Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative analysis of fine-scale genetic structure in three closely related syntopic species of the grasshopper genus Calliptamus

Landscape analysis and genetics can allow a better understanding of grasshoppers for which ecology is not very well known. We analysed landscape changes between 1990 and 2006 at two areas from southern France where three grasshopper species (Calliptamus italicus (L., 1758), Calliptamus wattenwylianus Pantel, 1896, and Calliptamus barbarus (Costa, 1836)) occur. We then applied microsatellite markers to the study of 1200 georeferenced samples collected over both areas. We used a recent Bayesian clustering method with correlated allele frequencies to detect weak population genetic structure. We found evidence of breaks in gene flow only in C. wattenwylianus, thought to be sedentary relative to its congenerics. By using different allele frequency models and prior information to different levels of genetic differentiation for our six real data sets, our study also informs on the ability of the newly available Bayesian clustering methods model to detect weak genetic structure in natural field populations.
NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS CERATOCYSTIS

A study of the species of Ceratocystis found in Ontario on decaying slash has been made and most of the species grown in pure culture. The characteristics of the genus and the separation of species are discussed. Four species found on wood of coniferous trees are described as new. Illustrations are included for all of these. Ceratocystis brunneocrinita Wright and Cain is described from several collections of Abies balsamea. The perithecia have brown ostiolar hyphae and the ascospores appear rectangular. Ceratocystis europhioides Wright and Cain, on Pinus and Picea, has ascospores similar to but larger than the nonostiolate Europhium trinacriforme Parker. Ceratocystis falcata Wright and Cain, on Pinus, resembles Ceratocystis minuta (Siem.) Hunt but is distinguished by the longer, septate ascospores. Ceratocystis sagmatospora Wright and Cain, on Pinus and Picea, has saddle-shaped ascospores with elaborate gelatinous sheaths.
Adaptation Reaction of Oat Strains Selected Under Stress and Non-Stress Environmental Conditions 1

W HAT constitutes an optimum environment in which to practice selection for an attribute? Obviously, the optimum environment is one which will elicit the greatest differential genetic manifestation for the attribute in question (assuming, of course, that different genetic potentials exist within the population under test). In some cases defining the optimum environment is easy. For example, oat plants which possess the A gene for reaction to stem rust (giving a resistant reaction to races 7 and 7A) can be differentiated from those carrying the a gene by subjecting the plants to infection with spores of stem rust race 7. Other factors of the environment (temperature, soil moisture, etc.) can vary over rather wide ranges without seriously affecting the reaction conditioned by the A and a ~enes.
A comparison of the effects of different rangeland management systems on plant species composition, diversity and vegetation structure in a semi-arid savanna

Most of South Africa's land surface is arid or semi-arid rangeland. Three management systems exploit these areas: commercial livestock ranching, communal livestock ranching and game ranching. The ways in which these management systems affect rangeland ecology is contentious due to inherent differences in management characteristics and the controversy surrounding driving forces in rangeland vegetation dynamics. We used 500m-long grazing gradients around water-points in order to evaluate the effects of grazing intensity on plant species composition and diversity, and to compare levels of degradation among management systems. We compared species composition, bare soil frequency, shrub and tree density among management systems. We conclude that grazing has significant negative effects in these rangelands, although differences in degree of degradation could have been confounded by factors other than grazing.
Host plants and species diversity of Mussidia (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Kenya

Mussidia nigrivenella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), an important pest of maize, cotton and Phaseolus bean in western Africa, has never been described as a crop pest from Eastern and southern Africa (ESA), although it was reported in the wild. Generally, little is known about the host plant range and the diversity of Mussidia spp. in ESA. Thus, surveys were carried out in Kenya between 2005 and 2007 to assess the species diversity and host plants of Mussidia. Eight plant species were found to host two Mussidia spp. and six morphospecies, which occur sympatrically in the coastal region. Only one Mussidia sp. was found attacking one host plant in the mid-altitudes. The spatial distribution of M. nr. nigrivenella, M. ‘madagascariensis’ and M. fiorii was studied. M. nr. nigrivenella and M. ‘madagascariensis’ larvae were aggregated on Canavalia cathartica and Strychnos madagascariensis, respectively, while the distribution of M. fiorii adults on Kigelia africana was regular. Sampling plans were developed for three Mussidia spp. on their respective host plants, allowing estimation of pest densities. The occurrence of M. nigrivenella in ESA could not be determined with absolute certainty.
Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Brazil: high prevalence of HIV-1 subtype B and identification of an HIV-1 subtype D infection in the city of Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

