Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential of a blend of E8,E10‐120H and E8,E10‐12Ac for mating disruption of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lep., Tortricidae)

Abstract: Dispensers of E8,E10‐12OH (codlemone), E8,E10‐12Ac (codlemone acetate), or both dispenser types were placed on the corners of 100 m2 and 300 m2 plots within apple orchards. Communication disruption of male codling moths, Cydia pomonella, was monitored with pheromone traps in the centres of these plots. In the 300 m2 plots, trap catch was reduced only by codlemone. In the 100 m2 plots, trap catch was reduced in all three treatments, fewest males were caught in plots treated with both codlemone and codlemone acetate. Males were attracted to codlemone dispensers, they were also flying actively around the tree crowns, well above the dispensers. This behaviour was not observed in treatments with codlemone acetate, where male orientation flights were directed only towards the trap in the plot centre. The antagonistic effect of each of the four geometric isomers of codlemone acetate was shown by another trap test. Addition of 20% E,E‐; E,Z‐; Z,E‐ or Z8,Z10‐12Ac decreased male attraction to traps baited with E8, E10‐12OH.
Molecular phylogeny and systematics of Australian ‘Iravadiidae’ (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea)

The family Iravadiidae is found to be polyphyletic in a molecular phylogenetic analysis using a subset of Australian taxa. Taxa previously assigned to Iravadia form a monophyletic clade, but Nozeba topaziaca clusters with Auricorona queenslandica n. gen. and n. sp. in an unnamed family related to Tornidae. Aenigmula criscionei n. gen. and n. sp. , an iravadiid-like species from the Northern Territory, belongs to another unnamed family related to Caecidae, Calopiidae and Clenchiellidae. A systematic revision of some Australian ‘iravadiids’ raises the subgenera Fluviocingula and Pseudomerelina to full generic rank and reinstates two former synonyms of Iravadia (Fairbankia), Pellamora and Wakauraia, as genera. The species formerly identified in Australia as Iravadia quadrasi is recognised as three allopatric species; Iravadia pilbara n. sp. and the reinstated species Iravadia goliath and Iravadia quadrina. Pellamora splendida n. sp. , from Western Australia, is recognised as distinct from Pellamora australis, and Fluviocingula superficialis n. sp. from Fluviocingula resima. Wakauraia fukudai n. sp. is recorded from central Queensland. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1B9917F6-48B2-4597-85C1-F90BA9093475
The nematicidal potential of local Bacillus species against the root-knot nematode infecting greenhouse tomatoes

Bacillus spp. were isolated from Iranian tomato fields and evaluated for their efficacy against root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne javanica. The 52 spore-forming bacterium isolates were obtained from tomato rhizosphere following heat treatment. Eight isolates were chosen based on their potency in prevention of M. javanica egg hatch and juvenile mortality and production of proteolytic enzymes in Petri plates. Their ability to form biofilms were also determined in pot experiments. According to phenotypic traits and 16s rDNA sequencing, all selected isolates belonged to Bacillus spp. including B. cereus and B. pumilus. Treatment with bacterial culture filtrates in vitro caused juvenile mortality of 72 to 99% after 48 h. After four days, the percentage of egg hatch ranged from 1.6 to 59% depending on the isolate. Bacillus pumilus (ToIr-MA) and Bacillus sp. (ToIr-10) were found to have significant ability to produce extracellular proteases and to form maximum biofilm, considerably reducing the number of egg masses and root gall index (P = 0.05) in comparison to untreated plants. Application of ToIr-MA and ToIr-10 enhanced the fresh and dry weights of shoot and root systems. There was significant enhancement in dry root weight (45 and 50%) and shoot weight (67 and 75%). Results suggest that these two Bacillus spp. have potential as biocontrol agents against root-knot disease in tomato production.
Improvement of the esca index for the evaluation of ecological quality of coralligenous habitat under the european framework directives

