Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colony Characterization of Reticulitermes Flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on a Native Tallgrass Prairie

ABSTRACT Recent changes in termite management technologies have stimulated a need for better understanding of basic termite ecology. Studies estimating the number of individuals in foraging populations and foraging territory sizes of subterranean termite colonies have been conducted in many areas of the United States. However, colonies of Reticulitermes occurring in the central Great Plains have not been well characterized. Results of studies conducted with three colonies of R. flavipes (Kollar) on an Oklahoma native tallgrass prairie are provided herein. Foraging population numbers, foraging areas, maximum linear foraging distances and soldier caste ratios were determined. Estimated foraging areas for individual colonies ranged from 9.0 to 92.3 m2. Colonies contained 10,357 to 183,495 foragers. Soldiers comprised 2.69 to 4.46% of the foraging populations. We conclude that rather than the result of a few large populations, the widespread termite pressure in this native habitat is likely the result of many small colonies foraging in close proximity.
The Tadpole of Physalaemus albifrons (Spix, 1824) (Anura, Leiuperidae)

ABSTRACT. The tadpoles of Physalaemus albifrons used in this description were obtained from a pair collected in a permanent pond in Brotas de Macaúbas, state of Bahia, Brazil. The external morphological features are similar to those of other members of the P. albifrons species group, differing by the presence of interruptions in the row of the marginal papillae of the lower lip. Labial tooth row formula is 2(2)/3(1, 2). The internal oral morphology of P. albifrons differed from those of P. marmoratus, P. santafecinus and P. biligonigerus by the presence of three lingual papillae.
Yield and Agronomic Characters of Tropical Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars under Different Irrigation Regimes

Drought spells are unpredictable under tropical conditions and can occur at every growth stage of the maize plants. Little is known about the reactions of tropical maize cultivars to water shortage. A set of Thai cultivars was examined in the field during the dry season. Three stress situations were imposed: prolonged stress throughout the growing season, pre- and post-anthesis stress. Pre-anthesis water stress delayed flowering and especially the data of silking. Thus, the anthesis-silking interval was wider. Prolonged water stress decreased grain yield mainly due to a low number of kernels and/or thousand kernel weight (TKW). Post-anthesis stress mainly reduced TKW grain set per ear. Relief from pre-anthesis stress increased grain yield by a grater number of kernels and higher TKW as compared to prolonged stress. Genotypic differences were high for the anthesis-silking interval following pre-anthesis stress. Low yielding, early but generally drought-stable cultivars existed as well as cultivars which were generally high yielding even under water stress because of a good residual yield. Some cultivars were resistant to pre-anthesis stress but not to post-anthesis stress and vice versa. It can be concluded that ample genotypic variability exists for adaptation to varying situations of pre-and post-anthesis stress within tropical maize cultivars.
Restorative mowing on an abandoned semi-natural meadow: short-term and predicted long-term effects

When management, in the form of cattle grazing and mowing, ceases the abundance of competitively superior plant species tends to increase in abandoned semi-natural meadows. Litter accumulation elevates the soil nutrient levels and hinders seedling recruitment. We surveyed changes in plant cover and species composition of a formerly grazed meadow in permanent plots for six years. Some plots were unmown, while others were mown and raked annually in August. The cover of grasses decreased and herb cover remained unchanged regardless of the treatment. Mowing and raking significantly reduced litter accumulation and increased the number of ground layer species. The expected long-term effects of abandonment and restorative mowing were studied by calculating the transition probabilities for unmown and mown plots and simulating the course of suc- cession as projected by the transition matrices. During a simulation period of 30 yr, abandonment led to (1) a de- crease in the cover of small herbs, (2) a slight increase in the cover of tall herbs and (3) a slight decrease in the cover of grasses. In contrast, the cover of small herbs on the mown plots remained unchanged or slightly increased during the course of simulation. These results suggest that mowing late in the season is primarily a management tool for the mainte- nance of the existing species diversity and composition. However, it may not be an effective restorative tool to induce overall changes in the resident vegetation of abandoned grass-dominated meadows. Grazing or mowing early in the season may be more effective in this respect. Consequently, mowing early or, alternatively, late in the season may pro- vide management strategies for the maintenance and restora- tion of species diversity, respectively.
Insect parasites and predators of Phyllophaga anxia (LeConte) (Col., Scarabaeidae) in Quebec, Canada

