Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ULTRASTRUCTURE AND ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIC DIFFRACTION ANALYSIS OF THE STERNAL CALCIUM DEPOSITS OF PORCELLIO SCABER LATR. (ISOPODA, CRUSTACEA)

Calcium deposits of the first four anterior sternal plates of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber must be quickly mobilized after ecdysis of the posterior half of the cuticula. The structural configuration of these deposits was examined by scanning electron microscopy, energy filtered transmission electron microscopy, and energy spectroscopic electron diffraction analysis. The deposits consist of an opaque region built by spherules of diameters varying from 0.3 to 1.7 μm and a translucent layer glassy in appearance. Both parts are composed of an organic matrix and an amorphous calcium carbonate compound. The deposition of calcium carbonate in numerous small spherules and in an amorphous form probably facilitates its quick mobilization.
Genetic variation for glutenin and gliadins associated with quality in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. turgidum) landraces from Spain

The allelic variation at seven prolamin loci involved in quality has been studied in a set of durum wheat landraces from all the Spanish regions where this crop has been traditionally cultivated. The genetic variability was higher than that found in other germplasm collections. All the loci, except Glu-B2, displayed a genetic variability higher than 0.62, with Glu-3 the most polymorphic. In total, five alleles were studied at Glu-A1, nine at Glu-B1, 15 at Glu-A3, 18 at Glu-B3, two at GluB2, and eight at Gli-A1 and Gli-B1. New allelic variants not previously identified in durum wheat were detected. The 30 different genotypes of B low-molecular-weight (B-LMW) glutenin subunits analysed, of which 25 are novel, provide an important source of genetic variability for quality breeding. Protein patterns for convars. durum and turgidum, and for the North and South of Spain were identified for the loci with significant influence on quality. Higher variability was observed in convar. turgidum and in the North zone than in convar. durum and the South, respectively, mainly for the Glu-B1 and Glu-B3. Also, convar. turgidum appeared to be a valuable source for new alleles for the LMW glutenin subunits. Wheats from the South were, however, more diverse for prolamins encoded at Glu-A3. Additional key words: convar. durum, convar. turgidum, germplasm, LMW patterns, prolamin alleles, quality breeding. Resumen
Effects of pruning a temperate mangrove forest on the associated assemblages of macroinvertebrates

Mangrove forests around the world are being impacted by development in adjacent land and water areas. An after-control-impact study was undertaken to assess the effects of mangrove forest pruning on the associated benthic macroinvertebrate fauna. Pruning, undertaken 5 years before our sampling period, reduced the height of the forest canopy from 5 m to 1 m. Macrobenthic assemblages were sampled in September 2000 and January 2001 from two randomly selected sites within the pruned section of forest, and two sites in each of two control locations in the same forest. Assemblage composition in the pruned and undisturbed mangrove forests was not significantly different, nor were there significant differences in variability between the two areas. Similarity matrices for assemblages based on higher taxonomic groups and molluscs were highly correlated with similarity matrices for all taxa, indicating the utility of more rapid forms of assessment in this habitat. The results suggest that although short-term impacts may have occurred, no impact on macroinvertebrate assemblages was evident 5 years after the pruning.
Foraging ecology of Olrog's Gull Larus atlanticus in Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina): are there age-related differences?

FAVERO Summary Olrog’s Gull Larus atlanticus is an endemic species of the Atlantic coast of southern South America. It is one of six globally threatened gull species in the world, and is classiﬁed as Vulnerable. We studied age-related differences in the diet and foraging behaviour of this species in Mar Chiquita Lagoon during the non-breeding season. Diet was assessed by analysis of regurgitation casts, prey carcasses and direct observation, while foraging behaviour was quantiﬁed by focal observations. Grapsid crabs were by far the main prey in frequency of occurrence, followed by ﬁsh and snails. Some differences in diet were found between ages, particularly in spring when mature birds start to feed on the eggs of ovigerous females of the crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus . Foraging behaviour was similar between ages which is attributed to large resource availability, foraging strategies and social
VARIETAL SCREENING OF COWPEA AGAINST PULSE BEETLES, CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS (FAB.) AND C. ANALIS (FAB.)

