Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A study of the abundance and patchiness of cicada nymphs (Homoptera: Tibicinidae) in a New Zealand subalpine shrub-grassland

Abstract Cicada emergence skins in a subalpine shrub grassland have been sampled during 1969–75 to determine the abundance and spatial distributions of nymphs feeding on plant roots. A guild of six cicada species is primarily associated with two forms of vegetation: shrubs (Dracophyllum and Cassinia) and tall tussock (Chionochloa). Skin locations were mapped relative to dominant vegetation species, litter zones, and soil and rock pavements over a range of aspects, altitudes, and vegetation types, and sampling methods were scaled at four levels: the locality, plot, quadrat, and individual plant. There were significant differences in skin counts over four years, and different measures of mean skin densities are given for the four sampling scales. The two primary vegetation types had cumulative 1969–72 mean densities of 5.2 ± 4.0 and 12.9 ± 10.0 skins/quadrat (2.3 m2) , and the 1969–72 mean productivities of the upper 25% of quadrats (adjusted for percent ground cover) were, respectively, 5.5 and 35.5 skins/.
Species limits in the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with the elevation of two taxa to specific status and the description of two new species

BRANCH, W. R. , A. M. BAUER and D. A. GOOD. 1995. Species Limits in the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with the elevation of two taxa to specific status and the description of two new species. J. Herpetol. Assoc. Afr. 44(2): 33–54. An analysis of morphological and allozyme variation in leaf-toed geckos of the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex from southern Africa is presented. Five separately evolving lineages, well-defined by morphology and allozyme variation, are identified, along with another less well-defined isolate. Typical P. lineatus is shown to be a deep-headed, large-scaled, terrestrial species, with usually five preanal pores in males. It is widely distributed in the Succulent Karoo biome, from southern Namibia to Saldanha, and into the western Little Karoo. The remaining populations, containing dorsa-ventrally flattened, rupicolous lizards, are all geographically isolated. Phyllodactylus rupicolus (new comb.) and P. essexi are validated as full species, diagnosed by being.
Clinical and Echocardiographic Profile of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in Nigeria

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice requiring treatment. There is a paucity of data on AF in Nigeria; hence, this study was undertaken with the aim to characterize the clinical and echocardiographic profile of patients with AF in our hospital. Materials and Methods: This observational hospital-based study was carried out on 55 patients with electrocardiographically diagnosed AF seen at a sub-urban tertiary hospital in Nigeria from January 2012 to December 2015. All patients who were reviewed clinically also had transthoracic 2-D echocardiography done. Results: There were 29 (52.7%) males. Patients mean age was 67.40 ±13.83 years with a stepwise increase in the frequency of AF as age increases. Hypertension (87.3%) was the commonest associated co-morbidity. Mean CHADS2 score was 2.38 ± 1.35 and 65.5% had CHADS2 score ≥ 2. Dyspnea was the commonest presenting symptom in 67.3% of the patients. Echocardiographic left atrial enlargement (LAE) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was seen in 60% and 89.1% of the patients respectively. The commonest echocardiographic diagnosis was hypertensive heart disease (65.5%) followed distantly by dilated cardiomyopathy in 16.4%. Conclusions: Increasing age and hypertension are associated with occurrence of AF. As majority of our patients with AF fall into high risk of stroke category, early institution of appropriate treatment modalities will help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with stroke. Presence of LVH or LAE in patients with hypertensive heart disease requires aggressive management to delay the development of AF.
Population dynamic and distribution of Barbatia decussata (Bivalvia: Arcidae) on rocky intertidal shores in the northern Persian Gulf (Iran)

