Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A reservoir weed for mites: Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae) in the vicinity of cultivated solanaceous plants in Turkey

Twenty-six phytophagous, predacious and generalist mite species were found on the weed species Datura stramonium in the vicinity of solanaceous vegetables from two locations in Turkey during 2009–2010. Of seven species of phytophagous mites, Tetranychus urticae was the predominant species on the weed leaves. Additionally, 15 predacious mite species from seven families were identified: Phytoseiidae, Anystidae, Stigmaeidae, Bdellidae, Ascidae, Ameroseiidae and Iolinidae. Phytoseiidae (nine species) and Iolinidae (one species) were the most abundant predacious mites in the families. The dominant predacious species were Cydnodromus californicus and Pronematus ubiquitus. The Shannon index (H′), a biodiversity parameter of the predacious mites was very high compared to that of phytophagous mites that occurred at a high density. Among four generalist species from three families (Tydeidae, Acaridae and Oribatidae), one species, Zygoribatula microporosa, was found in the Turkish mite fauna. In Ankara, the population density of spider mites on the weed leaves began to increase in early July and peaked three times in late July, early September and mid-October in 2009–2010. In Bursa, the mites emerged in early June and peaked four times in early July, early August, early September and early October in 2010–2011. Cydnodromus californicus and Typhlodromus Anthoseius recki exhibited efficient numerical responses to spider mite populations from early August to early September. However, in Bursa, Sorenson’s coefficient confirmed that there were positive predator–prey associations among spider mites and these predacious mites. Although this weed is a source of predacious species when it is located in the vicinity of tomato fields, D. stramonium may play a role as a reservoir plant for phytophagous mites and permit increasing pest population in areas used for the cultivation of solanaceous vegetables due to predators’ delayed response to spider mite populations.
Length–weight relationships of sixteen freshwater fishes from the Hacha River and its tributaries (Amazon Basin, Caquetá, Colombia)

Summary Body length and weight relationships were estimated for sixteen native freshwater fish species (ten Characidae, three Loricariidae, two Heptapteridae and one Astroblepidae, mainly small-sized fish) collected in the Andean piedmont Hacha River (Caqueta, Colombia) by electrofishing. These are the first length–weight and length–length parameters reported for the species, which are mostly endemic to the Amazonian basin. Maximum lengths in eight of the sixteen studied species are also reported. Knowledge of this biometric data and their relationships can be relevant in the management and conservation of the local fish and fisheries.
Karyological Analysis of Iranian Cichlid Fish, Iranocichla hormuzensis Coad, 1982 (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from Southern Iran

Abstract Esmaeili, H.R. , Piravar, Z. and Ebrahimi, M. 2006. Karyological analysis of Iranian cichlid fish, Iranocichla hormuzensis Coad, 1982 (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from southern Iran. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 77–79. The diploid chromosome number of Iranocichla hormuzensis Coad, 1982 was 2n=44, comprising 25 submetacentric,18 subtelocentric and 1 metacentric. The arm number was 70. Detailed karyotypes of this endemic cichlid fish of southern Iran may confirm its relationship to Tristramella.
Analysis of T344C genetic polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene in Malaysian end stage renal disease subjects.

The T344C polymorphism of aldosterone synthase CYP11B2 gene at promoter region was vastly studied in various populations with conflicting results in relation to End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD). In this study, researchers aimed to know the association of T344C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene in Malaysian ESRD subjects. This study involved 165 Malaysian ESRD subjects and 165 healthy individuals as control subjects. Using commercially available kits, genomic DNA was extracted from the subjects using their buccal cells and the blood. The 152 bp product of CYP11B2 gene polymorphism were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and digested with Hae III restriction enzyme using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method. The restricted fragments were separated by metaphor agarose gel electrophoresis and showed 152 bp represent TT allele (wild type), 152 and 97 bp represent the TC allele (heterozygous) and 97 and 56 bp represent CC allele (mutant type) as the genotypes for T344C polymorphism. The frequency of TT, TC and CC genotypes of T344C in CYP11B2 gene in ESRD subjects were 98 (59.39), 60 (36.36%) and 7 (4.24%) while 92 (55.76), 70 (42.42) and 3 (1.82%) were found in control subjects, respectively. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of T344C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene show no significant differences as compared to control subjects (p>0.05). The T allele of T344C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene might not be considered as a possible genetic marker or predisposing risk factor for ESRD in Malaysian subjects. However, this study has to be further continued with more subjects to confirm the association of CYP11B2 gene mutation with ESRD.
The infection of strawberry and raspberry fruits by Botrytis cinerea Fr.

