Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The evolution of intraspecific variation, growth, and body size in early theropod dinosaurs

The biology of birds is highly unusual with respect to all other living reptiles, especially in their growth, which is extremely fast and possesses unusually low levels of intraspecific variation. To explore this transition between other reptiles and birds, we investigated morphological ontogenetic trends of early theropods and extant avians using ontogenetic sequence analysis (OSA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Our analyses suggest intraspecific variation in growth is high in early dinosaurs but largely absent in birds, and NMDS analysis suggests this variation is not related to sexual differences. Because this variation is widespread among early-diverging dinosaurs and their closest relatives, anomalously high intraspecific variation—higher even than extant crocodylians—is likely the ancestral dinosaurian growth condition. The strong phylogenetic signal suggests environment is not solely responsible for this developmental variation, but because the Late Triassic environment across Pangaea was volatile, this variation may have contributed to the rise of dinosaurian dominance.
Pupal colour dimorphism in a desert swallowtail (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) is driven by changes in food availability, not photoperiod

1. The swallowtail butterfly Battus polydamas archidamas Boisduval, 1936, exhibits polyphenism for pupal coloration (green and brown). It is distributed across arid regions with winter rains and is monophagous on Aristolochia plants, which emerge after the winter rains and dry out the during summer. Thus, day length does not covary positively with host plant productivity. It was hypothesised that pupal colour was driven by food availability, not photoperiod. The benefits of pupal coloration matching the colour of pupation sites in terms of field survival were also investigated to evaluate the adaptive value of pupa colour.
A retrospective (1979-1996) multispecies assessment of coral reef fish stocks in the Florida keys

-A baseline assessment of 35 economically a_nd ecologically important Florida Keys reef fish stocks is provided by using a systems approach that integrates sampling, statistics, and mathematical modeling. Quantitative fishery-independent data from reef fish visual surveys conducted by SCUBA divers from 1979 to 1996 were used to develop estimates of population abundance, assemblage composition. and stock structures in relation to key physical and habitat factors. Exploitation effects were assessed with a new length-based algorithm that calculates total mortality rates from estimates of "average length of fish in the exploitable phase of the stock. " These estimates were highly correlated for two statistically independent data sources on reef fish: fishery-independent diver observations and fishery-dependent head boat catches. We developed a reef fish equilibrium exploitation fishery simulation (REEFS> model and used estimates of fishing mortality to assess yield-per-recruit in relation to fishing intensity and gear selectivity and to assess spawning potential ratio (SPRl in relation to U.S. federal "overfishing" standards. Our analyses show that 13 of 16 groupers (Epinephelinae ), 7 of 13 snappers (Lutjanidael, one wrasse (Labridael, and 2 of5 grunts IHaemulidael are below the 30% SPR overfishing minimum. Some stocks appear to have been chronically overfished since the late 1970s. The Florida Keys reef fishery exhibits classic ''serial overfishing" in which the largest, most desirable, and vulnerable species are depleted by fishing. Rapid growth of the barracuda population (Sphyraenidael during the same period suggests that fishing has contributed to substantial changes in community structure and dynamics. Manuscript accepted 16 December 1997. Fishery Bulletin 9613):395-414 (1998). 395 A retrospective (1979-1996) multispecies assessment of coral reef fish stocks in the Florida Keys
Challenges of herdsmen-farmers conflict in livestock production in Nigeria: Experience of pastoralists in Kogi State, Nigeria

Herders-farmers’ conflict is wide spread and a formidable challenge to livestock production in Nigeria. The study examined challenges faced by pastoralists in conflict with farming communities. A total of 72 Fulani pastoralists from transit camps were used. Data were collected by use of structured interview schedule, focus group discussion and personal observation and analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The majority (95.8%) of pastoralists were male, married (80%) with mean age of 39 years and average household size of 11 persons. Herding was mainly for prestige and commercial purposes with average farm size of 240 cattle. Conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers were caused by socio-economic, security, production practices and institution related factors. Consequently, pastoralists had the problems of insecurity of human and animal lives, displacement and economic losses leading to poor productivity. Therefore, we recommend that all stakeholders (government, non-governmental organizations, extension agencies, rural institutions among others) should intensify efforts to build cooperative and peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists through public enlightenment, education and campaign in agrarian communities. Government and NGOs should promptly intervene with aids/compensation to reduce vulnerability, persistence and further spread of conflict of pastoralist-farmer conflict in communities. Key words: Displacement, economic, environment, livelihood, resource, security.
Anti-Dermatophytic Activity of Some Indian Medicinal Plants

