Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Female polymorphism, condition differences, and variation in male harassment and ambient temperature

Female polymorphism is considered to be maintained through negative frequency-dependent selection imposed by costly male harassment. However, few studies have questioned whether male harassment negatively affects female morph success and does so differently for female morphs, especially in the wild. In the present study, we quantified female morph condition (relative body mass and energy reserves) for a colour polymorphic damselfly under natural conditions and evaluated these measures against variation in proxies of male harassment (population density and operational sex ratio) and ambient temperature. Differences in protein content between female morphs were detected and the variation in condition could partly be explained from concomitant variation in proxies of male harassment. Specifically, the relationship between protein content and operational sex ratio differed between morphs in that the negative effect of male harassment was more pronounced in gynomorphs than in andromorphs. In addition, ambient temperature affected the body mass and protein content of female morphs differently, with andromorphs having higher condition values in favourable weather conditions, whereas, for gynomorphs, the patterns tended to be opposite. In conclusion, the results obtained in the present study suggest that male harassment negatively and differentially affects female morph success. Future studies should aim to elucidate whether the observed effects of ambient temperature contribute to the maintenance of the polymorphism. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 545–554.
Termite soldier defence strategies: a reassessment of Prestwich's classification and an examination of the evolution of defence morphology using extended eigenshape analyses of head morphology

The abundance of termites in many habitats, in particular tropical forests, makes them a valuable source of food for potential predators. Termites have developed a complex system of colony defence that includes the nest, and worker and soldier castes. A classification exists for the mechanical types of soldier defence, which is based on the relationship between morphology and function. This study re-examines the classification system using extended eigenshape analysis as an outline-based morphometric technique. Separate analyses were conducted on the major soldier defence structures: mandibles, head capsule and labrum. Varied support for the defence groups in these structures was demonstrated. Only glue-squirting Nasutitermitinae and asymmetrical snapping mandibles in Termitinae were strongly supported by a selection of head features and had little overlap with the remaining groups. The morphometric descriptions of shape were mapped onto a recent Isopteran phylogeny, and nodal head shapes modelled to examine the evolution of soldier head morphology. Little structural change was observed in the basal nodes and lineages. In contrast, morphological diversification has occurred within the Termitinae subfamily, with several instances of convergent evolution of particular characters, e.g. extended nasus, and mandibles shaped specifically for snapping and piercing. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153, 631–650.
Effects on production potential and economics of direct seeded rice sowing dates and weed management techniques

Plant height, tillers/m row length, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and dry matter accumulation in plants were significantly higher in plots getting weed free environment closely followed by pre-emergence application of butachlor 1.5 kg/ha fb 1 HW. However, yield attributes i.e. panicles/m2 and fertile grains/panicle and finally yield were significantly higher in weed free check with butachlor fb 1 HW closely on its heel. Among the nutrient concentration, it was only P in straw which was very marginally higher in weed free check and butachlor fb 1 HW. However, sowing date of 22nd June showed significantly higher N, P and K uptake by grain and straw. Weed population and weed dry matter were significantly higher in 12th July sown crop but least weed population, dry matter and good weed control efficiency were accounted with weed free check and butachlor fb 1 HW though the nutrient concentration were affected significantly both due to sowing date and weed management practices. Nutrient uptake due to weed was higher in 12th July sowing date. Amongst the weed management methods, the nutrient uptake of weeds were least in weed free check followed by butacholar fb 1 HW and Sesbania broadcast fb 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha at 30 DAS. Similar results were also recorded in the case of gross return, net return and B:C ratio in case of 22 nd June.
Scissor’s congruence groups

It has been known since ancient times that two polygons that have the same area can be divided into a finitely many pairwise congruent triangles. Hilbert, in his third problem at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1900, asked for an example of two polyhedra of equal volume which cannot be divided into finitely many pairwise congruent tetrahedra. Within the same year, Dehn showed that the cube and the regular tetrahedron of equal volume indeed cannot be divided into finitely many pairwise congruent tetrahedra. Two polyhedra are said to be scissor’s congruent if they can be divided into finitely many pairwise congruent tetrahedra. The question of how to parametrize the set of polyhedra up to scissor’s congruence turns out to involve much of the modern mathematics developed in the twentieth century. We will discuss the solution to this question along with some the modern mathematical structures involved. The present notes are partly based on Dupont’s book [5] which we recommend for further reading. We have strived to supply proofs of some basic results in the theory which are not readily found in the literature.
Resistance of cotton genotypes with different leaf colour and trichome density to Bemisia tabaci biotype B

