Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The origin and early diversification of birds

Numerical cladistic analysis of 73 cranial and postcranial characters has resulted in a highly corroborated hypothesis describing the phylogenetic pattern of early avian evolution. Using “non-avian theropod” dinosaurs as a comparative outgroup and root for the tree, the analysis confirmed Archaeopteryx to be the sister-group of all remaining avian taxa, or Ornithurae. This latter taxon is subdivided into two lineages, the Hesperornithiformes and the Carinatae. The carinates, in turn, were also resolved into two sister-groups, the Ichthyornithiformes and the modern birds, or Neornithes. This paper provides morphological data corroborating the divergence of the two basal clades of the Neornithes: the Palaeognathae (tinamous and ratites) and Neognathae (all other modern birds). The phylogenetic relationships of four important Cretaceous taxa were also investigated, but these fossil taxa were too fragmentary to determine their phylogenetic position unambiguously. Alexornis and Ambiortus are both carinates, but their relationships cannot be resolved in greater detail. The relationships of the Enantiornithes may lie within the Carinatae or these two taxa may be sister-groups. Gobipteryx is a neornithine and possibly the sister-group of the Palaeognathae. This analysis indicates that major patterns of morphological change took place at the time of origin of the ancestors of the Ornithurae and the Carinatae. Ornithurine innovations included major changes throughout the skeleton, whereas those of the carinates, while substantial, were primarily restricted to the pectoral girdle and forelimb. The phylogenetic results, in conjunction with the known ages of fossil taxa, indicate that the early lineages of birds very likely arose in the Jurassic. The early cladistic events within the neornithine lineage are also more ancient than generally recognized, and may well extend back to the early Cretaceous.
Variation in bird-window collision mortality and scavenging rates within an urban landscape

ABSTRACT Avian mortality from collisions with windows and buildings is one of the top sources of anthropogenic mortality of birds. Each year in the United States, an estimated 100 million to one billion birds die from window collisions. Many studies of bird-window collision mortality have aimed to identify architectural, landscape, and species-specific factors that may influence collision rates, but little research has assessed the potential for spatiotemporal variation in collision mortality. We studied window collision mortality at 42 residential houses located within an urban landscape, along the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth MN, USA from 2006–2009 to quantify window-related fatalities during migration. The rate of window collision mortality was modeled as a function of house location and season using Poisson regression. We also conducted carcass distribution trials to estimate scavenging and detection rates, and analyzed the resulting data using a multistate Markov model. We used hierarchical models of scavenging probability to compare the relationship between scavenging rates and six measured covariates. Models for collision mortality and scavenging were evaluated using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). The adjusted number of birds killed (Nk) over the full course of monitoring was estimated using the Horvitz-Thompson estimator. A total of 40 species and 108 individual birds were recorded as window kills. Fatalities increased with distance from the city center, were higher at houses on the lake side of the study site, and on windows facing Lake Superior. Scavenging rates also increased with distance from the city center, with small carcasses being removed more quickly than large carcasses, and removal rates decreasing over time for all carcass sizes. Because of the low detection probability of homeowners, combined detection by both homeowners and researchers was <20%. Although mortality and scavenging rates were not uniformly distributed, we estimated an adjusted mortality rate of ~11–16 birds per house during the study period. Mortality estimates for all residential houses on Minnesota Point (n = 520) during the study period (n = 211 days) was 5,819–8,382 birds, ~1,421 birds per season. Results suggest spatiotemporal variation in both mortality and scavenging rates within our study area, both of which increased with distance from the city center. Houses with highest collision mortality also had the highest scavenging rates. Our results are consistent with other studies that have observed heterogeneity in mortality and scavenging rates associated with local structural and landscape level variables. Documenting patterns associated with increased collision mortality will be important in identifying locations that may pose a greater risk to birds.
Influence of plant–pollinator interactions on the assembly of plant and hummingbird communities

