Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographic Distribution, Host Fruit, and Parasitoids of African Fruit Fly Pests Ceratitis anonae, Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis fasciventris, and Ceratitis rosa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Kenya

Abstract The fruit of indigenous, cultivated, and naturalized exotic plants was sampled in Kenya to determine the geographical and host plant distributions of the fruit fly pests Ceratitis anonae (Graham), Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), Ceratitis fasciventris (Bezzi), and Ceratitis rosa Karsch. In 1997, cultivated and wild fruit were sampled on the Kenya coast to determine seasonal patterns of host use by C. cosyra and C. rosa. From 1999 to 2004, the sampling effort was expanded to forested areas of the central and western highlands and to all fruit-infesting tephritids. Together, the four pest tephritid species were reared from 5.1% of 3,794 fruit collections, the latter making up 116 families and 882 species of host plants. C. anonae, C. cosyra, C. fasciventris, and C. rosa were reared throughout Kenya, from 14, 9, 30, and 28 plant species, respectively. Fifty-two of these plants represented previously unknown hosts for one or more of the tephritids. C. anonae was restricted to habitats west of the Gregory Rift Valley. C. fasciventris was found in western and central Kenya, but it was not reared from coastal fruit collections. C. rosa occurred at the coast and in central highland fruit. We provide evidence for the recent introduction of C. rosa into the central highlands. Only C. cosyra was found in habitats located in all three of the major regions sampled. Although distributed over a wider geographic area than the other species, C. cosyra had a markedly restricted host range. On the coast, C. cosyra used wild fruit, primarily Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. (Anacardiaceae), as hosts when mango was not fruiting. C. rosa was absent from our mango samples but attacked common guava and wild fruit species. Overall, C. anonae, C. fasciventris, and C. rosa had similar host profiles, but each also had unique hosts in which infestations were usually heavy. Members of the Sapotaceae and Annonaceae were the most important wild hosts of these three species. Within these families, host fruit were partitioned among these tephritid species and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). The availability of wild host fruit, sometimes supplemented by naturalized invasive plants or cultivated fruit, provided for year-round breeding of C. anonae and C. fasciventris, whereas indigenous fruit were sufficient for breeding of C. rosa and C. cosyra during most of the year. Opiine braconids were reared from all four species of Ceratitis.
The importance of assessing climate change vulnerability to address species conservation

Abstract Species conservation often prioritizes attention on a small subset of “special status” species at high risk of extinction, but actions based on current lists of special status species may not effectively moderate biodiversity loss if climate change alters threats. Assessments of climate change vulnerability may provide a method to enhance identification of species at risk of extinction. We compared climate change vulnerability and lists of special status species to examine the adequacy of current lists to represent species at risk of extinction in the coming decades. The comparison was made for terrestrial vertebrates in a regionally important management area of the southwestern United States. Many species not listed as special status were vulnerable to increased extinction risk with climate change. Overall, 74% of vulnerable species were not included in lists of special status and omissions were greatest for birds and reptiles. Most special status species were identified as additionally vulnerab.
Apoptosis: Morphological Criteria and Other Assays

Apoptosis is a morphologically and biochemically distinct mode of cell death that uses the cell’s own energy and genetic control for death to occur. It is central to many physiological processes such as morphogenesis, homeostasis and differentiation. In disease, apoptosis is responsible for loss of functioning tissue as well as negating and over-riding cell proliferation in disorders such as neoplasias and cancers.
Escherichia coli K51 and K93 capsular polysaccharides are crossreactive with the group A capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis. Immunochemical, biological, and epidemiological studies

