Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature-dependent life history of Sipha maydis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on wheat

Sipha maydis (Passerini) is a pest of Poaceae in many cereal-growing area of the world and Iran. The effects of temperature on biology and life table were investigated at five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 32.5±1°C), 60±5% relative humidity (RH) and a photoperiod of 16L : 8D h. The results indicated that aphids failed to complete development at 32.5°C. Developmental time was ranged between 17.28 to 9.55 days at 15 and 30°C, respectively. The lower developmental threshold (T 0 ) and thermal constant of S. maydis were estimated to be -5.52°C and 332.22 degree-days, respectively. The Analytis-3/Briere-1 model (as non linear model) is highly recommended for the description of temperature dependent development of S. maydis. The highest life expectancy of adults at emergence was 33.35 days at 20°C. The mean adult longevity of females and nymphipositional period were the highest at 20°C. The mean lifetime fecundity at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C were 21.24±1.97, 44.82±3.18, 22.25±2.33 and 16.39±1.15 nymphs/female, respectively. The survivorship curves of S. maydis were type I at 20 and 25°C (H 0.5). The highest and lowest values of intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) were observed at 20 (0.173±0.012 females/female/day) and 15°C (0.109±0.003 females/female/ /day), respectively. The growth index (GI) at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C were 0.033, 0.069, 0.062 and 0.038, respectively. According to this research the optimum temperature for population growth of S. maydis was 20°C. Our findings provide fundamental information and when this information is used in association with other ecological data, it may be valuable in development and implementation of management programs of S. maydis.
Grapevine chemotherapy for elimination of multiple virus infection

Shoot apices and first axillary buds double infected by leafroll associated virus serotype 1 and vitivirus A, collected from grapevine plants variety Servant, were subjected to in vitro chemotherapy technique. Ribavirin of 80 μmol L -1 added in solid medium was used for 30-90 days followed by 1-3 subcultures on free-drug proliferating medium. The phytotoxic effect evaluated by micropropagation rate, microshoots differentiation and elongation process was observed in the exposure period, but its intensity decreased along with transfer to medium without viricide. Virus-free plants regeneration was assessed repeatedly by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, considering the type of ribavirin treated explant from which the new grapevine derived. The plants developed from shoot apices were found 33% negative for GVA but no GLRaV-1- free plant was identified. The plants originated from axillary buds were 100% GVA-free and 11% were GLRaV-1-free. In this case, ribavirin was not appropriate to eliminate the virus complex; low obtained percentage of healthy plants is due to synergistic activity of two viruses and, perhaps, to plant adaptation to multiple viral infection. Healthy plants were further investigated on the beneficial effect of viruses elimination, in terms of dynamics of shoots growth and wood maturation.
Tryptophane requirements of pigs between 28 and 56 days of age

Sixty-four male pigs between 28 and 56 days of age were fed ad libitum on diets based on maize and meat meal, supplemented with 0 - 0.8 g of L-tryptophanelkg of diet. It was found that the tryptophane requirement of pigs for maximum weight gain and feed conversion ratio was met by 1.64 - 1.67 g/kg of diet between 28 and 56 days of age. There was a linear increase in the retention of nitrogen by the pigs up to the highest level of dietary tryptophane fed in these experiments, viz. 1.67 g/kg of diet. The concentration of urea and tryptophane in the blood plasma suggest that the tryptophane requirement was met by 1.64 g/kg of diet.
Genotype-independent transformation of lettuce using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The genetic manipulation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) necessitates a reliable and efficient, genotype independent method of transformation. Thirteen let tuce cultivars have been assessed for their amenability to Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer linked to their tissue culture responsiveness, including callus induction and shoot regeneration. A reliable protocol has been developed for the routine production of transgenic plants for all 13 cultivars investigated.
TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOREX DISPAR AND S. GASPENSIS: INFERENCES FROM MITOCHONDRIAL DNA SEQUENCES