SUMMARY Botrytis cinerea occurs abundantly throughout the year as a saprophyte and facultative parasite on a wide variety of plant materials in raspberry and strawberry plantations. Despite high concentrations of airborne spores at the time of fruit development, relatively few infections have resulted from penetration of fruit surfaces following the germination of spores in drops or films of water, uninfluenced by the presence of necrotic tissues. The majority of fruit infections are initiated from mycelium growing saprophytically in contiguous plant material or from spores germinating in solutions trapped between such material and the fruit surface. Dry spores of B. cinerea on the surface of strawberry fruits do not readily germinate in a saturated atmosphere but germinate rapidly in a water film. Although ripe and unripe fruits differ markedly in susceptibility, fruit maturity induces only small differences in the rates of spore germination. Field observations suggest that water films generally do not persist on the surface of the fruit long enough for the post-germination infection process to be completed. Such films, however, may persist much longer when trapped between floral parts, and spores germinating there are able to initiate infections almost as soon as the buds open. The process may be accelerated by the presence of necrotic tissue, for example, in flowers damaged by frost. Mycelium infecting floral parts may subsequently invade the proximal end of both strawberry and raspberry receptacles. This mycelium may remain quiescent until the fruit ripens; consequently infected fruit may escape notice during picking and marketing. Some methods of supplementing fungicidal control measures by reducing the incidence of sources of infection are suggested.
Reproduction and Behavior of the Mexican Prairie Dog (Cynomys mexicanus)

Abstract We evaluated breeding season and breeding behavior of two populations (Los Angeles and La Perforadora) of the Mexican prairie dog (Cynomys mexicanus) in northeastern Mexico during January–June 2002 and 2003. We observed 18 coteries in each colony. The breeding season began at the end of January and extended into late April for both colonies. Males were sexually active January–March, and females were in estrus in early March. However, 7 and 10 mature females in La Perforadora and Los Angeles, respectively, underwent estrus in mid-February. Gestation lasted from early March to early April, parturition occurred in early April, and weaning occurred in late April. Infanticide was not observed. Mature females and dominant males of each coterie cut fresh vegetation, possibly for construction of the nest inside the burrow. A series of sexual-mounting exercises occurred outside burrows between young of the same coterie. We describe fights that occurred frequently between adults after the young emerged from their burrows.
Paramblypterus duvernoyi (Actinopterygii): skull morphology and intra-specific variation, and its implications for the systematics of paramblypterid fishes

ABSTRACT More than 300 specimens of Paramblypterus duvernoyi from four lakes of the Lower Permian of Germany are examined to determine intra-specific variation of this species and to revise the diagnosis of the genus Paramblypterus. For the first time, a three-dimensional model of the skull and the snout of Paramblypterus is reconstructed. A partial tooth bearing premaxilla, which forms the anterior most part of the gape, is described; in contrast, the absence of a premaxilla had until now been considered a synapomorphy of the genus Paramblypterus. Information obtained from the study of P. duvernoyi has required a new revision of Paramblypterus gelberti. A comparison between the two species indicates a very similar morphology and they may belong to a single species. The study of their intra-specific variation has shown only minor differences, which may be explained by heterochrony. Both Paramblypterus duvernoyi and Paramblypterus gelberti are highly variable concerning the number and arrangement of certai.
Annual variability of ichthyoplankton in the Yangtze River estuary of China from August 2002 to 2009

