Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Redefinition of the Eleodes Eschscholtz Subgenera Tricheleodes Blaisdell and Pseudeleodes Blaisdell, with the Description of a New Species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract. The Eleodes Eschscholtz, 1829 subgenera Tricheleodes Blaisdell, 1909 and Pseudeleodes Blaisdell, 1909 are reviewed and redefined, based largely on female ovipositors. Eleodes hirsuta LeConte, 1861 is designated as the type species of Tricheleodes, which is redefined to contain only that species. Eleodes barbatus Wickham, 1918 is placed as incertae sedis within Eleodes. Pseudeleodes is expanded to include Trichoderulus Blaisdell, 1923 syn. nov., as well as the following species: Eleodes caudiferus LeConte, 1858, E. leechi Tanner, 1961, E. longipilosus Horn, 1891, E. pilosus Horn, 1870, E. spoliatus Blaisdell, 1933, and E. tribulus Thomas, 2005, all comb. nov.; and Eleodes inornatus Johnston sp. nov. Eleodes granosus LeConte, 1866 is recognized as a single valid species, which includes Eleodes inyoensis Tanner, 1961 syn. nov. and Eleodes granosa pilifera Boddy, 1957 syn. nov. Eleodes caudiferus LeConte is similarly identified as a single valid species, which includes E. caudifera forma glabra Blaisdell, 1909 syn. nov., E. caudifera forma scabra Blasidell, 1909 syn. nov., and E. caudifera forma sublaevis Blaisdell, 1909 syn. nov. Eleodes pilosus Horn is found to be a single species including E. obesus Doyen, 1985 as a syn. nov. A key is presented for the species belonging to the subgenus Pseudeleodes. The new classification is reconciled with the cumulative preceding taxonomic perspective according to Blaisdell (1909) through Triplehorn and coauthors (2015), by representing both taxonomies and aligning their respective concepts with Region Connection Calculus (RCC-5) articulations. The resulting, logically consistent alignment is inferred and visualized using the Euler/X multi-taxonomy alignment toolkit.
Effect of Olive-Mill Wastewater Application, Organo-Mineral Fertilization, and Transplanting Date on the Control of Phelipanche ramosa in Open-Field Processing Tomato Crops

Phelipanche ramosa (L) Pomel is a root holoparasitic weed for many crops, particularly for the processing tomato in Italy. In order to integrate the use of chemical methods to control P. ramosa (L.), there has been an increased effort to research alternative methods using natural compounds. In this regard, two experimental trials were set up in an open field in Foggia (southern Italy) during the 2016 spring–summer seasons. The first trial compared two tomato seedling transplanting dates to evaluate the effects on emerged shoots of P. ramosa. The second trial compared six organic compounds added to the soil to control P. ramosa: olive-mill wastewater and five commercial products (Allyl Isothiocyanate®, Alfaplus®, Radicon®, Rhizosum Max®, and Kendal Nem®). An untreated control was also included. The numbers of P. ramosa emerged shoots (branched plants) were significantly lower for the late tomato seedling transplanting date than for the earlier one. All of the organic products tested that were applied to the soil, particularly olive-mill wastewater, Alfaplus®, Rhizosum Max®, and Kendal Nem®, showed a significant reduction of the P. ramosa infestation of the tomato crop with respect to the untreated control, with a positive effect on the productive parameters.
A new species of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata: Colubridae) from southern Vietnam and Cambodia

A new species of the Oligodon cyclurus-group is described from southern Vietnam and Cambodia, Oligodon saintgironsi spec. nov. It differs from other members of this group by the combination of 19 scale rows at the neck, 17 or 18 dorsal scale rows at midbody, a long and robust tail, very long and thin hemipenes, and a blotched pattern. It is most similar to Oligodon ocellatus (Morice, 1875). Oligodon analepticos Campden-Main, 1970 is confirmed as a synonym of Oligodon ocellatus. A key to the Oligodon cyclurus-group is provided.
Oxytetracycline residues in cultured gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L. 1758) tissues

