Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of nest-site availability and distribution on density-dependent clutch size and laying date in the Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

We compared the breeding phenology and clutch size of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax in three Spanish areas that differed in feeding habitat, breeding environmental conditions and the distribution and availability of different nesting sites (cliffs or artefacts). The variation in the timing of laying seemed to be related to differences in climatic conditions determined by the altitude. The variation in clutch size was associated with the different use that Choughs made of the feeding areas because of the contrasting availability and distribution of their nesting sites. Within southeastern Madrid, clutch size of the Chough decreased and its variance increased at high nest densities on cliff sites, suggesting that density dependence in fecundity arises from habitat heterogeneity rather than by interference. At high densities, individuals, territories, nest sites or a combination of these may differ in quality, thus promoting differences and increasing the variance in the initial investment of reproductive effort. The syncronization of the onset of laying at increased breeding densities suggests that social influences arising from communal foraging or avoidance of predation by early warning and predator swamping may be acting also. We suggest that nest-site availability and distribution have a major influence on the social organization of Choughs through their breeding and foraging strategies.
Reproductive ecology of Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpaceae, Bryopsidales) in subtropical eastern Australia

This paper provides the first detailed account of sexual reproduction in Caulerpa taxifolia, describing gametogenesis, sex ratios, periodicity of reproductive episodes and breeding system in C. taxifolia from Caloundra on the subtropical east Australian coast. Gametogenesis is similar to published accounts of the process in 11 other Caulerpa spp. Gender is reliably determined late in gametogenesis: mature dark-green male portions of fronds that release gametes without eyespots are distinguished from brownish-green female portions of fronds that release gametes with eyespots. Twenty-one reproductive episodes were observed for C. taxifolia during the 3.5-month fertile period, with peak reproductive activity occurring in February/March when 13 reproductive episodes were observed over a 36-day period. Caulerpa taxifolia is monoecious, but the Caloundra population showed marked variation in phenotypic gender expression during the fertile season, when various proportions of male plants, thalli with bisexual fronds and thalli with bisexual, unisexual male and/or female fronds were observed. Sex allocation in the Caloundra population was markedly male-biased throughout the fertile season with only male plants present, or with male plants dominating the population, for 13 and three reproductive episodes respectively. The implications of these observations are discussed in relation to the reported lack of sexual reproduction in the invasive Mediterranean populations of the species.
Arthropod molecular divergence times and the Cambrian origin of pentastomids

Pentastomida are parasites of tetrapods (especially reptiles) and have had long contentious relationships. Traditionally seen as a separate phylum with arthropod affinities, recent ultrastructural and molecular evidence unites them to branchiuran crustaceans (fish lice). However, the discovery of Cambrian pentastomids has been interpreted to refute the view that pentastomids are closely related to advanced crustaceans (of presumably recent origins). Bayesian phylogenetic and relaxed-clock analyses of molecular data (18S and 28S ribosomal RNA, elongation factor 1α and 2, RNA polymerase II subunit) help reconcile these apparently contradictory views: a pentastomid-branchiuran grouping is recovered, but this clade is the sister group to other Tetraconata, whereas all other crustaceans form a monophyletic group that is sister to hexapods. Crustacean monophyly is widely supported by morphology, but has rarely been retrieved in other molecular studies. Estimated molecular dates for pentastomid origins range from ∼490 to ∼520 million years ago, consistent with Cambrian fossils. The basal position of branchiurans within tetraconatans means pentastomids can be simultaneously related to branchiurans, and also have a deep fossil record. All Cambrian pentastomids are tiny, resembling the larvae of living pentastomids that infect intermediate hosts including fish; as definitive hosts (tetrapods) of modern pentastomids were absent in the Cambrian, it is possible that the small Cambrian forms were adults rather than larvae, and their entire life cycle was confined to small fish-like vertebrates that were then present.
Certain Pathological Effects of Ultra-Violet Radiation on Mosquito Larvae and Pupae

