Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Variation in Movements, Home Range, and Habitat Use by Male Vipera latastei in Northern Portugal

Abstract Snakes usually exhibit seasonal variations in movement patterns, home-range size and habitat use. This study evaluates the seasonal variation in movement rates, home-range size, habitat use, and microhabitat use by male Lataste's Vipers (Vipera latastei) in northern Portugal using radio-telemetry. Estimates of movement rate revealed short movements (5.4 m/day) and small home range size (0.24 ha) throughout the year, except in September when there was an increase in both movement rates (21.5 m/day) and home-range size (1.52 ha). Male vipers used different habitats and microhabitats during the year: forested areas for hibernation, open forest with bushes for foraging, and in the proximity of water in the summer.
New records from the ponto-azov region demonstrate the invasive potential of mytilopsis leucophaeata (conrad, 1831) (bivalvia: Dreissenidae)

Alexander V. Zhulidov1, Alexander V. Kozhara2, Gerard van der Velde3,4, Rob S. E. W. Leuven5, Daniel A. Zhulidov1, Tatiana Yu. Gurtovaya1, Thomas F. Nalepa6,7 and Vicente J. R. Santiago-Fandino8 CPPI-S South Russian Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, 200/1 Stachki av. , Office 301, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia; IBIW RAS Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, 152742 Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia; Department of Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Emeritus), 2205 Commonwealth Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1593, USA; Water Center, Graham Sustainability Institute, U-M University of Michigan, 625 E. Liberty, Suite 300, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA; and Environmental Advisor, El Curbiellu 28; Peon 33314, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
Phylogeny of the intertidal aleocharine tribe Liparocephalini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The tribe Liparocephalini (genera Liparocephalus Mäklin, 1853;Diaulota Casey, 1893 [ = Genoplectes Sawada, 1955];Paramblopusa Ahn & Ashe, Amblopusa Casey, 1893;Salinamexus Moore & Legner, 1977 [ = Biophytosus Moore & Legner, 1977]), all of which are exclusively restricted to the Pacific coasts of the Holarctic Region, is hypothesized to be a monophyletic group based on the following synapomorphies: seta v absent (inferred to be lost) from mentum (reversed one time in the Liparocephalus lineage), setae distributed only on mesal surface of galea and apex with setae, one medial seta present on prementum, and contiguous mesocoxal cavities. Natural history and history of the classification of the Liparocephalini are discussed. Phylogenetic analyses of the species of the Liparocephalini are presented based on larval (21 characters, 57 states), adult (49 characters, 115 states), and a combination of larval and adult characters (70 characters, 172 states). Analysis of the combined larval and adult data sets with successive approximation resulted in a single most parsimonious tree (length = 937, CI = 0.885, RI = 0.930) with the following patterns of generic relationships (outgroup (Salinamexus + Biophytosus (Amblopusa (Paramblopusa (Diaulota + Genoplectes, Liparocephalus))))).
Development and detection of phosphorus deficiency in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr and post-smolts

A pathological condition was induced in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. , by feeding a diet severely deficient in phosphorus. Parallel results were obtained in two consecutive experiments, one in fresh water and one in sea water. The deficiency condition was first manifest as a reduction in whole-body calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels and the development of abnormally soft and malformed bones. In later stages, growth was severely impaired and there was elevated mortality compared with fish fed a diet with sufficient phosphorus. Two semipurified casein-based test diets were used in the experiments. The low-P diet contained only the P from casein, 3.5 g kg−1 or 0.35%, whereas the reference diet was supplemented with P and contained 9.0 g kg−1 or 0.9%, The diets were fed to salmon parr in fresh water (initial weight 4.7 g) and to post-smolts in sea water (initial weight 113 g) for 12 and 15 weeks, respectively. In both experiments, the fish grew adequately for a prolonged period, whereas the whole-body Ca and P levels declined almost immediately. Within a few weeks, the whole-body P content was reduced to ≊ 65% of the initial value, and Ca to 40%. The reductions in mineral content were most severe in the mineral-rich tissues, bones and scales. On gross examination, all bony structures were abnormally soft. The ribs were wrinkly, and the spine displayed scoliotic changes. These changes were correlated to the reduction in bone mineralization, and were manifest at the time when reductions in growth rate could be noted. After the deficient fish were fed adequate levels of P for 9 weeks, their whole-body mineral levels returned to normal. The bone lesions did not heal completely during the same period of time.
Nutrition and reproduction in the ewe

