Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Bandwagon Effect: Conspecific Attraction and Vulnerability to Ecological Traps

Many animals assess habitat quality using indirect cues. These cues may be reliable indicators ordinarily, but when humans alter the environment, animals may prefer unsuitable habitats. Such ecological traps may be especially problematic for animals that settle preferentially near conspecifics. This mechanism of habitat selection, called conspecific attraction (CA), could lead to heightened extinction risk if individuals caught in the trap lure too many additional settlers. Any such “bandwagon effect” could be ephemeral, though, because individuals that do settle in better habitats should be more successful and so these habitats might accumulate more individuals over the long run. The population could then escape despite an initial congregation of entrapped individuals. We ask whether CA, compared with other mechanisms, may provide such an escape. Only philopatry, preference for the natal habitat, provides a consistent escape. CA performs poorly because individuals lure one another reiteratively into traps. In the face of global change, it is important to recognize how ordinarily adaptive mechanisms of choice can compromise population growth under novel conditions. Such Allee effects may be especially pronounced when individuals seek the company of conspecifics. We highlight the need to avoid setting ecological traps, particularly for species prone to the bandwagon effect.
Significance of lynx Lynx lynx predation for roe deer Capreolus capreolus and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra mortality in the Swiss Jura Mountains

Prey class selection and kill rates by lynx Lynx lynx were studied in the Swiss Jura Mountains from March 1988 until May 1998 to evaluate the significance of lynx predation for roe deer Capreolus capreolus and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra. We found clear differences in the kill rates and prey class selection between lynx of different age, sex and breeding status. Male lynx killed more chamois than female lynx, and chamois was never found in kill series of subadult lynx. Family groups had the highest kill rate. They killed an ungulate every 5.0 days, compared to an average of 6.2–6.6 days for single lynx. During our 10-year study, the density of independent lynx was rather stable, ranging within 0.94–1.01 individuals/100 km2. Based on the observed kill rates and the estimated lynx population structure we calculated that lynx killed 354 ± 13 roe deer and 87 ±13 chamois annually in the 710 km2 study area. The magnitude of lynx predation on roe deer and chamois was primarily shaped by the lynx population structure. A decline in the number of resident male lynx reduced the number of chamois killed in the study area by ¼ of the previous number due to the difference in prey selection of male and female lynx. There was a difference in the most frequently killed age and sex classes between roe deer and chamois: lynx killed more male chamois (39%) than females or fawns, whereas in roe deer, does (38%) were most often killed. By altering adult survival, lynx predation has a significant impact on prey population dynamics. Lynx killed a maximum of 9% of the roe deer and 11 % of the chamois spring population. Considering the differences in the recruitment potential of the two prey species, lynx has a greater impact on chamois than on roe deer.
The taxonomy of North American Epicauta (Coleoptera: Meloidae), with a revision of the nominate subgenus and a survey of courtship behavior.

"Epicauta" is the largest genus of blister beetles in North America, as well as the meloid genus of greatest economic importance. This study treats all of the continent's 173 species and includes keys to species, descriptions, summaries of bionomic data, and a cladistic classification. Also included are an analysis of the rich variation in this group's courtship behavior and a discussion of its taxonomic significance.
The isolation, characterisation and investigation into the in vitro behaviour of human ocular vascular endothelial cells

