Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Establishment success of invasive ring‐necked and monk parakeets in Europe

Aim Invasive alien species are a growing threat to biodiversity, and identifying the mechanisms that enable these species to establish viable populations in their new environment is paramount for management of the problems they pose. Using an unusually large number of both failed and successful documented introductions of parakeets (Aves: Psittacidae) in Europe, we test two of the major hypotheses on the establishment success of invading species, namely the climate‐matching and the human‐activity hypothesis.
Effects of alternative harvesting methods on boreal forest spider assemblages

Forestry is among the most important disturbance forces in the boreal region, having caused drastic changes to the biota. Forest industries have recently introduced alternative logging techniques to better maintain forest diversity, but little is known on how these function. We studied the short-term effects of various logging methods on ground-dwelling spiders in Finland, using pitfall traps 1 year before and 2.5 years after logging. The compared logging regimes were (i) clear-cutting, (ii) retention felling, (iii) gap felling, (iv) thinning, and (v) control. We found that (1) clear-cutting and retention felling drastically changed the spider fauna. The abundance of forest species decreased with these methods, whereas most open-habitat species showed the opposite response, being caught only after logging. Moreover, multivariate analyses (nonmetric multidimensional scaling, multivariate regression trees) indicated that clear-cutting and retention felling produced similar spider faunas. (2) Increasing rete.
Growth indices of yield variability in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under varying degree of shades

Light is the main environmental factor which regula tes growth and development of crop plants. Decrease in light intensity due to shading adversely affects plant growth and development. The present study was conducted to analyze the effect of varying degree of shades on growth characteristics and yield of wheat crop. Two shading treatments were applied i.e. 33 % shading (L1) and 66 % shading (L2 ) with full sunlight as control (L0). The experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2010‐2011 in a split-plot design with three replications with shading treatments in the m ain plot and five varieties of wheat in the sub plots.The findings of the study showed that the mean crop growth rate, mean relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area ratio , leaf area index and specific leaf weight were significantly influenced by increasing shade. Grain yield of all the wheat varieties decreased with increase in shading during the year (i.e. 2010 -11). Varietal differences in grain under shading are discussed in relation to leaf area inde x and crop growth rate.
Bats of Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation and nearby areas of eastern Kansas and western Missouri

Abstract Although nine species of bats are considered resident in northeastern Kansas, we caught only six (198 individuals). Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) comprised 77% of the catch, and three species - hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus) - were each represented by one individual. Five captures of three species were county records: red bats in Linn and Miami counties, northern myotis in Leavenworth County, and evening bats in Leavenworth and Miami counties. The mean rate of capture was 9.4 bats/net site (Species Diversity Index: SDI = 15.0) and 2.9 bats/net night (SDI = 4.9). We captured no bats at 6 of 21 net sites, whereas the greatest catch at a single location was 56 bats. The rate of catch was similar to studies in Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia, but the species diversity, utilizing MacArthur's diversity index, was lower (1.6 vs. 2.9 - 4.4). We obtained evidence of reproduction for the big brown bat, red bat (Lasiurus borealis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and northern myotis. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in catch of adult male and reproductive female big brown and red bats, or for all species combined (numbers of other species were too small to test). The rate of capture over 5 hours of sampling was different than random for the big brown bat (χ = 38.800; P <0.001), and for all species combined (χ = 43.228; P = 0.001), but was similar for all species combined excluding the big brown bat (χ = 8.353; P = 0.079). Captures decreased over the sampling period. The rate of capture of red and evening bats was similar in all habitats sampled (P > 0.05), whereas big brown bats were caught disproportionately often over stream versus bottomland and upland corridors (χ = 12.486; P = 0.002). At 10 sites sampled ultrasonically, we detected echolocation calls of seven species. Although we detected calls of the eastern pipistrelle and little brown myotis, these species were not captured at these 10 sites.
Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern Of Yersinia Enterocolitica Isolated from Milk and Dairy Products

