Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clostridium thermobutyricum sp. nov., a Moderate Thermophile Isolated from a Cellulolytic Culture, That Produces Butyrate as the Major Product

A new moderately thermophilic clostridium, Clostridium thermobutyricum, was isolated from cellulolytic enrichment cultures inoculated with horse manure. This organism forms subterminal spores, and the sporangium is not swollen. From glucose, the organism produces butyrate, CO2, and H2 and minor amounts of acetate and lactate. Yeast extract is required for good growth. The temperature range for growth is between 26 and 61.5°C. The pH range is between 5.8 and 9.0. The guanine-plus-cytosine content is 37 mol%. The type strain is C. thermobutyricum JW171K (= DSM 4928).
The Euro+Med treatment of Cardueae (Compositae) — generic concepts and required new names

Abstract Greuter, W. : The Euro+Med treatment of Cardueae (Compositae) — generic concepts and required new names. — Willdenowia 33: 49–61. 2003. — ISSN 0511-9618. A synonymic survey of Cardueae genera accepted for the purpose of the Euro+Med Project is presented. As a consequence of shifts in generic circumscription, or reassessment of accepted specific and subspecific taxa, combinations that are required in the genera Amphoricarpos, Carduus, Carlina, Carthamus, Centaurea, Cyanus, Echinops, Jurinea, Klasea, Psephellus, Rhaponticoides, Rhaponticum and Volutaria, but do not so far exist, are validated. Three names in Centaurea, two of them Linnaean, are typified.
Biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus: Insights from oxygen isotope effects of phosphoenzymes

Geochemical cycling of phosphorus (P) in aquatic environments is carried out almost exclusively by biota and involves reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes. Oxygen isotope effects accompanying phosphoenzymatic reactions have been determined in controlled laboratory experiments in order to elucidate processes underlying biogeochemical cycling of P, and to identify possible reaction pathways for P-compounds in nature. Phosphate oxygen isotope effects are distinct for specific enzymatic reaction mechanisms measured in microbial culture experiments and in cell-free systems. P 16 O4 is taken up preferentially from inorganic phosphate (Pi )i n the growth medium by intact E. coli cells, producing a kinetic fractionation in the extracellular dissolved Pi pool. Inorganic pyrophosphatase is the intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the temperature-dependent equilibrium oxygen isotope fractionations between phosphates and water in biological systems, and imprints an equilibrium isotope signature on Pi that is turned over or cycled by intact cells. Alkaline phospha- tase, a key enzyme involved in extracellular Pi regeneration in aquatic systems, catalyzes hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters, reactions that are accompanied by kinetic fractionations and disequilibrium (inheritance) isotope effects in released Pi. Compari- son of laboratory determined enzyme-specific isotopic fractionations with those ob- served in microbial culture experiments and in natural aquatic systems, provide new insights into processes controlling P cycling and the relations between P availability and the cycling of N and C. Isotopic signatures associated with specific cellular processes and phosphoenzyme reaction pathways may be useful in assessing P status and for tracing P turnover.
CHEMICAL DISCRIMINATION OF FOOD, CONSPECIFICS AND PREDATORS BY APPARENTLY VISUALLY-ORIENTED DIURNAL GECKOS, NAULTINUS MANUKANUS

