Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endotoxin injection attenuates rest-phase hypothermia in wintering great tits through the onset of fever

Endothermic animals in the boreal region experience considerable thermoregulatory costs in winter, especially during inactive periods when high demands cannot be met by increased food intake. This might necessitate a trade-off between resting thermoregulation and other energetically expensive processes, such as immune function, but this has rarely been investigated. We evaluated how immune activation affected rest-phase hypothermia (an important energy conservation mechanism in small animals), in wild great tits (Parus major L.) wintering under semi-natural conditions in southern Sweden. The acute phase response was triggered immediately prior to sunset through intramuscular lipopolysaccharide (LPS, an endotoxin) administration in two contrasting, naturally occurring, thermal regimes (cold, mild). We then noninvasively measured the thermoregulatory response throughout the night using subcutaneously implanted temperature-sensitive transmitters. Despite the energetic benefits of hypothermia, immunized great tits displayed an attenuated hypothermic response manifested through the onset of fever, possibly at the expense of a higher sustained metabolic rate. In line with this, these birds lost more body mass overnight (but only in mild conditions) and consequently were in worse condition the subsequent morning. Fever expression was remarkably similar in cold and mild conditions, despite substantial variation in the energetic cost for thermoregulation. This suggest that the degree of fever is flexible, and represents a trade-off between the minimum body temperature required to mount an adequate acute phase response and the energy expenditure needed to maintain it. We suggest that while energy conservation and immune function may not always be exclusive activities, costs of immune defences probably constitute an important additive energetic cost during northern winter conditions, sometimes calling for trade-offs with other important physiological processes to survive the night. (Less)
Reproductive strategy of the snapping shrimp Alpheus armillatus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 in the South Atlantic: fecundity, egg features, and reproductive output

Summary The family Alpheidae, composed by shrimps of relatively small size, popularly known as snapping shrimps, is the one of the most diverse decapod groups. These shrimps are found worldwide and occur in tropical and subtropical waters, from the intertidal zone to great depths. We investigated reproductive aspects of Alpheus armillatus, in order to gather information on egg production, aiming to enhance knowledge of its reproductive strategies in a population in an intertidal area of the South Atlantic. Ovigerous females were collected under rocks, in May and July 2006 (dry season) and in November 2006 and March 2007 (rainy season). Egg production and reproductive output were analyzed and compared seasonally and during the period of embryonic development. Females measured on average 11.28 mm CL, with a mean of 763 eggs and 0.10 mm3 egg volume. The egg volume of this population was smaller than previous estimates for other species of snapping shrimps, but the mean egg number was higher. The volume of eggs doubled during the incubation period, but despite this increase, no significant loss of eggs was observed. Alpheus armillatus invests on average about 12% of body weight in reproduction. The proportional investment in egg production is significantly higher in the rainy season when compared with the dry season (17.9% vs 4.8%), correlated with higher temperatures and increased food availability at this time. Our results corroborated the hypothesis of a pattern of egg production influenced by environmental conditions and intraspecific variability among the family Alpheidae, as a function of the biogeographic region.
Description and palaeobiology of a new species of Libycosaurus (Cetartiodactyla, Anthracotheriidae) from the Late Miocene of Toros-Menalla, northern Chad

The analysis of a large sample of anthracothere remains discovered by the Mission Paléoanthropologique Franco-Tchadienne at Toros-Menalla (TM), Northern Chad, has revealed the occurrence of a single species with a large intraspecific morphological variability. Taxonomic problems triggered the necessity of naming a new species for the TM anthracotheres, Libycosaurus bahri sp. nov. The description of the craniodental remains and the analysis of their variability indicate a marked sexual dimorphism, most probably induced by sex differential growth, helping to reassess the specific diversity of Libycosaurus and its main evolutionary trends in a phylogenetic perspective. The ecological niche occupied by the new species was also further characterized in its semiaquatic, behavioural, and dietary dimensions. On these grounds we suggest that Late Miocene environmental changes, particularly habitat opening and hydrographic network fragmentation related to increased aridity, played a major role in canalizing semi-aquatic specializations and the extinction of the last African anthracotheres, as well as other bothriodontines. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8C0AD4BD-952D-4A60-94B8-6F7A23332171
ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RELEASING COD LARVAE FOR STOCK IMPROVEMENT WITH MONITORING DATA