Phyllophaga anxia (LeConte), is the most common and destructive species of June beetle in the province of Quebec, Canada. In the course of a systematic 4‐year survey in southern Quebec, 29 species (belonging to 13 families in 3 orders) of parasitic and predaceous insects were found associated with the pest. Tachinid flies and tiphiid wasps were the most common parasites. The roles of the parasites and predators of P. anxia are reviewed. The survey showed that these natural enemies had low impact on field populations of the June beetle.
MORTALITY AND FERTILITY OF EUROPEAN CHARADRII

SUMMARY A review of published data on the mortality and fertility of 23 species of wading birds (Charadrii) breeding in or visiting western Europe. Recoveries of ringed birds are the main source of estimates of mortality. In some cases recaptures of marked birds can also be employed. Apparent mortality in the first year after fledging is usually higher than in later years, though most estimates are probably biased by the preponderance of recoveries due to shooting. Adult mortality-rates in stable populations vary from about 15·7% (Oystercatcher) to 51·9% (Common Snipe) with most in the range 30–45%. Closely related species tend to have similar mortality-rates. There is a strong inverse correlation between death-rate and body-size, using wing-length and weight as indices of size. Studies of fertility are scarce and meagre, though. clutch-sizes are adequately known. Few waders are double-brooded, though many re-nest if their first nest is destroyed. In most thriving breeding colonies, 66–96% of the eggs laid hatch. Survival of chicks from hatching to fledging, which is hard to measure, typically averages 40–80%, though success often varies widely from year to year. Intensive long-term studies of breeding groups make the most effective contribution to knowledge of population dynamics. For the many species for which breeding studies are likely to remain impracticable, studies of population composition in winter or on passage may provide useful substitutes, but only if techniques of sampling and of age- and sex-classification can be improved.
Preparation of oilseed rape for over-wintering according to autumnal growth and cold acclimation period.

A field experiment on different sowing dates of the two winter rape cultivars ‘Sunday’ and ‘Kronos’ (hybrid) was carried out during 2008–2009 at the Experimental Station of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture (54°53′N + 23°50′E). The soluble protein assays were done at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Institute of Botany. The study was designed to explore the effect of autumnal growth and cold acclimation period on winter rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars’ preparation for over-wintering. According to biometric parameters (number of leaves per plant, root collar diameter and height of apical bud), rape sown in the second half of August (20 08) and at the end of August (30 08), whose autumnal growth and cold acclimation period was 64–76 days, was best prepared for wintering. The duration of autumnal growth and cold acclimation period significantly influenced biometric parameters of both winter rape cultivars. A consistent increase in the amount of crude protein in apical bud of both winter rape cultivars of later sowing dates was estimated. Upon completion of cold acclimation (preparation for wintering) period, the composition of soluble protein fractions derived from the cells significant for rape wintering organs – apical buds – was analyzed. The differences or/and peculiarities in protein composition in these cells of both tested cultivars ‘Kronos’ and ‘Sunday’ as influenced by the duration of their autumnal growth and cold acclimation period were revealed. It was established that a higher content of individual protein components and proteins having molecular masses less than 66 kDa were accumulated in ‘Kronos’ apical bud cells. A longer autumnal growth and cold acclimation period had a more distinct effect on the increment of protein component number in ‘Kronos’ compared to cv. ‘Sunday’, while a shorter (about 60 days) period exerted a negative effect on the total soluble protein component number in apical buds of both tested cultivars, especially ‘Kronos’.
Comparative Morphometric Studies on the Indian Honeybee of the North-West Himalayas 2. Wings