Barbatia decussata is a member of intertidal communities occurring at rocky shores in the northern Persian Gulf. Population dynamic for this clam was explored from August 2011 to September 2012 on rocky intertidal shores in the northern Persian Gulf. The results showed that the Ark clam mostly occurred in the middle followed by lower intertidal zones and its distribution was associated with substrate morphology mostly occurring on shaded sides of boulders and cobbles followed by in crevices. Total shell length (SL) for 7064 individuals of Ark clams ranged from 2.21 to 53.93 mm. The growth parameters for the von Bertalanffy function were L∞ = 57.75 mm, K = 0.47 year− 1, and t0 = − 0.29 year. The growth performance index (Φ′), longevity, asymptotic weight (W∞), and natural mortality were 3.2, 6.29 years, 40.38 g, and 1.79 year− 1, respectively. The exponent “b” value was 3.181 indicating that this clam bears a positive allometric growth pattern. The recruitment pattern was continuous with two major peaks. The sex ratio did not deviate from 1:1. The SL–total live weight (TLW) relationship, the SL–wet weight (WW) relationship, the SL–dry weight (DW) relationship, and the SL–ash-free dry weight (AFDW) relationship were TLW = 0.0001 × SL3.181, WW = 0.000015SL3. 347, DW = 0.000009SL3. 047, and AFDW = 0.000009SL3.22, respectively.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FISH AND THE NUMBER OF HORNS IN CERATIUM HIRUNDINELLA (DINOPHYCEAE): A FOOD‐WEB‐MEDIATED EFFECT ON ALGAL MORPHOLOGY? 1

In a freshwater mesocosm experiment, we explored the potential for direct and indirect effects of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), two planktivorous fishes with different feeding behaviors, on the morphology of Ceratium hirundinella (O. F. Müll.) Dujard. , a large dinoflagellate. Three morphs were detected: one with two hypothecal horns, one with a third rudimentary horn, and one with three well‐developed horns. We observed a strong negative relationship between the presence of fish and the proportion of three‐horned cells. The two fishes had strikingly similar effects on C. hirundinella morphology, despite their different capabilities to retain particles of the size of C. hirundinella. This finding suggests that the morphological variation in C. hirundinella was not related to selection by fish. Morphological variations in C. hirundinella could not be explained by fish‐mediated variations in turbidity (i.e., light climate) or by predation pressure by the fish. In contrast, the proportion of three‐horned cells was directly related to the biomass of filter‐feeding cladocerans. This result was unexpected since cladocerans are not considered to consume C. hirundinella and they did not depress C. hirundinella numbers in our experiment. Without excluding other possible mechanisms, we suggest that the third horn might help these dinoflagellates avoid physical contact with the filtering apparatus of the cladocerans and the consequent potential damage caused by these herbivores, which were more abundant in the absence of planktivorous fish.
Does constrained oviposition influence offspring sex ratio in the solitary parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens?

Abstract 1. In haplodiploid organisms, virgin or sperm‐depleted females can reproduce but are constrained to produce only male progeny. According to Godfray’s constrained model, when p, the proportion of females constrained to produce only male progeny, is not null in a panmictic population, unconstrained females should bias their sex allocation towards females to compensate for the excess of males. These unconstrained females should be able to adjust the sex ratio in response to local variation of p.
In vitro ruminal digestion of anthocyanidin-containing alfalfa transformed with the maize Lc regulatory gene

In vitro ruminal digestion was conducted on novel “purple-green” alfalfa forage that accumulated anthocyanidin and proanthocyanidins through the expression of a maize bHLH anthocyanidin regulatory gene (Lc). The Lc-transgenic genotypes were compared with parental (non-transformed, NT) alfalfa in their in vitro ruminal fermentation, dry matter (DM) and N disappearances, and DM degradability. The transgenic genotypes expressed the Lc gene at different levels when grown under high light conditions, resulting in anthocyanidin contents as high as 136 g g-1 DM. Lc genotypes had lower true DM disappearance than NT alfalfa at 0, 4 and 12 h of incubation, but not at 24 or 48 h. Compared with NT, Lc-transgenic genotypes had a lower content of rapidly soluble DM, but a similar content and rate of degradation of the slowly degradable DM fraction, and a similar lag time for digestion. True disappearance of N was lower for Lc- transgenic than NT alfalfa at the initiation of the incubation. The solubility of both DM and.
PPARγ-Independent Side Effects of Thiazolidinediones on Mitochondrial Redox State in Rat Isolated Hearts

