Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pattern of egg shell morphology in thamnocephalids and streptocephalids of the new world (Anostraca)

Nel presente lavoro viene descritta al SEM la morfologia dell'uovo per le specie dei generi Dendrocephalus (9), Thamnocephalus (3) e Streplocephalus (10), sino ad oggi identificate nel Nuovo Mondo. I risultati di questo studio, analizzati alla luce di precedenti osservazioni condotte su altri generi e specie di Crostacei Anostraci, sembrano confermare quanto gia evidenziato precedentemente (Brendonck et al., 1990; Mura, 1986, 1991) circa la validita di questo carattere dal punto di vista tassonomico e sottolineano la necessita di una indagine piu estesa al riguardo.
Quantitative Studies on the Fruit Quality for Japanese Pear (Pyrus serotina REHDER) Breeding

Fruit quality was quantitatively expressed by pressure resistance, refractometer readings, pH value of juice and weight of fruit in lieu of texture, sweetness, sourneess and fruit size, respectively. Statistical analyses were made on cultivar populations with respect to environmental variations which manifest themselves on individual fruits and trees as well as inter annual variations.Year to year variation was great in fruit weight and refractometer readings, and such variation was small for pressure resistance and the pH value of juice. Sampling errors estimated were extremely great for fruit weight compared with the other characteristics.The quality of Chojuro fruits collected from different regions indicated some variation in pressure resistance and pH value of juice.Comparing recent cultivars with old ones, it clarified that the results of quality improvement are more evident for fruit texture, expressed by pressure resistance, than for any other characteristics.
CAPTURE‐RECAPTURE ESTIMATES OF HECTOR'S DOLPHIN ABUNDANCE AT BANKS PENINSULA, NEW ZEALAND

Capture-recapture techniques have been extensively used to estimate survival rates of Hector's dolphins at Banks Peninsula, but not abundance. We analyzed nine seasons of photo-identification data using a model-fitting approach in the computer program MARK, and then used MARK's estimates of capture probabilities to calculate the abundance of distinctive individuals. We extrapolated these estimates to include unmarked individuals using five seasons of data on the proportion of identifiable individuals in this population, obtained from “random photography. ” This capture-recapture approach suggests a 1996 population of about 1,100 (CV = 0.21). This is very similar to the 1997 line-transect estimate of about 900 (CV = 0.28), especially considering that the two techniques do not necessarily measure the same thing. An important advantage of the capture-recapture approach stems from the inherent versatility of photo-ID data. If the sampling design is appropriate, an unbiased abundance estimate can be achieved as a spin-off from work directed at other questions. However, in our view, line-transect estimates are easier to interpret because the sampling design is explicit.
In vitro fermentation patterns and methane production as influenced by cultivar and season of harvest of Lolium perenne L.

In some European countries, the majority of annual enteric methane (CH₄) emissions by ruminants occur at pasture - a direct result of the predominance of grazing within ruminant production systems. However, there are only limited data available as to the effect of perennial ryegrass cultivar and season of harvest on CH₄ production. Using the in vitro gas production technique, the effect of perennial ryegrass cultivar on fermentation characteristics and CH₄ production was determined (Experiment 1) and the persistence of these traits throughout the growing season for two cultivars, identified from Experiment 1 as having either a high or low methanogenic potential, was examined (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, organic matter (OM) digestibility and cumulative total gas production profiles were unaffected by cultivar but, with regard to the kinetics of CH₄ production, the asymptote value (A), cumulative CH₄ yield at 72 h, and the fractional rate ([mu]) of CH₄ production at both time of 0·5A(T)([mu]CH₄T) and at 48 h ([mu]CH₄48h) were significantly (P < 0·05) different. The amount of digested OM, as a proportion of cumulative CH₄ production (DigOM/CH₄) at 24 and 72 h after commencement of inoculation, revealed that the amount of substrate required to produce 1 ml of CH₄ also differed significantly between cultivars (P < 0·01). In Experiment 2, regrowth number significantly modified the majority of measured samples (P < 0·01); cultivar effects were limited to the lag phase of the cumulative CH₄ production curve and DigOM/CH₄ at 8 h only (P < 0·05). These results suggest that differences exist between cultivars in how OM is partitioned following microbial fermentation and that these differences demonstrate persistency throughout the growing season. In the course of time it may be possible to exploit these differences through cultivar selection and plant breeding programmes, and thereby reduce enteric CH₄ emissions within pastoral production systems.
The plasma levels of triiodothyronine, thyroxine and cortisol in newborn calves