This research was carried out in order to determine residue depletion of oxytetracycline HCl in the muscle, skin, liver and spleen of healthy sea bream (Sparus aurata) which were stocked in floating net cage in Aegean Sea after oxytetracycline treatments (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 29th, 30th, 37th and 44th day). Oxytetracycline was given to fish once a day (75 mg/kg living weight) for 10 days by oxytetracycline supplemented pellet. A great variation was recorded in tissue residue of oxytetracycline depending on variation of feed intake. Oxytetracycline concentrations in muscle, skin, liver and spleen of healthy sea bream reduced under maximum residue limit, 24 days after treatment ceased. This is equal to 547.2 degree/days. Key words: Oxytetracycline, gilthead sea bream, tissue residues.
Microbial Ecology Dynamics in Portuguese Broa Sourdough

This research effort aimed at a better understanding of microbial phenomena taking place during time in spontaneous sourdough fermentation for broa, a traditional Portuguese bread. Unlike most microbiological studies of sourdough, viable counts obtained were not limited to Lactobacillus and yeasts, but encompassed also molds, Gram-negative rods, endospore-(non)forming Gram-positive rods and catalase-positive/negative Gram-positive cocci. This less conventional approach unveiled the ubiquitous Bacillus genus throughout spontaneous broa sourdough fermentation. Presumptive yeasts, Lactobacillus and Bacillus were found to low levels after kneading, but became dominant by the end of regular (no aeration) fermentation. They apparently inhibit undesired rods and Staphylococcus, which were found to relatively high numbers after kneading. By 24 h of fermentation, lactic acid cocci accounted for an important fraction of biodiversity, and pH decreased significantly reaching about 4.1. Aeration accelerated the microbial dynamics. In terms of total viable counts, such a long-term fermentation appeared to reach a quasi-stationary state. Practical Applications Microbial studies encompassing a large set of culture media and incubation conditions were previously undertaken in samples of maize and rye flours, and sourdoughs for broa obtained from 14 artisanal producers and in two seasons. Microbial counts and identification unfolded a complex wild microbiota, and fermentation played a major effect upon all microbial groups. Flours and mother-dough microbiota were characterized during storage afterward. A similar approach was followed here to ascertain the microbiological profile of a wide range of microorganisms throughout long-term sourdough fermentation, in attempts to answer the questions: how microorganisms evolve, and how they respond to increasing aeration. These studies provide an innovative way to look at sourdough systems and microbial dynamics therein. Results showed the importance of increasing fermentation time to take full advantage of ecological competition against undesirable microorganisms, and emphasized the need for further studies to reveal the role of Bacillus in sourdough fermentations.
The utilization of synthetic methionine in broiler chicken production: effect on growth performance, blood and carcass characteristics

An 8-week feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of graded levels of synthetic methionine on the growth performance, blood and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 120 day-old chicks of Amobyn strain with mean body weight of 36.67g were randomly divided into four groups of 30 chicks each to constitute treatments T1 (0% control), T2 (0.20% methionine), T3 (0.40% methionine) and T4 (0.60% methionine), respectively. Each group was further divided into three replicates of 10 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Feed and water were provided ad libitum and all the birds were managed on a deep litter floor under the same environmental conditions for 56 days. All data were subjected to One- way analysis of variance and significant mean values were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results obtained for starter broiler chickens showed that total feed intake, weekly feed intake, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P 0.05) differences between dietary treatments on all parameters. Carcass characteristics showedsignificant (P<0.05) differences between dietary treatment in pre- slaughter weight, lungs weight, intestinal length, intestinal weight as well as weight of spleen and oesophagus. Therefore, this study concludes that syntheticmethionine can be included in the diets of broiler chickens up to 0.60% without detrimental effects on their growth performance, blood and carcass characteristics.Keywords: Synthetic methionine, chicken, growth, blood, carcass
Şanlıurfa Yöresi Safkan Arap Kısraklarında Neospora caninum Antikorlarının Belirlenmesi

