Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An improved technique for early detection and control of the Sirex wood wasp in radiata pine plantations

Summary Basal stem injection of Dicamba herbicide (20% 3,6-dichloro-2 methoxybenzoic acid) into the outer sapwood was tested as a technique for predisposing conveniently placed groups of Pinus radiata trees to attack by the European tree-killing wood wasp Sirex noctilio. The trials included injection of Dicamba during spring and summer, injection of de-ionised water during spring and untreated controls, and were undertaken in unthinned plantations of two ages, 8 and IS years. Sirex noctilio was attracted almost exclusively to the Dicamba-treated trees, which provided suitable breeding habitats for the pest and its introduced natural enemies, both wasp parasitoids and nematode parasites. Spring injection gave more satisfactory results than the summer injection. The trees in the older stand were more susceptible to attack, as were the trees in the smaller diameter classes in both stands. Infested treated trees contained an average of 275 wasps irrespective of tree age. Dicamba injections did not induce majo.
Use of Fragmented Landscapes by Marbled Murrelets for Nesting in Southern Oregon

Abstract: As old‐growth forest becomes more fragmented in the Pacific Northwest ( U.S.A.), species dependent on large patches of old‐growth forest may be at greater risk of extinction. The Marbled Murrelet ( Brachyramphus marmoratus), a seabird whose populations are declining in North America, nests in such old‐growth forests or forests with large remnant trees. Using logistic regression models on landscapes in southern Oregon, we addressed (1) whether old‐growth forest fragmentation was associated with use of an area by murrelets and (2) whether proximity to certain marine features was associated with use of forest fragments by murrelets. On a geographic information system vegetation map derived from satellite imagery, we placed circular plots of 400‐, 800‐, 1600‐, and 3200‐m radius over surveyed inland areas occupied or unoccupied by murrelets. Within each plot, spatial and other land‐ and seascape habitat variables were calculated and regressed against murrelet occupancy. Murrelets generally occupied low‐elevation inland sites in landscapes with relatively low fragmentation and isolation of old‐growth forest patches, and these sites were close to the coast, river mouths, and a major bay. Almost all occupied landscapes occurred in a fog‐influenced vegetation zone. Because nesting habitat with large amounts of interior forest is currently scarce in southern Oregon, management efforts should focus on protecting or creating large, contiguous blocks of old‐growth forest, especially in areas near the coast.
Growth and Ultimate Length of Muskellunge from Ontario Water Bodies

Abstract Growth of muskellunge Esox masquinongy from 12 Ontario sources was investigated by examining 582 samples from the Cleithrum Project archive and other specific studies; 88% of the samples were from angler-caught “trophy” fish. We detail sampling problems and develop methods for resolving them. Muskellunge from some sources were unsexed; sex was discriminated (probability of correct classification, 98.3%) from the von Bertalanffy growth parameters ultimate length (L∞) and growth coefficient, K. When one sex was inadequately sampled, the von Bertalanffy growth parameters of one sex were used to estimate those of the other. When samples were small and inadequate (<11), we used concordance sum of squares to match growth and give an interim estimate from the adequately sampled source with the best growth match. In Ontario populations, mean ultimate total lengths range widely: from 81.4 to 140.0 cm for females and from 70.7 to 115.9 cm for males. Females can be grouped into three types of growth, produc.
Somatic Embryos in Catharanthus roseus : A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is an important medicinal plant as it contains several anti-cancerous compounds, like vinblastine and vincristine. Plant tissue culture technology (organogenesis and embryogenesis) has currently been used in fast mass propagating raw materials for secondary metabolite synthesis. In this present communication, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study of somatic embryos was conducted and discussed. The embryogenic callus was first induced from hypocotyls of in vitro germinated seeds on which somatic embryos, differentiated in numbers, particularly on 2,4-D (1.0 mg/L) Murashige and Skoog (MS) was medium. To understand more about the regeneration method and in vitro formed embryos SEM was performed. The SEM study revealed normal somatic embryo origin and development from globular to heart-, torpedo- and then into cotyledonary-stage of embryos. At early stage, the embryos were clustered together in a callus mass and could not easily be detached from the parental tissue. The embryos were often long cylindrical structure with or without typical notch at the tip. Secondary embryos were also formed on primary embryo structure. The advanced cotyledonary embryos showed prominent roots and shoot axis, which germinated into plantlets. The morphology, structure and other details of somatic embryos at various stages were presented.
Drought-adaptive mechanisms involved in the escape/tolerance strategies of Arabidopsis Landsberg erecta and Columbia ecotypes and their F1 reciprocal progeny

