Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of different Solanaceous host plants on nutritional indices of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) is a serious and economically important pest of solanaceous crops worldwide. The nutritional indices of this pest on three host plants including pepper Capsicum frutescens, eggplant Solanum melongena and tomato Solanum lycopersicum were determined under laboratory conditions at 26 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 16: 8 (L: D) h. The highest relative consumption rate (9.40 mg/mg/day) and approximate digestibility (95.20%) were recorded on eggplant. The relative growth rate (RGR) (0.08 mg/mg/day) was the highest on tomato. The efficiency of the conversion of ingested food (ECI) (1.66%) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) (2.22%) were significantly highest on pepper. Results showed that pepper was the most nutritionally suitable food and even small amount of this food could successfully support maximum RGR as evidenced by high value of ECI and ECD.
Test and Evaluation of Various Techniques to Study Refuged Lizards in the Field

Abstract We report the use and evaluation of various techniques to locate, identify, and observe our target species, the collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris), while refuged inside rock crevices. We tested the use of radiotelemetry, visual observation via an articulating borescope, remote monitoring of passive integrated transponder tags implanted into subjects as they entered and left refuges, and the measurement of body temperatures of subjects inside refuges. The combined set of techniques provides reliable results and has the potential to uncover novel behavior and social interactions of occupants of otherwise inaccessible refuges or burrows for a host of wild animals.
Stomatal Responses to Leaf-to-Air Vapour Pressure Deficit in Sahelian Species

Stomatal response to leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit (LAVPD) was studied in the annual arid zone C4 grasses Schoenefeldia gracilis, Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Eragrostis tremula and in the C3 species, convolvulus, Ipomoea pes-tigridis and Ipomoea vagans. Stomatal responses to LAVPD were consistent with the drought survival strategies adopted by the different species. In drought resistant species (S. gracilis, I. vagansand I. pes-tigridis) stomatal conductance showed a negative response to increasing LAVPD whereas, in drought escaping species (D. aegyptium and E. tremula), stomatal conductance was independent of LAVPD. These observations suggest that resistance to drought was associated with stomatal closure as LAVPD increased, thus reducing the negative effect of a higher evaporative demand on water use efficiency, whereas in drought escaping species stomata showed no response to increasing evaporative demand in the atmosphere.
Short-term measurements of carbon isotope discrimination in several C4 species

Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) and leaf gas-exchange were measured simultaneously for a number of C4 species. Linear relationships were found between A and the ratio of intercellular to ambient partial pressures of CO2, pI/pa. These data were used to estimate the fraction of CO2 released by C4-acid decarboxylation in the bundle sheath, which subsequently leaks out to the mesophyll. We define this fraction as the leakiness of the system and it is also a measure of the extent to which phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylations exceed ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylations. For Sorghum bicolor and Amaranthus edulis, leakiness was estimated at 0.2 and was constant over a wide range of irradiances (between 480 and 1600 μmol quanta m-2 s-1), intercellular CO2 pressures (between 30 and 350 μbar) and leaf temperatures (from 21oC to 34oC). At irradiances less than 240 μmol quanta m-2 s-1, leakiness appeared to increase. For a number of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous species, of the various C4-decarboxylation types, leakiness was also estimated at 0.2. Contrary to expectation, amongst the 11 species examined, those with suberised lamellae did not show lower values of leakiness than those without suberised lamellae. For one NAD-ME and one PCK monocot, the estimates of leakiness were significantly higher at 0.30 and 0.25, respectively. Long-term discrimination (assessed from carbon isotope composition of leaf dry matter) did not correlate well with these short- term measures of discrimination. We suggest that this may be due to differences between species in fractionations occurring after photosynthesis.
Influence of Soil Bulk Density on Root Rot and Wilt of Chickpea

