Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution and systematics of locally endemic Paronychia (Caryophyllaceae) in South

Paronychia Miller is a polyphyletic genus as currently circumscribed. This large genus of some 110 species has a morphology with few taxonomically useful characters and the species are often difficult to identify. The last revision of Paronychia was in 1968 made by Mohammad Chaudhri from Utrecht University. Comparative DNA sequence analysis is a common tool to investigate taxa where morphology is difficult to use. This study investigated phylogenetic relationships between species of Paronychia occurring in South America, a diversity center for the genus. During fieldwork in the Andes highlands 90 specimens of Paronychia were collected. Here we learned that descriptions of Paronychia species were often vague and with overlapping characters, and a new revision is needed. For molecular analysis 31 species from South America were sampled. Sequences inferred from both chloroplast region rps16 and nuclear region ITS suggest that the species of Paronychia in South America form a monophyletic group. These species are in the same part of the genus as its type and would belong to Paronychia also in the future.
Pipid Frog from the Pleistocene of the Pampas of Southern South America

ANA M. BAEZ,", CARLOS A. SCANFERLA,2 FEDERICO L. AGNOLIN,73 MARCOS CENIZO,3 and MARTIN DE LOS REYES3; 1Universidad de Buenos Aires and Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia," Angel Gallardo 470, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina, baez@gl.fcen. uba.ar; 2Laboratorio de Anatomia Comparada y Evoluci6n de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia," Angel Gallardo 470, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina; 3Fundaci6n de Historia Natural Felix de Azara, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropologia, Universidad Maim6nides, Valentin Virasoro 732, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina,
Germination-Rate Dependency on Temperature of Geranium carolinianum Seeds

Germination-rate dependency on temperature in the sub-optimal range and its spread in a seed population of Geranium carolinianum L. were analysed through a detailed time course study. With and without Arrhenius transformation the relationship between the germination rate and temperature could be well approximated by straight lines. The thermal time (9), one of the parameters characterizing the simple linear relationship had a distribution within the seed population, which could be described by the following distribution function: F(6) = 1 -lA(0-m+(A/3)-l'3)3 +1] "1/2 where m is the median of the distribution and A is a shape parameter characterizing the pattern of the distribution. Moist chilling treatment for 3-7 d caused a change in the value for A to make the spread of germination time much wider.
Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses reveal four genetically separated breeding units of the swordfish

Variants in the calmodulin gene intron 4 (CaM) and the mtDNA D-loop region (D-loop) detected by RFLP and nucleotide sequence analyses were used to investigate the global stock structure of the swordfish Xiphias gladius. Two alleles (A and B) were observed at the CaM locus among 8 samples (Mediterranean, Tarifa, four Atlantic areas, Indian and Pacific oceans) comprising 567 individuals. Genotype distributions at this locus within samples were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Significant differences in allele frequencies were observed between Mediterranean-Northwest Atlantic samples (A=0·347–0·493) and those from tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific (A=0·81–1). In the D-loop region, Alu I and Rsa I digestions detected 4 (A-D) and 8 (A-H) genotypes, respectively. The frequency of type C for Alu I was lower in Indo-Pacific samples (0·2) than Atlantic and Mediterranean samples (0·365–0·643). Frequency of type C for Rsa I increased from the Pacific (0·398) to the Northwest Atlantic (0·698) and Tarifa (0·949) samples, and the Mediterranean sample was fixed for type C. These samples were classified into three groups (Mediterranean-Tarifa, Atlantic and Indo-Pacific) using a heterogeneity test of mtDNA genotype distributions. Combined analysis of the CaM and D-loop loci indicated that there are at least four breeding units: Mediterranean, northwestern Atlantic, tropical to South Atlantic, and Indo-Pacific.
Zooplankton as an indicator of trophic conditions in two large reservoirs in Brazil

