Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ISOLATION OF AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT OF WILD BOAR: PATHOLOGIC IMPLICATIONS

Aeromonas hydrophila has been repeatedly reported as an animal pathogen. This study describes a case of a wild boar piglet in Spain with severe purulent pneumonia caused by A. hydrophila. To confirm the presence of A. hydrophila in the respiratory tract of wild boars from the same region, lung samples from 34 adult hunted animals and nasal samples from 12 live animals were collected and cultured in selective medium. Lung lesions were studied in hunted wild boars to determine the presence of A. hydrophila and to assess its role as a possible respiratory pathogen in wild boars. A. hydrophila was isolated in 10.87% of the animals studied (8.82% of the dead animals and 16% of the live animals). However, its presence in the lungs of adults could not be correlated with the lesions found. Thus, the role of A. hydrophila as a respiratory pathogen is likely to be influenced by other factors, such as age, immunologic status, or coinfection with other pathogens. As a zoonotic pathogen, the presence of A. hydrophila in wild boars may pose a potential risk to people who consume their flesh.
CONGENITAL BILIARY TRACT MALFORMATION RESEMBLING BILIARY CYSTADENOMA IN A CAPTIVE JUVENILE AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA LEO)

A captive 3-mo-old white African lion (Panthera leo) presented with clinical signs of acute pain and a distended abdomen. Despite emergency treatment, the lion died a few hours after presentation. Postmortem examination revealed gross changes in the liver, spleen, and lungs and an anomalous cystic structure in the bile duct. Histologic examination identified severe generalized multifocal to coalescent necrotizing and neutrophilic hepatitis, neutrophilic splenitis, and mild interstitial pneumonia, consistent with bacterial septicemia. The abnormal biliary structures resembled biliary cystadenoma. However, due to the age of the animal, they were presumed to be congenital in origin. Biliary tract anomalies and cystadenomas have been reported previously in adult lions, and this case suggests that at least some of these examples may have a congenital basis. It is unclear whether the lesion was an underlying factor in the development of hepatitis.
Changes in the abundance, composition and species richness of mountain vegetation in relation to summer grazing by reindeer

Abstract Question: How do reduced levels of summer grazing by reindeer affect the abundance, composition and species richness of mountain plant communities? Location: Arctic-alpine mountain vegetation 700–850 m a.s. l. , Saana Conservation Area, northwestern Finnish Lapland. Methods: Permanent plots were established in 1990 and resampled in 1999 or 2001. The number of reindeer had considerably declined from the 1980s to the 1990s and we followed the recovery of vegetation. The comparisons between 1990 and 1999/2001 were made at seven sites differing in their original grazing pressure. Results: At the initially heavily grazed sites, lichen abundances increased, but at the lightly grazed sites the abundances of lichens decreased. Graminoids declined at all sites, but the change seemed to be greatest at the most heavily grazed sites. Forbs increased slightly across all sites. At the species level, lichens and graminoids responded most notably to the reduction of grazing pressure. Individual species responses in shrubs were variable and among forbs, typical species of species-rich Dryas heaths increased. Total species richness increased at all sites and the change was greater at heavily grazed sites. This increase resulted mainly from increased bryophyte and lichen species richness but also from a slight increase in vascular plant species richness. Conclusions: These results suggest that lichens are the group most responsive to the reduction of heavy summer grazing by reindeer and that lichens and forbs typical in arctic-alpine Dryas heaths are favoured over graminoids under reduced grazing. Heavy grazing decreases overall species richness with the most pronounced effects on bryophyte and lichen species richness. The results support the hypothesis that heavy summer grazing may shift the composition of mountain plant communities towards that of grasslands and show how this shift may be reversed under reduced grazing. Nomenclature: Hämet-Ahti et al. (1998) for vascular plants; Vitikainen et al. (1997) for lichens and Söderström & Hedenäs (1998) for bryophytes.
Ulcerative Enteritis-Like Disease Associated With Clostridium Perfringens Type A In Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

H.L. SHIVAPRASAD,* FRANCISCO UZAL, RANDY KOKKA, DEREK J. FISHER, BRUCE A. MCCLANE, AND A. GLENN SONGER California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Fresno Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 93725, U.S.A. California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, San Bernardino Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 92412, U.S.A. Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, U.S.A. Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, U.S.A.
CYSTINE UROLITHIASIS IN A CARACAL (CARACAL CARACAL)