The reaction of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) to wilt and root rot pathogens was studied in a loose and a compacted soil with bulk densities of 1.2 Mg m -3 and 1.5 Mg m -3 , respectively. Compacted or loose soil was infested separately or in various combinations with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri, F. solani f. sp. pisi, Pythium ultimum, and/or Thielaviopsis basicola. The effects of wilt and root rot pathogens on disease severity were additive with various combinations of pathogen-infested soil (.)
A COMPARISON OF RIND OIL COMPONENTS OF DIPLOID AND TETRAPLOID CITRUS BY GAS‐LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Rind oil components (excluding terpenes) of diploid and tetraploid selections of seven Citrus varieties comprising four species were compared by gas chromatography. The tetraploids were autotetraploid, asexual derivatives of the diploids. Percentages of the oil constituents were markedly similar between diploids and their respective tetraploids. Those significant differences which were found tended to occur at the same peaks among different varieties; the direction of the differences between diploids and tetraploids also tended to be the same for a given peak. 'Royal' grapefruit which may be a natural hybrid, showed several conspicuous differences between its diploid and tetraploid forms, and showed many differences from a more typical grapefruit, the 'Hall'. The diploid and tetraploid forms of 'Lisbon' lemon both had high percentages of oil in the regions of geranyl acetate, geranial, and nerol. The components ocatanal, linalool, nonanol, and a-terpineol were present in substantial quantities in most of the varieties. Each variety could be distinguished from the others by the overall percentages of its various oil components.
Systematics of the Acanthophthalmus kuhlii Complex (Teleostei: Cobitidae), with the Description of a New Species from Sarawak and Brunei

The Acanthophthalmus kuhlii complex from southeast Asia is found to contain three species. A description of meristic, morphometric, and color characters as well as sexual dimorphism is given for the genus and for each of the three species. In the past, lack of such descriptions has resulted in the recognition of several questionable nominal taxa. From the 21 characters examined, 14 were subjected to principal component and discriminant function analyses. Of the nine nominal species and subspecies associated with A. kuhlii, only two remain valid, A. kuhlii and A. cuneovirgatus. The third species of the complex, A. agmus n. sp. , is described from northern Sarawak and Brunei. Acanthophthalmus cuneovirgatus has a disjunct distribution, occurring in southern Thailand, West Malaysia, and Java, and is easily distinguished from other species of the complex by the presence of nasal barbels. Acanthophthalmus kuhlii and A. agmus are most similar, but the latter is recognized using a combination of vertebral counts and morphometric features. Acanthophthalmus agmus has a very irregular color pattern in adults, unlike either of the other two species. A key to the species of the A. kuhlii complex is presented, and the origins of the new species A. agmus are hypothesized.
Effect of Cultured Milk on Serum Cholesterol Concentrations in Rats which Fed High-cholesterol Diets

Serum cholesterol concentrations of rats fed high-cholesterol diets containing skim milk or cultured milks were estimated periodically during 12 days. Several kinds of cultured milks could inhibit the increasing of serum cholesterol concentrations in rats throughout the experimental period compared with skim milk. It was found that this inhibiting ability depended mainly on the specificities of strains, not on the specificities of species. A part of inhibiting mechanism against the increasing serum cholesterol concentrations was analysed using L. acidophilus SBT 2056 (LA 2056) which was selected as most effective one among all strains examined. Feeding the LA 2056 cultured milk resulted in the significant increase of sterol concentrations in bile and feces and also the activity of hepatic cholesterol 7α hydroxylase. The LA 2056 cells had a inhibitory effect against cholesterol micelle absorption from intestines. On the other hand, there was no apparent stimulation effect in the whey fraction of LA 2056 cultured milk on the production of bile acids in primaly cultured rat hepatocytes. From these results, it was supposed that the inhibition effect of LA 2056 cultured milk against increasing of serum cholesterol concentrations in rats was caused partly by the bacterial cells.
Standardized Criteria for the Recognition of Embryonic Nutritional Patterns in Squamate Reptiles