Summary Arabidopsis ecotypes Landsberg erecta (L er ) and Columbia (Col) display differential drought-adaptive strategies when subjected to a progressive drought stress, a procedure designed to address specific, genetically determined, adaptive potentialities: L er exhibits an escape strategy (early flowering and bolting, high sensitivity of the rosette leaves to water deficit leading to leaf senescence), whereas Col withstands water stress by drought tolerance (higher biomass allocation to vegetative organs, root to shoot ratio, drought rhizogenesis intensity, RWC, and WUE). The traits characterising the escape strategy in L er, like the traits associated with Col drought tolerance, were inherited as phenotypically dominant in one or both of their F1 progeny. Reciprocal effects, often paternal, were observed in the F1s. The hybrids thus displayed both types of parental strategies which could have conferred enhanced drought adaptability upon them. The pattern of inheritance of the drought-adaptive traits in the F1s demonstrated that the differential strategies, escape/tolerance, of the parental lines cannot be attributed to their differential programme of development. Our results highlight a wide phenotypic plasticity of Col.
Optimization of Medium for Growing the Aquatic Carnivorous Plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa In Vitro

In Polish plants of Aldrovanda vesiculosa growing in a half-strength B5 mcdium with different KN03 concentrations, the medium with 1000 mgl1 KNO(cid:631)', was the best iil a]1 characteristics. The addition of 100, 300 and 1000 mgl(cid:631)(cid:631) peptone to half strength B5 medium with 500 mgl I KN03 for Polish plants. Ied to a step wise increase of all growth characteristics but usually only the effect of 300 and 1000 mg] I peptone was statistically significant. No clear relationship was found between growth characteristics and KNO(cid:631) concentration in a half- strength B5 for Japanese plants. The addition of 100, 3 OO and 1000 mgl(cid:631)" i peptone to a half strength B5 medium with 500 mgl(cid:631)(cid:631) KNO(cid:631)(cid:631) Ied tO(cid:631) a two to threefold increase in the number of shoot apices. pH values below (cid:631)_ . O in used B5 media werc not toxic fo. r the growth of Aldrovanda in vitro. In both strains of Aldrovanda tested, the fuli=strength B5 medium with 2500 mgl(cid:631) ; KN03 appeared to be excessively concentrated for optimal growth.
Studies on Ligula intestinalis Some aspects of the pathology in the second intermediate host

A 3 year survey of a lake, in which 120 roach, Rutilus rutilus, were examined revealed the presence of the plerocercoids of Ligula intestinalis in more than 90 % of the fish. The average number of parasites per fish was 4.2 although fish exceeding 32 g were not ligulosed. Gudgeon, Gobio gobio, of all sizes were affected. Implants of the plerocercoids into small roach, gudgeon and goldfish, Carassius auratus, were successful but not in the case of Perca fluviatilis, Esox lucius and Leuciscus cephalus. The pathological effects of the plerocercoids on roach and gudgeon are described.
Selecting a Measure of Dispersion