HIV-1 genetic variability and the potential association with modes of transmission exposure categories gender and distribution over time were investigated in 1993-96 in 131 HIV-infected individuals from Rio de Janeiro Brazil. The study group included 28 homosexual and 15 bisexual men 55 heterosexuals 24 injecting drug users and 1 blood transfusion recipient. HIV-1 env subtyping by heteroduplex mobility assay identified 106 infections (80.9%) with subtype B 20 (15.3%) with subtype F and 1 (0.8%)--the first reported in Brazil--with subtype D. According to restriction fragment length polymorphism with fok 1 restriction enzyme 39 (37%) of the 106 subtype B samples had the GWGR motif at the tip of the V3 loop typically found in subtype B in Brazil. A previous study conducted in Sao Paulo Brazil suggested that subtype F could be related specifically to injecting drug use. The present study however found no significant associations between HIV-1 subtypes and exposure categories gender or mode of transmission. The long-lasting nature of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil may have favored the dispersion of the HIV-1 subtypes among the various exposure categories.
Comparative Growth Performance of Mono-sex and Mixed-sex Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus L.) in Pond Culture System at Sebeta, Ethiopian

Comparative growth performance of hand-sexed male mono-sex and mixed-sex Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) was conducted in six earthen ponds (200 m 2 each) in semi-intensive culture system. Experimental ponds were stocked at a stocking density of 2 fish/m 2 . Fish were cultured for a period of 240 days and fed at a daily rate of 5% of fish body weight. The results of the experiment showed that male mono-sex tilapia showed significantly higher (P<0.05) growth rate (weight, length, DWG, SGR) than mixed-sex group. Generally, male mono-sex fishes reached a larger final individual size (176.20±18.01) g than mixed-sex ((108.20±15.4)g, P<0.05). This difference was more pronounced after the 6 th month during the culture period as the later started reproduction early in the production cycle. Analysis on the economic data indicated that both treatments showed positive net return for the culture periods of 6, 7 and 8 months. However, there was a difference in attaining the optimum net return in culturing Oreochromis niloticus as male mono-sex and mixed-sex. The male mono-sex group attained its optimum net return after 6 months of culture periods, while the mixed-sex group attained after 8 months. Therefore, culturing for extra two months in the later case showed a 32% decline from the optimum net return. Hence growing male mono-sex Oreochromis niloticus for 6 months is profitable under Sebeta, Ethiopia condition.
Use of the Daily Egg Production Method to Estimate the Stock Size of Western Australian Sardines (Sardinops sagax).

The daily egg production method was used to estimate the spawning biomass of the sardine Sardinops sagax in the Albany region of Western Australia. Plankton surveys covering 10000 - 14000 km² were completed in July of 1991 and 1992 in three to five days using up to three boats. Adult sardines were obtained from the local purse-seine fleet. The spawning area was similar in both years at approximately 3800 km² (1100 nmile²), but the number of eggs collected was larger in 1991 with egg production values of 6.5 per 0.05 m2 day-1 compared with 3.9 per 0.05 m2 day-1 in 1992. The average batch fecundity values were similar (approximately 11000 eggs female-1) as were the proportions spawning (0.13 in 1991; 0.09 in 1992). The calculated biomass estimates were 23 121 t (CV = 0.51) and 16 121 t (CV = 0.44) in 1991 and 1992 respectively.
Effects of elevated pCO2 on epilithic and endolithic metabolism of reef carbonates