and N. B. Davies (eds.). Blackwell Scientific Publications. Oxford, England. ROMERO, H. 1965. Catilogo sistemitico de los peces del Alto Lerma con descripci6n de una nueva especie. An. Esc. nac. Cienc. Biol., Max. 14:47-80. SUTHERLAND, W. , AND M. C. M. DEJONG. 1991. The evolutionarily stable strategy for secondary sexual characters. Behav. Ecol. 2:16-20. TRIVERS, R. L. 1972. Parental investment and sexual selection, p. 136-179. In: Sexual selection and the descent of man. B. Campbell (ed). Aldine, Chicago, Illinois. UYENO, T. , R. R. MILLER, ANDJ. M. FITZSIMONS. 1983. Karyology of the Cyprinodontoid fishes of the Mexican family Goodeidae. Copeia 1982:497-510.
AFLP-based molecular characterization and population structure analysis of Silybum marianum L.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis was employed to investigate the population structure of 32 Iranian Silybum marianum populations along with two commercial varieties. A total of 415 polymorphic marker loci were produced by 27 primer combinations with an average of 15.37 markers per combination. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.24 to 0.44 with an average of 0.35 per primer combination, and marker index was in the range of 2.56–9.50 with an average of 5.37. The average Nei's genetic diversity (HE) and Shannon's diversity index (I) were 0.201 and 0.296, respectively. The coefficient of differentiation among populations (GST) was 0.44, indicating that 44% of the total molecular diversity resulted from differences between populations. We identified three major groups based on cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis, which were mostly in concordance with the geographical grouping of the populations. The molecular diversity estimate could be useful for selecting appropriate populations to improve S. marianum through conventional and molecular breeding.
Epiphytes in human settlements in rural Panama

Background: An ever-increasing proportion of tropical ecosystems are affected by on-going land-use changes, stressing the importance of understanding how organisms cope with biotic and abiotic challenges outside their natural habitat. An important group in the tropics are vascular epiphytes, whose response to human disturbance is poorly understood. Aims: Creating a baseline data set of epiphyte diversity in human settlements and assessing differences with assemblages of less disturbed habitats. Methods: We surveyed the vascular epiphyte assemblages in 25 settlements of south-west Panama along a rainfall gradient. We tested how epiphyte assemblages were affected by human disturbance and climate by comparing our data to that of pastures and forest. Results: Almost half (238 of 499) of all studied trees hosted at least one epiphyte. Altogether, 10,700 epiphytes of 56 species were found. Rainfall strongly affected both composition and diversity of epiphyte assemblages, whereas geographic proximity did not. In settlements, the species pool was considerably smaller than in pastures and undisturbed forest; however, settlements’ diversity was only significantly lower compared to pastures. Conclusions: Epiphyte assemblages in settlements had a diminished species pool but diversity per tree was comparable to less disturbed habitats. Unsurprisingly, rainfall seems to be the main determinant of epiphyte diversity in rural settlements.
The Evolution of Aposematic Coloration

Recent work on the evolution of aposematic coloration highlights the need for clear distinctions to be drawn between both the processes involved and the selective forces operating. We define the term aposematic coloration, distinguish between the evolution of distastefulness and the evolution of aposematic coloration, and we consider the conditions under which each might evolve. We focus on areas that require future investigation. Our comments are made in the light of recent experimental reports.
Change in Plant-Based Diet Quality Is Associated with Changes in Plasma Adiposity-Associated Biomarker Concentrations in Women