1. A preliminary trial involving forty-six ewes demonstrated that when ewes in store condition were flushed for different periods, there was a marked increase in ovulation rate after 1 month with no further increase after 2 or 3 months. Flushing did not lead to ovulation rates higher than in ewes maintained in fat condition. 2. When similar ewes in fat condition were fed submaintenance diets there was no decline in ovulation rate while the animals had good body reserves, but as the period of submaintenance feeding was extended there was a gradual fall in ovulation rate. 3. In the main experiment forty-eight ewes were allocated to four groups of twelve ewes each. One group was fed a submaintenance diet till they were in moderately poor condition (submaintenance group). The other three groups were reduced to store condition and were then flushed on good pasture for 5–8 days, one oestrous cycle and two oestrous cycles, respectively. All ewes were slaughtered 2–5 days post-oestrus and half the ewes of each group were injected subcutaneously with 600 i.u. of P.m.s. on the twelfth or thirteenth day of the oestrous cycle prior to slaughter.
The host range of Fusarium virguliforme on rotational crops and common plant species and its survival and growth on crop residue.

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. March. 2010. Major: Plant Pathology. Advisors:Dean K. Malvick, James E. Kurle. 1 computer file (PDF); xix, 196 pages, appendices pages 190-196. (A1.1-A1.2)
SUBERIN AND CUTIN

INTRODUCTION DURING an investigation of the physiological role of the endodermis it became necessary to describe the composition of the radial and transverse walls of this tissue, which from an early stage in their differentiation appear relatively impermeable to water. The impermeability to water of a plant membrane seems usually to have been ascribed to the presence within it of suberin or cutin, but in using these terms the writer was very conscious of the lack of precision with which he employed them. Reference to current English text-books revealed a similar vagueness even in the most recent monographs on plant biochemistry. However, a search through the literature showed, that during the last thirty years a great deal of light had been thrown upon the subject by the research of different continental investigators. The work seems so important and so neglected in this country that it is proposed to give a brief account of it in this paper. Although this is a review of earlier work upon the subject, no lengthy bibliographical record is attempted, but reference to the papers cited will enable any reader to obtain the nucleus of an excellent bibliography. On the biochemical side Czapek's book(4), p. 695, contains a very valuable chronological summary. Here it is only possible to emphasise the most salient points in the development of our knowledge of the subject. Most of our knowledge refers to suberin which is available for study in convenient form in the shape of bottle cork, the but little altered periderm of Quercus suber. Cutin receives elucidation usually indirectly as result of the work done upon suberin. So far, those substances are rather distinguished by their position in the plant, than by their properties, suberin being formed in the periderm, cutin in the outermost layer of many epidermal walls which are thus provided with a cuticle. It will be seen from the account which follows that suberin and cutin, although still far from completely known, are names for aggregates of substance occurring in or on plant membranes and differing in their composition as well as in their distribution in the plant. The component substances of these aggregates have to some extent been
An SNP in the 5′-UTR of GDF5 is associated with osteoarthritis susceptibility in Europeans and with in vivo differences in allelic expression in articular cartilage