Intraocular angiogenesis is associated with a number of common, blinding conditions including wet age-related macular degeneration, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and rubeotic glaucoma. The pathogenesis of these disorders is centered on choroidal, retinal and iris microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) respectively. When studying these conditions, workers have applied conclusions from in vitro studies of human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) and microvascular endothelial cells, derived from different species or organs. However it is now widely accepted that endothelial cells are very heterogeneous and . extrapolation of results from these cells may not provide reliable data applicable to human eye disease. I have successfully isolated and cultured matched human retinal, choroidal and iris endothelial cells (and sourced HUVECs) and have examined their gene expression profiles. I found wide differences in gene expression between HUVEC and ocular ECs and in addition, between matched human retinal and choroidal endothelial cells. Taken together, these results suggest that HUVECs are not suitable surrogates for studying human ocular disease and secondly. It has implications for our understanding and treatment of retinal and choroidal vascular diseases. To further define the heterogeneity of endothelial cells within a vascular bed, I developed a technique for the isolation of human inner choroidal ECs. After the cells were characterized by surface marker expression, the response of these unique cells to various growth factors was defined and gene expression microarray analysis was performed and compared with matching outer choroidal ECs. This demonstrated differences in genes involved in fenestration formation and growth factor expression. These findings may have implications for our understanding of macular diseases. Overall, this body of work provides an insight into endothelial cell heterogeneity within the eye and may provide clues as to the reasons for ocular vascular bed disease susceptibility and helps identify potential future selective anti-angiogenic treatments.
Feeding laying hens the diets with supplemental chelated trace minerals improves immune response, shell quality and tibia breaking strength.

INTRODUCTION Feeding highly bio available forms of trace minerals can support essential physiological functions necessary to animal health and structural integrity. Birds fed HMTBa-chelated Zn, Cu and Mn exhibit better bone strength, skin integrity, and immune response. Evidence these trace minerals play a key role in egg shell formation suggest supplementing hens with HMTBa-chelates of Zn, Cu and Mn will support the production of quality eggs across the laying period.
Experimental and Modeling of a Hybrid Algal Photosynthesis and Ion-Exchange (HAPIX) Process for Side Stream Wastewater Treatment

A hybrid ion-exchange and algae photosynthesis (HAPIX) process was used for treatment of side stream centrate from an anaerobic digester treating waste activated sludge. Although the high NH 4+ -N concentration of the centrate (~1180 mg/L) inhibited the algae growth in unamended controls, addition of 150 g/L of zeolite reduced the ammonia toxicity due to its ion exchange capacity. NH 4 + -N was reduced from 1,180 mg/L to 107 mg/L within 24 hours by ion exchange. Na + was the major cation exchanged with NH 4+ . The addition of algae further reduced the NH 4+ N concentration to 10.5 mg/L after 8 days of operation. Zeolite that was saturated with NH 4+ can be bioregenerated by the algae growth so that the zeolite can adsorb more NH 4+ in the wastewater. The mathematical model that combined ion-exchange and algal photosynthesis processes predicted the aqueous NH 4+ -N concentration well. The HAPIX process is feasible to treat high NH 4+ -N side stream wastewater.
Differentiation of Monocytic Cell Clones into CD8α+ Dendritic Cells (DC) Suggests that Monocytes Can Be Direct Precursors for Both CD8α+ and CD8α− DC in the Mouse1

Dendritic cells (DC) are the professional APCs that initiate T cell immune responses. DC can develop from both myeloid and lymphoid progenitors. In the mouse, the CD8α+ DC had been designated as “lymphoid” DC, and CD8α− DC as “myeloid” DC until recently when it was demonstrated that common myeloid progenitors can also give rise to CD8α+ DC in bone marrow chimera mice. However, it is still not clear which committed myeloid lineages differentiate into CD8α+ DC. Because monocytes can differentiate into DC in vivo, the simplest hypothesis is that the CD8α+ DC can be derived from the monocyte/macrophage. In this study we show that cell clones, isolated from CD8α+ DC lymphoma but with a monocytic phenotype (CD11clow/−D11bhighCD8α−I-Alow), can redifferentiate into CD8α+ DC either when stimulated by LPS and CD40L or when they migrate into the lymphoid organs. Maturation of DC in vivo correlated with strong priming of allogeneic T cells. Moreover, the monocytes from cultured splenocytes or peritoneal exudates macrophages of wild-type mice are also capable of differentiating into CD11c+CD8α+ DC after their migration into the draining lymph nodes. Our results suggest that monocytes can be direct precursors for CD11c+CD8α+ DC in vivo. In addition, the monocyte clones described in this study may be valuable for studying the differentiation and function of CD8α+ DC that mediate cross-presentation of Ag to CD8 T cells specific for cell-associate Ags.
Biogeography and life history of Turnix suscitator Gmelin, 1789. Small adult body size as a consequence of selection for rapid growth

