Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual and olfactory cue interaction in resource‐location by the blowfly, Lucilia sericata

Abstract. The interactions between olfactory and visual cues in the landing responses of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were examined in a laboratory wind tunnel. The odour of liver and sodium sulphide solution released at 1 L/min, resulted in a greater number of landings, closer to, but downwind of, the central odour release point, than when odour was absent. Three‐day‐old protein‐deprived females landed in greater numbers than protein‐fed female flies of the same age; no difference existed between 6‐day‐old protein‐fed or protein‐deprived females. Six‐day‐old, protein‐fed flies landed closer to the odour source than did 3‐day‐old, protein‐fed flies. In the presence of odour, flies landed closer to the central release point when it was accompanied by a visual cue. No such effect of the visual cue was evident in the absence of odour. When a plain white sticky‐surface (25 × 25 cm) was paired with an identical white surface plus odour, approximately equal numbers of flies landed when the surfaces were placed together; increasingly higher numbers of flies landed on the surface with the odour cue when the distance between the surfaces was increased. When a white surface with a visual cue was presented with the plain white surface plus odour, more flies landed on the white surface with the visual cue than on the plain white surface with odour when they were close together. However, as these two surfaces were moved apart, flies landed increasingly more on the surface with the odour than the surface with the visual cue. The results show that while odour cues may enhance the induction of landing by female L. sericata, visual cues are important when selecting a final landing site.
Chemical composition, amino acid content and protein quality of Canavalia spp. seeds

Canavalia ensiformis is a grain legume that offers good possibilities for its use, but reports on its chemical composition and nutritive quality are not readily available. This study presents chemical and nutritional data on C. ensiformis, C. gladiata and C. maritima grains. The three species varied in protein content mainly because of differences in crude fibre content. Protein varied from 26.9 to 22.4%, and crude fibre varied from 8.5 to 17.3%. This was due to differences in seed-coat percentage. The amino acid content in C. ensiformis and C. gladiata was essentially the same, and both were deficient in sulphur-containing amino acids but rich in lysine. Pressure cooking and roasting reduced lysine levels. Mineral content in the three species was essentially the same, with high potassium levels as is the case with most food legumes. Feeding trials indicated low nutritional quality for the raw grain, which was significantly improved by pressure cooking and roasting. Protein digestibility was 47.9%, and cooked and roasted samples had 76.4 and 78.7%, respectively. Both C. ensiformis and C. gladiata had the same protein quality (PER = 1.24), and it was significantly improved with methionine supplementation.
Impact of diet and culture conditions on the body shape of crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.)

The ecological consequences of hatchery rearing have been widely studied, whereas there are relatively few investigations of the impact diets and culture conditions have on morphological variation, especially in rare or endangered species. The aim of the current study was to determine the impact of diet and culture conditions on the morphometric features of crucian carp (Carassius carassius), which is a species characterised by a highly variable body shape. In the first experiment, the impact of feed type on crucian carp's body shape was tested, while in the second, the impact of culture conditions on the body shape was determined. Feed type and culture conditions significantly impacted the shape and the morphology of crucian carp. Fish-fed larval chironomids exhibited the least variation in biometric characters, while those fed high-energy-formulated feed exhibited the greatest variation. In turn, individuals cultured in ponds exhibited greater variability in measurable characters than did fish cultured in recirculating systems. The body depth index of fish fed different feeds or cultured under controlled conditions did not differ significantly in comparison to wild crucian carp. The phenotypes of the cultured fish from the two experiments were similar to those of individuals inhabiting the natural environment.
Toxicity of carbon dioxide to different developmental stages of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Trichogramma embryophagum Hartig (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The use of carbon dioxide (CO) is a very effective method for controlling insect pests. The effects of CO on developmental stages of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Trichogramma embryophagum Hartig (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were determined in this study. We aimed to establish a technique that can be used for controlling the stored-product pest, E. kuehniella with a natural enemy, T. embryophagum. Egg, larva, pupa and adult stages of E. kuehniella and T. embryophagum were exposed to 0, 10 and 20% CO gases in a COincubator at 27 o C and atmospheric pressure for different exposure times. The adult stage of E. kuehniella was more sensitive than its egg, larva and pupa in either percentage of CO or increasing exposure time. But the adult of T. embryophagum was the most sensitive stage at only highest dose of CO. On the other hand the larvae of T. embryophagum were the most resistant stage at 10% CO. Consequently, the developmental stages of two insect species had different susceptibility to increasing percentage of CO. These results suggest that a low percentage of CO may be used with T. embryophagum for controlling the stored-product pest, E. kuehniella.
A role for glutathione S-transferases in resistance to herbicides in grasses