In the course of recent work on the possible effect the ultra-violet wave-band may have on the activation of ovarian function in female mosquitoes, it became apparent that mosquito larvae are highly susceptible to a remarkable form of injury by radiations from the unshielded mercury-arc generated by the ordinary Cooper-Hewitt vacuum type of quartz mercury-vapour lamp. This effect upon the larvae has been studied, and an attempt was made (1) to determine the wave-length of the radiations responsible for the injury by means of screens interposed between the lamp and the larvae; and (2) to ascertain the physiological and histological nature of the injury.
Seed dispersal by ants: are seed preferences influenced by foraging strategies or historical constraints?

Summary The objective of this study was to quantify preferences of ants for seeds of different plant species and to test if these preferences were caused by foraging strategies or by historical constraints. We compared seed removal rates of ten different ant-dispersed plant species found in temperate forests, along forest edges and in grassland. We found significant differences in seed removal rates among the ten species. To test if these differences were caused by foraging strategies we examined the relationship between seed and elaiosome size and seed removal rate. We found that seeds with larger elaiosomes had significantly higher removal rates. To test the historical constraint hypothesis we investigated whether plants from forest, forest edge or grassland habitats were preferred by ant species found in the same habitat type. If historical constraints exist we would expect that ants remove preferentially the seeds of plant species which they are used to handle in the course of their phylogenetic and ontogenetic history. In contrast to this prediction, we found that plants of a certain habitat type were in general not preferred by ants of the same habitat type. These results demonstrate that seed preferences of ants are mainly determined by foraging strategies and not by historical constraints.
Survival and Growth of Intensively Reared Large Walleye Fingerlings and Extensively Reared Small Fingerlings Stocked Concurrently in Small Lakes

Abstract Size of walleyes Stizostedion vitreum at the time of stocking is thought to play a key role in determining the success of stocking programs. Because starvation and predation risk are size-dependent processes, fingerlings stocked at larger sizes are expected to survive better than fingerlings stocked at smaller sizes. However, large fingerlings often require different culture techniques that make them more expensive to produce. Therefore, large fingerlings should only be used if returns are high enough to offset costs. We evaluated the relative success of two sizes of stocked walleye fingerlings in four lakes in New York State. For four consecutive years (1993–1996), each lake was stocked with equal densities (50 fish/ha) of small (30–50-mm), extensively reared pond fingerlings in June and large (120–140-mm), intensively reared fall fingerlings in September. In October, we electrofished each lake to determine growth and survival of stocked fingerlings. Despite being stocked at a much later date, a.
Broad spectrum effects of secondary metabolites from the red alga delisea pulchra in antifouling assays

In this study the antifouling activity was investigated of a series of chemically related, halogenated furanones isolated from Delisea pulchra (Greville) Montagne, a red alga which is rarely fouled in the field. The metabolites were tested in laboratory assays against representatives of the three major groups of fouling organisms, the barnacle Balanus amphitrite amphitirite Darwin, the macroalga Ulva lactuca Linnaeus and a marine bacterium (strain SW 8). Settlement of barnacle cyprid larvae was strongly inhibited, with an EC50 of < 25 ng.ml‐1 (25 ppb) for some compounds. The settlement and growth of algal gametes was also strongly inhibited, in some cases at concentrations as low as 25 ngcm‐2. Growth of the marine bacterium SW8 was inhibited more strongly than by the common antibiotic gentamicin. Overall, activity of the D. pulchra metabolites was comparable to that of the heavy metals and biocides currently used in antifouling paints. However, no single compound was most active in all tests and some meta.
Otter (Lutra lutra) predation on stocked brown trout (Salmo trutta) in two Danish lowland rivers