A compelling genetic association with osteoarthritis (OA) of a functional SNP (rs143383, T/C) in the 5'-UTR of the GDF5 gene was recently reported in case-control cohorts from Japan and China. GDF5 is a pro-chondrogenic growth factor. The T-allele frequency of the gene was elevated in cases, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.79, and in vitro functional studies demonstrated that this allele mediated a moderate but significant reduction in the activity of the GDF5 promoter in several cell lines. Our initial objective was to assess whether the SNP was also associated with OA in a broad European population by genotyping the SNP in 2487 cases and 2018 age-matched controls from the UK and Spain. The T-allele was associated with OA (P = 0.03, OR = 1.10) as was carrier status for this allele (P = 0.004, OR = 1.28), demonstrating that the SNP is associated with OA in two diverse ethnic groups, Asians and Europeans. We subsequently assessed the functional effect of the SNP on GDF5 allelic expression using RNA extracted from the cartilage of OA patients who had undergone joint-replacement surgery. The associated T-allele showed up to a 27% reduction in expression relative to the C-allele (P = 0.00007), revealing that the functional effect mediated by SNP rs143383 on GDF5 expression is active in patients who have severe disease up to the point at which they require surgery. A small but persistent imbalance of GDF5 expression throughout life therefore appears to render an individual more susceptible to OA.
REPEATABILITY OF FRUITS AND SEEDS PRODUCTION AND SELECTION OF BRAZIL NUT GENOTYPES IN NATIVE POPULATIONS IN RORAIMA

This study estimates the repeatability coefficients of two production traits in two native populations of Brazil nut trees. It determines the number of years of suitable evaluations for an efficient selection process, determines the permanent phenotypic correlation between production traits and also the selection of promising trees in these populations. Populations, located in the Ita region (ITA) and in the in the Cujubim region (CUJ), are both belonging to the municipality of Caracarai, state of Roraima - Brazil, and consist of 85 and 51 adult trees, respectively. Each tree was evaluated regarding the number of fruits per plant (NFP) and fresh seed weight per plant (SWP), for eight (ITA) and five consecutive years (CUJ). Statistical analyses were performed according to the mixed model methodology, using Software Selegen-REML/BLUP (RESENDE, 2007). The repeatability coefficients were low for NFP (0.3145 and 0.3269 for ITA and CUJ, respectively) and also for SWP (0.2957 and 0.3436 for ITA and CUJ, respectively). It on average takes nine evaluation years to reach coefficients of determination higher than 80%. Permanent phenotypic correlation values higher than 0.95 were obtained for NFP and SWP in both populations. Although trees with a high number of fruits and seed weight were identified, more evaluation years are needed to perform the selection process more efficiently.
Chromosomal diversity in the genus Microtus at its southern distributional margin in Iran

Abstract. We karyotyped six species of Microtus voles collected along the southern edge of their range in northern and western Iran. Diploid and fundamental numbers were as follows: M. socialis and M. paradoxus 2n = 62, FNa = 60, M. qazvinensis 2n = 54, FNa = 54, M. transcaspicus 2n = 52, FNa = 52, and M. mystacinus (= M. rossiaemeridionalis) 2n = 54, FNa = 54. Two cytotypes were retrieved in M. irani from its type locality: 2n = 48, FNa = 46 and 2n = 64, FNa = 62. While our results confirmed an early report of 2n = 64 for this vole, the 2n = 48 cytotype remains unexplained. Karyological variability is relatively low in social voles and chromosomal data contribute little to individual species recognition. We argue that Arvicola mystacinus De Filippi, 1865, described from Lar Valley (northeast of Tehran) is the oldest available name for 2n = 54 voles with the following synonyms: M. subarvalis Meyer, Orlov & Skholl, 1969, M. epiroticus Ondrias, 1966, and M. rossiaemeridionalis Ognev, 1924.
A Web Server for Multi-objective Pairwise RNA Sequence Alignment with an Index for Selecting Accurate Alignments

