Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting potential distribution of chestnut phylloxerid (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) based on GARP and Maxent ecological niche models

The chestnut phylloxerid, Moritziella castaneivora, has been recently recorded as a forest pest in China. It heavily damaged chestnut trees and has caused serious economic losses in some main chestnut production areas. In order to effectively monitor and manage this pest, it is necessary to investigate its potential geographical distribution worldwide. In this study, we used two ecological niche models, Genetic Algorithm for Rule‐set Production (GARP) and Maximum Entropy (Maxent), along with the geographical distribution of the host plants, Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata) and Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), to predict the potential geographical distribution of M. castaneivora. The results suggested that the suitable distribution areas based on GARP were general consistent with those based on Maxent, but GARP predicted distribution areas that extended more in size than did Maxent. The results also indicated that the suitable areas for chestnut phylloxerid infestations were mainly restricted to Northeast China (northern Liaoning), East China (southern Shandong, northern Jiangsu and western Anhui), North China (southern Hebei, Beijing and Tianjin), Central China (eastern Hubei and southern Henan), Japan (Kinki, Shikoku and Tohoku) and most parts of the Korean Peninsula. In addition, some provinces of central and western China were predicted to have low suitability or unsuitable areas (e.g. Xinjiang, Qinghai and Tibet). A jackknife test in Maxent showed that the average precipitation in July was the most important environmental variable affecting the distribution of this pest species. Consequently, the study suggests several reasonable regulations and management strategies for avoiding the introduction or invasion of this high‐risk chestnut pest to these potentially suitable areas.
Vegetation Control Treatments to Favor Naturally Regenerated Betula alleghaniensis Saplings Following Seed‐Tree Cut: Sapling Monitoring Two Years after Treatment

Control of competing vegetation is recommended to ensure successful Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) regeneration within juvenile stands that do not sustain high enough sapling densities of this species. Four contrasting vegetation control treatments were tested to determine their effect on the growth and vigor of eight‐year‐old B. alleghaniensis saplings regenerating after final cutting of a shelterwood seed cut. Vegetation control treatments were TC (total circular removal), PC (circular removal of codominant competing vegetation), TS (total semicircular removal on 180° section), and NC (no vegetation control). Two years after treatment application, diameter growth significantly improved in response to vegetation control treatments, whereas sapling height growth did not. This pattern of biomass allocation was directly related to sapling etiolation, which increased with decreasing severity of vegetation removal. As a result, application of vegetation control, especially TC and PC treatments, was valuable in reducing signs of stress in saplings. However, increasing the severity of vegetation removal also made saplings more conspicuous to herbivores, which increased browsing, especially in the TC and PC treatments. Browsing was sufficient in some plots of the TC and PC treatments to overcome the vigor and diameter growth enhancements observed when browsing was negligible. In contrast to the TC and PC treatments, the TS treatment kept browsing very low while largely removing competition. The results suggest that B. alleghaniensis saplings established after final cutting of a shelterwood seed cut do take advantage of vegetation control treatments, but the decision to apply these treatments must include consideration of local herbivore population densities.
Alternaria toxins and plant diseases: an overview of origin, occurrence and risks

The genus Alternaria includes both plant-pathogenic and saprophytic species, which may affect crops in the field or cause harvest and postharvest decay of plant products. The taxonomy of the genus Alternaria is not well-defined yet. A polyphasic approach based on morphological features, phylogeny and toxin profiles could be the key to a correct identification at species level and the evaluation of mycotoxin risks associated with fungal contamination. Species of Alternaria are known to produce many metabolites, mostly phytotoxins, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of plants. However, certain species, in particular the most common one A. alternata, are capable of producing several mycotoxins in infected plants and/or in agricultural commodities. The major Alternaria mycotoxins belong to three structural classes: the tetramic acid derivative, tenuazonic acid; the dibenzopyrone derivatives, alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and altenuene; and the perylene derivatives, the altertoxins. T.
Defects in the genes coding for cartilage extracellular matrix proteins as a cause of osteoarthritis and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia

