Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Cold Exposure and Photoperiod on Diapause Termination of the Predatory Mite Euseius finlandicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The effect of cold storage and photoperiod on diapause termination of the predatory mite Euseius finlandicus was studied under laboratory conditions. Females in diapause that developed under a short-day photoperiod of L:D 8:16 h and 20°C were exposed for 1–13 wk to 5°C and subsequently maintained under L:D 8:16 h and 20°C, after which the percentage of females terminating diapause was recorded. After 1–4 wk at 5°C, the number of days required for diapause termination in 50% of females (TA50) was similar to that of the control mites maintained continuously at L:D 8:16 h and 20°C. This indicates that cold is not a prerequisite for the completion of diapause development. Furthermore, when mites were maintained for longer periods (7, 10, or 13 wk) at 5°C, TA50 was significantly longer than in the control mites. This may indicate an adverse effect of cold storage on the completion of diapause development or on postdiapause development. However, the longer exposures to cold resulted in synchronous diapause termination. When diapause females were maintained under a series of different photoperiods and 20°C without previous cold exposure, diapause was terminated rapidly under the photoperiods of L:D 16:8, 14:10, and 13:11 h. In contrast, under the shorter-day photoperiods of LD 8:16, 10:14, and 12:12 h, diapause was maintained and eventually ended spontaneously after a long period of time. These results may be useful for the long-term storage of this predatory mite, which could be required for use in biological control programs.
AFRICA

This chapter addresses the issue of social protection and welfare in Africa. Africa is a highly diversified continent characterized by different socio-economic performances. It comprises the more developed countries of North Africa, as well as the less developed sub-region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the existence of several problems and challenges, this part of the world remains a poorly researched area in comparative welfare state research. The problems that the populations of Africa face range from the lack of access to basic social protection and services (including inefficient labour markets), as existent in more advanced Western economies, to chronic malnutrition, persistent exposure to environmental challenges (such as drought, famine and other environmental hazards) and to systemic internal conflicts and wars. These socio-economic and human development challenges have often led to riots and massive migrations, as the Arab Spring or the humanitarian crisis of the Horn of Africa in 2011 have powerfully shown.
Morphological and enzyme variations of marine tapeworms, Hepatoxylon trichiuri (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) and H. megacephalum, off Kaikoura coast, New Zealand

Influence of host on hook morphology, soluble protein profile and two polymorphic loci of the marine tapeworms, Hepatoxylon trichiuri and H. megacephalum were studied. It was found that hook lengths of the two parasites differed significantly and that they varied with the host species. Unweighted pair-group analysis of soluble protein similarity indices separated H. trichiuri and H. megacephalum into three groups by fish host species. Allozyme analyses revealed that a polymorphic locus, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, of H. trichiuri showed significant variations in the allelic and phenotypic frequencies between populations of parasites from different host species, but a second polymorphic locus, esterase, did not show any host-related variation. Owing to the small sample size of H. megacephalum statistical analysis was not carried out for the allozyme study. However, allelic frequencies of the Est locus differed significantly between the two parasites. The possible influence of fish hosts on parasite .
The structure of carrion fly communities: the size and the type of carrion

Species composition and abundance relations of flies attracted to and bred from different sizes (20-100 g) and types of carrion (small mammal, cow liver, bird, and fish) were studied experimentally in natural breeding conditions in South Finland. Large pieces of carrion did not attract significantly more individuals or species than did small ones, but there was a positive correlation between size of carrion and numbers of flies bred, apparently because of competition. Altogether 10 species emerged from 50 cultures, and on average 2.78 ± 1.22 (SD) species emerged from one culture. The number of co-occurrences among the emerging flies indicated random colonization. Variation in species composition between like pieces of carrion was not less than variation between carcasses of different size or type; hence, size and type of carrion are not important determinants of community structure within the size and type ranges used. Lucilia illustris (Meig.) was the predominant species, comprising 50% of flies trapped and 85% of flies bred. The difference indicates changing species composition in the community. Two sets of cultures were left open for egg-laying for 2 and 7 d. Competition was less Intensive in the former cultures, which produced 4.0 individuals per gram of carrion, contrasting with only 1.4 individuals per gram in the latter cultures. Competition delayed development in all species, but least in L. illustris, which suggests that fast developing species are at a competitive advantage. In agreement with this, abundance was positively correlated with the rate of development.
Some Physical and Chemical Changes during Fruit Development of Five Common Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Cultivars