This study aimed to evaluate otter predation on stocked trout. Large hatchery-reared trout (16-30 cm) were stocked into two Danish rivers with different fish populations. Otter diet before and after trout stocking was determined by analysing 685 spraints, collected regularly during the 35-day study period. Fish composition in the rivers before stocking was assessed by electrofishing. In River Trend, a typical trout river, the proportion of trout in the otter diet increased from 8% before stocking to 33% a few days after stocking. Moreover, trout lengths in the diet changed significantly towards the lengths of stocked trout, indicating that newly stocked trout were preferred to wild trout. In River Skals, dominated by cyprinids, there was no change in otter diet after stocking of hatchery trout, i.e., these were ignored by otter. Otter predation should be taken into account together with fish and bird predation, when stocking is used as a measure for conserving endangered salmonid populations.
Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Hot Extruded Aluminum/Tin-Bismuth Composites Produced by Powder Metallurgy

In this study, Al-BiSn composites were synthesized by a combination of microwave sintering and hot extrusion processes. The structural, morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated to elucidate the role of Bi60Sn40 (BiSn) alloy content (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) in modifying the properties of Al-BiSn composites. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the presence of aluminum and BiSn particles. Distribution of BiSn particles in Al-BiSn composites was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy associated with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FE-SEM-EDX). Results indicated that hot extruded Al-(15 wt.% BiSn) composite exhibits maximum hardness (78 ± 4 Hv) and tensile strength (185 ± 3 MPa), which were 117% and 58% improvements, respectively, compared to pure Al. This improvement in mechanical properties can be attributed to the strengthening effect of BiSn particles. A decline in the values of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with an increasing amount of BiSn particles reflects the enhanced thermal stability of developed Al-BiSn composites. The promising properties of Al-BiSn composites make them suitable for many industrial applications.
The representation of executed Indonesian migrant workers in The Jakarta Post news articles

This study discusses how the representation of executed Indonesian migrant workers in the case of their executions in Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2018 in The Jakarta Post news articles. This study is analyzed by using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) which specifically uses the Social Actor Representation (SAR) theory from van Leeuwen (2008). In analyzing the data, this study is also supported by the theory of levels of analysis from Richardson (2007) to analyze the text producers’ lexical choice and the theory of transitivity from Halliday and Matthiessen (2004) to analyze the role allocation. This study shows that The Jakarta Post represents the executed Indonesian migrant workers negatively. It can be seen from the text producers’ ways to include the executed Indonesian migrant workers in the representation. Moreover, The Jakarta Post also uses the words ‘kill’, ‘knife to death’, ‘stab’ etc. to describe the executed Indonesian migrant workers.
Ants From the Cretaceous and Eocene Amber of North America

The discovery of Sphecomyrmafreyi in amber from New Jersey disclosed the existence of an extinct subfamily of ants (Sphecomyrminae) intermediate in some traits between modern ants and nonsocial wasps and dating as far back as the lower part of the Upper Cretaceous (Wilson et al., 1967a, b): Subsequently Dlussky (1975, 1983) described a series of new genera from the Upper Cretaceous of the Taymyr Peninsula (extreme north-central Siberia), southern Kazakh S.S. R. , and the Magadan region of extreme eastern Siberia. Among the various specimens assigned to these taxa (the genera are Archaeopone, Armania, Armaniella, Cretomyrma, Cretopone, Dolichomyrma, Paleomyrmex, Petropone, Poneropterus, and Pseudarmania), the ones well enough preserved to disclose subfamily-level diagnostic characters appear to fall within the Sphecomyrminae. Indeed it is difficult to find sound reasons for separating most of them from Sphecomyrma, providing we limit ourselves to the same criteria applied to contemporary genera and tribes. There seems to be little justification for placing them in a separate family, the Armaniidae, as suggested by Dlussky. If this interpretation of the Russian material is correct, we have established that the most primitive known group of ants, the Sphecomyrminae, lived over much of the northern hemisphere during middle and late Cretaceous times. Other discoveries have revealed that by Eocene times, some 50 million years later, higher forms of ants had come into existence, but the evidence remains very scanty and ambiguous. Eomyrmex guchengziensis, described from amber in the Eocene coal beds of Fushun, Manchuria, appears from the description and illustrations to be a relatively primitive ponerine with traits reminiscent of the Sphecomyrminae (Hong et al., 1974). Because of its possibly intermediate status, a further study of the single worker would be a valuable exercise. The giant Eoponera
Reproduction and host-feeding in the solitary parasitoid wasp pimpla nipponica (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Summary Many parasitoid wasps feed on host body fluids in order to achieve maximal lifetime reproduction, a phenomenon termed “host-feeding”. This study examines egg morphology, embryonic development, ovarian dynamics and lifetime oviposition of the parasitoid wasp Pimpla nipponica, which uses the host as adult food, and highlights the contribution of host-feeding to female reproductive success. Females emerge without mature eggs and produce relatively large yolk-rich eggs at a constant rate throughout the remainder of life, indicating that P. nipponica is a synovigenic parasitoid. Females have relatively few number of ovarioles, and the lateral oviducts are narrow, suggesting low potential fecundity at any one time. In fact, dissection revealed that females have only 4–6 eggs at any one time throughout their lifetime. Eggs do not increase in volume in hosts during development and hatch successfully in Ringer solution, indicating that P. nipponica produces anhydropic eggs. Although females produce about 2.
Influence of temperature and rainfall on fruit and seed production of Arbutus unedo L.

