Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unprecedented Low Levels of Genetic Variation and Inbreeding Depression in an Island Population of the Black‐Footed Rock‐Wallaby

Abstract: It has been argued that demographic and environmental factors will cause small, isolated populations to become extinct before genetic factors have a significant negative impact. Islands provide an ideal opportunity to test this hypothesis because they often support small, isolated populations that are highly vulnerable to extinction. To assess the potential negative impact of isolation and small population size, we compared levels of genetic variation and fitness in island and mainland populations of the black‐footed rock‐wallaby (Petrogale lateralis[Marsupialia: Macropodidae]). Our results indicate that the Barrow Island population of P. lateralis has unprecedented low levels of genetic variation ( He= 0.053, from 10 microsatellite loci) and suffers from inbreeding depression (reduced female fecundity, skewed sex ratio, increased levels of fluctuating asymmetry). Despite a long period of isolation (∼1600 generations) and small effective population size ( Ne∼15), demographic and environmental factors have not yet driven this population to extinction. Nevertheless, it has been affected significantly by genetic factors. It has lost most of its genetic variation and become highly inbred ( Fe= 0.91), and it exhibits reduced fitness. Because several other island populations of P. lateralis also exhibit exceptionally low levels of genetic variation, this phenomenon may be widespread. Inbreeding in these populations is at a level associated with high rates of extinction in populations of domestic and laboratory species. Genetic factors cannot then be excluded as contributing to the extinction proneness of small, isolated populations.
Bayesian shared frailty models for regional inference about wildlife survival

The estimation of survival is an essential but difficult task important for developing rigorous conservation programs. Radio telemetry studies of wildlife survival are often characterized by small sample sizes and high rates of censoring. In cases where multiple radio telemetry studies of a species exist, shared frailty models of survival offer the ability to combine data from multiple studies and improve the precision of survival estimates. We used Bayesian analysis of shared frailty models to examine survival of adult females of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California, USA, and to examine the effects of individual and habitat characteristics on daily risk of mortality. Posterior mean annual survival probability of adult females was 0.61 [95% credible interval (CI) = 0.41–0.79]. The daily risk of mortality for adult female giant gartersnakes while in terrestrial habitats was 0.38 (0.09–0.89) times as great as when they inhabited aquatic habitats. Although 95% CIs for hazard ratios of other covariates included one, sites varied substantially in the effect of linear habitats, which appear to have context‐dependent effects on survival. Assessing survival with shared frailty models allows the prediction of survival probabilities at novel sites and identifies regional and context‐specific mortality risks that can be targeted for conservation action.
Main landscape metrics affecting abundance and diversity of game species in a semi-arid agroecosystem in the Mediterranean region.

Hunting bags provide important information for conservation measures and wildlife management. This study is to assess relationships between landscape structure and game species. The community parameters (abundance, richness and diversity) and landscape/land use indices have been related, using GIS and statistical analysis, in the South-East of Spain (Marina Baja, Alicante). Game species richness (S) is determined by the presence of fruit groves ( p = 0.001, R = 0.714) and landscape shape. The total density of species (TD) is influenced positively by fruit groves ( p = 0.001, R = 0.783) and wooded shrublands ( p = 0.002, R = 0.911), but is influenced negatively by urban areas ( p < 0.001, R = 0.844). Small game communities correlate to irrigated fruit ( p = 0.002, R = 0.754) and dry vineyard ( p = 0.021, R = 0.839) and also with the diversity landscape index ( p = 0.029, R = 0.708). Big game density is positively related to holm oak ( p = 0.018, R = 0.812) and dense pine forests ( p = 0.001, R = 0.849) and also with the total area landscape index ( p = 0.011, R = 0.921). Population control species prefer irrigated fruit ( p < 0.001, R = 0.775), fruit groves ( p < 0.001, R = 0.857) and irrigated vineyard ( p = 0.017, R = 0.833) land uses. Our conclusion is that most game species presents a positive relation with landscape structure, such as fractal dimension and shape index, and traditional agriculture based on irrigated and dry fruit crops.
Fungicide compatible potential biocontrol agents against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. causing mango anthracnose.