The ESCA (Ecological Status of Coralligenous Assemblages) index was recently developed to evaluate the ecological quality of coralligenous habitats. The study aims to improve the first index proposal through testing responses to different sources of anthropogenic pressures and optimizing the sampling effort. ESCA was calculated for 14 sites and tested against a gradient of human pressures. Moreover, the main scales of spatial variability of assemblages were evaluated and values of index obtained with different sampling designs were compared. Results showed that study sites resulted in high, good or moderate ecological status, according to an increasing gradient of anthropization level. Values of ESCA index obtained with different methods have been compared, and photographic methods provide EQR values lower than destructive methods. Spatial variability of assemblages was higher at large and small scales than at intermediate ones. Two locations for each study site and 20 replicated samples for each location may be consider the best sampling combination providing reliable values of ESCA index for the evaluation of ecological quality of coralligenous assemblages.
Morphology, phylogeny and evolution of the superfamily Plectoidea Örley, 1880 (Nematoda: Plectida

The phylogeny and classification of the superfamily Plectoidea Orley, 1880 is revised on the basis of published and updated morphological data for 35 ingroup and 2 outgroup species. The following features are here considered to support the monophyletic origin of the superfamily: 1) stegostom developed and differentiated into two sections; 2) dorsal gland orifice opening into the second stegostom section; 3) pharynx cylindrical, with distinct subdivision into corpus and postcorpus by the orifices of the subventral pharyngeal glands and a discontinuity in the muscular pharyngeal tissue; 4) corpus cylindrical, with subdivision into procorpus and metacorpus homologues; 5) pharyngeal radii of the corpus with prominent pharyngeal tubes along the procorpus; 6) cuticular lumen of the basal part of postcorpus (within basal bulb if latter is present) is modified to form a valvular apparatus. In addition the inner labial sensilla open inside the cheilostom. New data on postembryonic development of Anaplectus grandepapillatus (Ditlevsen, 1928), Plectus parietinus Bastian, 1865, P. decens Andrassy, 1985 and P. communis Butschli, 1873 are given and supplemented with a discussion of the phylogenetic significance of the ontogeny in Plectoidea. Following the proposal of a phylogeny, some key events in the evolution of Plectidae Orley, 1880 are discussed. It is suggested that the superfamily Plectoidea includes four families: Pakiridae Inglis, 1983, Chronogastridae Gagarin, 1975, Metateratocephalidae Eroshenko, 1973 and Plectidae. Plectolaimus supplementatus Keppner, 1988 is transferred to the genus Caribplectus Andrassy, 1973. The genus Keralanema Siddiqi, 2003 is considered a junior synonim of Chronogaster Cobb, 1913. The genus Chiloplectus Andrassy, 1984 is considered a junior synonim of Plectus Bastian, 1865. The family Anaplectidae Zell, 1993 is downgraded to the subfamily level
Soil biota, but not soil nutrients, facilitate the invasion of Bidens pilosa relative to a native species Saussurea deltoidea

Cui Q-G & He W-M (2009). Soil biota, but not soil nutrients, facilitate the invasion of Bidens pilosa relative to a native species Saussurea deltoidea. Weed Research49, 201–206. Summary Existing evidence has shown that soil biota and nutrient availability in the introduced ranges are drivers of plant invasions. Bidens pilosa, an invasive species, grows better in rich soil from under shrubs than in poor soil from spaces between the shrubs. Here, we hypothesise that soil biota will benefit B. pilosa more than the native herb Saussurea deltoidea and that B. pilosa will also be favoured over S. deltoidea in nutrient-rich soil compared with soil lower in nutrients. To test both hypotheses, we conducted an experiment in which B. pilosa and S. deltoidea were subjected to non-sterile and sterile soils from both shrubs and gaps. Sterilisation had greater negative effects on the growth of B. pilosa than S. deltoidea indicating that mutualists appear to have stronger effects on the invasive than on the native plant. Although shrub soil was significantly richer in nutrients than gap soil, this difference did not affect biomass production of B. pilosa. In contrast, B. pilosa had greater total biomass in non-sterile shrub soil than in non-sterile gap soil. These findings suggest that successful invasions of B. pilosa are because of the shrub-dependent effect of soil biota in the introduced ranges and that its habitat association appears to be closely linked to soil biota, but not soil nutrients.
Identification of a Key Enzyme in the Digestion of Wool by Larvae of the Webbing Clothes Moth, Tineola bisselliella