Different cow pea varieties viz., C-152, KBC-2, KBC-1, KM-5, IT-38956, TVX-944 and CP-17were tested for their susceptibility to Callosobruchus maculatus and C. analis at Department of Entomology. Agricultural College, Shimoga. Among them, CP-17 was comparatively less preferred host with lesser oviposition (81.33 eggs /100 g seeds), prolonged developmental period (34.67 days), least adult survival (84.67 %) and weight loss of grains (0.96%) followed by IT-38956 to C. maculatus. Similar trend in case of C. analis was observed with lesser oviposition (65.33 eggs / 100g seeds), prolonged developmental period (36.83 days), least adult survival (59.33%) and grain weight loss (0.90%) on CP-17 when compared with local variety. C-152 and local variety was recorded most preferred host for both the species.
Association of genotypes at promoter region of lactoferrin gene with mastitis in crossbred cattle

Mastitis inflammation, a cellular reaction to the irritant occurs. Lactoferrin is a component of the natural protection systems of human and animals. We investigated whether lactoferrin gene polymorphism is associated with mastitis. Blood samples were collected from 124 HF crossbred cattle under lactation from organized farms and field from Bengaluru district of Karnataka. The animals were examined for the presence of mastitis using California mastitis test, and separated into mastitis positive and mastitis negative groups. Oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify a 1049 bp long fragment corresponding to the promoter Lactoferrin locus. The amplified products were subjected to PCR-RFLP technique using Hinf1 restriction enzyme. The Hinf I digestion produced 2 genotypes. The frequency of genotype AA was higher in mastitis free group, while the frequency of genotype BB was higher in mastitis group. Nucleotide sequence was submitted to the NCBI and released on public data base (Accession number HQ676491.1). The study revealed the polymorphism at the Lactoferrin gene promoter locus, can be used as a marker of susceptibility/resistance to mastitis in dairy cattle.
Resistance to fungicides and antibiotics in Phytophthora parasitica: genetic nature and use in hybrid determination

Progeny derived from oospores produced through hormonal stimulation by each of four metalaxyl-resistant (M r ) mutants of Phytophthora parasitica segregated in a ratio fo 3 resistant: 1 sensitive. Each of two chloroneb-resistant (Cn r ) mutants also gave rise to selfed progeny with a segregation ratio of 3 resistant: 1 sensitive. These results indicate that metalaxyl resistance and chloroneb resistance in these mutants are each conferred by a single dominant gene in the heterozygous condition (.)
Effectiveness of Sulfosulfuron and Quinclorac for Weed Control during Switchgrass Establishment

Abstract We conducted a field experiment in 2007 and 2008 and repeated it in a separate field in 2008 and 2009 to test the effectiveness of two herbicides applied at two different times on weed control during switchgrass establishment. At 4 and 6 wk after switchgrass planting (WAP), sulfosulfuron was applied at 0.04 and 0.07 kg ai ha−1 with nonionic surfactant and quinclorac was applied at 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ai ha−1 with methylated seed oil. Herbicides applied at 4 WAP tended to be more effective than at 6 WAP. Sulfosulfuron provided greater control of smooth pigweed; however, quinclorac provided greater control of yellow foxtail, a grass weed that has traditionally been difficult to control with herbicides in switchgrass. Average yellow foxtail control was 73, 87, and 93% for quinclorac at 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ha−1, respectively, compared to 62 and 60% for sulfosulfuron at 0.04 and 0.07 kg ha−1, respectively. Switchgrass injury (chlorosis and height reduction relative to the untreated control) was observed, but most symptoms were not detectable by 8 wk after treatment (WAT) for most treatments. Plots that received quinclorac at 0.56 kg ha−1 at 6 WAP tended to have relatively low weed biomass and high total aboveground yield in the establishment year and relatively high total aboveground yield in the year after establishment. Nomenclature: Quinclorac; sulfosulfuron; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. ; yellow foxtail, Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roemer & J.A. Schultes; switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L.
ANNUAL REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY OF GONATODES ALBOGULARIS (SQUAMATA: GEKKONIDAE) LIVING IN AN ANTHROPICAREA IN SANTANDER, COLOMBIA

