Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular polymorphisms between populations of Pseudoperonospora cubensis from Greece and the Czech Republic and the phytopathological and phylogenetic implications

Molecular genetic polymorphisms within Pseudoperonospora cubensis isolates of different geographic origins were investigated to establish their phylogenetic relationships and to assess genetic variability between two distant pathogen populations. Thirty isolates originating from Greece (Crete; 15), the Czech Republic (13), the Netherlands (one) and France (one) were analysed by AFLP fingerprinting and ITS 5·8S rDNA sequence analysis. All isolates were obtained from cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants showing typical downy mildew symptoms. Four AFLP primer combinations produced a total of 288 high-quality bands of which 45% were polymorphic, allowing isolates to be grouped into two separate clusters: one including the Central European (Czech Republic) and Western European (the Netherlands and France) and the other the Cretan isolates. Within each AFLP cluster there was some variation, which could be accounted for by geographic origin or pathogenicity. The two populations (Cretan vs. Central and Western European) exhibited a high degree of genetic isolation. There was no clear AFLP grouping of isolates on the basis of pathotypes. No variability was detected in the ITS1 region; however, ITS2 sequences grouped P. cubensis isolates in two subclusters: one with all investigated European and the other with Asian isolates. The two subclusters formed a larger P. cubensis cluster which was differentiated from the cluster of the neighbouring species Pseudoperonospora humuli. Within P. cubensis, AFLP fingerprints could resolve genetically isolated populations, even on small or medium geographic scales, while ITS2 sequence showed differences on a global scale, being only suitable for phylogenetic analyses.
Sexual reproduction in four Caribbean commercial sponges. I. Reproductive cycles and spermatogenesis

Summary Sexual reproductive cycles of a Florida, U.S.A. , population of four Caribbean commercial sponge species, Hippospongia lachne, Spongia barbara, S. cheiris and S. graminea, were determined by analysis of tissue samples collected over a three-year period. Spermatogenesis in these species was studied using light and transmission electron microscopy. The production of male gametes occurs in cysts within the endosomal tissue of mature specimens. Reproductive elements within an individual cyst develop synchronously while development between cysts is asynchronous. All available evidence suggests that these species are dioecious. Spermatogonia differentiate directly from choanocytes in situ. All cells of the chamber lose their collars and flagella and undergo mitosis to produce primary spermatocytes, each possessing a single flagellum. The ratio of nucleus to cell diameter in these cells is almost double that of choanocytes. Circumstantial evidence suggests that primary spermatocytes undergo meiosis to pro.
Sex Determination of the Ommastrephid Squid Illex illecebrosus Using Beak Morphometries

The beak morphometrics of the ommastrephid squid Illex illecebrosus were analyzed as possible criteria for determining sex composition of beak samples taken from predator stomachs. A multivariate analytical procedure was adopted to elucidate the course of discriminant analysis needed in this study. The discriminant functions presented here can be employed usefully in identifying the sex of an unknown individual from either the upper or lower beak morphometrics.Key words: squid, Illex, beak, morphometrics, multivariate, discriminant analysis, sex determination
Phytic acid and extractable phosphorus of pearl millet flour as affected by natural lactic acid fermentation

Lactic acid fermentation of pearl millet flour decreased its phytic acid content and increased extractable phosphorus. Fermentation at 40 and 50°C for 72 h or longer eliminated phytic acid almost completely; extractable phosphorus was more than doubled. Lower temperatures (20 and 30°C) were less effective. The changes in concentration of phytic acid and extractable phosphorus may be attributed partly to phytase activity inherent in pearl millet flour.
Seed and pollen morphology in the Orobanche alsatica complex (Orobanchaceae) from central Europe and its taxonomic significance