An important step in the digestion of wool by certain insect pests is the reductive cleavage of protein disulphide bonds to open the fibre for protease action. For larvae of the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, two enzymes have been suggested as being involved in this process, cystine reductase and cysteine lyase/desulphydrase. In the present study, cystine reductase is shown not to be present in T. bisselliellalarvae. An earlier study, showing that cysteine lyase/desulphydrase is present in these larvae, is confirmed and extended to demonstrate that the activity is localised to the gut of larvae. This activity is also present in the larval gut of another clothes moth, Tinea pellionella, but is absent from the gut of the carpet beetle, Anthrenus flavipes, suggesting that larvae of moths and beetles use different mechanisms to reduce the disulphide bonds of wool.
Rôle de la structure du génome viral sur la réplication du virus de l’hépatite C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects 3% of the world’s population, and it is estimated that 30% of chronically infected patients will develop liver fibrosis. The HCV genome is a singlestrand positive sense RNA, encoding an open reading frame flanked by two highly-conserved untranslated regions (UTR). Several factors can influence the HCV life cycle, two of which have been studied in this thesis. First, we examined the effect of HCV RNA genome structures on its replication. The 5’ and 3’ ends of the HCV genome contain RNA structural motifs called cis-acting elements which regulate viral translation and replication. The HCV 3’UTR is very important for HCV replication. This region is a tripartite structure comprising a variable region, a poly(U/C) repeat and a highly-conserved sequence called X-tail. From in vitro data the 3'UTR is predicted to form several dsRNA hairpin structures. However, the state of intracellular structures as they exist in the 3'UTR of the complete HCV genome was unknown. To elucidate this question, we developed a method to localize single-strand and double-strand RNA elements in situ within the 3’UTR of the HCV genome. In conformity with prior predictions, in situ examination of the genomic HCV 3'UTR showed dsRNA elements in the Xtail. Surprisingly, when the poly(U/UC) repeat was presented as part of the whole HCV genome, this region formed a novel dsRNA structure with sequences located outside the 3'UTR. Prior studies have postulated that such RNA elements in the 5’ and 3’ ends of the HCV genome are involved in both HCV translation and replication. This suggests that there is cross-talk between the ends of the HCV genome to modulate these two processes. In this context, we have demonstrated the existence of a new long range RNA-RNA interaction, involving domain II of the 5’UTR and the NS5B coding sequence in the HCV genome. This distal RNA-RNA interaction between the ends of
Emotional and Social Disorders among Overweight and Obese Children in Enugu, Nigeria: An Evolving Menace

Background: Obesity results mainly from changes in diet and physical activity and currently being regarded as a global epidemic. It comes at a cost, affecting physical, social and psychological health and having deleterious impact on psychological development, academic and social performance of an affected child. The aim is to determine the burden of psychosocial disorders among the overweight and obese children in our environment. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out among secondary school children aged 10-18 years in Enugu metropolis. Sampling involved stratified and multi-staged methods. The height and weight of selected subjects were measured and their BMI calculated. An adapted, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used. Information sought included socio-demographics and psychometric measurements. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19. Analytical test of significance was done using Chi square test at p value of ≤ 0.05. Results: Of 200 students studied, 136 (68%) were females and 64 (32%) were males. Most (157) were in the age range of 10-14 years old. Sixty seven were overweight while 133 were obese with most of the children’s parents belonging to the upper socioeconomic class. One hundred and nineteen of them had one emotional and/or social problem of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, discrimination and stigma, giving a prevalence rate of 59.5%. Thirty five (54.7%) males and 81 (61.8%) females had at least one emotional and/or social problem ( χ 2 = 0.905, p = 0.342). Between the children aged 10-14 and 15-18 years, 56.1% and 72.1% respectively experienced at least one psychosocial disorder ( χ 2 = 3.605, p = 0.058). Emotional and social disorders was commoner among the upper class and difference was statistically significant ( χ 2 = 6.375, p = 0.041). Conclusion: The burden of emotional disorders among overweight and obese children in Enugu metropolis is high. Socioeconomic class is associated with emotional disorders.
CONSTRAINTS TO CRASSOSTREA ARIAKENSIS AQUACULTURE: SEASON AND METHOD OF CULTURE STRONGLY INFLUENCE SUCCESS OF GROW-OUT