Animal life history strategies evolve in response to a range of selective pressures, and often are tightly linked to sensory cues. Squamate reptiles possess well-developed chemosensory systems, which evolved early in their history and remain highly conserved. However, chemosensory abilities are secondarily reduced in primarily visual agamid and chameleonid lizards, which casts doubt on the ubiquity of reliance on chemosensory cues among squamates. Diurnal geckos from New Zealand avoid predators using visual crypsis and are primarily ambush foragers; reliance on visual cues may be a product of strong avian predation pressure and minimal influence from mammals and snakes for the past 80 my. We used New Zealand's diurnal geckos to test the role of local adaptation versus evolutionary conservatism in defining chemosensory systems. Specifically, we tested whether Marlborough green geckos, Naultinus manukanus, use chemoreception to detect and behaviorally respond to (1) food, (2) opposite-sex conspecifics, and (3) native reptilian predators (tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus). Chemosensory cues mediated gecko interactions with all three stimuli tested: (1) the scent of fruit induced greater exploratory behavior, (2) male geckos responded to scent of female conspecifics by increasing lingual sampling and activity, and (3) tuatara fecal cues (but not skin secretions) elicited characteristic antipredator freeze behavior in geckos. Neither the primarily visual life history strategies nor the reduced range of predators of New Zealand's diurnal geckos appears to have reduced their chemosensory abilities relative to other noniguanid squamate reptiles. Instead, our findings support the notion that chemosensory traits remain highly conserved.
Morphological and molecular evidence supports specific recognition of the recently extinct Bettongia anhydra (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)

In 1933, geologist and explorer Michael Terry collected the skull of a small macropodid captured by members of his party near Lake Mackay, western Northern Territory. In 1957, this skull was described as the sole exemplar of a distinct subspecies, Bettongia penicillata anhydra, but was later synonymized with B. lesueur and thereafter all but forgotten. We use a combination of craniodental morphology and ancient mitochondrial DNA to confirm that the Lake Mackay specimen is taxonomically distinct from all other species of Bettongia and recognize an additional specimen from a Western Australian Holocene fossil accumulation. B. anhydra is morphologically and genetically most similar to B. lesueur but differs in premolar shape, rostrum length, dentary proportions, and molar size gradient. In addition, it has a substantial mitochondrial cytochrome b pairwise distance of 9.6–12% relative to all other bettongs. The elevation of this recently extinct bettong to species status indicates that Australia's mammal extinction record over the past 2 centuries is even worse than currently accepted. Like other bettongs, B. anhydra probably excavated much of its food and may have performed valuable ecological services that improved soil structure and water infiltration and retention, as well as playing an important role in the dispersal of seeds and mycorrhizal fungal spores. All extant species of Bettongia have experienced extensive range contractions since European colonization and some now persist only on island refugia. The near total loss of these ecosystem engineers from the Australian landscape has far-reaching ecological implications.
Fluorine-18 labeling of ML04 - : presently the most promising irreversible inhibitor candidate for visualization of EGFR in cancer

Overexpression of the EGFR has been linked to cell malignancy, metastasis and poor prognosis thus making it a target for several FDA approved drugs such as Gefitinib and Erlotinib. Unfortunately, these drugs have yielded suboptimal clinical results. In order to evaluate and monitor EGFR-targeted treatment response at the molecular level, several PET biomarkers have been developed. One of the lead irreversible inhibitors (1) has been labeled with carbon-11, however the short half-life of this radioisotope limited the time window for in vivo studies. Compound 1 was successfully labeled with fluorine-18 via a multi-step radiosynthesis with 14% decay-corrected overall radiochemical yield, 98% radiochemical purity, specific activity of 1800 Ci/mmol (n=10) at end of bombardment, and a total radiosynthesis time of 4 h including purification and formulation. [18F]-1 will allow for prolonged in vivo studies including Micro-PET analysis of EGFR tumor-bearing animal models. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A revision of the spring‐tail genus Vesicephalus Richards (Collembola, Symphypleona, Sminthurinae)

Abstract A detailed morphological study of the collembolan genus Vesicephalus Richards in Delamare Deboutteville & Massoud, 1964 is presented, with the redescription of known species on the basis of new scanning electron microscopy observations. Vesicephalus is a rare genus found in North America, Spain (Europe) and Russia, having the unique characteristic of a pair of interocular vesicles with demonstrated photoreception function. This feature may be responsible for habitat restriction within the species range. The possible function of this photoreceptor is high sensitivity to light, which permits these animals to live in a dark environment. A key to the known five species is presented, together with chaetotaxic illustrations.
Daily Variations of Photosynthetic Efficiency of Greenhouse Tomato Plants during Winter and Spring