Abstract. Micromorphology of seeds and pollen of Orobanche alsatica, O. bartlingii and O. mayeri, the central European representatives of the O. alsatica aggregate (Orobanchaceae) was investigated on the basis of 32 samples from 18 localities in Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia. Concerning seeds, the best taxonomic character is a narrow trough on external sides of radial walls of cells of the seed wall, which is always present and continuous in O. bartlingii, mostly absent in O. mayeri, and mostly present solely at wall segment junctions (vertices) in O. alsatica (individuals parasitising Peucedanum spp.; continuous in parasites of Seseli osseum). As for pollen, the exine sculpture is verrucate in O. mayeri, granulate in O. bartlingii, and granulate to scabrate in O. alsatica. O. alsatica parasitising Peucedanum spp. and Seseli osseum (host-related morphotypes) differ in seed shape, ornamentation and wall-perforation diameter. Variability of seed and pollen characters is high, and identical morphologies occur among the investigated species. The variation coefficient is too strongly correlated with the sample size to be a reliable estimator the taxonomic value of a character. Differences in seed and pollen sculpture, hosts and ecological preferences confirm the separation of the three examined taxa at species level.
Pitiose cutânea em eqüinos: 14 casos

Cutaneous pythiosis is a chronic condition that may be fatal if early therapy is not implemented. It affects mainly horses and rarely cattle, dogs, cats and human beings. It is caused by Pythium insidiosum, which infects wounds on the skin of ventral abdomen, distal limbs and head of animals which pasture and drink water in swamped land. This report includes fourteen cases of pythiosis in horses from Uruguaiana, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods of diagnosis and treatment are described and discussed.
Microbial quality, diversity and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial isolates from borehole water used by schools in Greater Giyani Municipality, Mopani District, South Africa

In the present study, the microbial quality of several boreholes, used by rural schools in Greater Giyani Municipality, was assessed over a six months period to determine their safety for human consumption and to highlight the potential occurrence of water-borne diseases. The microbiological quality of the water sources was performed using the membrane filtration technique, while standard culture methods were used for bacteria isolation. The MicroScan was used for identification and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of isolated potentially pathogenic bacteria. The results obtained indicated that the water quality of the boreholes was poor over the study period (June to October, 2009). Indicator organisms were higher than the acceptable maximum limits prescribed by the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and the World Health Organisation. Numerous organisms that are potential enteric pathogens such as Vibrio spp, Shigella species and Klebsiella spp, were isolated throughout the study period. There was high resistance to many antibiotics particularly ampicillin (92%), cefazolin (95.9%), cefuroxime (91.7%) and cefoxitin (92.6%). The most active antibiotics were tobramycin with resistance level of 8.7% and levofloxacin (23.0%). The study indicates that water from the studied boreholes was not suitable for human consumption and may pose a serious threat to the health of consumers and therefore calls for urgent intervention. High level of antibiotic resistance is of concern in the management of infections caused by these organisms. Further studies are needed to identify the sources of contamination in order to curb the negative effect of contaminated water particularly in children.
Overwintering Egg Populations of the Pea Aphid in East Anglia

Egg populations of the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), overwintering on lucerne and hop trefoil have been followed. On hop trefoil the overwintering mortality of these eggs was 83 per cent. Although the mortality was apparently less on lucerne, a wide discrepancy existed between the two crops in the ratio between the total numbers of eggs at the beginning of eclosion and the number of Aphids which successfully established themselves the following spring. The peak number of fundatrices on lucerne was three times the egg total at the beginning of eclosion whereas on hop trefoil it was only half. Many more eggs than were recorded were undoubtedly laid on the lucerne plants and the high number of fundatrices subsequently found must have emerged from eggs that had fallen or been knocked off the host-plant.
Absence of a weight gain response to vitamin B12 supplementation in weaned beef cattle grazing pastures of marginal cobalt content

Abstract Forty female Angus crossbred calves aged 8 months were allocated to 2 groups based on liver vitamin B12 levels and bodyweight. The treatment group was given monthly subcutaneous injections of 2000 μg hydroxycobalamin. From each group, 5 animals were liver biopsied and 10 animals: serum and urine sampled at monthly intervals for 10 months. Pasture cobalt content in washed and unwashed samples averaged 0.051 mg/kg (0.866 μgmol/kg) and 0.061 mg/kg (1.04 p.mollkg) DM respectively over the trial period. Mean liver vitamin B 12 levels of the untreated group dropped during the spring and summer to 400 nmollkg, while the treated group remained above 640 nmollkg. Serum vitamin B12 levels of the untreated group during the spring and summer averaged 87 pmolllitre, with the lowest mean monthly level of 73 pmolllitre occurring in November. Mean urinary methyl malonic acid remained low (less than 36 p.molllitre) in both groups. There was no weight gain response to vitamin B12 treatment.
Polymer-induced liquid precursor (PILP) phases of calcium carbonate formed in the presence of synthetic acidic polypeptides—relevance to biomineralization

