Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Introduced Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on Native Plant Communities of the Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia

Abstract: Recent experiments suggest that introduced, non-migratory Canada geese (Branta canadensis) may be facilitating the spread of exotic grasses and decline of native plant species abundance on small islets in the Georgia Basin, British Columbia, which otherwise harbour outstanding examples of threatened maritime meadow ecosystems. We examined this idea by testing if the presence of geese predicted the abundance of exotic grasses and native competitors at 2 spatial scales on 39 islands distributed throughout the Southern Gulf and San Juan Islands of Canada and the United States, respectively. At the plot level, we found significant positive relationships between the percent cover of goose feces and exotic annual grasses. However, this trend was absent at the scale of whole islands. Because rapid population expansion of introduced geese in the region only began in the 1980s, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the deleterious effects of geese on the cover of exotic annual grasses have yet to proceed beyond the local scale, and that a window of opportunity now exists in which to implement management strategies to curtail this emerging threat to native ecosystems. Research is now needed to test if the removal of geese results in the decline of exotic annual grasses.
Determination of Chemical Composition and Ant-nutritive Components for Tanzanian Locally Available Poultry Feed Ingredients

Information on nutritive value of locally available feed ingredients is scarce, therefore chemical composition, TAA, ANF and OSI for eleven feed ingredients commonly used in Tanzania were determined. Standard AOAC Official Methods were performed at the US headquarters of Novus International, Inc. The ingredients were cereals/byproducts (BR, RS, WS1, WS2 and MB), leaf meals (MOLM, GLM and LLM) and oil seed meals/by products (SBM, SCM and CSM). Significant differences for CP, NDF, ADF, minerals, TAA and ANF were observed between nutrient groups. Apart from energy most of the chemical components were lower in cereals; CP and TAA were highest in SBM. CSM contained the highest fat content (35.82%) with high oleic (22.63%) and linoleic (50.59%). The observed chemical differences between (BR and MB) were probably due to their differences in physical composition. Low levels (Ca, Na and P) and EAA were noted in all groups emphasizing the need of using synthetic sources during feed formulation. Total phenols and tannins were (7.71-7.26%) and (2.55-1.02%) for GLM and RS, respectively, but negligible in other feed ingredients. Both HCN and OSI were highest in leaf meals but negligible in other feed ingredients. The chemical composition of ingredients obtained in this study was comparable to values reported elsewhere. This means that optimum diets for livestock can be formulated using ingredient values from established tables and other sources. The present results show that feed ingredients of plant origin vary in their chemical composition therefore they complement each other when used in mixtures of animal diets.
Aspects physiologiques et physiopathologiques du contrôle de la lipolyse et de la mobilisation des lipides par les peptides natriurétiques

Nous avons montre que les peptides natriuretiques (PN) exercent un puissant effet lipolytique specifiquement dans les adipocytes de l'Homme et des Primates. Au niveau cellulaire, leur effet implique la stimulation de recepteurs specifiques des peptides natriuretiques de type A de la membrane plasmique, la production de GMPc et l'activation de la proteine kinase GMPcdependante I, mediateur de la phosphorylation de la lipase hormono-sensible et de la stimulation de la lipolyse. Une perfusion locale d'ANP ( Atrial Natriuretic Peptide ), in situ dans le tissu adipeux sous-cutane via une sonde de microdialyse, augmente la lipolyse et le flux sanguin local chez des sujets de poids normal. Cet effet est altere chez des individus en surpoids et restaure par un entrainement en endurance. L'ANP stimule la mobilisation des lipides au cours d'exercices d'endurance. L'administration d'un -bloquant avant l'exercice potentialise paradoxalement cet effet en raison d'une majoration des niveaux circulants d'ANP. Aucune difference sexuelle dans la reponse lipolytique de l'ANP n'a ete observee au cours d'un exercice. Une injection intraveineuse d'ANP a dose physiologique induit une mobilisation des lipides. Des concentrations plus fortes d'ANP, telles qu'observees au cours de l'insuffisance cardiaque, stimulent l'oxydation des lipides. L'insuffisance cardiaque s'accompagne d'une elevation chronique et soutenue des taux circulants de PN qui pourrait favoriser l'evolution vers la cachexie. Au contraire, une correlation inverse entre les niveaux circulants de PN et l'indice de masse corporelle apparait chez des sujets obeses. La base moleculaire de cette correlation n'a pas ete fonctionnellement demontree. Des etudes complementaires sont necessaires pour evaluer clairement le role physiopathologique des PN dans l'obesite et l'insuffisance cardiaque.
A method for deriving net primary productivity and component respiratory fluxes from tower‐based eddy covariance data: a case study using a 17‐year data record from a Douglas‐fir chronosequence

