Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spring and summer habitat preferences of little bustard in an agro-pastoral area in Sardinia (Italy)

Abstract The little bustard Tetrax tetrax (Aves, Gruiformes) is a threatened bird species, which is highly reliant on extensively grazed semi-natural grasslands. It is one of the more rapidly declining species in Europe due to the widespread intensification of agricultural practices and consequent abandonment of agro-pastoral activities. Therefore, understanding its habitat requirements in different seasons is crucial to implement adequate habitat management measures. Previous knowledge of habitat preference of the little bustard in Sardinia, which nowadays supports the only remnant isolated population present in Italy, is only available for the breeding season. We conducted surveys of displaying males in spring and of mixed flocks (of different age and sex classes) in summer and quantified habitat requirements in the two seasons using logistic regression analysis. Overall, we detected 85 displaying males in spring and seven mixed flocks (totalling 77 individuals) in summer within the study area. Interestingly, habitat preference models evidenced contrasting needs between the two different seasons: Males occurrence in spring was higher with greater fallow cover and further from water, whereas in summer flock occurrence was negatively related to fallow cover. This seasonal change in fallow preference is likely due to the effect of grazing livestock on this land-use. Extensive grazing is known to shape adequate habitat structure for displaying males in spring. On the other hand, grazing animals in summer may deplete the already limited food resources (i.e. green plants) available during this dry period of the year and when energy requirement for the little bustard is high due to feather moulting. This may explain the observed avoidance of fallow cover in summer. Conservation efforts in Sardinia should aim at maintaining a mosaic of diverse habitats that may provide complementary resources at any given time of the year that would benefit this and other grassland species of conservation concern.
Intake and feeding behaviour of Morada Nova lambs fed different energy levels

The effects of metabolizable energy levels were evaluated on nutrient intake and ingestive behaviour in Morada Nova lambs. Forty Morada Nova lambs were used with an initial weight of 12.2±2.05 kg. Five treatments were defined according to the metabolizable energy levels (0.96, 1.28, 1.72, 2.18 and 2.62 Mcal/kg DM). The experimental model was a randomized block design. Linear effect (P<0.0001) of ME levels was determined for dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) in g/day. Quadratic effect was determined for NDF (P<0.017) and carbohydrate intake (P<0.003). Linear effect was determined for digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, TC and NFC. Eating, ruminating and total chewing times, expressed in hours/day, decreased linearly (P<0.0001) with the energy levels of experimental diets. Idle time increased linearly (P<0.0001) with the increase of energy levels of the rations. Feeding and rumination efficiencies were influenced by the energy levels (P<0.0001) when expressed in g DM/h. The number of ruminal boluses, number of chews and chews per ruminal bolus were not affected by the levels of ME. However, time spent chewing per ruminal bolus was influenced (P<0.0014). Increase in ME levels of diets influences nutrient intake and feeding behaviour of Morada Nova lambs during the growing period.
Discontinuous distributions in relict harvestmen (Opiliones, Arachnida)

Discontinuous distributions in the following relict harvestmen are studied: Sabacon (Troguloidea, Ischyropsalididae); Dendrolasma parvula (Troguloidea, Trogulidae); Crosbycus dasycnemus (Troguloidea, Nemastomatidae); Caddo agilis, C. pepperella (Caddinae), Acropsopilio boopis (Acropsopilioninae) (Caddoidea, Caddidae); Triaenonychidae (Travunoidea). Taxonomic problems in the Caddidae are discussed and Caddo pepperella and Acropsopilio boopis lately recorded from Japan are briefly described together with notes of Caddo agilis. In addition, ecological segregation in two species of Caddo is given.
Pseudomonas tolaasi in Mushroom Crops: A Note on Primary and Secondary Sources of the Bacterium on a Commercial Farm in England

