Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pattern of Differential Divergence Among Five Insular Species of the Aspidoscelis hyperythra Complex (Squamata: Teiidae), Baja California Sur, México

Abstract The most recent taxonomic revision of the Aspidoscelis hyperythra complex of teiid lizards from Baja California referred all peninsular populations to A. hyperythra and recognized five insular populations as species based on their diagnosability and allopatric distributions. We used multivariate analyses of seven quantitative morphological characters to determine relative distinctiveness and divergence among these populations and the four geographically closest peninsular populations of A. hyperythra. The two northernmost insular species, Aspidoscelis picta (Isla Monserrate) and Aspidoscelis carmenensis (Isla Carmen) were significantly more divergent than were Aspidoscelis danheimae (Isla San José), Aspidoscelis franciscensis (Isla San Francisco), Aspidoscelis espiritensis (Islas Espiritu Santo and Partida Sur), and peninsular samples of A. hyperythra. Divergence information from mtDNA sequence variation divided the five insular species into the same high-divergence/low-divergence groups. We present new testable hypotheses relating to relative times of colonization and peninsular location of the source population of island colonists. Resumen La revisión taxonómica más reciente del complejo Aspidoscelis hyperythra de lagartijas teidas de Baja California considera a todas las poblaciones peninsulares como A. hyperythra y reconoce cinco poblaciones insulares como especies basándose sobre en características diagnósticas y distribuciones alopátricas. Utilizamos análisis multivariado de siete características morfológicas cuantitativas para determinar la diferencia y divergencia relativas entre estas poblaciones y las cuatros poblaciones peninsulares más cercanas geográficamente de A. hyperythra. Las dos especies insulares más septentrionales, Aspidoscelis picta (Isla Monserrate) y Aspidoscelis carmenensis (Isla Carmen) fueron significativamente más divergentes que Aspidoscelis danheimae (Isla San José), Aspidoscelis franciscensis (Isla San Francisco), Aspidoscelis espiritensis (Islas Espíritu Santo y Partida Sur), y muestras peninsulares de A. hyperythra. Información sobre la divergencia de estas especies a partir de variación en las secuencias de ADN mitocondrial dividió las cinco especies insulares en los mismos grupos de alta-divergencia/baja-divergencia. Presentamos nuevas hipótesis comprobables sobre los tiempos relativos de colonización y ubicación peninsular de las poblaciones fuente que colonizaron las islas.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from a commercial cultivar of Musa acuminata

A genomic library from the commercial diploid cultivar ‘Ouro’ ( Musa acuminata ), enriched for CT- and GT-repeats, was used to isolate and characterize 23 microsatellite loci. These loci were tested in 10 Musa genotypes, representing various Musa genomic groups with distinct ploidy level. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to seven, and 20 loci were highly informative. Four loci appeared to amplify B genome-specific alleles, while three loci seemed to be absent in the B genome. The polymorphism revealed by these loci will be extremely useful for genetic mapping, marker-assisted selection, germplasm characterization and evolutionary studies in Musa .
A Geospatial Evaluation of Aedes vigilax Larval Control Efforts Across a Coastal Wetland, Northern Territory, Australia

ABSTRACT: Adjacent to the northern suburbs of Darwin is a coastal wetland that contains important larval habitats for Aedes vigilax (Skuse), the northern salt marsh mosquito. This species is a vector for Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus, as well as an appreciable human pest. In order to improve aerial larval control efforts, we sought to identify the most important vegetation categories and climatic/seasonal aspects associated with control operations in these wetlands. By using a generalized linear model to compare aerial control for each vegetation category, we found that Schoenoplectusl/mangrove areas require the greatest amount of control for tide-only events (30.1%), and also extensive control for tide and rain events coinciding (18.2%). Our results further indicate that tide-affected reticulate vegetation indicated by the marsh grasses Sporobolus virginicus and Xerochloa imberbis require extensive control for Ae. vigilax larvae after rain-only events (44.7%), and tide and rain events coinciding (38.0%). The analyses of vector control efforts by month indicated that September to January, with a peak in November and December, required the most control. A companion paper identifies the vegetation categories most associated with Aedes vigilax larvae population densities in the coastal wetland. To maximize the efficiency of aerial salt marsh mosquito control operations in northern Australia, aerial control efforts should concentrate on the vegetation categories with high larval densities between September and January.
Cold Acclimation Attributes of Two Asparagus Cultivars with Varying Patterns of Fern Senescence

