Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Butterflies and day-flying moths in a fragmented urban landscape, south-west Western Australia: patterns of species richness

Surveys of butterflies and day-flying moths were conducted at 46 bushland remnants in the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia, between 2001 and 2005. A total of 17 075 individuals was recorded, representing 35 butterfly and 5 day-flying moth species. Individual site species richness varied between one and 27 species. Two main groups of taxa were identified: (i) species that are reliant on remnant native vegetation for breeding and are entirely or predominantly restricted to remnant bushland (resident species or urban avoiders, 27 taxa); and (ii) species that now breed primarily on introduced plants and disperse readily through the urban matrix, but which also visit remnant bushland and sometimes breed there (non-resident species or urban adapters, 13 taxa). Estimated species detectability varied widely between species and seasonally, but for most taxa was consistent across the three years of the study. Peak detectability was strongly related to observed abundance, something that is well known (intuitively), but has rarely been demonstrated (quantitatively). Only one listed endangered species was recorded, the Graceful Sun-moth Synemon gratiosa which was observed in low numbers at six sites. Several species were encountered less frequently, although these have populations outside the region. Few of the surveyed remnants were considered to have an intact butterfly fauna; it is inferred that the majority had lost some or all of their original resident species. The reliance of many species on specific host plants, and the ability of some to adapt to introduced weeds, are important factors in their persistence within remnants. These bushland remnants are effectively habitat islands for butterflies and day-flying moths, and the few remaining species-rich bushlands are therefore of regional importance for conservation of this group. This paper serves as a baseline study against which to monitor any future changes to the butterfly fauna of these remnants.
Fungi Associated with Solenopsis invicta Buren (Red Imported Fire Ant, Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mounds in Mississippi

Abstract In 2004, we determined baseline data on fungal-community assemblages from Solenopsis invicta (Red Imported Fire Ant) mounds in 3 counties (Hinds, Leake, and Madison) within the Natchez Trace Parkway, MS. We assayed mound soil, plant debris within the mounds, and ants obtained from mounds on 3 sampling dates (March, July, and November). We processed samples based on standard microbiological protocols, and used traditional morphological and molecular techniques to identify fungal taxa. We documented a total of 1445 isolates consisting of 50 fungal taxa and calculated a diversity index value (H′) of 3.11 across all substrates, which was indicative of a variable fungal community within the mounds. The taxa with the highest percent isolation frequencies included Hypocrea lixii (12.8%), Fusarium sp. 1 (12.3%), Fusarium equiseti (7.9%), Purpureocillium lilacinum (= Paecilomyces lilacinus) (6.5%), Fusarium oxysporum 2 (5.8%), and Mortierella alpina (5.4%). We isolated 2 common parasitic (entomopathogenic) fungi, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (9.4%), from mound soil, plant debris, and ant external tissues. Hypocrea lixii, the teleomorphic reproductive stage of Trichoderma harzianum, is noted as a natural biological control of some soil-borne microbes, possibly limiting important natural entomopathogenic activity within the mounds. Species richness and diversity values from mound soils across locations were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than those from the plant debris and ant body-tissue substrates. Species richness values between locations were similar. Species richness of samples collected in November (47) was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the March (41) and July (39) samples. Community coefficient values ranged from 0.79 to 0.87 between substrates, 0.85 to 0.91 between locations, and 0.85 to 0.86 between sampling dates, indicating that taxa were similar.
Protective effects of formononetin against rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury by upregulating Nrf2 in vivo and in vitro