Primary sources of Pseudomonas tolaasi Paine on a mushroom farm were the peat and limestone used in the casing process. The pathogen could not be detected in the farm soil, water supply, the mushroom spawn used, or in compost after spawning, but was isolated from the casing (peat/limestone mixture) layer of symptom-free mushroom beds and both the casing layer and compost of beds bearing diseased mushrooms. Secondary sources were numerous once the pathogen was present in mushroom beds. These included symptomless and diseased mushrooms, the fingers and shoes of people handling the crop, their baskets, knives and ladders. Ps. tolaasi could be isolated from dust in the air in infected houses and also from floors. Spores of infected mushrooms may transport the bacterium, as did sciarid flies and mites which are common pests of mushroom crops.
Effect of Starch Induced Bacterial Growth and Amylase Production in Bacillus subtilis

The amylases produced by a Bacillus subtilis were purified from three different media which occurred nonstarch, starched and after eight hours shocked by starch media. Purified enzymes were compared each other Km, purification steps, thermal stability, pH and bacterial growth. In shocked medium, bacterial growth and amylase production are much more than in starched medium. The enzyme was stable at 65°C in three media. Km values were found different in three media where maltose inhibited the amylase activity. This inhibition is a competitive inhibition.
Highly plastic resource allocation to growth and reproduction in females of an African annual fish

Phenotypic plasticity is an important mechanism to maximise fitness in unpredictable environments by fine-tuning phenotypes to a specific environmental setting. We used Nothobranchius furzeri, an African annual fish from temporary pools with erratic changes in habitat condition, to study changes in the allocation to growth and reproduction and to test the key trade-off between egg size and number. In an experimental setting, we quantitatively varied ration at two levels and over two time periods, including temporal switches in ration level. As predicted, female N. furzeri possessed the capacity for compensatory growth, which surprisingly came with no longer-term cost to fecundity. Females responded strongly to ration manipulation, with a pronounced decrease in fecundity associated with a low ration, even after accounting for body mass. Due to the unpredictability of offspring environment, we expected no adaptive change in oocyte size. However, females responded to the quality of their environment in accordance with an adaptive maternal effect, with females receiving a low ration producing larger eggs. Further, a switch in ration size in either direction was associated with a decrease in egg size. There was a trade-off between egg size and number in half of the treatments, but high variability in egg size among females made the relationship complex. Overall, N. furzeri females demonstrated high plasticity in both growth rate and fecundity parameters. Females appear able to track and respond adaptively to unpredictable changes in food availability in their environment.
Comparative molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses of taxa in the Chaetocerotaceae (Bacillariophyta)

Kooistra W.H. F.C. , Sarno D. , Hernández-Becerril D.U. , Assmy P., Di prisco C. and Montresor M. 2010. Comparative molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses of taxa in the Chaetocerotaceae (Bacillariophyta). Phycologia 49: 471–500. DOI: 10.2216/09-59.1 The diatom family Chaetocerotaceae (Mediophyceae) includes two exclusively phytoplanktonic genera: Chaetoceros and Bacteriastrum. Its hallmark feature constitutes setae: hollow, spine-like appendages protruding from the valves. Chaetoceros is morphologically diverse, includes c. 400 described species and is common worldwide; whereas, Bacteriastrum includes only 11, is less common and occurs mainly in temperate and tropical seas. In the present study we gathered morphological information and/or sequence data from 86 strains belonging to 17 morphologically defined species in Chaetoceros and one in Bacteriastrum (B. cf. hyalinum). The Chaetoceros species included in this study belong to 14 of the 22 sections and two of the three subgenera: Chaetoceros (Phaeoceros) and Hyalochaete. A consensus cladogram reconstructed from states associated with morphological characters gathered from strains belonging to these 18 morphological taxa in the Chaetocerotaceae and Hemiaulus hauckii as outgroup resolved Bacteriastrum inside Chaetoceros and demonstrated monophyly for the subgenus Chaetoceros; whereas, the subgenus Hyalochaete was found to be paraphyletic. Molecular phylogenies inferred from the hypervariable region (D1–D4) of the LSU rRNA gene of all strains included in this study and from a subset of these strains corroborated the findings in the cladogram and showed evidence for cryptic or pseudocryptic diversity in C. curvisetus, C. debilis, C. diadema, C. lorenzianus, C. peruvianus and C. socialis. The molecular trees differed topologically from the morphological ones, but characters exhibiting only a few state changes in the molecular tree showed also only a few changes in the morphological one; whereas, characters showing multiple changes in the molecular tree revealed many changes in the morphological tree as well.
Exploration of Factors Related to Wheelchair Postural Improvement in Long-Term Care Residents After an Individualized Wheelchair Intervention