Daily and seasonal variations of photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll a (Chl-a) fluorescence and foliar carbohydrate content were studied in situ on greenhouse tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Trust') plants grown under CO2 enrichment and supplemental lighting. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of seasonal variation of the photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) on photosynthetic efficiency of tomato plants and to determine the presence or absence of photosynthetic down-regulation under greenhouse growing conditions prevailing in northern latitudes. During winter, the fifth and the tenth leaves of tomato plants showed low, constant daily photosynthetic activity suggesting a source limitation under low PPF. In winter, the ratio of variable to maximum Chl- a fluorescence in dark adapted state (Fv/Fm) remained constant during the day indicating no photoinhibition occurred. In February, an increase in photosynthetic activity was followed by a decline during March, April, and May accompanied by an increase in sucrose and daily starch concentrations and constant but high hexose level. This accumulation was a long-term response to high PPF and CO2 enrichment which would be caused by a sink limitation. Thus, in spring we observed an in situ down- regulation of photosynthesis. The ratio F v/Fm decreased in spring compared to winter in response to increasing PPF. The daily decline of Fv/Fm was observed particularly as a midday depression followed by a recovery towards the end of the day. This indicated that tomato leaves were subject to a reversible inhibition in spring. F v/Fm was lower in March than in April and May even though PPF was higher in April and May than in March. These results suggest that tomato plants develop an adaptive and protective strategy as PPF increases in spring.
Within‐plant variation in defences in response to simulated herbivory in a semi‐arid southern African savannah

Within-plant spatial variation in herbivore pressure can induce localized antiherbivory defence responses. We tested this hypothesis by studying branch-specific responses of Acacia robusta, Dichrostachys cinerea and Ziziphus mucronata to simulated mammalian herbivory. Herbivory was simulated by clipping the terminal shoots (3 cm from tip) of tree branchlets, allowing them one year of regrowth and then comparing their spine length and density and condensed tannins with those of adjacent unclipped branchlets. Condensed tannins concentrations were higher in clipped branchlets than in unclipped branchlets in all three woody species (P 0.05). Spine density was double in clipped branchlets as compared to the unclipped branchlets in Z. mucronata (P 0.05). We found evidence of within-plant variation in condensed tannins concentration and spine length and density in response to simulated herbivory in the three woody species. Resume La variation spatiale, dans un vegetal, de la pression des herbivores peut induire des reponses defensives localisees contre ceux-ci. Nous avons teste cette hypothese en etudiant les reponses specifiques des branches d’Acacia robusta, Dichrostachys cinerea et Ziziphus mucronata pour simuler le broutage par des mammiferes. Nous avons simule cette herbivorie en coupant les pousses terminales (a 3 cm de l'extremite) de trois rameaux, que nous avons ensuite laisse repousser pendant un an avant de comparer la longueur et la densite de leurs epines et les tanins condenses avec ceux d'autres rameaux voisins non coupes. Les concentrations en tanins condenses etaient plus elevees dans les rameaux coupes que dans les non coupes chez toutes les especes ligneuses (P 0.05). La densite des epines etait deux fois plus grande chez les rameaux coupes que chez les non coupes chez Z. mucronata (P 0.05). Nous avons donc trouve chez ces trois especes ligneuses des preuves de variations de la condensation en tanins condenses et de la longueur et la densite des epines en reponse a une herbivorie simulee.
Using NIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to rapidly detect compression wood in Pinus radiata