We investigated effects of elevated partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) on the metabolism of epilithic and endolithic phototrophic communities that colonized experimental coral blocks. Blocks of the massive coral Porites lobata were exposed to colonization by epilithic and endolithic organisms at an oceanic site in Kaneohe Bay (Hawaii) for 6 months, and then were transported to laboratory tanks. A bubbling system was used to maintain two treatments for 3 months, one at ambient pCO2 (400 ppm) and the second at elevated pCO2 (750 ppm). Net photosynthetic rates of epilithic communities in the high pCO2 treatment, dominated by encrusting coralline algae, decreased by 35% while respiration rates remained constant. In contrast, metabolism of endolithic phototrophs, comprised of cyanobacteria and algae, was not significantly affected by the elevated pCO2 even though endoliths contributed about 63% to block production.
Porphyria in herring gulls: A biochemical response to chemical contamination of great lakes food chains

Concentrations of highly carboxylated porphyrins (HCPs) in the livers of adult herring gulls (Larus argentatus) from colonies throughout the Great Lakes were found to be markedly elevated in comparison with those in gulls from coastal areas and in seven other species of birds consuming diets uncontaminated with polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs). The highes levels were found in gulls from lower Green Bay (Lake Michigan), Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) ant Lake Ontario. We suggest that the high levels of HCPs reflect PHAH-induced derangement of heme biosynthesis. Determination of HCPs offers promise as a specific and sensitive biological marker of PHAH-induced toxicity and as a measure of the toxicological significance of the chemical burden in gulls, terminal members of Great Lakes food chains.
Fusion Characteristics of a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Cultured Cells: Time Course and Effect of a Synergistic Factor and pH

Abstract Fusion characteristics of Trichoplusia ni multiple nucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus in Spodoptera frugiperda cells (IPLB-SF21-AEII) were studied by the fluorescence dequenching assay of membrane fusion. A gradual increase in fluorescence intensity indicative of virion-cell fusion was observed when octadecylrhodamine-labeled virions were incubated with cells in culture. The fusion rate increased abruptly in 30 min following mixing of virions and cells when a synergistic factor (SyF) of Pseudaletia unipuncta granulosis virus was coexistent in the mixture. Enhanced fusion was observed from the beginning of the assay when the cells were preincubated with the SyF for 30 min. No enhancement of fusion occurred when cells were treated with an antibody against a SyF-binding cell protein of 97 kDa prior to the preincubation. Virus fusion with untreated cells proceeded at a greater rate at pH 5.8 than at pH 6.4. The SyF was less effective in enhancing the fusion at pH 5.8. Lysosomotropic agents did not inhibit fusion when virions were incubated with cells in their presence.
Incorporation of photosenzitizer hypericin into synthetic lipid-based nano-particles for drug delivery and large unilamellar vesicles with different content of cholesterol

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are attractive natural occurring vehicles for drug delivery and targeting to cancer tissues. The capacity of both types of the lipoproteins to bind hydrophobic drugs and their functionality as drug carriers have been examined in several studies and it has been also shown that mixing of anticancer drugs with LDL or HDL before administration led to an increase of cytotoxic effects of the drugs in the comparison when the drugs were administered alone. However, a difficult isolation of the lipoproteins in large quantity from a biological organism as well as a variability of the composition and size of these molecules makes practical application of LDL and HDL as drug delivery systems quite complicated. Synthetic LDL and HDL and large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) are potentially suitable candidates to substitute the native lipoproteins for targeted and effective drug delivery. In this work, we have studied process of an association of potent photosensitizer hypericin (Hyp) with synthetic lipid-based nano-particles (sLNP) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) containing various amount of cholesterol. Cholesterol is one of the main components of both LDL and HDL particles and its presence in biological membranes is known to be a determining factor for membrane properties. It was found that the behavior of Hyp incorporation into sLNP particles with diameter ca ~ 90 nm is qualitatively very similar to that of Hyp incorporation into LDL (diameter ca. 22 nm) and these particles are able to enter U-87 MG cells by endocytosis. The presence of cholesterol in LUV influences the capacity of these vesicles to incorporate Hyp into their structure.
Frozen Storage of Surimi Containing Microbial Transglutaminase Made from Various Kinds of Fish Species.