ABSTRACT This study aimed to, first, investigate the kinematic postural effects of an individualized wheelchair intervention for residents in a long-term care facility and, second, explore factors related to wheelchair postural improvement. Twenty-seven residents participated in this study, with 14 subjects randomly assigned to the intervention group. The tools used to measure static and dynamic posture while seated in a wheelchair were a goniometer and a palpation meter. The individualized wheelchair intervention was performed by a therapist specializing in assistive technology. The results failed to demonstrate a significant effect after individual wheelchair interventions; however, further examination revealed that wheelchair intervention significantly correlated with an improvement in anterior and posterior head tilt while seated in the wheelchair. Other factors such as age, gender, presence of neurological disease, and the transfer score on the Barthel Index were found to be related to wheelchair postural improvement.
Protist phylogeny and the high-level classification of Protozoa

Protist large-scale phylogeny is briefly reviewed and a revised higher classification of the kingdom Protozoa into 11 phyla presented. Complementary gene fusions reveal a fundamental bifurcation among eukaryotes between two major clades: the ancestrally uniciliate (often unicentriolar) unikonts and the ancestrally biciliate bikonts, which undergo ciliary transformation by converting a younger anterior cilium into a dissimilar older posterior cilium. Unikonts comprise the ancestrally unikont protozoan phylum Amoebozoa and the opisthokonts (kingdom Animalia, phylum Choanozoa, their sisters or ancestors; and kingdom Fungi). They share a derived triple-gene fusion, absent from bikonts. Bikonts contrastingly share a derived gene fusion between dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase and include plants and all other protists, comprising the protozoan infrakingdoms Rhizaria [phyla Cercozoa and Retaria (Radiozoa, Foraminifera)] and Excavata (phyla Loukozoa, Metamonada, Euglenozoa, Percolozoa), plus the kingdom Plantae [Viridaeplantae, Rhodophyta (sisters); Glaucophyta], the chromalveolate clade, and the protozoan phylum Apusozoa (Thecomonadea, Diphylleida). Chromalveolates comprise kingdom Chromista (Cryptista, Heterokonta, Haptophyta) and the protozoan infrakingdom Alveolata [phyla Ciliophora and Miozoa (= Protalveolata, Dinozoa, Apicomplexa)], which diverged from a common ancestor that enslaved a red alga and evolved novel plastid protein-targeting machinery via the host rough ER and the enslaved algal plasma membrane (periplastid membrane). The branching order of the five bikont groups is uncertain: Plantae may be sisters of or ancestral to chromalveolates (jointly designated corticates as they share cortical alveoli); Rhizaria and Excavata (jointly cabozoa) are probably sisters if the formerly green algal plastid of euglenoids and chlorarachneans (Cercozoa) was enslaved in a single event in their common ancestor. Apusozoa may be sisters of Excavata and centrohelid heliozoa may be sisters to Haptophyta.
A Revision of the Nearctic Species of Hygrotus Groups II and III (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