Abstract The proposed introduction of the nonnative Suminoe oyster Crassostrea ariakensis to the east coast of the United States to restore the wild oyster fishery and/or for commercial aquaculture is contingent on perceived benefits outweighing costs. Trials conducted at six sites distributed across North Carolina evaluated the likely biologic success of aquaculture of C. ariakensis by assessing the oyster's growth, mortality and fouling under alternative methods and seasons of deployment. Of the six sites at which oysters were deployed, growth of C. ariakensis was greatest at the high-salinity sites, Hoop Pole Creek (29–32 ppt) and Newport River (25–30 ppt) and lowest at the low-salinity site, Nags Head (4 ppt). Across sites, growth was consistently lower (by 50%) in suspended floats than in fixed racks held 15 cm off the bottom. Only on the muddiest sediments (Newport River), where growth in tissue mass was 50% greater and growth in shell mass 20% greater on raised than bottom racks, did growth differ detectibly with rack elevation. In spite of low mortality and fouling over winter, predation in summer by blue crabs resulted in mortality approaching 50% at one of the sites (Swan Quarter) and heavy settlement by Polydora spp. produced a greater than 25% cover of mud-blisters on 84% to 97% of oysters. Consequently suitability of C. ariakensis for sale on the high-valued half-shell market may be contingent on completion of grow-out before summer Polydora spp. infestation. Results indicate that whereas at high salinity sites grow-out from a 27-mm deployment size is typically achieved within 5 mo, at medium salinity sites >7 mo is required. Failure to remove oysters at medium salinity sites from the water prior to summer may result in heavy Polydora spp. infestations that necessitate sale on the lower-valued shucked market. Irrespective of target market, it is recommended that C. ariakensis be grown in fixed racks as opposed to floating structures to maximize rates of growth without compromising survivorship.
Restoration of Dry Afromontane Forest Using Pioneer Shrubs as Nurse‐Plants for Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata

Shrubs are often considered competitive barriers for seedlings planted in reforestation programs, although they can facilitate tree recruitment, especially in ecosystems under high abiotic stress. An alternative reforestation technique using pioneer shrubs as nurse‐plants for Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata was tested in exclosures in northern Ethiopia. Seedlings were planted in three different microhabitats, and their survival was monitored. The microhabitats were bare soil patches between shrubs, patches under the dominant shrub Acacia etbaica, and patches under Euclea racemosa, an evergreen shrub, which supports the majority of naturally established Olea recruits. The ability of shrubs to offer protection against browsing goats was tested experimentally. Controlled shading was used to determine whether solar irradiation causes seedling mortality in environments without water stress. Data were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA), and one‐way ANOVA. Olea survival was significantly higher and shoot damage by goats was lower when planted under shrub cover compared to bare soil patches, particularly under Euclea canopies, although high shade levels reduced seedling performance. Reduction of solar radiation by shrub canopies and thus control of soil–water evaporation and seedling transpiration most likely controlled the observed facilitation. Planting under shrubs may increase seedling survival and assist regeneration of dry Afromontane vegetation. Preserving pioneers also reduces soil erosion and conserves biodiversity. Excluding livestock is essential for Olea woodland restoration and allows persistent but morphologically modified Olea shrubs to develop vigorous regrowth. Facilitative processes are guiding principles for assisted forest restoration, but above‐average rains may be critical to restore higher biomass levels in semiarid areas.
Do Invading Rusty Crayfish Interfere with Reproduction in a Native Congener?