Five apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars were examined throughout fruit development period to monitor the changes in quality characteristics including hardness, oBrix, color, titratable acidity and pH. Changes in the amount of sugars (fructose, glucose and sucrose) and organic acids (citric, malic and quinic) were also determined by HPLC. The predominant sugar of cultivars found to be glucose at the initial ripening stages; however, sucrose or glucose became predominant at the end of fruit maturation. Sugar/ acid rate was found to be the highest in Hasanbey (HB) cultivar during unripe period, while Kabaasi (KA) showed the highest value at full ripeness. Low soluble solid containig varieties of Zerdali (ZD) and HB reached fruit maturity earlier than the other cultivars. Soganci (SO) measured as the hardest fruit at maturity while ZD was the softest cultivar. Chroma as a measure of color, was found to be well corelated with maturity level rather than L value. In the course of ripening, total acid content decreased along with the increasing amount of total sugar for all cultivars.
Neotropical termites: revision of Armitermes Wasmann (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae) and phylogeny of the Syntermitinae

We present a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Syntermitinae, including representatives of all genera of the subfamily, along with all 12 species assigned formerly to the genus Armitermes Wasmann (Termitidae, Syntermitinae), and 4 new species described herein. Syntermitinae was recovered as a natural group and the hypothesis that the frontal tube indicates convergence between Syntermitinae and Nasutitermitinae was corroborated. Also, several diagnostic characters proposed in the original description of Syntermitinae are discussed. Alongside the phylogenetic study, a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Armitermes was carried out, resulting in division of the genus into four genera. Taxonomic novelties are: Armitermes now includes A. armiger (Motschulsky), A. bidentatus Rocha & Cancello sp.n. and A. spininotus Rocha & Cancello sp.n. ; Silvestritermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes S. euamignathus (Silvestri) comb.n. , S. lanei (Canter) comb.n. , S. gnomus (Constantino) comb.n. , S. duende Rocha & Cancello sp.n. , S. minutus (Emerson) comb.n. , S. almirsateri Rocha & Cancello sp.n. and S. holmgreni (Snyder) comb.n. ; Uncitermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes U. teevani (Emerson) comb.n. ; Mapinguaritermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes M. peruanus (Holmgren) comb.n. and M. grandidens (Emerson) comb.n. A new synonymy is proposed for A. cerradoensis Mathews under S. euamignathus. All soldiers are described and illustrated, as are the mandibles and digestive tract of the worker and the imago caste, when available. We provide a dichotomous key, based on soldiers, for all genera of Syntermitinae, and distribution maps and dichotomous keys, based on soldiers, for the species of Armitermes and all the new genera described herein.
Zebra Mussel, Dreissena polymorpha: Population Dynamics and Notes on Control Strategies in a Reservoir in Western Greece

ABSTRACT Growth, mortality and yield were investigated in the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (PALLAS) from the Kastraki artificial reservoir, Central Greece. Allometric relationships were defined using shell length and total wet weight of the sampled individuals. The parameters of die Gompertz, von Bertalanffy and logistic growth curves (both length and weight) were estimated and gave L∞ = 4.05 cm, K = 0.808 per year, length-at-birth = 39 μg and weight-at-birth = 19 μm. The length-frequency distribution showed 5 distinct modes from which the last 2 (IV and V) are considered the same due to high similarity and therefore, die longevity of the species (tλ) is about 4 years. The natural mortality (M) is considered equal to die total mortality (Z) because die population is commercially unexploited and thus, fishing mortality is 0. The Z was estimated to be about 2.15 according to both die Wetherall method and the length converted catch curve analysis. Control strategies of this population include either th.
Range Expansion of Barred Owls, Part II: Facilitating Ecological Changes

Abstract In Part I (Livezey, 2009), I presented the chronology and distribution of the range expansion of Barred Owls (Strix varia) from the late 1800s to the present. Here I explore what had prevented Barred Owls from expanding their range westward during recent millennia and what allowed them to do so during the past century. Using strength-of-evidence analysis, I evaluate the plausibility of the five ecological or behavioral changes proposed in the literature to have facilitated the range expansion. From this evaluation, three of these changes appear to be implausible, one appears to be plausible after modifying its location, and one appears to be very plausible. For the very plausible one, I score seven ecological changes that may have affected it using five strength-of-evidence criteria. Overall, it appears the historical lack of trees in the Great Plains acted as a barrier to the range expansion and recent increases in forests broke down this barrier. Increases in forest distribution along the Missouri River and its tributaries apparently provided Barred Owls with sufficient foraging habitat, protection from the weather, and, possibly, concealment from avian predators to allow Barred Owls to move westward. Decades later, increases in forests in the northern Great Plains allowed Barred Owls to connect their eastern and western distributions across southern Canada. These increases in forests evidently were caused by European settlers excluding fires historically set by Native Americans, suppressing fires and planting trees. They apparently were caused, to lesser degrees, by European settlers extirpating bison (Bison bison), overhunting elk (Cervus elaphus) and deer (Odocoileus spp.) and, in some areas, extirpating beaver (Castor canadensis) and replacing native ungulates with livestock. Accordingly, it appears the range expansion was prohibited for millennia by actions of Native Americans and recently facilitated by actions of European settlers.
Variation in Quality of Essential Oil Distilled from Vegetative and Reproductive Stages of Tagetes minuta Crop Grown in North Indian Plains