Conventional gap‐filling procedures for eddy covariance (EC) data are limited to calculating ecosystem respiration (RE) and gross ecosystem productivity (PG) as well as missing values of net ecosystem productivity (FNEP). We develop additional postprocessing steps that estimate net primary productivity (PN), autotrophic (Ra), and heterotrophic respiration (Rh). This is based on conservation of mass of carbon (C), Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, and three ratios: C use efficiency (CUE, PN to PG), Ra to RE, and FNEP to RE. This procedure, along with the estimation of FNEP, RE, and PG, was applied to a Douglas‐fir dominated chronosequence on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The EC data set consists of 17 site years from three sites: initiation (HDF00), pole/sapling (HDF88), and near mature (DF49), with stand ages from 1 to 56 years. Analysis focuses on annual C flux totals and C balance ratios as a function of stand age, assuming a rotation age of 56 years. All six C balance terms generally increased with stand age. Average annual PN by stand was 213, 750, and 1261 g C m−2 yr−1 for HDF00, HDF88, and DF49, respectively. The canopy compensation point, the year when the chronosequence switched from a source to a sink of C, occurred at stand age ca. 20 years. HDF00 and HDF88 were strong and moderate sources (FNEP=−581 and −138 g C m−2 yr−1), respectively, while DF49 was a moderate sink (FNEP=294 g C m−2 yr−1) for C. Differences between sites were greater than interannual variation (IAV) within sites and highlighted the importance of age‐related effects in C cycling. The validity of the approach is discussed using a sensitivity analysis, a comparison with growth and yield estimates from the same chronosequence, and an intercomparison with other chronosequences.
Equações do NRC (2001) para predição do valor energético de co-produtos da agroindústria no nordeste brasileiro

Fractions of carbohydrates and protein, and energy value estimative based in NRC (2001) equations, of agroindustry byproducts of cashew, passion fruit, melon, anatto seeds, pineapple and barbados cherry were evaluated. NRC (2001) equations were used to predict the energy value of the passion fruit, pineapple and barbados cherry using “in vivo” data. Carbohydrates fraction A + B1 ranged from 20.00 to 52.21% of the total carbohydrates, for melon and anatto seeds, respectively. Cashew and barbados cherry presented close values for the fraction B2 (11.88 and 14.25%) and C (52.69 and 59.45%) and, approximately three times lower of fraction B2 than the passion fruit and the pineapple (47.93 and 45.38%). It was concluded that the analyses of the fractions of carbohydrates and protein should be a laboratorial routine, since it consists in a simple analysis, inexpensive and allows the establishment of mechanicists parameters for feed evaluations. The observed values of TDN of ingredients and those predicted by NRC (2001) equations were similar, being appropriate to predict the energy value of feeds in Brazilian conditions.
Divergent mechanisms for water conservation in Drosophila species

The role of melanization and cuticular lipids in water conservation has been studied in many Drosophila species (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Nevertheless, a comparative approach to larval and adult stages of ecologically diverse, wild Drosophila species is still required. Based upon abdominal cuticular melanization patterns, wild‐caught Drosophila species were categorized as (1) melanic, (2) fixed‐melanic, or (3) non‐melanic. At the interspecific level, the ecological significance of melanization and cuticular lipids was determined by the inverse association of melanization and cuticular water loss in melanic species, and of cuticular lipids and cuticular water loss in fixed‐melanic and non‐melanic species. Interestingly, higher amounts of cuticular lipids were also evident in fixed as well as non‐melanic species, as compared to melanic species at larval stages, which is consistent with their differences in reduced water loss rates. Moreover, fixed‐melanic and non‐melanic species exhibited comparatively higher (ca. 1.8–2.0 fold) desiccation resistance. Thus, cuticular lipids provide a better waterproofing mechanism than melanization. Furthermore, acclimation to dehydration stress in adults improved desiccation resistance in melanic species, whereas such effects were lacking in fixed‐melanic and non‐melanic species. However, there were no changes in cuticular components as a consequence of desiccation acclimation. Thus, our results indicate that melanic, fixed‐melanic, and non‐melanic Drosophila species differ in the evolved physiological mechanisms of water conservation to adapt to dry conditions.
ULTRAVIOLET BEAK SPOTS IN KING AND EMPEROR PENGUINS

