Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interspecific Relationships in Allium Subgenus Melanocrommyum Sections Acanthoprason and Asteroprason (Amaryllidaceae) Revealed Using ISSR Markers

Abstract Allium subgenus Melanocrommyum is taxonomically one of the most complicated groups within Allium and its sectional delimitation has been changed several times. In the present study, the relationships among 136 individuals representing 28 species of the sections Acanthoprason and Asteroprason were surveyed using ISSR (inter simple sequence repeats) markers. Nine ISSR primers generated 322 polymorphic bands (on average 36 bands per primer). In the resulting neighbor joining dendrogram, most conspecific individuals were grouped into clusters, which can be regarded as evidence of the monophyly of most species. Exceptions were the positions of six single samples of A. graveolens, A. zagricum, A. shelkovnikovii, A. subakaka, and A. materculae, which were not grouped with their remaining conspecific individuals. The clusters in dendrograms were significantly correlated with morphological similarities and biogeographical distributions. The lowest molecular similarity (62%) was observed between A. shelkovnikovii and A. ubipetrense and the most similar taxa (similarity value = 93%) were A. materculae and A. graveolens (sect. Acanthoprason). The results showed that ISSR analysis is suitable to detect the relationship of closely related species. The groups constructed agree only partly with those previously published based on molecular data, and represent alternative proposals to define taxonomic groups.
LAND-SNAIL DIVERSITY IN A SQUARE KILOMETRE OF CRETAN MAQUIS: MODEST SPECIES RICHNESS, HIGH DENSITY AND LOCAL HOMOGENEITY

The land mollusc fauna of 1 km 2 of Cretan maquis was surveyed by sampling fourteen 400-m 2 plots in May 2001, and by resampling six of these in February 2002. Sampling methods were designed to resemble those used in similar surveys of 1-km 2 sites in tropical rainforests in Cameroon and Sabah. A total of 27 species were recorded for the site. Slugs and a semi-slug were found only in the 2002 survey. Individual plots were very similar in species richness and composition; the richest plot contained about 85% of the fauna recorded for the whole site. Overall densities were very high. This local homogeneity contrasts with marked heterogeneity over Crete as a whole. These results are contrasted with those from tropical forests, where individual plots vary considerably in richness and composition, where densities are lower and where the total site faunas are larger. Although there are problems associated with differing amounts of sampling error between studies, this contrast is striking and some possible causes are discussed. Further work in tropical forest on limestone may elucidate this.
Juvenile Survival in a Population of Neotropical Migrant Birds

Determination of population productivity of Neotropical migrant birds and assessment of breeding habitat quality have been based on population densities and nesting success. Data on juvenile survival improve our estimates of population productivity, provide information on factors during the post‐fledging period that affect this productivity and, with comparative data, enable us to better assess breeding habitat quality. We present the first estimate of post‐fledging juvenile survival in a population of Neotropical migrant birds. We studied post‐fledging survival in a population of Wood Thrush ( Hylocichla mustelina) in southern Missouri, (U.S.) an area hypothesized to contain source populations. Nesting success during our study period was 0.266, and individual survival within the nest was 0.245. Post‐fledging survival during the first 8 weeks after fledging was 0.423. Survival varied significantly between post‐fledging weekly age classes, with survival of weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 through 8 being 0.716, 0.930, 0.637, and 1.00, respectively. Probability of predation after fledging was 0.506. Probability of mortality by other causes was 0.071. Probability of predation varied by weekly age class and may have been related to behaviors occurring at different developmental stages. Post‐fledging survival was not correlated with nestling mass and did not change throughout the course of the breeding season. Analysis of the source/sink status of the population based on our estimates of nesting success and post‐fledging survival indicates that young were being produced below replacement levels during our study period. Large‐scale management decisions should take into account potential fluctuations in the productivity of Neotropical migrant populations over time. Data on post‐fledging juvenile survival are needed from other populations of Neotropical migrant birds to more accurately assess differential productivity between populations and better assess breeding habitat quality.
PHYSIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF LETTUCE CULTIVARS EXPOSED TO SALINITY STRESS

