Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entomopathogenic fungi: a component of leafminer management

The invasive leafminers Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard), Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) are major pests of many vegetable and ornamental crops worldwide. In Kenya, production of horticultural crops is also severely constrained by infestation of Liriomyza leafmining flies (LMF), especially the invasive L. huidobrensis. Being quarantine pests, their presence in export produce can lead to rejections, resulting in loss of export markets and consequently loss of revenue to many smallholder families that are involved in export crop production. These constraints to trade represent the newest and potentially most challenging limitation to the future development of the horticultural sector in Kenya. Farmers increasingly use mixtures of chemical insecticides and spray more frequently in response to damage by key pests such as LMF. As a result, environmental contamination, health risks, pesticide residues and production costs are increasing. Increased use of pesticides also constrains the impact of the pest’s natural enemies and LMF have already developed resistance to several insecticides. The development of insecticide resistance has stimulated an increased interest in the search for non-chemical control measures such as the use of parasitoids, resistant plant varieties, entomopathogenic nematodes and entomopathogenic fungi as alternatives to chemicals. The current study is part of a larger research project on self-sustaining pest management strategies for Liriomyza species in Kenyan horticultural systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) for the control of L. sativae, L. trifolii and L. huidobrensis. The pathogenicity of 17 isolates of M. anisopliae and three isolates of B. bassiana to L. huidobrensis was evaluated in the laboratory. All the isolates were pathogenic to the leafminer causing mortality of 40 to 100% at five days post-exposure. The lethal time for 50% mortality (LT50) ranged from 2.6 to 5.4 days while the LT90 values varied between 3.2 and 9.1 days depending on the isolate. Ten isolates of M. anisopliae (ICIPE 315, 69, 78, 07, 60, 62, 84, 20, 387,
Phylogeny and species limits in the Palaearctic chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita complex: mitochondrial genetic differentiation and bioacoustic evidence†

Nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1041 bp), analysis of vocalizations and behavioural evidence from zones of contact were used to reassess the species limits and phylogenetic relationships at the species and subspecies levels in the Phylloscopus collybita complex. A new classification is proposed which recognizes four biological species. Phylloscopus brehmii (Iberia) and P. canariensis (Canary Islands) are genetically and bioacoustically highly distinct. There is no mitochondrial gene flow between them or with P. collybita. The Mountain Chiffchaff P. sindianus (with subspecies sindianus and Iorenzii) is equally distinct genetically from southwest Asian subspecies of P. collybita (caucasicus, brevirostris). The status of the Siberian form tristis, which shares potentially synapomorphic characters with the Mountain Chiffchaff (ascending song notes, grey-brown adult plumage) but genetically closely resembles P. c. collybita and P. c. abietinus, remains uncertain. In two zones of secondary contact between taxa with “greenish” (P. collybita) and brownish plumage, hybridization is either unrecorded (caucasicus v lorenzii, Caucasus Mountains) or its extent is insufficiently known (abietinus v tristis, west of Ural Mountains). A phylogeny reconstructed from nucleotide sequences agrees with one based on song and some morphological characters in identifying P. brehmii as the oldest branch within the chiffchaff group. Of the remaining taxa, four fall into a clade with greenish plumage (P. collybita ssp.), two into one with brownish plumage (P. s. sindianus, P. s. lorenzii), while the position of P. canariensis with respect to these two clades is uncertain. Molecular and phenotypic phylogenies contradict each other regarding the affinities of P. (ssp.? ) tristis.
Ecology of Boreal Owls in the Northern Rocky Mountains, Usa

We studied habitat use by boreal owls (Aegolius funereus) in the northern Rocky Mountains from january through August during 1984-88. Habitat use was examined at several spatial scales. The geographic distribution and range of life zones used by boreal owls were documented in western Montana, Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming. Habitat use, at the level of the home range, and microhabitats used for nesting, roosting, and foraging were observed in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness (RNRW) of central Idaho. Boreal owls inhabited forests within the spruce-fir (Picea spp.-Abies spp.) life zone throughout the mountains of Montana, Idaho, and northern Wyoming
Adaptation Along Environmental Gradients: an Evaluation of Physiological Mechanisms and Ecological Constraints