Abstract The long-tailed shrew (Sorex dispar) occurs at upper elevations on wooded slopes in the Appalachian Mountains from North Carolina to Quebec. Size in long-tailed shrews is clinal, decreasing from south to north. A closely related species is the slightly smaller Gaspé shrew (Sorex gaspensis), known primarily from the Appalachians farther north in the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. Long-tailed shrews captured in northern Maine appear to fit within the size range of the Gaspé shrew which brings up the question: are these specimens small bodied long-tailed shrews at the northern end of their range, Gaspé shrews at the southern edge of their range, or are the 2 species part of the same continuous distribution and, in fact, conspecific? A morphological comparison with other studies indicates that a continuous cline cannot be ruled out. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA d-loop sequences showed that S. gaspensis and S. dispar cluster with no taxonomic or geographic structure, suggesting that they are conspecific.
5'-Proximal cis-Acting RNA Signals for Coronavirus Genome Replication

RNA sequences and higher-order structures in the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs) of positive-strand RNA viruses are known to function as cis-acting elements for translation, replication, and transcription. In coronaviruses, these are best characterized in the group 2a bovine coronavirus (BCoV) and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), yet their precise mechanistic features are largely undefined. Here, we use a reverse genetics system in MHV to exploit the ~30% nt sequence divergence between BCoV and MHV to establish structure/function relationships of 5’ UTR cis-replication elements. It had been previously shown that a precise replacement of the 391-nt MHV 3’ UTR with the 288-nt BCoV 3’ UTR yields wt-like MHV. Our attempts to replace the 209-nt MHV 5’ UTR with the 210-nt BCoV 5’ UTR, however, yielded a non-viable chimera. Therefore, a systematic analysis of individual 5’-terminal structures was made to identify compatible elements. By placing each of four putative cis-acting domains from the BCoV 5’ UTR into the MHV genome, we learned that (i) stem-loops (SLs) I & II and SLIII are functionally compatible, (ii) SLIV is compatible if it spans parts of the 5’ UTR and the nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) cistron, thus identifying this part of ORF 1 as a component of the cis-replication signal, (iii) a relatively unstructured 32-nt region mapping between SLIII and SLIV defines a novel virus species-specific cis-replication element, (iv) spontaneous suppressor mutations within MHV SLI and nsp1 cistron compensated for growth defects arising from the BCoV 32-nt element in the MHV genome, (v) cross talk between the 32-nt element, SLI, and the nsp1 cistron appears essential for virus replication, (vi) the BCoV 5’ UTR and nsp1 cistron function together in the MHV genome to generate a wt-like MHV phenotype, and (vii) a functional 5’ UTR-nsp1 domain in group 2a coronaviruses cannot be substituted by the corresponding genomic element from the group 2b SARS-CoV. We postulate that the interaction between the 5’ UTR and nsp1 cistron (or possibly nsp1 protein) functions as a molecular switch between genome translation and ignition of negative-strand RNA synthesis.
Genetic variability in natural populations of Zeyheria montana mart. from the Brazilian Cerrado

Zeyheria montana, an endemic species of the Bignoniaceae family from the Brazilian Cerrado's known for its anti-cancer properties, is widely used as imuno stimulant in the popular medicine and its therapeutic activity must be validated by scientific data. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability of eight plant populations collected within the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) used as molecular markers. After an optimized protocol for the amplification reaction, nine selected primers generated 105 reproducible bands, indicating up to 60% polymorphism. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed higher genetic variation within populations (84.03%) than among populations (15.97%). The variation values estimated by φ ST (0.160) indicated moderate to high inter population structuration. Levels of similarity inter plants with genetic and geographical distances, estimated by the unweighted pair-group method analysis (UPGMA) clustering and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination methods and by the Mantel test (-0.2345 p = 0.118) denoted that the structure found follows the island model, which assumes that a single population of infinite size may have initiated the existing populations of Zeyheria montana, with no spatial position correlation. Based on the obtained data, a germplasm bank from individuals representing the species variability was established. Furthermore the information here reported can be of importance to develop strategies for the conservation of Z. montana.
In situ immobilization of metals in contaminated or naturally metal-rich soils