The effect of anti-diabetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on contributing to heart failure and cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is controversial. In this study we investigated the effect of select TZDs on myocardial and mitochondrial function in Brown Norway rat isolated hearts. In a first set of experiments, the TZD rosiglitazone was given acutely before global myocardial IR, and pre- and post-IR function and infarct size were assessed. In a second set of experiments, different concentrations of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone were administered in the presence or absence of the specific PPARγ antagonist GW9662, and their effects on the mitochondrial redox state were measured by online NADH and FAD autofluorescence. The administration of rosiglitazone did not significantly affect myocardial function except for transiently increasing coronary flow, but it increased IR injury compared to the control hearts. Both TZDs resulted in dose-dependent, reversible increases in mitochondrial oxidation which was not attenuated by GW9662. Taken together, these data suggest that TZDs cause excessive mitochondrial uncoupling by a PPARγ-independent mechanism. Acute rosiglitazone administration before IR was associated with enhanced cardiac injury. If translated clinically, susceptible patients on PPARγ agonists may experience enhanced myocardial IR injury by mitochondrial dysfunction.
Effect of nutritional factors and precursors on formation of colchicine in Gloriosa superba in vitro

In the present work we investigated the effect of nutritional factors and the precursors on colchicine production in callus cultures of Gloriosa superba in order to optimize the colchicine production in vitro . To broaden the significance of our study, we have investigated the effect of plant growth regulators, carbon, nitrogen and inorganic ions such as sodium sulphate, calcium chloride, potassium hydrogen phosphate and ferric sulphate at different concentration and analyzed colchichine content using petroleum ether and dichloromethane extraction and HPLC. Colchicine content in the callus, grown in the medium with sucrose as carbon source and 40 mM ammonium nitrate as nitrate source showed the greatest promise with highest biomass and colchicine content. In addition to this, sulphate ions (40 mM) markedly increased the formation of colchicine. In contrast, highest concentration of phosphate (2.5 mM) and calcium (10 mM) were found to be inhibitory for colchicine formation. Precursors (40 μM tyrosine) also influenced the colchicine content (9.79 mM dry weight) with the above mentioned nutritional effect. The results presented here highlight the optimum condition for the colchicine production in Gloriosa superba .
Evaluating the relationship between basin‐scale fish species richness and ecologically relevant flow characteristics in rivers worldwide

Summary 1. River flow alterations due to climate change and increasing water usage affect freshwater biodiversity including fish species richness. Here, we statistically explored the relationships of fish species richness to 14 ecologically relevant flow metrics as well as basin area and latitude in 72 rivers worldwide. 2. The statistical models best supported by the data included three variables with positive coefficients (mean river discharge, basin area and the maximum proportion of no-flooding period) and three variables with negative coefficients (latitude, coefficients of variation in the frequency of low flow and the Julian date of annual minimum flow). 3. The model outputs have provided the first empirical indication that specific low- and high-flow characteristics may be important in explaining variations in basin-scale fish species richness. Our findings can be useful in identifying high-risk basins for conservation of fish species diversity. 4. The results not only support the adoption of mean discharge as a predictor, but also suggest the importance of basin area in predicting basin-scale fish species richness around the world.
The phylogenetic structure of primate communities: variation within and across continents

Aim Our goals are: (1) to examine the relative degree of phylogenetic overdispersion or clustering of species in communities relative to the entire species pool, (2) to test for across‐continent differences in community phylogenetic structure, and (3) to examine the relationship between species richness and community phylogenetic structure.
Comparative growth performance of Kajli lambs suckling their dams or offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer during pre-weaning period