The physical and chemical variables of the water, and the composition and structure of the zooplankton communities, in Tres Marias and Furnas Reservoirs in Minas Gerais, Brazil, were compared to characterize these environments in rela- tion to their trophic state. Higher values of electrical conductivity and chlorophyll-a, total solids, suspended organic mat- ter and total nitrogen concentrations were recorded in Tres Marias Reservoir. Higher water transparency and nitrite and nitrate concentrations were observed in Furnas (P < 0.000). Higher zooplankton densities were always obtained in Tres Marias Reservoir and, during the rainy period (P < 0.000), with mean values in the dry and rainy periods of 23 721 and 90 872 org m )3 , respectively, in Tres Marias Reservoir and 9022 and 40 434 org m )3 , respectively, in Furnas Reservoir. Copepoda was the dominant group in both reservoirs, mainly the younger stages (nauplii and copepodids). Based on the absolute and relative values, the contribution of rotifers was higher in Tres Marias Reservoir than in Furnas Reservoir. Although the Trophic State Index, based on water transparency and chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus concentrations, indicated an oligotrophic state for both reservoirs, the higher densities of the zooplankton community in Tres Marias Reservoir, as well as the predominance of cyclopoids and smaller-sized species such as bosminids, characterized this environment as mesotrophic. Larger-sized species such as calanoids, daphniids and sidids in Furnas Reservoir character- ized the better water quality of this reservoir.
mRNA expression of select hypoxia-inducible genes and apoptotic control genes in zebrafish exposed to hypoxia during development

Hypoxia is well known to occur in contaminated water environments, but it is still unclear about its effects on transcription of hypoxia-inducible genes and apoptotic control genes in zebrafish during development. In this study, the expression of select genes during zebrafish embryonic development was detected at mRNA level to investigate spatio-temporal changes of hypoxia-inducible genes and apoptosis control genes, as well as the correlation between these genes. Results showed that up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α) mRNA occurred within the first 2 h of exposure to hypoxia, followed by up-regulation of other hypoxia-inducible genes controlled by HIF-1α, such as erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor. 48 hpf (the critical period for embryonic development, especially for the development of a cardiac system) and 40 dpf (the critical period for sex differentiation and development) were found to be the two sensitive windows to hypoxia, at which time significant changes in the mRNA expression of all selected hypoxia-inducible genes were clearly evident. A higher ratio of pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) vs. anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2) transcriptions was found in the head as compared with in the tail under hypoxia. A higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was found in hypoxic males than in hypoxic females, suggesting that hypoxia potentially favors the formation of testes by inducing apoptosis in ovaries during the hermaphroditism in zebrafish, which in turn causes a malebiased sex ratio.
EUTROPHICATION OF MONDSEE (UPPER AUSTRIA) AS INDICATED BY THE DIATOM STRATIGRAPHY OF A SEDIMENT CORE

The population dynamics of dominant planktonic diatoms during the eutrophication of Mondsee, Austria, are described by analysis of a 36 cm in situ frozen sediment core from the profundal region using tape peel preparation techniques; the results are compared with data from plankton investigations. The development of Melosira italica ssp. subarctica and Stephanodiscus neoastraea at the expense of St.alpinus and Cyclotella bodanica indicates the transitional state from oligo- to mesotrophy in the 1930's. The rising level of trophy is indicated by a sudden appearance of Fragilaria crotonensis (flared type) during the 1950s. Allochthonous load caused by road constructions and flood lead to low diatom values and a high sedimentation rate (1958—68 10 mm.yr-1) in the late 1950s and early 60s. The eutrophic state of Mondsee, beginning in 1968, is characterized by the onset of a marked light/dark lamination which corresponds to the mass expansion of Tabellaria flocculosa var. asteronelloides. The annual character .
Application of Research on Learning to College Teaching: Ecological Examples