Eleven Escherichia coli strains, crossreactive with the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Neisseria meningitidis group A (GrA), were detected among 645 stool isolates from healthy families in Cairo, Egypt. 10 of these strains were of the O107:K93:H27 or O107:K93:SP serotypes and may be considered descendents of a single bacterium or as a clone. The remaining crossreactive strain was of the O7:K51:H18 serotype. None of the 11 strains produced enterotoxins and none were enteroinvasive. The purified CPS of these E. coli strains, as well as a polysaccharide (PS) from B. pumilis, strain Sh17, precipitated with equine GrA (H49) antiserum. A partial identity between the E. coli K93, K51 and Sh17 PS on the one hand and the GrA CPS on the other was observed by double immunodiffusion when reacted against the H49 antiserum. Four K93 strains and one K51 strain were found among 320 E. coli strains from patients at the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, and three K93 strains were found in 105 stool samples from children in Copenhagen. The data from these three surveys suggest that these crossreactive E. coli are common organisms and could serve as a stimulus for "natural" GrA CPS antibodies. Quantitative precipitation analysis showed that K51, K93, and Sh17 PS precipitated 25, 46.8, and 50% of H49 antibodies, respectively. Absorption of H49 antiserum with the GrA CPS removed its precipitating activity with the E. coli K93, K51, and Sh17 PS. Absorption of H49 antiserum with either K51 CPS or Sh17 PS removed the homologous crossreactivity only, whereas K93 CPS absorbed both K93 and K51 reactivities. Antibodies, raised by intravenous injection of formalinized E. coli K93 or K51 cells into rabbits, precipitated with GrA CPS and were bactericidal against GrA meningococci. The crossreaction between the E. coli K93 and the GrA CPS was unexpected since these two CPS are compositionally so dissimilar.
EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTAL WARMING ON PLANT REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY IN A SUBALPINE MEADOW

Increasing “greenhouse” gases are predicted to warm the earth by several degrees Celsius during the coming century. At high elevations one likely result is a longer snow-free season, which will affect plant growth and reproduction. We studied flowering and fruiting of 10 angiosperm species in a subalpine meadow over 4 yr, focusing on plant responses to warming by overhead heaters. The 10 species reproduced in a predictable sequence during 3–4 mo between spring snowmelt and fall frosts. Experimental warming advanced the date of snowmelt by almost 1 wk on average, relative to controls, and similarly advanced the mean timing of plant reproduction. This phenological shift was entirely explained by earlier snowmelt in the case of six plant species that flowered early in the season, whereas four later-flowering species apparently responded to other cues. Experimental warming had no detectable effect on the duration of flowering and fruiting, even though natural conditions of early snowmelt were associated with .
Cultivation of Lentinus Edodes on Teff Straw (Agricultural Residue) At Dilla University, Ethiopia

Shiitake mushroom is worldwide one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms. Edible fungi are natural recycler which converts lignocelluloses wastes into protein rich health food and medicinal value of food. Mushroom cultivation represents the current economically viable biotechnology process for the conversion of waste plant residues from agriculture. As the result, mushrooms are increasingly becoming an important component of diets worldwide and it is of paramount importance to choose appropriate substrates in a given place to grow them. Therefore, study was undertaken to find suitable abundantly waste such as Teff straw used as substrate for cultivation of mushroom. As the result revealed, this agricultural residue was the best for cultivation of Lentinus edodes which help to collect large amount of fruit body. As conclusion, Lentinus edodes fungi can be converted this solid waste in to delicious foods.
In vitro screening of novel treatments for Aphanomyces invadans

