Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AVIAN COMMUNICATION IN URBAN NOISE: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF VOCAL ADJUSTMENT

SUCCESSFUL ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION requires that sounds propagate through the environment between the sender and receiver; vocalizations that transmit effectively in the habitat in which they are used are favored by natural selection. This "acoustic adaptation" hypothesis (Morton 1975, Wiley and Richards 1978, Richards and Wiley 1980, Ryan and Brenowitz 1985) laid the groundwork for the "sensory drive" concept (Endler 1992), which describes how environment affects the evolution of sensory systems and signals in all modalities. By allowing us to examine animal signals as adaptations shaped by selection, this framework has lead to a greater understanding of the bewildering diversity of animal signals. One of the environmental factors that exerts selection pressure on acoustic signals is ambient noise (Ryan and Brenowitz 1985). To elicit a response from a receiver, signals must be detectable in background noise; the detectability of a signal is determined by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the masked auditory detection threshold of the receiver (Marten and Marler 1977, Brenowitz 1982, Dooling 2004). Within a given frequency band, signals with an SNR below the detection threshold of the receiver are "masked. " Background noise thus plays a fundamental role in determining which "receivers" can hear a vocalization and the fidelity of the signal received. Noise varies among locations, and there is evidence that many species have evolved signals that maximize the habitat-specific SNR (reviewed in Brumm and Slabbekoorn 2005). For birds in and around urban areas and roads, the background noise is largely anthropogenic. Urban development
The quantity and quality of methanogenic microorganisms based on rRNA analysis and their relation to methane production.

Biogas plants continuously convert biological wastes mainly into a mixture of methane, CO2 and H2O a conversion that is carried out by a consortium of bacteria and archaea. The microbial community structure of the fermentation process was evaluated by using oligonucleotide probes complementary to conserved sequences of the 16S rRNAs of phylogenetically defined groups of methanogens. At the beginning of fermentation, Eubacteria are the main group and the count of Archaea then constitutes only an insignificant percentage of the population of microorganisms. During the process of fermentation, we recorded a very significant increase in methanogenic microorganisms after 40 days of the process in progress. It is reflected in the quantity and the composition of released biogas.
Reinstatement of the Genus Stigmaeopsis Banks, with Descriptions of Two New Species (Acari, Tetranychidae)

Abstract The genus Stigmaeopsis Banks is reinstated with characteristic morphology on distal segment of palpus. Two new species, Stigmaeopsis saharai n. sp. and S. takahashii n. sp. , are collected from Hokkaido and described. Five species previously known as celarius species group in Schizotetranychus are moved to Stigmaeopsis. Descriptions are supported by illustrations and scanning electron micrographs.
Morphological Studies on the Postnatal Development of the Gut-associated Lymphoid Tissues of the Rabbit Cecum

The macroscopic, morphometric, light and scanning electron microscopic structure of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of cecum were studied in the rabbits aged from birth to 16 weeks. The GALT were formed of lymph follicles covered by low columnar epithelium containing intraepithelial lymphocytes and leukocytes. They were concentrated at the ileocecal entrance (ileocecal patch) and in the blind end of the cecum vermiform appendix. In the ileocecal patch, GALT were in direct contact with the lumen, while those of the appendix were covered by the interval intestinal villi in young rabbits and mucosal folds in the adult rabbits. The lymphoid follicles of the ileocecal patch were composed of dome region and germinal center and were separated by narrow inter-follicular areas. Whereas, the lymphoid follicles of the appendix were composed dome region and germinal center in the newly born rabbits and up to the 2nd week of age, the follicles became composed of four different sites: dome region, germinal center, coronal area, and a wide interfollicular area between neighboring follicles. Morphometrically; the dimensions of the lymphoid follicles of the cecal GALT increased in size with the advancement of the age. By SEM the lymphoid structures covered with special epithelium consisted of two types of cell absorptive enterocytes and M cells. The M cells in the cecal patch were microvilliated and present on the tips and sides of the dome lymphoid regions while in the appendix were non-microvilliated and present only on the sides of the dome regions.
Sexual difference in the photoperiodic induction of pupal diapause in the flesh fly Sarcophaga similis

