Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental controls on species composition along a (maquis) shrubland to forest gradient on ultramafics at Mont Do, New Caledonia

The landscape-scale pattern of distribution of maquis, maquis with emergent conifers (Araucaria laubenfelsii), and rain forest, on ultramafic substrate at Mont Do, New Caledonia, is investigated in relation to soil and plant chemistry, light and moisture. The structure and composition of these vegetation types reflects the impacts of disturbance on the one hand, and of physiological stresses on the other. Disturbance by fire is important in determining the presence and abundance of maquis and rain forest at the landscape level and is discussed in detail by Perry et al. elsewhere in this issue.1 The impacts of light environments, water availability and soil chemistry on the succession of vegetation from maquis to forest are also important. The chemistry of iron-crust and eroded oxisol soils does not vary greatly between vegetation types, and does not appear to define the distribution of species at the local scale. Nevertheless, low concentrations of macronutrients (such as P) and slow rates of biomass accumulation associated with this ultramafic landscape may be important in slowing the rate of progression of the vegetation from maquis to forest. Chlorophyll fluorescence studies of seedlings, saplings and trees in maquis and forest provide strong evidence for severe reductions in photosynthetic efficiency in photosystem II on clear days for seedlings growing in maquis. The importance of increased water supply to plants establishing beneath emergent araucarians in maquis through cloud-combing is also illustrated.
Lessons from Supplementation of Chinook Salmon in British Columbia

Abstract Supplementation as used here, is the planting of all life stages of hatchery-reared fish to increase natural production. Through the Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP). Canada has been experimenting with supplementation strategies at a number of British Columbian hatcheries for the past 15 years to enhance natural populations of anadromous salmon and steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss This report is a short synopsis of the strategies employed and results obtained by four British Columbian hatcheries, two coastal (Snootli Creek and Kitimat) and two interior (Quesnel and Spius Creek), in supplementing Chinook salmon Onchorhynchus tshawytscha The original objective of the report was to ascertain the success of these efforts – as measured by attainment of the program goals of increased harvest and the enhancement. preservation. and rehabilitation of natural stocks in a cost-effective manner – and to summarize general lessons applicable to many or most other proposed or future supplementation programs. Thi.
Spatial avoidance of Microcystis aeruginosa by Daphnia: Fitness consequences and evolutionary implications

We tested the hypothesis that species (clones) of Daphnia, originating from lakes with very different cyanobacterial abundances, use strategies to optimize their performance in the presence of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa by distributing differently in vertical gradients of valuable food, toxigenic cyanobacteria, and temperature. A laboratory tube system with different combinations of food items in the temperature gradient was used to determine the vertical distribution and performance (growth and lipid index) of Daphnia from three contrasting environments: (1) Daphnia carinata from a eutrophic lake with dense populations of cyanobacteria; (2) Daphnia galeata adapted to low cyanobacteria densities in a deep, mesotrophic lake; and (3) arctic Daphnia pulex assumed to be naïve with few adaptations against pelagic cyanobacteria. When confronted with toxic Microcystis in the epilimnion, Daphnia can respond by avoidance behavior (i.e., suffer metabolic costs from low temperature), reduction of their overall feeding rate in order to avoid the ingestion of toxic cells, metabolizing the toxin biochemically, or not responding if they were never confronted with toxic cyanobacteria. The experiments suggest that D. carinata was sensitive to toxigenic Microcystis and responded by avoidance, D. galeata was less sensitive and preferred to stay in the warm epilimnion, and D. pulex was naïve as expected. Thus, the behavioral strategies of the three Daphnia species appear to reflect interplay between evolutionary history, sensitivity to Microcystis, and the environmental conditions.
Swimming speeds and activity levels of consumers at various resource and consumer densities under predation risk

