Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of parthenogenesis‐inducing Wolbachia on the oviposition behaviour and sex‐specific developmental requirements of autoparasitoid wasps

Parthenogenesis‐inducing (PI) Wolbachia are bacteria that cause incipient male eggs of parasitoid wasps to develop as females. These microbes may invade populations and lead to fixation of parthenogenesis. In this study, the consequences of fixation of PI Wolbachia on evolution of behaviour and development were addressed in three species of whitefly parasitoids in the genus Encarsia.
Screening of Panicum antidotale grass species under spring and monsoon seasons in the mesic climate of Pothowar Plateau (Pakistan).

A long term field stud ywasconducted to evaluate the performance of different species of Panicumantidotalegrass in the mesic climate at National Agricultural Re search Centre, Islamabad during 2004 -2007. The maximum fresh and dry weight wasobtained by RMF-249 which was statistically at par with RMF -247 RMF -252 and RMF-253.RMF -248, RMF -250, and RMF-251 produced statistically same fresh and dry biomass. RMF -254 attained the lowest position in this regard. Forage yield of all species was higher in monsoon compared to spring season due to prolong growing season with more rainfall. Proximate composition showed that RMF -247 attained highest crude protein percentage and total digestible nutrients. The lowest crude protein percentage and total digestible nutrients were in RMF -249grassspecies.
Genetic characterization and relationships of traditional grape cultivars from Transcaucasia and Anatolia

We present here the first large-scale genetic characterization of grape cultivars from Transcaucasia and Anatolia. These regions where wild grapes still grow in nature have been cultivating wine and table grapes for thousands of years and are considered the cradles of viticulture. Using 12 nuclear microsatellite markers, we genotyped 116 accessions of traditional grape cultivars from Armenia, Georgia and Turkey and we detected 17 identical genotypes and six homonymy cases, mainly within each national germplasm. Neighbour-joining analysis of genetic distance showed that each germplasm could have multiple origins and although they are now separated, they might have some common ancestors. In addition, four varieties from Western Europe included as outgroups turned out to be more related to Georgian cultivars than other germplasms, suggesting a possible ancient origin in Georgia. This work represents a first step towards germplasm management of this rich ampelographic heritage.
Migratory Connectivity and Rate of Population Decline in a Vulnerable Songbird

Abstract It has been hypothesized that populations that are strongly connected between two periods of the year (i.e., individuals that breed in similar locations and also spend the nonbreeding season in similar locations) will be most vulnerable to population perturbations. Using stable-hydrogen isotopes in feathers and data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, we examined this hypothesis for a vulnerable songbird, the Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea). Cerulean Warblers exhibit a parallel migration system, whereby western breeding populations are generally connected to southwestern wintering sites and eastern breeding populations are generally connected to northeastern wintering sites. As predicted, breeding populations that exhibited the strongest degree of migratory connectivity with a specific wintering region were also those populations that experienced the most severe declines over the past 40 years. Our results suggest that the strength of migratory connectivity should be an important factor when making resource-allocation decisions for the management and conservation of migratory species.
Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess protein and lipid contents in Avena sativa L

Protein and lipid content are two of the main chemical traits of interest for genetic breeding of oat (Avena sativa L.). The purpose of this study was to determine whether NIRS could substitute conventional methods of determination of protein and lipid contents, and to verify any correlation of the two with each other and with physical grain traits. The estimates for protein and lipid content based on NIRS showed that the traits are selected more easily and quickly by this methodology. The low correlations between physical and chemical grain traits make the selection of inbred lines with large grains and high lipid levels possible. In the evaluated population the lipid and protein contents were not associated, i.e., it is possible to obtain genotypes with high levels of both traits.
Disomic segregation of microsatellites in the tetraploid Prunus serotina Ehrh. (Rosaceae)