SummarySignificant variation with locality was observed in 18 characters of the fore- and hind wings of worker honeybees (Apis cerana indica) collected from the Himachal region, and in 14 characters of bees from the Kashmir region, in north-west India. A number of wing measurements were positively correlated with altitude. For Himachali bees these included length and breadth of both fore- and hind wings, proportions of several wing-vein cells, size of some cell angles, and number of hamuli. For Kashmir bees they included breadth of fore-wing, proportions of some wing-vein cells, size of some cell angles, and number of hamuli. Most wing parameters were significantly larger in the Kashmiri bees, but not number of hamuli, length of the apical portion of the radial vein, or certain wing-vein angles.
Evaluation of wooden block lure traps for mass trapping of fruit flies, Bactrocera spp in mango orchards

A study was conducted in which wooden blocks (80 × 20 × 18 mm) made up of plyboard and locally available exotic Meranti wood (Shorea sp) impregnated with a mixture of ethanol, methyl eugenol and malathion (6:4:1) were evaluated from June 2007 to August 2008 for efficacy in mass trapping fruit flies in a mango orchard in low hills of Himachal Pradesh. Suspension traps containing 100 ml solution of methyl eugenol (0.1%) and malathion (0.05%) in plastic bottles were used for comparison. The plyboard blocks were found more effective than Meranti wood blocks in trapping the fruit flies. During 2007 at peak of fruit fly activity in mango orchard (24 to 31 standard weeks) significantly higher average number of adults (397.3/trap/week) was recorded in plyboard blocks compared to Meranti wood blocks (194.2/trap/week) and suspension traps (43.6/trap/week) the latter being significantly lesser than the former. The catch in Meranti wood blocks was at par with plyboard blocks only up to three weeks of installation and significantly higher than suspension traps only for five weeks of installation. The plyboard blocks were found effective even after one year of treatment resulting in higher catch than suspension traps. During the fruiting season of 2008 (23 to 34 standard week) the average number of fruit flies/trap/week was 570.1, 103.4 and 38.9 in freshly treated, one year old plyboard blocks and suspension traps respectively. These results showed that plyboard lure traps were highly effective and persistent in mass trapping of fruit flies in mango orchards.
Differentiation in morphology and habitat partitioning of genetically characterized Gammarus fossarum forms (Amphipoda) across a contact zone

Evolutionary processes do not affect all character types equally. Depending on environmental effects, morphological and ecological evolution may be uncoupled from molecular evolution. A natural contact zone between two forms of the amphipod Gammarus fossarum was used to assess the levels of differentiation in genetic, morphological and habitat characters. About 50 individuals per population were analysed for six enzyme loci in 72 populations and four size-standardized morphometric traits in a subset of 32 populations. Nine environmental parameters per population were used to characterize the habitat. All three character sets revealed significant divergences between G. fossarum forms. The eastern form A of G. fossarum differs from the western form B by longer setae at the second antennae (males) and longer exopodits at die third uropods (males and females). The variance partitioning within populations, among populations and between forms, was compared within the three character sets. The relative variance component between forms in genetic characters appeared to be 10-fold greater in comparison to morphological traits, indicating morphological stasis during speciation. The inter-form environmental differentiation was shown to be low, but consistent between pure populations. The eastern form A seems to prefer higher altitudes, a substrate type of gravel, stones and leaves, shading, and water with higher conductivity and pH man the western form B.
Palm Kernel Meal and Brewer’s Dried Grain Improve Laying Performance of Japanese Quails (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) without Affecting Egg Quality Characteristics -

This study was carried out to evaluate the laying performance and egg quality characteristics of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed palm kernel meal (PKM) and brewers dried grain (BDG) based diets. Five diets were formulated with diet 1 (control) containing 0%PKM and 0%BDG. PKM and BDG were included at two levels each in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively (15%PKM, 30%PKM, 15%BDG and 30%BDG). A total of 150 Japanese quail (point of lay) of six-weeks old were allotted to five dietary treatment groups of 30 quail birds each with three replicates of 10 birds per pen in a completely randomized design. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (22%CP). The birds were raised in cages for sixteen weeks. Water and feed were offered ad libitum. The result of the experiment showed that there were significant (P 0.05) differences in daily weight gain, egg production and egg weight across the treatment groups. Peak egg production was significantly (P 0.05) difference across the treatments when compared with the control. Thus, utilization of BDG and PKM in quail’s diet at 30% inclusion level during the egg laying phase resulted in enhanced growth and egg production performance at the least cost.
The effects of a series of saturated fatty acids in the diet on milk-fat secretion in the cow