Abstract We studied the reproductive characteristics of a population of Gonatodes albogularis in an Andean tropical dry forest with a bimodal rainfall regime. Females were smaller than males in snout-vent length (SVL). Males and females reached sexual maturity at similar body sizes (close to 31 mm SVL) and had continuous reproductive activity during the sampling year. All adult females were reproductive (vitellogenic and gravid females); they were found throughout the year and we did not observe differences among months in reproductive stages, nor in the follicular and ovarian sizes. Gravid females produced only one egg and had simultaneously one large vitellogenic follicle, suggesting a continuous reproductive activity. Adult males had spermatozoa in testes and ducts during all months and there were no significant changes among months in the volume and mass of testes adjusted to body size. These data, plus the observation of neonates and communal nests in every month of the year, confirm a pattern of continuous reproductive activity with multiple clutches. Despite the low mean annual rainfall, and the marked seasonality of rainfall in the area, the population exhibited an aseasonal reproductive pattern that suggests a continuous availability of resources for reproduction.
Specificity of adaptation to a novel host plant by a seed beetle

Adaptation to one novel host plant may simultaneously improve an insect's performance on other unfamiliar hosts, as a kind of cross‐adaptation. In selection experiments using an Asian population of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), larval survival in lentil seeds increased from about 1 to >90% in fewer than 30 generations, and acceptance of lentil by egg‐laying females increased two‐ to three‐fold. We examined whether rapid adaptation to lentil altered beetle performance on other grain legumes, including hosts more closely related to lentil than to the ancestral host, mung bean. Three replicate, lentil‐adapted lines were compared to the mung‐bean (control) line with respect to both host acceptance (oviposition under no‐choice conditions) and larval performance (survival to adult emergence, development time, and adult mass at emergence). In most experiments, females from the lentil lines laid more eggs on unfamiliar hosts than did females from the mung‐bean line. Greater oviposition on novel hosts could not be explained by variation in potential fecundity, and did not appear to depend on a host's relatedness to lentil. Although survival in lentil remained extremely divergent between the mung‐bean and lentil lines (0 vs. >90%), the lines did not differ in larval performance on two other novel hosts (pea and fava bean) that are much more closely related to lentil than to mung bean. Because larval performance is most likely the limiting factor in the potential colonization of a novel host by C. maculatus, our experiments did not provide strong evidence for cross‐adaptation. The results suggest that adaptation to even a highly marginal host need not lead to a general expansion of an insect's host range.
Synergistic Effect of Betel Quid, Tobacco, and Alcohol in Cigarette Smoking Induced Micronuclei in a Population of Arunachal Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT Genotoxicity is one of the important endpoints for risk assessment of various lifestyle factors. The present study examined the synergistic effect of tobacco, betel quid, and alcohol in cigarette smoking induced micronuclei (MN) in the buccal epithelia of exposed individuals. Analysis of MN frequency and nuclear abnormalities (binucleated, karyorrhectic, karyolitic, and pyknotic cells) was performed in the exfoliated buccal cells of 110 habituates and compared to a control group matched for gender, age, and habit. A significant increase in the frequency of MN was found in smokers and alcohol, betel quid, and tobacco users compared to the control group. Tobacco, alcohol, and betel quid seem to potentiate the effect of cigarette smoking induced MN formation in the buccal epithelium. Smoking alone significantly increased the number of karyorrhexis cells in the buccal epithelium and combined exposure of all four test substances significantly increased the number of karyorrhexis and pycnotic cells. The findings indicate a synergistic effect between smoking, betel quid, tobacco, and alcohol in MN induction and cell death in buccal cells of exposed individuals.
Post-breeding movements of northeast Atlantic ivory gull Pagophila eburnea populations