Tetraploid black cherry (Prunus serotina) is the only Prunus L. species that has commercial importance as a timber tree in North America and is well known in Europe for its invasive behavior. Inheritance studies have never been performed and it is not known whether the species is allo or autotetraploid. Six microsatellite nuclear markers were used to test the inheritance in progenies of controlled crosses. Inheritance was proven to be disomic at all loci and a typical diploid mendelian inheritance was found at two loci. A first screening of a population in the invasive range showed high number of alleles per locus (ranging from 6 to 16) and high level of observed heterozygosity (0.75 to 1). Knowing that inheritance is disomic at six microsatellite loci and that at least two of them can be treated as codominant, diploid markers will be beneficial for future genetic studies.
Horizontal distribution of Daphnia pulex in response to toxic and non-toxic algal extracts

We studied the horizontal distribution of Daphnia pulex as a response to gradients of toxic extracts of two cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria agardhii, and non-toxic extracts of the green alga Scenedesmus obtusiusculus. The experiment was performed in the dark using a flow- through system with five chambers. Daphnia pulex aggregated at the inlet of Scenedesmus extract, but showed similar responses to extracts of toxic cyanobacteria and food-free medium. Chemical cues seem to affect food search, but do not effect Daphnia pulex's avoidance of toxic algae.
Understanding Innovative Information Systems (IS) Use of Frontline Employees in Hotels: Proactivity, Psychological Empowerment, Self-learning, and Service Quality Efficacy

Purpose: As hotels make huge investments in the information systems (IS) to improve operational efficiency and service quality, understanding the pattern of employees’ IS behavior is crucial to gain a high return on the investment. Although the technology acceptance model (TAM) explained the early voluntary IS use, it has limitations to explain the variety of IS behaviors in the current mandatory context. Design/methodology/approach: Understanding the innovative information systems (IS) use as the most prominent behaviour patterns, this research proposes an integrative model to analyze the positive influence of the innovative IS behavior and to investigate its predictors. Based on a survey of 189 hotel front office employees, this study tests the research model by adopting the PLS-SEM. Findings: As a personal positive outcome of innovative IS use, this research focuses on the service quality efficacy of service providers. As a predictor at the individual and organizational level, this study shows the positive and significant influence of the proactive personality and the psychological empowerment on the innovative IS use. Furthermore, it also found the mediation effects of users’ self-learning to elucidate the path of how the predictor variables lead to innovative IS applications. Research limitations/implications: This paper highlights the concept of innovative IS use and shows its importance in improving the hotel frontline employees’ self-efficacy and the quality of services. Furthermore, it advises hotel management to select proactive employees, empower them, and promote self-learning activities to improve the innovative IS use. Future research will advance the literature by investigating the complex interactions of the key prediction variables. Originality/value: This research not only stresses the concept of the innovative IS behavior to improve the hotel operational efficiency and service quality, but also presents an integrative model that shows the predictors of innovative IS behavior and its impact on the hotel employees’ self-confidence in their service ability. this study elucidates a more fundamental
Variances in Reproductive Efficiency of Mares in Fat and Moderate Body Conditions Following Parturition

An increase in time to ovulation after parturition could result in economic loss if the mare does not successfully conceive within a short time after foaling. To evaluate whether a difference exists in reproductive efficiency between mares of either fat (BCS of 7 to 8) or moderate body condition (BCS of 5 to 6), 24 mares were allotted to and maintained in their respective group from late gestation until pregnancy was confirmed after breeding on the second postpartum estrus. No differences were found between the groups in the number of days to foal heat ovulation (14.4 vs. 16.2 d), interovulatory interval (22.9 vs. 24.3 d), and conception rates (91.7 vs. 83.3%; P > 0.05) for fat- and moderately conditioned mares, respectively. This suggests that mares maintained in a fleshy body condition (BCS 7 to 8) are not prone to reproductive dysfunction or lowered levels of fertility. Nevertheless, mares in a moderate body condition did lose a greater percentage of body fat after foaling as compared with fleshier mares (0.82% vs. 0.35%; P < 0.05). The significance of these results reassures breeders that mares in a fleshier body condition are not prone to demonstrate subfertility, but does allude to the fact that mares benefit by foaling at a BCS of at least 6 to avoid diminished reproductive capability that may result from the loss of body fat that occurs at parturition and in early lactation.
Are Microsporidia really related to Fungi?: a reappraisal based on additional gene sequences from basal fungi