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-known organ injury frequently observed after rhabdomyolysis (RM). The purposes of this study are to investigate the protective effects of formononetin on RM-mediated AKI and to elucidate the involvement of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in preventing apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. A rat model of RM was induced by an injection of glycerol. The renal histopathological changes, apoptosis of renal tubular cells and ultrastructural conditions showed significant amelioration after treatment with formononetin in rats. A formononetin dose-dependent study caused the upregulation of multidrug resistance associated proteins (MRPs) that resulted in reduced indoxyl sulfate (IS) concentrations in plasma and promoted its urinary excretion after renal injury. Formononetin increased the expression of Nrf2-mediated proteins such as BCL-XL, BCL-2 and decreased BAX, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in RM-mediated AKI rats. Moreover, the changes of Nrf2 and BCL-2 family members were abrogated by Nrf2 antagonist retinoic acid (RA) formononetin-treated rats. In vitro evidence also directly demonstrated the effect of formononetin on Nrf2 and its related proteins could be reversed by brusatol (Nrf2 antagonist). In conclusion, formononetin provided renal protection due to the promotion of anti-apoptosis by Nrf2-mediated regulation of proteins.
Tree species diversity in tropical forests of Barak valley in Assam, India

To enumerate the tree species diversity of tropical forests, 89 belt-transects was laid in different reserve forests and private forests of the Barak Valley, Assam, Northeast India. A total of 222 tree species were recorded from 152 genera and 65 families. Euphorbiaceae was the most species rich family with 23 species. Out of 65 families, 30 families were recorded with only one species while 10 families were recorded with two species. Artocarpus chama was the most abundant and frequently occurred species. Podocarpus nerifolia was the only gymnosperm tree recorded in this study while Caryota urena and Pleomele spicata were the monocot tree species. Five threatened species were recorded from the Valley.
Physiological Properties and Storage Technologies of Loquat Fruit

Loquat usually has a high market value with a relatively short postharvest life, because the fruit are perishable, easily damaged and lose commercial quality after harvest and in storage. The general characteristics, quality properties, physiological disorders and decay of loquat fruit after harvest have been chiefly evaluated, and the advances in beneficial treatments, decay control and storage technologies are also introduced in this review. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Measuring of udder morphological characteristics among crossbred and pure sheep breeds.

Image processing technique was used to compare udder morphological characteristics in two Iranian crossbred sheep populations including Ghezel-Arkhamerino, Moghani-Arkharmerino and a pure one that was Ghezel ewes. In addition, the resulted measurements were applied as independent variables for estimation of daily milk yield by regression models. Udder height of Ghezel was higher than Ghezel-Arkhamerino and Moghani-Arkharmerino. The udder left and right cistern height were imbalanced for Moghani-Arkharmerino crossbreds than for other populations. The teat opening, attachment width, direction of the right teat and teat-udder back distance for Ghezel ewes appeared to be the most useful traits among the udder traits taken in this study for predicting daily milk yield. The results reveals that digital image processing may be used as an alternative biometric characterization tool that would provide more accurate observation and measurements on domestic animals than current ones.
Differences in constitutive and inducible defences in pine species determining susceptibility to pinewood nematode

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, originating from North America (NA), is a major invasive pine pest in Eurasia. It was first detected in Portugal in 1999 associated with maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, and has been differently affecting the main local pine species, P. pinaster and P. pinea. Field studies and direct inoculation experiments in Pinus spp. seedlings, under controlled conditions, were performed to assess whether the differences in constitutive and inducible defences are determining the different susceptibility of pine host species to B. xylophilus. Host co-evolution with the pathogen was also assessed, including the NA P. radiata, widely used in forestry in the northeast of the Iberian peninsula. Pine mortality in the field was positively related with the abundance of B. xylophilus, and concentration of phenolics and condensed tannins in pines. In the greenhouse assay, seedling tissues were analysed for constitutive investment in defences, as well as the potential inducibility of those defences as driven by B. xylophilus inoculation. Slower growing P. pinea presented higher levels of constitutive defences than faster growing P. pinaster, with only P. pinaster being affected by B. xylophilus. Furthermore, co-evolution with the pathogen is important, with the fast-growing NA P. radiata presenting an inducible and effective response to B. xylophilus. Results point to the importance of integrating data on pine life history traits, including growth rate, and production of constitutive and inducible defences, into predictive models for this invasive forest pest.
First record of South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Tamil Nadu, India