Species with a wide distribution over latitudinal gradients often exhibit increasing growth and development rates towards higher latitudes. Ecological theory predicts that these fast-growing genotypes are, in the absence of trade-offs with fast growth, better competitors than low-latitude conspecifics. While knowledge on key ecological traits along latitudinal clines is important for understanding how these clines are maintained, the relative competitive ability of high latitude individuals against low latitude conspecifics has not been tested. Growth and development rates of the common frog Rana temporaria increase along the latitudinal gradient across Scandinavia. Here we investigated larval competition over food resources within and between two R. temporaria populations originating from southern and northern Sweden in an outdoor common garden experiment. We used a factorial design, where southern and northern tadpoles were reared either as single populations or as mixes of the two populations at two densities and predator treatments (absence and non-lethal presence of Aeshna dragonfly larvae). Tadpoles from the high latitude population grew and developed faster and in the beginning of the experiment they hid less and were more active than tadpoles from the low latitude population. When raised together with high latitude tadpoles the southern tadpoles had a longer larval period, however, the response of high latitude tadpoles to the competition by low latitude tadpoles did not differ from their response to intra-population competition. This result was not significantly affected by density or predator treatments. Our results support the hypothesis that high latitude populations are better competitors than their low latitude conspecifics, and suggest that in R. temporaria fast growth and development trade off with other fitness components along the latitudinal gradient across Scandinavia.
A View of the IMD Pathway from the RHIM

Innate immunity is the first line of defense against invading pathogens. It functions to eliminate pathogens and also to control infections. The innate immune response is also important for the development of pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses. As a result, the study of innate immune signaling pathways is crucial for understanding the interactions between host and pathogen. Unlike mammals, insects lack a classical adaptive immune response and rely mostly on innate immune responses. Innate immune mechanisms have been widely studied in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster . The genetic and molecular tools available in the Drosophila system make it an excellent model system for studying immunity. Furthermore, the innate immune signaling pathways used by Drosophila show strong homology to those of vertebrates making them ideal for studying these pathways. Drosophila immunity relies on cellular and humoral innate immune responses to fight pathogens. The hallmark of the Drosophila humoral immune response is the rapid induction of antimicrobial peptide genes in the fat body. The production of these antimicrobial peptides is regulated by two immune signaling pathways-Toll and Immune Deficency (IMD) pathways. The Toll pathway responds to many Gram-positive bacterial and fungal infections , while the IMD pathway is potently activated by DAP-type peptidoglycan (PGN) from Gram-negative bacteria and certain Gram-positive bacteria. Two receptors, PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE, are able to recognize DAP-type PGN at the cell surface or in the cytosol, respectively, and trigger the IMD pathway. Upon binding DAP-type PGN, both PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE dimerize/ multimerize and signal to the downstream components of IMD pathway. It is unclear how the receptor activates its downstream components. My work has focused on understanding the molecular events that take place at the receptors following there activation. In these studies I have identified a common motif in the N-terminal domains of both the receptors, known as the RHIM-like domain. The RHIM-like domain is critical for signaling by either receptor, but the mechanism(s) involved remain unclear. IMD, a downstream component of the pathway, associates with both PGRP-LC and -LE but the interaction of PGRP-LC with IMD is not mediated through its RHIM-like domain. Also, mutations affecting the PGRP-LC RHIM-like motif are defective in all known downstream signaling events. However, the RHIM-like mutant receptors are capable of serving as a platform for the assembly of all known components of a receptor proximal signaling complex. These results suggest that another, unidentified component of the IMD signaling pathway may function to mediate interaction with the RHIM-like motif. I performed a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify proteins that might interact with the receptor PGRP-LC through its RHIM- like domain. With this approach, two new components of the IMD pathway were identified. The first component I characterized is…
Seaweeds of India : the diversity and distribution of seaweeds of the Gujarat coast