Microsporidia are intracellular parasitic microbes, which were once thought to be among early diverging eukaryotes, mainly because they lack mitochondria. However, this evolutionary scheme has been challenged by protein-based molecular phylogenetic studies, which suggest a more recent origin of the Microsporidia which clustered Microsporidia with or within ‘true’ fungal lineages. However, most of these studies did not include sequences from basal fungal phyla ( Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota ), and unrepresentative taxon sampling could have resulted in misleading relationships being suggested. To further investigate the evolutionary origin of Microsporidia relative to Fungi we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses with newly determined RPB1 (DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II largest subunit) and EF-1α (translation elongation factor I alpha) including sequences from basal fungi. Although the phylogenetic position of Microsporidia in the EF-1α tree still might be misplaced due to the unusually high rate of sequence divergence of the microsporidian EF-1α gene, the phylogenies recovered based on these two protein sequences do not provide strong evidences for a close relationship between Microsporidia and Fungi. Moreover, we have identified within the EF-1α genes a characteristic two amino acid deletion conserved in all fungal sequences currently available, whereas this deletion is absent in microsporidian sequences. These results argue against the view of Microsporidia as highly degenerate fungi, and whether Microsporidia and Fungi are sister taxa remains unresolved.
Faba beans (Vicia faba) in dairy cow diet: effect on milk production and quality

The use of alternative plant proteins in place of the soybean meal protein in diets for farmed animals aims to reduce the extra-EU soybean import and partially substitute the GMO in the food chain. Among the possible alternatives, the heat-processed (flaked) faba beans appears interesting for dairy cow diet. Two consecutive experiments were carried out to test flaked faba beans as a partial substitute for soybean meal in the diet of Reggiana breed dairy cows producing milk for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese-making. In both experiments a “Control” concentrate (12% soybean meal, no faba beans) was compared with a “Faba” concentrate (7.5% soybean meal and 10% flaked faba beans). Forages fed to animals were hay (mixed grass and alfalfa) plus mixed grass in experiment 1, hay only in experiment 2. Milk yield and quality and the characteristics of grab faecal samples as empirical indicators of digestibility, were similar between feeding groups. The milk urea content was slightly lower in the “Faba” group, particularly in experiment 2 (“Control” vs “Faba”: 34.6 vs 32.9 mg/dL in experiment 1, P<0.1; 27.4 vs 23.4 mg/dL in experiment 2, P<0.01); the plasma urea content in experiment 2 confirmed the trend observed in milk (3.9 vs 3.0 mmol/L, P<0.01). The inclusion of faba beans, within the allowed limit of the Parmigiano-Reggiano Consortium for diet formulation, could represent a feasible opportunity for a partial substitution of soybean meal.
Adoption as a gosling strategy to obtain better parental care? Experimental evidence for gosling choice and age-dependency of adoption in greylag geese

Summary Adoptions of unrelated young by successful breeders are a form of alloparental care which has been observed in many species of geese. Depending on costs and beneﬁts to the parents, adoptions might represent an inter-generational conﬂict or a mutually beneﬁcial strategy. Although most studies of wild populations suggest beneﬁts of large brood sizes, incidental observations mostly report aggressive behaviour of parents towards lone goslings. No studies have investigated mechanisms and behaviour during adoptions in order to test whether adoptions are driven by parents or goslings. To test whether goslings might use adoption as a strategy to obtain better parental care, we carried out an experiment where lone greylag goose ( Anser anser ) goslings could choose between a dominant and a subordinate foster family. In a second experiment we also tested whether adoption was age-dependent. Except for one case, all lone goslings ( N = 16) chose the dominant family. Parents showed very little aggression towards lone goslings at three days after hatch, but aggression increased until 9 days and remained high thereafter. At the same time as aggression increased, the chance of successful adoption decreased. In the ﬁrst ﬁve weeks of life, goslings which had been adopted were no further away from parents than original goslings during grazing. These results show that goslings might choose foster families according to dominance. The fact that with increasing gosling age parents are less willing to adopt could be due to improved individual recognition and reﬂect decreasing beneﬁts of gaining an additional family member. More detailed studies on state-dependent costs and beneﬁts of adoptions are required to determine whether adoptions in geese represent conﬂict or mutualism, and why this changes with gosling age.
Photosymbiotic Ascidians from Nakanoshima Island and Takarajima Island (the Tokara Islands, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan) with Remarks on the Status of Diplosoma midori (Tokioka, 1954)*

