Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chapter 7: Phylogeny and Divergence of Basal Glires

Abstract Phylogenetic analyses based on morphological data support monophyly of Glires, but not a link between Glires and zalambdalestids. Glires are more closely related to several Tertiary taxa, including primates, leptictids, pseudictopids, anagalids, and macroscelideans. Phylogenetically constrained distributions of Glires support the conventional view for a post K-T boundary radiation of modern orders of placental mammals and disagree with conclusions of some molecular studies that divergence of Rodentia and Lagomorpha at infraordinal, ordinal, and certain supraordinal levels occurred in the Cretaceous. Current hypotheses employed to explain the discrepancy between the fossil record and the molecular clock hypothesis are not supported by phylogenetic and distributional evidence of Glires. There is no compelling evidence that close relatives of Glires were present in the Cretaceous.
Questioning the environmental stress hypothesis for gall diversity of restinga vegetation on dunes

The Atlantic Coast Restinga is a mosaic of plant communities with a distinct floristic and phytophysi- ognomy, exposed to luminous, thermal, and saline stresses. Plants of the restinga must have special features commonly associated to xeric environments, and are expected to host a high diversity of galling herbivores. We studied gall morphotypes, and recorded the diversity of galls on plants growing in sand dunes in a remnant area of restinga (Acarai State Park) in Sao Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The sampling was done in four plots (250 x 5 m), constituting a total area of 5 000 m², during April, May and June. Plant branches (n ≥ 5) with galls were sampled, identified, and the galls were photographed. The galls were classified into eight morphotypes, associated to eight host plants constituting 15 host plants - galling herbivores systems. The identification of the gall - inducers was based on literature, and on the species-specific feature of this kind of host plant-gall inducers interaction. There was a predominance of leaf galls, green in color. The most common morphotypes were the globoid, lenticular, conical, rosette, marginal, and fusiform galls, similarly to the inven- tories performed on other Brazilian biomes. Despite the environmental stresses, the xeric features of the dunes of the ASP, and the high local plant diversity, the diversity of galling herbivores were low. Varronia curassavica (Boraginaceae), Smilax campestris (Smilacaceae), and Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae) were superhosts of galling herbivores in the dunes, with about 70 % of the total associated parasites. The environmental effect seems to be neutral, either for the host plants or for the generation of gall morphotypes. Alternatively, the scarce nutritional resources could be restrictive for the establishment of the galling herbivores inside plant tissues. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (4): 959-970. Epub 2015 December 01.
DRAGONFLIES (ODONATA) OF RUFIJI DISTRICT, TANZANIA WITH NEW RECORDS FOR TANZANIA

ABSTRACT The dragonfly fauna of the Rufiji District was studied during several field trips in 2001–2003 covering the rainy and the dry season. A total of 73 species was recorded by capture with net and visual identification of imagos. Ceriagrion mourae was seen for the first time since its description from Mozambique in 1969. Ceriagrion mourae, Teinobasis alluaudi, Gynacantha immaculifrons, Paragomphus magnus and Paragomphus sabicus are first records for Tanzania. Coryphagrion grandis, Ceriagrion mourae, Teinobasis alluaudi and Hadrothemis scabrifrons are globally endangered habitat specialists confined to coastal forests of Eastern Africa. The majority of the species are common and widespread and inhabits the Rufiji River and its floodplains, while a smaller proportion are only found in permanent streams draining into the Rufiji or in forest habitats. The high overall species richness is a result of the variety of habitats and their connectivity, combined with the dynamics of the floods. The habitat specialists found in Ngumburuni forest and in the forests of the Kichi and Kiwengoma Hills are globally endangered species and require special attention with regard to conservation.
The aggressive personality of an introduced fish affects foraging behavior in a polymorphic newt

