Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A global test of the cold‐climate hypothesis for the evolution of viviparity of squamate reptiles

AIM: The evolution of viviparity in squamate reptiles has attracted considerable scientific attention since the beginning of last century. The cold‐climate hypothesis posits that cold regions favor viviparity (and therefore the incidence of viviparous squamates is increased in these regions) because viviparous females can use thermoregulatory behavior to shorten embryonic developmental time and to reduce exposure of embryos to stressful temperatures. However, a rigorous global‐scale test of the impact of viviparity on the developmental time and viability of embryos is still absent. Recently developed biophysical models and climate databases enable us to conduct a mechanistic test of this hypothesis. LOCATION: Global. TIME PERIOD: Summer. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED: Squamata. METHODS: We integrated global climate data, a biophysical model, and developmental functions to quantify the effects of temperature on embryo developmental time, developmental viability, and energy consumption of oviparous versus viviparous embryos. To examine the accuracy of our predictions, we calculated the percentage of squamate reptiles that were viviparous in each region and assessed developmental temperature of gravid females, latitude and elevation as predictors for the percentage of squamate reptiles. RESULTS: Compared with oviparous embryos, viviparous embryos develop faster in cold regions, and experience similar embryonic developmental viability. Across most latitudes and elevations, the total energetic cost of development is lower for viviparous embryos than for oviparous embryos. Cold regions contain a higher proportion of viviparous species than do hot regions. By comparing the distribution pattern of viviparity and temperature effects on embryonic development, we found that shortened development time provided the strongest benefit of viviparity. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Our global and biophysical model based comparison generally supports the cold‐climate hypothesis. Moreover, viviparity in cold climates appears beneficial primarily by shortening developmental time.
Disseminated Phaeohyphomycosis Due to an Exophiala species in a Galapagos Tortoise, Geochelone nigra

ABSTRACT Phaeohyphomycosis is an infection caused by brown to black fungi presenting in tissue sections as dark walled septate hyphae, dark walled yeast, or both. Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis in reptiles has rarely been reported in the literature. An adult Galapagos tortoise, Geochelone nigra, presented with unilateral ocular lesions consisting of buphthalmia and a posterior chamber density. Clinical progression, diagnostics, and therapeutics are discussed. Diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis was made on histopathology of the enucleated eye. Eventual euthanasia and necropsy revealed widespread granulomatous inflammation with fungal invasion. Dissemination was likely hematogenous. Culture and molecular analyses determined the etiologic agent to be an Exophiala species not previously seen. A species name has not been determined for this fungus.
Farmers’ Criteria for Pesticide Selection and Use in the Pest Control Process

Chemical pesticides have been widely overused by farmers in Iran, but farmers’ criteria for pesticide selection and use are not well understood. A field survey of 411 farmers was carried out in Mazandaran, Iran, to study farmers’ criteria for selecting and using pesticides in the pest control process and explaining differences in selection criteria among farmers. From a list with a total of 25 criteria, five main groups were identified as key decision criteria for pesticide selection and use, using factor analysis. These groups included: (i) performance and effectiveness criteria, (ii) awareness and information criteria, (iii) technical and operational criteria, (iv) environmental criteria, and (v) financial and accessibility criteria. Performance and effectiveness criteria had the highest importance for farmers when selecting and using pesticides (mean 3.45), followed by financial and accessibility criteria (mean 3.28). Farmers who received training regarding pesticide use (mean 2.23 vs. 1.90) and farmers who had experience with integrated pest management (IPM) practices (mean 2.46 vs. 1.79) tended to consider environmental criteria when selecting and using pesticides. Similarly, farmers who experienced health risks related to working with pesticides (mean 2.0 vs. 1.77), farmers who used protection when spraying (mean 2.58 vs. 1.87), and farmers who knew about natural enemies of pests (mean 2.11 vs. 1.85) tended to consider environmental criteria when selecting and using pesticides. Farmers without off-farm income tended to consider financial and accessibility criteria more than farmers with off-farm income (mean 3.40 vs. 3.18). Farmers with college education favored awareness and information criteria, whereas experienced farmers favored the criteria of performance and effectiveness. Farmers with a high income showed a tendency to prefer performance and effectiveness criteria more than farmers with less income. Farmers who thought that pesticides are hazardous preferred environmental criteria more than farmers who thought that pesticides are not hazardous. Farmers who believed in the effectiveness of alternatives to chemical pest control (e.g., use of biological control, pheromone traps, or cultural control) preferred performance and effectiveness criteria less than farmers who believed no effectiveness or slight effectiveness of alternatives to chemical pest control. The findings provide useful information for better understanding factors affecting farmers’ choices of pesticides and for improving future extension courses related to farmers’ decisions about pesticide use.
New records of the Kinkajou, Potos flavus (Schreber, 1774) (Mammalia, Carnivora) in the Cerrado

