Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parasites differentially increase the degree of fluctuating asymmetry in secondary sexual characters

The degree of fluctuating asymmetry has been demonstrated to reflect the ability of individuals to cope with different kinds of environmental stress (Parsons 1990). Parasites and diseases are one kind of environmental stress which most individuals encounter during their lifetime. Parasites have also been suggested to play an important role in sexual selection and the development of ornaments, since the full expression of ornaments may reflect the ability of hosts to cope with the debilitating effects of parasites. Here I report for the first time that a parasite, the haematophagous tropical fowl mite Ornithonyssus bursa (Macronyssidae, Gamasida), directly affects the degree of fluctuating asymmetry in a secondary sexual character of its host, the elongated tail of the swallow Hirundo rustica (Aves: Hirundinidae). I experimentally manipulated the mite load of swallow nests during one season by either increasing or reducing the number of mites, or keeping nests as controls. The degree of fluctuating asymmetry was measured in the subsequent year after the swallows had grown new tail ornaments under the altered parasite regime. The degree of fluctuating asymmetry was larger at increasing levels of parasites for male tail length, but not for the length of the shortest tail feather or wing length or for tail and wing length in females. These results suggest that the degree of fluctuating asymmetry in tail ornaments, but not in other feather traits, reliably reveals the level of parasite infestation. This has important implications for the ability of conspecifics to use the size and the expression of ornaments in assessment of phenotypic quality and thus in sexual selection.
Arrival, spread, and early dynamics of a zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) population in the Hudson River estuary

Les effectifs de la moule zebree (Dreissena polymorpha) dans l'estuaire de l'Hudson ont augmente et se sont propages rapidement depuis la decouverte des premiers individus en mai 1991. La population s'etablissait a 550 milliards de moules (4000 moules/m 2 , moyenne etablie pour la portion dulcicole de la riviere qui est soumise aux marees) a la fin de 1992. Elle formait alors plus de 70% de la biomasse zoobenthique et filtrait quotidiennement un volume equivalent a toute la colonne d'eau. Plus de 95% des moules vivaient fixees aux pierres de la zone subtidale. Par suite de l'explosion demographique enregistree en 1991-1992, le succes de la reproduction (nombre de jeunes de l'annee par adulte) a chute de quatre ordres de grandeur en 1993-1994. En outre, la taille des jeunes de l'annee a la fin de la saison de developpement de 1993-1994 atteignait seulement 20 a 30% de celle des jeunes de l'annee de 1991. L'incapacite des larves de resister a la forte competition pour la nourriture exercee par les adultes pourrait avoir ete la cause de ce phenomene. Les auteurs estiment que de telles populations limitees par la nourriture pourraient etre particulierement frequentes dans les rivieres et les estuaires, ou la quantite de nourriture par rapport a la surface des supports est faible.
Differences in trappability of European badgers Meles meles in three populations in England

Summary 1. Many ecological studies on the European badger Meles meles, as well as certain programmes to control bovine tuberculosis, would benefit from a greater understanding of the factors that influence the probability of capturing this animal in cage-traps. We therefore investigated some of the factors that could explain differences in trappability between three badger populations in England: the high-density protected populations of Wytham Woods and Woodchester Park, and the low-density culled population of North Nibley. 2. Trappability (the percentage of all individuals known alive that were actually captured) did not differ between sexes or adult age classes, but significant differences were found between cubs and adults, study areas, seasons and years, and various interactions between these variables. 3. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the culling of badgers in North Nibley may have resulted in a decrease of adult trappability in the following year. 4. Adult badgers at Wytham Woods and Woodchester Park were significantly more likely to be trapped zero times (‘trap-shy’) or all three times (‘trap-happy’) in 1996 than predicted by the estimated capture probabilities under the assumption of equal trappability. 5. Wytham Woods differed from the other study areas in that trappability of its badgers was positively related to their body weight and its adult badgers were more likely to be trapped than cubs. These differences could be a consequence of differences in trapping procedures that were followed at Wytham (no prebaiting and fewer traps per badger). 6. Trappability of badgers was not associated with social group size. Although it is difficult to determine precisely the movement and tuberculosis status of badgers based on mark–recapture data, our analyses did not suggest that either variable affected the likelihood of being trapped. 7. Studies that compare demographic, biometric and epidemiological parameters based on data collected from badgers captured at different times or places ought to account for the observed differences in trappability.
The effects of variation in feed protein level on the culture of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in low-water exchange experimental ponds