Beginning in the 1880s, management of marine fisheries by hatching and releasing yolk-sac-stage larvae was advocated in both the United States and Norway. Major cod hatchery programs were popular in both countries until the mid-20th century, despite lack of evidence that cod abundance increases with release of hatchery-reared fish larvae; the potential value for such management procedures was repeatedly advocated throughout the 20th century. In Norway, a beach-seine monitoring program was begun in the early 1900s to collect data on fall abundance of 6-mo-old demersal fish in 21 fjords along the Norwegian Skagerrak coast and is still going on. We used these data in conjunction with hatchery data on numbers of yolk-sac larval cod released each spring in several fjords to test for an effect of the releases on the abundance of fjord cod populations. Using both a permutation test and a statistically derived time-series model for the cod's population dynamics, we found a slight, but statistically significant, dependence of 6-mo-old cod abundance on the number of yolk-sac larvae released in four of the 16 fjords (for which we had adequate release and beach-seine data needed for carrying out the testing). However, using the time-series model, we did not find evidence of long-term increases in the abundance of mature cod in any of the fjords. We discuss our findings on the basis of the literature on marine fish population enhancement programs worldwide.
The importance of antennal mechanosensilla of Sepedon fuscipennis (Diptera: Sciomyzidae)

Abstract The styli, often called the aristae, of the antennae of adult Sepedon fuscipennis Loew (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) are shown to possess mechanosensilla, the number and arrangement of which differ between the sexes. It is suggested that the mechanosensilla provide sensory input to the female regarding the touching, or appositioning, of her styli by the male with his forelegs during copulation. Among the Sciomyzidae, S.fuscipennis males are unique in appositioning the antennae of the female during mating. Large clusters of pollen found on the styli of both sexes suggest that mechanosensilla and chemosensilla also provide sensory information about potential sources of food such as nectar (i.e., carbohydrates). Résumé Nous démontrons que les styles, souvent appelés aristas, des antennes des Sepedon fuscipennis Loew (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) adultes possèdent des sensilles mécanoréceptrices, dont le nombre et la disposition varient selon le sexe. Nous croyons que ces sensilles mécanoréceptrices fournissent des signaux sensoriels à la femelle durant l'accouplement lorsque le mâle touche les styles de la femelle en y apposant ses pattes antérieures. Chez les Sciomyzidae, les mâles de Sepedon sont les seuls à pratiquer cette apposition des pattes sur les antennes de la femelle durant l'accouplement. La présence d'importants amas de pollen sur les styles des deux sexes laisse croire que les sensilles mécanoréceptrices et chémoréceptrices procurent aussi des renseignements sur les sources potentielles de nourriture, telles que le nectar et donc les hydrates de carbone.
The Effect of Work Stress and Coping on Organizational Justice: An Empirical Investigation of Turkish Telecommunications and Banking Industries

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of coping mechanisms and work stress on employees’ perceptions of organizational justice. A survey of 211 white-collar employees in the banking and telecommunications industries was taken. Multiple regression analyses were performed in order to understand the effect of coping mechanisms and work stress on organizational justice. The results showed that overall perception of justice is affected negatively by work stress and positively by coping mechanisms, except emotion-focused coping. However, sub-dimensions of organizational justice showed distinctive relationship patterns. Thus, it was concluded both individual and organizational determinants play a role in employees’ perceptions of organizational justice.
Genetic characterization of a putative indigenous brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) population in a secondary stream of the Nera River Basin (Central Italy) assessed by means of three molecular markers