Abstract In seabirds, colors of feathers and external tissues have only recently been studied, and ultraviolet (UV) color has not yet been detected. Using live individuals as well as museum skins, we found UV peaks of reflectance in two large Aptenodytes species, King (A. patagonicus) and Emperor (A. forsteri) Penguins. UV reflectance did not occur on the feathers, claws, or skin of these species, nor did we find UV reflectance in five other genera of penguins (11 species). UV peaks overlapped with spots of color on the lower beak that appeared orange for human observers, and beak spots differed slightly in location between the two species. Adults of both sexes possessed these UV markings, but they were lacking in juveniles, as was the orange color of the beak spot, and auricular patches used for selecting mates. Finally, measurements of free-ranging King Penguins showed that recently paired birds had higher UV reflectance than courting ones, suggesting possible roles of UV beak spots in pairing and as an indicator of sexual maturity. Manchas Ultravioleta en el Pico de los Pingüinos Aptenodytes patagonicus y A. forsteri Resumen. En las aves marinas, los colores de las plumas y los tejidos externos sólo han sido estudiados recientemente, y el color ultravioleta (UV) todavía no se ha detectado. En individuos vivos así como en pieles de museo, nosotros encontramos picos de reflectancia UV en dos especies de pingüinos, Aptenodytes patagonicus y A. forsteri. El color UV no se encontró en las plumas, las garras o la piel de estas especies, ni encontramos color UV en otros cinco géneros de pingüinos (11 especies). Los puntos UV se encontraban superpuestos con manchas de color ubicadas en la parte baja del pico que parecían anaranjadas para los observadores humanos. Las manchas del pico difirieron levemente en forma y localización entre las dos especies. Los adultos de ambos sexos presentaron las manchas UV, pero éstas no estaban presentes en los juveniles, al igual que el color anaranjado de la mancha del pico y los parches auriculares empleados en la selección de parejas. Medidas tomadas en individuos libres de la especie A. patagonicus demostraron que los que se habían apareado recientemente tenían presentaban reflectancias de UV mayores que las de aquellos que aún estaban cortejando, lo que sugiere un posible papel de las manchas UV del pico en el apareamiento y como indicadoras de la madurez sexual.
Heterorhabditis sp. not attracted to synthetic (E)‐β‐caryophyllene, a volatile emitted by roots upon feeding by corn rootworm

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a destructive pest of maize, Zea mays L. in North America and Europe. Larvae and pupae can be controlled with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) of the genus Heterorhabditis. When maize is attacked by WCR, the roots of some maize varieties emit (E)‐β‐caryophyllene that attract EPN to the pest larvae. To use synthetic (E)‐β‐caryophyllene in bioassays for the genetic selection of EPN strains with enhanced chemotactic response to a volatile emitted from the damaged root when attacked by larvae of the WCR, different laboratory bioassays were tested. Three sand assays and one agar assay used synthetic (E)‐β‐caryophyllene as an attractant for H. megidis. In none of the assays, attraction of the nematodes to (E)‐β‐caryophyllene was recorded. Possible reasons why (E)‐β‐caryophyllene was not attracting EPN in the bioassays are discussed.
Effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae against immature stages of Anastrepha fraterculus fruitfly (Diptera : Tephritidae)

