Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Syntaxonomy and phytogeographical differentiation of the Fagus woods in the Southwest Balkan Peninsula

Up to now the syntaxonomy of the Fagus woods of the southern Balkans is far less known than that of beech communities in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula and in central and western Europe. A set of 607 phytosociological releves from southeastern Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and northern and central Greece was subjected to numerical classification and ordination. These results were used for a syntaxonomic revision of Fagus, Fagus-Abies and Fagus-Acer woodland communities of the southwestern Balkans. The Doronico columnae-Fagenion (seven associations from Serbia, the F.Y.R.O.M., and high altitudes in northern Greece) and the Doronico orientalis-Fagenion (four associations from northern and central Greece) were distinguished. The results of ordination by Canonical Variates Analysis (CVA) showed a very distinct phytogeographical pattern of differentiation between community types. The floristic composition of Fagus woods changes markedly along the north-south gradient. The share of Subbalkan, Balkan, Submediterranean and Mediterranean species increases significantly towards the south, while the Central-European, European, Euro-Siberian, Euro-Asiatic and Circumpolar species decrease in the same direction. The syntaxonomic differentiation of the Fagus woodlands and their classification into regional suballiances reflects this gradient. With the rise in altitude, the number of Balkan, Mediterranean, Submediterranean, European and Euro-Asiatic species declines.
Impact of Introduced Rough Shiner (Notropis baileyi) on the Native Fish Community in the Chattahoochee River System

Abstract Historical and contemporary fish collection data were used to compare the relative abundance of introduced rough shiner (Notropis baileyi) in the Chattahoochee River (Halawakee and Mountain Oak creeks) to native populations in the Tallapoosa River and to examine the effect of the introduction on the native Chattahoochee River fish community. Absent during the 1981–1985 survey of Mountain Oak Creek, the rough shiner was the fourth most abundant species (10.5% of catch) taken in 1995. In Halawakee Creek mean relative abundance of rough shiner increased from 9.8% in 1971 to 19.8% in 1995. The rough shiner was not collected above the milldam in Halawakee Creek during the historical and contemporary surveys. The rough shiner tended to be more abundant in Halawakee Creek than in its native Tallapoosa River (t = −2.11; df = 11; P = 0.06), where species richness is higher. In Mountain Oak Creek, blacktip shiner (Lythrurus atrapiculus) and golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) were abundant historically, but were not taken during the contemporary survey. Their absence, however, was not due to the introduction of the rough shiner. Faunal similarity (relative abundance of the 15 most common species) over time was high in Halawakee (Morisita's Index; Im = 0.85) and Mountain Oak creeks (Im = 0.70). These findings indicate that species-rich fish communities can adjust to enrichment with minimal impact on native species. Despite having little effect on overall community structure (Im values over 0.70), the rough shiner appears to be contributing to changes in the relative abundances of two resident species (bluehead chub, Nocomis leptocephalus; weed shiner, Notropis texanus). The relative abundance of bluehead chub, a nest-associate with rough shiner, increased significantly following the introduction of rough shiner to Mountain Oak Creek. Abundance of weed shiner decreased sharply in both Halawakee and Mountain Oak creeks. The significant negative correlation (r = −0.46; P = 0.03) between relative abundances of rough shiner and weed shiner suggests that the rough shiner is limiting weed shiner through competition for food or habitat.
Particle Properties and Strains of Andean Potato Mottle Virus

Summary Purified preparations of isolate C of andean potato mottle virus (APMV) contained isometric particles c. 28 nm in diam. with sedimentation coefficients (s o 20, w ) of about 53, and 93 and 112S. The two nucleoprotein components, middle (M) and bottom (B), were serologically indistinguishable, and each contained similar relative amounts of two polypeptide species, of mol. wt. 22100 and 41800. M particles had a density in CsCl of 1.41 g/ml, contained a single RNA species of mol. wt. 1.4 × 106 and stained differently from B particles with uranyl formate; B particles had a density of 1.46 g/ml and contained a single RNA species of mol. wt. 2.0 × 106. Preparations of M and B particles were much less infective when inoculated separately than in mixtures. In these properties APMV resembles other comoviruses. The present cryptogram of APMV is R/1:1.4/(27) + 2.0/(34):S/S:S/*, comovirus group. The two isolates studied, C and H, infected Gomphrena globosa systemically, and therefore differ from the type strain of APMV. Isolate C was antigenically indistinguishable from the type strain and produced similar symptoms in several solanaceous species. Isolate H differed antigenically from C and the type strain, and also differed somewhat in symptomatology and host range.
Effects of flow on competitive superiority in scleractinian corals