Abstract Herbicide resistance is the heritable ability of a weed biotype or population to survive a herbicide application that would effectively kill a susceptible population of the weed. In the U.K. the most widespread and financially important herbicide-resistant weed is blackgrass. Investigations to elucidate the molecular mechanisms conferring herbicide resistance to blackgrass populations have been ongoing for two decades. Although the identification of target site–resistant populations has proved to be relatively straightforward (using, for example, target site assays in vitro), the study and understanding of resistance mechanisms involved in enhanced metabolism has proven to be more problematic. Research has focused on the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme families, both of which have been shown to be important in herbicide metabolism in many weed and crop species. GST activity and abundance are greater in a selection of herbicide-resistant blackgrass biotypes, and herbicide treatment of field populations of blackgrass results in the survival of the proportion of population possessing the greatest GST activity and abundance. In addition, GST activity in the field increases between winter and spring, and this coincides with reduced efficacy of important blackgrass herbicides. GST activities within field populations of blackgrass are highly varied, and this plasticity is discussed in relation to the development of resistant populations in field situations. This article describes research results in blackgrass and compares them with GST studies in other weed species as well as with other mechanisms for enhanced metabolism-based resistance. Nomenclature: Blackgrass, Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. ALOMY.
Taxon-biased diet preference in the 'generalist' beetle-hunting wasp Cerceris rubida provides insights on the evolution of prey specialization in apoid wasps

Opportunism and specialization appear to be widespread in apoid wasps, although the factors affecting the diet preference (and thus explaining the degree of specialization) are still largely unknown. Four hypotheses that stressed the importance of the size, sex, habitat, and taxonomic identity of prey of the beetle-hunting digger wasp, Cerceris rubida, were formulated and tested. The wasp population hunted for phytophagous beetles belonging to abundant families around the wasp nesting site. In practice, the prey appeared to be hunted only in two cultivated fields, thus habitat accounted for a majority of the observed diet. The size of wasps was furthermore correlated with the size of their prey, and thus this also accounted for the frequencies of hunted prey and the strong individual specialization for both taxa and size. However, in the exploited habitat, some species were significantly over-hunted than expected and some other significantly avoided by the wasps, causing an unexpected major role of prey taxon on the probability of being hunted, over the other explanatory variables (body size, body shape, sex, availability). This contrasts to that found in other wasp species, which appear to select prey basing essentially on their ecology and size or their relative abundance (opportunism). The results obtained in the present study show that even an apparent 'generalist' predator may turn out to be taxonomically specialized. Together with a re-evaluation of previous studies, our results further suggest that the effect of size constraints and the developmental plan of prey (holometaboulous versus hemimetabolous) may have promoted either taxonomic opportunism or specialization in different lineages of apoid wasps. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99, 544-558. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: biological traits - individual selection - provisioning - resource use.
An exine architecture model for viscin threads

Abstract Pollen grains with adhering viscin threads only occur in three unrelated angiosperm families (Onagraceae, Ericaceae, Caesalpiniaceae). Viscin threads consisting of sporopollenin are long, thin, flexible ropes on the pollen surface, and extended between adjoining single pollen grains or pollen tetrads; they should be seen as parts of the exine. The model presented deduces that the manifold viscin thread configurations and sculptures may be attributed to a single, simple exine architecture principle: Distally branched—either smooth or sculptured—columellae form rib-vaultings or arches; if the “ribs” (i.e. the columellar branches) are thick and at some distance from one another, they form muri, as in the Caesalpiniaceae; if the “ribs” are thin and close together, they form a ± compact “tectal network” like in the two other families. Some columellar branches do not contribute to the vaultings, but are enormously elongated, forming simple or (by distortion or by entanglement) complex viscin threads. A.
Statistical methods for the analysis of genetic association studies

One of the main biological goals of recent years is to determine the genes in the human genome that cause disease. Recent technological advances have realised genome-wide association studies, which have uncovered numerous genetic regions implicated with human diseases. The current approach to analysing data from these studies is based on testing association at single SNPs but this is widely accepted as underpowered to detect rare and poorly tagged variants. In this thesis we propose several novel approaches to analysing large-scale association data, which aim to improve upon the power offered by traditional approaches. We combine an established imputation framework with a sophisticated disease model that allows for multiple disease causing mutations at a single locus. To evaluate our methods, we have developed a fast and realistic method to simulate association data conditional on population genetic data. The simulation results show that our methods remain powerful even if the causal variant is not well tagged, there are haplotypic effects or there is allelic heterogeneity. Our methods are further validated by the analysis of the recent WTCCC genome-wide association data, where we have detected confirmed disease loci, known regions of allelic heterogeneity and new signals of association. One of our methods also has the facility to identify the high risk haplotype backgrounds that harbour the disease alleles, and therefore can be used for fine-mapping. We believe that the incorporation of our methods into future association studies will help progress the understanding genetic diseases.
seasonal differences in habitat selection by Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix in the northern Pennines, England