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying dietary protein level on pond water quality and production parameters of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone). Experimental units consisted of nine 400-m2 earthen ponds with a low water exchange. Two treatments were tested: treatment HP consisted of shrimp fed a high-protein diet (40%) during the whole grow-out, and treatment LP consisted of the use of a low-protein diet for the complete farming period. No differences on any of the water quality parameters were observed among treatments. Excellent survival (over 85%) and feed conversion ratios (around 1.6), and acceptable growth (over 12 g) and biomass (from 1721 to 1793 kg ha−1) were recorded in all experimental ponds. No significant differences in any of the production parameters were found among treatment groups.
Energy state of spring and winter wheat during cold hardening. Soluble sugars and adenine nucleotides

Marked increases were found in the content of total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and ATP in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Frederick) during cold hardening. The changes in soluble sugars and ATP of spring wheat (T. aestivum L. cv. Glenlea) grown under similar conditions were less pronounced. The increase in ATP content during hardening of winter wheat was not associated with significant changes in the content of ADP or AMP. The adenylate energy charge did not change during hardening in either cultivar, but it was higher in the winter cultivar under both growth conditions. This difference could be related to the cold hardiness capacity of winter wheat.
Genetics of Suicidal Germination of
 Striga hermonthica
 (Del.) Benth by Cotton

The germination of giant witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth], a noxious root parasite of many cereal crops, is stimulated by exudates from the roots of both host and non-host trap plants. Forty genotypes of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. and G. barbadense L.), a trap crop, were screened in the laboratory, using the cut-root technique, to investigate the variability among these genotypes for their ability to stimulate suicidal germination of S. hermonthica and to determine the inheritance of the trait. The genotypes exhibited significant differences for the trait. S hermonthica seed germination percentages ranged from 13.3 to 50.0% for the cotton genotypes compared with 47.3% for the susceptible sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)] cultivar CK60B. Three cotton genotypes were selected based on their S. hermonthica seed germination stimulation and used as parents in crosses of the combination low X high S. hermonthica seed germination stimulation. The F 1 s, F 2 s, and parents of the crosses, RASA(78) 11b × 'SAMCOT-10' and RASA(78)11b x TX-CABS-1-83 were evaluated in separate experiments in batches of 12 entries. Broadsense heritability estimates for the trait ranged from 71.8 to 78.5%. This was reflected in the discrete frequency distribution of the F 2 populations into two classes of high and low S. hermonthica seed germination stimulation, fitting a classical 3:1 phenotypic ratio. These results suggest that S. hermonthica seed germination stimulation by cotton is a qualitatively inherited trait, and that the gene controlling this trait is monogenic and simply inherited, with high S. hermonthica seed germination stimulation dominant over low S. hermonthica seed germination stimulation. It should be possible to select and breed cotton genotypes that produce highly active germination stimulants in large amounts, while maintaining or improving other agronomic attributes.
Learning English as an L2 in the Global Context: Changing English, Changing Motivation

As the English language has become a global lingua franca today, it is not surprising that changes in attitudes and perceptions towards learning English in the international context have taken place at the same time. In this paper, I critically examine the notion of ‘integrative motivation’ in the literature of second language (L2) learning with respect to the changing role of the English language in the global context. In particular, this paper attempts to re-conceptualise the notion of integrative motivation by considering the results of recent empirical research on L2 motivation. It is argued that the predominant motivation of learning English among most L2 learners is no longer concerned with ‘integration’ in the target native English-speaking culture, but with the construction of a ‘bi-cultural’ or ‘world citizen’ identity, as well as identification with the international community. The paper ends by suggesting new ways of understanding the concept of motivation in L2 learning in today’s global context.
Inheritance of resistance to carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides in Plasmopara viticola