Compression wood has undesirable properties for structural timber and for paper production. Traditional methods of detecting it are often time consuming and subjective. This study aimed to rapidly and impartially detect compression wood through the use of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and diffuse reflectance near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Compression wood and non-compression wood samples were obtained from young Pinus radiata D. Don trees grown in New Zealand. Longitudinal dimensional changes were measured during drying or water saturation of the samples; lignin and galactose contents were determined using conventional analytical techniques. Chemical composition was here a more reliable discriminator between wood types than longitudinal dimensional changes. It was shown that partial least-squares regression (PLS-R) or discriminatory analysis (PLS-DA) could be used to build models on the training samples that could discriminate between wood types of the independently grown validation samples. Ultimately, both types of spectroscopies could be used to discriminate between compression wood and non-compression wood either through prediction or discrimina- tory analysis with equal success. Investigation into spectral differences between wood types, including sequential mixtures of wood types, showed that for the mid-IR region absorbance at a well-resolved lignin band could be used to discriminate compression wood from non-compression wood. For NIR, a similar investigation showed that absorbance values at four separate wavenumbers or the 6000-5600 cm−1 region of the first derivative spectra were required for that discrimination. It is proposed that if there is a gradual change in the chemical composition of compression wood with its severity, then IR spectroscopy could feasibly be used to rapidly determine compression wood severity.
Cytogeography of three parallel Robertsonian polymorphisms in the water-hyacinth grasshopper, Cornops aquaticum (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

C. aquaticum (Acrididae: Leptysminae) inhabits water-hyacinths in the Neotropical region. The blue-flowered water- hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, has been introduced elsewhere without its natural enemies and has become a weed; recently C. aquaticum was considered as a possible biological control agent. In this work, six populations were sampled and cytologically stud- ied. C. aquaticum has 2n = 23 chromosomes in males and 24 in females, with an X0/XX sex determination system. All chromosomes are acro-telocentric and the basic karyotype includes three Robertsonian (Rb) translocations between pairs 1/6, 2/5, and 3/4. These polymorphisms are restricted to the lower course of the Parana river, between Rosario and Buenos Aires. Fusion frequencies increase southwards, thus showing a geographical cline. The polymorphisms mostly accord with Hardy-Weinberg and gametic phase equi- libria. The rearrangements cause a drastic chiasma repatterning in the fusion bivalents (or trivalents) which reduces the proximal chi- asma frequency. Recombination is also reduced due to the loss of independent segregation. A recombination index that takes into account both these factors correlates negatively with the number of pairs of chromosomes affected by fusions among populations, which does not accord with the "central-marginal" pattern.
Effects of cyanobacterium exopolysaccharides on life-history of Ceriodaphnia cornuta SARS

The objective of the present investigation was to verify if Anabaena spiroides exopolysaccharides sustains growth and reproduction of Ceriodaphnia cornuta. The animals were raised in controlled laboratory conditions and fed exclusively on A. spiroides exopolysaccharides, which were obtained from filtered stationary growth phase A. spiroides cultures. A molecular weight cut-off of 12-14 kDa was used to separate the exopolysaccharides from low molecular weight materials. The lyophilized exopolysaccharides were dissolved in filtered and autoclaved reservoir water at a concentration of 15 mgL -1 (0.22 ± 0.01 mg C animal -1 day -1 ). These results were compared with animals fed on seston at natural concentration obtained by filtering (68 μm) Barra Bonica Reservoir water (0.23 ± 0.01 mg C animal -1 day -1 ). Several life history parameters (duration of embryonic development, generation time, reproductive performance, age-specific length, primipara age and length) were obtained during 15-day experiments. Growth rate (GR) and weight-specific secondary production were also quantified. Exopolysaccharide-fed organisms had better growth and reproductive performance (0.091± 0.004 GR; 51 ± 4.59 eggs produced per female) than seston-fed individuals (0.078 ± 0.010 GR; 30.90 ± 7.25 eggs produced per female). These results show that such macromolecules are a potential food source, fulfilling nutritional requirements to sustain growth and reproduction of C. cornuta and supports trophic relationships in aquatic ecosystems.
Butterfly-hostplant fidelity, vagrancy and measuring mobility from distribution maps

