Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AXIAL SKELETON ONTOGENY IN THE PARASUCHIA (ARCHOSAURIA: PSEUDOSUCHIA) AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR ONTOGENETIC DETERMINATION IN ARCHOSAURS

Abstract The sequence of neurocentral suture closure is one criterion for the determination of ontogenetic stage in extant crocodylians. This pattern is frequently used to assess ontogeny for a variety of fossil archosaurs that may or may not follow the same sequence and timing of suture closure. Phytosaurs are one of the few basal archosaur groups with a sample size large enough to help test whether the crocodylian pattern of suture closure is plesiomorphic for Pseudosuchia and Archosauria. Analysis of a large sample of North American phytosaur specimens confirms that phytosaurs share the crocodylian state of closure, and so this pattern is probably plesiomorphic for the Pseudosuchia. An additional independent ontogenetic trend observed in phytosaurs is that the lateral fossae on cervical vertebrae in phytosaurs deepen with ontogeny. A preliminary survey indicates that there is considerable variation of both the sequence and timing of neurocentral suture closure in other archosaur clades. Therefore, it is unwise to apply a priori the crocodylian pattern to other archosaur groups to determine ontogenetic stage. Currently, apart from histological data, there are few if any reliable independent criteria for determining ontogenetic stage. I propose that histology be integrated with independent ontogenetic criteria (such as neurocentral suture closure) and morphometric data to provide a better understanding of archosaur ontogeny.
The range, abundance and habitat of Hinde’s Babbler Turdoides hindei: fine-scale changes in abundance during 2000–2011 reflect temporal variation in scrub cover

Summary In developing countries, ‘land sparing’ may be more effective than ‘land sharing’ in partially mitigating the impacts of farming on bird species diversity. We examined the pattern of change in the global and local distribution of Hinde’s Babbler Turdoides hindei, a ‘Vulnerable’ Kenyan endemic whose local abundance is dependent on a passive form of land sharing, in which farmland is left fallow or abandoned, enabling Lantana scrub to colonise. In 2011 we assessed the species’ global range and resurveyed three IBAs, surveyed previously in 2000–2001, to determine whether fine-scale changes in abundance reflected temporal changes in habitat quality. Although the babbler’s known range increased between 1900–1970 and 1991–2011, we suggest that this apparent expansion largely reflects an improved knowledge base, and that several recently discovered sites are likely to have been overlooked in the past. In combination, the three IBAs surveyed in 2000-2001 and 2011 showed little net change in the number of individuals (+1.3%) or groups (-3.8%) encountered, despite a 68% decline in the number individuals recorded at one site. Within 1-km transect sections there was a positive correlation between change in Hinde’s Babbler abundance and change in the amount of scrub cover available, such that a reduction in scrub cover of 22 and 6 percentage points, respectively, was associated with the loss of one group or one individual. The availability of scrub cover was dependent mainly on the amount land left uncultivated, perhaps in response to changes in the value of coffee and other crops. Since the babbler’s abundance thus currently depends mainly on land sharing by default, rather than by design, we suggest that a more proactive approach, involving land purchase or payments for land set aside, might help to secure its future.
Synthesis and Structures of Halo-Substituted Aroylhydrazones with Antimicrobial Activity

A series of new halo-substituted aroylhydrazones have been prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas fluorescence) and antifungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) activities by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method. Among the tested compounds, N′-(2-chloro-5-nitrobenzylidene)-2-fluorobenzohydrazide showed the most effective antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 0.82, 2.5, 1.7, 15.2, and 37.5 μg mL–1 against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, P. fluorescence, and C. albicans, respectively. The biological assay indicated that the presence of the electron-withdrawing groups in the aroylhydrazones improved their antimicrobial activities.
Phylogenetic affinities of the late Miocene echimyid †Pampamys and the age of Thrichomys (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

