Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ovarian cycle and plasma concentrations of estrogen and vitellogenin in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, Mitchill)

Oocyte development and plasma concentrations of estrogen and vitellogenin in brook trout have been investigated. Oocyte development and vitellogenesis resumed immediately after spawning in October, but, up until May, oocytes never developed beyond 1000 μm diameter and yolk deposition only resulted in the appearance of a relatively modest number of fine droplets and globules. A peak occurrence of atretic follicles of about 900μm diameter was observed in March. In May, many cortical alveoli stage oocytes were seen developing from perinucleolar oocytes. From June to October, oocyte growth and vitellogenesis occurred at a faster rate. By the time of ovulation, the oocytes were about 2500 μm in diameter and became filled with a homogeneous mass of yolk. Throughout winter and spring, plasma level of estrogen was 1–5 ng/mL and that of vitellogenin was mostly below 5 μg/mL of alkali-labile protein phosphorus. In October, the plasma concentrations of estrogen and vitellogenin increased to 40 ng/mL and 96 μg/mL, re.
Antipredator Responses of the Puerto Rican Giant Anole, Anolis cuvieri (Squamata: Polychrotidae) 1

FEENER, D. H. , JR. A N D B. V. BROWN. 1992. Reduced foraging of Soknopsis geminutu (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the presence of parasitic Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae). Ann. Entomol. SOC. h e r . 85: 80-84. KEm, W. E. , R. ZUCCHI, J. T. NAKADAIRA, AND J. E. BUTOLO. 1962. Reproduction in the social bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J. New York Entomol. SOC. 70: 265-276. ROUBIK, D. W. 1989. Ecology and natural history of tropical bees. Cambridge University Press, New York, New York. 1990. Mate location and mate competition in males of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae). Entomol. Gkner. 15: 115-120. SAKAGAMI, S. 1982. Stingless bees. In H. R. Hermann (Ed.). Social Insects, pp. 360-423. Academic Press, New York & London. SCHWARZ, H. F. 1948. Stingless bees (Meliponidae) of the Western Hemisphere. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 90: 1546. SIMBES, D. , L. R. BEGO, R. ZUCCHI, AND S. F. SAKACAMI. 1980. Mehloncha sinistru Borgmeier, an endoparasitic phorid fly attacking Nunnomigonu (Scuptotrigonu) postica Latreille (Hymenoptera, Meliponinae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 24: 137-142. SOMMEIJER, M. J. AND L. L. M. DE BRUIJN. 1995. Drone congregations apart from the nest in Mefiponufavosu. Insectes Sociaux 42: 123-127. THORNHILL, R. AND J. ALCOCK. 1983. The evolution of insect mating systems. Harvard University Press, Cambridge & London.
Revision of Mosla (Lamiaceae) in Taiwan

The genus Mosla Buch. -Ham. Ex Maxim. Has long been a source of confusion in Taiwan. Three species, Mosla chinensis Maxim. , M. dianthera (Buch.-Ham.) Maxim. And M. scabra (Thunb.) Wu & Li are recognized in Taiwan in this paper. Mosla formosana Maxim. , which was previously treated as an insufficiently known species, is reduced to synonymy under M. dianthera (Buch.-Ham.) Maxim. SEM micrographs of pollen grains and nutlets, chromosome numbers, distribution maps, a key to species and species descriptions are provided. The ornamentation of the nutlet is a good diagnostic character for recognizing plants at specific rank in this genus.
Protective role of grape seed proanthocyanidins against cadmium induced hepatic dysfunction in rats

Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) are polyphenolic compounds which exert a novel spectrum of biological, pharmacological and therapeutic properties against oxidative stress. Recent findings have shown that GSP exhibit numerous antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. So, it was of special concern to investigate the protective efficacy of GSP against cadmium induced hepatic dysfunction in rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with cadmium (Cd) as cadmium chloride (CdCl2, 5 mg kg−1 bw, orally) and orally pre-administered with GSP (100 mg kg−1 bw) 90 minutes before Cd intoxication for 4 weeks to evaluate hepatic damage of Cd and antioxidant potential of GSP. Our results demonstrate a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of serum hepatic markers and hepatic oxidative stress markers and a notable (p < 0.05) decrease in hepatic enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant contents along with histopathological alterations on Cd exposure. The GSP pre-treatment regimen was beneficial in the recovery of altered serum and hepatic biochemical and histological variables by Cd. Our results clearly indicate that the free radical scavenging and antioxidant potential of GSP benefits the recovery of rats exposed to Cd. We thus recommend that diets rich in GSP help in attenuating Cd-induced oxidative hepatic dysfunction in rats.
Management of Citrus Root Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Florida Citrus with Soil-Applied Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida)

The entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser and S. riobravis Cabanillas, Poiner and Raulston were compared as twice a year soil treatments for control of the west indian sugarcane root stalk borer weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.), and citrus root weevil, Pachnaeus litus (Germar). Additionally, four single rate demonstrations evaluated S. riobravis and a 2- year test compared single versus double annual treatments of S. riobravis. The 6 experiments were conducted in the Indian River Area of Florida, U.S.A. Two applications per year of S. carpocapsae were as effective as S. riobravis for P. litus control but failed to control D. abbreviatus. A single application of S. riobravis delivering 2 million nematodes per tree through low volume irrigation systems or a tractor-mounted herbicide boom in demonstration tests provided 64% and 89% reduction of P. litus and D. abbreviatus, respectively. Single annual applications of 2 million S. riobravis per tree delivered with sprinkling cans reduced P. litus populations by 65% and D. abbreviatus populations by 85% over a 2 year period and was statistically equal to a 2-a-year treatment of S. riobravis that provided 80% and 95% reductions, respectively.
The European carbon balance. Part 1: fossil fuel emissions

We analyzed the magnitude, the trends and the uncertainties of fossil‐fuel CO2 emissions in the European Union 25 member states (hereafter EU‐25), based on emission inventories from energy‐use statistics. The stability of emissions during the past decade at EU‐25 scale masks decreasing trends in some regions, offset by increasing trends elsewhere. In the recent 4 years, the new Eastern EU‐25 member states have experienced an increase in emissions, reversing after a decade‐long decreasing trend. Mediterranean and Nordic countries have also experienced a strong acceleration in emissions. In Germany, France and United Kingdom, the stability of emissions is due to the decrease in the industry sector, offset by an increase in the transportation sector. When four different inventories models are compared, we show that the between‐models uncertainty is as large as 19% of the mean for EU‐25, and even bigger for individual countries. Accurate accounting for fossil CO2 emissions depends on a clear understanding of system boundaries, i.e. emitting activities included in the accounting. We found that the largest source of errors between inventories is the use of distinct systems boundaries (e.g. counting or not bunker fuels, cement manufacturing, nonenergy products). Once these inconsistencies are corrected, the between‐models uncertainty can be reduced down to 7% at EU‐25 scale. The uncertainty of emissions at smaller spatial scales than the country scale was analyzed by comparing two emission maps based upon distinct economic and demographic activities. A number of spatial and temporal biases have been found among the two maps, indicating a significant increase in uncertainties when increasing the resolution at scales finer than ≈200 km. At 100 km resolution, for example, the uncertainty of regional emissions is estimated to be 60 g C m−2 yr−1, up to 50% of the mean. The uncertainty on regional fossil‐fuel CO2 fluxes to the atmosphere could be reduced by making accurate 14C measurements in atmospheric CO2, and by combining them with transport models.
Tools for Estimating Surplus Production and F MSY in Any Stock Assessment Model

