiferous epithelium with wide lumen packed with sperm cells.
The Effects of Zataria Multiflora Hydroalcoholic Extract on Gentamicin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Background: Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that broadly is used to treat gram negative bacteria infections, although it has side effects such as nephrotoxicity. According to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory properties of Zataria Multiflora, the effects of cotreatment with zataria Multiflora and hydroalcholic extract on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicitj were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this study, male rats of Vistar race were divided into 4 groups: 1.control group, 2. co-treatment with gentamicin and vehicle group, 3. co-treatment with gentamicin and zataria Multifiora extract group, 4. co-treatment with zataria Multiflora extract and normal saline solution group. Zataria Multiflora hydroalcoholic extract was added to drinking water as 800 PPm concentration. They, systolic blood pressure and renal blood flow (RBF) were measured. Also, the amounts of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and osmolarity were measured in plasma and urine samples Results: In co-treatment group with zataria Multiflora extract, the amounts of urea, creatinine, absolute sodium excretion and relative sodium and potassium excretion and malondialdehyde (MDA) that have been inceased in treatment with gentamicin, significantly were reduced. Creatinine clearance, urine osmolarity, RBF and FRAP that was decreased in gentamicin group in compare to control group, significantly increased. Conclusion: Co-treatment prevents nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin and attenuates oxidative-stress associated renal injury by reducing oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation, So it can be effective to cure rats receiving gentamicin.
Antibacterial activity of some actinomycetes isolated from farming soils of Turkey

A total of 50 different actinomycete strains were recovered from farming soil samples collected from Manisa Province and its surrounding. These were then assessed for their antibacterial activity against four phytopathogenic and six pathogenic bacteria. Results indicated that 34% of all isolates are active against, at least, one of the test organisms; Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas viridiflova, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Bacillus subtilis ATTC 6633, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATTC 10031, Enterococcus feacalis ATCC 10541, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Esherichia coli ATCC 29998 and Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341. According to antibacterial activity and spectrum broadness, seven of the isolates were selected and characterized by conventional methods. The unusual antibiotic profile of these isolates underlined their potential as a source of novel antibiotics. Key words: Streptomyces , soil, characterization, antibacterial activity, screening. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(9) 2004: 441-446
Variations in Periodicities of the Ring Width of Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) in Relation to Flooding and Ecological Site Factors at Lake Duparquet in Northwestern Québec

Variations in periodicities of the radial growth response of black ash ( Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) exposed to yearly spring flooding were studied in relation to hydrological fluctuations and site ecological factors at Lake Duparquet in northwestern Quebec. Eight mean standardized 1880-1988 ringwidth chronologies were constructed from trees growing on the floodplain, for five specific stand geomorphological landforms and three classes of elevation from the lake level. These dendrochronological series were submitted to spectral analysis based on the multi-frequential periodogram statistic. Monthly mean water discharge records of the Harricana River, and monthly mean temperature and total precipitation series collected at the Iroquois Falls weather station, all over the 1915‐1990 period, were analyzed similarly. About 3.5-, 3.75-, and 7.5-year periodicities were detected in all the dendrochronological series; the 3.75- and 7.5-year components are harmonics of a 15-year periodicity that a majority of the series presented. All the ring-width chronologies, with the exceptions of the high elevation class and the stand near a bog, showed a strong biennial periodic component. A predominant 6.25-year periodicity was detected in the water discharge of the Harricana River and, to a lesser extent, in the ring-width chronologies of mid and high elevations. After an about 11-year periodicity was detected in several tree-ring and climatic series, peaks in the corresponding sine waves fitted to the tree-ring series were found to correspond to maxima in sunspot activity. Effects of geomorphological landform and elevation from the lake on the fluctuations from year to year of the radial growth of black ash were assessed by a two-way analysis of variance of the finite Fourier transform of ring-width chronologies from 46 sites, using landform and elevation as factors and sites as replicates. Significant landform effects were observed at short to longer periodicities, while an elevation environmental gradient was finely delimited. The low to high concordance levels observed in the periodicities of tree-ring series from different stands were related to ecological factors.
Effects of fragmentation phenomena on the genetic structure and gene flow in Centaurea cineraria group (Asteraceae) in the Mediterranean Basin

