Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variations in races of the honeybee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Kenya

The three races of the honeybee Apis mellifera Linnaeus in Kenya (A. m. scutellata, A. m. monticola and A. m. litorea) differ from each other with respect to size, cubital index and abdominal colour banding pattern. These differences were used to assess the extent of interbreeding and hybridization between the races. This was verified on the basis of selected morphometric traits. Bee samples were collected from traditional log hives in seven geographical locations throughout Kenya ranging from lowland Mombasa in the coastal region to the highland Kinangop ranges. The length and width of the right forewing, length of proboscis, right antenna and right hindleg were measured, and the cubital index was computed for each specimen. The bees were classified according to size and colour banding pattern. Data analysis indicated there was hybridization among the three races of A. mellifera in Kenya due to swarming and migration under seasonal pressure. RésuméLes trois races kényannes de l’abeille domestique Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (A. m. scutellata, A. m. monticola et A. m. litorea) diffèrent l’une de l’autre par la taille, l’index cubital et le patron de couleur des bandes abdominales. Ces différences ont été utilisées pour évaluer le niveau de croisement et d’hybridation entre les races à l’aide de caractéristiques morphométriques. Les échantillons d’abeilles ont été récoltés dans des ruches traditionnelles aménagées dans des bû ches dans sept localités géographiques du Kenya, du niveau de la mer à Mombasa jusque dans les hautes terres du Mt Kinangop. La longueur et la largeur de l’aile antérieure droite, les longueurs de la trompe, de l’antenne droite et de la patte postérieure ont été mesurées, et l’index cubital calculé, pour chaque spécimen. Les abeilles ont été classées en fonction de leur taille et du patron de couleur des bandes abdominales. L’analyse des données indique qu’il y a une hybridation entre les trois races d’A. mellifera du Kenya par suite d’essaimages et de migrations résultant de conditions saisonnières.
Direct evidence for the role of light-mediated gas vesicle collapse in the buoyancy regulation of Anabaena flos-aquae (cyanobacteria)

Quantitative measurements were made of the changes in gas vacuole volume and the major components of cell mass (protein and carbohydrate) on cultures of Anabaenaflos-aquae which lost buoyancy as they were shifted from low to high light intensity. Assuming densities of 1,300 kg. rn-’ for protein and 1,600 for carbohydrate, we calculated the change in ballast brought about by changes in these components and compared them with ballast changes resulting from gas vacuole collapse. We also compared the calculated excess density of filaments with direct measurements of filament density in gradients of Percoll. The results clearly demonstrated that increased density resulted from the loss of gas vacuoles. Small variations in density could be attributed to changes in protein and carbohydrate but these would not have caused a loss of buoyancy in the absence of a decrease in gas vacuole content. Analyses of the type described can be used to determine the cause of buoyancy change in other microorganisms and can be performed onOphytoplankton collected from lakes.
Introducing a fourth primate species to an established mixed‐species exhibit of African monkeys

Five red-capped mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus) were gradually introduced to an established mixed-species exhibit containing six black and white colobus, seven mandrills, and six sooty mangabeys. Interspecific interactions were documented throughout the 3-month introduction period and for an additional 3 months immediately thereafter. In addition, each species' behavior and exhibit use were documented before and after the addition of the fourth species. Minimal interactions were observed between the red-capped mangabeys and the colobus or mandrills, and neither species was significantly affected by this addition. Many affiliative and aggressive interactions and changes in behavior were documented in the sooty mangabeys. However, this study shows that even closely related allopatric species can coexist in a captive environment, and the animals can benefit from this association. Zoo Biol 23:95–108, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Biogeography of Camphorosmeae (Chenopodiaceae): tracking the Tertiary history of Australian aridification

Camphorosmeae (Chenopodiaceae, formerly Sclerolaeneae) are widespread across all states of Australia. Molecular data revealed that the Australian Camphorosmeae represent a monophyletic lineage comprising 147 currently recognised species, 145 of which are endemic to Australia. Like their Eurasian relatives most Australian Camphorosmeae are well-adapted to dry and saline environments, and most species are distributed in semi-arid or arid landscapes of the Eremaean area of central and western Australia. The historical biogeography of the Australian Camphorosmeae is analysed using an ETS phylogeny of the group and DIVA. We found that diversification of the tribe started at the end of the Miocene, and that radiation took place during the Pliocene, probably driven by the aridification of Australia during this time. Southern west Australia probably served as the ancestral area, and we hypothesise that the ancestors of Australian Camphorosmeae were already adapted to dry and saline conditions and might have been distributed in coastal or saline inland habitats. Successful dispersal and establishment of Camphorosmeae in the then newly developed arid regions was probably enhanced by niche pre-emption. Our timing of the radiation of this drought-adapted lineage and the directions of its dispersal support the hypothesis that the aridification of Australia started during the Late Miocene and arid areas expanded during the Pliocene from the west to the east and then north.
Sex and scale: implications for habitat selection by Alaskan moose Alces alces gigas