Abstract Surplus-production calculations can be made in any stock assessment model that includes catch data and that estimates biomass. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) reference points can also be estimated if there are sufficient data. The “external” method estimates production model parameters after the assessment model is fitted. External calculations are simple and useful; we recommend that they be done routinely. The “internal” method fits a more complicated assessment model and a surplus-production model simultaneously. It includes the external and “all-measurement-error” modeling methods (e.g., ASPIC) as special cases. External MSY estimates for Atlantic surfclam Spisula solidissima off northern New Jersey, cowcod Sebastes levis in the Southern California bight, and yellowtail flounder Pleuronectes ferrugineus on Georges Bank and internal MSY estimates for northern Atlantic surfclam were similar to conventional estimates. Surplus-production calculations and both internal and external modeling appro.
Intestinal Parasites in Dogs from the Center-west of Portugal

Summary Environmental contamination by dog faeces in public areas is considered a risk factor to Public Health. Therefore, during a period of five years (20002005) a parasitological study on dog faeces was performed in Center-West region of Portugal. Coprological exams were performed. Out of 2806 samples analysed, 792 (28,23%) showed eggs/oocysts of intestinal parasites, with higher prevalences in rural areas (53,35%). Specimen eggs belonging to the families Taeniidae, Dipylidiidae, Ancylostomatidae, Ascarididae, Trichuridae and Spirocercidae and oocysts from Eimeriidae and Sarcocystidae, were identified. The results obtained pointed out to the continuity of prophylactic measures which has already been implemented in the studies areas.
Patients’ and Health Care Professionals’ Perceptions of the Potential of Using the Digital Diabetes Questionnaire to Prepare for Diabetes Care Meetings: Qualitative Focus Group Interview Study

Background In effective diabetes management, it is important that providers and health care systems prioritize the delivery of patient-centered care and that they are respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences and barriers. Objective The objective of the study was to conduct focus group interviews to capture patients’ and health care professionals’ perceptions and attitudes regarding digital technology and to explore how the digital Diabetes Questionnaire can be used to support patient participation in diabetes care, as a basis for an implementation study. Methods A qualitative study was conducted with six focus group discussions with diabetes specialist nurses and medical doctors (n=29) and four focus group discussions with individuals with diabetes (n=23). A semistructured focus group interview guide was developed, including probing questions. The data were transcribed verbatim, and qualitative content analysis was performed using an inductive approach. Results Two main categories were revealed by the qualitative analysis: perceptions of digital technology and the digital questionnaire in diabetes management and care and perceptions of participation in diabetes care. An overarching theme that emerged from the focus group interviews was patients’ and professionals’ involvement in diabetes care using digital tools. Conclusions The analysis identified important factors to consider when introducing the digital Diabetes Questionnaire in clinical use. Both professionals and patients need support and training in the practical implementation of the digital questionnaire, as well as the opportunity to provide feedback on the questionnaire answers.
Light requirements for regeneration in tropical forest plants: Taxon‐level and ecological attribute effects

Understanding co-adapted traits and strategies in organisms has been increasingly shown to require a broader view of structure, function, taxonomic affiliation (phylogeny) and their possible interactions. In order to understand mechanisms of recruitment dynamics in tropical forest, nine juvenile (fruit, seed and seedling) and seven adult ecological and morphological traits were examined in 89 woody plant species, from 75 genera, 35 families and 21 orders. The species were from tropical rainforest in northern Queensland and varied widely in light requirements and hence regeneration niches. The importance of taxonomic (phylogenetic) constraints was considered using various techniques. Data were collected mostly from herbarium specimens, augmented by observations in the field. The main source of variation in most traits was at the species level, although fruit size and light requirement varied most at the genus level, and flower size at the level of order. Covariation among attributes increased in strength with increasing taxonomic level. Cluster analyses of the species arising either from five or three groups reflected juvenile rather than adult attributes. However, these groups were not morphologically distinct. Sets of juvenile traits poorly predict adult functions (and vice-versa) at species, genus and family levels, but do so more strongly at the order level. Analyses of variance and multivariate analyses, with and without the effects of phylogeny, indicated that fruit size, seed size, hardness of seed coat, seedling cotyledon function, fruit maturation period and, to a lesser extent, seed number per fruit and wood density could predict light requirement, and hence regeneration niche. Flower size showed a strong phylogenetic effect, and thus is conserved along taxonomic lines. It is concluded that as different traits may vary at different taxonomic levels, the influence of phylogeny on interspecific variation needs to be routinely recognized by ecologists involved in comparative analyses of plant life-history functions.
Limpets of the genus Nacella (Patellogastropoda) from the Southwestern Atlantic: species identification based on molecular data