The study of personality has aroused much interest and has provided insight into the understanding of animal behavior. Nevertheless, the study of the ecological consequences of personality is a newer field that could shed light on cases of alien species introductions. The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is frequently introduced worldwide and affects the abundance of newts, having an especially negative impact on an alternative phenotype, the paedomorph, which maintains larval traits at the adult stage, unlike the other phenotype, the metamorph, which has undergone metamorphosis. We experimentally assessed the impact of goldfish on the foraging behavior of both phenotypes of palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus). More particularly, we assessed fish personality by analyzing the foraging activity and the aggressiveness toward newts, and newt personality by analyzing individual difference in boldness. In the presence of fish, fewer newts foraged than in their absence, and paedomorphs were more affected than metamorphs. We found strong personality differences in fish and fewer newts foraged in the presence of a more aggressive fish. Newts differed in boldness, but fish aggressiveness remains a key factor to explain newt behavior. Studying behavioral interactions between native and alien species helps to understand the mechanisms of coexistence and exclusion and why different phenotypes might be affected differently by the same threat. To a great extent, not only the presence of fish alters the foraging opportunities of newts but also the personality of the invader; integrating personality patterns of invaders is therefore a key to understanding the ecological consequences of alien species introduction.
Permanence and Size of Home Territory in Stream-Dwelling Cutthroat Trout

Gorge Creek is a small cutthroat trout stream in Alberta on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. In the summer of 1954, 98 trout were tagged with Petersen tags, weighed and returned to the pool of capture. In the same summer and in the next two, 58 of these trout were recaptured, some several times, so that, altogether, 83 records were obtained. Twenty-three records are of the first year, 35 from the second and 25 from the third.Sixty-seven per cent of the recaptures were made in the original pool or less than 200 yards from it. Of the remaining 33%, one fish had moved 1.5 miles upstream and remained there. The others had all drifted downstream. The drifters were smaller fish than those that stayed home, and they either lost weight or gained at rates considerably below normal. It is suggested these fish had been injured by the tags. The general conclusion is that each cutthroat trout of Gorge Creek has a home territory not over twenty yards long and that the whole life is spent in it.
Annual re-habituation of calving caribou to oilfields in northern Alaska: implications for expanding development

Previous research led to hypotheses that calving caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti J.A. Allen, 1902) in north Alaskan oilfields habituated to human activities: (i) across years and (ii) annually after spring migration (i.e., re-habituation). We used predictor variables of year and a spring snowmelt index to evaluate weight of evidence for these competing hypotheses. Response variables were calf percentage and sighting rate of calving caribou along a high-traffic road system from 1982 to 1990 and 2000 to 2002. We also considered local calf percentage and caribou density, determined by aerial surveys, for respective response variables. We found no evidence of habituation across years. We found two more lines of evidence (one strong and one weaker) for re-habituation within years during calving periods. Post hoc models suggested a further tolerance response exhibited by caribou; more data are needed. Even when snow melted early and calving caribou were most habituated among years, caribou and calves were und.
CASEIN - PHEMA: IN VITRO FORMATION OF NANOMETRic Ca-P NUCLEI

This work reports the synthesis of polymeric hybrids based on Casein and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate polymers (PHEMA). Protein physical immobilization during the free-radical polymerization was performed. Two strategies were used to generate both films and cylinders. The homogeneity and the stability of the hybrids were assessed as well as their capacity to perform in vitro calcification when incubated in synthetic human plasma (SBF) for 14 days. Nucleation islets of calcium phosphate mineral in the form of nanometric nodules (20-30 nm) were observed on the Cas-rich domains. This study reports for the first time the synthesis of Cas-PHEMA materials and it tried to determine if these hybrids could cause a calcification under in vitro conditions.
Measuring devices on wild animals: what constitutes acceptable practice?