Genetic diversity was analysed in a putative autochthonous brown trout (Salmo trutta fario L.) population (Monterivoso Stream, Tyrrhenian Apennine Slope) by means of seven microsatellite loci and PCR‐RFLP of two mitochondrial (ND1 and ND5/6) and one nuclear (LDH‐C1*) locus. Monterivoso data were compared to those obtained analysing populations of the same basin (Nera River) and of the Po basin; Irish populations were used as a source of Atlantic strain brown trout. Haplotypes distributions, heterozygosity, F‐statistic and UPGMA analyses indicated a genetic diversification between these populations, suggesting a widespread alteration of the genetic structure due to repeated stocking with allochthonous material, mainly of Atlantic origin, that has partially polluted the Monterivoso population. This population appeared to be constituted of Mediterranean strain samples and might represent a residue of an indigenous pool: it shows high specificity characteristics and it is genetically separate from the others observed and from populations of the Adriatic slope of the Apennines. This population should be employed in managing and breeding programmes finalised to an eco‐sustainable restocking of brown trout in the Nera River Basin, with periodic monitoring by genetic analyses.
SINGLE DEFOLIATION HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE ON GROWTH AND DRY MATTER ATTRIBUTES OF SHEA (VITELLARIA PARADOXA C. F. GAERTN.) SEEDLINGS

ABSTRACT Seedlings of Vitellaria paradoxa are normally subjected to annual environmental hazards within the savanna environment that tends to constitute serious impediment to their growth. A field and nursery experiment was conducted in July 2009 to July 2010 to test seedling recovery when subjected to 3 defoliation times (22, 26 and 30 weeks after planting) and levels (0, 50 and 100%). Factorial combinations of this were laid out in randomized blocks and replicated three and four times respectively in the field and nursery experiments. Results of analysis of variance indicated container raised seedlings showed significant response only to defoliation time in which case leaf removal 30 weeks after planting resulted to seedlings with significantly lower values of leaf width and leaf area. Field grown seedlings did not respond significantly in any of the growth parameters to treatment but showed a tendency towards lower values when defoliated 30 weeks after planting. Generally, seedlings defoliated 30 weeks after planting showed a tendency towards reduced fresh/dry weight and dry matter attributes except dry matter partitioning to the root where the reverse was the case. Degree of defoliation did not significantly affect seedling growth and dry matter attributes although the most severe defoliation treatment (100%) tended to have the lowest values for most parameters. Generally, single defoliation, or one year disturbance in the field, only marginally affects seedling growth.
Population Cytogenetic Evidence for Sibling Species in Anopheles annularis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Anopheles annularis van der Wulp populations from 6 districts in India were cytologically examined. An ovarian nurse cell polytene chromosome map for 5 arms is presented. Nine inversions—w,i1, j1, and k1 on chromosome arm 2; j1 and z in arm 3; h1 and s1 on arm 4; and k on arm 5—were polymorphic in these populations. In districts Shahjahanpur and Ghaziabad populations, for j1 inversion on arm 2, there were no heterozygotes. This was taken as evidence for reproductive isolation between 2 populations. The 2 were provisionally designated as species A and B, characterized respectively by +j1and j1 arrangements in chromosome arm 2. The other 4 populations were identified as species A.
Length–weight relationships for 18 Lessepsian (Red Sea) immigrant fish species from the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Length–weight relationships were estimated for 18 Red Sea immigrant fish species from the eastern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. The values of the exponent b in the length–weight regression (W= aLb) ranged between 2·482 and 3·355. The median value was 3·018 and 50% of the values ranged between 2·835 and 3·121.
Prey use by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in urban and rural areas of Illinois

