Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LASTING BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF EARLY ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES

Physicochemical and immunological techniques have been used in an attempt to characterize a filterable agent, separated from the intestines of mice raised under ordinary conditions of husbandry, which produces a lasting depression of weight in specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice when administered to them orally shortly after birth. Although this agent has not yet been identified, it will be tentatively designated here as enterovirus. The mouse enterovirus can be readily sedimented by ultracentrifugation and by precipitation at pH 4.3; it does not pass through cellophane membranes. Its infective power is completely destroyed by ultraviolet radiation, but is resistant to heating at 56°C, exposure to ether, treatment with trypsin, ribonuclease, and deoxyribonuclease. Dialysis and treatment with ether and nucleases greatly increase the infective activity of the intestinal filtrates containing the enterovirus, a finding which suggests that these procedures eliminate or destroy some inhibitory substance(s). The mouse enterovirus causes hemagglutination of mouse red blood cells. When injected into rabbits, it elicits in them an immune response that renders their serum capable of neutralizing its weight-depressing activity. As measured by inhibition of hemagglutination or complement fixation, the sera of infected mice do not exhibit any significant activity against usual mouse viruses. Centrifugation of the mouse enterovirus in 50%–20% sucrose gradient gave almost complete recovery of the infectivity and of hemagglutinating activity in the same fraction. In contrast, the protein content of the material was distributed through the various fractions. Consequently, this procedure resulted in a marked increase of specific activity.
Seasonal Abundance and Population Structure of Brown Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Farmscapes Containing Corn, Cotton, Peanut, and Soybean

ABSTRACT Stink bugs are economically important pests of food and fiber production throughout the southeastern United States. In cotton, stink bugs feed on developing bolls thereby decreasing yield and fiber quality. The brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a common species that is found throughout the southeast and feeds on a variety of wild and agronomic hosts. In this study, the population dynamics and reproductive biology of E. servus were assessed in 1.62–2.83-ha farmscapes planted with corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]. Farmscapes were sampled weekly using whole plant sampling for corn and sweep net sampling in cotton, peanut, and soybean. In 2010, but not 2009, nymphs were classified by instar, and adults were dissected to rate gonads as nonrepro-ductive, intermediate, or reproductive. Regardless of year, stink bugs observed in corn during the spring and early summer and were a mixture of all three reproductive stages. The number of E. servus nymphs and adults was low in all crops during the summer (July, August, and early September). In late September, the number of fifth instars rose sharply followed by an increase in the number of nonreproductive adults, which implies that these adults resulted from reproduction as opposed to immigration. Incidence of late instars and nonreproductive adults was extremely low for corn, cotton, and peanut, and these host plants did not seem to be highly suitable reproductive hosts. Results from this study are useful for pest management programs that focus on reducing stink bug populations on a landscape scale.
Challenges in the Quest for Keystones

Mary E. Power is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720. David Tilman is a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. James A. Estes is a wildlife biologist in the National Biological Service, Institute of Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. Bruce A. Menge is a professor in the Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331. William J. Bond is a professor doctor in the Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700 South Africa. L. Scott Mills is an assistant professor in the Wildlife Biology Program, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812. Gretchen Daily is Bing Interdisciplinary Research Scientist, Department of Biological Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. Juan Carlos Castilla is a full professor and marine biology head in Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile. Jane Lubchenco is a distinguished professor in the Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331. Robert T. Paine is a professor in the Department of Zoology, NJ-15, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. 1996 American Institute of Biological Sciences. A keystone species is
The cascade of C:N:P stoichiometry in an ombrotrophic peatland: from plants to peat

