Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New records of Parascalops, Neurotrichus and Condylura [Talpinae, Insectivora] from the Pliocene of Poland

Four humeri, two from the locality of Podlesice (early Pliocene, early Ruscinian MN 14) and two from Weze 1 A (Pliocene, Ruscinian MN 15) are the basis for description of a new species of Parascalops fossilis sp. n. In Weze 2 (Pliocene, Ruscinian-Vilanyian MN 15/16) one M1 and one humerus of Neurotrichus minor sp. n. was found. Many remains of Condylura kowalskii Skoczen, 1976, come from the same locality as well. A single humerus of Neurotrichus polonicus Skoczen, 1980, has been found in Kielniki 3 B (late Villanyian MN 17). All the above mentioned Talpidae Skoczen, 1980, belong to the recent North American endemic genera and appeared as single species exclusively. The problem of probable migration or development of convergent lines is discussed.
ATP levels in clone mouse embryos

The transfer of a somatic cell nucleus into an oocyte results in a dramatic change of the transcriptional profile. Although the underlying process of chromatin remodeling after nuclear transfer so far has not been defined at the molecular level, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is considered a crucial component. In our study, clones were cultured in six media (M16, CZB, KSOM(aa), α-MEM, D-MEM, G1/G2) and energy levels compared to fertilized embryos. Our data indicate that nuclear transfer into an oocyte does not cause a significant change of ATP content subsequent to chromatin remodeling and pronucleus-like nucleus formation. During cleavage, while ATP levels of normal embryos were kept within narrow limits, they were less restricted in clones. ATP variability was eminent until the clones reached the blastocyst stage. This profile is consistent with the emerging representation of cleavage-stage clone embryos as mosaics, whereby intra-embryo variations compound inter-embryo variations. The issue of energy in embryos remains a complex one. The existence of multiple and integrated pathways governing the physiology, metabolism and consequently the ATP level of a cell contrasts the single gene readout situation exemplified by Oct4. Such principal differences may explain why Oct4 is a prognostic marker for clones whereas ATP is not.
Are mylia and Trabacellula (Hepaticae) related? Unsuspected links revealed by cell wall morphology, with the transfer of Mylia anomala to a new genus(Leiomylia J.J. Engel & Braggins) of Jungermanniaceae

Scanning electron micrographs reveal a striking similarity of cell wall characters among Mylia taylorii, M. verrucosa, M. nuda and Trabacellula tumidula. All of these taxa have the presence of irregularly shaped strips and plates of smooth wall material, each separated by grids that interconnect the plates and strips. These species all also share the presence of well-formed perforations positioned over the middle lamella between the walls of adjacent cells. The grids and perforations are discussed and illustrated with SEM images. The studies of the leaf surfaces of Trabacellula and Mylia reveal closer taxonomic affinities of the two genera than heretofore thought, and an alternative classification and a realignment of these genera to reflect this affinity is suggested. Mylia is recognized in an independent family, Myliaceae (Grolle) Schljakov. The study also reveals that Mylia anomula is best retained in Jungermanniaceae, as a new genus, Leiomylia, and placed in its own subfamily within Jungermanniaceae, Leiomylioideae. It is suggested that Trabacellula is appropriately placed in a separate and distinct family, Trabacellulaceae Fulford. Based upon the linkage of surface features and other similarities, the two families are placed in a new suborder, Subord. Myliineae.
Giant Tadpole and Delayed Metamorphosis of Pseudis platensis Gallardo, 1961 (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract Pseudis platensis, like Pseudis paradoxa, is a Neotropical aquatic frog with a giant tadpole. Despite being one of the few anuran species whose larvae grow larger than adults, knowledge of its larval development is limited to prometamorphic stages. This study describes qualitative and quantitative variation through P. platensis larval development, including descriptions of various traits (lateral line, oral disc, vent tube, limbs) and their transformations during metamorphosis. We found similarities with the development of other anurans at larval stages up to the end of prometamorphosis but not with their metamorphic stages. For this species, we described key features to characterize 13 ontogenetic stages as follows: four for prometamorphic larval morphologies, eight stages covering metamorphic changes, and one defining the posmetamorphic adult stage. At the end of prometamorphosis, tadpole body size in P. platensis is similar to adult size, but the tail shows extra development. Unlike most anurans, the disappearance of two larval traits (i.e., vent tube and tail) is delayed until later in metamorphosis. Larval development of P. platensis exhibits unique features not reported for other anurans and offers a model to study developmental and evolutionary aspects of anuran metamorphosis.
Effects of Inbreeding on Rainbow Trout Populations