Abstract The essential oil yield and quality of Tagetes minuta was field tested in north Indian plain conditions of Lucknow, India in winter (rabi) season of November 1997 to April 1998. The shoot oil distilled from the crop of Banuri land race at full flowering stage was rich in dihydrotagetone (32.0%), (Z)-tagetone (16.7%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (133%). In comparison to the oils distilled from flower bearing plants, the oil from plants at vegetative stage(s) of growth contained (E)- and (Z)-tagetenones and (E)- and (Z)-tagetones at higher levels (27.1% and 31.2%, respectively) and dihydrotagetone and (Z)-β-ocimene at lower levels (13.6% and 6.1%, respectively). The oils obtained from the leaves of plants bearing flowers (capitula) at different stages of development were pre-eminent in dihydrotagetone, present in 50-60% concentration. The capitula oils were somewhat similar to leaf oils of reproductively mature plants in their monoterpenoid composition.
B cell development in mice with a defective λ5 gene

The surrogate light chain encoded by the two pre‐B cell‐specific genes VpreB and λ5 plays a critical role in B cell development of the mouse. It has been shown that targeted disruption of the λ 5gene results in a depletion of B220+ CD43− IgM− pre‐B cells in bone marrow, and in a delayed appearance both of CD5+ as well as CD5− surface immunoglobulin (slg)+ B cells in the periphery. In this report we show that DHJH‐rearranged B220− and B220+, CD43+, c‐kit+, sIgM− pro‐ and pre‐B‐I cells with long‐term capacity to proliferate in vitro on stromal cells in the presence of interleukin‐7 are present in normal numbers in the bone marrow of λ 5T/λ. 5T mice at various ages. They express normal levels of VpreB mRNA but, in contrast to normal pre‐B‐I cells, do not express surrogate light chain on their surface. Pre‐B‐I cells from fetal liver and bone marrow of λ 5T/λ 5T mice differentiate with normal kinetics and in normal numbers to sIg+, mitogen‐reactive B cells. These results suggest that the delayed generation of sIg+ B cells in the peripheral, mature compartments of CD5+ and CD5− cells could be accounted for by the daily production of approximately 5 × 105 sIg+ B cells from the pre‐B‐I cell pool in the absence of a normal pool of pre‐B‐II cells.
The Light Organs of Sepiola Atlantica and Spirula Spirula (Mollusca: Cephalopoda): Bacterial and Intrinsic Systems in The Order Sepioidea

Symbiotic luminous bacteria have been described in, and cultured from, a number of species offish and cephalopod. Indeed only in these two groups are extracellular luminous bacteria believed to be utilized as a source of light (see Buchner (1965) and Herring (1978) for references). Despite several earlier investigations of such symbioses in cephalopods the bacteria in these animals have not been adequately identified, nor has the extent of their role been clarified. The ultrastructural relationships between bacteria and the tissues of the squid accessory nidamental gland have been investigated in the non-luminous species Loligo pealei (Lesueur) (Bloodgood, 1977) and Sepia officinalis L. (Van den Branden et al. 1979) but no comparative work on luminous species has been undertaken apart from that on Heteroteuthis dispar (Rüppell), whose photophore does not contain typical luminous bacteria (Dilly & Herring, 1978; cf. Leisman, Cohn & Nealson, 1980). The order Sepioidea contains five families, among which are the two families Sepiolidae and Spirulidae. Though the presence of luminous bacteria is known in some sepiolids (as well as in certain loliginids (order Teuthoidea)) some doubt remains about the source of light in the photophore of Spirula spirula Hoyle. The steady luminescence of this species has prompted speculation that bacteria may be involved (Harvey, 1952). In this paper we compare the anatomy and ultrastructure of the photophores of both Sepiola and Spirula in order to clarify some of these problems.
Intestinal parasites of the chimpanzee Pan troglodytes in Kibale Forest, Uganda

One-hundred-and-twenty-three stool samples were examined from 45 chimpanzees in a natural population in western Uganda. Comparison with previous studies is complicated by the diversity of techniques used and interpretations. The Ugandan population had relatively many intestinal protozoa, including the probably beneficial entodiniomorph ciliates. Strongyloid nematodes are universal among chimpanzees, but were surprisingly absent from those on Mount Assirik in Senegal. Railletina tapeworms are sporadic in their occurrence. The absence of spiruroid nematodes in the Ugandan population reflects the absence of insectivory in this population. There was little evidence of seasonal difference in prevalences.
Functional Self-Efficacy and Its Determinants in Nigerian Stroke Survivors