Several species of the genus Nacella show high phenotypic intraspecific variability and only a few morphological characters can be used to identify them, so that their taxonomic status is unclear. In this work molecular markers were used to determine if the most frequent forms of the genus observed along the coast of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in Argentina (Nacella magellanica, Nacella deaurata, Nacella delicatissima and Nacella mytilina) are true species, or if some are morphotypes of a single species. Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of the partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b genes showed a polytomy comprising most of the individuals of the genus Nacella analysed. Using cytochrome b, among all species tested, only N. mytilina formed a well-supported clade. Interspecific genetic distances among the four Nacella species were very low and similar to the intraspecific ones. On the contrary, intersimple sequence repeats (ISSRs) fingerprint analyses confirmed the differentiation of N. magellanica, N. deaurata and N. mytilina. The specimens of N. delicatissima were intermixed with the individuals of N. magellanica and N. deaurata, suggesting that N. delicatissima is not a separate species but an infrequent morphotype of each of the other two species. ISSR –PCR was more useful in revealing genetic differences among closely related species than mitochondrial DNA sequences. These results could be explained by recent speciation processes in these limpets of the Southwestern Atlantic.
Effects of nitrogenous fertilizer on growth and yield of Mustard Green

Nitrogenous fertilizer is a good source of nutrients for soil that implies a positive effect on growth, development and yield of vegetables when applied at optimal doses. Considering this fact, the present research was designed to study the effect of different levels of nitrogenous fertilizer (from urea source) on the growth and yield of mustard Green. A split-plot layout within randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications was used. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed T3 (150 kg urea ha) and T2 (100 kg urea ha) was statistically insignificant. However a significant difference was noticed with T1 (50 kg urea ha) and T0 (control) in shoot height, leaf area, shoot fresh weight, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of siliqua per plant, number of seeds per siliqua and finally seed yield per hector. The results revealed that the application of 100 kg urea ha were judicial for commercial mustard green production at Bangladesh Agricultural University experimental farm.
Growth duration and root length density of Solanum sisymbriifolium (Lam.) as determinants of hatching of Globodera pallida (Stone)

Solanum sisymbriifolium is a trap crop for potato cyst nematodes (PCN). In this study, we quantified the effect of different periods of growth of S. sisymbriifolium and root length density on hatching of Globodera pallida, using potato and fallow treatments as references. One-year-old and 2-year-old G. pallida cysts were used in greenhouse experiments carried out in containers over 2 years. Two methods were used in study hatching. In the first method, 7.5-cm-diameter soil cores were removed and backfilled with infested soil. In the second method, cysts were buried in nylon bags. The soil cores infested with cysts used in the first method had very poor root colonisation as compared to surrounding bulk soil. Therefore, the effect of S. sisymbriifolium was strongly underestimated by the soil core method. Hatching of PCN juveniles from cysts, measured with the nylon bag method, increased with the duration of growth of S. sisymbriifolium from 47% after 6 weeks of crop growth up to 75% after 21 weeks of crop growth. Reductions per depth layer were also correlated with root length density and varied between 42.6% at 0.26 cm cm3 and 85.3% at 5.8 cm cm3. Based on a single exponential decay function, a general method is presented to estimate for any PCN management measure the average reduction in the number of years needed to ensure that the PCN population falls below a given density. Calculated reductions in the number of years ranged from 2.3 years for 59% hatching (equivalent to 90 days of S. sisymbriifolium) to 4.4 years for 75% of hatching (equivalent to 150 days of S. sisymbriifolium). These reductions were independent of initial and final population density. Our results corroborate the hatch-inducing effect of S. sisymbriifolium, underline the importance of growth duration and root length density as determinants of the reduction in PCN population that can be achieved and draw attention to the pitfall in methodology that can arise in the study of hatch stimulation
Molecular techniques for identifying intraguild predators of fishers and other North American small carnivores