Adequate winterhardiness is crucial for yield stability of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) cultivars in southern Ontario, Canada, and could be influenced by pattern of the fall fern senescence. Fern of cultivar Guelph Millennium (GM) turns yellow or senesces by mid-October, before that of cultivar Jersey Giant (JG), which often remains green until a killing frost. Early fern senescence could be a signal for cold acclimation competency and consequently winterhardiness, explaining the superior stand longevity and yield observed for GM compared with JG. Afield experiment was conducted from mid-August to November to measure physiological parameters related to cold acclimation in fern, rhizome, and storage roots. During fall, fern chlorophyll concentration, rhizome nitrogen con- centration, percent water of the crown, and storage root LT50 (temperature at which 50% cell death occurs) decreased.Cultivarsdidnotdifferforstoragerootpercentwater;however,valuesweresmaller(greaterdehydration) for GM than JG in the rhizome. At the end of the sampling period, GM had higher and lower concentrations of rhizome low-molecular-weight, non-structural carbohydrates and sucrose, respectively, than JG, which could support a hypothesis of greater winterhardiness in GM. Storage root LT50 values of -19 8C and the lack of cultivar differences for this trait, in conjunction with differences between GM and JG for rhizome traits thought to be important for freezing tolerance, suggest characteristics of the rhizome in conjunction with timing of fern senescence may be important in cold acclimation of asparagus.
The Mechanisms by Which Both Heterozygous Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) Deficiency and PPARγ Agonist Improve Insulin Resistance*

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ is a ligand-activated transcription factor and a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that is thought to be the master regulator of fat storage; however, the relationship between PPARγ and insulin sensitivity is highly controversial. We show here that supraphysiological activation of PPARγ by PPARγ agonist thiazolidinediones (TZD) markedly increases triglyceride (TG) content of white adipose tissue (WAT), thereby decreasing TG content of liver and muscle, leading to amelioration of insulin resistance at the expense of obesity. Moderate reduction of PPARγ activity by heterozygous PPARγ deficiency decreases TG content of WAT, skeletal muscle, and liver due to increased leptin expression and increase in fatty acid combustion and decrease in lipogenesis, thereby ameliorating high fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Moreover, although heterozygous PPARγ deficiency and TZD have opposite effects on total WAT mass, heterozygous PPARγ deficiency decreases lipogenesis in WAT, whereas TZD stimulate adipocyte differentiation and apoptosis, thereby both preventing adipocyte hypertrophy, which is associated with alleviation of insulin resistance presumably due to decreases in free fatty acids, and tumor necrosis factor α, and up-regulation of adiponectin, at least in part. We conclude that, although by different mechanisms, both heterozygous PPARγ deficiency and PPARγ agonist improve insulin resistance, which is associated with decreased TG content of muscle/liver and prevention of adipocyte hypertrophy.
Investigation of factors affecting xylanase activity from Trichoderma harzianum 1073 D3

In this study, some physiological conditions affecting the activity of xylanase enzyme produced from Trichoderma harzianum 1073 D3 were determined. In addition, stabilization of pH and temperature in liquid and semi-solid state cultivation media were investigated. It was concluded that for maximum xylanase activity, incubation at 60°C in an enzyme incubation medium with pH 5 that contained 1 % xylan was appropriate. The stability studies showed that the enzyme was relatively stable in the pH range 3-7 and retained more than 50 % of its original activity after four months.
LATITUDINAL VARIATION IN THE DEFINITIVE PREBASIC MOLT OF YELLOW WARBLERS

Abstract We compared the definitive prebasic molt schedules of Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) at two northern temperate breeding sites: the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (Vermont) in Woodstock, Vermont, and North Point (James Bay) on the southwestern coast of James Bay, Ontario. The two sites are separated by 8° of latitude. Yellow Warblers initiated molt significantly earlier in Vermont than at James Bay, with respective mean onset dates of 29 June and 20 July, but durations and rates of molt did not differ significantly between populations at the two sites. Mean individual molt durations spanned 44.5 days in Vermont and 40.0 days at James Bay. Molt rate of females differed significantly between the two sites, but male rates were similar. Based on number of primaries growing simultaneously, Yellow Warblers in both Vermont and James Bay appear to undergo a rapid and intense molt. The earlier and slightly more protracted molt of Yellow Warblers in Vermont may result from their earlier spring arrival and longer breeding season.
Microhabitat Models of Large Drift‐Feeding Brown Trout in Three New Zealand Rivers