Abstract Background: Self-efficacy enhances functional recovery and the overall outcome of rehabilitation after stroke. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing functional self-efficacy in stroke survivors in a regional medical center in northeastern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 50 stroke survivors attending the physiotherapy clinic of the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, was conducted. Information on the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of participants was obtained. Functional ability and self-efficacy were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale and Functional Ability Confidence Scale, respectively. Results: The mean functional self-efficacy score of stroke survivors in this study was below average. Marital status and functional ability influenced functional self-efficacy. Very high functional efficacy scores were observed among those who reported no functional disability. Conclusion: The study shows a reciprocal relationship between functional ability and functional self-efficacy. It is expected that enhancement of functional ability in stroke rehabilitation will help boost functional self-efficacy of stroke survivors and vice versa.
The influence of climatic factors on physiological development in perennial ryegrass

Dates of initiation of reproductive development and of ear emergence were determined for four cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) representing a range in maturity from early to late in a single trial in 1977. The influence of climatic factors upon the reproductive development was investigated and it was found that, while day-length largely influenced the dates of initiation, subsequent growth and development towards ear emergence was influenced mainly by temperature. The data indicated that cultivars may have similar requirements in terms of accumulated temperature between the physiological growth stage of initiation and the agronomically significant growth stage of ear emergence. The possibility of achieving greater accuracy in forecasting ear emergence dates by relating meteorological data to the physiological development of the individual cultivars is suggested.
Functional Imaging of Human Skeletal Muscle During Movement: Implications for Recruitment, Metabolism and Circulation

H u m a n m o v e m e n t i s m a d e p o s s i b l e b y contractions of muscle fibers that are connected to tendinous tissues (i .e. external tendon and aponeuroses) to form muscle-tendon complex (MTC). Hundreds of studies have attemped to clarify the functional properties of skeletal muscle and/or the MTC present in males or females, athletes or non-athletes, and healthy or diseased individuals in movement under various conditions. Almost of all such studies investigated skeletal muscle. Relatively little has been reported on the tendon and aponeurosis because no well-established methods for investigating tendinous tissue for humans in exercise physiology and biomechanics research areas had been developed until several years ago (Fukunaga, et al., 2002). This review, therefore, focuses on the function and metabolism of the skeletal muscle, and a discussion of how these imaging techniques have been used and what kind of physiological parameters can be obtained in exercise physiology and biomechanics. Assessment of function or metabolism of skeletal muscle during exercise has conventionally been done using muscle force measurement, electromyography (motor unit activation), and muscle needle biopsy technique (glycogen depletion, aerobic or anaerobic enzyme activities) etc. Recently, due to technological innovations, exercise and sport sciences have been able to visualize muscle function and metabolism. The advantage of this type of approach is that it leads to easier understanding of muscle function for a wide range of individuals, including scientists and non-scientists alike. Several noninvasive imaging techniques, so far, are developing that show the functional and metabolic properties of skeletal muscle in humans. These imaging techniques can be applied to resting and exercising muscle. The general goals of this review are clarify the functional and metabolic characteristics of resting and exercised human skeletal muscle using three imaging techniques: 1) magnetic resonance imaging, 2) positron emission tomography, 3) near infrared spectroscopic imaging, and to discuss the results from previous studies from a physiological, biomechanical and biochemical point of view. Functional Imaging of Human Skeletal Muscle During Movement: Implications for Recruitment, Metabolism and Circulation
Morphological, cytochemical, and ontogenetic characteristics of a new species of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus

The new species of endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus coronatum Giovannetti is described using morphological, cytochemical, and ontogenetic characters. Spores are yellow–orange to red–brown, globose, with a hyaline outer wall layer expanding into roughened, flamelike columns in acidic mountants. Sporocarps are formed by the growth of fine hyphal branches from the subtending hyphae, which gradually cover the original spore. Many of the spores enveloped in the hyphal mantle are formed simultaneously and coalesce to form the sporocarp. The importance of the ontogeny of spores and sporocarps in the description of new taxa is discussed. Key words: mycorrhizae, VAM fungi, taxonomy, ontogeny, Glomus coronatum.
Did language evolve like the vertebrate eye

The vertebrate eye is regularly cited as a classic example of an organ that evolved through natural selection. It is accorded this evolutionary status on the grounds that it exhibits complex design for an adaptive function - that of seeing. Charles Darwin (1859, p.79) found the complexity or "perfection" of the eye manifested in "its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus of different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration". Having defined natural selection as the "preservation of favourable variations and the rejection of injurious variations", Darwin gave three reasons for his belief that the eye evolved through natural selection.