Abstract We examined the roles of sex and spatial scale in habitat selection by Alaskan moose Alces alces gigas. We GPS-collared 11 female and seven male adult moose in the Tongass National Forest, Alaska, USA, during 2002-2004. We predicted that adult male and female moose would be spatially separated outside of the mating season, consistent with hypotheses attributing sexual segregation among sexually dimorphic ruminants to allometric differences in body and gastrointestinal size, and resulting differential needs for nutrient requirements by the sexes (the gastrocentric hypothesis), and varying risks of predation (the predation hypothesis) between sexes, especially for females with young. We predicted that habitat selection would be similar between sexes during the mating season, but dissimilar and occur at different scales during periods of late gestation and lactation. We expected that during segregation, females would select for a higher percentage of forested cover and a higher edge density than males to reduce predation risk on their young. Furthermore, we examined whether differences in scale of habitat selected between the sexes was related to home-range size. Multi-response Permutation Procedures (MRPP) analysis indicated that the spatial distributions of adult males and females differed, particularly near or during parturition. The sexes selected habitats similarly during the mating season (rut), when sexes generally were aggregated, whereas sexes exhibited differential habitat selection during spring, when sexes were segregated. Habitat selection by both sexes was best explained by vegetation and landscape composition tabulated within 1,000-m radii centered on GPS locations of moose. The sexes did not differ in the scale at which they selected habitats. Mean size of the annual home range was 76 km2 for females and 125 km2 for males, but size of home range was not related to scale of habitat selection by moose. Our results indicate that females were likely selecting habitat with high-quality forage while minimizing predation risk during periods of sexual segregation, whereas males were selecting habitat that allowed high forage intake, which together provide support for both the gastrocentric and the predation hypotheses.
Evolution of morphological differences with moderate genetic correlations among traits as exemplified by two flycatcher species (Ficedula; Muscicapidae)

Abstract Theoretical work on multivariate evolution predicts that genetic correlations can act to constrain the rate at which new adaptive peaks are reached, but there is very limited empirical information available on this issue so far. To evaluate the importance of genetic correlations for evolutionary change, we studied the morphological differences between two flycatcher species ( Ficedula albicollis and F. hypoleuca ) using both univariate and multivariate quantitative genetic models. Comparison of the results obtained using these different models revealed that even relatively low genetic correlations between traits will considerably increase the net selection forces needed for evolutionary changes in morphology. In particular, the divergence in wing and tail length, which are positively genetically correlated, would require a considerable amount of antagonistic selection. Because of the genetic correlations, strong selection will be needed to retain certain traits unchanged while others are changing. Based on these results, we argue that it is unlikely that small morphological differences such as between these two species could have evolved during a short (200 years) time period, i.e. the period of sympatry of these species in Sweden. These findings support the hypothesis that even relatively low genetic correlations may constrain short-term adaptive evolution in natural populations.
Evaluación de métodos para desinfectar semillas de tomate contra cancro bacteriano (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis)

El cancro bacteriano es una enfermedad muy importante del tomate en Uruguay. Su agente causal, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) sobrevive en semillas y, dada su eficacia en diseminarse por agua, labores, etc., el uso de semilla infectada, aún en baja proporción, se traduce rápidamente en grandes pérdidas. Se recomiendan varios métodos de desinfección de semilla, pero su eficacia aún no se conoce en nuestras condiciones. En este trabajo se compararon: el baño con hipoclorito de sodio (1% de cloro activo, un minuto) y el baño en agua a 50 ºC, 25 minutos con y sin baño previo a 37 ºC, 10 minutos, frente a un testigo sin tratar. La semilla fue colectada de plantas enfermas (cultivares: Coral, 2006 y Acuario 2007 y 2008). Se realizaron nueve pruebas (aproximadamente 760 semillas por tratamiento). Se evaluaron: germinación y vigor de plántulas. Las plantas resultantes fueron cultivadas en sustrato estéril a 23 ºC y cuando alcanzaron 20 cm, se realizaron aislamientos de tallo en NAD. A las colonias similares a Cmm, se les efectuaron las pruebas: gram (método de KOH), hipersensibilidad en Mirabilis jalapa y DAS-ELISA. No se observaron efectos adversos en germinación o vigor de las plántulas. El porcentaje de plantas con detección de Cmm por DAS ELISA fue: 5,6 (testigo), 2,03 (agua 50 ºC), 1,0 (agua 50 ºC con baño previo) y 0,98 (hipoclorito de sodio). La detección de Cmm fue sensiblemente menor en los plantines de semilla desinfectada, confirmando el beneficio de esta medida en el manejo de la enfermedad.
Management and welfare needs of donkeys in the rural areas of Noushahro Feroze, Pakistan