Increased soil salinity is a major environmental stress factor for many plants, and limits crop yields. Lettuce is a frequently grown, moderately salt-sensitive crop plant, with many different cultivars. Their physiological diversity when exposed to salt stress enables breeders to efficiently select those cutivars more suitable to grow under conditions of salt stress associated with drought and global warming. The aim of this work is to study the physiological diversity of frequently cultivated lettuce varieties subjected to salinity stress, enabling an efficient selection of more tolerant cultivars. Different functional parameters of induced chlorophyll fluorescence, molar ratios between the main photosynthetic light-harvesting pigments, dry biomass accumulation and seed germination dynamics are evaluated in the context of physiological diversity of lettuce cultivars. Potential and effective light use efficiency is generally decreased only by severe salt stress (exposure to 150 mM NaCl for several days), the light reactions of photosynthesis being relatively resistant to dehydration and ion toxicity exerted by elevated salinity. The relative fluorescence decrease, also known as the vitality index of photosystem II, is one of the most suitable physiological markers of salt stress tolerance, making possible a good distinction between resistant, tolerant and sensitive lettuce cultivars. Germination energy is also a good functional indicator of differential salt sensitivity of lettuce cultivars. As a general compensatory mechanism of growth regulation and as a consequence of water deficit, dry biomass production is moderately increased by short-term mild salinity (50 mM NaCl). While the total chlorophyll content of lettuce leaves is decreased by salt stress, the molar ratio between chlorophylls a and b exhibits a moderate but statistically significant increase, because of a more pronounced disturbance of chlorophyll-b homeostasis. Determination of the evaluated physiological parameters is simple and cost-effective, being a good tool for screening lettuce varieties for efficient cultivation on soils with increasing salt content. Possible cross-tolerance for cold stress and salt stress is also discussed.
Aerobic denitrifiers isolated from an alternating activated sludge system

One hundred and sixty-nine bacterial strains were isolated from activated sludge from a waste water treatment basin operating under alternating aerobic/anaerobic conditions. Sixteen strains from a subsample of 23 nitrogen oxide reducers were true respiratory denitrifiers, and all denitrified under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. REP-PCR band analysis showed different patterns for all strains. One strain (strain 1) produced large amounts of N2O and was studied in detail. Nitrous oxide was the major end product of denitrification by this strain, and NO−2 was reduced more efficiently than NO−3. The aerobic denitrification was most pronounced with NO−2 as electron acceptor, and the reduction of NO−2 was not coupled to NH+4 oxidation.
Yolk retinoids (vitamin a) in eggs of the herring gull and correlations with polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans

Little is known of the combined effects associated with chronic, low-level exposure of wildlife to the polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, certain biphenyls and other related compounds. To examine possible effects upon egg yolk retinoids, herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs were collected at early (i.e., days 2–12) and late (i.e., approximately day 20) phases of incubation. Analysis of egg yolks by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed compounds that comigrated with all-trans-retinol and all-trans-retinyl palmitate standards. The retinol concentration and the molar ratio of retinol to retinyl palmitate changed significantly between the early and late phases of incubation. Within the 2- to 12-d period of incubation, however, retinoid values were constant. Gull eggs were collected from two breeding colonies on the Great Lakes in 1986 and from five colonies in 1987. In 2- to 12-d eggs, retinol and retinyl palmitate concentrations were significantly different between gull colonies. The molar ratio of retinol to retinyl palmitate was significantly different between colonies and correlated with several indices of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran concentrations quantified in gull eggs from these collection sites. Significant correlations existed between the molar ratio of retinoids and (a) 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentration, (b) toxic equivalents of PCDDs and PCDFs and (c) the sum of PCDD and PCDF concentrations. These results are discussed in the context of sensitive, bioeffects monitoring.
Research Concerning the PCR-RFLP/Eco88I Polymorphism of STAT5A Gene in Romanian Simmental Cattle

STAT5 (Signal transducers and activator of transcri ption) is a member of STATs family that mediates the action of peptide hormones and cytokines within target cells (prolactin signaling can activate transcription of milk protei n genes). Using the PCR_RFLP technique and Eco88 I enzyme, the C - T nucleotide substitution at posi tion 6853 was detected within exon 7 of the bovine STAT5A gene a population of Romanian Simmental breed. In order to study the relationship between STAT5A/Eco88I polymorphism and milk performance traits, the data for milk production that included milk yield, protein and fat yield, fa t and protein percentage were used.
A Redescription of Aigialosaurus (= Opetiosaurus) Bucchichi (Kornhuber, 1901) (Squamata: Aigialosauridae) with Comments on Mosasauroid Systematics

ABSTRACT Previous works discussing interrelationships of squamates, mosasauroids, and aigialosaurs have alternately suggested Opetiosaurus bucchichi and Aigialosaurus dalmaticus to be accurately diagnosed, congeneric, and in some cases, conspecific taxa. Recent systematic work has shown that these two species, as basal mosasauroids, are critical to understanding the evolutionary history of mosasaurs. Because earlier attempts at descriptions of O. bucchichi have proven insufficient for systematic purposes, the specimen is redescribed here based on the counterpart skull to the holotype part specimen, revealing new anatomical details unavailable to previous workers. This comparison of O. bucchichi and A. dalmaticus reveals no morphological differences that support a generic differentiation of the two specimens assigned to these monospecific genera. The genus Opetiosaurus is therefore a junior synonym of Aigialosaurus and O. bucchichi is re-diagnosed as A. bucchichi; the species A. bucchichi is retained because some minor differences are present between the individual specimens assigned to the respective species. Incorporation of new anatomical information into a phylogenetic analysis lends support to suggestions from previous workers that the paddle-shaped limb evolved more than once within Mosasauroidea; however, the tree topologies are not robust. The results of this study indicate that the systematic relationships of halisaurine mosasaurs are of primary importance in the study of mosasauroid interrelationships.
Microsatellite evaluation of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) stocks in the northwest Atlantic Ocean

