Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diet of the Lessepsian fishes, Siganus rivulatus and S. luridus (Siganidae) in the eastern Mediterranean : A bibliographic analysis

The Lessepsian fishes Siganus rivulatus and S. luridus are common herbivores in the eastern Mediterra- nean, where they adapted themselves to the algal resources of the new environment. It appears that in the eastern Mediter- ranean S. rivulatus grazes on the majority of available macrophytes, with a preference for certain taxa such as Sphacelaria spp. , Polysiphonia spp. , Ulva spp. , Jania spp. and Halopteris spp. Siganus luridus seems to select some of most common macrophytes found in the eastern Mediterranean (e.g,. Halopteris spp., Padina spp., Sphacelaria spp., Polysiphonia spp., Ulva spp., Sargassum spp.). Siganus luridus occasionally ingests the toxic exotic macrophyte Caulerpa racemosa. Both Siganidae feed non-selectively during the cold season. Grazing of macrophytes varies in proportion with seasons, reflect - ing the seasonal variations of macrophyte populations. The proportions also appear to change with fish size, probably in relation to energetic needs as well as changing grazing capabilities with relation to age. In addition, small invertebrates can be ingested accidentally, while the ingestion of sand might have a function in digestion. In the Mediterranean, both Sigani- dae have considerably modified their diet to adapt themselves to new algal resources, which differ significantly from those found in the Red Sea. reSuMe. - Regime alimentaire des poissons lessepsiens, Siganus rivulatus et S. luridus (Siganidae) en Mediterranee orientale : synthese bibliographique. Siganus rivulatus et S. luridus sont deux especes lessepsiennes herbivores communes en Mediterranee orientale ou elles ont ajuste leur regime alimentaire aux ressources algales de leur nouvel environnement. Il semble qu'en Mediterranee orientale, S. rivulatus broute la majorite des macrophytes disponibles mais avec une preference pour certains taxa comme Sphacelaria spp. , Polysiphonia spp. , Ulva spp. , Jania spp. et Halopteris spp. Siganus luridus semble choisir davantage certaines macrophytes comme Halopteris spp. , Padina spp. , Sphacelaria spp. , Polysiphonia spp. , Ulva spp. et Sargassum spp. , qui sont parmi les plus communes en Mediterranee orientale. Siganus luridus semble egalement ingerer occasionnel- lement l'espece exotique et toxique Caulerpa racemosa. Les deux especes ont une alimentation non selective durant la sai- son froide. La frequence des macrophytes consommees varie avec la saison en relation avec les fluctuations des ressources algales. Les proportions ingerees changent egalement avec la taille des poissons, ce qui est probablement du aux change- ments des besoins energetiques et des capacites de broutage avec l'âge. Par ailleurs, divers petits invertebres peuvent etre ingeres accidentellement alors que le sable ingere pourrait avoir un role dans la digestion. En Mediterranee, les deux Siga- nidae ont modifie considerablement leur regime alimentaire pour s'adapter a des ressources algales tres differentes de cel- les de la mer Rouge.
Parental distress call: a previously unreported defensive call in female Leptodactylus latrans (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

The parental care in anurans is a behavior incipient studied, and despite the few records available, the anurans present a variety parental care behavior. Some of them consist of aggressive behaviors, when one or both parents protect they offspring. The behaviors in which involves vocalizations are much more common among the amphibians, and are frequently emitted by males, during the breeding season for reproductive means. Herein we describe a distress call of Leptodactylus latrans emitted during a different context as it usually is registered. In two occasions with the records we have made, females of L. latrans were protecting their tadpoles mass jumping towards the intruders while trying to bite and emitting distress call. This display suggests the existence of a new category of distress call, expressed during a parental care context, which diverges from the functions of anuran distress call reported up to date. Due to the context in which this behavior was exhibited, we classify this vocalization as parental distress call.
Sulphide tolerance in Heteromastus filiformis (Polychaeta): Mitochondrial adaptations

