Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating Egg Retention Times in Sceloporine Lizards

The extent to which squamates retain eggs in utero is poorly known. The purpose of this study was to develop a broadly applicable laboratory based method for estimating egg retention time relative to the total period of embryonic development. The first step in determining the range of egg retention times for a species is quantifying embryo stage at normal oviposition for a large sample of females. The next step involves measuring the total time taken to develop, from ovulation to hatching, at constant temperature. Finally, by calculating the fraction of total development time taken to achieve each embryonic stage from ovulation, relative egg retention time can be determined. The modal embryo stages at oviposition in Sceloporus woodi, S. virgatus, and S. scalaris are stage 27, 31, and 38, respectively. It was previously reported that total embryonic development times at 30 C for these three species are 61.6, 55.3, and 45.6 days, respectively. Additionally, embryos of each species achieve similar stages at similar pro- portions of total development time. Embryo stages at oviposition (ESO), reported in the literature, indicate that the modal ESO for lizards (N = 38 species) is stage 30, which corresponds to approximately 26% of total embryonic development time. Although there are a few species of squamates that exhibit extreme periods of egg retention, most squamates appear to retain eggs for an absolute period that may be slightly longer than the egg retention times of crocodilians and turtles. Unlike turtles and crocodilians, squamate embryos continue to develop in utero and achieve a more advanced degree of embryogenesis at oviposition
Identification of Gene Resistance to Avian Influenza Virus (Mx Gene) among Wild Waterbirds

The Mx gene is an antiviral gene used to determine the resistance or the susceptibility to different types of viruses, including the Avian Influenza (AI) virus subtype H5N1. The AI virus subtype H5N1 infection in chickens causes Mx gene polymorphism. The Mx + gene shows resistant to the AI virus subtype H5N1, whereas the Mx gene shows signs of susceptible. The objective of this research was to detect the Mx gene in wild aquatic birds using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method with the primer pairs F2 and NE-R2/R and the RsaI restriction enzyme. DNA samples were obtained from eight species of wild waterbirds with positive and negative exposure to the AI virus subtype H5N1. DNA amplification results showed that the Mx gene in wild aquatic birds is found in a 100 bp fragment, which is the same as the Mx gene found in chickens. However, unlike chickens, the Mx gene in wild aquatic birds did not show any polymorphism. This study proves that Mx- based resistance to AI virus subtype H5N1 in different in wild birds than in chickens.
Economics of charcoal production and its implication to the management of miombo woodlands in Kilosa district

Tanzania is one among developing countries with increasing population growth. The increase of population is reported to contribute to the deforestation as most of the people depend on charcoal as primary source of energy in which the country produces and consume around 3% of global consumption. Most, of previous studies on charcoal provided empirical data on charcoal production, but consistency on productivity, costs incurred, benefits accrued and implication of the technology to woodlands is missing. This study was conducted to analyse the economics of charcoal production and its implication to the Miombo woodlands in Kilosa District, Morogoro region. The aim of the study was to get empirical knowledge for improving charcoal production and to strengthen the theoretical base necessary for supporting sound decision making in the study area. A sample of 120 charcoal producers in villages namely Nyali, Ulaya Mbuyuni, Dodoma Isanga and Ihombwe was used. Descriptive statistics and econometrics methods were used for data analysis. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to estimate charcoal yield per kiln and descriptive statistics of terciles were used to compare the socio-economic characteristics between producers groups. In analysing cost of charcoal production descriptive statistics were used in presenting the findings. Gross Margin analysis was used to estimate profit of charcoal production per kiln while multiple regression was used to analyse factors influencing profitability of charcoal business. For charcoal production technologies, findings show that charcoal producers using modern kilns had 40% yield higher than producers who used traditional kilns while producers who used medium size kilns ranging from 10.5cm to 50.5cm had 50% yield higher than producers who used small and large size kilns. In cost analysis results show on average cost of tree preparation per bag is about TAS 2000 per bag, kiln preparation about TAS 1000 per bag and kiln supervision about TAS 500 per bag. Profitability analysis the gross margin of 26%
Significance of size, temperature and call attributes to sexual selection in Bufo woodhousei australis.