In a world that is increasingly perturbed by humans, the need to understand ecosystems is urgent. Attaching measuring devices to wild animals is often the only way to acquire vital life-history information on larger, charismatic species, and on cryptic species that do not lend themselves to observation. However, the ethics of acceptable practice for attached devices are poorly defined. Here, we consider the need for further research and attempt to identify a system that allows animal restraint practices and device-induced effects to be quantified and monitored, so that ethics committees can have a defined scale on which to base decisions.
Correlation and path analysis for growth, pod yield, seed yield and quality characters in cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) *

Cluster bean green pod yield per plant showed positive and significant correlation with dry pod yield per plant, green pod yield per plot, number of clusters per plant, plant height both at 45 and 90 DAS, plant spread North-South direction at 45 DAS, stem girth, number of pods per cluster, cluster length and pod length. Dry pod yield per plant showed positive and highly significant association with green pod yield per plant (1.002 and 0.987), green pod yield per plot (0.966 and 0.847), number of clusters per plant (0.997 and 0.800), plant spread East-West direction at 45 DAS (0.416 and 0.403), number of pods per cluster (0.663 and 0.800) and plant height (45 and 90 DAS (0.843, 0.828 and 0.699, 0.546) at both genotypic and phenotypic level, respectively. Seed protein content showed positive and highly significant association with pod breadth (0.452) at genotypic level. Seed endosperm gum content showed negative and highly significant correlation with plant height at 90 DAS (-0.485 and -0.401) at genotypic and phenotypic level, respectively. The path analysis revealed that dry pod yield per plant (0.574 and 0.879), green pod yield per plot (0.377 and 0.057) and dry pod yield per plot (0.242 and 0.055) had high direct effect on green pod yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, respectively.
AKROMYSTAX TILMACHITON GEN. ET SP. NOV., A NEW PYCNODONTID FISH FROM THE LEBANESE LATE CRETACEOUS OF HAQEL AND EN NAMMOURA

Abstract Akromystax tilmachiton, gen. et sp. nov., is described from Late Cretaceous Cenomanian beds in the Lebanon. The new taxon is the first new pycnodont to be published from the recently discovered locality of en Nammoura. It is a member of the Pycnodontidae that presents an unexpected combination of primitive and derived characters, including autapomorphies such as: hypertrophy of the lateral laminae of the mesethmoid, covering the lateral portion of the ethmoidal region plus part of the lower jaw; extrascapular bone forming part of the border of the orbit; expansion of the premaxilla, which bears no less than eight molariform teeth arranged in at least two rows; opercular and preopercular bones separated from each other; unique pattern of scale ossification; overlapping of the spines of the ventral keel scales; first ventral keel scale markedly larger than other keel scales. A new type of replacement teeth is reported for the first time in a pycnodontiform fish. Akromystax tilmachiton is at present the most primitive taxon of the family Pycnodontidae, despite its relatively derived characters, and confirms the mosaic evolution of the pycnodonts. The new taxon is present in the localities of Haqel, Early Cenomanian, and en Nammoura, Middle Cenomanian. It is an interesting common element of both localities, indicating that their paleoichthyofaunas, contrary to previous thought, are more similar than other components of their fossil associations.
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACTS OF OCIMIUM SANCTUM, MANGIFERA INDICA AND HIBISCUS ROSA SINENSIS

Plants are very useful and utilised as medicine due to their medicinal properties. The aim of present study was to investigate antibacterial activity of extracts of three medicinal plants Ocimium sanctum, Mangifera indica and Hibiscus rosa sinensis. The three extracts of medicinal plants evaluated for activity against bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus Bacillus subtilis (gram positive) Eschereria coli, Klebsiella pneumonia(gram negative) & Fungal strain Candida albicans.The invitro antimicrobial activitiywas performed by cup plate method. The Ethanolic extrct of Hibiscus rosa seninsis shown maximum activity when compare to remaining two plants.
THE LARGE SCELIDOTHERE CATONYX TARIJENSIS (XENARTHRA, MYLODONTIDAE) FROM THE PLEISTOCENE OF URUGUAY

Abstract The recovery of an almost complete skull and partial associated mandible of Catonyx tarijensis from Puerto Arazatí, Department of San José, is the first record of this species from Uruguay. Catonyx tarijensis is only known from the Ensenadan land mammal age. Mammals from multiple land mammal ages have been recovered from the San José formation and suggest that it is time transgressive and may range in age from the Montehermosan to the Ensenadan.
Subtropical drosophilids in Australia can be characterized by adult distribution across vegetation type and by height above forest floor