From a total of 2431 samples of milk and milk products analyzed at Chennai, twenty isolates of bacteria were identified as Yersinia species by the conventional biochemical method which includes nine Yersinia enterocolitica (0.37%), six Y. fr ederiksenii (0.25%) and five Y. kristensenii (0.21%). The sensitivity pattern of six antimicrobial agents viz. ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, penicillin and tetracycline were tested against nine isolates of Y. enterocolitica. The invitro antibiotic sensitivity testing showed that ciprofloxacin (5 mcg) and tetracycline (30 mcg) were the most effective antibiotics against Y. enterocolitica, whereas, penicillin (10 units) was the most ineffective one. Hence, analyzing the prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Y. enterocolitica isolates from dairy products is essential.
Clinal variability of oil and nectar rewards in Monttea aphylla (Plantaginaceae): relationships with pollinators and climatic factors in the Monte Desert

Monttea aphylla flowers simultaneously produce oil and nectar, rewards known to differentially attract ecologically and functionally distinct pollinators. We examined whether geographical differentiation occurred for rewards, and whether this could be explained by spatially heterogeneous pollinator guilds and climate. Rewards were measured across the entire species range. Geographical patterns of reward quantity and their relationships with biotic and abiotic factors were examined using uni- and multivariate analyses. Latitude significantly explained population variation in nectar and oils, although in contrasting ways. Pollinator assemblages showed a prevalence of oil-collecting Centris bees. Centris vardyorum, specialized on M. aphylla, showed a latitudinal pattern of visits. Oil production was not higher where plants associated with ecologically specialized bees (i.e. C. vardyorum), but this occurred instead where they were less frequent and co-occurred with other bees that used many floral sources, including other plant species that produce oil. The multivariate analysis showed that the prevalence of C. vardyorum was the factor that contributed most significantly to the combined patterns of rewards. We suggest that large-scale variation in rewards involves local optima throughout the species range, related to processes that operate in each ecoregion with their particular biotic and abiotic scenarios. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, , –.
Response of Vegetation on Gravel Bars to Management Measures and Floods: Case Study From the Czech Republic

Abstract This article investigates response of vegetation on gravel bars to management measures and floods. The management measures consisted of the partial removal of gravel and vegetation cover, and were applied to six gravel bars on the Ostravice River, Czech Republic. Unexpected floods occu-rred in 2010, with the amplitude of 5- to 50-year repetition. Research of vegetation on the gravel bars consisted of vegetation survey before the management works; the monitoring of vegetation development over the following year and the verification of the relationships of species diversity, successional stages and the biotope conditions with the help of multivariate analysis (detrended correspondence analysis). Vegetation on the gravel bars was at different successional stages, and had higher diversity and vegetation cover before the management measures and floods. The mul-tivariate analysis revealed a shift toward initial successional stages with high demand on moisture, temperature and light after both management measures and floods.
Micropropagation of Matthiola incana using BA and IBA