In studying the relationship between insect dispersion and population density, we need an index which allows us to separate statistical artifacts from biologically significant effects. I used a simulation model to generate patterns of egg dispersion and tested several dispersion indices as predictors of these patterns. Green's coefficient and standardized Morisita's coefficient were not influenced by population density and are good measures of dispersion. Variance/mean was only weakly correlated with density and has the advantage of being easy to compute and readily understandable. Dispersion indices related to k of the negative binomial are not appropriate for data either more or less clumped than the negative binomial and should only be used with caution.
Determination of volatile flavor components, sugars, and ascorbic, dehydroascorbic, and other organic acids in calamondin (Citrus mitis Blanco)

The volatile flavor components of calamondinjuice were determined by a headspace analysis technique. Twenty components including five aldehydes (acetaldehyde, decanal, nonanal,octanal, and perillaldehyde), two esters (geranyl acetate and neryl acetate), five alcohols (ethanol, linalool, methanol, ter-pinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol), and eight hydrocarbons (3-carene, limonene, myrcene, α-pinene, β-pinene, T-terpinene, terpinolene, and valencene) were identified
Modeling and Predicting Species Occurrence Using Broad‐Scale Environmental Variables: an Example with Butterflies of the Great Basin

Abstract: If occurrence of individual species can be modeled as a function of easily quantified environmental variables (e.g., derived from a geographic information system [GIS]) and the predictions of these models are demonstrably successful, then the scientific foundation for management planning will be strengthened. We used Bayesian logistic regression to develop predictive models for resident butterflies in the central Great Basin of western North America. Species inventory data and values for 14 environmental variables from 49 locations (segments of canyons) in the Toquima Range ( Nevada, U.S.A.) were used to build the models. Squares of the environmental variables were also used to accommodate possibly nonmonotonic responses. We obtained statistically significant models for 36 of 56 (64%) resident species of butterflies. The models explained 8–72% of the deviance in occurrence of those species. Each of the independent variables was significant in at least one model, and squared versions of five variables contributed to models. Elevation was included in more than half of the models. Models included one to four variables; only one variable was significant in about half the models. We conducted preliminary tests of two of our models by using an existing set of data on the occurrence of butterflies in the neighboring Toiyabe Range. We compared conventional logistic classification with posterior probability distributions derived from Bayesian modeling. For the latter, we restricted our predictions to locations with a high ( 70%) probability of predicted presence or absence. We will perform further tests after conducting inventories at new locations in the Toquima Range and nearby Shoshone Mountains, for which we have computed environmental variables by using remotely acquired topographic data, digital‐terrain and microclimatic models, and GIS computation.
Spermatophore size and mate fecundity in the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus

Savalli & Fox (1999) have recently shown that in the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, females inseminated by large males lay more eggs than those inseminated by small males. Here we report the results of a very similar experiment, on the same species, which yielded the opposite result; females inseminated by small males laid more eggs than those inseminated by large males. On analysing the methods and results, two differences in experimental design become apparent; male age at first copulation and population origin. We suggest these two differences may have produced the contrasting results and believe they offer important evolutionary and developmental insights into ejaculate composition.
A study of the histology and morphology of the digestive tract of the sea-bream, Sparus aurata

The anatomy and the histology of the digestive tract of young and adult sea-bream is described from studies using light and scanning electron microscopy. The dentition in the juvenile (25–30 mm long) comprises all canine-like teeth, to which plate teeth and transition elements are added in the adult. The oesophagus shows a multi-layered mucosa in the upper part, and single-layered regions in the lower part. The multi-layered regions are formed by epithelial cells, mucus-secreting cells and by cells rich with eosinophilic granules. The Y-shaped stomach, clearly distinguishable, has a single-layered columnar epithelium under which, in the cardiac and fundic portion, gastric glands, comprised of all similar cells, are present. The pyloric region is characterized by four caeca, to the base of which the ductus pancreaticus and the ductus hepaticus discharge. The pancreas is composed of small masses spread along the upper intestine; in the adult, pancreatic infiltrations can be seen in the liver. The intestine is short (relative length 0.5–0.6). The intestine epithelium consists of columnar cells intercalated with mucus-secreting cells. A funnel-like valve marks the passage to the intestine terminal region, characterized by a mucosa of cells with an abundance of vacuoles full of eosinophilic granules.
Habituation to normally lethal acidity by prior growth of Escherichia coli at a sub‐lethal acid pH value