ABSTRACT Background A healthful plant-based diet is associated with lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, it is still unclear whether such benefits are due to its favorable effects on adiposity-associated biomarkers. Objective We investigated the associations between biomarkers and 3 plant-based diet indices: an overall plant-based diet index (PDI); a healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI); and an unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). Methods In the Nurses’ Health Study II, 831 women [baseline mean age: 45 y; body mass index (BMI, kg/m2): 24.6] were randomly selected from those who provided 2 blood samples in 1996–1999 and 2010–2011 to measure plasma concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R), insulin, retinol-binding protein-4, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Plant-based diet indices were derived from semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires assessed at each blood collection. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate cross-sectional associations, and general linear models were used to evaluate longitudinal associations. Results In cross-sectional analyses with multivariable adjustment including BMI, higher hPDI was associated with lower concentrations of leptin, insulin, and hsCRP, and higher adiponectin and sOB-R concentrations (biomarker differences per 10-point higher hPDI: −7.2%, −10.0%, −13.6%, 3.0%, and 1.9%, respectively; P ≤ 0.025). A higher uPDI was associated with higher concentrations of leptin and insulin (4.4% and 4.8%, respectively; P ≤ 0.048). In longitudinal analyses with multivariable adjustment including weight change, an increase in hPDI (improved plant-based diet quality) was inversely associated with changes in leptin and hsCRP (biomarker changes per 10-point hPDI increase: −7.7% and −17.8%, respectively; P ≤ 0.005), whereas an increase in uPDI (worsened plant-based diet quality) was positively associated with changes in leptin, hsCRP, and IL-6 (10.1%, 13.5%, and 12.4%, respectively; P ≤ 0.021). Conclusions Adherence to a healthful plant-based diet is associated with favorable long-term changes in adiposity-associated biomarker concentrations in women.
Protective effects of microRNA‐22‐3p against retinal pigment epithelial inflammatory damage by targeting NLRP3 inflammasome

NLRP3, as a crucial inflammasome component, plays important roles in age‐related macular degeneration. Though some activators of NLRP3 have been studied, microRNAs (miRNAs) which potentially regulate NLRP3 messenger RNA (mRNA) have not been fully explored in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and retinopathy. In this study, by miRNA microarray proﬁling and bioinformatic analysis, we identified that four miRNAs, miR‐4286, miR‐223‐3p, miR‐365a, miR‐22‐3p, may target NLRP3 mRNA in RPE inflammatory damage in vivo. Further, real‐time polymerase chain reaction verified that only miR‐22‐3p was significantly decreased, which was associated with NLRP3 upregulation in blue‐light‐induced retinopathy. Mechanistically, the dual‐fluorescent reporter suggested miR‐22‐3p directly binds NLRP3 mRNA. Moreover, overexpression of miR‐22‐3p could significantly reduce whereas inhibition miR‐22‐3p could increase the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase‐1, and mature IL‐1β. Collectively, our results indicate that miR‐22‐3p plays a suppressive role in RPE damage by targeting NLRP3, which provides new insights into the future intervention to retinopathy.
Effects of Illumination on the Rate of Resource Harvesting in a Community of Desert Rodents

Though optimal foraging models usually consider only caloric needs of a model animal, other factors may influence foraging decisions. I manipulated predation risk using a lantern to alter illumination and looked for effects on rates of seed harvesting of a community of desert rodents. In all four replicates, increased illumination led to a decline in harvesting rate. This implies that increased predation risk decreased harvesting rates. In general, predation risk will influence foraging decisions and patch use.
Effect of acute heat stress on blood biochemical parameters and meat quality of broiler

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of different intensity of heat stress on sensory properties,blood biochemical parameters of broilers.Eighty 30 days healthy Arbor Acre(AA) broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups,20 broilers for each group.Broilers were heat stressed for 0 h(as a contro1)and for 4 h,by rapidly increasing the ambient temperature from(25±1)℃ to(33±1)℃,(37±1)℃and(41±1)℃. The pH,drip loss,color and shear force of broiler breast muscles in every group were investigated.Clinical blood parameter was used to study the blood biochemical parameters of heat stressed broilers.The results showed that,in comparison with the control group,the pH30min,pH24h and a* value of broiler breast muscles significantly decreased and the drip loss,L * and shear force value clearly improved.The activity of Creatine kinase(CK),Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and Malondialdehyde(MDA) were significantly increased with the temperature increasing,the activity of Alkaline phosphatase(AKP) was decreased.
Effects of Chilled Storage, Freezing Rates, and Frozen Storage Temperature on Lipid Oxidation in Meat Blocks from Cultured Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus

ABSTRACT The effects of a short chilled storage period before freezing, frozen storage temperature, and freezing rate on lipid oxidation of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) meat during frozen storage were investigated. After 12-months storage, all samples had increased in peroxide value though they were less at the lower temperatures (−45 and −60°C). Peroxide values in all samples stored at −20°C increased after 3 months storage, particularly those processed and stored 51 h after harvest. The lowest increase in peroxide value occurred in the samples frozen rapidly 3 h after harvest. Vitamin E levels decreased faster during frozen storage at −20°C. There were no apparent differences in levels of triacylglycerides nor in n-3 fatty acid levels between treatments, storage periods, and storage temperatures. After 12-months storage, headspace oxidative volatiles were highest in samples stored at −20°C and lowest in those stored at −60°C. Lipid oxidation in tuna meat stored at −45°C is similar to that at −60°C, and rapid freezing rather than slow freezing should be used.
Chronic Stress Potentiates The Response To Intra-Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis (bnst) Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Peptide (pacap) Infusion.

Chronic or repeated exposure to stressful stimuli can result in several maladaptive consequences, including increased anxiety-like behaviors and altered peptide expression in brain structures involved in emotion. Among these structures, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has been implicated in emotional behaviors as well as regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. In rodents, chronic variate stress (CVS) has been shown to increase BNST pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its cognate PAC1 receptor transcript, and BNST PACAP signaling may mediate the maladaptive changes associated with chronic stress. In order to determine whether chronic stress would potentiate the behavioral and/or endocrine response to subthreshold BNST PACAP infusion, rats were exposed to a 7 day CVS paradigm previously shown to upregulate BNST PAC1 receptor transcripts; control rats were not stressed. Twenty-four hours following the last stressor, stressed and control rats were bilaterally infused into the BNST with 0.5 μg PACAP. Startle response to intra-BNST PACAP infusion was assessed post-infusion in Experiment 1. In Experiments 2 and 3, blood was sampled via a tail nick 30 min following PACAP infusion to assess the corticosterone response to PACAP following CVS. We found an increase in startle amplitude and an increase in plasma corticosterone levels 30 minutes following BNST PACAP infusion only in rats that had been previously exposed to CVS. These results were likely mediated via PAC1 receptors, as equimolar infusion of the VPAC1/2 receptor ligand vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) had no effect on plasma corticosterone levels. These results suggest that repeated exposure to stressors sensitizes the neural circuits underlying the behavioral and endocrine responses to BNST PACAP infusion and BNST PACAP/PAC1 receptor signaling likely plays a critical role in mediating stress responses.
The effects of the environment on the health and welfare of growing pigs

The welfare of pigs reared in intensive housing systems has been an increasing source of public concern. An investigation was carried out to find factors within the physical and social environment that mediate a range of behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare of growing pigs kept under commercial conditions. An initial study investigated human approach behaviour and clinical signs of disease on commercial farms. Multivariate statistical analysis identified factors that were significantly associated with these welfare indicators, particularly stockman-animal interactions, type of flooring, provision of straw bedding and air quality. This study suggested that the period immediately post-weaning may be important in behavioural development. An abattoir study looked at response to handling, behaviour in lairage, prevalence of bursitis and the prevalence of gastric ulcers post-slaughter. The results indicated the benefits of the provision of straw bedding and welfare problems of slatted flooring, supporting previous findings of a relationship between pelleted diets and increased prevalence of pars oesophageal hyperkeratosis and ulceration. The second abattoir study concentrated on pathological signs of respiratory disease and measurement of acute phase proteins. Only haptoglobin was significantly associated with signs of enzootic pneumonia at slaughter. However, models were successfully constructed for the respiratory diseases and the acute phase proteins that indicated the importance of air quality and some husbandry techniques. Two controlled experiments were carried out, one examining the importance of environmental enrichment at particular rearing stages, the other looking at the effects of alarm pheromones on piglet behaviour. The first trial demonstrated that regularly providing 0.5 kg of straw during rearing only had little effect on welfare and did not affect immune response or adrenocortical function. The second trial demonstrated that pheromones present in the urine of gilts subjected to an alarming situation were aversive to weaner piglets and could have consequences for their welfare.