Mandipropamid is a new mandelic acid amide fungicide expressing high activity against foliar infecting oomycetes, including the grapevine downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola. Because cross-resistance with the valinamide fungicides iprovalicarb and benthiavalicarb and the cinnamic acid amide fungicides dimethomorph and flumorph was postulated, all five compounds are classified as carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides. To support this classification, cross-resistance among these compounds with field isolates and the segregation of resistance in F1 and F2 progeny of P. viticola were evaluated. A bimodal distribution of sensitivity in field isolates and cross-resistance among all CAAs for the vast majority of isolates were detected. Crosses between sensitive (s) and CAA-resistant (r) isolates of opposite mating types, P1 and P2, yielded abundant oospores. All F1-progeny isolates were sensitive to CAAs (s:r segregation 1:0), whereas in F2 progeny segregation of about 9:1 (s:r) was observed suggesting that resistance to CAA fungicides is controlled by two recessive nuclear genes. Mating type segregated in a ratio P1:P2 of c. 2:1 in F1 and 1:1 in F2 progeny. In the same crosses, resistance to the phenylamide fungicide mefenoxam segregated in a ratio of c. 1:3:2 (sensitive:intermediate:resistant), reflecting the monogenic, semidominant nature of resistance. The risk of resistance in P. viticola was classified as high for phenylamide and moderate for CAA fungicides. This is the first report on the inheritance of phenotypic traits in P. viticola.
Heavy Metal Contents in Soft‐Bottom Marine Macrophytes and Sediments Along the Mediterranean Coast of Spain

Hg, Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations were determined in sediment and in tissues of five species of soft-bottom marine macrophytes (Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera noltii, Ruppia cirrhosa and Caulerpa prolifera) along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Levels of metals were low in most of the sampling stations and similar to those found by other authors in uncontaminated zones. Certain locations, however, showed some degree of contamination (Cambrils, Almassora, Alacant, Mar Menor and El Portus). In Santa Pola we found high contents of metals in one sample of sediment due to the high proportion of the fine fraction (particules < 63µm) and organic matter, but not in the seagrass species. Mercury and zinc concentrations in the sediment are correlated to those in at least some anatomic fractions of Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa and Caulerpa prolifera, suggesting that these species reflect the levels of these metals in the environment. Lead contents in the alga Caulerpa prolifera are also correlated to those in the sediment, while no significant correlations were obtained for cadmium. Among the species studied, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa seem to be better biomonitors than Caulerpa prolifera.
Effects of fires on butterfly assemblages in lowland dipterocarp forest in East Kalimantan

The post‐fire butterfly fauna in lowland dipterocarp forest of the Bukit Soeharto Education Forest (BSEF), East Kalimantan, Indonesia, was assessed during the period November 1998–April 2000 by means of consecutive Malaise trap samples, with supplementary field observations for March–April 1999. A total of 514 butterflies belonging to 61 species and representing six families were caught in the traps. Melanitis leda (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), Charaxes bernardus (Nymphalidae: Charaxinae), and Danaus genutia (Nymphalidae: Danainae) were the species most frequently caught (60, 52 and 47 individuals, respectively), representing 31% of the total. These three species are generalists and “disturbance indicators” for tropical rainforest, being characteristic of disturbed or secondary forests, being distributed widely, and having larvae that feed on a wide range of host plants. In contrast, other species, such as Trogonoptera brookiana and Troides amphrysus, were recorded before the fires but were not recorded again afterwards. The pre‐ and post‐fire butterfly fauna of East Kalimantan were compared on the basis of butterfly specimens deposited in the Tropical Rain Forest Research Center that were collected in and around the Bukit Soeharto Education Forest before the fires (1988–1995). On the basis of the post‐fire survey, based on Malaise trap samples and field observations, only 43% of the butterfly species (not including Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae) were confirmed to have persisted. The data suggest that refugia that are not affected by fire are necessary for the conservation of specialist butterflies, as well as many other forms of wildlife.
Catalytic profiles of lipolytic biocatalysts produced by filamentous fungi