Advertisement calls of a population of Bufo woodhousei australis were recorded in the field to determine possible effects of size and temperature on call attributes. Analysis of dom- inant frequency, pulse rate and duration of advertisement calls revealed that only frequency was correlated (negatively) with size. Observations of the same individuals on successive nights showed there was substantial variation in call attributes independent of temperature. Only pulse rate was correlated (positively) with body temperature; frequency and call duration were independent of body temperature over a 5? C range. It is concluded that females might distinguish males of different sizes on the basis of frequency, but temperature has no effect on this possible size indicator. These results are discussed in relation to the work of Fairchild (1981) on Bufo woodhousei fowleri.
Morphological determinants of self-thinning in plant monocultures and a proposal concerning the role of self-thinning in plant evolution

Understanding density-dependent dynamics in plant populations has been limited by the lack of a clear mechanism responsible for self-thinning in plant monocultures. Although many plant populations exhibit predictable thinning dynamics based on the self-thinning rule, experimental support for possible mechanisms generating the self-thinning rule is lacking. Here, I review the formulation of the self-thinning rule based on plant geometry, and describe an experimental test of the geometrical hypothesis of self-thinning. Geometric theory predicts that plants of disparate morphologies should thin along lines with slopes different from -3/2. I examined the thinning dynamics of three species in the family Chenopodiaceae, Salicornia europaea, Suaeda maritima, and Atriplex triangularis, whose morphologies range from leafless, sparsely-branched and short (Salicornia) to bushy (Atriplex). As predicted by the geometric theory of self-thinning, Salicornia did not self-thin, Atriplex thinned along a line with slope -1.82, and Suaeda thinned along a line of intermediate slope, -2.50. These results strongly support a geometric basis for self-thinning. Morphologically, Salicornia is similar to the earliest vascular land plants, and by analogy I propose that self-thinning was not a selective force in early land plant evolution. Competition for light among plants would result in selection for increased height and canopy spread, and the widespread occurrence of the self-thinning rule in contemporary natural plant populations is hypothesized to be a result of these morphological changes.
Geographic Variation in the Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon flavescens

slenderhead darter, Percina phoxocephala, in the Embarras River, Illinois. Ibid. 74. PFLIEGER, W. L. 1978. Distribution, status, and life history of the Nianguae darter, Etheostoma nianguae. Missouri Dept. of Cons. Aquatic Series 16. RANEY, E. C. , AND E. A. LACHNER. 1939. Observations on the life history of the spotted darter, Poecilichthys maculatus (Kirtland). Copeia 1939:157-165. , AND . 1943. Age and growth of johnny darters, Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi (Storer) and Boleosoma longimanum (Jordan). Amer. Midl. Nat. 29:229-238. SCHMIDT, R. E. 1979. Distribution and habitat of the swamp darter (Etheostoma fusiforme) in southern New England. Ibid. 408-413. SPEARE, E. P. 1960. Growth of the central johnny darter, Etheostoma nigrum nigrum (Rafinesque) in Augusta Creek, Michigan. Copeia 1960:241-243. STARNES, W. C. 1977. The ecology and life history of the endangered snail darter, Percina (Imostoma) tanasi Etnier. Tenn. Wildlife Resources Agency. Fisheries Research Report. TWRA Technical Report 77-52.
Mitochondrial DNA Length Variation and Heteroplasmy in Natural Populations of the European Sea Bass, Dicentrarchus labrax