Northern peatlands are important carbon (C) sinks and while the patterns of C accumulation have been frequently investigated, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) accumulation are often neglected. Here we link the C:N:P stoichiometry from foliar plant tissues, through senescent litters to peat, and determine C, N and P accumulation rates at Mer Bleue Bog, eastern Canada. Average C:N:P ratios changed from 794:17:1 in the foliar tissues to 911:10:1 in litter and 1285:32:1 in acrotelm peat. The increase in C:N and C:P ratios from mature to senescent tissues is related to nutrient resorption. The increase in C:P and N:P ratios in peat, which was contrary to that observed in Canadian forest soils, may be related to plant/mycorrhizae uptake of P. The long-term apparent rates of C, N and P accumulation were 29.5 ± 2.1 (SE) g C, 0.87 ± 0.01 g N and 0.017 ± 0.002 g P m−2 yr−1, respectively. The significant correlation between the accumulation rates of N and P and that of C suggests more attention be placed on C:N:P stoichiometry in peatland biogeochemistry, in particular in understanding why C:P ratios are so large in the lower parts of the profile.
Seasonal changes in biomass and shoot characteristics of a Zostera capricorni Aschers. Dominant meadow in Cairns Harbour, Northern Queensland

Spatial and temporal variability of Z. capricorni biomass, shoot characteristics (canopy height, surface area, flowering), distribution and detrital content were examined from December 1988 to December 1990. Between August 1987 and August 1991, 15% (2.0 ha) of the meadow was lost. Biomass of above- and below-ground structures showed a unimodal seasonal pattern with maxima in late spring (mean 194.92 g dry weight m-2 and 426.67 g DW m-2 respectively) and minima in winter (mean 28.72 g DW m-2 and 56.98 g DW m-2 respectively). Mean above-ground biomass (95.53 ± 2.21 g DW m-2) was approximately half the mean below-ground biomass (177.28 ± 4.49 g DW m-2). Leaf canopy heights were greatest between October and February (maximum 53.4 cm) and lowest around mid year (minimum 4.4 cm). Leaf surface area per square metre of seagrass meadow ranged from 10.28 to 1.39 m2 (mean 3,692 ± 0.104 m2), and flowering occurred during September and October. Detrital biomass ranged from 339.73g DW m-2 to 11.83 g DW m-2 (mean 77.39 ± 2.36 g DW m-2). Detrital biomass was higher during July-October and lower during February-May. The climate during the study was typical for the area, and all trials displayed similar seasonal patterns, although the amplitudes differed among some trials. The environmental parameters that may influence seagrass and detrital biomass were investigated. The best models explained only 14% of the variation in above-ground biomass, 15% of the variation in below-ground biomass, and 21% of the variation in detrital biomass. These models suggest that fluctuations in seagrass and detrital biomass in Cairns Harbour were influenced by changes in light availability, temperature, salinity and exposure.
Reclamation of saline and saline-sodic soils using gypsum and leaching water

The results of a two-year research aiming to evaluate the effects of corrective treatments on two saline-sodic soils are reported. The trial was carried out in cylindrical pots (high 0.6 m and with a diameter of 0.4 m), provided with a bottom control device to collect drainage water, and located under shed, to avoid rain leaching effect. The two clay soils: Saline and saline-sodic resulting from a four-year experiment in which different crops had been irrigated with 9 solutions obtained by dissolving in distilled water the appropriate amounts of NaCl and CaCl2 by the factorial combination of three salt concentrations and three SAR levels (5, 15 and 45). During the subsequent two-year period, the soils were cropped to barley and borlotto bean and irrigated with freshwater (ECw = 0.5 dS m-1 and SAR = 0.45) whenever the soil contained in the pots lost by evapotranspiration 30% of the maximum available water (MAW). The corrective treatments were carried out by applying CaSO4 to the soils with ESP>6% and leaching fractions equal to 20% of the watering volume to the most saline soils and proportionally lower fractions to the less saline soils, in order to reach, in the drainage water, electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) values of 3 dS m-1 and 9, respectively. The reclamation treatments reduced significantly soil salinity and sodicity: Electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECe) decreased on average from 12.34 to 3.66 dS m-1; the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) dropped by 50.93 and 41.41% respectively for Bologna and Locorotondo soils. Key words: Soil reclamation, gypsum requirement, saline soils, saline-sodic soils.
Responses in egg shell quality from dietary ascorbic acid supplementation of hens receiving saline drinking water