Abstract We examined summer habitat use by 189 drift-feeding brown trout Salmo trutta, 45–65 cm long (fork length), by measuring substrate, depth, mean velocity, focal point velocity use, and adjacent velocity into which fish were feeding in three New Zealand rivers. We compared habitat used with habitat available (simulated by hydraulic modeling), and we derived habitat use, habitat preference, and logistic regression models of habitat selection. Focal points usually were associated with large substrate components including bedrock projections, boulders, and large cobbles. Depths between 0.67 and 0.86 m were most commonly used by brown trout but the preferred depth was 1.0 m. Mean velocities between 0.38 and 0.48 m/s were the most commonly used, but preferred mean velocities were 0.05 m/s higher. Optimal focal point velocities, 0.19–0.28 m/s, were lower than mean velocities. Vertical and lateral velocity shears were calculated as measures of the velocity differentials over which fish were feeding. The ve.
Timing of high temperature influences chilling negation in dormant apple trees

Additional index words. Malus domestics, budbreak, root growth Abstract. Budbreak and root and shoot extension growth of apple trees (Malus domestics Borkh. MM.111) were affected by exposure to 500 hours of higher temperatures (15, 20, or 30C) during the first, second, or third 500 hours of a 1500-hour, 5C chilling period. Exposure to 15C during the third 500 hours had a significantly positive effect on budbreak, 20C at this time had no effect, and all other treatments had a negative effect on budbreak and new root and shoot growth. A negative accumulation factor was included in the tree fruit chilling model developed by Richardson et al. (1974) for tem- peratures > 14C because they found that exposure to tempera- tures above this point reversed the chilling effects. Since then the negation of chilling by high temperatures has been studied in detail for peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. ). It has been demonstrated that 8-h interruptions at 24C with 16 h at 6C resulted in complete negation of chilling in peach (Erez et al., 1979a). Also, they found that the high-temperature interruption had to exceed 4 h to have a negating effect (Couvillon and Erez, 1985), and the negation by high temperature only occurred dur- ing the first two-thirds of the chilling period (Couvillon and Erez, 1985). However, I found no work describing chilling ne- gation by high temperatures in apple, either related to temper- ature or timing. In addition, because new root growth in apple is enhanced by chilling (Young and Werner, 1985 b), high-tem- perature interruptions may also have an effect on root growth. The study described here was done to determine the effective- ness of various temperatures and of timing on high-temperature negation of chilling and its effect on apple budbreak and growth of new shoots and roots.
Components of Variance Associated with Service Sire for Milk Yield and Reproductive Traits

Abstract The association of service sire or sire of fetus with three milk yield traits and two reproductive intervals were investigated. Two procedures for estimation of variance components, Henderson's Method 1 and Method 3, were applied to a model of herd-year-season, sire of cow, and service sire. Analyses were for sire of calf born to initiate second lactation and service sire of the cow in second lactation. About 11,000second lactation records on Holstein cows were available after editing for breeding and calving dates. Service sires and sires of cows were required to be in artificial insemination. Estimates by Method 1 for gestation length and days open were 6.0% and −. 2% of total variance for sire of calf and 1.0% and 5.4% for service sire in second lactation. Method 1 estimates were consistently larger than Method 3 for milk yield. Variance components expressed as percent of total variance for mature equivalent milk yield in 305 days, 150-day milk yield, and milk yield in remaining days of lactation were 2.7%, 3.1%, and 1.7% for sire of calf and 2.7%, 3.8%, and 1.3% for service sire in second lactation. These same components from Method 3 were . 8%, . 4%, . 8%, and 1.0%, 1.6%, . 6%. The differences in estimates may reflect nonrandom use of service sires across herd-year-seasons and sires of cows. About 1% of variance in milk yield was associated with service sires.
Efficacy of Moxidectin Against Toxocara Canis In Experimentally Infected Dogs