Chlorophyta. - Ulotrichales, Monostromataceae. - Ulvales, Ulvaceae. - Acrosiphoniales, Acrosiphoniaceae. - Cladophorales, Cladophoraceae. - Siphonocladales, Boodleaceae. - Bryopsidales, Bryopsidaceae. - Dasycladales, Dasycladaceae. - Phaeophyta. - Ectocarpales, Chordariaceae. - Dictyotales, Dictyotaceae. - Scytosiphonales, Scytosiphonaceae. - Fucales, Sargassaceae. - Rhodophyta. - Bangiales, Bangiaceae. - Nemaliales, Scinaiaceae. - Ahnfeltiales, Ahnfeltiaceae. - Gelidiales, Gelidiaceae. - Gracilariales, Gracilariaceae. - Bonnemaisoniales, Bonnemaisoniaceae. - Cryptonemiales, Corynomorphaceae. - Halymeniales, Halymeniaceae. - Corallinales, Corallinaceae. - Gigartinales, Caulacanthaceae. - Nemastomatales, Nemastomataceae. - Sebdeniales, Sebdeniaceae. - Rhodymeniales, Champiaceae. - Ceramiales, Wrangeliaceae.
Genetic variability and characters association analysis in taramira (Eruca sativa Mill).

Abstract : A study of variability and interrelationships in Taramira (Eruca sativa Mill.) indicated that seed yield per plant, secondary branches per plant, seeds per siliqua and siliquae per plant possessed higher estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability (bs) and genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean. The association analysis revealed that seed yield was positively and significantly correlated with all the traits except days to 50% flowering at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Siliquae per plant had maximum direct positive effects on seed yield per plant followed by siliqua length, secondary branches per plant, seeds per siliqua and primary branches per plant.
The role of three signal molecules in adaptation and herbivore resistance in Nicotiana attenuata

Rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) ist ein Peptid mit 49 Aminosauren das schnell Tabakzellkulturen alkalisiert. Das Gen NaRALF liegt im wilden Tabak Nicotiana attenuata als einzelne Kopie vor und wird in den Wurzeln und Blattstielen stark exprimiert. Das Ausschalten der NaRALF-Transkription fuhrte zu Pflanzen (irRALF) mit wildtyp (WT) -ahnlichem Phanotyp des oberirdischen Pflanzenteils wahrend die Wurzeln langer waren und Trichoplasten produzierten welche anormale Wurzelhaare ausbildeten. Aus den meisten Trichoplasten entwickelte sich eine lokale Wolbung ohne das jedoch ein Wurzelhaarspitzenwachstum erfolgte. Des Weiteren bildeten sich weniger Trichoplasten die auch nur 10% so lang waren als solche von WT-Pflanzen. Dieser Wurzelhaarphanotyp war assoziiert mit verlangsamten pH-Oszillationen, erhohtem pH an der Spitze der Trichoplasten und einer verringerten Akkumulation von reaktiven Sauerstoffspezies (ROS) in der Wurzelhaarinitiationszone.
Notes on the moray eels (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) of Malaysia with two new records

Two new records of moray eels (Muraenidae), Gymnothorax margaritophorus Bleeker, 1864 and Strophidon sathete (Hamilton 1822), are reported for Malaysia. They are represented by two specimens each, all collected from Sabah waters. The present study also provides the current taxonomic and distributional information of the Malaysian moray eels. To date, there are 33 species belonging to six genera of the Muraenidae in Malaysian waters based on the published records.
Interference of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Population Densities on Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Yield as Influenced by Nitrogen

Additive series studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) rate and purple nutsedge densities on the yield of ‘California Wonder’ bell pepper. Initial densities of purple nutsedge were 0, 100, 200, and 300 plants/m2. Nitrogen was applied at 70, 140, and 210 kg/ha. Plants were allowed to interfere for 10 wk. There were significant purple nutsedge population density by N rate interactions on bell pepper fruit yield. At 70 kg N/ha, no significant effect of weed population densities was found on fruit yield, whereas at the rates of 140 and 210 kg N/ha there were significant nutsedge density effects. As N rates and nutsedge densities increased, so did purple nutsedge biomass. Linear regression models described the interference. Bell pepper fruit yield reduction was 73% at 210 kg N/ha with an initial nutsedge population density of 300 plants/m2.
Redescription of Corydoras guapore Knaack, 1961 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae), a midwater Corydoradinae species from the rio Guaporé basin