The silverleaf whitefly (SLW), Bemisia tabaci biotype B, is considered one of the most serious pests in cotton worldwide. Its control is based on the use of pesticides, which are well‐known for their harmful effects on non‐target organisms and the environment. Here, we examined resistance of several cotton genotypes in terms of antixenosis and antibiosis against SLW. We also investigated the mechanisms of cotton genotypes involved in antixenosis against SLW by correlating with leaf trichome density and leaf colour parameters. In choice tests, we selected resistant cotton genotypes, Gossypium hirsutum palmeri, Aubum 56‐7, G. hirsutum morrilli, Mocó, Nu‐16 (B2 B3 B6)‐ 78/658, Paymaster 53‐816 and ‘IAC 23’, based on SLW oviposition and host preference. No‐choice tests with these genotypes confirmed antixenosis effect on SLW; however, no antibiosis resistance was detected in terms of developmental period and adult emergence rate. We found SLW oviposition preference was positively correlated with trichome density in the abaxial leaf surface, while adult host preference was mostly explained by high levels of green intensity of adaxial surface. Nevertheless, both SLW oviposition and host preference were negatively correlated with the lightness level of adaxial leaf surface. Probably, the underlying mechanism of cotton resistance is based on more than just these two parameters, but our study will contribute to selecting resistant cotton genotypes and helps to understand the mechanisms involved in cotton resistance against SLW. To our best knowledge, this is the first work showing that cotton leaf colour parameters are related to resistance against SLW.
Abundance and diversity of coastal fish larvae as indicators of recent changes in ocean and climate conditions in the Oregon upwelling zone

We examined ichthyoplankton sampled from 2 stations, 9 and 18 km offshore of Newport, Oregon, USA, over a decade of cruises every 2 wk from 1996 to 2005. The 10 most dominant taxa comprised approximately 87.3% of the total catch. Concentration of fish larvae was highest in January to March, whereas diversity peaked from March through May. Both overall diversity and density of larval fishes were relatively constant throughout the period of 1996 to 2003, with a dramatic decrease in these metrics since 2004, especially for winter-spawning (January−May) species. During cool years (1999−2002), the assemblage was dominated by northern or coastal taxa such as sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus, sanddabs Citharichthys spp. , and smelts Osmeridae, whereas in warm years (2003−2005), southern or offshore taxa such as English sole Parophrys vetulus, northern anchovy Engraulis mordax, and rockfishes Sebastes spp. were more abundant. These changes were related to concurrent shifts in the zooplankton biomass and composition off Oregon during cold and warm environmental regimes. We have identified a small subset of fish whose larvae can be monitored as indicators of warm and cold phases in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
Stomatal responses to light and CO2 are dependent on KCI concentration

Abstract. The responses of stomata on detached epidermis of Commelina communis to light and CO2 have been shown to be strongly dependent on the concentration of KCI in the incubation medium. There was a high sensitivity to the two stimuli in 50 mM KCI, but there were much reduced responses at lower and higher concentrations. It is considered that an appropriate choice of medium is essential if useful physiological studies of stomata are to be made using epidermal strips. At lower KCI concentrations, the ability of the stomata to open is thought to be limited by the availability of K+ ions, and at higher concentrations their ability to close may be affected because of an inhibition of the net efflux of K+. The production of malate was related to KCI concentration, and was largest in the medium containing zero KCI which supported poor stomatal responses to light and CO2It is concluded that malate metabolism is unlikely to play a central part in the changes in guard cell turgor that are brought about by light and CO2.
Revision of Corophiidae and Related Families (Amphipoda)

Barnard, J. Laurens. Revision of Corophiidae and Related Families (Amphipoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 151, 27 pages, 1 figure, 1973. —A superfamily Corophioidea is revived to include Corophiidae, Ampithoidae, lschyroceridae, Podoceridae, Biancolinidae, and Cheluridae. The Podoceridae are presumed ancestors of Caprogammaridae and the suborder Caprellidea. The Photidae, Aoridae, and Isaeidae are abolished and absorbed into the Corophiidae. Axial reversal of dominance in gnathopods 1-2 is now overruled as a fundamental evolutionary feature of familial impact; instead, axial reversal is seen to have occurred several times and possibly itself has been reversed at least once. Dorsoventral flattening of the urosome is also discarded as of no conservative evolutionary content within the old Photidae and Corophiidae. The loss of web spinning glands has occurred at least thrice in the superfamily within the Podoceridae, Cheluridae, and Isaeidae, but in the latter family the loss is unconnected to any other morphological revolution and therefore Isaeidae are synonymi/ed with Corophiidae. Podoceridae, Ampithoidae, and Cheluridae are strictly definable clusters of genera descended from various corophiids, whereas lschyroteridae are possibly polyphyletic but can be easily recognized and defined. Within the highly diverse Corophiidae at least 16 clusters within the 50 genera are loosely defined. Though few of the clusters can be interconnected by visualizing a few simple morphological changes in evolution, the nomenclature! recognition of these clusters as subfamilies is pointless because of the multifactorial diagnoses and long discussion of exceptional cases necessarv for their definition. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DA IF is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in thr Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SI PRESS NUMBER 4809. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cuvernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Barnaul. Jerry Laurens. 1928Revision of Corophiidae and related families (Amphipoda) . (Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 151) I. Corophiidae. U. Amphipoda. I. Title. II. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian contributions to /oology, no. 151. QLI.S'M no. 151 [Ql.444. A5| 591'. 08s [595\S7I| 73--. 4H for sale by the Superintendent of Document*. U.S. Goverment Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Price: 55 cents, domestic postpaid; 40 cents, GPO Bookstore
Identification of the genus Armillaria by specific amplification of an rDNA‐ITS fragment and evaluation of genetic variation within A. ostoyae by rDNA‐RFLP and RAPD analysis