The complex history of the Mediterranean region illustrates how ancient and recent phenomena are closely associated with species distribution and the creation of phylogeographic divisions within Mediterranean flora. A good model to explore the genetic consequences of fragmentation can be found in Centaurea cineraria and its close relatives. We applied simple sequence repeat molecular markers to a dense population sampling throughout the distribution area of all C. cineraria taxa to study how fragmentation has altered the genetic structure and distribution of C. cineraria. The average gene diversity (He) was 0.286, and the average allelic richness (Ar) was 3.65 and ranged from 2.15 (C. gymnocarpa) to 5.25 (C. busambarensis). The FIS averaged a relatively high 0.223, ranging from − 0.724 in C. aeolica subsp. aeolica to 0.589 in C. leucadea. Our results indicate that habitat fragmentation over several generations reduced heterozygosity due to random genetic drift in populations of C. cineraria. This heterozygosity erosion becomes more severe when the inbreeding coefficient is positive and the outcrossing rates show a significant increase. The results observed for outcrossing rates and inbreeding coefficient could also indirectly support the possibility of disrupted gene flow or mating pattern changes in fragmented C. cineraria populations.
Advanced snowmelt causes shift towards positive neighbour interactions in a subarctic tundra community

Positive and negative species interactions are important factors in structuring vegetation communities. Studies in many ecosystems have focussed on competition; however, facilitation has often been found to outweigh competition under harsh environmental conditions. The balance between positive and negative species interactions is known to shift along spatial, temporal and environmental gradients and thus is likely to be affected by climate change.
Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities in the Leaf Extracts of Indian Borage (Plectranthus amboinicus)

The different solvent extracts of the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. The ethyl acetate extract of the leaves which had the highest polyphenolic content showed an appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as total antioxidant capacity as compared with extracts obtained using hexane, acetone, methanol, hydroalcohol and freeze dried form. The acetone extract of the leaves which had the second highest polyphenolic content showed appreciable antibacterial activity with least MIC values against the tested foodborne pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica. The findings indicated the potentiality of ethyl acetate and acetone extract of the leaves of Indian borage for use as biopreservatives as they showed high antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Reproductive development in the hermaphroditic freshwater snail Physa monitored with complementing albino lines

We estimated age and size at onset of functional outcross- and self-fertility in three isofemale lines of Physa heterostropha carrying the recessive, non-allelic genes, alb1 and alb2. 'Experimental’ snails of these lines were reared from 2 weeks of age to adulthood and periodically introduced to mature, complementing 'challenge’ snails. The three lines differed significantly in the size at which they matured, but not the age, under our culture conditions. Male reproductive maturity was reached at a mean of 5.7 weeks and female reproductive maturity at 7.3 weeks (n = 50). These ages correspond to mean shell lengths of 5.3—6.2 mm as male and 6.9—7.6 mm as female. Over all three lines, first production of viable offspring by self-fertilization occurred at a mean age of 22 weeks (n= 113). Again a significant line effect on size at reproduction was detected, with mean size at onset of self-fertilization ranging from 8.1 mm to 8.7 mm. Autosterility in the three lines ranged from negligible to 44 %. Among autofertile snails, we identified cases of outcross male-sterility, outcross female-sterility, and outcross double-sterility. Of 46 individuals demonstrating male function before female, two passed through brief periods of self-fertilization before outcrossing as females. We also identified three individuals maturing simultaneously in both capacities and one individual that matured as female before male. So, although the situation is complex, we suggest that ‘simultaneous hermaphroditism’ provides the best description of the reproductive biology of Physa. The great diversity of reproductive allocation described here implies considerable potential for life-history evolution in these snails.
The growth, reproduction and food of the roach Rutilus rutilus (L.), of the River Lugg, Herefordshire