The aim 'of this investigation was to determine the concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and cortisol in blood plasma from calves during the first 32 h of postnatal life, as well as at 7 days old. The experiment involved two groups of calves. The first group was offered the standard amount of colostrum while the second group received half the recommended amount. The results obtained showed that the calves were born with high plasma concentrations of 73, 74 and cortisol up to four times greater than values found at 7 days old. In the calves given the full ration of colostrum there was a gradual increase of mean 73 concentration to levels which plateaued from 8 to 28 h after birth, while the level of T4 increased slightly but significantly up to 18 h. Sharp highly significant increases in 73 and 74 concentrations were observed during the first 4 h of postnatal life in the group of calves given half the usual amount of colostrum to levels which persisted up to 20 h. Except at 4 and 20 h there were no significant differences between the groups. At 7 days old the levels of plasma 73 and 74 in both groups of calves were within the limits found for adult animals. The plasma concentrations of cortisol decreased during the first 18 h afterbirth in both groups of calves and then increased somewhat. At 32 h the mean concentration was higher in group two than in group one. At 7 days old cortisol concentrations were up to four times lower than the level immediately after birth. It was concluded that a decrease in the amount of colostrum consumed had only minor effects on the plasma concentrations of the examined hormones in neonatal calves.
Polymorphism in Orchestia Mediterranea a. Costa (Amphipoda, Talitridae)

[Zwei Formen von O. mediterranea A. Costa, mediterranea und aestuarensis, sind entdeckt worden. Sie lassen sich differenzieren durch kleine Unterschiede in den Mustern der Tergit-Pigmentation. Das Vorkommen von Intersexen, welche durch die auseren sekundaren Geschlechtsmerkmale erkannt werden konnen, und ein hoher Prozentsatz von Weibchen erwiesen sich als diagnostische Merkmale fur aestuarensis Populationen. Die Form aestuarensis kam nur in kleinen isolierten Kolonien in der Nahe der Einwanderungsgrenzen von O. mediterranea in zwei bisher untersuchten Astuarien vor. Vorlaufige Brutexperimente unterstutzen die Auffassung, das der polymorphe Charakter von O. rnediterranea durch ein System verketteter Gene kontrolliert wird. Es wird vermutet, das in der Nahe der Einwanderungsgrenzen von O. mediterranea Astuar-Populationen von aestuarensis durch Selektion von Weibchen dieser Form (nicht durch mediterranea Weibchen), erhalten werden. Zusatzlich hindert ein als moglich angenommener reproduktiver Isolationsmechanismus die Mannchen von mediterranea daran, mit Weibchen von aestuarensis erfolgreich zu kopulieren. , Zwei Formen von O. mediterranea A. Costa, mediterranea und aestuarensis, sind entdeckt worden. Sie lassen sich differenzieren durch kleine Unterschiede in den Mustern der Tergit-Pigmentation. Das Vorkommen von Intersexen, welche durch die auseren sekundaren Geschlechtsmerkmale erkannt werden konnen, und ein hoher Prozentsatz von Weibchen erwiesen sich als diagnostische Merkmale fur aestuarensis Populationen. Die Form aestuarensis kam nur in kleinen isolierten Kolonien in der Nahe der Einwanderungsgrenzen von O. mediterranea in zwei bisher untersuchten Astuarien vor. Vorlaufige Brutexperimente unterstutzen die Auffassung, das der polymorphe Charakter von O. rnediterranea durch ein System verketteter Gene kontrolliert wird. Es wird vermutet, das in der Nahe der Einwanderungsgrenzen von O. mediterranea Astuar-Populationen von aestuarensis durch Selektion von Weibchen dieser Form (nicht durch mediterranea Weibchen), erhalten werden. Zusatzlich hindert ein als moglich angenommener reproduktiver Isolationsmechanismus die Mannchen von mediterranea daran, mit Weibchen von aestuarensis erfolgreich zu kopulieren. ]
Fully Bayesian $L_{1/2}$-penalized linear quantile regression analysis with autoregressive errors