Turnicidae are a small palaeotropical avian family which shows some interesting features uncommon for birds. They are extremely small birds, with a short incubation, have nidifugous young which have to be fed for 10 days and grow very rapidly. Turnicidae display a reversed sexual dimorphism and generally are supposed to mate in a polyandric mating system. – Systematic, biogeographic and life history data from the literature and museum collections of Turnix suscitator are reviewed. A complete list of Turnix suscitator subspecies is given. New, statistically reliable data on reversed sexual size dimorphism are presented. The breeding of Turnix suscitator suscitator in captivity is described and extensive, statistically reliable data on egg size, clutch size, incubation time and postnatal growth rate are presented. Based on this information, the growth data are fitted to a Gompertz growth curve and the dynamics of postnatal growth are analysed. From allometric considerations of the relation between egg size and body size as well as postnatal growth rate and body size it is proposed, that Turnix has been selected for a rapid development, so that its minuteness is only a by-product of developmental constraints. Zusammenfassung Turniciden (Laufhuhnchen) sind eine kleine palaotropische Vogelfamilie, deren Biologie einige interessante und ungewohnliche Elemente zeigt. Es sind sehr kleine Vogel, mit einer extrem kurzen Inkubationsdauer; sie haben nestfluchtende Kuken, die aber nach dem Schlupf 10 Tage lang gefuttert werden mussen und sehr schnell heranwachsen. Laufhuhnchen besitzen einen ausgepragten umgekehrten Sexualdimorphismus und wahrscheinlich ein polyandrisches Paarungssystem. In dieser Arbeit sind alle verfugbaren Daten zur Systematik, Biogeographie und Biologie des Bindenlaufhuhnchens (Turnix suscitator) zusammengestellt. Neue, statistisch zuverlassige Daten uber den umgekehrten Sexualdimorphismus werden vorgestellt. Brut und Jungenaufzucht werden an Gefangenschaftszuchten beschrieben, und statistisch aussagefahige Daten uber Eigewicht, Gelegegrose, Inkubationsdauer und postnatales Wachstum werden vorgestellt. Anhand dieser Daten wird die postnatale Wachstumsdynamik der Kuken analysiert und die Wachstumskurve als Gompertz-Kurve beschrieben. Physiologische und morphologische Limitationen der Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit werden diskutiert, und anhand allometrischer Berechnungen wird die Hypothese vorgestellt, das die hohe postnatale Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit von Turnix suscitator adaptiv ist. Die geringe Korpergrose der Adulttiere wird als ***“evolutives Beiprodukt” der Selektion auf schnelles postnatales Wachstum beschrieben.
An investigation into the potential impacts of ocean acidification and ocean fertilisation on the genetic diversity of marine bacterial assemblages

Based on the increase of 16S rRNA gene sequences in databases it is possible to design improved oligonucleotide primers for this gene. Primers were designed in silico to specifically amplify fragments of the gene from the Alpha, Beta and Gamma subgroups of the Proteobacteria, as well as from Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and Planctomycetes and tested in silico and in vitro. The aim was to investigate bacterioplankton diversity and reveal greater fingerprint diversity within these groups than is possible using primers specific for the entire domain Bacteria, and also to reduce clone library redundancy. It was then aimed to investigate the potential impacts of increased pCO2 and ocean fertilisation with iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P), on bacterioplankton diversity. Group-specific clone libraries representing contrasting marine regions were analysed, and the usefulness and specificity of the primers validated. The clone libraries showed members of the oligotrophic marine group (OMG) to be present in an in situ coastal mesocosm supplemented with nutrients. The newly-developed group-specific primers were used in combination with an improved method of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to profile in detail bacterial communities in mesocosms, which were maintained at 750 ppm of pCO2, the level projected for the global surface ocean in the year 3000, and 380 ppm of CO2, the present level. Increased pCO2 correlated with a decrease in abundance of some members of the Gammaproteobacteria. Otherwise there was little impact on diversity due to raised pCO2. The same DGGE protocol was applied to samples from an ocean Fe and P fertilisation experiment. Diversity change due to Fe was not evident. However in seawater amended with P there was an explosive growth of some cells with 16S rRNA genes similar to those of the SAR86 clade, and others with similarity to Gammaproteobacteria with large genomes such as Oceanospirillum sp. and Psychromonas sp.
Ants in their plants: Pseudomyrmex ants reduce primate, parrot and squirrel predation on Macrolobium acaciifolium (Fabaceae) seeds in Amazonian Brazil