Bu çalışmanın amacı Şanlıurfa’da kısraklarda N. caninum antikorlarını belirlemektir. 90 safkan Arap kısrağına ait serum örnekleri Neospora caninum antikorları yönünden CI-ELISA testi ile incelendi. 90 kısrağın 8 (% 8,8)’inde N. caninum antikorları bulundu. 15 yaşından büyük kısraklar, 10 yaşından küçük kısraklardan daha yüksek bir seropozitiflik oranına sahipti (p<0,05). Anahtar kelimeler: Neospora caninum, Kısrak, Seroloji, ELISA
Comparative account of accumulation of heavy metals and structural alterations in scales of five fish species from Harike Wetland, India

Harike wetland is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site). It is a source of numerous direct and indirect values like water for drinking and irrigation, habitat for natural flora and fauna, fishing and navigation. From last three decades this fragile aquatic ecosystem receives continuous waste water discharge from agricultural, sewage and industrial sources including heavy metals, hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the presence and percentage of heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, Fe, and Al) in the scales of five fish species ( Labeo rohita , Catla catla , Cirrhinus mrigala , Labeo calbasu and Cyprinus carpio ) of Harike wetland employing energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) technique. The result has shown the most common heavy metals detected in Harike wetland are cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Aluminum (Al). The occurrence of these metals is different in different fish species. Some other pollutants like Carbon (C), Sulphur (S) and Silicon (Si) were also detected in scales. Various abnormalities have been identified in the scale structure due to alteration of elemental composition like dislocation and uprooting of lepidonts from their point of attachment to circuli, broken and disorganized circuli and hole-like depression formed by uprooted lepidonts.
Biological control of tomato collar rot induced by Sclerotium rolfsii using Trichoderma species isolated in Bangladesh

Abstract This study evaluated three Trichoderma strains (T. harzianum TR05, T. virens TR06 and T. asperellum TR08) originating from Bangladesh as potential biological control agents against collar rot of tomato under greenhouse conditions. After seed treatment with TR05, a disease incidence of collar rot (5.36%) was lower than for TR06 (34.2%) and TR08 (20.8%). Germination percentage of tomato was highest for TR05 (90.3%). In soil treatment, inoculation with TR08 resulted in the lowest disease incidence (9.78%), and the disease incidence was statistically no different from that for TR05 (16.4%). Thus, TR05 and TR08 have potential as biological control agents of collar rot in tomato.
Origin and evolutionary implications of introns from analysis of cellulose synthase gene

Spliceosomal introns are present in diverse eukaryotic but not prokaryotic genes. However, their evolutionary origin is still arguable. Here, we address this question through an analysis of the cellulose synthase gene, which is present only in urochordate among the animal lineages due to horizontal transfer from a bacterial ancestor in the distant past. We hypothesize that this gene in urochordate contains primordial intron positions and attempted to find them by comparisons with the plant cellulose synthase gene intron positions. However, we could not find distinct conservation of intron positions; therefore, we believe that there was only random insertion of introns in the urochordate cellulose synthase gene. In addition, the protosplice site tendency to conserved phase zero intron positions in urochordates is only 54%, compared with 76% in plants. This shows independent origins of introns in the cellulose synthase gene of urochordates and plants during eukaryotic evolution. Therefore, we concluded that intron origin is a eukaryotic invention.
Genomic and phenotypic consequences of asexuality

