Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary biological data on Pomadasys incisus (Osteichthyes: Haemulidae) in the Aegean Sea, Greece

The present paper gives, for the first time, some biological data concerning Pomadasys incisus in the Argolikos Gulf (C. Aegean Sea). The bastard grunt ( Pomadasys incisus ) is a thermophilic species well adapted in the above area, but the status of fishery suggests an overexploitation. The sex ratio was in favour of males. The length frequency distribution did not differ between the sexes. Growth in weight was estimated by means of the length-weight relationship. Reproduction seemed to take place in summer. Certain morphometric characters appeared to be useful while comparing populations among the different populations in the Mediterranean.
326 Optimizing frequency of FSH application for superovulatory treatment in cattle.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the application frequency of Pluset® (Calier, Spain) and Folltropin® (Vetrepharm, London, Ontario, Canada) on the results of embryo recovery in Simmental cattle. Moreover, pulsatility of LH concentrations in plasma should be studied before and after application of Pluset. FSH was given in a treatment of eight or four injections on four consecutive days starting between Days 9 and 13 of the estrous cycle. Luteolysis was induced by application of 500 μg Estrumate® (Essex Tierarznei, Munich, Germany), applied 72 and 84 h after the first FSH injection. Embryo recovery was performed non-surgically on Day 7 of the following estrous cycle. Heifers received either a total amount of 500 IU Pluset according to the International Standard for human urine FSH and LH (P1: 8 injections, n = 20; P2: 4 injections, n = 54) or 200 mg Folltropin according to NIH bFSH-B1 (F1: 8 injections, n = 117; F2: 4 injections, n = 60). Cows received either 550 IU Pluset (P3: 8 injections, n = 54; P4: 4 injections, n = 183) or 260 mg Folltropin (F3: 8 injections, n = 36; F4: 4 injections, n = 159). Altogether 8 heifers were bled throughout 8 h every 10 min on Days 9 and 12 (before and during stimulation with FSH). The samples were analyzed for LH by ECLIA (intra-assay coefficient of variation (VK) 6.4%, inter-assay VK 8.9%). The evaluation of the data was carried out with the procedure ‘GLM’ of the statistics software package SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA) and PULSAR analysis. As a post hoc test Student's t-test was used. Significance was set at P = 0.05. Results of embryo recovery are shown in the table. Number of LH pulses in 8 h (LSM ± SE) was 2.3 ± 0.4 on Day 9 and 0.6 ± 0.4 on Day 12 (P < 0.05). We conclude that four injections of both FSH products can lead to results comparable with those reached with eight injections in a 12 hours interval. Therefore, the effort for superovulatory treatments can be reduced. However, it has to be considered that the portion of transferable embryos was reduced, partly significantly, after four FSH injections. This result was independent of the drug used. Table 1. Results of embryo recovery
Fluctuating concentrations of organochlorine pollutants during a breeding season in two Antarctic seabirds: Adelie penguin and southern fulmar

During the reproductive cycle significant fluctuations of concentrations of organochlorine pollutants were detected in blood and uropygial oil from Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and southern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides) from Hop Island, Antarctica. In the Adelie penguin, concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dieldrin were significantly higher at the moment of egg laying, while hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) concentrations peaked at the creche stage. Subcutaneous fat is the main pool for HCB and p,p'-DDE, while PCBs and dieldrin are also stored n the pectoral muscle. It is hypothesized that the observed differences in seasonal fluctuations in organochlorine levels are related to utilization of different storage pools by the Adelie penguins at different moments in the breeding season. In the southern fulmar the fluctuations in concentrations of HCB and p,p'-DDE can be related to changes in body mass. However, concentrations of PCBs and dieldin did not vary significantly during the season. It seems that the two groups of compounds are governed more or less independently in the southern fulmar as well. Age-dependent accumulation of most organochlorines studied reached a steady state before the age at which both species start to breed. This allows monitoring of individual birds to analyze changes in concentrations of organochlorine pollutants in the ecosystem, without having to correct for age differences. Differences in levels of organochlorine pollutants between the Adelie penguin and southern fulmar were probably the result of differences in feeding ecology.
Molecular phylogeny of Stigmaeopsis spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) based on the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) region of mitochondrial DNA