In the quantile regression framework, we incorporate Bayesian L1/2 and adaptive L1/2 penalties into quantile linear regression models with autoregressive (AR) errors to conduct statistical inference. A Bayesian joint hierarchical model is established using the working likelihood of the asymmetric Laplace distribution (ALD). On the basis of the mixture representations of ALD and the generalized Gaussian distribution priors of regression coefficients and AR parameters, a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is developed to conduct posterior inference. Finally, the proposed Bayesian estimation procedures are demonstrated by simulation studies and applied to a real data application concerning the electricity consumption of residential customers.
Assessing the eco-environmental performance: an PLS-SEM approach with practice-based view

ABSTRACT Awareness of environmental issues is increasing, which is also putting pressure on firms, requiring their supply chain operations to be green. The objective of this article is to examine the impact of green supply chain practices (GSCPs) on competitive advantage, economic, environmental, and organisational performance under the influence of internal environment management and green information systems. The data of 415 manufacturing firms are gathered and employed PLS-SEM modelling to test the hypotheses. The findings show that Internal Environmental Management (IEM) and Green Information Systems (GISs) strongly and positively support the execution of green supply chain practices. The outcomes also revealed that green supply chain management (GSCM) practices significantly improves firms’ competitiveness, economic, and environmental performance, which finally translates into organisational performance. The study presents an experimental assessment of the influence of IEM and GISs on GSCPs, which leads towards competitiveness, economic, environmental, and organisational performance. The findings provide an advantageous understanding, and the results also offer a policy-framework for manufacturers, managers, legislators to further promote GSCPs for better socio-environmental sustainability.
Hepatozoon in grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) trapped near Reading, Berkshire

Hepatozoon infections of Sciurus carolinensis were investigated by a 30-month capture/recapture trapping programme. Details of trapping methods, squirrel husbandry and blood sampling techniques are discussed. Hepatozoon gametocytes infected blood monocytes and could be detected in blood smears or by concentration of leucocytes. From blood smears, 71% (154/218) of the squirrels were infected. Prevalence appeared to be influenced by host hormonal and breeding patterns. Significantly more adult males than adult females were infected (P 0.05). Prevalence rates were generally higher: (i) in summer and winter, when animals mate, compared to spring and autumn; and (ii) in 1984 than in 1983, possibly relating to differences of squirrel breeding success and juvenile recruitment in the two years. Parasitaemias were overdispersed in the sampled host population and significantly lower in females (38%) than in males (48%) (P<0.05), although there was no significant difference between the age classes. Animals, either recaptured or laboratory-maintained, showed chronic fluctuating parasitaemias with no obvious pattern. Squirrels with overt parasitaemias showed trophozoites and schizogonic stages of Hepatozoon in the lung and rarely in liver and spleen. Three out of 16 animals with no obvious parasitaemias had lung tissue stages of the parasite. Results suggest that Hepatozoon is more prevalent in grey squirrel populations than blood smears suggest.
Low Primate Diversity and Abundance in Northern Amazonia and its Implications for Conservation

Large areas of the Rio Negro basin in Amazonia are covered by continuous tracts of tropical forest, but have few primate species. This is anomalous considering the general relationship between area and number of species. One possibility is that much of the forest is unsuitable habitat for most primates and the area of suitable habitat is much less than the forested area. This has important consequences for the design of reserves and predictions of the consequences of climate change, which tend to be based on broad categories based on satellite images, and not on information of species distributions within those broad categories. The study was conducted through diurnal and nocturnal line‐transect surveys in the Biodiversity Research Program 25‐km2 permanent grid in Viruá National Park, which has vegetation associations typical of much of northern Amazonia. The highest primate diversity and abundances occurred in tall terra firme forests (58%), whereas inundated forests and scrublands, which cover 42 percent of the survey grid and 90.8 percent of the Viruá National Park, have virtually no primates. This suggests that parks and reserves in northwestern Amazonia will have to be very large to maintain viable populations of most primates and their ecological interactions, and that very broad habitat categories are not sufficient to make predictions about actual and future suitability of areas for primate conservation.
Scanning electron microscopic observations on sperm penetration in teleostean fish