Abstract Encouraged by improvements in the quality of science education since the 1960s, cognitive researchers are testing and applying theory-based research on learning in science classrooms. To introduce faculty to research on cognition and learning, I focus on metacognition: the awareness of one's own thinking, or “knowing what we know. ” I analyze two ecology texts and describe several active-learning strategies in the context of metacognitive theory. Information about pedagogy and its theoretical underpinnings may well help faculty improve their teaching practices.
Residual feed intake and breeding approaches for enteric methane mitigation

The expanding world human population will require greater food production within the constraints of increasing societal pressure to minimize the resulting impact on the environment. Breeding goals in the past have achieved substantial gains in environmental load per unit product produced, despite no explicit inclusion of environmental load (and in most instances, even feed efficiency) in these goals. Heritability of feed intake-related traits in cattle is moderate to high, implying that relatively high accuracy of selection can be achieved with relatively low information content per animal; however, the genetic variation in feed intake independent of animal performance is expectedly less than other performance traits. Nonetheless, exploitable genetic variation does exist and, if properly utilized, could augment further gains in feed efficiency. Genetic parameters for enteric methane (CH4) emissions in cattle are rare. No estimate of the genetic variation in enteric CH4 emissions independent of animal performance exists; it is the parameters for this trait that depict the scope for genetic improvement. The approach to the inclusion of feed intake or CH4 emissions in cattle breeding goals is not clear, nor is the cost benefit of such an endeavour, especially given the cost of procuring the necessary phenotypic data.
Review and Meta-Analysis of Camera Effects on Avian Nest Success

Abstract Identifying nest predators is critical to understanding predation pressures that birds face, and using surveillance cameras appears to be the most reliable method of nest predator identification. However, presence and methods of using camera equipment may introduce bias in predation rates. To summarize potential effects of cameras on nest success we reviewed published and unpublished studies that estimated daily nest predation for bird nests with and without surveillance cameras. We used meta-analyses to quantitatively synthesize the direction and magnitude of these effects from independent studies. We found evidence that, on average, use of camera equipment may reduce nest predation rates, although these differences were not always significant and varied relative to geographic regions, vegetation types, and study duration. Researchers using camera surveillance to monitor nests must be aware that the equipment may be affecting rates of predation and possibly biasing data collected on predator identity. Based on our review and analysis, we provide recommendations for researchers seeking to minimize or control for potential bias when using surveillance cameras to monitor nest predation.
Genome Size Dynamics and Evolution in Monocots

Monocot genomic diversity includes striking variation at many levels. This paper compares various genomic characters (e.g., range of chromosome numbers and ploidy levels, occurrence of endopolyploidy, GC content, chromosome packaging and organization, genome size) between monocots and the remaining angiosperms to discern just how distinctive monocot genomes are. One of the most notable features of monocots is their wide range and diversity of genome sizes, including the species with the largest genome so far reported in plants. This genomic character is analysed in greater detail, within a phylogenetic context. By surveying available genome size and chromosome data it is apparent that different monocot orders follow distinctive modes of genome size and chromosome evolution. Further insights into genome size-evolution and dynamics were obtained using statistical modelling approaches to reconstruct the ancestral genome size at key nodes across the monocot phylogenetic tree. Such approaches reveal that while the ancestral genome size of all monocots was small (1C=1.9 pg), there have been several major increases and decreases during monocot evolution. In addition, notable increases in the rates of genome size-evolution were found in Asparagales and Poales compared with other monocot lineages.
A new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Southwestern Thailand

Impatiens suksathanii Ruchis. & Triboun, a new species from a limestone area in Kanchanaburi Province in Southwestern Thailand, is described and illustrated. This endemic new species is clearly distinguished from the most similar I. namkatensis T.Shimizu by having sessile to very short petioles, linear, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate laminas, and pale pink flowers. Its conservation status is also assessed as Critically Endangered.
Effects of Fusarium graminearum Metabolites on Wheat Tissue in Relation to Fusarium Head Blight Resistance