We tested the following predictions concerning a consumer in a three-level trophic system (resource-consumer-predator): (i) speed is a hump-shaped response and activity level an asymptotic response to increasing resource densities, and (ii) speed increases and activity level declines and then increases with increasing consumer density. Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) were used as predators, mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as the consumers, and Daphnia pulex as the resource. Speeds and activity levels of mosquitofish showed the predicted response as a function of resource and consumer densities. No differences in speed or activity level were found between the sexes. The functional response of the consumers was type II for three of the four consumer densities used. The behavioural responses implied an increase in encounter rates with prey at low prey densities, a property that has the potential to stabilise predator-prey systems.
Patterns in the variations of copepod spring and summer abundance in the northeastern Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea in cold and warm years during the 1980s and 1990s

Abundance estimates of copepodite and adult Calanus finmarchicus, Pseudocalanus spp. , Oithona atlantica, O. similis, and Oncea borealis have been obtained twice a year by PINRO for the northeastern Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea for the 30-year period 1964–1994. The data cover the upper 50 m of the water column during spring or early summer (i.e. April–July) along five inshore–offshore transects at 6730N, 7110N, 7250N, from North Cape to Bear Island, and at Kola (3330E). Along the Kola transect, data are also available for three depth strata covering the entire water column. For this study, information is extracted from these data sets for eight years, three cold (1979, 1980, and 1981) and several intermediate and warm years (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992). Spatial distribution patterns and the demography of C. finmarchicus, the target species, are described for the study area. In the time window studied, changes in abundance of C. finmarchicus between years appear to be a large-scale phenomenon throughout the entire study area. Unlike the results of previous studies, no clear interannual relationship between water temperature and copepod abundance was found. A correspondence analysis including the smaller copepod forms, as well as temperature and salinity data, revealed a consistent regional difference in the demography of Calanus, with stages from CIV to adult more common in the southwest of the study area. Other copepod taxa dominated over the shelf in the northeast of the study area, perhaps related to differences in the physical environment and in habitat preference. 2000 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Studies on the longhorned woodboring beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of the West Indies

A faunistic study of the longhorned woodboring beetles of the West Indies is presented. Museum specimens and material from recent collecting expeditions have yielded various new species, new records, and a number of taxonomic questions needing investigation. A revision of the acanthocinine genus Styloleptus Dillon is presented. Thirteen new species are described: Styloleptus anegada Micheli, S. duartensis Micheli, Antilleptostylus guilartensis Micheli & Micheli, Leptostylopsis guanica Micheli & Micheli, Leptostylopsis yukiyu Micheli & Micheli, Leptostylopsis monin Micheli & Micheli, Urgleptes borikensis Micheli & Micheli, Plectromerus lingafelteri Micheli & Nearns, Plectromerus ramosi Micheli & Nearns, Elateropsis julio Lingafelter & Micheli, Pseudothonalmus woodleyi Lingafelter, Micheli, & Guerrero, Styloleptus taino Lingafelter & Micheli, and Distenia puertoricensis Lingafelter & Micheli. The larva of Parandra tavakiliani is described. Fourteen new synonymies and six new combinations are included.
Species distribution models as a tool for forest management planning under climate change: risk evaluation of Abies alba in Bavaria