The process by which a spermatozoon penetrates through the micropyle apparatus into the egg cytoplasm in the teleost, Oryzias latipes, was examined with scanning electron microscopy. In the unfertilized egg, the egg surface beneath the inner opening of the micropylar canal did not differ distinctly from the rest of the animal pole area. A spermatozoon attached effectively to the egg 1–3 seconds after insemination. In the initial step of penetration, the spermatozoon still within the micropylar canal attached perpendicularly at its apical tip to the egg surface, then the sperm head was rapidly engulfed by the folded egg surface with its many microvilli. A large blister-like fertilization cone with a microvillus-free surface appeared on the egg surface surrounding the penetrating spermatozoon. Concomitantly, breakdown of the cortical alveoli was initiated in the animal pole. The spermatozoon disappeared from the outer surface of the egg before the fertilization cone completely retracted. On the basis of these observations with Oryzias eggs, two steps in the sperm penetration process could be recognized: The first step was a rapid engulfment by the folded egg surface and the second was a slow engulfment by fertilization cone synchronized approximately with the initiation of the cortical reaction. The mechanism of block to polyspermy in teleostean eggs was discussed.
自活性土壌線虫 Caenorhabditis elegans に対するガロタンニンおよび縮合型タンニンの致死活性

ボタン新鮮葉からガロタンニンとして既知のテトラ-, ペンタ-およびヘキサガロイル-D-グルコース (4, 5, 6) を単離・同定した. タンナーゼによる5の加水分解物中から既知のモノ-, ジ-およびトリガロイル-D-グルコース (1, 2, 3) を得た. アカマツ内樹皮から縮合型タンニン (プロアントシアニジン) 関連化合物としてD-カテキン (7) とフラバノノール配糖体 (8) を, 縮合型タンニンとして, 二量体9と10, 三量体11, 四量体12 (いずれも既知物質) を単離・同定し, さらに, 高分子縮合型タンニン13, 14および15 (重量平均分子量; 各々2100, 3230, 4530) を得た. 線虫 Caenorhabditis elegans の抱卵成虫に対するこれらのタンニンの致死活性を1000ppmで比較したところ, ガロタンニンでは4, 5および6が, 一方, 縮合型タンニンでは13, 14および15が高い活性を示した. 5日間観察して求めたLC50値は, 5で15. 4μg/ml (信頼限界14.0μg/ml～16.9μg/ml), 15で5. 3μg/ml (信頼限界4.4μg/ml～6.3μg/ml) であった.
Tectonic evolution of Anglesey and adjacent mainland North Wales

Abstract The Appalachian–Caledonian Orogen preserves a complex record of piecemeal trans-oceanic terrane transfer and accretion during the early Paleozoic collision between West Gondwana and Laurentia, whilst the intervening Iapetus oceanic tracts were largely destroyed. The now preserved terranes include arc fragments of Laurentian and Gondwanan affinity, oceanic fragments incorporated into the Gondwanan continental margin, and remnants of the Gondwanan continental slope apron and adjacent platform (both Ganderia and Megumia). A new tectonostratigraphic synthesis for the island of Anglesey (and adjacent NW Wales) reveals a comprehensive record of the Appalachian orogenic cycle in the UK segment of the orogen of the peri-Gondwanan margin prior to amalgamation into the Laurentian margin. We identify elements of Late Neoproterozoic accretion forming the pre-Appalachian basement; Cambrian extension, deposition and continental margin growth; Early Ordovician accretion and renewed extension; and, finally, terminal Caledonian collision and continental foreland-basin development.
Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations on phloem sap composition of spring crops and aphid performance

Abstract The concentration and composition of free amino acids and carbohydrates in the phloem sap of wheat and oilseed rape (OSR) and the effects on the performance of aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi and Myzus persicae) were determined under atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment. The analysis of phloem sap showed that carbohydrates and amino acid levels of the host plants were significantly affected by elevated CO2 level. Among carbohydrate concentrations in the phloem sap, significant increases were observed in fructose and glucose in spring wheat under CO2 enrichment, whereas no changes were observed in OSR. These changes in plant chemistry affected the performance of herbivorous insects (i.e. aphids) in varying ways, positively affecting the relative growth rate (RGR) of R. padi in spring wheat and negatively affecting the RGR of M. persicae on OSR.
Excretion of Thiamin and its Degradation Products in Man.∗