An effective attack by a scleractinian coral on a subordinate neighbor typically results in the death of the subordinate’s margin along the intercoral gap. We tested the assumption that spatial variations observed for interactions between a highly “aggressive” coral, Galaxea fascicularis (Linne) and its subordinate neighbors can bc partly explained by hydrodynamic conditions. For several months, we used submerged pumps to expose transplanted corals in situ to intermittently enhanced flow. This manipulation rendered aggression by G. fuscicularis ineffective. Strong currents deflect the aggressor’s tentacles and possibly enhance the rate of tissue recovery in subordinate corals. Observations of naturally occurring pairs of G. fasciculuris and subordinate neighbors indicated that the proportion of cases. in which the subordinate neighbor exhibited damaged margins was significantly lower at sites exposed to strong currents compared with protected reefs. If other aggressive corals arc similarly affected by flow, then at nondisturbed reefs, corals using aggressive strategies should have an advantage at sites characterized by weak flow, whereas fast-growing corals that compete by overtopping their neighbors should be superior at exposed sites. These conclusions agree with observations that the abundance of G. fascicularis and the percentage of unoccupied substratum arc lower at the exposed sites.
Histopathological and Microbiological Studies on the Teat Affections in She-Camel

2 Abstract: fifty adult she camel were examined for teat abnormalities at kerdasa slaughterhouse at 6 October th governorate, Egypt. Teats were examined pathologically and microbiologically. Gross examination of teats revealed 76.5% showed teat lesions. The total bacterial recovery rate was 36% and the isolated bacteria were S. aureus 14.5%, Sc. spp, 18%, E. coli 14%, CNS, 4%, Bacillus species 1.5%, P. hemolytia, 1.5% and P. aeruginosa 1.5 %. While total mycotic recovery rate was 26.5% with isolation of C.albicance 9.5%, A.Fumigatus 9%, A.niger 2%, mucor 2.5% and cladosporium species 8.5%. Histopathological examination of teats revealed two types of thilitis, Necrotic suppurative theilitis (25.5%) and Necrotic non suppurative theilitis with diffuse fibrosis (38%). From our results we concluded that: S. aureus and C.albicance are the most prevalent isolates of she camel theilitis. A positive correlation in this work was suggested between tick infestation and teat end callosity which are predisposing to theilitis.
EFFECTS OF PHOSPHATES TREATMENT ON THE QUALITY OF FROZEN‐THAWED FISH SPECIES

The influence of dipping frozen-thawed fish species (saithe and sea bass) fillets for 10 min in 5% solutions containing sodium monophosphate, sodium diphosphate and sodium triphosphate on microbiological, chemical, color, cooking loss, water-holding capacity, and textural and sensory analyses of fish fillets was assessed. Dipping frozen-thawed fish species (sea bass and saithe) in 5% phosphates improved the quality when compared with the control group. Sodium triphosphate-treated fillets were lighter than the control group but phosphate treatments did not affect the a* and b* values. Dipping frozen-thawed fish species in 5% phosphates reduced microbiological (the total viable, psychrotrophic, coliform bacteria) counts and also chemical values (total volatile basic nitrogen, trimethylamine, thiobarbituric acid). Therefore, it can be concluded that the treatment of 5% sodium tripolyphosphate solution is the most effective to reduce the bacterial loads when compared with other phosphate groups. Phosphate treatment can be an alternative way to improve the quality of frozen-thawed fish. PRACTICAL APPLICATION There is a possibility of increasing the quality of frozen-thawed fish species by using phosphate treatment. For this purpose, the quality attributes of frozen-thawed fish species were determined after treated with sodium monophosphate, sodium diphosphate and sodium triphosphate. Phosphate treatments can be an alternative way to improve the quality of frozen-thawed fish.
Phloem-specific protein expression patterns in apple and grapevine during phytoplasma infection and recovery.