Checks were formed on the scales in June and July. A dominant 1959 year class accounted for half the population present in 1964. Females grew faster than males and attained greater ultimate size. Growth in the River Lugg was good in comparison with rates in other British waters. The sex ratio was found to change with age; a predominance of males in the youngest age classes changed to a preponderance of females in the older classes. The youngest fishes caught (3+) were already sexually mature. The gonads were found to be a constant proportion of the body weight for fishes of all sizes at a given season. Spawning was completed by June; males were ripe in May. The ovaries recovered more rapidly than the testes after spawning. Seasonal variation in feeding activity, with higher activity in summer, was observed and could be correlated with temperature. Seasonal changes in the diet could be related to availability. The diet was predominantly vegetable; the most important animal component, aquatic insect larvae, accounted for 11 % of the total diet. Aerial insects were rarely eaten. Diet varied with age: molluscs being particularly important to older roach; younger roach consumed large amounts of substrate material. There is some evidence that young roach indiscriminately ingest substrate material but older roach are more selective and reject inert material.
A phylogenetic analysis of the dung beetle genus Phanaeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) based on morphological data

The genus Phanaeus (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) forms an important part of the dung beetle fauna in much of the Western Hemisphere. Here a phylogeny for Phanaeus , including 49 Phanaeus sp. , and 12 outgroup taxa, is proposed. Parsimony analysis of 67 morphological characters, and one biogeographical character produced 629 equally parsimonious trees of 276 steps. Oxysternon , the putative sister taxon is nested well within the subgenus Notiophanaeus , implying that Oxysternon might ultimately need to be synonymized with Phanaeus . Species groups of Edmonds (1994) recovered as monophyletic are paleano , endymion, chalcomelas , tridens , triangularis , and quadridens . An 'unscaled' equal weighting analysis yielded 57,149 equally parsimonious trees of 372 steps. The strict consensus of these trees yielded a monophyletic Phanaeus with the inclusion of Oxysternon . Bootstrap values are relatively low and some clades are unresolved.
Seasonal Shifts in Diet Composition of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis foraging at a Shallow Eutrophic Inland Lake

The diet of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis at Lake Dümmer, a shallow eutrophic lake of 1240 ha in Lower Saxony (Germany) was analysed by collecting 562 regurgitated pellets over a period of one year. Pellets contained structures of 10,645 fishes belonging to 15 species. Substantial differences were found in frequency, composition and size of prey fish species. Pikeperch, Ruffe, Roach and Perch accounted for the largest seasonal differences in the diet. During late autumn and winter the diet was dominated by small-sized cyprinids and Ruffe. In spring Great Cormorants primarily foraged on larger-sized cyprinids. Young-of-the-year percids, dominated by Pikeperch, were the primary prey during summer. We estimated that at least 32.6 tons (26.3 kg/ha) of total fish biomass was removed by Cormorants, of which one third (10.8 tons) consisted of Pikeperch. 81% of the Pikeperch biomass was removed in August—September, indicating that the Great Cormorant is an important predator of juvenile Pikeperch at Lake Dümmer. Our findings highlight the need of extensive diet analyses in all seasons to obtain a comprehensive picture of the impact of Cormorant predation on fish stocks. Snapshots of the diet sampled over short-time periods may be misleading and inadequate for local management.
High thermal plasticity and vulnerability in extreme environments at the warm distributional edge: the case of a tidepool shrimp