The flesh fly Sarcophaga similis enters pupal diapause in response to short days, but averts diapause under long days. This species shows a sexual difference in the photoperiodic induction of diapause, with females having shorter critical daylength than males. Here, we proposed two hypotheses to explain this sexual difference. First, we proposed a sexual difference in the qualitative evaluation of photoperiods. This hypothesis assumes under the external coincidence model that although the photoinducible phase of both sexes locates at late scotophase, in males, it locates at a slightly earlier phase. However, the results of night interruption experiments clearly ruled out this hypothesis. Because we verified that S. similis evaluated photoperiods quantitatively, we next proposed a sexual difference in the quantitative evaluation of photoperiods. This hypothesis incorporates concepts of a hypothetical substance accumulation that shows a diapause‐inducing effect and an internal threshold that serves as a reference to determine the diapause/nondiapause developmental program. In long‐day exposure experiments and night interruption experiments, females consistently showed a lower incidence of diapause than males. Thus, the present study data satisfactorily meet the second hypothesis, that is a sexual difference in the quantitative evaluation of photoperiods exists in S. similis.
The Influence of Nitrogen Application Timing and Rate on Volunteer Corn Interference in Hybrid Corn

Abstract Volunteer corn (VC) in hybrid corn has become more prevalent in recent years and can reduce grain yield. Nitrogen (N) management can influence VC interference in corn. Field experiments were established to determine the effects of N fertilizer management and VC interference on hybrid corn growth and grain yield. Treatments consisted of three VC densities (control, 0 plants m−2; low density, 1 plant m−2; high density, 4 plants m−2) and six N fertilizer treatments (0 kg N ha−1, 67 kg N ha−1 at planting, 67 kg N ha−1 at planting + 133 kg N ha−1 at V5 corn growth stage, 67 kg N ha−1 at planting + 133 kg N ha−1 at V10 corn growth stage, 200 kg N ha−1 at V5 corn growth stage, and 200 kg N ha−1 at V10 corn growth stage). The effect of VC on hybrid corn was dependent on N rate. When 200 kg N ha−1 was applied, regardless of application timing, hybrid corn dry weight, hybrid corn N content, and hybrid corn grain yield were reduced by the high VC density. However, when VC grain yield was added to hybrid corn grain yield, VC density did not affect total grain yield. When 0 and 67 kg N ha−1 were applied, neither hybrid corn dry weight nor hybrid corn N content was affected by either VC density, but the high VC density reduced hybrid corn grain yield for both N rates by 19% and total grain yield by 9 and 10%, respectively. Application timing of N fertilizer had no effect on hybrid corn dry weight, N content, or grain yield. However, late N fertilizer applications (200 kg N ha−1 at V10 and 67 kg N ha−1 at planting +133 kg N ha−1 at V10) resulted in greater VC N content, VC grain yield, and total yield. Assuming the harvestability of VC, the ability of a late N treatment (V10) to maximize total grain yield allows growers to use a late N application to reduce the competitive effects of VC in hybrid corn. Nomenclature: Corn, Zea mays L.
Adaptive learning in the foraging behavior of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis

Arthropod learning in the context of food acceptance and choice is commonly assumed to be adaptive but documentation of the adaptive value is scarce and lacking for true predators. We examined learning in juveniles of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis, which has a feeding preference for herbivorous spider mites but may use conspecific larvae as alternative prey. Adult predator females that had experienced conspecific larvae as prey during their juvenile phase attacked conspecific prey earlier than naive predator females did. Shorter latency to attack of adult females did not depend on the length of exposure to alternative prey in the juvenile phase (24 h or whole juvenile phase). Experience decreased the predation rates of adult females but enhanced their survival chances when feeding on the alternative prey. The suggested proximate cause for enhanced survival of experienced females was greater energetic efficiency in foraging as compared with naive females. Experience resulted in faster prey recognition and acceptance (indicated by shorter latency to attack) increasing prey profitability, and optimized daily predation rates. Ultimately, juvenile learning allows P. persimilis to better cope with shortage of the innately preferred spider mite prey. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Competition and productivity in crop mixtures: some properties of productive intercrops