Objective: Anti-dermatophytic activities of 23 South Indian medicinal plant materials have been studied using five isolates of Trichophyton rubrum and four isolates of Trichophyton mentagrophytes obtained from the patients of Raja Muthiah Medical College & Hospital, India and compared. Materials and methods: Water and ethanol extracts were prepared and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined. Results and conclusion: Ethanol extracts of plants exhibited more activity than water extracts. Among 23 plants garlic showed least MIC & MFC. In addition, ethanolic extracts of 11 plants showed less than 11.5 mg/ml MFC against T. rubrum and 9 plants showed less than 11.5 mg/ml MFC against T. mentagrophytes .
GROWTH ANALYSIS OF Mugil cephalus (PERCOIDEI: MUGILIDAE) IN MEXICAN CENTRAL PACIFIC

Growth analyses are important in the study of the life history of all species, especially if it belongs to a fishery. The striped mullet Mugil cephalus is an appreciated fish in the small scale fishery. Specimens for this study were obtained from the commercial fishery in the Cuyutlan Lagoon, Colima, and in Cruz de Loreto Lagoon, Jalisco, Mexico; they were fished with gill-nets. Samples were obtained from August to December 2007, January to March 2008 and November 2012 to October 2013. Total length (TL, cm) was measured to the nearest millimeter, from the snout tip to the caudal fin extreme, and total weight (TW, g) and eviscerated weight (EW, g) were taken from 734 organisms. Growth constants from von Bertalanffy were determined with Ford-Walford-Gulland method. Growth parameters for the species were L = 60.0 cm, k = 0.115, to = -2.63, TW = 2 147 g, EW = 1 782 g and longevity A0.95 = 23.5 years. Differences were found in the growth of sexes. Allometric indexes of the relationship between weight and length were isometric: b = 2.954 for TW data and b = 2.95 for EW data. Results were compared to those of other authors in other geographic areas in Mexico and the world, finding differences probably due to climate, genetic and latitudinal position, as well as to the fishing pressure. M. cephalus is a slow grower whose juvenile organisms have to be protected, by using the appropriate fishing gears.
Massa de forragem, composição morfológica e valor nutritivo de capim-braquiária submetido a níveis de sombreamento e fertilização

Productive and nutritional traits of Brachiaria decumbens, submitted to shading conditions (full sun, 20% and 70% shading) and fertilization levels (without or with 80 kg.ha-1 of N and K 2 O and 60 kg.ha-1 of P 2O5), were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The shading were allocated in a silvopastoral system, while full sun was obtained in an exclusive B. decumbens pasture. The severe shading reduced the green dry mass in 54%, total dry mass in 59% and the forage bulk density in 58%. Increases in the forage mass and forage bulk density in response to fertilization were observed only in full sun and moderate shade. The nutritional traits did not vary with fertilization, but the chlorophyll and crude protein contents increased 20 and 51% with severe shading, respectively. The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber reduced with shade. The lignin content and in vitro dry matter digestibility did not vary with factors (average values of 6.0 and 60.9%, respectively). Fertilization with moderate dose of NPK is recommended to B. decumbens in full sun and moderate shading, but should be avoided in severely shaded pasture, because not reflected in improvement of forage mass and its nutritional traits.
Taxonomic rank of Tanacetum boreale Fisch. ex DC. (Asteraceae)

This article presents the results of population-genetic analysis in four populations of Tanacetum vulgare (typical tansy) from Southern Siberia on the basis of the Randomly Amplified DNA Fingerprints (RAF). We used RAF to find certain molecular-genetic differences between the typical tansy and the northern tansy. Since the present results did not show any clear differences between the typical tansy and the northern tansy at species level, we suggest that T. vulgare includes two subspecies: the typical T. vulgare subsp. vulgare and T. vulgare subsp. boreale.
Biological traits suggest a niche overlap between two grapsid crabs sharing the rocky intertidal of the eastern Mediterranean