The South American tomato moth (SATM), Tuta absoluta is a quarantine pest, native to South America which was detected first time in Maharastra, India in late 2014 and then in Karnataka.The border district of Tamil Nadu was under vigil to monitor the activity through regular surveillance from March 2015 to know the presence of SATM in Dharmapuri district and the occurrence of T. absoluta was first noticed in Karimangalam block in the tomato hybrid Sivam. The widely cultivated tomato hybrids Sivam and Sagar were equally susceptible to the SATM with 20-32 per cent leaf damage and 28 - 53 per cent fruit damage. The sex pheromone traps attracted more number of adults per day. The damage was mostly found in the middle and lower leaves and half ripened and ripened fruits. In a single fruit 8-12 holes were noticed during the survey. This is the first report of thisÂ pest in Tamil Nadu. Main characteristics of the species are briefly reviewed, with notes on biology, distribution and damage.
Blocking Wnt Signaling in the Corticospinal Tract and Proprioceptive Sensory Axons

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to physical dysfunction or paralysis. These features of SCI have been documented to relate to damage to the corticospinal tract of axons in the spinal cord. Wnt is a morphogen credited, amongst many other developmental tracts, with the anterior-posterior directional growth of the developing spinal cord. This gradient is mediated by Wnt's interaction with the Ryk receptor. It has been recently documented that in the mature spinal cord, following injury, Ryk-mediated Wnt repulsion of spared or sprouting axons restricts plasticity. This study sought out to block the Wnt signaling pathway via ligand -binding inhibitors via bone marrow stromal cell grafts and Ryk receptor silencing via monoclonal antibody infusion to increase corticospinal tract axon plasticity and to see if an increase in plasticity correlates with increased fine motor functional recovery. Most of the parameters used in the experiments involving the cell grafts were duplicated in an experiment utilizing the peripheral nervous system conditioning paradigm by injecting ethidium bromide into the sciatic nerve. We found discrepancies in behavioral studies correlated more strongly with lesion cavity size as opposed to axon plasticity after injury, opening avenues of research looking at the mechanisms behind the glial response to SCI and the potential role of Wnt signaling associated with the glial response to SCI
Pseudostomella dolichopoda Todaro, 2012 and P. cataphracta Ruppert, 1970 (Gastrotricha: Thaumastodermatidae): new records from Brazil and USA and an updated key to the genus

Pseudostomella dolichopoda was originally described from the north coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and P. cataphracta from North Carolina, USA. Herein we report new distributional records of both species: P. dolichopoda is recorded from Espirito Santo, Brazil and P. cataphracta from Florida, USA. An updated identification key for the genus Pseudostomella is also provided.
NUTRITIONAL ECOLOGY OF MICROTINE RODENTS: RESOURCE UTILIZATION NEAR ATKASOOK, ALASKA

Three species of microtine rodents occur near Atkasook, Alaska: the brown lemming (Lemmus sibiricus), the collared lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus), and the tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus). Population densities do not fluctuate as widely as do those of the brown lemming near Barrow, where densities may reach 200 ha-'. Total microtine densities at Atkasook seldom reach more than 10 ha-1, except in the most favorable habitats near streams. Collared lemmings, unlike those at Barrow, occur in a wide variety of habitats and are almost as numerous as brown lem
The antibacterial activity of 27 southern African members of the Combretaceae

Combretum erythrophyllum contains at least 14 antibacterial compounds and some of these have higher activity than currently used antibiotics. Other members of the Combretaceae were therefore examined to find the best source of antibacterial compounds. Leaves of 27 species of Combretum, Terminalia, Pteleopsis and Quisqualls were collected, dried, milled and extracted with acetone. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of extracts was determined by a microplate serial dilution technique using Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruglnosa and Escherichia coil as test organisms. All extracts inhibited the growth of the four test isolates, with MIC values generally from 0.1-6 mg ml-1 and an average of 2.01 mg ml-1. After storing extracts for six weeks at 7i? ½C, there was a slight loss of activity, MICs increased from 1.75-2.24 mg ml-1. The Gram-positive strains were slightly more sensitive, with an average MIC of 1.8 mg ml-1, than the Gram-negative strains with a MIC of 2.22 mg ml-1. Based on MIC values and the total content of each plant, the seven species with the highest antibacterial activity were C. molle, C. petrophilum, C. moggli, C. erythrophyllum, C. padoides, C. paniculatum and C. mossambicense.
Evidence for the Interaction of an Imidazolinone Herbicide with Leucine, Valine, and Isoleucine Metabolism

