Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age, growth and mortality of Pontinus kuhlii (Bowdich, 1825) (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) in the Gorringe, Ampère, Unicorn and Lion seamounts

Age and growth of Pontinus kuhlii were studied using otoliths of 153 males and 148 females, with males having a greater length (and age) than females. A high level of agreement was achieved among readers. Due to gear selectivity, only ages above 7 years (males) and 8 years (females) were estimated in whole otoliths. To estimate length-at-age in younger specimens, backcalculation was also considered but its use in otoliths with ages greater than 22 years was not possible because the growth rings were too close to each other. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated by sex using each of these methods and also using an approach that combines mean length-at-age obtained from backcalculation and direct reading on the otoliths. The likelihood ratio test showed significant differences between sexes in the three approaches and Akaike’s information criterion suggests that the backcalculation approach was the best one for describing P. kuhlii growth: TL=38.89[1-e (-0.07(t+1.96)) ] and TL=56.50[1-e (–0.04(t+1.87)) ] for females and males, respectively. Natural mortality estimates varied around 0.15 year –1 and 0.07 year –1 for females and males, while the total mortality estimated for 2011 was 0.33 year –1 for females and 0.21 year –1 for males.
Competition for Hummingbird Pollination and Sequential Flowering in Two Colorado Wildflowers

The simultaneous flowering of co—occurring plant species with similar pollinator affinities may result in interspecific pollen transfer and consequent fecundity reductions due to wastage of pollen, stigma surfaces, and effective pollinator visits. In such cases competition for pollination occurs and may lead to or maintain sequential flowering. Two common perennials in the mountains of west—central Colorado, Delphinium nelsoni and Ipomopsis aggregata, flower sequentially in the same meadows and are visited commonly by Broad—tailed Hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus). Hummingbirds carry pollen of both species and their exclusion from flowers leads to significant seed set reductions. During the brief period of flowering overlap between D. nelsoni and I. aggregata in natural meadows, hummingbirds visit both species, carry mixtures of their pollen, and appear to cause interspecific pollen transfer. Flowers of both species receptive during this period suffer significant seed set reductions relative to those receptive during nonoverlap periods. Interspecific pollinator flights and pollen transfer also occur in mixtures of potted plants, and seed set reductions consistently occur for both D. nelsoni and I. aggregata in such mixtures relative to single—species controls. Finally, seed set reductions occur for both species following interspecific hand pollination of potted plants. Fecundity reductions in natural and synthetic mixtures of D. nelsoni and I. aggregata indicate that the 2 species compete for hummingbird pollination and suggest that the competitive interaction involves interspecific pollen transfer. The observed reproductive effects represent a selective force sufficient to maintain divergent flowering times of D. nelsoni and I. aggregata in nature.
Taxonomic description of two new marine oligotrichous ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora)

The morphology and ciliary pattern of a new marine oligotrichous ciliate, Strombidium wilberti nov. spec. , collected from the littoral area off Qingdao, North China, are described from live observations and after protargol impregnation. This new species is characterized by: about 45–60×35–50 µm in vivo with truncated obconical body shape and conspicuous distended cell surface which covers the posterior half of the cell; buccal cavity extending posteriorly to about one‐third of body length; about eight buccal and 15 collar membranelles; girdle kinety completely closed, consisting of ca 60 dikinetids; ventral kinety conspicuously long with about 30 densely packed dikinetids, which extends anteriorly to girdle area; extrusomes about 20 µm long, grouped in rows and arranged anterior to girdle kinety; single globular macronucleus. Related nominal congeners are compared and discussed. The Antarctic morphotype described by Petz et al. (1995) as Strombidium emergens (Leegaard, 1915) Kahl, 1932 is not conspecific with the original form and is hence recognized as a new member of this genus, Strombidium petzi nov. spec. The diagnosis for this new organism: large marine Strombidium ca 95–110×60–65 µm in vivo with elongate elliptical body shape and conspicuously shallow oral cavity. Girdle kinety continuous on ventral side with ca 100 dikinetids; ventral kinety extending from posterior area almost to girdle kinety, consisting of more than 20 dikinetids; four to five buccal and 14–15 collar membranelles. Macronucleus oval in shape; one subequatorial girdle of extrusomes.
Combined effects of disease and competition on plant fitness