The annual variability of ichthyoplankton in the Yangtze River estuary, located at the junction of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea, on the continental shelf at the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, was studied using vertical tows at twenty stations from August 2002 to August 2009. Basic oceanographic parameters such as temperature and salinity were also measured to evaluate their relationship to the abundance of ichthyoplankton. The eggs or larvae of a total of 34 fish species were present in the samples. Only 8 species were found to occur during every year. Engraulis japonicus and Stolephorus commersonii eggs, as well as Coilia mystus and Stolephorus commersonii larvae, were highly abundant during this period. Additionally, water storage in the Three Gorges Reservoir, which began in June 2003, had significant effects on the abundance of estuarine species, as well as on the composition and diversity of ichthyoplankton; this became evident when these values were compared to the findings from 2002. The number of species (species richness) and abundance of each species varied among the stations relative to the salinity in the estuary during the study period.
Cell size in trays for the production of strawberry plug transplants

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influencia do tamanho das celulas utilizadas na producao de mudas de morangueiro em bandejas, comparadas a mudas de raizes nuas, quanto ao tamanho inicial da planta, periodo de colheita e producao total de frutos. As mudas em bandejas foram produzidas a partir de pontas de estoloes enraizadas em celulas de 26,5, 50, 100 e 150 cm3, com o substrato orgânico Plantmax HA. As mudas de raizes nuas (controle) foram produzidas em um sistema sem solo com areia como substrato. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repeticoes de 16 plantas. As mudas de bandejas com celulas de 100 cm3 e de raizes nuas atingiram diâmetro da coroa e massa de materia seca de folhas e raizes mais elevadas. A producao precoce foi maior nas plantas propagadas por estoloes que naquelas propagadas por raizes nuas. A producao de primavera e a total nao diferiram entre os tratamentos, com media de 435 e 874 g por planta, respectivamente. A producao mais precoce de frutas foi obtida com mudas em bandejas, mesmo naquelas com celulas pequenas de 26,5 ou 50 cm3 de volume.
Growing Conditions Alter the Relationship Between SPAD-501 Values and Apple Leaf Chlorophyll

The relationship between SPAD-501 meter readings (SPAD) and total chlo- rophyll content (TCHL) was evaluated for 'Delicious' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) leaves grown in various environments. Regression models were developed between SPAD and TCHL for each of six separate experiments and were evaluated for statistical coincidence. SPAD was linearly related in a positive manner to TCHL in five of the six experiments; however, models differed between experiments, particularly between field- and greenhouse-grown trees. Thus, the relationship between SPAD and TCHL must be determined for each experiment. The SPAD-501 portable leaf greenness meter (Minolta Corp., Ramsey, N.J.) non- destructively measures leaf greenness. A positive linear relationship has been dem- onstrated between SPAD measurements and total extracted chlorophyll (TCHL) for a range of plant species (Yadava, 1986; Marquard and Tipton, 1987). These studies indicated the need to develop separate relationships for each plant species and individual meter. Our preliminary studies with the SPAD sug- gested that the relationship between SPAD and TCHL may vary within a species, de- pending on the growing conditions. The ob- jective of this study was to evaluate the influence of various growing conditions on the relationship between the SPAD and TCHL for apple leaves. 20, and 40 mg N/tree per week) and three ERM populations (0, 1000, and 2000 mite days/leaf). The experimental designs were randomized complete blocks with two and six single-tree replicates per treatment in 1987 and 1988, respectively. Field; mite population (Expts. 3 and 4). In Apr. 1987, 40 2-year-old 'Redchief De- licious'/MM.111 trees were planted at a spacing of 2 × 3 m at the Virginia Poly- technic Inst. and State Univ. Horticultural Research Farm. Trees were grown according to standard recommendations, except ERM populations were allowed to develop on 20 randomly selected trees, while the remaining trees were kept mite-free. Mite populations were monitored weekly on one leaf per tree, and mites were removed or added to main- tain mite levels of ≈ 0 and 3000 mite days/ leaf on 20 trees per treatment. The experi- ment was repeated in 1988. In each experiment, following accumula- tion of desired mite levels, three SPAD mea- surements (37.8 mm 2 total measurement area) were averaged per leaf to represent one ob- servation. Immediately following SPAD measurement, four disks per leaf (1.2 cm 2
Rodents change acorn dispersal behaviour in response to ungulate presence