The role of sequence variations in genes encoding cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins were studied in osteoarthritis (OA) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED). The cartilage collagen genes COL2A1, COL9A1, COL9A2, COL9A3, COL11A1, and COL11A2 were screened for sequence variations in 72 Finnish probands and one US family with primary early-onset hip and/or knee OA. Altogether 239 sequence variations were found, of which 16 were not present in the controls. Seven of the unique variations — four in COL11A1, two in COL11A2, and one in COL2A1 — were studied further, because they resulted in the substitution of conserved amino acids or were predicted to affect mRNA splicing. Association analysis was performed by genotyping 6–12 common polymorphisms from each gene in 72 OA patients and 103 controls; no common predisposing alleles were identified. The results, however, suggest that mutations in the minor cartilage collagen genes can be the cause of OA in a subgroup of OA patients. Two MED families with clinical and radiographic features suggestive of a collagen IX mutation were studied. Mutation screening of COL9A1, COL9A2, and COL9A3 yielded negative results. Instead, an R718W mutation in COMP was identified in both families. Clinical and radiographic overlap between patients with collagen IX mutations and patients with COMP mutations points to a common supramolecular complex pathogenesis. Clinical, radiological and molecular analyses of known MED genes were performed on a cohort of 29 consecutive MED patients. The DTDST mutation was identified in four patients (14%), the COMP mutation in three (10%), and the MATN3 mutation in three (10%). Two new distinct phenotypic entities were identified in patients in whom no mutation was found. The findings suggest that mutations in the above mentioned known MED genes are not the major cause of MED and are responsible for less than half of the cases. The existence of additional MED loci is supported by the exclusion of known loci and finding of the specific subgroups among these patients. The results suggest that genetic defects in ECM genes can predispose to OA and cause MED, even though the major genes involved in both disorders remain to be found.
Investigation of oocyst count and performance affected by butyric acid and salinomysin in broiler

Organic acids such as butyrate are considered potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. The efficacy of butyric acid, salinomysin sodium and litter moisture on performance and number of oocysts in broiler chickens were tested in this study. The experiment was a factorial design, with/without butyric acid (0/5 and 0%), with/without salinomysin sodium (0/3 and 0%) and 2 levels of moisture (33 and 77%) of the litter of experimental pens. Eight hundred 1-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were purchased from a local hatchery. The birds randomly allocated to eight treatment groups of 100 birds each. Each group was further divided into 4 replicates of 25 birds each. The data obtained were analyzed by SAS (9.1) with a general linear models procedure. The obtained results showed that no significantly difference were observed in feed intake in starter and grower, weight gain in starter, grower and total periods, feed conversion ratio in starter, grower and total period and oocysts count in weeks 3, 5 and 6 (p > 0.05). Significantly difference were observed in feed intake in finisher, weight gain in finisher, feed conversion ratio in finisher and oocysts numbers in weeks 2 and 4 (p 0.05). The interactive action between butyric acid, salinomysin sodium and litter moisture was significant in some parameters (p < 0.05). It is concluded that butyric acid and salinomysin sodium did not have clear positive effects on performance of broiler chickens. Key words: Organic acid, oocyst, anticoccidial, performance, broiler chicken.
EVIDENCE FOR INCREASES IN ANTARCTIC BLUE WHALES BASED ON BAYESIAN MODELLING

Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) are the largest and formerly most abundant blue whale subspecies, but were hunted to near extinction last century. Estimated whaling mortality was unsustainable from 1928 to 1972 (except during 1942–1944), depleting them from 239,000 (95% interval 202,000–311,000) to a low of 360 (150–840) in 1973. Obtaining statistical evidence for subsequent increases has proved difficult due to their scarcity. We fitted Bayesian models to three sighting series (1968–2001), constraining maximum rates of increase to 12% per annum. These models indicated that Antarctic blue whales are increasing at a mean rate of 7.3% per annum (1.4%–11.6%). Informative priors based on blue whale biology (4.3%, SD = 1.9%) and a Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis of increase rates in other blue whale populations (−3%, SD = 11.6%), suggest plausible increase rates are lower (although the latter has wide intervals), but a meta-analysis of other mysticetes obtains similar rates of increase (6.7%, SD = 4.0%). Possible biases affecting the input abundance estimates are discussed. Although Antarctic blue whales appear to have been increasing since Sovier illegal whaling ended in 1972, they still need to be protected-their estimated 1996 population size, 1,700 (860–2,900), was just 0.7% (0.3%–1.3%) of the pre-exploitation level.
Inference of phylogenetic relationships among the subfamilies of grasses (Poaceae: Poales) using meso-scale exemplar-based sampling of the plastid genome.

To clarify phylogenetic relationships among grass (Poaceae) subfamilies and to better resolve the placement of Poaceae in Poales, we surveyed 17 plastid genes and associated noncoding regions (∼15.5 kb per taxon, about 1/10 of the plastid genome) for exemplar representatives from 10 grass subfamilies and a broad sample of related monocots. We found general concordance in relationships and support levels among gene regions and data partitions across analyses, with some exceptions in Bayesian analyses. Different phylogenetic criteria generally agreed on backbone relationships, and the support values we inferred were generally as good as or better than those in other studies that employed more taxa for fewer genes to estimate the same backbone. Within grasses, we found robust support for the monophyly of subfamily Anomochlooideae and for the Bambusoideae–Ehrhartoideae–Pooideae (BEP) clade, and moderate support for a sister-group relationship between Bambusoideae and Pooideae. Most relationships in the strong.
Effect of selenium supplementation on growth and nutrient utilization in buffalo heifers.

Twenty buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers of 18–36 months of age (239.0±16.46 kg) were divided into two groups (n=10 per group). Animals in the control (T1) group were fed diet comprising of concentrate mixture (40% maize, 44% mustard cake, 8% wheat bran, 5% arhar chuni, 2% mineral mixture and 1% common salt) and wheat straw ad libitum. Animals in the experimental group (T2) were also fed same basal diet except that they were supplemented with 0.2 ppm selenium (Se) in their concentrate mixture. Experimental feeding lasted for 120 days including a 7 days digestion trial. The intake of DM and digestibility of DM, CP, EE, CF and NFE were similar (P>0.05) between the two groups. While supplementation of Se had no effect on DCP intake, TDN intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 group. Average daily gain (ADG) of the buffalo heifers was also significantly (P<0.05) higher in group T2 as compared to the control (T1) group up to 300 kg body weight. However, after 300 kg body weight there was no effect of selenium supplementation on ADG. These results suggest that Se supplementation (0.2 ppm in concentrate mixture) improves the growth performance of buffalo heifers during early stages.
Effects of body size on selectivity for mating cues in different sensory modalities

We investigated the effects of body mass on the selectivity of female mating preferences in two different sensory channels (acoustic and chemical) using the field cricket, Gryllus integer. We found that body mass affected female selectivity for acoustic cues: larger females were more selective than smaller females for long-distance calls of males. In contrast, body mass did not affect selectivity for chemical cues of males, which are assessed at close range. Nevertheless, we observed selectivity for these cues. Finally, selectivity for acoustic cues was not correlated with selectivity for chemical cues. These results suggest that energetic concerns may influence mating decisions made at a distance and that the effects of body mass on mating decisions are not necessarily shared across different sensory modalities. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 105, 160‐168.
Electrical Water Bath Stunning of Broilers: Effects on Breast Meat Quality