Questions: How can SDMs be adopted as a tool for forest management planning? Based on presence-absence data, which modelling techniques are appropriate to determine species potential distribution for forest management planning under climate change? Do species distribution models (SDMs) agree with expert knowledge about species distribution and species traits? How can forest researcher deal with distribution data of a species whose distribution is heavily affected by human impacts? Location: Bavaria (Southern Germany). Methods: We used SDMs based on the Second National Forest Inventory from 2002 (4 × 4 km grid) containing presence-absence data of tree species to identify species environment relationships (‘Grinnellian niche’). As an example, the distribution of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) was modelled. Site condition data of the plots were derived from solar radiation, climate and soil maps. Models applied were boosted regression trees (BRT) and generalised additive models (GAM). Model predictions were compared with an expert based evaluation of the potential natural vegetation and were run with a climate change scenario (WETTREG B1) to project future distribution of silver fir. Results: Both models discriminated well between presence and absence of silver fir but underestimated the potential distribution. The BRT model was more sensitive to local site conditions in the present data, but the GAM showed more generality. The truncated response curves and high uncertainties of predictions at the edge of the site spectrum indicated a low data density and that the data did not cover the whole niche space of silver fir. As indicated by validation with expert knowledge, the model output approached potential distribution by optimizing true positive predictions. The classification of SDMs output into risk classes allowed model evaluation and interpretation. Predictions of GAM and BRT under the climate change scenario showed high accordance and therefore, low uncertainty. Finally, large areas of Bavaria are described to have a high risk of silver fir cultivation in future. Conclusions: SDMs are especially interesting as a decision basis for forest management because some of the general limitations of static modelling approaches are not relevant in this context. Limitations of forest inventory data can be partially overcome by using information on the potential distribution of species. The transferability of the models to future scenarios strongly depends on the spectrum and range of the training data sets and the depicted functional relationships. In order to improve the models and reduce the uncertainties, we need to improve the soil data and cover the whole niche space of silver fir.
Evaluating loci for use in the genetic analysis of population structure

Loci that show unusually low or high levels of genetic differentiation are often assumed to be subject to natural selection. We propose a method for the identification of loci showing such disparities. The differentiation can be quantified using the statistic FST. For a range of population structures and demographic histories, the distribution of FST is strongly related to the heterozygosity at a locus. Outlying values of FST can be identified in a plot of FST vs. heterozygosity using a null distribution generated by a simple genetic model. We use published data-sets to illustrate the importance of the relationship with heterozygosity. We investigate a number of models of population structure, and demonstrate that the null distribution is robust to a wide range of conditions. In particular, the distribution is robust to differing mutation rates, and therefore different molecular markers, such as allozymes, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPS) and single strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCPS) can be compared together. We suggest that genetic variation at a discrepant locus, Identified under these conditions, is likely to have been influenced by natural selection, either acting on the locus itself or at a closely linked locus.
Selective hybridization of wine yeasts for higher yields of glycerol

Wines that are lacking in body may be improved by the presence of greater amounts of glycerol. Wine yeast strains vary in their ability to produce glycerol. A programme of hybridizing yeast strains while selecting for increased production of glycerol was undertaken. Three generations of hybridization resulted in yeast strains which produced 10–11 g glycerol/L compared with 3.0–6.6 g/L produced by the wine yeast strains of the original breeding stock. Industrial-scale winemaking confirmed the ability of two hybrid strains to produce similar amounts of glycerol to those observed in laboratory-scale fermentations. The activity of the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was measured in crude extracts of two breeding stock wine yeasts and in two final generation hybrid strains. The observed activities were lower in the products of the hybridization programme than in the original wine yeast strains. Two alternative explanations are suggested. (i) Selective hybridization may select for the alleles of the g.
Using A Multimodel Approach to Estimate the Population Size of Mckay's Buntings

Abstract We estimated the population size of McKay's Buntings (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) from surveys across their restricted breeding range on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska (326 km2). We used a multimodel approach to (1) estimate population size from counts with distance sampling, and (2) account for the effects of observers, habitat, flock size, and date on detectability. We counted 2400 buntings along 202 km of transects; most birds were in tundra (44%) or rocky uplands (46%). Breeding density was higher on Hall Island (154 ± 20 [SE] birds km−2) than St. Matthew Island (93 ± 7 birds km−2), possibly due to differences in habitat. Population size was 31 200 ± 2000 birds (CI95% = 27 500–35 400 birds), 5–11 times greater than previously reported, but still small among North American passerines. Populations of this species should therefore be closely monitored and the focus of conservation.
Mixed thymoma in a goat