In this study a concise review was provided, discussing the management of donkeys in the rural area of Naushahro Feroze Sindh Pakistan. In this area donkeys are commonly used for the transport ion of clay bricks, mud, and grain for grinding, manure from pens to field, crop harvests from fields to stores and market places, crop residues from fields to homesteads for storage, plowing and weeding, and it also as a means of transportation for people. Thus, the donkey is used more as a carting animal (transport) than for cultivation tasks (plowing and weeding). Need exists that, institutions should provide awareness for donkey care and health. There is also need to provide trainings to farmers on such subjects such as management, welfare, and healthcare etc.
Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of long-term cultured hybrid hazelnut

RAPD and phenotypic analysis were conducted to assess clonal stability of ha- zelnuts generated from axillary buds cultured in vitro for long-term. The nuts produced on in vitro-propagated plants were indistinguishable from those of donor plants. With the exception of rare horizontal (plagiotropic) growth, all in vitro-propagated plants exhibited phenotypes similar to those of donor plants. RAPD analysis did not reveal any somaclonal variation between donor plants from which in vitro cultures were initiated and micropropagated plants (6-year cultures), and no somaclonal variation was detected among in vitro-propagated plants. However, polymorphism (15.6%) was detected between the parent plant and its in vitro-propagated progenies (from seedlings). These results show a good discriminatory power of RAPD to detect polymorphism between samples where it is expected, and it can be effectively used for genetic assessment of micropropa- gated hazelnut. No evidence of genetic or epigenetic changes was observed in long-term cultured hazelnut, and thus long-term in vitro culture of hazelnut does not seem to limit its clonal propagation.
Neuroprotective effects of estratriene analogs: structure‐activity relationships and molecular optimization

Estrogens are neuroprotectants against a variety of insults, both in vitro and in vivo. Many of these insults involve an oxidative stress component and estrogens are known antioxidants. We (Green et al. [1997b] J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 63:229–235) and others (Behl et al. [1997] Mol Pharmacol 51:535–541; Moosmann and Behl [1999] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:8867–8872) have determined that the phenolic nature of the A‐ring of the estradiol molecule is essential for neuroprotection. We performed structure‐activity relationship studies using a library of estratriene compounds in well‐established in vitro models for neuroprotection. We tested over 70 compounds in HT‐22 (murine hippocampal) cells for their ability to inhibit cell toxicity against glutamate and iodoacetic acid, at two doses for each insult, and determined EC50 values to ascertain potency comparisons with 17β‐estradiol (E2). We verified that a phenolic A ring was essential for neuroprotection in these models. We also observed that hydrophobicity and planarity affects the ability of estratrienes to protect cells from oxidative stress. This neuroprotection correlated with their ability to inhibit iron‐induced lipid peroxidation in vitro. In contrast, the ability of these estratrienes to bind estrogen receptors was negatively correlated with their ability to protect cells from oxidative stress or inhibit lipid peroxidation. Drug Dev. Res. 66:78–92, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Character association and component analysis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Character association and component analysis studies in bread wheat germplasm were conducted under Rabi seasons of 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, in field experimentation centre of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding Allahabad Agriculture Institute-Deemed University, Allahabad. All the characters revealed high differences, high value of GCV and PCV in both years of Rabi seasons for seed yield per plant, effective tillers per plant and 1000 grain weight. Seed yield showed positive and significant correlation with effective tillers per plant, grains per spike, spike length and 1000 grain weight both at genotypic and phenotypic level in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 crop seasons. Seed yield per plant showed positive direct effect on effective tillers per plant, plant height, 1000 grain weight and days to maturity. Thus, these characters may be effective as selection indices during breeding programme for improving yield.
An Alternative Electron Transfer Pathway Mediated by Chloroplast Envelope

Localization of red ox active substance(s) in chloroplast envelopes was revealed by means of the oxidation of Cyt c by isolated outer and inner envelope preparations. Irradiated chloroplasts reduced extra-chloroplastic Cyt c probably by an envelope electron transfer chain. The rate was saturated at a level of about 10 /imol (mg Chi)"1 h"1 under weak light of 10/iEm~ 2s~1. Cytc photoreduction was inhibited by DCMU but not by 2,5-dibromo-3 -methyl-6-isopropyl-/»-benzoquinone (DBMIB) indicating that the plastoquinone site is the junction of photosyntheti c electron transfer chain to envelope redox substance. Complete suppression of the non-cyclic photophosphorylation of thylakoids by the presence of envelope membranes indicates that there is an alternative electron transfer pathway in envelope membranes that bypasses over the ApHforming plastoquinone shuttle in the photosynthetic electron transfer chain.
High pressure processing of garlic paste: effect on the quality attributes