The current study investigated basic biological features for two co-occurring shore crabs Pachygrapsus marmoratus and P. transversus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Differences in population structure, reproductive periods and settlement patterns were studied along the coast of Lebanon. Sizes of sampled individuals ranged from 4 to 37 mm carapace width (CW) for P. marmoratus and from 3.5 to 24 mm CW for P. transversus. Males were larger than females in both species, each of them exhibiting different size frequency distributions. Both male and female proportions were similar for P. marmoratus while males dominated the population of P. transversus. Fecundity and egg sizes were higher in P. marmoratus and fecundity was directly related to body size for the two crabs. Size structures differed between studied locations showing size restrictions for specific size-classes. Females from both species remained ovigerous for about 5 months, with P. transversus (May–August) started 1 month after P. marmoratus. Larger sized females displayed higher fecundities. The recruitment of juveniles lasted 5 months for both P. marmoratus (December–May) and P. transversus (November–April). Our results showed that niche partitioning occurred between the two species, where P. marmoratus starts incubating earlier than P. transversus while young of the year of the latter settle earlier on the reefs, taking advantage of convenient seawater temperatures and thus minimizing competition. This study shed some light on the populations of grapsid crabs living in the eastern Mediterranean and provided baseline information on the biology and ecology of the two congeneric shore crabs and their interactions.
ANTIFUNGAL RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA SPECIES: AN OVERVIEW

Over the past few decades, the prevalence of fungal infections has dramatically increased due to the growing number of populations at high risk. Although Candida albicans is considered as the most prevalent species, in recent years non albicans Candida (NAC) spp. are increasingly reported from various clinical types of Candida infections. NAC spp. are either innately resistant to antifungal drugs or may acquire resistance during course of therapy. Antifungal resistance once rarely documented in Candida spp. is now being increasing reported from various parts of world. The development of antifungal drug resistance in Candida spp. with different mechanisms has potential clinical impact. In this review, various aspects of antifungal resistance in Candida spp. are discussed.
Species of the subgenus Acutipula Alexander from Henan, east-central China (Diptera, Tipulidae)

The subgenus Tipula (Acutipula) Alexander, 1924 is recorded from Henan, east-central China, for the first time. One species, T. henanensis sp. nov., is described as new to science. The following four species are redescribed: T. pseudacanthophora Yang and Yang, T. pseudocockerelliana Yang and Yang, T. gansuensis Yang and Yang and T. buboda Yang and Yang. A key to the species of the subgenus Acutipula from Henan is presented.
Seasonal study of scavenger wildlife of forensic interest in Constantine (Algeria)

This study aims atrevealing more information about the seasonal variation of the necrophagous fauna biodiversity. Three entomological experiments were carried out in Algeria, in an open space near the Biosystematic and Arthropod Ecology Laboratory in Constantine at Chaabat Erssas, during three seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) of the year 2012/2013. They allowed us follow the decomposition of three dead-dog corpses. The results showed that the scavenger insects studied in spring were the most diverse one with 21 taxa (Diptera 57.73%, Coleoptera 41.16%, and Hymenoptera 1.1%) as compared to summer (9 taxa) (Diptera 77.77%, Coleoptera 22.22%) and autumn (7 taxa) (Diptera 81.03%, Coleoptera 18.96%). Favorable weather conditions (temperature) partly explain these results.
Multiple origin but single domestication led to domesticated Asian rice

The domestication scenario that led to Asian rice (Oryza sativa) is a contentious topic. Here, we have reanalyzed a previously published large-scale wild and domesticated rice dataset, which were also analyzed by two studies but resulted in two contrasting domestication scenario. Our result indicates Asian rice originated from multiple wild progenitor subpopulations, however, domestication occurred only once and the domestication alleles were transferred between rice subpopulation through introgression.
A study of the hemin-stimulated respirative growth kinetics of Lactococcus lactis using batch cultivation