Recovery - complete remission of disease symptoms - has been reported in plants affected by phytoplasmas. The physiological basis for this phenomenon is not yet understood, but it seems associated to ultrastructural and biochemical modification of the phloem, the tissue where phytoplasmas live and spread. In this work we compared asymptomatic, phytoplasma-infected and recovered apple and grapevine leaf tissues by means of ultrastructural and gene-expression analyses, focusing on a possible role of specific phloem proteins in the plant defense-related processes. Preliminary results indicate that different occlusion mechanisms could interact in the phloem during phytoplasma symptomatic status and/or recovery.
Temperature Effects on Resistance to Meloidogyne spp. in Excised Tomato Roots

Resistance to root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants has been reported to break down at soil temperatures >28C. We evaluated in vitro root explants of tomato heterozygous ( Mimi), homozygous (MiMi) at the Mi locus, or lacking the Mi-1 gene for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood and Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood at 28, 31, 34, and 37C. Genotypes Ace-55 UF and Rutgers, lacking the dominant allele, were susceptible to M. incognita and M. arenaria at all temperatures. Genotypes possessing the dominant allele (heterozygous or homozygous) were equally resistant to both nematode species. The resistance level in these genotypes was maintained fully at 31C, partially maintained at 34C, and lost at 37C. Resistance in the heat-tolerant Mi-heterozygous accession CLN 475- BC1F2-265-4-19 was not different from that of the heat-sensitive genotypes. As tempera- ture increased, the genotypes differed in their sensitivity to resistance conferred by the Mi- 1 locus.
RECENT ADVANCES ON BACTERIAL DISEASES OF CULTIVATED MUSHROOMS

Recent studies on bacterial diseases of cultivated mushrooms in southern Italy showed that brown blotch of Agaricus bisporus and the yellowing of Pleurotus ostreatus, caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii, are actually complex diseases since, besides P. tolaasii, which may be considered the main causal agent of the above diseases, also P. reactans and not yet characterised fluorescent pseudomonads appear to participate to the expression of the diseases symptoms. Furthermore, P. reactans appears to be the causal agent of P. eryngii yellowing. Strains of P. tolaasii produce tolaasin I and II (Tol I and Tol II) and five minor analogs called tolaasins A-E). Tolaasins are involved in the pathogen virulence causing membranes lysis through biosurfactant activity and transmembrane ion channel formation for which a barrel-stave mechanism has been proposed. Furthermore, strains of P. tolaasii produce in vitro an array of volatile substances which are apparently involved in the virulence of the producers and the pathogen/mushrooms interaction. Strains of P. reactans produce the White Line Inducing Principle (WLIP) which causes the brown discoloration of A. bisporus tissues though at lesser extent than tolaasin I. The loss of WLIP production by avirulent morphological variants of P. reactans supports its role in the pathogen virulence. The formation of avirulent variants in the cultures of P. reactans strains appears to be responsible for the attenuation/loss of virulence and this may tentatively explain why the pathogenicity of P. reactans was neglected and/or not well understood in the past. A comparative evaluation of Tol I and WLIP on blood red cells and artificial lipid vesicles demonstrated a detergent-like mechanism for WLIP. REP-PCR analysis showed that P. reactans, on the contrary of P. tolaasii, is not a genetically uniform group.
Exposure to herbivores increases seedling growth and survival of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) through decreased interspecific competition in canopy gaps