In July 2009, a 14-yr-old male caracal (Caracal caracal) at the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa was found, on abdominal ultrasound, to have a single large cystolith. The cystolith was removed, and the composition was determined to be 100% cystine. Blood and urine samples were also collected from three other apparently healthy caracals at the zoo and were submitted, together with the samples from the affected animal, for analysis using gas chromatograph mass spectrometry for cystine, lysine, alanine, and ornithine levels. The cystine levels in the urine, the fractional excretion of cystine, and the normalized excretion of cystine (lmol/g of creatinine) were all higher in the affected caracal than in the healthy animals. Only a single other case of cystine urolithiasis has been previously reported in any wild felid in the literature.
PREDICTING NUCLEAR GENE COALESCENCE FROM MITOCHONDRIAL DATA: THE THREE-TIMES RULE

Abstract Coalescence theory predicts when genetic drift at nuclear loci will result in fixation of sequence differences to produce monophyletic gene trees. However, the theory is difficult to apply to particular taxa because it hinges on genetically effective population size, which is generally unknown. Neutral theory also predicts that evolution of monophyly will be four times slower in nuclear than in mitochondrial genes primarily because genetic drift is slower at nuclear loci. Variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within and between species has been studied extensively, but can these mtDNA data be used to predict coalescence in nuclear loci? Comparison of neutral theories of coalescence of mitochondrial and nuclear loci suggests a simple rule of thumb. The “three-times rule” states that, on average, most nuclear loci will be monophyletic when the branch length leading to the mtDNA sequences of a species is three times longer than the average mtDNA sequence diversity observed within that species. A test using mitochondrial and nuclear intron data from seven species of whales and dolphins suggests general agreement with predictions of the three-times rule. We define the coalescence ratio as the mitochondrial branch length for a species divided by intraspecific mtDNA diversity. We show that species with high coalescence ratios show nuclear monophyly, whereas species with low ratios have polyphyletic nuclear gene trees. As expected, species with intermediate coalescence ratios show a variety of patterns. Especially at very high or low coalescence ratios, the three-times rule predicts nuclear gene patterns that can help detect the action of selection. The three-times rule may be useful as an empirical benchmark for evaluating evolutionary processes occurring at multiple loci. Corresponding Editor: J. Neigel
NASAL MASS REMOVAL IN THE KOALA (PHASCOLARCTOS CINEREUS)

Nasal masses in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) are not uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Differential diagnoses for nasal masses in the koala are cryptococcal granulomas, nasal polyps, nasal adenocarcinoma, and osteochondromatosis. This report describes successful surgical approaches for two adult koalas with nasal masses and includes photodocumentation and description of the anatomy of the koala nasal passages from the postmortem transverse sectioning of a normal koala head. Surgical removal of the nasal masses in these koalas resulted in a rapid resolution of clinical signs.
Aerodynamics and Energetics of Intermittent Flight in Birds1

Abstract Hypotheses explaining the use of intermittent bounding and undulating flight modes in birds are considered. Existing theoretical models of intermittent flight have assumed that the animal flies at a constant speed throughout. They predict that mean mechanical power in undulating (flap-gliding) flight is reduced compared to steady flight over a broad range of speeds, but is reduced in bounding flight only at very high flight speeds. Lift generated by the bird's body or tail has a small effect on power, but is insufficient to explain observations of bounding at intermediate flight speeds. Measurements on starlings Sturnus vulgaris in undulating flight in a wind tunnel show that flight speed varies by around ±1 m/sec during a flap-glide cycle. Dynamic energy is used to quantify flight performance, and reveals that the geometry of the flight path depends upon wingbeat kinematics, and that neither flapping nor gliding phases are at constant speed and angle to the horizontal. The bird gains both kinetic and potential energy during the flapping phases. A new theoretical model indicates that such speed variation can give significant savings in mechanical power in both bounding and undulating flight. Alternative hypotheses for intermittent flight include a gearing mechanism, based on duty factor, mediating muscle power or force output against aerodynamic requirements. This could explain the use of bounding flight in hovering and climbing in small passerines. Both bounding and undulating confer other adaptive benefits; undulating may be primitive in birds, but bounding may have evolved in response to flight performance optimization, or to factors such as unpredictability in response to predation.
Efficacy of Commercial Vaccines in Protecting Chickens and Ducks Against H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses from Vietnam

Important Findings This study tested the effectiveness of avian influenza (AI) oil emulsion vaccines of different genetic origins to protect against disease and viral shedding in two-week old white leghorn chickens and one-week-old Pekin ducks following challenge with recent H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. While the vaccines tested were effective in protecting against disease and mortality, viral shedding still occurred. Results included:
Through the Looking-Glass: Shell Morphology, Anatomy and Mating Behavior of Reversed Pomacea Canaliculata (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae)