Understanding how ecological processes structure species assemblages is a central issue in community ecology. While the influence of plant–pollinator interactions on each other's evolution is well recognized, their role in the assembly of interdependent communities of plants and pollinators is still unclear. Using data from seven communities of hummingbirds and plants that they pollinate from two tropical rain forest types (lowland and montane), we evaluated phylogenetic relationships and signal of functional traits, over space and time, to test predictions on the main processes (environmental filtering, facilitation or competition) that are driving these hummingbird–plant assemblages. Our findings suggest that the main processes driving these assemblages varied between hummingbirds and plants and between habitats, and even among communities at the same habitat. The non‐conserved floral trait and the phylogenetic patterns (even or random) give support to the hypothesis of facilitation or competition as processes regulating the composition of plant assemblages. Moreover, the positive relationship between fitness and flowering synchrony suggests facilitation as the most important mechanism for montane plant communities. Distinctively, for lowland plant communities, the combination of non‐conserved traits and clustered phylogenetic patterns may be a result of either adaptive radiation or biotic filtering driven by a particular pollinator species that plays a main role as plant community organizer. Lastly, evidence of trait conservatism, together with clustered or even phylogenetic patterns, suggests that facilitation or competition may drive the assembly of montane hummingbird communities, despite the predominance of random phylogenetic patterns. Synthesis. Overall, we present a pathway to identify central ecological processes that may drive the assembly of plant–pollinator communities. We show that different processes related with pollination that vary in space and time may contribute to the assembly of the interdependent tropical communities of plants and pollinators. These findings highlight the importance of considering ecological interactions when evaluating community assembly processes.
New data on the recent brachiopods from the Fiji and Wallis and Futuna islands, South-West Pacific

Huit genres de brachiopodes actuels, Pelagodiscus, Novocrania, cryptopora, Xenobrochus, Eucalathis, Campages, Megerlia et Thecidellina, ont ete identifies dans le materiel des iles Wallis et Futuna recolte pendant l'expedition francaise MUSORSTOM 7 en 1992. Dix-neuf genres de brachiopodes actuels, Lingula, Novocrania, Cryptopora, Basiliola, Abyssothyris, Xenobrochus, Dallithyris, Terebratulina, Eucalathis, Fallax, Septicollarina, Frenulina, Argyrotheca, Amphithyris, Leptothyrella, Dallina, Nipponithyris, Campages et Thecidellina, ont ete identifies dans le materiel recolte aux iles Fidji pendant les expeditions francaises MUSORSTOM 10 et BORDAU 1 en 1998 et 1999. Deux genres, Pelagodiscus et Megerlia, trouves aux iles Wallis et Futuna ne l'ont pas ete aux iles Fidji, tandis que 13 autres trouves aux iles Fidji ne l'ont pas ete aux iles Wallis et Futuna. Quatre especes sont decrites comme nouvelles : Xenobrochus rotundus n. sp. , Leptothyrella fijiensis n. sp. , Nipponithyris lauensis n. sp. et Campages ovalis n. sp. Xenobrochus rotundus n. sp. differe des especes congeneriques par son contour arrondi et son petit foramen ; elle se caracterise par des plaques cardinales rudimentaires ou absentes et une bande transverse convexe anterieurement avec un petit repli median. Leptothyrella fijiensis n. sp. presente des branches descendantes attachees au septum median, des lamelles dentales peu developpees et des tubercules le long des cotes du bec. Nipponithyris lauensis n. sp. se distingue facilement des autres especes du genre par l'absence de crura et Campages ovalis n. sp. se caracterise par sa petite coquille ovale presentant une commissure anterieure a bord droit et un petit foramen.
The Split Block: A Useful Design for Extension and Research in Lowbush Blueberries

A 2-factor split-block experiment was initiated to test the effect of terbacil and nitrogen on yield of 6 commercial lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) fields in Maine. Locations served as blocks in the design. Large differences in yield were obtained among locations. An increase in yield was obtained by increasing the rate of terbacil. No significant trends due to N or the terbacil by N interactions were detected. The split-block was highly effective for grower education concurrent to obtaining replicated inform ation for generalized state-w ide recom m endations. Chemical name used: 5-chloro-3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione (terbacil).
Persistent Disparities between Recent Rates of Habitat Conversion and Protection and Implications for Future Global Conservation Targets