Between-season differences in habitat use by Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix were studied on four moors in the northern Pennines between 1989 and 1992. Heather moor and bogs were preferred at all times of the year, apart from during the breeding season. In spring, large quantities of Cotton-grass Eriophorum vaginatum flowers were consumed, whereas in autumn and winter Heather Calluna vulgaris was more important. Enclosed fields on the edge of the moors were regularly used in autumn and winter by large flocks of cock birds, and hens were found in smaller groups. Where present, overgrazed grass moorland was generally avoided, apart from during the summer. Similarly, enclosed rough grazing allotments rich in rushes were favoured during the summer months by breeding hens and moulting cocks.
Urokinase‐Type Plasminogen Activator and Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐Binding Protein 3 mRNA Expression in Endometriotic Lesions and Eutopic Endometrium

Abstract: The peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis contains an increased insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) bioavailability, which is produced by limited hydrolysis of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) on IGF‐binding protein 3 (IGFBP‐3). Recently, IGF‐1 was shown to inhibit apoptosis of endometrial‐like cells in vitro, suggesting that a microenvironment of increased IGF‐1 bioavailability can optimize the survival of endometrial cells grown ectopically. Here the expression of mRNA of IGFBP‐3 and uPA in tissue biopsies from eutopic endometrium and endometriotic lesions obtained at laparoscopy from women with endometriosis have been analyzed, and it is documented that both IGFBP‐3 and uPA mRNA expression are increased from 3‐ to 10‐fold in endometriotic lesions versus eutopic endometrium. Consequently, the necessary components (uPA and IGFBP‐3 expression) of endocrine/autocrine/paracrine enhancement of local IGF bioavailability mediated by uPA hydrolysis of the IGFBP‐3 were present in endometriotic lesions. These data possibly explain the origin of the increased content of uPA activity, IGF‐1 bioavailability, and NH2‐truncated forms of IGFBP‐3 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.
DIETARY ACORNS PROVIDE A SOURCE OF GAMMA-TOCOPHEROL TO PIGS RAISED EXTENSIVELY

Pigs raised extensively and fed acorns and grass had a higher concentration of alpha and gamma-tocopherol in longissimus dorsi muscle and microsome extracts than pigs fed in confinement with mixed diets (P < 0.001). This is attributable to the high concentration of alpha-tocopherol in grass (over 200 mg kg−1 DM) and gamma-toco-pherol in acorns (60–70 mg kg−1 DM). Key words: Pig, acorn, gamma-tocopherol, diet
Systematics and biogeography of the Compsopogonales (Rhodophyta) with emphasis on the freshwater families in North America

Abstract The red algal order Compsopogonales sensu lato, including the Boldiaceae, Compsopogonaceae, and Erythrotrichiaeae, is supported as a valid taxonomic entity through phylogenetic analysis of gene sequence data (18S rRNA, rbcL, and combined analyses). A well-defined freshwater lineage was identified in these analyses, and a close relationship was recognized between the Boldiaceae and the Compsopogonaceae. Biogeographic distribution of the Boldiaceae and Compsopogonaceae in North America was assessed using gene sequence data from the 5.8S rRNA gene and the flanking internally transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2). Analysis of the Boldiaceae indicates that introductions have occurred from southern populations into northern areas. No obvious geographic trend was evident in the Compsopogonaceae. The sequence data support the Compsopogonaceae as being monotypic in North America, comprising the single species, Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis) Montagne.
Effects of Pearling on Falling Number and α-Amylase Activity of Preharvest Sprouted Spring Wheat

ABSTRACT Preharvest sprouted wheat is often characterized by the falling number (FN) test. FN decreases in preharvest sprouted wheat as enzymatic degradation of the starchy endosperm increases. Wheat with FN values -0.97) in the med-low, medium, and med-high FN sample sets as pearling time increased. FN increased in the medlow, medium, and med-high FN samples by 128, 123, and 80%, respectively, after 120 sec of pearling. Pearling had no effect on flour FN of the low FN sample but α-amylase activity was significantly decreased. Pearling had littl.
Autoimmunity Stimulated by Adoptively Transferred Dendritic Cells Is Initiated by Both αβ and γδ T Cells but Does Not Require MyD88 Signaling1