Forty-nine compounds were tested in vitro for fungicidal activity against hyphae of the fish-pathogenic Oomycete fungus, Aphanomyces invadans. These comprised: (a) chemicals with previous reported activity against Oomycete fungi; (b) chemicals in use in Asia to treat ulcerative disease outbreaks; (c) commercial biocides and fungicides; (d) natural products with potential antimicrobial activity; and (e) surfactants tested separately and in combination with some of the above treatments. No compounds tested proved as effective as malachite green, but some low-toxicity natural compounds and particular surfactants showed potential for further studies. Some compounds that are currently in use in Asian aquaculture were shown to have no effect on A. invadans hyphae at recommended treatment rates. A range of compounds that demonstrated activity against the mycelium were selected for further testing in a zoospore motility assay. Lower treatment concentrations were required to inhibit zoospore motility than were required to inhibit hyphal growth. Zoospore activity ceased within 1 h of exposure to 2.5 parts per million (p.p.m.) coconut diethanol- amide; 1.25 p.p.m. propolis + 0.5 p.p.m. 13/6.5; 5 p.p.m. neem (Azadirachta siamensis) seed extract + 0.01 p.p.m. OP10; 20 p.p.m. tea tree (Melaleuca alternifloria) oil; and 25 p.p.m. D-limonene + 0.05 p.p.m. E-Z-MulseTM. The treated spores were shown to be non-viable in culture medium. Selected compounds were further tested for ability to inhibit zoospore production by A. invadans mycelium over a 72-h period. In toxicity trials, silver barb, Barbodes gonionotus (Bleeker), exposed to 2.5 p.p.m. coconut diethanolamide; 2.5 p.p.m. OP10; 0.5 p.p.m. E-Z-MulseTM; 20 p.p.m. neem seed extract + 0.5 p.p.m. OP10; and 5 p.p.m. D-limonene + 0.5 p.p.m. E-Z-MulseTM suffered no mortalities and no obvious behavioural changes. Similarly, rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), exposed to 25 p.p.m. propolis + 1 p.p.m. OP10; 10 p.p.m. neem seed extract + 0.01 p.p.m. 13/6.5; and 10 p.p.m. D-limonene + 0.01 p.p.m. OP10 suffered no mortalities and no obvious behavioural changes.
Salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer), infestation in sympatric populations of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), and sea trout, Salmo trutta (L.), in areas near and distant from salmon farms

Bjorn, P. A. , and Finstad, B. 2002. Salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer), infestation in sympatric populations of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), and sea trout, Salmo trutta (L.), in areas near and distant from salmon farms. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 59: 131–139. The abundance of salmon lice was examined in two stocks of sympatric anadromous Arctic char and sea trout in sub-Arctic regions in northern Norway in June, July, and August 1992 and 1993. One stock feeds in a coastal area exposed to moderate salmon farming activity (exposed area), while the other feed in a region without salmon farms (unexposed area). The salmon lice infestation on both species differed significantly between the exposed and unexposed area as well as between years and also between weeks within the same year. We did not detect, however, any clear significant differences in salmon lice abundance between sympatric populations of Arctic char and sea trout, or between different size groups of the species. The 1992 and 1993 infestation pattern in the exposed area showed an epidemic tendency in both Arctic char and sea trout, characterised by a sudden increase in both prevalence and abundance of lice larvae in July 1992 (23.625.7 lice/fish) and August 1993 (19.920.8 lice/fish). We therefore suggest that salmon lice epidemics, previously only observed on sea trout, may also occur in populations of Arctic char, and that fish farming contributes to the elevated lice level in wild fish. The fish in the unexposed area were also infested, although at significantly lower levels than fish from the exposed area. The infestation peaked in August 1992 at 13.018. 1 lice/fish and August 1993 at 3.94. 5 lice/fish, suggested that lice originating on ascending wild Atlantic salmon, or lice larvae drifting from farming areas, may infest Arctic char and sea trout also in unexposed localities in Subarctic areas. 2002 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus Rotundus) Management in Direct-seeded Chile Pepper Using Halosulfuron and Cultivation