Mitochondrial genomes exhibit extensive across-gene evolutionary rate heterogeneity at both synonymous and nonsynonymous sites. The pattern of this heterogeneity both varies across lineages and appears to be heavily influenced by effective population size (Ne), suggesting that variation in Ne might be a primary driver of evolution in mtDNA. Because sexual reproduction is expected to increase Ne, powerful and direct tests of the hypothesis linking Ne and mtDNA evolution can come from evaluating patterns of mtDNA evolution in otherwise similar sexual vs. asexual lineages. Here, I use Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand freshwater snail characterized by coexisting sexual and asexual lineages, to investigate the role of reproductive mode (and thereby Ne) in mitochondrial evolutionary rate heterogeneity. I found that variation in both mutation rate and the intensity of purifying selection on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes govern evolutionary rate heterogeneity across P. antipodarum mitochondrial genes, suggesting that purifying selection is not particularly effective in P. antipodarum mitochondrial genomes. I also found that genes exhibiting signs of relatively intense purifying selection contribute relatively little to mutation accumulation in asexual P. antipodarum compared to genes experiencing a lower intensity of purifying selection. These findings also indicate that sexual reproduction increases Ne of the mitochondrial genome in P. antipodarum, allowing more efficient mutational clearance in sexual vs. asexual lineages. Together, these results suggest that understanding the evolutionary consequences of genome-
Agronomic and environmental implications of sugarcane straw removal: a major review

Large‐scale bioenergy demand has triggered new approaches to straw management in Brazilian sugarcane fields. With the progressive shift from a burned to a nonburned harvest system, most of the straw presently retained on the soil surface has become economically viable feedstock for bioenergy production. The trade‐offs between the need to preserve soil quality and produce more bioenergy have been the subject of intense discussion. This study presents a synthesis of available information on the magnitude of the main impacts of straw removal from sugarcane fields for bioenergy production and therefore represents an easily available resource to guide management decisions on the recommended amount of straw to be maintained on the field to take advantage of the agronomic, environmental, and industrial benefits. Crop residues remaining on sugarcane fields provide numerous ecosystem services including nutrient recycling, soil biodiversity, water storage, carbon accumulation, control of soil erosion, and weed infestation. Furthermore, several studies reported higher sugarcane production under straw retention on the field, while few suggest that straw may jeopardize biomass production in cold regions and under some specific soil conditions. Pest control is among the parameters favored by straw removal, while N2O emissions are increased only if straw is associated with the application of N fertilizer and vinasse. An appropriate recommendation, which is clearly site specific, should be based on a minimum mass of straw on the field to provide those benefits. Overall, this review indicates that most of the agronomic and environmental benefits are achieved when at least 7 Mg ha−1 of dry straw is maintained on the soil surface. However, modeling efforts are of paramount importance to assess the magnitude and rates of straw removal considering the several indicators involved in this complex equation, so that an accurate straw recovery rate could be provided to producers and industry toward greater sustainability.
Seed Potato Growth and Yield as Affected by Mother Plant Exposure to Herbicides

In a repeated multi-year study, mother potato plants were exposed to herbicides at rates that simulated off-target application, such as through tank contamination. Following exposure of mother plants to herbicides, seed from mother plants was planted in the following growing season and crop growth, yield and tuber quality were quantified. Visual injury from herbicides was observed both in the mother plant and daughter tuber growing seasons and occasional impacts on tuber yield were noted. However, an inconsistent relationship was observed for herbicide related injury and tuber yield reductions of mother potato plants with daughter tuber growth and yield. The lack of consistency in the relationship between visual potato injury in the mother plant production and adverse daughter tuber growth and yield in the following year challenges traditional crop scouting as a tool to predict off-target herbicide risk near seed potato production. Nomenclature: 2,4-D; aminopyralid; cloransulam-methyl; dicamba; flumiclorac; fluthiacet; glyphosate; mesotrione; metribuzin; metsulfuron-methyl; S-metolachlor; tembotrione; thifensulfuron-methyl; topramezone; tribenuron-methyl; potato; Solanum tuberosum L. En un estudio repetido varios años, plantas madres de papa fueron expuestas a herbicidas a dosis que simularon aplicaciones accidentales, tales como las que se dan por contaminación en el tanque. Después de la exposición de las plantas madre a los herbicidas, semilla de estas plantas madre fue plantada en la siguiente temporada de crecimiento y se cuantificó el crecimiento del cultivo, el rendimiento y la calidad de los tubérculos. El daño visual causado por los herbicidas fue observado tanto en las temporadas de crecimiento de la planta madre como el de las plantas hijas y ocasionalmente se notó un impacto en el rendimiento de tubérculos. Sin embargo, se observó una relación inconsistente entre el daño y reducciones en el rendimiento de tubérculos en las plantas de papa madre causados por el herbicida y el crecimiento y rendimiento de tubérculo de plantas hijas. La ausencia de consistencia en la relación entre daño visual en la papa durante la producción de la planta madre y efectos adversos en el crecimiento y rendimiento de plantas hijas el siguiente año desafían la utilidad del muestreo tradicional del cultivo como herramienta para predecir el riesgo de daño accidental por herbicidas cerca de áreas para la producción de semilla de papa.
A genetic study on subtropical Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul tree from Northwestern Argentina