We provide new records of Potos flavus from 2 localities in the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso, central Brazil. These records extend the geographical distribution of this species in the Cerrado biome and highlights the importance of future research on this species. These new distributional data may contribute to a re-evaluation of its conservation status.
Impact of L-Carnitine on Bisphenol A-Induced Kidney Damage in Rats

The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of L-carnitine on the oxidative stress induced by Bisphenol A (BPA) in rat kidneys. Forty male adult rats were allocated into four groups (10 rats each); placebo, BPA (50 mg/kg bwt per os), L-carnitine (500 mg/kg bwt i.p), and the BPA/L-carnitine-treated group. After 70 days, blood and kidneys were collected for measurement of renal function, oxidative/antioxidative status, histopathological analyses, and gene expression of nrf2. BPA significantly increased serum urea and carnitine levels suggesting renal damage evidenced by hydropic degenerative changes and hydronephrosis. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in kidney was elevated along with decline in renal total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations following challenged with BPA. Notably, the expression of nrf2 mRNA transcript in kidney tissues was down-regulated after BPA-induced toxicity. L-carnitine treatment ameliorates the damaged effects of BPA on kidneys as indicated by low levels of serum urea and carnitine, and renal MDA. Further, L-carnitine enhances the antioxidants (TAC, and GSH), with up-regulation of nrf2 expression in kidney tissues. Our results suggest the renoprotective activity of L-carnitine in BPA-induced kidney injuries through induction of antioxidant system and modulation of oxidative stress
Toward a tier system approach for calculating limits on human-caused mortality of marine mammals

Toward a tier system approach for calculating limits on human-caused mortality of marine mammals John R. Brandon*, André E. Punt, Paula Moreno and Randall R. Reeves Independent Consultant, Pacifica, California, USA University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, Washington, USA University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA Okapi Wildlife Associates, Hudson, Quebec, Canada *Corresponding author: tel: þ1 206 9196541; e-mail: jbrandon@gmail.com
Methods for breaking Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi L.) seed dormancy. Laboratory and greenhouse studies

In order to evaluate different methods of seed dormancy breaking for Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi L.), two experiments were conducted at laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The laboratory treatments were 22 different physical and chemical methods such as washing, stratification, scarification (sandy paper), sulfuric acid, gibberellic acid, potassium nitrate and the combination of both physical and chemical treatments. Eight of the best breaking seed dormancy treatments at the laboratory study were assessed at the greenhouse study. The results of the first experiment showed that all the treatments had significant effects on the measured traits. The highest germination percentage was shown in the combinational treatments (washing + gibberellic acid, sulfuric acid + potassium nitrate, scarification + gibberellic acid and scarification + potassium nitrate). These treatments led to 100% germination. The minimum mean germination time (MGT) was found in the washing + gibberellic acid (3.89 days),
Variation in free water intake in lactating ewes

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate individual free water intake (FWI) in lactating ewes, with two suckling lambs. Eighteen ewes were housed in single experimental pens from the time of lambing to two weeks after lambing. The ewes had free access to water from a drinking bowl and water meters were used to record the daily FWI. On average, the FWI for the ewes was 14.42 l/day. The variation between individuals was large (CV 27.6%) and varied between 8.16 and 21.88 l/day. It was also large variation within individuals (CV 19.2%). Hay DM intake were the factor that affected the FWI the most. Due to the large variation between and within ewes, FWI are not a stable individual characteristic. This study is useful for farmers to understand water supply needed for lactating ewes.
Time- and cost-efficient high-throughput transcriptomics enabled by Bulk RNA Barcoding and sequencing