Polymer-induced liquid precursor (PILP) phases of calcium carbonate have attracted significant interest due to possible applications in materials synthesis, and their resemblance to intermediates seen in biogenic mineralisation processes. Further, these PILP phases have been formed in vitro using polyelectrolytes such as poly(aspartic acid) which bears many structural parallels to the highly acidic biomacromolecules that are associated with biogenic calcium carbonate. This article describes experiments which investigate how the composition of acidic polypeptides determines their ability to form PILP phases of CaCO3, and therefore whether it is feasible that the acidic biomacromolecules extracted from CaCO3 biominerals could also function in this way. A series of random copoly(amino acid)s constructed from 80–20%, 50–50% and 20–80% aspartic acid and serine residues were synthesised and their effect on CaCO3 precipitation was determined. A strong correlation between the composition and function of the polypeptide was observed. Only the polypeptide containing 80% aspartic acid residues (Asp80%–Ser20%) induced the formation of continuous CaCO3 films, which provide a fingerprint of an intermediary PILP phase, while addition of Mg2+ also facilitated the formation of expanded film-like structures with the polypeptide Asp50%–Ser50%. In contrast, the weakly-acidic polypeptide Asp20%–Ser80% had only a minor effect on the crystal morphologies and also failed to aid infiltration of CaCO3 into small pores. These results therefore demonstrate that counter-ion induced phase separation of highly acidic biomacromolecules proteins appears to be entirely feasible based upon their composition, but that evidence for the operation of this mineralisation mechanism in vivo is still required.
Untersuchungen über ernährungsphysiologische Wirkungen von Futterfetten in Rationen für wachsende Schweine

Three groups of male, castrated piglets of the German Landrace breed, weight range 3-30 kg, were used to study the relation between fattening performance and blood parameters when feeding rations containing different amounts of fat. The fat content of the rations was either 5% (group I), 18% (group II) or 35% (group III). Concomitantly with the increased metabolizable energy (ME) content of the ration the content of digestible protein (DP) was increased and the amount of feed reduced in order to guarantee an equal intake of ME and DP in all three groups. The digestibility of the crude nutrients and protein retention of the subjects were determined in nine subsequent trials each lasting 7 days. At a body weight of 27 kg the blood concentrations of insulin, glucose, free fatty acids, neutral lipids and cholesterol were determined at different times after feeding. In addition, an oral glucose tolerance test was made and the in-vitro synthesis of fat from glucose was measured. The apparent digestibility of fat amounted, unexpectedly, to approximately 94% on the high rat rations II and III. In all groups a significant positive relation between body weight and digestibility of the fat was determined. Despite equal daily intakes of ME in all groups, in group III daily weight gain and protein retention were 7% (p less than 0.01) and 4% (p less than 0.01) higher than in group I, respectively. Blood urea levels of group III were 67% (p less than 0.01) lower than in group I. The mean daily nitrogen retention of the three groups rose gradually from 4 g at a body weight of 5 kg to 16-17 g at a body weight of 25 kg. The feed conversion of group I was lower by 22 and 36% as compared to groups II and III, respectively. Highly significant differences were observed among either groups (p less than 0.01). It has been calculated that in group III the consumption of ME/kg weight gain was about 8% (p less than 0.05) lower than in the two other groups. According to the increased fat percentage of the rations, body protein content diminished from 17,1% in group I to 16,5 and 16% in groups II and III, respectively. Only the difference between groups I and III proved to be significant (p less than 0.05). In group I feed intake resulted in an increase in the insulin level by 55% (p less than 0.05) whereas glucose did not change significantly. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Bovine Interferon-τ Stimulates the Janus Kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Pathway in Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells1