Both Col‐ and ColV, I‐K94+ strains of Escherichia coli, grown at pH 7–0, failed to grow after relatively short periods of exposure to pH 3·0 or 3·5. After growth in exposure medium initially at pH 5·0, both strains were almost unaffected by exposure to such acid pH values. Addition of catalase to nutrient agar only slightly increased plating efficiency after acid treatment and very slightly reduced the difference in survival, after acid treatment, between organisms grown from pH 5·0 and those grown from pH 7·0. Accordingly, acid resistance of organisms grown from pH 5·0 is not chiefly due to greater resistance to hydrogen peroxide already present in nutrient media.
The effect of heat on the vitamin B6 of milk: II. A comparison of biological and microbiological tests of evaporated milk

1. For chicks and rats pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine were equally active in terms of the free bases when given separately from the diet. 2. Under our experimental conditions pyridoxine mixed with the chick diet was stable, but 20% of pyridoxamine, and a variable amount of pyridoxal was lost. 3. The vitamin B6 activities measured with Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, chicks and rats respectively and expressed as μg. pyridoxine/g. freeze-dried milk were: raw milk 3·4, 3·2 and 4·9; evaporated milk 1·0, 2·1 and 2·7; stored evaporated milk 0·6, 1·4 and 2·0. For the chicks the milks were mixed with the diets; they were given separately to the rats. 4. The microbiological and biological results for raw milk agreed within the limits of experimental error. For the processed milks the differences between biological and microbiological tests were statistically significant. 5. All three methods of assay showed a 45–70% loss of vitamin B6 activity on processing and a further loss of 30% of the remainder after storage for 6 months at room temperature. We are indebted to Mr J. Rothwell, Department of Dairying, University of Reading, for preparing the evaporated milk and to Dr B. Record, Ministry of Supply, Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, for freeze-drying the milk. We should like to thank Dr S. K. Kon for his interest in this work.
Transpiration and Leaf Movement of Cotton Cultivars Grown in the Field under Arid Conditions

Abstract Five cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars were grown in the field in Xinjiang, China to evaluate their adaptability to arid conditions in terms of leaf temperature, transpiration rate and leaf movement. Leaf temperature was higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon as compared with air temperature. There were large differences in the transpiration rate represented by the flow rates of stem sap per unit leaf area (FRSS) among the cotton cultivars. The transpiration rate in cotton generally depended on vapor pressure deficit (VPD). In the cultivars with a low transpiring ability, however, the influence of VPD was lower in the higher range of VPD. Cultivars with higher transpiring ability tended to have higher intercepted radiation per unit leaf area (IRL), i.e., to show active diaheliotropic leaf movement. The higher transpiring ability of cotton might be able to reduce heat stresses caused by diaheliotropic leaf movement and be profitable for yield under the arid conditions.
Generic criteria and an infrageneric system for Hedysarum and related genera (Papilionoideae-Leguminosae)

New generic delimitations for Corethrodendron, Hedysarum, Sulla and Taverniera are proposed together with new infrageneric systems for Hedysarum, with special reference to morphological evidence. Hedysarum sect. Spinosissima is treated as a distinct genus Sulla, and H. sect. Hedysarum is newly circumscribed on the basis of its conserved type, H. alpinum. Hedysarum sections Crinifera, Multicaulia and Subacaulia are very similar to each other and are merged into an enlarged H. section Multicaulia. Hedysarum sect. Fruticosa is transferred to the genus Corethrodendron. On the other hand, Stracheya is reduced to a section of the genus Hedysarum. A key to the genera and the infrageneric taxa, their nomenclature, synonymy and short descriptions are provided.
Distance To Cover, Visual Obstructions, and Vigilance in House Sparrows