Abstract Phylogenetic affinities of the late Miocene echimyid †Pampamys emmonsae Verzi, Vucetich, and Montalvo, 1995 (Huayquerian South American Land Mammal Age, central Argentina), were analyzed. In the most-parsimonious tree obtained, subfamilies of Echimyidae were nonmonophyletic (except for Dactylomyinae). Two major clades were recovered. One of them included the living fossorial Eumysopinae and the extinct †Theridomysops. The other clade grouped the terrestrial eumysopines Thrichomys (punaré) and Proechimys–Trinomys (spiny rats), and the arboreal eumysopines Mesomys (spiny tree-rats) + Echimyinae–Dactylomyinae. †Pampamys was the sister genus of Thrichomys, suggesting the Huayquerian South American Land Mammal Age (>6.0 million years ago [mya] by biochronology) as a minimum age for the origin of the living genus. Both major echimyid clades recognized here are represented by simplified-molared species in the Huayquerian South American Land Mammal Age. This would be related to the expansion of open environments during the late Miocene, and the geographical bias of the fossiliferous Huayquerian deposits exposed mostly in southern South America.
Polygyny and Male Parental Care by Sprague's Pipit

Abstract Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) is a ground-nesting passerine of the northern mixed-grass prairie. Few studies have examined the natural history and demography of the species, and little information exists on its mating system or parental care. We installed video monitoring systems at 11 randomly selected pipit nests to study parental care and nestling growth. We recorded one male providing parental care to nestlings in two nests active during the same time period. The male began delivering prey to nestlings and removing fecal sacs at both nests on day 5 of the nestling period. The male re-nested with one of his original mates 11 days after the nests failed, and began providing parental care to nestlings from day 2 until fledging. This is the first case of polygyny and male parental care documented for Sprague's Pipit. Future studies should examine the extent of polygyny in Sprague's Pipit using marked adults and genetic analyses.
Effect of Animal Manure Ammended Spent Grain and Cocoa Husk on Nutrient Status Growth and Yield of Tomato

2 Abstract: Combined use of crop and animal wastes is necessary in order to obtain adequate amount of organic manure for use in crop production. Hence field experiments were conducted at two sites in Akure, Southwest Nigeria to compare effect of NPK (15-5-15) fertilizer (200 kg ha ) and each of Spent Grain (SG) and ground 1 Cocoa Husk (CH) amended with Cattle Dung (CD), Poultry Manure (PM) and Goat Manure (GM) at equal rates (12.5 t ha :12.5 t ha ). The effects of treatments on leaf N, P and K concentrations, growth and fruit yield 11 of tomato were studied. Compared with control, NPKF and animal manure amended SG and CH increased leaf N and K, plant height, number of branches, leaf area, number and weight of fruits significantly (p>0.05). Fruit yields given by CD, PM and GM amended CH and PM and GM amended SG were similar. Among eight treatments compared, CH and SG amended with PM gave highest fruit yields. Compared with control, NPKF, amended SG and CH increased fruit yield by 268,342 and 397%, respectively.
DEMOGRAPHY, GENETICS, AND THE VALUE OF MIXED MESSAGES

Abstract Iverson et al. (2004) used estimates of the homing rate for molting adult Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) in Alaska to draw inferences about population structure. Homing rates, defined as one minus the ratio of birds recaptured elsewhere to those recaptured at the original banding site, were high (0.95–1.00) for males and females. Iverson et al. (2004) concluded that these high rates of homing are indicative of demographic independence among molting groups separated by small distances (tens to hundreds of kilometers) and that conservation efforts should recognize this fine-scale population structure. We re-examined their use of the homing rate, because their assumption of equal detection probability across a wide sampling area could have led to an upward bias in their estimates of site fidelity. As a result, we are hesitant to agree with their conclusion of high adult homing to molting areas and that molt-site fidelity is evidence for demographic independence. Our hesitancy stems from the fact that little is known about juvenile and adult movements within and among years, breeding area origins, and the variation of demographic parameters (e.g., survival and productivity) among molting groups. Furthermore, population genetic data of these molting groups suggest gene flow at both nuclear and mitochondrial loci. Such mixed messages between demographic (i.e., banding) and genetic data are increasingly common in ornithological studies and offer unique opportunities to reassess predictions and make more robust inferences about population structure across broad temporal and spatial scales. Thus, we stress that it is this broader scale perspective, which combines both demography and genetics, that biologists should seek to quantify and conservation efforts should seek to recognize.
Temporal Variation in Fitness Components and Population Dynamics of Large Herbivores