We studied the fauna of photosymbiotic ascidians in the shallow reef shore of the Tokara Islands. We collected Lissoclinum bistratum, L. punctatum, Trididemnum clinides, T. cyclops, T. sp. (cf. T. paraclinides), Diplosoma ooru, D. simile, D. simileguwa, D. virens, D. sp. A, and D. sp. B (cf. D. multipapillatum) from four sites off Nakanoshima Island and one site off Takarajima Island. Diplosoma midori (Tokioka, 1954) is a photosymbiotic ascidian that was originally described from Nakanoshima Island and Takarajima Island. Although there is argument as to the taxonomical status of this species, the conditions of the syntype specimens were inadequate for examining detailed features for identification. Based on the topotype specimens from Takarajima Island, we concluded that D. midori should be regarded as an invalid species, and is a junior synonym of D. simile or D. virens.
Oxidation of Naphthalene by Cyanobacteria and Microalgae

SUMMARY: Eighteen different algal cultures were examined for their ability to metabolize naphthalene. The strains tested included nine cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), five green algae, one red alga and one brown alga; two diatoms were also examined. All these organisms oxidized naphthalene under photoautotrophic conditions. Experiments with [14C]naphthalene showed that each organism oxidized naphthalene to at least six metabolites. One of the metabolites was identified as 1-naphthol. Under the experimental conditions used in this study the extent of naphthalene metabolism to organic-soluble derivatives ranged from 0.1 to 2.4%.
A practical method for measuring integrated solar radiation reaching streambeds using photodegrading dyes

Abstract. Incoming solar radiation is an important driver of aquatic ecosystem processes, such as gross primary production and photodegradation of organic matter. Rates of incoming solar radiation can be estimated in several ways, but their utility is limited for collecting a large number of replicate samples needed to quantify variation in light availability within and among streams. We evaluated the utility of 2 photodegrading organic dyes (rhodamine WT [RWT] and fluorescein) for measuring light exposure, especially at the level of the stream bed. We attached vials with known concentrations of the RWT or fluorescein to the stream bed and used regressions of concentration vs accumulated light to estimate photodegradation rates. Initial concentrations of RWT (20–100 µg/L) did not affect rate of photodegradation, but RWT decay rates were 93% slower in the dark than in the light. We also tested fluorescein, which degrades faster than RWT when exposed to light and is stable when kept in the dark. On average, RWT degraded at a slower rate (3.5 µg L−1 d−1) than fluorescein (40.8 µg L−1 d−1) when exposed to similar levels of light accumulation. Water temperature did not affect the decay rate of RWT at 10 or 20°C, but RWT did not decay significantly at 30°C, a result suggesting that high temperatures might affect decay rates differently than lower temperatures. Water temperature did not affect the decay rate of fluorescein. The strength of this method is that it enables researchers to integrate light measurements into a single value. Researchers can deploy multiple arrays within a reach to develop a relative measure of incoming light that has the potential to cover large spatial and temporal scales.
Expression of β-lactamases in Yersinia enterocolitica strains of biovars 2, 4 and 5