Decline of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations in Illinois has been attributed to altered geographic landscapes and the eastward expansion of the coyote. To investigate effects of habitat use and competition with coyotes on diets of foxes in intensively farmed landscapes of Illinois, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of foxes, coyotes (Canis latrans), and other local species. Foxes were categorized as rural (agricultural habitat, coyotes present), urban (urban habitat, coyotes absent), or from an agricultural research facility at the University of Illinois (South Farms, agricultural habitat, coyotes absent). Rural foxes had higher fur isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N) than rural coyotes, indicating that coyotes caused foxes to consume prey items from higher trophic levels and eat more C4 plants. Urban foxes had lower isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N) than South Farms foxes, suggesting that habitat use partly determined fox diets; foxes in urbanized habitats consumed prey at lower .
Key to field identification of shallow water brachycnemic zoanthids (Order Zoantharia: Suborder Brachycnemina) present in Okinawa

Okinawa zoanthids have only recently begun to be investigated intensively. Recent research has confirmed the presence of several previously unknown species in the shallow coral reef waters surrounding Okinawa. Here, to aid zoanthid researchers in field identification, a dichotomous key of brachycnemic zoanthids (families Sphenopidae, Zoanthidae, Neozoanthidae) is provided, with characters almost exclusively based on ecology and morphology, although all taxa listed have also been examined using molecular phylogeny. With this key, five species of Palythoa, four species of Zoanthus, and one taxon each of Sphenopus, Isaurus, Neozoanthus, as well as an undescribed zoanthid genus are identifiable. Although not common, other as of yet undescribed brachycnemic zoanthids are likely to exist in Okinawa waters, and it is hoped this key will help spur further research into their biodiversity.
Screening of Twelve Plant Species for Phytoremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil

Abstract Twelve plant species were screened for their phytoremediation ability for the cleanup of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil in Japanese environmental conditions. The plants were cultivated in a greenhouse for 141 days in 1/5000 a Wagner pots containing the experimental diesel-contaminated soil. During plant cultivation, the changes in the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration, soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and the number of aerobic bacteria were evaluated. The results of the screening experiment indicated that eight plant species (Italian ryegrass, sorghum, maize, alfalfa, Bermuda grass, rice, kudzu and beggar ticks) caused a more significant decrease in the TPH concentration in the planted diesel-contaminated soil than in the unplanted soil, and would be effective in the phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil in Japan. The TPH concentration was more closely related to the soil DHA than to the aerobic bacterial number. In this study we discussed the characteristics of the plants which are suitable for phytoremediation.
Prevalence of the genes encoding extended-spectrum β-lactamases, in Escherichia coli resistant to β-lactam and non-β-lactam antibiotics

Abstract The prevalences of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and their encoding bla genes, TEM, SHV and CTX_M, were investigated in isolates of Escherichia coli that were resistant to β-lactam and/or non-β-lactam antibiotics. Of the 250 E. coli isolates investigated, all of which came from patients in a major hospital in southern Lebanon, 61 (13.3%) were found to have ESBL, their production of β-lactamase being confirmed by the ceftazidime and ceftazidime/clavulanic-acid disc methods. All 61 ESBL isolates were resistant to β-lactams and sensitive to imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoxitime. Only 40% were resistant to fluoroquinolones, 33% were resistant to aminoglycosides, and 18% were considered to have multi-drug resistance. The results of the PCR-based amplification of the bla gene in DNA samples from the 61 ESBL isolates indicated that 11 (18%) of the isolates carried both the TEM and SHV genes, 37 (61%) carried the TEM gene but not the SHV, and 13 (21%) had the SHV gene but not the TEM. None of the isolates carried the CTX_M gene. Of the 37 TEM-positive/SHV-negative isolates, 43% were resistant to fluoroquinolones and 37% to aminoglycosides. Increased resistance to non-β-lactam antibiotics was observed in the isolates harbouring both the TEM and SHV genes, of which 54% were resistant to all of the tested antibiotics except imipenem, 36% were only resistant to fluoroquinolones, and 9.1% only resistant to aminoglycosides. The possibility that the concomitant presence of TEM- and SHV-type β-lactamases is associated with resistance to non-β-lactam antibiotics requires further research. The prevalences of ESBL and their encoding genes in Gram-negative bacteria collected from various regions in Lebanon will now be investigated.
Limitations to Seedling Growth and Survival by the Quantity and Quality of Rooting Space: Implications for the Establishment of Thuja occidentalis on Cliff Faces