Abstract Isolated mitochondria of Heteromastus filiformis detoxified sulphide. The mechanism worked best at low concentrations of up to 10 µmol l-1 sulphide. Sulphide inhibited mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase in vitro at nanomolar concentrations (Ki: 0.37 ± 0.17 µmol l-1) , while catalase, another metal- containing enzyme, had a much higher inhibition constant (Ki: 790 ± 1u4 µmol l-l). Isolated mitochondria phosphorylated ADP using sulphide as substrate. The process had a maximum at 10 µmol l-1 sulphide (about 8 nmol ATP mg protein-1 min-1) H. filiforimis has a high anaerobic capacity and may accumulate up to 10.55 ± 1.06 µmol succinate g fresh mass-1 after 24 hours of hypoxia. We conclude that the worms switch to anaerobiosis to survive oxygen deficiency or periods in which the ambient sulphide levels are too high to permit detoxification by the mitochondria. These results are discussed in terms of hydrogen sulphide acting either as a toxic substance or as being useful in the species' energy metabolism.
Research regarding chemical features of rainbow trout meat, differentially feed.

Trout meat present a series of nutritive qualities, which are mainly conferred by its high content in complete proteins, lipids with a high unsaturation degree, in lipo and hydrosoluble vitamins, as well as in mineral salts. To achieve the goals of the current paper was chemically analysed meat gathered from 60 individuals of rainbow trout, 20 individuals for each age stage (2nd summer, 3rd summer and 4th summer), so the evaluation of chemical features of meat gathered from three rainbow batches were realised in according with the actual standards. Research consists in determination of content in water, dry matter, proteins, lipids and raw ash. Trout from analysed batches were reared in salmonid units situated in Neamţ County, and during research those ones were differentially feed from qualitative and quantitative point of view. At the end of chemical composition determination of the meat gathered from rainbow trout individuals from those three experimental batches were obtained values between 23.76 and 27.08% for dry matter, between 18.47 and 19.92 % for proteins, respectively between 4.22 and 5.86 % for lipids.
Relationship between seed and bud chilling requirement of Persian walnut.

In this work, the effect of stratification on germination and growth of Persian walnut seeds and correlation between seed and bud chilling requirement was studied. In 2006 and 2007, mature seeds of five walnut cultivars and promising genotypes (`Serr', 'Lara', 'Rond de Montignac', 'Z 63 ' and `Z 53 ') were stratified at 7°C for eight stratification periods (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks). At the end of each chilling treatment period, the seeds were transferred to a greenhouse with a natural photoperiod and temperature between 17 to 26°C. The number of germinated seeds and time of emergence of the first root primordia from the seedlings were recorded weekly for each treatment. After two months, the seedling's heights were recorded for each treatment. The results showed that the seed stratification period could affect the growth (from 119 mm in all cultivars and genotypes for the control to 288 mm with eight weeks of stratification) and time of emergence of first root primordia (from 14.15 days in the control compared with 6.27 days with eight weeks of stratification) and percentage of seed germination (from 36.8% for the control compared with 86.3% with eight weeks of stratification). According to the chilling requirement of buds of the studied cultivars and genotypes which were measured in previous studies, the relationship between chilling requirement of buds and some germination related traits of seeds were evaluated. The chilling requirement of seeds was higher in late flowering (with high chilling requirement of buds) cultivars/genotypes ('Z63' and 'Lara'), in comparison with the earlier ones ('Rond de Montignac' and 'Serr').
The lexical categorization model: A computational model of left ventral occipito-temporal cortex activation in visual word recognition