Vagrancy among butterflies, defined as individuals found in mapping units (cells, squares) lacking larval hostplants, offers potential for measuring mobility among species. Herein, we investigate several simple measures of mobility (vagrancy indices) based on the occurrence of vagrants in two independent data sets within the same region. We find that the vagrancy indices do not simply reflect individual abundance, suggesting an innate component to mobility. The vagrancy indices agree closely for the two data sets. They also correlate highly with a migration index, based on distances over which species have been recorded moving during the last 50 yr, indicating that frequency of movement corresponds closely with migration distances of species. The frequency of movement in some species, as measured by the vagrancy indices, is shown to be under-recorded, particularly nymphalids. In other species (e.g. Celastrina argiolus, Anthocharis cardamines, Pyronia tithonus) according to vagrancy indices, migration distances seem to have been previously under-recorded. We suggest how data collection can be improved for obtaining measurement of butterfly mobility.
Root Dynamics in Restored and Naturally Regenerated Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands

This work addressed the seasonal and successional factors of root dynamics in natural and restoration Atlantic white cedar (AWC) wetlands. Using minirhizotrons and soil root cores, fine root dynamics were measured in a chronosequence of reference and restoration AWC wetlands to compare trends in ecosystem development after canopy harvest. Seasonal fine root abundance, production, and mortality were sampled during a 439‐day period in one restoration and three reference AWC wetlands. Soil cores were collected to measure fine root biomass and to determine allometric relationships between root length and biomass. Significant seasonal variation of root dynamics was observed in the young reference and restoration sites. The mature and intermediate‐aged sites exhibited little seasonal variability in root abundance and mortality. Root production was variable but not seasonally consistent. Results suggest that root dynamics become less seasonal as AWC communities shift from herbaceous to woody vegetation dominance. No trend in fine root abundance along the chronosequence was observed, suggesting that roots rapidly reestablish following tree harvest. Measurements of annual root length production suggest increasing annual production with decreasing stand age. However, a reversal of this trend was observed when using production estimates calculated from minirhizotron measurements and root length–mass relationships. These findings underscore the importance of supplementing minirhizotron data with root allometric relationships when analyzing vegetation gradients. Overall, results indicate substantial differences in the form and quantity of root contributions to soil organic matter in the restoration site compared to that in the reference chronosequence. Higher initial planting densities of AWC are recommended to achieve similar contributions of roots to soil organic matter accumulation in the restoration site.
Cool Temperate Rainforest Lichens of Victoria, Australia: Floristics and Distribution

Abstract Lichen floristics and distribution were examined in cool temperate rainforests of Victoria, Australia. Forty sites were sampled, ten from each of the Otways, Yarra Ranges, Baw Baw, and Errinundra regions. A total of 165 lichen species were recorded, representing 38 families. Seventeen species are new for Victoria. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling showed three lichen groups that corresponded with the rainforest types in which they occurred. A sub-group of lichen species were considered widespread and represented the core of Victoria's rainforest lichen flora.
Low genetic variation in a Pacific cycad: conservation concerns for Cycas seemannii (Cycadaceae)

The conservation status of Cycas seemannii, native to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga, is assessed based on isozyme analysis, abundance estimates and factors affecting the survival of the species. Genetic variation in the species is low and genetic differentiation between populations is high, as compared to plants in general and to other cycads. Lower genetic variation was detected in a fragmented population as compared to less disturbed populations. Low gene flow was also detected, implying little contact between the various populations. A conservative estimate of 17,000 individuals remaining in the wild was obtained, with more than half of these located on the islands of Vanuatu. Accounts of past abundance suggest declining population sizes, most likely the result of repeated burning. Other factors that may be contributing to the decline are decreasing importance to and protection by humans, habitat alteration for agricultural and developmental purposes, and poor dispersal and recolonisation potential. An assessment based on the present estimated abundance and what is known of recent declines in numbers, indicates that the species should be categorised as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. On some of the densely populated islands, such as Viti Levu in Fiji and Nukualofa in Tonga, the species is locally Endangered or Critically Endangered. Possible conservation measures are suggested, and it is emphasised that populations on different islands must be considered separately because of their genetic differentiation.