The phylogenetic relationships of Stigmaeopsis spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Japan were investigated using the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) region of mitochondrial DNA. The authors sequenced the samples from 81 individuals representing S. longus, S. celarius, S. takahashii, and S. saharai, which inhabit bamboo species of the genera Sasa and Phyllostachys (Poaceae; Bambusoideae), and two forms of S. miscanthi (HG and LW) living on Miscanthus sinensis (Poaceae; Panicoideae). Both the neighbour-joining and maximum-likelihood methods revealed that Stigmaeopsis consists of at least seven monophyletic groups, in which two forms of S. miscanthi form two distinct monophyletic groups, whereas each of bamboo-inhabiting species, S. celarius, S. takahashii, and S. saharai, was not monophyletic. The haplotypes of S. longus appeared in only a single clade, but coexisted with one of S. celarius. These results imply a mismatch between diagnostic morphological characters (i.e., the length of dorsal setae) and the phylogenetic lineages of bamboo-inhabiting species, requiring re-evaluation of the use of these characters. In addition, the results indicate that plural lineages coexist in a single habitat in various areas, suggesting that differentiated lineages have secondary encounters through the dispersal-and-colonization process.
Sexual selection and sexual dimorphism in a harem-polygynous insect, the alpine weta (Hemideina maori, Orthoptera Stenopelmatidae)

New Zealand tree weta (Orthoptera Stenopelmatidae; Hemideina spp.) have life-history traits that are typical of animals with female-defence mating systems. Individuals live for more than 1 year and single adult males fight to defend ha-rems of females from rival males in cavities in wood or under rock. The alpine weta, H. maori, inhabits schist outcrops (‘tors’) in the alpine zone of New Zealand's South Island. In this species (and other Hemideina) there is a large sexual dimorphism in cephalic weaponry; the mandibles used by males in fights are almost twice the size of those of females. In this paper we (i) document the sexual difference in head and mandible allometry for H. maori and (ii) provide evidence for the hypothesis that sexual dimorphism is a result of sexual selection for male defence of a cavity that contains from one to seven adult females. Within two populations of this species inhabiting single tors there were significant positive correlations between harem size and both the head and mandi.
Comparison of Bioassays to Measure Virulence of Different Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Five bioassays were compared for their usefulness to determine the virulence of four nematode strains. The objective of this study was to develop standard assays for particular nematode species. In all assays, the nematodes Steinernema feltiae (strain UK), S. riobravis, S. scapterisci Argentina and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HP88 were exposed to Galleria mellonella larvae. All bioassays except the sand column assay were conducted in multi-well plastic dishes. In the penetration rate assay, the number of individual nematodes invading the insect was determined after a 48-h exposure to 200 infective juveniles (IJs). In the one-on-one assay, each larva was exposed to an individual nematode for 72 h before insect mortality was recorded. In the exposure time assay, insect mortality was recorded after exposure to 200 IJs for variable time periods. The dose-response assay involved exposing larvae to different nematode concentrations over the range 1-200 IJs/insect and recording mortality every 24 h for a 96-h .
THE EFFECT OF WATER STRESS AND LEAFLET SIZE ON THE DENSITY OF TRICHOMES AND THE RESISTANCE TO COLORADO POTATO BEETLE LARVAE (LEPTINOTARSA DECEMLINEATA [SAY]) IN SOLANUM BERTHAULTII HAWKES