Summary The effects of the isocaloric replacement of part of the dietary concentrate mixture by 5% lauric acid (99% pure) or by 10% of myristic (95% pure), palmitic (96% pure) or stearic (94% pure) on the yield and composition of milk fat was investigated in 2 feeding experiments with a total of 10 cows in mid-lactation. The concentrate mixtures were given with a high-roughage diet that supplied 9·1 or 7·7 kg hay/day in expts 1 and 2, respectively. In expt 1 the inclusion of myristic acid in the diet decreased the yields of milk and solids-not-fat (SNF), but increased the percentage of fat in the milk without altering the fat yield. When stearic or palmitic acid was included in the diet there was an increase in milk fat yield; palmitic acid caused the greater increase. In expt 2 the inclusion of lauric acid in the diet did not appear to affect the yields of milk or SNF but it caused large reductions in the percentage of fat in the milk and in the yield of fat. In expt 1 the inclusion of myristic acid increased the yields and percentages of 14:0, 14:1 and 16:1 in the milk fat and decreased the yields and percentages of the short-chain fatty acids (4:0–8:0), 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1. When palmitic acid was included in the diet there were increases in the yields and percentages of 16:0 and 16:1 in the milk fat and decreases in the yields and percentages of 10:0, 12:0, 14:0, 18:0 and 18:1. The inclusion of stearic acid in the diet increased the yields and percentages of 18:0 and 18:1 in the milk fat and decreased the yields and percentages of 12:0 and 16:0. In expt 2 the inclusion of lauric acid in the diet increased the yield and percentage of 12:0, and in 1 cow the content of 14:0 in the milk fat; there were reductions in the yields and percentages of all the other fatty acids in the milk fat. There was no evidence of any marked elongation of the carbon chains of 12:0 and 14:0 in the mammary gland to form 16:0 or 18:0. In expt 1 the incorporation of myristic acid in the diet decreased the concentration of total steam-volatile fatty acids in rumen liquor. The inclusion of either myristic, palmitic or stearic acid in the diet had little effect on the relative proportions of the individual volatile acids in the rumen liquor. In expt 2 the addition of lauric acid to the diet reduced the acetic acid:propionic acid ratio in the rumen liquor.
To be or not to be faithful: flexible fidelity to foraging trails in the leaf‐cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis

1. Ants using trails to forage have to select between two alternative routes at bifurcations, using two, potentially conflicting, sources of information to make their decision: individual experience to return to a previous successful foraging site (i.e. fidelity) and ant traffic. In the field, we investigated which of these two types of information individuals of the leaf‐cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery use to decide which foraging route to take.
Surgical Management of Left Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Presenting with Exertional Chest Pain

Left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a very infrequent clinical entity. Valsalva aneurysms are often asymptomatic in right and non-coronary sinuses and the diagnosis is often incidental. A left SVA which presents with exertional chest pain due to compression of left coronary system arteries is extremely rare. In this case, we present a successful surgical repair of left SVA without aortic regurgitation or myocardial infarction in a 59-year-old male patient.
Generalization testing with atypical and typical antipsychotic drugs in rats trained to discriminate 5.0 mg/kg clozapine from vehicle in a two‐choice drug discrimination task