In this study, 6 six-week-old puppies born of a stray bitch were used. Four of them were 5 kg, one of them 7 kg and the last 8 kg. Before egg inoculation, fecal examination by flotation technique showed that the animals had no helminth infection. Each puppy was infected orally with 150 embriyonated Toxocara canis eggs. When the egg first seen in their faeces after inoculation, Moxidectin (Cytectin 1% inj) at a dose of 0.2 mg/kgbw was given subcutaneously. Fecal examinations were performed by flotation technique, on day-0 (treatment day), day-7, day-14 and day-21, and EPG values were calculated on the same days. Three dogs which had died of a viral infection at the 15 th day of the experiment were necropsied and their intestines were examined for the adult stage of T. canis On fecal examination, no egg was found on posttreatment days (on days 7, 14, 21) and no adult parasite was seen at necropsy. Based on these findings, Moxidectin was found 100% effective against the adult stage of Toxocara canis. Between 4th and 12th hours after treatment, temporary side effects such as edematous swellings on face and pruritic erythematous dermatitis on the abdominal and inguinal regions were seen in four animals. It was noticed that the animals showed side effect were 2-3 kg less than others.
Untersuchungen zum Einfluß einer variierten Phosphorversorgung auf den P‐Umsatz und die endogene P‐Ausscheidung beim wachsenden Geflügel mit Hilfe von 32P

Zusammenfassung In zwei Versuchsdurchgangen wurden mannliche Mastkuken vom 10. bis 29. Lebenstag in Einzelhaltung mit vier verschiedenen Futtermischungen ad libitum ernahrt, die sich ausschlieslich in Art und Menge des Phosphor-Gehaltes unterschieden. Die Versuchsfuttermischungen bestanden aus einer Grunddiat mit 0,32% P in TS (Gruppe IV), wahrend in den restlichen Behandlungen eine Supplementierung auf 0,65% P mittels Monocalcium-Phosphat (Gruppe I), MCP plus Natriumphytat zu gleichen Teilen (Gruppe II) bzw. Natriumphytat allein (Gruppe III) vorgenommen wurde. Das nicht supplementierte Versuchsfutter enthielt ausschlieslich anorganisches Phosphat. Mittels CaCO3 wurde ein einheitliches Ca: P-Gewichtsverhaltnis von 1,6:1 eingestellt. Am 14. Lebenstag erhielten die Kuken eine Injektion von 32P-Natrium-Phos-phat-Losung in den rechten Oberschenkel (1.480 kBq). Der P-Ansatz im wachsenden Kukenkorper wurde mit Hilfe der vergleichenden Schlachtkorper-Untersuchung errechnet. Neben dem Phosphor-Ansatz wurde die endogene Phosphor-Ausscheidung uber Kot und Harn nach der Isotopen-Verdunnungsmethode bestimmt. Aus dem Ansatz und aus der endogenen Exkretion konnte die umgesetzte Phosphor-Menge im Tierkorper bezeichnet werden. Die Untersuchungen erbrachten folgende Ergebnisse: 1. Menge und Bindungsform des Nahrungs-Phosphors bestimmen sowohl die Exkretionsrate fur den endogenen Stoffwechsel-Phosphor unter besonderer Berucksichtigung des Harnes als auch den Ansatz im Tierkorper. 2. Bei hoheren Gehalten an anorganischem Phosphor in der Diat nimmt bei gleichem Gesamt-P-Gehalt des Futters der P-Umsatz im Tierkorper und die endogene Exkretion uber Kot und Harn zu. 3. Der Einflus der Bindungsform fur den Nahrungsphosphor auf die endogenen Exkretions-mechanismen ist groser als der Einflus der Gesamt-P-Menge im Futter. 4. Die vergleichende endogene P-Exkretion in den vier Behandlungen verhalt sich wie 100 zu 67 zu 34,7 zu 14,7, die vergleichende Umsetzbarkeit des Nahrungs-Phosphors wie 100 zu 72 zu 36 zu 59. 5. Von der gesamten umgesetzten Phosphor-Menge im Stoffwechsel werden 29%, 34%, 35% bzw. 64% angesetzt. 6. Das Verhaltnis von Ansetzbarkeit zu endogener Exkretierbarkeit des absorbierten Nahrungsphosphors kann bei den vier Behandlungsgruppen mit 0,41 — 0,52 — 0,54 bzw. mit 1,78 angegeben werden.
Liver and plasma lipids of spawning burbot

Levels of liver and plasma lipids of the burbot Lota Iota were highest before reproduction and decreased during and after spawning. Triacylglycerols accounted for 95% of the liver lipids. High concentrations of leptin-immunoreactive peptide were present in the burbot liver, suggesting that it may be secreted by this organ.
Effect of Temperature on the Behavioural and Physiological Responses of Catfish, Mystus gulio (Hamilton)