ABSTRACT Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul is a tree species in South America important for its cultural, economic, and medicinal uses. In addition, it represents a trace in memory of the forests that have decreased over the years and for this reason it is not only interesting to study but also important to preserve the tree species for future generations. In this paper, we have characterized the genetic diversity of four populations. We collected seeds from four different sites: San Bernardo (B), El Cebilar (C), Metán (M), and El Gallinato (G) in Salta Province, North Argentina. We then compared the intergenic transcribed sequences of ribosomal DNA, a known genetic molecular marker. Our previous results, obtained through the morphological and genetic analysis of only four individuals (one for each zone), have showed that the individuals from B and M sites were more similar to each other as well as the individuals from G and C sites. In this paper, a larger number of individuals (25) were characterized and their phylogenetic relationships were computed. The results confirmed the previously found similarities.
Living in extreme environments: modeling habitat suitability for jaguars, pumas, and their prey in a semiarid habitat

Carnivores and their prey occurring at the extremes of their ecological niches face particular constraints in terms of habitat suitability (HS). We combined the use of camera traps and Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) to calculate HS for jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), and 4 prey species (3-banded armadillos, Tolypeutes tricinctus; 9-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus; collared peccaries, Pecari tajacu; and gray brocket deer, Mazama gouazoubira) in Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP), located in the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil. We also evaluated HS in relation to water management applied in the Park since 1994. Considering the physiological limitations of the Caatinga's species, we used an “edge of niche” habitat-suitability algorithm. For all species examined, distance to waterholes was the ecogeographical variable with the greatest contribution for the ENFA. Water management implemented in SCNP helps to ensure the persistence of predators and prey species, since the combination of topographic characteristics and location of waterholes explained most of HS for the analyzed species.
Distinct expression patterns of the GDP dissociation inhibitor protein gene (OsRhoGDI2) from Oryza sativa during development and abiotic stresses

Abstract Guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) plays an essential role in regulating the forms of Rac/Rop between GDP-bound inactivity and GTP-bound activity in plants. In this paper, we reported a stress-responsive GDI gene (OsRhoGDI2) from rice (Oryza sativa L.). We analyzed the transcript levels of OsRhoGDI2 gene in various tissues, organs, and developmental stages to obtain information about its function. We further researched the expression patterns of OsRhoGDI2 gene in response to abiotic stress signals. qRT-PCR demonstrated that OsRhoGDI2 was distinctly expressed in various plant tissues and organs at different levels. The expression of OsRhoGDI2 was also highly salty and drought inducible, it also moderately responded to Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA), abscisic acid (ABA), and Indole-3-acetic Acid (IAA), treatment but was only slightly affected by 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments. Nevertheless, reduced expression conferred hypersensitivity to gibberellin (GA) stress in rice. The promoter of OsRhoGDI2 gene was used to drive β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene expression. Results of GUS histochemical staining showed the tissue-specific expression patterns of OsRhoGDI2, and GUS gene expression in two-week-old transgenic rice seedling exhibited relatively similar patterns under different stresses of the transgenic rice lines. These results provided insights into the characteristics and roles of the OsRhoGDI2 gene during development and strongly suggested that OsRhoGDI2 may play direct or indirect roles in the tolerance to different stresses in rice and may serve as a basis for further functional studies.