The post-breeding movements of three northeast Atlantic populations (north Greenland, Svalbard and Franz Josef Land) of the ivory gull Pagophila eburnea, a threatened high-Arctic sea-ice specialist, were studied between July and December 2007 using 31 satellite transmitters. After leaving their breeding grounds, all birds first dispersed eastward in August� September, to an area extending from the Fram Strait to the northwestern Laptev Sea (off Severnaya Zemlya). Most returned along the same flyway in OctoberNovember, hence describing a loop migration before moving south, off east Greenland. Wintering grounds were reached in December, in southeast Greenland and along the Labrador Sea ice-edge, where Canadian birds also overwinter. One to two birds from each population however continued eastwards towards a third wintering area in the Bering Strait region, hence demonstrating a bi-directional migration pattern for the populations and elucidating the origin of the birds found in the north Pacific during winter time. Overall, all birds breeding in the northeast Atlantic region used the same flyways, had similar rates of travel, and showed a peak in migratory activity in November. Though the total length of the main flyway, to the Labrador Sea, is only and at most 7500 km on a straight line, the mean total distance travelled by Greenland birds between July and December was 50 000 km when estimated from hourly rates of travel. Our study presents the first comprehensive and complete picture for the post-breeding movements of the different ivory gull populations breeding in the northeast Atlantic.
Effect of Berberis vulgaris fruit extract on alpha-fetoprotein gene expression and chemical carcinogen metabolizing enzymes activities in hepatocarcinogenesis rats

Objective: Cancer is the second cause of death worldwide, among them liver cancer is the fifth most important malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate chemopreventive activity of Berberis vulgaris fruit extract in hepatocarcinogenesis Sprague dawley rats. Materials and Methods: Fourty-four Sprague dawley rats (6-8 weeks old, 150-250 g) were divided into normal and cancerous. The rats in cancerous groups induced cancer by intraperitoneally injection of 200mg/kg diethylnitrosamine (DEN) follow by acetyllaminofluorene (0.02%AAF) dissolved in corn oil. Animals in each branch were randomly assigned to receive either no treatment or 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg of Berberis vulgaris fruit. The animals were sacrificed after 11 weeks of treatment and evaluated for liver enzyme activities. In addition, Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the expression of genes encoding markers in hepatocytes (albumin, α-fetoprotein). Results: The activities of GGT, GST and ALP between the Cancerous and Normal groups were significantly different (P< 0.05). In cancerous groups treated with Berberis vulgaris, the enzymes activities of GST, GGT and ALP were significantly lower than control group (P< 0.05). RT-PCR as a very sensitive method did not show gene expression of AFP in cancer groups treated with Berberis vulgaris fruit. Conclusion : Berberis vulgaris fruit can reduce the activity of liver enzymes and inhibit the gene expression of AFP in rats during hepatocarcinogenesis. These results suggest the chemopreventive activity of Berberis vulgaris fruit against hepatocarcinogenesis in animal models.
PHENOTYPIC AND REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSES OF ASPIDOSCELIS TIGRIS (SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE) TO SHIFTS IN WINTER PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA RANGE, KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Abstract To study possible intergradation between Aspidoscelis tigris munda (west) and A. t. tigris (east) through Walker Pass, a low-elevation corridor in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, I collected 90 individuals of A. tigris from 26 May through 2 June 1994 from a 24-km transect with 3 evenly spaced sampling sites representing populations on the summit (1,555 m), west slope (1,098 m), and east slope (1,014 m). The central (summit) population lacked phenotypic intermediacy in body size (larger), color (greater melanism), and multivariate morphological variation (means of first canonical variate: summit > west > east). In addition, egg clutches were present only in females from the summit population. Stepwise regression of snout-vent length (SVL) on 6 environmental variables revealed that body size was related positively only to winter precipitation. Dominant vegetation of the 3 sampling sites substantiates the presence of a pronounced rain shadow at Walker Pass. It is likely that the phenotypic and reproductive differences among the 3 populations are related to the greater amount of critical winter precipitation at the summit of the pass.
Response to Comment by Poinar et al. on “DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America”