Identifying predators of threatened and endangered species is important for understanding and reducing the impacts of predation. Visible evidence collected from a carcass alone is often insufficient to accurately identify predator species. The DNA from the predator left on the carcass allows for a definitive identification of predator species associated with the carcass, but DNA can be difficult to isolate independently from the prey. We developed field collection and molecular protocols for amplifying canid and felid predator DNA from saliva on fisher (Martes pennanti) carcasses without amplifying fisher DNA itself. We tested the protocol on fisher carcasses suspected of having been killed by a bobcat (Lynx rufus), mountain lion (Puma concolor), coyote (Canis latrans), and domestic dog. We successfully amplified and sequenced DNA from these 4 predator species, confirming predation by them on fishers. We confirmed that these protocols could also identify other felid and canid predators of several other small North American carnivores. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
IκBα and p65 Regulate the Cytoplasmic Shuttling of Nuclear Corepressors: Cross-talk between Notch and NFκB Pathways

Notch and NFκB pathways are key regulators of numerous cellular events such as proliferation, differentiation, or apoptosis. In both pathways, association of effector proteins with nuclear corepressors is responsible for their negative regulation. We have previously described that expression of a p65-NFκB mutant that lacks the transactivation domain (p65ΔTA) induces cytoplasmic translocation of N-CoR leading to a positive regulation of different promoters. Now, we show that cytoplasmic sequestration of p65 by IκBα is sufficient to both translocate nuclear corepressors SMRT/N-CoR to the cytoplasm and upregulate transcription of Notch-dependent genes. Moreover, p65 and IκBα are able to directly bind SMRT, and this interaction can be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the CREB binding protein (CBP) coactivator and after TNF-α treatment, suggesting that p65 acetylation is modulating this interaction. In agreement with this, TNF-α treatment results in downregulation of the Hes1 gene. Finally, we present evidence on how this mechanism may influence cell differentiation in the 32D myeloid progenitor system.
Nutrient solution concentration and growing season affect growth and quality of potted petunia in a recirculating subirrigation and drip-irrigation system.

Petunias (Petunia × hybrida Hort. Vilm.-Andr. ‘Giove’) were grown in closed soilless systems to evaluate the effects of irrigation system (drip and subirrigation) and nutrient solution concentration (half and full) during two consecutive growing seasons (spring and winter) in terms of substrate electrical conductivity (EC s ), growth, quality, crop evapotranspiration (ET c ), growth index water use efficiency (WUE GI ) and nutrient uptake. At the end of the cultural cycle the highest EC s in the upper and lower layers were recorded in the spring season on plants grown in subirrigation using a full nutrient solution concentration. The higher EC s recorded with subirrigation under full strength nutrient solution in the spring season, had no negative effect on plant growth parameters and quality index indicating that petunia can be considered tolerant to salinity. The highest shoot biomass, leaf area, and plant growth index were recorded in the winter season on plants grown in both drip-irrigation and subirrigation using full nutrient solution concentration, whereas the lowest values were observed in the winter season on plants grown using the half nutrient solution concentration. Higher total evapotranspiration was recorded in the winter compared to spring season (4.3 vs. 3.5 L m -2 ), because the plants grown during the winter season required more days (20) to reach the commercial maturity in comparison to those grown during the spring season. The WUE GI recorded on plants grown during the spring season was significantly higher by 24% than those recorded during the winter season. The highest N, P, K, Ca and Mg uptake values were measured during winter season using full strength nutrient solution. The variation of the EC in the nutrient solution during the spring growing cycle was less pronounced in the subirrigation than with a drip-irrigation system which represents an important aspect for the simplification of the closed loop management of the nutrient solution.