Mitochondrial DNA length variation in Dicentrarchus labrax is the outcome of the simultaneous variation in the copy number of two tandem repeat arrays located in the D-loop region. The repeated sequences, named R17 and R48, are 17 and 48 bp long, respectively. On the basis of 209 individuals collected in eight Mediterranean localities, length variation and its partitioning between the two repeat arrays have been characterized and quantified by means of frequency distributions of repeat copy number and genetic diversity estimates. The median copy numbers are 4 and 11 for the R17 and R48 repeat arrays, respectively. For both repeat arrays, continuity in step variation and the occurrence of both frequent and rare arrangements was observed. More than 50% of the individuals are heteroplasmic for up to four variants. Within populations, heteroplasmy ranges between 33.3% and 70.0% of the individuals. A large proportion of the total gene diversity (29.1%) occurs within individuals and the greatest proportion (66.6%) is found between individuals within populations, while only 4.3% is due to variation between populations. Although the interpopulation component of the diversity is rather low, the significant differentiation of the two Eastern populations from all the other Western samples suggests the occurrence of a phylogeographic component of the genetic divergence between the Mediterranean populations, which is only recognizable on a large geographic scale.
Velvetbean and Bahiagrass as Rotation Crops for Management of Meloidogyne spp. and Heterodera glyeines

Soybean (Glycine max) yield often is limited by the phytoparasitic nematodes Meloidogyne spp. and Heterodera glycines in the southeastern United States. We studied the effects of rotation with bahi- agrass (Paspalum notatum), velvetbean (Mucuna pruiens), or continuous soybean, aldicarb, and soybean cultivar on yield and population densities in two fields infested with a mixture of Meloidogyne spp. and H. glycines. Velvetbean and bahiagrass reduced population levels of both nematode species to near zero prior to planting soybean. At harvest, both nematode populations were equal in soybean following bahiagrass and continuous soybean but were lower following velvetbean. Both bahiagrass and velvetbean as previous crops were equal in producing significantly (P < 0.003) higher yield than continuous soybean. Velvethean increased subsequent soybean yield by 98% and bahiagrass increased subsequent soybean yield by 85% as previous crops compared to continuous soybean. The major differences be- tween the two rotation crops were yield response of the nematode-susceptible cultivars and at-harvest nematode populations. Velvetbean tended to mask genetic differences among cultivars more so than bahiagrass. Velvetbean also produced a more long-term effect on nematode populations, with numbers of both Meloidogyne spp. and H. glycines lower in soybean following velvethean than following bahiagrass or continuous soybean.
Changes in water-vapor conductance of common canary eggs during the incubation period

conductance, shell thickness, and functional pore area. Condor 76:153-158. BLANKESPOOR, G. W. , J. OOLMAN, AND C. UTHE. 1982. Eggshell strength and cowbird parasitism of Redwinged Blackbirds. Auk 99:363-365. CAREY, C. 1979. Increase in conductance to water vapor during incubation in eggs of two avian species. J. Exp. Zool. 209:181-186. CAREY, C. 1983. Structure and function of avian eggs, p. 69-104. In R. F. Johnston [ed.], Current ornithology. Vol. 1. Plenum Press, New York. CAREY, C. 1986. Tolerance of variation in eggshell conductance, water loss and water content by Red-winged Blackbird embryos. Physiol. Zool. 59:109-122. CAREY, C. , S. D. GARBER, E. L. THOMPSON, AND F. C. JAMES. 1983. Avian reproduction over an altitudinal gradient. II. Physical characteristics and water loss of eggs. Physiol. Zool. 56:340-352. DRENT, R. H. 1970. Functional aspects of incubation in the Herring Gull. Behaviour Suppl. 17:1-132. FRIEDMANN, H. 1929. The cowbirds: a study in the biology of social parasitism. Charles C Thomas Publ. , Springfield, IL. PAYNE, R. B. 1977. The ecology of brood parasitism in birds. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 8:1-28.
Relationship between postpartum reproductive performance and calving number in beef cows.

肉用牛の放牧飼養における分娩後の子宮修復,卵巣機能および受胎性と産次との関係について分析した。 子宮修復までの日数は,産次が増加するに伴い長くなる傾向を示した。 分娩後の初回排卵までの日数および発情回帰までの日数は,初産群でとくに遅れる傾向を示した。 初回~2回目排卵および2回~3回目排卵までの日数,発情行動が伴った初回~3回目排卵の割合については,産次群の違いによる差は認められなかった。 空胎期間は2産および3~5産群に比べ初産および6~10産群で長い傾向を示した。 その原因としては,初産群では発情回帰が遅れたため,6~10産群では低受胎牛が増加したためであった。
Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns in Two Terrestrial Turtles