The keys, synonymy, diagnosis, description, and distribution are presented for species-groups, IV, V, and VI of the Hygrotus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in the nearctic region. See R. D. Anderson (Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 64: 503–512; 69: 557–584) for discussion and keys of remaining species-groups within the genus. Figures of the external male genitalia, curiously modified legs of males, and distribution maps are included. This paper and the two published previously constitute a revision of the genus Hygrotus, covering 42 species recognized from the nearctic region. Identification of female specimens of some species still remains difficult and is often subjective.
Wind and snow damage in a thinning and fertilisation experiment in Pinus sylvestris

Damage induced by wind and snow was examined in an experimental series with thinning and fertilisation established in 34–58 years old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in northern Sweden during the period 1969–83. The experiment contained six treatments and 23 replications. The treatments were 25% and 60% thinning from below, 25% thinning from above, 30% thinning from below combined with N and NP fertilisation. Percentages represent basal area harvested at the first thinning. Differences in damage level were examined at the first reinventory, 4–8 years after thinning. The level of wind and snow‐induced damage was about 1% of the basal area during the period studied. Proportion of basal area damaged was not affected by the treatments, but there was more snow damage after thinning from above than after thinning from below. The proportion of trees damaged by snow and the proportion of dead trees were affected by treatment. The densest stands, the control and 25% thinning from above, were damaged the mo.
Shade shoot structure of conifers and the photosynthetic response to light at two CO2 partial pressures

The response of net photosynthesis to irradiance was measured for shade-adapted shoots of different conifer species. Shoots were illuminated unidirectionally or in a light integrating sphere to study the effects of shoot structure. Shoot structure was quantified as R maX , the ratio of the shoot-silhouette area to the leaf-silhouette area. The initial slopes and the convexities (rate of bending) of the light response curves were strongly affected by R maX during unilateral illumination. There was also a strong positive effect of R max on the maximum efficiency of net photosynthesis and a strong negative effect of R max on the light compensation point. Increasing atmospheric CO 2 partial pressure (C a ) from 35 to 70 Pa did not affect the convexity of the light response curves nor rates of dark respiration. Increasing C a affected the initial slope, the light compensation point, the maximum rate of photosynthesis and the efficiency of net photosynthesis. Except for the maximum rate of net photosynthesis, the responses to C a were controlled by shoot structure. Studies of the effect of atmospheric CO 2 on photosynthesis and growth in conifers need to consider variations in shoot structure.
α1‐Antitrypsin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic active hepatitis

Forty‐seven Italian patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 58 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were screened for α‐antitrypsin (αAT) levels and types and compared with a previously screened healthy Italian population. Serum αAT concentrations were significantly raised among the HCC patients compared to the controls, whereas the CAH group showed no differences. The incidence of non‐M phenotypes (MS, MZ and S) is significantly higher in patients with HCC than in the CAH group and the controls. The mean age of HCC patients with a non‐M phenotype is significantly lower than the mean age of HCC patients with an M phenotype.
Three new species and a new record of chaetophoracean (Chlorophyta) algae from terrestrial habitats in Antarctica

Descriptions are provided of cultured isolates of four species of chlorophyte microalgae which would traditionally be assigned to the Chaetophoraceae, Leptosiroideae (sensu Bourrelly, 1990). Light microscope observations are supplemented by electron microscopy, particularly of pyrenoid features. Three new species are described: Coccobotrys mucosus sp. nov., Dilabifilum prostratum sp. nov. and Desmococcus endolithicus sp. nov. Desmococcus olivaceus is a new record for Antarctica. Diagnostic features of the new species include extensive gelatinisation of cell walls in old cultures of C. mucosus, growth of a well-developed pseudoparenchymatous prostrate system in liquid cultures of D. prostratum, and production of quadriflagellate zoospores by D. endolithicus which is a new observation for this genus. Unusual and contrasting ultrastructural features of the pyrenoid are described for D. prostratum and the Desmococcus species. The former is traversed by appressed pairs of thylakoids coated with pyrenoglobuli; .
Nematodes associated with East African Highland cooking bananas and cv. Pisang Awak (Musa spp.) in Central Uganda