Corydoras guapore was described from the rio Guapore, Rondonia State, Brazil, based only in three specimens, two of them merely examined alive in an aquarium and apparently not preserved posteriorly. The current location of these two paratypes is uncertain. In the original description, no standard diagnosis was presented and the descriptive information available is scarce and based only in external morphology. Thus, the aim of this study is to provide a redescription of C. guapore based in several topotypes. Corydoras guapore can be distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a short mesethmoid, with the anterior tip poorly developed; posterior margin of pectoral spine with conical serrations directed towards the origin of the spine; and by the lateral portion of caudal peduncle almost entirely blackened. Information about C. guapore ecology and conservation status are also provided.
Effects of temperatures on the oviposition and hatching of eggs in Culex pipiens molestus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus.

In Japan, the mosquito of Culex pipiens molestus, a member of Culex pipiens complex, distributes in parts of Japan lying the northern part of Kagoshima, but not in the more southern parts such as Okinawa. However, in the latter parts there is the mosquito of Cx. p. quinquefasciatus, another member of the same complex as Cx. p. molestus. To make clear the factors limiting the distribution of Cx. p. molestus in Japan, oviposition and hatching of eggs were examined with the females of Cx. p. molestus and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus which had been bred from the 1st instar larvae at various temperatures. In Cx. p. molestus, oviposition rate of autogenous females at the high temperature of 30 C was not high, and hatching rate of eggs was very low, but in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus, oviposition rate of fed females was high and hatching rate was also high even at 30 C. Therefore, high temperature seems to be one of the factors inhibiting the mosquito of Cx. p. molestus to invade the southern parts of Japan.
Comparative morphological and molecular study of Iranian populations of Heterodera filipjevi (Madzhidov, 1981) Stelter,1984 and other members of ‘H. avenae group’

espanolNumerosas poblaciones del 'grupo H. avenae' se recolectaron en campos de remolacha azucarera en la provincia Khorasan Razavi (Iran) y se identiticaron a partir de rasgos morfologicos y morfometricos. Las identificaciones se confirmaron mediante PCR-RFLP y la secuenciacion de regiones ITS-ADNr. Se utilizo un analisis de componentes principales (PCA) para estudiar los solapamientos entre diferentes poblaciones y especies, en tanto que un analisis UPG~ J? roporciono l~s asociaciones. Var~as poblaciones de H. filipje~i, H. mani y H. avenae se agruparon estrechamente y el analisis PCA mostro elevado solapannento entre algunas poblac10nes de estas especies. La morfologia de los nudos del estilete en H. filipjevi presento amplia variabilidad intraespecifica, de tal suerte que este caracter no es util para separar dicha especie de otras muy proximas a ella. EnglishPopulations of 'H. avenae group' were collected from sugar beet fields in Khorasan Razavi province (Iran} and identified on the basis of both morphological and morphometrical characters. PCR-RFLP and sequencing of rDNA-ITS regions were used to confirm the previous identitication. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of four morphometric characters of second-stage juveniles and vulva! eones showed the overlapping between different species and populations, while UPGMA cluster analysis was used far grouping. Severa! populations of H. filipjevi, H. mani and H. avenae were grouped clase together and PCA analysis demonstrated high overlapping between sorne populations of these species. The morphology of stylet knobs in H. filipjevi presented high intraspecific variability, hence this character is not useful to separate it from other closely related forms.
Some new or poorly known Calcareous Algae (Dasycladales, Gymnocodiaceae) in the Lower Cretaceous Deposits from the Resita-Moldova Noua Zone (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