Vaccination of nonautoimmune prone mice with syngeneic dendritic cells (DC) readily induces anti-DNA autoantibodies but does not trigger systemic disease. We observed that anti-DNA autoantibody generation absolutely required αβ T cells and that γδ T cells also contributed to the response, but that regulatory T cells restrained autoantibody production. Although both NZB/W F1 mice and DC vaccinated C57/BL6 mice produced autoantibodies against dsDNA, vaccinated mice had higher levels of Abs against H1 histone and lower levels of antinucleosome Abs than NZB/W F1 mice. Despite a 100-fold increase in IL-12 and Th1 skewing to a foreign Ag, OVA, synergistic TLR activation of DC in vitro failed to augment anti-DNA Abs or promote class switching beyond that induced by LPS alone. TLR stimulation was not absolutely required for the initial loss of B cell tolerance because anti-DNA levels were similar when wild-type (WT) or MyD88-deficient DC were used for vaccination or WT and MyD88-deficient recipients were vaccinated with WT DC. In contrast, systemic administration of LPS, augmented anti-DNA Ab levels and promoted class switching, and this response was dependent on donor DC signaling via MyD88. LPS also augmented responses in the MyD88-deficient recipients, suggesting that LPS likely exerts its effects on both transferred DC and host B cells in vivo. These results indicate that both the αβ and γδ subsets are necessary for promoting autoantibody production by DC vaccination, and that although TLR/MyD88 signaling is not absolutely required for initiation, this pathway does promote augmentation, and Th1-mediated skewing, of anti-DNA autoantibodies.
The unique trace metal and mixed layer conditions of the Costa Rica upwelling dome support a distinct and dense community of Synechococcus

The Costa Rica Dome (CRD) is a wind‐driven upwelling feature in the eastern tropical Pacific that supports unusually high concentrations (> 106 cells mL−1) of the picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus. To understand what causes this unusual phytoplankton bloom, we conducted a comprehensive survey of the hydrography, picophytoplankton population structure, and trace metal chemistry of the CRD and surrounding oligotrophic and equatorial upwelling waters. Based on size‐fractionated chlorophyll, picoplankton dominated phytoplankton biomass in the region, and the three water regimes sampled supported different assemblages of Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, and eukaryotic picophytoplankton. Cobalt (Co), a required nutrient for cyanobacteria, was strongly complexed in surface waters and was at least twice as high in the photic zone of the CRD than in surrounding waters. In contrast, iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) levels were comparable in and outside the CRD. Synechococcus clades II and CRD1 and Prochlorococcus ecotype eMIT9312 (high light II) were the dominant genotypes throughout the region, as assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. The composition of less abundant Synechococcus clade subpopulations differed in and outside the CRD and within the CRD. Co, mixed layer depth, and temperature were the important drivers of both total Synechococcus abundance and cyanobacterial community composition. This supports a model whereby the combination of upwelled macronutrients, high concentrations of complexed Co, and Fe and Mn scarcity in the warm, shallow mixed layer of the CRD limit larger phytoplankton and induce dense concentrations of picocyanobacteria. Globally, we suggest that trace metals influence phytoplankton distributions at both the broad (cyanobacterial vs. eukaryotic) and the fine (ecotype‐level) taxonomic levels.
Effects of production system and gender on liveweight and body measurements in pekin ducks.

The purposes of this study were to determine the effects of different production systems and gender on the liveweight and body measurements in Pekin ducks. The effect of production system on the liveweight was significant at the 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age (P 0.05) between the production system and gender. The liveweight and body measurements were higher in deep litter bedding on the floor than those measured in the cage systems. The liveweight and body measurements were higher in males than those of females. Liveweight and body measurements increased with the age.
Seasonal variations of photosynthetic capacities of white spruce (Picea glauca) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) saplings

Seasonal photosynthetic capacity (maximum rate of net photosynthesis at saturating light) was assessed in 30-year-old open-grown Pinus banksiana Lamb, and 20-year-old open-grown and understory Picea glauca (Moench) Voss in central Alberta. Photosynthesis commenced in early April despite cold soils (0 °C) and night frosts. It fluctuated greatly in the summertime during the periods of summer droughts and stopped abruptly in late October when night air temperature dropped below −10 °C. In comparing seasonal maximums, there was proportionally lower photosynthetic capacity in Pinus banksiana than in Picea glauca in the spring and autumn; however, in the summer, photosynthetic capacity in Pinus banksiana was less variable than in Picea glauca. The fluctuation of photosynthetic capacity in understory Picea glauca saplings was greatly reduced in the summertime compared with open-grown saplings. The data suggest that Picea glauca is able to use the periods of high light in the understory when the aspen is leafless.