Recently, Ca2+-dependent transglutaminase in fish mus cle tissue has become of interest in connection to the set ting of surimi paste, and many related studies have been reported.1-6 Moreover, a new type of Ca2+ -independent transglutaminase (MTGase) was found7) in the culture filtrate of Storeptoverticillium, and the mass production of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) now allows the industrial and practical use of MTGase for food proc essing. Some studies on the application of MTGase to the polymerization of several protein gels have been re ported.8-10) In the previous study,11) we suggested that MTGase could be a useful additive for improving the quality of frozen surimi. It is also reported that the improving effect of MTGase on gel formation differs with fish species . There is little information on whether MTGase affects the quality of surimi during a long period of frozen storage. It is well known that frozen storage reduces the gel-form ing ability of surimi,12-18) and it has also been reported that the loss in protein functionality and gel-forming ability in fish meat and surimi during frozen storage is attributable to the denaturation of myofibrillar proteins . 19-22) Moreover, it has been reported that the activities of many enzymes are greatly affected by freezing and frozen storage . 21-11) As shown in the reported papers , the utiliza tion of some species of fish as raw material for frozen surimi has failed because of low stability, and some addi tives also cannot be used because they accelerate the frozen denaturation of surimi. The objective of the present study is to clarify the effect of MTGase on the stability of surimi during frozen storage. We tested various kinds of surimi from 7 fish spe cies for up to 12 months of frozen storage. We also investi gated how the enhancing effect of MTGase on kamaboko gel is affected by the frozen storage of surimi. In the present experiment, all surimi samples were pre pared by commercial surimi plants using the general surimi manufacturing process, and commercial sizes of each surimi sample in commercial packages were stored in a refrigerator warehouse. This was because the experimen tal results conducted with a small size of sample sometimes can not be applied directly to commercial size surimi.
Environmental controls on water use efficiency during severe drought in an Ozark Forest in Missouri, USA

To accurately predict ecosystem responses induced by climate warming at local‐to‐global scales, models are in need of more precise knowledge of response during periods of environmental stress such as drought. In this paper, we studied environmental control of canopy‐level water use efficiency (WUE) during drought at an eddy flux site in an oak‐hickory forest in central Missouri, USA. Two consecutive severe droughts in the summers of 2006 and 2007 afforded coverage of a broad range of environmental conditions. We stratified data to obtain subranges that minimized cross‐correlations among putative WUE‐controlling factors. Our results showed that WUE was subject to control by atmospheric saturation deficit (ASD), soil water potential (SWP) and the ratio of diffuse to total photosynthetically active radiation (If/It). Generally, WUE was found to scale with 1/(ASD)0.5, consistent with predictions from stomatal optimization theory. In contrast, SWP and If/It were related to WUE in a linear fashion. ASD was better correlated with WUE than either of the other two factors. It was also observed that the relationship between WUE and any single controlling factor was subject to influence of the other two. One such example was an opposite response of WUE to SWP between low and high ASD values, suggesting a breakdown of stomatal optimality under severe environmental stresses and a shift from optimal stomatal regulation to nonstomatal regulation at leaf scale. We have demonstrated that different data handling (stratified vs. nonstratified) or selection (hourly vs. daily) could lead to different conclusions on the relationship between WUE and its controls. For this reason, we recommend modelers to be cautious when applying WUE‐response formulas at environmental conditions or at time scales different from those at which they are derived.
Reproduction and life history of the green alga Prasiola linearis Jao (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)