Small rodents are prominent seed predators, but they also favour plant recruitment as seed dispersers. The direct interactions of ungulates on plants are more one-sided and negative, as they mainly reduce plant recruitment through predation on seeds and seedlings. The effects of small rodents and ungulates on plant recruitment have been considered and studied as independent episodes within plant regeneration cycles. However, ungulate-rodent interactions and their potential effects on plant regeneration have not been considered so far. A number of studies have recently documented ungulate effects on the abundance, diversity and spatial distribution of small rodents. Here, we hypothesize that ungulates may also affect rodent seed dispersal behaviour. We monitored acorn dispersal by small rodents (Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus) in oak woodlands with and without exclosures for large ungulates, mainly red deer, Cervus elaphus, and wild boar, Sus scrofa. The study was carried out in a typical Mediterranean Holm oak, Quercus ilex, forest throughout the acorn fall season in 2003 and 2004. We found that, in both years, the proportion of acorns cached and not recovered in the short-term was, on average, lower in the presence (1.4%) than in the absence (19.9%) of ungulates. Acorn dispersal distances were not affected by ungulate presence in either year. However, ungulates had an effect on the spatial distribution of dispersed seeds; rodents apparently avoided shrubs as caching sites in both years. This result was interpreted as a behavioural response to reduce the risk of cache pilferage by conspecifics, which are closely associated with shrubs in presence, but not in absence, of ungulates. Potential effects of different densities of rodents or predators were discarded, as none of them differed between the areas with and without ungulates. The present study found significant interactions between heterospecific seed and seedling consumers that had been considered as independent episodes within tree regeneration cycles. As a result of such interactions, ungulates may have negative indirect effects on oak recruitment by reducing (1) acorn caching frequency, and (2) the proportion of acorns cached under shrubs, key nurse-plants for the establishment of Holm oak seedlings in Mediterranean areas.
Influence of Artificial Diet on Larvae of Eri Silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval

An Artificial Diet composed of castor leaf powder (11.5 g), parched soybean powder (1.0 g), sucrose (1.0 g), agar-agar (1.5 g), inhibitor solution (5 ml) and water (20 ml) was evaluated against eri silkworm larvae. Castor fed eri silkworms were maintained as control for comparison. Larval weight was significantly maximum in eri silkworms fed with artificial diet upto first instar which was followed by feeding of eri silkworms on artificial diet upto second instar + castor leaves from upto fifth instar and feeding of eri silkworm on artificial diet upto third instar + castor during remaining instars. Whereas, the larval mortality was minimum in eri silkworms reared on artificial diet upto first instar followed by artificial diet upto second and third instars + castor during remaining instars, whereas, they were higher in eri silkworms fed on artificial diet upto fourth and fifth instars + castor during remaining instars.
Absorption and Utilization of Amino Acids

VOLUME III: Altered Methionine Metabolism and Unbalanced Methylation: A Possible Basis for the Dynamic Phenotype of Cancer. Determination of Histidine, 1-Methylhistidine and 3-Methylhistidine in Biological Samples by HPLC. Clinical Application of Urinary 3-Methylhistidine in Evaluating the Muscle Protein Breakdown in Uremic Patients. Role of Glutathione and N-Acetylcysteine as Inhibitors of Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis. Dietary Amino Acids, Eating Behavior, and Trichothecene Mycotoxicoses. Amino Acid Precursors of Biogenic Amines. Absorption and Metabolism of Heated Protein-Carbohydrate Mixtures in Humans. Effect of Heat on Tryptophan in Food: Chemistry, Toxicology, and Nutritional Consequences - A Review. Methods for Determining Bioavailability of Amino Acids for Poultry. Kinetics of Protein Degradation in the Rumen. Transport of Nitrogenous Compounds by the Gastrointestinal Tract. The Utilization of Free and Protein-Bound Lysine. Rumen Protected Amino Acids in Ruminant Nutrition. Amino Acid Digestibility in Pigs as Affected by Diet Composition. Considerations in Methodology for the Determination of Amino Acid Digestibilities in Feedstuffs for Pigs. A Comparison of In Vitro Enzymatic and Rat Balance Methods for Measuring Digestibility of Protein and Amino Acids in Foods. The Resistance to Proteolytic Breakdown of Some Plant (Seed) Proteins and Their Effects on Nutrient Utilization and Gut Metabolism. Chemistry and Analysis of Amino Acids. Index.
Nisin-Loaded Chitosan/Alginate Nanoparticles: A Hopeful Hybrid Biopreservative