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of electrical water bath stunning treatments (pulsed direct current) on stress conditions of poultry meat. This was carried out by evaluating meat quality measured through the incidence of PSE (pale, soft, exudative) in broiler breast fillet meat. We applied the randomized factorial design 2 2 with three replications at the central point, with independent variables, including voltage (40, 80, 120 V) and electrical frequency (100, 400, 700 Hz). The response functions under study were pH, L*, a*, b*, WHC and incidence of PSE meat. Samples presenting with pH of ≤ 5.80 and L* of ≥ 53.0 were classified as PSE whereas those with 5.80 ＜ pH ＜ 6.00 and 44.0 ＜ L* ＜ 53.0 were considered normal. The fillets taken from birds without stunning presented 54.14% of PSE meat samples, which decreased to 25.0% with stunning. The response functions L* and incidence of PSE showed regression ( P ≤ 0.05) with good adjustment of experimental data to the proposed model. The lowest incidence of PSE meat was observed when voltage and frequency were at their highest levels. In poultry slaughter, the applied electric stunning voltage of 120 V with a frequency of 700 Hz was determined to be the most effective for inhibition of PSE development.
North Sea Investigations

The reasons which induced the Association to undertake this work, and the nature of the investigations proposed to be carried out, will be familiar to readers of this Journal (see vol. ii, No. 2, p. 88), and need not be here recapitulated. I shall, therefore, confine myself to a brief account of such progress nshas already been made. Grimsby was selected as head-quarters, as being the port from which the largest number of boats work, and, in fact, the head-quarters of the North Sea Trawling Industry. A local body, the Marine Fisheries Society, has for the last few years been carrying on work in Grimsby, principally in connection with the culture of sea fish, and for that purpose has erected an aquarium or hatchery at Cleethorpes, a small watering-place and fishing village on the outskirts of the town. It was felt that it would be of great advantage if the Association could secure the co-operation and assistance of this Society, and communications accordingly passed between the Director and Mr. 0. T. Olsen, Secretary of the Society and also a member of the Association, and to whose energy and enthusiasm the foundation and subsequent success of the Society are in great measure due. As a result the Society at once promised every assistance in their power, and furthermore placed their premises at Oleethorpes at my disposal for such work as could be most conveniently carried on there. The hatchery contains glass and slate tanks of various sizes, with apparatus for circulating the water, and its reservoir is connected with the sea pump of the adjacent public baths, so that direct communication with the Humber can be established at any time.
Dynamic metabolism of photosystem II reaction center proteins and pigments

Photosystem II (PSII) reaction center is an intrinsic membrane-protein complex in the chloroplast that catalyzes primary charge separation between P680, a chlorophyll a dimer, and the primary quinone acceptor Q A . This supramolecular protein complex consists of D1, D2, α and β subunits of cytochrome b 559 , the psbI gene product, and a few low molecular mass proteins. Ligated to this complex are pigments: chlorophyll a, pheophytin a, β-carotenes, and non-heme iron. One of the major outcomes of light-mediated photochemistry is the fact that in the light, D1 protein is rapidly turned over compared to the other proteins of the reaction center; the relative lability of proteins being: D1 » D2 > Cyt b 559 . D1 degradation in visible light exhibits complex, multiphasic kinetics. D1 degradation can be uncoupled from photosynthetic electron transport, which suggests that degradation may perform some separate function(s) beyond maintaining photosynthetic activity. The presence of a physiologically relevant level of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation in a background of photosynthetically active radiation stimulates D1/D2 heterodimer degradation in a synergistic manner. D1 undergoes several post-translational modifications including N-acetylation, phosphorylation, and palmitoylation. Light-dependent phosphorylation of D1 occurs in all flowering plants but not in the green alga Chlamydomonas or in cyanobacteria, and the same may be true for D2. The roles of these modifications in D1/D2 assembly, turnover, or function are still a matter of conjecture. Nor do we yet know about the fate of the liganded pigments, such as the chlorophyll and carotenoids bound to the reaction center proteins. Environmental extremes that negatively impact photosynthesis seem to involve D1 metabolism. Thus, D1 protein is a major factor of PSII instability, and its replacement after its degradation is a primary component of the PSII repair cycle.
Law, custom and community-based natural resource management in Kubulau District (Fiji)