Abstract An approach for measuring inbreeding depression on the basis of differences between inbred and outbred half-sib family groups is described. Using this method, estimates of inbreeding depression in populations of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) following one generation of brother-sister mating was calculated for three production traits–percent egg hatchability, percent fry survival from swim-up to 150 days, and weight at 150 days. The inbreeding depression estimates obtained from male and female half-sib families were 1.7 and 4.4% for percent egg hatchability, 22.2 and 16.1% for percent fry survival, and 12.0 and 9.8% for weight at 150 days, respectively. Estimates for fry survival and weight at 150 days were significant at P < 0.01 while egg hatchability estimates were nonsignificant. Following one generation of full-sib mating, the calculated effect of inbreeding on the number of live fish and total weight of fish at 150 days of age showed a reduction of 16.1 and 24.4% in female families and 22.
Humoral immune response of Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, to Pleistophora anguillarum Hoshina, 1951 (Microspora)

A humoral response of Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, to the microsporean Pleistophora anguillarum Hoshina was demonstrated using immunoblotting and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Japanese eel immunoglobulin was purified by affinity chromatography. The immunoglobulin was composed of 25-kDa light chains and 72-kDa heavy chains. The ELISA values of P. anguillarum antibodies in naturally infected fish sera were significantly higher than those of clinically healthy fish. Spore proteins from the microsporean were separated by electrophoresis and subjected to analysis by Western blot. Sera from naturally infected fish showed different reaction patterns to the spore proteins. While the sera randomly selected from naturally infected eels all showed a significant positive reaction to P. anguillarum antigens, the mucus from only three out of the nine infected eels reacted positively in the ELISA test. Subsequent analyses indicated that there was no significant difference in the amount of mucus immunoglobulin among the tested eels. Therefore, the generally lower ELISA values of mucosal anti-P. anguillarum antibodies from the infected eels tested were evidently not caused by a lack of immunoglobulin per se, but seem to be the result of a lack of anti-P. anguillarum antibodies in the mucus and/or a lower affinity in the anti-P. anguillarum antibodies that were present.
Effects of high dietary levels of silver hake and Atlantic herring on growing-furring performance and blood clinical-chemistry of mink (Mustela vison)

An experiment was conducted with a total of 168 mink (Mustela vison) of the standard black genotype to determine the effects of dietary silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis), silver hake silage and herring (Clupea harengus) on the growing-furring performance. There were seven dietary groups. The control diet (CONTROL) contained 40% haddock offal, 8% poultry offal, 15% beef tripe and lungs, 5% corn gluten meal, 12% extruded wheat, 0.4% vitamin-mineral premix, and water. Test diets were made by replacing the fish offal with 15 or 30% hake (HAKE 15, HAKE 30), hake silage (SILAGE 15, SILAGE 30) or with 40% herring (HERRING 40). The last dietary group (HERR/CONT) was fed alternatingly with the CONTROL or the HERRING 40 diets. The animals in the HERRING 40 group developed anorexia after 2 wk on the test diet and were injected with vitamin B complex. The diet was supplemented with thiamin, 25 mg kg−1 feed. This restored appetite and supported normal growing-furring performance. Mink fed HAKE 30 diet had a lower we.
Structure and function of the membranous grass ligule: a comparative study