Although plant-inhabiting ants are known to act as effective deterrents to a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores, this has been reported only once before for primates, a group better known for their predation of ants. In the present study, we investigated the effects that colonies of Pseudomyrmex viduus ants living in individual Macrolobium acaciifolium (Fabaceae) trees have on the rates of visitation and fruit removal by four taxa of seed-predating vertebrates: the primate Cacajao melanocephalus ouakary; macaws (Ara spp.); large parrots (Amazona spp.); and the Northern Amazonian red squirrel (Sciurus igniventris). We found that ant presence significantly reduced both rates of visitation and of fruit removal by C. m. ouakary. The same pattern of reduced fruit removal was also observed for other seed predators (parrots, macaws, and squirrels) but not for visitation rates (although this may be a result of the small sample size). This appears to be only the second-known demonstration of the repellent effect of ants on primates and, indeed, the first for squirrels and psittacine birds. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 114, 260–273.
Economia da saúde e odontologia : aplicações e implicações para gestão no Sistema Único de Saúde = Health economics and dentistry: applications and implications for the Unified Health System management

Brazil has shown a lot of improvement with oral health care after the publication of the National Oral Health Policy. However, the current challenge is still great because of the high need for treatment by adult and elderly population. The objectives of this thesis were: 1) Demonstrate the importance of economic evaluation studies in health to allow oral health policies in Brazil, so they could be planned to meet the needs of restorative and rehabilitative treatment of patients. 2) Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the use of implant-supported total prosthesis versus conventional complete prosthesis in the rehabilitation of mandibular edentulism in the context of the Unified Health System. 3) Estimate the budget impact of the use of implant-supported prosthesis in the rehabilitation of mandibular edentulism in patients in the context of the Unified Health System. For Cost-effectiveness, a Markov model was developed to capture clinical and economic long-term results. The population of the model consisted of a hypothetical cohort of 1,000,000 patients, 55 years old and without medical contraindications for performing surgical procedures. The perspective of analysis adopted was that of the Unified Health System. Based on the proposed model, we calculated the cost and effectiveness of implant-supported versus conventional prosthesis over 20 years. For the budget impact, a static model was defined using Microsoft Excel according to Methodological Guidelines of ‘Rede Brasileira de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde’. A sensitivity analysis was performed by scenarios and a 5-year time horizon was used. The implant-supported prosthesis was associated with an Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio of R$ 464.22 per QAPY and its implementation would require an amount of R$ 230,463,900.00 in five years in the reference scenario. It was concluded that implantsupported prosthesis, by the technique of two implants, is cost-effective in relation to the conventional total prosthesis and its dissemination is financially feasible in the current federal budget. Economic evaluations can subsidize the decision-making in the allocation of the financial resources used and support the Brazilian managers in health planning and management.
Conversion of elite subtropical maize germplasm to temperate environments