This article describes the gross, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings of a mixed thymoma in a 2-year-old, mixed-breed, female goat. A large space-occupying neoplastic growth was observed within the cranial thoracic cavity, which by histology was well-encapsulated and formed by the proliferation of spindle-shaped epithelial cells arranged in solid sheets or rosette-like formations with varying accumulations of lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the neoplastic epithelial cells expressed cytokeratin, with negative immunoreactivity to vimentin, thyroglobulin, Chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The lymphocytic population expressed CD3 and CD2. These findings favor a diagnosis of mixed thymoma.
The flora of Angola: first record of diversity and endemism

Comprehensive inventories that catalogue the occur-rence of components of biodiversity in any given geo-graphical region remain fundamental, indeed essential, research tools for conservation planners and other users of biodiversity information. Access to basic biodiversity information is therefore critical for managing the biologi-cal resources of any country. Without a basic taxonomic platform, it is exceedingly difficult to evaluate the conser-vation status of rare plants and it may prove to be difficult to implement proposed conservation measures and assess their success. Likewise, ecological and vegetation stud-ies that often depend on plant diversity catalogues and a taxonomic framework cannot be adequately and reliably developed (Smith & Wolfson, 2004). In spite of its richness and diversity, the flora of An-gola presented a serious gap in the knowledge of the south-ern African plant diversity which has been referred in the literature (e.g., Huntley & Matos, 1994; Soares & al., 2007; Figueiredo, 2008). Although progress had been made with compiling an inventory of the flora of that country, for example through the Southern African Botanical Diver-sity Network (SABONET) project, a complete checklist remained elusive. Until now, the figures for vascular plant diversity and endemism in Angola were unknown and could only be estimated.One reason for this gap in the knowledge of the plant diversity is that, unlike most African countries, Angola was not included in any of the major African regional Flora projects. Instead, its flora was treated separately in the work
DETERMINANT OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN SALES DEPARTMENT OF PT. DUNIA BARUSA ACEH WITH PERSONALITY COMPOSITION AS MODERATION VARIABLES

This study was conducted aiming to determine and test the effect of transformational leadership and interaction competency on employee performance in the sales department, personality composition as a moderating variable at PT DuniaBarusa Aceh. The population used was all employees of the car sales department at PT. DuniaBarusa in Banda Aceh, Lhokseumawe and Meulaboh numbered 180 people. The research model was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through the Amos application. Data was collected through questionnaires that used the Likert scale. The result found that transformational leadership and interaction competency have a significant effect on employee performance. Furthermore, personality composition can strengthen the influence of transformational leadership on employee performance. Personality composition can strengthen the effect of interaction competency on employee performance. This study provides managerial implications that to improve the performance of its employees, especially in the sales departmentat PT. DuniaBarusa Aceh, what needs to be done is to increase transformational leadership, interaction competency and employee personality composition. The findings in this study can contribute to the renewal of theory and practically also produce solutions for research objects. Personality composition becomes the development and adaptation of interesting theories to the object of research, which can strengthen other variables. The limitation of the study is the number of variables studied and the scope of the study Keyword: Transformational Leadership, Interaction Competency, Employee Performance, Personality Composition.
Cleavage Susceptibility of Reovirus Attachment Protein ς1 during Proteolytic Disassembly of Virions Is Determined by a Sequence Polymorphism in the ς1 Neck