Summary The effect of high pressure treatment and conventional thermal processing on the various quality attributes of garlic paste was evaluated in terms of physicochemical, enzymatic, sensory and microbiological parameters. Thermal treatment inactivated the polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzymes, whereas an enhanced activity was noted at 200 MPa which reduced significantly (P < 0.05) when treated with 400 and 600 MPa. Total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activities showed an increasing trend with increase in pressure, whereas thermal processing was found to significantly (P < 0.05) decrease these phytocompounds. The CIE (L*, a*, b*) values were found to be better retained in high pressure-processed pastes compared with thermally treated one. The microbial counts in terms of total plate count, yeast and mould count as well as total coliform counts were reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in both the treatments. Sensory attributes were found to be better in the case of high pressure-processed samples as compared to the thermally treated one.
Genetic Analysis of Grain Yield and Starch Content in Nine Maize Populations

The objective of this study was to estimate main genetic effects including digenic non-allelic epistasis for yield and starch content in grain by generation mean analysis performed in 9 maize populations (biparental crosses) and their subsequent 6 generations (2 parental, F1 and F2, and 2 backcrosses). The estimated additive-dominance model of inheritance was, due to epistasis, only partially successful in explaining inheritance model for investigated traits and crosses. The additive-dominance model was adequate at 6 crosses for grain yield and 3 crosses for starch content. A digenic epistatic model was sufficient to explain the inheritance model at 6 crosses for grain starch content. The obtained estimations of genetic effects showed varying importance of genetic effects among the investigated crosses and traits. Due to heterosis, the dominance effects appeared to be prevailing in most crosses for yield. These results indicate that adequacy of certain models of inheritance as well as importance of genetic effects for certain traits was dependant upon the particular cross, stressing the importance of the selection of parental genotypes for the success of breeding programmes.
Molecular marker based adulteration detection in traded food and agricultural commodities of plant origin with special reference to spices.

Plant foods and agricultural commodities including spices are increasingly subjected to adulteration by design or default, jeopardizing the age old reputation of some of the famous traded commodities and incurring heavy loss to the exchequer. The adulterants range from synthetic chemicals and earthy materials to products of plant origin. Though conventional analytical tools have good resolution power to detect the synthetic adulterants of food and agricultural commodities, these methods are hardly powerful enough to identify the biological adulterants. DNA based methods have application in biological adulterant detection and authentication of a wide range of food and agricultural commodities. This review lists some of the adulterants in powdered black pepper, chilli and turmeric and their detection with special reference to selected molecular markers (RAPD and SCAR).
Cavity Number and Use by Other Species as Correlates of Group Size in Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers

Abstract I examined cavity number and use by other species as correlates of Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) group size at Camp Blanding Training Site (CBTS) and Goethe State Forest (GSF), Florida. Group size was positively correlated with cavity number at CBTS but not at GSF. Other species occupied 1.75 (34%) and 1.19 (27%) cavities/territory at CBTS and GSF, respectively. Statistically controlling for use by other species yielded significant positive correlations between group size and cavity number in 4 of 5 years at CBTS and 2 of 4 years at GSF. Correlations between group size and total use by other species, controlling cavity number, were significantly negative at both sites. Separating total use by species, group size was negatively correlated only with southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) at CBTS and only with Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) at GSF, as flying squirrels occupied >3 times more cavities/territory at CBTS than at GSF (0.87 vs. 0.28) while Red-bellied Woodpeckers occupied ∼0.75 cavities/territory at both sites. Flying squirrels may obscure the relationship between the two woodpecker species by limiting their cavity use.
Rapid and sensitive detection of iridovirus by loop- mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)

Red seabream iridovirus (RSIV), a member of the Iridoviridae family, is the causative pathogen of some of the most explosive epidemics of emerging viral diseases in many Asian countries, leading to huge economic losses in aquaculture. Rapid molecular detection for surveillance or diagnosis has been a critical component in reducing the prevalence of RSIV infection. In the present study, a novel and highly specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the sensitive and rapid detection of RSIV infection in fishes was developed. Using a set of synthesized primers matching a specific region of the RSIV genome (GenBank accession no.: AB666336.1), the efficiency and specificity of the LAMP assay were optimized in terms of the reaction temperature and DNA polymerase concentration, as they are the main determinants of the sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay. In particular, we demonstrated that our assay could be applied to efficiently detect RSIV infection in red sea bream. Our results provide a simple and convenient method for the detection of viral infection in aquatic organisms. Key words: Red sea bream, Iridovirus, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).