The successful development of early stages of blight‐resistant hybrid stock has increased hopes for restoration of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) to eastern North American forests. However, these forests have undergone substantial ecological change in the century since the functional extirpation of American chestnut, and it remains unknown to what extent American chestnut will be able to recolonize contemporary forests. In particular, high densities of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and competition with mesophytic tree species such as maple (Acer) may impede chestnut regeneration, much as they affect oak (Quercus). We used a split‐plot analysis of variance (ANOVA) design to examine the effects of canopy gaps and herbivory on survival and growth of third generation backcrossed (BC3) hybrid chestnut seedlings over two growing seasons in central Indiana, U.S.A. Only 4 of 588 (0.7%) seedlings in closed‐canopy plots survived to the end of the study, as opposed to 264 of 589 (45%) seedlings in gap plots. Within the gap treatment, fencing was associated with reduced chestnut survival as well as reduced herbivory and increased cover of non‐chestnut vegetation. Our results indicate that herbivory may indirectly benefit chestnut regeneration by suppressing competition. However, this beneficial effect is likely context‐dependent and additional work is needed to establish the conditions under which it occurs.
Comparison among beans species for food sprouts yield = Comparação entre espécies de feijão utilizadas para produção de brotos comestíveis

This study aimed at identifying beans species for food sprouts yield and comparing them according to physical, physiological, microbiological quality, chemical composition, as well as verifying their acceptability. Determinations of water content, germination, vigor and water uptake curve in seeds were carried out. Microbiological analyses, acidity, protein, iron, calcium and tannin were also recorded in the sprouts and acceptability was measured by sensorial analysis. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme (4 X 4). The mung and cowpea beans seeds have shown the best physiological quality. The sprouts have shown microbiological quality in accordance with law. The mung beans have shown the highest sprout yield (695.32 g) and were six times higher than their initial mass. The sprout yield with common and cowpea beans species were not statistically significant; thus, it is necessary to study new methodologies. The highest protein (21.17 g) and iron contents (9.25 mg) were observed in mung beans sprouts, while calcium (360 mg) and tannin contents (34.58%) were the highest in azuki beans sprouts. The mung and azuki beans sprouts have shown similar results in sensorial analysis and both showed good acceptability and satisfaction index above 70%.
Scat happens: spatiotemporal fluctuation in dingo scat collection rates

Abstract. The number of dingo (Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) scats collected from an area has been used as a measure of pack stability in order to make inferences about dingo pack structures and function. In doing so, some studies sampling different sites at different times/seasons have been forced to assume that scat collection rates vary little throughout the year in order to attribute observed site/treatment differences to the effect of interventions (e.g. lethal control), rather than natural spatiotemporal variation in scat densities. In this study, 4112 dingo scats systematically collected from adjacent dingo-baited and unbaited areas at three arid-zone sites on a regular basis over 2–4 years are used to test this assumption. Scat collection rates varied between treatments, sites and surveys, with substantial differences occurring within a few weeks or months. Similar temporal trends between treatments at each site demonstrated that scat collection rates fluctuated independently of dingo control. It was concluded that observations of different scat collection rates between different sites sampled at different times may simply reflect normal spatiotemporal variability in scat densities, which may not reflect absolute dingo abundance.
Construction of pathogenic, biologic and genetic bases of the Colombian populations of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 necessary for the development of management strategies of stem canker and black scurf diseases of potato

Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 Kuhn (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk) is a main soil-borne pathogen on potato crops around the world. Actually this pathogen is recognized as important in Colombia; however there is no information about the pathogen and the disease. This research was conducted using biological and molecular tests to know the Anastomosis Groups (AG) associated with symptoms in the main producing potato areas in Colombia. Additionally the genetic variability of the isolates and the distribution of variability along the main potato producing areas in Colombia as well as the response of the pathogen to temperatures and fungicides and its aggressiveness on potato plants were tested. The samples were collected from symptomatic stems of potato on naturally infested fields and then were processed in laboratory. The isolates were subject of different analysis. The AG-3 of R. solani was the most common associated to symptoms in fields. The isolates from different geographical populations were highly variable and the variability was not structured geographically. All the populations are genetically similar showing the effect of gene flow in the genetic structure of the populations. The evaluation of the response of the pathogen to two temperatures, the sensitivity to the fungicide thifluzamide and the aggressiveness on different organs of the potato plants showed that the isolates of all the geographical localities vary in the response to the factors evaluated. The levels of black scurf and cankers were low and variable among isolates in the cultivar of potato evaluated.
The longevity and efficacy of 1080 meat baits used for dingo control in central Australia.