The chemical behaviour of metals is primarily governed by their retention and release reactions of solute with the soil matrix. Liming increased the soil pH, resulting in increased adsorption of Zn, Cu, and Cd in soils, which in consequence decreased the concentration of easily soluble Cd fraction in the soils and the uptake of this metal by wheat (Triticum aestivum) and carrots (Daucus carota). Metal adsorption also depended on the presence of clay and organic matter, and thus the soils having highest amounts of clay (e.g., alum shale) and (or) organic matter (e.g., peat soil) showed the highest adsorption for these metals. Among the materials (Fe and Mn oxides and aluminosilicates) having high binding capacity for metals, the immobilizing capacity of birnessite (MnO2) was higher than that of other materials. Addition of synthetic zeolites significantly reduced the metal uptake by plants. Application of zeolite to a soil resulted in increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in the leachate, .
Re‐growing a tropical dry forest: functional plant trait composition and community assembly during succession

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship; NSF CAREER Award; NSF ATB Award; Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Program (DiversiTraits project) [221060]; European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant Project 'Ecophysiological and biophysical constraints on domestication in crop plants ' [ERC-StG-2014-639706-CONSTRAINTS]
Deactivation of aquaporins decreases internal conductance to CO2 diffusion in tobacco leaves grown under long-term drought.

We compared the diffusion conductance to CO2 from the intercellular air space to the chloroplasts (internal conductance (g i)) between tobacco leaves acclimated to long-term drought (drought-acclimated (DA)) and those grown under sufficient irrigation (well-watered (WW)), and analysed the changes in g i in relation to the leaf anatomical characteristics and a possible CO2 transporter, aquaporin. The g i, which was estimated by combined analyses of CO2 gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence, in the DA plants was approximately half of that in the WW plants. The mesophyll and chloroplast surface areas exposing the intercellular air space, which potentially affect g i, were not significantly different between the WW and DA plants. The amounts of plasma membrane aquaporins (PIP), immunochemically determined using radish PIP antibodies, were unrelated to g i. After treatment with HgCl2, an aquaporin inhibitor, the water permeability of the leaf tissues (measured as the weight loss of fully-turgid leaf disks without the abaxial epidermis in 1 m sorbitol) in WW plants decreased with an increase in HgCl2 concentration. The g i in the WW plants decreased to similar levels to the DA plants when the detached leaflets were fed with 0.5 mm HgCl2. In contrast, both water permeability and g i were insensitive to HgCl2 treatments in DA plants. These results suggest that deactivation of aquaporins is responsible for the significant reduction in g i observed in plants growing under long-term drought.
Feed enzymes: The science, practice, and metabolic realities

SUMMARY The use of exogenous feed enzymes in poultry diets is becoming a norm to overcome the adverse effects of antinutritional factors and improve digestion of dietary components and bird performance. In this paper, an overview of the science behind the use of feed enzymes and the current status of enzyme technology is provided. Responses to enzyme supplementation are often variable and the reasons contributing to the observed variability are discussed. Though there are opportunities to enhance nutrient utilization with enzyme supplementation, there will be physiological limits to achievable responses. These limits are imposed by the pH and digesta retention time within the digestive tract. Nutritional strategies to, at least partly, overcome these limits need to be explored; potential approaches include feeding to restore functionality of crop and gizzard as well as the use of unconventionally high doses of enzymes. Anticipated future development of better forms of feed enzymes will also lower the physiological barriers.
Population Explosion of the hairy crazy ant, Paratrechina Pubens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Abstract The hairy crazy ant, Paratrechina pubens (Forel), is undergoing a population explosion on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Here, we evaluate the status of P. pubens on St. Croix. In 2002, residents of Calquohoun and surrounding areas in central St. Croix began reporting large infestations of P. pubens. In 2005 and 2006, we surveyed ants at >100 sites across St. Croix. We found 3 geographically discrete populations of P. pubens occupying ∼5% of the island: a main population centered on Calquohoun spread over ∼9 km2 and 2 smaller populations occupying <1 km2 each. Locals blamed P. pubens for crop damage due to high densities of plant-feeding Hemiptera that tended the ants. Surveys of trees in areas with and without P. pubens present indicated that P. pubens has a significant negative impact on arboreal-foraging ants. The distribution and chronology of P. pubens records on St. Croix suggest that this species is a recently arrived exotic. It is unknown whether P. pubens will become a more serious pest on St. Croix or whether populations will collapse to inconsequential levels.
Statistical Design of Portland cement Modified with Water Treatment Plant Sludge