Abstract Trophoblastic bovine interferon-tau (bIFN-τ) suppresses luteolytic pulses of endometrial prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) at the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy. This results in maintenance of the corpus luteum in cattle. The hypothesis that effects of bIFN-τ in the endometrium were through activation of the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway of signal transduction was tested. Whole cell, cytosolic, and nuclear extracts from bovine endometrial cells treated with bIFN-τ were analyzed by immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays in a series of dose- and time-dependency experiments. Bovine IFN-τ stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, homo- and heterodimer formation, nuclear translocation, and DNA binding of STAT proteins 1, 2, and 3. Moreover, bIFN-τ induced synthesis of interferon-regulatory factor. In conclusion, bIFN-τ stimulates the JAK-STAT pathway in the bovine endometrium. It is proposed that activation of the JAK-STAT pathway is involved in regulating the antiluteolytic effects of bIFN-τ.
Inheritance Patterns of Plumage Morph in Swainson's Hawks

PATRONES DE HERENCIA DEL MORFOTIPO DE PLUMAJE EN BUTEO SWAINSONI La herencia de los polimorfismos basados en melanina es poco conocida a pesar de ser relativamente comun entre las rapaces. Examinamos la hipotesis de que el plumaje oscuro se hereda mediante un sistema de un locus con dos alelos en Buteo swainsoni. Presumimos que los individuos de plumaje oscuro y de plumaje claro eran homocigotos, mientras que los heterocigotos presentaban alguna forma intermedia de plumaje. Examinamos el morfotipo de 31 adultos de B. swainsoni y los comparamos con los fenotipos parentales. Todos los individuos se ajustaron a nuestra hipotesis de herencia mediante un locus con dos alelos. No existio una diferencia significativa entre lo que se esperaria de acuerdo a ese sistema y lo que nosotros observamos, lo que representa evidencia adicional de que el morfotipo en B. swainsoni esta asociado con un patron de herencia de un locus con dos alelos.
Effects of habitat and time-since-fire on recruitment, survival, and reproduction of Paronychia chartacea ssp. chartacea, a short-lived Florida scrub endemic herb1

Abstract Conservation of a threatened species requires knowledge of the factors that affect its recruitment, survival, and reproduction. We conducted a long-term study on the demography of Paronychia chartacea ssp. chartacea, a short-lived, gynodioecious Florida rosemary scrub endemic. Specifically, we assessed the effects of habitat (rosemary scrub vs. roadsides), time-since-fire, microhabitat, and rainfall on recruitment, survival, flowering, and seed production. In addition, in a shorter-term study, we assessed the effects of habitat, time-since-fire, and gender on flower and seed production. Overall, approximately one-third of individuals survived more than one year and individuals most often flowered twice indicating that P. chartacea ssp. chartacea is an iteroparous, short-lived perennial, which is in contrast to its disjunct conspecific, the annual P. chartacea ssp. minima. Recruitment was higher in roadsides, but seed production was higher in rosemary scrub. Within rosemary scrub, recruitment was highest at intermediate times-since-fire and in the center of large gaps, the microhabitat with the greatest amount of bare sand. Median lifespan was longest in long unburned sites, suggesting that P. chartacea ssp. chartacea is able to persist despite litter accumulation and competition from shrubs. Rainfall had a positive effect on annual survival, but did not affect seedling recruitment. Females produced more seeds than hermaphrodites, indicating that females contribute more to population persistence. Our study suggests P. chartacea ssp. chartacea populations will persist under the 15–40 year fire return interval characteristic of regularly burned Florida rosemary scrub, but may not persist in roadsides if greater recruitment does not balance shorter lifespans.
Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation within and between tuna Thunnus species and its application to species identification

Restriction analysis detected two types of bigeye tuna (a and β); the a type was in the majority in the Atlantic but nearly absent in the Indo-Pacific. The a type shared a larger number of restriction sites with other species than the conspecific β type, but bigeye-specific nucleotide substitutions with a novel diagnostic restriction profile were found. Although the nucleotide sequence difference between Atlantic and Pacific sub-species of the northern bluefin tuna was nearly the largest among species, individuals possessing the Atlantic type of mtDNA were found at very low frequency in the Pacific and vice versa. Previous RFLP markers were found to be diagnostic for the other five species (albacore, blackfin, longtail, southern bluefin and yellowfin tunas). Genetic information is provided to discriminate all Thunnus species regardless of their origin and to identify the ocean of capture in the northern bluefin and bigeye tunas.
Effect of Dietary Probiotic, Organic Acid and Antibiotic Supplementation to Diets on Broiler Performance and Carcass Yield