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether the poor shell quality of eggs from hens receiving saline drinking water could be improved by the simultaneous addition of ascorbic acid to the diet. In one experiment, the responses were compared with those of hens receiving ascorbic acid in the drinking water. In this experiment, providing the ascorbic acid in the drinking water on a daily basis was compared with dosing the water on alternate days. The results showed that saline water increased the incidence of egg shell defects without affecting food and water intakes, egg production or egg weight. Changes in a range of shell quality measures mirrored the changes in the incidence of egg shell defects. Supplementation of the diet or drinking water with ascorbic acid prevented the increase in shell defects and the decrease in shell quality. The degree of response to dietary ascorbic acid was dependent on the concentration used, a response similar to that observed previously when the ascorbic acid was added to the drinking water.
What is Cohniella cebolleta? Recircumscription and New and Reinstated Species and Combinations (Orchidaceae)

Abstract A revision of the Cohniella cebolleta complex from northern South America and the Lesser Antilles is presented. Five species are recognized in this complex. As circumscribed here, Cohniella cebolleta is restricted to northern Colombia and northern Venezuela. We describe and illustrate a new species, Cohniella macrocebolleta, endemic to eastern Venezuela, and propose two new combinations: Cohniella juncifolia, endemic to the Lesser Antilles, and Cohniella ultrajectina from southern Venezuela and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana). Detailed taxonomic descriptions are given for each species, including short accounts of their distribution and ecology, diagnostic characters, variational range, taxonomic comments, and material examined. Furthermore, a key, an appendix featuring diagnostic characters, and distribution maps for species complexes recognized in Cohniella and taxa recognized in the C. cebolleta complex are presented and discussed.
Digestibility and nitrogen balance of diets containing non conventional vegetable proteins fed to pigs of genetic strains suitable for outdoor systems

Abstract The study was carried out to evaluate on growing pigs kept in metabolism crates, either belonging to a “traditional” cross-breed (Duroc x Large White – DLW) or a local breed (Cinta Senese – CS), the digestibility and the nitrogen balance of non-conventional vegetable protein sources (field beans, pea and sunflower cake) when compared to soybean meal. The four diets were formulated so as to supply the same crude protein amount. CS pigs showed lower apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for crude protein (81,38% vs 82,65%) and crude fibre (35,97% vs 40,65%). Nitrogen balance was more favourable in DLW pigs (32,12% vs 19,67%) which showed a higher nitrogen retention (+69%). With respect to the protein source, no differences were observed for nitrogen balance. Sunflower diet showed the higher ADC for ether extract (+20% compared with soybean diet). Crude fibre digestibility was lowered in sunflower (-33%) and field beans (-13%) diets. Sunflower and field beans diets showed the lowest gross energy digestibility coefficients. Field pea diet had the highest ADC for crude fibre (+ 12%) leading to ADCs for organic matter and gross energy comparable to those of soybean meal. It is concluded that field bean, sunflower cake and field pea could be considered as valuable non-conventional protein sources in swine nutrition.
Rapid detection and characterization of Salmonella enterica serovars by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for molecular typing of Salmonella enterica serovars in Egypt. During the summer of 2010, a total of 1075 samples were collected from cattle, sheep and poultry farms to be subjected for isolation of Salmonella (290 rectal swabs from cattle, 335 rectal swabs from sheep and 450 cloacal swabs from poultry). Bacteriological examination revealed the isolation of 68 Salmonella belonging to 13 different Salmonella serovars. The most common serovars were Salmonella Typhimurium (16 isolates), Salmonella Enteritidis (13 isolates), Salmonella Kentucky (eight isolates) and Salmonella Arizona (seven isolates). Other serovars typed were Salmonella Heidelberg (four), Salmonella Cerro (four), Salmonella Gallinarum (three), Salmonella Virginia (three), Salmonella Paratyphi-A (three), Salmonella Dublin (two), Salmonella Agona (two), Salmonella Hadar (two) and Salmonella Bardo (one). The results of molecular techniques highlight the usefulness of the multiplex PCR for the rapid detection of the two serotypes of Salmonella from field samples especially after pre-enrichment on Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) media. Moreover, detecting S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis by this assay was carried out within two days as opposed to five to six days by the bacteriological and serological methods. Key words: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium , Egypt.
Gross anatomy of the oropharyngeal cavity in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Summary There are significant structural differences between the mouth and pharyngeal cavity of birds and mammals.It is usual to refer to a common oropharyngeal cavity of birds because the soft palate, which forms such an obvious delineation between the mouth and pharyngeal cavity, is absent. Six male adult ostriches were used to study the oropharyngeal cavity and its components including the beak, hard palate, pharynx, tongue and the larynx macroscopically. This study revealed that these components in ostrich have different features trom other birds. In the ostrich, the beaks are spoon-shaped and the tongue is characterized by a short, broad and semicircular form. The hard palate is concave with a prominent median mucosal fold in its 2/3 rostral area and two oblique choanal slits in its caudal third area. The roof of pharynx presents infundibular slit in midline, a deep concave notch in caudal border and pharyngeal tonsils on its dorsal surface. The larynx protrudes trom the floor of pharynx and consists of the unpaired cricoid cartilage and the paired arytenoid cartilages.
Fish assemblages associated with coastal defence structures in south-western Italy (Mediterranean Sea)