To characterize the left-ventral occipito-temporal cortex (lvOT) role during reading in a quantitatively explicit and testable manner, we propose the lexical categorization model (LCM). The LCM assumes that lvOT optimizes linguistic processing by allowing fast meaning access when words are familiar and filter out orthographic strings without meaning. The LCM successfully simulates benchmark results from functional brain imaging. Empirically, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrate that quantitative LCM simulations predict lvOT activation across three studies better than alternative models. Besides, we found that word-likeness, which is assumed as input to LCM, is represented posterior to lvOT. In contrast, a dichotomous word/non-word contrast, which is assumed as the LCM’s output, could be localized to upstream frontal brain regions. Finally, we found that training lexical categorization results in more efficient reading. Thus, we propose a ventral-visual-stream processing framework for reading involving word-likeness extraction followed by lexical categorization, before meaning extraction.
An integrative approach to the evolution of shrimps of the genus Palaemon (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)

Shrimps of the genus Palaemon Weber, 1795 comprise of 86 species with a wide morphological and ecological variability along the tropical and temperate regions. Studies based on molecular data have indicated that despite a recent taxonomic rearrangement, it may remain not monophyletic. On the other hand, cladistic, morphological analyses have suggested the presence of synapomorphies, implying a natural status for the genus. In this work, a broad taxonomic and molecular sampling is applied to verify whether Palaemon is a monophyletic taxon and, based on the recovered phylogeny, identify geographical and morphological patterns related to the lineages. Partial sequences of 16S rRNA, histone H3 and 18S rRNA from 60 species of Palaemon and 15 species from other genera of Palaemonidae were analysed. In addition, previously used characters as well as novel diagnostic characters were scrutinized. The present phylogeny indicates that the species of Palaemon fall into three distinct lineages and that the colonization of America and Europe likely occurred multiple times. Morphological characters allow for the identification of at least four monophyletic groups in Palaemon; two of which are monospecific at the moment. Based on the present results, it may become necessary to establish two new genera (to accommodate Palaemon concinnus and Palaemon mercedae, respectively), as well as re‐erect the genus Alaocaris Holthuis, 1949 for Palaemon antrorum, potentially including a further six American species.
Conservation Genetics Of Commercially Exploited Fishes With Case Studies On Leopard And Nassau Grouper

Author(s): Jackson, Alexis Michelle | Advisor(s): Bernardi, Giacomo | Abstract: Overfishing is contributing to significant declines in marine species worldwide. Here, I evaluated the contribution of genetic data to enhancing conservation and fisheries management of commercially important fishes. First, I conducted two empirical population genetics studies on groupers that aggregate to spawn. I evaluated population structure of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) across the Caribbean Sea using mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results suggested ocean currents and long distance migrations of adults to spawning sites may contribute to restricted gene flow and regional genetic differentiation among subpopulations, making it less likely that larvae settle beyond catchment areas of spawning sites. Regional patterns of genetic differentiation warrant international collaboration, standardizing fisheries management and conservation initiatives among countries within genetically isolated clusters. I then evaluated population structure of Leopard grouper (Mycteroperca rosacea) in the Gulf of California using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. I observed genetic differentiation and asymmetrical connectivity among subpopulations of M. rosacea, with divergence of lineages dating to the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Findings suggest a combination of marine reserves, catch quotas, and seasonal fishery closures as a potential management strategy for M. rosacea in the Gulf of California. Finally, I conducted a meta-analysis of 386 empirical genetics studies on marine and diadromous fishes in order to evaluate the implications of weak or strong population structure on the implementation of fisheries management. Quantitative adjectives used to describe varying magnitudes of genetic differentiation possessed statistically different mean FST values in studies utilizing mtDNA, microsatellites and allozymes. Additionally, mean FST values across stock management strategies were statistically different from one another. Results have major implications for standardizing reporting of metrics of genetic differentiation across empirical population genetics studies focusing on and prescribing stock management strategies for commercially important fishes.
River conservation, restoration, and preservation: rewarding private behavior to enhance the commons