The importance of non-coding RNAs and their informatics tools has grown for a decade due to a drastic increase of known non-coding RNAs. RNA sequence alignment is one of the most important technologies in such informatics tools. Recently, we have proposed a multi-objective genetic algorithm, Cofolga2mo, for obtaining an approximate set of weak Pareto optimal solutions for global pairwise RNA sequence alignment, where a sequence similarity and a secondary structure contribution are taken into account as objective functions. In the present study, we have developed a web server for obtaining RNA sequence alignments by Cofolga2mo and for assisting the decision making from the alignments. Furthermore, we introduced an index for reducing the number of alignments output by Cofolga2mo. As a result, we successfully reduced the maximum number of alignments for an input RNA sequence pair from fifty to ten without a significant loss of accurate alignments. By using the BRAliBase 2.1 benchmark dataset, we show that a set of alignments output by Cofolga2mo for an input RNA sequence pair, which has at most ten alignments, includes an accurate alignment compared to those of the previous mono-objective RNA sequence alignment programs.
Morphological and leaf epidermal features of some Capsicum species (Solanaceae) from Nigeria.

Investigation on the leaf epidermal morphological features was carried out on five species of the genus Capsicum in the family Solanaceae collected from different regions in the Southwestern part of Nigeria in search of taxonomic and diagnostic characters that could be employed for their classification and identification. The species are C. annuum L. , C frutescens L. , C. chinense jacq. , C. baccatum L. , and C. chacoense Hunz. All the species possessed either anomocytic or anisocytic stomata type on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces except for C. chinense which showed paracytic stomata type on both surfaces. The leaves of C. baccatum, C. annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens are amphistomatic, while that of C. chacoense are epistomatic. The similarities and overlaps observed in the cell shape, stomata index and anticlinal wall pattern of the species provide evidence for their genetic and evolutionary relationship and justification for their taxonomic grouping.
Spatial regression methods to evaluate beekeeping production in the state of Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian beekeeping has been developed from the africanization of the honeybees and its high performance launches Brazil as one of the world´s largest honey producer. The Southeastern region has an expressive position in this market (45%), but the state of Rio de Janeiro is the smallest producer, despite presenting large areas of wild vegetation for honey production. In order to analyze the honey productivity in the state of Rio de Janeiro, this research used classic and spatial regression approaches. The data used in this study comprised the responses regarding beekeeping from 1418 beekeepers distributed throughout 72 counties of this state. The best statistical fit was a semiparametric spatial model. The proposed model could be used to estimate the annual honey yield per hive in regions and to detect production factors more related to beekeeping. Honey productivity was associated with the number of hives, wild swarm collection and losses in the apiaries. This paper highlights that the beekeeping sector needs support and help to elucidate the problems plaguing beekeepers, and the inclusion of spatial effects in the regression models is a useful tool in geographical data.
The short-term effects of an extensive and high-intensity fire on vertebrates in the tropical savannas of the central Kimberley, northern Australia

We report the effects of an extensive (>7000 km 2 ), high-intensity late-dry-season fire in the central Kimberley, Western Australia, on the species richness and abundance of mammals, reptiles and birds. Five weeks after the fire we surveyed 12 sites (six burnt, six unburnt); each pair of sites was closely matched for soil type and vegetation. The species richness and abundance of mammals and reptiles was greater at unburnt sites, especially for mammals (with a 4-fold difference in abundance between burnt and unburnt sites). There was an indication that reptiles immigrated into unburnt patches, but mammals did not. There were also species-specific responses to the fire: Rattus tunneyi and Pseudomys nanus were much more abundant in unburnt sites, whereas Pseudomys delicatulus was caught in equal numbers at burnt and unburnt sites. Diurnal reptiles were more abundant at unburnt sites, but nocturnal reptiles were equally common at burnt and unburnt sites. Avian species richness and overall abundance was similar between burnt and unburnt patches, although a few species showed preferences for one state or the other. The overall high trapping success for mammals (18% across all sites; 28% in unburnt patches) contrasts with the well documented mammal collapse in parts of northern Australia and seems paradoxical given that our study area has experienced the same increase in fire frequency and extent that is often blamed for species collapse. However, our study area has fewer pressures from other sources, including grazing by large herbivores, suggesting that the effects of these pressures, and their interaction with fire, may have been underestimated in previous studies.
Influence of salinity on the germination of Iranian alfalfa ecotypes