Membranous ligules of 49 grass species, representing ten tribes, were anatomically studied using light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Great variety in ligule abaxial surface anatomy was found but internally all ligules so studied possess a tripartite structure of two uniseriate epidermes enclosing a mesophyll tissue of varying thickness. Chloroplasts were present in most of the ligules (where this feature was determined) supporting the view that this is a photosynthetic leaf organ. Of the 36 species examined by fluorescence microscopy eight showed evidence of having a gland-like adaxial epidermis with numerous mitochondria, dictyosomes, strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum and fibrillar material within the periplasmic space next to the outer tangential wall. Existing hypotheses of ligule function are discussed in the light of these anatomical results, and a new hypothesis is proposed.
Reporting Fish Growth: A Review of the Basics

Aquaculturists typically report growth using absolute (g/d), relative (% increase in body weight), and specific growth rates (%d). Less frequently, von Bertalanffy Growth Functions (VBGF) are used. Each of these rates is a numerical representation of growth which assumes a specific relationship between size and time (linear, exponential, or asymptotic). Aquaculturists typically determine size at time throughout their experiments. Unfortunately, the intermediate data points are usually ignored when computing growth rates (except for VBGF) and the appropriateness of the method for calculating growth for a particular data set is not tested. This paper reviews the basis and computation of each of the growth rates in an effort to encourage aquaculturists to use the appropriate growth rates.
Optimum arginine requirement of juvenile black sea bream, Sparus macrocephalus

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary arginine requirement of juvenile black sea bream Sparus macrocephalus in 18 350 L indoors flow-through circular fibreglass tanks. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain graded levels of l-arginine (1.85%, 2.23%, 2.51%, 2.86%, 3.20% and 3.46% dry diet) from dietary ingredients and crystalline arginine. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 juvenile fish (10.51±0.15 g) twice daily (08:00 and 16:00 hours) to apparent satiation. Results showed that the specific growth rate (SGR) increased with increasing dietary arginine levels up to 2.51% and remained nearly the same thereafter. Feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein productive value all showed an increasing tendency and then levelled off. Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy significantly improved up to 2.86% arginine diet and decreased at different extents thereafter. Fish fed 1.85% arginine diet had significantly lower protein content in the whole body and dorsal muscle than those fed diets supplemented with or >2.86% of arginine. Lipid content decreased and lower value occurred at 3.46% of dietary arginine. The dietary essential amino acid composition in the whole body of the black sea bream was significantly influenced by dietary arginine. Arginine retention increased with an increasing dietary arginine level from 1.85% to 3.20%, then declined slightly at 3.46% arginine diet. Serum biochemical parameters were significantly affected by the dietary arginine level except for the cholesterol content. Broken-line regression based on SGR and second-order polynomial regression based on PER indicated that the optimum dietary arginine requirements for juvenile black sea bream were 2.79% and 3.09% diet, corresponding to 7.74% and 8.13% of the dietary protein respectively.
Atividade anti-helmíntica de plantas em frangos de corte naturalmente infectados com Ascaridia galli

The anthelminthic activity of four plants - Allium sativum (garlic), Punica granatum (pomegranate), Tynnanthus labiatus (liana-carnation) and Cocus nucifera (coconut) with the activity of mebendazole - was compared. Seventy Hubbard chickens, naturally infected with Ascaridia galli, divided in 5 groups of 10 chichens plus a control group (not treated, n=20) were used in the experiment. The vegetable matter was used in the forms of aqueous extract, juice and triturated, administered by probe or incorporated to the diet, in the doses of 2, 3 and 10g/kg/day, for three days. A non parametric test was used to evaluate the anthelminthic effect of the plants. The eliminations of A. galli for the garlic, pomegranate, liana-carnation, coconut and mebendazole were: 9.7; 6.6, 16.7; 19.0 and 99.0%, respectively. The results showed that those plants do not have anthelminthic activity.
Relationships between centrality indices and trophic levels in food webs