Climate change threatens the resilience of species, especially at their warm distributional edge in extreme environments. However, not much is known about the thermal vulnerability of marine intertidal species at this edge. We investigated the thermal vulnerability of the tidepool shrimp, Palaemon elegans in the fast-warming southeastern Mediterranean, its warm distributional edge. Tidepool organisms experience strong and fast thermal fluctuations. This might make them more resilient to change, but also bring them closer to their thermal limits during extreme conditions. To test the shrimp’s resilience, we tested three hypotheses: (1) P. elegance in the southeast Mediterranean has higher critical thermal maximum (CTMax) than in cooler regions, (2) the shrimp possess seasonal acclimatization, but (3) long exposure to extreme summer temperatures might erode its thermal performance making it vulnerable to future climate change. We characterized the shrimp’s thermal environment and population dynamics, determined CTMax and tested diverse physiological performance attributes (respiration, digestion, activity, growth) under a wide range of temperatures during winter and summer. P. elegans has a wide optimum performance range between 20-30°C during summer and its CTMax is 38.1°C, higher than its Atlantic counterparts. However, its warming tolerance is only 0.3°C, indicating low capacity for dealing with further warming in pools compared to northeast Atlantic populations that have wider tolerance. Prolonged exposure to current mean summer values in open water (∼ 32°C) would also significantly reduce its performance and increase mortality. This suggests that its population viability may be reduced under continuous regional warming and intensification of extreme events.
Potential to select wheat genotypes with improved P utilisation characters

Developing new wheat genotypes resistant to phosphate (P) deficiency and responsive to fertilizer P input will be beneficial to increase P use crop efficiency, especially on P deficient calcareous soils. With this objective, a pot experiment, based on a completely randomised design with three replications, was conducted using a P deficient calcareous soil. Twenty different bread and durum wheat genotypes were used, and phosphorus fertilizer as H3PO3 at levels of 0, 40, 80 mg P kg−1 was applied to the pots. After harvest, plant dry matter yield was recorded, and total P concentration in the tops of wheat plants was determined. Changes in the parameter of P efficiency index (EI) were related to plant genotypes and P levels. Differences were observed among the genotypes with regard to their effectiveness in P use under the experimental calcareous soil. Dry matter yields and EI were correlated for the individual wheat genotypes. Four classification terms, ER (efficient-responsive), ENR (efficient non-responsive), IR (inefficient responsive) and INR (inefficient non-responsive) were used to characterize the wheat genotypes both for their resistance to P deficiency and also for their responsiveness to fertilizer P input. Most durum wheat genotypes were charecterized as ENR, whereas most bread wheat genotypes were charecterized as INR and IR for this study. We conclude that Dağdaş-94 (T. aestivum), characterized as ER, and Kızıltan-91 (T. durum), Yılmaz-98 (T. durum), Ankara-98 (T. durum), Selçuklu-97 (T. durum), BDMM-98/11S (T. durum), characterized as ENR, are valuable in future breeding programmes.
The Impact of Dividend Payments on Stock Prices in a Developing Economy. The Case of Services Firms Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, (2008 to 2012).

The study aimed at providing a modern and concrete perspective on the role of dividends in Zimbabwe, a developing economy, by examining views regarding the role of the relevance of the conventional signaling theory. The objective of this study was to add to the knowledge body concerning stock price reactions at the dividend announcement and at the ex-dividend day. Data was collected through documentary review, questionnaires and interviews. The sample included finance executives, stock brokers and investors on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). The chi-square, linear regression and correlation techniques were used in data analysis. The findings of the study show that 70% of the sampled firms take the dividend decision as an active decision variable due to the realization that dividend decisions influence firm value and because dividend policy decisions send messages to the market. A coefficient of 0.9707 indicates a strong positive relationship between dividend announcements and share prices. Share prices increase upon announcements. From the ex-dividend date share prices start to go down. However, this study failed to show that prices go down by an amount equivalent to the dividend paid. This paper therefore recommends that managers avoid dividend increases which may not be sustained by the future earnings. Further research may be conducted cutting across all sectors in the economy and over an extended period of time. Other efforts may be directed at investigating dividend policies in hyper-inflationary environments, or even dividend preference in an economy with high dividend taxation levels.