Nineteen ecotypes of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) from Iran were evaluated for their salt tolerance based on responses of their seed germination with increasing salinity levels. Seeds of alfalfa were obtained from various parts of Iran under diverse climatic zones. The study was conducted at Putra Malaysia University during March 2008. Seeds were placed in petri dishes on filter papers immersed in solutions with six levels of salinity (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mM) using sodium chloride as the salt. Data on seed germination performance were observed over a period of 20 days. Results showed that there were significant effects of salinity levels, ecotypes, and interaction between salinity and ecotype on germination percentage, germination rate and germination index. Reactions of ecotypes to salinity levels relative to all germination parameter were variable so that there are wide ranges of salt tolerance between the ecotypes. Ecotypes originating from the arid and cold areas were more tolerant than other areas. Key words:
Effects of stabilizers and exopolysaccharides on physiochemical properties of fermented skim milk by Streptococcus thermophilus ST1

In this study, the effects of exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Streptococcus thermophilus ST1 and stabilizers on the textural and microstructural properties attributes of fermented skim milk were investigated. ST1 had a high capacity to produce acids and EPS. Within 4.5 h, the pH dropped to 4.5, the acidity reached 0.8%, and EPS reached 65.27 mg/L. ST1 was more effective at increasing viscosity as well as water holding capacity and reducing spontaneous whey separation compared with control sample (ST0). ST1 combined with carrageenan had the highest viscosity and the best water holding capacity as well as the lowest spontaneous whey separation. ST1 combined with whey protein concentrates showed better results with xanthan, but worse with carrageenan. The microstructure of the fermented milk was examined using scanning electron microscopy. ST1 combined with carrageenan resulted in compact and uniform structure, which is agreed with quality improvement of fermented skim milk that used ST1 combine carrageenan as fat substitute. Key words: Streptococcus thermophilus ST1, exopolysaccharide, fermented skim milk, texture.
Establishment of regeneration system and transformation of Zm401 gene in Lilium longiflorum × L. formosanum

In vitro bulb scales of Lilium longiflorum × L. formosanum were used as the explants to develop a high efficient regeneration system. One hundred percent of regeneration rate was reached through organogenesis on the basal MS media supplement with 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L NAA. And, a genetic transformation system for the lily was also developed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method. 12‰ of genetic transformation rate was obtained according to the procedures: the explants were pre-cultured for 3 d, immersed into bacterial suspension (OD600≈0.8) for 5 min, and then co-cultivated for 5 d. The binary vector pBI121 containing Zm401, a maize pollen specific gene, was introduced into the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 and transformed into the explants using the genetic transformation system, and the integration of the gene into lily genome was confirmed by PCR and PCR-Southern analysis. The results above can be as an important step to get new pollenless materials of lilies.
Impaired flight ability prior to egg‐laying: a cost of being a capital breeder

Summary 1To investigate flight ability in captive Zebra Finches during reproduction we compared change in escape take-off ability and wing load of reproducing females with their mates and non-reproducing females when attacked by a model raptor. 2Initially females had 18% higher wing load than males. Non-reproducing females and females that had started egg-laying flew slower than males. Reproducing females reduced wing load during egg-laying and flew faster when the clutch was completed. Non-breeding females remained on high wing load and flow slower than breeding females that had completed their clutch. 3The increase in flight speed of breeding females was explained by a reduction in wing load during egg-laying. 4Zebra Finches use accumulated reserves to produce eggs and pay a cost in terms of reduced flight ability, but then regain flight performance when the clutch is laid, probably demonstrating a predation cost of capital breeding in birds.