In the last decades, many works investigated the trophic structure of communities stressing, in particular, the role played by species in food webs (e.g., their trophic level and, more recently, their centrality). There exist some encouraging applications, but few details are known about the relationships between centrality measurements and trophic levels. In addition, these studies almost refer to unweighted trophic networks, despite the acknowledged need of investigating weighted webs. Here we aim to contribute to the synthetic treatment of these complementary issues by analyzing several indices of centrality and trophic level. Studying 19 ecosystems, we ranked the nodes according to their positional importance values (based on various centrality indices) and we compared the rank order of coefficients with unweighted or weighted trophic levels. Our goal was revealing potential biases in finding high centrality nodes among basal, intermediate and top species. We found that key species occupy intermediate positions of the trophic hierarchy. In case of unweighted data, trophic levels of key nodes do not deviate from trends displayed by the whole dataset. Significant differences were observed when using weighted data. These results contradict the common belief of many ecologists that identified top-predators and charismatic megafauna as main targets of conservation policies. We discuss the potential consequences of the observed features on ecosystem dynamics.
The cost of reproduction: a new link between current reproductive effort and future reproductive success

Although a negative trade-off between current reproductive effort and future reproductive output has for long been hypothesized and in some cases empirically shown, no mechanism with the potential to mediate such a reproductive cost from one season to another has been demonstrated. Here we suggest such a mechanism : the time and / or energy constraints during moult. We manipulated current reproduction of blue tits (Parus caeruls) by delaying their breeding attempts. This resulted in reproductive costs both in terms of decreased survival and lower subsequent reproductive success in the form of delayed start of breeding (females) or a smaller clutch (males). We found that delayed birds expended about 15% more energy in thermoregulation during the subsequent winter than did control birds. Thus, more time and / or energy directed to reproduction, may constrain moult which results in the production of feathers with low insulating capacity. These feathers are retained during the following winter and breeding season. Thus, this mechanism has the potential to link reproductive activities in one season to future reproductive success.
Infection of cereal aphids by the fungus Entomophthora

SUMMARY Three species of Entomophthora killed many Metopolophium dirhodum, M. festucae and Sitobion avenae on wheat at Harpenden, Hertfordshire, in 1971. Rainfall was low and aphid numbers were small in May and there was no Entomophthora infection. E. planchoniana first infected M. dirhodum early in June and the percentage of each aphid species infected increased during and after heavier rain in the first 2 weeks of June. M. dirhodum and S. avenae were most often infected by E. planchoniana, and the less common M. festucae mostly by E. aphidis and E. thaxteriana. Relative frequencies of E. aphidis and E. thaxteriana were largest before, and of E. planchoniana after, mid-July. The largest percentages infected were 53% of M. dirhodum and 30% of S. avenae during the second half of July and 60% of M. festucae in late June. The percentages of old nymphs and apterous adults that were infected were similar and only about half those of infected alatae.
Karyotypic diversification and its contribution to the taxonomy of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from Brazil.

A karyotype analysis of 147 populations of 25 Brazilian species of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) was carried out, including representatives of the three subgenera that occur in the country: Limnochloa, Scirpidium and Eleocharis. The analyses showed chromosomes without centromeres, but with terminal nucleolar constrictions (satellites) in some chromosomes. The chromosome numbers varied from 2n = 6 in E. subarticulata and E. maculosa to 2n = 60 in E. laeviglumis, but the chromosome basic number x = 5 was confirmed. Species of the subgenera Eleocharis and Scirpidium possess fewer and larger chromosomes, while those in the subgenus Limnochloa have small and more numerous chromosomes. These features indicate that the karyotypes of the subgenera Eleocharis and Scirpidium are more closely related, in agreement with morphological and phylogenetical data. The representatives of the section Eleocharis exhibited the largest differences in chromosome number and size, probably due to chromosome fission and fusion. Polyploidy was the most common event in this group. Nevertheless, most of the studied species exhibited regular meiosis with only bivalent formation, even the polyploids, such as in E. geniculata and E. sellowiana. The cytogenetic information obtained showed quite variable karyotypes with chromosomes gradually decreasing in size, and predominance of polyploidy. These results are useful in the differentiation of the subgenera.
Ecology of the Oceanic Squid Onychoteuthis Banksi and The Relationship Between the Genera Onychoteuthis and Chaunoteuthis (Cephalopoda: Onychoteuthidae)