Inverse yield–density relationships were used to evaluate how competitive balances in mixed plant species associations may influence productivity, as measured by three indices : Relative Yield Total (RYT), Relative Land Output (RLO), and Total Land Output (TLO). Parameters of the inverse relationships, which express competitive influences and plant growth potential in the absence of competition, were incorporated into expressions used to predict RYT, RLO and TLO. Initial parameter values were derived from 25 experiments on binary species mixtures, and parameter values were systematically varied over a 100-fold range. Response to parameter manipulation was also investigated in five specific binary associations representing a broad range of relative mixture productivity. As indicated by RLO or RYT, and in accord with ecological concepts of niche differentiation, high productivity of mixtures relative to monocultures occurred if between-species competition was low. As indicated by TLO, the total combined productivity of the mixed species was enhanced by higher potential growth per plant in the absence of competition. Lower within- and between-species competition also increased TLO. There was a significant positive correlation between RYT and RLO. Relative and total measures of mixture productivity, however, showed different responses to parameter manipulation, and were not correlated.
Variation in the δ13C of foliage of Pinus sylvestris L. in relation to climate and additions of nitrogen: analysis of a 32‐year chronology

We report an analysis of both the long‐ and short‐term drivers of the carbon (C) isotope composition (δ13C) values of current year needles of Pinus sylvestris L. linked to changing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations (ca) and climate using data from a uniquely long‐term nitrogen (N) fertilization experiment in the north of Sweden (consisting of three N dosage levels and a control treatment) from 1970 until 2002. N loading produced trees with less negative δ13C of foliage, by around 0.45‰ on average, with the difference in δ13C between control and N treatments not dependant upon N dosage. The average δ13C values decreased at a rate of around 0.03‰ yr−1, even after accounting for the Suess effect (the decrease in the atmospheric CO2δ13C due to anthropogenic emissions of isotopically light CO2). This decrease is large enough to cause a significant, progressive change in the δ13C down through a soil profile. Modelled values of plant intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) and the ratio of leaf internal to external [CO2] (ci/ca) showed that this was the result of ci increasing in parallel with ca (while ci/ca increased), thus causing little change in WUEi over the 32 years of study. The residuals from the relationships between year and δ13C were used to examine the impact of climate on the interannual variation of C isotope composition of needles. This included the use of a fire hazard index (FHI) model, which integrates climatic factors known to influence plant stomatal conductance and hence δ13C. The FHI produced the best fit with δ13C values when climate data were averaged over the whole growth season (for control plots) and for July for all the N treatments, explaining ca. 60% of the total interannual variation in δ13C. Further, trees from the N treatments appeared more susceptible to air‐humidity‐based climate parameters, as seen from higher correlation coefficients, than were control trees. Thus, our data suggest the possibility of increased susceptibility to drought conditions in ecosystems with moderate to high N deposition rates. Also, there is the possibility that, because there was no apparent change in WUEi of P. sylvestris in this ecosystem over the last 32 years, the rate of sequestration of C into boreal ecosystems may not increase with ca, as has been predicted.
Detection of epistatic, additive and dominance variation in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Three testers, Neelum, LHCK 222 and their hybrid Neelum X LHCK 222, were crossed to ten strains/varieties of linseed to detect the presence of epistatic, additive and dominance variation. Modified triple test-cross analysis was done for nine metric traits. Epistasis did not affect any of these traits. An additive-dominance model was fitted to all the traits. Both additive and dominance gene actions were found significant. However, additive gene action was predominant than dominance. Partial dominance was observed for all the traits studied.
High level of copper application to soil and leaves reduce the growth and yield of tomato plants