Summary Genetic variation among Armillaria ostoyae isolates was studied by rDNA-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A total of 20 A. ostoyae isolates, mainly obtained from Picea spp. of different geographical origins, were examined. Southern hybridization of whole-cell DNAs digested with AvaII and probed with biotin-labelled cloned rDNA from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis allowed the differentiation of five RFLP groups. UPGMA cluster analysis of RAPD profiles (138 scorable bands) generated by 10 decamer primers (OPA 01-OPA 10) grouped the isolates in subclusters at similarity levels between 40% and 96%, indicating high intraspecific genetic variability. Some isolates of different geographical origins subgrouped together, suggesting that similar mutational events have occurred independently and that genetic exchange and recombination occurs among the DNAs in natural populations. The potential role of historical and current spread of spruce plants on the genetic variation of A. ostoyae isolates in Europe is discussed. Using the primer pair ARM-1 and ARM-2, an Armillaria-specific ITS-DNA fragment of about 660 bp was obtained. No intraspecific RFLP of this amplicon could be revealed, indicating low genetic variability of this region. The established informative RFLP and RAPD markers and also the Armillaria-specific ITS-DNA fragment may be powerful tools for further epidemiological, phylogenetic and host-pathogen interaction studies with A. ostoyae.
Dietary fibre and crude protein: impact on gastrointestinal microbial fermentation characteristics and host response

The role of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota in animal health and nutrition has become the subject of intensive research. Carbohydrates and crude protein are major components of swine diets and numerous studies have been performed looking at the effect of inclusion of dietary fibre with possible functional properties. In recent years, our understanding of the diversity and functionality of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota has increased further enabling the possibility for their targeted modulation. However, favouring potential beneficial bacteria, inhibiting possible pathogens or promotion of the formation of desired metabolites, is complex and underlies many factors and uncertainties. Approaches targeting this complex ecosystem (and discussed in this review) include the utilisation of fermentable carbohydrates such as resistant starch, cereal 1–3/1–4 β-glucans, arabinoxylans, inulin or other sources from legumes and industrial by-products. In addition, strategies regarding protein level and the protein : carbohydrate ratio are discussed briefly. Results are both promising and sometimes rather disillusioning considering the dietary concentrations needed to show biologically relevant effects. Deriving recommendations for an optimal inclusion rate of dietary fibre for weaning, growing pigs and sows and maximum levels for dietary crude protein may be one of the main challenges in the near future in the swine industry.
Vegetation change (1988-2010) in Camdeboo National Park (South Africa), using fixed-point photo monitoring: The role of herbivory and climate

Fixed-point photo monitoring supplemented by animal census data and climate monitoring potential has never been explored as a long-term monitoring tool for studying vegetation change in the arid and semi-arid national parks of South Africa. The long-term (1988–2010), fixed-point monitoring dataset developed for the Camdeboo National Park, therefore, provides an important opportunity to do this. Using a quantitative estimate of the change in vegetation and growth form cover in 1152 fixed-point photographs, as well as series of step-point vegetation surveys at each photo monitoring site, this study documented the extent of vegetation change in the park in response to key climate drivers, such as rainfall, as well as land use drivers such as herbivory by indigenous ungulates. We demonstrated the varied response of vegetation cover within three main growth forms (grasses, dwarf shrubs [ 1 m]) in three different vegetation units and landforms (slopes, plains, rivers) within the Camdeboo National Park since 1988. Sites within Albany Thicket and Dwarf Shrublands showed the least change in vegetation cover, whilst Azonal vegetation and Grassy Dwarf Shrublands were more dynamic. Abiotic factors such as drought and flooding, total annual rainfall and rainfall seasonality appeared to have the greatest influence on growth form cover as assessed from the fixed-point photographs. Herbivory appeared not to have had a noticeable impact on the vegetation of the Camdeboo National Park as far as could be determined from the rather coarse approach used in this analysis and herbivore densities remained relatively low over the study duration. Conservation implications: We provided an historical assessment of the pattern of vegetation and climatic trends that can help evaluate many of South African National Parks’ biodiversity monitoring programmes, especially relating to habitat change. It will help arid parks in assessing the trajectories of vegetation in response to herbivory, climate and management interventions.
The treatment of infertility by the high intrauterine insemination of husband's washed spermatozoa