Abstract The aim of this work is to propose and evaluate a catalytic profile of biocatalysts with lipase activity based on four characteristic reactions of lipases. For that, the catalytic profiles of three lipolytic biocatalysts from strains of the genus Rhizopus produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF) were determined based on acyl-, regio-, enantio- and chemoselectivity. Four commercial lipases were also evaluated according to their catalytic selectivity. p-nitrophenol esters from C-4 to C-16 were used to evaluate the acyl selectivities of the biocatalysts. The three biocatalysts produced by SSF presented the highest hydrolytic activity on triglycerides of medium chain length (C-8). The use of high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) allowed us to demonstrate the biocatalysts produced by SSF presented sn-1,3-regioselectivity. Based on the Quick E method, the biocatalysts preferentially acted on the S-enantioisomer of glycidyl butyrate esters. Although their E values were insufficiently high (< 5), they demonstrated 1,3-sn selectivity hydrolytic activity, and the ability to synthesise ester and amide bonds (benzyl oleate and N-benzyloleamide, respectively), validating them as promising biocatalysts for these types of applications.
Chemical and microbial stability of high moisture dried apricots during storage

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the chemical and microbial stability of high moisture (HM) dried apricots during storage at 5, 20 and 30 °C for a period of 8 months. HM dried apricots were obtained by rehydrating dried apricots in ‘water’ and ‘water + H2O2’. RESULTS: Analysis of kinetic data suggested first-order models for loss of SO2 and non-enzymatic browning reactions. Higher storage temperatures increased the rate of SO2 loss and formation of brown colour in HM dried apricots. Results from extensive colour measurements (non-enzymatic browning, reflectance colour and β-carotene) revealed that the colour of HM dried apricots stored at 5 °C was almost unchanged during 8 months of storage. The colour of samples stored at 30 °C was unacceptable starting from 2 months of storage. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts decreased 0.7, 1.1 and 1.5 log cycles after 8 months of storage at 5, 20 and 30 °C, respectively. For the same storage period, the decrease in mesophilic bacteria was 0.62 log cycle in samples rehydrated in ‘water + H2O2’ and stored at 20 °C. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HM dried apricots should be stored at temperatures lower than 20 °C to preserve the characteristic golden yellow colour. A relatively low level of SO2 (1458 mg kg−1 at 200 g kg−1 moisture level) was sufficient to prevent the growth of spoilage organisms in HM dried apricots at all three storage temperatures. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Genetics and resistance / Génétique et résistance Physiologic specialization of Puccinia triticina, the cause of wheat leaf rust, in Canada in 20011

Three hundred and sixty-two isolates of Puccinia triticina, causing wheat leaf rust, were collected across Canada during 2001 and analyzed for virulence to 16 ‘Thatcher’ near-isogenic wheat lines, each carrying a single gene for resistance to leaf rust. The frequency of virulence was greater than 95% to Lr1, Lr10, or Lr3, less than 10% to Lr9, Lr24, or Lr11, and between 10% and 95% to Lr2a, Lr2c, Lr16, Lr26, Lr3ka, Lr17, Lr30, LrB, Lr14a, and Lr18. Five virulence phenotypes (PCMR, PBMR, PBLR, MBQH, and MBRH) were identified from eight isolates from Prince Edward Island. There were three virulence phenotypes (PCLR, TCTN, and TCTP) identified from four isolates from Quebec. Of the 17 virulence phenotypes identified among 48 isolates from Ontario, the most frequent were PBLR (16.7%), PCLR (16.7%), PBLQ (10.4%), and PCMR (10.4%). Nineteen virulence phenotypes were identified among 286 isolates from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with TGBJ (50.0%) being the most frequent, followed by MBDS (19.2%) and THBJ (18.5%). Four virulence phenotypes (MBDS, 78.6%; MBGJ, 7.1%; TBMJ, 7.1%; and THMJ, 7.1%), were detected from 14 isolates from Alberta, and there were two virulence phenotypes (MBGJ and PBDB) from 2 isolates collected in British Columbia. A subset of 65 isolates, which represented most virulence phenotypes detected in 2001, were tested on adult plants of ‘Thatcher’ and of four ‘Thatcher’ near-isogenic lines, each with one of the genes Lr12, Lr13, Lr21, or Lr34, and on seedlings of 12 additional near-isogenic lines. The results demonstrated the broad effectiveness of Lr19, Lr21, Lr29, Lr32, and Lr34 against all isolates tested.
Chaperone‐like activity of β‐casein and its effect on residual in vitro activity of horseradish peroxidase