Thuja occidentalis is the dominant tree of ancient, stunted cliff‐face forests of the Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada, and in Michigan and Wisconsin, U.S.A. Previous field research has shown that nutrient and water limitations at the sapling stage are absent or small, yet seedling recruitment is relatively rare. To study the relationships between rooting space, nutrient supply, growth, and survival in very young seedlings, plants were grown from seed in three pot volumes (1 mL, 10 mL, and 100 mL) and under three nutrient regimes (watering with water, one‐tenth‐strength Hoagland's solution, and half‐strength Hoagland's solution). Elongation of the main axis and side branches was measured, and survival also was monitored over 2 yr. All measures of seedling growth were significantly increased by higher nutrient levels. Effects of pot size on growth were smaller and less consistent; main axis elongation tended to be greatest in the smallest pots, but branch elongation was not affected. Survival results showed trends opposite to those for growth; higher levels of nutrients did not influence seedling survival, but survival was slightly better in larger pots than in small and intermediate pots. When averaged over all treatments, 61% of seedlings survived to the end of year 1 and 14% to the end of year 2. By the beginning of the third year only 0.1% were alive and all were in large pots. The results indicate that an uncoupling of the relationship between growth and survival is possible in an environment where intraspecific competitive interactions are muted. Survival of trees on cliffs may therefore be unrelated to tree growth and may instead be primarily controlled by the chance of finding safe sites with adequate rooting volume.
Loss of carcass weight, liver weight and liver glycogen, and the effects on muscle glycogen and ultimate pH in pigs fasted pre-slaughter

Pigs (50–65 kg) were last fed 24, 16 or 1 h before transport to slaughter. The journey lasted 1 h and on arrival they were killed after either 1 h or overnight lairage. Although not statistically significant, carcass weight was greater in groups fasted least and those killed after 1 h lairage and these differences were reflected in significantly higher killing-out percentages in these groups. Relatively rapid loss of both live and carcass weight commenced after about 18 h after the last meal, and it was concluded that, to prevent economically important losses, total time from last feed to actual slaughter, including transport and lairage, should not exceed this length of time. The rate of liveweight loss was approximately 0.21 % h−1 and the loss in carcass weight was 0.13% h−1 of fast. Longer lengths of fast significantly reduced liver weight, liver and muscle glycogen and raised muscle ultimate pH. Transport resulted in a large rate of loss in liveweight in proportion to that caused by fasting alone. Backfat thickness was not affected by any of the treatments.
ON FORAGING TIME ALLOCATION IN A STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENT

A model of foraging in a stochastic environment is presented. Drawing on statistical decision theory, this paper suggests that maximization of expected utility may be a useful optimization criterion for ecological problems. The common notion of feeding preferences is extended to prefer- ences over the probability distributions of net energetic benefits associated with available resources. By incorporating a forager's response to environmental variation, the model can lead to predictions that contrast with those of most deterministic feeding models.
Inhibition of the Psychrotrophic Bacteria of Raw Milk by Addition of Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Two commercial cultures of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were added to raw milk in order to inhibit the development of psychrotrophic bacteria. The effects of inoculation level, pH development, media for culture preparation, and milk heat treatment on the inhibitory activity of LAB were studied. Inoculation levels of 2.5 × 106/mL and less of LAB did not significantly reduce psychrotrophic growth. Maximum inoculation level of LAB studied was 25 × 106/mL and this reduced psychrotrophic development by a factor of 10; however, milk pH was reduced to 6.54 over 48 h of incubation at 7°C with this inoculation level. This acidification was not responsible for the inhibitory activity of LAB on psychrotrophs. The LAB were more effective when psychrotroph populations had high multiplication rates. Initial populations of Pseudomonas putida in pasteurized milk did not influence the activity of the LAB. Pseudomonas putida grew faster in sterile milk than in pasteurized milk, but average inhibition rates of LAB were similar in both media.