Anthropogenic conversion of natural habitats is the greatest threat to biodiversity and one of the primary reasons for establishing protected areas (PAs). Here, we show that PA establishment outpaced habitat conversion between 1993 and 2009 across all biomes and the majority (n = 567, 71.4%) of ecoregions globally. However, high historic rates of conversion meant that 447 (56.2%) ecoregions still exhibit a high ratio of conversion to protection, and of these, 127 (15.9%) experienced further increases in this ratio between 1993 and 2009. We identify 41 “crisis ecoregions” in 45 countries where recent habitat conversion is severe and PA coverage remains extremely low. While the recent growth in PAs is a notable conservation achievement, international conventions and associated finance mechanisms should prioritize areas where habitat is being lost rapidly relative to protection, such as the crisis ecoregions identified here.
Reptile distribution may identify terrestrial islands for conservation: the Levant’s ‘Arava Valley as a model

ABSTRACT Widely accepted major criteria for biodiversity hotspots that deserve conservation include species richness, endemism and threat. Proving that a taxon is endemic to a given area is more difficult, and therefore expensive, with animals than with plants because of the difficulty to prove absence outside the known distribution. Seeking a cost-efficient practical method to show animal endemism while funds necessary for conventional demonstration of endemism are lacking, we argued that when the known distribution of a suspected endemic taxon coincides with an eco-geographically isolated area, e.g. island, its exclusivity to that area is more credible. We selected a model site containing suspected endemics, the ‘Arava depression (altitude - 400–0 m) between arid southern Israel and southern Jordan. A search of the literature and collections found at least 23 animal taxa endemic to the ‘Arava, to the adjacent Dead Sea basin sharing the depression, or to both. We assessed the level of isolation of the ‘Arava depression by statistically analysing the geographical distribution of taxa (species or subspecies) of one selected well researched model group, Squamata (lizards and snakes). In northern Israel and Jordan the squamate faunas of the two countries are very similar. In contrast in the south where the ‘Arava intervenes, the two faunas greatly differ. The ‘Arava both constitutes a partial barrier and is partly isolated. Hence its apparent endemics are likely real endemics, inviting conservation of the area. The more so since the ‘Arava is also an arena of much research and education. Our methodology may serve worldwide to identify semi-isolated terrestrial areas for conservation.
Engineering a de Novo Transport Tunnel

Transport of ligands between buried active sites and bulk solvent is a key step in the catalytic cycle of many enzymes. The absence of evolutionary optimized transport tunnels is an important barrier limiting the efficiency of biocatalysts prepared by computational design. Creating a structurally defined and functional “hole” into the protein represents an engineering challenge. Here we describe the computational design and directed evolution of a de novo transport tunnel in haloalkane dehalogenase. Mutants with a blocked native tunnel and newly opened auxiliary tunnel in a distinct part of the structure showed dramatically modified properties. The mutants with blocked tunnels acquired specificity never observed with native family members: up to 32 times increased substrate inhibition and 17 times reduced catalytic rates. Opening of the auxiliary tunnel resulted in specificity and substrate inhibition similar to those of the native enzyme and the most proficient haloalkane dehalogenase reported to date (k.
Allelopathic potential and an allelopathic substance in mango leaves