Sympatric box turtles (Terrapene carolina) and wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in south-central Pennsylvania possess the following contrasting constellations of characteristics. Clemmys have large home ranges and long daily foraging paths, include green leaves among their major diet categories, remain active during summer dry periods, and are restricted to lowland areas. Terrapene have small home ranges and short daily foraging paths, do not eat green leaves, generally are inactive during dry spells, and occur in both the lowlands and the dry summits of the folded Appalachians. These differences appear to be associated with the turtles' different ways of com- batting desiccation, and with spatial and temporal food distribution patterns.
BIOGEOGRAPHY AND CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN WESTERN SOUTH AMERICAN AND ANTARCTIC MARINE MOLLUSCS

table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; } The latitudinal diversity gradient is widely recognized, leading researchers to assume that Antarctic fauna are impoverished. However, with increased sampling efforts, some studies have shown a great diversity of certain marine groups surrounding the Antarctic continent, with higher rates of them. Antarctic endemism may be associated with its isolation and climate change over the evolutionary time scale. Despite this relative isolation, recent evidence suggests some degree of connectivity between the Antarctic and South American faunas. Our study used secondary data extracted from Malacolog 4.1. 1. The geographical area considered was the entire South American Atlantic coast and the the adjacent areas of the Antarctic (Antarctic Peninsula, part of the Weddell Sea and islands of the Scotia Arc). Our survey yielded 6517 species of mollusks. The most diverse province was the North Brazil Shelf, and the least diverse was the Scotia Sea. Endemism rates for low-latitude provinces were close to 15%, in contrast to the highest endemism rate of 40% in the Scotia Sea Province. The highest value for richness was found for the Guianan ecoregion, and the lowest value for the Antarctic Peninsula. Most ecoregions had an endemism rate around 3%, with the highest endemism in South Georgia. The richness gradient increased toward lower latitudes. The cluster analysis for the malacofauna indicated four statistically significant groups. The bathymetric RapoportÂ´s Rule showed the increase of bathymetric range toward higher-latitude ecoregions and whereas BergmannÂ´s Rule showed the opposite relationship. The higher richness at -25 o S may be associated with the presence of coral and calcareous algal reefs. At mid-latitudes richness was also high, and this region comprise an ecotone between thermophilic and cryophilic species'. The cluster analysis validated three provinces proposed by Spalding (2007), although it revealed the inadequate knowledge of the North Brazil Shelf province. The higher endemism observed in the Magellanic and Scotia seas demonstrates the influence that Antarctic isolation has on its community structure, although the cluster showed the existence of a connection with South America. The observed converse BergmannÂ´s Rule could be explained by the shorter seasons at higher latitudes, which limit the phenotypic body size that can be attained.
REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES OF THE GRASS LIZARD, TAKYDROMUS HSUEHSHANENSIS, WITH COMMENTS ON REPRODUCTIVE PATTERNS OF LIZARDS FROM THE CENTRAL HIGH ELEVATION AREA OF TAIWAN

In this study, I describe seasonal variations in the male and female reproductive cycles of Takydromus hsuehshanensis, an oviparous grass lizard endemic to the high altitude areas of Taiwan. Mean snout-vent length (SVL) of adult males (n = 78) and females (n = 105) were 60.5 mm (range = 47-72 mm) and 61.2 mm (range = 54-72 mm), respectively. Females exhibited a spring vitellogenic period with parturition occurring in May to July. The onset of vitellogenesis showed a negative correlation with the mass of the female fat body. Females produced two to four eggs per clutch, and clutch size was positively correlated with SVL: only females with SVLs equal to or larger than 61 mm produced a clutch consisting of four eggs. Two clutches were recorded during a single year in some individuals. Males exhibited a continuous spermatogenic pattern, but testis mass, accessory sexual organ mass, and seminiferous tubule diameter showed cyclical changes with a peak before the dormant months from September to December. The tubules of the epididymides were full of sperm from December to the following March, indicating that sperm were stored in the epididymides until the occurrence of ovulation in the spring. Male fat bodies exhibited the lowest mass from March to June, coincident with the period of reproductive activity. Male seminiferous tubule diameter exhibited a positive correlation with liver, fat body, and testis masses. However, seminiferous tubule diameter, as well as testes mass, had a negative correlation with precipitation. Timing of reproduction in four other sympatric lizards and clutch size variation in other Takydromus species are compared with those in T. hsuehshanensis.
Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of different fractions of Operculina turpethum root and leaf