Understanding the pattern in which adult drosophilids of different species are distributed across and within different vegetation types is necessary for accurate interpretation of their local ecology and diversity. Such studies have been conducted mainly in temperate regions, and there is no basis for extrapolating their conclusions to tropical areas. This study describes the vertical distribution (0-20 m) of drosophilids attracted to banana baits in five different vegetation types in subtropical eastern Australia including open woodland, and rain-forest types. The distribution of most of the 15 common species could be characterized three-dimensionally by vegetation type and height above forest floor. Only one species, Scaptodrosophila lativittata, was common in all vegetation types and it was a canopy species in rain forests and a ground-level species in open woodland. Vertical distribution of some species clearly matched that of their larval hosts, but it did not in others. For example, the fungivore Leucophenga scutellata was mostly trapped well above the forest floor, yet it breeds at ground level, suggesting behavioural mode can influence vertical distributions. We conclude that the vertical dimension, although still poorly understood in relation to drosophilid habitats, needs to be taken into account when conducting and interpreting studies aimed at understanding drosophilid populations and communities in the subtropics.
Assessment of Gastric Helicobacter spp. in Fresh Gastric Samples of Naturally Infected Dogs by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Summary Different species of gastric Helicobacter-Like Organisms (GHLO) reported from dogs’ stomach. The aim of present study was to morphological evaluation of gastric Helicobacter spp. in fresh gastric samples of naturally infected dogs. Thirty two gastric samples of the stray dog were taken at necropsy. The specimens were used for rapid urease test, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Light microscopy examination confirmed the presence of GHLO in 90.5% of stray dogs. 87.5% and 94% of gastric samples were positive in rapid urease test and PCR, respectively. Four distinguishable Helicobacter organisms were confirmed by SEM. Three strains of these organisms were inditified as H. felis, candidatus H. heilmanii and H. bizzozeronii because of their apparent morphological differences and PCR results. The last strain of these bacteria was not distinguishable with routine studies. The large-scale studies with fast and simple recognition methods are recommended to confirm the different types of canine gastric Helicobacter. The results of present study showed further investigation in canine GHLO is required because new species of Helicobacter reported.
Foraging in the limpet Patella vulgata: the influence of rock slope on the timing of activity

Preliminary observations of limpet activity at Lough Hyne, in south-west Ireland, showed that individuals on steep slopes were primarily active at night, when emersed; while those on near-horizontal rocks were often active during daytime submersion. Observations of limpet populations over an 11 d period of limpet populations on a near-vertical and a near-horizontal site, only 45 m apart, confirmed that animals on the near-vertical site were active on nocturnal low tides, whilst those on the near-horizontal site were active on daytime high waters. A short-term survey at ten sites, which had limpets on both extremes of slope (i.e. either near-vertical or near-horizontal), showed that limpets on near-horizontal surfaces were, on average, more active at daytime high waters than those on near-vertical faces. In 1996 and 1997 surveys of activity at daytime high, and nocturnal low waters were conducted at sites (14–15) with varying rock slopes (∼3–87°). In all cases, limpets on more steep slopes were active at nocturnal emersion whilst animals on more gentle slopes were active on daytime submersion periods. In most cases these trends were significant and explained between 22–40% and 37–44% of the variation in activity with site in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Analysis of the head orientation of limpets on their home scars showed that animals orientated in a down shore direction at all sites (1997 data) suggesting that limpets do perceive and respond to slope. Whilst slope does appear to influence the timing of limpets' activity (and especially on very steep or gently sloping sites) it does not account for a large degree of the variation in activity and, on sites with slopes between 30 and 60°, is likely to work in combination with other factors.
Sister clade comparisons reveal reduced maternal care behavior in social cobweb spiders