ABSTRACT The present study was aimed to determine the allelopathic potential of mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaves and to identify allelopathic substances in the leaves. The aqueous methanol extracts of mango leaves inhibited seedling growth of garden cress, radish, rapeseed, foxtail fescue and crabgrass, and the inhibitory effects increased with the increasing extract concentration, suggesting that mango leaves may contain allelopathic substances. The extract was then purified by several chromatographic runs through a bioassay-directed fractionation, and an growth inhibitory substance was isolated and identified by spectral data as methyl-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate (methyl gallate). Methyl gallate at the concentration of 10 mM inhibited 98.6% and 99.8% of root and shoot growth of garden cress relative to the control, respectively, and 94.4% and 49.3% of those of foxtail fescue, respectively. The concentrations of methyl gallate required for 50% growth inhibition (I50) on garden cress roots and shoots were 3.9 and 3.3 mM, and those on foxtail fescue roots and shoots were 1.5 and 9.5 mM, respectively. It is the first report of an allelopathic substance in mango leaves and allelopathic activity of methyl gallate. Therefore, the mango leaves may have potential as a soil additive material for the weed management options.
A Phylogenetic Analysis of Pleisiotypic Hydroporine Lineages with an Emphasis on Laccornis Des Gozis (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Analysis of selected characters of the wings, metafurca, proventriculus, mouthparts, legs, genitalia, and prothorax indicate that Hydroporinae is monophyletic. Ten synapotypies are proposed for Hydroporinae; however, four are character losses and five are homoplasius and occur outside of Hydroporinae. A potential sister group relationship exists between Hydroporinae and Laccophilinae. The most pleisiotypic examined hydroporine lineages are Laccornis, Methlini, Canthyporus, Hydrovatini, and Lioporeus. Laccornis copelatoides and L. lugubris are misplaced in Laccornis. The lineage that includes members of Laccornis is at least 140 to 170 million years old. Divergence and evolutionary success of Hydroporinae (including Laccornis) was affected by rifting of Pangea and habitat specialization. (cladistics, Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae, Laccornis, Pangea, phylogeny, systematics, zoogeography) The most comprehensive revision of the Dytiscidae is that of Sharp (1882), and his classification remains the starting point for many current taxonomic, phylogenetic, and classification studies of aquatic adephagans. There have been a number of subsequent at- tempts to elucidate dytiscid phylogeny and/or
Variation in the morphological characters of the Indian honey bee Apis cerana indica (Fabr.) from northern to southern India

The Asian honey bee Apis cerana is widely spread in temperate and tropical Asia and recognized as four subspecies including the Indian honey bee Apis cerana indica. This is known to have considerable morphometric variation in various parts of India. In this study, sixty samples were collected from 12 districts of the Tamil Nadu covering different biogeographical regions and 35 morphometric characters were measured, of which 24 were compared with the morphometrics of bees from elsewhere in India. It is found that the morphometric features of the bees of Tamil Nadu show a wide range of variation and found a close relationship between morphology and ecological zone of origin of the bees.
The Role of Inflammation in Type a Aortic Dissection: A Pilot Study

Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is a severe cardiovascular disease with high mortality rates. Current evidence suggests inflammation as the main mechanism of its complex pathophysiology. Accordingly, in this study the eventual presence of inflammatory cells in aorta specimens and any contribution of these cells in both apoptosis and metalloproteinase levels were assessed. The potential relationship between plasma inflammatory molecules and TAAD was also detected. In addition, implication in TAAD susceptibility of ten common and functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)s of six candidate genes (CCR5, TLR4, ACE, eNOs, MMP-9 and −2) was determined. Thus, histo-pathological and immunoistochemical aorta examination, TUNEL testing, genotyping of ten SNPs were performed. Levels of plasma inflammatory molecules were also determined using ELISA technique. A significant inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the examined aortas. Consistent with these data, significantly higher plasma levels of systemic inflammatory mediators characterized the cases. In addition, a high risk genotype significantly associated with TAAD susceptibility was identified. Thus, inflammation producing MMPs, cytokines and death mediators seem to be the shared pathological mechanism for TAAD in the population examined.
REGENERATION IN FUNDULUS AND ITS RELATION TO THE SIZE OF THE FISH