Stream and river systems are a critical component of the world’s commons, providing a public good that is essential to all life. Almost half the stream and river systems in the USA are in poor condition because thousands of institutions and millions of people have historically made—and continue to make—poor decisions about watershed stewardship. The widespread adoption of best management practices (BMPs) in homes, offices, farms, and factories would do a great deal to mitigate existing impairments and prevent further degradation. Recent advances in technology, which allow precise and relatively inexpensive measurements of BMPs’ effectiveness, can provide an unprecedented level of accountability and make possible the use of incentives not previously available. We propose that incentivization can and should supplement education and legislation in promoting the adoption of BMPs, and we focus on rural and agricultural watersheds to explore how to incentivize BMPs to improve conservation, restoration, and preservation practices.
Ecological Notes on Species of Cleridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) Associated With the Prairie Flora of Central North America

The association of eighteen species of'Cleridae (Coleoptera) with tallgrass and shortgrass prairie ecosystems in central North America is reported for the first time. New flower visitation, habitat association, distribution, and/or rearing records are reported for Enoclerus analis (LeConte), E, coccineus coccineus (Schenkling), E. cordifer (LeConte), E. rosmarus (Say), E. zonatus (Klug), Placopterus thoracicus pallipes (Wolcott), Trichodes bibalteatus LeConte, T. bicinctus Green, T. nutalli (Kirby), Phyllobaenus dubius (Wolcott), P. knausii (Wickham), P. pubescens (LeConte), P. subfasciatus (LeConte), Isohydnocera albocincta (Horn), I. brunnea (Horn), I. curtipennis (Newman), I. tricondylae (LeConte) and Wolcottia pedalis (LeConte). Diagnostic characters are resented to separate adults of P. dubius, a species endemic to the northern shortgrass prairie region, from the common and widespread P. pubescens.
Enhanced oral bioavailability and tissue distribution of ferric citrate through liposomal encapsulation

ABSTRACT Our previous study found that ferric citrate-loaded liposome (FAC-LIP) exhibited stable physical characteristics and have better efficacy to treat anemia of inflammation (AI) than free ferric citrate (FAC). This study was aimed at oral pharmacokinetics of both FAC-LIP and FAC in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Results showed that the main pharmacokinetic parameters of FAC-LIP in vivo were as follows: Cmax of 445.89 ± 23.56 μg/mL, Tmax of 4 h, t1/2 of 13.01 ± 2.04 h, MRT of 20.54 ± 2.06 h and AUC0-24 h of 6446.1 ± 516.58 hμg/mL. The relative bioavailability of FAC-LIP formulation was 215.7%, nearly 2-fold in comparison with free FAC formulation. FAC-LIP showed a sustained-release effect, a wide absorption and a complete elimination. These results support the fact that FAC-LIP has the potential of improving oral bioavailability and reducing iron accumulation in liver, which could influence the available iron level in the blood system. FAC-LIP could be used as an effective iron supplement.
Fungal Population Dynamics in Ready-to-eat Salads during a Shelf-Life in Italy

The aim of this work was to investigate the fungal population dynamics in ready-to-eat bagged samples of rocket (Diplotaxis spp.), lettuce baby leaf (Lactuca sativa L.) and ”songino” (Valerianella olitoria L.) during a shelf-life, in order to evaluate the effects of the storage length and season of production on the spoilage processes. The incidence of toxigenic moulds was particularity studied in order to evaluate a potential production of mycotoxins and allergenic conidia. A total of 900 samples collected from 10 Italian trademarks were analyzed at the 2nd, 5th and 8th day after the packaging in the spring and summer. A very high number of fungi was found and a great variability of moulds and yeasts at the 1st day of sampling was observed. Regarding to season of production, any seasonal effect on the moulds and yeasts has been observed, but the moulds detected belonged to different species in relation to season. Regarding to storage length, the yeasts and moulds did not showed significant variations during a shelf-life. In relation to vegetable species, the lettuce resulted always less contaminated with respect to other salads, and the rocket presented 1-2 Log cfu/g of increasing in the level of moulds. Regarding to fungi species, the yeasts were significantly predominant respect to moulds. Finally, the toxigenic moulds Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum were found in all the types of salad in the summer, and their growth during the storage at low temperature represented a potential hazard for the mycotoxins and allergenic conidia production in these commodities.
Effects of egg storage period on hatching egg quality, hatchability, chick quality and relative growth in Pekin ducks