Pathogenic studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to test the virulence of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. isolates collected from different regions of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. The results indicated that the isolate PTR6 was highly virulent (76.30%) and the isolate VDM2 (12.55%) was found to be least virulent. Of all the six fungicides evaluated, the systemic fungicide thiophanate-methyl (100%) and the nonsystemic fungicide mancozeb (100%) proved to be effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of the highly virulent pathogen at 50 ppm and 500 ppm concentrations, respectively. Among the 21 bacterial biocontrol agents screened in dual culture, the potential biocontrol agents viz., BP5 (100%), BL5 (100%), BL4 (97.11%) and BL6 (90.44%) were superior in arresting the growth of the pathogen. Compatibility studies revealed that the potential bacteria BL5 from leaf endophyte habitat was highly compatible with thiophanate-methyl (100%) followed by mancozeb (98.33%) which can be exploited for field evaluation.
Perspectives on Wound Healing in Resistance to Pathogens

Precise information about wound responses in plants is essential for un­ derstanding the processes that facilitate or interfere with the development of many diseases. Since many serious diseases are induced by pathogens that gain entrance through wounds, such information will likely reveal opportuni­ ties for innovative control measures based on modification of the host re­ sponse. Recent advances in biochemistry and molecular biology are shedding light on the nature and importance of signal molecules exchanged between host and pathogen in wounded tissues, and on the regulation of wound metabolism (72). Indeed, plant responses to wounding and to infection by pathogens are often similar in many ways, which suggests the participation of common signals. The corky lesions and barriers observed in diseases such as fruit russeting and the shotholc diseases affecting Prunus spp. share the anatomical features of wound periderms, and many of the chemical and structural barriers associated with expression of resistance to pathogens are also induced by mechanical injury (3, 104). A wound, in the context of this article, is any external or internal injury that breaches the outer protective layers of the plant and leads to the destruction of cells in a specific area of tissue. Implicit in this definition is the physical rupturing of cells with concomitant loss of compartmentation (50, 81).
Genetic Differentiation of Loxoblemmus Appendicularis Complex (Orthoptera: Gryllidae): Speciation Through Vicariant and Glaciation Events

Abstract Taxonomic determination based on morphology alone has failed to describe the evolutionary history of Loxoblemmus appendicularis Shiraki complex in Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rDNA sequence reveals that three evolutionary lineages of L. appendicularis have been found to coincide with their area of geographical distribution: the Southern, Eastern, and Northern populations. Sequence distance was equal between the Northern and Southern and Northern and Eastern populations (0.032), whereas between the Southern and Eastern populations, the sequence distance was 0.026. Cross-breeding among these three populations has produced abnormal hybrids, suggesting that a possible postzygotic isolating mechanism exists. Biogeographical history suggests the speciation event in L. appendicularis began in the early Pleistocene (1.8 million yr ago [Mya]). Vicariant event created by the rise of the Central Mountain Range >1 Mya led to two separate Eastern and Southern lineages. The following glacial event and formation of a land bridge between Taiwan and the Chinese continent at the end of Pleistocene reintroduced L. appendicularis, currently known as the Northern population, to western and northern Taiwan. Results of sequence divergence, phylogenetic inferences, geographical distribution, and cross-breeding strongly show a current taxonomic recognition of a single species with three parapatric cryptic species.
Genetic Resources of Aonla (Emblica of ficinalis Gaertn.)

Aonla tree has gained great socio-economic impact in large part of the country. It has significant contribution to improvement of economic status of farming communities through commercial orcharding, nursery production and processing of herbal respect of fruit size, maturity period and yield per plant. Due to predominance of seedling propagation India holds rich genetic diversity in cultivated and their wild relatives of aonla. Genetic erosion status of these resources is constantly high due to severe deforestation, natural calamities and adoption of a few popular cultivars in the selected pockets. However, enormous variability in aonla still remains unexploited and awaits proper attention on exploration, collection and maintenance to conserve genetic diversity available in the nature. Besides cultivated species of Emblica (Phyllanthus), some other available species can be utilized in aonla breeding programmc to infuse hardiness into the offspring for adverse habitat. This paper discusses the diversity region, extent of variability with respect to quality, fruit character, germplasm holdings, evaluation and selection of genotypes, etc.
The thermal regime of rivers : a review

Summary 1. The thermal regime of rivers plays an important role in the overall health of aquatic ecosystems, including water quality issues and the distribution of aquatic species within the river environment. Consequently, for conducting environmental impact assessments as well as for effective fisheries management, it is important to understand the thermal behaviour of rivers and related heat exchange processes. 2. This study reviews the different river thermal processes responsible for water temperature variability on both the temporal (e.g. diel, daily, seasonal) and spatial scales, as well as providing information related to different water temperature models currently found in the literature. 3. Water temperature models are generally classified into three groups: regression, stochastic and deterministic models. Deterministic models employ an energy budget approach to predict river water temperature, whereas regression and stochastic models generally rely on air to water temperature relationships. 4. Water temperature variability can occur naturally or as a result of anthropogenic perturbations, such as thermal pollution, deforestation, flow modification and climate change. Literature information is provided on the thermal regime of rivers in relation to anthropogenic impacts and such information will contribute to the better protection of fish habitat and more efficient fisheries management.
Post-emergence Efficacy of Atrazine in Controlling Weeds in Pearl-millet