Matthiola incana (Brassicaceae) is an important ornamental plant, which is used as cut flower, pot plant, and landscape. Traditionally, it is propagated via seeds, but interest is given in vegetative propagation of parental lines as well as superior single plants. Micropropagation by organogenesis is an efficient in vitro propagation method for Matthiola incana. Starting from seeds, apical bud is produced and propagated in MS medium containing benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Seeds from mother plants were germinated on MS medium without growth regulators. Apical buds from in vitro germinated seedlings were subcultured on solid MS medium supplemented with BA and IBA, both with concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1 and 5 mg L -1 . Four-week-old in vitro plants obtained from apical buds showed successful shooting and rooting. MS medium supplemented with 5 mg L -1 BA + 1 mg L -1 IBA resulted in the highest shoot length (2.90 cm/plant). Largest number of node (5.72/plant) was obtained in MS medium containing 1 mg L -1 BA + 1 mg L -1 IBA. When the shoot tips were inoculated in the medium containing 0.5 mg L -1 IBA without BA, the best result was observed for root number (5.95/plant). Shoot tips cultivated in media containing 0.5 mg L -1 IBA without BA showed maximum root length (15.36 cm/plant). Also, the content of fresh weight and dry weight were obtained. About 85% of the micropropagated plantlets were established successfully in acclimatization medium. Regenerated plantlets were morphologically identical with mother plants. This protocol has proven useful for tissue culture propagation of Matthiola incana.
Expansion of subalpine woody vegetation over 40 years on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Climate change is leading to the global loss of open montane meadows by facilitating tree and shrub encroachment at high elevations. North America’s coastal mountains are particularly vulnerable to these changes, as they are relatively low elevation compared with interior mountains and contain only small areas of alpine tundra. We compared aerial photographs from 1962 with those from 2005 covering three subalpine regions on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to document the extent of changes in woody vegetation and investigate associations between vegetation change and topography. Mean proportional woody vegetation cover increased significantly from 0.75±0.03 to 0.81±0.03 between 1962 and 2005 (p < 0.0001). Relative increase in woody vegetation cover was greater at higher elevations and on northerly aspects. These findings confirm an upward expansion and infilling of trees and shrubs and a reduction of the area encompassed by open alpine tundra on Vancouver Island. Loss of open meadow conditions at high .
The Effect of Beak Length and Condition on Food Intake and Feeding Behaviour of Hens

Hens (70 weeks-of-age) with short (10-11 mm), long (13-15 mm) and divided upper beaks (1-3 mm difference in beak length between the left and right sides of the upper beak) were selected from a flock of hens beak trimmed at hatching and re-trimmed at 14 weeks. Hens were switched from a mash diet to various whole grain diets at weekly intervals in order to determine the effect of beak length and condition on food intake, feeding behaviour and particle mix consumed from diets. Birds switched from a mash diet to a mixture of whole grain diets suffered a 22.6 g/day drop (P<0.05) in food intake while, conversely, birds changed from a maize and wheat diet to a sorghum and wheat diet had a 28.4 g/day increase (P<0.05) in food intake. For all diets, birds with short upper beaks consumed 7.8 g/day less (P<0.05) than birds with long upper beaks with divided beak birds intermediate in food intake. Feeding rate of divided beak birds (4.0 mg food/sec) was significantly (P<0.05) less than short beak birds (5.3 mg food/sec) with long beak birds intermediate (5.0 mg food/sec). Birds with a short upper beak made significantly (P<0.05) more pecks at the water nipple than divided beak birds. These studies demonstrated that beak condition of layers has important implications for egg farmers. The performance of birds with short upper beaks might be adversely affected when fed free choice or whole grain diets.
Development of Alternaria blight in genotypes of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.) under field conditions

Development of Alternaria blight in relation to disease resistance components was assessed in nine genotypes of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) under natural field conditions. Two genotypes viz., PR 8988 and PR 9024 exhibited slow blighting and had lowest number of spots /10 cm2 leaf area, reduced spot size, least number of conidia per spot and lowest disease index on leaf and pod. The maximum disease development was recorded during 62 to 72 DAS on leaves and from 100 to 110 DAS on pods.
Centaurea yaltirikii subsp. dumanii subsp. nov. (C. sect. Pseudoseridia, Asteraceae) in Marmara region of Turkey

A new subspecies of Centaurea yaltirikii N. Aksoy, H. Duman and A. Efe subsp. dumanii N. Aksoy and A. Efe (C. sect. Pseudoseridia Wagenitz, Asteraceae), is described and illustrated with diagnostic characters and taxonomic comments. The characteristics of the new subspecies are compared with those of the type subspecies from which it differs mainly in the hair of the leaves, stomata types, length and width of the pappus and surface of achene. In addition, the geographic distribution of the new subspecies is mapped.
Uso de probiótico e antibiótico sobre o desempenho, o rendimento e a qualidade de carcaça de frangos de corte