To obtain a sufficient number of eggs to fill an incubator, eggs are usually accumulated in storage until 2 wk before incubation. Increasing the length of storage period increases the proportion of embryonic mortality during storage and thereby increases the probability of failure to hatch (YOO and WIENTJES, 1991; SCOTT and MACKENZIE, 1993). Improved quality of a broiler flock at slaughter age can only be realized with high-quality day old chicks as starting material. This ensures greater survivability and better growth potential during the first days or first week of life (CHRISTENSEN, 2001). As the end of 7 d of rearing is often considered as the true starting point for production, the relative growth (RG) of the chicks at this time may be an additional indication of chick quality. RG rather than absolute weight gain measures the speed of growth in time and had previously been used to determine chick performance (KUHN et al., 1982; TONA et al., 2003). It is obvious that optimum storage period is not fixed. It varies by age of flock, strain and species due to differences in albumen quality. Few studies have been published in the literature about length of storage of duck eggs on internal egg quality, hatching results and chick relative growth at the end of 7 d of rearing. Therefore, the objective of the current research was to study the effects of different storage period of duck eggs on internal egg quality, egg weight loss, hatchability, duckling weight, embryonic death, duckling quality and duckling relative growth at the end of 7 d of rearing.
Endosulfan: A potential genotoxicant on Allium cepa root tip cells

The present study reports the potential genotoxic effects of a widely used insecticide, endosulfan (Endoin 35% EC), on root tip cells of onion (Allium cepa L.). Treatment of onion root tips at a concentration of 0.156 μg/L of endosulfan showed highest fluctuation of mitotic depression at various durations (0.38 to -181%) of exposure. The mitotic index decreased with the increase in the concentrations of endosulfan mostly at 48 h treatment. The maximum number of dividing cells (n) was observed to be 224 calculated as maximum MI value of 7.0 in lowest concentration (0.0078 μg/L) at 72 h. The abnormalities of common occurrence were unequal cytokinesis and karyokinesis and formation of binucleolated cells in many cases. Gradual decondensation or little condensed chromosomal arms were the common observations in abnormal metaphases and anaphases. The frequencies of all the mitotic abnormalities showed a good correlation with the concentration of the insecticide. Key words: Allium cepa, endosulfan, mitotic index, aberrant cells, genotoxicity.
Physiological consequences of mutation for ALS-inhibitor resistance

Biochemical and physiological effects of target site resistance to herbicides inhibiting acetolactate synthase (ALS) were evaluated using sulfonylurea-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) near isonuclear Lactuca sativa ‘Bibb’ lines derived by backcrossing the resistance allele from Lactuca serriola L. into L. sativa. Sequence data suggest that resistance in L. sativa is conferred by a single-point mutation that encodes a proline197 to histidine substitution in Domain A of the ALS protein; this is the same substitution observed in R L. serriola. K mapp (pyruvate) values for ALS isolated from R and S L. sativa were 7.3 and 11.1 mM, respectively, suggesting that the resistance allele did not alter the pyruvate binding domain on the ALS enzyme. Both R and S ALS had greater affinity for 2-oxobutyrate than for pyruvate at the second substrate site. Ratios of acetohydroxybutyrate: acetolactate produced by R ALS across a range of 2-oxobutyrate concentrations were similar to acetohydroxybutyrate: acetolactate ratios produced by S ALS. Specific activity of ALS from R L. sativa was 46% of the specific activity from S L. sativa, suggesting that the resistance allele has detrimental effects on enzyme function, expression, or stability. ALS activity from R plants was less sensitive to feedback inhibition by valine, leucine, and isoleucine than ALS from S plants. Valine, leucine, and isoleucine concentrations were about 1.5 times higher in R seed than in S seed on a per gram of seed basis, and concentrations of valine and leucine were 1.3 and 1.6 times higher, respectively, in R leaves than in S leaves. Findings suggest that the mutation for resistance results in altered regulation of branched-chain amino acid synthesis.