Field experiments were conducted at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar and Rohtak to test the efficacy of atrazine applied at different stages in pearlmillet. Application of atrazine 0.25 or 0.50 kg/ha at 7 or 14 d.a. s. (days after sowing) proved highly effective against most competitive and aggressive weeds like carpetweed (Trianthema portulacastrum) and barnyardgrass (Echinochla colonum). The effect of atrazine at 7 or 14 d.a. s. was better than its pre-emergence application. Its application beyond 14 days (21 d.a.s.) failed to control these weeds. Similarly, better crop yield was recorded with post-emergence (7 or 14 d.a.s.) atrazine than its pre-emergence and 21 d.a. s, application at both the locations.
Effect of Probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on Haematological parameters of Catla catla (Hamilton)

Fish disease is most common problems in aquaculture, bacterial infections are one of the most important cause of disease problems in Indian aquaculture (Kesarcodi et al., 2008; Sahoo et al., 2011) . Prevention and control of diseases have led during recent decades to substantial increases in the use of veterinary medicines include vaccines and antibiotics or chemotherapeutics, but they cannot be used alone as a universal ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 8 (2014) pp. 326-335 http://www.ijcmas. com
Desert Anuran Occurrence and Detection in Artificial Breeding Habitats

Abstract: One-third of known amphibian populations have become extinct, with habitat loss and degradation being the leading causes in the United States. Site occupancy has been suggested as one of the most effective state variables in describing population declines. The objectives of this study were to determine occupancy estimates of five southwestern desert anurans, accounting for imperfect detection, and to determine the main factors impacting detection. We conducted call and visual surveys on three consecutive nights after rain events at 21 breeding sites for Mexican Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata), Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons), Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii), Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus), and Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis). We used occupancy modeling to estimate the proportion of sites occupied for all species detected during the sampling period. Spea multiplicata and A. debilis were most prevalent, followed by A. cognatus, Sp. bombifrons, and Sc. couchii, respectively. In addition to the inclusion of repeated site surveys to decrease bias, incorporating visual surveys greatly improved occupancy estimates for southwestern desert anurans. Detection was highest on survey night one for Sp. multiplicata, Sp. bombifrons, Sc. couchii, and A. debilis (72.2–100%); warmer air temperature improved detection of A. cognatus. Sky conditions did not significantly influence desert anuran detectability. Immediate survey after rain events and the combination of call and visual surveys are critical to increase accuracy when studying desert anurans.
Effects of drought and hurricane disturbances on headwater distributions of palaemonid river shrimp (Macrobrachium spp.) in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico

Abstract Extreme events (hurricanes, floods, and droughts) can influence upstream migration of macroinvertebrates and wash out benthic communities, thereby locally altering food webs and species interactions. We sampled palaemonid river shrimp (Macrobrachium spp.), dominant consumers in headwaters of the Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico, to determine their distributions along an elevational gradient (274–456 m asl) during a series of disturbances (Hurricane Hugo in 1989, a drought in 1994, and Hurricane Georges in 1998) that occurred over a 15-y period (1988−2002). We measured shrimp abundance 3 to 6 times/y in Quebrada Prieta in the Espiritu Santo drainage as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. In general, Macrobrachium abundance declined with elevation during most years. The lowest mean abundance of Macrobrachium occurred during the 1994 drought, the driest year in 28 y of record in the Espiritu Santo drainage. Macrobrachium increased in abundance for 6 y following the 1994 drought. In contrast, hurricanes and storm flows had relatively little effect on Macrobrachium abundance.
QTL explaining variation in production traits and udder health in the Danish Holstein population

The main objective was to locate QTL and estimate the proportion of total genetic variance attributable to quantitative trait loci (QTL) for production index traits and the udder health index identified on six Bos taurus autosomes in the Danish Holstein dairy cattle population. Data were obtained from a granddaughter design of 20 sire families with a total of 1 869 progeny tested sons. The number of sons per grandsire ranged from 20 to 284, with an average family size of 93.5. Indexes of the estimated breeding values were obtained for the milk production traits and for the udder health index from the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service database. A random-QTL model was applied to incorporate marker information into parameter estimation for each single QTL. The procedure allowed us to detect new QTL on BTA3, BTA16 and BTA28 and to estimate the proportion of total genetic variance attributed to different QTL on a total of six Bos taurus autosomes for the udder health index and yield index traits in the Danish Holstein population. Variance estimates vary between 2 to 58 % of the total variance for different QTL and seem to explain a substantial part of the variance at certain positions of the cattle genome. The results are discussed against the background of the failure of marker-assisted selection (MAS) and the recent availability of large panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have improved the search for mutations underlying variation in complex traits resulting in modern genomic selection.
Qualitative study of the New Bone formation Surrounding the Ti-implant by FTIR and Polarizing Microscope