▪ Abstract In large-herbivore populations, environmental variation and density dependence co-occur and have similar effects on various fitness components. Our review aims to quantify the temporal variability of fitness components and examine how that variability affects changes in population growth rates. Regardless of the source of variation, adult female survival shows little year-to-year variation [coefficient of variation (CV 30%). Old females show senescence in both survival and reproduction. These patterns of variation are independent of differences in body mass, taxonomic group, and ecological conditions. Differences in levels of maternal care may fine-tune the temporal variation of early survival. The immature stage, despite a low relative impact on population growth rate compared with the adult stage, ma.
POPULATION STRUCTURE OF ALPHEUS ARMILLATUS (DECAPODA, ALPHEIDAE) IN SÃO SEBASTIÃO AND ILHABELA, SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract The study of the population structure of A. armillatus was based on monthly collections (March 2000–February 2002) from two tidal flats—São Francisco Beach (SF), São Sebastião County, and Engenho d'Água Beach (EA), Ilhabela County—located at the northern portion of the State of São Paulo coast and separated by the 6 km wide São Sebastião Channel. Carapace length (CL) was measured to the nearest 0.01 mm. The proportion of ovigerous females and the embryonic development stage of eggs were recorded. The Von Bertalanffy growth equation was fit to modes of the temporal sequence of frequency distributions of CL classes (SF data). The same sampling effort yielded 547 males and 566 females at SF and 145 males and 150 females at EA. Proportions of ovigerous females were higher than 60% throughout the year in both sites. The temporal trend of percentage of late eggs indicated three annual hatching periods. Growth patterns of males and females were similar, with the former tending to grow more rapidly (K = 2.28) and to attain smaller size (L∞ = 13.90) than females (K = 1.90; L∞ = 14.90). The estimated longevity of males and females was 1.20 years (14.4 months) and 1.29 years (15.5 months), respectively.
Effects of Tributary Spatial Position, Urbanization, and Multiple Low-Head Dams on Warmwater Fish Community Structure in a Midwestern Stream

Abstract A survey of stream fish communities was conducted in the upper Des Plaines River watershed in Illinois and Wisconsin to determine the distribution of fish species and to evaluate the effects of tributary spatial position, urbanization, and multiple low-head dams on fish species diversity and species composition. Forty-eight sites upstream of Salt Creek in Illinois to the headwaters in Wisconsin were surveyed between 2002 and 2004. We found that fish species diversity decreased as agricultural land was replaced by urban land. In addition, tributary position within the drainage network caused significant differences in fish species diversity; specifically, we found significantly less fish species diversity in main-stem tributary streams located lower in the drainage network than in similarly sized streams located in the headwaters of the drainage area. Fish species composition, determined by multivariate principal components analysis, also showed significant differences among stream position within.
Molecular profile of BRCA-mutated biliary tract cancers