In central Australia, most 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) meat baits placed on soil in predator-proof cages remained toxic to dingoes, foxes and feral cats for at least 8 months regardless of whether they were protected from rain or not. Thus, untaken baits will remain a potential hazard to non-target species, particularly farm dogs, for a considerable period. However, when dingo-control programs were monitored (n = 3 stations), approximately 85% of meat baits were taken within 4 days. Dingo-control programs were undertaken on three stations by placing 1080 meat baits near water points (bores) with known dingo activity. Baiting was effective on two stations but not on the third. Where successful, dingo numbers were reduced by 50-70%. The failure on the third station was not due to the lack of bait-take as approxi- mately 80% of these baits were taken within 4 days; it was probably caused by the presence of ephemeral water- bodies that could not be baited. However, this technique was effective in removing those dingoes that utilised the artificial water points, and hence were likely to be interacting with cattle. Such an outcome has benefits to both con- servation and the pastoral industry, as problem dogs are removed without placing the long-term survival of dingoes at risk.
EVALUATION OF MACROBENTHIC INVERTEBRATES IN THE LONGITUDINAL PROFILE OF A RIVER (TAWI), ORIGINATING FROM SHIVALIK HILLS

Abatract During the present investigative studies of the lon gitudinal profile of River Tawi, great variation in the distribution of macrobenthic invertebrate fauna was observed in the upstream and downstream sections. Analytical study of longitudinal profile of River Ta wi revealed the presence of 52 taxa predominantly belonging to Phylum Annelida, Arthropoda and Mollusca. Amongst these 3 phyla, Phylum Arthropoda dominated both qualitative and quantitative dominan ce over the other two phyla. Upstream sections of the River were found to be pristine or nearly pristi ne in nature whereas downstream sections were observed to be highly polluted. Ephemeropterans, Pl ecopterans and Trichopterans which are commonly known as pollution sensitive species were found to be numerically abundant in the upstream sections and recorded to be totally absent in the downstream sections. On the other hand pollution tolerant species of order Coleoptera, Odonata, Diptera, and c lass Oligochaeta were present in greater number i n the downstream sections. Numerical abundance of Chironomous sps. and Tubifex sps. throughout the experimental period reflected the anthropogenic str esses of the River in its downstream sections.
Identification and analysis of two sequences encoding ice-binding proteins obtained from a putative bacterial symbiont of the psychrophilic Antarctic ciliate Euplotes focardii

Abstract We identified two ice-binding protein (IBP) sequences, named EFsymbAFP and EFsymbIBP, from a putative bacterial symbiont of the Antarctic psychrophilic ciliate Euplotes focardii. EFsymbAFP is 57.43% identical to the antifreeze protein (AFP) from the Stigmatella aurantiaca strain DW4/3-1, which was isolated from the Victoria Valley lower glacier. EFsymbIBP is 53.38% identical to the IBP from the Flavobacteriaceae bacterium strain 3519-10, isolated from the glacial ice of Lake Vostok. EFsymbAFP and EFsymbIBP are 31.73% identical at the amino acid level and are organized in tandem on the bacterial chromosome. The relatively low sequence identity and the tandem organization, which appears unique to this symbiont, suggest an occurrence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Structurally, EFsymbAFP and EFsymbIBP are similar to the AFPs from the snow mould fungus Typhula ishikariensis and from the Arctic yeast Leucosporidium sp. AY30. A phylogenetic analysis showed that EFsymbAFP and EFsymbIBP cluster principally with the IBP sequences from other Antarctic bacteria, supporting the view that these sequences belong to an Antarctic symbiontic bacterium of E. focardii. These results confirm that IBPs have a complex evolutionary history, which includes HGT events, most probably due to the demands of the environment and the need for rapid adaptation.