Fish have long been valued as excellent indicator of water quality. Each type of fish has its own fatal temperature, the temperature at which it will suffer heat death. Rapid temperature changes produce thermal shock or stress. In the present study, the catfish Mystus gulio (Hamilton) was exposed to different temperature treatments i.e. 2 0, 25, 28, 30 and 35°C and the b ehavioural, biochemical and physiological responses were observed on 24, 48, 78 and 96 hrs of continuous exposure. At higher temperature of exposure, M.gulio showed an increase in opercular beats and the number of visits to the surface per hour while the oxygen consumption rate, the time taken for asphyxiation, tissue protein and tissue glycogen showed a decrease. The amount of tissue glycogen in M.gulio after 24 hrs of exposure to the temperatures, 20, 25, 28, 30 and 35°C were 3.25, 3.10, 2.85, 2.65 and 2.50 mg/g respectively. The f ish also exhi bited the f ollowing be havioural changes, fast jerky movements, turning upsi de d own, restlessness and erratic movements. However, the fish in the room temperatures, i.e., 28°C did not show much variation in their activities.
Compatibility of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) with Pesticides and Plant Growth Regulators Used in Glasshouse Plant Production

Compatibility of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae Filipjev with 17 different pesticides and three plant growth regulators, recommended for drench application in glasshouses, was evaluated. The products tested were two biofungicides, Streptomyces griseoviridis (Mycostop) and Trichoderma harzianum (Rootshield), nine chemical fungicides, iprodione (Chipco 26GT), thiophanate-methyl (Fungo Flo 4.5F), azoxystrobin (Heritage), fludioxonil (Medallion), flutolanil (Prostar), mefenoxam (SudDue Maxx 21.3ME), PCNB (Terraclor 400F), triflumizole (Terraguard), and etridiazole (Terrazole), two bioinsecticides, spinosad (Conserve SC) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Gnatrol), three chemical insecticides diflubenzuron (Adept IGR), acephate (Orthene), and fenoxycarb (Precision 25WP), one herbicide, clethodim (Envoy) and three plant growth regulators, ancymidol (A-Rest), paclobutrazol (Bonzi), and uniconazole-P (Sumagic). Infective juvenile nematodes were exposed to each product at the highest recommended concentration in 24-well plates at 22°C. Observations on the viability and infectivity of the nematodes were made at 4, 24, and 72 h after exposure. We found that S. feltiae is compatible with the majority of the tested formulations with no loss in viability and infectivity up to 24 h of exposure. The viability of S. feltiae was more than 80% in all the products even after 72 h of exposure. Three pesticide formulations, Prostar (1%), Gnatrol (9%), and Terrazole (10%) decreased the viability of S. feltiae significantly within 24 h compared to the controls. However, during the 24 to 72 hr incubation period, eight pesticides affected the viability of S. feltiae with Gnatrol and Terrazole causing the highest decrease (17% and 15%, respectively). Only Terrazole decreased the infectivity of S. feltiae to Galleria mellonella larvae compared to the control when tested after 24 h exposure. At 72 hr, Orthene and Terrazole caused significant decrease in the infectivity of S. feltiae (10% and 15%, respectively) and Gnatrol caused a significant increase in the infectivity (11%) compared to the control. Our results suggest that S. feltiae can be tank-mixed and applied in combination with all the tested formulations, except Terrazole.
Some important physiological selection criteria for salt tolerance in plants

Summary Undoubtedly, plant breeders have made a significant achievement in the past few years, improving salinity tolerance in a number of potential crops using artificial selection and conventional breeding approaches, although molecular biology approaches are currently being intensively pursued for achieving this goal. However, most of the selection procedures used so far, were based merely on differences in agronomic characters. Agronomic characters represent the combined genetic and environmental effects on plant growth, and include the integration of the physiological phenomena conferring salinity tolerance. In fact, physiological criteria are able to supply more reliable information than agronomic characters. Although there are large numbers of reports in the literature mainly dealing with water relations, photosynthesis, and accumulation of various inorganic ions and organic metabolites in individual crops, there is little information available on the use of these attributes as selection criteria for improving salt tolerance through selection and breeding programs. In this review, the major adaptive components of salt tolerance such as osmotic adjustment, photosynthesis, water relations and ion relations are reviewed. In view of the complexity of salt tolerance and its great variation at intra-specific and inter-specific levels, it is difficult to identify single criteria, which could be used as effective selection targets. Rather it is most meaningful if physiological and biochemical indicators for individual species are determined rather than generic indicators.