ABSTRACT Snails exhibit a primary left-right asymmetry that appears during the first cleavages of the eggs, and a secondary asymmetry, related to the coiling of the shell. Most species are constituted by either dextral or sinistral morphs (enantiomorphs) while individuals with reversed primary asymmetry are extremely rare. Freshwater snails of the family Ampullariidae are normally dextral enantiomorphs with planispiral, hyperstrophic or orthostrophic shells. Pomacea canaliculata, a well-studied species because of its invasive status, shows dextral primary asymmetry and orthostrophic growth that results in clock-wise shells. Despite the great number of studies focused on P. canaliculata, only two specimens with reversed asymmetry have been hitherto reported. Here we report the finding of two live snails and three empty shells of P. canaliculata with anti-clockwise coiling that appeared in two populations from the southern Pampas, Argentina. Both anti-clockwise live snails were males that attempted to copulate with clock-wise females in the laboratory but failed to inseminate them. The apex of anti-clockwise shells and the anatomy of the snails revealed that the reversal of coiling was due to an orthostrophic development of sinistral enantiomorphs. Morphological analysis performed through geometric morphometrics did not find other differences with clock-wise snails other than coiling direction. We conclude that these anti-clockwise snails are probably engendered, as in other snails species, when the mother is a recessive homozygote for reversing alleles that show delayed maternal inheritance. The chances of establishment of populations with dimorphic asymmetry are very low because of the reproductive disadvantages of anti-clockwise individuals.
The Neuroanatomy of Nitric Oxide–Cyclic GMP Signaling in the Locust: Functional Implications for Sensory Systems1

Abstract Recent studies have investigated the source and target neurons for the diffusible neuronal messenger molecule nitric oxide (NO) in the nervous system of the locust. Here we compare the neuroarchitecture of NO signaling between different sensory systems. The available neuroanatomical data implicate NO in sensory processing for modalities as diverse as mechanoreception, vision, olfaction, gustation and hearing. All respective first-order sensory neuropils are innervated by NOS-containing interneurons. The corresponding sensory receptor neurons lack NOS but seem to express soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the main receptor molecule for NO in the nervous system. The axonal projections of sensory neurons must therefore be considered the primary target of NO in these sensory neuropils. An exception is the antennal olfactory system where sGC is apparently expressed in interneurons, in partial colocalization with NOS. We discuss these anatomical findings in relation to the spatiotemporal characteristics of NO signaling. Many sensory neuropils are organized into maps that reflect neuronal response properties (i.e., tuning or receptive fields). A local release of NO within such maps will therefore most strongly affect neurons with similar coding properties. If sensory receptor activity triggers NO synthesis locally in the map, this mechanism could link groups of similarly tuned receptors dynamically according to stimulus intensity. Furthermore, we explore the functional implications of differences between sensory systems in the anatomy of NOS-expressing interneurons, using the compound eye and the thoracic tactile system as examples.
Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) Radiolaria from the Sula Islands (East Indies): Their taxonomic, biostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic, and paleobiogeographic significance

Abstract This report deals with the Upper Jurassic (lower and middle Oxfordian) Radiolaria of the Sula Islands, Indonesia. The radiolarian assemblage, though abundant and extremely well preserved, is poorly diversified and includes ∼ fifty species level taxa. The presence of common Praeparvicingula and rare pantanelliids within the faunal assemblage in association with Austral ammonites suggests that the Sula Islands were situated in the Northern Austral Province (>30° south) during the Oxfordian. This paleolatitude is in keeping with the Gondwanaland origin proposed by some workers. The Sula Island middle Oxfordian assemblage is strikingly similar to that described from the Galice Formation (Smith River subterrane, Klamath Mountains, North America). Some faunal elements described from the Sula Island assemblage are characteristic of the Southern Hemisphere and are only known elsewhere from New Zealand (Aita and Mackie 1992). Three radiolarian taxa were originally described from the Galice Formation in the Northern Hemisphere. No ammonite taxa are in common between the Sula Islands and the Galice Formation.
Methods to extract vegetation information based on the high-resolution image for arid region

In this study,we selected Ejina oasis in the lower reaches of Heihe River as a study area.Three methods such as decision tree,Artificial Neural Network(ANN) and Support Vector Machine(SVM) were applied to classify land use types in two typical fields based on the Quickbird image data.The study results showed that the classification was fragmentary by using decision tree method with the overall accuracy of 84.87% in experimental zone 1.The method of ANN was suitable in the study area with the overall accuracy of 91.87%. SVM with the auxiliary of texture information was the best way to classify land use types with the overall accuracy of 96.53%. The study found that the classification was preferable when using the high-resolution image with assistance of texture at large window scale in the extraction of vegetation types in arid areas.But the boundary of the classification would greatly appear disorders with the bigger window of texture calculations.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 is the Major Collagenolytic Enzyme Responsible for Collagen Damage in UV-irradiated Human Skin¶