A total of 345 couples with non-tubal infertility on an IVF waiting list underwent 702 treatment cycles involving daily intrauterine inseminations of husband's washed spermatozoa (AIH) over 3 days of the periovulatory period, following ovarian stimulation. Pregnancy rates achieved were dependent upon the underlying infertility disorder, with similar rates noted in those with a negative post-coital test (15.8%) or where antispermatozoal antibodies were present in either the male (18.5%) or female (17.1%) partner. These rates were significantly higher than for couples with poor cervical mucus (4.7%), asthenozoospermia (0%), endometriosis (mild, 7.7%; severe, 4.1%) or unexplained infertility (8.5%), while discrete oligozoospermia showed mid-range results (10.3%). Pregnancy outcome revealed a high level of early wastage (33.3%), mainly in the blighted ovum category, however congenital abnormalities (5.6%) were not significantly increased. It is concluded that the procedure of AIH should be considered for infertility due to poor sperm--mucus interaction, antispermatozoal antibodies and simple oligozoospermia, prior to IVF-related treatments.
Salmonella: A review on pathogenesis, epidemiology and antibiotic resistance

Salmonella is one of the most frequently isolated foodborne pathogens. It is a major worldwide public health concern, accounting for 93.8 million foodborne illnesses and 155,000 deaths per year. To date, over 2500 Salmonella serotypes have been identified and more than half of them belong to Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, which accounts for the majority of Salmonella infections in humans. Salmonella infections that involve invasive serotypes are often life threatening, necessitating appropriate and effective antibiotic therapy. The emergence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella serotypes is having a great impact on the efficacy of antibiotic treatment, and an increasing prevalence of MDR strains may lead to an increase in mortality rates of Salmonella infections. Epidemiological studies indicate that MDR Salmonella serotypes are more virulent than susceptible strains, as reflected by increased severity and more prolonged disease in patients infected by MDR strains. Preventive measures have been proposed to eliminate the spread of Salmonella infection. While the maintenance of effective food hygiene and water sanitation remain the cornerstones, additional measures such as restriction of indiscriminate use of antibiotics in food animals are important. This review provides an overview of Salmonella infection, and discusses the nomenclature, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella.
DETOXIFICATION OF DEOXYNIVALENOL BY BACILLUS STRAINS

Deoxynivalenol (DON) poses a health risk to animals and humans consuming contaminated food and feed. Currently, no effective method had been established to detoxify DON. Obtaining strains for the detoxification of DON from probiotic strains and ascertaining the mechanisms of detoxification will be helpful for assuring food safety in food processing. In this research, two Bacillus strains possessing the capability of detoxifying DON were picked out from 59 probiotics by using a two-run screening. The strategy of adjusting pH and eightfold dilution was successfully applied to eliminate the interferences caused by MRS and nutrition broth in DON determination in competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The capability of detoxification reached a high level when the spent culture supernatant of these two Bacillus were incubated at 37C, 180 rpm for 12 h, the detoxification rate were >98% and 71.4%, respectively. The rate presented a sharp decrease when the heating temperature changed from 65–75C. The detoxification potential was completely lost, when the heating temperature was 100C, whereas the viable cells were demonstrated as having no detoxification potential. The mechanism for detoxification of DON is related to some thermosensitive substances in the SCS of these two Bacillus. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Twenty-five percent of the global grains were contaminated by mycotoxins, resulting in the problem of quality and safety in food and feeds and also great economic loss. As one of the most popular mycotoxins in maize and wheat, deoxynivalenol attracted few many detoxification approaches. In our study, we have found that two probiotic strains of Bacillus presented stronger detoxification ability of deoxynivalenol, therefore they could be applied in the fermentation process of feedstuffs and fermented food. Furthermore, our research provided a protocol for searching the potential bacteria, which could be used for the detoxification of other mytoxins, e.g., aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, etc.
Phylogenetic Constraint in Evolutionary Theory: Has It Any Explanatory Power?

The notion of constraints is a central one in evolutionary biology. That limits may exist in the patterns resulting from diverse evolutionary processes, and the possibility that these limits can be discovered and explained mechanistically, suggests that much of evolution may be interpretable through an integrated theory of constraint. Phylogenetic constraint has been invoked in a variety of contexts but as yet there is no consensus on its definition. It is defined here as any result or component of the phylogenetic history of a lineage that prevents an anticipated course of evolution in that lineage. Hypotheses of constraint can be tested within a phylogenetic framework;