Genome-wide gene expression analyses by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) have quickly become a standard in molecular biology because of the widespread availability of high throughput sequencing technologies. While powerful, RNA-seq still has several limitations, including the time and cost of library preparation, which makes it difficult to profile many samples simultaneously. To deal with these constraints, the single-cell transcriptomics field has implemented the early multiplexing principle, making the library preparation of hundreds of samples (cells) markedly more affordable. However, the current standard methods for bulk transcriptomics (such as TruSeq Stranded mRNA) remain expensive, and relatively little effort has been invested to develop cheaper, but equally robust methods. Here, we present a novel approach, Bulk RNA Barcoding and sequencing (BRB-seq), that combines the multiplexing-driven cost-effectiveness of a single-cell RNA-seq workflow with the performance of a bulk RNA-seq procedure. BRB-seq produces 3’ enriched cDNA libraries that exhibit similar gene expression quantification to TruSeq and that maintain this quality, also in terms of number of detected differentially expressed genes, even with low quality RNA samples. We show that BRB-seq is about 25 times less expensive than TruSeq, enabling the generation of ready to sequence libraries for up to 192 samples in a day with only 2 hours of hands-on time. We conclude that BRB-seq constitutes a powerful alternative to TruSeq as a standard bulk RNA-seq approach. Moreover, we anticipate that this novel method will eventually replace RT-qPCR-based gene expression screens given its capacity to generate genome-wide transcriptomic data at a cost that is comparable to profiling 4 genes using RT-qPCR. Software We developed a suite of open source tools (BRB-seqTools) to aid with processing BRB-seq data and generating count matrices that are used for further analyses. This suite can perform demultiplexing, generate count/UMI matrices and trim BRB-seq constructs and is freely available at http://github.com/DeplanckeLab/BRB-seqTools Highlights Rapid (~2h hands on time) and low-cost approach to perform transcriptomics on hundreds of RNA samples Strand specificity preserved Performance: number of detected genes is equal to Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA at same sequencing depth High capacity: low cost allows increasing the number of biological replicates Produces reliable data even with low quality RNA samples (down to RIN value = 2) Complete user-friendly sequencing data pre-processing and analysis pipeline allowing result acquisition in a day
Preliminary comparison of atmospheric CO2 enhancement to photosynthesis of Pyropia yezoensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) leafy thalli and filamentous thalli

Intertidal macroalgae are submerged in seawater at high tide and exposed to air at low tide. When they are exposed to the air, CO2 is the main inorganic carbon source. In this study, the photosynthetic performances of PSI and PSII were measured in different generations of Pyropia yezoensis (leafy thalli and filamentous thalli) that had been exposed to air containing different CO2 concentrations. Changes in photosynthesis during dehydration and salt treatment under the different CO2 concentrations were also analyzed. The results showed that in leafy thalli, the effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (YII) was enhanced as CO2 increased, which suggested that CO2 assimilation was enhanced and that they can utilize CO2 in the air directly, even when they are subjected to moderate stress. These findings could explain why, in P. yezoensis aquaculture, moderate exposure to air does not lead to a decrease in crop yield. However, in filamentous thalli, there were no significant differences in YII at the CO2 concentrations tested. The expression of genes involved in the Calvin cycle in leafy thalli was higher than that in filamentous thalli. CO2 uptake and biomass of P. yezoensis leafy thalli is larger than filamentous thalli, which may be due to its different carbon utilization mechanism and the adaptation of intertidal environment in the evolutionary process.
A Community Poultry Intervention to Promote Egg and Eggshell Powder Consumption by Young Children in Halaba Special Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Animal source foods such as eggs are often lacking in complementary foods in Ethiopia, a country with a high rate of malnutrition in under 5-year-old children. It is recommended that young children receive an egg a day, but rural households often cannot afford them or do not have experience raising chickens. The aim of this study was to conduct a poultry intervention, providing two chickens to households with a young child, stipulating that the child was the owner, and required an egg a day. This randomized, controlled, community trial was conducted in southern Ethiopia with children 6-12 mo living in selected kebeles. Chickens were gifted to families who guaranteed that eggs would be fed to the child in the Intervention, along with education on poultry production and promotion of eggs for children. Eggshell powder (ESP) was encouraged for use as a calcium supplement by children ≥ 1 y. Control kebeles continued with existing nutrition education for the 6-month trial. Baseline and end line outcome measures included child consumption of eggs, ESP, and poultry production. Other outcome measures will be reported elsewhere. Egg consumption by children was significantly improved only in the intervention group from 0.8 to 17 eggs/month (p < 0.001). ESP consumption got community acceptance with an average consumption of a child in the intervention group for 17 days/month (p < 0.001). Poultry production increased in the Intervention communities even when child-owned chickens were excluded from analysis (from 138 to 251 chickens) while in the Control communities, the number of chickens decreased (from 219 to 101). Cage construction improved in the Intervention communities, however, losses of chickens occurred. A 6-month poultry intervention that emphasized child ownership and provided education for poultry and nutrition education resulted in families increasing livestock numbers, and children eating on average more than half an egg a day.
The Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera Daudin, 1800 (Aves: Falconiformes: Falconidae) breeding on Palmyra Palm at Bahour Lake, Puducherry (Pondicherry), India