The development of a simple procedure 1 to determine both thiamin and the pyrimidines in human urine permits the investigation of the possible relationship between the two. Schultz, Atkins and Frey showed that the rate of glucose fermentation by a yeast is directly proportional to the concentration of thiamin present. In addition to thiamin, the pyrimidines give mol for mol stimulation effect on the rate of fermentation. Such pyrimidines are found normally in human urines. Since the pyrimidine nucleus constitutes an integral part of the thiamin molecule, it is of interest to determine the relationship between thiamin and urinary pyrimidine. The total fermentation is a measure of thiamin and pyrimidine in the urine. The fermentation after oxidation of the free thiamin is a measure of the pyrimidines; the difference represents the free thiamin. This technic combines the gas method with the initial steps of the thiochrome procedure. The urinary excretion of the thiamin and pyrimidine of a group of patients was studied under various conditions. Three patients were given a diet completely deficient in B1 for 10 days. Two of these were normal and one had ileo-jejunitis. Fig. 1 and 2 and Table I illustrate that complete deprivation of dietary thiamin for a period of 10 days changed the thiamin-pyrimidine ratio from approximately 9:1 to 1:9. During this 10-day deprivation period, the absolute amount of pyrimidine excreted remained at approximately the same level, while the free thiamin disappeared almost completely. It becomes apparent, then, that the determination of free thiamin in the urine is an index of the dietary intake immediately preceding the measurement, since the urinary excretion of thiamin decreases so rapidly on deprivation. Therefore, low values for free thiamin need not necessarily indicate a state of chronic insufficiency with respect to this vitamin since the same values are obtained with temporary, acute deprivation.
Nesting of Hawksbill Turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, on the islands of the Arabian Gulf

Abstract The overall nesting population of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766)) on Jarnain and Bu Tinah islands of the United Arab Emirates in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf comprised 48 nests on Jarnain and 17 nests on Bu Tinah. The nesting season was short and extended from mid-March to mid-July, with peak nesting activity in April and May. The average clutch size was 58.6. Both percent hatching success and hatchling size showed a deceasing trend from the beginning to the end of the nesting season. This might be due to the adverse effect of increasing atmospheric temperature from 26 to 48°C and of nest temperature from 26 to 35°C.
Topic Modeling Analysis of Social Enterprises: Twitter Evidence

Social media is a major channel used for communication by professional and social groups. The text posted on social media contains extremely rich information. To capture the development of social enterprises (SEs), this paper examines the tweets posted on Twitter and searches the hashtags on the Twitter Application Programming Interface (API) that SEs deem to be the most important. The results suggest that these tweets can be divided into three content groups (strategy, impact and business). This paper expands this into four dimensions (strategy, impact, business and people) and six indicators (social, opportunity, change, enterprise, network and team) and establishes a conceptual framework of SEs. This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the pertinent issues recently affecting SEs and extract findings that can act as a reference for follow-up studies.
Fire and vegetation dynamics in a jack pine and black spruce forest reconstructed using fossil pollen and charcoal

Fire and vegetation dynamics in a boreal Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana forest are reconstructed using a 580 year fossil pollen and charcoal record obtained from 128 contiguous samples, each representing c. 4.55 years of sediment. The general post‐fire vegetation changes, as indicated by cross‐correlation analyses, are an increase in ground layer taxa and shrubs, followed by an increase in coniferous trees and Betula papyrifera. The size and exact timing of the peak abundance in each taxon differs after individual fires. Sixteen fires are identified using pollen and charcoal records. The mean fire interval is 34 years, similar to fire cycle estimates of 38 and 39 years from dendrochronological studies. On two occasions, Picea mariana appears to replace Pinus banksiana as the local dominant, each time taking less than 70 years. An unusual decline in Pinus pollen between c. AD 1816 and 1861 corresponds with a similar decline in a pollen record from 50 km WSW of this site. This may have been caused by Little Ice Age cooling.