The influence of initial glucose concentration: 60, 80, and 90 g/L on the heminstimulated respirative growth of Lactococcus lactis was studied in batch culture. Quantification of substrate consumption, biomass and product formation kinetics revealed that energy-spilling reactions may to contribute to a significant amount of nongrowth associated or non-maintenance associated substrate utilization. The maximum specific growth rate was unaffected by initial substrate concentration, while the maintenance coefficient, ms, and the maximum yield coefficient, It^x/s, were strongly affected. The value of ms increased from 1.56 to 1.73 g glucose/g DCW-h when the substrate concentration was increased. Product formation kinetics were also affected with the growth associated product formation (a) increasing from 1.9 to 2.8 g lactate/g DCW, while the non-growth associated product formation (P) value increasing from 0.74 to 0.81 g lactate/g DCW-h. The total biomass accumulated was also improved by a systematic modification of the growth medium utilized. A 50 % increase in the concentration of yeast extract, peptone, and tryptone against the base medium used increased the final biomass concentration from 4.2 to 6.3 g/L. An analytical solution to the differential equations developed by Pirt for substrate consumption, Leudeking-Piret for production formation, and the differential logistic growth equation was successfully developed in this work. The solution represents a nonlinear system of equations that allows the simultaneous modeling of cell growth, substrate consumption, and product formation for substrate-limited growth. A medium for improved growth of L. lactis and lactic acid bacteria was also developed for small-scale microbiological applications. By modification of a popular commercial medium used for its cultivation, not only was improved growth of L. lactis observed, but the final extracellular environment for long term cell survival was improved. Increasing the concentration of the salt disodium glycerophosphate from 19 to 59 g/L and addition of 7.5 g/L glucose increased the amount of biomass accumulated by a factor of 4 while maintaining a final pH of 5.1, which is ideal for growth.
OCCURRENCE AND PREVALENCE OF ECTO- ANDGASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN WILD CANE RATSâ(TRYONOMYS SWINDERIANUS) FROM OYO STATE, SOUTH-WESTERNNIGERIA

A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of ecto- and gastro-intestinal parasitic infections in wild cane rats (T. swinderianus) in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. Four hundred (400) grasscutters were examined for ectoparasites while the gastro-intestinal tracts of thirty (30) species were removed and examined for endoparasites. One hundred and twelve, 112 (28.0%) of the cane rats were found to harbour ectoparasites comprising Ixodes sp and Rhipicephalus sp. Fifty-five 55(13.75%) of the cane rats were infested with Rhipicephalus sp only, 37(9.25%) with Ixodes sp only, while 20(5.0%) were infested with both Ixodes sp and Rhipicephalus sp. Rhipicephalus sp infestation was significantly higher (PE0.05) compared to Ixodes sp. Infestation was highest at the lateral regions (12.24±0.21) for Ixodes sp and (15.39±0.02) for Rhipicephalus sp and lowest at the neck region (0.00±0.00) for both species. Prevalence of ticks’ infestation was higher in females (52.45%) than in males (39.07%). Gastrointestinal parasites were found in 100% of the cane rats and composed of Nematodes such as Trichuris sp. (96.7%), Globocephalus sp. (86.7%), Squamostrongylus sp. (70%), Strongylus sp. (83.3%), Strongyloides sp. (93.3%), Trichostrongylus sp. (100%), and Castorstrongylus sp. (83.3%). The small intestine harboured the highest number of parasites. Accordingly, this study concludes that wild cane rats harbour much parasites and that rearing can reduce the intensity of infection and increase the market value since the domesticated ones will be regularly dewormed.
Below‐ground connections underlying above‐ground food production: a framework for optimising ecological connections in the rhizosphere