Effects of the imidazolinone herbicide AC243 997 [2-(5-isopropyl)-5-methyl-4-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl) nicotinic acid] on the growth of corn (Zea mays L. ‘Black Mexican Sweet’) cell suspension cultures were characterized. The herbicide caused half maximal growth inhibition at concentrations in the range of 10 nM to 30 nM. Significant reductions in protein synthesis were observed following treatment of cells with 10 μM herbicide. Analysis of free amino acid pool sizes indicated that levels of the biosyn-thetically related amino acids leucine and valine were substantially decreased in cells exposed to 10 μM herbicide. Supplementation of suspension culture growth media with leucine and valine plus isoleucine (1 mM each) reversed growth inhibitory effects of AC243 997 at levels ranging from 10 nM to 1 mM. The results suggest a specific interaction of this imidazolinone herbicide with leucine, valine, and isoleucine metabolism.
Dimensional changes of the dental arches: cross sectional study from 8 to 14 years in a sample of Yemeni children

Introduction: Orthodontists can benefit from understanding occlusal changes during every stage of human development. The growth and development period is influenced by environmental factors, nutrition, and ethnic variations; systemic health and individual variations can also occur. The aim in this study was to study the changes in the dental arch dimensions with age from mixed dentition to early permanent dentition in a group of Yemeni school pupils. Methods: One hundred and Twenty subjects (60 females, 60 males) divided into three groups Gp1 (8less than 10 yrs), GP2 (10 less than 12 yrs) and GP3 (12 -14 yrs). Upper & lower study casts were evaluated in centric occlusion. The casts were scanned and 9 parametrs; arch perimeter, arch length, inter-canine width, inter-molar width, and palatal depth; were measured on the computed cast images by using special software. In addition 2 parameters; overjet and overbite; were measured manually. Results: The maxillary arch perimeter showed gender effect at GP3; however, the other parameters there were no gender effect. There were significant changes in arch perimeters, arch length, overbite, and palatal depth in Yemeni school pupils 1Postgraduate Orthodontics student, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University, Egypt. 2Assistant professor of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University. , Egypt. 3Professor of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University, Egypt. Egyptian Orthodontic Journal 90 Volume 36 – December 2009 between the mixed and the permanent dentitions. Conclusions: These results should be useful in planning orthodontic treatment for Yemeni patients in the mixed and early permanent dentition.
The Mechanics of Labriform Locomotion I. Labriform Locomotion in the Angelfish (Pterophyllum Eimekei): An Analysis of the Power Stroke

1. 1. A blade-element approach is used to analyse the mechanics of the drag-based pectoral fin power stroke in an Angelfish in steady forward, rectilinear progression. 2. 2. Flow reversal occurs at the base of the fin at the beginning and at the end of the power stroke. Values for the rate of increase and decrease in the relative velocity of the blade-elements increase distally, as do such values for hydrodynamical angle of attack. At the beginning and end of the power stroke, negative angles occur at the base of the fin. 3. 3. The outermost 40% of the fin produces over 80% of the total thrust produced during the power stroke, and doe8 over 80% of the total work. Small amounts of reversed thrust are produced at the base of the fin during the early and late parts of the stroke. 4. 4. The total amount of energy required during a cycle to drag the body and inactive fins through the water is calculated to be approximately 2.8 × 10−6 J and the total energy produced by the fins over the cycle (ignoring the recovery stroke) which is associated with producing the hydrodynamic thrust force, is about 1.0 × 10−5 J; which gives a propulsive efficiency of about 0.26. 5. 5. The energy required to move the mass of a pectoral fin during the power stroke is calculated to be approximately 2.6 × 10−7 J. Taking this into account reduces the value of the propulsive efficiency by about 4% to about 0.25. The total energy needed to accelerate and decelerate the added mass associated with the fin is calculated and added to the energy required to produce the hydrodynamic thrust force and the energy required to move the mass of the fins; giving a final propulsive efficiency of 0.18.
Colonizing Cane Toads cause population declines in native predators: reliable anecdotal information and management implications