Two thousand and four hundred broiler chicks were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 x 2 (sex, with and without probiotic, with and without antibiotic) factorial arrangement, totalizing eight treatments and six replicates with 50 birds in each one. Independently of supplementation fed, the males were always heavier than the females. However, the analyses performance showed higher body weight and weight gain for males fed antibiotic when compared to the non supplemented. The use of antibiotic increased feed intake up to 42 days of age, but it did not affect the other characteristics. Probiotic supplementation negatively influenced the body weight, weight gain and feed intake of the broilers from either 1 to 21 or 1 to 42 days of age. There was a probiotic x antibiotic interaction for carcass yield of the broilers, and the highest carcass yield were obtained when the products were associated in the diet. Neither probiotic nor antibiotic affected cut-part yield (head, feet, wings, leg, breast and back), viscera yield (heart, liver and non edible viscera), abdominal fat and sensorial characteristics (intensity of aroma, stranger aroma, flavor, stranger flavor, tenderness, juiciness, acceptability, characteristic color and overall aspect) of breast and leg meats. No beneficial effects of the probiotic supplementation in broiler diets were observed in the present study.
The protective potential of Nitraria retusa on penconazole-induced hepatic injury in adult rats

The protective effect of Nitraria retusa fruit extract against hepatotoxicity induced by penconazole at a dose of 67 mg/kg body weight given intraperitoneally every two days to male Wistar rats was investigated. Penconazole exposure increased malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and advanced oxidation protein product levels. Hepatic biomarkers as well as enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymatic (vitamin C, non-protein thiols and metallothioneins) antioxidant status were also altered. Treatment with N. retusa extract improved all parameters cited above. Liver histological studies confirmed the biochemical parameters. These results provide a scientific basis for the use of N. retusa fruit against hepatotoxicity.
Gross and histopathological evaluation of runting stunting syndrome in a broiler farm

A poultry farmer reported a case of abnormal growth among 17 to 25 days old broilers chicks in his farm to the poultry Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Malaysia Kelantan. The housing system was a modified closed type with a total of 130,000; 10,000 birds per house. The clinical signs observed were damp feathers which are poorly developed, stunted growth, watery droppings containing undigested feeds and unequal sizes of chicks. Post mortem examination was conducted on thirty culled chicks and the gross lesions observed were; corrugated intestines (83.3%) with some being thin and translucent with poorly digested feed within the lumen, atrophied pancreas (70.0%) and liver (66.7%), slightly atrophied thymus (33.3%), dilated proventriculus (50.3%) and enlarged gall bladder (43.3%). Histopathological evaluation of the intestine and pancreas showed lesions such a cystic dilation and degeneration of intestinal crypts, degeneration of the pancreas with vacuolation in the paranchyma and atrophy of the acinar cells. Based on the clinical signs observed, post mortem lesions and the histopathological findings, the case was diagnosed as Runting Stunting Syndrome (RSS). There is no treatment for this syndrome and it can only be prevented through good management practices
Iron Induces Root and Leaf Ferric Chelate Reduction Activity in Grapevine Rootstock 140 Ruggeri