The study evaluated the effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (Hyphomycetes : Moniliales) strain E9, isolated from the pasture spittlebug Deois flavopicta (Hemiptera : Cercopidae), against larvae, prepupae and pupae stage and emergent adults of Anastrepha fraterculus, the South American fruitfly. The bioassay was carried out simulating field conditions, on autoclaved (AS) and non-autoclaved (NAS) soil from typical citrus orchards in the State of Sao Paulo, Southeastern region of Brazil. Various concentrations of conidia were incorporated into the soil the mortality, calculated based on the percentage of adult emergence, was 86% for the highest conidia concentrations: 2.52 x 1010 for AS and 2.52 x 1010 for NAS. The lethal concentration (LC50), expressed as conidia concentration, was 8.44 x 109 conidia/g of soil (S) for AS and 12.23 x 109 conidia/g of soil for NAS.
MethylMeter(r): A Quantitative, Sensitive, and Bisulfite-Free Method for Analysis of DNA Methylation

In this chapter we present a new bisulfite-free method to detect and quantify DNA methylation and its application to the detection of imprinting disorders such as Prader-Willi (PWS) and Angelman (AS) syndromes. The method, called MethylMeter®, combines affinity separation of methylated and unmethylated DNA with CAPTM (Coupled Abscription®PCR), a new quantitative and sensitive signal generation process. In order to validate MethylMeter®, we analyzed samples from 54 patients diagnosed with Prader-Willi or Angelman syndromes, as well as samples from normal patients. Results were compared to the results obtained previously on these samples using bisulfite-based TaqMan® Methylation-Specific PCR (MS-PCR). Methylation detection with CAP was as accurate as with TaqMan, but was approximately 2000 times more sensitive. Methylated DNA was separated from unmethylated DNA with the use of magnetic beads bearing a new methylCpG binding domain protein. The amount of the normally imprinted SNRPN promoter region present in the bound and unbound fractions was used to determine the relative amounts of methylated and unmethylated SNRPN promoter in the sample. The results were 100% concordant with previous results generated with MS-PCR, but significantly less patient DNA and time were required to obtain results, which are more quantitative than MS-PCR. CAP based detection can be accomplished without fluorescent probes and in fewer cycles than with other PCR methods. Because methylated DNA is detected based on purification of methylated DNA, rather than on chemical conversion of unmethylated DNA, the disadvantages of bisulfite treatment are avoided. DNA is not degraded allowing analysis of samples as small as 1 ng. CAP primer development is not limited by the effects of reduced sequence complexity or a requirement to overlap primers with CpG sites in the target DNA.
Alternative Testing Methods - Reproductive Toxicity

Reproductive toxicity refers to the adverse effects of a substance on any aspect of the reproductive cycle. There are different conventional animal tests for assessing reproductive toxicity like the prenatal developmental toxicity study, the 1-generation study, the 2-generation study, and the repeat-dose toxicity study. Now a days there has been a considerable increase in the number of in vivo screening tests to detect so-called endocrine disruptors, which could replace reproductive toxicity testing procedures using animals and would substantially reduce the number of animals used for biomedical testing. There are many other alternative methods for reproductive toxicity testing, including the micromass (MM) assay, the whole embryo culture (WEC) assay, the embryonic stem cell test (EST), and the frog embryo teratogenesis assay—Xenopus (FETAX) assay. Brown (1) has already stated that “It is important that these new strategies (embryonic approaches) are not bedevilled by naive expectations, particularly in the early stages of their use. The V word (validation) should be locked away, in favor of ‘profiling’, in which we ask ‘Can this chemical affect this particular pathway’? ” Moreover, he predicts that “Once answers are available for many chemicals and pathways, patterns of response will be assembled, and these may allow the prediction of some types of developmental toxicity. ” It is also not possible to model the whole of the reproductive cycle in vitro with one approach. The parts of the system need to be studied individually and then integrated into a testing strategy. It will take time to develop and validate a battery of alternative tests that can cover the various aspects of the reproductive cycle, and so animal tests will continue to be required for the foreseeable future, at least for certain aspects of reproductive toxicity testing.
Three mass strandings of sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus ) in southern Australian waters