Ontogenetic changes in the body morphology, morphometrics, age, growth, maturation, fecundity, feeding spectrum and parasites were studied in 218 specimens of the oceanic nektonic squid Onychoteuthis banksi and in two specimens of the rare planktonic squid Chaunoteuthis mollis (Onychoteuthidae) caught in the tropical waters between 1977 and 1990. Similarities between the two species in major taxonomic features and in several morphometrical indices suggest that C. mollis is in fact a mature female of O. banksi with degenerated mantle and fin muscles and lost tentacles. Thus, C. mollis will be considered as a lesser synonym of O. banksi. Statolith microstructure analysis reveals that O. banksi is a slow-growing squid with low maturation rates, spending the first 240–260 d of life in the epipelagic zone. The main features of the reproductive strategy include earlier maturation of the males, small eggs (0.2–0.5 mm in diameter by the end of protoplasmic growth), synchronous development of oocytes and high potential fecundity (51,000–205,000 eggs). Onychoteuthis banksi is an opportunistic predator, shifting to a fish and squid diet much earlier and at smaller sizes (20–40 mm ML) than ommastrephid squid. The feeding activity of small and medium O. banksi (20–80 mm ML) is a little higher and that of large O. banksi (80–148 mm ML) is lower than in ommastrephids of the same size. The helminth fauna of O. banksi is impoverished and consists of ‘food parasites’: larval Didymozoidea and Scolex spp. The level of infection is low, only reaching -52 specimens per host in large squid. The nature of the life cycle of O. banksi and possible evolutionary trends in the development of the ‘Chaunoteuthis’ stage for maturation and spawning of females in the deep water are discussed.
Effects of strip intercropping of potatoes with non‐hosts on late blight severity and tuber yield in organic production

The effects of strip cropping of potatoes with cereals or a grass-clover mix in and perpendicular to the main wind direction on foliar late blight severity and tuber yield were studied in large-scale field experiments in Germany. Disease progress was assessed in 12-18 sections per plot and yields determined from the same sections. In 2000, plot size was 3 x 10 m and there were no disease reductions apparently due to interplot interference. In 2001 and 2002, with plot sizes of 6 x 18 and 6 x 36 m in strip-cropped potatoes, disease was significantly reduced by 9-20% and 4-12%, respectively, compared to pure stands of potato, with the greatest reductions in plots planted perpendicular to the wind and neighboured by grass-clover. The most important factors contributing to disease reduction were loss of inoculum outside of the plots and barrier effects of neighbouring non-potato hosts. Only 0-20% of the overall yield variation could be explained by the area under the disease progress curve, depending on cultivar and year. In one year disease effects on the yield of a moderately resistant cultivar were higher than on the yield of a susceptible cultivar. This was probably caused by differences in bulking behaviour. Nutrient limitation appeared to be more important than disease in reducing yields. Yields in the edge potato rows directly neighboured by cereals were significantly reduced in all 3 years, but competition by cereals did not change the disease-yield-loss relationship. Strip intercropping might be a useful component in an overall management strategy to reduce incoming late blight inoculum.
Estimation of Total Length from Head Length of Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory, Australia

Abstract Populations of Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) have been monitored in the Northern Territory since the species' protection. This monitoring relies on standardized spotlight surveys in which crocodiles are counted and classified by estimated total length (TL). Although the accurate estimation of TL is important for analyses, often crocodiles are submerged and their TL is estimated from their heads, which may be visible above the water surface. With some variation, it is generally thought that TL of a crocodile is seven times the length of the animal's head. This study examined the ratio of TL to head length (HL) from morphological measurements of 2,755 Saltwater Crocodiles caught in various locations in the Northern Territory. The results showed that the generic ratio for crocodiles ranging from 38 to 503 cm was 7.01. The ratio increased logistically from 6.7 to 7.1 for crocodiles in the 120–420-cm size range in TL in 30-cm intervals. We suggest that TL can be reliably estimated from HL at least for crocodiles in 120–420 cm in the wild, with the use of the generic and size-specific ratios calculated for the various size classes at every 30 cm. The size-specific estimation for animals <120 cm or >420 cm was not possible because of limited sample sizes in these crocodile size ranges, although a few reliable records suggest that a ratio increasingly becomes larger and 1:8 should be used for crocodiles >510 cm in TL.