Introduction Prognosis of biliary tract cancers (BTC) remains dismal and novel treatment strategies are needed to improve survival. BRCA mutations are known to occur in BTC but their frequency and the molecular landscape in which they are observed in distinct sites of BTC remain unknown. Material and methods Tumour samples from 1292 patients with BTC, comprising intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC, n=746), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC, n=189) and gallbladder cancer (GBC, n=353), were analysed using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Tumour mutational burden (TMB) was calculated based on somatic non-synonymous missense mutations. Determination of tumour mismatch repair (MMR) or microsatellite instability (MSI) status was done by fragment analysis, immunohistochemistry and the evaluation of known microsatellite loci by NGS. Programmed death ligand 1 expression was analysed using immunohistochemistry. Results Overall, BRCA mutations were detected in 3.6% (n=46) of samples (BRCA1: 0.6%, BRCA2: 3%) with no significant difference in frequency observed based on tumour site. In GBC and IHC, BRCA2 mutations (4.0% and 2.7%) were more frequent than BRCA1 (0.3% and 0.4%, p<0.05) while in EHC, similar frequency was observed (2.6% for BRCA2 vs 2.1% for BRCA1). BRCA mutations were associated with a higher rate in subjects with MSI-H/deficient mismatch repair (19.5% vs 1.7%, p<0.0001) and tumours with higher TMB, regardless of the MMR or MSI status (p<0.05). Conclusions BRCA mutations are found in a subgroup of patients with BTC and are characterised by a distinct molecular profile. These data provide a rationale testing poly(ADP-ribose)polymeraseinhibitors and other targeted therapies in patients with BRCA-mutant BTC.
Feeding Behaviour and Functional Role of Some Selected Species of Brachyuran Crabs in Nutrient Cycle at Coastal Belt of Midnapore (East), West Bengal, India

Studies on diet varieties and feeding activities of ten species of brachyuran crabs and their contribution in the nutrient cycle at coastal belt of Midnapore (East), West Bengal, India has established the significant roles played by grapsidae crabs Sesarma (Chiromantes) bidens , S. taeniolatum and Metopograpsus maculatus along with other brachyurans viz. Uca acuta acuta , U. lactea annulipes, U. triangularis bengali, Ocypoda macrocera, Dotilla blanfordi, Dotillopsis brevitarsis and Metaplax intermedia. Organic matter especially the mangrove plant litters after being processed by crabs could form the basis of a coprophagous food chain involving small invertebrates, or be re-exported as micro-particulates. Different nutrient contents viz. organic carbon, available phosphorus, available potassium and available nitrogen analyzed from the gut contents, excavated soils and soils surrounding burrows of the studied brachyuran species were found to show seasonal variability’s and also significant differences among different species.
A behavioural framework for trapping success and its application to invasive sea lamprey

Scientific advances are needed to contend with invasive species. Trapping is often used for control or assessment, and understanding the invasive species’ behaviour is important for trapping success. A framework linking behaviour to trapping success and management responses was used to test hypotheses for the low trapping success of invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the St. Marys River connecting Lakes Superior and Huron. Behaviour of sea lamprey approaching and at traps was quantified using external and internal tags and video. Multistate Markov models identified phenotypic and environmental factors influencing trapping success. Low trapping success for invasive sea lamprey in the St. Marys River is due to individuals not encountering traps, not entering upon encounter, not remaining at the trap, and not returning upon departure. All trapped lamprey were retained. Encounter with, and entrance into, traps varied with sea lamprey class, release date, and time of day, but not body length or river.
Male bimaturism and reproductive success in Sumatran orang-utans