Wheat genotypes susceptible to different races of a pathogen, Puccinia striiformis, were planted in pure stands and in three different 1:1 mixtures, in both the presence and absence of disease, in two sites, and over 3 years. Using analyses of variance, we tested whether disease and intergenotypic competition influenced a genotype's fitness and whether significant interactions existed between the effects of disease and competition on genotype fitness. Seed weight, number of inflorescences per seed planted, seeds per inflorescence, and absolute fitness were estimated for each genotype in each treatment. Absolute fitness was determined as the number of seeds collected per seed planted. Disease reduced seed weight. The other fitness measures were influenced by either disease or competition, and the im- pact of each factor often varied among site-year combinations. In general, interactions between the effects of disease and competition on genotype fitness were not significant. The few significant interactions indicated a less than additive effect of competition and disease on genotype fitness. The overall lack of interaction may be, in part, due to lesser dis - ease levels in mixed as compared with pure stands, or reduced level of competition under diseased conditions.
Anesthesia of Juvenile Pacific Lampreys with MS‐222, BENZOAK, AQUI‐S 20E, and Aquacalm

Abstract Effective anesthetics are a critical component of safe and humane fish handling procedures. We tested three concentrations each of four anesthetics—Finquel (tricaine methanesulfonate, herein referred to as MS-222), BENZOAK (20% benzocaine), AQUI-S 20E (10% eugenol), and Aquacalm (metomidate hydrochloride)—for efficacy and safety in metamorphosed, outmigrating juvenile Pacific Lampreys Entosphenus tridentatus. The anesthetics MS-222 (100 mg/L) and BENZOAK (60 mg/L) were the most effective for anesthetizing juvenile Pacific Lampreys to a handleable state with minimal irritation to the fish. Fish anesthetized with BENZOAK also had lower rates of fungal infection than those exposed to MS-222, AQUI-S 20E, or no anesthetic. Exposure to AQUI-S 20E irritated juvenile Pacific Lampreys, causing them to leap or climb out of the anesthetic solution, and Aquacalm anesthetized fish to a handleable state too slowly and incompletely for effective use with routine handling procedures. Our results indicate that MS.
Chlorophyll-deficient Mutations Induced in Rice by Alkylating Agents and Azide.

The three cultivars of rice were treated with sodium azide and two alkylating agents EMS and MMS with a view to find out the frequency, spectrum, efficiency and effectiveness of chlorophyll mutations in relation to the genotype and the nature of the mutagen. Chlorophyll mutation frequency was enhanced with increasing dose but dropped at very high doses. Among the chlorophyll mutants induced viridis type formed the majority class. Effectiveness decreased with increase in dose with a few exceptions. Efficiency was more in the alkylating agents treated populations.
Symptomless endophytic colonization of maize by Fusarium moniliforme

Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon is a nonobligate parasite of maize that produces several mycotoxins. This fungus causes systemic infections of maize kernels, which then serve as dissemination vehicles and inoculum sources. Infected plants may or may not show disease symptoms. Symptomless infection was studied in maize plants and was compared with plants that eventually showed symptoms of seedling disease. Three isolates of F. moniliforme, a hygromycin-resistant mutant of two of these isolates, and Fusarium fujikuroi were used to infect surface and internally sterilized maize kernels, and symptomatic and symptomless infections were observed for 8 weeks. The results indicated that in symptomless infected plants, hyphae were intercellular only and distributed throughout the plant, whereas in plants showing disease symptoms, the fungus was both intercellular and intracellular. Symptomless plants remained symptomless throughout the observation period, and at the ultrastructural level there was no evidence of an a.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Biologia e Exigências Térmicas de Trichogramma pratissolii Querino & Zucchi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) em Hospedeiros Alternativos

The objective of this work was to study the biology and determine the thermal requirements of Trichogramma pratissolii Querino & Zucchi reared on Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 and 33oC. The highest percentage of emergence of T. pratissolii was obtained at 27oC on A. kuehniella and from 24oC to 30oC on C. cephalonica. The lower threshold temperature (Tb) and the thermal requirement (K) of T. pratissolii were 12.59oC (Tb) and 122.85 degree-days (K) when reared on A. kuehniella and 11.73oC (Tb) and 139.80 degree-days (K) on C. cephalonica. These results indicate that both A. kuehniella and C. cephalonica are suitable hosts for T. pratissolii mass rearing. The optimal temperature for the immature development and emergence of T. pratissolii on A. kuehniella was 27oC and 24oC to 30oC on C. cephalonica.
Adaptations of Female Lions to Infanticide by Incoming Males

Female lions with cubs show various direct responses to immigrating males, including defense of their cubs or avoidance of the new males. Despite these responses, male replacement in the females' pride results in considerable cub mortality. Those females that remain in the pride and mate with the new males show low fertility in the first few months after a takeover of their pride. At the same time, however, females show heightened sexual activity, being more active in initiating copulations and seeking a greater number of mating partners. These two factors appear to elicit competition between male coalitions for control of the pride, with the result that larger coalitions eventually become resident. We suggest that this is adaptive because a female needs protection from male harassment of her cubs for over 2 yr in order to rear her cubs successfully, and only large male coalitions are likely to remain in a pride for more than 2 yr. We present a simple model that specifies one set of conditions under which a female will improve her lifetime reproductive success by showing temporary periods of infertility, but attracting a larger coalition.
On the Contribution of Argument Structure Constructions to Sentence Meaning for Korean Learners of English