Abstract Correlations were found between certain climatic parameters and fresh weight, dry weight and seed number of the fruit of Arbutus unedo L. in five stations in central Italy. Temperature and rainfall were found to affect fruit production. For the parameters fresh weight and number of seeds, the first months of development were important and fresh weight was also influenced by rainfall in the last months. Dry weight did not show statistically significant correlation with any one of the considered parameters. However, the pattern of temperature and rainfall over the 12-month period of fruit ripening determined the characteristics of the fruit.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is safe and reliable for large and invasive primary mediastinal tumors

Introduction Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was not considered for the treatment of primary mediastinal tumors of large sizes or with local invasion. Aim To investigate the clinical outcomes of VATS for large and invasive mediastinal tumors. Material and methods One hundred and thirteen patients with primary mediastinal tumors were treated by VATS. Twenty-nine patients had bulky tumors (diameter > 6 cm) and 5 patients had invasive tumors. Clinical data were documented and compared. Results No patients suffered from any complications after VATS. No relapse or metastasis occurred in the patients with bulky tumors, while 1 patient with invasive thymoma suffered a relapse after VATS. The 2-year disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with bulky tumors were 100% and 100%, while those in patients with invasive tumors were 75% and 100%. There were no differences in hospital stay after VATS between the patients with bulky tumors and smaller tumors, nor between the patients with invasive tumors and non-invasive tumors. Patients with bulky tumors lost more blood than those with smaller tumors, while more blood loss occurred in patients with invasive tumors than non-invasive tumors. Longer operative time was needed for patients with bulky tumors and invasive tumors. Mediastinal tumors with large size or invasion should not be contraindicated for VATS. The prognosis of such patients treated with VATS was comparable to that of traditional open surgery. Conclusions VATS is a safe and effective procedure for large and invasive mediastinal tumors.
Mate Preferences of Wild Muriqui Monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides):Reproductive and Social Correlates

Muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) are unusual among polygamous primates in the nonaggressive, egalitarian relationships that exist among group members. Yet, despite their relative freedom to express strong preferences in their choice of mates, 18 sexually active females and 10 sexually active males routinely copulated with multiple partners during a 60-month period from July 1990 to June 1995 at the Estacao Biologica de Caratinga on Fazenda Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Females with different reproductive and social histories differed in the ways they expressed their promiscuity. The number of different partners was positively related to copulation frequencies for long-term female residents, but not for recent female immigrants or mature or young males. Mother-son matings and matings between recent female immigrants and males from their natal group were rare. Preferential mating occurred between recent female immigrants and young males, while experienced long-term female residents tended to copulate more frequently with mature males. Prior reproductive experience appears to be a less important determinant of muriqui mating patterns than the constraints imposed by avoiding close inbreeding and the preferences exhibited by close social associates.
Impact of sea-ice thickness initialized in April on Arctic sea-ice extent predictability with the MIROC climate model