The goal of this study was to gain insight about the impact of intensive fishing on a single haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) stock, and examine the genetic structuring of spatially discrete spawning aggregations in the northwest Atlantic. We analyzed genetic change at four microsatellite loci for Georges Bank haddock over a 40-year time span in which significant changes in demographics and abundances have occurred in the population. Allelic diversities have changed little, indicating that, although the commercial fishery has collapsed, stock sizes have remained large enough to insulate against major reductions in genetic variation due to drift. Results indicate significant genetic divergence among decadally separated samples. Potential causes for these differences include admixture from other spawning regions, fluctuations in the effective number of spawners contributing to a single spawning event, drift, or a combination of these. Examination of discrete spawning aggregations from Georges Bank, Browns.
Preface

The stimulus for this Special Issue has a long history going back to the mid-1980s. I was struck then with the fact that many conclusions about the purported negative effects of corporal punishment were the same as the known effects of perceived parental rejection (Rohner, 1975, 1986, 2004; Rohner & Rohner, 1980). I wondered at the time if corporal punishment by itself really had these effects, or was it primarily punishment when it was perceived by children to be a form of parental rejection? To explore this question I sought a location where I could study interrelations among perceived parental acceptance-rejection, corporal punishment, youths’ psychological adjustment. In addition, I wanted to know if a people’s cultural beliefs about the appropriateness of corporal punishment would affect these relationships. St. Kitts, West Indies, provided an almost-ideal location—a kind of natural laboratory—for studying these issues. Structural equation modeling analyses of a random stratified sample of 349 Kittitian youths ages 9 through 16 years showed that corporal punishment by itself did make a very modest but significant contribution to youths’ psychological maladjustment (Rohner, Kean, & Cournoyer, 1991). However, Kittitian children also tended to experience themselves to be rejected in direct proportion to the frequency and severity of punishment received. And the more rejected they felt, the more impaired their psychological adjustment tended to be. The relation between perceived rejection and psychological maladjustment was much greater (beta = .63)
Influence of Various Pork Fat Types on the Ripening and Characteristics of Dry Fermented Sausage

Kamenik J., Steinhauserova P., Salakova A. , Pavlik Z. , Bořilova G. , Steinhauser L. , Ruprich J. (2013): Influence of various pork fat types on the ripening and characteristics of dry fermented sausage. Czech J. Food Sci., 31: 419–431. The influence of three types of pork adipose tissue (neck, back, and leg) on the quality of dry fermented sausages was evaluated. No statistically significant differences between the most abundantly represented methyl esters of fatty acids (FA), such as C16:0, C18:0 and C18:1n -9, were found when the individual FA compositions of the pork adipose tissue samples were compared. The content of polyunsaturated FA was the highest in the neck adipose tissue and the lowest in the leg adipose tissue. These differences were not, however, statistically significant. No differences between the adipose tissue types were found in the sensory, colour, and textural properties, the population of lactic acid bacteria, and the lactic and acetic acids contents in the final products and during the fermentation process. The assertions were not confirmed that pork neck adipose tissue is the best fat type for the production of dry fermented sausages or that pork adipose tissue from the legs is unsuitable because of its insufficient hardness.
Habitat Selection by the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) on a Protected Island in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron

Abstract A key step in generating effective recovery strategies for species at risk is to identify habitat used under a variety of geographic settings. In part attributable to habitat loss and degradation, the Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is considered at risk across most of its range. Because little information for this species exists for the many islands of Georgian Bay, the world's largest freshwater archipelago, we conducted an intensive study on the habitat use of 12 turtles (6 males, 6 females) on a protected island. We used a combination of radio tracking and GPS loggers to determine habitat use during the active seasons of 2011 and 2012. We used aerial imagery to quantify available habitat and used compositional analyses to determine habitat selection. Both sexes used vernal pools and wet forest to move between habitat patches. Females used inland wetlands early in the year and coastal wetlands during the nesting season, whereas males maintained extensive use of inland wetlands during the entire active season. An effective conservation strategy for Blanding's turtles in Georgian Bay must include protection of inland and coastal wetlands, in addition to the surrounding upland matrix and connecting corridors.
Genetic and phenotypic parameters of fortnightly test day and first lactation 305-day or less milk yield in Sahiwal cattle.