This paper replicates the sorting task conducted on Bencini and Goldberg (2000) to examine whether Korean learners of English only concentrate on the meaning of verbs or they also pay attention to constructional meanings in English sentence processing. The results were broadly consistent with the original study―Korean learners of English were able to recognize the existence of English argument structure constructions and utilize the configurations in sentence interpretation. However, the experiment detected discrepancy in learners' understanding constructions according to the types. Language learners generally have a sense of English argument structure constructions and try to make full use of the representations, but their cognitive ability has not been sufficiently trained to access the internal relation among the constructions. Consequently, the learners feel difficulty in interpreting other types of argument structure constructions except transitive constructions and they tend to stick to the representations. Constructionists regard argument structure constructions as impetus and facilitator in language acquisition. Based on the perspective, the materials and the instructions provided to language learners need to be developed in a way that promotes the learners' access to the characteristics of English argument structure constructions.
Increased prevalence of larval Eustronglylides (Nematoda) in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus (L.), from the discharge canal of a power plant in the Chesapeake Bay

The prevalence of larval Eustrongylides sp. in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, was compared for two populations, one in the vicinity of the intake and one in the discharge canal of a power plant at Chalk Point on the Patuxent River, Maryland. The parasite was four times as prevalent in female F. heteroclitus collected from the discharge canal as in those collected from the intake area. Almost all infected fish were 70 mm or greater in total length. The larvae occurred in capsules and free in the mesentery, or associated with the gut, liver, or gonad of the host; multiple infections were common. Infection by Eustrongylides resulted in pronounced negative effects on F. heteroclitus. The dry weight of somatic tissue was reduced 5% and ovary dry weight was reduced 50% in infected individuals, compared to uninfected individuals of the same length. The proportion of infected females carrying ripe eggs during the breeding season was less than half the value for uninfected females. It is hypothesized that the greater prevalence of the parasite in the discharge canal results from increased abundances of oligochaetes (suspected first intermediate hosts of the parasite), presumably as a consequence of elevated temperatures and organic enrichment from the power plant.
Pilot search for cylindrospermopsin-producers in nine shallow Bulgarian waterbodies reveals nontoxic strains of Raphidiopsis raciborskii, R. mediterranea and Chrysosporum bergii

Abstract This paper presents results from the first application of molecular-genetic analysis combined with conventional light microscopy (LM) for identification of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) producers in field phytoplankton samples from Bulgaria. In total 68 cyanoprokaryotes were found by LM, out of which 18 were considered potential CYN-producers according to the literature. They occurred in different abundance (0-40%) in five waterbodies. The presence of CYN-producers was sought by application of the primer pair cynsulfF/cylnamR specific for the sulfotransferase gene (cyrJ) considered the best genetic marker for detection of CYN-toxigenic strains. Although CYN was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in two waterbodies (lake Vaya and reservoir Mandra), we did not find cyanoprokaryotes with cyrJ gene. Therefore, Raphidiopsis raciborskii, despite being identified by LM in both waterbodies where CYN occurred, was not the producer of this toxin and belonged to the European nontoxic population of the species. The same was true for the less widely spread Raphidiopsis mediterranea and Chrysosporum bergii (both found in small amounts only in lake Vaya). Our results on CYN occurrence without the assignment of its producer in the collected samples suggest that: 1) CYN remains stable in water after disappearance of the toxigenic species, or, more probably, 2) besides the already known species, there are others that are associated with the production of CYN. Because revealing of novel CYN producers is of ultimate importance for health risk assessment and water management, we propose more analyses to be performed in future studies.
Immobilization of Endoproteases from Crude Extract of Cynara cardunculus L. Flowers

The cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a variety of thistle which grows wild and abundantly in uncultivated areas of many regions of Portugal. Its dried flowers are used as a milk coagulant in the manufacture of traditional cheeses, due to its high content in aspartic proteases, namely cardosins A and B. In general, proteases can be immobilized without significant loss of their catalytic activity and their use as milk coagulant offers several advantages over their soluble counterparts, namely simplified protocols, long term stability of the coagulant and successful reutilization. Since proteases are often expensive, especially at high degrees of purity, immobilization may increase their industrial applicability. In this work, aqueous extracts of cardoon were immobilized on celite by adsorption. The properties of free and immobilized extracts from cardoon (kinetic parameters, pH effects, activation energy, ionic effects, clotting time) were compared. Optima pH and temperature were 5.0 and 60 °C, respectively, for extracts in both forms. Upon immobilization, a 60—70% loss of enzyme activity, as well as a decrease in the specificity constants (up to 90%) were observed. Immobilized biocatalyst was evaluated for bovine and caprine caseins, at a laboratory scale, showing a higher specificity towards the latter.
Variation in the choanal structure of Recent turtles