The arguments of Poinar et al. neither challenge our conclusions nor would contribute to the verification of our data. We counter their questions about the authenticity of our ancient DNA results and the reliability of the radiocarbon data and stand by the conclusion that our data provide strong evidence of pre-Clovis Native Americans.
Performance of two Pinus patula hybrids in southern Africa

Two Pinus patula hybrids, P. greggii × P. patula and P. patula × P. tecunumanii, were planted across a number of sites in southern Africa. The growth and survival for each species/taxon was assessed at either 5 or 8 years of age at each site and compared to the respective parental species. Pinus greggii, as a pure species, has greater drought tolerance and is better adapted to harsher sites than P. patula. At 8 years the P. greggii × P. patula hybrid had similar survival and was more productive than P. patula at the two sites where it was tested. Furthermore, the performance of the hybrid was better than pure species on the site with average poorer growth suggesting that this hybrid could be planted on poorer, more marginal sites not well suited to P. patula. Pinus tecunumanii is a productive species with good tolerance to the pitch canker fungus (PCF). Previous work has shown that the P. patula × P. tecunumanii hybrid is more tolerant to PCF after field inoculations. The latter hybrid was assessed at 5 years on three sites and compared to both parent species. The hybrid had similar survival and was more productive than both parent species. Large variation in performance between individual P. patula × P. tecunumanii families suggests that comprehensive testing and selection should be conducted in tandem with any operational deployment of this hybrid.
Three-dimensional modeling of the casing effect in onshore CSEM surveys

The presence of steel-cased wells and other infrastructure causes a significant change of the electromagnetic fields that has to be taken into consideration in modeling and interpretation of field data. A realistic and accurate simulation requires the borehole casing to be incorporated into the modeling scheme, which is numerically challenging. Due to the huge conductivity contrast between the casing and surrounding media, a spatial discretization that provides accurate results at different spatial scales ranging from millimeters to hundreds of meters is required. In this paper, we present a full 3D frequency-domain electromagnetic modeling based on a parallel finite-difference algorithm considering the casing effect and investigate its applicability on the borehole-to-surface configuration of the Hontomín CO 2 storage site. To guarantee a robust solution of linear systems with highly ill-conditioned matrices caused by huge conductivity contrasts and multiple spatial scales in the model, we employ direct sparse solvers. Different scenarios are simulated in order to study the influence of the source position, conductivity model and the effect of the steel casing on the measured data. Several approximations of the real hollow casing that allow for large reduction in number of elements in the resulting meshes are studied. A good agreement between the modeled responses and the real field data demonstrates the feasibility of simulating casing effects in complex geological areas. The steel casing of the well greatly increases the amplitude of the surface electromagnetic fields and thus improves the signal-to-noise ratio and the sensitivity to deep targets.
Simulation testing the robustness of stock assessment models to error: some results from the ICES strategic initiative on stock assessment methods

The World Conference on Stock Assessment Methods (July 2013) included a workshop on testing assessment methods through simulations. The exercise was made up of two steps applied to datasets from 14 representative fish stocks from around the world. Step 1 involved applying stock assessments to datasets with varying degrees of effort dedicated to optimizing fit. Step 2 was applied to a subset of the stocks and involved characteristics of given model fits being used to generate pseudo-data with error. These pseudo-data were then provided to assessment modellers and fits to the pseudo-data provided consistency checks within (self-tests) and among (cross-tests) assessment models. Although trends in biomass were often similar across models, the scaling of absolute biomass was not consistent across models. Similar types of models tended to perform similarly (e.g. age based or production models). Self-testing and cross-testing of models are a useful diagnostic approach, and suggested that estimates in the most recent years of time-series were the least robust. Results from the simulation exercise provide a basis for guidance on future large-scale simulation experiments and demonstrate the need for strategic investments in the evaluation and development of stock assessment methods.