Abstract The rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, has spread from its original range throughout much of northeastern North America, often completely replacing native crayfish. I tested the hypothesis that reproductive interference is a mechanism of the rusty crayfish's invasion of streams of the upper Susquehanna River watershed, where O. rusticus is replacing the native O. propinquus. I collected females from allopatric and sympatric sites during the spring reproductive period to measure size-specific probability of reproduction, fecundity, and the frequency of nonviable eggs. The predicted size at which females had a 50% probability of reproducing at sympatric sites was slightly larger for O. rusticus and considerably smaller for O. propinquus compared to allopatric sites, but O. propinquus also differed in size among site types. There were no differences between site types in average clutch size or the frequency of nonviable eggs. The differences in reproduction between allopatric and sympatric sites did not strongly support the reproductive interference hypothesis; instead, they may be a result of differences in O. propinquus size structure, possibly related to environmental differences between upstream allopatric and downstream sympatric sites.
Use of Plant Introductions in Peanut Cultivar Development

Abstract The genetic base of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the U.S.A. has at times been extremely narrow, particularly in specific production areas where a single cultivar may be grown in near-monoculture. Because peanut is not a native North American species, all U.S. cultivars necessarily trace their ancestry to plant introductions (PIs), but most of the genetic base of current cultivars rests on selections from farmer-stock peanuts of obscure origin. The objectives of this study were to (a) summarize and document the use of introduced genetic resources in cultivar development and (b) estimate the resulting economic impact. Different PIs were used as parents in early breeding programs. B.B. Higgins used Gambian line Basse as a parent of the GA 207 cross that gave rise to selections used in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina as the basis for further improvement. PI 121067 was one of seven parents used by W.C. Gregory to initiate the program in North Carolina. A different set of PIs including PI 12107.
Ontogenetically stable dimorphism in a lacertid lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus) with tests of methodology and comments on life‐history

Recent arguments in the literature prompted us to compare methods for assessing sexual dimorphism in body proportions of lacertid lizards, using Acanthodactylus boskianus. Although expressing body-part measurements as proportional to head length was the most effective method, we recommend using trunk length for the baseline as a general method for lizards. We also argue that, when aiming to assess sexual dimorphism in body proportions of lizards, if the context is ecological, all available adults should be included. However, for morphology and taxonomy, small sub-samples of the largest individuals that maximally express their genetic morphological potential should be used. In A. boskianus, the sexual dimorphism of mensural characters in adults was typical: males were larger, with relatively larger head and appendages. However, the ontogeny of this dimorphism was unusual in that the differences existed already in youth and thereafter persisted isometrically. The sexual dimorphism of meristic characters was male-biased in numbers of femoral pores and of caudal vertebrae, and female-biased in numbers of ventral plates along the trunk and of precaudal vertebrae. Size dimorphism may conceivably play a role in sex recognition because two potential visual cues (i.e. size dimorphism and dichromatism) appear to complement each other. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2009, 97, 275–288.
Species boundaries in carp gudgeons (Eleotrididae : Hypseleotris) from the River Murray, South Australia: evidence for multiple species and extensive hybridization

Allozyme analyses of carp gudgeons (Hypseleotris) from five sites in the lower River Murray revealed three distinctive taxa designated HA, HB and HC, diagnosable from one another by fixed differences at 3–5 loci, and three apparent F 1 hybrid forms, HA¥HB, HA¥HX and HB¥HX, where HX denotes a taxon not sampled in its ‘pure’ form. Of all fish sampled, 25% were hybrids, although only one hybrid form was found at any one site, and never in company with both parental taxa. No hybrids involving HC were found, although this was the most common taxon, and no HA¥HB hybrids were present at the one site of demonstrated sympatry between the parental taxa. Morphological analysis and the lack of introgression confirm that HA, HB, and HC are distinct biological species. Partial meristic data suggest that HC corresponds to H. klunzingeri s.l. , ‘Midgley’s carp gudgeon’ is a composite of HA, HB and HA¥HB hybrids, and ‘Lake’s carp gudgeon’ may be a composite of HX and one of its hybrids (HB¥HX). We speculate that one or more of the hybrid classes may be ‘unisexual lineages’ (clonally reproducing, usually all-female forms derived from hybridization between congeners).