In Bangladesh, the herb Operculina turpethum is used for otitis media, suppurative sores, burns, conjunctivitis and skin diseases (eczema, abscesses, acne, scabies and warts) although the compounds responsible for the medicinal properties have not been identified. The present study has been undertaken for antibacterial activity of the ethanol, ether and chloroform extract of O. turpethum root and leaf. Antibacterial activity has been investigated against Shigella boydii, Shigella flese, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhi, Hafnia alvei, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis by disc diffusion and broth macro-dilution assay. The zone of inhibition has been observed with almost all bacteria with some exceptions. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were found to be significant.
Activity, Movement Patterns, and Home Range of the Yellow- margined Box Turtle (Cuora flavomarginata) in Northern Taiwan

Estimates were made of the activity, movement patterns, habitat use, and home range size of adult yellow-margined box turtles (Cuora flavomarginata) in the Feitsui Reservoir Protected Area, northern Taiwan. Data collected from May 1996 to February 1998 by mark-recapture and radiotelemetry indicated that C. flavomarginata is exclusively terrestrial. The distribution of captures and relocations offered no evidence of aquatic habits. The activity and movement patterns varied seasonally and between sexes. From April to July, females were captured more frequently than males, suggesting that the activity of females was greater than that of males. By contrast, males were captured more frequently than females from August to October. Seasonal habitat preference also was observed for both sexes. Gravid females usually stayed near the border of evergreen forests during the nesting season of April to July (61.5%), and then moved back into the forest's interior (56.3%). Males tended to remain in the densely vegetated areas of evergreen forest throughout the year. Although the home range size varied greatly among individuals (0.07-6.39 ha), males tended to have larger home range sizes (3.53 ha) than females (0.53 ha). Activity of C. flavomarginata reduced dramatically after October. Most individuals selected areas with dense vegetation as overwintering sites, where they buried themselves under leaf litter or fallen logs, or used abandoned burrows of other animals
Effect of Anticoccidial Programs on Broiler Performance

Abstract Two floor pen trials were conducted to study the effects of 16 anticoccidial programs on broiler performance during a mild coccidial challenge. Twelve shuttle programs were arranged with three starter programs (72 or 90 g/ton narasin + nicarbazin, or 113 g/ton nicarbazin) shuttled to one of four grower programs (100 g/ton monensin, 63 or 72 g/ton narasin, or 60 g/ton salinomycin) at 21 days of age. All feed contained roxarsone and bacitracin MD with the exception of the narasin + nicarbazin feed. Mortality was not affected by anticoccidial programs. All continuous ionophore programs resulted in similar body weights and feed efficiency. During the starter period narasin + nicarbazin and the ionophores provided better gain and feed:gain ratios than nicarbazin. All ionophores provided similar performance during the grower period of the shuttle programs. Birds on the narasin + nicarbazin shuttle programs had greater final weights than birds on either the nicarbazin shuttle or the continuous ionophore programs. These data demonstrate that narasin + nicarbazin to ionophore shuttle programs produce better weight gains than either nicarbazin to ionophore shuttle programs or continuous ionophore programs.
Cross-resistance Spectrum and Synergism Studies in Organophosphorus-resistant Strains of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Cucugidae) in Australia

Resistance to DDT, lindane, organophosphorus insecticides, carbaryl, bioresmethrin, and pyrethrins was found in wild strains of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.). The levels of resistance measured in these strains were low ( 160-fold). Both piperonyl butoxide and S, S, S -tributyl phosphorotrithioate were strongly synergistic with fenitrothion and fenitrooxon in resistant strains; both also were synergistic with malathion, but less strongly. However, triphenyl phosphate was not synergistic with either malathion or fenitrothion.