House sparrows (Passer domesticus) feeding away from protective cover decrease their level of vigilance as group size increases. In contrast to recent studies, however, their level of vigilance decreases when feeding farther from cover or in the presence of visual obstructions. These apparent discrepancies reflect the potential complexity in the response of vigilance to various aspects of the risk of predation; scanning need not necessarily increase with the risk of predation. Much work as to the exact nature of the factors influencing vigilance remains to be done before we can fully understand its response to various environmental manipulations.
Local avian assemblages as random draws from regional pools

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the ecological structure of local assemblages depends to some degree on the regional context within which they are embedded. Here, the structure of one such local assemblage, the avifauna of Eastern Wood, southern England, is modelled as a random draw from the pool of British deciduous woodland species. The random draw model accurately predicts most ( > 90%) of a suite of descriptive statistics calculated from the Eastern Wood avifauna, when the probability that a species is selected for inclusion in a random assemblage is weighted by its British geographic range size. Models for which a species selection is weighted by its British population size, or is unweighted, perform less well. This suggests that how widespread a species is in a region affects the likelihood that it will occur at any given local site, and hence that large-scale patterns in the distribution of species can strongly influence the composition and structure of local assemblages.
Effects of morphological fractions on estimated milk yields in forage maize depending on growing site and plant maturity

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine the effects of the morphological fractions of forage maize for milk production as predicted by the spread sheet model called MILK 2006. The plants were harvested at increasing maturities at three different sites in Sweden and separated into stems, leaves, kernels and cobs. Chemical and in vitro analyses of the plant fractions as specified in the MILK 2006 model for predicting estimated milk yields Milk Mg−1 dry matter (DM) and Milk ha−1 were undertaken. Partial least squares regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the proportions and qualities of the fractions on Milk Mg−1 DM and Milk ha−1. Estimated milk yields could not be predicted based on the proportions of the fractions and their nutritional values. The most important parameters for determining Milk ha−1 was the DM yield, and for the estimated Milk Mg−1 were the concentrations of starch and the fibre digestibility of the whole crop.
Níveis nutricionais de treonina digestível para poedeiras leves no segundo ciclo de produção

In order to determine nutritional requirement of digestible threonine for white-egg laying hens in the second production cycle (from 79 to 95 weeks of age), it was carried out an experiment with 180 commercial Lohmann LSL laying hens, distributed in five diets (0.380; 0.413; 0.446; 0.479 and 0.512% digestible threonine), six replicates and six birds per experiment unit. Levels of threonine in the ration quadratically affected feed intake, feed conversion per mass and per dozen of eggs, laying rate, weight and mass of eggs. It was not observed significant effect of the levels of threonine in the ration on weight gain, Haugh unity, index of yolk and albumen and percentage of yolk and albumen, except for shell percentage, which was quadratically affected. Through statistic analyzes and biological interpretation and using feed conversion per dozen of eggs as a decision parameter, the requirement of digestible threonine in the period from 79 to 95 weeks of age is 0.469%, corresponding to a threonine consumption of 459 mg/bird/day.
The effects of bisphenol A on sex hormone levels of F0 female rats and F1 male rats during weaning period

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) were examined on sex hormones of F1 generation male rats during weaning period. Female rats were exposed to BPA from day 0 after pregnancy to the weaning period at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg−1. The sex hormone levels of F1 generation male rats were determined. This study shows that F0 generation female rats fed with 200 mg kg−1 BPA had a significantly higher serum prolactin (PRL) levels at the end of weaning. Significantly higher levels of serum estradiol (E2) were also found in female rats fed 100 or 200 mg kg−1 BPA. Serum levels of E2 in F1 male generation rats were higher in treatment groups compared to control groups while serum testosterone (T) levels were lower. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in F1 generation rats fed 200 mg kg−1 was markedly decreased. The relative testicular weights were significantly less in 100 and 200 mg kg−1 BPA groups. BPA was found to alter the sex hormone levels in F1 male rats during weaning period and thus disrupted endocrine functions.