A survey was conducted at 17 sites in Central Uganda. Suckers were detached from East African Highland cooking bananas (Musa spp., AAA-group) and the cultivar Pisang Awak (Musa spp., ABB-group), and assessed for nematode population densities and root damage. The frequency of occurrence on both Musa groups was Helicotylenchus multicinctus 88%, Radopholus similis 74% and Pratylenchus goodeyi 50%. Helicotylenchus multicinctus and R. similis densities were higher (P ≤ 0.05) on Highland cooking bananas compared to Pisang Awak, while P. goodeyi densities did not differ significantly between the groups. Helicotylenchus multicinctus and R. similis were observed to be the major pests of Highland cooking bananas in Central Uganda, causing extensive root death. Radopholus similis may be the more important of the two, as it was also highly associated with root necrosis.
A comparative study of the reproductive fitness and pathogenicity of a population of Radopholus similis from Davao, Philippines, on banana (Musa spp.)

The in vitro reproductive fitness on carrot discs and the in vivo pathogenicity on selected FHIA (Fundación Hondureña de Investigaciónes Agrícola) banana hybrids of a population of Radopholus similis isolated from banana in Davao, Philippines, were investigated at the Bureau of Plant Industry, Davao City, Philippines. It was shown that on carrot discs following inoculation with 25 females, the Davao population had the highest population density and multiplication rate compared with two other R. similis populations from the Philippines (Los Baños and Quezon) and two exotic populations of R. similis (from Uganda and Indonesia). According to the Gompertz model, the Davao population also had a short lag phase and a high maximum specific growth. Following inoculation with one single female, the Davao population also had the highest multiplication rate and the highest proportion of juveniles and females compared with the other four populations included in the experiments. Nine weeks after inoculation with 1000 vermiforms, the R. similis population from Davao had reduced the plant height of the FHIA hybrids included in the experiment (FHIA-3, FHIA-4, FHIA-5, FHIA-18 and FHIA-23) on average by 37%, plant girth by 5.3–40.9%, shoot weight by 20.1–65.8% and root weight by 31.7–69.7%, indicating the high pathogenicity of this population on banana. FHIA-4 was tolerant to R. similis infection.
Partitioning and Efficiency of Use of N in Dactylis glomerata as Affected by Elevated CO2: Interaction with N Supply

We applied allometry to examine the effects of elevated [CO2] on N use efficiency and N partitioning within Dactylis glomerata L. plants, independent of ontogenetic drift. The plants were grown hydroponically at either ambient (360 μL L−1) or elevated (680 μL L−1) atmospheric [CO2] and four concentrations of \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $$\mathrm{NO}\,^{-}_{3}$$ \end{document} . Independent of N supply, elevated [CO2] increased whole‐plant dry matter production compared with N accumulation during very early stages of growth only, indicating a transient increase in plant N use efficiency (i.e., net dry mass gain per net N gain). However, an increase in N supply resulted generally in a decrease in plant N use efficiency throughout ontogeny. When compared at the same age, elevated [CO2] reduced the N concentration (mass percentage) of the whole plant and shoot but did not affect the N concentration of the root. However, CO2 enrichment had hardly any effect on the partitioning of N between shoot and root when analyzed allometrically and independent of the partitioning of dry matter. In contrast, enhanced N supply reduced the allocation of N to roots throughout ontogeny. When compared at the same age, CO2 enrichment reduced the N concentration of leaves when expressed per unit dry mass but not when expressed per unit leaf area, which is related to a decrease in specific leaf area induced by elevated [CO2] during early stages of growth. We conclude that atmospheric CO2 enrichment can increase plant N use efficiency, independent of N availability. This increase may result from physiological changes in plant N use efficiency during very early stages of growth and is more than a size‐dependent phenomenon resulting from accelerated dry matter production.