Abstract Punch biopsies of human skin were obtained 1 day after irradiation with two minimal-erythema doses (MED) from either a UVB light source or a Solar Simulator and incubated in organ culture for 72 h. Organ culture fluids obtained at 24, 48 and 72 h were analyzed for collagenolytic activity and for reactivity with antibodies to matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1; interstitial collagenase) and MMP-13 (collagenase-3). High levels of collagenolytic activity were seen in organ culture fluid from skin exposed to either light source. MMP-1 was strongly induced in parallel, increasing from less than 100 ng/ml in organ culture fluid from control skin to approximately 1.1 μg/ml in culture fluid from UV-treated skin. Whereas most of the detectable MMP-1 in control culture fluid was represented by the latent form of the enzyme, approximately 50% of the enzyme was present as the active form in organ culture fluid of UV-exposed skin. In contrast, there was no detectable MMP-13 in control organ culture fluid and very little change after UV exposure (less than 100 ng/ml in both cases). Finally, neutralization studies with a blocking antibody to MMP-1 removed 95 ± 4% of the collagenolytic activity in the organ culture fluid from UV-treated skin. These findings strongly implicate MMP-1 rather than MMP-13 as the major collagenolytic enzyme responsible for collagen damage in photoaging.
CHILL-COMA TOLERANCE, A MAJOR CLIMATIC ADAPTATION AMONG DROSOPHILA SPECIES

Abstract Most drosophilid species can be classified either as temperate or tropical. Adults of species were submitted to a cold treatment (0°C) and then brought back to ambient temperature. They generally exhibited a chill coma and the time needed to recover was measured. We found in a set of 26 temperate species that recovery was rapid (average 1.8 min, range 0.15–4.9). In contrast, a long recovery time (average 56 min, range 24–120) was observed for 48 tropical species. A few species, like Drosophila melanogaster, are cosmopolitan and can proliferate under temperate and tropical climates. In 9 of 10 such species, slight genetic differences were found: a shorter recovery in temperate than in tropical populations. Comparing physiological data to phylogeny suggests that chill-coma tolerance has been a recurrent adaptation that is selected for in cold climates but tends to disappear under a permanently warm environment. This major climatic adaptation, evidenced in drosophilids, seems to occur in other insect groups also. Corresponding Editor: T. Mousseau
Citation Behavior of Advanced Undergraduate Students in the Social Sciences: A Mixed-Method Approach

ABSTRACT Citation analysis is a popular research method in library science, often used to evaluate collections and instructional services. There are multiple advantages to combining citation analysis with qualitative research methods. This article describes a study in which Capstone projects by graduating undergraduate students in the social sciences were examined using both citation analysis and focus groups. The goal of this research was to gain a greater understanding of the types of sources used by advanced undergraduates in the social sciences, the library-provided availability of those sources, and a sense of how these students find, evaluate, and select sources for their Capstone projects. Notable findings include the heavy reliance of students on journal articles and the large influence of professors and other mentors on students' citation behavior.
Biogeographical determinants of lichen species diversity on islets in the West-Estonian Archipelago

Abstract Questions: Do islet area, number of biotopes and distance from the mainland shape lichen species richness on islets? Are there any species- or substrate group-specific trends associated with these factors? Location: Islets of the west Estonian Archipelago, Estonia. Methods: A species list was compiled for each of the 32 islets and the relative abundance of each species was estimated. The lichens were divided into seven groups according to their substrate preferences. Generalized linear model (GLIM) analysis was applied to test the effect of the islet traits on the number of lichen species on the islets and in the substrate groups. The probability of presence/absence and abundance of the most frequent species according to the islet traits were tested with GLIM and general linear mixed model. Results: The lichen flora of the islets consisted of 326 taxa, the number of lichen species per islet varied from 2 to 197. Total number of species per islet and within the substrate groups was positively correlated with islet area and with number of biotopes, and negatively correlated with distance from the mainland; however, these relationships varied among the substrate groups. Although individual lichen species showed variation in responses, general trends in island biogeography were evident. Conclusions: The distribution pattern of lichens on the studied islets follows the theory of island biogeography: the number of species per islet depends on isolation, area and biotope diversity. Species specific traits, such as dispersal strategy and growth form, as well as availability of a particular substrate are important for formation of the lichen flora on islets. Nomenclature: Randlane & Saag (1999, 2004) and Santesson et al. (2004) for lichens; Leht, M. (ed.) 1999 for vascular plants. Abbreviations: AIC = Akaike's information criterion; GLIM = Generalized linear model; TLC = Thin layer chromatography.