The specific aim of this study was to determine the effects of the supplementation of separate probiotic (protexin), including organic acid combination, plant extracts, mineral salts (genex) and antibiotic (flavomycin) to broiler diets on performance, abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat percentage, liver weight, intestinal weight, intestinal length, intestinal pH, carcass weight, carcass yield of broiler chicks. In this study, 84 one-day old male broiler chicks were used and divided equally into 6 groups. When the control group was fed a diet without supplemented diet probiotic (0.1% protexin), organic acid (0.2% genex), probiotic + organic acid (0.1% protexin + 0.2% genex), antibiotic (0.15% flavomycin) and antibiotic + organic acid (0.15% flavomycin +0.2% genex) were added to the diets of the experimental groups respectively. The experimental period was 42 days. The results obtained in the experiment showed that the group receiving 0.15% flavomycin + 0.2% genex supplemented in the basal diet was exhibited higher body weight gain, feed intake and carcass weight and better feed efficiency respectively than the control and other groups (P 0.05).
Laboratory and glasshouse evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), on tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum

Forty isolates of entomopathogenic fungi from six genera were assessed against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, in a single dose, direct application laboratory bioassay on tomato leaflets. Only three isolates caused greater mortality than the control: these were Metarhizium anisopliae 442.99, Hirsutella spp. 457.99, and Verticillium lecanii 450.99. These isolates were assessed in a multiple dose bioassay, together with three isolates cultured from commercial biopesticides as follows: Beauveria bassiana 432.99 (cultured from ‘Naturalis-L’, Troy Biosciences, Phoenix, TX, USA); Hirsutella thompsonii 463.99 (cultured from ‘Mycar’, Abbott Laboratories USA); and V. lecanii 19.79 (used in ‘Mycotal’ Koppert BV, The Netherlands). Beauveria bassiana 432.99, H. thompsonii 463.99, M. anisopliae 442.99, and V. lecanii 450.99 were all pathogenic to T. urticae in this bioassay. In addition, it was found that the mortality caused by B. bassiana 432.99 and Naturalis-L was increased when the mites were exposed to tomato leaflets sprayed previously with conidia suspensions, compared to spraying the mites directly. In a glasshouse experiment, sprays of B. bassiana 432.99, H. thompsonii 463.99, M. anisopliae 442.99, V. lecanii 450.99 and Naturalis-L reduced T. urticae populations in a tomato crop grown according to commercial practice. Naturalis-L reduced T. urticae numbers by up to 97%. In a second glasshouse experiment, single sprays of Naturalis-L and the acaricide fenbutatin oxide (Torq) were compared as supplementary treatments to release of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis. Supplementary sprays of fenbutatin oxide reduced the numbers of T. urticae nymphs (80% reduction), while Naturalis-L reduced numbers of T. urticae adults, nymphs and eggs (98% reduction in all three cases). It is concluded that Naturalis-L has the potential to be used against T. urticae on glasshouse tomato crops.
The mating-type substances of Paramecium bursaria

The detached cilia from sexually reactive cells of Paramecium bursaria will agglutinate with the cilia of intact sexually reactive animals of a complementary mating type. No such reaction will occur if incompetent cells are used or if the cells are of the same mating type. Particulates other than cilia do not adhere to tester cells; the cilia which carry the specific mating-type substances are restricted to the ventro-lateral surface of the animal. Studies of the heat inactivation of the ability of detached cilia to agglutinate confirm in detail the hypothesis of Metz which holds that cell unions leading to conjugation are brought about by the interaction of two pairs of complementary substances, A and a and B and b; the former pair of substances is more heat labile than the latter. The data suggest that animals of each of the four mating types carry a unique combination of two substances, namely, AB , a B , ab, and A b.