One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied in this investigation to study the feasibility of modifying ordinary portland cement through Water treatment plant sludge (WTSP) addition. Cement pastes were obtained from mixtures of water treatment plant sludge (WTPS), calcined sludge and ordinary portland cement (OPC) using the standard water consistency. The variation in bulk density, apparent porosity, chemically combined water and compressive strength of the prepared samples were determined over time. In most cases the addition of sludge results in a decrease in apparent porosity (26.36 - 20.40) %, but an increase in chemically combined water (22.46- 29.35), bulk density (1.78 - 1.845) g/cm3 and compressive strength (21- 85) MPa with time. The results show a recognized improvement in densification parameters when using calcined sludge which recommend their use in cement manufacturing so one could expect better economical and environmental benefits. The data obtained were analyzed using a one-way (Analysis of Variance) ANOVA. The determinations were performed in triplicate (n= 3), mean ± standard deviation (SD) values were calculated. A comparison between the means of three different groups and four curing time was performed at 5% level of significance. The ANOVA results show that there are statistically significant difference in chemically combined water property between different combination groups whereas insignificant between the different curing times, for bulk density it shows significant difference between groups in curing times and insignificant difference in combination of groups and mechanical strength shows significant difference between group of curing times and insignificant difference in groups of combination finally for apparent porosity property we didn’t find any significant difference between groups for combination of groups and curing times for the hardened pastes.
Karakterisasi dan Identifikasi Bakteri Simbion Karang Goniastrea aspera Resisten terhadap Logam Berat Copper (Cu) dari P. Panjang, Jepara

Studi komunitas mikroba yang berasosiasi dengan karang Goniastrea aspera di P. Panjang, Jepara dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik mikrobial molekuler berbasis kultur dependen. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengisolasi, menyeleksi dan mengidentifikasi bakteri simbion karang yang resisten terhadap logam Cu. Pola toleransi terhadap logam Cu ketujuhbelas isolat dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode difusi agar. Isolat GN10 diseleksi untuk studi lebih lanjut karena memiliki karakter yang paling resisten terhadap logam Cu yang selanjutnya dikarakterisasi secara fisiologis dan molekuler. Analisis sekuen gen subunit kecil (SSU) rRNA menunjukkan bahwa isolat GN10 memiliki kekerabatan terdekat dengan Virgibacillus marismortui Strain 123 dengan derajat kesamaan 99%. Bakteri V. marismortui strain GN10 ini merupakan kandidat yang dapat digunakan sebagai indikator uji dan memiliki potensi di dalam penerapan bioteknologi dari bakteri yang resistan terhadap logam berat pada lingkungan laut yang tercemar maupun tidak tercemar. Kata kunci: resisten, Copper, Virgibacillus marismortui , MIC The microbial community associated with coral Goniastrea aspera from Panjang Island, Jepara waters was investigated using culture dependent molecular microbial techniques. The objectives on this study were to isolate, select and identify bacteria associated with coral Goniastrea aspera which resistant to heavy metal Copper (Cu). The tolerance patterns, expressed as MICs, for 17 coral bacteria to Cu heavy metal were surveyed by using an agar diffusion method. The most copper-resistant bacterium, GN10 isolat, was selected further to examine its molecular and physiological characteristics. Small-subunit rRNA gene-based analyses indicated that this bacterium was closely related to Virgibacillus marismortui strain 123 , with a high homology of 99%. This bacterium may serve as bioassay indicator organisms and may be potential for biotechnological applications for metal-resistant bacteria in polluted and non-polluted marine environments. Key words: resistant, Copper, Virgibacillus marismortui , MIC
ASPECTS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THREE SPECIES OF ECTOBIUS (DICTYOPTERA: BLATTIDAE)