Recently, dental implants have gained much attention for a great number of researchers in dental application. Until now, there are few reports about the properties and metabolism related to the bite force response of the newly bone formed surrounding the implants, which is poorly understood. For that reason, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the new bone formation surrounding the implants and its process of maturation by Micro-CT, polarizing microscope and FTIR analysis. Thus, the implants were inserted in the tibia of rabbits. After 4 and 8 weeks of surgical procedure, three-dimensional image of the implant and bone of non-decalcified samples was observed by Micro-CT analysis; bone structure and its maturity were seen by polarizing microscope; and finally, the PO 4 3- , CCO 3 2- and Amide I elements included in the interface bone- implant and in the new bone during the course time were examined by FTIR analysis. The results of this study, analyzed by this 3 methods, demonstrated that: 1) It was observed a qualitative difference in the new bone formation and the existing bone at 4 and 8 weeks of implantation; 2) There was also a qualitative difference in the newly bone formed at 4 and 8 weeks; 3) The maturation of the new bone started from the exhibiting bone; and 4) None of the methods used in current study destroyed the samples, and reproducibility results were obtained. In conclusion, we suggest a possible qualitative evaluation of new bone formation surroundings the Ti implant.
International construction of area studies in France during the Cold War

An Area Studies Division was created at the 6th Section of the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris) in the mid-1950s. It was devoted to several world regions, including the USSR and eastern Europe. This article investigates the links between its institutionalization and the international scientific and financial transfers underpinning it: the transatlantic support granted to the nascent division by the Rockefeller and Ford foundations and the academic cooperation programme that it launched with eastern Europe. The Russian, Soviet and East European programme served, thus, as an East/West interface and a platform for broader intellectual exchanges. Local French scientific, academic and political rationales favoured the specific pathways it took. The article also shows that the EPHE 6th Section was discreetly linked with American players in Cold War intellectual warfare whose forms of action gradually changed in the context of the thaw. In particular, it had connections with the Congress for Cultural Freedom. These collusions attest to the entanglement of scientific and political issues, their intricacies increasing when external factors compounded domestic ones.
Plants Used as Analgesics by Amazonian Caboclos as a Basis for Selecting Plants for Investigation

Currently available analgesics still present enough undesirable effects that the search for new ones is justified. The traditional medical system plays an important role in health maintenance among Amazonian caboclo communities. Based on the premise that plant species used as remedies in this and other traditional medical systems can be regarded as potential sources of such new therapeutic compounds, an ethnopharmacological analysis of species used by caboclos as analgesics was made. In order to select species with higher likelihood to contain compounds with cross-cultural effectiveness, the study includes analysis of the uses of these species in other traditional systems.
'Pinot noir' and 'Riesling' grapevines respond to water stress duration and soil water-holding capacity

Glasshouse-grown 'Pinot noir' and 'Riesling' grapevines ( Vitis vinifera L.) were subjected to one of four water stress durations (no water deficit (control); and water deficits imposed postbloom, lag phase, and veraison) in combination with three soil water- holding capacities (0%, 26%, and 52% gravel, by volume). Vines subjected to increasing water stress duration had less cumulative lateral shoot length and lower shoot count, leaf size, and berry weights than those not stressed. Soluble solids concentration (SSC) during maturation and pH at harvest also increased with increasing water stress duration, but titratable acidity was not affected. Transpiration and stomatal conductance also were reduced with increased water stress duration, but soil water increased, reflecting the larger leaf surface on vines with veraison-imposed deficits. Reducing water-holding capacity (by increasing the percentage of gravel in the soil) tended to increase berry weight and SSC but reduced lateral shoot growth. The 52% gravel treatments increased transpi- ration rate and stomatal conductance for 'Riesling' but reduced them slightly in 'Pinot noir'. Percentage of soil moisture was reduced linearly with reduced water-holding capacity. These results indicate that early irrigation deficits may advance fruit maturity of wine grapes with concomitant reductions in vegetative growth. Differential responses of these cultivars to soil water-holding capacity also should help to identify suitable wine grape cultivars as the wine grape industry expands into areas with low water-holding capacity soils.