SUMMARY National laws and institutions interact with local governance systems to encourage CBNRM in some cases while creating conflict in others. A case study of Kubulau District (Bua Province, Fiji) illustrates the challenges and successes of implementing traditional community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) within a pluralist legal and institutional context. In 2005, the communities of Kubulau established a network of protected areas, including 17 traditional closures (tabu), three no-take district marine reserves, a legally–declared forest reserve and a proposed forest reserve, managed under an integrated ‘ridge-to-reef’ plan. Marine and terrestrial areas in Kubulau illustrate synergies and discord between national laws and community management rules, and provide examples of management success and conflict. Key components influencing diverse management outcomes in Kubulau include (1) the legal status of customary resource tenure, (2) incorporation of local knowledge, traditions and priorities, (3) clearly articulated relationships between local decision-making processes and government regulation, and (4) perceived equity in distribution of management benefits. Legal and institutional reforms are proposed to improve management of natural resources in Fiji.
The influence of landscape structure on occurrence, abundance and genetic diversity of the common frog, Rana temporaria

Human‐caused habitat destruction and modification constitute one of the largest threats to population persistence and biodiversity, and are also suspected to be the major cause behind the global decline of amphibian populations. We assessed the potential role of agriculture‐related habitat fragmentation on population size and genetic variability in the common frog (Rana temporaria) by recording the occurrence, population density and genetic diversity in three geographically disparate regions in Sweden – each containing landscapes of high and low agricultural activity – and related these to landscape variables extracted from digital maps. We found a highly significant region‐by‐landscape interaction in occurrence, population density and genetic diversity revealing a reversed response to agriculture from south to north: while the effects of agriculture on R. temporaria populations were negative in the south, there were no effects in the central region, whereas positive effects were observed in the north. Spatial autocorrelation analyses of genetic data revealed that populations in high agricultural activity areas were more isolated than populations in low activity areas both in the southern and central regions of Sweden. Landscape diversity showed a strong positive correlation with both density and occurrence of frogs in Sweden as a whole, as well as in the southern region. Also, negative effects of roads and positive effects of ditches on genetic diversity were found in the south. Overall, these results suggest clear but regionally opposite effects of habitat structure on the population size and genetic diversity of amphibian populations. This means that the management strategy aiming to maximize the size and genetic diversity of local common frog populations, and perhaps also those of other amphibian populations, should account for regional differences in existing land‐use patterns.
Large herbivores affect the stoichiometry of nutrients in a regenerating woodland ecosystem.

Previous studies on the effects of herbivores on nutrient cycling have given little consideration to the relationship between soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. Here we examined how browsing by red deer influences the relative availability of N and P in a regenerating woodland ecosystem. We found that removal of browsing by fencing for 14 years led to a shift from N toward P limitation of the dominant tree species Betula pubescens. This was evidenced by a significant increase in foliar N:P ratio of B. pubescens as a result of removal of browsing; mean N:P ratio of foliage from browsed areas was 13.2 suggesting that trees growing in browsed areas were N limited, whereas foliage from unbrowsed areas had a mean N:P ratio of 15.8, suggesting that these areas were more P limited. Further evidence of a shift toward P limitation in unbrowsed areas came from the finding that root uptake of labelled 32P was significantly greater in roots collected from unbrowsed than browsed trees. Soil phosphatase activity did not significantly differ between browsed and unbrowsed areas. Our data indicate therefore that herbivores have the potential to significantly affect the stoichiometry of N and P in forest ecosystems.
NON‐PHOTOSYNTHETIC FIXATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL ROLES IN HIGHER PLANTS

1. Non‐photosynthetic fixation of CO2/HCO3‐ occurs both under light and dark conditions and involve the addition of carbon to substrates which in higher plants are derived originally from carbon reduced to carbohydrates during photosynthesis. Despite the endergonic nature of these carboxylations, the advantages offered seem to be sufficient to outweigh the disadvantages of energy loss.