Fish assemblages associated with wave exposed and sheltered sides of breakwaters, and with adjacent sandy habitats were studied in western Calabria (Mediterranean Sea, south-western Italy). Overall, 26 fish taxa were recorded (21 associated with exposed breakwater sides, 21 with sheltered sides, and four with sand). Fish assemblages significantly differed between breakwaters (both sides) and sand, and, to a lesser extent, between exposed and sheltered sides of breakwaters in terms of whole assemblage structure, densities of species, and juvenile stages.
Exploring novel taxonomic character sets in the Mollusca : the Cribrarula cribraria complex (Gastropoda:Cypraeidae) as a case study

The goal ofthis dissertation is to explore novel and non-traditional taxonomic characters that may be useful for mollusks, and combine them with radular and shell characters to carry out a taxonomic review of the genus Cribrarula (Cypraeidae). Shells in this genus have conspicuous dorsal spots, but like odler cowries, lack sculpture, spines, and other shell characters commonly used in gastropod taxonomy. For these reasons, cowrie shells are considered uninformative. The study of dorsal spots (DS) and related characters suggest that at least in this complex, the dorsal spots may represent a record of the mantle papillae. If the hypothesis is correct, then DS may provide information on the soft parts that previously was only available from the study of live or preserved specimens. Each species in the complex has a species-specific range ofDS, marginal spots, and allied characters, thus suggesting that they may be useful in distinguishing species in the complex. The odontophore cartilage provides support for the radula and attachment for the muscles responsible for feeding. Although intimately connected to the radula and known since the 1800's, the taxonomic value of the odontophore has been overlooked. A study of odontophore variation in the family Cypraeidae proposes the structure as a novel taxonomic character, potentially applicable to most mollusks. The Cribrarula cribraria Linnaeus, 1758 complex is reviewed, and twelve species and six subspecies are recognized on the basis of multivariate analyses of shell characters, the radula, odontophore, and geographic distribution. The shell, radula,
NATURAL HISTORY OF CERION VIII: LITTLE BAHAMA BANK— A REVISION BASED ON GENETICS, MORPHOMETRICS, AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION'