Abstract Solanum berthaultii Hawkes bears trichomes reportedly providing resistance to insects. Results indicated that the density of types A and B trichomes was linearly related to the inverse of the leaflet area. The number of trichomes on the adaxial and on the abaxial surface of terminal leaflets was not affected by two levels of water stress or by growing conditions in the greenhouse or the field. The leaflets of the water-stressed plants were generally smaller and, consequently, the density of trichomes higher. The survival of first-instar Colorado potato beetle larvae was similar on S. berthaultii grown under varying drought conditions and on leaves from field-grown plants bearing different densities of trichomes. Résumé Solanum berthaultii Hawkes porte des trichomes qui présumément, lui procurent une immunité contre les insectes. Une relation linéaire a été mise en évidence entre la densité des trichomes des types A et B et l’inverse de la surface des folioles. Le nombre de trichomes sur la surface supérieure et inférieure de la foliole terminale n’a pas varié lorsque les plantes furent soumises à des conditions de sécheresse ou à différentes conditions de culture en serre et au champ. Les folioles des plantes soumises à un stress hydrique étaient plus petites et par conséquence portaient une densité plus élevée de trichomes. La survie des larves de premier stade du doryphore de la pomme de terre était la même lorsqu’ils étaient nourris avec des feuilles provenant de plantes de S. berthaultii ayant poussé sous différentes conditions de sécheresse, ainsi qu’avec des folioles portant différentes densités de trichomes et provenant de plantes cultivées au champ. [Fourni par l’auteur]
Spirulina as a nutrient source in diets for growing sturgeon (Acipenser baeri)

The e⁄ciency of diets with the inclusion of Spirulina for Siberian sturgeon weaning has been tested. Three isoproteic and isoenergetic diets were formulated with an increasing level of Indian strain Spirulina (SP 40%, SP 50% and SP 60%); the diets were tested against a control diet without microalgae. The results show that Spirulina inclusion improves growth and that an inclusion level of 50% gave the greatest growth rate, a better favourable feed conversion rate and the highest protein e⁄ciency. The fatty acid composition of ¢llets showed diierences between the experimental and control diets: an increase in the Spirulina level induces increases in palmitic and linoleic acids and a decrease in the myristic acid. The control diet was characterized by high levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. At the end of the experiment, statistical diierences appeared in the fatty acid pro¢le of the sturgeon ¢llet, mainly concerning high content of monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid in the sturgeon ¢llets. If the problems related to the high production costs are solved, Spirulina could prove a good partial substitute ¢sh meal.
Anatomical Variation in the Wood of Robinia Pseudoacacia L. and the Identity of Miocene Fossil Woods from Southwestern United States

A detailed analysis of selected quantitative features was made of secondary xylem from the trunk, branch, and root of a specimen of Robinia pseudoacacia L. The analysis serves as a basis for interpreting two suites of fossil woods closely similar to the wood of Robinia. One assemblage had its provenance in western Nevada and the other in southern California. Results of the survey show considerable overlap in ranges of variation in the fossils and extant woods. These findings parallel results of a similar investigation by Matten et al. (1977). Woods from both fossil localities fall within the specifications of the organ species Robinia zirkellii (Platen) Matten, Gastaldo ' Lee. The survey also revealed the kinds of differences that may be found in species of Robinia growing in dissimilar habitats. Differences noted among trunk, branch and root wood of extant Robinia make it possible to distinguish these organs among the fossils.
Occurrence of Viral Nervous Necrosis(VNN)in Hatchery-Reared Juvenile Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Mass mortalities of hatchery-reared juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus were investigated. The disease initiated in fish of 17-18 mm in total length and heavy mortalities occurred when the fish reached about 25 mm, followed by total losses in 2 weeks. The disease was characterized by vacuolation in the retinal and brain tissues. Round-shaped, unenveloped virus particles, about 27 nm in diameter, were observed in the cytoplasm of retinal and brain cells. The virus was identified as a nodavirus based on the results of FAT using an anti-SJNNV (striped jack nervous necrosis virus) rabbit serum and PCR-based detection of a portion of SJNNV RNA2 gene. Transmission experiments revealed that the virus is the causative agent of this disease. In addition to the nodavirus, another virus (YAV-like birnavirus) was isolated in EPC and FHM cell lines from diseased fish. However, the latter virus is not thought to play an important role in this infection.
Pathogenic variability of Verticillium dahliae isolates from potato fields in Manitoba and screening of bacteria for their biocontrol