ABSTRACT A requisite step in reovirus infection of the murine intestine is proteolysis of outer-capsid proteins to yield infectious subvirion particles (ISVPs). When converted to ISVPs by intestinal proteases, virions of reovirus strain type 3 Dearing (T3D) lose 90% of their original infectivity due to cleavage of viral attachment protein ς1. In an analysis of eight field isolate strains of type 3 reovirus, we identified one additional strain, type 3 clone 31 (T3C31), that loses infectivity and undergoes ς1 cleavage upon conversion of virions to ISVPs. We examined the ς1 deduced amino acid sequences of T3D and the eight field isolate strains for a correlation between sequence variability and ς1 cleavage. The ς1 proteins of T3D and T3C31 contain a threonine at amino acid position 249, whereas an isoleucine occurs at this position in the ς1 proteins of the remaining strains. Thr249 occupies the d position of a heptad repeat motif predicted to stabilize ς1 oligomers through α-helical coiled-coil interactions. This region of sequence comprises a portion of the fibrous tail domain of ς1 known as the neck. Substitution of Thr249 with isoleucine or leucine resulted in resistance to cleavage by trypsin, whereas replacement with asparagine did not affect cleavage susceptibility. These results demonstrate that amino acid position 249 is an independent determinant of T3D ς1 cleavage susceptibility and that an intact heptad repeat is required to confer cleavage resistance. We performed amino-terminal sequence analysis on the ς1 cleavage product released during trypsin treatment of T3D virions to generate ISVPs and found that trypsin cleaves ς1 after Arg245. Thus, the sequence polymorphism at position 249 controls cleavage at a nearby site in the neck region. The relevance of these results to reovirus infection in vivo was assessed by treating virions with the contents of a murine intestinal wash under conditions that result in generation of ISVPs. The pattern of ς1 cleavage susceptibility generated by using purified protease was reproduced in assays using the intestinal wash. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for ς1 cleavage during exposure of virions to intestinal proteases and may account for certain strain-dependent patterns of reovirus pathogenesis.
Comparison of Peroxynitrite-Scavenging Capacities of Several Citrus Fruit Peels

Citrus fruit peels contain a large variety of bioactive components and are considered as potential sources of functional components. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the peroxynitrite-scavenging activities of different citrus fruit peels. The peroxynitrite-scavenging activities of methanolic extracts of nine dried citrus fruit peels were evaluated as determined by their ability to attenuate the peroxynitrite-mediated nitrotyrosine formation in albumin. The results showed that all of the tested citrus fruit peels had the ability to attenuate the formation of nitrotyrosine. The total phenolics contents highly correlated with the peroxynitrite-scavenging activities. The results also indicated that the peroxynitrite-scavenging activity of citrus fruit peels was mainly attributed to the total phenolics.
Tracing terrestrial organic matter by δ34S and δ13C signatures in a subarctic estuary

A key issue to understanding the transformations of terrestrial organic carbon in the ocean is to disentangle the latter from marine‐produced organic matter. We applied a multiple stable isotope approach using δ34S and δ13C isotope signatures from estuarine dissolved organic matter (DOM), enabling us to constrain the contribution of terrestrial‐derived DOM in an estuarine gradient of the northern Baltic Sea. The stable isotope signatures for dissolved organic sulfur (δ34SDOS) have twice the range between terrestrial and marine end members compared to the stable isotope signatures for dissolved organic carbon (δ13CDOC); hence, the share of terrestrial DOM in the total estuarine DOM can be calculated more precisely. DOM samples from the water column were collected using ultrafiltration on board the German RV Maria S Merian during a winter cruise, in the Bothnian Bay, Bothnian Sea, and Baltic proper. We calculated the terrestrial fraction of the estuarine DOC (DOCter) from both δ13CDOC and δ34SDOS signatures and applying fixed C: S ratios for riverine and marine end members to convert S isotope signatures into DOC concentrations. The δ34SDOS signature of the riverine end member was +7.02‰, and the mean signatures from Bothnian Bay, Bothnian Sea, and Baltic proper were +10.27, +12.51, and +13.67‰, respectively, showing an increasing marine signal southwards (δ34SDOS marine end member 5 18.1‰). These signatures indicate that 87‰, 75‰, and 67‰, respectively, of the water column DOC is of terrestrial origin (DOCter) in these basins. Comparing the fractions of DOCter in each basin—that are still based on few winter values only—with the annual river input of DOC, it appears that the turnover time for DOCter in the Gulf of Bothnia is much shorter than the hydraulic turnover time, suggesting that high‐latitude estuaries might be efficient sinks for DOCter.