Ootheca production is here investigated in three species of field‐dwelling cockroaches under both field and controlled conditions. Mating is shown to have a significant effect on the length of the pre‐oviposition and inter‐oviposition periods, fecundity, female longevity and the formation of the ootheca. The occurrence of facultative parthenogenesis is confirmed in Ectobius lapponicus and E. pallidus.
Sulfonylurea Herbicides Applied to Acidic Sandy Soils: Movement, Persistence and Activity Within the Growing Season

Chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron were applied to the surface of acidic, sandy loam at a low rainfall site in 1989 (129 mm June-October) and a high rainfall site in 1990 (217 mm July-August). Four environments were obtained by early and late application times and lime addition in 1989 and by a wetter site in 1990. The pH of the surface 10 cm was 4.9 in 1989, 5.8 in 1990 and 6.5 after the addition of limestone in 1989. The plots were left fallow or sown, prior to herbicide applications, to wheat (cv. Kulin). Hourly averages of rainfall, soil and air temperature were recorded. The temperature range was 2.7¦C to 23.2¦C. The soil profiles were sampled on 5 to 7 occasions and herbicide residues were determined by a laboratory bioassay (sensitivity >0.4 8g kg-1 soil). Chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron were detected to 300 mm in the wetter environment but neither herbicide was as mobile in the profile as water. More herbicide moved to the lower layers of the profile in the higher pH environment. The half-lives for residues ranged from 12 to 28 days. Shoot biomass of wheat seedlings was suppressed by both herbicides but grain yields were unaffected. The residues failed to prevent reinvasion of the wheat plots by weeds, notably Arctotheca calendula.
The incidence of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in the Faroese fishery and estimates of catches of wild salmon

Hansen, L. P., Jacobsen, J. A. , and Lund, R. A. 1999. The incidence of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. , in the Faroese fishery and estimates of catches of wild salmon. ‐ ICES Journal of Marine Science, 56: 200‐206. The proportion of Atlantic salmon escaped from fish farms and caught in the Faroese salmon fishery was estimated using scale analysis. Samples were obtained of fish landed in the commercial fishery from 1980/1981 to 1990/1991 fishing seasons and from research catches in the 1991/1992 to 1995/1996 seasons. The material collected was in some years limited to only part of the fishing season. The estimated proportion of farmed salmon in the fishery was relatively low from 1980/1981 to 1986/1987, but increased considerably thereafter, and reached a peak in the 1989/1990 fishing season when more than 40% of the catch was estimated to be of farmed origin. Later, the proportion declined, and in recent seasons the proportions of farmed salmon were estimated to be around 20%. These estimates were used to split the Faroese catch into wild and farmed components. It is concluded that if farmed components in salmon catches are not accounted for, catches of wild salmon will be overestimated and assessments of fisheries and stocks of wild salmon confounded. Furthermore, the increase observed in catch per unit of eVort (c.p.u.e.) in the 1980s and early 1990s might have been caused by an increasing abundance of farmed salmon. 1999 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Production and Immobilization of Alpha Amylase by Using Bacillus subtilis

The I±-amylase producing organisms were isolated from soil sample, such as Bacillus sp (2 isolates), Bacillus cereus (1 isolates), Bacillus subtilis (2 isolates) by basal medium and identified by standard biochemical test. The high yielding strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis and used for amylase production. Different Â parameters Â like temperature (10Â°C, room temperature (25Â°-30Â°C), 37Â°C & 55Â°C different pH (6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0) and incubation periods (1-5 days) were used for the I±-amylase production. The isolate was inoculated to the production medium and incubated, then it was centrifuged Â and the supernatant containing crude enzyme extract is used for protein estimation and activity. It was found that I±-amylase production and activity was high at 37Â°Cat pH 7.0 in 48 hours. The organism was grown in the optimum conditions mentioned above and the enzyme I±-amylase was immobilized by alginate gel entrapment method. From the organism the plasmid and the chromosomal DNA was isolated and detected.