Kajli, is one of the most beautiful sheep breeds of Pakistan. Because of their beauty, Kajli lambs are sold at a higher price than those of other breeds with similar weight. With the increasing trend in commercial livestock farming, young Kajli lambs are purchased from the open market and reared up to Eid-ul-Adha (The Muslim Sacrificial Day). Information on feeding cost and growth performance on artificial rearing is important for the breed lovers and for a commercial enterprise. The present study aimed at generating basic information on feeding cost and growth performance of Kajli lambs offered milk replacer, cow-milk, and buffalo-milk, in comparison with those suckling directly from their dams. Fifty-six healthy Kajli lambs both male and female (with equal sex ratio) born at the Livestock Experimental Station, Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan during spring 2013 remained with their mothers for 1 week and were then divided into four groups of 14 animals each. Lambs in Group I were allowed to suckle their dams ad libitum, twice daily until 8 weeks and then once daily from 9 to 12 weeks. Lambs were weighed before and after suckling to calculate milk consumption. Lambs in the other three treatments were offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer at the rate of 10% of bodyweight until the 8th week and then gradually reduced to zero by the end of the 12th week. All lambs were offered starter ration from the 5th week of age in individual pens. The data on milk and starter intake, weekly bodyweight and blood glucose were analysed through MIXED procedures of SAS using repeated-measures analysis, and average daily gain (ADG), total weight gain, weaning weight and feeding cost were analysed using a completely randomised design. Least square means of ADG (g/day) and total weight gain (kg) were similar (P > 0.05) in direct suckling lambs and lambs offered buffalo-milk (175 and 151, and 14.5 and 12.5, respectively), and were higher (P 0.05) in the other three groups. The cost of rearing lambs on buffalo-milk tended to be lower (PKR 375) than those offered cow-milk. In the absence of ewe’s milk, rearing Kajli lambs on buffalo-milk during the pre-weaning period therefore seems to be a better alternative.
Interspecific competition in Australian honeyeaters—depletion of common resources

Many species of honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds occur in most habitats in South Australia. They frequently feed on nectar of the same species of plants. A succession of species of plants provide nectar for birds throughout the year. Nectar is most abundant in winter and early spring and least abundant in summer and autumn. There is more nectar per flower and more flowers in winter and spring. Nectar is often depleted by honeyeaters, and sometimes other visitors (silvereyes, lorikeets and insects) between December and May. It is at times reduced to a level at which it is uneconomical for some species to exploit. There are seasonal movements of honeyeaters into areas of abundant nectar and out of these areas when nectar becomes scarce. Breeding coincides with peak abundance of nectar. Diversity of honeyeaters is probably maintained by an interaction of two types of competition, exploitation and interference. The larger species use the richest sources of nectar and aggressively exclude the smaller species (interference) whereas the smaller species can use poorer sources of nectar because their energy requirements are less (exploitation).
Putting the Jigsaw Together - A Brief Insight Into the Tularemia

Abstract Tularemia is a debilitating febrile and potentially fatal zoonotic disease of humans and other vertebrates caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. The natural reservoirs are small rodents, hares, and possibly amoebas in water. The etiological agent, Francisella tularensis, is a non-spore forming, encapsulated, facultative intracellular bacterium, a member of the γ-Proteobacteria class of Gram-negative bacteria. Francisella tularensis is capable of invading and replicating within phagocytic as well as non-phagocytic cells and modulate inflammatory response. Infection by the pulmonary, dermal, or oral routes, respectively, results in pneumonic, ulceroglandular, or oropharyngeal tularemia. The highest mortality rates are associated with the pneumonic form of this disease. All members of Francisella tularensis species cause more or less severe disease Due to their abilities to be transmitted to humans via multiple routes and to be disseminated via biological aerosol that can cause the disease after inhalation of even an extremely low infectious dose, Francisella tularensis has been classified as a Category A bioterrorism agent. The current standard of care for tularemia is treatment with antibiotics, as this therapy is highly effective if used soon after infection, although it is not, however, absolutely effective in all cases.
IFN-γ-Dependent Inhibition of Tumor Angiogenesis by Tumor-Infiltrating CD4+ T Cells Requires Tumor Responsiveness to IFN-γ1