One hundred and fifteen sperm whales (97 female, 15 male, 3 unknown sex) were involved in three mass stranding events during the month of February 1998 along the west and northwest coastlines of Tasmania, Australia. Sixty-six of these whales stranded at Ocean Beach, Strahan; 35 at Greens Beach, Marrawah; and 11 at Black River Beach, Stanley. The remaining whales stranded singly along the coastline. Three mass strandings of this species in such close temporal proximity have not been reported in this area before, and this is the first time that data have been comprehensively collected from complete or near-complete groups of sperm whales from Tasmanian waters. Adult females dominated the three stranding groups. Total lengths ranged from 417 to 1,200 cm and ages ranged from 0.75 to 64 yr. Four females were lactating and four fetuses were found amongst the groups. Stomach contents were dominated by pelagic cephalopods.
Effects of Tide Stage on the Use of Salt Marshes by Wading Birds in Rhode Island

Abstract Salt marshes provide important foraging habitats for wading birds (Ardeidae), and it has been suggested that the lack of suitable marsh habitats can limit the size of wading bird populations. It is therefore important to be able to accurately assess wading bird use of salt marshes over multiple spatial and temporal scales. The goal of this study was to determine how wading bird utilization of Narragansett Bay, RI salt marshes is affected by changing tide levels. Bird surveys were conducted across the tidal range at three different marshes. Wading birds foraged over much of the tidal cycle, but reverted to increased loafing during mid-tides when shallow foraging habitats were limited. Birds foraged in increasingly deeper water at higher tide stages rather than seeking out consistently shallow water over the tidal period. At Round Marsh, the primary study site, bird abundances were significantly related to tidal stages, but different patterns were observed at two additional sites. Wading bird abundance appears to depend on the availability of habitats that provide shallow foraging areas across tidal stages. Results from this study can be used to improve wading bird monitoring protocols and field studies on wading birds in salt marshes by ensuring that tidal stage is accounted for.
An initial assessment of genetic relationships among populations of Fusarium circinatum in different parts of the world

Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell, the fungus responsible for pitch canker disease, is a destruc- tive pathogen of Pinus spp. Pitch canker was first described in 1946 in the southeastern United States, and since 1987 has been reported in numerous other locations including California, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa. To make a pre- liminary assessment of relationships between populations of F. circinatum in these different locations, we compared al- lele and genotype frequencies based on eight polymorphic regions of DNA from 76 isolates of the fungus. Patterns of relatedness indicate that the California and Japanese populations of the fungus share lineages with the southeastern U.S.A. population. Genetic diversity is highest in Mexico, implicating it as the center of origin for the fungus. The as - sociation of multiple vegetative compatibility groups with a common multilocus genotype suggests that vegetative com- patible group diversity may be generated by mutation, rather than through recombination resulting from sexual reproduction. Resume :L eFusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell, champignon responsable du chancre poisseux, cause une maladie grave chez les Pinus spp. Le chancre poisseux a ete decrit pour la premiere fois en 1946 dans le sud-est des Etats-Unis, et a ete rapporte dans de nombreuses autres localites depuis 1987, incluant la Californie, le Mexique, le Ja- pon et l'Afrique du Sud. Afin d'effectuer une evaluation preliminaire des relations qui existent entre les populations du F. circinatum, dans ces differentes localites, les auteurs ont compare les frequences alleliques et phenotypiques basees sur des regions polymorphes de l'ADN provenant de 76 isolats du champignon. Les patrons de rapprochement indi- quent que les populations de la Californie et du Japon, de ce champignon, ont des lignees en commun avec celles du sud-est des Etats-Unis. La diversite genetique est plus elevee au Mexique ce qui en fait le foyer d'origine du champi- gnon. L'association de nombreux groupes de compatibilite vegetative possedant un genotype multiloculaire commun suggere que la diversite des groupes de compatibilite vegetative puisse etre generee par mutation, plutot que par recom- binaison d'origine sexuelle. Mots cles : soustraction genomique, maladie des arbres, distance genetique. (Traduit par la Redaction) Wikler and Gordon 717
Agents zoonotiques vectorisés étudiés à l’institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection

Medical entomology is dedicated to the study of arthropods that are involved with human health but also animal health as many zoonotic diseases have been emerging all around the world for the past few years. We hereby introduce some research fields developed by the Medical Entomology team of the University Hospital Institute Mediterranee Infection, illustrated with recent or emblematic studies: technical innovation for identification of arthropods, the use of arthropods as epidemiological or diagnostic tool, entomological investigations around clinical cases and the development of experimental models for a better understanding of interactions between arthropods, humans and microorganisms.