Ferric chelate reduction (FCR) activity of roots and leaves was determined in the grapevine rootstock 140 Ruggeri under iron (Fe)-deficient and Fe-sufficient conditions. Micropropagated plants were subjected to 0 or 40 mM Fe(III) EDTA in hydroponic culture. After 10 days of treatments, Fe-deficient plants had a lower level of root FCR activity and chlorophyll content compared with Fe-sufficient plants. Iron supply (20 mM) to Fe-deficient plants caused a rapid increase of root FCR activity (five times higher than initial values) and plants restored leaf chlorophyll content, whereas those not supplied with Fe retained reducing activity at low levels. In Fe-sufficient plants, root FCR activity decreased gradually when Fe was removed from the nutrient solution, reaching the same low levels as the Fe-deficient plants. Iron-sufficient plants displayed constitutively elevated root-reducing capacity for 3 weeks in culture under Fe-sufficient conditions. In Fe-deficient plants, root FCR activity was confined at the apical region of the lateral roots, whereas in Fe-treated plants, activity was detected along almost the whole length of the lateral roots. Root hair development, from the aspect of length and density, proved to be independent of the Fe status of rootstock plants. Leaf FCR activity was measured in mesophyll protoplasts from in vitro-growing Fe-deficient and Fe- sufficient plants. Mesophyll protoplasts reducing activity in Fe-deficient plants appeared to bedecreased 43.5% or 40.3%, ona protoplastnumber or protein basis, respectively, in comparison with that in protoplasts from Fe-sufficient plant leaves. The results suggest that Fe is oneof the agents inducing root and leaf FCRactivity in grapevine rootstock140 Ruggeri, altering furthermore its localization pattern in roots.
Factors influencing the spawning success of Oreochromis karongae (Trewavas) in ponds

Fry and fingerlings production of a pelagic tilapia from Lake Malawi, Oreochromis karongae subgenus Nyasalapia (Trewavas), was lower (4.07 ± 5.09, 10–21 fry female−1 month−1) than reported for other tilapias (about 135 fry female−1 month−1). Although seasonality was very pronounced in all experimental systems, the use of net bags (hapas) improved fry yield to 24.7 ± 27.90, 0–354 fry female−1 month−1. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the depth of ponds, solar radiation, rainfall and maximum temperature significantly influenced fry and fingerling production (adjusted R2= 0.75; P= 0.0024). Injection of exogenous hormones intramuscularly (pimozide, LH-RHa) induced spawning and significantly (P < 0.05) improved spawning success to a maximum of 998 fry female−1 month−1. As in other cultured tilapias, when placed in fine-meshed net bags, broodstock density was critical to fry production. A density of 1.0 fish m−2 for broodfish of 120–200 g produced significantly larger numbers of progeny in the hatchery system employed. Spawning was seasonal and restricted to November–February. Broodfish ponds given inputs of chicken layers' mash produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of fry and fingerlings than maize bran (4.17 vs. 1.22 fry m−2 female−1 month−1).
ΔN-P63α and TA-P63α exhibit intrinsic differences in transactivation specificities that depend on distinct features of DNA target sites

TP63 is a member of the TP53 gene family that encodes for up to ten different TA and ΔN isoforms through alternative promoter usage and alternative splicing. Besides being a master regulator of gene expression for squamous epithelial proliferation, differentiation and maintenance, P63, through differential expression of its isoforms, plays important roles in tumorigenesis. All P63 isoforms share an immunoglobulin-like folded DNA binding domain responsible for binding to sequence-specific response elements (REs), whose overall consensus sequence is similar to that of the canonical p53 RE. Using a defined assay in yeast, where P63 isoforms and RE sequences are the only variables, and gene expression assays in human cell lines, we demonstrated that human TA- and ΔN-P63α proteins exhibited differences in transactivation specificity not observed with the corresponding P73 or P53 protein isoforms. These differences 1) were dependent on specific features of the RE sequence, 2) could be related to intrinsic differences in their oligomeric state and cooperative DNA binding, and 3) appeared to be conserved in evolution. Since genotoxic stress can change relative ratio of TA- and ΔN-P63α protein levels, the different transactivation specificity of each P63 isoform could potentially influence cellular responses to specific stresses.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS IN GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A total of 39 Groundnut accessions were used in this research work. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among genotypes for all the seven characters studied. The magnitude of PCV and GCV was moderate to high for dry podyield and kernal yield. High heritability was recorded for hundred kernal weight, dry podyield and kernal yield. High heritability combined with high genetic advance was recorded for dry pod yield and kernal yield indicating that these characters are controlled by additive gene effect and phenotypic selection of these