The algal assemblages identified in the Lower Cretaceous deposits lying in The Resita-Moldova Noua zone have revealed the presence of new species and genera. The present paper describes three new genera and eight new species. Most of them belong to the order Dasycladales: Heteroporella tominae n. Sp. , Dissocladella pulcherrima n. Sp. , Cymopolia? dubia n. Sp. , Zalmoxisiella ciclovensis n. Gen., n. Sp. , Triploporella carpatica n. Sp. , Similictpeina conradi n. Gen., n. Sp. , Similiclypeina? iustiniani n. Sp. , and Bakalovaella n. Gen., with the type species Cylindroporella elitzae Bakalova. A new species may be assigned to the Gymnocodiaceae: Permocalculus (Pyrulites) deceneii n. Sp. Besides the new taxa, mention is also made of several Dasycladales that are less known and have a more restricted distribution area: Dissocladella aff. Intercedens Bakalova, Praturlonella nerae (Dragastan, Bucur et Demeter) nov. Comb. And Similiclypeina aff. Somalica (Conrad, Peybernes et Masse) nov. Comb.
Antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of extracts of crustose coralline algaLithophyllum sp. from the central Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

: In this study, the antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of the crustose coralline alga (CCA) Lithophyllum sp. collected from the central Red sea was investigated. The dried CCA samples were extracted with hot water and methanol. Both extracts were tested against marine biofilm forming bacteria to assess the antibiofilm activity. Results showed that methanol extract of the CCA inhibited bacterial growth considerably. The water extract revealed higher antioxidant activity than the methanol extract. The FT-IR spectrum of the CCA showed the presence of functional groups like alkanes, alcohol, carboxylic acid, ethers and esters. In general, results of the present study indicated that CCA produces bioactive compounds, which can inhibit the attachment of unwanted marine bacteria on their surfaces.
Nutritional value evaluation of proteins in Penaeus chinensis

Primary nutrients and the nutritional value evaluation of proteins in Penaeus chinensis meat and head were analysed respectively in this paper.The results suggested that contents of crude proteins in Penaeus chinensis meat and head are rich.Content of amino acids in proteins of Penaeus chinensis meat is 73.16 g/100 g,not including trytophan,while that of the head is 49.47 g/100 g.Content of the essential amino acids(EAA) is up to 25.12 g/100 g and there are no limit amino acids in proteins of Penaeus chinensis meat,while that of the head is 16.41 g/100 g.Phe and Tyr are the limit amino acids in proteins of Penaeus chinensis head.The chemical score(CS) of Lys is the highest both in proteins of Penaeus chinensis meat and head.The EAAI of proteins of Penaeus chinensis meat is 72.98% while that of the head is 68.37%.
A genetic dissection of actin regulation in Drosophila hemocytes

Cell migration is essential for embryonic development, it occurs in adult organisms during processes like wound healing and its misregulation contributes to pathological conditions such as metastasis. Despite this, most studies of cell migration have been undertaken in vitro. Ena/VASP proteins, believed to be actin anti-capping proteins, have been studied extensively in fibroblasts in vitro, and using Drosophila macrophages (hemocytes) within the developing embryo, the role of the Drosophila homologue of Mena, Ena, is investigated in vivo. Consistent with data from fibroblasts in vitro, Ena localised to regions of actin dynamics within migratory hemocytes, where this protein stimulated lamellipodial dynamics and positively regulated filopodial number and length. However, whilst overexpression of Ena/VASP proteins in fibroblasts reduced migration speeds, Ena overexpression in hemocytes dramatically increased migration speeds in three different assays. This positive regulation of migration speed closely resembled the increased motility of breast cancer cells that overexpress Mena and evidence presented here, suggests that this key difference may be explained by spatial constraints that are imposed upon cells within three dimensional environments. Indeed, such constraints prevented ruffling, a more detrimental form of retraction, in hemocytes in vivo. Furthermore, fibroblasts overexpressing Mena in vitro form membrane ruffles more frequently. Therefore Ena/VASP proteins drive migration by enhancing lamellipodial protrusion, but in certain environments these protrusions are lost as ruffles slowing migration. The method by which Ena regulates lamellipodial protrusion and migration speeds was then investigated: Ena increased Fascin-mediated actin bundling and the number of Fascin rich-actin bundles that coalesced. Analysis of individual actin bundles revealed that coalescence increased protrusion rate and that both protrusion rate and coalescence, increased cell migration speeds. This suggests that Ena facilitates an increase in cell migration by promoting the coalescence of Fascin bundles, and positions Ena as a key regulator of migration speeds in vivo.