Animals living in cooperative groups experience fundamentally different environments than their nonsocial relatives, potentially changing the strength of natural selection on some aspects of their behavior. Using a comparative approach, we examined a potential example of this phenomenon: an association between reduced levels of maternal care behavior and sociality in cobweb spiders. We compared 6 different measures of maternal care behavior between species from 2 independently derived social clades and subsocial species from sister clades. In natural nests, we measured the mean distance between egg sacs and the nearest female and the proportion of egg sacs being attended. In the lab, we measured a female’s willingness to accept an egg sac, abandon her egg sac when disturbed, repair a damaged egg sac, and the speed at which a female reclaimed her egg sac when separated from it. Social species from both social clades scored significantly lower than subsocial species from sister clades on 6 and 4 of 6 of these assays of maternal care, respectively. We discuss alternative explanations of this pattern, including the potential role of relaxed natural selection in a social environment in permitting the evolution of a novel "low-parenting" phenotype.
Phenotypic and genotypic validation of the rare species Sphaerospermopsis eucompacta comb. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) isolated from China

Abstract: The heterocystous cyanobacterium Anabaena eucompacta R. Li & M. Watanabe was found in China, and two unialgal strains were isolated. The species was characterized by its twisted and tight spirals and the relative position of spherical akinetes to heterocysts (adjacent to one or both sides of heterocysts). However, the taxonomic and phylogenetic position of the species remained to be characterized because of the lack of molecular data. In this study, we used a polyphasic approach, based on both morphological and molecular characters (sequences of 16S rRNA and 16S-23S rRNA), to evaluate its taxonomic position. Our results showed that A. eucompacta was a distinct species and that it should be transferred to the recently established genus Sphaerospermopsis as S. eucompacta (R. Li & M. Watanabe) X. Li & R. Li comb. nov.
Effects of Dietary Phytoestrogens on Mouse Testis: Evaluation by Electron Microscopy and Caspase-3 Immunostaining

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary phytoestrogens on mouse testis using light and electron microscopy and caspase-3 immunostaining. Materials and Methods: Eighteen male Swiss Albino mice of 3-weeks-old were separated into three groups, each including six mice, after weaning at postnatal 21st day. They were fed by three different diets; a phytoestrogen-free diet (phyto-0 group), a diet containing 500 µg/g phytoestrogen (phyto-500 group) or a diet containing 1000 µg/g phytoestrogen (phyto-1000 or phyto-rich group) for 6 weeks. After completing their sexual maturity on day 63, all were sacrificed under anesthesia. Extracted testes were prepared for investigation by light and electron microscopy and caspase-3 immunostaining was used to demonstrate the apoptosis. Results: During the study period, all mice in three dietary groups increased their weights regularly, but there was no statistically significant difference among groups for each week. Histological examination was normal in phyto-0 diet group by light and electron microscopy, and caspase-3 immunostaining showed no increased apoptosis. The phyto-500 and phyto-1000 diet caused a series of changes in the testis including increased apoptosis in the germ cells, increased edema in interstitial area, deposition of hyaline-like substance and increased lipid deposition in Leydig cells. These changes were more obvious in phyto-1000 group. The results of immunostaining by caspase-3 showed that apoptosis significantly increased in primary spermatocytes in both phyto-500 and phyto-1000 groups when compared to phyto-0 group (p=0.000). Discussion: Our results suggested that phytoestrogens might have detrimental effects on male reproductive function in a dose dependent manner.
Effectiveness of immersion treatments with hydrogen peroxide in reducing microbial populations on raw chicken carcasses.

Poultry is an integral part of food chain, but it may constitute specific problems to public health. Therefore, the current trial was carried out to improve the sanitary status of broiler carcasses throughout application of food grade hydrogen peroxide (H O ) to the chillers used in refrigeration of chicken carcasses 22 prior to its packaging. Total colony count, mould and yeast count, coliform count and Staph. aureus counts were determined with and without addition of hydrogen peroxide to chillers water and the reduction percent in the microbial counts were detected. It was concluded that hydrogen peroxide Results indicate superior activity of hydrogen peroxide as a powerful and versatile sanitizer for poultry carcass.