Marine species of Prasiola are most common on rocky shores of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. Prasiola linearis is a little-known member of this group, whose known distribution is restricted to coastal marshes of Pacific North America. The little information available on this species is mostly based on the original description; its life history has not been previously reported. Reproduction and life history were investigated in a series of experiments conducted in different combinations of culture medium, temperature, daylength and photon irradiance. The alga reproduced by aplanospores that were produced in the apical part of the blade. Upon release, each aplanospore reproduced a new thallus; sexual reproduction, which occurs in other marine species of Prasiola (P. stipitata and P. meridionalis) was not observed in P. linearis. No variation in reproductive patterns was observed between different combinations of factors tested; however, the alga showed very weak growth at 208C. The life history of Prasiola linearis consists of a repetition of the same morphological phase reproducing by aplanospores. The diversity of life histories observed in marine species of Prasiola is illustrated and discussed.
Characterization of Insecticide Resistance in Two Colonies of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Two populations of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), FLA (from celery, Florida) and NP (from chrysanthemum, California), were examined for insecticide resistance by topical application and comparison with a field-collected, susceptible colony APG (from bedding plants, California). Initially, FLA L. trifolii were moderately resistant to methamidophos and permethrin. Resistance in this colony declined over three months in the absence of further selection to the level of the susceptible colony at LC90 Experiments with synergists indicated that oxidative and hydrolytic metabolism may have contributed to resistance in FLA L. trifolii . NP L. trifolii were resistant to permethrin, methyl parathion, methamidophos, and a mixture of methyl parathion and permethrin. These flies were also cross-resistant to DDT and cypermethrin. Oxidative metabolism was implicated as a resistance mechanism but could not account for all resistance to permethrin. Anerve insensitivity factor, kdr-Iike , was probably also active in producing permethrin resistance. Methyl parathion effectively synergized permethrin in experiments in which joint action of these compounds was investigated. Developmental time and body size of NP and APG L. trifolii reared on chrysanthemum did not differ.
Fire ants are not drivers of biodiversity change: a response to Stuble et al. (2013)

Habitat alteration of the environment and biological invasion are intertwined, critically important topics deserving our attention as leading causes for global biodiversity losses as well as drivers of community assembly. Given human impacts on the biosphere (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005), if ecologists are to explain biodiversity loss and community assembly, then experiments are necessary to separate the effects of habitat alteration, biological invasions, and other potential factors. We have published a set of experimental studies that collectively tested the effects of the exotic fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren and habitat disturbance on co-occurring ant abundance and species richness (King & Tschinkel, 2006, 2008, 2013). These experiments were carried out along a fire ant density and anthropogenic disturbance gradient ranging from zero-density, undisturbed well-drained pine flatwoods (King & Tschinkel, 2008), through a midpoint with lowdensity, poorly drained pine flatwoods (King & Tschinkel, 2013), to high-density improved pasture (King & Tschinkel, 2006). We concluded that anthropogenic disturbance, not S. invicta , has the greatest impact on ant communities in these habitats. Other studies support these conclusions. In its entirety, our work in Florida (Tschinkel, 1988; Lubertazzi & Tschinkel, 2003; Tschinkel, 2006; King & Porter, 2007; King & Tschinkel, 2006, 2008, 2013) has found little evidence that fire ants compete with co-occurring ants, whether native or not. Rather, we have shown through transparent, repeatable, well-replicated, statistically significant and easily understood experiments, as well as large scale survey work and thorough review and critique of the fire ant ecology literature, that the primary factor depressing native ant populations is land-use change. Our experiments show that habitat is the central component of ant community assembly in the southeastern US, and for fire ants, disturbance is the most obvious feature of the habitat in which they enjoy maximal success. We part ways with some other ant community ecologists concerning the role of inter-specific competition in structuring early-succession ant communities, a divergence that we base on having done some of the very few field experiments testing habitat and
The heteromorph ammonite Ndumuiceras variabile gen. et sp. nov. from the Albian Mzinene Formation, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Four specimens of a micromorphic heteromorph ammonite, one from the Lower Albian Mzinene Formation in the vicinity of Ndumu, and three from the basal Middle Albian Mzinene Formation in the Mkuze Game Reserve of KwaZulu-Natal are referred to the new genus and species Ndumuiceras variabile. Its general appearance suggests affinities with the crioceratitid representatives of the superfamily Ancyloceratoidea Gill, 1871, but the suture line points to affinities with the superfamily Turrilitoidea Gill, 1871.