Desirable genetic variation is required for selection progress and genetic gain in plant breeding populations. Genetic variation from exotic germplasm has been proposed to improve grain yields in temperate maize {Zea mays L. ) breeding programs. Adaptation barriers should be overcome in exotic material prior to selection for trait improvement in temperate environments, Backcross introgression of elite exotic inbreds into temperate breeding material was initiated in 1995. Subtropical inbreds from CIMMYT heterotic group A and B were crossed to Reid Yellow Dent (RYD) and Lancaster Surecrop (LSC) materials, respectively. Objectives were to backcross with the adapted recurrent parent to enhance adaptation, select within semi-exotic material per se, and evaluate testcrosses of selected semi-exotic families outcrossed to inbreds heterotic to the recurrent parents. Recurrent parents per se and in testcrosses were used as checks to measure the effect of the exotic alleles in the backcrosses progenies. Semi-exotic backcross families (BCIFI), Fls, and recurrent parents were evaluated in Iowa during 1996. Adapted flowering in the semi-exotic crosses indicated the absence of major genes for lack of adaptation. High parent heterosis for grain yield was 36.7% for the RYD-exotic crosses, and 56.6% for the LSC-exotic crosses. Grain moisture, root lodging, and stalk lodging increased with increasing percentages of exotic germplasm. Semi-exotic BCIFI testcrosses were evaluated in five Iowa environments during 1998, with average grain yields of 95.7 q ha"' (153.1 bu ac"'). Selected testcrosses had grain
Effect of different diets fed to a breeder flock of game pheasants on meat traits of their offspring

The study was carried out with 51 game pheasants derived from parents that were fed during the reproductive period with a commercial feed mixture (25 birds) or feed mixture and whole maize grain (26 birds). Pheasants were kept in a confined facility, without regard to sex, in cages on plastic mesh floor for the first three weeks and in pens on straw later on. During the study, offspring received commercial feed mixtures for pheasants or turkeys. The introduction of whole maize grain in the ration of parent pheasants reduced the body weight of their offspring except at 12 weeks of age. In addition, it caused significant decreases in the length of trunk with neck, lower thigh and shank, and chest circumference in 4-week-old pheasants, and in the length of trunk with neck, trunk and lower thigh in 18-week-old birds. Dressing percentage was high in both groups and exceeded 72%. The proportion of breast muscles was higher in the carcasses of pheasants derived from parents fed a low-protein diet with whole maize grain (31.0 vs. 29.0%). A reverse relationship was found for the proportion of leg muscles in the carcass with neck (23.5 vs. 24.0%). The proportion of skin with subcutaneous fat was similar in both experimental groups (6.4 vs. 6.3%).
OSTEOGLOSSID AND LEPISOSTEID FISH REMAINS FROM THE PALEOCENE PALANA FORMATION, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Abstract: A new fossil osteoglossid fish, Taverneichthys bikanericus gen. et sp. nov. and an unnamed but probable new species of ? Lepisosteus (Lepisosteidae) are described from the subsurface beds of the Palana (lignite) Formation near Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India. T. bikanericus is founded on a skull, which is the first osteoglossid skull from the Indian subcontinent, whereas ? Lepisosteus sp. is represented by a part of its trunk covered with ganoid scales. The taxonomic assignment of the latter specimen to gars is based on the micro‐ and ultrastructure of its scales. Taverneichthys is included in the Osteoglossinae because it shares at least three of the seven diagnostic characters of the subfamily: (1) jaw articulation behind the vertical midline of orbit, (2) palatine and ectopterygoid fused to form palato‐ectopterygoid, and (3) horizontal arm of preopercle short, ending anteriorly behind orbit (inferred). It is characterized by a considerably larger dermethmoid bone and the two nasals that are in contact with each other behind it separating this bone from the frontals. In this respect it is more evolved than Cretophareodus and Phareodus, and closer to Brychaetus, Musperia, Opsithrissops and modern osteoglossids. The fossils documented herein are the first vertebrate remains from the Palana Formation. They were recovered from a highly indurated greyish‐black calcareous shale approximately 90 m below ground level from a dug‐well section. The occurrence of fossil remains of osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish in the Palana Formation, both of which are among the major predators of a terrestrial aquatic community, and their association with the crocodilian remains, are indicative of the mature and diverse nature of the Palana vertebrate community. It postulates the recovery of a varied assemblage of vertebrates, especially fish and crocodilians and possibly also mammals. The association of osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish characterizes a dominantly freshwater deposit and is consistent with a Paleocene age for the Palana Formation. The known distribution of fossil and living osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish suggests a marked shift in their climatic adaptability in time and space. Their close association in the fossil record, especially in the Indian subcontinent, is well documented, but today they thrive in different climatic zones.