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat is caused by Fusarium graminearum which produces many secondary metabolites including the trichothecene mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. Coleoptile tissue segements from 14 spring wheat cultivars were exposed to the F. graminearum metabolites deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, butenolide (all known mycotoxins), sambucinol, culmorin and dihydroxycalonectrin in a bioassay. The tissue of most cultivars was inhibited, at a concentration of 10−6M by the trichothecenes tested and up to 10−3M for the other compounds. Deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, which affect protein synthesis at the ribosome, are therefore potent phytotoxins in addition to being mycotoxins. The resistance or susceptibility of each cultivar to FHB was established in a field experiment. A comparison of the two sets of data indicated that resistant cultivars could tolerate much higher concentrations of the metabolites tested than susceptible cultivars. Some resistant material can tolerate 10 to 1000 times the concentration of the trichothecenes, compared with susceptible cultivars, with no effect on growth. The data suggest that it may be possible to screen germplasm rapidly for FHB resistance in vitro and a new type of resistance in wheat to this disease is proposed based on the apparent insensitivity to trichothecenes by resistant cultivars, additional to the three types of resistance described in the literature.
Molecular Cloning of the Calcyclin-Binding Protein Gene from the Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus and Its Roles in Salinity Stress Adaptation

ABSTRACT The swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus is an important fishery and aquaculture species in China, and salinity has a significant effect on its physiological processes. To verify whether the calcyclin-binding protein (CacyBP) gene is related to salinity stress adaptation, a cDNA fragment of P. trituberculatus CacyBP was amplified and cloned. The cloned PtCacyBP fragment contains 702 nucleotides encoding 233 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight of 26.35 kDa. PtCacyBP has approximately 40% amino acid sequence identity with homologs from other known species. To further validate the salinity tolerance roles of PtCacyBP. this study investigated the prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression of a PtCacyBP recombinant plasmid under a series of salinity stresses. A recombinant pET28(+)-PtCacyBP prokaryotic expression plasmid was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli DE3 (BL21). Moreover, an EGFP-C2-PtCacyBP eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed and transfected into 293T cells, which were grown under a series of salinity stresses. During these salinity challenges, the survival of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells with the recombinant plasmid was significantly higher than the survival of cells that contained the plasmid without an insert. Therefore, the results indicate that PtCacyBP confers a protective effect against salinity stress and may be involved in the physiological process of salinity adaptation in P. trituberculatus.
Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of the Ground Skink, Scincella lateralis (Sauria: Scincidae), from Arkansas and Oklahoma, U.S.A

ABSTRACT: Seventy-five ground skinks, Scincella lateralis from 13 counties in Arkansas (n = 55) and McCurtain County, Oklahoma (n = 20) were collected and examined for helminth and arthropod parasites. Thirty-nine (52%) harbored 1 or more helminth or ectoparasite, including 3 (4%) with the trematode Brachycoelium salamandrae, 2 (3%) with the cestode Oochoristica eumecis, 2 (3%) with acuariid nematode larvae, 15 (20%) with the nematode Oswaldocruzia pipiens, 26 (35%) with the spirurid nematode Physaloptera squamatae, and 2 (3%) with ticks, Ixodes scapularis. Eleven (15%) were concurrently infected with P. squamatae and O. pipiens; O. eumecis and O. pipiens; B. salamandrae and larval acuariids; B. salamandrae and P. squamatae or O. pipiens; or I. scapularis and O. pipiens and/or P. squamatae. We document new host records for O. eumecis and acuariid larvae, and new distributional records are reported for O. eumecis, acuariid larvae, and P. squamatae. In addition, a summary of the helminth and arthropod parasites of S. lateralis is reported.
Phylogenetic studies of selected isolates of Potato virus Y (PVY) infecting vegetable crops in KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa

Phylogenetic relationships of Potato virus Y (PVY) isolates infecting vegetable crops in KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa, were investigated. A 1 067 bp amplicon covering part of the coat protein gene and the 3′ non-translated region (NTR) of three PVYO isolates infecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), one PVYO isolate infecting pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and one PVYN Wilga isolate infecting potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were amplified, cloned and sequenced. The 5′ NTR, P1, HC-Pro and part of the P3 regions (2 559 bp) of a PVYN isolate infecting potato were amplified, cloned and sequenced. Sequence data were compared with sequences of PVY isolates from different geographical locations and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. The PVYN isolate clustered with the European sublineage N and has five unique amino acid residues. The PVYN Wilga isolate branched with the American PVYO isolate in the O lineage. All PVYO isolates infecting tomato and pepper were grouped in a new sublineage within the O lineage.
Ten new highly polymorphic microsatellite loci in the blood clam Scapharca broughtonii

Ten novel microsatellite loci were isolated from blood clam Scapharca broughtonii, and the polymorphisms were examined to estimate genetic variability. The genetic variabilities varied depending on the locus. The number of alleles ranged from 11 to 23, and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.63 to 0.93 and 0.66 to 0.95, respectively. Four loci showed significant Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium at P < 0.05 level. The high variabilities revealed in this study suggest that microsatellites should prove useful for various genetic investigations.
An association between marmosets and army ants in Brazil

The disturbance of the forest litter arthropod fauna caused by the swarm raids of the New World army ants, Eciton burchelli (Westwood, 1842) and Labidus praedator (F. Smith, 1858) (subfamily Ecitoninae, tribe Ecitonini) is exploited for foraging by a large number of bird species, principally of the families Cuculidae, Dendrocolaptidae, Thraupidae and Formicariidae. Willis & Oniki (1978) review this phenomenon and also document that toads, Bufo marinus (L., 1788), teid lizards (Ameiva and Kentropyx) and iguanids (Anolis frenatus (Cope, 1899) may also associate with army ant swarms for this reason. Here we report on the exploitation of army ant swarm raids by marmoset monkeys of the genus Callithrix (family Callitrichidae) in four widely separated localities in Brazil. This association was first observed in 1978 during a year-long study of C. humeralifer (Geoffroy, 1812) in tropical Amazonian rain forest at Aripuana in the State of Mato Grosso (100 10' S, 590 27' W) (Rylands 1981). When encountering swarms of either E. burchelli or L. praedator, the marmosets would take up positions at the front of the swarm on perches up to one metre above the ground and spend as much as two to three hours picking off disturbed insects or those which had already been captured by the ants. Principal foods at this time were crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches and spiders. When taking prey already captured by the ants they would agitatedly manipulate and shake the prey till the ants were removed before eating it. On occasion they were
Site‐specific contribution of proton‐coupled folate transporter/haem carrier protein 1 in the intestinal absorption of methotrexate in rats

Objectives Methotrexate is reportedly a substrate for proton‐coupled folate transporter/haem carrier protein 1 (PCFT/HCP1) and reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1). In this study, we examined the contribution of PCFT/HCP1 and RFC1 in the intestinal absorption of methotrexate in rats.
Efficient in vitro plantlet regeneration in Populus euphratica Oliver

Populus euphratica Oliver is highly tolerant against salt stress and thus very important for afforestation efforts of saline soils in sandy desert regions. Even if protocols already exist for the regeneration of shoots from leaf explants for this species, all are based on the hormones 6-benzylaminopurin (BAP) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). An alternative and fast regeneration protocol was developed for P. euphratica starting from leaf explants by employing the cytokinin-active urea derivative thidiazuron (TDZ) in systematically performed callus induction and shoot regeneration studies. Furthermore, evidence is provided here for the first time that sensitivity of callus induction and shoot regeneration in P. euphratica against the antibiotic cefotaxime is different, a finding to be considered for the development of a protocol to genetically transform this species. Keywords: Callus culture, organogenesis, plant growth regulators, transformation African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(8), pp. 826-832