Characteristic patterns of susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics are associated with different biovars of Yersinia enterocolitica. To elucidate the basis for these differences, the β-lactamases of strains of Y. enterocolitica biovars 4 (n = 63), 2 (n = 12) and 5 (n = 10) were characterised. PCR fragments were generated from the β-lactamase A (blaA) and B (blaB) genes; in addition, β-lactamase induction tests were performed with imipenem as the inducer and β-lactamase inhibition assays were undertaken with aztreonam and clavulanic acid. All the strains yielded PCR amplification fragments with primers to blaA and blaB. Biovar 4 strains had uniform patterns of β-lactamase induction and inhibition: uninduced biovar 4 strains predominantly expressed BlaA, but low-level expression of BlaB was also detected; after induction, biovar 4 strains predominantly produced BlaB. β-Lactamase expression varied between and within biovars 2 and 5: uninduced strains predominantly expressed either BlaA or BlaB, or exclusively BlaB; after induction BlaB was predominantly or exclusively expressed. Both the basal and induced levels of β-lactamase varied within biovars 2 and 5. Some biovar 5 strains were not inducible; these predominantly produced BlaA. The results of this study show that biovar 2, 4 and 5 strains contain both blaA and blaB, but that the expression of the enzymes is regulated differently between the biovars, and varies within biovars 2 and 5. There was some correlation between antibiogram and the clusters defined from the β-lactamase induction and inhibition tests, but it was not possible to predict β-lactamase expression profiles from MIC data.
Spatial and temporal variation in algal-assemblage structure in isolated dryland river waterholes, Cooper Creek and Warrego River, Australia

The scale at which algal biodiversity is partitioned across the landscape, and the biophysical processes and biotic interactions which shape these communities in dryland river refugia was studied on two occasions from 30 sites in two Australian dryland rivers. Despite the waterholes studied having characteristically high levels of abiogenic turbidity, a total of 186 planktonic microalgae, 253 benthic diatom and 62 macroalgal species were recorded. The phytoplankton communities were dominated by flagellated cryptophytes, euglenophytes and chlorophytes, the diatom communities by cosmopolitan taxa known to tolerate wide environmental conditions, and the macroalgal communities by filamentous cyanobacteria. All algal communities showed significant differences between catchments and sampling times, with a suite of between 5 and 12 taxa responsible for similar to 50% of the observed change. In general, algal assemblage patterns were poorly correlated with the measured environmental variables. Phytoplankton and diatom assemblage patterns were weakly correlated with several waterhole geomorphic measures, whereas macroalgal assemblage patterns showed some association with variability in ionic concentration.
Pengaruh Kompetensi Moral dan Pemberian Reward terhadap Intensi Whistleblowing

Penelitian ini menunjukkan pengaruh dari kompetensi moral dan pemberian reward terhadap intensi karyawan di beberapa BUMN sektor non-keuangan di Kota Bandung dalam melakukan whistleblowing . Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan data primer yang diperoleh melalui kuesioner yang diisi oleh responden yaitu karyawan di beberapa BUMN sektor non-keuangan di Kota Bandung. Penelitian ini metode menggunakan metode deskriptif dan verifikatif. Teknik sampling yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah dengan convienence sampling . Adapun sampel dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 38 responden, yang merupakan Karyawan pada 4 Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) di Sektor Non Keuangan Kota Bandung. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan mendatangi langsung para responden yaitu karyawan pada BUMN sektor non-keuangan di Kota Bandung untuk mengisi kuesioner. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa kompetensi moral berpengaruh signifikan terhadap intensi whistleblowing pada karyawan di 4 BUMN Sektor Non Keuangan Kota Bandung. Penelitian ini juga menunjukkan hasil bahwa pemberian reward berpengaruh terhadap intensi whistleblowing pada karyawan di 4 BUMN Sektor Non Keuangan Kota Bandung. Kata Kunci: Kompetensi Moral, Reward , Intensi Whistleblowing
The prey of domestic cats ( Felis catus ) in two suburbs of Auckland City, New Zealand

The prey brought in by 80 cats Felis catus over 1 year was monitored in two suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand: one suburb was completely urban, the other on the urban/forest fringe. Cat owners were asked to record and, if possible, keep the prey that their cats brought in. Rodents were the main prey brought in by domestic cats in the urban/forest fringe habitat, whereas invertebrates were the main prey in the fully urban habitat. Birds were caught in similar numbers by cats in both areas and were the second most important prey group at both study sites. However, more native birds were caught by cats in the urban/forest fringe area than in the fully urban habitat. Lizards were caught in similar numbers and were the third most important prey group in both study areas.