Close to a dozen names are now available to describe variation in Cerion on the islands of Little Bahama Bank. These names, plotted in the supposed areas of their occurrence, form the "crazy-quilt" distribution pattern, tra- ditionally, associated with Cerion and ascribed to haphazard transport by hurricanes. We, on the other hand, find remarkably stable patterns in Cerion throughout the northern Bahamas. More than 200 "species" can be reduced to a single, unerringly predictable distribution and interaction of two imperfectly separated entities: a ribby morphotype associated with coasts that abut the edges of the Pleistocene banks, and a mottled morphotype from interior areas and coasts adjacent to bank interiors. We find the same distribution throughout Little Bahama Bank and reduce the current taxonomy to two semispecies: C bendalli Pilsbry and Vanatta ( the mottled morphot>pe ) and C ahacoense Pilsbry and Vanatta (the ribby morphotype ) . The distribution of these semispecies maps the edges and interiors of Pleistocene banks, as described above; the morphological differences make sense in adaptive terms; wherever the taxa meet (at the junction of bank-edge and bank- interior coasts ) , they hybridize in narrow zones that exhibit characteristic morphometric and ge- netic patterns. We intend to use this combined morphometric and genetic study as a model for our biological revision of the entire genus. We measured 20 characters in samples of 20 shells (when a\ailable) in each of 52 samples spanning the
Influence of hiking trails on montane birds

Montane forests contribute significantly to regional biodiversity. Long-term monitoring data, often located along hiking trails, suggests that several indicator species of this ecosystem have declined in recent decades. Declining montane bird populations have been attributed to anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and atmospheric deposition. Several studies from montane systems have also documented decreased estimates of abundance and reproductive success as well as altered singing rates near hiking trails. Therefore, recreational hiking may be contributing to montane bird population declines and potentially biased population estimates because of trail avoidance or altered detection probabilities near trails. We studied the effect of hiking trails on the abundance, seasonal movements, and detection probabilities of montane birds in the White Mountains, New Hampshire in 2006 and 2007. We used hierarchical, generalized N-mixture models that account for imperfect detection probabilities to examine the effects of recreational hiking on bird communities. We also examined the potential effects of hiking on the reproductive success of a boreal forest songbird, blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata). We found little evidence to suggest hiking trails influence abundance, detection probabilities, or within and among seasonal movements of montane forest birds. We also found no evidence to suggest daily nest survival of blackpoll warbler nests vary with distance from trail. Our study suggests that recent increases in hiking traffic are unlikely to have caused declines in montane birds in this region. Furthermore, our results provide evidence that trail-based monitoring programs can provide accurate and efficient estimates of abundance for some montane forest bird species in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Implications for conservation biocontrol of spatio‐temporal relationships between carabid beetles and coleopterous pests in winter oilseed rape

1 The spatio‐temporal distributions of predatory carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and their potential prey, the larvae of three coleopterous pests, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) and Ceutorhynchus spp. [Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsham), the cabbage stem weevil, and Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Paykull), the cabbage seed weevil], were studied within a crop of winter oilseed rape. The distributions of Collembola were recorded as potential alternative prey. Insect distributions were analysed and compared using Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices.
Molecular characterization of nosocomial CTX-M type ß-Lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae from University Hospital in Turkey

Extended-spectrum ß–Lactamase (ESBL) producing members of the Enterobacteriaceae family are important nosocomial pathogens. CTX-M type extended-spectrum ß–Lactamases (ESBLs) are now the most important cause of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Escherichia coli and are reported worldwide with increasing frequency. Dominant CTX-M genotype varies geographically. CTX-M 15 dominates in many countries including the UK and India whereas CTX-M 2 is the most common genotype in Latin America while CTX-M 9 and CTX-M 14 is common in Spain and Far East. In this study, a total of 100 consecutive ESBL positive nosocomial isolates of Enterobacteriaceae collected from Afyon Kocatepe University Hospital were screened for production of ESBLs by double disk synergy test and the susceptibility to antibiotics was determined. Then this results was confirmed by Phoenix ®