Breeding of the Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera is being reported from Bahour Lake in Union Territory of Puducherry along with the breeding period observations. The falcon nesting on the Palmyra palm Borassus flabellifer is reported for the first time from the country. The courtship was observed in mid-January and chicks fledged in mid-April. Incubation lasted 37 days, chicks fledged in 34–37 days, become nest independent in 40–43 days and become independent from parental care in 69–72 days. Feeding frequency for 27–30 days old chicks were five prey deliveries during a two hours’ observation in the morning. Fledglings were adult size, but with brownish crown and moustachial stripe, pale collar, maroon shoulders, darker wings and buff tinge on the underside; and were observed to retain the foraging territory in nesting area even after one month of removal from parental care. Availability of quality crow nest in areas of good prey density could be a decisive factor in selecting breeding location; many crow nests on Palmyra palms were noticed in Puducherry region. The palm nesting falcon could face additional threats from toddy and fruit extractors since the breeding season coincides with the flowering and fruiting season of Palmyra.
Genetic differences between humans and other hominins contribute to the “human condition”

Throughout the past decade, studying ancient genomes provided unique insights into human prehistory, and differences between modern humans and other branches like Neanderthals can enrich our understanding of the molecular basis of the human condition. Modern human variation and the interactions between different hominin lineages are now well studied, making it reasonable to explore changes that are observed at high frequency in present-day humans, but do not reach fixation. Here, we put forward interpretation of putative single nucleotide changes in recent modern human history, focusing on 571 genes with non-synonymous changes at high frequency. We suggest that molecular mechanisms in cell division and networks affecting cellular features of neurons were prominently modified by these changes. Complex phenotypes in brain growth trajectory and cognitive traits are likely influenced by these networks and other changes presented here. We propose that at least some of these changes contributed to uniquely human traits.
Genetic variability and character association for yield and related attributes in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is one of the important kharif oilseed crops in India, contributing about 27% of the total area and 33% of the total production of the oilseed crops. It is a rich source of edible oil, high quality protein, fat and carbohydrates. A study to obtain the information on extent of genetic variability and inter-relationship of seed yield and associated characters under rainfed upland condition was carried out at groundnut experimental area of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi for two consecutive years (in kharif 2014 and 2015). Fifteen advanced lines genotypes including three checks viz. Birsa Bold ICGS 76 & Kaushal were laid out in the Randomized Block Design with three replications in rainfed upland situation. Data were recorded for six yield attributing and quality characters in both the years and subjected to pooled analysis. The objectives of this study were to estimate the phenotypic and genotypic variance, genetic advance, heritability, correlation coefficient and path analysis for yield and yield associated traits to identify the most suitable genotypes of groundnut genotypes tolerant to drought for Jharkhand state. The analysis of variance revealed the significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits indicating presence of sufficient variability among the genotypes for various traits. High estimate of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed for pod yield per plot (18.77 & 24.97), kernel yield per Plot (21.57 & 30.00) and 100 kernel weights (15.07 & 21.19) indicated wider genetic variation for these traits. High value of heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance as per cent of mean were observed for the characters number of pod yield per Plot, Kernel yield per plot and 100-kernel weight indicated that selection may be effective for this character. The results of correlation studies indicated that genotypic correlation coefficients were higher in magnitude than their corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for most of the traits. Significantly correlation coefficient was existed for pod yield with the Characters Shelling percentage, Kernel yield and 100 Kernel weight. Other Significant correlation was observed between the Characters shelling % and Kernel yield & 100 Kernel weight. High direct effect of path analysis was observed for the Characters shelling percentage. Hence this character may be effective for selection of high pod yield. For maximizing the Pod yield per plant emphasis should be given in selection of characters such as sound mature kernel, kernel yield, Shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight for further improvement of groundnut crop.