Clozapine (CLZ) drug discrimination is used as a preclinical model to evaluate compounds for putative atypical antipsychotic properties. In rats, a 1.25 mg/kg CLZ training dose appears to have greater pharmacological specificity for atypical antipsychotic drugs than the traditional 5.0 mg/kg CLZ training dose; however, methodological differences among studies have precluded a direct comparison between these training doses. In the present study, rats were trained to discriminate a 5.0 mg/kg CLZ dose from vehicle in a two‐choice drug discrimination task using methods similar to those in a previous study from our laboratory that used a 1.25 mg/kg CLZ training dose. Clozapine produced full substitution (≥80% CLZ‐lever responding) for itself at the training dose (5.0 mg/kg). The atypical antipsychotics olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone also produced full substitution for 5.0 mg/kg CLZ, whereas the atypical antipsychotics risperidone and sertindole produced partial substitution (≥60% CLZ‐lever responding). The typical antipsychotic, thioridazine, produced full substitution for the 5.0 mg/kg CLZ training dose, but the typical antipsychotics chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, and haloperidol failed to substitute for clozapine. In a subgroup of 1.25 mg/kg CLZ‐trained rats, ziprasidone produced strong partial substitution (73.0 % CLZ‐lever responding) for the 1.25 mg/kg CLZ training dose. Based on these findings, some atypical antipsychotic drugs (i.e., quetiapine and ziprasidone) produce full substitution only for the 5.0 mg/kg CLZ training dose, whereas other atypical antipsychotic drugs (i.e., sertindole and risperidone) produce full substitution only for the 1.25 mg/kg CLZ training dose. Thus, both of these training doses are important for the screening of putative atypical antipsychotic drugs with the clozapine drug discrimination assay. Drug Dev. Res. 64:55–65, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
IMMUNOGENITY OF 32.2 kDA HEMAGGLUTININ BM PROTEIN OF Escherichia coli PILI ISOLATED FROM INFERTILE MALES' SEMEN

Male genital tract infection is one cause of infertility. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a major cause of prostatitis and epididymitis that can degrade the quality of spermatozoa. One factor E. coli can reduce sperm quality due to the ability of E. coli attached to the sperm plasma membrane using pili. Have successfully isolated the protein hemagglutinin pili of E. coli isolates were infertile men with BM cement 32.2 kDa. The purpose of this study was to determine the protein hemagglutinin pili immunogenitas E. BM coli isolates 32.2 kDa cement infertile men. Immunization performed on male rabbits using protein hemagglutinin pili of E. coli BM 32.2 kDa as antigens. Antibody titers formed were measured using indirect methods and the results were read using elisa reader. Antigen and antibody reactivity are formed in the test by the method of dot blot and western blot. The results of this research is through indirect elisa test, the protein hemagglutinin pili of E. BM coli isolates 32.2 kDa cement infertile men can stimulate the formation of antibodies. The results of dot blot test and western blot proved that the antibodies react specifically with antigen. The conclusion of this study is the protein hemagglutinin pili of E. coli BM 32.2 kDa is immunogenic and potentially as a candidate vaccine ingredient in preventing male genital tract infections.
Morphology and Life Cycle of Abrolophus norvegicus (Thor, 1900) with Notes on Abrolophus spp. (Actinotrichida: Prostigmata: Erythraeidae)

Abstract. Abrolophus norvegicus (Thor, 1900) is redescribed. An extended diagnosis of Abrolophus Berlese, 1891 (= Hauptmannia Oudemans, 1910) is provided for all active life instars. Description of larva of A. norvegicus is based on specimens obtained by experimental rearing from field-collected females. Variability of morphological characters is evaluated for offspring of a single female, within a particular population and between different populations originating from Europe. The specific status of A. norvegicus is discussed. A female of A. norvegicus, collected in northern Germany is selected as neotype. Hauptmannia silesiacus Haitlinger, 1986, syn. now. , Abrolophus neobrevicollis Zhang et Goldarazena, 1996, syn. nov., Hauptmannia striata Saboori, Šundic et Pešic, 2011, syn. nov., Hauptmannia dagmarae Haitlinger, 2012, syn. nov. are considered synonyms of Ritteria norvegica Thor, 1900. Data on habitat specificity and phenology of A. norvegicus as well as on its development are given.