Przibram ('09) in his treatise on regeneration has reviewed the work bearing on the relation between the age of the animal and the ability to regenerate. The general conclusion is in the form of a law -" Die Regenerationsfahigkeit nimmt mit zunehmenden Alter eines Tierexemplares ab-. " In the BIOIOGICAL BULLETIN ('07) the author came to the conclusion that the regeneration of the caudal fin of Funduits heteroclitus was greater in the shorter than in the fishes of medium length and greater in these than in the longest fishes. That conclusion was reached by comparing the average specific regeneration of the various groups. The specific regeneration is obtained by dividing the actual amount regenerated by the length of the animal, giving as a result the percentage amount regenerated by that specimen. This term was introduced by Zeleny. Now if we take any number and divide it successively by a series of numbers each greater than the preceding we will obtain a series of quotients each successively smaller and smaller. On referring to the experiments in his former paper the author found that the actual amounts of regeneration differed but little in the various specimens used, while the length of the animals increased, so that the case is as stated above i. e. , that the greater specific regeneration in the shorter fishes is due largely to the fact that the divisor in case of short body length is smaller than the divisor in case of long body length, while the dividend (the actual amount regenerated) is about the same, so that naturally we should get smaller and smaller quotients, which in this case would be specific regeneration. This is seen when we refer to the former paper. To test the matter further the writer repeated the experiment during the summer of I908 using a larger number of fishes. The caudal fin of each specimen was removed at the same relative level on August 4 and the fish were placed in running sea-
Phenotypic Dissimilarities among Inbreds of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

For development of single cross hybrids in maize, developed inbreds must be evaluated for the determination of highly heterotic inbred combination (HIC). One of the best methodologies for determination of heterotic inbred combination can be multivariate analysis (MVA) or scales of phenotypic distance or dissimilarities or cluster diagram. For it, inbred must be observed for useful trait measurements. Accordingly, an experimental evaluation was conducted including promising 55 inbred lines of winter maize planting on Sep 3, 2015 at National Maize Research Program Rampur, Chitwan Nepal (NMRP/NARC). The distant inbred lines were determined through MVA. Single plot research technique was done where each inbred line was provided with 2 rows of 20 plants each. Data were taken for fifteen traits. By the use of MINITAB software, the data was analysed. Graphics of principle component analysis (PCA) cluster diagram (CD or dendogram) were constructed and phenotypic dissimilarities are examined.The distant inbreds RML-8, RML-88, RML-13, RML-103, RML-89, RML-102, RML-11, RML-17, RML-83,RML-98,RML-85,RML-86,RML-94 and RML-28 could be crossed with RML-75,RML-6,RML-68,RML-36 and RML-32 which could be used as tester inbred for heterotic hybrid combination. Similarly, RML-98, RML-85, RML-86, RML-94 and RML-28 could be crossed with RML-24, RML-96 and RML-99. Though distant inbred, RML-104 had less ASI but it wasn’t feasible to use for crossing due to higher anthesis tasseling interval. Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(3): 359-364
Genetic diversity and variability in Foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.)] germplasm based on morphological traits

Fifty one accessions of foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. ), constituting a national elite germplasm collection were evaluated for morphological diversity based on nine quantitative traits viz., plant height, number of basal tillers, days to flowering, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, petiole length, inflorescence length, thousand seed weight and single plant yield. The traits showed a continuous distribution, however number of basal tillers, and single plant yield exhibited skewness in positive directions. Considerable variability was observed among the genotypes for all the traits. Among these, grain yield per plant exhibited the maximum variation with a CV of 22.5%, while days to fifty per cent flowering and plant height exhibited the least variation with a CV 7.2% and 9.3% respectively. PCA analysis revealed that the first four components in the PCA results contributed to a maximum of 70 per cent of the variability, the contributions from PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4 being 30.1%, 14.2%, 13.8%, and 11.4%, respectively. The first two components were a measure of vegetative and inflorescence characters, while the third component was a measure of thousand seed weight. Cluster analysis based on the nine morphological traits assorted the 51 genotypes into four main clusters. Dendrogram based on hierarchal clustering grouped the genotypes based on their morphological traits, however the grouping of genotypes did not correspond with their geographic origin. Plant height, number of tillers, days to fifty per cent flowering, grain yield per plant, and 1000 seed weight were found to be the most important traits in distinguishing the major clusters of foxtail millet genotypes at the morphological level.