Although orang-utans live solitary lives most of the time, they have a complex social structure and are characterized by extreme sexual dimorphism. However, whereas some adult male orang-utans develop full secondary sexual characteristics, such as cheek flanges, others may stay in an "arrested" unflanged condition for up to 20 years after reaching sexual maturity. The result is a marked bimaturism among adult males. Flanged males allow females to overlap with their home range and often tolerate the presence of unflanged males. However, wherever possible flanged males actively prevent unflanged males from copulating with females. Two competing hypotheses, previously untested, have been advanced to explain male reproductive behavior and bimaturism in orang-utans: (1) the "range-guardian" hypothesis, which asserts that the flanged males are postreproductive and defend a range in which they tolerate sexually active, unflanged male relatives; and (2) the "female choice" hypothesis, which asserts that flanged males tolerate unflanged males in their range because they rely on female preference to favor flanged males. We investigated these hypotheses and a third hypothesis that the two male morphs represent co-existing alternative male reproductive strategies ("sitting, calling, and waiting" for flanged males versus "going, searching, and finding" for unflanged males). Fecal samples were collected from a well-studied population in Indonesia, and eight human microsatellites were analyzed for 30 individuals that have been behaviorally monitored for up to 27 years. By carrying out paternity analysis on 11 offspring born over 15 years, we found that unflanged males fathered about half (6) of the offspring. Relatedness between successful unflanged males and resident dominant males was significantly lower than 0.5, and for some unflanged/flanged male pairs, relatedness values were negative, indicating that unflanged males are not offspring of the flanged males. Copyright 2002.
Ontogenetic variation in response to temperature change in the control of seed dormancy of Rumex obtusifolius L. and Rumex crispus L.

Abstract After the onset of imbibition, the dormant seeds of Rumex obtusifolius and R. crispus are stimulated to germinate by a change from an initial low temperature to a warmer temperature for a relatively brief period: the warmer that temperature the shorter is the optimum period spent at it, and this optimum value is unaffected by the initial temperature. The optimum period is more critical in R. crispus than in R. obtusifolius (about 1 h and 2.5 to 4 h, respectively, for a warmer temperature of 35°C in the dark); in the light the length of the period at the warmer temperature is less critical in both species. The sensitivity of the seeds to the change to the warmer temperature increases with time from the start of imbibition at a rate which is positively related to the initial temperature. In R. obtusifolius maximum sensitivity was typically reached after 3 to 5 d when the initial temperature was 20°C and then remained constant, or declined only slightly, over the period investigated (10 d). At the same initial temperature, however, R. crispus showed a cyclical pattern of sensitivity with peaks occurring at 3–4 d intervals from the start of imbibition.
Biology and population dynamics of the pine needle aphid, Eulachnus rileyi (Williams) in Zimbabwe.

SYNOPSIS The biology, ecology, and population dynamics of the pine needle aphid were studied in the pine plantations of Zimbabwe. The annual cycle is simplified by the suppression of the sexual cycle, parthenogenetic reproduction occurring throughout the year. The number of nymphs produced by each adult varied from three to five a day and the total number produced from 15 to 35. Numerical change was seen to result from the action and interaction of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The aphid numbers were observed to increase substantially between June and July, and between September and November. Exposed colonies of aphids were killed and washed off the needles by rain. Multiple regression analysis was used to try and identify factors important in aphid population fluctuations. Altitude appeared to be the most important variable influencing aphid populations, but was highly correlated to sampling date. No significant statistical differences in aphid density were found between crown levels or crown aspects.
The analysis and standardisation of trap catches of Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Field populations of Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) in New South Wales were sampled for periods of 3 h on numerous occasions between 1975 and 1982 using West Australian blowfly traps. Ambient temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and solar radiation explained 77·4% of the within-day deviance of the catches. Temperature alone accounted for 74·9% of this deviance, indicating that the other variables, although significant, did not greatly affect trap catches. As air temperatures increased, log catch rates increased linearly up to 26°C and then remained constant up to 35°C. Wind speeds above 25 m/s caused a linear decline in log catch rates. Log catch rates increased linearly as solar radiation increased and decreased linearly as relative humidity increased. Changes in catch rates with time of day were explained almost entirely by the four weather variables, i.e. there was no evidence that intrinsic behavioural changes with time of day affected catch rates. The combined effects of the four weather variables accounted for 47·1 % of the between-day variation in trap catches. Trap catches that have been standardised, i.e. adjusted to a ‘ standard’ set of weather conditions, provide relative measures of population size which differ from absolute measures by a constant (unknown) scaling factor.