The choanal regions of all the living genera and almost all of the living forms of turtles are described, based on a sample of over 4000 specimens. In all families of cryptodires except the cheloniids and derrnochelyids there are usually ridges or flaps along the lateral margins of the choanae. In chelydrids, most kinosternids, some platystemids, some emydids, and some trionychids there is a papilla or bulge extending medially into the choana from this flap or ridge, and in dermatemydids, carettochelyids, and some trionychids there may be several or many such papillae, Cheloniids have one, or in Chelonia many, papillae along the lateral choanal margin. Other forms lack these papillae. Dermochelyids and pleurodires have no special structures along the lateral choanal margins. In almost all cases there is some and often there is considerable variation in these structures.The possible phylogenetic and taxonomic implications of the findings are discussed. In some groups such as the genera of emydids, the choa.
Hydrology, development, and biogeochemistry of ombrogenous peat bogs with special reference to nutrient relocation in a western Newfoundland bog

Ombrogenous bogs differ fundamentally from other peatlands in their hydrology, and this affects peat accumulation and bog development as well as the elemental concentrations in peat and water. In oceanic and northern parts of the raised bog zone, the surface of the bog center remains below the critical profile of the water mound because factors other than moisture supply limit its maximum height. In the surface peat, Na and K decrease with depth, whereas other elements increase to a greater or smaller extent. Most elements occur in surprisingly low concentrations below the anaerobic level. In an ombrotrophic bog in western Newfoundland, Na, Mg, and Ca concentrations of bog water were 5, 4–5, and 0.5 times higher, respectively, than in precipitation. K and Mg increased downslope, especially in spring, but not during the vegetation season. In July and August, 20–30% of the Mg, 75–80% of the K, and 93% of the Ca are removed from the precipitation while the water seeps over the bog. Uptake by vegetation is pr.
Increasing host age does not have the expected negative effects on the fitness parameters of an egg parasitoid

Host age is an important determinant of host acceptance and suitability for egg parasitoids. As host embryonic development advances, the quality of resources available to the parasitoid offspring typically declines, usually resulting in reduced acceptance levels by foraging females and lower offspring fitness. We examined the ability of the parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) to parasitize and develop in Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs of different ages. In laboratory experiments, we measured the effect of host age (6, 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 h old) on parasitism rate and offspring fitness parameters such as survival, development time, sex ratio, and size. Contrary to our expectations, parasitism rate did not differ between host age treatments, nor did sex ratio allocation, offspring size, or the fecundity of newly emerged female offspring. However, parasitoid offspring had a longer development time with increasing host age. This trend was stronger for males than for females, which we suggest could reduce the degree of protandry among offspring emerging from older host eggs, thus increasing the rate of virginity upon leaving the emergence patch and resulting in more frequent off‐patch mating by female offspring in nature. Overall, our results suggest that all stages of P. maculiventris embryonic development are suitable for acceptance and development of T. podisi. Unlike most species of egg parasitoids, T. podisi has evolved mechanisms to utilize host resources, regardless of host developmental stage, with relatively minor fitness consequences.
The use of whole grain sorghum in broiler feeds

In broiler feed manufacturing, grinding may significantly increase costs due to electric energy use. This study evaluated the performance and the morphometrics of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers. According to a completely randomized experimental design, 2,400 birds (1,200 males and 1,200 females) were submitted to five treatments of eight replicates each. Treatments consisted of diets based corn or sorghum as follows: ground corn (A), broken corn (B), ground sorghum (C), ground (50%) and whole (50%) sorghum (D) and whole sorghum (100%; E). Pre-starter feeds (1 to 8 days), based on corn or sorghum, were produced only with ground grains. The study was divided in two trials: males and females. The results were submitted to analysis of variance (p<0.05) and Tukey’s test. Feed intake, live weight, feed conversion ratio, and livability of 21- and 42-day-old male and female broilers were not affected by the treatments. This demonstrates that broiler performance is not influenced by sorghum physical form and that broilers fed sorghum-based diets presented similar performance as those fed corn-based diets. Gizzard and small intestine were heavier when whole sorghum grains was included in the diet. It was concluded that whole sorghum grains can be included in broiler feeds with not detrimental effects on performance.