The data on 643 Sahiwal cows, progeny of 51 sires maintained National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal were analyzed to study the genetic parameters for first lactation 305-day or less milk yield and fortnightly test day records. The heritability estimates of first lactation 305-day or less milk was found to be 0.202 ± 0.103. However, the heritability estimates for fortnightly test day milk yields were ranged from 0.055 ± 0.082 (TD1) to 0.318 ± 0.118 (TD10). The genetic correlation of first lactation 305-day or less milk yield with fortnightly test day milk yields ranged from 0.247± 0.335 (TD2) to 0.998 ±0.051 (TD9). However, the phenotypic correlation of first lactation 305-day or less milk yield with fortnightly test days records ranged from 0.020±0.023 (TD2) to 0.865 ±0.058 (TD11). The high estimate of heritability of first lactation 305-day or less milk yield and fortnightly test days records revealed the scope of genetic improvement of dairy cattle using these traits.
Cold-induced repression of the rice anther-specific cell wall invertase gene OSINV4 is correlated with sucrose accumulation and pollen sterility

Low temperatures during rice (Oryza sativa L.) pollen development cause pollen sterility and decreased grain yield. We show that the time of highest sensitivity to cold coincides with the time of peak tapetal activity: the transition of the tetrad to early uni-nucleate stage (young microspore, YM stage). Low temperatures at this stage of pollen development result in an accumulation of sucrose in the anthers, accompanied by decreased activity of cell wall bound acid invertase and depletion of starch in mature pollen grains. Expression analysis of two cell wall (OSINV1, 4) and one vacuolar (OSINV2) acid invertase genes showed that OSINV4 is anther-specific and down-regulated by cold treatment. OSINV4 is transiently expressed in the tapetum cell layer at the YM stage, and later from the early binucleate stage in the maturing microspores. The down-regulation of OSINV4 expression in the tapetum at YM may cause a disruption in hexose production and starch formation in the pollen grains. In a cold-tolerant cultivar, OSINV4 expression was not reduced by cold; sucrose did not accumulate in the anthers and starch formation in the pollen grains was not affected.
Effect of intercropping sequence with vegetables in young mango orchard under Deccan plateau

An experiment was conducted to study the suitability and profitability of different vegetables in particular sequence as intercrop in young mango orchard. The study revealed that the growth of mango in early stages was not adversely affected by different intercrops. Among the intercrop rotations, brinjal in kharif and onion in rabi recorded highest net cost: benefit ratio. During the early age of mango tree, maximum fruit yield (10.60 kg/tree) was recorded in cowpea-potato treatment. However, the brinjal-onion rotation produced 8.03 kg fruit/tree, which was at par with the control (7.90 kg/tree).
Taxonomy of European Damaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) IV. Partial revision of Metabelba Grandjean, 1936 with proposal of one new subgenus, one new species and redescriptions of two known species

We review the current state of taxonomy of the oribatid mite genus Metabelba Grandjean, 1936 (Damaeidae) and present an amended generic diagnosis. In contrast to Subias (2004) we consider Allobelba Kunst, 1961 and Neobelba BulanovaZachvatkina, 1967 as separate genera, not subgenera of Metabelba. We consider the subgenus Metabelba (Parametabel- ba) Mihelcic, 1964, to be a nomen nudum and propose a new subgenus—Metabelba (Pateribelba) n. subg. , with type species Metabelba (Pateribelba) sphagni Strenzke, 1950—to replace it. Pateribelba n. subg. includes species of Metabelba without the propodolateral apophysis. Together with the type species, the following named species (new combinations) belong to this subgenus: Metabelba (Pateribelba) italica (Sellnick, 1931); M. (P.) romandiolae (Sellnick, 1943); M. (P.) platynotus Grandjean, 1954; M. (P.) ericius Kunst, 1957; M. (P.) rhodopeia Kunst, 1961; M. (P.) filippovi Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) flagelliseta Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) monilipeda Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) pseudoitalica Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) paraitalica Kulijev, 1967, M. (P.) glabriseta Mahunka, 1982 and M. (P.) machadoi Perez-Inigo, 1986. A new species Metabelba (Pateribelba) denscanis n. sp. is described and illustrated; it is characterized mainly by the presence of a notogastral cornicle in the adult. It was found in Central Bohemia (Czech Republic), Upper Silesia (Poland) and South Tyrol (Italy). Metabelba romandiolae and M. sphagni are redescribed and illustrated. Metabelba gladiator Mihelcic, 1963 is considered to be junior synonym of M. romandiolae. Metabelba lanceolata van der Hammen, 1952 is considered to be a junior synonym of M. sphagni. We also provide a ten-tative diagnostic key of the known species of Metabelba (Pateribelba) n. subg. , based on detailed study of available species and a review of literature data.