Healthy soils that contain an active microbiome and food web are critical to sustainably produce food for a growing global human population. Many studies have focussed on the role of microbial species diversity and the presence of key functional groups as important controls on the many functions that a sustainable food system relies on. Here, we synthesise recent ecological empirical evidence and theory to propose that the interactions between organisms in the soil food web are the critical determinant of soil function. We propose the Rhizosphere Interactions for Sustainable Agriculture Model, in which crop roots recruit small, modular, highly connected soil rhizosphere networks from large, static, relatively unconnected and diverse bulk soil networks. We argue that conventional agricultural management disrupts the connections between rhizosphere and bulk soil networks. Synthesis. We identify future research directions for optimising ecological connections between roots and rhizosphere microbial and faunal networks, and between rhizosphere networks and bulk soil networks in agricultural production systems. Knowledge on these connections can be applied in agricultural systems to sustainability produce food for a growing global population.
FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO MALUS FUSCA FIRE BLIGHT RESISTANCE

The apple wild species accession Malus fusca MAL0045 had been found to be resistant to fire blight in artificial inoculation trials with Erwinia amylovora strain Ea222_JKI. Consequently, using a population derived by crossing MAL0045 with Idared, the corresponding fire blight resistance locus of M. fusca (Mfu10) was mapped on chromosome 10 explaining up to 66% of phenotypic variation at a logarithm of the odd (LOD) ratio of 31.0 with the strain Ea222_JKI. Moreover, the very aggressive strain Ea3049 only minimally affected MAL0045 but significantly affected the population although could not overcome the resistance of Mfu10. To further understand the resistance mechanism of M. fusca, we evaluated resistance of the original mapping population, comprised of 134 individuals, to E. amylovora strain ZYRKD3-1 which causes the breakdown of the resistance of M. ×robusta 5 (Mr5) and the Mr5 fire blight resistance QTL on LG3. Our results showed that the major QTL of M. fusca on LG10 could still be detected at the same exact position with a higher effect on fire blight resistance, indicating that ZYRKD3-1 has no effect on Mfu10, although the mean percent lesion length of the population was almost doubled compared with Ea222_JKI.
Possible Prediction of Scallop Swimming Styles from Shell and Adductor Muscle Morphology

ABSTRACT Modifications in shell structure, mantle, and adductor muscle are considered derived adaptations that allowed scallops to swim. This suggests that morphological properties of the adductor muscle and shell should relate to swimming performance in scallops. Various morphological characteristics of the shell (mass, aspect ratio, and volume between the valves) and the adductor muscle (size, position, and attachment to the shell) were measured in six scallop species (Amusium balloti, Placopecten magellanicus, Equichlamys bifrons, Pecten fumatus, Mimachlamys asperrima, and Crassadoma gigantea) with distinct swimming strategies, as documented by measurements of muscle use during induced escape responses. Morphological characteristics of the shell and adductor muscle differed markedly between the species, but did not always follow their swimming strategies. Principal components analysis revealed that shell width, shell and muscle masses, and associated morphological attributes were closely linked with swimming endurance. The intensity of the escape response was best predicted by the aspect ratio and the obliqueness of the adductor muscle.
Exotic aphid species Brachycaudus divaricatae in Central Europe: Distribution, host specificity and molecular diversity

Abstract Aphid species Brachycaudus divaricatae Shaposhnikov, 1956, originally described from Turkmenistan and earlier known from the Middle East and Eastern Europe only, is a successful invader to Central Europe. Its principal winter host, Prunus cerasifera, was originally distributed in Central Asia, Near East, and South Eastern Europe. Now it is common in Eastern and Central Europe.Brachycaudus divaricatae is closely related to native European aphid species Brachycaudus lychnidis (L., 1758). The aims of this study were: 1) to summarize and present the information on the distribution and host specificity of B.divaricatae from its invasive area in Europe; 2) to analyse and compare partial sequences of mitochondrial COI with those of nuclear EF-1 α from samples identified as B.divaricatae and B.lychnidis to find possible hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting between these species. Since the first record from Eastern Baltic region in 2002, B. divaricatae changed its distribution area significantly. Now this aphid species has already reached the northern edge of its winter host distribution area. Five COI and 10 EF-1 α haplotypes were detected among the analysed samples of B.divaricatae and B.lychnidis. The most abundant COI haplotype was common for both species. However, EF-1 α sequences were species-specific despite their minor differences. Coalescent simulations were performed using the model assuming no gene flow after the split between species and mimicking the parameters of empirical data. The analysis of genetic distances calculated for simulated data set supported the hypothesis of possible incomplete lineage sorting.