To improve the deficiencies concerning the physicochemical instability of nisin, a hybrid of nisin at concentration of 450 IU/mL with chitosan/alginate nanoparticles was prepared. Antibacterial strength of the hybrid was compared with free nisin against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 19117 in ultra filtered (UF) Feta cheese. The effects of nisin and the nisin-loaded nanoparticles on the chemical composition, rheological parameters, color indices and sensory attributes of UF Feta cheese were studied. Antibacterial experiments indicated that the nisin-loaded nanoparticles were able to decrease the populations of S. aureus and L. monocytogenes up to five- and sevenfold on a logarithmic scale in comparison with free nisin, respectively. Sensory acceptance and physicochemical features of UF Feta cheese were also significantly improved using the nisin-loaded nanoparticles as compared with those of free nisin. Overall, greater antibacterial strengths and less undesirable influences of this hybrid than those of free nisin on the original quality of UF Feta cheese would make this hybrid a promising biopreservative in dairy products. Practical Applications This study investigates the use of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles as an auxiliary adjuvant in food preservation process. Considering our former promising antibacterial strength observed for this hybrid against S. aureus in the milk samples and also our new findings, it can be concluded that this hybrid would actually be an effectual potential biopreservative against common foodborne pathogens without any harmful side effects on the original qualities of the assessed dairy products. These outstanding features would be an incentive for further future investigation and probable industrialization of this hybrid as a highly productive biopreservative in food preservation technology.
Effects of protein supplementation of grass silage on the performance and carcass quality of beef cattle

SUMMARY Two experiments (E1 and 2) were carried out in Northern Ireland in 1988/89 to examine the effects of a wide range of supplementary protein intakes given with grass silage-based diets on the performance and carcass composition of beef cattle, and to compare diets based on silage and dried forage. The five treatments used consisted of grass silage offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·5 kg dry matter (DM) of barley-based concentrates containing (1) zero, (2) 0·2, (3) 0·4 and (4) 0·6 extracted soyabean meal and (5) artificially dried grass and hay supplemented with 3·3 kg concentrate DM. Experiments E3 and 4 were carried out in 1991/92 to examine the responses in ration digestibility, silage intake and animal performance to supplementary protein in relation to the requirements recommended by the United Kingdom Metabolizable Protein System. The two treatments consisted of grass silage offered ad libitum and supplemented with 3·2 kg DM of (1) barley and (2) 0·8 barley and 0·2 soyabean meal. The silages used were well preserved, containing on average 200 g DM/kg; 143 g crude protein (CP)/kg DM; 79 g ammonia-N/kg total N and 734 g digestible organic matter/kg DM. The cattle were castrated males of medium to late-maturing breed type and were initially 13 months old and 396 kg liveweight. Increasing protein intake did not affect ration digestibility, silage DM intake or animal performance in any of the four experiments, despite the fact that the effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP) intakes in the diets supplemented with barley alone were only 80–85% of ERDP requirements. However, increasing protein intake tended to increase carcass fatness in all experiments, the effect being significant (P < 0·05) for the lipid concentration in the M. longissimus dorsi muscle in E1 and 2. Offering the dried forage-based diet rather than an isonitrogenous silage-based diet did not affect carcass fatness. It is concluded that supplementing well preserved grass silages with mixtures of barley and soyabean meal, rather than with barley alone, did not affect ration digestibility, silage intake or animal performance but tended to increase carcass fatness, especially marbling fat, despite the fact that ERDP intakes for the diets with the lowest protein concentration were only 80–85% of requirements given by the United Kingdom Metabolizable Protein System.