Field research was conducted in southern New Mexico to determine the effect of halosulfuron rate, timing of application, and adjuvant on purple nutsedge suppression and chile pepper injury under cultivated conditions. POST-directed treatments of 36 or 53 g ai/ha were applied 2 or 4 wk after thinning direct-seeded chile pepper. Herbicide treatments included a nonionic surfactant or methylated seed oil plus ammonium sulfate plus polyacrylamide polymer. Herbicide rate, adjuvant, and timing of the application had little effect on overall nutsedge suppression; however, herbicide treatment proved to be an important component for managing purple nutsedge in this experiment. Yields were higher with halosulfuron treatment compared with the weedy control. Whereas halosulfuron treatment with 53 g/ha increased chile yield relative to the weedy control, injury and yield results comparing 36 and 53 g/ha rates consistently suggested that halosulfuron should be applied at rates ≤ 36 g/ha in a single application to avoid possible injury. Halosulfuron treatment combined with cultivation and effective crop rotation may reduce the impact of purple nutsedge interference in chile pepper. Nomenclature: Halosulfuron, purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus L. CYPRO, chile pepper, Capsicum annuum L. ‘Sandia’
ASCORBIC ACID ADMINISTRATION AS ANTI-STRESS BEFORE TRANSPORTATION OF SHEEP

SUMMARY Currently in Egypt there is no regulation ruling over transportation of animals. The aims of the current study were to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid administration (125 mg/kg) before transportation in an open truck during summer season on live weight loss, and some physiological responses, in New Valley governorate, Egypt. Fourteen Farafra male sheep, 35.0 ± 3.86 kg body weight and aged 11-12 months were used in this study. Animals were divided into two equal groups (7/each group) as not-administered and administered ascorbic acid groups. Animals were transported in an open truck covering a distance of approximately 225 km for three hours. Before loading and after transportation, rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate as thermal responses were recorded. In addition, two blood samples were collected before and after transportation from each animal. Complete blood samples were investigated to determine hematological parameters. Also, blood serum samples were analyzed for hormones (T3, T4 and cortisol) and some blood metabolites (total protein, albumin, globulin, sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, ALT, AST, creatinine, glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol). The results indicated that transportation caused adverse changes as a results of stress in live body weight losses, hematological parameters and some blood metabolites. Ascorbic acid administration lowered effect of stress caused by transportation through modulating physiological responses. Therefore, administration of ascorbic acid in sheep before transport especially at high ambient temperatures can be recommended.
Metabolism of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide during nitrification and denitrification in soil at different incubation conditions

NO production and consumption rates as well as N2O accumulation rates were measured in a loamy cambisol which was incubated under different conditions (i.e. soil moisture content, addition of nitrogen fertilizer and/or glucose, aerobic or anaerobic gas phase). Inhibition of nitrification with acetylene allowed us to distinguish between nitrification and denitrification as sources of NO and N2O. Under aerobic conditions untreated soil showed very low release of NO and N2O but high consumption of NO. Fertilization with NH4+ or urea stimulated both NO and N2O production by nitrification. Addition of glucose at high soil moisture contents led to increased N2 and N2O production by denitrification, but not to increased NO production rates. Anaerobic conditions, however, stimulated both NO and N2O production by denitrification. The production of NO and N2O was further stimulated at low moisture contents and after addition of glucose or NO3−. Anaerobic consumption of NO by denitrification followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and was stimulated by addition of glucose and NO3−. Aerobic consumption of NO followed first-order kinetics up to mixing ratios of at least 14 ppmv NO, was inhibited by autoclaving but not by acetylene, and decreased with increasing soil moisture content. The high NO-consumption activity and the effects of soil moisture on the apparent rates of anaerobic and aerobic production and consumption of NO suggest that diffusional constraints have an important influence on the release of NO, and may be a reason for the different behaviour of NO release vs N2O release.
Variations on a bauplan: description of a new Malagasy “mermaid skink” with flipper-like forelimbs only (Scincidae, Sirenoscincus Sakata & Hikida, 2003)