Copper-containing fertilizers, fungicides and bactericides are extensively used in greenhouses in Turkey. Informations on effects of these applications to plants are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of Cu application to a calcareous soil and to leaves on the yield and growth of tomato plants. Cu was first applied to soil as CuSO4.5H2O in three different levels (0, 1000, and 2000 mg Cu kg-1) and then to leaves in three different frequencies (no application, biweekly and weekly) using two cupric fungicides (Cu oxychloride, and Cu salts of fatty and rosin acids) in pot experiments carried out in a computer-controlled greenhouse. Total yield, fruit number, dry root weight and plant height decreased with increasing Cu application to soil. Increasing levels of Cu applied to soil and leaves resulted in decreasing final fruit number, dry root weight and plant height in 4th, 5th and 6th weeks. Combined applications of Cu to soil and leaves could be more deleterious to plants than when Cu is applied only to soil or leaves.
Classification and Interpretation of the Established Mediterranean Biocoenoses Based Solely on Bivalve Molluscs

Based on the bivalve fauna known from an extensively studied zone, along the infralittoral in the Patras Gulf, a biotope approach was attempted using numerical taxonomy methods. The efficiency of various combinations of similarity measures and clustering techniques is discussed for this type of data (single group – binary). Four main station groups were delimited which were further assigned to the biotopes of known Mediterranean biocoenoses. The four groups correspond to: (a) the biotope of the Posidonia beds (HP) and that of coarse sands and fine gravels under the influence of bottom currents (SGCF). The limits of these two biocoenoses are not clear-cut, (b) The biotope of the coastal detritic bottoms (DC) usually occurring in deeper areas but met in the infralittoral under environmental stress, (c) A transitional zone where degenerating Posidonia meadows are gradually replaced by Cymodocea and Zostera, facies of the muddy sand in sheltered areas biocoenoses (SVMC). This degradation can be attributed to various disturbing factors including natural environmental changes, (d) The biotope of fine well-sorted sands (SFBC). A typical malacofauna is present with the addition of some species. Regardless of the differences, Pérès & Picard's (1964) scheme is more appropriate in the Mediterranean ecosystems than any other northern European scheme.
Analysis and production of two exopolysaccharides from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris LC330

SUMMARY Two polysaccharides produced concurrently by Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strain LC330 have been identified. One had a high molecular mass (> 1 × 106 Da) and was neutral. The second was smaller (∼ 10000 Da), charged and had a high phosphorus content. Sugar composition also differed. In chemostat culture the neutral polysaccharide was influenced by temperature and by nitrogen limitation. This polysaccharide was branched with terminal galactose moieties and contained galactose, glucose and glucosamine. The phosphopolysaccharide was more complex with glucose, rhamnose, galactose and glucosamine in an approximate ratio of 6:5:4:1.
Assessment of direct seeded and transplanting methods of rice cultivars in the northern part of Iran

2 , seed/panicle, and 1000 grain weight), plant height, panicle length, and total tiller were significant, while the effect of cultivation method was significant on the rest of the traits except for grain weight. The largest and least number of seed/panicle was obtained under interaction effect of transplanting method of "Hybrid Spring 1" and direct seeded method as distribution of "Ali Kazemi", respectively. Plant height in hill method of "Hybrid Spring 1" and transplanting method of "Hashemi" appeared to be the highest and lowest, respectively. The largest and least number of tillers and fertile tillers were obtained in direct seeded method of "Hybrid Spring 1" and transplanting method of "Hashemi", respectively. The yield across different varieties was not significant, while different cultivation methods were significant. The most and least yield was seen in transplanting and hill methods, respectively. Yield amount was significant between transplanting and linear methods, but because of 20 to 30% reduction in production cost due to the omission of seedling and transplanting operations, as well as reduction in the length of crop cultivation period in direct seeded method that caused conserved water and energy, a little reduction in direct seeded method will be compensating. Thus, direct seeded method as linear is introduced as an economical method for rice production in this area and "Hybrid Spring 1" has the better compatibility to this method than other varieties.
Development of a SNP genetic marker system based on variation in microsatellite flanking regions of Phytophthora infestans