Abstract The impact of April sea-ice thickness (SIT) initialization on the predictability of September sea-ice extent (SIE) is investigated based on a series of perfect model ensemble experiments using the MIROC5.2 climate model. Ensembles with April SIT initialization can accurately predict the September SIE for greater lead times than in cases without the initialization – up to 2 years ahead. The persistence of SIT correctly initialized in April contributes to the skilful prediction of SIE in the first September. On the other hand, errors in the initialization of SIT in April cause errors in the predicted sea-ice concentration and thickness in the Pacific sector from July to September and consequently influence the predictive skill with respect to SIE in September. The present study suggests that initialization of the April SIT in the Pacific sector significantly improves the accuracy of the September SIE forecasts by decreasing the errors in sea-ice fields from July to September.
Behavior, performance and physical condition of laying hens in conventional and small furnished cages

The aim of the present study was to compare the welfare level and performance of laying hens between conventional and small furnished cages. At the age of 54 weeks, 120 White Leghorn layers were divided into four groups: four (C4) or six hens/cage in conventional cages and four or six (F6) hens/cage in furnished cages. Their behavior, number of steps taken, performance and physical condition were measured. Sham dust-bathing was greater in conventional cages than in furnished cages (P = 0.05) and dust-bathing, litter scratching and litter pecking were also observed in furnished cages. Other comfort behavior, moving and number of steps taken were more frequent in the four-hen cages than in the six-hen cages (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Though egg production and egg mass in C4 and F6 were lower than in the other groups, no significant differences were found in the other production measurements. Bodyweight gain was larger in the four-hen cages than the six-hen cages (P < 0.01). In conclusion, behavior was not restricted in the furnished cages, but activity and bodyweight gain were affected by group size (density) rather than cage design. Hereafter, the studies on suitable density in each cage design, using young layers, are required.
Distribution and Regional Variation of Argentina Sphyraena [Pisces: Isospondyli]

The lesser argentine, Argentina sphyraena L. , is a Mauretanian-Mediterranean-Boreal species extending from about 68° N. off the Norwegian coast to 25° N. off Spanish West Africa. It is most commonly caught on the offshore continental shelf in depths between 50 and 100 fm where average sea temperatures of 6° and 17°C are encountered at the northern and southern limits respectively of the species geographical range. Larger, older fish are taken in deeper water, and occurrences inshore and at depths less than 50 fm are usually associated with the presence of deep trenches over 50 fm.
Growth and yield responses of some cowpea accessions to cucumber mosaic virus infection

Effects of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on the yield and yield components of six cowpea genotypes (IT04K-217-5, IT07K-251-3-3, IT07K-299-4, IT07K-299-6, IT99K-1060 and Ife Brown) were evaluated in a screenhouse. The experiment was conducted as inoculated and uninoculated control using completely randomised design with five replications. Seedlings were inoculated with CMV at 10 days after sowing by sap transmission and maintained under screenhouse conditions. Disease incidence, disease severity, yield and yield components were recorded. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and significance determined at p = 0.05. All the CMV-inoculated plants exhibited typical leaf chlorosis and curling symptoms of CMV infection. Disease severity (4) and absorbance of virus concentration (2.9) were highest in the inoculated leaves of Ife Brown, whereas the cowpea genotype IT07K-299-6 exhibited the lowest disease severity (2.2) and virus titre (1.7). The lowest reductions in leaf number (6.2%), plant height (3%) and seed weight (2.6%) were found in IT07K-299-6. The cowpea genotype IT07K-299-6 is considered the most tolerant to CMV infection and its tolerance genes could be exploited for germplasm improvement in cowpea breeding programmes.