This paper presents compelling, anecdotal evidence of severe population declines in five predator species, Dasyurus hallucatus, Varanus gouldii, V. mertensi, V. panoptes, and V. timorensis similis, in almost immediate response to Cane Toad colonization of their habitat in three widely distributed areas of northern Queensland. Furthermore, risk assessment of all quoll and monitor taxa whose distributions overlap the potential distribution of the Cane Toad in Australia (Sutherst et al. 1996), indicates that at the continental scale, three of the four quoll taxa and eight of the 20 monitor species examined are at high risk of severe population declines following Cane Toad colonization. One quoll taxon and seven monitor species are at moderate risk and five monitor species are at low risk. The definition of the threat which Cane Toads pose to native predators has received very little research attention, and fundamental questions including; which predator species are most at risk (testing of the risk assessment hypotheses presented here), the extent of these risks (is there a need to manage Cane Toad impacts upon predators? ), and the contexts of intraspecific variation in relative extinction risk (for example, interactions of extinction risk with predator and Cane Toad population demography, climate, landscape, and land use), need to be assessed. Assuming that Cane Toads are found to have an impact across a range of taxa and landscapes (which I propose to be likely), management of the impact of this species on predators can be approached from two not necessarily exclusive directions; management of Cane Toad populations and management of predator populations, through both population and habitat management. At this stage, however, management from either viewpoint is constrained by a lack of published information relevant to autecology and fine scale distribution of predators.
Redescription of Pelagia benovici into a new jellyfish genus, Mawia, gen. nov., and its phylogenetic position within Pelagiidae (Cnidaria : Scyphozoa : Semaeostomeae)

Abstract. This study provides new and additional data on morphology and a phylogenetic analysis of the recently described species Pelagia benovici Piraino, Aglieri, Scorrano & Boero, 2014 from the Northern Adriatic (Mediterranean Sea). Comprehensive morphological analyses of diagnostic characters, of which the most significant are marginal tentacles anatomy, basal pillars, gonad pattern, subgenital ostia and exumbrellar sensory pits, revealed significant differences from the currently known genera Sanderia, Chrysaora and Pelagia in the family Pelagiidae. A phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA) and nuclear ribosomal genes (28S rRNA, ITS1/ITS2 regions), together with cladistic analysis of morphological characters, positioned Pelagia benovici as a sister taxon with Sanderia malayensis, and both share a common ancestor with Chrysaora hysoscella. Pelagia benovici does not share a direct common ancestor with the genus Pelagia, and thus we propose it should not belong to this genus. Therefore, a new genus Mawia, gen. nov. (Semaeostomeae : Pelagiidae) is described, and Pelagia benovici is renamed as Mawia benovici, comb, nov.
Study of the heavy metals (Cd and Pb) content in the tissues of rainbow trouts from Hamedan coldwater fish farms

The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the muscle and liver tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Hamedan Province (west of Iran) cold water fish farms, and compare the results with the FAO/WHO guidelines. Heavy metal concentrations were determined from the three randomly selected fish farms by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. Concentration of heavy metals were detected to be high in rainbow trout during dry season. Concentration of Cd and Pb in the muscle and liver tissues were 3. 67µg/kg and 12. 82µg/kg, respectively. However concentrations of these two heavy metals were within the standard limits set and recommended by FAO/WHO, indicating that the rainbow trout meat raised from this region is safe for human consumption.