Abstract A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based molecular marker system for the oomycete pathogen causing late blight on solanaceous hosts, Phytophthora infestans, was developed by identifying sequence polymorphisms in microsatellite flanking regions (MFRs). MFRs were identified using the complete genome sequence for this pathogen and SNP rates were assessed by sequencing a total of 14 000 bases from 32 MFRs across a diverse international panel of 32 isolates. SNP rates were highly variable among loci, with nucleotide diversity ranging from a low of zero to a high of 0.013 (one change per 78 bp) and an average across all scorable loci (n = 28) of 0.0023 (one change per 426 bp). Nucleotide diversity estimates are highly conservative due to strict objective scoring rules used when calling SNPs. Overall, 102 SNPs were scored using objective criteria (versus 167 as scored by eye), and could distinguish all isolates in the panel, with pairwise per cent similarity between isolates varying from 58.5% to 99.4%. Observed and expected heterozygosities at most SNP sites were similar. The utility of a ‘straincode’ for strain typing based on up to 19 unlinked SNPs was investigated. The probability of identity was very low (PI = 3.5 × 10−6) when all 19 SNPs were included; however, to achieve probabilities of identity of about 1% and 0.1%, only four and seven loci were needed, respectively. The approach needs to be assessed with larger panels of isolates, but results suggest that MFRs and SNPs are a largely untapped source of useful sequence polymorphisms for strain typing of microbes and that their utility could extend to ecological and evolutionary research, especially with high throughput sequence-based technologies.
Detection of vanC1 and vanC2 Genes in an Enterococcal Isolate and vanC Genes in non-Motile Enterococcus spp.

Background: In recent decades, bacterial antibiotic resistance (especially in enterococci) has become a significant problem for human and veterinary medicine. One of the most important antibiotic resistances in enterococci, vancomycin resistance, is encoded by van gene family. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate antibiotic resistance to vancomycin in enterococci and the genes responsible for this resistance. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and thirty enterococcal isolates from pigs (207 isolates), chickens (15 isolates) and humans (eight isolates) were phenotypically and genotypically tested for resistance to vancomycin by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The van genes were confirmed by gene sequencing. Results: Of the total isolates, 19% were phenotypically resistant to vancomycin, while nearly 15% contained either vanC1 or vanC2 gene. One resistant E. casseliflavus isolate with pig origin (MIC > 8 μg/mL) contained both vanC1 and vanC2 genes. Furthermore, one vanC1 was found in a sensitive E. faecalis isolate of pig origin (MIC ≤ 4 μg/mL) and one vanC2 in a resistant E. faecium isolate of chicken origin (MIC > 32 μg/mL). These genes were not accompanied by other van genes. Other detected genes were vanA in 11 E. faecium isolates of chicken origin (MIC > 32 μg/mL). No vanB genes were found. Gene sequencing results showed 100% identity with GenBank reference genes. Conclusions: The current report is the first report on the detection of vanC1 and vanC2 genes in one enterococcal species with pig origin. This report is important as it proves the horizontal transfer of various vanC genes to one species possibly due to the compatibility class of plasmids. Furthermore, detection of vanC genes in E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates is important as it suggests that resistance to vancomycin in non-motile enterococci can be encoded by several mechanisms.
Valine requirement of postlarval tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius

The valine requirement of juvenile tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, was determined. Shrimp postlarvae, PL20, with a mean weight of 14 mg, were randomly distributed in 36 oval 40-L capacity fibreglass tanks at 10 shrimp per tank in a flow-through seawater system and reared for 8 weeks. Postlarvae were fed amino acid test diets containing 400 g kg−1 protein with casein and gelatine as intact sources of protein. Crystalline L-amino acids were supplemented to simulate the amino acid profile of the shrimp muscle except valine. Valine was added in graded levels to obtain 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22 g kg−1 of the diet or 18, 25, 33, 40, 48 and 55 g kg−1 of dietary protein. At termination of the feeding experiment, growth and survival were determined and nutritional deficiency signs noted. The relationship between weight gain and dietary valine level was analysed by the broken-line regression method to derive the valine requirement. The dietary valine requirement of Penaeus monodon postlarvae was found to be 13.5 g kg−1 of the diet or 34 g kg−1 of dietary protein. This value was lower than the level found in the shrimp tissue.