Summary In this study, the residual activity horseradish peroxidase was used as a novel marker of chaperone-like activity of β-casein under elevated temperature. It was shown that β-casein does affect residual activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) depending on the concentration and molar ratio between proteins. Incubating HRP (0.1 mg mL−1) for 10 min at 72 °C resulted in residual activity of 59 ± 5%, while addition of 1 mg mL−1 β-casein resulted in increase in residual activity up to 85 ± 1%. Increased residual activity is not merely attributed to an effect of higher total protein concentration, as similar experiment with bovine serum albumin resulted in residual activity of horseradish peroxidase that was significantly lower than without any addition. The effect of β-casein on HRP disappears when pH is below the isoelectric point of β-casein. It was also proven by light scattering studies that β-casein interacts with horseradish peroxidase when the temperature was increased from 25 to 70 °C whereas interactions seem to cease when temperature was lowered back to 25 °C. This study highlights how specific proteins can influence enzyme activity, which is of potential importance for various industries such as enzyme manufacturers and food industry.
Indirect Mutualism: Variations on a Theme by Stephen Levine

Although some of the most spectacular interspecific interactions in nature are obviously mutualistic, relatively little research, empirical or theoretical, has been aimed at understanding this basic and perhaps prevalent form of interaction (Risch and Boucher 1976). In this paper I attempt o extend the work of Levine (1976) in the context of the basic summary provided by Vandermeer and Boucher (1978), thereby providing a theoretical framework for the concept of "indirect mutualism" (S. James and D. Boucher, in prep.) or "niche enhancement" (Dodson 1970). I furthermore suggest that this form of interaction is likely to be extremely important in community organization, at least at some trophic levels. Vandermeer and Boucher (1978), using simple linear analysis, have categorized the basic forms of mutualistic interactions. In a fashion similar to Gause and Witt's analysis of competition (Gause and Witt 1935), Vandermeer and Boucher presented eight qualitatively distinct outcomes, predicted by a simple two-species system of differential equations. Their eight cases are summarized in table 1. Two features of their esults are of particular importance here, first hat the interactions may be stable or unstable, and second that mutualists may be facultatively mutual or obligately mutual. Note that the local stability of the system (the row headings as they appear in the first col. of table 1) has very little to do with the biological outcome in the usual sense. That is, in the case of interspecific competition, ifa local analysis indicates tability coexistence of the two species is automatically insured. However, no such correspondence exists with mutualism, as can be seen in table 1. Biological coexistence is possible when the system is mathematically unstable. That mutualists can be either obligate or facultative isobvious, and theoretically crucial since biological outcomes depend on this dicotomy (see table 1). The phenomenon of obligate mutualism has been modeled by assuming a negative carrying capacity (Vandermeer and Boucher 1978), an approach continued here. Levine (1976) extended the popular consumer esource quations of MacArthur (1968, 1972) to include interactions between resources. Levine's equations are shown diagramatically infigure 1. Levine noted that for a wide variety of parameter values the two consumers are "effectively" mutualistically associated with one another, as long as the resources are competitively associated. This effectively positive relationship shere called indirect mutualism, and is generated in an intuitively obvious fashion. If a resource required by a consumer is maintained at a relatively low biomass through competition with another resource, any factor