The importance of CD4+ T cells in the induction of an optimal antitumor immune response has largely been attributed to their ability to provide costimulatory signals for the priming of MHC class I-restricted CD8+ CTL. However, many reports have demonstrated a requirement for CD4+ T cells in the effector phase of tumor rejection indicating a greater responsibility for CD4+ T cells in controlling tumor outgrowth. We demonstrate here a critical role for CD4+ T cells in restraining initial tumor development through the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Using a tumor variant that is unresponsive to IFN-γ, we show that tumor responsiveness to IFN-γ is necessary for IFN-γ-dependent inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by CD4+ T cells. These studies reveal a pivotal role for CD4+ T cells in controlling early tumor development through inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.
Fluctuating asymmetry and allozyme variability in an isolated springbok Antidorcas marsupialis population from the Chelmsford Nature Reserve

Allozyme variability and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in skull morphology were used to test the hypothesis of inbreeding in an isolated springbok Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmermann, 1780) population from the Chelmsford Nature Reserve, South Africa. Of 39 loci studied in a sample of 30 animals, five displayed allelic polymorphism. Average heterozygosity of 1.8% was not appreciably lower than a value of 2% calculated for 49 animals from a control group from Benfontein Game Farm in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Proportion of polymorphic loci and average number of alleles per locus were identical in both populations (10.3% and 1.1). Morphological analysis contradicted the prediction of increased fluctuating asymmetry due to the likelihood of inbreeding in a small, isolated population, with FA almost always higher in the control compared to Chelmsford. Chelmsford animals were however smaller than control animals for seven out of 9 cranial and horn variables analysed (significantly so in four cases), hich could conceivably be explained by environmental influences. It is concluded that loss of genetic diversity is not a problem in the Chelmsford springbok population, although this does not negate the possibility that physical deformities occurring in the population may indeed be genetically induced.
Sodium Channel β Subunits Mediate Homophilic Cell Adhesion and Recruit Ankyrin to Points of Cell-Cell Contact*

Sodium channels isolated from mammalian brain are composed of α, β1, and β2 subunits. The auxiliary β subunits do not form the ion conducting pore, yet play important roles in channel modulation and plasma membrane expression. β1 and β2 are transmembrane proteins with one extracellular V-set immunoglobulin (Ig) protein domain. It has been shown recently that β1 and β2 interact with the extracellular matrix proteins tenascin-C and tenascin-R. In the present study we show that rat brain β1 and β2, but not αIIA, subunits interact in a trans-homophilic fashion, resulting in recruitment of the cytoskeletal protein ankyrin to sites of cell-cell contact in transfected Drosophila S2 cells. Whereas αIIA subunits expressed alone do not cause cellular aggregation, β subunits co-expressed with αIIA retain the ability to adhere and recruit ankyrin. Truncated β subunits lacking cytoplasmic domains interact homophilically to produce cell aggregation but do not recruit ankyrin. Thus, the cytoplasmic domains of β1 and β2 are required for cytoskeletal interactions. It is hypothesized that sodium channel β subunits serve as a critical communication link between the extracellular and intracellular environments of the neuron and may play a role in sodium channel placement at nodes of Ranvier.
Chaetoglobosinas produzidas por Chaetomium globosum, fungo endofítico associado a Viguiera robusta Gardn. (Asteraceae)

Endophytes live in association with host plants during all or part of their life cycle without causing any apparent disease. They are considered outstanding and underexploited sources of novel bioactive compounds. Chaetomium globosum was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the healthy leaves of Viguiera robusta. C.globosum is a remarkable producer of chaetoglobosins, which are typically cytotoxic. In this work, chaetoglobosins B (1), D (2) and E (3) have been produced by the endophytic C. globosum strain. Chaetoglobosin B was evaluated against Jurkat (leukemia) and B16F10 (melanoma) tumoral cells and showed 89.55% and 57.10% of inhibition at 0.1 mg mL-1, respectively. Chaetoglobosin B also showed weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 120 µg/mL) and Escherichia coli (MIC 189 µg/mL).