ABSTRACT The “forelimbs only” bauplan, characterised by the combined presence of well-developed fingered forelimbs and the complete absence of hindlimbs, is rare among terrestrial tetrapods. It is restricted to three lineages of squamates with elongated worm-like bodies, the amphisbaenian genus Bipes Lacépède, 1788 and the scincid genera Sirenoscincus Sakata & Hikida, 2003 and Jarujinia Chan-ard, Makchai & Cota, 2011. In the present study, we describe a new species of Sirenoscincus from Marosely, Port Bergé region, northwest Madagascar, which presents a remarkable variation of this bauplan. The forelimbs of S. mobydick n. sp. differ from S. yamagishii Sakata & Hikida, 2003 — the only other known species in the genus — by the complete absence of any fingers or claws, therefore superficially resembling flippers, a combination of characters unique among terrestrial tetrapods. Sirenoscincus mobydick n. sp. is also differentiated from S. yamagishii by several apomorphic cephalic scalation characters, such as: 1) the absence of the frontonasal, likely fused with the frontal (versus presence of both scales); 2) the absence of the preocular, likely fused with the loreal (versus presence of both scales); and 3) the absence of the postsubocular, likely fused with the pretemporal (versus presence of both scales). Additionally, we provide detailed data on the appendicular skeleton of this new species of “mermaid skink” based on X-ray computed tomography that reveal several significant regressions of skeletal elements: 1) autopodial bones highly reduced in size and number; 2) highly reduced pelvic girdle and complete absence of hindlimbs, with the notable exception of two faintly distinguishable bony corpuscles probably representing rudiments of ancestral hindlimb bones; and 3) regressed sclerotic ring with five ossicles only, therefore representing the lowest value ever observed among lizards. Our study highlights the importance of the rare “forelimbs only bauplan” for investigating macroevolutionary questions dealing with complete limb loss in vertebrates, a convergent phenomenon that has repeatedly occurred 16 to 20 times within Scincidae Gray, 1825.
Analysis of partial Glomales SSU rRNA gene sequences: implications for primer design and phylogeny

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, classified in the order Glomales cannot easily be identified by hyphal morphology. PCR can be used successfully to identify the fungi within the host or soil. Some of the primers that have been used are based on a few sequences of a variable region in the SSU rRNA gene. To verify the specificity of primers of this type which have been used in earlier publications, and to provide data for future primer design, we analysed 51 partial Glomales SSU rRNA gene sequences from 33 glomalean isolates. To distinguish contaminants from the AM fungi (AMF) all sequences were verified by phylogenetic analyses. Together with sequences from the EMBL database a set of 88 sequences from 58 isolates was analysed, comprising 39 species. The phylogenetic trees reveal at least three distinct well supported Glomus clades and other interesting relationships within the Glomales. Sequence data show that most of the primers published in earlier studies are not useful at the proposed taxonomic level. For example, the VANS1 primer site is not specific for the Glomales and is homologous to fewer than half of the AMF sequences investigated. Primer regions that have been considered to be family-specific within the Glomales do not show strict specificity. Because clades in the phylogenetic trees fit well to several sequence patterns, priming sites for AMF are discussed and sequence data for future analyses provided.
A Novel Biocompatible Poly (3-hydroxy-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) Blend as a Potential Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) P(3HB-co-4HB) biopolymer was subjected to a depyrogenation treatment followed by blending with vitamin E (P(3HB-co-4HB)/Vit E blend), collagen (Col blend) or both (P(3HB-co-4HB)/Vit E/Col hybrid blend) to improve its biological performance. The cytocompatibility and pro-inflammatory response to the biopolymer after the treatment and blending were evaluated by cellular responses in vitro. Cell attachment and spreading of murine NIH 3T3 fibroblasts seeded on the films were found to be the highest on the hybrid P(3HB-co-4HB)/Vit E/Col blend film. The P(3HB-co-4HB) blends showed increased cell proliferation and negligible cytotoxicity. The pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL6 and TNF α expression in the murine macrophage cell line J774 A-1 monocyte/macrophage cells cultured on the biopolymer films were assessed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR analyses which revealed that the combined blending strategy was the most effective in reducing the pro-inflammatory activity. The depyrogenated P(3HB-co-4HB) blends significantly extend the range of biomaterials suitable for tissue engineering.