Verticillium dahliae causes wilt disease in many crops, including potato (Solanum tuberosum). Very few strategies were developed to date to control this disease and are either harmful to the environment and human health or inefficient in reducing inoculum levels in the soil. Establishing a biocontrol strategy, as part of an integrated management program, would be an eco-friendly alternative to reduce the incidence of this disease in potato. The present study evaluated the proportion of V. dahliae among Verticillium spp. recovered from samples of potato collected in Manitoba fields, on the basis of morphological characteristics and polymerase chain reaction assays. The present study also assessed the pathogenic variability among the collected isolates. Over 90% of the recovered Verticillium isolates were found to be V. dahliae. Artificial inoculation of 'Russet Burbank' potato plants with these isolates showed a high degree of pathogenic variability among them, according to their differential ability to progress upward in the plant and cause wilt and browning of the vascular system. The most pathogenic isolates were selected for further experiments where they were challenged with bacteria from a collection of bacterial isolates with potential biocontrol activity. Three of the 18 bacteria initially screened provided a strong inhibition (>50% compared with the control) of V. dahliae growth in vitro. These bacteria were initially isolated from rhizosphere soils and represent potential biocontrol agents.
THE EFFECT OF GLUTAMIC ACID (GLU) AND KYNURENIC ACID (KYN) ON THE METABOLISM OF THE ANTARCTIC AMPHIPOD ABYSSORCHOMENE PLEBS

Abstract Two-weeks starvation caused 45% decrease in the metabolism of the Antarctic amphipod Abyssorchomene plebs. Glutamic acid (Glu) in the concentration of 10 mM increased reactions of starved animals three times, but did not change reactions of the fed ones. Two-hours exposure of both starved and fed amphipods in the kynurenic acid (Kyn) solution in the concentration of 0.1 mM blocked the reactions of the latter group for glutamic acid (Glu). The reactions of invertebrates for glutamic acid (Glu) and kynurenic acid (Kyn) are similar to the well-known antagonistic reactions in the brains of vertebrates.
Growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of heavy lambs reared in a warm or cold environment during winter

The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of winter rearing environment on the growth performance and meat quality of heavy lambs. Half of sixty-four Dorset lambs (32 males and 32 females) were raised in each of two different environments: warm and cold with average temperature of 10.9 ± 0.7 °C and -2.0 ± 5.2 °C, respectively. The lambs were slaughtered at live weights of 41-45 kg for females and 46-50 kg for males. Cold environment had no adverse effect on either growth performance or carcass quality. The rate of longissimus dorsi muscle deposition (P = 0.049) and its depth at slaughter (P = 0.027) were rather greater in lambs reared in the cold environment and a higher proportion of oxido-glycolytic fibres (P = 0.047) was also observed in this muscle. Rearing environment had only a minor effect on the organoleptic qualities, with the cold environment promoting juiciness of the meat (P = 0.043). Therefore, cold environment rearing such as used in this study represents an economic advantage for la.
Field evaluation and potential ecological impact of transgenic cottons (Gossypium hirsutum) in Australia

The first field trials in Australia of transformed cottons expressing the CryIA(b) insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Bt) were completed during the 1992–93 season. The trials showed good efficacy of the plants against field populations of Helicoverpa, but there were indications of a declining level of Bt expression once plants began to senesce. Laboratory assays showed that larger instars could survive on the transgenic tissues although their growth was severely retarded. The introduction of Bt transgenic cottons may have several ecological impacts, apart from their direct impact on target pests. These include the risk of resistance development, effects on beneficial and non‐target arthropod species and changes in pest status associated with altered patterns of pesticide usage. Chief among the potential pests are sucking insects (e.g. Miridae) which appear not to be regulated by beneficial agents and are currently suppressed by sprays applied for Helicoverpa Transgenic Bt pl.
Phylogenetic evidence for a single, ancestral origin of a ‘true’ worker caste in termites

Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence variation in mitochondrial large‐subunit rRNA and cytochrome oxidase II genes was used to investigate the evolutionary relationships among termite families. Maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses of a combined nucleotide data set yield a single well‐supported topology, which is: (((((Termitidae, Rhinotermitidae), Serritermitidae), Kalotermitidae), (Hodotermitidae, Termopsidae)), Mastotermitidae). Although some aspects of this topology are consistent with previous schemes, overall it differs from any published. Optimization of ‘true’ workers onto the tree suggests that this caste originated once, early in the history of the lineage and has been lost secondarily twice. This scenario differs from the more widely accepted notion that workers are derived and of polyphyletic origin and that extant pseudergates, or ‘false’ workers, are their developmentally unspecialized ancestor caste. Worker gains and losses covary directly in number and direction with shifts in ‘ecological life type’. A test for correlated evolution which takes phylogenetic structure into account indicates that this pattern is of biological significance and suggests that the variable occurrence of a worker caste in termites has ecological determinants, apparently linked to differences in feeding and nesting habits.
Conjugated linoleic acid and betain prevent pork quality issues from diets containing distillers’ dried grains with solubles

Su, B. , Wang, L. , Wang, H. , Shi, B. , Shan, A. and Li, Y. 2013. Conjugated linoleic acid and betain prevent pork quality issues from diets containing distillers’ dried grains with solubles. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 477–485. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or betaine (BET) in diets containing distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on the fatty acid profile and the shelf-life attributes of pork. Thirty-two (60±2 kg) crossed-bred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine) were randomly assigned to one of four diets: (1) the control diet containing no corn DDGS (control group); (2) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS (DDGS-fed group); (3) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 10 g kg−1 CLA (CLA-fed group); (4) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 1 g kg−1 BET (BET-fed group). Dietary DDGS decreased the proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (P<0.05), and increased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P<0.05).
Ground-layer response to group selection with legacy-tree retention in a managed northern hardwood forest

We examined the effects of group selection with legacy-tree retention on ground-layer or understory diversity and composition in an uneven-aged northern hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We sampled 20 reference plots in the surrounding forest matrix and 49 openings with radii of 0.5 (n = 16), 0.75 (n = 17), and 1.0 (n = 16) times mean canopy tree height (22 m). Resultant opening areas were 321 ± 16 (mean ± SEs), 697 ± 21, and 1256 ± 39 m2, respectively. Each opening contained a centrally located legacy tree. Two years after harvesting, ground-layer diversity was significantly higher in openings than on reference plots (p < 0.05) because of an influx of early seral, wetland, and weedy exotic species. The importance of aggressive ruderals (i.e., Carex ormostachya Wieg. and Rubus idaeus subsp. strigosus (Michx.) Focke) increased significantly (p < 0.001) with increasing opening area. Although the importance and cover of several late-seral species were lower in openings compared with the for.
Analysis of amphibian habitat preferences in a farmland area (Po plain, northern Italy)

Forty-two water bodies in an agricultural lowland area of northern Italy were investigated with respect to the presence of amphibians and to a number of habitat features. The following species were found: Rana kl. esculenta, R. latastei, Bufo bufo, B. viridis, Hyla arborea, Triturus carnifex and T. vulgaris meridionalis. A discriminant analysis was carried out for each species to test whether there were significant difference between ecological characteristics of used and unused sites; all analyses showed a significant difference, and they also made it possible to identify the most important habitat features for each species found. Vegetational factors seemed to be the most important.
Seasonal and Milking-to-Milking Variations in Cow Milk Fat, Protein and Somatic Cell Counts

The first objective of this study was to examine milking-to-milking variations in milk fat, protein and SCC (somatic cell count). The second objective of this study was to examine variations of milk components (fat, protein and SCC) over a period of six months (April-September 2010) at Agricultural Research Development Station Simnic. A total of 128 milk samples (64 morning milking and 64 evening milking ones) from milk bulk tank commingled from 90±4 Holstein cows, were collected and analyzed for fat, protein and SCC. Data suggested that milking period effects milk fat, making the fat percentage lower in the morning compared with the evening milking period, effect which was not similar in protein content. Seasonal differences in milk fat and protein were also investigated. The season of year had influenced SCC, fat and protein: SCC increased, while fat and protein decreased. The period of the day when milking took place and the season influenced fat, protein and SCC, but the composition of milk, as well as its hygienic quality, fell within the aplicabile standards for raw milk.